It has been a long time since my last blog post. In March my lovely dad died suddenly, and it has taken some time to get back to normal life and to get back into cooking, writing and teaching. I have learned a lot from this experience, firstly that nothing prepares you for the reality of losing a parent, secondly that I am so lucky to have had such a wonderful last two years with my dad on borrowed time and thirdly, that it takes a certain level of commitment and energy to eat healthily.
When so much of my energy has been spent on grieving and coming to terms with the shock and reality of the situation, I have found it difficult to stick to all my usual food habits in the last couple of months. These would normally include eating lots of healthy food and leaving out wheat and dairy. However, it is very interesting that somewhere inside, my body was asking to get back a way of eating that suits it well, and little by little I have begun to prioritise getting back on track.
Because I wanted to put some structure on making changes, I chose to do a 30 day acid to alkaline course which includes lots of raw foods and a juice fast. I have always been fascinated by the idea that the acid/alkaline balance in the body has a direct affect on disease and illness, and it has been a very interesting process seeing the difference in daily ph readings depending on which foods I have eaten. One of the most interesting aspects of this program however, has been learning about how non-food factors have such a large impact on our acid/alkaline levels. Deep breathing, exercise, meditation and avoiding stress are all huge influences on maintaining a healthy ph balance in the body, as are fun, laughter and contentment.
So with the fun and laughter element in mind, it is with great excitement that I am heading off to Inishfood in Donegal this weekend. I was heartbroken last year not to be able to go because I was away, but loved reading all of the tweets and the many amazing blog posts following the event. The line of events sounds fantastic and so even the anticipation of heading up to an extremely beautiful part of Ireland for such an exciting event is enough to balance my ph levels!
Hi Dorcas, so sorry for your loss. I lost my own dad in March too so can fully appreciate the shock to the body and mind. Both himself and my father-in-law passed away within 6 months of each other from serious illnesses and can fully understand the whirlwind that ensues. Wishing you the very best heartwarming thoughts. At least you’ve done a very positive thing with your 30 day fast. Great to see you’re getting through it.
Thanks so much Marian, however difficult it has been I feel so lucky to have had him in my life for so long. It’s a real rite of passage in life as an experience, isn’t it!