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! 

A Moment of Silence

I got a call from my dad this morning with news of the events that are taking place in Boston right now.  He told me that the suspects attended my high school, historical Boston Latin School.  I since have found out that they attended Cambridge Latin.  Regardless, during my six years at Latin (grades 7 to 12) which is situated in the medical district, after school let out, I would frequently hop on the green line to Copley Square to get my homework done at the Public Library.  It's a beautiful area with fantastic historical architecture, gorgeous iconic landmarks and tons to see and do.  I am very fond of my hometown and have fun memories of this location.  Sadly, this is the same location of the marathon bombings.  My heart weighs heavy over this senseless tragedy and I know that this location will forever carry a different meaning for me.  My thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims and their families for both the marathon bombings and explosions that occurred in West Texas. 

Alternative Cancer Therapies on Prime Time

I recently read this article that some conventional cancer clinics are beginning to ration care.  Read the article here.  Normally anyone who is unfamiliar with alternative cancer therapies would say that would be a scary situation.  You should know me by now!  I think that it could be a blessing!  I believe radiation and chemotherapy proliferate cancer cells and make them resistant to any therapy you can try.  Every time I hear about someone who is going to start chemo, I just think, "That's it, they're gone!"  I can't tell you how many times I have wanted to yell in frustration, "There is another way!"  There are many people who are finding great success with alternative therapies. I'm so glad that Chris Wark is getting much needed recognition.  Chris Wark was on  the Ricki Lake show sharing his experience with reversing cancer naturally.  Alternative cancer therapies need to get all the recognition they deserve!

What Will You Be Doing When You're 91?

One of the results that I find most impressive from a vegan diet is the boost in longevity one gets.  A vegan diet can help one achieve their ideal body weight, stave off major degenerative diseases, and be stronger and mentally sharper into their later years.  My question today is, What will you be doing when you are 91?  Will you be in a nursing home?  Or will you still be running strong?  Take a look at this man who still is running races at age 91.  Wow, what an inspiration!

Enjoy the Journey!

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!

Pineapple Cilantro Green Smoothie and Lentil Salad

I had a wonderful green smoothie recently. It was so tasty that I thought I would share the recipe with you.  My green smoothies are usually very green!  They probably would not be appealing to someone who is starting off with them for the first time. I put in a whole lot of spinach, a few Kale leaves or whatever other dark leafy green I have on hand.  I also use fruit low on the glycemic index (that is not too sweet). This time I decided to make one for flavor.  And it was so delicious!  Here is the basic recipe:

2 cups of water
1/3 pineapple
2 apples
2 oranges
a handful of dark berries
1 handful of spinach
1 handful of cilantro
Blend in a high powered blender.


If this is not sweet enough for you, add more pineapple and dates.  Adjust the the ingredients to suit your liking.  Something about pineapple and cilantro together that is so delicious!

The following recipe has been provided courtesy of  Angelica Driskell and Infinite Kitchen.  Angelica is a figure competitor from Montgomery County, MD.  Many thanks Angelica!

Ingredients:

1lb French Green Lentils (rinsed and drained)
2 large carrots (peeled and diced)
2 Scallions (finely chopped)
2 Shallots (finely chopped)
2 Cloves Garlic (finely chopped)
4 TBS Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 TBS Red Wine Vinegar
3 TBS Italian Parsley (finely chopped)
2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Black Pepper
1 Bay Leaf
Cold Water (enough to cover lentils)

Directions:

In a large saucepan, add lentils, 1 tsp salt, and bay leaf; cover with cold water by an inch of water.  Cover saucepan and bring to a boil over medium/high heat.  Allow to cook for about 10 minutes.  Uncover and reduce to low heat. Continue to simmer until lentils are tender, approximately 10 minutes.  In a separate large pan, heat 2 TBS of olive oil.  Add scallions, shallots, garlic and carrots.  Saute for about 5 minutes until shallots are translucent and carrots are just about tender. Add remaining salt and pepper to taste.  Drain lentils and transfer to a large bowl.  Add carrot mixture to lentils.  Add remaining olive oil, red wine vinegar and Italian parsley.  Mix thoroughly and serve warm or cold.



Have a great day!

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!