Diversity, a Principle of Nature – In What You Eat as Well as What You Grow

Sometimes I’m embarrassed to admit how long I lived before I learned certain information that was vital to my well being and could have made me healthier and thus, improved my life much sooner.

Until we learn otherwise, we’re pretty much a product of our upbringing.

Take food for example. Food selection when I was growing up was basically limited to meats, meats, and more meats along with white bread, butter, eggs, dumplings, green beans cooked 48 hours with ham, canned peas and spinach, mashed potatoes made with evaporated milk, apple pie, chocolate chip cookies, and tomatoes.

Not a health creating diet. It’s no wonder I had all kinds of intestinal problems – colitis being one of them — until I learned that eating correctly (or even just going in that direction) can make all the difference.

In my ongoing search for improving various aspects of my life, I came across a CD program about 10 years ago entitled Magical Mind, Magical Body by Deepak Chopra, M.D. who advocates alternative medicine. I learned invaluable, simple ways to improve my health and vision.

One of the things I found most interesting was how some people can control eating disorders and imbalances in the body by using their taste buds. Here’s how it works:

There are six tastes and thus we have six different types of taste buds. We need ALL six tastes at least once a day, or preferably at every meal to feel satisfied and to ensure that all nutrients and food groups are represented. (What an easy way to make sure we get everything we need! It’s all built into us.)

Dr. Chopra goes on to say that most people in our country today only satisfy the first 3 (sweet, sour, and salt) which causes imbalances. (He points out, by the way, that these are the only tastes in fast foods.)

The Six Tastes Are:

• Sweet – includes grains (and food made from grains like bread, pasta), starchy vegetables (like potatoes), all meats and dairy, sugar, honey, molasses.

• Sour – includes citrus fruits, berries, tomatoes, pickled foods, vinegar, cheese yogurt, alcohol

• Salty – salt, soy sauce and any food to which salt has been added

• Pungent – includes peppers, chilies, onions, garlic, cayenne, cloves, ginger, mustard, salsa

• Bitter – includes various greens, spinach, kale, lettuce, celery, brocolli, beets, sprouts

• Astringent – includes lentils, dried beans, cauliflower, figs, pomegranates, tea

Reviewing this information  a few weeks ago explained to me (again) why I felt constantly hungry if I didn’t include something from the “sweet” taste category at my meals (like bread).

For various reasons I’ve basically had the same thing to eat every day for the nine months since Bill’s been gone.  But as long as I include all 6 tastes, I’m satisfied.

Here’s what I have:

I chop at least two cloves of garlic and mix with the chopped cabbage and carrots which was coated lightly with oil and vinegar.  Once the oil and vinegar is added, the garlic is not overpowering and blends with the other tastes.  (Raw garlic is extremely beneficial to your health.)

I rough chop the radishes and onions and mix with chopped parsley or dill, a bit of salt and coat lightly with oil and vinegar.

Greens include arugula, beet greens, tender chards, and lettuce.  I add a little salt. Then lightly coat with oil and vinegar.

If I happen to be  fortunate enough to have an avocado, I happily slice that for inclusion.

I stuff a little of everything into a whole wheat pita pocket and enjoy with a cup of tea.

Final Thoughts

If you didn’t already know about the 6 tastes, I hope you’ll put this information to use in your life and see if it makes a difference for you.

____