Going Organic is a Journey
Making the transition from what I thought was healthy eating to the real deal
Hi, I’m Sue and I write about the beauty and ingenuity of Nature, and how we can deepen our connection for our optimum health and wellbeing. Discover more Nature-inspired content on Spiral Leaf, Twitter and my video Nature Channel.
I learned something a few years ago that changed my life. It was a revelation, and like all fundamental truths found in hidden knowledge, profoundly simple. An alkaline body is a happy body.
This is because being alkaline gives our body the best possible condition within which to carry out its myriad of processes that keep us in great condition.
What does it mean to have an alkaline body?
Alkaline is the positive PH level found naturally in our bodies. It can be measured in our blood, organs and cells. Alkaline helps to balance and neutralise acid or negative PH in our bodies.
According to Anthony Di Marino, RD, an alkaline diet is packed full of foods that have high nutritional value while restricting sugar and processed foods in favour of fresh foods that are well-known for their health value.
An alkaline diet favours natural, wholefoods that prevent disease in the long term.
What are alkaline foods?
Some of the pillars of an alkaline diet are foods we know to be solid staples of a healthy diet:
Fruits and unsweetened fruit juice
Grains like wild rice, oats and quinoa
Legumes
Non-starchy vegetables, like leafy greens, broccoli, cabbage and carrot.
Nuts
Seeds
My Almanac series lists foods in season in gardens and markets every month with things to forage that contain a high levels of nutrients and minerals.
As much as sourcing and securing a supply of organic (or as near to organic as possible) fresh food and groceries is an essential part of going organic, we also have to think about what we need to avoid or remove from our lives completely.
What are non-alkaline foods?
An article on Cleveland Clinic - What Is the Alkaline Diet, and Is It Safe? - provides a list of problematic food. I think we can clearly see the pattern here with my brackets added:
[Processed] Trans fats
[Processed] Saturated fats
[Processed] Red meat (beef, pork, veal and lamb)
[Processed] Meats (hot dogs, salami, pepperoni, bologna)
[Processed] Refined carbohydrates (white breads, crackers, salty snack foods, baked goods)
[Processed] Sweetened beverages (such as soda)
Whilst it this is a good list, it is a singular list that reveals only part of the story. My preferred source of reference is a book called Cleanse to Heal which goes much deeper into this troublesome issue.
Founder and Author of Medical Medium, Anthony William, dedicates a chapter to Troublemaker Foods (on five different levels with a bonus list for faster results when certain foods are banished) and A Wake Up Call chapter to explain other troublemakers we need to be aware of.
What are troublemaker foods?
In Cleanse to Heal you will find indepth insights into problems caused by eggs, dairy, gluten, soft drinks, excessive salt, pork products, tuna, industrial food oils, corn, soy, lamb, all fish and seafood, vinegar, fermemented foods, caffine (oops guilty), all grains (except millet and oats), and all oils.
Some of these items might seem surprising and some, hard to let go. It might be a question of changing your source of food, reducing your intake of certin items or banning them altogether. When you have a reliable frame of reference you feel you can trust, it makes all the difference.
This one book was like that for me. It helped to dispal some myths, fill in some gaps, and join some dots. It confirmed what I knew to be good information or good practice, and it helped me to turn my back on problematic foods once and for all.
Even if you think your diet is healthy, there will be something for you to learn here. Once I had the information and I was able to take action and make much healthier choices.
What other troublemakers should we be aware of?
Cleanse to Heal explains exactly what we are up against in terms of harmful trace elements, toxins and pathogens that may be stored inside us, and that we are exposed to externally on a daily basis.
However healthy we feel or think we are, there is no harm in knowing what we might have missed, might be unaware of or might never even heard of. Excess trace elements are stored in our fat cells and major organs and are released when we feel run down, stressed, overloaded or deficient in some way.
Hidden exposures are found in air fresheners, scented candles, laundrey detergent, fabric softener, perfumes, cologne, aftershave, fungicides, gasoline, pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, fertilizers, lawn and garden treatments, EMF waves, plastics, viral waste matter, toxic heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, alcohol, spray products, unhealthy bacteria, viruses and microbes, chemical neauroantagonists (Flouride, etc), and petrochemicals.
Is it any wonder our bodies are unable to clear these toxic trace elements on a daily basis without our help? Our bodies are miraculous to have kept us going this long! All these bits and pieces are efficiently stored in our fat cells and essential organs rather than being released into our blood stream.
How do you cleanse to heal?
I became very fond of Medical Medium’s Celery Juice with nothing added and nothing taken away. I bought a professional juicer that brings out all the goodness and makes this daily tonic more cost effective.
Anthony has written an entire book on Celery Juice (see below). He describes it as a simple herbal extraction with an incredible ability to create sweeping improvements for all kinds of health issues when comsumed in the right way.
An important component of the 3:6:9 Cleanse (which I did a few weeks before the lockdown) and the ideal way to start your day even when you are not on the cleanse.
Cleanse to Heal contains different cleansing protocols and healthy recipes using organic foods, herbs, juices, natural supplements, fruits, nuts and vegetables that you can gradually introduce into your daily routine.
What is the Cleanse to Heal protocol?
A chapter in Cleanse to Heal is dedicated to your body’s healing power and how to recognise and deal with specific symptoms so that you can detox safely, know what to expect and what precautions to take. All the routines are designed to help you remove harmful residents and clear the way for your body to become alkaline so that it can function effectively.
Protocol include foods such as potatoes, courgettes and root vegetables that act as carriers to absorb and remove toxins, parasites and pathogens as they are released into the bloodstream. Starved of the fatty cells, fats, eggs and sugars that sustain them, these intruders break down into waste so that the body to dispose of them.
This is how we can help our body by knowing what it needs and when so that it can do its work effectively.
Steps to going organic
Like any other project, a plan set out over a realistic time period is very helpful.
I used Cleanse to Heal for my framework and initial guide. I gradually removed or replaced troublesome products from my pantry, under the sink and in my bathroom.
Finding organic alternatives can be hard to find and are generally more expensive. Although it is cost-effective in the long run as organic products last longer and provide more value having been made with higher quality natural ingredients.
I found a host of old health remedies and natural cleaning hacks that helped me to replace problematic products. Bicarbonate of Soda is a great example. It can be used to clean most things with its natural abrasiveness and ability to absorb odours.
Ask the right questions (and then do the work)
Here are some questions I would recommend to design a tailored plan for cleansing and transitioning to an organic lifestyle.
What is your health history and where are you now?
What is troubling your body and what could be the cause?
Which troublemaker foods and products might be causing problems?
How many alkaline foods are you consuming dally?
What do you need to increase, reduce or elimate from your diet?
Which herbs and natural supplements will help to address my symptoms?
Where can I source properly prepared vitamins, minerals and other supplements*?
Where are my local closest organic producers, providers and supplies?
How will I make the transition from my initial audit to a more organic lifestyle?
What do I need to find out so that I can make a realistic plan and stick to it?
Do your research
Sourcing wholesome food and products is a key route to success. On Anthony’s recommendation, I buy my vitamins from Vimergy which are available in the British Isles through Aggresive Health which is a very aware, informative and quality centred natural supplement provider with a huge range of stock. These are not affiliate links.
Research involves carefully checking things out, making comparisons and knowing what is right for you. It is important to check sources of ingredients, type of processing methods, quality standards, use and non-use of fillers, additives, preservatives, colouring, sugars, sweeteners, plastics, packaging and so on.
Enjoy the journey
Whether you want to enrich, tweek or change your cleansing and nutrition schedule, the key is to make it enjoyable, try out different things and learn as you go.
I am not medically or otherwised qualified to give advice but wanted to share with you what has worked for me. I haven’t been unwell since my initial deep clean and adopting a mostly organic lifestyle.
Going organic on Substack
I am so grateful to friends I have connected with on Substack and to those who follow and post such thoughtful comments. It helps us to learn from new perspectives and go organic in so many beautiful, insightful, wise and loving ways.
When we consider going organic as a holistic endeavour, we know it requires us to learn different ways to care for and nourish our mind, body, spirit, soul and whole being. Friends here are providing invaluable knowledge and practical ways to help us do just that.
Creatives who are highly gifted, talented, knowledgeable, helpful and tuned-in writers, thinkers, healers, practitioners, holistic physicians, providers, spiritual teachers, astrologers, gardeners, herbalists, land-lovers, wildlife-lovers, animal-lovers, Nature-lovers, community members, artists, poets and more.
Readers who are reading, absorbing, sharing, liking and commenting, bringing this platform to life with your love, appreciation, insights and questions that brings the truth to light and helps us to get to know each other.
Being on Substack means building a community and being part of a family. I am delighted to share beautiful souls who are helping us to improve and enrich our lives in many different and exciting ways.
I have included links (below) to beautiful souls and to say thank you for your generously ini sharing your thoughts, experiences, knowledge, art and insights for us to enjoy and learn from.
I love that we are connecting with each other. listening to each other, acknowledging each other and learning from each other. Thank you for connecting with me and enlightening me with your loving hearts, art and wisdom.
Natural Health, Nourishment & Healing
Nature’s Beauty, Art, Music & Poetry
Spritual Guidance & Divine Wisdom
Enlightenment, Truth & Awareness
Last word
I have added a new section for Natural (Healthy) Recipes with nutritional information.
There is no better time to think about going fully organic for our good health and to support local providers and organic growers who need our help.
Thank you for reading, and see you again soon.
Buy a book!
Buy a book from the Medical Medium series by clicking on the links to my affiliate bookshop below. By doing so, Spiral Leaf may earn a small commission for books sold at no extra cost to you!
Cleanse to Heal - Healing Plans by Anthony William, Medical Medium
Celery Juice - The Most Powerful Medicine of Our Time by Anthony William
Life-Changing Foods - Save Yourself and the Ones You Love by Anthony William
Wow, Hudson, I love that you enjoyed this, thank you! It took a while to put together and the book, yes, it sounds perfect! I love the link too, I will look into this and share in another post. I buy from Riverford Farm who deliver to me. They represent about 50 organic farms in the British Isles and a few in places like Spain. It's a great comfort and blessing to have such good food and so important we support our local growers.
Great to hear we are on the same page, you are absolutely right, alkaline bodies are happy bodies. And,haha, love it, a snarks category, now that would be a thing. I'll go for dryness (I love dry humour), fun and playfulness, how's that! You're a star, by the way, thank you for being part of this amazing family. 💫