The Secret to a Healthy Life: Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
Starting today, Friday, March 20, 2015—which happens to also be the Spring Equinox--www.FMTV.com is having a “Free Food Matters Event” (thru March 31). I recommend checking it out. Today’s free documentary is a film by Shannon Harvey called The Connection (more details can be found at www.theconnection.tv). This is one of the most POWERFUL documentaries I have seen to date. It is empowering and inspiring. Yes, you can take charge of your body by taking advantage of the Body-Mind connection. I’ve summarized the documentary below and ask you to view the video for yourself, if you’re interested (link at the end of this post). Even if you find only one piece of advice that rings true to you, it may make an incredible impact on your health and your quality of life.
I took away eight key points from this video that rang true for me. These points are ways in which you can move from a stress response life to a relaxation response life. In doing so, you take back your power from the outside world and rebalance, revitalize, and restore your life.
Here’s a final quote I want to share from the film, shared by Dr. Herbert Benson “I think it’s vital that people understand the power of the mind-body reaction and it’s best understood by most by recognizing you have within yourself a capacity that is opposite to the stress response and to the extent that stress is causing any disorder—be it the brain, the body, the liver, what have you—to that extent, by reversing stress’s activity through the relaxation response, you can treat that. Does that mean you give up drugs or surgeries? Of course not. But you’ve got to bring this in to that same level of respectability because now it is scientifically proven.”
I took away eight key points from this video that rang true for me. These points are ways in which you can move from a stress response life to a relaxation response life. In doing so, you take back your power from the outside world and rebalance, revitalize, and restore your life.
- Meditation: this decreases your breath, your heart rate, and your metabolism. Meditation is measurable, predictable, and reproducible.
- Breathwork: similar to the effects above (a/k/a pranayama).
- Prayer: this connection with spirit calms and centers the mind, which in turn calms and centers the body.
- Yoga and Tai Chi: creates an INWARD focus, not a zoning out. It brings you to the present moment, connections you with your body, your mind, and your spirit.
- Social Support: a nurturing of each other through connection. You are not alone and have support. Nurture these connections because they also balance your life and reduce your stress.
- Belief: the mind effect/healing response (a/k/a the placebo effect) is important not only to a patient but also to the doctor. The interaction between patient and healer is CRITICAL to successful healing. A great quote out of the movie from Dr. Andrew Weil was that it is “the meat of medicine.”
- Diet/Lifestyle: It has now been PROVEN that we can turn OFF bad genes within us and turn ON good genes with our diet and lifestyle choices (through any/all of the above focuses). Being exposed to external forces can change your genes, through meditation for example. The key take away here is that the more you participate in these lifestyle choices, the more intense and positive the effects. This one point was the most powerful of all to me. WOW! You can affect your genes? YES, you can!
- Balance: by making these powerful and easy lifestyle changes, you are creating balance—returning to a relaxation response to outside stimuli instead of a fight or flight response.
Here’s a final quote I want to share from the film, shared by Dr. Herbert Benson “I think it’s vital that people understand the power of the mind-body reaction and it’s best understood by most by recognizing you have within yourself a capacity that is opposite to the stress response and to the extent that stress is causing any disorder—be it the brain, the body, the liver, what have you—to that extent, by reversing stress’s activity through the relaxation response, you can treat that. Does that mean you give up drugs or surgeries? Of course not. But you’ve got to bring this in to that same level of respectability because now it is scientifically proven.”
List of My Favorite Vegan Cookbooks
For those of you new to a plant-based diet, I highly recommend the Everyday Happy Herbivore cookbook by Lindsay S. Nixon. This is a great vegan cookbook. The recipes are easy and delicious. Some of my favorite recipes:
If you try it out, drop me a line and share your experience. If you're new to a plant-based diet, this cookbook is awesome and it's "Forks Over Knifes" friendly (no oils are used either)!
If you purchase by clicking on the link below, a small percentage will be earned to help support the site. Thank you!
- Tropical Bliss Smoothie
- Tempeh Sausage Crumble
- Chocolate Spice Muffins
- Harvest Cornbread (has a bit of pumpkin in it)
- Eggless Salad
- Kidney-Quinoa Burgers
- Vegan Mayo
- Brody's Gluten-Free Flour Blend
If you try it out, drop me a line and share your experience. If you're new to a plant-based diet, this cookbook is awesome and it's "Forks Over Knifes" friendly (no oils are used either)!
If you purchase by clicking on the link below, a small percentage will be earned to help support the site. Thank you!