FAQ's from the Naughty Blogger

I am a naughty blogger.  It has been over a year since I have updated my 16 followers (most of who know exactly how I am doing anyway) and my 600+ readers on my healing progress. After taking a friend on a raw food shopping/learning excursion at Whole Foods yesterday, I mentioned my "blog".  My long neglected, nearly forgotten, blog.  I suddenly felt compelled to write, and to answer all the questions I am frequently asked. So here it goes ...

Are you still maintaing a 100% raw-vegan lifestyle? Yes, and No. I go through phases where I am extremely diligent and others where I am only mostly diligent. My "cheats" are not on Dairy Queen but rather on juice that has an added granny smith apple, or beets. I also eat a very small amount of cooked vegan food, on occasion.  I typically regret it after though, no matter how healthy. After eating very purely for an extended time, my system is naturally very sensitive. I always feel best when I stick to the plan.

Are you still juicing 3 times a day?  No, I am only juicing once to twice a day. When I get really busy, I make enough juice in the morning to last the day. Not ideal, but practical. In the winters, I find it really challenging to drink as much juice because I am really cold ALL THE TIME. My juice is usually my typical green drink. 1/4 of each: pea sprouts, sunflower sprouts, celery, and cucumber. When Allie is home from school, more fruits tend to get added in a futile attempt to entice her to join me. I love my juicer - it's the Omega 8006 and I got it (and all of my raw food appliances) at The Raw Diet.com

Are you juicing wheatgrass?  No, after several attempts, my system still tries to have an allergic reaction.  I will continue to try periodically only because I know how tremendous the benefits are of consuming the perfect food each day.  In the interim, I continue to drink the E3 Live blue green algae.

Are you still doing colon hydrotherapy and colonics?  Honestly, I have not done one in about a year.  Although I am a huge proponent of cleansing and truly believe in the benefits, I find it challenging to have a tube stuck up my rectum and to be filled and flushed with water.  It just is not comfortable.  It is on my "to do" list, along with things such as going to the dentist, chewing broken glass, etc.  Sadly, I know I could really use a good spring cleaning and I keep getting Groupon specials for them.  As my friend April calls these messages, God Kisses.

Are you still sprouting?  YES!!!  I love my sprouts.  I love the way they look in my kitchen.  I love that my dogs try to sneak them from the trays.  I love the way they taste in every bit of food I eat?  I love that I am growing them myself!  Sprouts are my favorite food - perfect nutrition and when grown yourself, very inexpensive. Where do I get my sprouts?  WheatgrassKits.com

Are you teaching raw food classes? Many of you have been suggesting that I delve into Raw Vegan Coaching full time.  Although I love teaching and sharing the lifestyle, from sprouting to un-cooking, I am only doing this on a part time basis and only with individuals.  I have made it a point to help anyone who comes to me asking for my assistance or knowledge.  Any friend or acquaintance who has a true desire to get healthy, stay healthy, etc., is welcome to ask me for advise. Anyone can come over to my home and I will show them how to prepare recipes, sprout, plant, juice, dehydrate, shop, etc.  I love it. It is my passion!  I love pawning my creations off on anyone willing to taste them.  My neighbor Shawn and my bossfriend, Satyam, are my taste testing guinea pigs. (sorry that you are guinea pigs and not something more regal). As taking care of myself is a full time commitment, I feel limed in my desire to make my living foods journey my full time LIFE.  I feel that I want to stay passionate about it and share my knowledge without it becoming a burden.  IF you are looking for a great raw food academy, try Chef Sara's Raw Vegan Academy.

What is your favorite recipe? I am still addicted to variants of chia seed pudding.  I play with the recipe ingredients and am therefore never bored.  So healthy and so delicious. Comfort food!

What has been the greatest challenge?  Definitely going through periods of feeling alone in this journey.  Early on, I would have occasional meltdown thinking about the daunting task of remaining in such a rigid lifestyle for LIFE.  I would cry, "I just want to eat a #%$^%& pizza!" (with Allie and Eric as my witnesses, I am not exaggerating). Looking back, it is humorous because I do not feel this way any longer.  I love eating a clean, plant based, nutrient-dense diet of radiant living foods. When I do need a fix, I will "cheat" on an Amy's Organic, No Cheese, Veggie Pizza. I chalk the previous meltdowns up to detox.  Initially, it was hard eating out and travelling but I have learned how to make accommodations and have found that restaurants are truly very gracious and helpful when they know that I am eating for health and not just being a diva princess.

Has your weight stabilized?  I think that many people that knew me pre-Hippocrates were astounded by my drop in weight. Many were down right concerned.  I was not overweight to begin with so any amount of weight loss was shocking, let alone 25 pounds! Truth is, I eat more food and more regularly than ever before.  I have more energy and feel light and free. I still have to pay close attention to my weight as it falls off really easily.  I have to add in more nuts (Artisana Raw Almond Butter and Sun Warrior Protein Powder are my favorite way to get calories and extra protein) and I make sure that I am doing regular exercise to keep my muscles strong.  I actually feel that I am the size and weight that I am intended to be, and that my body has adjusted.

What are you doing for workouts?  For the body, yoga, lots and lots of yoga.  I am still into the sweat of the Bikram style, and have incorporated more Kundalini back into my personal practice. For the mind and soul, meditation, lots of meditation! Ahhhh, pure bliss.  I have been going to Floo-id Yoga and Bikram Yoga PV.  Also, my true love, Yoga Phoenix

Have you returned to full time employment? Having left the world of fast-paced, high-stress, corporate America, I am not inclined to put myself back there, ever.  It is not conducive to healing the body and is downright dangerous to my "peace" of mind and sanity.  I have found perfect balance at a small, owner operated performing arts studio, close to home.  No stress, 30 hours a week, and love ... lots and lots of love!  Imagine working in such a blissful supportive environment.  It does exist. It enables me to practice my lifestyle and experience balance perhaps for the first time in my professional life.  Check it out ... it's called VOICES Studio!

What is your favorite part of the living food lifestyle? Feeling great! Feeling empowered to heal my own body through personal responsibility and nutrition. Helping others to attain better, more radiant health. Taking friends on the grocery store tour and to the farmers markets and sharing my born-again-foodie mentality. Farmers' markets in the greater Phoenix area!

Are you healed? This is the most challenging question I get!  The answer is this:  Yes, and no.  I am relatively symptom free.  I have more energy and clarity than I have in years. I still have occasional flare ups but they are typically very short lived and less severe.  It took me 46 years to become toxic and diseased, it will take more than 18 months to clean up! This is a journey, not a destination for me.  I am positive that if I stick to the regime, I will continue to improve my health, day by day, year by year.  If I "relapse" I will quickly become symptomatic and unwell very quickly.  Because of this knowledge, it is easy to stay focused on the prize of perfect health.  This is a great article on what the body and emotions may go through during the healing process ... sometimes referred to as retracting.

What's your favorite veggie?  Organic Cucumbers!  I juice them everyday, cut them up and use them as crackers, eat them solo, with raw humus, nut cheese, I love them. My only issue is this ... why is it so damn hard to find them in the winter and why are the tiny, skinny, pickle size organic one $2.50 each at Whole Foods?!?!  For those of you who know how many of these it takes to make 32 oz of juice, you will know what I mean when I say size ALWAYS matters! (SP) Ha ha.

In a nut shell ... Yes, I am still with the program.  Yes, I am still happy that I chose this healing path over conventional medical treatment.  Yes, I am healthy. Yes, I am a huge proponent for this lifestyle. Yes, I am willing to help you get on board! If you want help or have questions, I am ready to assist.  Don't wait until you are sick - get healthy now, and remain healthy for life!

“The individual who says it is not possible should move out of the way of those doing it.” 
― Tricia Cunningham

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!

Roger

Until recently, all I knew about Chia Seeds was from my chia pet.  I discovered sprouting at age 11 when I received my first, and only, original sheep-model chia pet named Roger.  It was awesome to smear the little seeds on him and watch him grow a green coat of fur ... until I discovered baseball, lost interest, and killed him. Apparently, I did not have much of a green thumb early on. Apparently, chia seeds are much, much more beneficial than I (or Roger) initially realized.

Chia Seeds Health Benefits Include:

Chia seeds Contain the highest plant source of Omega-3 on the planet

• Promote Heart Health

• Support Mental Health
• Aid Digestive Health
• Great for Diabetics
• Have more Antioxidants than blueberries.
• A complete protein with all 9 amino-acids.
• An excellent source of Calcium, Magnesium & Iron.
• Are 100% natural and raw.
• Chia Seeds are an effective aid to healthy weight loss.  The fiber rich chia seeds and slowly metabolized carbs can help to curb the appetite and has been shown to help lose weight when included with a balanced and healthy diet.

Because Chia Seeds are very glutenous when liquid is added, they are great to use as thickeners and to make raw puddings and tapiocas.  

Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

• 4 tbsp chia seeds
• 1 C  unsweetened raw almond milk 
• 30-40 drops stevia to taste
• 1 tbsp raw cacao powder
• 1 tsp Frontier Organic (No alcohol) vanilla

Mix all the ingredients together.  It may take a little time to incorporate the cocoa, but eventually it will.  

Cover and leave on your counter for 20 minutes before enjoying.  Or, you can leave it in the fridge overnight and enjoy the next day.  ( I personally prefer it cold) The chia seeds continue to absorb the liquid they are in so you may need to water your pudding down with some more almond milk if you leave it till the next day.  You can top your pudding with fresh fruit or just eat it plain. 

Ways to use Chia Seeds

• Add seeds to raw soups and sauces to thicken.
• Add seeds to salad dressings.
• Grind seeds and add to raw almond milk to make a “porridge”
•  Eat Chia seeds whole and raw as a snack.
• Add whole seeds to diluted fresh fruit juice to make Chia Fresca.
• Make Chia Pudding by adding whole seeds fresh raw nut milk
• Add Ground Chia seeds to smoothies.
• Add ground Chia seeds raw flax cracker recipes
• Throw a few Chia seeds on top of a salad
• Substitute Chia seeds for Flax seeds in recipes
• Pureed fruit, chia seeds and a little fruit juice is a good topping for raw ice cream.
• Add whole seeds to raw granola bar recipes.
•  Sprout the seeds and use in salads.
• Mix ground seeds with raw almond butter for a nutritious spread.

There are endless raw Chia seed recipes online.  Here is one site with a bunch of recipes incorporating Chia seeds.

Chia Seed Recipes

Herbs and Spices

 

I was so excited today because I saw an article in a mainstream newspaper about the medicinal properties of herbs. Although I consume fresh roots, herbs and spices daily, I rarely contemplate what health effects they have. From rosemary to ginger, certain herbs and spices contain beneficial compounds that may have the potential for warding off cancer, heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer's.

A recent study by the Department of Agriculture found that, ounce for ounce, some herbs and spices have more antioxidant activity than many fruits and vegetables. In your body, antioxidants fight harmful free radicals that might otherwise damage cells and lead to disease.

Attempt to add in as many organic herbs and spices as possible to your diet for maximum benefit. Fresh herbs are always more healthful than dried. When buying fresh, look for herbs that are brightly colored and blemish-free. To store, place in an airtight container in your refrigerator's crisper for up to 10 days.Wash just before eating. A great brand for dried organic herbs is Frontier Natural which can be purchased at a discount through IHerb.com  Keep dried spices no longer than a year and store in airtight containers away from heat, moisture and sunlight.

In general, substitute 1 teaspoon of fresh herbs for 1 tablespoon of dried, or vice versa.

Cinnamon: It's one of the richest sources of antioxidants, and research is uncovering its promise in protecting against some ailments. For example, studies that tested cinnamon on those with type 2 diabetes found that as little as  1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon a day may help lower by 10 to 30 percent the risks that come with the disease, such as high blood-cholesterol, triglyceride and glucose levels.

Ginger: Best known as a medicine for helping to soothe the nausea of motion and morning sickness. Research shows that ginger is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, which may make it useful in fighting ailments from heart disease to arthritis and Alzheimer's.

Oregano: This Italian-food staple is chock full of antioxidants. Fresh oregano, on a per-gram basis, has 42 times more antioxidant activity than an apple, according to a USDA study.

Rosemary: Research shows that this powerful antioxidant protects neurotransmitters in the brain and could play a role in preventing Alzheimer's. Another study indicated that the scent of rosemary alone was able to improve the memories of office workers.

Sage: A member of the mint family, it shows signs of supporting cognitive function in those with healthy minds as well as those with memory loss. In addition, studies indicate that sage helps the mind stay alert and calm.

Basil: A relative of peppermint, this fragrant herb contains an array of flavonoids, which help protect cells from damage. It also contains the same enzymes found in aspirin and ibuprofen and relieves the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory problems. Basil's generous dose of magnesium helps improve blood flow.

Garlic: This edible bulb has been used for centuries as a medicine and as a spice. Researchers point to the organic compound allicin, responsible for garlic's aroma and flavor, as a powerful antioxidant good for cardiovascular health. Research suggests garlic can lower cholesterol and blood pressure, which, in turn, wards off heart disease and strokes.

My Personal Favorite ... Turmeric: 

• Natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent, useful in disinfecting cuts and burns.

• Combined with cauliflower, it has shown to prevent prostate cancer and stop the growth of existing prostate cancer.

• Is a natural liver detox.

• Slows the progression of Alzheimer's disease by removing amyloyd plaque buildup in the brain.

• Prevents metastases from occurring in many different forms of cancer.

• Potent natural anti-inflammatory that works as well as many anti-inflammatory drugs but without the side effects.

• A natural painkiller.

• Aids in fat metabolism and help in weight management.

• Used in Chinese medicine as a treatment for depression.

• A natural treatment for arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis due ti anti inflammatory properties.

• Shown to stop the growth of new blood vessels in tumors.

• Speeds up wound healing and assists in remodeling of damaged skin.

• Aids in the treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions.

Note: I have read that turmeric should not be used by people with gallstones or bile obstruction. Though turmeric is often used by pregnant women, it is important to consult with a doctor before doing so as turmeric can be a uterine stimulant.

The list goes on ... herbs have been used as medicine for thousands of years. I like this website, Annie's Remedies that shows all the medicinal properties.