Fresh is best.

We live in a world that is moving so fast that we can be distracted so easily & forget the importance of slowing down and returning to what’s important to us.

Real food that is fresh.

Fresh, natural food that is grown with the right soil composition is there to give us life, energy, nutrients, the fuel to thrive in this domain.

Whatever food it is, plant or animal, if its has been left alone it will nourish us. End of story. Whatever you believe in, whatever you feel is right for your health. is true for you… that’s all that matters.

We must return to eating fresh nutritional dense food for the sake of our existence here on earth as humans.

Local food, grown by local people. 

Below the perspective from the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda:

Fresh food is considered the best because it is believed to be full of prana, or life force. This life force is essential for maintaining vitality, health, and balance in the body and mind. Here are key reasons why fresh food is valued in Ayurveda:

1. Prana (Life Energy): Freshly prepared foods are rich in prana, which is essential for overall health. Stale or leftover food is thought to lose this vital energy.

2. Balance of Doshas: Ayurveda focuses on balancing the three doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Fresh food, tailored to one’s dosha, helps maintain this balance, promoting good health.

3. Digestibility: Fresh foods are generally easier to digest, which is crucial in Ayurveda. Proper digestion is the cornerstone of good health, and fresh foods support Agni (digestive fire) better than processed or stale foods.

4. Nutrient Content: Fresh foods are more nutrient-dense. They retain their natural vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial compounds, which support bodily functions and overall well-being.

5. Mind-Body Connection: Ayurveda emphasizes the importance of sattvic (pure) food for a calm and clear mind. Fresh, pure foods are considered sattvic, which helps in maintaining mental clarity and emotional balance.

6. Absence of Toxins: Fresh food is less likely to harbor toxins that can accumulate in the body and cause ama (toxicity), leading to various health issues. Processed or stale foods are seen as more likely to produce ama.

Dr Vasant Lad quotes In his book “the science of self healing” ‘When considering diet, the quality and freshness of food of upmost important factors”

Fresh Red Snapper. 

From a chefs perspective of working with fresh food over the last 25 years…. it’s very noticeable when something begins to degrade, the smell becomes strong, the structure weakens, the colour too becomes less bright and although not obvious they nutrients fall away. This is the most important area for me… every thing in life reaches its peak and then begins to decline.

In summary, fresh food is seen as nourishing not only to the body but also to the mind and spirit, promoting overall health, vitality, and balance in line with Ayurvedic principles.

How can we activate this is our daily life?

Purachsing fresh food with the idea of “less and more often” if this is possible for you, so buying less in quantity to retain the freshness and purchasing more often. This may not be practical in your life, so retaining its freshness over the 5-7 days is something I do, and then cook the food fresh everyday.

“Remember fresh is best” if possible…. if not we adjust 👌

We are Seasonal.

Energy

In my time living here in South Mexico, I have been going deeper and deeper within, connecting with the ocean and the land on a daily basis helps me to have a deeper understanding of my self.

There is a special energy here that enables real connection, true meaning of what I believe life is about… to become closer to our source, our true nature that we are.

Every year there are changes that occur in the environment which we call seasons, winter moves into spring then autumn comes along finally the cycle finishes with summer, this change of seasons produces many variances in the physical body, our behaviour, the weather, the clothes we wear, our perception and mood, many other tangible shifts.

As without - as within, what happens on the outside of us is happening on the inside, have you ever heard this? These changes that are occurring with our environment are also changing our inner body and our feelings, emotions & thoughts.

We live in a time when information is being shoved down our throats and especially in the regards to what diet to be on, but during my years of experimenting with what my body requires, I have tried all the diets, plant base, vegan, keto, Carnivore, I have come to realise that my body needs certain foods at different times of the year, it requires adaptation, to change, to be flexible and to be open minded. This I believe to be the best diet for us all, to know thy self and get to know what your body is asking for.

This requires us to be more introvert, be more present with ourselves, listen to what our body is telling us not what another person is getting paid to tell us.

Wild porcini mushroom

See below how further more how the seasons effect our energy in this body;

Allergies: For individuals prone to seasonal allergies, symptoms such as congestion, sneezing, and fatigue can impact energy levels. Allergy symptoms may be more prevalent during certain times of the year when specific allergens, such as pollen, are abundant.

Light Exposure: Daylight affects our circadian rhythm, the natural internal clock that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Changes in daylight duration between seasons can disrupt this rhythm, potentially leading to changes in energy levels. For example, shorter daylight hours in winter can contribute to feelings of fatigue and lethargy, while longer daylight hours in summer may increase alertness and energy.

Temperature: Extreme temperatures, whether hot or cold, can affect our energy levels. In colder weather, our bodies may expend more energy to maintain warmth, leading to increased fatigue. Conversely, excessive heat can also drain energy, as the body works to regulate its temperature through mechanisms like sweating.

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Sunset in South Mexico

Breaking it down further…

1. Behavior and Activities: Our activities often vary with the seasons. For example, in winter, we might engage in more indoor activities like watching movies or reading, while in summer, we may spend more time outdoors, swimming or hiking.

2. Mood and Emotions: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a condition where people experience depressive symptoms during particular seasons, typically fall and winter. This suggests that our moods can be influenced by changes in light and temperature.

3. Physiological Changes: Our bodies can also respond to seasonal changes. For instance, exposure to sunlight affects our vitamin D levels, and our immune systems can be influenced by changes in temperature.

4. Sleep Patterns: Seasonal changes in daylight can affect our sleep-wake cycles. For example, some people may find it easier to wake up in the summer when there's more daylight, while others may struggle with sleep disruptions during the longer days.

Diet

Buffalo’s

in there natural enviroment.

Our diets often change with the seasons, as different foods become available. In colder months, we may crave warmer, heartier meals, while in summer, we might prefer lighter, cooler foods like salads and fruits.

The changing seasons can significantly influence our diet and eating habits. Here's how:

1. Availability of Fresh Produce: Different fruits and vegetables have specific growing seasons. In the spring and summer, a wider variety of fresh produce becomes available, including berries, tomatoes, cucumbers, and leafy greens. This abundance often encourages people to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into their diets.

2. Preference for Seasonal Foods: Seasonal foods are often fresher, tastier, and more affordable when they're in season. As a result, people may naturally gravitate towards these foods during their peak seasons, incorporating them into their meals more frequently.

3. Cultural and Traditional Practices: Many cultures have traditional dishes that are closely tied to specific seasons or festivals. For example, certain foods may be associated with holidays or celebrations that occur during particular times of the year, influencing people's diet choices.

4. Temperature and Appetite: In colder months, people may crave warmer, heartier foods like soups, stews, and roasts, which can provide comfort and warmth. Conversely, during warmer months, lighter, cooler foods like salads, smoothies, and grilled dishes may be more appealing.

5. Nutrient Needs: Our bodies may have different nutrient requirements depending on the season. For example, in winter, when sunlight exposure is limited, people may need to focus more on sources of vitamin D, while in summer, hydration becomes more important due to higher temperatures.

6. Food Preservation Techniques: Historically, people have relied on various methods of food preservation, such as canning, pickling, and drying, to store foods for consumption during seasons when fresh produce is scarce. While these techniques are less common today, they still influence certain dietary habits and food choices.

Overall, the seasons play a significant role in shaping our dietary patterns, influencing what foods we eat, how we prepare them, and even how much we consume.

Mangoes

14 So-Called “Foods” To Avoid For Better Health

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: food is literally the most powerful medicine you have available to control your health. When you choose to eat quality foods, you gain a whole host of benefits. Your body gets the nutrients it actually needs to function well. You get more energy, your mood improves, you avoid a whole host of adverse health effects, and you will overall just feel better.

This is common knowledge for most of us, but putting it into practice can still be difficult. It can be surprisingly hard to know what to eat and what to avoid, especially with all of the overly processed, chemical-laden “food” in our stores and restaurants today.

That’s why for this month's blog post, I want to walk you through what foods and food ingredients are most damaging to your health so you can know which ones to avoid the next time you are at the grocery store or pondering if you really want to order fast food from Uber Eats for dinner.

For some of you, this may be all-new information; for others, it will be more of a refresher. Regardless, it’s always good to circle back on important topics like this from time to time to ensure we are all keeping it fresh in our minds.

Local, seasonal, organic food is always best.

“Good” vs “Bad” Processed Foods

When we think about what not to eat, it’s easy to make blanket statements like “don’t eat any processed foods.” While that might make for a good rule of thumb, the truth is not quite as black and white.

People have been processing food virtually from day one. Until refrigeration, it was the only way we had of preserving perishables to eat later. Cooking is a form of processing; so are curing, drying, smoking, fermenting—the list goes on and on.

Therefore, it’s important to understand that whole foods processed using traditional methods and ingredients are not something we need to avoid. Some processing actually improves food by making its nutrients more available or potent.

In the list of foods to avoid below, I’m focusing on the bad kind of processing. By that I mean the food-like substances, chemicals, food additives, preservatives, food dyes, and artificial sweeteners that food companies add to their food. It’s these pseudo-foods that wreak havoc on our bodies and brains, leading to inflammation, toxic overload, disease, etc.

I also understand that completely eliminating everything on this list from your diet is a very difficult task indeed. Please hear me when I say this: perfection is not the goal. If you can cut out these troublesome foods from your diet entirely, then great! But even making reductions in a few of these categories over time will still provide significant health benefits. Any progress is still progress!

14 “Foods” to Avoid for Better Health

All that being said, here is a list of the “foods” and food-like substances that you would do much better reducing or eliminating from your diet.

1) Anything with ingredients that are difficult to pronounce. These products surely contain substances that belong in a chemistry set, not in your body. Try saying stearoyl lactylate or butylated hydroxytoluene without tripping up. A good rule of thumb is “If you can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it.”

2) Anything that didn’t exist in your grandmother’s day—and maybe even your great-grandmother’s day, depending on how old you are. I know this is kind of a trendy approach to eating right now, but it makes sense. A hundred years ago we didn’t need a label to tell us that our food was local, organic, and grass-fed; all food was whole, real, and unadulterated. Fortunately, there is a movement to get back to this way of eating.

3) Anything containing soybean oil. Americans now get almost 10 per cent of their calories from refined soybean oil, which is one of the most abundant sources of omega-6 fatty acids. Plus, it often contains high levels of glyphosate, or Roundup, the toxic herbicide used by Monsanto. Most people aren’t even aware they’re eating it, but it’s lurking everywhere. If you eat fast food, grains, desserts, packaged snacks, potato chips, muffins, or conventionally raised meat, or buy almost anything cooked in oil at a cafeteria, diner, or restaurant, then you’re almost certainly consuming lots of soybean oil. This stuff is toxic and inflammatory. Stay away.

4) Anything containing high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). HFCS is a major cause of heart disease, obesity, cancer, dementia, liver failure, tooth decay, and more. It is seriously nasty stuff!

5) Anything with the word “hydrogenated” in its name. Since most people don’t know that hydrogenated fat and trans fat are the same things, food makers have been able to hide the trans fat content in plain sight using this little trick. Don’t let them fool you!

6) Anything advertised on TV. Have you seen a commercial for broccoli or sardines during the Super Bowl? The worst foods get the most airtime on television.

7) Anything with a cute name. Froot Loops are not a good source of fruit.

8) Anything you can buy at a drive-through window. This one is a no-brainer.

9) Anything with monosodium glutamate (MSG), even though the FDA says it is safe. It’s an excitotoxin—a neurotransmitter that is known to kill brain cells. We associate it with Chinese cuisine, but food companies use it in many items without our knowledge. They even try to hide its presence, calling it “hydrolyzed vegetable protein,” “vegetable protein,” “natural flavourings,” and even simply “spices.” Spices? Seriously? And the worst news is it induces hunger and carb cravings, so you’ll eat more of it. If all that wasn’t enough, here’s the kicker—it’s what they give to lab rats in experiments to fatten them up.

10) Any “food” in an aerosol can.

11) Anything called “cheese food” (which is neither cheese nor food).

12) Anything with artificial sweeteners. The research has not been kind to artificial sweeteners, claiming among other problems they adversely affect gut health and glucose tolerance. I recommend avoiding aspartame, sucralose, sugar alcohols such as maltitol, and all of the other heavily used and marketed sweeteners—unless you want to slow down your metabolism, gain weight, and become an addict. Use a little stevia if you must, but skip the others.

13) Anything with any type of funky additives, preservatives, or dyes. The average American eats about 2.5 pounds of these chemicals per year. (This is one category where being below average is a good thing!)

14) Any food with more than five ingredients on the label, unless they are all things you recognize, such as tomatoes, water, basil, oregano, and salt.

I know this might seem like a long list, but you can go a long way by simply sticking with real, whole foods and brands that you trust. If you need more help, connect with me on social media under ChefJohnlawson.

Wishing you health and happiness,

John ❤️

The Ever-Growing Importance of Protein

We’ve known for decades that protein is a critical part of our diet. This is because proteins actually serve as the major building blocks of your body, which uses them in everything from building muscles, organs, and skin to hormones and neurotransmitters.

Proteins are also considered essential nutrients from a scientific point of view because they contain amino acids that your body needs but can’t manufacture on its own. They are “essential” in this sense because we must obtain them from our diets.

In recent years, we’ve built further upon this foundational understanding of protein, however. A lot of research into health and longevity has centered on protein, in fact, and the results have shown us how much more it does for our bodies.

For example, adequate protein intake significantly helps with hunger and metabolism. Protein increases the production of peptide YY (PYY), a gut hormone that makes you feel full and satiated. Additionally, eating a high amount of protein can decrease your levels of ghrelin, the “hunger hormone,” and increase your metabolic rate.

Protein consumption is also linked to weight loss. Researchers have found that consuming moderate amounts of protein during every meal may provide the foundation of a diet that promotes weight management while still maintaining muscle mass in overweight and obese individuals. And a meta-analysis conducted in 2020 concluded that a high-protein diet may increase weight loss, help the weight stay off, and even prevent obesity and related diseases.

In light of these benefits, some nutritional experts have begun to call into question the FDA’s daily recommended allowances for protein. A growing body of literature suggests that the current recommended levels—10% to 35% of your total caloric needs—may not be enough. Or to put it another way, you might be leaving real health benefits on the table by skimping on protein.

Why the Quality of Your Protein Matters

Not all protein is equal, however. With the rise of industrial agriculture and livestock practices, a lot of meat in the supermarket is considerably lacking when it comes to nutrition (not to mention taste!)

Grass-fed meat is so nutritionally superior to factory-farmed meat that it is practically a different food. The same goes for wild-caught fish over industrially farmed varieties. This is because animals raised in their natural environments have much higher omega-3 fatty acid and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) levels—both of which are beneficial to support healthy inflammation levels.

NOTE: If you’re vegetarian/vegan, make sure you soak your beans/legumes, aim for organic when possible, and include plenty of healthy fats in each meal to balance your blood sugar.

Three Ways to Get More Protein in Your Diet

Getting more protein in your diet isn’t hard if you have a plan. Here are six ways to increase your daily protein intake that are simple to incorporate into your routine and diet.

• Include high-protein food at every meal. The best way to eat more protein is to make sure it’s on your plate! A good goal to shoot for is to consume at least 20–30 grams of protein at each meal. Studies have shown that this amount helps you feel fuller longer and helps retain muscle mass better than smaller amounts. High-protein foods include eggs (4–7 grams of protein per egg), chicken breasts, lean beef, and fish (all of which have around 9 grams of protein per ounce).

• Start with protein. When you eat a meal, eat the protein portion first, especially before any starchy foods. According to one study, consuming food in this order can help regulate blood sugar and insulin levels.

• Replace Standard breakfast alternatives with a savoury breakfast or protein-rich breakfast. Many of the breakfast foods in the Standard American Diet (aka, the SAD diet) are low in protein (and generally lacking in many other nutrients). Even an option like oatmeal, which does have some protein, has much less than an egg. Getting enough protein doesn’t just mean eating eggs or beef, however. You can also get protein from sweeter-tasting sources, like shakes and smoothies, when you add protein powder.

The Phenomenal Benefits of Spending Time in Nature

Let’s be honest—we all spend too much time in front of screens each day. In fact, according to a 2016 Nielsen study, the average American stares at a screen_ for over 10 hours each day_.

Of course, this time isn’t spent just binging Netflix shows and scrolling on Facebook (although many of us do that too much too!). We have an ever-increasing reliance on technology to do most of the essential things in life. For many of us, working, paying bills, and even reading this newsletter requires using a computer or smart device.

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Our Technology Is Keeping Us Inside More

With this dependence on screens and an increase in urbanisation, we’re spending less and less time outdoors. On average, Americans only spend 8 percent of their day outside. Unfortunately, we do this to our own detriment.

A large number of studies have shown what most of us intuitively know to be true: connecting with nature has positive effects on our mental health and overall well-being. So in today’s_ Longevity_, I want to take a few minutes to discuss some of the myriad health benefits of simply going outside and enjoying nature.

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Why Going Outside Is Essential to Your Well-Being

There are so many great health benefits to spending time enjoying the outdoors that it’s impossible to list them all. But some of the more common benefits that researchers have found include the following:

Spending time in nature reduces stress. In fact, it can reduce your stress in two ways. First, being in nature helps you relax, unwind, and recharge, letting go of stress and negativity—especially when you take time to slow down, be fully present, and notice your surroundings. But nature can also promote positive emotions like peace, happiness, and optimism. And going outside at night can engender feelings of awe and connection as you gaze up at a starry sky.

Spending time outside boosts immunity. Just like we need to practice our skills to maintain proficiency, your immune system needs “practice” to maintain its optimal functionality. Many microorganisms found in nature fulfill this role, as they pose no danger to us but provide our immune system with a challenge, which in turn helps it prepare for more serious invaders.

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Getting outside improves mental health. A 2015 Stanford study showed that participants who went for a 90-minute nature walk, as opposed to the same duration walk in the city, reported lower instances of rumination and showed a reduced amount of neural activity in areas of the brain linked to mood imbalances. It’s clear from studies like this one that getting outside and enjoying nature improves mood, promotes relaxation, and reduces anxiety and depression.

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Time spent outdoors can improve your breathing. Depending on where you live, you may have to deal with air pollution, which can cause all sorts of respiratory issues. You may not be aware, however, that the air indoors can actually have two-to-five times the concentrations of pollutants as the air outside. The good news is this means spending time in natural green spaces can help lower your risk of respiratory disease.

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Nature can improve your cognition_. _It’s been found that spending as little as 20 minutes in nature can improve concentration, cognitive function, and memory. Studies also suggest that spending time in nature can reduce the need for ADD/ADHD medications for children.

Taking a walk outdoors could reduce inflammation. Inflammation is one of the major enemies of good health, and it can lead to any number of adverse health outcomes. But at least one study showed a correlation between a weekly walk in the woods and lower levels of inflammation.

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How Much Time Spent in Nature Is Enough to Realize the Benefits?

Now that we’ve reviewed just a few of the amazing benefits you can get by just spending time outdoors, the next natural question you might have is how much time is necessary to start seeing the benefits.

Fortunately, there is no magic number or minimum threshold. Even taking a five-minute walk in the park on your lunch break is going to help revive and refresh you, and you’ll see at least some of the many benefits listed above.

That being said, a team of researchers tried to answer this exact question in a study of 20,000 people spread out across the UK. They found that participants who spent at least two hours outside each week reported significantly better health and well-being than those who spent less time recreating outdoors.

Interestingly, this was true for every subgroup, including older people and those with chronic health issues.

Better yet, the study found the effects were the same regardless of the duration of individual outdoor sessions. In other words, going outside and enjoying nature for two hours once a week resulted in the same benefit as six 20-minute sessions spread throughout the week.

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The Best Approach to Spending Time in Nature?

While getting outside two or more hours each week is certainly a great habit, it may be a tough target for some of us to shoot for. It could be a better approach to simply monitor how much time you currently spend enjoying nature and find ways to increase it slowly over time. This could include activities as simple as taking a short, daily walk on a trail near your house, having an occasional picnic lunch at a park with family or friends, or going on an annual camping or hiking trip in a state or national park.

In either case, the data is clear: the more time you spend in nature, the healthier you will be.

I trust that today’s blog post is a gentle push to help all of us spend a little more time enjoying nature, and a little less time staring at a screen. Your mind and body will appreciate it!

Can we reverse ageing?

Can we reverse ageing?

If I asked you if you wanted to live to be 120, how would you respond? I’m guessing for most of us, the answer would be a resounding “no!” After all, the mental picture we have of living beyond our 80s is not good. Frailty, decrepitude, dependency, loss of mobility, pain, disease—none of those adjectives is great!

But what if instead, I asked you if you wanted to live to be 120 and still be disease-free, active, and mentally sharp? Many of us would likely reconsider our answer! But, of course, that’s the stuff of science fiction, right?

Well, it used to be.

Exciting discoveries emerging from the field of aging research are pointing to a radically new approach to how we deal with getting older. Science is getting to the root cause of why aging is often accompanied by a decline in function and decrepitude.

If we understand the why—the root causes and the changes they trigger in our biology, in our interconnected web of molecules and cells and tissues—then we can transform our health and well-being and extend our lives, both our health span and our life span.

While it’s true that aging accelerates the risk of all chronic diseases—heart disease, cancer, diabetes, dementia, high blood pressure, autoimmune disease, and more—the reality is that what we see as “normal” aging is, in fact, abnormal aging. It is the result of myriad changes in our biology that are treatable. But by addressing the root causes of what is often called the “hallmarks of aging,” we can prevent, treat, and even reverse most of those diseases.

This opens up exciting new possibilities for the future.

Personally, I am training to be the healthiest 120-year-old I can be. What does that look like? It might be slightly different for each of us, but I define it as being able to get up in the morning and do what my heart and soul want to do: climb a mountain, read a book, go helicopter skiing, surf, play tennis, and make love, no matter what my age.

In short, I want to continue doing what brings me joy for the rest of my life—and I’m well on my way. At 40 I am in better shape than I was at 30. In fact, my biological age is 32 years old.

What I have learned over the years is nothing short of revolutionary in helping me get biologically younger while I grow chronologically older. I want that for you too.

My course “a return to health” can begin you on the journey to living a longer happy life.

Sign up for your free consultation with myself and become free of the old story( link below). If the thought of living to 120 and doing it well excites you.

I don’t want preventable physical limitations to impede my ability to live life fully engaged, mentally sharp, and physically active. I’ve struggled with my own health, but through my own disease, pain, and suffering I have learned how to heal myself and now hopefully many of you.

Fill out the consultation form

John Lawson

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Plants and their medicine.

Plants and their medicine.

Medicinal plants, also called medicinal herbs, have been discovered and used in traditional medicine practices since prehistoric times. Plants synthesize hundreds of chemical compounds for various functions, including defence and protection against insects, fungi, diseases, and herbivorous mammals.

But…. are not all plants medicinal in some way? We talk about their benefits enough on the body and the system itself, so why are they not medicinal? “All plants are medicine,” Dr Raghubir Singh Rawat, the herbal gardener at Navdanya, exclaims proudly with a hint of mystery in his voice. Dr Rawat bends down to examine a seemingly mundane but prolific weed, “this is used for eye health,” he says before popping the small white diamond-shaped flower in his mouth. He stretches above his head to pluck a bright green fruit from a neighbouring tree, “this is gooseberry, everyone eats this in India – for indigestion and rejuvenation.” It takes us one hour to cover just about 50 yards of different plants and their respective medicinal properties at Navdanya’s Bija Vidyapeeth (Earth University) in Doon Valley, India.

After my brain tumour I realised one of the reasons I was sick was because I became disconnected from nature. I had been in hot kitchens inside large buildings that were completely separated from mother nature.

I needed to learn more about the living environment around me. Farmers became my teachers, my friends, and my inspiration.

I forage a lot and I am just curious always… nature shows me where these medicines live and how to prepare the plants as teas, tinctures, and salves for simple ailments. Herbs replaced pills, and empowerment replaced overwhelming insecurity. Each person, each plant, each day enforced an awareness of a wisdom obscured by steel buildings and cemented expanses.

The Earth provides all that we need; we simply need to learn how Earth works.

In ancient civilisations plants are used for deeper healing purposes such as Ayahuasca.

Ayahuasca is a drink made by brewing the leaves of plants from the Amazon rainforest into a tea. Some of the leaves that are brewed contain the active substance DMT. Other leaves help to slow down how your body absorbs DMT. This extends the effects you feel and creates a longer experience.

In South America, drinking ayahuasca has been done for hundreds of years in rituals and religious practices among the people who are native to the region. In recent years, American and European tourists have been travelling to the area to experience the effects of ayahuasca first-hand. Others are importing the leaves to the U.S. through legal loopholes and religious exemptions and offering the drink as part of ceremonies linked to Native American beliefs. I guess one day we will be living in a world that promotes the benefits of these gifts that have been given to us by God. I believe that the only reason we don’t learn about the benefits of these incredible plants at school is because it does not benefit the system outside of nature.

If it came from a plant eat it…. If it was made in a plant don’t!

John Lawson

Can the hospitality industry survive?

In the current times we are living in, like many other businesses, the hospitality industry is suffering… that’s for sure.

What is the long term solution? How will it move forward and continue to grow? What needs to change? How do wel make the transition with all the price increases & fear?

Well… I will give you my opinion on the subject, as a business owner, that has been in the industry for over 20 years at the highest level around the world and worked for the best in the business, having suffered along the way and got back up again… I might be in a good place to have a voice… no ?

I believe we have hit a point of no return of the old regime, within the industry of low pay, long hours, abused staff and general lack of respect and appreciation towards the industry from the outside.

In Australia the industry is very much respected like we respect Doctors & nurses here for the work they do for sociaty, the culture is just that, people regard them in a higher realm for there services… because that’s what it is right? the service provided…. imagine we took away all food production outside of your home and had to go into the wild and find your own food, that’s if we even know how too !

That in mind, it is on the same level of Doctors & nurses that work so hard to help us when we are in need of healing on a physical or mental level for various reasons that are personal to each of us, or an accident happened that we need emergency treatment.

Respect is key here, the Food industry is not respected enough in the UK… so that means its been disrespected. That’s true yes it has.

Food needs to become more honoured it all its understanding and become a ritual again like it was before we became too big for our own boots… what do I mean by honoured? learn from our ancestors, create sacral habits around the food we eat and how we eat, respecting the food and the land it comes from and who has worked the land, these are very important ingredients that we have forgotten about and taking it all for granted. We must see things differently, The time has come to change our ways.

With this new found respect for food the industry outside can flourish again, it can grow like it has never grown before, but together we can do this, not alone, not by individuals leading the way, but as a collective community that has a ripple effect onto others, that’s how we grow and create change, that’s how we move out of this dreadful painful existence of greed and manipulation we are in at the present moment.

Change is inevitable and so is growth, so…..its a great time to be living because we can be the arcetec of our own future during this time of transformation, so lets choose the right way, TOGETHER.

Let me know your thoughts in the feed, what is your opinion?

John Lawson

What is the future of food ?

I have done my fair share of experimenting in the last 6 years when I comes to different diets, full vegan, pescatarian, pegan, wild only, dairy free etc… I feel its also necessary to discover what works for you and what also feels good for you to eat. This is what I have done and still doing.

This is where I am at now.

I could never get past the fact that we have to kill animals, innocent beings that are essentially very similar to us, other than we have the fortunate grace of being able to reflect & use our mind or should I say our EGO which is a big problem when it comes to continue to kill innocent animals for our own shellfish needs when quite possibly you may not need to do so.

I can understand in certain environments & cultures to eat meat or fish is the only source of protein and maybe necessary to some degree, but most of those countries tend to fend for themselves and only kill what is required for them & their families..

In our culture here in the UK, USA, Australia and others i’m sure, we are so fortunate to be able to select what we desire & have the very monopoly of plant based ingredients at our disposal.

As Gary Yourofsky puts it in his you tube documentary ( see link below) “ The most important speech you will ever hear” Human beings only eat meat, cheese, fish & eggs for 4 reasons…. Habit, tradition, convienence and taste. In the US 10 billion land animals & 18 billion marine animals are killed for human beings.

I could not & cannot get past the fact that these animals go through a life of misery for us, our selfish act, that we are unconscious to there grief, misery & pain, to have to eat animals still in 2022 ? When, if we don’t need too? Why do we still act this out?

There is the other argument that we need animals on this planet to regenerate the depleting soil we have here now on earth due to all the bad decisions we have been making in regards to farming and overall soil health, but do we need to EAT them ?

Well we need to bring back the natural order of wild animals so they can take care of it for us and begin to stop factory farmed animals and with the ever increasing amount of people now choosing plants over meat, things will naturally organise themselves back into harmony, that’s my wish!

In the restaurant we make sure that the meat we serve has had the best life, but then do we know for sure? well we don’t ask the animal, but we are in touch with the actual farmers so I guess that’s ok right ?

I believe in the future my restaurant will adapt into a plant base concept and I am excited about this and the creativity it will bring. I truly believe that humans in 50 years time will be shocked at our behaviour towards these conscious beings as we look back now towards the holocaust time with Hitler.

What is the difference actually? Is a holocaust for human beings or all living beings ?

The inconvenient truth I believe, but that’s just my opinion, we are all entitled to that right!

In summary, I believe the future of food is a plant based world and to the fact we will look back in many years to come with horror over what we had done to these special creatures of earth.

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Let me know your thoughts below, have you changed your diet recently because of the collective energy shift?

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5hGQDLprA8

Jacks Patch Farm

I’ve recently just started volunteering at Jacks Patch farm in Upminster. I decided to volunteer because of his organic produce, ethos and to understand how our food is grown as to be able to cook the best food ...it starts on the farm.

Jacks Patch farm is a ¼ acre allotment owned by Jack who produces the freshest and healthiest veg. He started farming when he wanted to renew his visa to live in Australia and to do that he had to complete 88 days of agricultural work. After the experience of working outside, it clicked that this is what he wanted to do.

The ethos for his farm lies solely in the farm to table ethics. To know who grew your food, harvested it and knowing that it was organically grown with some love. This is what we want our food to be organic and grown with care, thanks to Jack, you'll get the most out of your fresh produce like the nutritional benefit, flavour, and holistic benefits.

I love supporting local and inspiring businesses like Jacks, we’ve recently started to include more of Jack’s produce in our menu, making it more flavourful and local. For more information about Jack and for his contact details visit his website at https://www.jackspatch.co.uk/about