Sourcing The Highest Quality Vitamin D

I absolutely love spring!  Something about fresh chartreuse green, young bulbs poking out of the ground and the busy chatter of the birds that sends my head spinning.  As a daydreaming little girl, I would get myself into trouble in school when I couldn't stay focused on the lesson because I was so enraptured with the budding trees.  Trees of all things!  It's my favorite season again and time to get back outside.  My family and I spent a lot of time in the sun this past weekend.  After such a brutal winter, we were eager to peal off layers and expose our skin to the sun.   We joined friends and headed toward the Tidal Basin to see the cherry blossoms in D.C.  My friend Don is just as obsessed as I am about living healthfully.  Of course, our conversation naturally gravitated to the topic of the sun and vitamin D.

Did you know that one of the reasons people do not get sick as frequently during the summer is because of increased sun exposure?  Vitamin D boosts immunity and is a must for anyone who is fighting cancer or any other sickness where the immune system is compromised.  The sun is also excellent for treating depression and sleep disorders.  I am a very light sleeper, believe me -it can be miserable!  However, I can sleep like a log after several hours of being outdoors.

You can imagine why I go stir crazy when I see so many articles about increased risk of cancer from the sun.  Burning plus a body that is sick from poor lifestyle habits equals a risk for skin cancer.  However, if you change the variables of the equation, you can completely change the outcome.  Sun exposure at appropriate times and duration on a body that is  saturated with phytonutrients, will boost immunity and help to increase health in the individual.  Supplementation is necessary during the winter months but nothing beats the quality of Vitamin D that is only obtainable  by sun exposure.  Vitamin D from sun exposure is water soluble which makes it much more usable by the body than vitamin D which comes from other sources.  I wanted to share an excellent article with you from Dr. Mercola.  Here is one of my posts on sun exposure where I take the time to explain how to obtain appropriate sun exposure. 

I just got word that the temperature is supposed to drop tonight below freezing.  Old man winter just won't let up!

Have a great day!

Better Kitchen Tools and Appliances

Here's where I spend a lot of my time!- My Kitchen

I was going to begin by offering excuses for my lapse in posting.  I really can't keep up like I used to.  I have resigned to the idea that it's okay.  I will post when I can.  When the demands of life shift, I have to adapt as well.  So without any further explanation, onto my post!

Update

The Raw Living Summit is taking place online right now.  Click here to tune in.


Better Kitchen Tools and Appliances

I believe in making every effort to promote a healthful lifestyle by what food I provide for my family and how I prepare it.  There are certain appliances and tools I will steer clear of.  I would like to explain why.

Microwaves

I have a microwave in my kitchen and use it periodically- but not for any of the food I or my family eat.  I had it installed for the resale value of my house.  The first reason why I limit use of my microwave is because of the electro-magnetic radiation that it emits.  Manufacturers can always make claims as to the safety of their products, I usually do not take their claims into consideration.  The second reason is because whenever anything gets nuked, all nutrition is lost.  Consider a fruit or vegetable and how it is grown this day and age.  It is first treated with pesticides, chemicals and many times genetically modified.  Consider the time in transit when being shipped to the grocery store.  Then we would add the time we store it before we eat it.  You can begin to understand how nutrition steadily declines.  If we are trying to nourish our bodies, why microwave and zap the last bit of nutrition out of our food?  I have heard of people microwaving baby formula (I just cringe at the thought!)  Microwaving will actually change the molecular structure of our food.  I heard of a story of someone who had saved blood in a blood bank before surgery.  The blood was warmed in a microwave before it was given back to the patient.  The patient died as a result.  Here is an excellent article which addresses these topics in much greater detail.

I purchased a double oven which is very handy.  The top oven is smaller and is what I use to reheat food.  It takes all of five minutes to reheat a plate of food in this section of my oven.  A counter top convection oven would also be a good alternative to the microwave oven.

Non-Stick Teflon

I avoid using Teflon because of the harmful gases they emit when heated to high temperatures.  Manufacturers will always claim that their products are safe to use, however  studies show that the gases emitted will cause harm.  Small birds die when they inhale the gases and there is such a thing as Teflon flu in humans.  There is also the concern of how the chemical Perfluoro-octanioic Acid or PFOA can be found in human blood samples, not to mention how it has polluted our water supply.  Here is an article worth reading in regards to this topic.

A better alternative is to use PFOA- free ceramic pans.  When they first became available for sale, they were very expensive.  I have noticed that they are more widely available and reasonably priced.

Plastic Cutting Boards

I once believed that plastic cutting boards were superior to wood boards.  I figured since plastic has a hard non-porous surface, it would become thoroughly cleaned when run through a dish washer.  I have been corrected on this topic.  Plastic becomes scored when used frequently which creates endless striations and fibers which are practically impossible to clean completely.  Wood on the other hand, has properties that kill bacteria over time.  It's completely amazing!  Read this article which covers the studies that have been done on this topic.  I am a firm believer that you can't improve upon what has already been done in nature. The more I read, the more I'm blown away by the amazing attributes found in natural things all around us.

Have a great day!

The Harmful Effects of Frequent Meals And Tips for Aiding Digestion

Article by Dr. Agatha Thrash

I highly respect Dr. Agatha Thrash, MD, co-founder of Uchee Pines Institute, so I'm happy to share some information from one of her recent articles (quoted below with permission). Uchee Pines is a training center for natural methods of healing.  It also has a lifestyle retreat center for health and healing where such training is applied.  I plan to follow this post with a series of posts on natural remedies. Of course, this series will be interspersed with whatever crosses my path.

I believe that frequent meals are not healthful. It is very important to help the body be as efficient as possible in the task of digestion. Taxing the body by what, how and when you eat will only accelerate the process of aging. My goal is to lighten the burden my body has to deal with by eliminating chemicals and heavy foods and aiding digestion by what and how I eat.  One weight loss idea I hear repeated often is to eat several mini-meals. The question I pose to this advice is, when does your body rest from the task of digestion?  I also hear that it helps to accelerate one's metabolism.  Okay, so that means that the body goes into overdrive because it never seems to finish it's job.  Here is a daily video by Dr. Michael Greger that states that according to research, there is no evidence that this method aids in weight loss. Dr. Joel Fuhrman states that this way of eating accelerates the aging process.  Here is a clip of his lecture at Longevity Now Conferences.  When the body is done with the task of digestion it transitions to detox mode which is crucial in slowing down the aging process.  There is also a risk of developing diseases by using the frequent meal method.  This is what Dr. Thrash says about it. "Beginning with the salivary glands, the entire digestive tract prepares digestive juices of good strength and in adequate quantities - a task that requires a tremendous expenditure of chemical and physical energy from the body...

Even nibbling on a few peanuts between meals causes stagnation of food in the stomach. X-ray studies done years ago showed that a little eating between meals delays stomach emptying by up to 14 hours or more. This stalling of food in the stomach promotes gastritis, since the stomach puts out large quantities of acid and pepsin as long as food is present. These are powerful digestants, and their overproduction is likely to cause the stomach to be come weakened, often resulting in peptic ulcers.

To avoid stomach disease, the stomach needs  to finish it's work by resting for an hour or two before getting recharged for the next meal. Therefore, five or more hours should pass between the end of one meal and the beginning of the next - with nothing eaten in between." 

Dr. Thrash ends her article by advising to eat the largest meal for breakfast since the stomach is well rested after a night of sleep.  The second largest meal should be lunch.  The third meal should be very light, like a bowl of fruit.  The third meal can also be skipped.   The longest lived people in the world eat two meals a day and if they eat three, the third meal consists of a very light meal.  I find that if I eat a light dinner or none at all, my body burns up fat very quickly and easily.

Tips to Aid Digestion

Other tips to aid digestion would be to minimize or eliminate animal products and eat a whole grain, plant based diet.  There is no fiber whatsoever in any animal product, which contributes to Americans' high rate of constipation.  Drink plenty of water.  Eat fruit alone.  Fruit digests fast (about 30 minutes) and will sit in your gut and stagnate if eaten after a heavier meal.  During a meal, eat your salads first and then move onto the heavier items on your plate.  Refrain from drinking any beverage during a meal, it only dilutes your digestive juices.  Try to eat your meals at the same time everyday.  Consider taking a probiotic supplement to support healthy gut flora.  Also consider taking enzymes.  They aid in digestion and other processes of the body.  Avoid GMO's like the plague!  They are the reason for intestinal permeability or leaky gut syndrome.  (This is the reason we have skyrocketing levels of food allergies, autoimmune diseases and other conditions.) 

My mom was shopping with a friend who commented, "Why pay more for organic when you can get it so much cheaper?"  My mom replied, "We think nothing of maintaining our cars with the best treatment, why should we then treat our bodies with the worst?" I'm not always perfect but I really want to do my best at treating my body right.  I think of my body like a highly complex machine.  I want it to be fine tuned and maintained the best way possible.  I want to have this body running strong and healthy for years to come.  After all, I only have one.

Enjoy the Journey!

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!

The Importance of Sleep

Updates

I received an email from Chris Wark which I wanted to share with you.  In this post he interviews filmmaker Ian Jacklin.  Ian recently launched his new film and site icurecancer.com. This guy is amazing!  He had me chuckling because of how he spoke in regards to the issue.  He absolutely does not mince words or tiptoe around a topic to avoid offending anyone. He brazenly lays it out flat and calls what he sees like it really is.  Please do watch the interview.  It is fifty minutes long.  If you don't have time to watch the whole thing, then at least watch the trailer to the film.  Excellent!

The Importance of Sleep

Sleep is one of the simple pleasure of life.  I love to sink into my pillow and enjoy drifting off to slumber. Doesn't everyone? Sleep is also crucial for good health. Our bodies go into repair mode while we sleep. They regenerate and repair damaged tissue and detoxify. We generate "feel-good" hormones that help to regulate our mood and reduce stress.  If you are watching what you eat and exercising, then guess when you lose weight?  The answer is while you sleep. After one bad night of sleep I look in the mirror and swear I look much older.  My energy gets sapped and my fuse shortens considerably. I covet a good night's sleep more than chocolate and that's saying a lot!

I wanted to share some tips and tidbits of information to focus on the importance of sleep, what we can do to enhance it and, hopefully, encourage you to determine to make it a priority.

Every hour of sleep you get before midnight is worth two afterward.  We produce human growth hormones as well as mood enhancing hormones in the hours of sleep before midnight. I suffered from depression the first year of each of my children's lives.  I felt like I was living in a dark cave those years.  I attribute that to a lack of sleep.  Not a fun time for me. 

Sleep in a dark room.

Women who work the night shift are at a much higher risk for breast cancer than those who work day shifts. Somehow exposure to light at night and other lifestyle factors are what trigger breast cancer for some women.  The quality of my  sleep is always better if I can address this.  There is one type of nighttime light that is an exception to this rule.  What kind of light does not trigger cancer?  Moonlight, of course!  If you are jet lagged and need to fall into your regular circadian rhythm of sleep, spend time walking in the sun - especially at sunrise and sunset.

Guard your sleep time and space.

Guard your sleep time like your life depended on it because... it actually can.  Driving while sleepy is tantamount to drunk driving in my opinion. My Dad and I are prone to insomnia.  It can be absolutely awful! If your mate is a night owl and you are dealing with insomnia, send him/her to sleep in another room if they go to bed later than you.    

Clear your sleeping area of work related items, electromagnetic radiation and clutter. Create a sleep sanctuary. At the very least, remove most if not all electromagnetic radiation. Too many people set their cell phones on their nightstands and then wonder why they can't sleep well. Unplug lamps, phones or anything that needs to be powered electrically. Televisions and their cables need insulation to avoid interference from radio air waves. It disrupts the picture quality and creates "snow" otherwise. These same air waves are interacting with our bodies' biochemistry. Such unnatural interactions are bound not to produce healthful outcomes.

One last thing to try in this category is to use natural bedding. Many people love the new car smell, not realizing that they are breathing in chemicals. New carpeting, furniture, mattresses, etc. emit chemical vapors that are harmful to the human body. Some even speculate that Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is linked to chemicals emitted by crib mattresses.

Consider grounding while sleeping.

This topic is an entire post in itself which I hope to do next time. Suffice it to say that the antidote to air wave/electromagnetic radiation is grounding/earthing. It may sound like crazy quackery until you see the studies. Amazing! I will expound upon this further in my next post. For now, view this clip from the Longevity Now Conferences. It is well worth the time to watch - it is so good. I have been grounding while sleeping for several months now. I barely experience lactic acid soreness from weight training  anymore and I do sleep much more soundly.

Go to sleep on an empty stomach.

I think that Americans have their meals planned all wrong. Quantity and timing can mean everything in terms of getting enough sleep and even weight loss. Most Americans have a light breakfast, medium quantity for lunch and a heavy dinner. Try switching this around. Have a heavier breakfast, keep lunch the same and enjoy a light dinner. You can consider even skipping a meal. The best meal to skip would be dinner. If you can't skip dinner, try having your dinner no later than 5 p.m. When you go to bed with an empty stomach your body will not have the burden of digestion while sleeping. I feel horrible if I ever go to sleep with a full stomach. I even have nightmares. If you are exercising, you're body can also go more easily into fat burning mode during sleep if you haven't eaten a meal late at night. Try it for a week and see what happens. I derive this information from the longest lived people on the planet. They typically eat only two meals a day or just have a light dinner.

Avoid stimulating foods or drinks before bedtime.

Also avoid concentrated raw nutrition such as superfoods, juiced fruits and vegetables. Believe me, they'll keep you awake. Instead of caffeinated beverages or chocolate, consider more relaxing drinks like chamomile tea. Foods with vitamin B6 help to enhance sleep. Valerian root works marginally well for me when I'm dealing with insomnia. It may work better for you. Alcohol may help in the process of falling asleep but it interferes with the body falling into  deeper levels of sleep.

Walk in the sun.

Sleeping at night is improved by a darker room, but it is also helped by spending time in the sun during the day. This is one sure-fire way of helping me have a solid night of rest. I have noticed that after a full day at an amusement park I sleep incredibly well. This happens because sunshine exposure helps the body to produce more melatonin. There are so many good reasons to spend time in the sunshine - from fighting the common cold to cancer. Consider a vitamin D supplement during the winter months. Unfortunately we cannot receive enough vitamin D from the sun during the winter months if we live in the northern part of the United States. 

I just wanted to take a moment to say that healthful living is a journey of a lifetime. It is a journey in which you never arrive because if you do, you stop growing or learning. I am, by no means, a faultless example for health-promoting perfection. I do my absolute best and am learning just like everyone else. It may take a few months and sometimes years before I implement something I have learned. You sometimes need to let the information assimilate into your brain and mull around for a bit. The key is to never stop seeking and learning. Also, it's so important is to be kind to those in your circle. Nothing is more annoying than a sanctimonious, lecturing health nut. I believe in leading others by example and by inspiring others. Lecturing never works. Just some food for thought!

Enjoy the Journey!

Some Great Posts To Read

I subscribe to several blogs and alternative health sites.  I want to stay informed of the latest and greatest.  I set my Internet start page to Natural News and I move on from there to check my email.  It's a ton of information to sift through, but well worth the time it takes.  I don't read everything down to the last letter.  I give a quick glance over articles covering topics I already know about and understand and take more time for other articles with information that is new to me.  There are times I think, I wish I would have had that article to share when I did a post on so and so.  Well, this is a post dedicated to some really good posts that I have found to be very informative.

I recently did a post titled, "Chemicals in Body Care Products".  This was a very fun post for me. As far as I knew, I had some really clean products to share. Don't get me wrong - they are good, but then I saw another post where the author mentioned that she would never use any products on her skin that she couldn't eat.  Awesome! My kind of talk! One of her tips was to go without makeup.  Agh!  I think many ladies (and men) might cringe at that one.   I know I can be lazy about wearing makeup and wear it only once or twice a week. Turns out it isn't a bad thing - aside from scaring people with my bare, naked face - yikes!  I think her list should be printed out and used as go-to resource list.  Check it out here!

Sliced Aloe Leaf

Another recent post I wrote was How to Slow the Aging of Your Skin and Possibly Reverse It.  This was also a favorite of mine.  Most people think that it is not possible to do this.  When the torrent of public opinion flows decidedly in a certain direction, you'd better believe I'll be swimming upstream against it - that's just how I operate.  Go against the flow and slow the aging of your skin!  I saw this article on aloe vera and it just goes so well with that post that I had to share it with you.  My brother-in-law is a foodservice engineer.  He once spilled melted sugar on his face.  His father kept a slab of aloe on his skin at all times as he was healing.  He only removed the aloe leaf to change it for a fresh leaf.  His face should have been scarred for life but there is not a trace of scarring on his skin.  I'm trying to keep an aloe leaf  around at all times (I really should just buy a plant!).  I have been putting some in my green smoothies and smearing the goo on my skin.  I love, love, love the products that nature provides!

I liked this post I read recently on the foods you should include as you try to lose belly fat. My tips would include drastically minimizing sugar intake, eliminating or greatly reducing gluten from your diet, eating an alkaline diet rich with fruits and vegetables (75-80% raw).  I eat fruit low on the glycemic index from Monday to Friday.  (I'll indulge on sweeter fruit on the weekends.) Crunches do nothing to minimize belly fat.  Cardio workouts are the key to burning fat and obtaining a flatter abdomen.  I have never decreased raw, plant based fats such as avocados, olives and nuts from my diet - I just love them too much.  No, raw fats don't cause a problem for me.  I have noticed an increase in my fat burning potential when drinking green tea or juiced grapefruit.

If you have followed my blog for a while, you may know that I do not think the conventional approaches to cancer are effective and, in fact, cause cancer - tragically and horrifically ironic.  Here is another documentary you should see in regard to this topic.  Cut Poison Burn is a hard hitting documentary that exposes the cancer industry for what it is, a money making scam.  Please be warned, some of the images are disturbing.  Chris Wark has a very good post that I received recently in my email in regard to this topic.  In this post he discusses how radiation can make cancer cells more aggressive.  Check it out in the previous link.  If you are interested in reading further, read through my cancer file.  In these posts I share documentaries, alternative clinics and an alternative method for healing.

Last but not least is a topic I have not touched upon.  It is the topic of water flouridation.  I remember a time when I would blindly trust the powers that be.  I thought, surely the government and corporations such as big pharma, biotech industries, etc. have our best interest in mind when they go about their business doing what they do.  I have learned that we cannot take a back seat when it comes to our health.  We must be on the defensive and actively engaged in our health and well being.  This blog has helped me enormously to keep my focus.  I urge you, please take the time to check out this article and documentary (with excerts from: An Inconvenient Tooth). Watch the documentary embedded in this post.  It it an hour and 13 minutes long and worth every minute!  View the full documentary here.

There are so many good articles, I just don't have the time to share them all.  My husband thinks I shouldn't add so many topics in a single post. Forgive me, I can't help it sometimes!  Gotta pass on the info!

Enjoy the Journey!

The Longest Lived Culture in the United States

If you have followed my blog since the beginning you may remember my post on the longest lived, disease free people in the World.  If I were to just imagine where these people might come from, I would think of the far reaches of this planet, perhaps in some Asian hill country or a tropical paradise. One might expect them to be a nomadic people group with a very simple way of living and eating.  Well, Dan Buettner along with National Geographic sought to find out which people are the longevity champions of the world and what it is about their lifestyles that contribute to their long lives.  Can you imagine their surprise when they discovered a concentration of some of the world's longest lived people in southern California? They came across the Seventh-day Adventists, who account for the largest portion of the population of Loma Linda.  So who on Earth are they?  The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a protestant, Christian denomination that was established in the mid-1800's.  One of the teachings of this denomination is caring for the human body. The Seventh-day Adventist Church has garnered national and international attention (Check out an interview with Anderson Cooper and Dan Buettner, this video with Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Oz or this article at worldlifeexpectancy.com.) A series of studies were launched to answer the question, "What is it that makes Adventists live longer?" The Adventist Health Study has tracked (and continues to track) American Adventists over many years and has helped researchers discover factors that contribute to a longer, healthier life. Being an Adventist myself and being married to an Adventist pastor, I can give you an insider's perspective as to what gives the Adventist American an edge on longevity.

If you live in the Washington, D.C. area you may be familiar with the Adventist presence in this region.  Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, Washington Adventist University or Contemporary Christian Music radio station WGTS 91.9, which operates from the campus of WAU.  Beyond the D.C. area some other well-known Adventist institutions are Kettering Medical Center, Florida Hospital, Loma Linda University and Hospital, and many others. Aside from our hospitals, universities and schools, what impresses me far more about this denomination is how as a religion, it recognizes the connection between mind, body and spirit, hence the emphasis on health.  Following are some longevity promoting tips that many Adventists include in their lives.

A focus on nutrition and lifestyle:

Seventh-day Adventist doctrine teaches us to follow the Bible's instruction to not consume unclean meats such as pork and shellfish.  (See Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14.) However, many Adventists choose to go further by eating closer to the Eden diet of Genesis and are vegetarians. They span the gamut of levels of vegetarianism.  From lacto-ovo to veganism.  According to Adventist Health Study, the more strict the vegetarianism, the healthier the individual.  (Yes, vegetarians do live longer than the average non vegetarian American).  Many Adventists also view healthful living as a comprehensive package and do not limit their approach to nutrition only. They include nutrition, exercise, sunshine exposure, drinking water, getting appropriate rest and abstinence from smoking, drinking and recreational drugs.  Lastly, but by no means least, Adventists weather life's storms with faith which makes for excellent stress control.  I have to say, I have a lot of Adventist friends that are aging really well. My mom is in her mid sixties and says she feels like she is in her twenties.   Despite setbacks and hardships that come with normal everyday living, they are generally a happier group of people - my friends are at least. 

Getting appropriate rest daily and weekly:

Few people would argue that getting good nightly rest is critically important.  Our bodies rebuild and regenerate while we sleep.   All one's efforts toward weight loss, slowing the aging process and creating general health can be shot down by not sleeping well.  Most everyone knows this, but what may not be so well known is that longevity can also be promoted by a weekly 24 hour period of rest.  Adventists observe the Sabbath from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday.  During the Sabbath, we do not engage in work and basically shut down to the stresses of everyday living. Have you seen Fiddler on the Roof? Do you remember when Tevye's family was rushing to get the house in order for the Sabbath hours?  Not so different in my house on a Friday evening.  Can I tell you what it does for my psyche to have a clean organized house by sundown and just enjoy the peacefulness of the evening?  I tell my kids that the Sabbath is for faith, family and friendships and they look forward to it just as much as I do.  I get a recharge in mind, body and spirit but I also get a recharge socially.

Adventists have strong social networks:

If you have read The Blue Zones by Dan Beuttner, you may remember that one of the aspects that long lived people enjoy are strong social networks. Adventists most definitely enjoy this as well.  Obviously we attend church on Saturdays.  But many times attending church isn't all we do on the Sabbath.  Sometimes we follow church service with a "potluck" lunch.  At my church, members go all out to bring their best dishes and many guests are so surprised at how delicious vegetarian food can taste.  So Sabbath becomes a day of feasting and fellowship.  We even take our socializing into the night - just having a total blast together with friends. 

Many people unknowingly have learned to live like Adventists.  Other longevity champions around the world certainly have many things in common with Adventists.  If you want to read more about how Adventists live, our denomination has a magazine  and website that discusses the longevity question called Vibrant Life.  I loved one of the recent captions that read something like, "treat your body more like a temple and less like a greasy spoon."  They have excellent recipes and tips on living long, disease free lives.

Enjoy the Journey!

Better Holiday Baking

Some Quick Updates

Did you hear the news about Dr. Mehmet Oz? Wow! He has always spoken against GMO's on his show. Now he's changing his tune!  It seems like he has either been payed off or threatened. This is the second time he has done this.  First he spoke out against certain vaccinations and then he recanted. This is why I never trust main sources of information. There is always someone or some organization looming over what information is shared. Media sources have to keep their investors happy. The truth hurts too many powerful businesses!

Also, I have featured Dr. Burzynski on this blog. Remember him? He has helped many people overcome brain cancer. After 30 years of fighting with the medical establishment he has finally won the legal battle. Check out the article here.  

Better Holiday Baking

Baking cookies and treats has always been a favorite activity for me around the holidays. I never liked how I felt after I ate them, however. I originally titled this post Healthful Holiday Baking, but I really wouldn't call it health food. Now more than ever, the cleaner I eat, the more I react to over indulgence. Sweets and treats really should add up to no more the 5% or one's total diet - less if possible.  In my household I restrict having treats to once or twice per week. That said, I still like to bake and give them away to friends. (It will be sheer punishment to bake them and not eat them. I can't have gluten in my diet anymore.) The question arises then: Is there a way to make holiday treats a little more healthful? These are some tips I have found for better baking.

Mill your own flour.  

The best thing you could do is to mill your own flour. Who knows how fresh (or old) flour is after having been milled, processed, packed and shelved? You can know exactly how fresh your flour is (and what's in it) if you mill it yourself. Blendtec has a good mill, but there are several others on the market as well.

Use Ancient Grains.  

I just mentioned that I have recently become gluten sensitive. I already had been moving toward more gluten free foods, but I would indulge every now and then. Now that I know that I need to avoid gluten, everything has really become complicated for me. I'm trying to find the right balance of foods and pinpoint allergens so as to avoid them. I really try to provide as much gluten free foods as I can in my home. My family will oblige me only so far. The best alternative to this problem is to use the ancient grains that have not been tampered with. Lofty biotech scientists with their grandiose plans to save the planet (I honestly think they are more apt to be responsible for crop failure and mass starvation!) have done a lot to destroy our food sources, not to mention pollute the environment and damage our health. (Gee, I wonder why the media won't touch that topic!) Thankfully, there is an effort among some others who are concerned about the effects of all the genetic tampering to grow and harvest ancient wheat grains that over thousands of years have not caused all the problems modern day wheat does. If you are interested in getting the absolute best wheat flour you can, get it from this source.

Use organic, eggs from free range chickens.

My son likes eggs every now and then. If he is going to eat them I would rather he eat the best eggs I can get my hands on. Organic isn't enough in this regard. Are the chickens over-crowded? Do they see the light of day and are they able to roam free? Are they free of hormones and antibiotics? What kind of food do they eat? (If you eat meat, I suggest you use this screening method as well.) I purchase eggs from a nearby family  that raises chickens on their property. If you live locally, you can find them in Laytonsville - Brink road between routes 108 and 124.

To make your baked goods vegan, try using Ener-G egg replacer. It really is hit or miss with this product. I've had some successes and some flops.

Use coconut oil or organic Earth Balance.

Of these two types of oils, coconut is superior. The draw back is that it may change the flavor of your food. If you want something buttery, use Earth Balance. It is gluten free, free of trans-fats and vegan. This product should be consumed sparingly just like sugar or treats. Earth Balance recently introduced a new product that I absolutely love - Coconut spread. Coconut oil is less likely to be fattening because of the medium chain fatty acids. The spread tastes more like butter. I did not detect a coconut taste to it at all! Love it!

Use aluminum-free baking powder.

Can I take a moment to sing the praises of Rumford? I wish more companies would feel the responsibilty to provide the most healthful products possible, like Rumford. They have taken the effort to provide quality products like reduced sodium and aluminum free baking powder. They also have GMO free cornstarch. Read more about their products here. 

Use organic natural sugars.

Sugar is sugar is sugar. Is it good for you? The answer is always a resounding No. It stifles your immune system, creates acidity in the body and can cause lethargy, depression and contributes to many other conditions. Which is why it should always be very limited in one's diet. My friend sent me this YouTube clip that I thought was really cute. Remember the polar bears ad of some well known soda company? Here is a good spoof on that ad. Please watch it! It is so good. A word of warning, the chain saw scene may be disturbing to a child. Do not use artificial sweeteners, they are worse for your health than the sugars they are trying to replace.

Okay, now that I've totally trashed sugar, here are some sugars I would use for baking treats. I would use coconut palm sugar, date sugar, turbinado or sucanat. Of these choices, coconut palm sugar would be the best. 

Replace milk with dairy free options.

I will use eggs in a cookie recipe but I draw the line with dairy. There are a thousand reasons not to consume dairy products. One of the main ones being that proteins found in dairy can trigger the onset of cancer. Here is a clip with Dr. Mark Hyman, MD and 6 reasons to skip dairy. There are so many tasty non dairy alternatives these days that it is easier to eliminate dairy products. My husband and I drink coconut milk and our kids like almond milk. Most recipes will work using non-dairy alternatives. Here is a guide for substituting dairy in baked goods.

How to prevent over-indulgence.  

The key to prevent overindulgence is to not let up on your raw food intake. Keep up with your green smoothies, salads and fruit and vegetable juices. Fill your plate with healthful cooked and raw plant based foods first and then once you're full, move on to the dessert. I find that after a full day of eating this way, I can hardly have an appetite for anything else. It really does fill you up. And when you do indulge, you'll be better able to bounce back to your original diet plan. 

For gluten free recipes I recommend The Daily Dietribe and for vegan cooked and raw recipes, I like Chocolate Covered Katie.

Happy Baking!

The Importance of Drinking Pure Water

It is taking every ounce of me not to blog on the outcome of Prop 37 in California.  I think I need a little time to cool off on that topic before I begin writing about it.  What better topic than the one I promised you!  Drinking pure water. We all know we need to drink water.  Reading up on the reasons why, however, can help to reinforce the habit.  I'm sure you've read that adults need to drink eight glasses of water daily.  We should rephrase that to at least eight glasses of water.  Our bodies are primarily made up of 70% water which naturally means that the majority of our bodily functions require water to work effectively.  For many Americans, drinking water can be a chore.  They would rather pick up a can of soda or drink coffee.  I believe that drinking water is critical for both detoxifying and hydrating the body.  Sodas and coffee are not capable of properly hydrating the body and can hinder optimal health.

Here are just a few benefits:

Water is helpful for weight loss.

If someone is not properly hydrated, their body will seek ways to maintain water in an act of self preservation.  In other words, they will become bloated.  Instead of taking diuretics, the better solution would be to drink more water.  Once the body receives the amount of water it needs, it will let go of excess water.  Drastically minimizing your consumption of sugar will also allow your body to let go of water. When someone is seeking to lose weight by exercise and diet modification, the vehicle by which the body eliminates the excess fat is by water and urination.

Drinking water helps to flush out toxins.

Our bodies are constantly trying maintain wellness, despite how we may abuse them.  Water helps to flush out the toxins that we are exposed to.  Drinking a glass of lemon water every morning first thing will help your liver to flush out toxins.  Water dilutes toxins and bacteria we may have in our bodies and helps to protect the surrounding tissues as it (along with some white blood cells) escorts them out of the body.

Drinking water helps to lubricate and increase effectiveness of our organs.

Have you ever had a dehydration headache?  Awful!  It doesn't take much time without water before your organs begin to protest.  Every single organ, tissue and fluid in your body needs lubrication.  Water helps to regulate the viscosity of your blood, decreasing your chances of having a heart attack.  Water helps with cognitive functions.  When your synapses are firing away, they'll have an easier time if they are shooting smoothly rather than in a dehydrated environment.  Fine facial lines that begin to show up as we age are sometimes a sign of dehydration.  (They may disappear if you are well hydrated).  Water aids proper kidney function, helping to prevent stones from developing.  Also, drinking plenty of water helps maintain normal bowel function.

Water is the optimal drink for aiding athletic performance.  

It drives me a little crazy when I see sports drinks touted as better for athletic performance than water.  Are you kidding me?  Have you read the ingredients list?  Red flags anyone?  If you are seeking to replenish lost electrolytes and minerals, do yourself a favor, forgo the toxic neon colored drinks  and drink coconut water instead.

Folks, I feel like I'm preaching to the choir, everyone knows that drinking water is important.  But sometimes we forget the importance of drinking this all important resource of nature. There are some surprising reasons however, why you would want to skip the tap. 

Tap water tastes like metal to me.  In a pinch I have drunk some tap water, but the more I read about what's in it, it just makes my stomach turn!  Read here about all the ingredients you may be able to find in your tap water including trace amounts of pharmaceutical medications, and chemotherapy drugs that others have urinated out!  Yuck! Reading this info you could surmise that a whole house filtration system as well as a separate filtration system for drinking would be advisable.

Better options for drinking water.

There was a time when I heard that the best water to drink was distilled.  I had friends who distilled their water on a daily basis.  If you get distilled at the supermarket you will notice that it tastes funny.  Because it is empty water, it acts like a vacuum and what you are tasting is the plastic from the bottle that has leached into the water.  If you distill water be sure to store it in a glass container.  Dr. Mercola suggests forgoing distilled unless you are detoxifying.  Empty water may cause minerals to be leached from your body - you don't want that!

I drink purified water, reverse-osmosis being the primary filtering method.  I know that purifying you own water is probably best but I just have it shipped to my house by a company called Endless Waters in BPA free bottles.

The jury is still out on whether or not water ionizers are worth the investment.  One thing I have noticed in regard to the advice of various professionals I respect: although they may have much in common in their philosophies, they will disagree from time to time on specifics.  The physicians at Weimar Institute say that water ionizers are just part of money making propaganda.  Robyn Openshaw, as well as others I know personally swear by it and actually do test alkaline when drinking water from an ionizer.  Just do your own research and come up with your own conclusions.  I do agree with the Weimar doctors that you shouldn't rely solely on this water to alkalize, but should keep the focus on fruits and vegetables to do the job.  If I had thousands to spare on an ionizer, I personally would be tempted to get one.

Let's see how long I go before I tear into the Prop 37 topic! Maybe I'll cool off enough by the next time I post.  Regardless, I can't believe Thanksgiving is here again.  I feel like I'm not ready for this crazy, busy time of year.  However, It is good to reflect on all the blessings - I have so much to be thankful for.  I hope you do too!  A very warm and Happy Thanksgiving to you and all your loved ones!

 

Enjoy the Journey!

Feeding Our Children The Absolute Best Nutrition

When I was in the hospital after giving birth to my son, our diet came up in conversation with the nurse.  I told her that we are vegan.  She gave me a very worried look.  Although there are many doctors (Phycisians Committee for Responsible Medicine) and nurses who are more informed about nutrition, it seems that nutritional ignorance is what is most prevalent in the medical community.  As seen in this clip, they barely touch upon the topic when they are in school, so by design they are prepped to feed the pharmaceutical money-making machine.  The nurse called the nutritionist to visit with us - presumably to set us straight.  We told the nutritionist what our dietary choices are and being far more informed than the nurse, she had no problem with it and just smiled at having been called at all.  I have never fed my children any dairy and I can assure you, they have strong bones and bare no semblance to slithering octopi.

If, however, I were to feed my kids plenty of dairy foods, take them to McDonald's, let them eat whatever candy, soft drinks or junk food that so liberally is given to children these days, no one would ask me about the absence of nutrients in their diet...unbelievable!  I read this article and really thought you should too.  I met Dr. John McDougall, MD during a Q & A session in California at Danny Vierra's Health and Healing Crusade.  I consider him to be a pioneering physician who dared to do his own research and educate himself in regards to the consequences our dietary choices.  Please take the time to read this very important article.

Arian Foster is a running back for the Houston Texans.  With adult diseases becoming prevalent among children, he has determined to be a good role model to those who look up to him.  He consequently has decided to become a vegan.  Take a look at this clip where he relates his reasoning in regards to his diet and lifestyle.

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!

The Effect of Cell Phone Usage on Your Brain

A while ago I saw this clip on Dr. Mercola's site and thought it was so important that I wanted for you to see it as well.  Please take the time to watch it or at least scan through it.  I see so many kids hanging on their phones exposing their developing brains to radio frequencies.  What is most disturbing is when I see how so many products using these frequencies are marketed towards children.  It is always better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to protecting our children's brains.  Until you can get a device like xzubi, I would recommend putting your phone on speaker and holding the phone away from your head.  Keeping your phone on your body is absolutely not a good idea.  In this post, there is a woman featured who stored her phone in her bra.  She got breast cancer right in the spot where she stored her phone.  Men who hold their laptops on their laps or keep their phones close to their crotch area are at risk of affecting their fertility as well as adversely affecting their health in other ways.

Another issue is "dirty" electricity that comes from computers, microwaves, lamps, etc.  I have a friend who works in a room with high EMF (electro-magnetic frequencies), and consequently decided to try grounding/earthing to deal with that problem.  The difference he experienced is remarkable; he swears by grounding and says that he even grounds while he sleeps.  The results he has experienced from grounding have been that his back pain is now gone, he sleeps like a log and he no longer experiences lactic acid soreness when we works out.  I personally have only heard of it (grounding while sleeping that is) and not experienced it - other than walking barefoot in the grass.  I'm considering trying it.  I'll let you know if I do.  (Earthing products are available at Longevity Warehouse.)

On another note, I found a fantastic blog titled "Chris beat Cancer."   Take a look at it when you can.  I love it so much I have added it to my blog list. Scroll down and watch the segment on Fox news where you can hear his story in a nutshell.  Wow, absolutely amazing!  So much good stuff on this blog I could barely stop reading!  This is definitely going in my cancer file!

Enjoy the Journey!

The Benefits of Juicing

When I was a child, I remember my dad using an almond and brown colored juicer (back in the 70's) and juicing carrots.  I dreaded when he did this because I hated carrot juice!  I would drink it slowly and suffer through the ordeal.  The irony of this is now I've taken on my father's role and I'm juicing for myself and my family.  And oh, how I love juicing!  My mouth waters just thinking of it.  My dad wasn't very creative with combinations and just stuck to carrots, but the simple act of providing something nutritious for my sisters and me imprinted something very valuable in me.  I now look back on this childhood memory with gratitude.  My dad still juices to this day - he's even taken on green smoothies!  As long as I have breath, a juicer and some fruits and vegetables, you know I'll be juicing too!

I have been asked by friends, "So which is better, juicing or green smoothies?"  My answer is, "They both are great, do both." When starting a whole foods, plant based program, it has to be easy.  Because it takes all of ten minutes to prepare, green smoothies just naturally work best.  When you are ready to invest a lot more time, juicing is just second to none.  I always have a green smoothie or fresh juice in my fridge, sometimes both at the same time.

So here are some benefits of juicing:

Juicing is one of the best ways to consume a wide variety of fruits and vegetables

People naturally gravitate to certain fruits and vegetables.  The problem with this is that they do not expand beyond their comfort zone to get important nutrients from other produce.  Rotating vegetables and trying new things is a lot easier when you can drink them.  My children are not particularly fond of asparagus and beets, but they have them in veggie juices.  What is surprising to many is how good it can taste.  I fill my pitcher with 1/3 vegetables.  The next two thirds I fill with citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruit and maybe a couple of apples.  My husband and I drink it straight.  My kids, like to add in some orange juice to mask the flavor a little more.  Either way, they are getting much more nutrition than the average American child is.

Juicing is a great way to detoxify and heal the body

Juicing is very detoxifying.  Yes, getting fiber from green smoothies and whole foods is great, but sometimes it is also good to just saturate the body with life giving nutrients that are most bioavailable from juice. When a body has been weakened by the standard American diet and way of living, absorption becomes an issue.  People, myself included, can rush through a meal and not chew food properly for maximum benefit.  Juice is already predigested and 100% absorbable.  It is also concentrated nutrition.  There is no way I am going to sit down to a large platter of fruits of vegetables, it's just too much.  But I can have it very easily with a few glasses of juice.

Incredible things happen when you juice.  People lose weight very easily because they are getting so many nutrients; they don't have as many cravings or don't get as hungry was they would before juicing.  Also, since juice detoxifies the body, the fat that was storing the toxins can finally be released from the body.  If a whole, plant based food program is included while juicing, all sorts of ailments just disappear.  Also, juicing is excellent for building your blood, better skin tone, better hair, clearer thinking, etc., etc.  I have shared this clip from Dr. Young twice before.  Skip it if you have already seen it.  If you haven't, I urge you to take time to watch it now.  Excellent info!

Some important info to get started

Juicing is going to take some time.  It takes an hour for me to fill a pitcher of juice between prepping vegetables and fruit, dismantling juicer and clean up.  Some may say, "I work full time and just don't have the time."  Well, juice on the weekends.  Drink as much of the fresh juice as possible right after juicing.  Refrigerate and consume the next day's portion within 24 hours.  If you can get an airtight seal on your container of juice it will help to prevent oxidation.  Light also breaks down juice.  Get creative in covering your juice to block light.  Freeze the next portions in mason jars that will be used up in the week.  Some nutrients will be lost, but not all, in the freezing process.

Get a good juicer.  I have a centrifugal juicer which is not optimal.  I have my eye on a masticating Omega Juicer.  Slow masticating juicers do not heat up like centrifugal juicers.  Heat destroys nutrients and we don't want that after all the work we put into juicing.

Use as much organic produce as you can afford.  Clean produce that is free of chemicals will be better for your body.  I believe that organic produce also has more nutrients than conventional produce.

Here is a great site with excellent info on juicing.  Make sure you give juicing a fair shot.  Commit to juicing for at least a few weeks.  If you get detox symptoms, try to at least get over that hump.  I always feel great when I drink fresh juices.  I  get an energy boost and just generally feel pretty good about life.  Honestly, there must be some feel good endorphin producing chemicals in juice and raw food.  There is much to be sad about in this world, but I really feel pretty good most of the time.  Sometimes I feel like I'm top of the world.  I am going to say this at the risk of sounding like I've lost my marbles - I do at times feel a crazy vibration.  In talking to a friend of mine who is also a raw food nut, I learned that he has experienced the same thing.  Check out the previous link - turns out I'm not crazy!  This article mentions an electrical vibration that occurs at the cellular level.  (Although I do not agree with adding acidic animal products to my diet, I agree with most everything else in the article.)  For this reason it is advisable to not drink juice, take superfoods, or any other raw concentrated nutrition at bedtime.  Your cells get so jazzed and bouncy with all the nutrients and electrical energy they're receiving that they may decide to have a party and keep you up most of the night. 

Don't believe me?  If you doubt that the body can really experience such results, try it yourself and go mostly raw.  Take superfoods, drink green smoothies, eat sprouts and drink veggie juices!  Give it a good month or two before you come back to me to refute my claim!  You may or may not experience the buzz, but you will feel absolutely incredible and you won't be disappointed!

Enjoy the Jouney!