Great post by Karen Knowler - Eating Raw at Christmas

The picture left is of the raw food pizza I make in all my classes (and that everyone gets to eat too!). It's also the same pizza recipe that was once seen by six million viewers live on TV being sampled by Lorraine Kelly, and it's also the same meal that I have been known to eat as my main course Christmas Day!

Yes, pizza for Christmas lunch - quite a concept!

But of course there are no end of possibilities about what we could eat this Christmas Day, however, what my concern is, in this article, is Should *You* Be Eating Raw This Christmas? Read on to discover why my question is as layered as the festive trifle!

"A Raw Christmas".

Now what's the first thing you think about when you hear those words? Be honest!

If it sounds like music to your ears then that would suggest that to have a Raw Christmas this year is what's right for you, both at the below surface level and ideally in real life. If, on the other hand, it makes you think of isolation and standing out like a sore thumb from your companions, then it will be worth reading on. And if it sounds like something truly awful that really isn't on your agenda, then you're definitely in the wrong place (at least as far as this article goes) and I congratulate you on your clarity! Happy Christmas, now go and have your fun!!

So this article is really for those of you who *think* that you'd like to be raw, but at the moment are yo-yoing all over the place between being ruled by your heart, your head, your eyes, your beliefs, your worries, and your belly! Which I think, if I know you at all, beloved readers, is where most of you are going to be right now...

Let's start at the very beginning.

What is Christmas Dinner really all about?

Well, for may people it's seen as a time to feast and celebrate the birth of Jesus and all that goes with it, isn't it? But what it has become for most of us, is a yearly habit that typically involves spending lots of money on rich foods (and drinks) that we only eat once per year and sharing the experience with family or friends - often in large groups. Going on this basis, what we have here is therefore an environment where:

a) We are surrounded (usually) by un-likeminded people

b) We are surrounded by foods that we might not have eaten or might not want to eat (intellectually speaking) in our usual every day lives

c) We know that if we do not "partake" at least to 50% of the "deal", we are going to stand out big time and that might not feel good.

Bearing all of the above in mind, then add to this the fact that by our very (human) nature, we want to be included, part of the crowd, loved completely for who we are and to share in the communal Christmas "glow" that can come with that, is it any wonder that the temptation to not eat raw is going to be stronger than most of us can bear?

My purpose in writing this article today is not to advise, map out, coach or anything else of a "prescriptive" nature. No, not at all. Today I want to pass on to you the message that, if this all sounds like where you're at, then you are definitely not alone. In fact, even I, as I go into year 16 of being into raw foods, still had "issues" with eating raw at Christmas until as recently as last year, even when I was among my closest family. Yes, most of them (if not all), STILL think I'm "extreme", and yes, it did used to make me feel uncomfortable in their presence because of it, but what feels the most uncomfortable of all is what I'm about to share with you now, and this extends way beyond Christmas Day as will become clear as you read on...

It's All About The Energy
If I have learned anything about raw foods and eating habits over the past 15 years it is that energy is at the heart and soul of what food is about. Yes, we can wax lyrical about nutrition, enzymes and calories, or talk about what's "good", "bad", "healthy" and "unhealthy", but as far as I have come to see it, this hits the dartboard but it doesn't come even close to the bulls eye.

And the fact is this: When you take food in, you take in the energy that comes with it. All matter is comprised of energy - that means you, the chair you're sitting on, the table you're eating from and the food itself as well as everything else you can see right now. Therefore when you eat, your own personal energy will automatically shift accordingly; so when you eat "unhealthy" foods you will feel worse - your vital energy will dip, and when you eat "healthy" or "good" foods you will feel better, and ultimately even more energised.

The further you go with raw foods, the more of this energy you start to feel, and the more sensitive you become to it. You really "get" that you're not just what you eat, but your experience of life is, to a larger degree than many of us even realise, a reflection of what you eat too! This means that as soon as you eat something "unhealthy" or "bad" you know it. And I don't just mean in your mind and your heart, I mean that you feel it in your body also - you sense your own shift, often startlingly so!

And so what you learn, whether it's consciously or unconsciously, is that when you eat raw foods your energy increases (and to be clear I don't necessarily mean the "jump-up-and-down" kind of energy, but mostly your sensitivity and overall vital energy shifts) and when you eat cooked foods you feel your energy go down.

Translate this information into the Christmas Day scenario we discussed earlier and let's see what we have here if you choose to eat raw:

On the surface level you have the predictable comments, questions and quite possibly the sense of isolation/ difference that comes with that. Some people thrive on this, they love being different - which is obviously a bonus! - but most people don't, and I'm one of them! Now bear in mind, that all that's JUST on the surface level. On a deeper level, energetically speaking, when you eat your raw dinner and maybe have a juice, we have your energy rising, and it's rising fast. And likely it is starting to rise in an environment where everyone is laying chilled out on the sofa, with the obligatory glass of wine or sherry in hand, watching TV and/or aren't really doing all that much! And your energy continues to rise. And their energy continues to fall.

So not only do we have your energy as raw as ever (which can be tricky even in normal everyday situations), but we have their energy dipping even lower at the same time. The gap widens even further. Big Difference.

Now what happens is that naturally you either want to go outside and burn up some of that energy (and you might if only it wasn't so damn cold!), or you want to put your energy into something productive or inspiring like fiddling with your favourite new toy, enjoying more enlightened conversations, or, quite frankly, being at home (or alone) doing what you want to do!

This becomes the reality. And whether this is conscious or not, it becomes clear pretty quickly to us now as to why it feels so tough.

So is it any wonder that the temptation to just go with the flow (now we have a better understanding of what this really means, right?!), just for this one day of the year, is one that's too hard to resist? No, not at all! And, as I said a few moments ago, I am definitely not here to tell you what to do and I won't, but what I am here to do is to help you see the reality of the situation more clearly so that you can drop any guilt that may be plaguing you, either now in the lead up, or on the actual day, and know this:

"When you dabble with raw foods you are playing at being an advanced alchemist. You can change your state in ways that others don't, and also don't understand. Trying to do this among those people is possible but not always pleasurable. When you fully get this, you can base your decision on a positive understanding of the situation and your own needs and values, rather than seeing yourself as a failure or a hypocrite.. which is completely inaccurate."

So... as I said at the beginning, this article may not be relevant to all of you, but I have a very strong feeling it will be relevant to most of you, which is why I wrote it. For my part, the year before last I took my own raw Christmas Dinner and let my parents know ahead of time that this would be the case. They were fine with it, but still I had the questions "Does that really fill you up?" and more... However, I did have game plan! I arrived at 10am and left at 3pm! This was manageable : ) And then I drove back home and did what I wanted to do - things on my terms, and followed where my energy most wanted to go (which actually translated into a lovely walk in the fresh air, playing with Luke and rolling around on the floor tickling, cuddling and laughing!). But I can tell you that there have been MANY times in my past, and my recent past too, where I have really felt this "energy gap" so massively that I have realised absolutely two things: The reality of "energy" among foods and people (and the multitudes of ways that all this can show up), and the importance of environment. Where you place yourself is absolutely key - and this comes up again and again in all fields of personal development, not just with food, and it also comes up with just about every client I work with, all of whom are usually in the wrong place, quite literally, for where their energy is trying to go.

So, if you are fortunate to be able to control your environment this Christmas and to shape your day and surroundings to the way you would like them, and eat raw, then a big hurrah for you! I expect nothing less than post-Xmas reports of "I had such a great day" and lots of smiles! But, on the other hand, if you are like me - and many thousands of other raw foodies around the globe who are doing the family thing this year - then please, be compassionate with yourself and recognise that this is the one day where things are different in so many ways (and as we have seen, not always the obvious ones) and do what you need to do - without guilt. Come from a place of knowledge and you come from a place of power.

One day is one day, and in coming weeks I'll be sharing with you some great ideas for how you can get rid of whatever you took in over the Christmas period and start 2009 all shiny and new which is I think where you'd like to be, right?

For the short term however, think energy and think compassion and hopefully this will be enough to help you make your decision, which, as always, you are entirely free to change depending on what actually happens on the day! Either way, have fun and watch how this energy thing works! It will stand you in good stead not just for Christmas, but for the rest of your entire food-conscious life.

© 2008 Karen Knowler
Karen Knowler, The Raw Food Coach publishes "Successfully Raw" - a free weekly eZine for raw food lovers everywhere. If you're ready to look good, feel great and create a raw life you love get your FREE tips, tools and recipes now at www.TheRawFoodCoach.com.

Blueberries 'reverse memory loss'

Blueberries 'reverse memory loss'

Eating blueberries can reverse memory loss and may have implications in the treatment of diseases like Alzheimer's, University of Reading scientists claim.

Scientists found adding foods like blueberries to a regular diet, resulted in improvements in memory.

The foods, known as flavonoids, were historically believed to act as antioxidants in human bodies.

But the study indicates they also activate the part of the brain which controls learning and memory.

Dr Jeremy Spencer, from the department of food biosciences at the university, said: "Scientists have known of the potential health benefits of diets rich in fresh fruits for a long time.

"Our research provides scientific evidence to show that blueberries are good for you and supports the idea that a diet-based approach could potentially be used to increase memory capacity.

"We will be taking these findings to the next level by investigating the effects of diets rich in flavonoids on individuals suffering from cognitive impairment and possibly Alzheimer's disease."

The research has been published in the Free Radical Biology and Medicine journal.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/7450032.stm

Rich "NO" Chocolate Mousse

6oz walnuts (soaked in water overnight)

4oz pine nuts (soaked in water overnight)

6oz dates (soaked in water to just cover dates)

2tbs carob powder

1/2 soft avacado (if available)

1/2 lemon (freshly juiced)

Throw away water from nuts and rinse - drain. Process walnuts and pinenuts in food processor.
Add dates, carb powder, acacado and lemon. Place in dish.
Leave in refrigerator for 2 hours or overnight.
Decorate with rasberries, strawberries or edible flowers - ENJOY!!

www.aliveraw.com

Ben Vereen on the importance of being at least 70% raw

Watch This Today!!!

This Guy is absolutely amazing. He went raw and has lost 200 lbs. I have been following his story for quite some time now and I am so proud of him. Now he is going to be on a national tv show today to tell his story. I have no doubt that many people will be inspired to make a healthy change in their lives after seeing what Philip has been able to do.
Before: 400 lb Currently: 205 lbs
http://thedoctorstv.com/main/show_page/43

Man Loses 200 lbs on Raw Food

A Medford man goes on a raw-foods diet, and now 170 local people have signed up to follow his leadBy Sarah Lemon
Mail Tribune

Clent Manich's new diet likely sounds familiar to anyone who's tried to lose weight: Eat mostly fruits and vegetables and replace one or more meal with a shake or smoothie.

The regimen seems sensible enough until Manich gets to the part about not cooking, as in consuming everything entirely raw.

"I'm never going to eat cooked food again," says the 39-year-old Medford resident.

Losing almost 200 pounds, overcoming type-2 diabetes and enjoying the best health of his life are the only reasons Manich needs to continue on a raw-food diet that includes copious quantities of "green smoothies." Manich's dramatic transformation has convinced 170 Rogue Valley residents that they, too, can benefit from consuming blended cocktails of raw leafy greens, fruit and water during a six-week "challenge."

"I wanted to feel better," says Shirley Taylor, who works with Manich at Medford's Costco store.

Since consuming green smoothies and other raw foods five days per week over the past four months and consuming only very small portions of cooked food on the weekends, the 63-year-old Grants Pass resident says she's lost 32 pounds and no longer needs thyroid-regulating medication. It's a diet she considers long-term, not just a quick fix.

"I've tried every diet in the world and always gained it back," she says.

Because it's low in calories, a raw-food diet leads to weight loss, proponents say. They point to enzymes, however, as the diet's distinguishing factor. For food to be "raw," it can't be heated above 115 degrees, which is thought to leave vital enzymes intact. Entirely plant-based, a raw-food diet includes — in addition to fruits and vegetables — nuts, seeds, sprouted legumes and grains, cold-pressed olive oil, raw honey, apple-cider vinegar, herbs, spices and some types of salt. Most raw foods are prepared using a Vita-Mix or heavy-duty blender, a food processor, dehydrator and juicer.

His everyday diet previously consisting of Costco pizza and hotdogs, all-you-can-eat buffets and gallons of diet soda, Manich first heard the raw-food doctrine from licensed physical therapist and chiropractor Miven Donato. Manich ended up at Donato's Dophin Health and Education Center in Medford after he injured himself trying to walk off excess weight. At almost 450 pounds, Manich suffered a bout of pancreatitis in 2006, leading doctors to prescribe insulin for type-2 diabetes. He knew he needed to exercise, but suffered extreme pain in his feet and a pinched nerve in his back.

Donato thought Manich was a perfect candidate for his "healthy boot camp" with its diet of 15 percent cooked food and 85 percent raw. Within two months, Manich lost 52 pounds and stopped taking insulin. But a cruise-ship vacation with his wife, Misty, led Manich into temptation. He packed the pounds back on.

After returning to Medford, Manich received an e-mail from Donato that featured the testimonial of a woman who lost more than 100 pounds on a diet of green smoothies. This time, Manich decided to go totally raw, the only way he saw to avoid unhealthful foods. His first 100 pounds virtually melted off in a little over three months, during which he hardly exercised. Although he was hungry at first, his cravings for cooked food quickly subsided, Manich says.

"The first three weeks were horrible, and I hung in there because I knew they were just detox symptoms."

Once Manich reduced his girth to under 300 pounds, he started weight-training with Donato. In September, the two climbed California's Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48 U.S. states. Believing there's no health goal he can't accomplish, Manich says he's determined to weigh 170 pounds by Christmas, which an endocrinologist told him would never happen simply because he's too old.

"He's proven quite an amazing feat," says local health educator Linda Willis, who likens weight loss to mountain-climbing.

"Very few people can climb Mount Everest."

While fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains are the base of a healthy diet, there is no scientific evidence that cooking these foods destroys nutrients, Willis says. There are so many more interesting ways to consume fruits and vegetables than to blend them up, she says, adding that it's a waste of time to try to concentrate mega doses of vitamins and minerals in a beverage.

"As soon as you start drinking your meals, you're getting off base a little bit," she says. "It doesn't work in the real world."

Willis does agree with raw-food enthusiasts, however, that one can obtain the body's required protein from plant foods. She says she also believes a proper diet can control some serious health conditions, often without the assistance of medication. Holding a doctorate degree in health education, Willis has been teaching her program "The Balanced Weigh" for the past 20 years.

"I constantly am warning people about fads and fallacies out there," she says. "He (Manich) stopped eating all the junk food ... and that's why he lost weight."

Passing trends are plenty familiar to Manich.

"I've always had these fad diets left and right," he says. "I did the Slim-Fast thing ... that was garbage.

"I did South Beach.

"I went to Weight Watchers, and it just reminded me too much of an AA program."

Although Manich acknowledges that raw-food has somewhat of a cult following — even in Medford where he frequently attends raw-food potlucks — the diet's adherents have been more interested in his health achievements than any notion of spiritual discovery, he says. Raw-food author and lecturer Victoria Boutenko, of Ashland, has appeared with Manich on a teleconference and created a Web site for the six-week "green-smoothie challenge" at www.greensmoothierevolution.com.

Confident he's found not a fad but the route to wellness, Manich nevertheless cautions emulators to consult a physician first and undergo the necessary tests to get a clear picture of their health.

"What I did may not work for everybody else."

Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail slemon@mailtribune.com.
www.mailtribune.com
Brought to my attention by Steve Pavlina via Facebook :)Thanks Steve!!!

Fall Is Beautiful

Mama chicken with her new babies out foraging on a warm fall day.


This tree is in our driveway

Jenna Norwood's Supercharge Me

Just making sure everyone knows about this film, wouldn't want it to pass you by!
You can order it at: www.jennanorwood.com

Madison Loves Her Fruit

Maddy enjoying her green smoothie, eating organic frozen blueberries, and grapes she found at the edge of our woods today with Papa.

Maddy's Easy Green Smoothie
2 frozen bananas (you can use fresh, not frozen if you wish)
1 cup fresh water
small handful of fresh organic baby spinach leaves
Place all in a blender and blend until smooth.

Read This Story!!! What a crazy world we live in.

Raw Foodists Arrested for Trafficking Chocolate; Interrogated for "Cacao Crimes"

http://www.naturalnews.com/z024304.html

Harvest Time

Tomorrow I will spend the day dehydrating tomatoes and fresh basil from the garden so we can remember the smells and taste of our garden this winter when it is below zero outside!!!

Mono Melon Smoothie from Karen Knowler

Melons: "Eat on their own or leave them alone", as the saying goes. Well, there's a fair amount of widom in this advice, however, have you ever drunk a melon on its own?

You haven't?!

Then may I invite you to suspend all judgment and predictions and to simply introduce your melon to the blender and see what magic occurs? It really is a match made in heaven...



Ingredients:
* 1 ripe melon of your choice [Galia is my favourite melon for this recipe]

Directions
1) Simply cut your melon in half and spoon the ripe flesh out of the skin, putting the seeds to one side. If you are serving one person, half a melon will be enough, unless that person (probably you!) is very hungry!

2) Blend your melon on high speed until no lumps remain - this is your smoothie!

3) Pour into a tall glass, find a cosy corner, relax . . . and sip silently - if you can!

RAW COACH'S TOP TIPS:

* You could try adding one other fruit to this smoothie to give it a gentle twist, such as a few strawberries, raspberries, blueberries or blackberries. This will make for a stunning looking drink as well as new tastes to delight you and your guests.

* This is a great breakfast as it is just fruit. If drinking this at any other time of day, to avoid gas and bloating you must drink on an empty stomach, as all fruits digest the quickest of all foods, but melon is the fastest -and when blended faster still! So wait at least 3 hours after eating your last meal to drink this - hence the breakfast suggestion!

* This one won't keep well in the fridge, so best to drink it as soon as possible. Why wait anyhow?!
Karen Knowler, The Raw Food Coach publishes "Successfully Raw" - a free weekly eZine for raw food lovers everywhere. If you're ready to look good, feel great and create a raw life you love get your FREE tips, tools and recipes now at www.TheRawFoodCoach.com.

Do It Now

If you have hard work to do, do it now. Today the skies are clear and blue, tomorrow clouds may come in view, Yesterday is not for you, do it now.

If you have a song to sing, sing it now. Let the tones of gladness ring, Clear as the song of the bird in spring, Let every day some music bring, sing it now.

If you have kind words to say, say them now. Tomorrow may not come your way, Do a kindness while you may, loved ones will not always stay, say them now.

If you have a smile to show, show it now. Make hearts happy, roses grow, Let the friends around you know the love you have before they go, show it now.

The Book Of Good Cheer, 1916

Are you and your family being poisoned?

http://www.foodmatters.tv/hidden-ingredients.html

Chocolate Smoothie - by Karen Knowler

Sustainable Living Tip

Battery Facts

1. One rechargeable battery can replace up to 1,000 disposable batteries.
2. According to the EPA, Americans purchase 3,000,000,000 (three billion) batteries every year.
3. For pollution-free recharging, choose "green electricity" (made in Maine from hydropower and wind facilities). Or choose a battery charger with a built-in solar panel or adapters for plugging in to a solar panel.
4. Small disposable alkaline batteries (sizes AAA, AA, C and D) start at above 1.5 volts and drop unevenly to 1.0 volts during discharge, whereas nickel metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeable batteries stay at a relatively constant 1.2 volts for most of their discharge cycle.
5. A nine volt battery is six smaller 1.5 volt batteries wired in series.
6. Older types of NiMH rechargeable batteries would self-discharge at about 1% per day, requiring frequent recharges. Newer NiMH batteries lose only about 0.07% of their charge per day, making them much more practical for many uses.
7. NiMH rechargeable batteries are qualified as non-hazardous.
8. Lithium ion rechargeable batteries (typically used in laptops and cell phones) are also qualified as non-hazardous.
9. The older nickel cadmium (NiCad) rechargeable batteries are hazardous and must be disposed of as household hazardous waste. Avoid this type of battery if possible.
10. Lead acid rechargeable batteries (typically used in cars and uninterruptible power supplies) are hazardous and should be recycled.
11. Disposable alkaline batteries manufactured before 1996 could contain mercury and should be considered potentially hazardous.

Making Green Smoothies Your Kids Will Love

This video comes from Green Smoothie Girl.

Dancing With Your Inner Child

Almost Time To Plant The Garden In Maine

Maddy Is Walking!!!

My grandbaby Maddy started walking this past Tuesday! Isn't she sweet?!

Visit Your Local Farmer's Market

Most of the Market's are opening this month in our area, Maine. We have to go ALL winter searching for fresh produce. I love this time of year because you can actually get fresh produce that is locally grown and organic. There is such a taste difference between grocery store produce and produce fresh from the farm that morning.

Plants For Clean Air

Houseplants absorb common household gases like ammonia, benzene and formaldehyde. What an easy way to improve the quality of the air you breathe inside!

Welcome to the world Beau

My nephew Beau was born this morning!

Wood Seed Starter Boxes

My husband came up with these great seed starter boxes made from natural wood, they are an alternative to the usual plastic sectioned seedling trays. They have drainage slats in the bottom and should last for years.
Another way to say NO to plastic and keep it out of the landfills.
These are also available to purchase. For ordering info email littleladsbasket@yahoo.com

Bug Repellent Recipe

Here is a recipe for an all natural bug repellent to use while working in your yard

4 drops eucalyptus essential oil
4 drops rosemary essential oil
4 drops tea tree essential oil
2 teaspoons witch hazel
8 teaspoons distilled water

Combine all essential oils and distilled water in a dark colored spray bottle and shake well. Spray mixture directly on exposed skin. Be careful to not spray near the eyes or mouth.

www.therawdivas.com

Celebrate Earth Day

Just a few tips in honor of Earth Day

1. Donate used computers instead of sending them into landfills.
2. Install a low-flow shower head.
3. Wash clothes in cold water.
4. Try using cloth diapers even if it is part-time.
5. Put a timer in the bathroom to remind you to take shorter showers.
6. Take excess weight out of your car to save gas.
7. Keep your tires inflated to the proper level.
8. Eliminate impulse spending.

Tomorrow is Earth Day - Here is a green tip

Catalog Choice (http://wwwwww. catalogchoice. org

Tired of junk mail? This link helps you to not receive
unwanted catalogs.

Spring in Maine - Finally

Dreamsicle Shake

milk and meat of young Thai coconut
2 frozen bananas
3 dates
juice of a ripe navel orange (just hand squeezed straight from orange into blender)
1 Tbs honey
1 tsp vanilla
ice

Place all ingredients, except ice, in blender and blend til smooth! Add ice cubes gradually until desired consistency reached.

This is just like those Dreamsicle ice cream bars we ate as kids! YUM!!!

- from Michelle Reeves, From SAD to RAW

I tried this and absolutely LOVED it. -Laura

Amazing "Raw" Peanut Sauce

(Makes 2 cups)

1 cup raw and creamy almond butter (MaraNatha or other good brand)
2 tablespoons fresh ginger
1/2 cup water (to thin)
4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup maple syrup
3 tablespoons Nama Shoyu
4 teaspoons sesame oil (optional)
2 to 3 cloves garlic, peeled
1/2 jalapeño pepper

Blend all ingredients at high speed until smooth.

The dressing will become thicker after a few days in the fridge.
Add water when needed.

It is truly amazing as a salad dressing. You can also use this sauce
as a dip for carrots and other vegetables, or a sauce on cooked
vegetables.

This dressing will keep for several weeks in the refrigerator.

(From The Raw Food Detox Diet by Natalia Rose)

The Adventures of Rawman & Green-Girl

I just had to pass this along. It is a cute and must see animation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lzWVk2eKmA
They also have created a website as well.
http://www.rawmanandgreengirl.com

Stuffed Dates Snack

Super easy snack recipe - Only 3 ingredients

Dates (preferably Medjool)
Almond Butter
Whole Raw Almonds

Carefully slit dates with a sharp knife to remove pit.
Fill date with 1/2 tsp. almond butter, then gently press a whole almond into the date.

Why Babies Should NOT Eat Cereal

We have always believed that as soon as you start a baby on cereal they sleep better, grow better, etc. Sometimes it is important to question advice given to us by our family, well meaning friends, pediatricians, etc.

Babies have no ptyalin, the enzyme necessary to break down starches, until around the age of eighteen months. They cannot metabolize starches before this age. This also includes bread, cereal, potatoes, cookies and chips. All of these foods "clog up" our babies. These foods make excess mucous in children which is why you see so many little ones running around with runny noses!!! Babies over 6 months of age should be eating a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables and of course mother's milk.

Wealth of Information Just By Clicking on The Natual Hygiene Link Below

Ponder This...

How is a man who is already sick to be made less so by swallowing a substance that would sicken, even kill him if he were to take it in a state of health? ~Herbert M Shelton, Natural Hygiene 1968

Pat's Raw Broccoli Soup

Pat, who lives in New Jersey, had this to say about her recipe: “Raw and absolutely delicious!”

3 cups distilled water
1 cup raw almonds (soak in distilled water overnight and drain)
1 teaspoon honey
2 cups chopped broccoli
1 avocado
1 clove garlic
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon chopped onion
1 teaspoon Celtic Sea Salt (to taste)
½ teaspoon cumin
pinch of cayenne pepper (to taste)

Blend water, almonds, and honey until smooth. Then add in the rest of the ingredients and blend until creamy. ENJOY!

*ORGANIC INGREDIENTS ARE ALWAYS RECOMMENDED.

Go Raw Now Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3xOU2tLl7g

Green Smoothies

Green smoothies are getting lots of attention these days, and with good reason.
They are packed with lots and lots of good-for-yous.

They are super easy to make, easy to take to work, school, or anywhere.

One of the easiest recipes for green smoothies:

3 frozen bananas
1 1/2 cups pure water
handful of washed organic baby spinach

Give all three a whirl in the blender and enjoy. This is a great snack for little ones.

Give your digestive system this simple test

If you want to find out how efficient your digestive system is at moving things through, drink a small amount of beet juice (best if mixed with carrot or apple juice) and count the number of hours it takes before your stools appear reddish. Beet juice is a powerful liver cleanser.

Beets are a great source of Vitamin C, Iron & Magnesium. They also contain a good amount of dietary fiber, Folate, Potassium and Manganese.

Almond-tahini dressing

1 tbsp. raw almond butter
1 tbsp. raw tahini (sesame seed butter)
6 oz. fresh apple juice

Combine all ingredients in a glass jar. Cover tightly and shake until thoroughly mixed. Keep in the fridge. Will be fresh for up to four days.

Great Vaccine link - please read

http://www.momsagainstmercury.org

http://www.whale.to/vaccines.html

Scroll all the way down to see great quotes from physicians and cartoons that will make you think twice about letting your precious child be injected with these horrible ingredients.

Play with a child. There are only 6,574 days between a child’s birth and their eighteenth birthday. Don’t waste a single one.

t takes courage to be healthy! It takes courage to experience the freedom that comes with this autonomy. It takes guts to choose something authentic over disapproval and to choose it time and time again. Have the courage to accept the responsibility for your own choice. Have the courage to be the very unique person you really are! We are always willing to pay someone togive us our health. We must instead, as Health Seekers, learn to do it for ourselves!! ~Dr. Herbert M. Shelton

I HAVE long and publicly taught the doctrine that, as a general proposition, man causes his own sickness and suffering-that in almost all cases, he is more or less to blame for being sick, and that he as truly owes society an apology for being sick as he does for being drunk.
--Sylvester Graham, July 13, 1884

Fear of Raw Food

By Victoria & Valya Boutenko

Victoria: Ever since I can remember myself, I always loved to eat. I had a good appetite and mealtimes were always pleasant for me. Both my parents and my nanny cheerfully complemented me if I finished everything on my plate, so I decided that eating was a great merit and this was my first dietary lesson: the more one eats, the better.
When I was about five years old and my parents took me to a day care, I remember how shocked I was to meet some children that didn’t like to eat, who were sitting and sobbing for a long time at the table, refusing to finish their plates. As a punishment, teachers didn’t let those children play and insisted that they stayed at the table until their plates were empty. I felt so much sympathy for my friend Nina who couldn’t finish her plate of porridge that I often I would trade her full plate with my empty one when the teachers were not watching. I gladly ate her porridge as well as my own.

One day, when I missed the ball in a game and had to step out, I made a curious observation: the children who didn’t like to eat had a light body constitution, and the ones who ate well, were a lot heavier. I realized that there was a conflict between the events in reality and the preachings of my parents and teachers. As I watched the children on the playground I saw that it was noticeably more challenging for the heavier children to run around than it was for the ones who were lighter. At the time, grown-ups represented an impeccable authority to me, so I decided they could not be mistaken and continued to eat as they instructed me to. Adults told me that if I wanted to grow, I had to eat “well” and I didn’t question them in this matter.

As a result of the dietary habits I acquired as a child, I went through a lot of pain and despair in my life. It took me almost 50 years to discover a healthy way of eating. Even though I now feel vibrantly healthy, I still realize that too much of my life force has been wasted on fighting un-necessary illnesses caused by wrong eating habits set up in my childhood. I often wonder how I would look and feel if I had led the lifestyle I lead today from the beginning of my childhood.

Valya: I realize how fortunate I have been to be introduced to a healthy lifestyle at an early age. I often wonder where I would be today if I hadn’t changed my way of living. I was born with asthma. Almost every other night I was unable to sleep due to an inability to breathe. I was told that I would have asthma for the rest of my life and I watched with dread as it continued to steadily worsen every year. Besides my complicated breathing condition, all of my early days I constantly suffered with multiple allergies, colds and earaches.

When I was eight, my family and I began eating 100% raw food. Since the day I changed my diet, I have never experienced another asthmatic attack again. I am so happy to no longer be hindered by my former illnesses. Every day I enjoy brilliant health! I’m deeply grateful to my parents for helping me change my eating habits and encouraging me to understand the value of being healthy. Great health is truly the greatest gift a parent can give to a child.

Victoria: I remember how I cried all through the night in my kitchen when the doctor pronounced that my son had juvenile diabetes. I cried loudly and hopelessly, not willing to accept my son’s sad destiny to live with this sickness. My grandmother had had this same illness and she passed away unexpectedly from an overdose of insulin. It seemed like a miracle had blessed my family when my husband and I found a lifestyle that helped our son reverse his symptoms. Now that he is a healthy and quite happy 20 years old, it is now safe for me to share one other side of our family’s life that we have never spoken about before. At certain times on our journey, neighbors, co-workers, other children’s parents and some friends, have frowned upon us for our radical change of lifestyle. Both Igor and I spent countless sleepless nights in doubts, carefully rethinking whether we were doing the right thing feeding our children this “cookless” diet. There were so many things that we didn’t know at that time and there was nobody in all the world to ask for advice. Often we had to learn by trial and error. We were continuing mainly because we had great results. Three months after becoming all raw, my family ran a 10K race Bolder Boulder, that was an unbelievable achievement for every one of us and served as a confirmation that we were on the right track. Today I appreciate that, in spite of all resistance towards our lifestyle, my family has continued staying on a raw food diet. Together with Valya we are working on a new book called “Inspiring Children to Eat Healthy” where we are sharing many tips that my family has collected over time. We believe that all people should have the opportunity to heal themselves and live free of disease.

Valya: There have been several occasions when our neighbors have called social services on my parents, claiming that they were not feeding or clothing my brother and me. On one such occasion, my brother and I were home alone when a stern looking lady with a clipboard stopped by our house. When she knocked, we answered the door together. She introduced herself and asked us how old we were. We told her that Sergei was eleven, and I was ten. She could tell for herself that we were well clothed and were definitely not starving to death. “What did you have for lunch dear?” she asked my brother. Sergei sensed that this was an odd question for such a lady to ask, because she did not seem like the type to be at all interested in health food. So instead of explaining that we had been eating only fresh, organic live foods for two years and that each of us had gotten rid of our awful illnesses and that we were working on perfecting a raw lasagna recipe, he decided to tell her this: “We just came back from McDonalds where we each had a Big Mack with Fries.” This answer seemed to satisfy the lady, because she said, “Oh, okay then honey. You two have an nice evening now.” And then she left, never to be heard from again.

I did not think much of this incident until my parents came home that evening. When we told them about the strange questions we were asked they looked at each other and I could tell they were scared. They were relieved that my brother had said what he did. They warned us to do the same thing in other similar situations so that we would not be taken from them for any ridiculous reasons.

Victoria: When I heard about the story of the Andressohn family, who had their four children taken away from them for feeding them live foods, I felt obligated to give them as much support as possible. I donated a box of my books to the auction on their behalf, and Sergei and Valya have written letters to the judge. If you haven’t heard about this case, go to the following website for the most accurate information: http://www.rawfriends..com/andressohns.html I encourage everyone to support them in any way.

Valya: Now that I am 19 years old, I am wondering about my future children: will I have to feed them at McDonalds to make sure they stay with me? Will I have to hide my children in order to keep them as healthy as I am? Even official resources criticize the standard American diet for causing obesity and sickness.

Victoria: When I hear that feeding a child good, healthy organic food is called abuse, I realize that the organizations that protect children’s rights urgently need nutritional education. Yet, I wouldn’t justify separating a child from his or her parents, even if they fed this child nothing but TV dinners and candy, which have been scientifically proven to be the main cause of most degenerative disease. Being a mother myself I know that nobody in the world cares for children more than their own mother and father. That is why I believe that if parents would clearly see that feeding their children processed food results in poor health, many of parents would encourage their children to eat better. I am glad to see a lot of scientific research done recently in the world. Even our new food pyramid has been changed towards eating more fruits and vegetables. The raw food diet is becoming very popular in every state and country. I would like to inspire my readers to support the Andressohn family so that they win their case. This case is being widely covered by the media and will definitely shift the mainstream attitude towards alternative eating. It is an opportunity to help all children become healthier without fear.

RawFamily ©2005 Copyrighted material! Please reference this source when sharing this information!

www.rawfamily.com

Fresh Juice

I am going to be making some different juice combinations today. Every now and then it feels good to just have a day of juicing. It give the digestive system a rest.

This is a good juice for those just getting started:
apples
carrots
celery

Use as much of each as you like. Just remember, it is best to only make as much juice as you can drink right away. You lose precious vitamins the longer it sits around. :)

“Anything one does every day is important and imposing and anywhere one lives is interesting and beautiful.” --Gertrude Stein

Your Raw Diet 2008 ~ Designed by YOU!

Now two weeks into the New Year, chances are that you're just starting to get into your groove with life and work, and thus can finally begin to turn your attention to your diet.

Did you go raw or stay raw over the holidays or did it all fall by the wayside and now you're feeling it?

Either way, now is the perfect time to get clear on how you want to move forward in your raw life for the coming months, and the following exercise based on one taught to me by Prof Rozalind Graham is an excellent tool for helping you come to clarity, to create boundaries and to finding a place of peace with your food choices because they've been designed 100% by you!


What to do...

All you need to do is take a clean sheet of paper, ideally A4 size, and draw either a fairly large circle in the middle of the page or draw around the hand that you normally write with (this, you will note, is also likely the hand that feeds you!) When you're done, next draw a circle around the first circle/hand that allows at least an inch of space to write some more words in, then another and another, so that you have two more circles around that circle at least 1 inch apart from each other. You should end up with three outer rings and a middle area.

When you've got your circles, starting in the middle and working out list what foods, drinks etc. fall into the following categories:

1) Middle area: List all those foods you are 100% happy to eat as everyday staples to your diet
2) Next circle out: List those foods that you wouldn't ideally eat on a daily basis but if you did you wouldn't feel at all bad about it
3) Next circle out: List those foods that you wouldn't eat UNLESS you were really stuck and there was nothing else to have
4) Final circle: All those foods that you won't eat under any circumstances from this moment forward


Feel better?

Clarity is a good thing and this exercise will really help you to get clear on what's important to you and why. It also may get you thinking more or seeing things that you didn't before. Feel free to spend some time on this as what you write here can make or break your health and body goals in 2008.

When you're done, now that it's there in front of you, of course now all you have to do is stick to your own rules! So pin this up somewhere that you'll see it most of the day or fold it up and carry it around in your pocket or bag, and see how you get along for the next week or so. When you set your own rules it's a lot more healthy and fun than following someone else's idea of what's good for you and you're much less inclined to break them.

As an aside, if you're a parent or carer you can use this exercise to show others who feed your child or loved one what's okay and not. By colour coding the areas as well as being very clear with your wording you can much increase the likelihood of someone doing as you ask as it will be so clearly laid out in front of them. (You could even use it in a restaurant if you wanted to!)

Cheers to clarity and to a healthy and happy body in 2008! © 2008 Karen Knowler

Karen Knowler, The Raw Food Coach publishes "Successfully Raw" - a free weekly eZine for raw food lovers everywhere. If you're ready to look good, feel great and create a raw life you love get your FREE tips, tools and recipes now at www.TheRawFoodCoach .com.

Guacamole Dip

by Rhonda of Hallelujah Acres

2 very ripe avocados
2 Tbsp. onion, chopped fine
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 red pepper, cut fine
1/2 green pepper, cut fine
1 medium ripe tomato, peeled and chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped fine
1 Tbsp. lime or lemon juice

Halve the avocados, remove pits and scoop flesh into a glass container. Mash with a fork and blend in remaining ingredients. Serve as quickly as possible. Serve w/ fresh veggies.

Recipe courtesy of Hallelujah Acres

Get more recipes from Rhonda in her new book:
Recipes for Life... from God's Garden

My new favorite smoothie

I bought a raw food DVD a couple of weeks ago, and
it was great!!!
The recipes shown in the DVD are simple to do and taste great.
This one really caught my eye so I tried it the very next morning.

I use 2 frozen bananas
1 orange, peeled
3/4 cup frozen blueberries
large handful of romaine lettuce

All ingredients are organic,
just add everything to the blender and give it a whirl.
The sweetness of the fruit totally masks the taste of the greens. You can use any type of greens you like.

The DVD is called, Raw Food Made Easy, by Jennifer Cornbleet.

The Longevity Game

Try this!!! Answer all questions truthfully.

http://www.nmfn. com/tn/learnctr- -lifeevents- -longevity

Strawberry Banana Romaine Smoothie

From Victoria Boutenko of The Raw Family

This may sound crazy but you really do not taste the greens when combined with the fruit.
I will try to take a photo of my new favorite smoothie for tomorrow. It also has greens in it.

Ingredients:

• 1-cup strawberries
• 2 bananas
• 1/2 bunch romaine
• Water

Instructions:

Throw all ingredients in the blender and mix well.

Walnut Pate

From Raw Power by Stephin Arlin

3 cups walnuts
2-3 cloves garlic
1 small onion (or half a large one)
2-3 stalks celery
1/2 C fresh parsley
1 T fresh lemon juice
1-2 tsp Celtic Sea salt

Soak walnuts for 30 minutes then drain. Put garlic, onion, celery and parsley into food processor and process with s-blade until the ingredients are finely chopped. Add walnuts, lemon juice and sea salt. Blend until smooth, "coaching" the mixing if necessary. Makes about 3 cups. You can add 1/2 c water to the pate and blend longer to create a dip.

Variation - Use fresh dill instead of parsley.

Interesting experiment - 12 days on raw food

http://www.zenpawn. com/vegblog/ 2007/09/20/ after-just- 12-days-on- raw-food/

Almond Milk

1 cup sprouted Almonds

3 cups water
1 t raw honey Blend all together in blender until smooth. Strain through a fine strainer and chill.

- from “Living on Live Food” by Alissa Cohen

Happy New Year!!!

Resolution: Be Green in 2008

By Jana Ballinger
Care2 Green Living Copy Editor and Producer

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/resolution-be-green-in-2008.html

With the holiday festivities pretty much behind us, it's time to
start thinking about some New Year's resolutions. Self improvement
seems to top the list for most—lose 10 pounds, get that promotion—but
how about also resolving to do something good for the planet? You'll
get something out of it too: Going green often means doing stuff
that's healthier for the environment and healthier for you. And being
a do-gooder feels good!

So here are some ideas for resolutions for a greener new year:

Be Naturally Beautiful.
I hate to break it to you but that gook you put on your face and in
your hair might be doing a lot more than making you feel pretty. It
could make you feel sick.
Take this quiz and check your products for dangerous chemicals such
as phthalates or sodium laurel sulfate.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/are-your-beauty-products-safe-quiz.html
Many everyday products such as shampoos, soaps, lotions and lipsticks
contain them. Opt for organic products made of natural ingredients
and thank Mother Nature for that radiant glow.

Wake Up and Smell the Perfume.
Don't let the pretty smell fool you: Most fragrances are just chock
full of hazardous chemicals. But there are alternatives that will
leave you smelling sweet as a rose.
Get the scoop here.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/good-scents-natural-perfume.html

Eat Organic.
No two ways about it, buying organic produce is tastier and also
healthier, but it is more expensive because it's a lot cheaper to
dump chemicals on a crop. If you can't afford to buy all organic,
here's a list of the top 10 fruits and vegetables to eat organic.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-top-10-foods-to-eat-organically.html

Buy Local.
Common sense says that the farther away your food is grown, the more
fossil fuels are required to get it to you. So look for local produce
at your grocery store and make it a point to visit your community
farmers market whenever possible.
Defining local.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/how-do-we-define-local-for-produce.html

Be a Bag Lady.
Even if you're just bringing back all the paper and plastic bags
stuffed in that bottom drawer of your kitchen, always BYOB.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/easy-greening-shopping-bags.html
If you don't want to spend money on reusable grocery bags—although
there are lots of really cute options out there—look around the house
for old totes, beach bags, twine-handled fancy shopping bags or even
large baskets. Keep lots in your trunk (and don't forget to put them
back in the trunk after unloading your groceries!), plus one compact
bag folded up in your purse so you're never without it.

Clean Green.
You don't even want to know all the gross chemicals that are in
commercially made products. Not only are you breathing those
chemicals, but then you end up pouring them down the drain.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/10-pollutants-going-down-your-drain.html
Not good for you, or the Earth.
So what's the answer? Make your own non-toxic cleaning kit.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/make-your-own-non-toxic-cleaning-kit.html

Change a Light Bulb.
If just one light bulb in every home in America were switched out for
a compact fluorescent—aka CFLs—it would save enough energy to light
more than 3 million homes for a year. CFLs are everywhere now, there
are tons of different kinds to choose from and it's such an easy fix.
Learn more.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/love-your-light-bulbs-easy-greening.html

Sip, Don't Guzzle.
Even if you don't plan to buy a hybrid, there are ways to make the
car you have get the best possible gas mileage. A properly tuned
engine will get between 6 and 20 percent higher mpg, for example.
Here's a list of 12 things you can do to stretch a tank of gas.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/stretch-tank-of-gas-12-tips.html

Be a Peddle Pusher.
Sometimes a car is necessary, but just running errands around town?
Ride your bike to the post office, the grocery store, the dentist,
etc., and experience the true joy of being car-free for a while.
Bonus: Hello, exercise!
More benefits of biking here.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/benefits-of-biking.html

Be an Online Activist.
Did you know you can help stop global warming, save the rainforest
and keep pollutants out of our oceans with a single click? You can.
You can also sign petitions to let the people in power know you care
and want to make a difference.
Try it today.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/