5 WAYS TO EAT LIKE A PA KUA MASTER 1) EAT SIMPLE MEALS The more complex a meal, the harder it is for our bodies to process. When our bodies have to work harder to digest, it requires more energy. That’s why eating a burrito in the middle of the workday will make you feel like you’ve just taken a sleeping pill. By eating simple foods, your body can process them more efficiently and you are likely to have more energy. In addition, learning which combinations of foods synergize can also help you to get the most out of your day. Sometimes the combinations of foods you are eating, as well as when, have just as big of an impact as the food themselves. Eating simple meals will help you to maintain a more harmonic body and mind. 2) EAT WHOLE WHEAT The grocery store can be a confusing place, especially when it comes to things like bread and rice. When you’re in a hurry, who has the time to figure out the difference between whole wheat, whole grain, and multigrain bread. Most people have some idea that white flour isn’t as healthy, but beyond that it can be a mystery. So here’s the deal: The word WHOLE is the key. Whether it says whole wheat or whole grain, both of these types of bread contain the entire grain kernel and are your best options. When you’re dealing with whole grains, you’re getting more fiber, vitamins, and smaller spikes in your blood sugar. Some breads contain a lot of corn products, sugar, and additives, so the less ingredients the better. Your best option would be a bread made of 100% whole wheat flour. When it comes to rice, stick with brown. In Yin/Yang terms, whole wheat and brown rice sit in the middle of the spectrum and are considered some of the most neutral foods you can consume. They do wonders for balancing the body. 3) BE WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE I love chocolate ice cream. It’s one of my favorite treats on a hot day and there are plenty of times during the week when I am tempted to stop somewhere and grab a scoop. However, I typically don’t. The reason for that is because I know what I will feel like afterwards. I will be sluggish, hot, and mentally foggy. As a martial arts instructor, these qualities aren’t ideal when I’m trying to teach a room full of students. So, I skip the ice cream. Not all the time mind you. Sometimes on the weekend I’ll have some, or maybe on a special occasion when I can afford to take a nap afterwards. You see everything we put into our bodies comes with a price. Sometimes, the joy of ice cream makes the price worth it, other times it doesn’t. In our modern society, we love to label foods and “bad,” or “good,” but these labels tell us much more about ourselves than they do the food. The question to ask yourself is, are you willing to pay the price? 4) UNDERSTAND YOUR ENERGETIC NEEDS Gaining an understanding of Yin/Yang food theory can help you to make better choices for yourself. Diet and eating is a very individual process and you must learn for yourself what your body needs. One tool that can be a great help with this is the use of Yin/Yang food theory. Learning where foods, their qualities, and methods of cooking fall on the scale between Yin and Yang can provide a great road map. Depending on what type of person you are, you may find that the foods you think you should be eating may not be helping you. For more information on this, speak to your Masters or ask them about Energy classes. 5) THINK OF THESE RULES AS GUIDELINES We aren’t big fans of absolutes in Pa Kua because we know that things are always changing. As soon as someone puts their foot down and declares, “this is the way it is!” A new change has arrived and that rule may no longer apply. There is no one way to eat healthy or even eat like a Pa Kua Master. There are only general principles that we try to use to make our lives healthier and happier. Very often, people want to be told what and how to eat. They want a strict set of rules to follow to relieve their anxiety, fear, and confusion. But the truth is, each person must decide for themselves what is best. By deciding on your own, you are proving to yourself that you have the strength, wisdom, and awareness to be the person you want to be. 
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