Eating Habits effecting Spirituality

[Beneath_the_Roses]

I've recently become vegetarian for various reasons...one of them being the idea that getting the unhealthy fat/cholesteral of animals out of my body it will somehow help me move along with my spirituality. I'm convinced it will help me obe more often for example. What are your thoughts on this?

[Stookie]

It's too hard to tell. It's known that subconscious thoughts affect OBE's, so if you THINK that it's going to help, it might, but not necessarily for the reason you think. You assume it will help so it does.

But it might... I'm too much of a meat eater to try.

[wow_nonamesleft]

As long as you have a balanced diet.

If you think food will effect your spirtuality then maybe learn more about food and get a deeper understanding overall, then try to see how the two go together.  A simple example-
If you eat easily digestable foods then you will probably be able to meditate easier and longer.
or-
Eating healthier may give you more energy overall and maybe help you to be able to astral project easier, see aruas, or whatever.

I'm not saying those examples are true, but just be aware of things like that.

Don't forget to drink alot of water.

[cavernstoy]

From my experience, it does help. 

I beleive the healthier your body is, the better your spirit can function.

The adrenaline from meat causes hormonal imballances leading to a non-meditative state.

Meat (especially red meat) hurts circulation, killing mental clarity

?karma?

I'm not really sure, but I would asume it has something to do with health, mental clarity, or spiritual innocence

Cavernstoy

[Stookie]

I ate a pizza-philly cheese steak on Saturday and had a nice deep meditation on Sunday morning. If I had to give one of them up...

...that's a tough one. Both meat and alcohol are parts of my regular diet. I'm not promoting either, but they don't seem to interfere with my non-physical explorations. (I don't consume either before an attempt though.)

I agree with wow about balance. I do eat fairly balanced most of the time and get good cardio and lift weights. Working out actually seems to have a greater effect on me. I think maintaining a balance in your life is more important than living uncomfortably. Meaning I couldn't go vegetarian very easily.

[cavernstoy]

I ate a pizza-philly cheese steak on Saturday and had a nice deep meditation on Sunday morning. If I had to give one of them up...

...that's a tough one. Both meat and alcohol are parts of my regular diet. I'm not promoting either, but they don't seem to interfere with my non-physical explorations. (I don't consume either before an attempt though.)

I mean long term effects, like a month of vegetarianism will increase your mental clarity.

I do eat fairly balanced most of the time and get good cardio and lift weights. Working out actually seems to have a greater effect on me. I think maintaining a balance in your life is more important than living uncomfortably. Meaning I couldn't go vegetarian very easily.

Okay, change can be harsh at first, but with any addiction, comfort is the result of the release.

However, vegetarianism is just the begining of reform, and if done incorrectly, can be just as bad or worse than a carnivorous diet. 

If you truely want to utilize health to your spiritual advantage, stopping eating cooked food.

Cavernstoy

[Beneath_the_Roses]

However, vegetarianism is just the begining of reform, and if done incorrectly, can be just as bad or worse than a carnivorous diet. 

Cavernstoy

How so?


And thank you all for your responses

[wow_nonamesleft]

 I think what he may mean is that being a vegetarian you can end up being deficient in a certain vitamin or mineral(as well as other diets).  My cousin went vegetarian for awhile and ended up being deficient in Iron(IDA). This is a reason to have a balanced diet, just be sure you get what your body needs.

[cavernstoy]

If you choose to over eat white flower products, processed foods, and "MSG" burgers as a compensation for meat, you may do more harm than good for yourself.

[cavernstoy]

I have to specify that all heat processed animal produce are detrimental to health.  When I use the word vegetarian, I (for the most part) mean vegan.  The only healthy animal produce are raw goat's milk (humanely raised of course), raw wild crafted honey (humanely harvested of course), and I guess raw bugs (umm, ya).

Cavernstoy

[Old Dood]

From my experience, it does help. 

I beleive the healthier your body is, the better your spirit can function.

The adrenaline from meat causes hormonal imballances leading to a non-meditative state.

Meat (especially red meat) hurts circulation, killing mental clarity

?karma?

I'm not really sure, but I would asume it has something to do with health, mental clarity, or spiritual innocence

Cavernstoy

We eat meat.  Not near as heavily as we use to. I firmly believe in moderation is the key.
Also taking your vitamins. I have had thyroid problems as of late (again) and my vitamin D was super low.
Once I started taking a prescribed dose once a week(50K units) I started feeling better and I have more clarity.

I also make a mean MeatLoaf and winter time is perfect for meatloaf and meatloaf sandwiches.

[Novice]

I think everyone is different. You need to do what's best for you and your body. The problem is, no one can tell you what that is except for you.

I've eaten meat most of my life and never had a health related issue. I went vegetarian about 5-6 years ago. It wasn't a conscious effort or my part. Rather, within a year of doing yoga and meditating, I simply found myself repulsed by meat. Once I noticed the feeling, I found myself a complete vegetarian in a month. I've been that way ever since.

This past year I started trying veganism out. Mainly because I had become lactose intolerant after my first child was born (still don't know what the correlation is there). I feel much better with those diet changes, but they came about because I listened to my body. It wasn't forced on me.

So if you enjoy meat and are only considering vegetarianism for 'guilt' reasons, I would suspect you won't do well. You need to want to live that way willingly, not because you *think* you should. I would recommend keeping meat, especially red meat, to a bare minimum and make sure you eat plenty of frutis and veggies. Maybe try going vegetarian for one month. See how the lifestyle suits you. See how you feel afterwards. If you feel better and like the changes, then keep it. If not, go back to adding meat into your diet.

Like everything else in life, there is no right or wrong. There is only what you do. So make sure you do it for the 'right' reasons!   (intentional pun there). 

[Stookie]

Great advice Novice!

[Astir]

I believe it is different for each individual.

Everyone in my family lives healthy lives into their 90's eating meat (eating anything really), drinking, smoking. The "rules" don't seem to apply. I do eat meat regularly now, and I'm an incredibly sensitive and intuitive person. What you believe will help will help. And what you believe will hurt...will actually hurt you. And that's all there is to it.

You cause more than you'd think.

[Stookie]

I like that theory. I'm about to go get a double cheeseburger for lunch, so right now I'm believing it will help tremendously. Boy I'm hungry, and no guilt! And another OBE tonight! Hooray for cheeseburgers!

It's true. But I also work out and will be eating more healthy meals over the next few days. You have to balance it out.