Foods To Help Keep You Strong

Foods To Help Keep You Strong

I know all too well how the mind and/or our level of spiritual connection can positively or negatively affect your physical body.  However, this blog will focus on what foods can help keep you strong, in body, mind and spirit.

Food, and what you eat, is one way you can keep yourself strong in body, mind and spirit, together with meditation, exercise, fun, purpose, rest and sleep.  The right foods can help you recover after illness or surgery, improve your mood and concentration, help you perform better during exercise and feel stronger in your day to day life.

~ Eat mostly natural and nourishing foods – I read a quote, which I thought was great!  “If God made it eat it; if man made it don’t”.  This is so true today with modern food processing and an abundance of processed, refined and junk foods.  Put simply – foods that God or nature made (real food) in their natural state – grass fed meats, fish, eggs, beans, lentils, seaweeds, nuts, seeds, fruit, vegetables, wholegrains, green superfoods, fermented products and live natural yoghurts- all help to nourish you and keep you strong.  These foods are a foundation to health and contain vitamins, minerals, good fats, antioxidants and other healthy chemicals, which “feed” you nutritionally and boost your vitality, immunity and keep your organs and systems functioning well.

~ Limit processed, junk and refined foods– these can contain hormones, additives, trans fats, chemicals and preservatives.  These can destroy vitamins, minerals, essential fats and enzymes all vital for health.  These foods can weaken your life force and may contribute to you having less strength in mind, body and spirit.

~ Watch your intake of stimulants – we all have different tolerance levels but too much sugary foods and drinks, alcohol or caffeine can really upset how you feel in body and mind.  Initially you may feel a buzz, then get a slump and feel shaky, tearful, low in energy, confused and have poor concentration. Overtime, these foods and drinks can deplete your vitality and rob you of nutrients.  If you feel physically wobbly, have blood sugar crashes and feel low in energy and mood, this can adversely affect your physical health as well as your mind and spirit.

Today many people have a carb heavy diet from cakes, chocolate, cereals, bread, sugary drinks, rice and pasta. Too many carbs can cause severe blood sugar imbalances, leading to weight gain, affect your ability to concentrate and negatively affect your mood.  Small portions of carbs need to be balanced with proteins, plenty of veggies and good fats (oily fish, nuts, seeds, avocados, coconut oil, olive oil, flaxseed and walnut oil, chia seeds, flaxseed, etc).

 Food allergies or intolerances– these can weaken your body and energy system and affect how you feel in your physical body and your mind.  Food intolerances can contribute to weight gain, mood disorders, anxiety, digestive symptoms, headaches and muscle aches, to name a few.  If you feel you may have food intolerances, perhaps you could keep a diary to monitor the food you eat and any physical or mental symptoms that arise.  Common food intolerances are dairy, wheat, corn, chocolate, nuts and eggs.

Magic Minerals– these come from whole and unprocessed foods and give our bodies structure and strength. For example, calcium and magnesium are needed for a strong skeleton; iron to ensure the body is properly oxygenated and able to function.  When you have good iron levels, you feel more energised and stronger.  Chromium is needed to balance blood sugar and keep you stable in body and mind.

Many other vitamins, minerals and herbs can help enhance and strengthen our mind, body and spirit.  Rhodiola Rosea is an adaptagenic herb that I have used myself and with many of my clients. This plant is from Russia and Scandinavia and being “adaptagenic” means it can help strengthen your resistance and ability to adapt to stress. The Vikings depended on this herb to enhance physical strength and endurance! It can also increase serotonin levels and thus help people with low mood and Seasonal Affective Disorder.  It may also help strengthen the nervous system, increase memory and attention span, enhance immunity, boost stamina and reduce fatigue. Research has also shown Rhodiola’s ability to aid muscle recovery after intensive exercise.  If you have any medical conditions or high blood pressure, always check with your GP before taking it.

Universal energies change – many people are going through a time of internal and spiritual shifts.  During such times people can feel lost, off balance and shaky, develop food intolerances and have energy issues. Eating clean, nourishing foods can help you feel more stable and grounded. When you clean up your system with good foods and supplements, gently remove some toxins and cleanse your systems, you can have a clearer, more focused mind and spiritual connection. 

Here are my Top Tips to Help You Feel Strong:

• – Balance your blood sugar to help keep you strong and stable in mind and body.  Eat regularly, have some protein at each meal (meat, fish, eggs, dairy, beans, lentils, tofu, nuts/seeds, protein powders) and plenty of non-starchy veggies. If you tolerate carbs well, you might also benefit from small amount of good quality grains, e.g. brown rice, quinoa or oats.
• – Try some quinoa instead of rice or pasta. Quinoa is the food of the Aztecs from South America, and like the Vikings, were known for their strength. Quinoa is high in protein and rich in vitamins and minerals such as iron, potassium, B vitamins and magnesium. Quinoa is also gluten free.
•   – Protein rich foods can assist you in re-establishing and strengthening your connection to the earth and helping you ground.  Animal proteins are especially grounding (moderation is key). They can help balance and strengthen your root chakra, give you a strong foundation and support your adrenal glands which regulate your stress / fight or flight system.
• – Try some protein rich smoothies for snacks or part of a meal – put protein powder e.g. whey, pea or hemp, into a blender with some milk (e.g. organic cows, almond, soya, coconut) and add whatever you fancy such as berries, pear, coconut flakes, nuts, tahini, seeds, chia seeds, ground flaxseeds and enjoy a healthy, strengthening boost.

In summary, you can feel physically stronger through the good food choices and great lifestyle choices, such as exercise and rest.  This can go a good way to strengthening your body, mind, and strengthen your spiritual connection and move towards what many of us want- inner peace.

Anne Cross is a qualified, experienced nutritionist practicing in Edinburgh, UK. 

Click here for Anne's website.

Anne has also written a great book called From Stressed to Blessed: Overcoming Anxiety and Low Mood with Minor Lifestyle Changes. 

Thanks Anne for all the great work you do 🙏🏼