A strong body starts with a strong immune system. A strong immune system starts with a clean body. Most modern disease begins in the colon, so cleansing the colon is an essential part of conscious living. Not only does cleansing restore the physical body at a cellular level, but it also removes old patterns of past conditioning that are stored in the tissues throughout the body.

A raw vegan diet including green juice and energy soup, for a period of 1 to 3 weeks, is the safest way to prepare for a cleanse. For an optimal cleanse, you should eat a diet of 100% organic raw vegan for a period of three weeks prior to starting a cleanse. The organic raw greens are high in fiber, help the detoxification process, and heal the digestive system by providing hydrochloric acid which is required for proper digestion.

Best Cleansing Herbs

After this three week period, the use of herbs is recommended to cleanse deeper. It is important to note that not all cleansing product are good quality and most inexpensive products can cause side effects.

Ejuvais the purest brand and describes on their website why we should be careful in choosing a cleansing product. http://www.ejuva.com

Arise and Shine has a good complete colon cleansing set. http://www.ariseandshine.com/cleanse28.aspx

Article from Dr. Charles Partito, N.D. / Raw Nutritionist founder of Ejuva

Introduction to Cleansing

Herbalists, all over the world have known for centuries that the body's delicate energetic balance can be compromised when the digestive tract's elimination process is not functioning properly. In our modern times it is extremely difficult to find a person whose intestinal functioning is not impaired as a result of unnatural dietary habits and adverse environmental influences. Constipation, intestinal gas, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and the growing problem of fungal diseases can often be traced back to disrupted intestinal functions. Herbs that have beneficial effects on the lymphatic system, tissue health, glandular balance and intestinal elimination are the key to the elimination of waste products generated throughout the body.

A healthy immune system is one of the primary sources of energy in the human body. It has been estimated that from 60% - 85% of the North American adult population have at least one form of parasite living in their bodies. Some authorities feel this figure may be as high as 95%. Toxic overload occurs when the cleansing systems of the body have been pushed too far by an overload of toxins in the body. With toxic bowel syndrome, the excess toxins absorbed from a clogged bowel goes to the liver. The liver is then overburdened, eventually unable to cope with the toxic load. The toxins then start to spill into the bloodstream. Once this happens, the kidneys, lungs and skin have to take over the job of cleansing and they too become challenged in their ability to remain healthy. People with a weakened immune system tend to feel tired all the time. This is often linked to a depleted immune system caused by chronic parasitic infection. The toxic intestinal tract, HIV, Epstein Bar, Candida, Parasites, and a host of other unhealthy conditions are addressed by our all natural, organic herbal formulas.

What is Candidiasis?

Candida albicans is a single-celled yeast-like fungus that can be found in and on the mucous membranes of many regions of the body. Within a healthy immune system and given ample amounts of good "friendly" bacteria, this fungus remains in balanced proportion. However, when the healthy balance or correct intestinal medium is disturbed, the friendly bacteria lose their stronghold and this fungus (as well as other pathogenic substances, e.g., related yeasts and fungi, bacteria, viruses, parasites, etc.) is allowed to multiply and colonize throughout the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract.

If the yeast gets out of control, and the gastrointestinal tract lining becomes too weakened and permeable, the fungus in turn can infiltrate into the blood and migrate throughout the body. Once this environmental change has taken place, a state of dysbiosis may follow (a context where there is a greater number of pathogenic microorganisms inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract than there are beneficial ones).

Symptoms of Candidiasis

Symptoms range from gastrointestinal tract troubles such as bloating, excessive gas, halitosis, chronic abdominal distension, diarrhea, thrush, colitis, chronic indigestion and digestive weakness, to skin problems such as acne, scalp afflictions, nail fungus, diaper rash, athletes foot, jock itch, hive-like symptoms, rash, eczema, psoriasis to female disorders such as hormonal system changes, disruption of normal monthly cycle (PMS, dysmenorrhea, early periods, etc.), vaginal itching, cystitis, yeast infections, bladder disorders, and vaginal swelling. There are also similar male disorders, neurological neuromuscular disorders, respiratory disorders, emotional or mental disorders and cardiovascular disorders that have all been linked to Candidiasis.

The most important thing to remember is that with decreased immune system activity, these symptoms run unchecked. It is therefore very important to build up the immune system through right eating and selective use of herbs.

Article from Arise and shine

Should I Cleanse and Why?

It has been said that the digestive system is the "hub" of the entire body. It feeds all of our organs, all of our glands, and every single cell. When the digestive system becomes sluggish, over-acid and toxic, it becomes less and less efficient. In America, many people have become addicted to a diet of over-processed, unnatural "fast food," which is high in rancid fats and empty calories. This diet commonly causes the bowel to become unnaturally acidic. When this happens, the epithelium1 secretes a glycoprotein substance, or mucus. If the mucus is not eliminated from the intestinal tract, it becomes what we term "mucoid plaque," a substance that is created in an attempt to protect the intestinal wall. This condition can occur anywhere in the digestive tract as a response to over-acidity, including the esophagus, the stomach, the small intestine and the colon. Once this coating of mucus develops, proper digestion increasingly diminishes, opening the door for one problem after another. As the bowel becomes toxic, the body's blood supply also becomes toxic. This is because blood travels from the bowel, carrying the necessary nutrients that feed all the body's cells, tissues and organs. And because every drop of the body's blood must travel through the liver for “clean-up,” the liver becomes increasingly sluggish as it attempts to process relentless toxicity, day after day, year after year.

A well-functioning liver is the key to a long and vibrant life. There are more than 500 known functions of the liver, many of which are essential for life, and all of which are essential for good health and vitality. It is almost impossible for any disease condition to develop until the liver becomes sluggish and weak. Long before the liver begins to weaken, most likely the bowel has already been excessively toxic and sluggish. Cleansing the bowel allows the liver to release built-up toxins; once cleansed, it can strengthen itself.

Fortunately, cleansing is relatively easy! It's a perfect, health-enhancing solution for people who are in reasonably good health but who have perhaps been living in the city away from nature, eat commercially grown produce or have a less-than-optimal diet. If you want to experience greater energy and vitality, the answer to the question, "Should I cleanse?" is yes!

Back to Health Resources

"Nothing would benefit humanity more than a vegetarian diet." Albert Einstein

 

 

Many people talk about the awakening of consciousness of humanity currently increasing. This implies a radical transformation including looking at everything with do, eat, feel and think on a daily basis. Food is a major component of health as well as a direct reflection of our level of consciousness. "We are what we eat". As we choose the path of living consciously and authentic health, we realize that there are many levels of consciousness when it comes to the topic of health. the following information is an summary on the topic of optimal health through choosing the highest frequency of food available, To help you walk the path of ultimate health, conscious living and vitality free from all food addictions.

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Article from: www.living-foods.com

 

Why Raw Organic Blended Soups?

 

The Basic Philosophy by Michael Harleman

Blended soups are by far one of the best ways to transition into a living foods diet. The are nutritious, easy to digest and very easy to make once you get the hang of it. But it is also misleading and unfair to think of soups just as a lesser food for those who are transitioning. Many of the very successful long-term living-foodists, like Anne Wigmore, David Jubb and Dr. Flora, all spent many years living and thriving on blended soups alone. Why are blended soups so excellent? Here are a few reasons why including more blended foods into your diet can help your rejuvenation process:

1. They are pre-digested.

   People often come to living-foods after many years of mediocre eating habits and their digestive systems are not strong(to put it mildly!). At this point, our bodies are literally starving for nutrition but we haven t yet acquired the digestive strength to extract all of the nutrition out of whole foods like salads, fruit, nuts, seeds, etc. Bringing in highly nutritious blended soups is a great way to saturate the body with lots of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and enzymes in a way that is totally easy to absorb

2. Good chewing is a discipline most people have yet to acquire.

   Haven't we all heard expressions like Your stomach doesn't have teeth and, Chew your juice, drink your food? We heard them, yet we still very rarely chew our food until it is totally liquefied. And while there is no substitute for learning how to chew properly and thoroughly, many of us just do not have the time and need the be getting the nutrition ASAP! So while we are still learning how to chew our food, blended soups are a great way to insure that we are getting lots of easy to digest, live nutrition.

3. Blended foods often have a high water concentration.

   The beauty of blended foods on a live foods diet is that we are taking water rich foods and adding even more water to them. This is incredible for bringing lots of highly structured water into the body, and many of us have spent years being chronically dehydrated. Also, there is a tendency on this diet to overeat the high density foods(nuts, seeds, avocados, olives) and this is much more difficult to do when those foods are added to our soups because they become more hydrated and filling.

4. Blended foods are an excellent way to incorporate foods we might not normally want to eat.

   Aloe vera is an amazing food with many healing elements, yet very few people can eat fresh aloe gel all by itself. Its just a little too gooey and bitter. But the great thing about mixing it with other foods in the blender is that this bitterness cant be tasted at all! And the gooiness actually makes the blend smoother and creamier! The same thing goes for lethicin or tocotrienols. These are all amazing superfoods that make perfect additions to our blended soups and give us an extraordinary level of nutrition. You would be surprised how many healthy items, which don't taste all that great alone, will actually make lovely additions to our blended soups.

5. Blended foods can help us to either lose or gain weight

   One of the biggest reasons people often snack and overeat is because they are malnourished. This often goes even for those on a strict living-foods diet. But with blended food,

   • it is so well broken down and digested

      

   • we are absorbing much more nutrition while spending less energy on digestion. This means that we are often satisfied with much less food than we might have been normally. Often we will find ourselves not hungry for many hours after eating a blended soup! Anyone who has trouble with lots of snacking and binging will often find blended foods to be a huge relief.

   On the other hand, many people on a living-foods diet have found it difficult to gain weight. But blended foods also allow us to add and absorb much more food to our diet than normal if that is our goal. A person might only be able to eat a 7-8 stalks of kale in a salad, but thrown into the blender, he or she can easily eat a pound or more. Those who have trouble putting on healthy weight often find that eating large blended soups with lots of dark leafy greens and raw plant fat quickly solves the problem.

6. Blended foods can be gently warmed and adapted to our environment.

   Those living in colder environments often struggle trying to eat all raw foods. Why is this? Its typically because they often eat only fruit and salads, most of the time right out of the refrigerator. And while a salad or fruit can be eaten at room temperature, it is still kind of awkward to warm those foods up. With blended soups, on the other hand, we can put them in a pot and gently warm it up until it is just over 100 degrees (this is easy to tell with your finger tip). This ensures that none of the nutritional value/enzymes are lost or destroyed but at the same time the soup has a lovely warming quality. Those who struggle eating raw in colder climates will often find that this alone will make a huge difference in their ability to stay warm and feel satisfied/ balanced.

7. Blended soups are highly adaptable.

   Whether we are on a cleanse or trying to create a gourmet dish, we can modify our blended soup accordingly. Those on a cleanse often find that it works best to use more greens and less sugar and fat in their soups. Yet, those trying to make an impressive gourmet soup will find it easy to create a base in the blender and then garnish the soup with chunks of tomato, herbs, sprinkled nuts or anything else.

The Basic Formula for Blended Soups

1. LIQUID

We say liquid here and not water because water has a tendency to make the soup very bland. The best base for soups is often coconut water as it has a neutral, sweet taste and is very high in electrolytes. Green juice from plants like celery or cucumber also often work well. Fruit juice can be used but it is best to be modest with this and dilute it so that the sugar is not so concentrated. Another great idea to use is the leftover soak water from sun-dried tomatoes. This imparts a subtle tomato-like flavor. The main point is to prevent it from being bland. If water must be used, often more flavorful or spicy ingredients might be needed so that the soup does not taste too plain.

1. WATERY FRUIT

Watery fruits are important because they give the soup a more full, smooth texture without making it overly dense or fatty. Some great examples of watery fruits are tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, all kinds of squash, apples, etc. It is usually best to avoid sweet fruits in the soups because the sweet flavor will dominate the entire thing. Often the sweetness from the tomato, squash or coconut water is more than enough.

1. FATS

Fats are great in blended soups because they add calories, creaminess and we are less likely to overeat them in this form. Often half of an avocado can make all the difference in whether a soup tastes amazing or tastes terrible! Other kinds of fats, like nuts, soaked nuts, nut butters, coconuts, olives and even oils will often work too. It all depends on the type of soup you are trying to make.

1. HIGH FLAVOR INGREDIENTS

In this class are all of the strongly flavored ingredients like herbs, onions, garlic, radishes, spices, celtic sea salt, etc. Adding these elements to the soup will often give it more of a layered flavor spectrum and more bite . Because these ingredients are so strong, it is often better to start with less and then add more little by little until the desired taste is achieved. Leafy green vegetables can also be considered in this category because adding lots of them will totally dominate the flavor of the soup. Leafy greens are best used in soups that have a more therapeutic purpose, while they should be mostly left out when trying to create a soup based more on pure taste. Dark green soups can be great while fasting and cleansing but after a while we just look at them and think, Yuck!! Its a good idea to alternate with using non-green soups so that we stay emotionally balanced and satisfied from those we make.

1. TOPPINGS / CHOPPED INGREDIENTS

   A great and healthy addition to blended soups is to grind some fresh seeds, herbs/spices and celtic sea salt in a blender or grinder and sprinkle over the top of the final product. Often the mixture will take on a breadcrumb-like texture that reminds us of when we used to eat crackers on the top of our soups. Freshly ground seeds are often one of the best ways to get our essential fatty acids, minerals and amino acids in a form that is super easy to digest. If one is not on a strictly blended food fast, one of the best additions to our soups are to add chopped ingredients like tomatoes, nuts, cilantro, green onion, etc. These and similar items will give the soup added texture and crunch that makes it more appealing overall.

Mike's Favorite Blended Foods:

While on a blended food fast for over 2 weeks I ate three things:

• a Superfood Smoothie
• Electrolyte Lemonade
• Warm Squash Soup
  • 1 apple or peach or nectarine (whichever is in season)
  • 1/2 to 1 basket of berries in summertime or 1 pear in winter (or any fruit combination that goes well)
  • optional: a couple celery sticks to cut the sweet
  • 2-4 Tbsp. coconut butter (can also use hemp oil)
  • 2-4 Tbsp. flax seeds (or sesame or pumpkin seeds. However, flax is a superfood)
  • 1 Tbsp. lecithin granules
  • dash celtic sea salt
  • optional: afew soaked or dry nuts, or hemp seeds
  • optional: spirulina or BGA. This will turn it green though
  • optional: high quality honey (I use a Manuka 10 plus from New Zealand rain forests) or bee pollen.
  • optional: tocotrienols, maca root, or any other superfoods.
  • add water till level. The more water the less thick. Play around.
  • can also add greens if you wish.
  • Three lemons peeled but with as much white rind on as possible
  • One pear
  • dash celtic sea salt
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 8-12 oz. charged water. Once again, the more water the less thick. Play around.
  • 1-2 cups butternut squash
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • half a squeezed lemon
  • some greens or sprouts
  • couple of sticks of celery or fennel
  • dash celtic sea salt

 

Here are the recipes:

Superfood Smoothie:

 

Blend in Vita-Mix and Serve

Electrolyte Lemonade:

 

Blend in Vita-Mix and Serve

Squash Soup

Blend together, then taste and add any herbs you wish (if you wish).I then like to put in 8-10 prunes and just pulse them in. Gives it a sweetness. Play around with this one. Then warm on stove until its slight warm to the touch. Serve promptly. Good eaten with crackers with coconut butter on top.

 

Simply Raw: Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days

Article from: www.living-foods.com

The Living and Raw Foods F.A.Q. (Frequently Asked Questions)

Living and Raw Foods includes all plant based (vegetarian/vegan) foods.

What are Living and Raw Foods?

Raw and Living Foods are foods that contain enzymes. In general, the act of heating food over 116 degrees F destroys enzymes in food. (Enzymes start to degrade in as little as 106 degrees F). All cooked food is devoid of enzymes, furthermore cooking food changes the molecular structure of the food and renders it toxic. Living and raw foods also have enormously higher nutrient values than the foods that have been cooked.

What are Enzymes?

Enzymes assist in the digestion of foods. They are known to be the "Life-Force" and or "energy" of food.

From the dictionary: Noun: Any of the various complex organic substances, as pepsin originating from living cells and capable of producing certain chemical changes in organic substances by catalytic action, as in digestion.

Why are Enzymes Important?

Enzymes are important because they assist in the digestion and absorption of food. If you eat food that is enzyme-less, your body will not get maximum utilization of the food. This causes toxicity in the body. (Can you guess why over 75% of Americans are overweight?)

Doesn't the acidic ph of the stomach destoy enzymes?

Viktorus Kulvinskas, one of the world's foremost and most experienced active researchers into enzyme nutrition has information showing then stomach acid merely deactivates food enzymes. The enzymes are then reactivated in the more alkaline small intestine. Many people who eat all raw foods, sense a world of healthful difference in our energy, digestion and connectedness with nature by eating enzyme-rich living foods. When we stopped eating cooked protein foods which require large secretions of stomach acid (which is not healthful for several reasons) our stomach doesn't produce much stomach acid. Many people who eat raw foods eat a low protein diet and are free from the stomach acid secretions and have much more energy and a lighter disposition.

Is there a difference between living foods and raw foods?

Living and Raw foods both contain enzymes. In living foods, the enzyme content is much higher. Raw, unsprouted nuts contain enzymes in a "dormant" state. To activate the enzymes contained in almonds, for example, soak them in water for as just 24 hours. Once the almonds begin to sprout, the enzymes become "active" and are then considered living. In the context of this web site, the terms are used loosely.

Why eat only Organic Foods?

When juicing or eating foods, it is very important to choose to consume only organically grown produce. "Conventional" or "industrial" produce are grown with pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers, and other chemicals that are toxic and/or harmful to your body. Organic foods are grown without the use of these harmful substances, taste better, and are more nutritious.

Do I need to eat all organic to be raw?

No, you do not NEED to eat all organic to be raw. I personally reccomend eating as much organic food as possible. It has been shown that organic produce contains less pesticide and other toxic residues. In addition, it has been shown that organic food may taste better and contain more nutrition. I believe its better to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables in most any case.

Will rinsing wash off the pesticide from industrially grown produce?

Rinsing with cool water will remove some surface pesticide residue, but not the pesticide that was absorbed into the produce as it was grown. Some of the most severely tainted types of produce are strawberries and bell peppers. Some of the least tainted: carrots and avocados.

Is this a "new" fad diet or something?

Not at all! Consider the following: during the vast majority of our existence on this planet, what choices did we have for food? What COULD we have eaten before we discovered fire, tools and implements to kill animals? The original diet for us MUST have consisted primarily of vegetables, fruits, and nuts! What other choices did we have? Clearly, a raw, plant based diet is the main food staple throughout the vast majority of the history of Humankind! Before Humans started killing and eating dead animal carcass, we ate fruits, leaves, nuts, berries, etc...

Is this just another vegetarian or vegan diet?

Yes and NO! This is the ULTIMATE vegetarian/vegan diet. It should be the goal of all vegetarians, vegans and SAD - [Standard American Diet] eaters to eat raw. The benefits are out of this world! Once you embrace an all-raw and living food diet, you are more living, have more energy, better health, think more clearly, and become more in tune with your body! This type of diet even gives you a "competitive edge" over people that eat life-less food.

What is the difference between a raw/living foods diet and a vegetarian diet?

Vegetarians and vegans believe in only eating a plant based diet.

Living and Raw Foodists believe in eating only an UNCOOKED, UNHEATED, UNPROCESSED and ORGANIC plant based diet.

What is a Living Foodist or Raw Foodist?

A person who eats 75% or more living/raw food.. The more, the better. Optimally one should eat 100% raw and living foods if it feels right for them.

Is a 100% living and raw food diet best?

That depends on the person. I believe life should not be about 100% raw food, but about 100% health. You can be "unhealthy" and eat 100% raw food, if you are not eating the correct raw foods. In addition, the stress that can be caused by "screwing up" or "falling off the wagon" can be worse than eating a high percentage raw food diet, with "better" cooked alternatives. I personally eat 99.999% raw foods.

Is there just one type of living/raw foodist?

There are many subcategories of living/raw foodists. Some include:

• Fruitarian - People who consume mostly fruits
• Sproutarian - People who consume mostly sprouts
• Juicearian - People who consume mostly fresh juice

 

Why would someone want to eat a raw and living foods d/iet?

There are many reasons why people eat a raw and living foods diet.

1. Health: Persons embracing this type of diet invariably experience improvements in their general physical and mental status, including more energy, better health, more energy , weight loss, detoxification, and a sturdier immune system that better resists and recovers from just about any kind of disease... and the list goes on...
2. Energy efficiency: Since you no longer have to cook, you don't waste electricity, and save the environment.
3. Since you eat organic agriculture, you help to save the planet. Most become more in-tune with their body; many report definite spiritual improvements.
4. No animal products are used, so the animals appreciate it.

What do raw/living foodists eat?

Raw and Living Foodist eat all fruits, vegetables, sprouts, nuts, seeds, grains, sea vegetables, and other organic/natural foods that have not been processed. In some instances, there are special ways to prepare the foods (example: most raw and living foodists soak/sprout nuts, seeds and grains before consuming them). For some delicious recipes, see our recipe section!

How can you tell if something is a raw/living food?

Most foods that have not been processed in any way, shape or form are raw and living foods (until cooked). Processed foods (canned, bottled or prepackaged) are most often adulterated, (changed from their original state) by heating, additives, preservatives, colorings, salt, and sugar. Don't think this is all for your benefit; the benefactor is the manufacturer's profit margin, NOT YOU. Try to purchase foods that are in their natural state.

What do raw and living foodists drink?

Water (purified water - never tap water), Freshly made juices (made with your own juicer - and consumed immediately), coconut milk (from a young coconut), are some of the liquids living and raw foodists drink. Most all drinks purchased at the store have been processed (Including: soda, bottled juices, coffee, alcohol, and most others) and are not included in a living / raw foodist diet.

Do raw and living foodists drink tea?

Some living and raw foodists will drink SUN TEA, which is tea brewed by the power of the Sun. Teas that contain boiling water are not considered raw. Many teas that are purchased in the store may have been processed at temperatures above 118 degrees. The best way is to grow your own herbs and dry them at a low temperature, and use them for sun teas.

Are certain raw foods better than others?

Yes. I believe one should focus on eating the majority of fresh fruits and vegetables. All other raw foods (such as nuts, seeds, etc) should be minimized. Fresher foods are always best. Ones that you grow yourself, or purchased at a farmers market, are much fresher than foods purchased in the grocery or health food store.

Where do raw and living foodist get their protein?

The WHO (World Health Organization) says humans need about 5% of their daily calories to come from protein to be healthy. The USDA puts this figure at 6.5%. On average, fruits have about 5% of their calories from protein. Vegetables have from 20-50% of their calories from protein. Sprouted seeds, beans, and grains contain from 10-25% of their calories from protein. So if you are eating any variety of living plant foods, you are getting more than adequate protein. Numerous scientific studies have shown the daily need for protein to be about 25-35 grams per day. So if you ate 2,000 calories per day, and ate raw plant foods that had an average of 10% of their calories from protein, you would get 200 calories worth of protein, or 50 grams. This is more than adequate to support optimal well-being. Other studies have shown that heat treating a protein (such as with cooking) makes about half of it unusable to the human body. So raw plant food protein is even a better source than cooked plant foods or animal foods. There is still a huge, foolish, misguided idea that plant protein is not "complete". This is based on studies done on rats in the 1940's. This false conclusion was drawn before we discovered the bodies protein recycling mechanism and its ability to "complete" any amino acid mix from our bodies amino acid pool, no matter what the amino acid composition of a meal consumed. This false idea is still perpetuated by the meat and dairy industries, in an attempt to influence people to continue consuming their truly health destroying products.

Article from: www.fredericpatenaude.com

RAW CACAO

You know, I've written before about the whole raw cacao craze, but for those of you who might have missed it, I thought I would give you some more details about raw cacao and my feelings on it.

I often get asked what I think of the whole raw cacao craze. If you don't know about this, there are some people who currently claim that raw chocolate is the ultimate food of mankind and that we should eat as much as possible to benefit from the high levels of anti-oxidants, magnesium and other trace minerals.

Truth is, their claims are completely flawed and wrong.

Let's take a honest look at the issue, by looking at some claims made about cacao:

CLAIM #1

"Cornell University food scientists found that cocoa powder has nearly twice the antioxidants of red wine and up to three times what is found in green tea."

MY COMMENTS: Yes, cacao contains lots of antioxidants. But the question is not *what is the highest source of anti-oxidants* but *what is the *healthiest source of antioxidants*.

Cacao is rich in fat and contains some caffeine and theobromine, which is a stimulant alike caffeine. Therefore, one should not eat too much of it. But blueberries and other berries are free of these concerns and also contain lots of anti-oxidants. In my opinion, they are a much *healthier* source of anti-oxidants.

CLAIM #2

"As we have noted, cacao is one of nature's richest sources of magnesium, which is a heart as well as brain mineral."

Same here. Cacao may be rich in magnesium, but that's not a reason good enough to make it a main part of your diet, when it's rich in fat! Other foods contain lots of magnesium, including green vegetables.

CLAIM #3

"Cacao, because it is unadulterated, has an even stronger love energy. In ancient Aztec wedding ceremonies, the bride and groom would exchange 5 cacao beans with each other."

What can I say here except that I'm surprised people buy this kind of non-sense. Lots of very unhealthy foods have been praised throughout the world for their *magical* qualities that it's not surprising to find cacao among them.

The bottom line about raw cacao and raw chocolate is that it's not the healthiest source of anti-oxidants or nutrients, and it's no *magical* food.

I'm all for enjoying food and life and having some cacao as part of your diet occasionally and enjoying some health benefits that way is perfectly fine. But to make raw cacao an important part of your diet, as is recommended by some people, is completely ridiculous and unhealthy.

I much prefer to use carob powder in my recipes.

Instead of being a stimulant, carob is a mineral rich food and has a calming effect. Carob is high in fiber and rich in polyphenols that have strong antiviral and antiseptic properties, making it effective when given to treat bacterial-induced diarrhea.

Carob is a wonderful substitute for cocoa because it contains fewer calories, is naturally sweet, and, unlike cocoa or sweet chocolate, is caffeine-free and non addictive and has no theobromine or oxalic acid. In addition, it is usually cheaper.

It's also low in fat and sodium, calcium-rich and a good source of potassium, while, unlike cacao and chocolate, it does not interfere with the body's ability to assimilate calcium. Now, carob truly is a health food!

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From: www.mercola.com

SUN AND HEALTH

Shocking Update -- Sunshine Can Actually Decrease Your Vitamin D Levels

Back to health Resources

Dr. Brian Clement, Director of the Hippocrates Health Institute in Florida USA, has been eating raw vegan for 35 years. The Hippocrates Health Institute offers a raw vegan diet as part of the healing treatment and has helped hundreds of people heal from cancer and many other modern diseases. . The following video interview provides essential information to everyone who is authentic about choosing a path of optimal health with the aide of a raw vegan diet.

Some of the topics Brian addresses include:

 

• Why a raw vegan diet?
• What kind of raw vegan is optimal?
• The belief in having to eat cooked food depending on our constitution?
• Diets associated with yoga or other spiritual paths.
• Myths and rituals.

 

 

Optimal Health & Raw Vegan with Dr Clement, Part 1 of 3

Optimal Health & Raw Vegan with Dr Clement, Part 2 of 3

Optimal Health & Raw Vegan with Dr Clement, Part 3 of 3

 

Click here for links on raw vegan diet.

Back to Optimal Health

Maintaining a healthy body is essential to face challenges and stressful situations, for spiritual evolution and to live a life of vitality and well being.

As we are moving toward an expansion in consciousness, it is important to prepare the body for spiritual development.

The same energy that sustain the entire universe dwells within us. The physical body is like a conduit for that energy. Our homes need strong electric conduits to allow more electric power to flow. In the same way, if we want to experience more "Shakti" or universal power within us, we need to create a strong conduit for our energy by building a strong body.

We Are What We Eat

 

"Nothing would benefit humanity more than a vegetarian diet."Albert Einstein

 

Everything is energy with different frequencies. To support a higher frequency in our body it is essential to feed it high frequency food and proper water. The following article is from Alkalizingfor Life.com

Life Giving Greens

 

Introduction

 

“The goal in life is to die young as late as possible.” Ashley Montagu, Anthropologist

 

I’m assuming you’re like most people and that you want to live a long fruitful, exciting life full of energy and vitality. That you’d love to be able to live well into old age and continue doing the things that you love like walking, hiking, going on vacations with your family. You want to spend more time with your grandchildren and less time in the nursing home, in the doctor's office or in the hospital. This may sound like wishful thinking in today’s world of ache’s and pains, chronic disorders, diseases and age related problems, but the reality is that we are actually supposed to live much longer and feel much healthier as we age than we are currently accustomed to seeing. The truth is, if we begin now, to maintain the alkaline design of our bodies we can and will live well into old age and avoid all sickness, disease.

The problem is we can't get alkaline by following the guidelines of our current health system. In a world of 6.4 billion people we Americans make up only 5% of the world's population polling at 300 Million. Yet with such a small amount of the population we use almost 50% of the worlds pharmaceutical drugs. These numbers might be OK if our country were one of the most healthy. But, you should know that despite using half the worlds drugs, out of the 193 countries of the world, we don’t even rank in the top 30.

In fact, properly prescribed and properly taken prescription drugs rank as the #5 cause of death in the U.S.

So, how is an entire country continuing down this self destructive path? How have we not caught on to the fact that pharmaceuticals are slowly killing us and making us sicker? Do they really have our best interest at heart? Have we bought into a sales pitch? Does any of it make any sense at all? Doesn't my Doctor know best? the truth is taking pharmaceutical medication is like cutting the wire to the check engine light to your car. You are simply masking the problem. It’s still there you just don’t have to see it, but eventually that engine(your body) is going to break down.

As things get progressively worse, especially for our children, Americans are beginning to ask questions and take their health, and the health of their family, back into their own hands. In fact the statistics are showing that even 70% of new medical students are actively requesting alternative methods to disease treatment. Discovering this information about greens and Alkalizing, has officially begun your journey to understanding the truth about healthy living. This information will impact you and your family for generations, and has the potential to be one of the most significant discoveries of your life. Good luck in your quest for great health! - Mike Costa, Nutritional Microscopist

 

 

We need to eat foods that provide us with energy. Greens provides you with that necessary energy that your cells are looking for. Think of your body as an ENERGY BANK. If you plan on making withdrawals, you need to make deposits into that bank account. The pH scale goes from 0-14. 0 being most acidic and 14 being most alkaline. Acidic foods are withdrawals and take energy away from us and make our bodies work harder from digestion to removing toxins and waste and so on. Alkaline foods are deposits and have a positive effect on all bodily function.

Foods Have Life Force!

 

If we want more energy we should consume more energetic foods. The images below were taken using Kirlian Photography a form of photography which captures vibrational frequencies.

 

A living lentil sprout contains well over 150 MHz of energy!

 

Greens contain well over 250 MHz of energy!

 

The typical American diet, does not provide energy.

The above photo of a hamburger shows less than 7 MHz of energy, even with a piece of lettuce and tomato on the burger.

These images help illustrate that the standard acidic American diet is actually drawing energy from your body rather than providing it. Yet our bodies as resilient as they are have found a way to cope with the toxins and alkaline,vitamin & amp; mineral depletion as best they can and for as long as they can. Each of us is different according to our constitution but each of us eventually begin to manifest symptoms of over acidification or sickness and dis-ease.

Plants and Humans

 

We humans actually have a vital Symbiotic Relationship with plants. We provide CO2, they provide O2. We provide nutrients through the recycling of our bodies and they provide nutrients for us to assimilate by absorbing sunlight through photosynthesis. It makes sense then, with such a close relationship that plants then should play an important role in our diets.

Greens Build Clean Blood

 

 

"The life of all flesh is the blood" Leviticus 17:14

The Blood and Nutrition

 

If you want to get to the source of any problem you've got to get down to the "root "of it. Well in order to get to the root of the problems in terms of your health you have to begin with your blood and your cells. What’s Blood Got to do with It? Well, we have 5 liters of the stuff and our heart beats 100,000 times a day and pumps 2.5 ounces of blood each beat which equals about 8 tons each day. Our red blood cells deliver oxygen and remove waste. Our RBC's also transform to body cells and make up our tissue, organs, etc.

We Make 4 million new blood cells and 13 million new body cells every second. Providing our bodies with plant foods is the most important factor in building healthy blood. Getting a concentrated Greens product helps this process. Everything you eat or drink goes into the digestive system and ends up in the small intestines. Blood production begins within the intestines. Within the intestines exists the intestinal villas. Think of the intestinal villus as the root system to the body, just like plants with roots that absorb nutrients. The root system of plants are like the intestinal track of plants.

Blood vessels and lactiles run through the intestinal villas. The lactiles absorb fat. Fats are used in the formation of the erythroblasts as well to make cell membranes. The area space is 7,200 square feet, or 1/3 of a football field!

The River of Life and Death begins in the Small Intestine! Intestinal villus is like an amoeba. Digested food goes into the villus. Villus takes the digested food into its structure, assimilates and finally transforms it into an erythroblast which then becomes a red blood cell.

The quality of the red blood cell is determined by the quality of food we eat and liquids we drink.

Why do vegetarians look so unhealthy?

Most Vegetarians do not follow an Acid/Alkaline understanding when it comes to diet. Often vegetarian diets consist of large amounts of overly cooked vegetables, processed meat substitutes and other prepackaged foods. They also consume more grains, rice, flours, simple carbohydrates, sugars, high sugar fruits, dairy products etc. rather than living vegetables, low sugar fruits, and high energy green foods.

The truth is vegetables and low sugar fruits contain a wide array of essential minerals and nutrients. However the depletion of minerals and nutrients in today's soil makes a concentrated greens product a necessary supplement for everyone. You cant get all the nutrients you need from just your vegetables anymore.

The key ingredients of a greens product should be green leafy vegetables and grasses. All green leafy vegetables and grasses are high in calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamin c, and many of the B Vitamins

Where does the Cow get Her Calcium?

From the transmutation of the Mg. which is found in the chlorophyll molecule of Green plants!

The High Protein Approach

19th Century German Research: 120 grams of protein per day Conventional Nutritionists dropped this to: 60-90 grams of protein per day Recent research suggests: 25 grams of protein per day or less

The Protein Myth

 

Another truth that is little known is that you don't need animal proteins or protein shakes to build muscle. You need healthy blood to build healthy muscle. How do you build healthy blood? Greens!

% of Calories found in Vegetables that are Protein

• Spinach 49%
• Broccoli 47%
• Alfalfa Sprouts 40%
• Kale 40%
• Wheat Grass 25%
• Green Leafy Lettuce 42%
• Cucumbers 20%
• Bell Peppers 20%
• Zucchini 26%
• Green Peas 30%
• Avocado 15 %
• Tomatoes 18%
• Garlic 20%
• Lemons 13%

Also when it comes to protein needs there are many factors that are overlooked. The body has a constantly changing, free amino acid pool derived from body sources as cells disorganize providing raw materials for protein complexes This pool contributes about 70g of protein daily!

The idea that you have to eat all the essential amino acids simultaneously is erroneous.

Where does the Cow get Her Protein? From the transmutation of the Sulfur to Phosphorus which is found in all Green plants!

Read more about the protein myth...

Chlorophyll

It is Chlorophyll which produces the green color in plants and is considered the "blood" of plants. In plants, the chlorophyll pigment is found in organelles called chloroplasts.

Chloroplasts convert light energy (by absorbing sunlight) to chemical energy during photosynthesis.

Chlorophyll Increases Blood pH and helps to build blood. The main reason for this is because the molecular structure of chlorophyll is virtually identical to that of the red blood cell.

Chlorophyll's molecular structure is similar to the hemoglobain of human blood. Hemoglobin is our body's oxygen transporter. From a chemical standpoint, the components of chlorophyll are almost identical to those of hemoglobin. A German chemist, Dr Richard Wilsstatter, determined in 1913 that the two molecules closely resemble on another. He found that hemoglobin is composed of four elements - carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen - organized around a single atom of iron. Hemoglobin's iron content is the main reason we need a dietary supply of that mineral. Chlorophyll has the same elements, however they are organized around a single atom of magnesium.

The benefits of various green foods seem related to their chlorophyll content. Chlorophyll has the power to regenerate our bodies at the molecular and cellular level. It is known to help cleanse the body, fight infection, help heal wounds, and promote the health of the circulatory, digestive, immune, and detoxification systems. Chlorophyll consumption increases the number of red blood cells and, therefore, increase oxygen utilization by the body. Chloropyll also reduces the binding of carcinogens to DNA in the liver and other organs. It also breaks down calcium oxalate stones for elimination, which are created by the body for the purpose of neutralizing and disposing of excess acid.

Two of the best sources of chlorophyll are wheat grass and barley grass. Grass - this humble plant that we walk on, mow and usually take for granted is an amazing doorway to health.

With Chlorophyll so closely resembling the structure of hemoglobin the only ion which needs to be exchanged is the center Magnesium ion for Iron. The body can make quick use of it and easily assimilate it. In this way we can see that chlorophyll, the blood of plants, is the most powerful blood builder we can consume. A good quality greens will be rich in chlorophyll. The green foods found in Greens are rich sources of chlorophyll.

‘Optimum’ pH of human arterial blood is 7.365 ‘Normal’ range is 7.35-7.45 Blood pH outside this range is acidic and considered a medical emergency

“The human body is alkaline by design and acid by function.” Dr. Robert O. Young, PhD

Who do You Know that Gets 5-9 Servings of Vegetables and Fruits Daily?

• 4 % get zero servings daily
• 35% get 1-2 servings daily
• 37% get 3-4 servings daily
• 23% get more than 5 servings daily

(source: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

76% of Americans aren’t getting the minimum recommended amount of vegetables and fruits daily.

Greens are Healthy Whole Food FAST FOOD! A greens supplement delivers vital nutrients in a convenient, easily digestible form.

Some Benefits of Greens

• A good greens product focuses on delicate, immature green plants that offer more energy and nutrients and are nutritionally different from mature grains.
• These greens are Incredibly nutrient-dense and contain nutrient profiles similar to the most nutritious dark green leafy vegetables
• Greens are a nutrient-rich food and source of “good fats”
• Greens helps lower cholesterol levels and supports healthy cholesterol levels already within a normal range
• Greens increases absorption of carotenoids and nutrients
• Greens are a natural sources of phytonutrients
• Greens help protect against cell damage
• Greens stimulate body enzymes to detoxify carcinogens
• Greens modulate the body’s metabolism of hormones
• Greens contain Aromatic Herbs that provide soothing actions and Digestive Benefits
• Greens Increase the flow of fluids and calm spasms
• Help relieve occasional stomach upset and gas
• Combat free radicals and help counter cell damage with antioxidants
• Provide powerful health-protective benefits of phytonutrients
• Enhance immunity and protects cells with chlorophyll
• Enhance vitality and provide nutrition
• Phytonutrients provide powerful health-protective benefits
• Antioxidants combat free radicals and help counter cell damage
• Greens harnesses the power of the sun
• Greens are pure nutrition from vegetables in an easily digestible form
• Greens provides an alkalizing formula hydrates and detoxifies the body
• Greens enhances energy and provides nutrition
• Chlorophyll enhances immunity and protects cells

"Your choice of diet will affect your long term health prospects more than any other action you may take." C. Everett Koop - Former Surgeon General

“I don’t understand and why asking people to eat a well-balanced vegetarian diet is considered drastic while it is medically conservative to cut people open or put them on powerful cholesterol lowering drugs for the rest of their lives.” Dean Ornish M.D.

"I submit that scientists have not yet explored the hidden possibilities of the innumerable seeds, leaves and fruits for giving the fullest possible nutrition to mankind." Mahatma Gandhi

“...greens are not an optional product” Jeff Schneider

Appeal Magazine
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine Study Results:

1. Eat More, Weigh Less, by Dean Ornish, M. D. was ranked 1st place.

It promotes a mostly vegetarian diet, low in fat, and high in fiber.

1. The pH Miracle, by Dr. Robert O. Young came in 2nd place!

Marginal/Unsatisfactory ratings:

 

• The Zone
• Eat Right for Your Blood Type (type A)
• Body for Life
• The Fat Flush Plan
• The Insulin Resistance Diet
• The Omega Diet
• Sugar Busters
• Eat for Your Blood Type (type O)
• Poor Ratings
• Eat for Your Blood Type (type AB)
• Eat for Your Blood Type (type B)

 

Unsafe

 

• Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution
• Protein Power

 

Studies About Vegetables Around the World

 

• Studies Reported in Newsweek April, 1994

 

• Study: Human study at Harbin Medical College in China

Results: CABBAGE was the most important single food in reducing the risk of stomach cancer

• Study: Italian study on Smokers

Results: Smokers who consumed GREEN LEAFY and other VEGETABLES had a THREE FOLD REDUCTION in their risk of lung cancer with smokers who rarely ate vegetables.

• Study: Hebel Cancer Institute in China

Results: GARLIC, ONION AND TOMATO had the ability to INHIBIT the CELL MUTATION caused by common chemotherapeutic drugs... this is based on conclusive evidence that chemotherapy drugs cause cell mutations and lead to other types of cancers later in life.

• Study: Mayo Clinic

Results: Cancer patients receiving radiation therapy can benefit dramatically from optimal VEGETABLE based diets.

• Study: University of Athens School of Medicine in Greece

Results: Women who consumed the LOWEST level of vegetables had 10 TIMES the rate of BREAST CANCER compared to women consuming the HIGHEST level of vegetables.

• Study: Human study in Australia

Results: Consumption of CABBAGE, CARROTS AND GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES substantial protection against COLON CANCER.

• Study: Aichi Cancer Institute of Japan

Results: Eating VEGETABLES reduced the risk of CERVICAL and BREAST CANCER in women.

• Study: Cancer Control Agency of British Columbia

Results: Eating VEGETABLES dramatically reduced incidence of BREAST CANCER.

Water

 

Water is essential to life. Daniel Vitalis, our Feral Warrior Clan Leader who you see on the picture above, is an expert in this topic and started an index for National Spring Water.

Here is another source of information about water.

Here are some links to get more information about optimal diets.

 

• What's best to eat
• Processed People DVD
• Simply Raw DVD
• Food Matters DVD
• Key Elements For Success In Any Detoxification Program
• Why no meat
• About Adaptogens

 

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