DAY 26
Well there are just 4 days left in this 30-day Hatha yoga challenge. The past few days have been relatively unremarkable, so I am just going to summarize recent events. I continue to begin each morning with pranayama, meditation, jivamukti and asana practice. My diet has been pretty consistent, mainly:
- Breakfast items - a piece of fruit, fruit cup topped with yogurt or just a cup of herbal tea.
- Brunch/lunch items - mostly veggie sandwiches or wraps on whole grain breads with yogurt and granola, or vegetable soups with home-made rolls, bread, or whole grain crackers.
- Dinner items - Spanish saffron rice and beans with corn salsa or pico de gallo. Large garden salads with assorted cheeses and home-made pizza with fresh veggies.
- Snacks - generally trail mix with dried fruit and assorted nuts and seeds. Also, lots of water, of course.
I have noticed that despite my regular exercise routine and healthy eating, I have had recurring joint pain, especially in my shoulders. I have had tendinitis in both shoulders for a number of years, but was surprised that I have had recent flare ups. I have been doing a little research and found that this type of joint pain may indicate lack of iron in the diet. Interestingly enough, I also have a history of anemia, and along with the joint pain, have been experiencing a nagging fatigue. I typically eat eggs on a regular basis and occassionally meat as well (although I am not a big meat-eater). I've been taking a full-spectrum multi-vitamin with adequate iron, but cannot tolerate more than that. (It causes GI problems).
There is a school of thought that different blood types assimilate nutrients differently, and therefore, necessitate different diets. I am an "O" blood type. According to Dr. Peter D'Adamo, author of "Eating Right For Your Type", O's have a difficult time assimilating many plant-based proteins and other nutrients. They are one of the blood types which require animal sources of protein and nutrients such as iron and zinc. Of course, I am not ready to throw in the towel, and in fact, know many "yogi's" who are lacto-ovo-vegetarians. Eggs, of course, are an excellent source of both protein and iron. My cholesterol levels and blood pressure are both well under normal ranges, so eating eggs are not "risky" for me, as they may be for those on the typical SAD diet (Standard American Diet).
However, I am concerned with any possible ethical issues. I am considering adding eggs back into my diet, 3 to 4 times per week to see if my joint pain resolves. In the past I have always bought organically-fed, free-range chicken eggs because I have ethical issues with the treatment of most commercially-raised chickens. What I have witnessed in poultry factories is certainly not in harmony with the principle of ahimsa! As such I will continue supporting organic products. Moreover, I am interested feed back from my readers on this issue. Namely,
- What are your thoughts on lacto-ovo-vegetarianism?
- What are your thoughts on the blood-typing method of eating?
- If you feel consuming eggs violates ahimsa, what are your suggestions for finding healthy sources of iron and protein without taking extra supplements? (My feeling is if you need to take many dietary supplements on a regular basis, there is something wrong with your diet).
I welcome all opinions. Until then,
Om Shanti.
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