what does the word “diet” even mean?
When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need.
Ayurvedic proverb shared by Dr. John Douillard
Growing up, to me the word “diet” was associated with losing weight. Diet food, going on a diet, dieting, diet rules. Messing up or doing well with a set of rules with the aim of losing a few pounds; with the expectation that this lighter weight or leaner figure will [hopefully] result in a happier person.
Can you relate? Have you ever had the experience of expecting gratification under the condition that you look a certain way; that being a specific size or weight would result in feeling better about yourself and life in general; that it might solve a few of your problems?
In my experience and studies over the years, I have learned that feeling better from within comes first – even if the ultimate goal is weight loss – because the healing process is goes far beyond the number of calories we consume or the number on the scale.
Ayurveda found me in 2011 during my first 200 hour yoga teacher training. The concepts of living in alignment with the cycles of nature — as nature does in and of itself — made sense to me, even if certain aspects of the lifestyle did not 100% fit into modern day living [not many people that I know of in NYC – even the most serious of yogis – rises daily at 4 am to meditate…].
I continued my self-study of Ayurveda after completing the Institute for Integrative Nutrition Health Coach Training Program in 2012 by reading weekly articles published by Dr. John Douillard. I found his approach of relating modern science to ancient wisdom enlightening, and so I would add pieces of these practices into my lifestyle based on my current needs.
As my career path in the wellness world forged onward, I noticed that – during the process of supporting others in their own healing – I had some recurring and confusing health issues that also needed attention.
My muscles were chronically sore off-and-on for a few years, I had some pesky skin conditions that seemed to pop up out of nowhere, my menstrual cycle took a detour [and has yet to return], my digestion – although I was one of the cleanest eaters I knew – was constantly upset. I was ashamed – how could this happen when I was so conscious and diligent about my diet?
I was so over guessing what to eat based on the conflicting articles I read about gluten, dairy, sugar, soy, raw food, grains, Whole 30, Paleo… Even though I follow good-intentioned, well-educated doctors and healers, it was and is still overwhelming. Although I always tell my clients to do what feels right for them, I was confused if I was actually doing that for myself.
Because the Universe ultimately has our back – especially when we begin to align with our intentions – I found Divya Alter last year through her incredible Ayurvedic NYC restaurant, who I basically [nicely] hounded until she was able to see me for a consultation. I was ready and willing to do what it took to resolve these uncomfortable mysteries.
My work with Divya began with another set of specific dietary [and a few lifestyle] shifts I had to make based on what I was currently experiencing, which was also simply a lesson in SV Ayurvedic practices based on both ancient and ongoing studies.
By feeling my pulse and chatting with me about my diet and lifestyle, Divya helped me discover that a few of the foods I was eating – which are absolutely clean and healthy – were in fact aggravating instead of alleviating my symptoms. I felt both bamboozled and liberated; mostly though I was ready to do what I needed to do based on the practical albeit avalanche of new information she provided.
Once I got the hang of adding in/eliminating certain things from my diet, it only took about a week to notice a difference with my digestive issues. Through a lot of ongoing trial and error – even amidst consultations with Divya’s mentor Dr. Marianne Teitelbaum [who totally changed my perspective on/ fear of gluten and dairy] – I am still developing my ever evolving relationship with food, and the relationship with my Self as a result.
This unending self-study of Ayurveda – amongst other personal and general discoveries – has shifted my personal understanding of the idea of and the word “diet,” which I have been considering a lot during my summer here in France and amidst my recent travels.
When the concept of “being on a diet” might mean avoiding carbs or gelato in Italy for fear of gaining weight [let’s be honest, gelato always wins that battle, and so I cease to even fight it], I have decided to consider the word “diet” as personal choices around food based on where I am, what I need and what I want [because I might not NEED gelato, but I certainly WANT it].
A diet no longer translates as a mechanism for losing weight, nor does losing weight translate as happiness. Although I am certainly still working with my longtime body images issues around this topic, yoga and Ayurveda [and France, too] have helped me to recognize that a slimmer waistline is not the answer.
Healing from within absolutely takes effort in terms of the food we consume, but also in how we consume it [i.e. the implications of rushing through a meal versus enjoying it calmly]. The food I eat in France is certainly altered from the food I ate when I prepared most of my meals back in Brooklyn, but I have been able to take what I’ve learned from Ayurveda and apply it to my life wherever I go, even if it just means learning to appreciate food instead of judging it based on what I think I “should” or “shouldn’t” be eating.
One of the many gold nuggets I have learned on this path is based on the quote above – if we are consuming meals mindlessly or stressfully, the medicine or whatever we take to supplement our health won’t be of any use.
For example: strictly forcing ourselves to eat super clean and take all the herbs might not end up healing our issues after all, because the healing properties of the medicine we take cannot thrive in a stressed environment [just like humans].
If we can relax into what we eat – whether it is the healthiest salad or cookies – and recognize that both our bodies and our diets are ever-changing, medicine might eventually not even be needed at all.
This does not mean that healing does not require some diligence and effort, but like I said before: our bodies and our diets ebb and flow. It may take a bit of discipline at first – which was actually a fun learning experience for me – but once we have balanced our system, the result might be a little more freedom. The result of that freedom is a functional digestive system, which results in a clear and conscious mind, and so on – the ripple effect is vast and it is real.
As Divya so wisely states in her amazing cookbook [which I also legitimately read like a textbook], “…health comes first, and healing begins with self-acceptance, self-compassion, and self-love; food is meant to keep us healthy, not make us sick.”
No need for diet foods, no need to believe that the outcome of weight loss is self-love. We can simply show up by loving ourselves through it all, trusting our bodies and the process, and staying curious and aware.
How can we put this into practice: discerning a diet that does not serve us – and as a result not benefiting from whatever form of medicine we are taking – versus finding a diet that is “correct” for us so that medicine is [mostly] of no need?
Here are some discoveries I’ve made that help me stay as healthy as possible and continue to heal on the go, whether I am bopping around NYC teaching classes or traveling for retreats and events [and fun]:
Meditation | For someone like me who anxiously feels the need to always have something to do [hello fellow perfectionists], sitting still with myself and my environment without doing anything is a non-negotiable way to begin my day. I do my best to take the simple practice of being aware throughout my day, even if it is only for a moment. This practice is also incredibly helpful with making choices of what and how I eat, including my relationship with food and my body.
Masala spice mixes | Chef Divya Alter’s spice mixes from her cookbook have seriously upgraded my meals, especially when I travel and I am seeking both extra flavor alongside digestive aids [quite helpful when faced with foods not normally consumed]. If you prefer not to make anything, try Mom’s Masala on Chandika.com — I’ve used it in everything from sautéed veggies to oatmeal.
Fennel seeds | Divya recommended eating about 1/2 teaspoon of fennel seeds [equal parts dry toasted to raw] either 30 minutes before or after a meal when digestion feels compromised, especially when traveling and eating something unusual to your typical diet. It works.
Morning apple | Not always easy when on the road, but extremely grounding and satiating. Find the full recipe in Divya’s cookbook, or simply boil a peeled apple until cooked to eat first thing in the morning – even before a workout or breakfast. It is easy to digest, has supportive vitamins and minerals, and helps kickstart the digestive fire. This fire is imperative to regulate and effectively distribute the nutrients absorbed from the food later consumed throughout the day.
Food combining | Especially if you have a sensitivity stomach or are easily drained of energy, consider things like trying fruit on its own, cooked or dried fruits with grains or yogurt, veggies with leafy greens, and protein with veggies. Instead of being hyper militant it is more than enough to do the best we can, when we can.
Herbs + tinctures | Consult your doctors before departing on a trip [or simply to have on hand when leaving the house] to advise the most imperative supplements for your current specific health goals. Perhaps even consider doing a little research on similar doctors or local supplements, healers, and remedies at the destination.
Practice vs Perfection | Eat mostly plants as much as possible instead of rigidly restricting. Yes, gelato is delicious although certainly not Ayurvedic, but for me personally it might wind up being more detrimental to stress about it than to just eat and enjoy it. I find that the more one can relax around food, the less challenging it might feel to eat mostly clean food in the first place. The flow of what, how and when to eat comes more naturally and feels less forced. What a relief, right?
In conclusion [for now – because let’s be honest I could talk about this for days], I have found that it winds up feeling AND looking better to approach this work with the intention of feeling good from the inside. Because what is on the outside is ultimately a reflection of the inside, and what is inside us all is ultimately love.
If we can learn to act out of love – whether toward our diet or our friends or our Selves – wouldn’t that feel pretty good?
What does “diet,” healing, and the relationship between the two mean to you?
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Photo with my girls Aditi Shah and Caroline Smith, by Grant Henry Media.
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