Disclaimer: This post is based on information from Chapter X – Energy: The Fuel of Excellence, in Unlimited Power, by Tony Robbins.

How to achieve a healthy level of biochemical functioning

What you eat and drink, and how you breathe, factors into whether your body is cleansed and nurtured or clogged and poisoned. The basic assumption here is that the better the body is functioning, the better the mind will function. A healthy physical body can be a determining factor in ones state of mind, and their overall mood. More than just physical energy… food, drink and breath can play a role in mental energy.

As anyone that has picked up more than half a dozen health books at the local book store can attest, there is more contradicting information out there from the so called professionals and experts about what is needed to achieve ultimate health. The Internet really is no better in terms of contradictory information.

This post is a subset of what Tony Robbins has learned from real people doing real things. He located people that have already achieved what it is he wanted to achieve and applied that information for himself. You won’t find complicated metabolic typing diets, or suggestions to eat right for your blood type, or eating piles of supplements (although he feels differently about supplements today, as shown in his Inner Balance program), or counting calories, just straightforward methods to achieve health one day at a time.

I wasn’t looking for credentials. What I wanted was results. So I found people who were producing results in their body, people who were vibrant and healthy. I found out what they were doing, and I did the same. I compiled everything I learned into a set of commitments or principles for myself, and I set up a sixty-day program for healthy living. ~ Tony Robbins

6 keys to living health

1) Breath – Breath is important as a means to oxygenate the cells and control the pump-less lymph system. I’m sure that you’ve heard it before that shallow breathing is not healthy, and to watch a baby breathe as their belly rises with every breath, because they have not yet “forgotten” how to breathe properly.

Dead cells, blood proteins, and other toxic material must be removed by the lymph system. And the lymph system is activated by deep breathing. ~ Tony Robbins

“Lack of oxygen clearly plays a major role in causing cells to become cancerous.” ~ Dr. Harry Goldblatt, (Journal of Experimental Medicine) Source: breathing.com

The ratio that Robbins recommends for breathing is: inhale for one count, hold for four counts, and exhale for two counts. Remember, this is a ratio and 1:4:2 doesn’t have to represent seconds. The numbers in the ratio can be doubles or tripled, etc.

When the breath is being held, it oxygenates the blood. Toxins are removed during exhale. Try the ratio for 10 breaths 3 times each day for optimum results. In through the nose, and out through the mouth slowly. Doing it outside amongst the trees would likely have more value than in a closed up house.

Besides breathing, aerobic exercise (to exercise with air) is advantageous. Rebounding, or trampolining is a valuable form of exercise to oxygenate the blood cells and move the lymphatic system around.

2) Water-rich foods – Robbins talks about the standard eight to twelve oft-recommended glasses per day of water as being “crazy,” and that the amount we drink should be dictated by thirst. The typical supply of water has chlorine, fluoride, and other toxins, but water-rich food should account for at least 70% of our diet, in the form of sprouts, fruits and vegetables and their freshly squeezed juices.

One way to keep the bloodstream and body as free as possible from wastes and toxic poisons is to limit ingestion of those foods or nonfoods that strain the eliminative organs of the body; the other is to provide enough water to the system to assist in the dilution and elimination of such wastes. ~ Tony Robbins

Eating a salad with every meal, juicing, and making green smoothies are great ways to ensure you are getting a sufficient amount of water rich food into the diet on a regular, hopefully daily, basis.

Eating fruit as a snack (on an empty stomach) is a meaningful change, but dried/dehydrated fruits (i.e. raisins) don’t count obviously because by definition they are fruits without water.

3) Food combining – Mixing certain foods within the body can have negative effects. Not to say mono-eating is the only way to go, although once in awhile mono-eating can help the body catalog nutrients in foods to generate cravings when certain nutrients are needed, but there are some basic food combining rules that should be adhered to.

Dr. Herbert Shelton is best know for his studies in food combining, but the “stimulus/response” doctor Ivan Pavlov studied this concept extensively as well. The basic principle is that not all digestive juices are compatible, and the body provides the appropriate digestive juices to help breakdown food that is currently in the gut. The body will mix incompatible digestive juices if necessary to breakdown the hodge podge of food that entered the system.

For example, do you eat meat and potatoes together? How about cheese and bread, or milk and cereal, or fish and rice? What if I were to tell you that those combinations are totally destructive to your internal system and rob you of energy? ~ Tony Robbins

The problem lays in the fact that starchy food like rice, potatoes, and bread require an alkaline environment for digestion, where in contrast, protein foods like meat, dairy, nuts and seeds digest in an acidic environment. So, what happens when foods from both groups are consumed at the same time is the creation of digestive juices, by the body, that end up neutralizing eachother, impairing or arresting the digestion process.

When the digestive juices are unable to perform their intended purpose, digestive issues and gas are the result. This robs the body of energy and potentially creates an environment appropriate for disease to manifest. The excessive acid that gets created during the process causes the blood to thicken which slows its movement preventing oxygen from moving freely through the body.

These digestive issues force the body to require more sleep because it is working overtime processing the food. A simple approach is to just consume one condense food (non water-rich food) per meal. This should eliminate the food digestive issues that occur, hopefully resulting in more energy from easier digestion.

Robbins recommends: Food Combining Made Easy by Dr. Herbert Shelton, and Fit For Life (filled with recipes perfectly combined) by Harvey Diamond and Marilyn Diamond

4) The law of controlled consumption – “The surest way to increase an animal’s life span is to cut down on the amount of food it eats.”

The suggestion here is that regular fasting, and/or eating lots of water-rich foods (see Key #2) more so than non-water-rich foods, can extend life. In addition, normal deterioration of the immune system is delayed by restricting food (or perhaps reaching for water-rich foods instead).

5) The principle of effective fruit consumption – Fruit provides a lot for the body and is the simplest for the body to digest over practically any other food. It provides brain energy and is cleansing and nourishing at the same time.

To be most effective however, it is suggested that fruit be consumed on an empty stomach. It’s main digestion occurs (and therefore the release of its energy in the form of sugar) is done in the small intestine. If other foods are in the way it will hinder digestion, and worse, cause the fruit to ferment which can encourage digestive issues.

Fruit juice and fresh juices are best to consume. Commercial fruit juice on the other hand was likely heated which can render it acidic.

Do you want to make the most valuable purchase you can? Buy a juicer. Do you own a car? Sell the car and buy a juicer. The juicer will take you much further. Or just buy the juicer now! ~ Tony Robbins

Digestion of fruit juice is around 15-20 minutes allowing you to consume a meal shortly after ingesting nature’s cleansing and nourishing food first. A suggestion by Robbins is to start the day (and even up until noon) consuming nothing but fresh fruit and freshly squeezed fruit juices. Also, if you are to eat at all at night, nothing but fruit should be consumed after 9:00 p.m.

6) The protein myth – There is a great deal on information by Robbins about protein sources and the myths about its purpose. He talks about how meat doesn’t have to be, or perhaps shouldn’t be, our primary source of protein. In fact, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a source at all. In summary of a lot of what he said, here is a direct quote from the chapter:

You know what Pythagoras, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Leonardo da Vinci, Isaac Newton, Voltaire, Henry David Thoreau, George Bernard Shaw, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, Dr. Albert Schweitzer, Mahatma Gandhi have in common? They were all vegetarians. Not a bad group of people to model, right? ~ Tony Robbins

Now, I can’t be sure that Robbins is using the words “vegetarian” as what we may call a “vegan,” but it seems as though he is, because he discusses issues with milk and how it may be an inferior source of protein.

Studies by Dr. William Ellis are discussed. Dr Ellis states that “if you want allergies, drink milk.” He talks about the difficulty in digesting casein (a milk protein), and how many people who drink milk regularly have lower levels of blood calcium.

If you’re concerned about getting enough calcium, simply eat plenty of green vegetables, sesame butters, or nuts – all of which are extremely rich in calcium and easy for the body to use ~ according to Dr. William Ellis

Eliminating or reducing cheese, pizza, brie, yogurt and ice cream might not be a bad idea. The texture of ice cream can be achieved by using a food processor to blend frozen bananas, and it tastes great.

I used to be just the way you may be now. Pizza was my favorite food. I didn’t think I could give it up. But since I have, I’ve felt so much better there’s not a chance in a million years I’ll ever go back. Trying to describe the difference is like trying to describe the smell of a rose to someone who has never smelled one. Maybe you should try to smell that rose before you make a judgement about it. Try eliminating milk and limiting your intake of other dairy products for thirty days and judge by the results you feel in your body ~ Tony Robbins

Of course Tony Robbins’ book, Unlimited Power, really hits all of these points home more than I can in this post. He talks about the strategies he used with his brother, for example, to eliminate his brother’s “fetish” for Kentucky Fried Chicken, and create a “love” for carrots, a food that he previously found “disgusting.”

Check out some of the comments made by people who read the book. One statement from a reader says: “Chapter 10 covers changing your diet to improve performance. I tell you it works. I started on it 18 months ago and I am a different person. I am brighter, sharper, more alive, better at my work….I could go on all day but I think you get the idea.”

Tony Robbins’ complete Living Health audio course is available on Amazon.com.

Green smoothies contain primarily water-based foods, with water, fruit and greens making up the bulk (or complete) ingredients of the smoothie.

The healthiest green smoothie I would say, is ANY green smoothie with quality ingredients. Some of the most nutrient dense greens include kale and spinach, with practically any fruit to be considered cleansing and nourishing.

Using a variety of fresh ingredients and, at a minimum, rotating the greens, is the best approach, washing the body over with nutrients from a wide variety of plant foods.

Adding in non-typical foods like colostrum (non-vegan), mushroom and pine pollen powders, seaweeds, etc. can really kick the nutrition levels up in a smoothie.

Smoothies blend better with some sort of liquid, either freshly squeezed juice, but more often water is used. The amount of water to include depends on desired consistency and how good the blender is.

Coconut water often makes the drink too sweet, so experiment with small amounts at first. Pure filtered water is best in my opinion.

Creamy cleansing green smoothie recipe

This recipe includes a plant source of healthy fats: the avocado

water base
1/2 inch piece of ginger
1/4 lemon (with skin)
2 apples (cored)
2 handfuls of kale
1 avocado
pinch of sea salt

Tropical green treat

A very simple, rich, nutritious smoothie

1 mango
1 cup kale
1 cup water

Beginner smoothie

The taste will vary based on the brand of blueberries, the type of spinach (baby is better), and the freshness of the banana, but a lot of times this will come out tasting like bubblegum.

1 cup frozen blueberries
small handful spinach
small handful parsley
1 banana
1 cup water
a dash of cinnamon
1 cup freshly squeezed OJ

Img credit: bring-joy.com

The mom of my two youngest brought it to my attention today that there is a measels case in Ontario, which I confirmed on Niagara News which can be found at the previous link.

The message in the article is that the measles case is linked from a recent visit to Mexico, and that people should keep up to date with their vaccinations, especially when travelling.

I am on the “no vaccinations” side of the fence, but I’m still standing close to the fence with one hand on the rail, and for the most “largely unsure.”

I brought my concerns of vaccination up to my ex just before our first born arrived.

While I didn’t get enough answers, as I wanted to talk directly with local professionals who decided not to vaccinate, I was semi-comfortable with the idea to avoid vax. In the end, we did not vaccinate.

Our children have zero vaccinations.

My belief system however is that a strong immune system is a key focus when not vaccinating.

I think that a parent is throwing caution to the wind when vaccinating.

AND when not vaccinating.

However, when the immune system is of focus I think the odds are in your favor.

Building a string immune system I feel DOES NOT involve the consumption of sugar (including boxed sugary cereals), and anything to do with the standard diet of Canadians, or Americans, or most of the world for that matter.

There are foods that should be consumed, and those that shouldn’t, in my opinion, when a strong immunity is of focus.

It’s not as simple as having a healthy meal each day and making poor choices the rest. It is about making great choices consistently day in and day out.

I know it’s not easy.

I also know that it’s not impossible.

Ultimately, as parents and caregivers, we control what goes into our children’s mouths for the most part.

And, as they are growing up, we control, for the most part, their education surrounding health, food, diet, and everything else for that matter.

I don’t think that giving a kid antioxidants in the form of freshly squeezed orange juice after they get sick is the answer.

I feel that prevention is the best medicine.

Our body need the macronutrients: fats, proteins, and carbs.

The carbs, or sugars, are the key to immunity from my understanding.

The white blood cells are the immune system in a sense.

They need the essential sugars to “communicate” effectively (again, from my understanding).

It’s easy to destroy the immunity. Just eat packaged, processed, foods with additives. They are readily available and kids (and adults) love them.

It’s hard to eliminate those foods, in general.

It’s also hard to include the “right” foods, but aren’t our kids worth a little bit of sacrifice and hard work? No, they are worth A LOT of sacrifice and hard work.

The path of least resistance is always the easiest, but at what cost?

The article linked to above states: “The best protection is to keep your immunizations up to date.”

Clearly I disagree, but only if we pay attention to the strength of the immunity in natural ways, which unfortunately most people do not.

What a shame there are not more authorities (doctors and other medical staff, teachers, parents, care givers, leaders etc.) that aren’t on board with this stuff.

No matter what age we are at, we often still look up to authority figures.

It’s too easy to be sick by following the norm and the standards, and there is such resistance to those that buck the system and go a different route.

I have to go now, my kids are asking me to make them a green smoothie.

That, my fellow health seeker, makes us parents smile ear to ear.

I love Booster Juice. What can I say? What appeals to me the most is the convenience of it all, plus it’s a Canadian company (with stores also in the U.S. and abroad) which is cool.

Don’t get me wrong. I know it’s not the healthiest menu on the planet. I’m not suggesting that at all. However, it is a far cry from the smoothies at Burger King and McDonalds.

That’s a fact.

The stuff behind the counter can be put together to make a very tasty healthy drink. Now, I know people knock the price and say “we can make that at home cheaper.”

But, just like any restaurant, or place of business, we’re paying for convenience. Of course they need a profit for catering to us right?

Build your own smoothie

Now, I don’t know if this is standard across the board or perhaps I’m just special but ever since I’ve been going to Booster Juice I’ve been getting them to put together a green smoothie for me.

There are a bunch of different menu sections, and truthfully, as far as what I would consider healthy, only the “Lifestyle” and the Green juice section had anything that closely fits the bill (for me).

But even still, the drinks in the lifestyle section needed some tweaking. I don’t want soy, sorbet, or dairy.

Asking to remove those and add spinach and parsley was either accepted with a smile, or accepted with a frown, but accepted none the less.

Either way, I got my green smoothie from Booster Juice in the end.

New smoothie at Booster Juice

It has been awhile since I’ve been in Booster Juice, probably 4 or 5 months or more, but I popped in today after bringing the kids to a local play center (where they, the play center folks, suggested fruit-flavored jello when I asked for fruit!).

Anyway, today I was happy to see that the menu had changed. First it looked brighter and fresher with a new font, but more than that it had a green smoothie on the menu!

I know, I’m a man, and I shouldn’t get excited by such a thing, but, excited I was!

I can’t remember the name of it and I can’t seem to find anything on it online. Where’s the press release? C’mon Booster Juice!

And who’s updating your site? Let me be the web guy for free Booster Juice for life. Holler.

And the take home menus weren’t available today. Ah well, it is new after all.

The name of the smoothie was something like: “There’s spinach in it.” If I recall correctly there was freshly juiced apple (although I had them but the whole apple in), spinach, parsley, mango (I believe), and I think that was it.

It was OK, a 7 out of 10 for flavor. I think it could have used a banana. My son loved it, I had to order a strawberry, banana, cranberry concoction for my daughter though because her response was “this is yucky daddy.”

The girl (very amazing service at this particular location always) was happy to accommodate even though it was very near closing time.

Boosta Juice ingredients

Now, if you want my opinion… if ever ordering from there I would say hold the yogurt (likely antibiotics, etc. like in standard dairy), hold the soy milk (likely GMO as in standard soy), and hold the sugary sorbet (it’s one of the main ingredients, I checked the big plastic tub).

And the Booster bakes (sugar sugar sugar), and the Booster mints (fake sugars) I would avoid as well.

But there are lots of fresh and frozen ingredients. I would choose whole fruits over “juiced” fruit personally. I think the fiber keeps the glycemic levels down (and so does pairing the fruit with the greens from what I understand).

Don’t be afraid to choose a smoothie recipe from the menu as the base and then ask to add or remove an ingredient or two. Ask to avoid the fountain juice and opt for whole fresh or frozen ingredients whenever possible.

If they are confused on how they can make a smoothie without liquid, tell them to add water.

Just don’t do like I did and make the lazy assumption that everything in there is healthy, and do your due diligence.

You really can’t beat the convenience though.

How to make Booster Juice at home

Now, Booster Juice shares all of the main ingredients for their smoothies (not necessarily the ingredients of the ingredients but I digress) so you really have enough to go on to duplicate the smoothies at home.

Maybe you simply want to make green smoothies, and that is covered on this site, here, and here, and across the web, and in books at offline and online book stores, in great detail.

Maybe you want to whip up a Funky Monkey.

Either way, get your hands on the menu and put the ingredients in. Estimate how much of each ingredient to include or ask the staff.

For sure you can whip these up at home. It really is just specific measurements of fruits, greens, juices, powders, etc. combined together and blended.

There is nothing “gourmet” or “secret” about it.

The nice thing really is the experience of it all, and the convenience.

Enjoy some video below that I came across for those that want to try making Booster Juice style drinks at home.

Make sure you get a good blender, like the Blendtec.

How To: Make a Booster Juice Smoothie

While I would never suggest freezing food in plastic, or using soy (I’m a fan of almond milk, Booster Juice should maybe get some of that), this video looks like it’s attempting a Funkey Monkey (a trademark, I assume, of Booster Juice)

How to make immunity booster juice

This video is, I think, is just adding the words “Booster Juice” and “Immunity” to the title for the sake of getting people to stumble on the video when looking for those terms.

However, this is not close to any recipe I have seen at Booster Juice. That would be great though if they started carrying kale.

This is a great recipe, and probably does do wonders for the Immunity so I figured it would be valuable to share none-the-less.

It is for a green juice, not a smoothie, so you’ll need a juicer, and not a blender.

Note: most of the juices at Booster Juice use sugary veggies (carrots, and beets) but they do have wheat grass and ginger as well.

This woman (Kristina Jackson, natural food chef) looks the role of someone who consumes daily green juices.

Enjoy!

Today I want to talk about food that is, or can be, healthy, that people (including myself) often lump into one category or another (healthy or unhealthy), when really, depending how it is made, can appear in either.

Or, of course, for those that have a distorted view of what is healthy and what isn’t, there is no telling the category they will drop a particular food in.

Funny statements made by people in my life:

“Chocolate bars are healthy because they have milk in them.”

“The gum is healthy, it is fruit flavored.”

“We don’t sell fruit, but we have fruit flavored Jello. That’s healthy.”

I am very specific on what food that I get from the grocery store, in fact, most of my food comes from local organic (in trust) farms. When my kids are at my house, the unhealthiest of the foods (dried fruit) comes out only on occasion.

Family members have learned early that the majority of what they eat cannot be shared with my kids.

They used to assume they knew what was acceptable to feed them.

For example, they would try to feed them those gold fish crackers, fruit flavored gum, honey coated or BBQ peanuts, peanut butter cookies, fruit candies (that are made from 100% fruit allegedly), and so on.

They always offered “I didn’t know they couldn’t eat that” as the response when we said no, followed by “I thought that was healthy.”

Since they knew vegetables are OK, they felt, deep fried veggies, or veggies with dip or butter were OK too.

Worse, they would hear the kids talk about having ice cream at daddy’s and popcorn at mommy’s. So, they felt, we can give them that too.

What’s in ice cream?

• Soft serve ice cream: What’s in there, anyway?
• Is Your Favorite Ice Cream Made With Monsanto’s Artificial Hormones?
• Antifreeze in Your Ice Cream

Check out the video below to find out what is in “typical” or “default” ice cream. No, I don’t want my kids putting that in their bodies. Why would I?

My kids LOVE the ice cream that I make, so they aren’t missing out on anything, except some nasty ingredients, that I wouldn’t even pour down the sewer.

Now, what about pop corn? Buttery, salty, GMO, pop corn. Well, if you get organic, GMO-free corn kernels and pop it in coconut oil, while not raw, isn’t something that I’m too concerned with.

I don’t buy into the “cooked food toxins” bit by the way.

Then we top it off with melted coconut oil and a bit of sea salt. I’m OK with that.

But when we say, our kids eat pop corn, please don’t mistake that for a bag of microwave popped corn poison.

Better yet, let us send the food we want you to feed to our kids

The Fresh Network is hosting a seminar on Power of Living Foods to Heal Disease & Conquer Ageing, with Dr. Brian Clement, Director of the Hippocrates Institute, on the 23rd of June in London.

The exciting claims: “Cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, MS, ALS, Parkinsons, fibromyalgia and more can be altered, prevented, and at times conquered with phyto-chemicals, antioxidants and other nutrients consumed on a diet of organic vegan living food.”

Who is Dr. Brian Clement?

While I have no way of knowing who he is, I have never met him, but the web tells me: “Dr. Brian Clement, PhD, NMD, LN, is the director of the Hippocrates Health Institute in West Palm Beach Florida. He has spent more than thirty years practicing and researching and living foods nutrition.”

Is Dr. Brian Clement a quack?

It seems, based on the information above and below (Health educator certification info) that no, Dr. Brian Clement is in fact not a quack, but, you know how things are on the Internet.

Just like vaccinations, there are two opposing sides to the “Dr. Brian Clement” story.

A story found here (HushLeaks.com), that came to my attention here (Natural News), shows the potential opposing side.

So, unlike Mike Adams, I’m not picking up the phone to talk to “Bob” or anyone else to see if Mr. Clement “acquired his PhD and graduate degrees through a ‘diploma mill’.”

So, is this a case of haters hating (not Mike), or is there validity to the story? Aside from sending people “home to die off campus,” aren’t “upsells” part of doing business?

I didn’t like this part though: “Staffers who did not meet the required upsell quota were fired.” It reminds me of my job working for Hewlett Packard phone tech support at Sutherland Global Services^®.

And from interviews, Mr. Clement seems to have some depth of knowledge, perhaps he just short-cut things a little? Not suggesting that is right, but does that qualify him a place in the book of “quackery?”

It’s no question that any and all industries are exploited by those with pure profit mindsets. I have seen it numerous times in the raw food industry.

I wrote the information below, and pulled the quotes, before I learned of the Hush Leaks story. It actually had me justifying the $8,000 spend.

I would love to go somewhere and detox and cleanse for 3 weeks, then feed my brain about health and longevity for 6 weeks. I can brush off the up-sells, but I’m not sure how I’d feel if my class-mate, during the 3-week cleanse, was ushered home to “die off campus.”

Articles, word-of-mouth, and the Internet, it has a funny way of jamming people’s brains up!

Health educator certification from Hippocrates Health Institute

Information below pulled from the HHI web site.

The Hippocrates Health Educator Program (HED), an inspiration of Hippocrates’ wisdom, “Let Food Be Thy Medicine and Medicine Be Thy Food,” offers a deep learning experience towards the understanding of a lifestyle based on living foods.

It is a 9-week program that targets the topic of raw food health, plus it gets into the topics of complementary therapies and related disciplines. HED prepares students for a career towards helping others to choose food as their medicine.

“Some HED participants are healthcare professionals such as therapists, nutritionists, nurses, psychologists and physicians, while others come from non-health related fields.

All students, however, share a deep regard for health and nutrition and begin their education with the three-week HHI Life Transformation Program.

During this time, students detoxify physically, mentally and emotionally, and recharge their bodies for the weeks that follow.”

After the first few weeks there is further education in the class room for 7 hours each day, plus homework (further reading, projects, etc.).

Raw food internship opportunities are available in the greenhouse and in the kitchen, to really hone the skills of growing and food prep.

“To date, the program has graduated students from 27 countries, many of whom are currently involved in nutritional counseling services, fitness centers, sprouting and farming businesses, and a wide variety of humanitarian causes around the globe.”

A day with Dr. Brian Clement 2013

So, despite (or even because of) some/all of the information above, you still want to learn more about the Fresh Network event in June this year?

Heck, I’d go if I was close.

Full details can be found here, but here are the main details of the event:

When:
Sunday 23rd June 23, 2013 from 11:30am to 3:30pm
(doors open at 10:30am and close at 5:00pm)

Where:
Camden Centre
Camden Town Hall, Judd Street, London

Tickets are less than 30 pounds. Click here to buy tickets.

Note: I get commissions if you buy tickets from these links. Boy, do I hope the allegations are incorrect!

Also, these allegations haven’t a thing to do with Fresh Network… they are hosting the event just like many others have over the years.

He is “one of the most sought-after speakers in the fields of optimum nutrition and holistic health” after all.

Img Credit: http://realhealthftlaud.eventbrite.com/

Enjoy your Earth Hour tonight folks! I would like to challenge everyone to try a “wild” green juice or smoothie this season (or tonight)!

Wild greens are simply more nutritious than “domesticated” greens, for the main reason that… they grow in the wild!

Wild foods defy the odds and will even tap a root through concrete to survive, whereas the garden variety usually needs some coddling to “make it.” This is all generally speaking of course.

A person can do wonders for their health when including a variety of greens in the diet on a regular basis, wild or domesticated.

Juicing greens, of course, requires a manual or electric juicer, and a smoothie requires a blender to make. Well, there could be other ways… perhaps a pestle and mortar could extract some juice, and a blender and some nut milk bags (or similar product) can help you “juice without a juicer,” but having the right tools sure makes the job easier.

Juicing is said to have a more nutrient-direct benefit, and making green smoothies includes more fiber, and some say antioxidants as well.

Wild green juice recipe

• handful of stinging nettle tops
• handful of ground elder
• handful of chickweed
• one apple cored
• 1/2 lemon

If organic, leaving the peel on the lemon encourages more health benefits including: essential oils, cleansing and antibacterial properties.

Juice the above ingredients and enjoy.

Sip slowly, but immediately for best results.

Wild green quick tips

Some of the most powerful greens that help cleanse the kidneys and liver, plus purify the bloodstream include: dandelion leaves (no, they are not a weed – in a bad sense at least), stinging nettles (handle with care), and comfrey (not for women who are pregnant or lactating).

Randomly picking greens in open fields, parks or forests can be dangerous, unless you exactly what you are doing.

Video: Wild green herbal juice for kidneys & lymphatic system

Video by 0wenfox on YouTube

“Drink your food and chew your drinks.”

Wild green smoothies

All of the wild edible greens can lend themselves well to a delicious green smoothie, when the correct recipe is found, and also after developing a good taste for greens (in general wild greens are stronger to the taste, not just the nutrition profile).

Wild dandelion green smoothie recipe

Tropical fruits have higher sugar, berries generally have lower, and greens are said to neutralize much of the sugars or lower the glycemic levels, but take warning none the less if sugar is a concern for you.

• handful of dandelion leaves
• 1 banana
• 1 cup frozen mango cubes
• 3/4 cup fresh pineapple
• 1 cup water, or freshly squeezed orange juice

Video: The power of wild green smoothies & their awesome healing & regenerative effects

Video by 0wenfox on YouTube

Video: Green Smoothie with wild edibles

Video by Sergei Boutenko on YouTube

Sources for this article include:
Healthy habits for kids: wild green juices
Blend edible wild weeds into green smoothies

Photo credit:
How to make a “mean green juice” without a juicer

I am sure that I heard the term “vase breathing” before so I can’t say for sure that it is a new introduction. I can say though that I was re-introduced to it today after reading this article here: Mind Over Matter? Core Body Temperature Controlled by the Brain.

The article appealed to me for two reasons:

1) I often feel cold, mostly in my limbs, and sometimes need to jump in a hot bath just to warm up. I had concern that it was related to health issues, and while poor circulation hasn’t been fully ruled out (I try to use cayenne pepper often), I have had a battery of other tests in the past.

Whether I would do anything with the results had I found a “label” anyway, I don’t know, because I try to live and eat like I might if I were diagnosed with something. In other words, I exercise regularly, fast regularly, and eat very well for the most part, trying to provide my body with what it needs to become and stay healthy, in absence of disease.

2) I always wondered whether my state of mind had anything to do with my core body temperature. In general, I assumed I was only cold when the outside temperature was cold, and for the most part that was true.

But as I started to pay closer attention, rather just accept it as the norm, I noticed that sometimes I was strangely warm in colder temperatures (even when others were cold), or I felt cold in warm temperatures. At one point I even though my current level of self esteem or confidence played a role. I’m still not convinced that it doesn’t.

The g-tummo meditative practice

The above article discusses g-tummo which involves “vase breathing” and visualization of a flame on the spinal column during the breathing practice.

With this combination, test subjects in both Tibet and in the Western world, saw increased core body temperatures, which is fascinating.

Aside from achieving warmth, the subjects could potentially bolster their immunity giving them increased ability to fight infections, according to the findings.

This lead me to want to dig deeper into what “vase breathing” is.

What is vase breathing?

In an article entitled “Abdominal Breathing, Reverse Breathing & Vase Breathing (Waking Up The Lower Dantian)” on About.com in the Taoism section, it talks about a breathing/visualization technique where one is to visualize pulling in clean, fresh water for each inhalation.

The exhale isn’t a full release of the breath, instead we are creating “a gently rounded vase-like shape of the lower abdomen,” by only letting go of around 85% of it. This is said to make us “more easily able to welcome the next inhalation – the next ‘pouring’ of water into the ‘vase.’”

There is no mention of the warmth or flame visualization with the vase technique on the above linked article. It seems here that one may visualize the water putting out the flame. Brrrrr.

Heating things up

In a more in depth article on the subject, the author talks about the Dantian more precisely.

It also discusses the breathing technique as, if I am paraphrasing it correctly, stoking an internal flame located at the Dantian, and exhaling with the visualization of blue smoke, in the same manner as smoke leaving a chimney.

If you have any desire to get a better understanding of what vase breathing is and how it relates to increasing the body’s core temperature, the above linked article is worth a full read.

Photo credit: sciencedaily.com

Smoking stinks, it is unattractive (arguably), addictive, toxic, and it can kill you eventually. So, why do people do it? I can’t answer that, as I’ve never smoked. Why do people keep doing it? I sure understand addiction in terms of food, sex, gambling, sugar, and caffeine.

Most likely, a person continues to do something for the wrong reasons, or, with knowing that the “acts” are harmful, in order to satisfy one or more of the basic needs.

The basic human needs, at least according to Tony Robbins, are Certainty, Uncertainty, Significance, Connection, and Growth. Can you see how any given addiction can meet some or all of those needs?

Natural ways to “unshackle” from the smoking addiction

For many, or possibly all, there is an oral fixation associated to smoking. I know someone that managed to get through the toughest times of his ‘quitting’ by chewing on a straw throughout the day. Another, more natural approach, is discussed by “Thick,” on the Raw Food Talk forum.

“I quit smoking 3 weeks ago and I have some really fresh, good advice. Get yourself a cinamon stick and inhale through it liek a cigarette–it gives you flavored air and something to hold. Smelling a sprig of rosemary was really useful to me also– same flavored air reason–but was a nice change to alternate the two. These were especially helpful in the car for me.”

Healthy snacking for oral fixation

Further on the “oral” side of things, many people reach for unhealthy snacks to satisfy the boredom, or whatever else is going on, after ditching the habit. Having some raw snacks, even as simple as raw veggies and fruit, has worked wonders for many now non-smokers.

As mentioned in the Daily Mail UK online paper, not only will these finger foods satisfy the oral fixation, but repair some of the damage done by the smoking. Antioxidants and moisture can be replenished after encouraging more raw produce and water into the diet.

More than food and water, it is recommended to get into a light or heavy exercise routine after quitting.

“Having prepared to combat the psychological aftermath of quitting smoking, prepare to ward off the physiological effects by planning to take regular aerobic exercise, such as swimming, jogging, running, cycling or walking briskly.”

Adding a few appliances, like a juicer and a blender, and using them daily, sure won’t hurt.

Is there a spiritual aspect to quitting?

Owen Einarson, on his Raw Living Guy blog discusses quitting smoking with prayer.

“So standing in a circle just the four of us they started praying over me and asking god to remove this addiction from me and that I would no longer have cravings for cigarettes and the smell would make me sick feeling. Well all I can say is on that day over 4yrs ago now I was completely smoke free. Also that to this day the smell of cigarettes makes me want to throw-up,” said Owen in a blog post.

He also felt that eating raw and exercising helped him stay smoke-free.

“I do attribute my mainly raw food lifestyle and new zest for exercise to most of this,” Owen adds.

What you tell yourself matters

On the Living and Raw Foods forum, one member says “I quit smoking by giving myself a little pep talk.” He/she simply made it clear that under no uncertain circumstances will they achieve their (undisclosed) goal if they continue to smoke.

Tony Robbins takes this a step further and in one of his books he talks about how a person should not label themselves as a “smoker,” or even a “non-smoker.” It might be better to refer to yourself as a “healthy, fit” individual, or other definition that makes it impossible for a smoking habit to fit into the equation. Your brain has a funny way of setting things up to make your definitions come to be.

Many people have just stopped smoking naturally after going raw, without even having the desire to do so in many cases. It just stops being appealing as your body starts to clean itself up.

More evidence about diet’s role in smoking

Even Dr. Annemarie Colbin talks about how, in general, it seems vegan and vegetarian eaters are the non smokers, while those who followed a macrobiotic diet lit up. She equates the type of food one eats to their desire to smoke, as well as their tolerance to alcohol in this great article.

In an article presented on MindYourBody, the author shares her smoking story then goes through a three stage process for quitting. Key to the process is, like mentioned above, diet and exercise.

Recommended is: a “deep detoxification program to cleanse your lungs, your kidneys and your whole body,” perhaps “a water fast or a green juice fast followed by raw foods and exercise.”

Dark green leafy vegetables are recommended a lot of times to not only reduce cravings, but also cleanse and repair damage done from smoking… therefore, lots of salads and green smoothies may be in order.

Raw Girl in a toxic world has a couple of posts detailing the negative effects of smoking. Might be worth a read if you still aren’t convinced that quitting should be of high priority for you right now.

How I Quit Smoking & Addictions

If you can get through the constant mind twitches that happen because of all the video edits watching this video (or maybe it’s just me), then this is a great resource to help strengthen your belief that quitting smoking for good is certainly achievable, and what you eat can play a role.

5 steps to quit smoking with raw foods

With all that said, what is the process of quitting with raw foods? Well, here is a checklist based on my research in areas of nutrition, science, religion, and personal development.

1) Give yourself a new label – You are now a “health conscious, fit, motivating” individual “who radiates health and energy,” OK? Where does “smoker” fit in there? It doesn’t.

2) Feel the pain every day – Go to YouTube and Google and find articles, videos, podcasts, images, etc. that demonstrate the ill effects of smoking. Bookmark them. Create YouTube playlists. Spend 15 minutes each day looking at this material.

3) Feel the pleasure every day – In a similar way to step 2, find stories of success. See how people demonstrate how they feel after quitting. Find pure stories, not of their struggles with quitting, but of their triumphs after quitting. They look good, sound good, feel good, the people that really care about them are proud. This should reinforce your belief that it’s possible, plus get you amped up for the way your life WILL ultimately be like.

4) Work on some dietary and lifestyle changes – Make small subtle changes in your diet, or start a juice or green smoothie fast, and detoxify your body to reduce cravings and replenish robbed nutrients. Consider implementing some breathing, stretching, and other light exercise daily.

5) Document your journey – Start a blog or personal journey and document your daily journey. Share your story, your trials and tribulations, some recipes, some exercises, and your ultimate achievement. I can see it now, you have a cinnamon stick in your mouth, and your skin is radiant, and you look great! I am happy for you!

Image source:
rawgirltoxicworld.com

Bo Gaiason
Proprietor, Raw On The Run: Your Raw Food Delivery Service
http://gaiasonrawfood.com/

The story of how I came to raw food is different from that of many people in that I had no chronic condition or other health ailments to address. A vegetarian since 1980 with a regular routine of yoga and meditation, I was already leading what I thought was a fit, healthy life.

In 2000 my wife Teri and I got a call from our friend Patrick who said he had found a book of wonderful recipes, but they made way too much food. He suggested that Teri come over, they could make some food, and she could bring half home.

When I got home from work that evening, Teri served the results for dinner. At the time I had never heard of Raw Food, and was completely unaware that there was a whole movement and lifestyle associated with it. I simply sat down and had supper.

It was a meal that changed my life. With no clue as to what I was eating, I instantly noticed the energy and light enter every cell of my body, from hair follicles to toenails. Not only that, but whatever was on the plate in front of me was absolutely delicious! Teri had the same reaction.

“What is this?” I exclaimed in amazement.

“It’s just uncooked food combined in ways that taste good,” she replied.

In less than 10 days we had cleaned all the processed food out of the pantry and fridge, and made the transition to a raw diet.

Only then did I begin doing the reading and research on the incredible benefits of eating raw food, acquiring a shelf full of books on the subject. The compelling reasons for going raw are well documented, and I’ll be happy to provide a bibliography to anyone interested. I can sum up my own testimonial in one sentence:

I feel better in every way there is to feel better.

Physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, you name it. Every aspect of my life has been enhanced by raw food.

My motivation in establishing Raw On The Run is to enable as many people as possible to share this new, more joyful baseline of well being.

Thank you from every part of my heart,
Bo Gaiason

I stopped consuming white pasta a long time ago before I even realized it was smart to avoid gluten.

I mostly stopped eating pasta altogether but when I did eat it I would eat brown rice pasta. Lots of people say they don’t like it because it sticks together, but I found that to only be the case for spaghetti.

The “elbow” noodles, and other types wouldn’t stick together in my experience.

And they taste great, even when using just a cheap sauce of melted coconut oil and fried garlic.

The raw food(ish) high protein pasta alternative

Mung beans are an amazing food. When soaked and sprouted they taste great. My kids love them and bug me all the time to make some more sprouts together.

Mung bean sprouts are the same as what you find in a typical Chinese food meal.

Some sources suggest that it is a complete protein. This means that all 7, 8 or 9 (depending on the source) essential amino acids are present in the beans.

Some amino acids may be on the low end but it allegedly has all of them.

At any rate, among many other nutrients, it is apparently a decent source for folate and Vitamin C as well.

Well, The Raw Food World has introduced a new pasta alternative made entirely from mung beans and water.

It can be soaked overnight or longer to soften up to avoid cooking it.

Matt, the owner, called the company and it seems they use minimal processing and low heat (almost low enough to be considered raw), to turn the organic beans into a form that resembles fettuccine. They also have a black bean spaghetti as well which offers another high protein alternative to standard gluten-pasta.

Video: Matt and Angela demoing and discussing the mung bean pasta

Recipe: raw tomato pasta sauce with herbs

Here’s a recipe that could be used for the sauce for the protein-rich pasta. It is shown in the above video.

Ingredients:

• 2 medium tomatoes
• 1 small clove garlic
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1 tbsp lime (or lemon) juice
• 2 tbsp hemp oil
• small handful sun-dried tomatoes
• handful fresh basil and rosemary
• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cup cashews

Directions:

1. Blend all the ingredients except the cashews, sunflower seeds and hemp oil, until smooth (makes about 12oz liquid).
2. Add sunflower seeds and cashews and blend again (makes around 2 cups sauce).
3. Add hemp oil and blend again briefly.
4. Server over pasta. Enjoy!

Video: Angela making the pasta sauce for the mung bean high protein pasta

Disclaimer: This post is based on information from Chapter X – Energy: The Fuel of Excellence, in Unlimited Power, by Tony Robbins.

How to achieve a healthy level of biochemical functioning

What you eat and drink, and how you breathe, factors into whether your body is cleansed and nurtured or clogged and poisoned. The basic assumption here is that the better the body is functioning, the better the mind will function. A healthy physical body can be a determining factor in ones state of mind, and their overall mood. More than just physical energy… food, drink and breath can play a role in mental energy.

As anyone that has picked up more than half a dozen health books at the local book store can attest, there is more contradicting information out there from the so called professionals and experts about what is needed to achieve ultimate health. The Internet really is no better in terms of contradictory information.

This post is a subset of what Tony Robbins has learned from real people doing real things. He located people that have already achieved what it is he wanted to achieve and applied that information for himself. You won’t find complicated metabolic typing diets, or suggestions to eat right for your blood type, or eating piles of supplements (although he feels differently about supplements today, as shown in his Inner Balance program), or counting calories, just straightforward methods to achieve health one day at a time.

I wasn’t looking for credentials. What I wanted was results. So I found people who were producing results in their body, people who were vibrant and healthy. I found out what they were doing, and I did the same. I compiled everything I learned into a set of commitments or principles for myself, and I set up a sixty-day program for healthy living. ~ Tony Robbins

6 keys to living health

1) Breath – Breath is important as a means to oxygenate the cells and control the pump-less lymph system. I’m sure that you’ve heard it before that shallow breathing is not healthy, and to watch a baby breathe as their belly rises with every breath, because they have not yet “forgotten” how to breathe properly.

Dead cells, blood proteins, and other toxic material must be removed by the lymph system. And the lymph system is activated by deep breathing. ~ Tony Robbins

“Lack of oxygen clearly plays a major role in causing cells to become cancerous.” ~ Dr. Harry Goldblatt, (Journal of Experimental Medicine) Source: breathing.com

The ratio that Robbins recommends for breathing is: inhale for one count, hold for four counts, and exhale for two counts. Remember, this is a ratio and 1:4:2 doesn’t have to represent seconds. The numbers in the ratio can be doubles or tripled, etc.

When the breath is being held, it oxygenates the blood. Toxins are removed during exhale. Try the ratio for 10 breaths 3 times each day for optimum results. In through the nose, and out through the mouth slowly. Doing it outside amongst the trees would likely have more value than in a closed up house.

Besides breathing, aerobic exercise (to exercise with air) is advantageous. Rebounding, or trampolining is a valuable form of exercise to oxygenate the blood cells and move the lymphatic system around.

2) Water-rich foods – Robbins talks about the standard eight to twelve oft-recommended glasses per day of water as being “crazy,” and that the amount we drink should be dictated by thirst. The typical supply of water has chlorine, fluoride, and other toxins, but water-rich food should account for at least 70% of our diet, in the form of sprouts, fruits and vegetables and their freshly squeezed juices.

One way to keep the bloodstream and body as free as possible from wastes and toxic poisons is to limit ingestion of those foods or nonfoods that strain the eliminative organs of the body; the other is to provide enough water to the system to assist in the dilution and elimination of such wastes. ~ Tony Robbins

Eating a salad with every meal, juicing, and making green smoothies are great ways to ensure you are getting a sufficient amount of water rich food into the diet on a regular, hopefully daily, basis.

Eating fruit as a snack (on an empty stomach) is a meaningful change, but dried/dehydrated fruits (i.e. raisins) don’t count obviously because by definition they are fruits without water.

3) Food combining – Mixing certain foods within the body can have negative effects. Not to say mono-eating is the only way to go, although once in awhile mono-eating can help the body catalog nutrients in foods to generate cravings when certain nutrients are needed, but there are some basic food combining rules that should be adhered to.

Dr. Herbert Shelton is best know for his studies in food combining, but the “stimulus/response” doctor Ivan Pavlov studied this concept extensively as well. The basic principle is that not all digestive juices are compatible, and the body provides the appropriate digestive juices to help breakdown food that is currently in the gut. The body will mix incompatible digestive juices if necessary to breakdown the hodge podge of food that entered the system.

For example, do you eat meat and potatoes together? How about cheese and bread, or milk and cereal, or fish and rice? What if I were to tell you that those combinations are totally destructive to your internal system and rob you of energy? ~ Tony Robbins

The problem lays in the fact that starchy food like rice, potatoes, and bread require an alkaline environment for digestion, where in contrast, protein foods like meat, dairy, nuts and seeds digest in an acidic environment. So, what happens when foods from both groups are consumed at the same time is the creation of digestive juices, by the body, that end up neutralizing eachother, impairing or arresting the digestion process.

When the digestive juices are unable to perform their intended purpose, digestive issues and gas are the result. This robs the body of energy and potentially creates an environment appropriate for disease to manifest. The excessive acid that gets created during the process causes the blood to thicken which slows its movement preventing oxygen from moving freely through the body.

These digestive issues force the body to require more sleep because it is working overtime processing the food. A simple approach is to just consume one condense food (non water-rich food) per meal. This should eliminate the food digestive issues that occur, hopefully resulting in more energy from easier digestion.

Robbins recommends: Food Combining Made Easy by Dr. Herbert Shelton, and Fit For Life (filled with recipes perfectly combined) by Harvey Diamond and Marilyn Diamond

4) The law of controlled consumption – “The surest way to increase an animal’s life span is to cut down on the amount of food it eats.”

The suggestion here is that regular fasting, and/or eating lots of water-rich foods (see Key #2) more so than non-water-rich foods, can extend life. In addition, normal deterioration of the immune system is delayed by restricting food (or perhaps reaching for water-rich foods instead).

5) The principle of effective fruit consumption – Fruit provides a lot for the body and is the simplest for the body to digest over practically any other food. It provides brain energy and is cleansing and nourishing at the same time.

To be most effective however, it is suggested that fruit be consumed on an empty stomach. It’s main digestion occurs (and therefore the release of its energy in the form of sugar) is done in the small intestine. If other foods are in the way it will hinder digestion, and worse, cause the fruit to ferment which can encourage digestive issues.

Fruit juice and fresh juices are best to consume. Commercial fruit juice on the other hand was likely heated which can render it acidic.

Do you want to make the most valuable purchase you can? Buy a juicer. Do you own a car? Sell the car and buy a juicer. The juicer will take you much further. Or just buy the juicer now! ~ Tony Robbins

Digestion of fruit juice is around 15-20 minutes allowing you to consume a meal shortly after ingesting nature’s cleansing and nourishing food first. A suggestion by Robbins is to start the day (and even up until noon) consuming nothing but fresh fruit and freshly squeezed fruit juices. Also, if you are to eat at all at night, nothing but fruit should be consumed after 9:00 p.m.

6) The protein myth – There is a great deal on information by Robbins about protein sources and the myths about its purpose. He talks about how meat doesn’t have to be, or perhaps shouldn’t be, our primary source of protein. In fact, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a source at all. In summary of a lot of what he said, here is a direct quote from the chapter:

You know what Pythagoras, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Leonardo da Vinci, Isaac Newton, Voltaire, Henry David Thoreau, George Bernard Shaw, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, Dr. Albert Schweitzer, Mahatma Gandhi have in common? They were all vegetarians. Not a bad group of people to model, right? ~ Tony Robbins

Now, I can’t be sure that Robbins is using the words “vegetarian” as what we may call a “vegan,” but it seems as though he is, because he discusses issues with milk and how it may be an inferior source of protein.

Studies by Dr. William Ellis are discussed. Dr Ellis states that “if you want allergies, drink milk.” He talks about the difficulty in digesting casein (a milk protein), and how many people who drink milk regularly have lower levels of blood calcium.

If you’re concerned about getting enough calcium, simply eat plenty of green vegetables, sesame butters, or nuts – all of which are extremely rich in calcium and easy for the body to use ~ according to Dr. William Ellis

Eliminating or reducing cheese, pizza, brie, yogurt and ice cream might not be a bad idea. The texture of ice cream can be achieved by using a food processor to blend frozen bananas, and it tastes great.

I used to be just the way you may be now. Pizza was my favorite food. I didn’t think I could give it up. But since I have, I’ve felt so much better there’s not a chance in a million years I’ll ever go back. Trying to describe the difference is like trying to describe the smell of a rose to someone who has never smelled one. Maybe you should try to smell that rose before you make a judgement about it. Try eliminating milk and limiting your intake of other dairy products for thirty days and judge by the results you feel in your body ~ Tony Robbins

Of course Tony Robbins’ book, Unlimited Power, really hits all of these points home more than I can in this post. He talks about the strategies he used with his brother, for example, to eliminate his brother’s “fetish” for Kentucky Fried Chicken, and create a “love” for carrots, a food that he previously found “disgusting.”

Check out some of the comments made by people who read the book. One statement from a reader says: “Chapter 10 covers changing your diet to improve performance. I tell you it works. I started on it 18 months ago and I am a different person. I am brighter, sharper, more alive, better at my work….I could go on all day but I think you get the idea.”

Tony Robbins’ complete Living Health audio course is available on Amazon.com.

I think that with anything in life, to make any significant changes, one must apply focus. Don’t they say, ‘wherever focus goes, energy flows’?

I remember back in college I was only able to focus on 4 out of 5 of my classes at one time to reach my goal (to learn as much as I could about the subject and ultmately get an ‘A’). As expected, the class I did not place any real focus or attention on suffered in terms of grades, but I did learn something, it’s just that the other subjects meant more to me at the time and got all my attention. I knew that I could always improve on the other subject and give it ALL my focus and flow more energy towards it, when I was ready…

Same for switching to raw or anything else that improves your overall health. If you don’t think you are able to place a significant amount of focus on it right now, you probably won’t see the EXACT results that you want. But that’s OK, SOME attention/focus can make a positive difference…

I understand that some people feel that they don’t have enough info to get started… but I have to say, there really isn’t a lot to learn to get rolling, especially if you start at just a snails pace. It’s not neccessary to come up with a big game-plan. If you understand the “need” for going raw, and you have the desire, and think that you are ready to place a lot of focus on a “raw adventure”, and you do not have a game plan in place already, by all means, try an existing, carefully laid out, 30-day plan which will allow you to learn as you go… a crash course if you will.

There are lots of raw food diet plans available. I was fortunate enough to get a review copy of The Raw Food Diet Plan by Laura-Jane the Rawtarian note: I am compensated if you obtain the plan from this link, but you may go directly to therawtarian.com and I will not get a commission, I am genuine about my referral for this plan and just want to let you know about it

I feel that it is the perfect solution for someone ready to give it a go for 30-days, no matter what’s in their fridge, or what’s in their cupboards at the moment, and even if they don’t have all the answers.

If you are at the stage where you know it’s a good idea to go raw and you are READY (this is key) to put focus into a 30-day plan, and you have an hour to sit down and read, then you CAN get started on this healthy journey in short order.

As mentioned, you do not need the big game plan. With The Raw Food Diet Plan you have, in your hand, the ‘walk-through’, bringing you through the process day to day, complete with raw shopping lists, daily menus, etc.

It lays out the process in a way that makes sense, and then the proof is in the pudding.. make note of how you feel before starting and how you feel the next day, and once you work your way through the 30 days, re-assess.. Is 30-days enough to see any positive changes? Absolutely! I watched the documentary where diabetic patients reduced insulin intake after just a few days raw, it really is an overall healing process.

With that said, if you really cannot focus on doing a 30-day adventure right now, because I know there are lots of really important things to contend with in life (and it’s not easy to focus on everything fully at one time), that’s perfectly OK and I have a suggestion if I may… it’s a small, but VALUABLE step towards health and well-being. Then later, when you have more focus (in this area), you can strive to get your ‘A’, which will happen when making it through 30 days raw.

Here’s my suggestion: Add one thing to your diet, something simple and healthful, plus, remove one thing from your diet, something you know you can do without but might be key to cleansing and healing. Then make one substituion.. examples below.

Items to remove might include: bread, bacon, cheese, peanut butter… something you know you can leave out, just for a little while.

As for substitutions… maybe try coconut oil rather than butter, margarine or other oils. Swap out white pasta with rice pasta perhaps (gluten-free baby!), try honey instead of white sugar

That leaves us with what to add… what about a daily smoothie? Just fruit perhaps, or what about mixing a bit of greens into it? Simply add some water and fruit (fresh or frozen) into a blender… blend.. optionally add some greens (parsley and spinach do not change the flavour in any weird way, in fact they taste great!), blend again… drink immediately. Play with the ingredients until you get a yummy concoction, then start your day with it… just for a little while and see how you get along.

I wish you luck!

p.s. I’d like to close by offering you a green smoothie recipe straight from the raw food diet plan, which will provide a great base for springing off your own recipes, plus it’s super cheap to make

1 banana – ripe but not yucky
1 apple – chopped and seeds removed
2 cups loosely packed baby spinach
1/2 lemon – peeled
1 sprinkle cinnamon
1/2 cup cold water

GMOs or genetically modified organisms have been part of our food supply since 1996. The debate regarding the potential harms (and benefits) of GMOs has gained more attention recently, as several US states have approved or proposed laws regulating the labeling of food for GMOs. While Maine and Connecticut approved such laws this summer, New York, Vermont, Hawaii and Oregon seek to propose similar bills during next year’s election cycle.

Public opinion on genetically modified foods is still quite evenly divided. For instance, in California, a proposal to label food for GMOs failed by only 51% to 49% earlier this year. Generally speaking, voters in rural regions oppose such measures, whereas constituencies in urban areas support labeling laws. Aside from state regulations, food safety advocates demand a national standard set by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, the federal government is reluctant to implement a national labeling law mainly because there has been no strong evidence that GMOs are unsafe to eat and several reputable agencies have endorsed the safety of GM food.

The American public has been consuming GMOs for almost two decades without any alarming side effects. A state-commissioned report found “no statistically significant, repeatable evidence of adverse health consequences” with regard to genetically modified foods. Yet, many critics of GMOs question how the data from this report was gathered and request more extensive research on the matter. Another controversial issue is that GM crops have become more herbicide- and pesticide-resistant, which has resulted in an increased use of these chemicals. Furthermore, corporate patents by GMO companies like Monsanto can sue farmers for using their seed, even though they spread naturally through cross-pollination.

Regardless of where you stand on the use of GMOs in our food, you should consider that this is a very complex issue that involves multiple players and plays out on various levels. In order to make an educated decision for you and your family, it’s advisable to gather as much information as possible on GMOs and their impact on agriculture, health, and the economy: A Snapshot of the GMO Argument.