I recently went to a lecture by Tim Van Orden titled “Running Raw” put on by Vancouver Island Vegetarian Association VIVA. Tim is a raw foodist that has a great understanding of what it is to be a high level athlete and healthy at the same time. Tim aims to consume a raw, vegan, plant based diet 95% of time time without over-consuming nuts and seeds. I was impressed with his depth of knowledge, and his analytical approach. Why would one follow such a lifestyle? For a few reasons: Nutrient Density- with a diet comprised of tons of leafy greens, low glycemic fruits, and healthy fats you consume a massive amount of nutrients per calorie. This is opposite to the Standard North American diet which is very high in calories but low in nutrients. Low “toxic” diet- Cooking foods, especially high starch foods like potatoes, at high temperatures actually change the structure of the molecules causing them to produce a substance called “acrylamides”. Acrylamides are actually toxic and are known carcinogens, cancer causing agents. High “net gain”- Digesting food takes energy. Digesting food creates energy. If you eat foods that are take little energy to digest (such as a raw food diet) then you have a net gain of energy. The North American diet takes a lot of energy to digest resulting in a ‘net loss’ of energy. That is a very over-simplified explanation! As you can imagine following this type of lifestyle is not for everyone, I fully appreciate how difficult it can be to stick to this plan. The most valuable piece of advice I took from...
Ever wonder why you are the way you are? The Myers-Briggs personality test can give you incredible insight into who you are, why you do what you do, and what you should be doing. Here is a great free online test that you can do to find out your type. Myers-Briggs Test Developed around the time of World War 2 the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) has become a widely used psychological assessment tool. While it is not ‘perfect’ it is helpful for most people. After completing the test you will be given a four letter personality ‘indicator’ that you should write down and keep note of for future use. Most likely, your indicator will never change. You can read entire books on your type and what it means, and what conditions are best for you. One aspect that I appreciate is that there is no ideal, or ‘best’ type. You are you and there are strengths, and areas to improve on in each...
