A post from Salt Lake City Raw Group

This is a post from the message board of the Salt Lake City Raw Superheros group. The title was do you need another reason to buy organic. This so grosses me out.

D.Lindsey Berkson, a bioenvironmentalist educated at Tulane University, adds a chilling note in her must read book " Hormone Deception" in which she cites a shocking Associated press story. It seems that toxic heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, arsenic, along with dioxins and radio active waste from a nearby uranium processing plant is licensed as a commercial fertilizer and sprayed over 9,000 acresof grazing land, where it makes its way into the livestock eating the newly fertilized grass. Although many other industrilaized nations regulate the use of fertilizers, the United States does not, which means that medical, municipal, and industrial waste is routinely spread over the ground where our crops grow and where cattle graze. Municipal sewage systems alone, says berkson, sell some 36 percent of their 11.6 billion pounds of waste materials to farmers looking for fertilizers. Holy nastyness.
So the issue clearly becomes, how do you wnat to pay? Up front wiht the Organic price tag, or aorund the back door with your health, your sanity, the future of our species, and your life in its entirety. Fort me its a no brainer. I am thankful that the option to pay up front even exists, and I encourage you to do the same.
Spread the truth and fight truth decay!!!!!

I found on this site there is another raw store at 389 W 1700 south called Cali's. I haven't checked it out yet. It is a local owner.

Smoked PEPPERED Mackerel

If you haven't tried this, and you like fish of course, try! It's in Whole Foods, by the meat section, hanging by the coolers. It is peppered and smoked and not raw, but yum!

Have it in lettuce roll ups for the rawish part, with some shredded cabbage and cilantro lime dressing?

I had it with cream cheese-also not raw, and then rolled in big dark leaves of ruffled lettuce. Ok-it's the holidays. I find that I have to break out into wildness every now and then, and smoked fish is so high in omegas that I figure it's only good for us!

Kale Crackers

I just had some great crackers that are raw! She dipped kale pieces in a mixture of garlic, olive oil and tomatoes that had gone in the blender until smooth.

Lay on trays in the dehydrator and dry for 10 hours.

They are tasty and light and quite healthy! Yet another way to put Kale to good use and a great alternative to fried or baked potato chips.

More fear marketing-hand sanitizers

I'm amazed at the plethora of hand sanitizers that have sprung up everywhere. You can wipe the handles of everything before you touch it. Heaven forbid you should touch something that someone else has.

Now folks, does this even make sense? Can you REALLY accomplish this? Can you? You are in a world populated by others. So we have automatic doors, automatic flushing toilets, automatic water taps. We have automatic paper dispensers. Pretty interesting. I watch people trying to open doors with their elbows! Good trick if you can do it.

Do you ever watch yourself? Do it for one day. Where is your FEAR?

My son was just telling me that last year in high school they did an experiment: hand sanitizer vs bar soap. He was the test dummy. He scrubbed his hands with soap. They took a skin scraping. He walked around the room for a few minutes, came back and they took another skin scraping. He made sure he touched things, just behaved normally for about 15 minutes. Then a third after another scrub.

Then he used hand sanitizer and did the same thing. Skin scraping right after the sanitizer, then walked around, touched things as normal for 15 minutes, then another skin scraping, a third after that.

While they all knew the ads-hand sanitizer destroys 99.9% of the bacteria, that was not a surprise, or as it turns out, was it a lie. It does kill all the bacteria-including the good that is a protective barrier and meant to stop the majority of bad bacteria from getting further into our system!

We are a symbiotic ecosystem-we are meant to have good bacteria on our skin, just like we are meant to have good bacteria in our intestinal tract. They keep us healthy. Get over the advertising that bacteria is the bad guy. It's not.

Here were their results:
These high school kids discovered that when you use regular soap, you kill the bad bacteria, and you keep the good bacteria. They saw it for themselves under the microscope.

When you use hand sanitizer, you destroy all the bacteria, and then when you touch something else you double the exposure to bad bacteria-with no protective barrier in place to stop them.

He mentioned casually "whoa was there a lot of bad bacteria then!" I smiled.

In other words the more you use hand sanitizers, the more you destroy your own ecosystem, your own defenses. It's like saying because you have soldiers with bows and arrows all around the castle walls, you can open the gates and lower the draw bridge.

I've never been a germ-a-phob. I figure we live in this world. Stuff drops on the floor. I have animals. We live with them. That means our energy mingles, our life force mingles, and our germs mingle. While I don't kiss my dog on the lips, and ew I don't like her to lick my face either, I'm not overly concerned about methodically washing my hands at every contact. With her or with the world. Germs are just germs. And btw, we are an extremely healthy family. Always have been.

Come into right relationship with your world, and you will be fine. Really. You want strong healthy kids-STOP using sanitizer on everything. Let them get dirty for goodness sake. They will strengthen their immune system through everyday life. Being a 'good mom' does not mean making your children live in an antiseptic world. And fanatically scrubbing everything down only gives them the vibrational message that the world is not their friend. Is that the message you want them to have?

Let's look at this another way:
Vaccines are about 'exposure' in order to build up an immunity.
Why would we not get the same benefits from building up our natural immunity to germs? They can't have it both ways. Oh wait. yes they can. It's called fear marketing.

We're getting marketed into the benefits of vaccinations, but we are are being reverse marketed about germs. We aren't in a battle with germs. In many cases, bacteria are our friends. Folks, touch your world. Get into it! You'll get stronger for it.

Raw ish - Fast Breakfast

1/2 avocado, cubed
1/2 tomato, chunked
1 cup cabbage, fermented overnight in olive oil and balsamic vinegar
1 Tbs sesame seeds
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
s&p

Here's the raw-ish
1 hardboiled egg chopped

Or the vegan option is always cubed tofu.

Add a touch more balsamic and oil if you like it wetter. Toss and eat!
Enjoy!

Liver Detox

Many of my friends that were in Mexico with me last week have reported they were quite sick when they got home!

I told them my remedy and I will say I didn't get sick. I felt a bit off but I thought it was the traveling.
I also didn't eat the fruit on the beach the last day. Maybe that was it?

Here are my home remedies that I swear by, and I took them while there too.
Alpha Lipoic Acid, Vitamin D, and zinc. I take it all at the first feeling of a bit under the weather. All of these boost our own immune system so that it can do what it needs to do.

I also did the green juice when I got home, and I made some detox soup.
1 can of stewed tomatoes, or 5-8 fresh tomatoes, quartered and mashed
1 can of water
2 tbs chopped garlic
1 large onion, chopped
1 green pepper, seeded and chopped
3-4 stalks celery chopped
1 bumch kale, washed and chopped into 1" pieces
1 bag baby spinach, washed and chopped into 1" pieces
1 good handful of fresh cilantro, washed and chopped

Put it all in a pot and put it on low. Cook until all the vegetables are soft.
Add salt, pepper, cayenne.

This is a great detox. Make it anytime you feel a bit punkish. It will clear your system out!
If you want more flavor, add some bullion. Vegetable miso or chicken work best.

Raw Juice To Start Every Day

Fresh raw juice is the best, most nutritious, easiest to assimilate food you can have! It feeds you. And it feeds you on multiple levels. It has rich color, flavor, smell, and taste. So why isn't everyone doing it?!

Night time tonic:
2-3 apples, washed and quartered. When it comes to apples, organic is best
5-6 stalks celery
1/2 lemon
1 inch of ginger

Juice it and drink it before bed for a tonic that will improve your sleep and end your day the right way.

Corn Tortillas are a great alternative

Did you know that a corn tortilla - a little one, only has 32 calories? Or 58. Or 62. It depends on the brand and the size. But overall, if you have a corn tortilla instead of bread, it's a big savings. That's if you are looking for alternatives. You can have raw ingredients with it. Shredded cabbage, fresh salsa, sliced avocado. Yum! My current favorite.

They are great for fish too-if you are doing fish...

Raw-ish Spinach. tomatoes and white beans over pasta

Fresh ingredients:
Tomatoes-chopped
Spinach-torn into pieces
1 onion-chopped fine
2-4 cloves, chopped fine
1/2 bundle parsley-chopped
4 leaves basil-chopped

salt and pepper
cayenne or hot pepper flakes
I can white beans, rinsed and drained

In a wok pan saute the onion, garlic and tomatoes and spices in a splash of olive oil until soft
Add the beans to warm them
add the fresh spinach and stir until it's wilted

Cook angel hair pasta until soft, and drain
top servings with mixture and add parmesan cheese (unless you're vegan)
and eat!

You can use quinoa pasta or bean pasta if you want to opt out of gluten too.

Raw - Marinated Cucumbers

Since we are all entering harvest time, here's a fast raw favorite of ours:

Peel and Slice 1-2 cucumbers. Make slices about 1/4"
Add:
1/3 Cup olive oil
1/4 Cup balsamic vinegar
(this are aprox. I splash it in so bare with me on this one)
2 tsp garlic
Juice of one fresh lemon
salt and pepper.
Fresh chopped: basil.

Yes, we use both the vinegar and lemon, but you can use one or the other.
This saves for a few days-if there are any left, so we do usually make extra.
They are great alone as a side dish or add them to the top of any salad.
Take them to work because marinated doesn't need to be refrigerated!
If you take your salad in one container, without dressing, take the cucs in a separate one and add them as the dressing.

Variation:
we add crumbled feta cheese at serving, and sliced olives for a greek flare!

Variation #2:
Add sliced red tomatoes to the cucumbers before marinating so they are both steeped in the dressing

Raw - Stuffed Tomatoes

6 nice big fat deep red fresh tomatoes! This is the season for them!
Cut off the tops and core them scooping, out the insides so you have tomato cups

save the insides, chop and mix with:
1/3 c each: onion, celery, finely chopped
jalapeno pepper chopped - to taste. If you like it spicy add more.
fresh basil leaves-finely chopped, *I use about 1 big leaf per tomato
I cup chopped fresh parsley
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1/3 cup finely chopped mango
salt and pepper
juice of 1 fresh lemon
a splash or two of olive oil

Mix all ingredients and stuff into the tomatoes until they are heaped full! Garnish with a sprig of parsley and a serve with wedges of fresh lemon or lime and pita bread and more mango!

This is another great on-the-go lunch recipe!

Rawish-salmon spread

This isn't raw-technically. I use a large can of alaskan salmon...but it IS raw-ish and salmon is chock full of omega 3s for great brain function!

I make this and keep it on hand, sometimes I'll freeze half for another time too. As you can see, the recipe varies with what I have on hand

1 large can alaskan salmon, drained. Flake with a fork and mash so any tiny bones are dissolved up
1/2 onion chopped fine
1/2 gr pepper chopped fine (or red, or yellow)
1/2 c edamame or green peas
chopped fresh: parsley, cilantro, oregano and basil
salt and pepper
2 cloves garlic, chopped fine
parmesan cheese
toasted pine nuts (or leave em raw too)

mix up and add a splash of olive oil, a good swig of red wine vinegar, and the juice of a whole lemon
I don't add mayo but I suppose you could if you like it

ANd we like it hot, so the pepper flakes, jalapeno peppers and a sprinkle of cayenne go in for us.

Toast corn tortillas in oil until crispy and then fill with this mixture, top with shredded cabbage and a squeeze of fresh lime before eating!
You can use lettuce leaves instead of tortillas but of course!

This is one of those "even better the next day" so it's great to make enough for lunch the next day too.

Healthy Lunchtime Eats

Lima Beans Greco
1 bag dried lima beans-soak overnight in cold water, rinse and drain when time to cook. Boil in water until soft. Drain. Remove any loose skins that have separated.

olive oil
red wine vinegar
fresh lemon juice-at least 1 lemon
oregano, basil, parsley (fresh if you have them in the garden-yum!)
hot chili peppers (if you like hot!)
cayenne
salt, pepper
garlic-as much as you like and we like it

add what you have, and here are some we've liked:
onion-chopped fine
celery-chopped fine
carrot-julienne slices
mushrooms-sliced

parmesan cheese or other dry cheese, grated
sesame seeds, sunflower seeds or even chopped walnuts (whatever you have works!)

Toss it all together and let it steep overnight for great second day flavor.

This holds for days, and gets better and better.

You can: eat it on a salad, put it in lettuce rolls, stuff a tortilla. You can have it as a side dish or all alone. This doesn't last long in our house!

This is a taste and test recipe, so allow yourself to play with the spices and go for color and splash!

Raw-ish

When we started our journey into raw food land, we decided to do 'raw-ish'. We thought we'd aim at 100% and hit closer to 70% and figured that 70% was still better than what we were doing.

It worked for us, but I don't tend to be an extremist with anything. My motto is pretty tolerant of all views, and walks and usually I say 'try it for yourself' because I do firmly believe that no one thing will work for everyone. That includes raw. That includes vege, and vegan.

It's not true that eating raw or vegan will make you happier, nicer or more spiritual. If someone tells you that you 'have to' do anything special to connect to God, walk on. Eating nothing but raw food can make you feel good, and if you do it long enough without the right additional nutrient support, you can feel drained and not good. it's true. Sorry.

The very very bottom line is LISTEN TO YOURSELF, be your own TRUTH, and come into right relationship with YOU. If your body wants an egg, or a steak or a hunk of liver tonight, it well could be that it is craving the nutrients in those foods. Going with your body instead of villifying the body will do alot for your health in general!

We've been working on identifying our food beliefs, and frankly, thanks to the wonderful world of marketing, we have tons! Did you know that the average American woman is 5'5" tall, and weighs 152 lbs and wears a size 12? Yep. That's the American average. Do you know that the American average in the 1950s was...a size 12? When Lucille Ball was doing her show in black and white, those were the stats. Size 12.

The media has thrown us into a frenzied hype that we are all hopeless hippos but the truth is we are about the same. We have more fears of food than ever before. We have more processing of foods, engineering of foods, food research and interestingly more allergies than ever before.

Eat what you want. Bless it, which means bring your intention and attention to what you are about to eat. Slow down, sit down and make it a special time-not in the car, not on the run. Pay attention to the color, the smell, the taste, and whatever you eat, savor it.

Let whatever you eat really feed you! ALL of you!

Why do you eat what you eat?

I'm curious-

What drives us to eat and which foods do we reach for?
How much of what we eat is pure marketing?

Commercials, advertisements, articles, labels.
Friends, memories, unconscious associations.

Do you eat eggs?
Are they organic?
Free range?
Regular?
Are they egg substitute?
Do you do tofu scramblers?
Do you only eat the whites?
Do you limit the number you eat, and why, if you do? In other words - where did you get the belief, and how is that working for ya?

Post a comment-but add why you've chosen it, and how you came to that conclusion.
Hope you will all play!

Slo-food, raw food, is mindful food, coming back to nature is coming back to our minds.

What field of intent do you hold in your mind when it comes to your food?
What field of intent do you hold when you prepare your food?
What field of intent do you hold when you eat your food?
What is your food field, and is there fear, guilt, anger, pain when you eat?

IF so, in any way, you are eating those emotions. Dangerous games - marketing us into obesity and disease.
We have to wake up and notice.

Eat Beans-Red Beans

Dried beans are better than canned
if you have canned beans, rinse them well
Avoid refried beans

Why beans? They take a long time to digest which means they slow down the release of blood sugar and lower insulin levels.

Master Your Metabolism the no list

Jillian Michaels is a strength coach from 'the biggest loser' on tv. Anyone watch it? I never really watched it until my son's friend became one of the coaches. Speedy Peterson won an Olympic silver this year at the winter Olympics. I must say that now I am a bit hooked on the show. As a former fatty, I was offended by the title-silly me-because I did an inadvertant diservice to those people that are giving it their all.

Here's Jillian Michael's list:

Eliminate
1. hydrogenated fats
2. unrefined grains - avoid corn and wheat
3. corn syrup
4. artificial sweeteners
5. artificial colorings and preservatives
6. glutamates - flavor enhancers

and then there are the 'less than stellar' foods to avoid
1. starchy root vegetables
2. tropical, dried and canned fruits
3. excess soy
4. excess alcohol (ok I admit to a glass of wine on some nights...ok ... ok...)
5. full fat dairy and fatty meats
6. canned foods
7. caffeine - unless organic coffee

what I noticed is that these were almost all things we eliminated on our 30 day/9 month raw adventure! We did eat Yams, cooked, but not daily, and I did still have my half and half in my one cup of coffee and still do.

Wow~we did it ourselves without an expert. But then-we made ourselves the experts. Girls-give yourselves a hand.

Prayer and mindful intent

If light feeds us, and light is an energy, then prayer as an energy, also must feed us, yes?

Holding prayer in your heart as you prepare your food, feeds you.

We are subtle beings, energetic in nature and substance. We are a cooperation of fields of intent, and when those fields collide and lose their synchronization and their flow, when there is a misfire-a misplayed note, we have imbalance.

Prayer is an activation of a subtle frequency that feeds us.
When your food is living, it is easier for that food to hold the frequency of your intent.
Cooking doesn't kill the food so much as dull it's ability to hold and even amplify your intent.

The mindless eating is what is killing our spirit.
Slo-food, raw food, is mindful food, coming back to nature is coming back to our minds.

What field of intent do you hold in your mind?
What field of intent do you hold when you prepare your food?
What field of intent do you hold when you eat your food?

Soak Your Almonds

Soaking your nuts isn't just for nuthin'. (or nuttin' lol)
Soaking and drying enlivens them with living nutrition.
Soaking and drying kills the phytates.
Phytates deplete your body of zinc and iron.

AH HA!

those of us that are low in zinc...ahem...

We can eat noodles!

miracle noodles

no soy, no wheat, no gluten...makes me wonder what they are...plant bases fiber. Does that mean....???

drain, rinse, dry!
Noodles are a great calorie free, carb free alternative to to pasta.

check it out!

Ayervedic cooking

Looking into a different way of eating--why not?

There are 6 tastes in Ayurvedic cooking, and they should be eaten at each meal...sweet, sour, pungent, astringent, salty and bitter. That's quite a variety to hit with every main meal isn't it? American diets don't touch but maybe 2 or 3. We aren't big on mixing tastes up.

Each of the tastes balance a different energy in us, and if include each of them, we will reduce cravings. We certainly don't come NEAR to covering all these bases in our meals!

They also classify foods into physical types, or doshas: heavy, light, dry, liquid, warm or cool, and we should eat to balance the energy of our dosha.

Vata is rough, hard, cold, dry and light
Pitta is sharp, hot, oily and light
Kapha dosha is cold, liquid, heavy and unctuous.

Find out what your dosha is and then eat to counterbalance it...I think that's how it works? I need some more work on this-it seems confusing to me, but it could just be because it's so different.


They believe we need all foods, all food groups and all food types.
Include lots of spices, colors, and textures so the plate looks appealing.

NOPALTILLAs

Tortillas made from the prickly pear cactus- Nopaltillas started when Alonzo's business dropped 50% last year, he recreated his business.

FIber, Calcium, lowest calories, no preservatives, no additives, cholesterol free, sodium free, low in fat and help to regulate blood pressure. We don't have it here in UT yet, but you can order them online.
They're a big hit- Sun Valley CA.

Click on their estore link to actually get the product. IF you sign up for the catalog, you just get a pdf. Shall we order some in?
A pkg of a dozen tortillas-1.49
a pkg of a dozen tostadas-2.49

Endorphins and Exercise

I am sure this has already been done on Shamans In The Raw before but I just felt compeled to revisit Endorphins and Exercise. I think I am doing this more for myself than anything. My exercise ratio is at 0, I truly am in a funk so I thought maybe if I do some research and give some good reasons why we need to push ourselves to get moving. I know this is a little wordy but I am making effort to kick it into gear, if this helps anyone else that that is wonderful

Exercise for Happiness

We've known for a long time about the benefits of exercise as a way to enhance our physical condition and combat disease; but it hasn't been until more recently that exercise is being recognized as an element in maintaining mental fitness. Studies have shown that exercise releases endorphins in the brain, which in turn cause us to have what is commonly know as a "natural high" or a "runners high". You may not realize what caused it, but most of us have felt it. Whether we're engaged in a leisurely swim or an adrenaline-charged rock climb, there is that moment when suddenly pain or discomfort drops away and we are filled with a sense of euphoria. We have endorphins to thank for these moments of bliss.


The Psychological Benefits of Exercise

•Physical activity is increasingly becoming part of the prescription for the treatment of depression and anxiety. Exercise alone is not a cure, but it does have a positive impact.
•Research has found that regular physical activity appears as effective as psychotherapy for treating mild to moderate depression. Therapists also report that patients who exercise regularly simply feel better and are less likely to overeat or abuse alcohol and drugs.
•Exercise can reduce anxiety - many studies have come to this conclusion. People who exercise report feeling less stressed or nervous. Even five minutes of aerobic exercise (exercise which requires oxygen, such as a step class, swimming, walking) can stimulate anti-anxiety effects.
•Physical exercise helps to counteract the withdrawal, inactivity and feelings of hopelessness that characterize depression. Studies show that both aerobic and anaerobic exercise (exercise which does not require oxygen, such as weightlifting) have anti-depressive effects.
•Moods such as tension, fatigue, anger and vigor are all positively affected by exercise.
•Exercising can improve the way you perceive your physical condition, athletic abilities and body image. Enhanced self-esteem is another benefit.
•Last, but not least, exercise brings you into contact with other people in a non-clinical, positive environment. For the length of your walk or workout or aqua-fit class, you engage with people who share your interest in that activity.

Turmeric and man feeding

I made the turmeric and cauliflower last night. It went over well, but I did saute it in olive oil, and we added some diced leftover chicken and some leftover rice. But he liked it!

Follow the links below for more on turmeric and cauliflower and the benefits of turmeric. We are now adding it to everything we can think of.

Success adding to scrambled eggs, tuna salad, and to salad dressings and marinades. It's wonderful on chicken of course, and any of your stir fry vegetables. I've also sprinkled it on avocados for a tasty change.





Benefits of Turmeric
Turmeric
Turmeric and Cauliflower for prostate cancer

Fat Tax? A Dozen BETTER Ideas

How ingenious of our government-44 million Americans are now considered obese-so the IRS is considering an income tax credit for slender people, while "the people ruining our health care economics (fat people) would pay the standard tax". Suggestion comes from Eric Topol, chief of cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic. But your ass he's thin?

What is that going to do? It gives a tax break to the WRONG PEOPLE. Like tax breaks for the rich have made us all richer right?

So because the 'seatbelt campaign' worked, and the 'anti-smoking' campaign worked, they think they can legislate us into thin.

Why does this anger me I wonder? And why do I think it won't work?

They want to up the taxes on fatty foods, (not manufacturing it but on BUYING it)
but also slap a big tax on 'sedentary' living like movie tickets, video games and DVD rentals. Not joking folks-25 states are considering more than 140 bills aimed in that direction. Lose weight or they will make us.

On the other side of the sea...France is trying to make it illegal to promote extreme thinness. GOOD ON THEM!

What's going on folks? So they want to legislate us into thin by making it costly to do the things that the marketing mogels have hypnotized us into. First get them addicted, then up the cost and tax it.

Why does that sound familiar? Oh YEA! That's what they did with cigarettes. And alcohol.
And now if it worked before, let's do it for fat foods, sugars, video games, colas, candy bars, movies and DVDs...all things we have been heavily commericaled into. We've been marketed INTO them, so now let's penalize them. Stupid people! :) Yeah it worked before.

Maybe it will work. I mean, I do wear my seatbelt now. Course, mostly because my stupid car buzzer won't shut up until I DO click in. And I don't want to get a $50. ticket from a cop who has nothing else to do but watch out for illegal non-seatbelt wearers? But yes, the public IS teachable.

So they have ANNOYED me into compliance. How could this work for food I wonder? Hmmmm

Fat police? Cops on the look out for obese drivers and we could get slapped with a moving violation. Instead of speed guns to catch speeders, they could have scales in the trunk of their cars and they could arbitrarily pull cars over and if they have fat foods, wrappers, and are obviously under the influence of fat foods, pulled out of the car and weighed and if they aren't within the American Standards, fined. Or would this be considered profiling? Oh wait-isn't ALL of this profiling???

It could be illegal to eat and drive. (wow-there go all those fast food restaurants GEARED to eating while we drive to save that preceious time) They might do studies to start showing 'scientifically' how dangerous it is to eat and drive to convince us NOT TO.

And I suppose the police would HAVE to be thin, wouldn't they?

It could work. I mean, they are right. It did for seatbelts. It has for drunk driving and speeding. I won't say it couldn't have merit.

Of course, following the philosophy of car builders, fridges will HAVE TO HAVE a warning bell installed that never goes off unless the fridge is closed, and if the fridge is open too long a hefty male voice will say "STEP AWAY FROM THE FAT ZONE". Too tough?

Fridge manufacturers can get a tax break for installing the warning bells for our own best good. it's their duty. It's a health risk. And if you are caught disconnecting your warning bell, there could be a fine.

They want to put warning labels on fast food wrappers like they have on packs of cigarettes and CDs with foul language. That's really curbed appeal I will say.

So I'm not one to only complain and point fingers at stupid things. I want to come up with solutions. Here are my solutions:

1. heavily tax commercials that are FOR fatty foods, fast food chains, donuts, colas, and candybars. Or better yet- BAN THEM like they did cigarette commercials. Oh wow-no one thought of that? And while we are at it-BAN commericals for movies, DVDs, rentals and all those things that "promote sedentary."

2. give a tax break for creating and promoting commercials that focus on a healthy lifestyle, and allow FREE advertising for raw, organic and fresh.

3. Schools that bring in 'real edible' foods (as a little 7 and 11 year old I just interviewed said) will also get a special tax break and healthy living promotion fund bonus for their schools.

4. Tax breaks to anyone losing 25 lbs+ in a year as a 'we support you' tax break, and the incentives to lose weight go UP. Positive motivation may actually work better than negative in this case, but hey, just a thought. And if they lose more the second year (not the same 25...na a a...but more) they get DOUBLE the tax break. I can see it now-people not wanting to lose too much in a year, holding it over for the next year so they can get their tax break.)

5. How about weight recording clinics that are set up to legally document weight loss for tax benefits. Maybe right there along at your accountants. EVERYONE Knows our accountants are honest. ( I can see a whole black market thin set up blooming already) You document your yearly weight when you file your taxes, rubber stamped by your accountant. If your weight is down, you are golden! Cha ching! Not doctors, because LORD knows fat people are already overburdening doctors (See Topol's comment above). This could be like getting your car inspected for emissions. Save the enviornment - lose weight and make it easy on mother earth when you walk lightly. hah.

6. They can have THIN ME tax breaks and THIN ME vacation clubs an THIN ME special conferences.

7. If you have a garden in your yard and you plant 'real edible food' TAX BREAK.

8. And if you plant real food and donate it to homeless shelters BIG TAX BREAK

9. If you've got ideas-let me hear em! I think we should get a list together and send them to our 'government officials' that seem to be talking out their butts while sitting on their hands.

10. EVERY package of PROCESSED food could have a warning label on it-not just fatty foods and clearly labeled with 'this product could be dangerous for your health" not just dangerous for your spreading ass.

11. EVERY package of meat and chicken has to put the % of steroids and chemicals in their product.

12. We would pass REAL truth in advertising laws so that (yesterday's post) companies can't falsely claim 'weight control' on their label when it really has MORE fat in it.

13. Schools have real programs on nutrition for all students from 5 years up as part of their mandated curriculum, and government incentives for their school 'go green' rallies, concepts and promotions.


OH DEAR! What ever has happened to my 'light light light'. Check another blog. For today this one is choosing to 'enlighten' instead. So if you have good ideas - send them in. Let's write our government officials with em because right now-their ideas suck.

How is it better for us?

I'm in the grocery store looking for oatmeal (which I ended up forgetting to buy come to think of it), and I see Quaker has a new "WEIGHT CONTROL" oatmeal. Maple and Brown Sugar. How is maple and brown sugar weight control. but ok, this intrigues me. I look at the side panel and here's what I read-straight off the box:
Fat 3g
Sodium 310 g
Carbs 29 g
Sugar 1 g
Calories 160
Cal fr fat 25

for nutritional panel

I decide to look at Quaker's Maple and Brown Sugar - for regular people, you know? I mean, how do we KNOW that this is for weight control?

Fat 2 g (oops it has LESS!)
Sodium 270 g (oops again it has LESS!)
Carbs 33 g
Sugar 13 g
Calories 160 (how can it be the SAME???)
Cal fr fat 20 (whoa again it has LESS!)

for nutritional panel

Are you seeing what I'm seeing? The 'weight control' oatmeal, specially formulated for those of us fatties watching our weight...has MORE fat and MORE calories from fat, is HIGHER in sodium, and the same amount of calories overall. So less sugar, MORE fat to keep it the same number of calories? Huh? How is this better for us?

If you stick to raw and real and fresh and organic--they can't mislabel. But here's a sad thing. An apple today actually has 15% MORE sugar than an apple from 10 years ago. Genetic engineering? Who knows but that's the science of it. Is nothing sacred???

Turmeric and prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the number one cancer among American men now and the good news is that the survival rate is raising every year. And it's almost non-existent in East Indian men.

But did you know that that little spice I've been bragging on...turmeric...
has been doing wonders with prostate cancer? I bet you didn't! I didn't. But yes, there was a study of 29,361 men that participated in a study! whole foods

Turmeric and cauliflower. Cauliflower is outstandingly high in Vitamin C.
Because of cauliflower's sulphur, it's a detox agent.

When preparing cauliflower: cut it and let it sit for 5-10 minutes so that the phenethyl isothiocyanates are produced. It stops producing them when heated.

When tested singly, both phenethyl isothiocyanate and curcumin (turmeric) greatly retarded the growth of human prostate cancer cells implanted in immune-deficient laboratory animals. In animals with well-established prostate cancer tumors, neither phenethyl isothiocyanate nor curcumin by itself had a protective effect, but when combined, they significantly reduced both tumor growth and the ability of the prostate cancer cells to spread (metastasize) in the test animals.

This happens to be a great combination, and I just bought a cauliflower. In fact, I looked at it in the fridge a few minutes ago and thought "I wonder what I'm going to do with you?" and now I know!

RAW cauliflower and turmeric salad
Cut the cauliflower into tiny florets and let sit for 10 minutes
Chop:
1 zucchini
1 carrot
1 red pepper
1/2 onion

1/2 cabbage, shredded
garlic 2-3 cloves

marinate in olive oil and balsamic vinegar
add LOTS of: curry and turmeric, salt and pepper.

Add a dry package of crumbled ramen noodles to this before serving if you like

it's better the second day!

Benefits of Turmeric
Turmeric

Raw Edamame Salad

1 red pepper - chopped
1 bag of shelled raw edamame
1 cob of corn - shucked
1 small bag of shredded carrots
1 tbs garlic - chopped
1 zucchini - chopped

Mix all ingredients and keep in the fridge.
I had it with balsamic vinegar and some pine nuts last night for a yummy dinner.

I had some this morning stirred into scrambled eggs with turmeric and curry.

It's been nice to have this made to take for lunch too. Put the dressing on at the end.

The Gift of Snakes

I was curious today about why God would possibly put so many deadly poisonous snakes on the planet. Asking the question yielded an interesting answer:

A dozen diagnostic tests and drugs have been derived from snake venom. Drugs to treat high blood pressure and cardio disorders have come to us from a Brazilian snake.

There are 3,000 snakes in the world, and of those, 650 are poisonous-but we are discovering new species all the time, so who knows what ELSE is out there? You've heard that Australia has the deadliest snakes in the world? Well-true! THey have not one, but 10 of THE deadliest. Whoa. Lucky Aussieland.

They are experimenting with snake venom to cure cancerous tumors.



here's national geographic's deadliest snakes.
Snake meat? Sure! Snake is tasty-just like chicken.
recipe for fried snake

YOU FIRST! :)

Cinnamon and Honey

It is found that a mixture of honey and Cinnamon helps/cures/heals/has a positive effect (what's politically correct these days???) on many diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Scientists of today also accept honey as a 'Ram Ban' (very effective) medicine for all kinds of diseases.

Honey can be used without any negative side effects...ruling out a personal allergy. Locally produced honey is best as it is made from the pollens around you-so will have a more positive balancing affect within you, should you have allergies to pollens.

Today's science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients. Weekly World News, a magazine in Canada, in its issue 1/17/95 has given the following list of diseases that can be cured by honey and cinnamon as researched by western scientists, and most of these we've posted before too, so it's nice to repeat it. Since this morning I had my medicinal dose of cinamon and honey, and have been enjoying it now for weeks, morning and evening, I'd say I can report from personal experience that it's a good thing!

HEART DISEASES:
Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread, instead of jelly and jam, and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack. Also those who have already had an attack, if they do this process daily, relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heart beat. In America and Canada , various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as you age, the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalize the arteries and veins.

ARTHRITIS:
Arthritis patients may take daily, morning, and night, one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. If Taken regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured. In a recent research conducted at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half Teaspoon Cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week, Out of the 200 people so treated, practically 73 patients were totally Relieved of pain, and within a month, mostly all the patients who could not Walk or move around because of arthritis started walking without pain. (don't make the water too hot or you will kill the live enzymes in the honey.)

BLADDER INFECTIONS:
Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a Glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder.

CHOLESTEROL:
Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water, given to a cholesterol patient, was found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two hours. As Mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken three times a day, any chronic Cholesterol is cured. According to information received in the said Journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.

COLDS:
Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon Lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This Process will cure most chronic cough, cold,and clear the sinuses.

UPSET STOMACH:
Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also clears Stomach ulcers from the root.

GAS:
According to the studies done in India and Japan , it is revealed that if Honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

IMMUNE SYSTEM:
Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and Protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks. Scientists have found That honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of Honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacteria and viral Diseases.

INDIGESTION:
Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.

INFLUENZA:
A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural ' Ingredient' which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.

LONGEVITY:
Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly, arrests the ravages of old age. Take four spoons of honey, one spoon of cinnamon powder and three cups of water and warm to make like tea. Drink 1/4 cup, three to Four times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age. Life spans also increases and even a 100 year old, starts performing the chores of a 20-year-old.

PIMPLES:
Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning with Warm water. If done daily for two weeks, it removes pimples from the root.

SKIN INFECTIONS: Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts Cures eczema, ringworm and all types of skin infections.

WEIGHT LOSS:
Daily in the morning one half hour before breakfast on an empty stomach And at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one Cup of water.
CANCER:
Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month three times a day.

FATIGUE:
Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body. Senior citizens, who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts, are more alert and flexible. Dr. Milton, who has done research, says that a half Tablespoon of honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3:00 P.M. When the vitality of the body starts to decrease, increases the vitality of the body within a week.

BAD BREATH:
People South America , first thing in the morning, gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water, so their breath stays fresh throughout the day.

HEARING LOSS:
Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder, taken in equal parts restore hearing. Remember when we were kids? We had toast with real butter and cinnamon sprinkled on it!

As always, these are collected suggestions and not to be confused with either diagnoses or prescriptions but to be considered suggestions and are anecdotal. Please use common sense and check with your own physician.

Oh the Taste of Real Meat

This made us laugh out loud! The Aussies have a wicked sense of humor, don't they?!

RAW FOOD MAKES NBC

I'm impressed...it's a wave...didn't we say that?!

Raw Breakfast Scramble

Wow-this looks good! And the turmeric gives it that yellow egg color-tricky! Turmeric is an awesome spice to add to your diet-see the links below.

Ani does a nice job with this recipe, and it's pretty simple. Remember to soak and dry the almonds


Benefits of Turmeric
Turmeric

Chia-ancient food of the Aztecs

I got an interesting email from Greens + that was all about CHIA.

Chia superfood omega 3 has chia chocolate, and chia recipes.

Aztec warriors, it says, drank Chia water before battle, for stamina. I'm curious it that's the same idea as the barley water?
Is that imprinting?

Chia has a shelf life of 5 years so if you don't use it today, not to worry. Chia seems to stabilize blood sugar levels so there is a diabetic study going on.

Chia is gluten free! It's a complete whole food.
To answer CA's question about chia:

It seems to gel like psyillium seed so you can use it as a thickening agent and it looks like only a TBS or two is needed.
Some suggestions are to add it to the liquid when doing cake mixes, then add it to the dry ingredients.
Chia for health.com has recipes. I've found over and over that you mix it in water to make a gel and use that. I don't think there is an soaking per say. Let me know what you find works for you!

here's our earlier post on CHIA

Local Farms and Markets!

I found this community resource which helps people find local farms and markets!

Local Harvest

raw vegan ice cream yum!

I love raw vegan ice cream i just found these guys - they also make pies...yum too bad they dont sell here....but its really easy to make some i want to soon....

Tomberlies Ice Cream

here are some recipes:

click here

and here for durian ice cream

and here!

ohhhhhh and here!

Ask and Ye Shall Find-Olive Leaf Tea

Olive Leaf Tea

Wow-ask a question and you CAN find out the answer to ANYTHING. OMG!

Here's a YOUTUBE on how to pick olive leaves to make your tea...wow...



The olive tree of life...and it was off the top of my head...the question I mean...

Cannabis olive oil...oh boy! Now that's SALAD!

Now I'm not sure if Grandma is nervous, or if she's stoned?! Excuse me. CRONE. You take a look and let me know what you think.
This looks like jungle juice to me! LOL award anyone? There has to be fumes from the cooking of that 'bud leaf'.

Of course Dr. Diane only recommends this oil for medicinal use folks. she laughs.

She loves this stuff. She loves the smell "I'd make perfume of this if I could"
She loves the color. "I'd love to paint my car this color."
She loves the oil. "Let's rub it on our skin". She rubs it on her face daily.

And she warns you not to breathe it in or you can have a psycadelic experience. It's a different high than smoking it she says, so use it sparingly. Remember it's a medicine.

1/2 cup of cannabis olive oil is equal to 1 oz of herb.

Vianna on Nutrition

I couldn't get her to do a radio show-times have changed! Folks, listen to this-she's talking about GOOD nutrition.
She's pushing Usana here too, but I forgive her. They do have a good product.

Seaweed Dining

Now if these two tell us they are in their 90s, I'll be impressed! I'm kinda not quite there yet kids. How about you?

Beijing rare...not raw...but unique!

In keeping with the 'exotic' theme, I had to post this unusual restaurant chain in Beijeng-their penis restaurants.

Yep-everything on the menu is penis based-all sorts.
The yak penis is served with a dragon. Do you see how long it is???

How many does that feed? I mean, is that like, ONE serving? Just curious...happy Yaks huh?!

There is sheep penis, served with sweet cheese, ox penis, dog penis, deboned of course.

Ok-it's not raw...it's raw-ish but hey! I thought we could use some spicing up.

It's good for the skin ladies...but not the testicles. THAT can grow hair on your face! :)

For more...go to
A visit to Beijing's exclusive penis restuarant

Exotic raw

Snake wine (rư"u rắn in Vietnamese) is an alcoholic beverage that includes a whole venomous snake in the bottle. It originated in Vietnam and can be found around Southeast Asia. The snakes, preferably venomous ones, are usually not preserved for their meat. They are preserved to have the snake poison dissolved in the liquor. However, because snake venom is protein-based, they are unfolded and therefore inactivated due to the influence of the denaturing effects of ethanol.

A large venomous snake can be placed into a glass jar of rice wine, often with many smaller snakes, turtles, insects, or birds, and left to steep for many months. The wine is drunk as a restorative in small shots or cups...

Body fluids of snake are mixed into wine and consumed immediately in the form of a shot. Snake blood wine is prepared by slicing a snake along its belly and draining its blood into a mixing vat with rice wine or grain alcohol. Snake bile wine is done through a similar method by using the contents of the gall bladder. Snake meat, liver, and skin can be prepared to accompany the drinks

submitted by Kathy

I am an instrument of the Infinite Presence

I AM
an instrument
of the
infinite
Presence

Chia Seeds

Chia seeds, (yep...."ch.ch.ch.chia"...you got it) are the new, hot, anti-aging food! They are high in omega 3s and they feed your brain with those important good fats. Tiny like sesame seeds, you can sprinkle them on your foods for an extra kick.

Try getting about 2 TBS a day for awhile and see how you do! I oz has 4 g of protein, and 9 g of fat...the good fat. These little guys pack a punch!

Nuts online is a source if Whole Foods doesn't have them.

Clarkia - Parasite cleanse and more...

So finally listened to my hit regarding parasites and fungal stuff so I ordered Clarkia which you can find here http://drclarkia.com/ and read about here http://www.curezone.com/diseases/parasites/clarkia.html

Im on day 2 and starting to feel things shifting which feels very good. Supposedly you can use it for all sorts of things and it even works for children and pets. The dosages are on the curezone site i believe.

Ill keep you all posted on how it goes. Its something like 2 weeks on 1 week off and you just add drops to water gradually increasing drops.

Good oils and Fats are not the bad guys

When eating raw, and even raw-ish, as we like to say, you need the good fats and oils. If you don't get enough, your body let's you know it!

Your brain needs fats. It's 60% fat! Hence the phrase "fat head?" The myelin sheath that covers your neural connections-largely fat-75% fat. Fat has gotten a bad wrap. Fats are messengers. Fat regulates key aspects of the immune system, blood circulation, inflammation, memory and mood. The good fats are essential to good moods, good brain function and good living!

Lack of omega 3s can lead to depression, poor memory, low IQ, learning issues, dyslexias, poor sleep. The good fats, omega 3s, and from good fish sources. Salmon, mackerel, herring, yellow fin tuna, then anchovies, eel and sardines.

According to Dr. Charles Krebs, in his book "Nutrition and the Brain", thinking is a biochemical process and we absolutely need the right nutrition for our neurotransmitters to function. Proteins make neurotransmitters, and it's why many people feel good on a high protein diet. That, coupled with the fact that our brain NEEDS the right sort of fats.

So where does that leave us?
Take omega 3s. Add them to your diet. Get a good fish oi, which is assimilated better than flax seed oil, by the brain. If you want to stay vege based, do the flax seed, and Udo's has a great 3-6-9 blend. You can get these in gel caps. I took them periodically through the day during my last week of classes and it helped immensely!

Vindicate fat, and bring it back into your life. Good fats will help your body to let go of the bad fats. Cooked fats are toxic. Add olive oil to your salads, and enjoy!

MJ the biggest US crop

This is pretty interesting-and may be why they legalize it soon, although in a way-it is! Hey, if they are paying taxes, then it's legal. The general public just hasn't caught up.

Diuretic Vegetables-of course

Bloating and edema are a build up in the body of things that, were everything working right, would be releasing. Logical. That's not rocket science.

If things aren't working the way they should, there is a reason, because the body WILL if it CAN, so again, logically, if everything works in cooperation, your whole body is a symphony of relationship. If something is off, everything else flexes to accommodate.

Chronic issues, see a doctor, or a Naturopath, or an Allopathic doctor, or an Acupuncturist, or even an Herbalist. But what if it's temporary?

Sorting for simple ways to support our functions on a daily basis, what can we do? You wake up feeling bloated. Your pants are tighter, maybe the skin on your hands feel tight.
How can we eat to support our body's best functioning?
How can we naturally get our body to start releasing those fluids instead of retaining them? Ew.

Juice green! Eat as much raw for a few days as you can manage.

Diuretic foods include:
Asparagus, artichokes, celery, melons, parsley, cucumbers, brussel sprouts.
Brussel sprouts stimulate the kidneys. Cabbage and carrots are also good for elimination.

Juice them, eat them. Add them to your daily fare and feel the fluids release!
Watermelon, cantaloupe and cranberries are great too.

Remember, if you detox too quickly, you may get a slight headache, or feel flu-like symptoms. This is a good thing! Support that release action with water, hot lemon juice tea, a footbath, and add some vitamin E, C, or alpha lipoic acid for anti oxidant action. Just a suggestion. It's what I do. You might find it helpful too. Of course, this is not medical advice, just some suggestions from one friend to another!

Herbal Diuretics

If high blood pressure is brought down with a prescription diuretic, I wondered what herbs might do the same thing?

Dandelion-cleanses the liver, and the blood, improves kidenys, spleen, pancreas and stomach. Hmmmm. Not so bad for a weed.

Stinging Nettle-detoxifies the urinary system, and is another bothersome weed!

Pau d'Arco-used for pain and inflammation of the prostate, arthritis, ulcers, boils, and some cancers. Also is an antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral.

Fennel, asparagus, parsley, borage, saw palmetto are all good for high blood pressure. Oh, stay away from rosemary as it raises blood pressure, and no on comfrey too as it blocks blood flow to the liver.

Guide4living.com

Another great Amazon herbal site:
Amazon Therapeutic Laboratories looks interesting, but I haven't ordered from them. Might want to keep it as a reference though. It's funded by the non profit institute of traditional amazon and andean medicine.

Turmeric the spice, and a soup recipe

Turmeric. botanically known as Curcuma longa. Turmeric is related to ginger, and saffron, and is a potent antioxidant, known to contain anti-cancer properties, and is good for detoxification of the body. It is profoundly anti-inflammatory, and is more potent than an anti-inflammatory steroid. For gut issues, as well as tissue healing. It's an astringent, and tightens. It's been used for polyps, hemorrhoids, degenerative brain issues, post nasal drip. It can be used for any wet and expanding tissue issue. It's an immune enhancer, cellular detoxifier.

Powdered turmeric, by itself can be very hard on the liver, creating a "heating" or irritating effect that can worsen Pitta related problems, so add it to your foods. It works best if you sauté it in a little oil or ghee or you add a little bit to soups or stews. It has water-soluble and fat-soluble components like most spices.

It's an incredibly powerful spice. Add it to your foods. Recipes using tumeric are usually Indian, although you can add it to eggs, sprinkle it on soups, use it on fish and chicken, stir fry. BTW-India has the lowest rate of Alzheimer's in the world. It's turmeric that gives ballpark mustard it's golden color.

If we begin to use more spices, we will find that our bodies can balance more readily. Remember-nature gives us her true medicines.

Try this out for a quick turmeric dinner-
Clean and wash, peel if necessary whatever vegetables you have around; these work well, but if you don't have them, use what you do!

Sweet potatoes, carrots, red onion, celery and bell peppers
Saute in a bit of olive oil until soft - about 5-7 min
Add chopped stewed tomatoes and some broth to cover and simmer for 20 min or so until soft.

Spices that work great together are:
Turmeric
salt and pepper
garlic
cayenne
thyme
ginger
add these to taste. We like spicy so I don't want to add the amounts I use! :)

If you have fresh kale, strip out the center stalk and chop into bite size pieces.
You'll stir these in at the end.

Serve with chopped nuts: cashews, pinenuts, walnuts all work.

If you like chunky vegetables, like I do, serve it chunky.
If you don't, whip it into the blender
(before adding the kale or nuts.)

Inspired by "The Whole Foods Market Cookbook" by Steve Petusevsky with modifications by me!

Finding Raw Light

I've been curious why eating raw became an ordeal in my mind, when it had so fed the body? Why had I succumbed to the illusion that it was hard, or complicated, or too expensive? Why had I allowed myself to numb out again and fall asleep to the truth of what fed me?

It's a funny thing because I found the moment to start.
And it was today.

And for today, it was easy.
For today I surrendered moment by moment, hour by hour, to my ever opening choice.
Today, I had my first raw food day.

Tonight I have a headache. i rejoice in it though, because I know it is due to the release of toxins that my body is joyfully releasing. I welcome the reminder that I have indeed been self-indulgent.

Again, I remind myself it's not about perfection, but balance. So my goal is 70% this time, knowing I need to feed myself protein as I desire it, and omegas.

Now I know what feeds my brain. Now I know what feeds my body.
The goal is to bring them into alignment.
All this life my goal has been balance. And again, I stand in that juxtaposition, on tippy toes...

Dine Well

"One cannot think well, love well or sleep well if one has not dined well."
Virginia Woolfe

We've lost right relationship with food, on a daily basis. Well, not all of us, but a lot. The busier we get the more we sacrifice-and unfortunately, we sacrifice the things that feed us-emotionally, spiritually, physically, and mentally.

Without the right nutrition, and in the right balance, we start to lose brain function.

Raw Nori Wraps

Don't these look awesome? Utopia - great site for raw food inspiration.
Utopia Kitchen

check it out!

living food preparation play day

anybody interested in making a date for some living food play?
i would love to just spend a few hours making some food with some friends...
anyone?

things i would like to make :

nut cheeses
some fun flavored soaked and dehydrated almonds
live sprouted granola with fresh fruits and coconut yogurt

Composite Shaman

How many animals can you count?
How many archetypes make up a whole?

Gifts from God-tomatoes protect the prostate

Plants, essential oils, flower essences, homeopathic remedies...they're all made from living energies.
Pharmaceuticals may copy the molecular composition, but the missing ingredient is the life force that is imbued from connecting with that living substance. That can't be replicated in a lab.

The AARP has a great article on healing foods if you want to read it. You know what? They are all unprocessed foods, or ancient techniques such as fermenting, which is considered raw.

Beans ward off colon cancer, tomatoes protect the prostate, blueberries are good for our mind, salmon good for the bones, cabbage is a breast-cancer defense.

Here's an excerpt:
Tomatoes: Protect the prostate
Scientists have known for years that regularly eating tomato-based foods can reduce a man's risk of prostate cancer by up to 35 percent. More recently, studies have shown that men who already have prostate cancer may benefit as well. When researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago fed one serving of pasta with tomato sauce every day for three weeks to 32 men who were scheduled for prostate surgery, the levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the patients' blood dropped by nearly 20 percent. (PSA is a measure of prostate-cancer-cell activity, so the lower the level, the less active the cancer cells.) The likely active ingredient in tomatoes is lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that is thought to also be protective against lung and stomach cancers. In an interesting twist, fresh tomatoes don't appear to be as protective as cooked tomatoes. Men with prostate cancer should try to eat cooked tomatoes daily, in soups, chilies, marinara and spaghetti sauces, or other dishes. Those trying to prevent the disease should indulge twice a week.

Lycopene, as we've talked about before, is highest in tomatoes that are highly cooked-dehydrated is the highest, so raw tomatoes aren't as good this time.

Honey and the Heart

Funny thing: I've been eating raw organic honey lately. It tastes wonderful. Tonight I thought I'd find out what it's really doing for my body.

It's considered support for the heart! Suggestion is to eat it daily, with cinnamon to reduce cholesterol in the arteries and strengthens the heartbeat and revitalizes arteries and veins.

Arthritis patients that take it daily have 'cured' their arthritis. In Copenhagen, patients were given 1 TBS of honey and 1/2 tsp cinnamon, and in a week 73 patients out of 200 were completely relieved of pan and within a month most all of the 200 could walk without pain.

2 TBS of honey and 1 tsp of cinnamon in hot water is said to cure a bladder infection.

Two TBS of honey and 3 tsp of cinnamon in 16 oz of hot water brought cholesterol down 10% in 2 hours!

Taken 3x a day an chronic cholesterol is "cured". Pure honey taken daily 'cures' cholesterol.

This same mixture of honey and cinnamon is good for coughs, colds, sinus issues.

In Ayurvedic medicine honey is prescribed to strengthen the semen-take it at night, and in the Far East women who don't conceive take honey and cinnamon.

Honey and cinnamon can help with stomach aches, ulcers, and with gas issues.

Honey and cinnamon strengthen the immune system and protects against viral and bacterial attack. And in Spain a scientist says it kills the flu virus! Go honey!

Constant use of honey strengthens the white blood cells too.

Now for the big guns: Research in Japan and Australia revealed that advanced stomach cancer and bone cancer was 'cured' with honey. How much? 1 TBS daily and 1 tsp of cinnamon for one month-3x a day.

Seniors that take honey and cinnamon-are more alert and flexible.

And for hearing loss: take honey and cinnamon in equal parts daily.

Now, we're talking about raw, organic so that the enzymes are not killed through the heat process of pasteurization.

Now as to weight loss:
before bed/on an empty stomach:
1 part cinnamon to 2 parts raw honey.
1 c hot water.

here's the trick:
Pour hot water over cinnamon, and let cool. Then add honey. Don't pour hot water of the honey.
Drink half before bed, then the other half in the morning.

Cleansing inside and out

Baking soda is a natural cleaner. It acts as a neutralizer-it neutralizes acid. Acids are the medium in which bacteria thrive. So, if you brush your teeth with baking soda, it neutralizes bad breath.

It's inexpensive, and it is natural. It's good for us. SO, why aren't we using it more? You can use baking soda to clean with instead of expensive and toxic cleansers.

So that brings me to cellulite: which is an indicator of over acidity in the body. The body uses body fat to store toxins that it can't get rid of, and keep the blood ph levels remain constant. When acid is present in the blood, the body needs to neutralize it with an alkaline substance. If it can't be neutralized, the body stores the acid in ... you got it ... our fat cells.

So we've talked about the secondary gain of our fat, right? The body thinks it needs it ... the fat that is ... to store the acid. Acid, if it were an emotion, could be equated to anger, resentment, pain, grief. Makes sense so far, right? IF we clear the toxic emotions, that stress our system, we should lose fat.

That's in a perfect world.

Cellulite is excessive water in the upper layer of the skin. What causes this sort of water retention? Eating cooked proteins, salts and spices, foods that cause high blood sugars, constipation, imbalanced hormones and excessive grains!

Stimulate the kidneys with parsley and stimulate the liver with ginger. Use more herbs.
Balance the hormones.
Eat more raw!

Take hot baths with baking soda and epsom salts, and we begin to come into balance and become more alkaline.

Bath Salts - Aromatherapy - quickie recipe

I love epsom salt and baking soda baths in the evening. I love them in the morning. I love them when I'm feeling stressed. I just plain love em. I feel good after, I relax, and they are good for you too. I add drops of my favorite essential oils to the hot water. Aaaaahhhh ... heaven.

Epsom salt is inexpensive, and so is baking soda. But scented bath salts are not cheap to buy! They've become big business!~

They are easy to make though-and here's how.

Those same ingredients I mentioned up above-that's it.
Epsom salt
Baking soda
Essential oil

Stir them together and viola!

How much? Oh you are so exacting. I'm Greek! A pinch of this a pinch of that...oh ok.
Try this:
6 parts epsom salt
1 part baking soda
30 or so drops of your favorite essential oil
(and if you want a pretty color, add a few drops of food coloring but you want to only add a few!

Use a glass or metal bowl to mix everything in.
Add the oil in drops, slowly as you stir so they get mixed throughout
Add the drops of coloring and mix it up again

Store in an airtight glass or ceramic container, and cure for 24 hours before using and use about a cup in your bath. MORE If it's a big tub!

Some of my favorite essential oils to use in the bath are:
Frankincense
Sandalwood
Lavender
Sweet orange
Eucalyptus
Rose

You can try some of the oil blends that are out there too!
Happy soaking!

Grow Food Volunteer Program

This site offers volunteer internships across the country at organic farms, restaurants, nurseries. Great idea! Learn something new in exchange for your help. I like it! There are 5 on the list for Utah.

GROW FOOD VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

Raw Organic Honey

There are some amazing foods on our planet, and raw honey is one of them. The Greeks thought of it as 'the nector of the Gods'.

It's easy to digest, easy for the body to use, and it has healing powers too. All great things come from the planet herself, don't you think?

Honey is antibacterial and is an antioxidant, and as we know about color-the darker the honey the higher the antioxidant value. It helps with asthma, allergies, and heals minor burns, scrapes and skin issues. It's soothing for the throat too. Honey helps us sleep. Some studies say it helps us assimilate calcium.

Buy organic-bee keepers that are organic don't kill the bees to harvest the honey. I didn't know this, but bees are killed with calcium cyanide and carbolic acid to harvest the honey!

If you are using honey instead of sugar when cooking, remember that honey is sweeter, and it adds more moisture, so less honey is best. Don't feed honey to little ones under one.

Just for fun, here's a link to making mead that age old drink that Robin and his merry men drank by drafts!

Raw food recipe-Lettuce Wraps

Yesterday I bought the raw food staple-avocados. I'm finding myself choosing more raw, and the more I do, the better I feel. The suggestion is, allow yourself to gradually transition to more fresh and raw, living food. I'm starting afresh, again!

Raw Food Recipes that are easy, fast, and inexpensive are what we are all about. I can't take time for elaborate concoctions: cooked or raw.

Raw is living food. It really feeds you. A friend just said that she has been adding more raw food and she's noticing how much MORE energy she has in her day to day life. Yes! We all need energy, don't we?

Try this instead of a bread sandwich:

Lettuce Wraps:
2 ripe avocados, mashed
2-3 tomatoes-nice big juicy dark red ones-diced up
1/2 a jalapeno pepper-diced
2-3 slices of onion-diced
garlic-which I like-so 2-3 cloves-diced
half a lime-juiced
6-8 leaves (kale, collard, romaine or iceberg) washed and dried
Spices that work: s&p, cayenne, tumeric, parsley, cilantro.

that's the basic, but for variety you can add, corn, edamame, diced mango, diced cucumber, shredded carrot, diced celery.
You can add just about anything you want to the base of avocado garlic and tomato-let your personal creativity soar!

If you are taking this for lunch at work, increase the lime and don't fill the lettuce boats until it's time to eat. Scoop the mixture onto the leaves and roll or fold just like a taco...yum!

World Headlines with a click

Todays front pages around the world

This is a fascinating site. Not only can you click on any state in the country and read the headlines, you can do it for anywhere in the world. Course you have to be able to read that language to make it work for real.

But I noticed something. In the WHOLE state of Utah, we have two newspapers. Two. It's a big ol state for just two newspapers, don't you think? Idaho has 4. Us, North Dakota and Wyoming...but come on now. Wyoming only has a state population of 450,000!

IOWA has 4! So what do you think about that? How much light can two newspapers spread with the whole state to cover? Isn't that sad? Little Ohio has 14 newspapers! Wow! But no. Vermont...tiny sliver that it is, has 2 as well. But you could fit about 5 Vermonts in the state of Utah, if not more. A lot of wide open territory, yes sir.

Anyway-alot of fun to look at what the world is talkin' about! And despite how we think we are so important, they aren't a talkin' about us!

Transcend it!

Transcend it

you float
you float across the sea
you say you're guaranteed
to transcend it
and you fly
you fly across the sky
your arms are open wide
you're transcendent
you're transcendent

go child
go and find the arms that hold you
know child
know no one will ever harm you
you've run miles
and finally found the thoughts that calm you
so stretch out
stretch out and be

in space
you can barely breathe
I'll tell you what you need
to transcend it

you're whole to a broken soul
just hold to another soul
and if they let you go
you're transcendant
transcendant

go child go
and find two arms that warm you
you know child
know no one will ever harm you
you've run wild (you've run miles)
and finally found the thoughts that calm you
so stretch out
stretch out and be
at peace

Be the Cause - Giving Back

Be The Cause is a non-profit dedicated to assisting people in spearheading causes. It made me think about what we can do to help. What about a service vacation? This year they are going to South Dakota to build housing for the needy on the Lakota reservation. They are joining with the Okiciyapi Tipi Habitat for Humanity. It's a good idea. The dates are April 4-15.

A friend of mine is going to go help build homes on an Indian Reservation in June through here church. She said "I've lived a comfortable life and I just want to give back."

SO many of us are getting that message now-but how to do it? I have friends that went on a mission to Africa over the Holidays to do dental work there. I've other friends that have moved to Peru to build schools.

What can we do to give back, to bring the light in through our concrete action? If you have a good idea, let's hear it. April doesn't work, but we can start to think about something we can do this summer.

"If because of your generosity and love a few humans find their lives,what do you think will happen?" - Rumi

Biblical Barley Water!

I made the barley water, and I didn't like the taste. The recipe called for a cup of barley to 8 cups of water. Well, it came out slimy and too thick for my taste.

Today I talked to the friend that suggested it, and she said "Way too much barley!" When she made it, she put 2-3 TBS of barley to 8 cups of water. Me bad!

So I'm going to try it again and let you know. Meantime, LOVE the cooked barley, and so will your intestinal tract. Barley is chuck full of nutritional value, a good source of niacin. But, if you are wheat intolerant, gluten intolerant, barley is still a gluten product, so don't do it.

Gluten intolerance appears as chronic symptoms like aching joints, gastro-intestinal problems, depression, eczema, low blood iron levels and more. Wheat, rye, barley and oats are all considered gluten products.

Juicing in SLC too

I dusted off my juicer-dusty AND on the counter but unused-just yesterday! I shopped for the right produce and I can't wait. It's like coming home to an old friend. I start in the morning. I made a huge pot of vegetable soup to add to the detox, and I'm ordering in Bromalite to do an intestinal cleanse.

Must be the season! It feels perfect. So if I review my favorite green juice:
4 stalks of celery
1/2 cucumber
1/2 lemon with pith
2-4 large leaves of kale
4 large romaine leaves
a handful of cilantro
a handful of parsley
1 apple
a one inch slice of ginger

ready set go! Juicers UP!

juicing in slc

so for the past few weeks ive been juicing in slc with my juicer from nyc :) i had been feeling out of sorts here for the first month or so (when i 'officially' drove out here and 'officially' decided to call slc home :) and i had been complaining about no juice places in slc---then i remembered that i had packed my juicer this time....

so a few weeks ago i took it out dusted it off and began juicing. and yes, thats what i was missing. there is something about beginning a day with a juice that just sets the tone for the whole day.

its been so nice to make my own juices here for the first time since i started coming here in 2007! now, now its really feeling like home because ive been able to bring my rituals here - the ones that make me feel centered and grounded, like the juicing...! yipee!

have you guys been juicing at all?

More Orbs

I've been teaching over skype. It's working out great, and more than a few times people have been mentioning that they see orbs around me when I'm talking. Eyes wide open! I'm laughing. On my end I'm not seeing them, I'm focused on the screen, but usually I do notice the room temperature gets very cold. Colder than usual. The energy seems high and I'm quite animated-not sleepy. I've caught glimpses in my webcam screen (which is tiny in the corner) but can't validate. Will have to keep checking on it! More data needed!

Barley Water

This is a biblical recipe.

Barley water is an ancient remedy that was supposed to clear up the complexion and stop the formation of wrinkles. I'm all about that!

8 cups of water
1 cup of barley
pinch of salt.

Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 2 hours. The longer you boil it the thicker the water will be. Strain, and flavor the barley water with honey (up to half a cup), or even raw maple syrup, I'm thinking,
and as you like you can add to the water: cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, lemon, ginger. Try different flavors. Now, these aren't meant to be all at the same time-got it?

You can eat the barley, add it to soup, make it into barley cakes and bake.

So what is it about barley? It's loaded with niacin-B3! Niacin causes a fllush/detox in our system so no wonder it is good for the skin. It's good for gall stones, for the kidneys, for lowering cholesterol-all detox issues right?

The suggestion is to drink 1-2 cups a day, and that it helps speed the fat burning process-again a detox issue yeah?! Sounds good to me! If you try it, let me know what you think of it!

Leptin means 'thin'

Your post Jac, made me ask some new questions, so thanks! I'd heard of leptin, but it made me curious.

Leptin is from the greek word 'leptos' meaning thin. It's a protein hormone that is important in regulating body weight, metabolism, and reproduction-all of which are regulated via hormonal secretions.

Leptin receptors are highly expressed in the hypothalamus in the areas that regulate body weight. So just like Jac posted, the leptin effects the hypothalamic center which then controls our eating behavior, hunger, body temperature, energy use, or in other words, our metabolic rate.

Now, if everything is working, increasing leptin should decrease our fat, and increase our muscle mass. But we could have a problem with our messaging-in other words, our receptors for leptin may not be open for business. The message could have been confused via dieting, or genetics or nutritional imbalances.

When our body fat index drops, say from dieting and not from faminine and starvation circumstances, our body wants to replace it and our body secretes LESS leptin so that the body can store more fat. Remember-leptin means thin. Less leptin, more fat.

What turns our leptin receptors back on, speeding up our metabolism and burning our stomach fat? Well it's more complicated than that, unfortunately.
It was found that obese people are unresponsive to leptin due to development of leptin resistance in the brain! In other words, our body self learns. It resists starvation.

This is exactly what we have found-those of us diet-aholics. The more we diet the fatter we get.

Says Umut Ozcan, MD: "Most humans who are obese have leptin resistance. Leptin goes to the brain and knocks on the door, but inside, the person is deaf." That would be in the hypothalamus. But why? And how do we reeducate the hypothalamus so we can lose weight and stay slim without the rebound effect? We end up with a thin allergy!

Here's the article in full for more information: Obesity:reviving the promise of leptin

Well, we've got to be nutritionally fit in order to circumvent the 'I'm starving' scream from inside us that sets this all off. We can't fight our body's needs, and shouldn't for obvious reasons, but do we really even know what they are?

Ozcan's study showed that ER (endoplasmic reticulum) stress, which is the stress in the hypothalamus btw, caused them to become leptin resistant. It also causes a genetic shift-ah! So as cells replicate, the next generation is genetically altered-from having LEARNED from the stress.

So essentially the system becomes desensitized to leptin-it ignores the knock knock, and we get fatter, with the best of intentions. The study pretreated mice with a chemical chaperone so that leptin sensitivity increased...as much as 10x!
Skinny mice were the result.

Recumbinant human leptin commercial rights-bought in 1995 for 20 mil. Do we have anything on the market yet? Um-no.
It's been 14 years. Sad...guess there is more money in keeping us fat and fatter than thin.

Why we can't go by the RDA anymore!

The RDA standards (recommended daily allowance) was really established as a health MINIMUM standard-in other words, the minimum nutritional amount to keep us from getting sick. Minimum-not optimum. This is so not what the general public realizes. They pick up vitamins and look at the RDA.

So, the RDA for C, for instance, used to be 15 mg-which is the amount they figured we needed to keep from getting scurvy. The amount needed, in other words, to keep our teeth from falling out of our heads. Minimum. They've raised it to 75 mg for women and 90 mg for men now.

But did you know that men need 5x that amount just to make healthy sperm? Do we wonder why we have a growing infertility problem in this country when doctors are generally telling people they can get all their nutrition from a balanced diet?

Studies in the UK and GR have shown that grown foods are actually from 25-75% less nutritionally abundant than they used to be, and higher in sugar!

So, this translates that the amount of potassium you used to get from a banana in 1968 would need you to eat 8 bananas now. We are overeating in this country because we are nutritionally starving from a combination of over-processed foods and low national standards.

When we have an ever increasing issue with imbalances in brain chemistry and mood disorders, learning disabilities and erratic behavior, why aren't we looking at nutrition MORE and medications LESS? Who are the experts you are turning to, and why? Who do you listen to? And how do we become more proactive in what is good for us and what we are willing to ingest? And I mean both nutritionally and educationally.

How often do we swallow some expert opinion without bothering to research it ourselves? WHY is it mainstream for pharmaceutical companies to advertise chemo meds in women's magazines? WHY do we need this information in the common daily world? That is scary. Do we want to have chemo meds as common as cold remedies?

Weight Loss This and That

I was reading health.msn.com and I found new 'to me' information.

The article was talking about one of the reasons why we gain back the weight after we have lost a lot of weight.

 It said that when you have lost considerable weight you've lost fat from fat cells, but the fat cells stilll remain in your body. These fat cells are programmed to be filled, since fat is the body's energy supply. So when weight is lost, energy preservation mechanisms kick in to attempt to restore the lost body fat. It's unclear how much weight loss triggers this phenomenon, but it appears that when weight loss starts to plateau, often after about six months of with loss, some biological triggers try to reverse the loss.

Biochemicals are released in your brain and body that may affect your tendency to regain weight in a varity of ways: You may feel less full after eating, you may crave snacks more often, you may crave more fattening foods, and or you may get hungrier sooner.

The weight loss hormone is LEPTIN, and it tells your brain to suppress hunger. Here's how to make the most of it. Leptin could be the master hormone for you appetite!

Elevated triglycerides in the blood, which prevent leptin from reaching the brain, allows hunger feelings to persist.

Fortunately, you can take steps to bathe your brain in leptin and quell appetite naturally:

Eat foods low in triglycerides: Dairy Fat
Get hooked on fish oil: It may lower triglycerides and facilitate leptin's passage to the brain.
Sleep about eight hours: Anything less is associated with lower levels of leptin in the blood and brain.
Exercise Often: Regular activity lowers triglycerides and helps the brain abosorb more leptin.

An additional bonus to maintaining robust levels of leptin in the brain: a flatter belly. When appetite(and, thus food intake) is suppressed by leptin, the body first turns to it most readily available source of body fat, which is stored around the belly, for fuel.

Thomas Crook, PH.D, a clinical psychologist , has conducted extensive research to improve our understanding of how the brain works. He is a former research program director at the National Institute of Mental Health and is CEO of Cognitive Research Corp.