HEALING BY DETOXING
- May 5
- 4 min read
In terms of food, simplicity is key! We live in an era of constant stimulation and limitless temptations. Taking a step back from this excess can allow us to process the fast-paced nature of today's world.
We all know, when it comes down to food: Less is more! We eat to live, we don't live to eat. I admit, I have a weak spot for healthy and Asian food. I dedicate a lot of time to cooking because I like to know what I eat. I recognize that I might be too much attached in this regard and I am working on this issue. This is one of the reasons why a detox week is even more important to me.
"Eat to live, don't live to eat."
Benjamin Franklin
My body works so hard for me the whole year. At least once a year in spring I give it a break and I do a detox: For 6 days I only eat rice, cooked veggies - preferably as soups - and a handful of nuts a day. During this week I only drink water or tea which is not black. This year it felt different due to the cold that made me mainly stay at home, but also because I experienced something new within.
These are my three key insights from this unique detox week:
LESS IS MORE
It is a human trait that we want it all and best would be to get it instantly. This applies to lots of aspects of life, but also when it comes down to food. Therefore maintaining a modest diet is challenging. We're bombarded with food choices and nutrition tips, each claiming to be the ultimate solution, often in the form of powders or pills. Additionally, our societal habit of eating anywhere and anytime only makes it harder to resist these temptations.
LESS IS MORE also applies to the extent of food processing. Highly processed foods are less nutritious and likely contain additives, dyes, GMOs, and even insects (E120 and E904). The more E's you'll find on the package the more I suggest you don't want to let it enter your precious body which is the sacred temple of your soul. When we are chewing though the opposite applies: MORE IS LESS. The more you chew the better you aid digestion. Remember: Your stomach doesn't have teeth.
NURTURED VS. STUFFED
It is important to distinguish between feeling nurtured and stuffed. Feeling stuffed is a physical sensation of discomfort and heaviness from overeating, often ignoring the body's fullness signals. This can lead to lethargy, bloating, and dissatisfaction - usually caused by eating out of habit, boredom, or social pressure rather than hunger.
In contrast, feeling nurtured is a holistic experience involving the body, mind, and spirit. It involves nourishing food prepared with care and intention, using fresh, wholesome ingredients that provide essential nutrients and evoke comfort and joy. Sharing meals with loved ones on a nicely decorated table can enhance this nurturing feeling by fostering connection and emotional well-being.
MAKING PEACE WITH THE VOID
Last but not least: Probably the most powerful insight I had during my detox was my changed approach to the emptiness. This feeling of void I mistakenly used to recognize as hunger in the past. Therefore detoxing for me is not only refraining from temptations, it is a journey of self-discovery, which allows me to delve deeper into my relationship with food and my body. After all, if we like it or not, food is important: Whatever we let into our bodies has an effect not only on our physical but also on our mental and spiritual well-being. It always strikes me to experience how the intake of food impacts the mind. After the first two days - which are usually hard for me - there is this clarity of thoughts I wouldn't want to miss.
But the even more precious insight I had this time: There is an important distinction between feeling hungry or feeling empty. While hunger is a physiological response signaling the need for nourishment, emptiness often carries a more emotional or psychological weight, suggesting a longing for something beyond mere sustenance. This craving can stand for another need that is completely unrelated to food.
It is not new to me that in the past I sometimes used to eat in order to fill up my emptiness, seeking comfort in food during moments of stress, but for the first time I really started to grasp the universal connection why the void within can be so hard to bear. It goes far beyond eating habits and so far the only satisfying response to this sensation is spiritual in nature: The feeling of emptiness can resonate with this separation from the source. Whenever the soul reincarnates it enters a world of duality which is the opposite from the souls' state of being united with the universal consciousness.
"When we get born it is the beginning of a human's life, but from a souls' perspective it is felt as a separation from being one with the universe. This separation creates a gap we tend to fill in with something, rather than containing it."
By understanding and accepting the void better I began to explore the underlying emotions associated with the sensation of hunger, allowing myself to sit with discomfort and emptiness. I don't say this is an easy task, but this shift in perspective has been a transformative revelation for me. From now on, whenever I feel "hungry", I first ask myself: Do I want to eat because I am really hungry or do I feel empty instead? If the answer is "empty", I try to find out what the underlying cause is and drink a glass of water instead.
Do you feel "empty" sometimes? How do you fill in the gap? Have you done a detox before? Did this post resonate or was it helpful in any way? Let me know in a personal message or in the comments.
Comments