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important ways. It changes the balance of fatty acids to an different ways with food. It seems that each of us must contend unhealthy overabundance of omega-6 and an absence of omega- with a variety of internal stresses and conflicts that require 3. It adds many toxins and chemical burdens. Animals fed waste introspection to achieve resolution. But as long as we are self- products, corn and soybeans are not healthy. Cows normally eat medicated and anaesthetised on a poor diet, it is going to be grass and hay, and when they are fed an abnormal diet this difficult to get in touch with these deeper underlying issues. The drastically changes the quality of the meat so that the fat content nature of addiction is to keep us in a state where we are and proteins are no longer as health-promoting as they once constantly coping with pain caused by something deep and were. unaddressed in us. Until we start to give up on the addiction a Interest in locally grown foods produced with the consumer in little bit, we never get to see what is truly causing the emptiness mind has been increasing steadily over the years, so you may not and pain. need to search very far to find them. Many cities have "farmers' The addiction to food can become almost secondary to the markets" where local producers sell food directly to the public. habitual indulging in self-defeating thoughts and feelings. When Food co-operatives which support the health of the local we fill ourselves with bad feelings like low self-esteem, economy are once again gaining popularity as an alternative to helplessness and hopelessness, these do not improve the outcome mainstream supermarkets. Additionally, there are many organic of the situation. For some individuals, living in a depressed state and biodynamic farms open to the public. contributes to obesity via addiction to Several websites are available to assist comforting foods. This observation is based people in finding local retailers. The on the idea that unhappy people eat more to Weston A. Price Foundation has been make themselves feel better. Another helping people for decades by providing possibility is that the depressed state in itself much information on healthy food and contributes directly to obesity by decreasing where to locate it (check it out at the efficiency of bodily functions. ntpafiwvarw.westonaprice ote or If people stopped Wallowing in unpleasant emotions creates pei: (/ww a reat kcom) : Another buying the kinds of stagnation and ockage in ne organ interesting website that offers information systems, impairing their ability to function. on locating healthful food providers is foods that are sold In order to overcome addiction, we must http://www.themeatrix.com; be sure to in supermarkets, live as whole people. All of the different watch the video clip. A wonderful aspects of life must be engaged and enjoyed. cookbook that contains excellent then the food We must be present, at least to some extent, information on diet and nutrition is industry would sto in all our own processes—physical, Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon y Q P emotional, mental and spiritual. When 8 y y d h P: with Mary Enig, PhD. These pro ucing t em we neglect any of these parts of references are provided here for the and supermarkets ourselves, degeneration is inevitable. benefit of those wishing to pursue a would stop In our modern society, we tend to selling them. more health-giving approach to diet. acknowledge only the physical aspects The current trend in treating obesity of our bodies. Anything concerning at the level of the masses is to place the mind or emotions is relegated to full responsibility for the problem on the brain and higher nervous system. those who are most affected by it. In Yet there is a connection within each some respects, this is a legitimate organ between these different levels. approach. If people stopped buying Many traditional systems of medicine the kinds of foods that are sold in recognise the intelligence which is supermarkets, then the food industry present in the tissues of each part of would stop producing them and the body. Within each organ there are supermarkets would stop selling them. emotions and thinking patterns. These Whether food producers have any obligation at all to consumers energies are just as much an inseparable part of the organ as the is beyond the scope of this article. physical substance. And the energetic portions can become just Additionally, whether media advertising has any effect on our as diseased and dysfunctional. Our dietary decision-making has buying habits, as many have suggested, and therefore on obesity effects not only on the physical tissues, but on our mental and trends is not covered here. Even though we are all exposed to the emotional health as well. socialisation processes that lead us to a life of mass-market When we connect psycho-spiritual disorders such as consumerism, each of us has the capacity to change any of these depression with obesity, we sometimes make the assumption that behaviours at any time. Perhaps the first step is to become the problem lies only with eating behaviours. However, oriental cognisant of what has been going on. medical philosophy links the emotions directly to the proper functioning of the organ systems. According to this way of Psycho-Spiritual Aspects of Obesity thinking, weight gain could actually be the direct result of feeling One of the biggest psychological components of obesity is depressed, regardless of any changes in food consumption. addiction. People use food for many, many different reasons: as Experiencing certain habitual emotions and thoughts can have entertainment, comfort, a substitute for sex, or whatever. When the effect of decreasing the functional efficiency of the internal such behaviours are taken to an extreme, they foster organs. It is not just the feelings that can get depressed, but all complacency and result in a failure to take risks and try the different parts of the body as well. Disease is inevitable something different. There is a spiritual emptiness that is when the organs are non-functional due to the incapacitating associated with obesity where people try to fulfil themselves in effects of improper diet combined with the dampening effect of If people stopped buying the kinds of foods that are sold in supermarkets, then the food industry would stop producing them and supermarkets would stop — selling them. Psycho-Spiritual Aspects of Obesity One of the biggest psychological components of obesity is addiction. People use food for many, many different reasons: as entertainment, comfort, a substitute for sex, or whatever. When such behaviours are taken to an extreme, they foster complacency and result in a failure to take risks and try something different. There is a spiritual emptiness that is associated with obesity where people try to fulfil themselves in 30 + NEXUS www.nexusmagazine.com AUGUST — SEPTEMBER 2006