Cuisine

The most inflammatory thing you can put into your body is alcohol. Your diet is not only what you eat. It's what you watch, what you listen to, what you read, the people you hang around... be mindful of the things you put into your body emotionally, spiritually, and physically.  This is the Rasta way of thinking and a big part of their spiritual way of life which is very much connected to the earth, as much or more so than Native Americans, as they also largely live off the land. The ital diet, also spelled I-tal, is a diet celebrated by members of the Rastafari movement that emphasizes eating fresh, organic, and preferably homegrown produce. The goal of the diet is to increase "life energy" or livity by eating foods that enhance it. Livity is the belief that an energy or life-force flows through all people and living things. The diet has some universal rules, including: Avoid chemically modified foods Avoid foods with artificial additives Avoid added fats and salts No salt No meat No dairy No metal or plastic cookware No alcohol Moderate white foods Natural sugar Most expressions of the Ital diet include adherence to a strict vegetarian diet. Some adherents to Ital diets are strict vegans, as they do not consider dairy to be natural for human consumption either. Many also avoid pork, shellfish, caffeine, and artificial additives.  And, since alcohol is toxic to nearly every cell in the body, you can see why they forbid it, and turned to ganja instead. **The Basics: Start Here** * **Keep it simple.** When you read a label, ask yourself: did this come from the earth or a living source? If not, think

Whole30: Reset Your Health and Habits We’ve recently embraced the Whole30 program, and the results have been transformative: increased energy, weight loss, and a renewed sense of well-being. While much of what we eat already leans toward whole, unprocessed foods and limited sugar, the Whole30 takes it further—a 30-day elimination diet designed to reset the body and mind. Here’s a guide to how Whole 30 works and how to make it fit into your life. How the Whole 30 Works The program is simple but strict. Its goal is to eliminate certain potentially harmful foods for a month so your body can heal, reset, and reveal how different foods affect your health. Foods to Avoid Grains (wheat, rice, oats, corn, etc.) Legumes (beans, lentils, peanuts) Dairy No added sugar of any kind, real or artificial. No maple syrup, honey, agave nectar, coconut sugar, monk fruit, Splenda, Equal, Nutrasweet, xylitol, stevia, etc. Fruit or fruit juice is the only acceptable sweetener. Alcohol Certain food additives Foods You Can Eat Animal proteins: meat, fish, eggs Vegetables: fresh, seasonal, and unprocessed Fruits: in moderation Healthy fats: avocado, olive oil, nuts, seeds Herbs and spices: for flavor without additives Rules to Follow Eat moderate portions of protein, vegetables, fruits, and healthy fats Choose whole, minimally processed foods with few or pronounceable ingredients Completely avoid restricted foods for the full 30 days Reintroduction Phase After 30 days, you slowly reintroduce foods one at a time, observing how your body responds. This is key to understanding your personal sensitivities and improving long-term health. The Pancake Rule: Why You Can’t Cheat A cornerstone of Whole30 is the “Pancake Rule.” This rule eliminates baked goods, chips, and comfort foods—even if you use