For the mind to be holistically mindful, keenly perceptive, compassionate, integrally balanced, and aware, the body must be in great order. What helps to maintain this order involves a well-balanced diet consisting largely of whole foods; also necessary are things like adequate exercise, sufficient sleep, and refraining from recreational drugs. Some of this is easier said than done, especially when it comes to having a good diet.
A good diet, for example, would involve getting enough Omega-3, which is an essential fatty acid. An essential fatty acid is what the body needs; it cannot adequately synthesize it on its own. A lot of people think that they can eat things like walnuts and avocados to get their Omega-3. But most people, especially men (and women who are 30 years or older), cannot adequately convert that type of ALA Omega-3 into the usable kind (i.e., the kind with DHA and EPA). Therefore, they need to get their Omega-3 from oily fish or from Omega-3-rich algae (that has the usable form of Omega-3, not the unsatisfactory ALA kind). Omega-3 is important for brain function, for suppressing arthritis, and for heart health. (Nuts — like walnuts — have other health benefits, by the way, and i eat them every day.)
Additionally, these days, farms don’t usually replenish the soil with organic, whole minerals. Therefore, it is wise to take some supplementary vitamins (especially naturally derived vitamins). Beware; some synthetic vitamins that are sold, believe it or not, are made from petroleum.
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 
As always a stupendous photo… who are the insects?
What you don’t mention about diet is that our fish are polluted a long with most every other food… to one degree or the other….our planet is under assault and I think far too many people (not you) are under the illusion that THEY can escape what’s happening to our planet by eating ‘organic’ food… we eat approximately one credit card of micro plastics each week – our lungs are full of plastic as are our arteries – these things have yet to be measured even on air quality indexes. As for food organic is relative to soil, and air pollution which is everywhere. Sadly.
Well, Sara, we can help ourselves to some extent by purchasing Alaskan wild-caught fish or algae products from the northern regions. I’m well aware that we are ruining the environment (and hence ourselves) big-time, unfortunately.
Credit cards taste pretty good with a little bit of mustard and relish on them. 😉
credit card sandwiches need a touch of mustard! The arctic is in trouble – so now there’s no safe place for food
Visa cards taste a bit better than Master Card or American Express. Yum yum yum 😋
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Beautifully captured, with tiny pests at their act! Carry on! Best wishes! 🙂
Many thanks, Ashok! 😊
Mmmm beware of taking too many supplements without knowing the extent of their affect on the body and/or interactions with any prescribed drugs you may be taking. Water soluble vitamin supplements eg. can exert extra stress on the kidneys as any excess has to be filtered out; excess vitamin A can damage the liver. Due care needs to be taken as I’m sure you realise but not everyone does. A healthy person with no absorption problems should be able to obtain an adequate diet without taking any supplements if they ensure a wide variety of foods are eaten in a moderate way. Much more enjoyable than pill popping supplements much of which isn’t absorbed as well as obtaining from its original source anyway.
Interesting photo.
Thanks, Margaret, and yes, I am well aware of what excessive vitamins, like vitamin A, can do. I take natural vitamins in low daily % amounts. I do feel that most vegetables are depleted of many essential nutrients if they are not grown organically with a lot of consideration and care. 😉
Some supplements, such as Taurine, have been clinically proven to enhance health and lifespan (to a significant extent).
I’ve read your complete post plus some of the comments. I’m in agreement with what you have to say here. I realise there’s a whole lot more you could have said and/or explained here but if this post was any longer, more complicated I may not have read. If you had tried to fit every one of you 5,787 follower’s needs into one post, I would probably not have bothered reading – for time is a precious thing. What you shared here was enough for me to read and consider how this would relate to ‘me’. If I needed to ask a question I would, as I would think everyone else would. I look forward to seeing your posts in my notifications box from now on. I won’t be just looking for you when I have time to browse through the ‘Readers’ list. My online time is limited and I only include worthy, readable and beneficial posts such as this. Thank you for what you share and how you share.
Thanks, Riverside Peace, for responding. 😊 I took a quick peek at your blog site; i see that a lot of what you write about is based around Jesus. I am appreciative of much of the Jesus stuff, especially in terms of the Gospel of Thomas… the cornerstone that was rejected by the authoritarian bishops who were the puppets of the Roman government. But that’s another story.
I see that you are from Australia. I sure miss Steve Irwin’s wonderful nature specials. He was such a wonderful nature-loving advocate for nature conservation/appreciation!
WOW, thanks for schooling me about the synthetic vitamins. I prefer to get those nutrients through food where I can, but if I need a little extra supplement then I turn to a vitamin. My only problem is, I forget to take them! LOL 😜😱🤣 Great post Tom! 👍🏼
Thanks, Kym! 😊 Yes, farmers don’t generally, these days, replenish the soil with good, organic nutrients/fertilizers. And — these days — most cows and chickens (for example) are grain-fed, not naturally grass-fed, which renders their contents depleted of a lot of essential stuff. Take natural (like Naturelo) vitamins regularly, but not in percentages that exceed the recommendations. And get Omega 3 DHA and EPA somehow. Many people don’t consume the right Omega 3s… and that may be one of the reasons why people are going “gaga” (mentally) these days. It’s absolutely necessary for the healthy brain.
Was there a dinner gong for the feast too Tom? Very up-close view of that flower thanks to your macro lens. I take a multiple vitamin for over 55 but take cod liver oil which I have to get from Amazon now as they never have it at the store, even the health food store. As a kid I had a spoonful of horrible-tasting Cod Liver malt in a consistency a little thicker than honey every morning. Now I take the capsules – no fishy taste thankfully.
Great that you take a multivitamin, Linda! And it’s so excellent that you have been taking Cod Liver Oil… That is Omega 3 DHA and EPA for sure! Your parents were smart with getting you to take Cod Liver Oil (and you continued to stay smart)!
Those insects were indeed dining… and dining a lot healthier than a lot of us humans do! 😉
It was a morning ritual for years. Mom ordered it from Eatons or Simpsons in Downtown Detroit. We have to stay healthy naturally Tom and yes, we could learn from the insects and critters who don’t eat junk food.
Sunflowers are a main attractions for bugs. These guys are intersting looking.
Thank you, Juan! 😉
hi
Great read! Thanks for your perspective. 😊