Going Green With Your Diet

A Peaceful and Healthy Approach

By Julie Gengo, Marketing Coordinator, HealthWalk

During the season of giving, one of the greatest gifts we could offer is committing to practicing the philosophy of non-violence. Prominent spiritual leaders are already on this mission of spreading the concept among groups and cultures around the world. The yoga community calls this action Ahimsa; environmentalists refer to this as “going green;” and natural wellness advocates and animal rights activists promote vegetarian or vegan lifestyles.

Practicing yoga teaches the individual how to tune-in to understand and respect limits, edges and boundaries within the body and to provide nourishment in the form of oxygen and stress release. Eco-minded individuals focus on using less energy by bringing reusable shopping bags to the market or by carpooling and taking public transportation among other actions.

The wellness community promotes taking care of ourselves in a healthful way before problems manifest. As vital as it is to take care of the world, we cannot take care of the world if we are sick, diseased and stressed out. It is therefore vital to foster peace within ourselves by honoring our bodies and what we put into them.

Did you know that you could take care of yourself while simultaneously protecting the environment? By incorporating more plant-based foods into your diet you can not only reduce your carbon footprint but also reduce the possibility of disease and illness. In the study, Livestock's Long Shadow: Environmental Issues and Options, Livestock, Environment and Development 2006 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of The United Nations it is noted that the meat industry produces more greenhouse gases than all the SUVs, cars, trucks, planes, and ships in the world combined. In the book by HealthWalk™ co-visioneer and partner Mark Hinds, Vegetarian MadeEasy, notes, “Numerous studies have proven the health benefits of a vegetarian diet to be important in the pursuit of overall health and longevity. A recent study of 11,000 vegetarian people followed for an average of 17 years found that they had an overall mortality level of 44 percent lower than that of the general population.”

These are two great ways and reasons to practice non-violence. But how does one become a successful vegetarian? You can read your way to achieving your goals, however even information from experts can get lost from book to plate. How do you know what is really going to work for you? You may have to experiment and if you already have health concerns that you are dealing with, how will you address those issues while switching into a primarily plant-based diet?

Seeking out the advice of holistic nutrition practitioners may be the best way to achieve your goals. At HealthWalk™, the Nutrition Counselor addresses health concerns and the transition into a healthy lifestyle focused on prevention from a functional perspective. What that means is every body is unique and each person has unique requirements for fuel and nutrients. Designing a transition program from a primarily animal-based diet to a vegetarian based diet is formulated by scientific observation.

The HealthWalk™ team uses the leading-edge technology analysis called “Functional Endocrinology”, a science based on over 25 years of research. Each person’s biological profile is determined by analyzing blood based bio-markers derived from blood serum and then imputing the data into proprietary software to produce a complete picture of each particular client’s metabolic processes, digestive systems and waste elimination systems. A complete picture of how your organs metabolic and biochemical processes are functioning together emerges and we share and work with you to determine your nutrient needs. This will help determine what plant-based foods are most suitable for your body. You will feel energized and look great and also feel fulfilled knowing that you are reducing your carbon footprint in the process.

At HealthWalk™, we are here to support you and the environment to regain, maintain and enhance balance and vitality.