Real Food

Prana is abundant in “real” foods, especially foods that are cooked fresh and consumed right away.  Not only does that tomato you just picked in the garden have more taste than the ones you buy at the grocery store that have been picked prior to being ripe to endure a long-distance journey to your local supermarket, they also have more Prana.  More Prana means that your body will be able to process the food more proficiently and benefit even more from the nutrients the tomato possesses. Although we have all been told “you are what you eat”, in Ayurveda it is actually “you are what you digest”.  Bottom line, we digest food with more Prana much more efficiently.

So you live in the middle of New York City and can’t grow your own tomatoes?  OK – I’ve been there.  But with a little creativity, I was able to manage to get my hands on really fresh vegetables all year long.   Here are some options….

Use indoor growing mediums such as hydroponics to grow small vegetables and herbs at home

I loved walking into my living room to pick fresh lettuces for my salad!  And the full-spectrum lighting that is used to grow plants indoors is a great mood enhancer if, like me, you suffer Seasonal Affective Disorder from the long, dark winters.

Take advantage of community gardens to grow your own food

In my neighborhood there were multiple gardens to choose from. These are great urban oases that are doing a tremendous job in bringing agriculture into the inner city.  Google “community gardens” in your city for a local listing of options.

Work with a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) group or co-op and get in-season fresh vegetables each week

Buy shares in a working farm which entitle you to a certain amount of produce each week.  Some co-ops and CSA’s have a work requirement as part of their membership, such as so many hours working in the co-op.  In New York, another option is to try Urban Organics for fresh organic produce delivered fresh from the farm to your door each week.

Shop at the local farmer’s market

Of course New York’s Union Square is a fantastic market, but local communities have many of their own markets to choose from.

For a list of local farmer’s markets and CSA’s, check out:  http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/

Real food is one of the easiest ways to increase Prana. We all eat.  So if you start making food choices that increase your Prana you can make a profound impact on your wellbeing.

 Start incorporating real food into your meals and see what affect it has on you.

With Purpose and Prana,

Julie