IC and $ Saving Eating Healthy: Dispelling Myths and 11 Strategies To Save

It’s one thing to watch what you eat when you have the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, fibromyalgia) but what you use as foods and how to buy them economically is another aspect of food preparation

With our busy lives, these temptations seem so much easier and affordable than cooking. Between our never-ending to-do lists, demanding jobs, children’s busy schedules, and perhaps less-than-stellar skills in the kitchen, cooking seems to slide down to the bottom of our list of priorities  Unfortunately, we’ve now raised several generations of Americans who don’t know how to cook. And it’s killing us.

The food industry wants us to believe that cooking is difficult, time-consuming, inconvenient, and expensive. They’ve brainwashed us to believe that we “deserve a break today.”

You Don’t Need to Spend Half Your Paycheck to Eat Healthy

Even if time and money aren’t on your side, you can still eat healthy  This is one of the most common misconceptions I hear  I understand the challenges of trying to eat well with limited financial resources, limited time, or both  But you don’t have to be rich or retired to eat well and take care of yourself

These days, I’m even busier, but I haven’t forgotten how to incorporate simple but effective strategies for eating good-quality, healthy food that’s prepared with little money and time

Likewise, I’ve met numerous folks with limited finances and time who nonetheless have access to good quality food  Trust me, they don’t search out arcane ingredients or shop at trendy food boutiques  Instead, they realize the immediate and long-term value of eating healthy and employ some savvy strategies to make their food budget work harder

Dispelling 3 “Healthy Eating on a Budget” Myths

I mentioned earlier that the food industry spends billions of dollars each year and has become incredibly crafty at convincing us that sugary, processed foods are a real value Let’s look at three of their myths and consider the truth about eating healthy

1. Healthy food costs more. Research shows eating healthy, whole, real food isn’t necessarily more expensive than eating junk food, fast food, processed foods, or convenience foods  In fact, the top four things purchased in supermarkets are ALL drugs: sugar, caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol! If you give up those “drugs,” your grocery bill will go down dramatically
2. Healthy food is hard to find. You don’t have to shop in a gourmet food store, a health-food store, a farmer’s market, or eat only organic to eat well  There are plenty of healthy foods right in your local supermarket. Just shop around the outside aisles of the store  Another convenient way to access healthy food is online
3. Healthy food takes lots of time to prepare   You don’t have to spend hours cooking complex meals to eat well. Good quality, fresh food is easy to prepare and enjoy once you learn how

Ten Ideas to Begin Organizing Your Shopping and Money Saving

n so, there are ways of making choices that work within our resources. Here are 10 ideas based on how I save time and money AND create better health for myself. 

1. Keep a journal  This might be the most eye-opening experience you will encounter to better budget your time, resources, and money For just one week, keep a journal of every cent you spend and how you spend every hour of the day Think of money as your life energy  It represents your time in physical form. How do you want to spend this life energy?
2. Choose three things that give you more money. For example, don’t buy that $2.00 coffee every day — that’s $730.00 a year! Likewise, you might find yourself gravitating to the vending machine daily  You can put that money towards much better use
3. Buy in season  You will almost always get fresher produce, probably locally grown, for less money, when it is in season
4. Learn the Dirty Dozen  Not everyone has the budget to buy 100 percent organic, but the more you can, the more you will avoid GMOs and have better health To learn the most and least pesticide-ridden foods try this link   goo.gl/t9TZdh
5. Frequent discount grocery stores  Search out cheaper sources of fresh, whole foods in your neighborhood  My top choices are stores like Trader Joe’s and shopping clubs like Costco or Sam’s Club, where you can buy vegetables, olive oil, fruits, nuts, canned beans, sardines, and salmon at much lower prices than regular supermarkets or other retail chains  A problem is the degree of bulk purchasing that has to be done but if most of these items are nonperishable and can be easily stored it can be a definite savings
6. Think about joining your local food co-op  Co-ops are community-based organizations that support local farmers and businesses and allow you to order foods and products in bulk at just slightly over the wholesale price. This takes a bit of advance planning but will save you money.
7. Join a community-supported agriculture program  Buy direct and cut out the middleman. We get organic, mostly seasonal, local vegetables delivered to our house for $55 a week, or a little more than $10 a person for a family of four per week. We don’t always get to choose what we get, but it makes us more creative cooks  This volume may not work for some folks but in the right situation it can pay off
8. Keep some basics on hand  Develop a repertoire of cheap, easy-to-prepare meals. Have the ingredients available at home at all times so you don’t get stuck eating food that doesn’t make you feel well or help you create the health you want. This takes planning but is well worth it.
9. Create a “potluck club”  Have coworkers share the responsibility of making lunch for the group once a week or every two weeks. No more buying lunch out, and you get to eat real, whole fresh food and only have to cook a few times a month. Or create a “supper club” with a group of friends; rather than go out to dinner, once a week or once a month rotate dinner parties at one another’s homes. You will build community and health at the same time.
10. Order staples online  Why pay retail for healthy kitchen staples like turmeric, coconut oil, and almond butter? My new favorite online store is Amazon.com  It has great deals for supplements and even grocery items that would be common in the market even when shipping is include
11. Cooking for 48hours  Preparing meals like kitchari so that you have fresh vegetables for 48hours with rice, barley, or quinoa to go with the split mung dal can be helpful  Recently I have been adding kale to the split mung dal mixture to give it some chewiness and variety

In part courtesy of Mark Hyman MD blog

IC and Constipation: 8 Energy Science Solutions

Irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) is a common condition in those with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, GERD, fibromyalgia) and falls into 3 categories: symptoms with constipation, diarrhea, and those with both  This is not surprising since all disease except trauma begins in the GIT according to the energy science model of Ayurveda  So how does constipation occur from the view of the energy science?

In general Vata due to the elements of Space and Air presents when imbalanced as gas  Gas or air when present has the capability of drying  This dry quality tends to be most prominent in the colon and so colonic contents and the lubricating element of the colon get dried out  The contents don’t slide along leading to further drying  The result is a slow down of the normal transit time through the colon leading to constipation

Constipation and Its Treatment

The energy science of Ayurveda states that a healthy functioning state of the colon is a bowel movement first thing in the morning and then a stool 2h after eating  From this definition most of us are constipated to some degree or another

The nutritional format(nf) at foodsheal.com is never ever the problem….it’s the shifts, releases, and the imbalances that lead to changes in bowel patterns Following are some suggestions if you have constipation
1 Begin using soaked overnight prunes or raisins(can use them as snacks not with meals) or apples bananas peaches pineapple juice based on the nf
2 Eat more fiber….oatmeal wheat bran oat bran
3 Use triphala(T3) on a every night basis…you can make a decoction(5min boil of the herb in cup of water) at night or straight up powder(churna) and wash it down with warm water….link http://goo.gl/RMD8ny….I think the churna is superior to tablets(vati)
4 If you get loose with the T3 switch to bhumyamalaki at the same link 3 There is a T3 tincture if your agni is poor at the same link
5 2t of ghee with warm milk at bedtime is a gentle way to help with constipation
6 Castor oil can be used if the constipation is obstinate but not for long period of time as it can cause dependency One way to prevent this dependency is using castor with warm milk at night
7 Boil 1T of flaxseed in 1c of water for 3minutes then drink including the seeds
8 If there is absolute constipation for 3 days, don’t use purgatives The better approach is to use basti(medicated herbal enema) to initiate steps of regulating the system You can use T3 tea as described above just more volume with more T3

IC and Blockage of Prana: 7 Ways to Get Prana Moving

The energy science of Ayurveda uses the VPK(Vata Pitta Kapha) paradigm as a way of talking about the mindbody as a biologic energy field  In the energy field model of the energy science health is enjoyed when there is free flow of this biologic energy throughout the physiology and dis-ease is recognized when there is abnormal flow of this biologic energy  In this model energy is called prana  Prana is a general term for the biologic energy but VPK are types of biologic energy  In other energy models prana is called chi, qi, ru, or ruha  Regardless we notice things are not right when this energy flow is in some way compromised or obstructed

In the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, fibromyalgia) prana gets stuck in the pelvic plexus of nerves  This pranic blockage of Vata is due to the buildup of the Vata qualities of cold, light, mobile, dry, rough, subtle, clear; pranic blockage can occur with the buildup of Pitta qualities of hot, light, spreading, sharp, liquid, oily; and prana is significantly blocked with the Kapha qualities of heavy, slow/dull, cool, slimy/smooth, liquid, dense, hard, soft, static, cloudy/sticky

Ama and the Flow of Prana

When these above qualities accumulate they slow down the flow of prana through the GIT(GI tract) and affect agni  When agni becomes disturbed food is no longer digested well and the result is undigested unprocessed food called ama  When these qualities of VPK leave the GIT and go into the pelvic nerves(IC bladder pain syndrome) they carry this ama with them  You can see this ama on your tongue when you scrape it in the morning during your morning ritual  This is a great way as to check your progress when you are regaining your health

This ama blocks the energy channels as well as the qualities of VPK mentioned above So as you can see one of the major ways to clear the channels and hence improve the flow of prana is to augment or improve your own digestive fire or agni

Enhancing Pranic Flow by Improving Agni

The beauty of the energy model is that it not only helps us understand how disease originates but it gives us multiple ways to fix it  One of the major problems in the matter science medical model is that it does not have any understanding of this concept of agni  Even though it speaks about metabolism in a molecular way due to the model it has no way of treating the metabolism about which it speaks

The energy science offers several ways to clear obstructed channels in the mindbody some of which you are familiar with

1 Teas CCF tea….cumin, coriander, and fennel

Fresh ginger, cardamom, cinnamon tea

Agni tea….fresh ginger, pinch of cayenne pepper, and sucanat

2 Use of ginger pickle will stoke agni

3 Following a nutritional format for your mindbody energy constitutional makeup…seems strange that a nutrition not appropriate for your energy makeup would obstruct prana but think about it….if the qualities that you bring into your body are already in excess that will disturb digestive fire which will build ama which further obstructs the channels of flow

4 Pranayama  This is a powerful way to augment agni if done on a regular basis and get prana moving

5 Asana.…certain yoga postures can enhance agni…for example naukasana(boat pose) and flow sequence such as sun salutation

6 Herbs...specific herbs used in the kitchen can improve agni such as  CCF, fresh ginger, turmeric, black pepper, garlic  The last 2 can be too heating especially if Pitta is provoked or during the hot summer season

7 Herbal forumla.…all formulae should be written to address agni with common herbs such as chitrak, haridra, pippali, aloe, manjistha, neem, bhumy amalaki, and kutki

IC and Honey: Energy Science Recommendations

The qualities that bring about the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) vary according to which of the VPK energy patterns are involved  Each of the energy patterns has qualities  Vata has cold light mobile dry rough subtle clear; Pitta hot light spreading sharp/penetrating liquid oily; and for Kapha heavy slow/dull cool slimy/smooth liquid dense soft hard static cloudy/sticky  In the energy science these qualities are universal, that is, they make up all of our observable world, including ourselves

So when the environment is hot our mindbody becomes hot as well and you seek cold for comfort  Similarly when you eat food that is hot such as salsa then your mindbody becomes hot  The windows to your mindbody’s energy field is through its senses of the above qualities  Honey is a unique food from an energy science point of view and is far from a simple sweet treat

The Qualities of Honey as Medicine

The energy science of Ayurveda says that everything can be medicine when used appropriately so we need to know about the qualities of honey to use it as food  Honey has qualities that can aggravate each of the energy patterns but is most most appropriate for the slow/dull cool slimy/smooth and static Kapha because of its heating qualities

In the IC bladder pain syndrome the earliest qualities to be expressed either in the gut or bladder are the hot mobile and spreading qualiites

The hot characteristic of Pitta will be aggravated by honey so PK people should not use honey all the time  It also follows that during the summer months honey should not be used due to the heat

Guidelines for Honey as Medicine

Since honey has a heating quality it can help with clearing Kapha imbalance Mucous is the signature symptom of either Kapha imbalance or release and the mucous of the common cold is an experience that we can all relate to But when Kapha’s qualities show up in the IC syndrome you can experience the heavy slow/dull and static qualities in the pelvis

Honey guidelines

The best time to use honey is during the cold winter months

Honey and ghee should be used in equal volumes NOT equal weights(toxic if you do)

NEVER cook honey(toxic if you do)

Honey will NOT be heating if used in basti since you’re not digesting it

Use honey in moderation (1 to at most 2x per week during summer)

Don’t use honey with fruit

Honey can be used with herbs to carry it to the lungs or kidneys

Honey is best used in cool mucous Kapha conditions

Honey is best used with warm to hot water

IC and the Bloats: 10 Energy Science Solutions

The IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) originates in the bowel according to the energy science of Ayurveda so it’s not surprising that bowel disorders are common in the syndrome  Bloating is one of the bowel symptoms that occur with the syndrome

The Matter Science Approach

Bloating or abdominal distention is a common digestive problem which typically occurs after eating and varies in degree like any symptom At times it may be very transient, lasting for short period of time(hour or less) while in others it may last longer(several hours or an entire day)

It is described by the matter science as a functional bowel disorder, that is, a motility disorder of the gut  It’s not known why this motility problem occurs although matter science researchers suggest that it’s related to alterations in the gut flora or the microbiome  This has been termed dysbiosis and SIBO has been used of recent to define this alteration in gut flora  There is an older cousin to SIBO that has been recognized for some time initially in children called “leaky gut syndrome”  Once felt by the research establishment as a ridiculous concept is now being taken seriously

As is usually the case the matter science is rich in testing and trying to come up with names of these human biological disease phenomena but not so effective in determining treatment  Drugs or pharma have not been very effective in dealing with bloating but because they pay the bills for the current medical establishment reports don’t surface as to their ineffectiveness

The Energy Science Approach to the Bloats

In the energy science world of Ayurveda there is one primary reason for bloating and that’s poor digestive strength or agni  As I have written a number of times in this blog agni is essential for health from an Ayurvedic perspective and without it the individual is bound to incur disease of some form  It’s not a matter of “if” it’s really only “when”  The fundamental reason that the matter(molecular) science model of healing has trouble with dealing with digestive disorders in general is the Western allopathic model(these are all synonyms) has no understanding of the concept of agni

Poor agni can lead to a couple of different scenarios The primary result is the production of undigested, unprocessed food called ama and this leads to the interference of movement of food through the small bowel…..this interference leads to bloating  Since the microbiome(gut flora) is an integral part of agni or the digestive fire, the matter science is getting close to understanding what Ayurveda has been articulating as a model of healing for 5,000 years but still not there yet  So for now, take some pills

As ama progresses over time(years) more and more congestion in the gut occurs leading to progressive worsening of the bloating  This leads to a second and fortunately less common reason…….a change in the direction of the normal downward movement of energy in the rectum and this interferes with normal rectal function and bowel movement function  This becomes the “end of the road” for many who initially are treated as IBS due to the symptoms of their bloating  But this progression leads to a severe complex of symptoms that are difficult to treat

Bloating:  10 Energy Science Solutions

These are meant to be added to each other over time  Don’t try to do all at once or your mind WILL rebel

Eat according to your energy constitutional makeup 

Avoid incompatible food combinations

Avoid overeating.….2handfuls for any one meal  Place a bowl that sits comfortably in your 2 cupped hands….now that’s how much you should eat at your biggest meal of the day

Biggest meal at noon

Use spices ALL THE TIME in your cooking….fresh ginger turmeric cumin coriander fennel vanilla fresh basil

Use GHEE instead of butter or cooking oil….ghee has the qualities of digestive fire

Exercise regularly but don’t overdo it….pranayama is the best way to stoke agni

Avoid fatty fried foods

Make a deal with yourself to always sit to eat  The more focus and attention you bring to eating the better your agni digestion  When you calm the mind you improve agni which from a mental standpoint is better focused attention  Calm the mind with meditation….at an energy level the mind and body are intimately spliced…you cannot separate them(you can’t say this using the matter science model)

Fasting  This does not have to be a water fast….simply using juice or fruit for 24hours….or eat dinner at 6-7p and don’t eat until 8a the next morning and you have a 12h fast

IC and Emotions: An Energy Science Perspective

In any chronic disease process an emotional roller coaster is potentially possible  This is particularly true for the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD. and fibromyalgia) due to the ups and downs of the painful flares

We are all unique not only physically but psychologically and because we are mindbodies what happens in the body, happens in the mind and vice versa…the mind and body are intimately spliced…you cannot separate them….so what happens in the body happens in the mind

In the energy science the individual reigns  What this means is that using the VPK(Vata Pitta Kapha) paradigm the type of emotions that crop up for someone will be different for a Vata individual than for a Kapha individual’s energy pattern

Tools of Observation and the Vata Energy Pattern

All the tools in the energy science such as the VPK energy patterns are basically to help us become better observers of ourselves  When we become observers of ourselves as energy patterns of mixtures of VPK we then can have choices as to how to treat ourselves

The Vata energy pattern is that of movement so the qualities of cold, light, mobile, dry, rough, subtle, and clear are observed when there is physiologic imbalance  And each of these qualities are associated with emotions  For example, the cold, light, rough, and subtle qualities bring about fear and anxiety

In general the emotions of Vata are fear, anxiety, loneliness, and insecurity and the best way to treat these unnerving emotions is to provide grouding in the form of a “heavy” nutrition(dairy, nuts, root vegetables), internal oleation with ghee and externally with oil massage, practices such as calming pranayama and asana yoga practice, and meditation

Emotions and the Pitta Energy Pattern

Pitta, the energy of physiologic transformation, is characterized by the qualities of hot, light, spreading, sharp/penetrating, liquid, and oily  As you can see these qualities deliver the transformative like emotions of getting things done  But when out of balance this need to accomplish can result in anger, irritability, impatience, rigidity, intrusiveness, and meddlesomeness

The rigidity arises from the emotion of “my way or the highway” type of attitude  When Pitta is out of balance there often is a need to control to the point of not listening to another’s point of view  This kind of controlling behavior can lead to intrusiveness and even meddlesomeness

The way to deal with these negative emotions is to cool the Pitta energy pattern off with foods, yogic practices, and ghee

Kapha and Emotional Inertia

Kapha, the energy of stability, is the most manifested of the energy patterns and thus has the most qualities of heavy, slow/dull, cool, oily, slimy/smooth, liquid, dense, soft, hard, static, gross, and sticky  These qualities when in balance are associated with positive human emotions of love, compassion, and empathy  But when out of balance they can lead to inability to leave relationships that are serving us…. inability to move at all so complacency, inappropriate acceptance, lack of initiative….being cloying or clinging in relationships

Too often for Kapha individuals they overlook the negative emotions and see themselves as loving and compassionate  This can be self destructive in the end  The way out of these tricky emotional situations is to MOVE and to eat a light nourishing diet