Kathy Freston On Conscious Eating & Her Famous Cleanse

Since there has been a lot of talk about the cleanse portion of my new book, I thought I might emphasize that one key component of the cleanse is eating consciously. Sitting down to eat is an elemental part of every day, and what we choose to put on our plate has repercussions not only for our physical well being, but also for our spiritual well being. Conscious eating means simply this: remaining awake and aware of how food gets to our plate -- and then choosing what we eat according to our values. Personally, I don't want to partake in cruelty, and from what I've seen in undercover video clips or read from the accounts of slaughterhouse workers, eating meat is supporting cruelty. I talk a lot about this concept in some of my earlier posts, for example here.

I know "right" or "wrong" are heavy terms and that most things that someone places some moral label on are far more subjective; there is a lot of grey area and the path of consciousness and health is one that is constantly evolving. We all have different histories and we all move at different speeds. But there are some simple challenges we come upon every day, at least three times a day. What to eat? Do I just reach for what I want without a care as to how it got to me, or do I push myself to go beyond the concerns of just "me". With every choice, there is an animal somewhere who will experience the fallout. These are no longer times for magical thinking; what happens in the world is a result of what we do or don't do. We have an affect. We are creating the conditions as we go. If there is fear and pain and suffering in the world, at least one of the places we can make a difference is at our kitchen table.

Doing the cleanse delivers one to a fresh start. It's like a vacation, a reprieve, from our old and tired ways. It is an opportunity to kick start a momentum of consciousness and healing. We can see what it feels like to live on a plant-based diet for 21 days. And if we like what we feel, we can let the momentum we've started deliver us to a whole new level of living. Or it can just be a simple detox, a way to let your body rid itself of all the stored up junk it has had to process throughout the years. I'm not saying it's easy (for me, giving up coffee -- albeit temporarily - is hell), but it's worth it.

I also want to stress that conscious eating -- although it's capturing many people's imagination right at the moment -- is just one of the pillars of wellness, and that the cleanse is just one aspect of conscious eating. Although conscious eating is, I believe, a key component of what I'm calling quantum wellness (wellness in all aspects of our lives -- physically, mentally, spiritually), it's not the only component, and for some people it's not even the most important component. I believe that wellness also entails balance in our lives -- for things like exercise, rest and relaxation and fun, service, and so on -- as well as other key elements of being a whole human being, like exercise and spiritual integrity, which can be from within one of the world's great religions or from within no religion (the growing number of people who are deeply spiritual, but not religious in the more conventional sense).

Gandhi called his life an "experiment in truth." That captures the idea, I think, of both quantum wellness and of the idea of "eating consciously." We need not be perfect, but we can lean into the shift.

Comments

[Bushgoesnucular]

Just remember the next time that you chomp down on that cheeseburger at your neighborhood fast food joint that there are traces of animal excrement and offal in the meat along with those trans-fat fried onion rings and french fries. Bon Appetit people.

[Mort]

Some of you seem to be able to find spiritual peace in a bowl of soy bean curd. That's fine for you. I always thought being one with nature meant being a part of the circle of life

[enveg01]

Circle of life? Try the circle of death. Cruel, inhumane, and horrific death.

[ZedNotZee]

Soylent Green is part of the circle of life. If God didn't intend us to eat people He wouldn't have made us out of meat.

[greenwriter]

Right on, enveg01. Mort, in which part of nature do you find a factory farm?

[CommanderCodeine]

If slaughterhouses had glass walls the whole world would be vegetarian.
Linda McCartney

[Damodar]

While living at a yoga center, I was fortunate to be exposed to "conscious eating" and "holistic living," What really changed my life, and took these words and practices to a level beyond a solely self- and human-centered existence, was making the "radical" but natural and celebratory change to vegan living after seeing "Diet for a New America" 15 years ago (at age 43). Shocked to the core at seeing the confinement, cruelty, and killing inherent in "raising" animals for food (and subsequently all other areas of human exploitation), my heart and mind were opened to who the "other animals" are --- from the tiniest insect to the largest mammal ---living, feeling beings deserving life, freedom, equal consideration and respect.
While at times I'm discouraged, I truly believe that love and compassion reside in the core of every human heart, waiting to flower, burst forth into full bloom, and create a kinder, gentler world for All beings.

[jade7243]

"Conscious eating" is wonderful if you can "afford it." Actually I mean to literally afford to pick and choose what you eat. Ms. Freston and dear Oprah have money, and people with money have always had the luxury of choosing to eat or not eat as they please. Food historians have written time and again that veganism or vegetarianism as a choice gained favor among the wealthy.

The poor, often, do not have that luxury of choice. You can't choose what you cannot afford. You cannot be picky when eating is not a daily given. When you shop at the Food Bank and not at Whole Foods or Greenmarket, conscious eating takes on a whole new meaning.

Perhaps some of these people should try the "Poverty Diet" next. Let's see if there is a bestseller in that book.

[greenwriter]

jade7243 -- are you suggesting that things like tofu, mushrooms, kale, broccoli and tomatoes are more expensive than chicken, meat and fish? Seriously.

[CommanderCodeine]

Exactly greenwriter . If these people would flush out all that toxic meat residue from their systems, they would be able to think more logically.

[Jonni Rae]

Actually, organic fruits and vegetables and grains are more expensive than say, chicken or pork. Remember, you need to eat more than one tomato for your lunch. If you are only feeding yourself, it is probably manageable, but if you are feeding a family, it is definiely more expensive.

[sageon]

greenwriter,

You can't even find things like tofu, mushrooms (excluding portobello and definitely not including shitake) and kale at a market in a poor neighborhood. You can't even find vine-ripe tomatoes. And there is no "organic" selection.

Why don't we take action by eliminating the Poor in the US, instead of developing more of these get rich quick detox/weight loss programs available only to the elite.

[Damodar]

You don't need Whole Foods or Greenmarket. Virtually everybody (including most we might classify as "poor") has the "luxury" to buy grains, beans, fruits and vegetables (plus nuts, seeds and other plant-based foods), which form the basis of a healthy and compassionate way of eating. These are widely available and affordable (we have a "Bottom Dollar" store here where prices are 10-20 % less than other supermarkets).
The primary aspect of "conscious eating" is a shift in how we view other animals, and making choices that respect all sentient beings by saying Yes to life and No to cruelty and killing. That's the foundation of "vegan" living and our choices of what products and enterprises to support in all areas of life.

p.s. If you can provide the sources, I'd be interested to read what "food historians" have written about this subject.
.

[ChicagoBob]

!

"...it [the cleanse] can just be a simple detox, a way to let your body rid itself of all the stored up junk it has had to process throughout the years."

Is this anything like the "10 pounds of undigested meat" we used to hear about having in our colons in the 1980's?

Just what EXACTLY is the "stored up junk" that the cleanse can rid us of? I hear stuff like this all the time but nothing in any of the physiology classes I have taken has explained it. Maybe the author or some poster can help me. Science only, please. Personal antidotes not allowed. No emotional appeals either.

!

[QueenCeleste]

I enjoyed your post very much and wholeheartedly agree with your philosophy. It wasn't hard for me to give up meat years ago, but for some it can be very difficult. With friends who want to go veggie but are having trouble, I recommend they simply make a goal of eating fewer meals with meat. It doesn't have to be cold turkey (so to speak). Even substituting meat for cruelty free meals once or twice a week is a great start. And for those who equate vegetarian food with rabbit food, Whole Foods carries a great gourmet vegan line, Roxanne's. I defy anyone not to rave about her triple chocolate torte: no eggs, butter, flour, or sugar, and 11 grams of protein!

I confess I take awhile before commenting on their leather belts and shoes. But, like you, I sing the praises of Payless Shoes and drag any willing friends along. And now there are so many options, with high end designers making shoes from fabric or pleather. These days it's far easier to go cruelty free than when some of us began twenty years ago or so.

By the way, I enjoyed the piece on you in W. May the readers follow your humane and spirited lead!

[Portnoy]

Hunting season is less than 5 months away. My chance to be one with nature. To eat what I hunt. To harvest from the fields.

[Mort]

A managed deer hunt is what keeps thousands of them from starving to death every year. Seems like a compassionate thing to do!

[SweetJudith]

I thank you for speaking out.
I love being a cruely free person.
No meat for me in over 12 years now.

[OtayPanky]

You're not a cruetty free person unless you're fully enlightened.

Buddha was, and he ate whatever they put in his beggars bowl.

Don't confuse small virtues with true virtue.

[enveg01]

OtayPanky -- What a load of bunk. If you live anywhere in the US you have the choice whether or not you want to eat animals and their secretions thereby contributing to horrific cruelty and unnecessary slaughter. Something tells me that if you have the time to post comments from your computer you're not exactly eating from a "beggars bowl". I've heard a lot of excuses to why people eat meat, but this has to be the worst.

[sageon]

Nice comment. This is no excuse. This is wisdom.

Reminds me to keep things in perspective.

[DavidF]

I am always looking to improve myself. Kathy Freston's book is a great read for anyone looking for just that. Opening up your mind to the fact that there is life all around us is exilarating, and as an ethical vegan, I find it very satisfying to live my life to the fullest while allowing all the other beings that inhabit this planet to do the same. We can tread lightly while we walk through life, experiencing an inner peace knowing that we are enjoying all that our lives can give us while not harming a single being.

[KarateKid]

This is not meant to denigrate the author's book, but it seems to me that we use these books and the myriad of diets as crutches, something to hang on to in order to motivate us to eat healthy and lose weight.

Last June, I embarked on an exercise and diet program and have lost 65 pounds. What was my secret? What foods did I eat? What exercise did I do?

Simple. I drank a lot of water, I rode a Lifecycle or bicycle for an hour a day, three days a week, and did not eat any diet food nor did I deny myself of any food I liked. The only thing I consciously stayed away from is caffeine products like Coca Cola, tea and coffee, and cut back on my alcohol consumption. Also, I cut back on fruit juices and other product high in sugar content.

It's not what you eat, folks. It's HOW MUCH you eat, and how often you eat.

I read labels assiduously, trying to stay away mainly from sugar content.

If you eat what you like in MODERATION, you will lose weight. I ate half my normal portions, never took seconds, and never denied myself any foods. I ate cupcakes, chocolate, but instead of an entire bag of M&Ms, I ate 10 pieces.

Other than that, my secret was a little willpower and discipline. And it's free and requires no guru or expensive food regimens. It's also a great way to save money.

[DebbiM]

Kudos on your tremendous weight loss. It takes a lot of courage to deal with that sort of issue. However, Quantum Wellness is not a diet book, but a holistic approach to being well – with and for yourself, and ultimately for the world.
The ‘cleanse’ in the book isn’t about loss; weight or anything else. It’s really about gaining… Respect for yourself to clear you body of toxins. Clarity about how your food choices affect your body, animals, and the planet. Understanding that while willpower is good for some things, it’s often willfulness that gets us to an unfortunate state in the first place.
This book isn’t about eating less and exercising more; although those are good things. It’s not even about denial of food. Rather, it’s about getting ourselves out of our denial that we can go about “business as usual” not giving thought to how our food gets to our table. It very much IS about WHAT you eat, NOT how much. If you are eating a low-fat diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and beans – all plant-based foods – you virtually can eat as much as you’d like with great benefit to your health, animals and the planet.
We all would do well to consider the ‘trifecta’ of mind, body and spirit as we move through the world. There is a lot to be gained by being mindful and seeking wellness, and I think that is the message of Quantum Wellness.

[BruceGFriedrich]

I don't know why I'm always so surprised by all the negative comments on HuffingtonPost; you'd think I'd get used to it. I suppose I just expect that people who are interested in progressive content won't be so mean-spirited... But I am told that many commenters are not actually HuffPo readers, but are just here to anonymously offer unkind comments. What is the psychology of someone who thinks it's worth their time to post attacks on other people (anonymously, too)?

Anyway, it seems to me that Kathy Freston's book is about finding meaning in one's life and taking care of oneself; sadly, it's a message that many Americans can use, which you can confirm simply by looking at what magazines are most popular, as well as at how many people are having trouble keeping up with their lives, physically and psychologically. Surely trying to help with that is a positive thing that should be applauded, rather than derided.

And Oprah has dedicated her life to helping and empowering people (and herself). Comments like "it didn't work--she's still on"--where do these comments come from? They sound like something you'd hear on Rush Limbaugh to me...

[nellpost]

re negative comments on huffpo -- ask HILLARY about it!

[AgathaX]

I think the problem is when "taking care of oneself" and "finding meaning" are wrapped up in jargon like "quantum wellness" and even "cleansing"--though the latter has a little more history. It's called skepticism, and many people have a hard time negotiating that fine line between skepticism and cynicism. If the same author had presented the same concepts minus the jargon, and with some recognition that the ability to choose our food carefully is often a luxury, the reactions may have softened a little. One of my personal peeves is that people are often more willing to be skeptical of traditional religion than they are of new agey stuff. There is a certain fashionability about the latter, and even traditional religion has more fashionable forms.

What's more, this is an on line forum. People come here to say things that they may not say in their everyday lives. We don't have to view people as multi-dimension creatures who we have the capacity be harmed. We're all just blowhards grinding our own axes. And its not just us. I think you'd have to spend a lot of time with Maureen Doud before she sounded as snarky in person as she does in print. And the average poster here is not as clever as Doud, so you get the venom without the wit.

[richmc]

It's the hypocrisy and the junk pseudo science. These things are the equivalent of the old snake oil salesmen. Plus we have real problems in our society right now. Indulging in fad diets is not a worthwhile endeavor.

Do you have any idea how much environmental damage is caused by printing all these books? The trees that get cut down, the chemicals that are used. And for what? to tell you to eat your vegetables? What troubles me is that people with college degrees will buy into this balderdash. It shows you how broken our education system really is.

[Jonni Rae]

Most people do not have the time to take care of themselves, nor the money to have someone buy their food for them, choosing the correct proteins, etc. They get one hour to go to the store. The rest of the time they are working or taking care of the kids and the house. Their men like meat. The whole concept is rather elitist. And I have known many vegans who were not very compassionate people, cruel, in fact, and intolerant of others. These are people who have time to go to yoga retreats. Time to read and take courses in eating healthy. And the MONEY to do this. The cheapest foods are the worst for you. Just check out any supermarket. And I don't mean Whole Foods.

[vandegrasse]

What about people who can't GET food?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVbWKntt5Hw

[metaphysicist]

kathy is just creating more BUNK!!! quantum wellness....

what is next...string theory string cheese...???

quantum is such a....1950's word

[SouthFloridaDem]

HAAAAAA!! String theory string cheese -- brilliant!

[Mort]

That cleanse doesn't seem to be working. Oprah's still on tv!

BTW, it's almost funny to read comments in the battle between vegans and carnivores. It's a lot like the arguments over religion and party politics. Everyone's an expert. Each person follows the "only true and living diet" and knows what's best for everyone else. And everyone else is an idiot!

Actuallly we're all a little different. (Well, some are a LOT different!!!) No one diet or medical strategy will work for everyone. And besides that, we live in a country where we can decide what we want to eat. One of my sons eats mostly veggies, but some fish and poultry. I occasionally like to throw a nice tenderloin on the grill. And there's nothing quite like leftover Thanksgiving turkey with some dill dip. We're both healthy and happy. The world still goes around. The sun comes up every day. La di daa!

[bobdob]

If God didn't want us to eat animals, why did He make them out of meat?

I hate that bumper sticker, but it's still funny.

[Mort]

I love animals. Some of them I really love... with a little A-1, a baked potato and some salad.

[klmebane]

people are made out of meat too....