The low FODMAP diet has gained attention as a potential solution for individuals struggling with digestive issues such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other gastrointestinal disorders. Not only does this diet help alleviate symptoms like bloating, gas, and stomach pain, but it also holds potential benefits for boosting immune function and overall well-being. Changing my diet around this system has made huge changes for my gastrointestinal health. What are FODMAPs, you may ask? FODMAPs are a group of fermentable carbohydrates found in many common foods, including certain fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products, and sweeteners. For some individuals, these FODMAPs can trigger digestive discomfort and exacerbate existing gut issues, leading to inflammation and a weakened immune system. By following a low FODMAP diet, individuals can reduce their intake of these troublesome carbohydrates and provide their gut with much-needed relief. Not only does this approach help manage digestive symptoms, but it can also lead to a healthier, more balanced gut microbiome, which plays a crucial role in immune function and overall health. Here are some tips for incorporating low FODMAP foods into your diet to support better digestive health and immune function: 1. Focus on Whole, Unprocessed Foods: Lean proteins, low FODMAP vegetables (like spinach, carrots, and zucchini), and gluten-free grains (such as rice and quinoa) are great choices for building a low FODMAP meal plan. Avoid processed foods that may contain hidden FODMAPs, like certain sauces and condiments. 2. Experiment with Low FODMAP Substitutions: While certain high FODMAP foods are off-limits, there are plenty of delicious low FODMAP alternatives available. For example, swap out garlic and onion for garlic-infused oil or green onion tops. Explore different herbs and spices to add flavor without the FODMAPs. 3. Keep a Food Diary: Tracking your meals and symptoms can help you identify trigger foods and make adjustments to your diet as needed. This can be especially helpful in pinpointing foods that may be contributing to digestive issues or immune system imbalances. 4. Reintroduce FODMAPs Carefully: Once you have established a routine of low FODMAP eating and your symptoms have improved, you can begin reintroducing higher FODMAP foods one at a time to gauge your tolerance levels. This can help you expand your diet while still managing your digestive health. By taking a thoughtful approach to your diet and incorporating low FODMAP foods, you can support your digestive system, balance your gut microbiome, and potentially enhance your immune function. Discovering the power of low FODMAP foods may be the key to unlocking better digestive health and a stronger immune system for a happier and healthier you.
Author: Andrew Bowden
Our innate desire to find meaning is both a blessing and a curse
How to have a Mystical 2024
One of the challenges that all of us face in the New Year, is living up to our own expectations. Most of us will set more goals than we can handle, and when we become overwhelmed, we end up not doing any of them. I call this process, decision fatigue. We want to go to the gym every day, do an hour of yoga, an hour of meditation, study a new subject, learn a language or instrument, deepen our relationships with partners, friends and family. This is just a short list to show you what I mean. In the face of so much growth, many of us falter. Not because we don’t want to achieve our goals, but because they aren’t structured and we have other obligations. So how can you make this year different than the last? Maybe you went to the gym for all of January last year, and stopped shortly after; or maybe you did your meditation for the first half of the year, but work got busy and it fell off. My suggestion is this, pick one goal. One monumental change that you can make, that will change your life for the better. Instead of saying I’m going to make these 10 changes, promise yourself to make ONE. For me, it’s to spend more time expanding my knowledge. I have chosen not to choose any specifics, because when we lose steam we lose our drive. I have written down and placed in my wallet “Do what you fear, and fear ceases.” What does this have to do with wisdom? Everything. For me, the lack of progress I see in my physical or mental health, always stems from a fear of failure. The actions I have taken in the past, lead me to here, which is great, but I could have done a lot more, faster. Most of us deal with this mental warfare, we can’t all be gold medal Olympians who do the maximum action every day. We also can’t beat ourselves up about what-ifs or what could have been. Anxiety, is living in the past or the future. In order to beat our inner bitch, we have to take action now. So wisdom, in the sense I intend to manifest, is the action of doing it today. So if I tell my partner that I will work on a project tomorrow, I’ve asked her to tell me to do it now. You’ll be amazed how great it feels when you tackle something now, instead of dreading doing it later. When you appreciate the little wins, the big wins come faster. You start building drive, momentum, and a belief you can do it. One thing I hate doing at work, is making phone calls to CPAs. I have a terrible fear of rejection, which has been such a challenge for me that I talk about it to my therapist. I am blessed to work with a saint who has a PhD in Energy Trauma, the first person to identify as a Mystic when I asked him about his beliefs almost 10 years ago. At the time the word meant little to me, but after taking an 8-year hiatus from him, I felt compelled to reach out and work on myself with my first spiritual mentor. When I was talking to Dr. Lane about my anxiety about making calls, he asked me to visualize the emotions I felt. After a little guidance, I came to visualize a giant red ball, which I believe was the weight of my anxiety. After doing some acupressure on my chest meridians, he asked me to visualize another object, and the color associated with it. I came to see a yellow energy, which eventually formed into a triangle. Then I began to see the red ball, on top of the yellow triangle. He asked if I saw any cracks on the triangle, and I did not. Then he asked me to thank the red ball, for protecting me from failure. He asked if I felt any less anxiety after this, and I didn’t. What really helped, was changing my frame of thought. When I came to see the red orb, as this inner weakness, and that the holy grail laid on the other side of my fear, I started to feel less strain on my body. He then instructed me to visualize the red ball, moving off the yellow triangle. As I did this, I began to feel the weight of my anxiety, change forms. Instead of seeing this fear as something that was crippling me, I saw it as a challenge to grow in my career. Everything I wanted in life, was held back by this red ball’s weight. So now, every time I make a phone call, I have a visualization that I look at of this process. I made this in photoshop, and hopefully it helps you. This wisdom of knowing that if I do the things today, that I have been putting off until tomorrow, I will feel infinitely better about my life.
Who were you before your friends, family and society molded your mind?
What would you have done with your life, if the pressures of success and recognition hadn’t influenced your dreams? We all want certain things out of life at a very young age. Most of us want to find love, maintain our friendships, become more than what we are, and ultimately make those around us proud. I know for myself, I always wanted to write fantasy novels. I grew up reading Lord of the Rings and Forgotten Realms books as if it were my only focus in life. Slowly, the awkwardness of youth began to take its toll and I started to read nerdy books in private. That’s not to say I wouldn’t admit to my tastes if asked, but it wasn’t cool to be a fantasy nerd back then. While our friends usually are a beacon of strength, they can also take away your passions without you realizing it. Watching anime wasn’t cool, so only a handful of friends got to know that part of me. We begin to compartmentalize the aspects of ourselves that we don’t want to be judged for. We begin reading non-fiction works that were recommended to us by our teachers. We choose to learn about things relevant to our life and our peers, losing our fanaticism for our true interests. The reason for this post, is that those on the spiritual path are notoriously gifted at this. We may believe in angels, aliens, inner earth, but to speak of our realizations to those who do not believe as we do, is seen as heretical. It’s human nature to avoid discomfort, especially when it is related to the people closest to us. Now, not everyone is ready to have a conversation on the implications of the flower of life being located all over the earth, building the metaphysical blocks of our universe. This is supposed to be so, there is a reason we all make new friendships as we grow in our spiritual quest. As our energetic vibration begins to raise our consciousness, our ability to believe in the esoteric magnifies. The more you pursue sacred wisdom, the further away you will drift from those in denial. The universe does this in order to help us, we need different relationships to better different aspects of our lives. You may have a friend who is your confidant, while another is your esoteric peer. One helps you master the seen reality, while the other helps your spirit ponder the unseen. As long as you learn to appreciate your friends for their role in your life, you can maintain those relationships without expectation.
Budda-nature & the Buddha
The term Buddha, means “one who woke up.” Siddhartha Gautama, who is known as the original incarnation of the Buddha, was the original soul who has created the foundation for Buddhism. Later on, he became known as Shakyamuni Buddha, after achieving his enlightenment. Shakyamuni, is Sanskrit for “Sage of the Shakya.” Shakya, being the city-state where he was born prince. A core belief taught by Buddha, was the concept of a dharma body. The dharma body is a living reality that we can achieve through cultivating our Buddha-nature, which is to live as the original Buddha did. This means to live with a spirit of compassion and care for those around you. Buddha-nature is also known as “buddha-datu” in its original form. As Shunryu Suzuki Roshi once said “It is wisdom which is seeking wisdom.” While many people believe the desire for Zen is to relieve us of internal suffering, Buddha-nature explains that we are always in a state of positive nirvana if we reach for it. This is a foundational principle of Mayana Buddhism. Through this belief, we begin to see the divinity within and embrace the raw nature of the human experience.