Somehow, with all the attention we give our health, our weight, our immunity and well-being these days – from diet books to television shows, schooling to even parenting – very little attention has been paid to the power of good digestion.
Over the last few years, the topics of digestion, good bacteria, and enzymes have finally been getting the attention they deserve and much of that has to do with the influence of our August Guest Editor, Donna Gates. Donna is the founder of Body Ecology, a book, product line and educational tool all about nurturing our “inner ecosystems”. It may not sound too sexy at first, but trust us when we say that correcting any physical issues with your “inner ecosystem” will be nothing short of life-changing. We love this eye-opening philosophy that makes more sense the more you practice it, from alkalinization to probiotics.
Donna Gates is the kind of health pro we get really excited about. She’s taught us how to feel good daily, achieve clear, radiant skin, and has earned our respect with her suggested solutions for many modern conditions. Body Ecology makes more sense to us than almost every other health paradigm we’ve encountered. We’re thrilled to share best-selling author, recognized radio host and wellness industry leader, Donna Gates’ insights this month and hope you go all in on this one.
Learn how to keep your internal system healthy, happy, and thriving with these principles from Donna to start (all seven are explained below!). Check back with us every Monday this month for more gut-healing knowledge…
body ecology defined: Body ecology is a way of life, a system of health and healing based on the 7 Universal Principles (below) that create a foundation for health and healing, a robust inner ecosystem. The Body Ecology Diet is delicious but customizable and delivers real results. It was the first gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free diet with probiotic foods. It has a two-decade track record of working for so many conditions.
Our inner ecosystem’s worst enemies: Stress, the modern diet, pathogens, parasites, GMO foods… and when you don’t digest your foods properly.
signs our body’s inner ecosystem is ‘off’: Gas, bloating, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), fatigue after a meal, pain, nausea and constipation.
how to jump start our inner ecosystem back on track: Eat fermented foods and drinks. Use digestive enzymes. Follow the food combining rules properly. Cook your food to make them more digestible. If that’s not enough, colonics and/or home enemas cleanses out decades of improper eating and parasites.
Simplest health tip ever: Think: “How can I make this meal more digestible?” Eat fermented foods. Take a probiotic like our Bifidus Probiotic capsules. Don’t overcook food.
biggest misconception about Body Ecology: That it’s too hard to do. There is a lot of information to start. But it’s not hard to do. You’re not giving up foods you love, you are replacing them with better, healthier choices.
Recommended reading and resources: The Body Ecology Diet book. Our bimonthly newsletter, which you can sign up for here. I am also an avid reader of books about genes and nutritional genomics. My next book features a new gut smart, gene smart approach, which is due to release in 2017 called Your Body Ecology – How to Make the World’s Healthiest Way of Life Work For You!
The 7 Universal Principles of Body Ecology
The Principle of Balance: Your body is always seeking balance. All foods have some properties of yin and yang, but in various proportions. At Body Ecology, we call these properties expansion and contraction. When you eat a food like sugar, your blood stream quickly absorbs it and produces energy, making you feel temporarily open and relaxed. Other foods, like salt are more contracting and cause your cells to contract and lose fluids, making you feel tight and constricted. Without understanding this principle you may unknowingly damage the body and create imbalance in a vicious cycle of cravings.
The Principle of Acid and Alkaline: Foods can be alkaline, acid or neutral in the body. The foods we eat and the lifestyle choices we make impact our body’s ability to maintain a balanced alkaline state.
The Principle of Uniqueness: While we are similar as humans, each of us has a unique set of genes. This may require modification to suit your own individual body. We like to call Body Ecology the gut-smart, gene-smart diet because it’s vital to observe your body’s reactions and assess what best brings balance to your body at all stages of your life.
The Principle of Cleansing: Your body cleanses every day through sweat, tears, elimination and urine. Cleansing allows your body to restore balance. In today’s world, it is often necessary to help our body rid itself of toxins that would otherwise build up and potentially lead to disease, so colonics or home enemas can be very helpful.
The Principle of Food Combining: Combining certain foods when you eat can help or hinder digestion. Combining the wrong foods can lead to foods fermenting in your gut and a release of toxins in your intestines. This principle is important for both your health and for lasting weight loss.
The Principle of 80/20: This principle has two concepts – one relating to balance of nutrients and one relating to quantity. The concept of quantity means giving your stomach room to digest by only filling it to 80% capacity. You can balance nutrients by having 80% of your meal be land and ocean vegetables and 20% be protein or grain-like seed (such as millet, quinoa, amaranth or buckwheat). Together, these can have a significant impact on digestion.
The Principle of Step By Step: You cannot expect instant healing – but making small, consistent changes gives your body the foundation it needs to support optimal, long-term health.
The Chalkboard Mag and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. All material on The Chalkboard Mag is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health related program.
