Sunday, March 22, 2009

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

Saturday, March 21, 2009

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

Friday, March 20, 2009

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.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

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???

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

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

Monday, March 16, 2009

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.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

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! :)

Friday, March 13, 2009

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.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Oh the Taste of Real Meat



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

Sunday, March 8, 2009

RAW FOOD MAKES NBC



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

Friday, March 6, 2009

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

Thursday, March 5, 2009

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

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

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...

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

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.

Monday, March 2, 2009

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?

Sunday, March 1, 2009

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