BY DEEPAK CHOPRA, M.D.

All of the world’s great wisdom traditions have looked upon the miracle of nutrition as something sacred. Food is not a mere packet of fats, proteins, sugars, and vitamins—it is intelligence. It is an expression of the same universal energy that creates your body and mind, and animates everything that lives, moves, or breathes. In the healing system of Ayurveda, this vital energy is known as prana. You experience prana whenever you feel truly alive—whenever your mind is clear and alert, and your body is healthy and full of vitality.

Think Fresh
Since prana is most vital in fresh foods, the first step in tapping into the energy of food is choosing the freshest ingredients you can find. For this reason, it’s important to eliminate or minimize the use of “FLUNK” foods, an acronym for frozen, leftover, unnatural, nuked (microwaved), and canned foods. The fresher the food, the more life force is available. Frozen or canned string beans are not as rich in prana as beans picked fresh from the garden.

Choose Joy Over Rigidity
Although we can create a lot of drama around eating, it’s more helpful to let it be easy and joyful. Simply choose fresh and freshly prepared food whenever possible. If you can’t always find the ideal source of fresh food, don’t agonize over it. Keep in mind that how you eat is as important as what you eat. The attention that you bring to the act of preparing, eating, digesting, and assimilating a meal enlivens the intelligence of food in your physiology. If you prepare and eat a meal with joy and love, you will come away with a fuller heart and a more lively spirit. On the other hand, if you’re upset or wolfing down a sandwich on the run, your digestion will be disturbed.

Conscious Eating: Body Intelligence Techniques
Body Intelligence Techniques are practices for conscious eating that will help you extract the most nourishment from your food. They rely on the natural wisdom of the body.
•Create a quiet, comfortable atmosphere for enjoying your meals.
•Eat only when you’re hungry.
•Don’t eat when you are upset. Wait until you’ve calmed down.
•Avoid ice-cold food and beverages, which weaken the body’s digestive powers.
•Eat a light breakfast and dinner. Make lunch your main meal, since this is when your digestion is at its strongest.
•Leave one-third to one-quarter of your stomach empty to allow space for your body to digest the scrumptious nourishing meal. Also, if you leave a little room in your stomach, you willfeel more energetic and buoyant.
•Sit quietly for a few minutes after your meal. Focus your attention on the sensations in your body, and then take a short walk.
•Most of all, enjoy your meals. Give yourself permission to savor your food. Turn off the TV, phone, and other distractions. Simply slowing down and focusing on the appearance, aroma, and flavor of your food is extremely beneficial.

Morning Bliss Shake
Eating a large breakfast contributes to lethargy and sleepiness. A light breakfast, on the other hand, helps you feel more alert and energetic throughout the day. This recipe for the Chopra Center’s Morning Bliss Shake makes a delicious, light breakfast that will revitalize every cell in your body.

Serves 1
Ingredients
5 whole almonds, skin on, soaked overnight in ½ cup water
2 teaspoons organic raw honey or maple syrup
1 ounce soy protein powder, plain or vanilla
1 pinch cinnamon
1 cup low-fat vanilla soymilk
1 medium banana, peeled and sliced
1 tablespoon aloe vera juice

Preparation
Drain the almonds and discard the water. Place almonds in a blender, add the other ingredients, and blend until smooth. Take as a morning protein supplement and digestive aid.

Recipe courtesy of the Chopra Center from The Chopra Center Cookbook. Looking for more Ayurvedic recipes? Sign up for the Chopra Center’s free monthly newsletter, which offers a variety of tips, recipes, and other mind-body healing wisdom.chopra.com/newslettersignup

Spiritual Solutions: Answers to Life’s Greatest Challenges
Through discussing what he calls “the true self,” where peace, clarity, and wisdom serve as guides in times of crisis, Dr. Chopra’s goal is for readers to find spirituality from self-awareness, which enables people to face adversity, transform obstacles into opportunities, and live a satisfied life.

“There is no greater power for success and personal growth than your own awareness.”

Deepak Chopra, M.D. is the co-founder of the Chopra Center for Wellbeing in Carlsbad, California. If you’d like to learn more about maximizing the power of your body’s inner intelligence, the Chopra Center’s Perfect Health is a 6- or 10-day mind-body wellness program that combines the best in modern Western medicine with the wisdom of Eastern healing traditions. For more information about the Chopra Center’s programs, retreat, and workshops, visit chopra.com or call (888)736-6895.