Natural Remedy: Herbs

"The fruit shall be for food and the leaves shall be for medicine." Ezekiel 47:12

"And the leaves of the trees are for the healing of the nations." Rev 22:2

Herbs are safer to use than drugs

I have had an interest in natural healing for a few years now.  It spawned from my interest in reversing cancer naturally and is still very much deep within my bones.  I have discovered that it is not hard to get healthy or to heal certain conditions.  I also discovered that natural methods are attainable by everyday people willing to take the time to research.  Natural remedies are also low risk and economical. I share my resources and their methodology with anyone who is willing to listen.  There is certainly an awakening in society towards natural methods of healing but I find more often than not that most people are wary of using herbs or natural methods.  Just a few decades ago the use of herbs was used by the fringe hippies of society and it seemed that only the free spirited willing to venture beyond box thinking would stumble across healing.  Mainstream society still eyes natural methods as dangerous.  After all, it is not regulated by the FDA.  Well then, let's just take a look at the FDA.  When you have former heads of Monsanto at the helm of the FDA with mainstream media as their mouthpiece, do you honestly think that they have your well being in mind?  The FDA says that genetically modified franken foods are safe.  Brain cell killing aspartame (sweetener in diet sodas), msg and other excitotoxins are also stamped with the seal of approval by the FDA.  Recently there was a world-wide march against Monsanto, the mainstream media did not report on it at all.  Did you hear about it on the evening news?  I didn't.  It seems to me that the entities we have long trusted to protect the public are not really about protecting the people but protecting their own interests.  Here's a look at what pharmaceutical medications can do.  Pharmaceutical medications are responsible for 290 deaths per day and a staggering 106,000 deaths per year.  Take a look at this article that discusses how there was a scant amount of deaths or none at all attributed to the use of herbs and supplements in 2008.  Yet, the fear of using herbs still exists which baffles me quite frankly.  Yet those who have successfully employed the use of natural remedies helping many to heal have been subject to raids and imprisonment.  There is currently legislation in the process right now that would limit our rights to supplements.  It tells me that big pharma has been incredibly successful at deflecting attention and pointing fingers at their competitors who dare share their affordable methods of healing.  As a business they have to protect their highly lucrative monopoly on healing.  Since they have friends in high places (the government), they can push their weight around.

The use of herbs is nothing new.  As seen from the texts at the beginning of this post, herbs have been used for thousands of years.  There's about 188 references in the Bible on the use of medicinal herbs and in my opinion, what God intended for healing.  Think about the side effects that you can find with any bottle of medication and research the possible outcomes, invariably death is listed in the fine print.  While herbs are readily recognized by the human body, they don't just mask symptoms like drugs do and they bring about true healing.

As a side note:  If you find me in a car wreck and I look beat up, please call 911.  I believe there are some very necessary drugs that are life saving.  I, however, believe that a disservice is done to ourselves when all we turn to are pharmaceutical medications.

My sources for quality herbs

I would like to share with you my sources for herbs and methods for healing.  I have mentioned Dr. Richard Schulze with you before.  He is in my opinion, the foremost authority on natural healing.  I suggest for you to sign up for his blog, get on his mailing list, buy his books, get his catalogue and use his herbs.  If there is one word I can use to describe his herbs it would be "quality".  I helped a man reverse his liver condition using Schulze's herbs and methodology.  He was waiting for a liver transplant and also had kidney problems.  I told him, "just try a cleanse since you are already waiting."  He listened to me and did the cleanse.  His liver cleared and the side effect he also experienced was that his kidneys cleared and healed as well.  The doctors scratched their heads in disbelief.  They ran the tests again and couldn't explain how he didn't have any liver or kidney issues anymore.  I have another tidbit of info to add.  Dr. Schulze' tinctures have a shelf life of about 5 to 10 years if unopened.  So they are excellent if you want to store some for emergency use.  His emergency herbs would be cayenne and lobelia. Cayenne can help to protect vital organs during a heart attack or stroke.  Lobelia is a bronchial dilator and antispasmodic herb.  Take the time to read up on these life saving herbs.

I also like another company called doTerra.  They formulate essential oils from medicinal herbs that are an excellent source to replace all the medications you may currently have in your medicine cabinet.   I really like On Guard which is their oil combo that has been shown to inhibit MRSA (antibiotic resistant staph bacteria).  On Guard is also good for killing airborne pathogens, colds and sore throats, all sorts of bacteria and viruses. Ask for their medicine cabinet makeover flyer.  You could also purchase their family physician kit or emergency preparedness kit.  Both these kits come with a CD that instructs in the use of each essential oil combination.  doTerra has a protocol for lyme's disease which thrills me because I love running my trails in the woods and I really don't care to stop doing that because of some nasty ticks.  (Oregano, clove, cassia, On Guard and Lifelong vitality are used for lyme in various quantities depending on when infected.)  My distributor demonstrated to me how one oil (it was an essential oil of lemon or orange- can't remember which) could eat through the bottom of a styrofoam cup.  Karen explained that it destroys toxins but it is healing and alkalizing to the body.   My distritubutor is Karen Vasecka who happens to be a regional health coach for Green Smoothie Girl Robyn Openshaw. Email her with any questions: karen.rob840@yahoo.com

I also like Danny Vierra's herbal formulations or Hope for Health.   I'm sure you can find more quality sources of herbs.  Do yourself a favor and do your homework.  Don't just buy any herb from some fly-by-night company.  There are many companies that take shortcuts and buy cheap, weak herbs which are irradiated and then people wonder why they're not effective.

Miracle herb

There a lots of excellent herbs that are amazing at healing but I want to showcase one that is spectacular.  While at the seminar at Andrews University, Don Miller, a Uchee Pines trained naturopath, told us many stories of healing.  He traveled the world to remote regions to teach the local people how to heal themselves since they didn't have hospitals or doctors and suffered terribly from various ailments.  One young boy had a gaping wound that would surely become infected and gangrenous without treatment.  Don treated him with Comfrey.  I was amazed by the ability of this herb to treat his wound.  Comfrey is used to help heal joints, ligaments, muscle and tissue.  The boy's leg was saved and healed well.  Comfrey grows like a wild weed and is incredibly easy to grow.  Check last link for more information on this herb and how to use it as medicine.

Controversial herb

I wanted to touch upon a controversial topic.  I am against using any kind of mind altering recreational drug.  That should be pretty clear from my blog.  I don't even drink alcohol because I like to keep my mind sharp and clear at all times. That said, I do think we should not throw out the use of medical marijuana without a second look.  It has incredible anti-cancer properties and excellent in treating seizures and epilepsy.    If you are worried about the "high", there are varieties that are non psychoactive that help to treat epilepsy.  There is also a way to use other varieties without inducing a high.  Read following article and link.  Keep it in mind if you are dealing with cancer or epilepsy.

Make your own herbal medicine

If you are a hands on person and would like to make your own herbal medicine these are the books I recommend. The Herbal Medicine Maker's Handbook by James Green,  Herbally Yours - by Penny C. Royal (this book is a reference guide to know what herb to use for what ailment) I also recommend  The Natural Remedies Encyclopedia by Vance, Ferrel, Archbold, M.D. and Cherne, M.D.  This book is excellent and lists about 700 medical conditions and what protocol to follow in reversing them.   When growing herbs be sure to purchase non-gmo heirloom seeds.  Horizonherbs.com is a good source for medicinal herbs.  I noticed that naturalnews.com sells non gmo seeds.  Institute for Responsible Technology has a non gmo seed finder on their site.

It's very satisfying to be able to reverse medical conditions naturally.  Healing shouldn't be expensive or unattainable.  Read, read, read through the sources I provided.  I'm sure you can find other natural remedy sources, especially on Amazon.  Here's to your health!

Enjoy the Journey!

The Food Revolution Summit 2013

I was not planning a post for today at all but I saw an online event that I thought I should pass onto you.  It begins on April 27 and runs until May 5.  It is sponsored by the same people who organized the Cancer World Summit.  This online event is called The Food Revolution Summit 2013.  Yet again, they have quite the lineup of excellent speakers.  I recently had the honor of meeting Jeffrey Smith at the GMO-free D.C. event.  He will be speaking at this online summit.  One of my first introductions to the scary way conventional food is produced was by reading John Robbins' book, Diet For a New America. Read it and weep!  Also take time to read his introduction to this event.  They will be covering some very important issues in regard to how our food is being produced and the far reaching implications of it!  Please Facebook, tweet or use any other social media to spread the word! 

Need a Beauty Makeover? Head To Your Produce Aisle!

One Update

If you live in the Washington D. C. region, you may be interested in attending an event hosted by GMO free D.C. "An Evening with Jeffrey Smith."  It will take place on April 16 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.  More information about the event is posted on their Facebook page.

Need a Beauty Makeover?  Head to your Produce Aisle

 I'm sure you have seen medications for acne and other skin disorders.  I don't want to name names but you probably have seen them.  Sometimes acne is an attempt by the human body to rid itself of toxicity.  So what do many people do?  They medicate themselves for clear skin, forcing the body to hold onto toxins it clearly does not want.  A better approach is to detoxify the body by eating cleansing foods and avoiding putting toxic substances on the body like conventional body lotions, perfumes and especially acne medications.  Flood the body with live, raw enzymes and antioxidants, eliminate acne inducing foods like dairy, fried and processed foods and the effects can be absolutely amazing!  Natural Society has a list of natural remedies you can look into if you are dealing with acne. If you have followed this blog for a while, you may remember this link which I shared with you in the past.  Check out these before and after pictures of people who have chosen a 100% raw food diet.  I envy people who can do this.  I ate 90 to 95% raw for two years.  I have since changed and now eat 75 to 80% raw.  Initially I felt like a failure when I backed off of nearly 100% raw food, but I have since changed my perspective.  My diet is still very detoxifying and satisfying to me.  I felt like I wasn't quite right on so much raw.  My energy levels increased when I added back in some cooked food.

I want to share another amazing trans-formation of someone who enjoys a detoxifying, plant based diet. I follow celebrity nutritionist Kimberly Snyder.  She recently shared her before and after photos and I was floored.  She is a stunning beauty, but before she improved her diet she struggled with weight and acne.  Take a look at her photos and you'll be amazed as well.  Take the time to read her post.  Kimberly is vegan and eats a lot of raw, detoxifying foods, but she isn't 100% raw.  For those of you who might be beating yourselves up trying to go 100% raw, you don't have to!  Kimberly also has a fantastic new book Beauty Detox Foods that is already a New York Times bestseller!

Enjoy the Journey!

Monsanto, Needless Medical Procedures and the Sad Search for Integrity

When I was about 18 or 19 years old I picked up a copy of Victor Hugo's Les Miserables.  It was the unabridged version, all 1400 pages of masterful classic literature.  By the time I was done with this book, my emotions were reeling with the endless themes I came across.  So many of them!  Musicals can be an acquired taste for some, but I was no less impressed by Claude Michel Schonberg's exquisitely crafted musical rendition of this timeless tale.  He managed to encapsulate the story in three hours of memorable music that I found positively haunting.    I suppose the aspect I appreciate most in this story, and one of the character traits that I hold in the highest regard, is integrity.  Would this story have been as good if integrity were absent?  Without integrity society is left with nothing but heartless cut-throats clawing their way to the top.  It separates one who espouses it and sets him or her apart in such a marked way.  Maybe it stands out so much to me because when there is an absence of it, such dark ugliness can be the end result.

When I come across corporations like Monsanto I am just completely aghast at how evil they are.  Monsanto in particular parades around behind the guise of selfless humanitarianism. Rhetorically it sounds pretty good.  They supposedly exist to help eradicate hunger.  In actuality the truth about this corporation is far from that.  They have left devastation, human suffering and the failing health of millions in their wake.  What is frightening is how it seems that their end game is to control the world's food supply.  If you want to catch a glimpse of what Monsanto is about, I encourage you to watch this clip.  It is only about 10 minutes long. This clip pretty much sums it up. Another documentary that is very informative can be viewed here.  Monsanto has recently filled for immunity against litigation and has placed itself above the law.  Their representatives even wrote the legistlation!  Originally when I began this post, I was requesting that you send a message to Obama to veto this measure.  Unfortunately, I have since received an email that stated that Obama has already signed it into law.  Here is another article by Newsmax in regards to this story.  According to this article, it didn't even hit the congressional floor for discussion. Is this really the United States of America?  I thought this kind of thing only happened in dictatorial third world countries.

There is yet another facet to this problem that I find disturbing.  Apparently, we have recently lost the strongest voice of support for organic farming at the USDA.    It doesn't take a genius to be able to see problems down the pike. I personally plan to collect heirloom seeds for fruits, vegetables and medicinal herbs.  I don't ever want to come to the point where I cannot find the kinds of food I want to eat.  I like to see the glass half full, but there's nothing wrong with planning for the worst and hoping for the best.

I am suspicious of pharmaceuticals and conventional medicine.  There are times, such as with emergencies, that they are very necessary. But more often than not, people would do far better in seeking the root cause of their illness and searching for alternative methods for healing.  Above is a graphic for a documentary that you should watch titled Escape Fire.  Please watch the trailer.  Very interesting.

Lastly, there is a book that was recently published by Dr. Makary who is a surgeon at Johns Hopkins.  He candidly and openly discusses the fact that alarming medical mistakes occur in our hospitals. The name of the book is "Unaccountable".  Please take the time to watch his interview with Dr. Mercola here.

Sadly integrity has fast become a scarce commodity.  It is my opinion that everyday people like you and me are ultimately responsible for our own health. I appreciate guidance from those who are trained, but I don't like handing over my trust to someone else in helpless resignation expecting miracles - especially if they practice conventional medicine. When it comes to my health, the buck stops with me.  A trustworthy professional can help me find the root cause of my problem, but only I can make the necessary changes to my diet or lifestyle and put advice into action.  My challenge to you is to read, study and investigate.  Seek help, but know that you are the only one who ultimately can achieve the health you are looking for.

If you are currently looking for an alternative method for healing, here are some suggestions as to where you can begin your search.  Read Dr. Richard Schulze's books. Physician's Committee For Responsible Medicine has a list of practitioners they recommend.  The first site is holisticmedicine.org and the second is Dr. McDougall's list of physicians.  I also trust Michelle Ross, C.N.

Have a good day!

The Unexpected Benefits of Grounding

It's spring time in Maryland and I'm thrilled.  I love to see the snow drops and crocus flowers popping up out of the ground this time of year.   It is cold today but I don't care.  My favorite season is right around the corner and that's enough to send my spirits soaring.  I love the warmer weather, the fragrances, colors and sounds of the season.  One of my favorite things to do has always been to walk barefoot in grass.  As much as I was scolded by my mom for doing so, I never understood why I loved it so much, I just did.  As I have become acquainted with grounding, or earthing, I have a better understanding why I so love being outside soaking up rays and walking barefoot in the grass.

Earthing/grounding sounds like a concept that originated with some Eastern swami guru.  I can imagine an aging man sitting in lotus position and chanting "om." I can imagine him communicating the idea of connecting with your surroundings, the earth, the universe....  But the origins of earthing are far from what I just described.  As a matter of fact, there are many scientific studies that I find absolutely astounding.  It's no secret that I love alternative methods for healing.  There is a limit to what I will ascribe to, however.  Without naming therapies, I prefer therapies that are more tangible in nature.  I need to be able to wrap my brain around an idea and understand it.  I prefer to see studies and science.  Just my personal preference.

Just a Cable Guy

Clint Ober is just a cable guy (his term to describe himself, not mine).  He had been an extremely successful businessman "specializing in developing cable television systems, as well as broadcast television and microwave communication properties."  (Earthing - Ober, Sinatra and Zucker p27)  During a time of self reflection over his life accomplishments, he had a growing desire for purpose in his life.  It was during this time that he had a stroke of genius while watching tourists walk by.  He looked at their feet and understood that they were insulated from the electrical current that is available by walking barefoot.  Clint had a firm grasp on the properties of electromagnetic radiation.  He understood that for the picture quality to come through crisp and clear on a television, the lines had to be grounded and insulated from all the extraneous air waves that pollute our environment.  He wondered what would happen if people were to connect electrically to the ground.  He then proceeded to find out. He first started by grounding himself and then grounding his friends.  His experience was to sleep so soundly that he did not stir until the next morning.  His friends were beginning to feel really good as well.  They mentioned being able to get off medications because arthritis symptoms were beginning to disappear.  Clint Ober had just stumbled upon a very important concept unknown to the "civilized world."

Ober also had a recollection of a Native American family he knew growing up in Montana.   His friend's sister became very ill with scarlet fever.   Her grandfather proceeded to dig a pit, built a fire close by and set the girl in the pit while he watched over her.  She consequently recovered very quickly.  He remembers the adults telling the children.  Take your shoes off, they will make you sick.  The native people of this land are far better acquainted with nature than the rest of us "civilized" people are.  Our ignorance of the gifts found in nature has been much to our detriment.

What Are Negative Ions/Electrons?

So what is it that we receive when we walk barefoot on the ground?  They are called negative ions.  It's the reason why so many people love to walk barefoot on the beach, spend time in natural settings or, as in my case, run trails in the woods.  The air is replete with negative ions.  Compare that feeling to being cooped up stories high in an office building, perhaps in a cubicle behind a computer screen.  No sun or fresh air and no electrical connection to the ground, and nothing but endless electrical lines, computer cables, electronics cords, etc. emitting harmful electromagnetic radiation. On the contrary, naturally occurring negatively charged ions or electrons behave like antioxidants in the body, discharging unhealthful positive ions.  (When it comes to electrical charges in the body, "positive" is bad and "negative" is good.) Negative ions help to calm inflammation and enhance sleep.

Some Interesting Clips

Now this is the stuff that blows me away! If you've already seen this clip from Longevity Now conference, skip it - but I had to share it again.  You can read  this article from natural news or this one.  Watch this excellent video by Dr. Sinatra at heartmdinstitute.com.  Even the illustrious Dr. Oz chimed in on the practice of grounding.  So what is the take away point from this post?  As the weather gets warmer, get outside with your bare feet and enjoy the great outdoors!  Take time to do so everyday.  If you have trouble with sleep or inflammation, consider grounding yourself while you sleep. Grounding sheets can be costly but there are other less expensive options like just buying a grounding pad.  A friend of mine who is electronically inclined made his own for less than twenty dollars. 

As For the Scoffers...

I recognize that there are many scoffers in regards to this practice.  There are a lot of things I believe that people would laugh at.  I believe that cancer can be reversed naturally.  I believe that if the human body can heal, it is in spite of  the medications we subject it to.   I believe that there is an intelligence and purposeful support of life behind the healing properties of the natural world.  The food and herbs that grow from the earth imbue healing and strength to the human body by design and not by accident. Grounding or earthing is just another piece of the puzzle that fits in so well.  

Consider Also: 

Artificial lighting during the night shift triggers breast cancer in women - but moonlight is the exception.  Did you know that if our planet's orbit were shifted by even a slight margin, it would be unsuitable to sustain life?  Is it any wonder I have such a fascination with the natural world?  What also amazes me is how the ingredients for healing are so much more affordable than conventional medicine.  I mean, come on!  Dandelion greens have anti-cancer properties? Wow! The humble ingredients and methods have outperformed and confound the methods of the lofty and the learned!  With all the talk of nationalized healthcare, all we need to do is look to natural methods for a more economical and far more effective way to create health.  Then hospitals could serve a better purpose - treating emergencies.  How's that for some juicy skeptic fodder?

Enjoy the Journey!

Dr Michael Greger at Great Sage

 It was great to go to Dr. Michael Greger's lecture at Great Sage.  He shared an abundance of information that was so valuable.  In a cyber world where information is liberally shared, how do you learn to navigate through it all and find what is truly sound and good?  I appreciate what he had to say in this regard.  What is good will rise to the top.  I personally do appreciate when ideas are backed by studies.  Science does make for better ground to stand on.  Even before looking at the studies, my reason for believing that the vegan diet is best is that it is the diet of the longest lived people in the world.  If you want to avoid medications as you grow older, live longer and stronger, the vegan diet is the way to go.  Be sure to get on Dr. Greger's mailing list.  Excellent information!

I have no intention of replicating his lecture, but I will share some of the highlights.  There is nothing quite like a vegan diet to stop cancer in its tracks.  Watch this if you haven't already.  A lacto-ovo vegetarian diet does not come close to the stopping power of a vegan diet.  Dr. Greger was clear that a vegan diet should comprise of whole foods including both cooked and plenty of raw fruits and vegetables.  This means vegan foods that are not processed.

Another stellar accomplishment of the a vegan diet is how it can prevent or reverse several conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, COPD, kidney failure, respiratory infections, etc.  Many times one can see results within two weeks of changing their diet.

The last aspect of the lecture that stood out for me was that a vegan diet can improve one's mood.  I have touched upon this before.  It really can do wonders.

If you would like to see his lecture, you can view it here. It is titled Uprooting The Leading Causes of Death.  I felt so honored to meet Dr. Greger!  If you want cutting edge scientific information on nutrition, I highly suggest you visit his site as often as possible or better yet, get on his mailing list!

Enjoy the Journey!

Chemicals in Body Care Products

When I was a little girl I had (maybe still do) a daredevil tomboy streak in me.  I would just about give my mother a heart attack when she found me scaling the door jams of my house and hanging out by the ceiling.  I would often slide down the banister of my house, climb trees and do anything that would give me an adrenaline rush.  My mom tells me that I even would swing from the drapes - yikes!   I also had a lot of friends who were boys.  Despite the fact that I enjoyed hanging out with the guys, I became very aware of girlie things.  Yes, I do enjoy more exciting things but when it comes right down to it, I am a girlie girl.  I love sun dresses, handbags and shoes and everything that makes me feel feminine.  Growing up I often would go into department stores in Boston with my mother.  Anyone familiar with the now defunct Filene's?  (Remember The Running of the Brides?  Very similar to the Running of the Bulls if you ask me.)  I loved to sample flowery lotions, designer fragrances and cosmetics.  When I slathered on the samples, I never stopped to think about what I was putting on my skin.  I always trusted that if it came from a fancy cosmetic line with some frou frou French name and a fat price tag that it had to be good.  Well, as with almost everything else that is manufactured in a chemistry lab, maybe it just isn't good for us.

There are certain tenets or axiomatic truths of health that we should cement into our brains and I think that this is one of them: Everything that you put on your skin gets absorbed and goes right into your bloodstream.  The thought becomes even more sobering when hearing that women who have breast cancer have been found with a high percentage of parabens in their breast tissue.  Other studies indicate that chemicals can increase the risk of diabetes.  The products obviously don't need to be expensive or high end to be harmful.  I see brands that look like they might be more natural by the way they are packaged.  A closer look reveals that the manufacturers can make them look natural, but the ingredients are far from it.  Think about everything that we expose ourselves to -- deodorants, shampoos, body lotions, hair spray, mouthwash, toothpaste, etc., etc.  Therefore, being careful to not expose ourselves to chemicals becomes a very critical component of reversing or preventing cancer.

Bear in mind that the cosmetic industry is not regulated.  If products need to be tested on animals, then the red flag goes up for me.  Some natural products don't need to be tested on animals at all because they are plant based and not harmful.  Unfortunately, not all natural products are created equally and some natural products do carry chemicals that aren't good. Here is a list of chemicals that are harmful and a list or sources for body care products that I trust.

The Culprits

Harmful ingredients include isopropyl alcohol, mineral oil, petrolatum, PEG polythylene glycol, PG propylene glycol, sodium laurel/laureth sulfate, sodium flouride, chlorine, diethanolamine (DEA, TEA, MEA), FD&C color pigments, artificial fragrances, imidazolindynyl urea, DMDM Hydantoin, Iodoprotynyl butylcarbamate,triclosan, phenol, phthalates and parabens.  I'm sure this list is not exhaustive, but it will rule out most everything at your local drug store.

Natural Product Resources

You don't need to go to the sources listed here. I'm sure if you search you could find clean ingredients in the products you find, but I'm just offering options in case you don't want to search. You can find clean products at health food stores or order online. (Check Trader Joe's.)  You could also make them yourself.  Here are some great sources:  (Please click on the title of each section for the link.)

Nadine Artemis - Living Libations.  

Nadine is a true flower child that is so in-tune with natural ingredients and has a great knowledge of their effect on the body.  She has an extensive line of body care products that are truly all natural.  Check out her body care line that includes lotions, dental care, shampoos, deodorants.  She also has a line of products for men.  If you have the time, check her out in these two clips where she discusses the harmful effects of petroleum (petrolatum) on the body.  These are excellent clips!

Vapour Organic Beauty

Vapour's line of cosmetics is probably among the best that I know with a high standard of purity.  They carry an extensive line of cosmetics which includes skincare, nail polish and perfume.  Their philosophy and commitment to using clean ingredients resonates with me.  Take time to look at what they put into their products here.  Vapour Organic Beauty, Tata Harper and Sally B's Skin Yummies are favorites of Celebrity Nutritionist Kimberly Snyder.

Eniva

Eniva has a couple of different body lotions, shampoos and lip balms that are clean.  Go to their beauty section to find these products.  The manufacturers to these products are also committed to using safe ingredients.

Mountain Rose Herbs body care products

Mountain Rose Herbs

You may remember that this is my source for coconut oil.  If you want to make your own body care products, they carry ingredients you may want to use. If you are like me and don't care to go to such great lengths, you could just purchase their clean body care products.  They also have products for men.   I find their prices to be much more reasonable than some of the other sources I have listed.

Longevity Warehouse

If you haven't already noticed, I'm a big fan of David Wolfe, The Longevity Now conferences and Longevity Warehouse.  I trust this organization to be committed to the cleanest products using the highest grade organic ingredients.

Tonya Zavasta

Remember this ageless woman?  She refuses to get any wrinkles and manages to do it naturally!  She has a great line of beauty products which includes hair, skin and dental care.

Sally B's Skin Yummies Lip gloss

Sally B's Skin Yummies

Sally has a great cosmetic line as well as a line for bath and body care products that are more reasonably priced.  She also carries deodorants and fragrances that are safe to put on your skin.  Her lip glosses look so luxurious; they are on my wishlist!

Palette by Nature

If you are interested in safe hair color, this company seems to be conscientious about using clean ingredients.

Dr. Mercola

I like Dr. Mercola's products.  He has many low cost alternatives.  I have a hard time spending 40.00 on toothpaste!  He has less expensive, clean products you can look up on his site.  Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page to the blue section.  Here he lists the products he carries which include bath, skin, dental and feminine care.

Low Cost Alternatives:

I use pure raw virgin organic coconut oil (from Mountain Rose Herbs) to moisturize my skin.  You could also use it as a moisturizing treatment for your hair before you wash it.  Nadine Artemis mentions brushing her teeth with baking soda and then rinsing her mouth with apple cider vinegar. Whoa!  Imagine the science experiment going off in your mouth!  Green clay can be used as a facial mask.  Exfoliate your skin with skin brushing.  You can use white distilled vinegar in a spray bottle as a deodorant.  There are several low cost, chemical free short cuts you can take if you search for them.

I think it really does matter what you choose to put on you skin.  Staving off and limiting exposure to carcinogens is a big part of cancer prevention or cancer reversal -- not to mention that harmful ingredients also age you faster. I have to be honest, though. I do get exposed to some chemicals.  I do a keratin treatment for my hair once a year.  It has a small amount of formaldehyde, and other not so great ingredients, I know!  The way I see it, I do so much to detoxify my body and try to have the cleanest products otherwise, that I see this once a year treatment as an exception. I don't want to look like the late Gilda Radner (SNL) during the summer months, so I decided to just pick my battles!  Otherwise I still think its fun looking for alternatives and it feels even better knowing you're limiting chemical exposure by using these alternatives. As you clear out your medicine cabinet of the chemical laden products you may have, consider switching your household cleaning products to cleaner, greener products. You can only stand to gain better health by doing so.

Enjoy the Journey!

A local C.S.A. / Yuri Elkaim's Eating for Energy

Eating for Energy

During my visit to Puerto Rico, I had a conversation with Sergio, my brother-in-law.  He recently went on a business trip to Europe and was entertained by the businesses eager to make a deal with him.  Sergio recounted in detail the many delicious meals he enjoyed.  While having one particular dish he was completely amazed at how delicious a potato could be.  "How is it possible for a potato to taste so good?"  After a moment of reflection he concluded, "It starts in the soil."  This is an absolute truth.  The most delicious food will come from soil which hasn't been doused with chemicals or over-farmed.  The best tasting food will come from local organic  farms.  

Roundabout Hills Market Garden is a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm located in Howard county, MD, that prides itself in using age old practices for growing food.  There is something much more personal about cutting out the middleman and actually knowing who it is that grows your food.  I purchased some tomatoes, kale and herbs from them on one occasion.  They picked the produce right in front of me.  It doesn't get any fresher than that!  If you live in or near Howard County, MD, you may be interested to know that they still have some subscriptions left for the upcoming season.  Each subscription covers 24 weeks from May to November.  They also have half subscriptions available.  For more information go to Roundabouthills.com.  To search for organic farms all over the United States go to Localharvest.com.

Yuri Elkaim's Eating for Energy

I recently was surfing online for raw food information when I came across Yuri Elkaim's Eating for Energy.  I listened to his advertisement and was very interested in his program.  What intrigued me was that his recipes are tailored for people who may not have all the time in the world but want to eat raw or mostly raw.  His recipes take ten minutes or less.  He seems like a practical, no-nonsense kind of person that just wants to get the job done.  I like trying involved recipes, but honestly, who has time to prepare food like that all the time?  Often we are rushing from one appointment to the next and need something that can be prepared quickly.  Raw Food Books Reviewed gives Eating for Energy between 4 and 5 stars.  Amazon readers give this book  4.8 stars.  Might be worth looking into!

Enjoy the journey!

Raw Food Resouces/ The Dirty Dozen

I promised you resources for non-perishable raw foods.  I have found these sources in raw food preparation books or from searching the web.  I encourage you to do the same.  Of course, this list is not exhaustive but I'm sure you could find just about anything you are looking for from these sites:

Sun Organic Farms:  This business carries nuts, seeds, grains, dates and other non perishables.

Living Tree Community:  Carries nuts, nut butters, oils, sweeteners, tea, raw chocolate and many other items.

Gold Mine Natural Food Co: Lots of foods from Asia such as nori, soba noodles, wakame sea weed, nama shoyu, tamari and miso.  It also carries foods such as dried fruits, legumes and brown rice.

Champlain Valley Apiaries:  This site carries honey, bee pollen, royal jelly and teas.

Mtn Honey: More honey and honey products on this site.

Honey Gardens:  This site also carries honey, syrups, salve and body care items.

Jaffe Bros. Natural Foods:  This site carries nuts, nut butters, sproutable seeds, dehydrated fruits and vegetables, rice, legumes, spices, olives, oil and other items.

Mountain Rose Herbs:  I buy organic raw coconut oil by the gallon from this site.  Best price around.  They also carry herbs, spices, seeds for sprouting, sea weeds, teas, bath and body care items.

Raw Guru:   I really like this site for its visual appeal.  They carry an immense amount of variety including superfoods, raw cacao products, oils, nuts, grains, seeds, appliances, Himalayan and sea salt, really raw almonds (extinct in California and most of U. S. because they're all pasteurized)  Awesome site!

If you just search for "raw foods" you'll find  scores of other websites that carry a wide assortment of products that raw foodists use in their diet.

I also promised to introduce you to the Dirty Dozen of pesticide laden produce.  Some of these fruits and vegetables contain up to 67 different types of pesticides according to this CNN article.  Compound that information with the size of children and you can imagine how toxic some of this produce can actually be.  

I'm in Puerto Rico at my sister's house through the holidays.  Can I tell you how nice it is to sit in the back terrace and feel the ocean breeze?  This is a welcomed respite from a mad whirlwind of activity the past few weeks.  I wish you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday season!  Be well, be safe and be healthy!

Enjoy the Journey!

Where I Shop for Organic Produce

I have to apologize for not posting more frequently.  I'm finding it more difficult to do so as we approach the holiday season.  I'm so busy!

Anyhow, on to the subject at hand:

When my husband and I were making the decision to move back to the East Coast from California, one of the stipulations I had was that I needed to have my favorite stores within a short distance.  Two stores, that's all I was requiring: Trader Joe's and Costco.  Once I knew that they were located close to my new home, I was satisfied. I love Whole Foods, but if I were to shop there exclusively, it would break my bank.  Trader Joe's offers a great selection of reasonably priced organic foods.  Costco also carries some organic items.  Whatever I cannot find at these two stores, I will pick up at Roots, my local health food store.

I decided to "bring you along" to these stores on one of my shopping trips to give you a breakdown of what certain foods cost.  Bear in mind that these prices and items are representative of  Montgomery County, MD, which is a high cost of living area.  (Obviously, prices may vary significantly depending where you live.)

Costco: 

I buy organic carrots at Costco.  I'm going on memory here.  I pick up a 10 lb. bag for approximately $7.00.  That's cheap!  Sorry, no photos.  Nothing fancy, just a warehouse.

 

Some friendly staff whom I see on a weekly basis. 

Trader Joes:

organic walnuts, approx. 1lb.:  $5.69

organic russet potatoes, 5 lb. bag: $3.99

organic D'Anjou pears, 2 lb. bag: $2.49

organic navel oranges, 4 lb. bag: $3.79

organic Roma tomatoes, 12. oz. pack: $3.29

organic basil, 2.5 oz. pack: $2.99

organic limes, 1 lb. bag: $1.99

organic bananas, each: $0.29

organic tricolor bell peppers, 3 ct. pack: $4.29

organic kiwis, 6 ct bag: $1.99

organic gala apples, 2 lb bag: $2.49 

organic broccoli crowns, 3 ct. pack: $3.99 

organic grapefruit, 4 lb. bag: $4.49 

organic avocados, 4 ct. bag: $3.79

 I love health food stores, they speak my language!

Roots:

organic spinach, 11 oz. box: $5.99

organic green chard, 1 bunch: $2.69

I find these prices to be very reasonable.  If you don't have a Trader Joe's store near you, take the time to shop around for a grocery store that carries reasonably priced organic foods.  Another option is to search for organic farms in your area.  Local Harvest is a great site for locating farms all over the United States.  Fresh, local, organic produce will always be best.  Less transit/delivery time means more nutrition! The Green Smoothie Girl, Robyn Openshaw, has some tips on how to decide whether or not to buy organic when on a tight budget.  Check out her YouTube video here.

In the next few posts I will list sites that carry non-perishable organic foods, introduce you to the "Dirty Dozen" of pesticide-laden produce, and feature a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm.

The holidays are upon us!    I wish you and your loved ones a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Enjoy the Journey!

Useful Appliances for a Raw Food Diet

In my last post I mentioned Vitamix and Blendtec Blenders.  I would like to further discuss appliances and tools that are a great help when on a raw or mostly raw diet.  Some of these can be very costly, but well worth the investment.  They all do not have to be purchased at once (I don't own them all yet)  and many times short cuts can be made to save money in purchasing these items, like purchasing from eBay.  We think nothing of buying the best electronics and the latest phones or televisions.  Our health, however, should be of utmost importance.  Think about how you have prioritized these items and where you have been investing your hard earned dollars.  Where will you and your family reap the best returns?

High Powered Blender:  These are very helpful in making the smoothest green smoothies, soups, dressings, sorbets, sauces and dips.  I have owned several kinds of blenders and most of them break down easily.  The only two I would recommend are industrial grade Vitamix or Blendtec.  As I mentioned in my last post, Costco carries both of these at least once a year at a reduced price.  Another option would be to purchase a demo model directly from the manufacturer, also at a reduced price.  Ask customer service about their availability.

Food Processor: I use my blender most frequently.  But my food processor comes in at a close second.  I make an innumerable amount of dishes with the aid of my food processor.  Even without being raw, a kitchen isn't complete without one.  I have owned a Cuisinart for nearly a decade and a half without ever having any problems with it.  In the raw foods arena, I use this to make pates, freezer fudge, raw brittle, salsas, gazpachos and many other dishes.

Dehydrator: This week I have used the dehydrator more than ever before.  Previously, I had avoided it like the plague.  As I had mentioned before, I don't like how noisy it is, and the time it takes to prepare a meal.  But after using it and seeing how my children scarfed down the meal I prepared, it is making me rethink my position on it.  People like dehydrators because they make it possible to prepare meals that seem like they are cooked.  My kids would wring my neck if all I gave them were salads and salad-like foods.  I made Allisa Cohen's Chik-un patties (Living on Live Food) with cauliflower, carrots and sprouted lentils -- all foods that kids may not have on their favorites list.  They loved it!  I also made them brittle this week with sprouted sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, a dash of salt and enough honey to coat it all.  Another hit!  ExCaliber is my dehydrator of choice.  It has 9 trays and can do a very large amount of food at once.  The drawback is that it takes up a lot of counter space and, as I said before, it creates a constant background noise when in use.  This may be the appliance that gets stored and used in the walk-in pantry, if you have one.

Juicer: This is more of a toughie.  People have their preferences as to which they choose to purchase.  I own an Acme centrifugal juicer by Waring which is fine for using once a week.  I really like the citrus juicing attachment and how quickly it can juice.  Centrifugal juicers do have a drawback.  I can only fill a pitcherful of juice before I have to stop and empty the juicer.  Dr. Richard Schulze recommends buying a juicer like Champion that will expel the pulp while you juice.  If, perhaps, you are on a juice fast, stopping to empty the juicer several times a day can become laborious.   Greenstar  and Omega are more suited for juicing greens and wheatgrass.  These juicers take a longer time to juice.  If you want the finest quality juice, be prepared to pay for it.  The Norwalk is priced in the thousands.  I honestly don't see the need to spend that kind of money, however.  I am hoping to purchase an Omega by recommendation of a friend who juices.  Click here, here and here for a few different sites that discuss juicers and their differences.

Spiral Slicer: Of all the appliances I have listed, these next two items are the least expensive. They usually run about thirty dollars.  A spiral slicer can help you turn zuchini into spaguetti.  Allisa Cohen recommends the Saladacco.  Raw Food World has a few different brands; ask customer service which is most popular.  I have yet to buy one of these.

Mandoline: I would like to get one of these to make sweet potato and zucchini chips.  Here is a site that reviews them.

Citrus Juicer: I should get one of the manual ones like this one.  For now, I cut limes or lemons and just squeeze wedges with my hands to extract juice.  For oranges and grapefruit I use the one on my acme juicer.  It's awesome!  Yes, I'm a girl that gets excited over kitchen tools and equipment.

Before you jump the gun and make your decision as to what to purchase first, take time to consider what your needs are.  If you are very sick and need to improve your health as quickly as possible, buy a juicer. (Juice fasting, bowel detoxification and hydrotherapy, when combined, can be life saving -- including for those dealing with cancer.  Go to herbdoc.com or call 1-800 HerbDoc for books and information on how to do a juice fast cleanse at home.  Another source would be to contact the Gerson Institute.)  If you are fairly healthy, buy a blender to begin making green smoothies. 

I have never regretted spending money on these appliances.  I use them regularly.  I'm even beginning to use the dreaded dehydrator.  Hey, if it means having my kids eat raw foods, I'll go for it.

Enjoy the journey!

Food Matters Documentary and Some Great Deals at Costco

FOODMATTERS is a fantastic documentary that is an absolute must-see.  You may view it for free on their website this week only. Registration is required.  Go to foodmatters.tv to view the trailer.  Make yourself some herbal tea, get comfortable and prop up your feet.  This information is critically important.  Tell others to watch it as well!

Also, I stopped by the Gaithersburg, MD Costco today  and saw that they were having Blendtec demos and were stocking Vitamix blenders.  People have their reasons as to which of these blenders is superior.  Truth is, they both are tough as nails, long-lasting, excellent blenders.  They are worth every penny they are sold for.  I am partial to Vitamix because I was introduced to it first.  My friends and family own them, so naturally I went with Vitamix.  I love, love, love my Vitamix and I use it everyday, several times a day.  The great thing is, that you don't have to pay top dollar if you purchase it at Costco.  The price for the Vitamix was 374.99 and the Blendtec was 379.79.  To top things off, I also saw that at the Blendtec demo table, they were selling a gallon of Xagave (raw organic agave nectar) for 29.99 - a steal!  Check your local Costco to see when they may be coming to your area.

Enjoy the journey!

My Daily Menu and a Post by Kimberly Snyder

I have become successful at eating a mostly raw diet because I have made an effort to keep it simple.  My first raw prep book, although incredibly delicious, was far too time consuming.  I would never recommend it because of the endless hard to find ingredients list and time required to prepare a meal.  I am not a fan of the dehydrator.  Some like the dehydrator because it helps them prepare foods that are reminiscent of  cooked foods.  (If that's your thing, try Alissa Cohen's Living on Live Food)   I'm sure I'll make zucchini or sweet potato chips at some point but I can't stand how noisy it is or how long it takes to complete a meal.  I want it fast, quick and easy.  

First thing when I wake up I drink a tall glass of water with lemon juice.    During the sleep hours your body does not stop working.  It goes into repair mode.  Part of the labor involved during sleep is detoxifying.  The liver needs a good flush of water with lemon to help clear out the toxins.

Before I head off to the gym, I have Dr. Richard Schulze's Superfood.   The debate rages on.  To supplement or not to supplement.  I hear both sides of the argument.  If you have a good, clean diet with plenty of variety, you don't need to worry about supplementing.  But then again, even good wholesome organic produce sits on the truck en route to the grocery store depreciating in nutritional value with each day that passes.  I lean on the side of supplementing.  But not just any supplement.   I love Dr. Schulze's philosophy on creating powerful health,  and his amazing zest for living.  It has been his mission to produce the most nutrient dense supplement on the market.  (No, I'm not his employee, just a satisfied customer.)  Read here why Superfood is a superior supplement. I love Superfood because of how it is prepared. There hasn't been any major alteration to the ingredients.  They are plants that have been cut down to a small particle size and dehydrated at a low temperature to preserve the live enzymes.  B12 is a nutrient that vegetarians have a hard time getting.  Superfood is loaded with it.  Here is the ingredients list.  Click on Superfood plus- more info to access ingredients list.

When I come home after my morning workout at the gym, I prepare a breakfast with either oat groats  or buckwheat that have soaked overnight. I start the night before and soak ½  cup of oat groats in water.  In the morning I drain the water out and blend the oat groats with 1 cup of milk (almond, rice or coconut milk).  I add one large apple, a dash of salt, a dash of nutmeg and ½ tbsp or less of almond or vanilla extract.  Experiment with this basic recipe.  Instead of apples try adding pineapple with coconut milk for a pina collada flavor or  strawberries and banana.  Another breakfast idea is to have sprouted buckwheat that has barely sprouted (soak buckwheat overnight and rinse in the morning). I eat it straight with almond milk and frozen blueberries.  For those new to raw food, I would recommend having it with a fruit salad and a cashew cream sauce.  For the cream sauce soak about 1 cup of cashews for a couple of  hours, drain it and blend it with enough non-dairy milk for it to be creamy.  Add dates and a dash of salt to taste. Drizzle the fruit salad, buckwheat, and cream sauce with agave nectar.  Yum! I also make a green smoothie.  Click here for a how-to.

For lunch I make a pate from Raw Food Made Easy by Jennifer Cornbleet.  I love all her pates and spreads.  I also search online for quick, easy spreads.  I'll wrap it in a kale, collard or chard leaf with cucumber, tomato, sprouts and some lime juice or soy sauce.  (If you really want to be totally raw, use nama shoyu instead of soy sauce.)  I try to vary the greens, the pates and the sprouts that I add.

For dinner, I cook a vegan meal for my family and make a huge organic salad.  I eat the salad only.  Again, I try to vary the ingredients as much as possible. 

I snack on avocados with sea salt, crudites with a variety of  dips, raw nuts and fruit with raw nut butters.  This is the basic blueprint for my meals.  I like trying new recipes and expanding my repertoire, but I still follow this basic routine.  Many times I don't get to every meal.  I just don't get hungry for it.  My beverage of choice is water.  I also juice about once a week.  My favorite juiced drink is carrots with grapefruit and orange.  Delicious!  You don't have to follow what I do exactly but this eating plan can be a start for someone who is clueless as to what to eat when you want to eat raw.  If you desire cooked food, eat the raw food first and then move onto the cooked food. 

Drop dead gorgeous celebrity nutritionist Kimberly Snyder has an excellent post about what is wrong with the Standard American Diet, please take the time to read it here!  Kimberly has so much good information on her blog and book.  Well worth the time to read. 

This information may seem like so much to take in at first.  I recommend taking a step per week.  Try adding a green smoothie one week.  The following week try filling up on a green salad before you move onto your cooked meal. Keep reading as much as you can about plant based diets to keep your focus. Don't be hard on yourself, but continue to make small incremental steps toward healthier living.  Best wishes for a healthier life!

Enjoy the Journey!