NEW YEAR? NEWSTART!

Update I'm getting busier with work and unfortunately my blogging is falling by the wayside.  So sorry.  I'm juggling a little more these days.

I wanted to let you know about an online nutrition summit with some fantastic guests.  The Future of Nutrition Conference will take place January 27 to 31.  It's sure to be good so don't miss it!

New Year?  New Start!

I have never been one to make a new year's resolution.  I don't like them.  For one, they come around far too infrequently for one to decide to make a change to better one's self.  Another reason is because most people who make them, fail.   I believe that everyday should be an opportunity to improve our lives.  Being that it is the popular thing to do, to make a resolution that is, I thought I would share something I never have.  When I started this blog, I told my husband, "I want to start a blog on the eight natural remedies."  So in the subsequent years, I have covered every topic that is included in the "eight natural remedies."  What I haven't done is share them all at the same time in one post.  What are the eight natural remedies?  This phrase is familiar among Adventists.  Adventists are protestant Christians who started the Seventh Day Adventist Church in the 1800s which are known for being the longest lived culture of the United States.  So in essence, these remedies are our prescription for a long and healthy life.

I have mentioned Adventist Hospitals in this blog.  Yes, we have them and they are very necessary but my heart has a soft spot for the lesser known Adventist clinics and wellness facilities that are fewer and further between.   I love these lesser known centers for health and healing because they  instruct people how to improve their health by implementing simple, affordable habits to achieve a disease free life.  These are the names of the wellness centers that I am familiar with:  Weimar Institute, Wildwood, Uchee Pines Institute, Black Hills and Hartland.  There are more that are unofficial run by individuals who are skilled and knowledgeable about healing using natural methods.  Danny Vierra's Bella Vita is one of these locations.  Several of these places have acronyms to help people remember what these 8 natural remedies are.  The one I know the best is the one by Weimar Institute, NEWSTART.

N- Nutrition

What is recommended is a plant based diet, preferably a vegan diet.   I personally would like to add that one can be vegan and still eat terribly wrong.  One should strive to eat as much fresh, organic, unprocessed  food as possible.  Aiming for at least 75% raw would be ideal.  The remaining should be cooked from scratch.  Seek to eat foods with as many varied colors as the rainbow.

E-Exercise

Exercise is so important.  Unfortunately it seems that it is such a drudgery for so many.  Find something you enjoy doing.  Yes, walking absolutely does count.  Seek to have a 30 minute cardio workout three to five days a week.  Strength training helps to maintain healthy bones and also helps to sculpt and shape the physique.  Exercise also helps to keep one younger and mentally sharper with aging. 

W-Water

Sodas, coffee, juice and other beverages do not and should not take the place of water.  Our bodies are made of approximately 70% water and we need at least 6 to 8 glasses a day to help lubricate it.  Water helps every function of the body to run more smoothly from helping the liver detoxify to thinning our blood easing the heart's burden of pumping it throughout the body.

S-Sunshine

The sun is not the enemy!  I go a little crazy every time I hear about the harmful effects of the sun.  The truth is, most people are vitamin D deficient which increases one susceptibility to the common cold and to cancer.  Do you want to boost your body's immune system, sleep better, stay younger and feel happier?  Then get out into the sun!

How to expose yourself to the sun:

1. Morning or late afternoon exposure is the best.  If you have midday exposure, you will need much less time to get the vitamin D that you need.  Lighter skin requires less time and darker skin requires more time.  When you skin achieves the lightest shade of pink, you have met your requirement for the day.
2.  Increase your body's resistance to burning by saturating your skin with phytonutrients found in raw food.  Drink fresh juices and green smoothies, eat sprouts and lots of fruits and vegetables.  This is what keeps your skin healthier and creates a resistance to burning.
3. Use safe sunscreens.  I cringe every time I see people slather on sun screens like they are doing themselves a favor.  Most on the market are tainted with cancer causing chemicals that are only increasing their chance of getting cancer!  Find better sunscreens that are devoid of these chemicals.  Look for titanium dioxide or zinc oxide as a key ingredient in better sunscreens.
4. Avoid burning and overexposure
Burning plus a body that isn't well nourished is the recipe that will create skin cancer.  Vitamin D helps to keep a body young but overexposure to the sun can cause photo aging of the skin.  Everything in moderation folks!

T-Temperance 

For Adventists this means moderation in all things that are good and complete avoidance on all things that are bad.  The list includes alcohol, tobacco, recreational drugs and caffeine.  I personally would like to add pharmaceutical medications.  Sometimes the latter cannot be avoided such as in emergencies but if a health problem can be overcome by diet and herbs, why tax the body with harmful chemicals?

A-Air

Get fresh air!  There is something about being outside that does something so good for me.  I need to walk or run in the sun everyday even in ice or snow or else I cannot sleep well and am more susceptible to succumbing to a melancholic state of mind.  I love walking in the woods and breathing fresh ionized oxygen.  Gives my psyche such a boost.

R-Rest

I think I need more sleep than most people.  I like to sleep nine hours a night if I can manage it.  I try to be in bed by 9:30 and If I've done everything right to enhance my sleep, I will function well during the day.  I am prone to insomnia and have found that there are somethings I must do so that I can sleep well at night.

Here are my tips:

1.  Spend time in the sun everyday.  I will do my best to get outside regardless of weather.

2.  Try to eat your last meal no later than 5p.m.  A full stomach at bedtime will kill my sleep like nothing else.

3. Sleep in a dark room.  I use black out curtains for a completely dark room.  I cannot tolerate any light at all.

4.  Avoid electronic devices before bedtime.  Any glowing screens will also disrupt my sleep.  I avoid them for at least a couple of hours before bedtime.  I also do not have any alarm clocks, lamps or electrical devices near me while I sleep.

5.  You might think it's hokey but I do ground myself while sleeping.  I believe the science that's been found regarding this new found practice.

6.  This last bit of advice is one I haven't done yet but I plan to eventually.  Use natural bedding.  Conventional mattresses have been created with chemicals that tax the body.  Invest in mattresses that are made with natural materials.

Adventists also observe the Sabbath for 24 hours by refraining from work.  It is a a time for recharging physically, socially and spiritually.

T-Trust

Trust in God.  This is a big one for Adventists.  We take things in stride.  Let go and let God.  Having a supportive community and strong network of friends helps immensely.

If you would like to read more from a woman who had this information way back in the late 1800's, you must read the The Ministry of Healing- E.G.White.  I also really like The Desire of Ages and The Great Controversy by the same author.

Have a great day!

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!

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!

More Programs to Transition to a Plant Based Diet

I don't remember how I got acquainted with the Green Smoothie Girl website and book.  I believe a friend may have introduced me to it.  All I know is that I love Robyn's site and the work she is doing to help people get healthy.  I used her book and how-to info when I first was increasing my raw food intake.  I never looked back after I  began making green smoothies.  Robyn Openshaw also has a great program to help those interested in transitioning to a plant based diet- 12 Steps to Whole Food Eating.  She has recipes and guidelines for a gradual transition over the course of a year.  Her programs includes 550 recipes to help someone achieve a mostly raw diet(60-80%raw).  She does allow for a small percentage of animal based foods, I believe it consists of less than five percent of  the eating plan.  Again, she has testimonials of people who have been written off by their doctors.

Since I have mentioned green smoothies I feel like I should also mention the Boutenko family.  They also have books on green smoothies with how-to videos on youtube and great sources for getting well.

 I want to share an excellent cook book I use to prepare food for my family.  Although my husband and children are eating much more raw food today than when I first started this journey, they still aren't as “raw”as I am.  This book is Ten Talents by Frank and Rosalie Hurd.  I love this book!  It is chock full of useful  nutritional information, instructions on proper food combining, recipes for baby foods, smoothies, non-dairy milk, whole grain bread, healthful entrees, salads and desserts...shall I continue? They also include some raw food recipes and sprouting (one of my favorite topics).  Ten Talents was originally published in the 60's and has had a long successful run.  The Hurds had every intention of hanging up their hats and retiring but requests kept coming in for a new edition to their book, so by popular demand they have published again.  Vegetarian times and North American Vegetarian society both endorse this book  The Library of Congress has requested it to be transcribed into braille.  Not bad for what seemingly was a mom and pop endeavor!  They have produced a fine collection of delicious recipes and have helped many achieve excellent health.

Lastly, I would like to mention Markus Rothkranz and his site.  He also has a lot of information for those wanting to go completely raw.  His trailer is very inspirational but has parts that are...um, let's just say that they are really corny! Shh!  Don't tell him I said so!  View trailer here.

If you are clicking on a youtube link, please  right click and open in a new window.

 Enjoy the journey!

A Program for Transitioning to a Plant Based Diet

I am a book person. I love them, read them when I can, collect them and revel in them. So naturally I am going to refer you to books, lots of them. Please, check them out at the library or bookstore before purchasing them.

I want to introduce you to some programs that have helped people switch to a healthier diet. Is it easy? It probably won't be at first. Taste buds are a curious thing. They can run your life and keep you addicted to foods that in essence are shortening your life span. If you decide however that you will make the effort, you can retrain your taste buds to appreciate foods that you may have shunned to this point. You will be able to achieve sustained weight loss for the long haul. You will be able to prevent or even reverse disease. Eat To Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, M.D. is a fantastic program especially designed for people needing to improve their health quickly. In the process, people experience improvements in many other areas of their health and lives as well. Dr. Fuhrman treats thousands of patients each year and he also has countless testimonials of people who, once crippled by disease, are free and able to enjoy their lives once again. What I appreciate is that this book has the science and studies to back up his claims. Dr. Mehmet Oz, and many other distinguished physicians endorse this book and highly recommend it.

Dr. Fuhrman discusses how the Standard American Diet is killing millions of people each year. Yet, people do not want to change their diet, but would rather take a pill so that they can continue living and eating the way they would like. He states that Americans are overfed and malnourished. Because their diet is so depleted of nutrition, people continue to be hungry and continue to eat their high fat, processed, carcinogenic foods.

He also debunks all the diet fads that are so popular because they cater to the American appetite for animals and animal products (e.g., milk, eggs, cheese, etc.). They don't work for long-term weight loss because they do not solve the problem of malnutrition and if they do cause weight loss, they can double your chances of getting cancer (e.g., Atkins Diet). There is a correlation between meat consumption and developing cancer as well as many other diseases. The higher the consumption of meat, the higher the incidence of disease. Show me one country that consumes high quantities of meat and has zero or low incidence of disease. You won't find it!

The solution? Consume large quantities of phytonutrients: fruits, nuts, vegetables, whole grains, legumes in as close to their natural state as possible. Eat as much raw food as you can. Get rid of processed foods, They aren't good for you.

Dr. Fuhrman has two six week programs with simple recipes in his book. One is a more aggressive program and the other is less so. They both yield phenomenal results. You won't even have to starve yourself; you can eat to your heart's content. Soon, because your body is receiving all the necessary nutrients, you will find that you won't get as hungry for food as you did before. Dr. Fuhrman also has a website, blog, and a clinic which you can check out if you would like to be treated by him.

More programs and cook books to follow!

Enjoy the Journey!