Holistic health guru in a habit

Intermittent fasting, mindfulness, a diet of organic and seasonal food; these hot 'wellness trends' have actually been around for ages. Yes, literally ages: almost 900 years ago, a German nun had brilliant visions of holistic health that have the power to transform the way we live today.

Intermittent fasting, mindfulness, a diet of organic and seasonal food; these hot 'wellness trends' have actually been around for ages. Yes, literally ages: almost 900 years ago, a German nun had brilliant visions of holistic health that have the power to transform the way we live today.

Hildegard von Bingen was a devout 12th century nun, but she did much, much more than just pray. Believing in the interconnectedness of all things, the German polymath preached Medieval versions of holistic health and a pro-active lifestyle and wrote many books on the subject. A health guru in a nun's habit, Hildegard was her own best advertisement: she lived till the staggeringly old age of 81 (a small miracle in Medieval times). If she had one main goal, it was to help people achieve a state of well-being at all levels - body, soul and spirit. For that, Hildegard saw healthy diet and regular exercise as a must, but daily mindfulness and a joyful, positive outlook on life were equally important. "When one's thoughts are harmonious, they create physical calm and deep insight." Amen to that! Since then, many of Hildegard's recipes and remedies have been proven to be extremely beneficial for our well-being by modern scientists. But the proof, as the say, is in the (Medieval bread) pudding. So here are some of Hildegard's 'holistic health hacks' to try out for yourself:

Intermittent fasting According to Hildegard, the first meal of the day should be taken late in the morning, around midday, followed a few hours later by the main and last meal of the day. This daily time-restricted fasting - you're basically not eating for at least 12 hours - is currently a very popular way to boost your metabolism and reset your immune system.

The right acid-base balance Hildegard had a list of 'foods of joy' that should take up around 70% of our diets. We now know that these mostly plant-based foods, such as spelt, dried beans and vegetables, are actually alkalizing foods, needed to maintain the correct balance between acid and alkaline compounds in our bodies. Creating inflammation, excess acidity is one of the major causes of diseases. Examples of modern acidifying foods to eat in moderation are white bread, cheese and peanuts.

Spices of joy For both culinary and medicinal purposes, Hildegard recommended using healing spices and herbs. There is now plenty of evidence that many of these have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and mood-boosting properties. Some of Hildegard's favorites: nutmeg ('opens the heart and makes the soul joyful'), cinnamon ('promotes good humors') and cloves ('diminishes stuffiness in the head').

TIP: Make your own Hildegard's 'Spices of joy' mélange: mix together 1 1/2 tbsp ground nutmeg, 1 1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon and 1 tsp ground cloves. Use a pinch of it in soups, stews and baked goods.