Primary Nutrition For Thriving after Trauma

During my over two-decade long spiral downward, which included homelessness, I practiced some things from the definition below of ‘primary foods’ and ’12 steps to better health’ that could very well have saved me from an even worse fate.

I started ‘transitioning’ my diet when I was just 24 years old. By ‘transitioning’ I am referring to stopping eating fast foods. Cutting out all processed, chemical laden food was a huge step toward better health, and it also meant I ate a lot less red meat. I did an eight-day vegetable and fruit juice fast, but for all the wrong reasons. My ex told me I was too heavy when I only weighed 110 lbs. and he wanted me to lose 10 lbs. to get to 100 lbs. Even though that was a horrible reason to fast (while working), I learned some valuable lessons about fasting with juices. I went through the hungry stage and then got to experience the energy and ‘high’ of cleansing.

During the four tumultuously abusive years of marriage to my ex, I stayed committed to exercising. I would roller skate in the street, on perimeters of golf courses and even atop high-rise condominiums! After I left him, I continued to exercise, but found beach walking more grounding to help me from what I had gone through. I also continued to drink juice, but now it was fresh and raw. I would stop at the juice stand after my beach walking. I also liked to prepare my homemade lemonade and would bring that along when I would go to the beach.

Incorporating all these healthy practices into my life was fantastic, but there was a gaping hole in my health – relationships. As I detail in my memoir, “When Birds Sing – My Journey from Trauma to Triumph”, I was searching for myself in my relationships and since I had a very distorted sense of myself due to untreated sexual assault (I told no one), my relationships were anything but healthy. If I had not kept up all the healthy habits I had, who knows where I would be now – possibly not among the living.

In 2017 I became a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. There I learned about something called primary nutrition (see definition below).

Primary Food Definition: primary foods feed us, but they don't come on a plate. Elements such as a meaningful spiritual practice, an inspiring career, regular and enjoyable physical activity, and honest and open relationships that feed your soul and your hunger for living all constitute primary food.

The above verified what I had already been working on – myself. I contend that the first relationship in primary nutrition should be that of your relationship with yourself. All other relationships emanate from the healthy relationship you foster with yourself. And please remember that healing your relationship with yourself and discovering or uncovering your true self is a process not a destination.

12 Steps to Better Health

1. Drink more water

2. Practice cooking

3. Increase whole grains

4. increase sweet vegetables

5. Increase leafy green vegetables

6. Experiment with protein

7. Eat fewer processed foods

8. Make a habit of nurturing your body

9. Healthy relationships

10. Regular physical activity

11. A Career you love

12. Develop a spiritual practice

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My Use of the 12 Steps to Better Health

1. I drink artesian water (Naturally alkaline).

2. I cook my food every, single day. I like to know, as best I can, the source of my food and I am always striving to do better in this area.

3. Being a survivor of abuse and sexual assault comes with some health challenges and I like to meet those challenges by supporting my body’s needs. Nutritionally, I need more protein to support my adrenal glands. Quinoa is second in protein content. Quinoa can easily be made savory or sweet. For a savory dish, I like to make quinoa tabouli. I love making quinoa pancakes for a protein packed breakfast.

4. Yams are a staple in my pantry. I make baked fries with them. They get so caramelized and sweet, or I simply bake them and add toppings.

5. I like purple butter lettuce. Again, I make sure it’s organic.

6. I have found that eating protein that is right for my blood type helps my digestion.

7. I will have some foods that are store bought, or when I go out to eat, I have to make choices of what is best from the menu but for the most part, I make all my own food.

8. Gyrokinesis helps me nurture my body to the fullest. “The Gyrokinesis Method is a movement method that addresses the entire body, opening energy pathways, stimulating the nervous system, increasing range of motion and creating functional strength through rhythmic, flowing movement sequences.” www.gyrotonic.com

9. I work very hard at this one. I do schema therapy. First, is my relationship with myself; all other relationships emanate from the healthy relationship that I develop with my true self.

10. I like to move my body every, single day. It doesn’t have to be an hour of power cardio – it can simply be flights of stairs, stretching and deep breathing.

11. I like doing work that fosters my creativity – because I am a very creative person. I started out in life studying to be a concert pianist – so now writing is another creative outlet that feeds my mind, body, and spirit. A spiritual practice is a most personal thing. I do a combination of things that open me up to receive love and give love.

In Summary

My experience is that unless you attain self-knowledge, doing a lot of things probably will not have a lasting impact on your life. However, if you do work on knowing yourself deeply, this process will evoke self-love which incites self-care acts that are lastingly impactful and can even change you on a cellular level. That’s what primary nutrition is referencing.