Food: What The Heck Should I Eat?

[guest587]

Sun gazing, nourishing the soul...

[Jitendra Hydonus]

Sun gazing, nourishing the soul...

This is a two hour film. After listening to it for 5 minutes I realized I was not going to hear this guy get to the point soon. So I looked up what his talk was about when he used a term several times; ‘dopamine’.

https://selfhacked.com/blog/dopamine/

Some people are long winded and we may have other things we have to do then spend listening to them for two hours when we don’t really know what the talk is about. Perhaps Eric will let us know how he was attracted to such a man.

[mccoy]

Eric, at the end of all, I think you can take advantage from Dr. Hyman's suggestions.

Some of'em I find not perfectly correct though, like avoiding dairy products (there is a vegan narrative on how to avoid them, but if you tolerate them well and have no excess IGF-1, why not eat them in moderation, especially so of lowfat products??).

Also, avoiding products with gluten, if you are not intolerant, why? He gives a vague answer, with a single reference to a HArvard professor, which is really very little or nothing from the scientific point.

Also, he says to avoid beans and some vegetables (the saponins and the nightshades narrative). Again, some people may be intolerant but they are a minority. At this point, he might as well say to avoid everything, because you are going to find some minority which does not tolerate something (for example, a few people are intolerant of meat).

I myself, I eat beans as a side dish, 2 or 3 tablespoons. The digestive system will adapt and produce no air. Black beans are exceedingly good, crisp and tasty, you can cook them once a week, drain them and put'em in the fridge. Texas is notorious for his beans-based dishes.

[Jitendra Hydonus]

Decided to create a new subject that responds to this subject and others as well;

A comment has also been added regarding this topic under the subject;
Dilemmas and the heading ‘Spiritual Unfoldments’

Thanks,
Steve Hydonus

[guest587]

Hey Steve.

A friend on another forum shared the video. I have always enjoyed sun gazing. I thought I would put it under the "Food" category, didn't Yogananda mention people surviving off the sun? Since we were talking about green elixir and feats that would defy, "the science" I thought it would be appropriate to include the video here.

Like you I did not have time to watch the whole video, but I found it interesting so I left it up here- for reference, and can come back and watch when I have more time. I do feel that sun gazing provides nourishment on a deep level. In more ways that I can presently articulate.

Hey Mccoy,


I'm still reading and enjoying the book. There's a ton of resources. I realized Dr. Mark Hyman only consumes 4-6 oz protein total in a day. I think if more people reduced their meat consumption to this extent- the entire industry would be transformed.

I do intend on sharing more of his book here.

To Both,

I don't mind when the direction of the thread changes- creation is free flowing, unrestrictive, and much insight can be drawn from this cooperative process. I would rather enjoy that process than try to force others to strict expectations. Everything within reason, and again- I intend on sharing more of this amazing book in the weeks ahead.

Cheers!

[Jitendra Hydonus]

Yes he did and said that air and sunlight would be the food of the future. When/if I find the quote again I’ll post it. I believe it was in the SRF lessons.

[Jitendra Hydonus]

Since I feel and strong hunch that I was living in India in recent incarnation and was bit by a cobra 🐍 and died at an early age,  I also wonder about the karmic debt people accumulate from being cruel to animals. This incarnation so far, I’ve witnessed a tremendous urge for animals to get near me. Having witnessed people that have dormant anger in them being attacked by animals I am increasingly interested in the apparent instinct or intuition of animals and other creatures.

I agree that animals should always be respected. What are your thoughts about the vegans insisting that keeping cows for milk equals torturing them?
My thought is that extremely intense farming of cows is not a good thing, but the Dharma of cows is being milked. The real dark side of it is the killing of calves, which is practiced in industrial milk production.

I would ask a vegan why they felt that way. We can be kind to chickens or cows and have them as pets. They seek the company of us and we seek their company. We can feed them as they can feed us. It is mutual reciprocity. They don’t kill us so why should we kill them?

[mccoy]

Steve, in the deceased forum there have been heated debates between vegans and vegetarians, so heated that the vegetarians asked me to ban the vegan who insisted on his agenda. He was too much insistent and obnoxious, but his point which apparently is true is that in traditional cow farming male calves are killed because they cannot produce milk.
That happens in almost all kinds of farms unless they specialize in ahimsha farming.

In traditional farms cows are over-exploited whereas in some smaller farms they can be raised with love and care. The fate of most male calves remains grim, they are either killed or destined to be butchered eventually.

I presently drink milk, yogurt and eat dairy products.

[Jitendra Hydonus]

Steve, in the deceased forum there have been heated debates between vegans and vegetarians, so heated that the vegetarians asked me to ban the vegan who insisted on his agenda. He was too much insistent and obnoxious, but his point which apparently is true is that in traditional cow farming male calves are killed because they cannot produce milk.
That happens in almost all kinds of farms unless they specialize in ahimsha farming.

In traditional farms cows are over-exploited whereas in some smaller farms they can be raised with love and care. The fate of most male calves remains grim, they are either killed or destined to be butchered eventually.

I presently drink milk, yogurt and eat dairy products.

hmmm i guess that is yet one more issue i may have to address. There is enough cruelty to humans in this world to be able to also add our evil deeds to defenseless animals as well. At one time i made my own yogurt and attempted to buy fresh milk from farmers. i do try to buy soy milk and plant butter. Often i try although prices are prohibitive. But i also eat a lot of cheese in for instance Mexican food and plant cheese wow what a bad taste. Some of these practices start with knowledge and i'm glad you have brought it to our awareness.

Summers in Michigan are a lot more conducive to a vegan diet. It may be difficult to live in Alaska or near the arctic circle and be a vegetarian, not to even mention being a vegan. I found myself eating mostly vegan while living in Southern California. Vegetables and fruits were prevalent their because of the climate. It is a bit different living in Michigan.

[Jitendra Hydonus]

Steve, in the deceased forum there have been heated debates between vegans and vegetarians, so heated that the vegetarians asked me to ban the vegan who insisted on his agenda. He was too much insistent and obnoxious, but his point which apparently is true is that in traditional cow farming male calves are killed because they cannot produce milk.
That happens in almost all kinds of farms unless they specialize in ahimsha farming.

In traditional farms cows are over-exploited whereas in some smaller farms they can be raised with love and care. The fate of most male calves remains grim, they are either killed or destined to be butchered eventually.

I presently drink milk, yogurt and eat dairy products.

I have already commented on this post. I’ve decided to add something here. In many cases, we are victims of circumstance and must choose for ourselves when and how to address moral issues. To some extent all of us support evil in the world. Should we all go down as martyrs for acceptance of the evil around us? To what extent are we able to make a difference? I mean one person can have strong views about killing calf’s and another about for instance using plastic that kills fish in the ocean. Another about using gasoline that is destroying the national habitat in various parts of the world. Yet another about about climate change which is actually causing many people to live in starving conditions around the globe…. The list has no end. In the meantime most of us here at the portal are attempting to create the conditions and encouragement to have others take an interest in meditation and spiritual/psychic activities: which by the way can improve all these  conditions.

[mccoy]

I have already commented on this post. I’ve decided to add something here. In many cases, we are victims of circumstance and must choose for ourselves when and how to address moral issues. To some extent all of us support evil in the world. Should we all go down as martyrs for acceptance of the evil around us? To what extent are we able to make a difference? I mean one person can have strong views about killing calf’s and another about for instance using plastic that kills fish in the ocean. Another about using gasoline that is destroying the national habitat in various parts of the world. Yet another about about climate change which is actually causing many people to live in starving conditions around the globe…. The list has no end. In the meantime most of us here at the portal are attempting to create the conditions and encouragement to have others take an interest in meditation and spiritual/psychic activities: which by the way can improve all these  conditions.

Steve, now, I must confess that this answer struck me as a masterpiece of logical reasoning and spiritual pragmatism.
Yes, as clearly stated by Yogananda, this world is not suited to perfect Aihmsa.

In regard to dairy products, I give high credit to the words of Sri Yukteswar: milk and fresh dairy products are sattvic food. Probably in the times of SY many calves were used later as oxen, maybe not so many. I believe that SY was conscious that dairy farming is not the perfect non-violent business but he, as all the lineage of SRF masters, were eminently pragmatic minds.

I'm aware of the literature against dairy products, the contention mainly is that they contain addictive opioids, that they contain hormones, that they elevate IGF-1 and more.
Many of such opinions are driven by vegan researchers.

Yet, there are articles showing that hormones from milk are degraded in the gastrointestinal tract, that yogurt and fruit decrease the mortality ratio. I personally followed a vegan diet for 1.5 years and did not find dairy products so much addictive. Besides, my IGF-1 was very low.

The fact is that dairy products, if the body tolerates lactose and casein, have a distinctive nutritional advantage, especially so in essential amino acids quality. Soy products approach such nutritional completeness, but they are often expensive and untasty.

My choice has been to eat dairy products, but in controlled amounts and preferably lowfat and nonfat varieties. I may change that but so far I feel good with that.

I drink warm or hot milk in the winter, cold yogurt in the summer. Plus greek yogurt, lowfat Feta cheese, some local lowfat cheese and mozzarella, some seasoned cheese like parmesan. Years ago I used to make my own kefir, now I've not so much time.

[guest587]

Hey guys, I'm actually reading the chapter on dairy now. Dr. Mark Hyman exposes the propaganda of, "big milk" industry and says it's not at all healthy... He says humans are the only species to continue consumption of milk after weaning and it comes with an awful lot of negative side effects. But rather than debate with the two of you(because it is evident not everyone will agree with the information in this book, and that everybody is given freedom to learn their body and practice what best suits their individual needs), I'm going to try and find a more proactive segment in the chapter worth sharing- it's somewhat relevant to yours and Steve's conversation.

The Environmental and Ethical Impact of Dairy

     Dairy is terrible for the environment. Roughly 19 percent of the water used in animal agriculture is consumed by dairy farming. In the United States alone, there are about 9 million dairy cows. The cows need to stay hydrated; the farm floors and walls need to be washed; growing feed requires water. According to One Green Planet, "When you add up the water used for growing food, drinking water, and cleaning the facility, the average dairy cow uses 4,954 gallons of water per day." Additionally, when it comes to food production, cheese making generates the third-highest amount of greenhouse gas emissions, behind only meat and poultry. How can that be? Well it takes about 10 pounds of milk (1 gallon) to produce 1 pound of cheese. It takes 2 gallons of milk to make a pound of butter. Dairy-cow manure emits a lot of methane gas and nitric oxide, and with all the resources used to create feed for the cows, the footprint adds up. There are less dense cheeses that require less milk, like ricotta, cottage cheese, and mozzarella. So, if you're worried about the carbon footprint of your food but you still love cheese, these options might leave you feeling a bit better. As far as butter, stick to the grass-fed variety, which is healthier and helps cut down on emissions from feed production.

     The dairy industry wants us to believe that their cows are happily producing milk and grazing through green pastures, but for the most part, that couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, dairy cows are often denied access to pastures, and they live in small, filthy quarters while they are pumped for more and more milk. Calves are quickly taken from their mothers and fed cheap powered milk filled with antibiotics so farmers can sell every drop their mothers produce. The only animals meant to drink cows' milk are the ones denied access to it.

     Unlike cows, goats and sheep are not typically found on mega-farms, so their milk is generally more ethically produced than cows'. Goats and sheep also produce less methane gas than cows, and since they are smaller, they require fewer resources.
     
     When buying a dairy product, you should look for one of the follow certifications on the label to ensure that it was produced in an ethical manner:

* Animal Welfare Approved
* Certified Humane
* American Humane Certified
* Food Alliance Certified
* Global Animal Partnership

     Smaller local farms that actually allow their cows to roam on the pasture are better for the environment and better for the animals. And although dairy products from such farms are better for you, most humans are prone to health troubles from eating dairy, so go easy. And if you have any chronic illness or symptoms, getting off dairy for two to three weeks can help you see if it is contributing.

* For a directory of local dairy farms and grass-fed products, visit: http://www.eatwild.com
* For pasture-fed, unprocessed, full-fat milk in your area, visit: http://www.realmilk.com/real-milk-finder/
* For information about whether your favorite milk is ethical and sustainable, look up its rating here: https://www.cornucopica.org/dairysurvey/index.html

Taken from, Food: What The Heck Should I Eat? by Mark Hyman, MD

[Jitendra Hydonus]

I have found that plant butter actually tastes good! I don’t know what to say after that last entry Eric, accept I think I want to move further away from anything the diary has to offer. I really do find fruit more appealing and uplifting from a spiritual view. And we could feed the whole world with vegetables if we could give up dairy. The land used for raising cows would give people much more food. The statistics and realities of this are all too evident and I’m willing to provide them if need be.

[mccoy]

Ethically: Dr. Hyman may be right and above all, he suggests alternatives to intensive cow farming. Also, please remind that even the grass-fed animal whose meat Dr. Hyman suggests at the end are butchered, so the ethical issue is not resolved.

I do not perfectly agree with the following though:

most humans are prone to health troubles from eating dairy, so go easy.

Where is the evidence that most humans are prone to health troubles from eating dairy? Most humans of which ancestry? Japanese are surely not accustomed but Eurasian, caucasian, and northern European ancestries are very accustomed to dairy products and tolerate them very well. My body tolerates dairy products perfectly.

I agree on the last part of the sentence though: so go easy. Yes, moderation is advised and Yoga is the path of moderation.

Last but not least, dairy products are very good for vegetarians who exercise and need more protein, like myself.

[mccoy]

I have found that plant butter actually tastes good! I don’t know what to say after that last entry Eric, accept I think I want to move further away from anything the diary has to offer. I really do find fruit more appealing and uplifting from a spiritual view. And we could feed the whole world with vegetables if we could give up dairy. The land used for raising cows would give people much more food. The statistics and realities of this are all too evident and I’m willing to provide them if need be.

Steve, plant butter is just fat, with some water.

Fruit is excellent if your body tolerates glucose well (I don't think you'll have fatty liver problems from fructose), but fruit has very little protein.

Vegetables have more protein usually but not of the quality of dairy products.

A nutritionally valid and ethic alternative to diry products would be to eat eggs, soy products, seitan (wheat protein) some beans, unrefined grains.