Eating the Heathen Way
In any event, here is a quick list of things that some of you may find helpful:
For Detox, Vitamins, and Minerals
I recommend the "raw foods" diet as a way to detox the body. I don't do it all the time, but I do find it beneficial to "go green" for a few weeks or even a month as a way to cleanse the body. In every salad, green leafy vegetables should form the foundation (and not the useless iceburg lettuce which has little nutritional value), and it should then be graced with a wide variety of vegetables...include as many colours as possible. Cucumber, black olives, green/yellow/red bell peppers, carrots, leeks, onions, mushrooms, and especially SPROUTS as they are loaded with protein and are actually very inexpensive if you grow them yourself. Fruits make an excellent breakfast and can provide much energy for the day....and they are certainly better for you than breadstuffs and sugar. Fresh fruits and vegetables are best when plucked right off a tree or out of a garden because their vital energies (OE:magen) have not yet dispersed...avoid touching them with any kind of iron or ferrous metals as they will cause the energies to disperse. The spirits of the plants should be honored.
For Bones and Teeth
Yogurt, cheese, and milk. Yogurt is best when cultured manually, this was a favorite stable among the Mongolian tribes. As far as cheese, get the good stuff and not the miserable parmesan from a can or the wretched american cheese which is low quality. If you are going to eat parmesan, get the kind that comes in a brick and grate it directly onto your food. Get your cheese from one of those German or French Delis, believe me it will taste much better and is much better for you than that processed stuff. The sacred bovine Audhumla should be properly observed and thanked for the nourishment that she provides mankind.
For the Brain
Perhaps the best three forms of "brain food" are found in flax, walnuts, and salmon. This is because of the essential fatty acids which are essential to brain function. Even the anceint Celts knew this as it was believed that eating salmon would "make a man wiser". There is even the Salmon of Wisdom that eats the magical walnuts in the streams that run through Annwn.
For Muscles (or "thews")
The best source of protein is given to us by animals, such as beef, pork, chicken, turkey, fish, ect. In ancient times these were raised organically and much of the red meat was much more healthy for you back then for these reasons: 1. they were fed organic feed 2. they were killed with sacred observances, this is called a "blo't" in which the animal's blood was offered to the Gods. They were killed as painlessly as possible because if they experienced fear they would produce adrenaline, which poisons the meat. They used a special strangulation technique in which the jugular vein was blocked, which led to a plainless and euphoric death. The windpipe is not to be blocked. The animals throat was then slit and help upside down so that all of the blood would be drained into a vat which was offered to the Gods. This process is very similar to making something "kosher". The Godly energies are then transfered into the meat upon Gifting. A properly sacrificed cow will yield good luck and wealth, a goat will provide might and main, a pig will provide peace, security, and well being, a horse will yield great wisdom and inspiration (though horses were rarely if ever eaten or sacrificed) ox or bison will yield courage and strength, the deer swiftness and alertness and so forth. Scientifically, all meat will build up muscle and aid in recovery after a good workout.
To be avoided
Sugar should be avoided like the plague and it is one of the greatest evils that has ever befallen those of Anglo Saxon, German, and Nordic descent. Sugar is to Teutons as alcohol is to Native Americans. Sugar was almost never eaten by Northern Europeans in ancient times, and our bodies are simply not designed to handle it. Even honey was rarely eaten and was considered a sacral substance used in the making of mead, which was rarely drunk (ale and beer were the preferred drinks of choice among the masses in ancient times and even today)...it was saved for religious rituals. Bread should also be eaten in extreme moderation; this was also eaten on rare occasions because the growing seasons in Northern Europe were very short and our bodies have difficulties in metabolizing it. Our ancestors were more into eating nettle, garlic, leeks, apples, lingon berries, spinach, ect as the "staple" along with plenty of meat and eggs and especially sea food. Fish was a fundamental part of the Northern European diet, as well as freshly killed game. Curries (ie spice blends) were also common.
Three Body Types, Five Elements
This was inspired by the Ayurvedic system and then "converted" into the Northern European system:
Jarl Body Type:
Thin Build
Influences, strongest to weakest: Air, Fire, Water, Ice, Earth
Jarls tend to have fast metabolisms and are quick-witted and spiritual people, and have great communication skills. They are especially gifted in magic and the arts. They have difficulty in gaining weight. They are not well grounded and will have difficulties in functioning in a job that is non-intellectual, often being fired for "spacing out" on the job. They belong in the "ivory towers", and excel as Lawyers, Judges, Psychics, Architects, Engineers, Musicians, Artists, and Academics. They learn quickly but sometimes have difficulty in retaining knowledge. They can be brought into balance by eating cold and heavy types of foods. Mating with thrall-types will produce balanced children. This type is ruled by Odin (Woden).
Carl Body Type:
Medium Build
Influences, strongest to weakest: Fire, Earth, Air, Earth, Water, Ice.
They have moderate builds and tend to be very athletic and energetic people. They can become overweight if they are not physically active or if they over-indulge in foods. They are gifted in the warrior arts. They excel in the more complex forms of labor such as Carpentry, Smithing, Ironwork, and other Trades as well as the Military. They have moderate learning and knowledge retention skills. They should avoid spicy foods and have a good balance of light and heavy foods. Plenty of cold liquids should be drunk as a way to balance their fiery natures. This type is ruled by Thor (Thunar).
Thrall Body Type:
Stocky Build
Influences, strongest to weakest: Earth, Ice, Water, Fire, Air
They tend to be stocky and/or overweight and often demonstrate an incredible amount of endurance. They are good at repetitive and simplistic tasks. Unlike the Carl and Jarl, they are often a lot more laid back and relaxed. They have difficulties in learning new things but retain information better than any other type. They tend to make excellent laborers. They should avoid heavy foods and be moderate with cold foods and focus more on hot and spicy foods as well as light foods. Plenty of warm drinks will bring them into balance. Mating with Jarl types will produce balanced children. This type is ruled by Frey (Ing).