What do you eat?

[RAM]

I'm really curious about what all my friends at the Nexus decide to eat. I personally try to eat all organic, non-GMO and non-soy, but it is very difficult for me to eat out at restaurants with this policy. I am conflicted because I love eating out, but I have to reconcile that many of the things that I love to eat probably aren't very good for me.

I have met people with all sorts of food allergies and choices. Gluten free, dairy free, soy free, nut free, GMO free, vegetarians, vegans, pescatarians, etc. I personally do not trust pesticides that are put on food and I have read horrible things about soy consumption, and although I do go through a lot of detoxing, that is not my focus here. I still eat meat and dairy, but I try to go for sustainable and non-antibiotic/hormone options.

Do you think what you eat affects your emotions? Your trips? I think we can agree that it definitely affects your health, but how much do you think people should avoid and work against the use of pesticides, herbicides, genetic modification, etc. in the foods they eat?

 

[universecannon]

Good food and psychedelics go hand in hand, and it's nice to see people becoming more conscious of food within the psychedelic community in general. Lets be honest, when we say "food" what we really mean is the galaxy of materials we use to build and fuel our unimaginably complex and sensitive brains/bodies on a sub-cellular level. People would laugh if you tried to build a car out of cardboard, but for some reason we don't apply the same simple engineering logic to the thing that counts the most, the thing that is light years beyond a car in it's complexity, the thing that is somehow intimately intertwined with our very sense of self. The effect what we eat has on the environment is obviously something to consider as well.

I try and grow as much food as I can, and harvest things like wild grapes, fungi, dandelion etc. When it comes to buying, I try to get a lot of local food, but not at the sacrifice of health since winters are rough here. Organic is good if it's really organic. Industrial level organic is still sprayed from what I've heard...although it's still definitely not the worst option. As far as what kind of food, I stick with mostly uncooked fruits, vegetables, greens, nuts and seeds for the most part. It would have sounded so bland to me back when I ate junk all day, but I became perceptive to the subtle tastes and eventually learned how to make things even more enjoyable than what I used to eat in the past. Eat a good mango on mushrooms and sea what I mean.

This has changed my life in tremendous ways, and definitely effected my psychedelic experiences. One analogy I've heard is that psychedelics without a good diet is like putting jet fuel in a beat up old car. Not saying I don't have any rust, but it does seem to have helped a lot compared to how psychedelics used to be when I was still eating junk.

 

[○]

Im by no means perfect in my eating; i like the occasional grilled burger, a nice porterhouse steak, french fries, etc, but id say 95% of the time im eating reasonably. Heres a breakdown per day:

-3 huge 'mixing bowls' of mixed salad - all local produce (I live literally within walking distance of 3 farms), no grocery-chain bought produce; Way too expensive anyhow. Plus I live near one of the largest flea/farmers markets in the country (amish/dutch market). That market is indoor, multi leveled. During off season people from the south come up and set up booths to sell. I can walk into that market with $20 and walk out with literally a grocery cart full to the top of produce. Fresh spinach, arugula, endive, kale, mustard greens, oak leaf lettuce, romaine lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, cucumber, green onions. Those are typically what I use, plus or minus a few things.

- Morning breakfast typically eggs (local), oats with chia seeds, flax seeds, cinnamon, a little honey. Eat that pretty much every morning. Then maybe an orange, banana, apple, or something of that nature; always make sure to have some sort of fruit alongside. I buy LOTS of fruit. I have to eat breakfast, or I get grumpy.


- Lunch/dinner, I eat LOTS of fish. Channel cat, halibut, walleye, sockeye/kenai river salmon, alaskan cod. Rice or potato usually alongside. Don't care for pasta really. I got away from beef some time ago, probably eat steak twice a month, if that. Got heavily into local venison. Lots of hunters around these parts. This family owned meat market/processing business (has been here before i was born) is where i typically go, as they process deer, and also buy from the hunters; ground venison, venison steaks, any cut you prefer they typically have. They process LOTS of deer. I make stews/chilis, burgers most of the time and grilled steaks when the weather breaks and it's season for the grill. Between venison, fish and eggs, protein intake is adequate. Then probably 4-6 times a month i'll cook chicken breasts, as I do love some chicken. (local)

- Lots of water, probably 98% of what I drink. I get those 5 gal. clearwater jugs, fill them up once a week; reverse osmosis water. 25c per gallon. I have 4 of those jugs. Matcha green tea, silver needle white tea; I drink those pretty much every day. Lately have been on a caffeine kick with coffee, which I need to cut down or stop altogether, as I drink way too much of it.

Thats a rough run down, probably left some things out.

 

[null24]

that sounds like a good diet to me, tat. personally mine is pretty lacking, more because of financial conditions and lack of a preparation space. I'm pretty reliant on prepared food, like eating out. I do stay away from processed fast foods though, yuck! I live in a city that touts itself as a foodie heaven and it the home of the $30 hamburger, but many places around here support locavorism and I'm able to be source my foods to a large degree.

Lots of yougurt, grains, cheese, bread, some meat mostly beef and chicken, although fish is my fave. One day, Im planning to eat a vegetable, I hear they can be tasty.

 

[hug46]

One day, Im planning to eat a vegetable, I hear they can be tasty.

Don"t believe the hype. Vegetables are the tool of the devil (unles they are in a curry).

 

[endlessness]

My diet has been completely transformed since I started taking psychedelics when I was a teenager. I used to eat a lot of junk food in my early-mid teens, tons of ,sugary food, etc. Then a few psychedelic trips and I turned 180degrees around. Most definitely eating well changes tripping, just like any other positive change in life which is like removing shackles , allowing you to go further in trips ime.

I find that eating well has less to do with money and time, but more to do with planning. If you strategically think about what you are going to eat for the next few days or week or so, its muuuch easier to work out your cooking schedule.

For example you can cook a big portion of lentils with carrots and potatoes to eat together with rice, and freeze a bunch in different small tupperwears. Then whenever you need, you can just thaw and warm up easily. Or you can make veggie burguer and separate them with baking paper in a tupperwear, so then its easy to thaw them separately too. I could go on but you get the idea, if you dont have much time, cook big portions and freeze some. As for money, beans, lentils, chickpeas, rice, these sort of things are pretty cheap and healthy. You can probably get fresh fruit and vegetables for free if you go to your local farmers market when they are closing down. You can offer to help them out pack up for some free stuff.

As for my diet, it´s as balanced and healthy as I can. Every week I get a big box of fresh season fruits, veggies, eggs and cheese from local farmers. I cook stuff depending on whats in season. As an example from last couple of days:

Breakfast - Mixed fruit smoothie, toast with guacamole or toast with cheese, herbs and dried tomatoes

Lunch - homemade mushroom and leek quiche, plus salad with sprouts, olives and pickles with tahini and lemon sauce. Or rice and beans and steam-boiled vegetables (carrots, peas and broccoli).

Dessert - Dark chocolate brownie or raw energy balls made with dates, almond flour and coconut oil.

Dinner - Homemade sushi , or vegetable cream soup.

and eating different kinds of nuts and seeds for snacks.


I very rarely eat out, as eating what I cook is more satisfying, healthier and cheaper. But if Im traveling and can´t cook, I just eat whatever I find that is best quality and within my budget.

 

[benzyme]

tex-mex and bbq.

 

[Tryptallmine]

My diet has been completely transformed since I started taking psychedelics when I was a teenager. I used to eat a lot of junk food in my early-mid teens, tons of ,sugary food, etc. Then a few psychedelic trips and I turned 180degrees around. Most definitely eating well changes tripping, just like any other positive change in life which is like removing shackles , allowing you to go further in trips ime.

I find that eating well has less to do with money and time, but more to do with planning. If you strategically think about what you are going to eat for the next few days or week or so, its muuuch easier to work out your cooking schedule.

For example you can cook a big portion of lentils with carrots and potatoes to eat together with rice, and freeze a bunch in different small tupperwears. Then whenever you need, you can just thaw and warm up easily. Or you can make veggie burguer and separate them with baking paper in a tupperwear, so then its easy to thaw them separately too. I could go on but you get the idea, if you dont have much time, cook big portions and freeze some. As for money, beans, lentils, chickpeas, rice, these sort of things are pretty cheap and healthy. You can probably get fresh fruit and vegetables for free if you go to your local farmers market when they are closing down. You can offer to help them out pack up for some free stuff.

As for my diet, it´s as balanced and healthy as I can. Every week I get a big box of fresh season fruits, veggies, eggs and cheese from local farmers. I cook stuff depending on whats in season. As an example from last couple of days:

Breakfast - Mixed fruit smoothie, toast with guacamole or toast with cheese, herbs and dried tomatoes

Lunch - homemade mushroom and leek quiche, plus salad with sprouts, olives and pickles with tahini and lemon sauce. Or rice and beans and steam-boiled vegetables (carrots, peas and broccoli).

Dessert - Dark chocolate brownie or raw energy balls made with dates, almond flour and coconut oil.

Dinner - Homemade sushi , or vegetable cream soup.

and eating different kinds of nuts and seeds for snacks.


I very rarely eat out, as eating what I cook is more satisfying, healthier and cheaper. But if Im traveling and can´t cook, I just eat whatever I find that is best quality and within my budget.

Sounds very much the style of diet my partner and I follow. I used to rely on meat for my protein intake but since the other half is vegetarian I sort of followed suit. I still do eat meat, probably only a couple of times a month though. I'll choose fish more these days.

It's mostly unprocessed organic whole foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables, grains, lentils, yogurt whatever keeps me fueled for a productive life. I'm not a fan of fast food at all, the thought of eating it makes me cringe. Now that I'm used to eating natural foods and enjoying those flavors, fast/processed food is highly unappealing and tasteless.

Breakfast this morning was a couple of poached eggs on rye with grilled broccolini and asparagus, Avocado, Parmesan with a little lemon juice and seasoned well. Awesome!

In terms of cost we find it cheaper now eating these types of things. There are a couple of good markets in the area we can pick up plenty of fresh produce which helps drive the cost down. I agree with Endlessness, you just have to plan ahead or make some extra time for good food.

Good food is essential to being happy and balanced in the mind and also helps immensely in recovery from a good exercise routine.

 

[3rdI]

I recently picked up, and started using, a cook book by some bloke called A.V D'lay, ive mainly been eating pineals, babies and noobs.

its been a nice change from leaves, veg and fruit.

 

[Synkromystic]

Raw vegan, non gmo lifestyle for me...Organic when possible. I supplement with amino acids (made from fermentation).

 

[null24]

I recently picked up, and started using, a cook book by some bloke called A.V D'lay, ive mainly been eating pineals, babies and noobs.

its been a nice change from leaves, veg and fruit.

Well now that you mention it, his ' Cthonic Recipes for the Antediluvian' has some great recipes of the 'old ones'. Its kind of hard to find Yuggoth fungus to go into the Nyarlathotep's Nibbles recipe tho.

Ill have to take a look at his new one, I've been burning my newbs, I guess they need to be dafatted first? Idk, I'm pretty lazy, just been choppin' and stewin'. Also, i hear there's a great low-hassle babe pineal harvest technique in there. That can get messy, as I'm sure you know.

Oh, wait, it's only March 12.

 

[3rdI]

Oh, wait, it's only March 12.

:d

 

[endlessness]

Pineal babies hmmmmm :twisted:


Just got this week´s fruit and veggie box, yummyyy

 

[dreamer042]

My current dietary hierarchy is pretty simple.

Wild food from undisturbed areas > Homegrown > Locally farmed > Certified organic/bio-dynamic whole unprocessed foods > Conventionally grown whole unprocessed foods > Restaurants (The great balancing act of finding clean food that doesn't cost you $20 for a plate).

I was into the whole primal eating thing for a little bit and while I have more or less abandoned that as not for me, there were a couple good points I came across that stuck with me.

1. We are all foragers at the most basic level, and while the landscapes we inhabit have changed from forests and fields to burger joints and grocers, we still have to develop and rely on our senses to distinguish what is edible and what is not.

2. The 80-20 suggestion. We should strive to eat in accordance with our ideals approximately 80% of the time, recognizing it's nearly impossible to eat an ideal diet at all times and that trying to maintain impossible standards is generally harder on our well-being than indulging ourselves in less than ideal dietary choices from time to time.

The best overall dietary suggestion I could possibly give anyone is to seek diversity. Try to eat something new every day, or at least every week. Explore the traditional foods of the world. Use google to learn to make things from scratch. Learn to identify and prepare your local weeds. It's a big wide world out there and most of it is edible, don't fall into dietary stagnation. Constantly switching up your diet is the best way to obtain the widest array of nutrients/vitamins/minerals necessary to maintain good health and longevity.

Bon Appétit

 

[endlessness]

Dreamoar ftw!

I should definitely learn more about what wild food I can get around here. The only wild food I harvest here is blackberries and thyme. But I know there is plenty more.

In fall there are tons of mushrooms of different kinds but those I definitely want to go with someone experienced before going on my own. But there are many other plants without dangerous look-alikes in my area that I see people talking about on the internet. So I´m making a list and will learn how to identify them. Thanks for the inspiration

 

[RAM]

One analogy I've heard is that psychedelics without a good diet is like putting jet fuel in a beat up old car. Not saying I don't have any rust, but it does seem to have helped a lot compared to how psychedelics used to be when I was still eating junk.

Awesome analogy! I wouldn't go so far to say that people who do eat junk food cannot have great psychedelic experiences, but having the healthier, nonprocessed, more natural lifestyle definitely lends to richer, deeper, and more meaningful trips. I find myself especially thoughtful about what I eat during trips as well. I almost vomited violently while eating some processed ice cream on LSD once; I learned my lesson that day!

My diet has been completely transformed since I started taking psychedelics when I was a teenager. I used to eat a lot of junk food in my early-mid teens, tons of ,sugary food, etc. Then a few psychedelic trips and I turned 180degrees around. Most definitely eating well changes tripping, just like any other positive change in life which is like removing shackles , allowing you to go further in trips ime.

Agreed 100%. My parents always taught me about eating well, but after my psychedelic use began I became more health conscious than they were. I stopped drinking pop altogether and stopped eating candy. My biggest vice is really the enjoyment I get from eating out or going to get ice cream. As bad as it might sound I've created a nice little guilt system for myself, so whenever I eat something I know is not good for me, I get a lot of guilt with the meal as well. It really keeps me from going overboard and overindulging.

The best overall dietary suggestion I could possibly give anyone is to seek diversity. Try to eat something new every day, or at least every week. Explore the traditional foods of the world.

Although I don't personally have the means to follow this yet, it's definitely recommended. Many people in my family have food allergies, and some claim that the allergies actually came from eating too much of the same food for too long. I'm not sure on the science behind it, but supposedly a lack of diversity can cause eventually allergies and reactions in some people. For about 12 years of my life I had a tall glass of chocolate milk every morning, but it started to give me severe stomach pains. I stopped drinking milk and got better.

Since I've taken time off milk, I can have it in small quantities. I can also eat dairy with no problems at all. The science behind nutrition and how it affects the body is really underdeveloped and I think anything published is highly influenced by food industry lobbyists.

I feel that much of the issue comes down to a case-by-case basis. I'm sure there are people who eat five hamburgers a week and drink 20 beers and are just fine for their entire lives, while there are others who would get seriously sick if they diverged from a raw vegan diet. But I think that we can agree on things that are healthier for humans in general, like organic over nonorganic, local over distant, raw over cooked (?), wild over domestic, etc.

 

[endlessness]

Does anybody here take in account (or at least started reading into) anti-nutrients in diet, and food combinations vs absorption? It's a highly interesting area of research, and makes diet so much more complicated lol

 

[universecannon]

One analogy I've heard is that psychedelics without a good diet is like putting jet fuel in a beat up old car. Not saying I don't have any rust, but it does seem to have helped a lot compared to how psychedelics used to be when I was still eating junk.

Awesome analogy! I wouldn't go so far to say that people who do eat junk food cannot have great psychedelic experiences, but having the healthier, nonprocessed, more natural lifestyle definitely lends to richer, deeper, and more meaningful trips. I find myself especially thoughtful about what I eat during trips as well. I almost vomited violently while eating some processed ice cream on LSD once; I learned my lesson that day!

Yeah I agree

And my diet is certainly far from ideal. Like everyone else it's limited by funds, what's available, the abysmal quality of a lot of stuff out there, and so on. And even if you're eating supposedly good quality healthy food, there is still the issue of exhausted/mineral-deficient soils...Just another reason why wild and home grown are often the best.

 

[dreamer042]

Does anybody here take in account (or at least started reading into) anti-nutrients in diet, and food combinations vs absorption? It's a highly interesting area of research, and makes diet so much more complicated lol

I've looked into the anti-nutrients quite a bit and generally try to soak/sprout and/or ferment any grains, legumes, beans, nuts, and seeds I prepare myself to promote digestion and nutrient absorption. I also generally limit my intake of these things when I go out to eat, but not to any extreme degree, I enjoy a little naan with my curry or some pumpkin seeds on my salad as much as anyone else. I just look at these things more as a treat and indulgence than a staple.

I haven't studied the food combining thing much beyond the the very general recommendations of attempting to match foods that digest at relatively the same speed. It's certainly interesting, but as long as you are having healthy poops and not experiencing digestive distress, I'm not sure it's something worth making too big a deal of.

 

[dreamer042]

Although I don't personally have the means to follow this yet, it's definitely recommended.

It's not so hard, you know that one funny looking vegetable in the produce department you always pass over on your way to the mangos? Yeah, you know the one I mean... Spend the $3 and take that sucker home next time and then ask google what to do with it. You may just discover you've been missing out on something amazing... or it may be absolutely awful and disgusting, but at least you got some exotic nutrients you don't get from your general staples, so either way it was worth it. :d