Chakra Foods for Optimum Health. Deanna M. Minich

unground us to a similar extent as not eating at all. We numb ourselves when we take in too much food, causing ourselves to let go of feeling. When we do not eat at all, we do not have the strength to feel, to process thoughts and emotions, and to be active. In both cases, we eject ourselves from our bodies through the button of food.

      Instead of hiding ourselves in the shadow of too much food, we can use food to bring out the best of us—the vital, pure essence of who we are, basking in love. When we eat according to our body's needs, our mind remains sharp and our heart strong. We can focus on the moment and give attention to any thoughts, words, or actions that float in our sky of consciousness. The right amount of food for us in the moment hits the sweet spot of our consciousness. We feel alive and connected!

       Engage in Healthy Social Eating

      Social eating is a charged event. Most often, especially around the holidays, people tell me that they are conflicted by social eating events. Sometimes, they teeter on the stressful decision of whether to attend a gathering because of the foods that may be served. They find it fearful to “challenge the tribe” aspects of eating by saying no to eating certain foods. Lydia relays that at a party, a brownie was thrust into her mouth by a family member before she could say no. Later that day, she ended up with a throbbing migraine, as chocolate was one of her trigger foods. She was bedridden for hours. Even though she knew that this outcome would occur, she was unable to find internal strength within her root chakra to trust her own instinct and body. Of course, I advocate various strategies for dealing with challenging social aspects, such as eating beforehand, calling ahead of time to find out what will be served, and finally, participating in the tribal preparation of a meal by bringing a dish! Potlucks are healthy root chakra events for all involved!

      FOODS FOR GROUNDING AND PROTECTION

      Foods for grounding and protection are rooted in physical form. Their vibration quality is represented by a square shape, a solid, foundational structure, similar to that of a house. These foods assist us in reestablishing and strengthening our connection to the earthly vibration within us, bringing us back to our root. These foods make us feel heavy and slower moving, quite possibly a welcome feeling when we live life by the seat of our pants! These grounding foods give us the “earthly substance” we need to keep our feet on the Earth and to make our dreams real and practical. They are ideal for enabling us to be centered and protected when we walk the line between distraction and vulnerability.

       Choose lean, low-fat options for meat and animal products in order to maximize the amount of protein for grounding. Highly concentrated protein foods such as eggs, meat, or milk are solidifying and have a stabilizing effect on one's grounding energy.

       Protein

      In the nutrition universe, protein is the nutrient that gives us our structure and the raw materials to ground and anchor the body to the Earth. The building blocks of proteins (“amino acids”) are contained throughout the physical structure of our being, such as in muscle, bone, and the immune system. If we zoom in closer to the cell level, we will see that proteins are responsible for many of the minute happenings within the cell, such as catalyzing reactions and maintaining cell shape and growth. They serve as the chief implementers of whatever information is encoded in the gene headquarters.

      Of the twenty or so amino acids that exist and are arranged in proteins in various combinations, about eight of these are considered essential for our existence, implying that our physical bodies cannot manufacture these on their own. Therefore, they must be eaten. A full complement of the essential amino acids is found in animal foods. Some foundational grounding high-protein foods include eggs and milk. Think of the nature of an egg from a hen. If the egg were fertilized, it would have all the necessary nutritional constituents for nourishing the growth of the chick embryo, similar to the function of the root chakra. The very appearance of the egg, with the yellow yolk surrounded by the shiny, pearled-white orb suggests that it imparts a protective nature from an archetypal, symbolic standpoint. Hard-boiled eggs make very good additions in a routine as a mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack, as they allow us to ground in the space between meals.

      Animal-based foods are usually higher in quality, complete protein than most other vegetable-based foods. It is important to choose lean, low-fat options for meat and animal products in order to maximize the amount of protein for grounding. Highly concentrated protein foods such as eggs, meat, or milk are solidifying and have a stabilizing effect on one's grounding energy. In my experience, ungrounded individuals who fail to align their lives with their deep purpose do well on relatively higher protein (either animal or vegetable protein) diets until they are strengthened and centered. On the other hand, someone who is too stubborn and stuck in their ways requires less animal protein to help them release their strong grip on the Earth and to balance grounding, physical energy. Additionally, high amounts of grounding food can have a destabilizing, ungrounding effect. Eating too much turkey and drinking excessive warm milk, both very high-protein, root chakra-heavy foods, can lead to a sleepy sensation, as if one were removed from their reality into a dreamy, nonbody state. Therefore, keying into the level of grounding you require is essential for optimizing your dietary needs.