Living in a country that is not your native land presents innumerable challenges and opportunities for growth. Not the least of which can be maintaining good health, and re-establishing equilibrium in an environment where everything is new and perhaps a bit strange.

The local food culture is one aspect of a new environment that can impact us very intimately. Experiencing new flavors, aromas and customs can be a deeply rewarding part of traveling or living in a new community, and at the same time, can contribute to the stressful load of new things that we need to adapt to.

Perhaps the most valuable takeaway for me from all of my years of studying and practicing natural medicine is that our capacity for self healing and preservation far exceeds what we generally give ourselves credit for. My journey into natural medicine started with food; a seriously dysfunctional relationship with food, to be specific. I’ve experienced first-hand the significant impact that food can have on our energy, mood, consciousness, and our ability to think clearly. Food is a magnificent gift from Nature Herself which we take in at regular intervals to heal and regenerate our cells, blood, tissues, muscles and bones. It can be a major factor in creating health and vitality and preventing disease. Used skillfully, food can be thy medicine. Misused, it can and does move us toward a suboptimal experience of life, and an early grave.

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