Tuesday, August 9th, 2011:

 

Raising Your Spirit by Improving Your Digestion

 

Focusing on Wellness Rather Than a Cure

 

Body Ecology had the opportunity to sit down with Mikio Sankey, an acupuncturist in Los Angeles, CA. Dr. Mikio Sankey lectures all over the globe, teaching other acupuncturists about a style of acupuncture that he developed several years ago called esoteric acupuncture.

 

Dr. Sankey explains that the premise of esoteric acupuncture is disease prevention, or wellness, rather curing a diseased state. This method of treating the body is a complete paradigm shift from the old way of medicine, which focuses on a cure, rather than prevention.

 

The Body Ecology Way of Life is focused on prevention. Often times, a health crisis brings about a spiritual awakening that happens as you realize your connection to the food you eat and the choices you make.

 

Dr. Sankey explains that many times when we age:
 

• Chronic disease is not only common, it often happens concurrently with other forms of chronic disease.
• Chronic disease can be debilitating both physically, emotionally, and financially.

“You came into the world an original; don’t die a copy.”

 

Aligned with the Body Ecology Principle of Uniqueness, Dr. Sankey uses the idea of an individual’s “puzzle piece”: a unique and valuable role each of us has to fulfill.

 

Dr. Sankey explains that, “When you change your diet, along with hormonal change, something happens within the psyche of the body. But it’s hard to find your puzzle piece if you’re eating processed, pre-packages foods. It’s important to do what you’re supposed to do in this lifetime. But how are you going to be clear to find the puzzle piece if you’re eating foods that are clogging your mind?”

 

This is why a large portion of Dr. Sankey’s practice is devoted to diet and nutrition. The current model of the American diet is based largely on processed, devitalized foods, refined flours, excessive amounts of sugar, and industry animal products. This has a profound impact on the quality of a person’s life. These foods:
 

• Set the body up for disease.
• Over time, accumulate in the tissues and create a toxic and acidic condition in the body.
• Are missing key nutrients essential for an optimal functioning level of health.
• Lack the element of mindfulness.

Dr. Sankey reminds us, “You are what you eat. Not only physically, but mentally and emotionally. You are what you eat.”

 

Choosing healthy foods is an essential part of wellbeing and prevention.

 

This choice is what Dr. Sankey calls “supporting the mountain”.  He believes how we digest food relates to how we digest life.

 

Dr. Sankey asks, “Where do we get good bacteria in America? We don’t.” Other cultures in the world include traditionally fermented foods in the diet.
 

• Proper digestive function plays an important role in a person’s mental and emotional state.
• In Chinese medicine, digestive function directly impacts the spirit, or energetics, of the mind.
• In western medicine, we know that the gut is full of neurons and neurotransmitters.
• Western medicine explains the relationship between the digestive system and the mind as the gut-brain axis.
• Gut bacteria have been found to affect the psychological state and even produce their own neurotransmitters.

Body Ecology is the probiotic diet and recommends eating fermented foods with every meal. Making fermented foods is easy with the Body Ecology Culture Starter. Another crucial way to nourish the body with beneficial microflora is by drinking 2-4oz of Body Ecology Probiotic Beverages with each meal.

 

How many of us eat sugary or processed foods and feel lousy afterwards?

 

By choosing a food that promotes life, like a jar of fermented vegetables (which is literally filled with life-promoting organisms called probiotics), a few things happen all at once:
 

• You are enhancing your physical wellbeing.
• You are supporting your mental and emotional state.
• You are freeing up time and psychological space to enjoy life and focus on what really matters.

But what about cravings?

 

Dr. Sankey tells us that two acupuncture channels of energy “control the tongue: the fire of Heart and the spleen of Earth.” Remember, the Earth element is related to the stomach and is all about digestion. He explains that being “honest and still is a trait of the heart…Once your heart truly takes control of your inner and outer life, you can no longer put things into your body that are harmful or detrimental to you.” (1)

 

Eating cultured vegetables or drinking probiotic beverages will assist in eliminating cravings for sugar and carbohydrates. Making the choice to use fermented foods in order to control cravings works with the Earth element because it is a choice - a choice that also strengthens mindfulness and awareness.

 

What to Remember Most About This Article:

 

Body Ecology focuses on disease prevention by making healthy choices in your diet and in your lifestyle. As you change your diet, you will also change your psyche and improve your overall quality of life.

 

Processed foods full of sugar, refined flour, and industry animal products leave the body vulnerable to disease, create a toxic environment, and are lacking in essential nutrients for optimal health. Eating healthy foods is the foundation of disease prevention. Good bacteria found in fermented foods will support healthy digestion and positively impact your mental and emotional state.

 

Body Ecology recommends eating fermented foods with every meal to improve your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing and naturally keep cravings at bay!

 

REFERENCES:

 

Sankey, Mikio. Support the Mountain, Esoteric Acupuncture Volume V. Inglewood: Mountain Castle Publishing, 2008.

 

 

 

 

 

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Learn more from The Body Ecology Diet book:

 

The Body Ecology Diet Buy from Amazon.com   Buy From Amazon.co.uk