Copyright 2021 by Madison Madden, A.D.
Mind Body Food
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CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
To all of the people who helped make this book a reality Your support and enthusiasm mean the world to me.
Thank you:
Colin, for your kind, committed encouragement to bring this to life.
Rocco for taking on the cover design like it was your own.
My teachers and mentors who have embraced and lit the path for me, namely
Joe Rich, Mamta Landerman, Peggy Berg, Dr. Suhas & Manisha Kshirsagar, Dr. Jayarajan Kodikannath, Dr. Avinash & Bharati Lele, and Dr. Nandan Lele.
To the lineage of Ayurvedic Vaidyas who have passed down the invaluable knowledge of Ayurveda, the Science of Life , for more than 5000 years.
To all of the healers and doctors who supported me in learning to heal myself.
To all of my clients who have entrusted me in helping them do the same, especially those whose stories are used here.
and thank you to the readers to come who invite a new perspective into their life. May it serve you in your journey towards well-being, a journey that is inherently inward.
Dedicated to Ji, who taught me that food is good
And so much more.
FOREWORD
By Dr. Suhas Kshirsagar
Mind Body Food: Redefining Your Relationship to Food is an excellent manual to understanding that what you eat and digest is exactly who you become. Food is information and it unleashes a complex cascade of information to every cell and gene which dictates your entire physiology.
Ayurveda is one of the most ancient and comprehensive sciences of healthcare. Its accurate translation, the science of life, gives us the wisdom to understand the impact of our life experiences on health and disease. The rich tradition of Ayurvedic medicine has existed for thousands of years and modern medical research is finally catching up with the vast and vibrant understanding of its medical philosophy.
Mind Body Food is a cornerstone for optimum well-being that allows you to develop a spiritual attitude towards life.
I have known Madison Madden for many years. She is a passionate Ayurvedic Practitioner who not only understands and teaches the principles of Ayurveda but also leads a pure, holistic lifestyle herself. This book is a true testimony of her commitment towards the education and daily practice of Self Care Rituals.
We are currently living in unprecedented times. The pandemic, global warming, and industrialization of food is posing a great threat to the survival of the human race.
We are surrounded with food that is filled with chemicals, artificial colors, additives, and toxins. These foods are not only adversely affecting our cells and tissues but also creating a detrimental impact on our minds.
As a global community we are becoming impatient, restless, and hostile. We are creating loads of NCDs (Non-Communicable Diseases) which are the direct by-products of poor nutrition.
We are facing a silent epidemic of inflammation that is triggered by unhealthy foods, weak digestion, and poor emotional health.
My book, The Hot Belly Diet published in 2015 highlights the importance of clean foods and a robust digestion. During my research I found that eating late and sleeping late were the main causes of weight gain, low energy, and a host of metabolic disorders. The punchline here is to eat less, eat right, and become bright. If you rekindle your agni (that is, digestive fire) you can invariably rekindle your life!
The very premise of my recent book published in 2018, Change Your Schedule, Change Your Life states that Time is deeply embedded in our genes. The old adage you are what you eat no longer holds true. It is all about aligning your daily routine with Circadian Rhythms. You also are when you eat, when you sleep, and when you exercise.
The new advances of Nutri-Genomics make it very clear that your genes express whatever you desire. You can turn your genes on or off with your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Ayurveda stipulates that health is in fact a by-product of enlightenment. You need to be spiritually evolved to deal with the polarities of mind and body. The mind-body system is like a feedback loop where your self-care or self-neglect will affect your lifestyle, inner and outer environment, behavior, past conditioning, and beliefs and vice versa!
Mind Body Food talks about emotional eating, restorative food practices and nurturing yourself not only with food but with every sensory experience.
I welcome you on this wonderful journey with Madison Madden in exploring Ayurvedic medicine.
She has a unique way of translating ancient wisdom for a modern audience. She lives an ayurvedic lifestyle and shows her readers how to apply these practical principles to their daily living. This is a great start for you to find your own path to Health and Wholeness.
Dr. Suhas Kshirsagar BAMS MD(Ayurveda)
Best Selling Author: The Hot Belly Diet & Change Your Schedule Change Your Life
PREFACE
Your Long-term Committed Relationship with Food
You have been seeing food longer than any other intimate relationship in your life. Whether you like it or not, you have been engaging in an intimate exchange with food from the moment you were conceived and will be until the day you die.
Youve probably got a love-hate relationship, some codependent dynamics, and likely patterns of poor communication.
Unlike other partnerships, however, you really cant break up with it.
Sometimes your relationship feels comforting, sometimes destructive, sometimes obsessive, and other times appalling. Sometimes it feels rewarding, while other times its riddled with punishment. You may feel guilt or shame when you relate to it, and it often triggers your childhood traumas.
Sometimes it feels like a never-ending battle for control, in which sometimes youre winning, and other times youre not.
You even experience your sensual and erotic nature with it. You fantasize about it. You think about what your family and friends think about your relationship. You even start or end other relationships based on your views and experiences of it.
