Healthy Habit

Different foods require different digestive enzymes to break them down. Throwing two foods with dramatically different enzymatic requirements at your body is like yelling at your belly, “Hey you, work harder!”

Make life easy for your belly by avoiding some of the below food combinations and your belly can respond by giving you great digestion.

Belly Awareness: Food Combination

Here are a handful of poor food combinations to be aware of.

There are many other unhappy belly combinations, so don't think of this as a complete list - listen to your body.

The Downlow

• Eating fruit alone is best. Melon should always be eaten alone.
• Milk should be taken alone or with things that are sweet (grains, honey, brown sugar, etc.) Milk digests best when it is hot and spiced.
• Great milk spices include: cardamom, cinnamon, turmeric, black pepper and nutmeg.
• Milk has a particularly hard time alongside bananas, sour fruits, yeasty breads, fish/meat, and yogurt.
• Avoid eating any dairy products with fish.
• Eggs don’t mix well with fruit, milk, meat and yogurt.
• Honey should never be boiled/cooked, and only mixes with ghee in equal amounts (by weight).
• Nightshades (eggplant, tomatoes, potatoes) don’t mix well with melon, cucumber and dairy.

Are there any other unhappy belly food combinations you'd add to the above list?

Credit: Food combination tips courtesy of Shakti School.

Personal Transformation “If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.” ​ ~ Maya Angelou  This next section is about managing change at work via Organizational Change Management. There are many models out there and my favorite is Prosci's ADKAR model because it looks at change in terms of a 5-step change journey that each person is going through. ADKAR Here's what the ADKAR model stands for - think of a personal change you've gone through and how this model could be applied to your change journey. Remember: If an individual gets stalled at one step, then that step is a barrier and the change won't be fully embraced. "Neutral" is a barrier. A: Awareness of the need for change: "I fully understand the reasons for this change" D: Desire to participate in the change: "I have chosen to support and participate in the change" K: Knowledge on how to change: "I have the knowledge I need of how to change and be successful in this change" A: Ability to repeatedly implement required skills and behaviors: "I have the ability to implement the change and perform the required skills and behaviors" R: Reinforcement to sustain the change: "Meaningful reinforcements are in place that will help me continue and sustain this change" Swiss-Cheese Future State The above image drove home the importance of the implications of not bringing everyone along on the change journey: a swiss-cheese future state. A personal example comes to mind regarding the transition my company, team, and myself are going through this year after completing a merger/acquisition last year. Overall, we're in a state of transition and personally, I'm working through my Desire barrier point. My team members may at different places in their ADKAR journey as well. It's easy to brush off change and say people are resistant to change; however, I'd urge you to get curious and look deeper - people could be at a different place in their change journey.

Breathwork Technique: Kapalabhati (aka skull shining breath or breath of fire)

When you're experiencing an afternoon slump, try practicing this breath instead of reaching for your afternoon caffeine fix. You'll feel invigorated afterwards AND won't be messing with your night's sleep.

NOTE: Do NOT practice this breath if you're experiencing anxiety, trauma, or any other emotion that has you operating in your sympathetic nervous system. Try Ujjayi breath instead; you'll get similar benefits without further frazzling your nervous system.

How to Practice: Check out this short "How To" Video

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Benefits of Kapalabhati (these are just a few)

• Build your core strength
• Wake up your sluggish digestive system
• Bring alertness, lightness, and consciousness to your body
• Remove sensory distractions from your mind and provide vigor + vitality to your brain
• Improve immunity by working your solar plexus

Cautions and Contraindications

Do not practice Kapalabhati if you are dealing with the following conditions: unmedicated high blood pressure, recent abdominal surgery, any hernia types, glaucoma, detached retina, menstrual cycle, or pregnancy.

Book of the Month!

I FINALLY got this book after repeatedly seeing it. I love the stories integrated with each concept. One thing that really rang true for me was focusing on WHO you wish to become instead of WHAT you want to achieve - MIND BLOWN! Try this thinking for something you're trying to change about yourself. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear

Join Me at these Upcoming Events!

• Wise Womb Ways: Embracing Your Feminine Rhythm workshop on Yoni Steaming @ True North: Sunday, 10/12 (1:00-3:00pm) - FREE (sign-up link)
• Event Flyer: Yoni Steaming Oct 2025.png​

• Moon Cycles + You: How to Live in Sacred Cyclical Attunement 4-part workshop series @ True North: Thursdays, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13, 11/20 (5:30-6:30pm) - $99, includes unlimited yoga pass for duration of series (sign-up link, scroll down)

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See you next month!

Angela

FIG Bites' intention is to "Feed your body and mind so you are a fully nourished and joyful person able to fully embrace life" whether you're at work or home.