RawFoodLog

What Has Simpleology.com Got To Do With Eating Raw?

2010-09-27T11:50:00.000-07:00

Well actually nothing! Well not directly.

One of the complaints I hear about adopting a great way of eating (incorporating appropriate raw elements) is that it costs too much to eat organic everyday. Here are five creative ways to get around this,

1. Eat seasonal, when things are in abundance they are cheaper.
2. Getting organic certification can include a lot of jumping through hoops, so some farms just don't bother. But in spirit they're organic. At Farmers Markets just ask if produce is unsprayed if not marked organic.
3.Buy in bulk, especially special offers.
4. Calculate the real value. Raw milk is not that expensive and it is practically a complete food, easy to digest, and it's nutritional value skyrockets further if fermented with kefir grains. www.lovekefir.com
5. Create some more income! Either by re-prioritising your expenses, selling possessions you don't need any more, or turning an idea into cashflow. Simpleology.com has reduced its infoproduct creation kit from $97 to $8 (yes, eight dollars, I bought it for $2 at the beginning of the promotion. Sorry!). So why not check it out at Simpleology not sure how long before it shoots back up to $97. And have a look at the course, Simpleology 202 (the simple science of real money and financial stability) available for nada at the moment (yes nada).

I thought I should let you know.

Greens Mean Lean

2010-09-10T18:54:00.000-07:00

As you can see I've been playing with the design keeping things fresh! Which segues nicely into today's subject, greens. Fact: There isn't a one size fits all diet. Fact: Nutrient density is major key in maintaining and keeping a lean strong and healthy body. I eat spinach, and seaweed like they're going out of fashion!

One food group (I call it a food group) to punch above it's weight in providing nutrients per calorie are the family green..spinach, kale, chard, lettuce, celery and so on. Whatever your way of eating if you start to add greens to your daily meals, you will very quickly see a change in your hunger patterns and body shape and more. Feel free to eat in a way that suits your body e.g raw soups, heated soups, salads, smoothies and wraps etc.

When you don't have access to fresh greens due to lifestyle e,g, travel or seasonality there are some excellent green powders around. I use Amazing Grass (new sponsor of my blog) please check out the links, I have used both the green, and the choc version. I add it to my kefir for turbo charged raw nutrition. http://www.lovekefir.com/

I remember way back when I started to add a handful of raw spinach to my jacket potato and beans. My skin became super soft. And I now have a big green soup of seasonal veg practically every day! Would love to hear about your green adventures too.

If you live in North London check out Farm-Direct http://www.farm-direct.com/
I stumbled across them on my wanderings last year. I was walking along and spotted this sign I turned into the side road and there they were. They offer an online service to a number of North London postcodes, and they also hold a lot of produce that you can buy direct from them. Check out the website both it, and the fresh food shown is beautiful.

The Nurturers

2010-09-05T15:14:00.000-07:00

We can always recognise more truth about nutrition..

Read two books on body types recently, The Body Code by Jay Cooper, and Dr Abravanel's Body Type Diet and Lifetime Nutrition Plan. I'm always reading nutrition books to see what wisdom lurks within (or not!). These two books rest on a similar premise, that we all fall broadly into four hormonal types, thyroid, gonadal, adrenal and pituitary (the Body Code refers to them as communicator, nurturer, warrior and visionary).

Interestingly both books highlight the nurturer/gonadal type as the ones most suited to a plant-based high water content way of eating (in the long term), but including small amounts of animal foods such as fish and non-fat dairy. Gonads (women only for this type, the other three types include men) are larger from the waist down and narrower from the waist up i.e. pear-shaped.

The material could help you customise a raw diet that supports your health. I'm aware that some raw vegans have b12 issues, teeth issues, particularly teeth issues and others (which can be linked to lack of nutrients that can only be found in quality animal foods like B12, Vit D etc). This will affect certain body types more than others so do be aware. Raw (unpasteurised) dairy is a great way to get that extra vital nutrition and stay 100% raw if you want. If that's not available or you don't want to go there, check out wholefood supplementation (with your nutritionist/health support). I can recommend New Chapter Organics available through Iherb.com and at Planet Organic and Wholefoods. Pricey but effective, ethical and totally food based so your body recognises it as food, and can take what's needed. No chemical weird stuff.

What is your body type?

The Body Code: A Personal Wellness And Weight Loss Plan At The World Famous Green Valley Spa

Dr. Abravanel's Body Type Diet and Lifetime Nutrition Plan

Is Raw Vegan the Holy Grail of Diets?

2010-07-15T12:01:00.000-07:00

Well this may be a bit of a controversial post!

Do I think raw vegan is the only way to go? As fab a protocol as it is, the answer would have to be .. no.

Ten reasons to go raw vegan for a while (and a while will be dependent on your particular body, environment, needs and lifestyle factors)

1. Kick starting a healthful eating lifestyle
2. Showing you where your weaknesses are e.g emotional eating, types of non foods you're addicted to
3. Easing the digestive load on your body during times of stress or to release vital energy for cleansing and healing purposes
4. Seeing an immediate impact of fresh fruits and vegetables on the integrity of the body
5. Getting in touch with your intuition
6. Getting in touch with how food grows
7. As part of an overall plan to simplify your life
8. Emergency health measures
9. Preparing for a fast
10. For the fun of it!

And there may be others.. however..

I don't believe there is a one diet fits all, well I know there isn't one. I'm a nutritionist, avid researcher and learner and love testing out ideas on my own self and this concept is clear to me. What there is though is a set of time-tested principles that you can create your own diet around (diet=eating plan) when you have a clear understanding of your own body and how it functions.

Raw is one element. No one needs to eat 100% raw vegan and I wouldn't recommend it as a forever way of eating. And that's not coming from a fear-based perspective but a principle-based perspective. I'll do some more posts on 100% raw for the long term and what you need to be looking out for.

It's very easy to get caught up in a label and I had to be careful myself. The important thing is the experience that you are having and how it is integrating with the rest of your whole life.

Later ;)

Reasons to go Raw

2010-07-14T01:13:00.000-07:00

Before I go into some of the reasons why I think going raw is a good idea.. techie update!! I'm going to have to burn a new food as the Feedburner one seems to be in the ether somewhere. I'll do that later today. I will also post again tomorrow, so if you don't receive anything please come back and re-subscribe!! And thank-you to those who are following me!!

These are some of the three top benefits of going raw,

Increasing awareness

You become more aware of yourself, all aspects! You come out of hiding so to speak. If you've got a lot of anger suddenly it comes surging out (there is also a side of this that is linked to B12 deficiency but that's for another post). If you are unhappy with some part of your life there it is staring you in the face demanding your involvement. I know I became so much aware of what I was eating, why I was eating and so on. Emotional eating is often brought to light as well. I was able to conquer emotional eating through eating wholly raw. There is only so much fruit, veg or even nuts one can be interesting in eating regardless of how much distraction is required! The beauty of increasing awareness is the ability to choose.

Immediate health results

Eating nutrient-rich, high water food can help you see immediate health results that motivate you on to your bigger vision. These signs of vibrancy include more energy, better sleep, clearer skin, shedding excess fat/weight and more intangible things like increased hope, starting to dream big and feeling you have something to contribute.

Sensitivity to your own intuition

When you start to unravel habits that have been causing you to live small and to supress your emotions (as opposed to transforming or expressing them), within a life of taking responsibility for your life and what you want to see, things change! You start to get in touch with yourself, to hear yourself, to experience synchronicities and see next steps. This is why going raw can be such an addictive phenomenon, and seen as the panacea for everything. ;)

Tomorrow I will be posting on whether I think raw vegan is the perfect 'diet' for mankind!

ps
made some lovely green juice at the weekend combining pineapple and spinach (and diluting with water). Pineapples have the active enzyme, bromelain that benefits the human body in a number of ways including,

reducing swelling and inflammation
loosening old matter in the gut and accumulated mucus in the respiratory tract
helping with a sluggish immune system
helping with digestion ... and much more.

It is brilliant for doing a cleanse, and I like to have this juice at the end of a period of fasting to help sweep out the toxins and old food debris!

Notes From The Lecture

2010-07-07T09:58:00.000-07:00

A little update from the BC lecture here in London a couple of weeks ago..

First up I had young coconuts for the first time, absolutely delicious. Where have I been all my life! Drank the water through a straw and then it was hacked open so I could scoop out the coconut flesh. Update over..only joking.

Brian was late problems in Paris I think.. I will intersperse with my own thoughts in bold..

He talked about the campaign to grow/eat organic foods at popcampaign.org and expressed dismay at the widespread use of GM foods in the states and apparently sneaking in the backdoor in the UK. I haven't done any research on that but wouldnt be surprised. Corn and soya are the most common GM products so be aware when you buy.

My thoughts
Eat Simply
Eat Organic
Know your source

Here are some things that caught my attention (I tend to pick up what resonates and leave the rest)

- The weaker you become on a physiological and emotional basis the more controllable you become
- Emotional disorder is at the root of disease
- Food can be a mirror of how you feel about yourself
- The degree to which you love yourself is the degree to which you will eat appropriately (mindfully, healthfully)
- Once you value your life nothing is difficult
- If a mother lives well usually the whole family fall in line
- Excuses will not get you anywhere but commitment will get you to where you want to go
- You don't commit to the raw food diet you commit to yourself, raw food may be a vehicle that helps you in your comitment (paraphrase)
- Validate your values by taking action, this creates virtue, then commitment, then whole lives
- The most important thing about being alive is that we have endless potential
- People who are incredibly good at what they do are committed, they only do things they love. They don't do anything they don't want to
-There is a passionate way or no way
-We just do not the nature of things
- Re isolated synthetic vitamins - even at the most basic level vitamins and minerals will never perform fully without their co-factors
- Vitamin C is not simply Ascorbic acid (manufactured version) there is more to it
- 68% of people lack vitamin C
- Enzymes great est antidote to ageing and helps digestion (My thoughts: yay for raw milk ..Brian wouldn't agree).

Brian Clement in London

2010-06-23T14:50:00.000-07:00

Hello lovely people! it's 2010, it' halfway through 2010 aaaarrrgghh!!

This is a short post, just in case you are in London, Brian Clement of the Hippocrates Health Institute will be speaking at Friends House, near Euston Station on Sunday 27 Jun 11.30am.

Go to http://www.fresh-network.com/ for tickets.

Hippocrates LifeForce

Supplements Exposed: The Truth They Don't Want You to Know About Vitamins, Minerals, and Their Effects on Your Health

I've had some problems with my posting with old posts going out, and with the changes with Feedburner I'm still trying to get into my account. So may have to ask you all to subscribe using a different feed. I'll let you know. Hope all is well with you. I was thinking of shutting down this blog but have decided not to, but am starting another one related to food as my journey evolves!

The Future of Farming

2009-11-09T16:45:00.000-08:00

And three months later...! Time flies etc etc

I'm back again! Hope all is well with you all.. I even had a couple of comments waiting for me which was lovely.

I'm really into going to farmers markets at the moment..well the past couple of months at least (yes that's where I've been). It will probably sound a bit worthy but I find it a very satisfying activity! Actually meeting people face to face who grow, pick, rear or gather food. It's great to be able to chat with them, it's quite humbling too. It's also fun to be eating more seasonal foods, investing in local farming, and being in the fresh air even when it's pouring with rain!

Recent purchases include raspberries, apples, pears, squash, mushrooms (from a guy who sold about six different varieties!), pastured chicken and beef liver. I think I am going to have to change the blog name to real and raw, as I'm not advocating an exclusively plant based diet, or exclusively raw. But I do think those elements should be the foundation with the addition of quality sourced animal products, and carefully prepared cooked food. But we get to choose in line with our needs. For example a 100% plant based raw diet can be very cleansing for a period of time as I have found, and for others it's been a lifeline to healing. But it's not necessarily for a life time and not necessarily for everybody. I'm finding there is an art to getting the most out of a meal nutritionally, and it's a good thing too. When you learn the principles you realise you can make choices that fit your values and needs from a wide range of cuisines.

I am convinced there isn't one 'right' way of eating per se except that we all need to be getting a variety of protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins and minerals, fibre and phytonutrients basically from our foods in a way that promotes health in our body and also is enjoyable. And what this might look like on a plate will vary across the world. It will be dependent on availablity, personal biology, seasons, climate, healing processes and so on. But nevertheless would be described as real food. More later.

I've leave you with this inspiring documentary about the future of farming split into five videos on you tube. The garden farm .. amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=9975CC0E8CC2CDDE&search_query=A+Farm+for+the+Future

Happy New Year!!

2009-02-27T14:42:00.000-08:00

Yes I know, we're practically in March and I remember to catch up with my two readers!! Only joking I think there are three!! Actually I got an email from a kind soul passing on a video about raw choc, but I think I may have scared him off when I said raw choc doesn't really float my boat so the video kinda went over my head. Never mind back to two readers!

What's been happening? Well I had a lovely long break over Christmas which was blissful. Had a break from food which sounds weird but was also blissful. Of course we need to eat but it is liberating to step out of that for a time for rest and regeneration. We're talking healthy and intentional here, not eating disorder! I've been writing content but when there is something doing with that I'll let you know. And the snow was beautiful .........

What am I eating at the moment? Fruit until late afternoon mainly bananas or Thompson grapes or green smoothie with baby spinach, mango and pears. Also sometimes munch on apples and pears. I like that these are local but don't get myself in a bind about it. A small salad late afternoon dk green leaves, beetroot and avocado for the last month, and now replaced the beetroot with celery because I felt like it. In the evening tends to be either vegetable juice and sprouted bread from the Sunnyvale range, or lightly steamed sweet potato, broccoli etc on a bed of fresh greens with whatever herbs and spices I like with a touch of coconut oil, and nutritional yeast. At the weekends I have raw oat groats which I really like either with almond milk I've made from sprouting almonds or just with water and a bit of raw honey. I don't have any negative effects and it fills me up for the whole day. Initially I ground them into a coarse flour and added liquid and now I soak the groats and then process them in the Blendtech with the liquid. But both ways suit.

This week I soaked some wheatberries and then ground the sprouted seeds in the Cuisinart, spread on a tray and made hunza style or essene flat bread in the oven. How cool. Tastes nothing like bread. Very chewy so teaches you to 'fletcherise' i.e. masticate food properly!

I found this recipe on Wed and literally went home and rescued my soaking wheatberries. First try no less! There is something incredibly pleasurable about seeing a seed sprout. I just find deep sense of gratitude welling up when I eat without having to consciously think to give thanks.
http://earthstar.newlibertyvillage.com/essenebread.htm and also found one which literally lets the dough air-dry. Hope to try that too.

Earthstar has some thought-provoking articles so worth a browse....

Energy Soup

2008-09-16T13:03:00.000-07:00

Well I finished my 40 day fast!! And this is the one that I broke well (the most critical part!)

It was last thursday, and I finally sensed that tug at the back of the throat that is true hunger. It's quite strange it has nothing to do with the tummy! I had a couple of spotty bananas before going to an evening engagement. On the way I bought a little tub of cherry tomatoes. How times have changed, never in a million years would I have been snacking on tomatoes, before turning mainly 'fresh and live', not least because I couldn't stand raw tomatoes.

After my meeting felt like some broth, not in a craving way but in a 'this would be good' way. So wondered if there was a Wagamamas around Westminster. Had a wander past the station and off course there was the Southbank which does indeed house a wagamama. I ambled over and ordered the big vegetable ramen soup but without the noodles and oil garnish. Instead they loaded it up with fresh alfalfa sprouts, and had that with a raw salad. It was the right choice. Went home had a BM later that evening a good sign. If you eat the wrong thing (e.g. bread!) when you break a fast it can hold up your 'just waking up' digestive system for days!

I have been eating very light, still home squeezed orange juice in the morning, a few grapes, and mono-meals of bananas at lunch time, and occasionally edamame when I go for some air. I remember thinking while I was fasting that I would eat raw soup when I broke the fast. I think this was intuition because then I kept coming across posts about energy soups. See example below

http://www.gogreen.org/blend/energy.html

So in the evenings I have a big bowl of raw soup made of whatever veggie/greens are around, on the whole lettuce, baby spinach, celery, red pepper, cucumber and tomatoes and mixed with a cup of miso soup to bring up to room temperature. This my concoction! Then I cut up some broccoli, blanch it and drop into the soup for chewiness. It's so filling and nourishing. You can have fun mixing up the ingredients. I'm not adding any fat at the moment because I'm eating really light as it suits me and aids my running. And also advisable to wait a while before adding the fat in after a fast. Plus before my fast I noticed the nuts were causing me to be sluggish. And I won't have that, my morning run is a vital part of my day. Not in an 'I must exercise way' but something that brings me more joy and freedom, mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.

I have ordered a big box of almonds from Nora Lenz of Raw School. But I will be sprouting to use to make raw almond yoghurt, and raw almond houmous at the weekends.

I had some avocado today because I bought two salads from Planet Organic, one a mix of fennel, coleslaw and quinoa and sprouts. Quinoa is the kind of thing I'm happy to eat occasionally in a bought salad as I don't feel the need to keep on eating it like bread! But it did feel heavy compared to what I've been eating. Anyway I'll monitor how I feel tomorrow. I'm open, and not attaching to anything. Then I got a yummy salad of spinach, baby tomatoes and avocado, I ate the first two ingredients and dropped the cubes of avocado into my energy soup, altogether a very delicious meal!!

On Saturday I went for a friend's birthday drinks at the Eagle Gastropub in Farringdon. They didn't have any vegan salads on the menu, so I asked the chef if he wouldn't mind making me something! (you gotta ask). And I tell you I was served up the most beautiful, delicious salad. Even the others at the table who were tucking into Tiramisu by that time were looking impressed. It was a mixture of grated carrot, lettuce, baby spinach, cubes of beetroot, a touch of dressing and garnished with those green olives that haven't been stored in oil. It was scrumlicious. I feel so loved! I am so loved!!

Inspired Action

2008-08-31T14:55:00.000-07:00

Exercise: Ran every day this week, plus yoga stretching everyday and dry-skin brushing everyday!
Day 29

Tomorrow is day 30 of juice fast!

Hola Amigos and Amigas

I am blogging less as I'm starting to research and develop content for my websites!

Can't recommend fasting enough juice or water. Whenever I want to focus on something I fast it helps you root out the distractions. I've been doing mainly oranges and organic too. It's true what they say about citrus juice, it really gets at the crud that sticks on your insides, I've had bowel movements nearly ever day despite not taking in any solid food.

I've been enjoying the running and the dry skin brushing. All these habits teach the principle of delayed gratification. The longer you fast the greater the effects. On day 24 I was flying, that's when I moved up a dimension. The mental clarity and spiritual attunement is amazing.

During this fast I have completed 'Calling in the One' by Katherine Woodward Thomas
http://www.amazon.com/Calling-One-Weeks-Attract-Love/dp/1400049296

I did all 49 exercises one each day and have set my intention, and feel very proud of myself commitment does indeed bring it's own reward. I heard about this book through reading about it on a review of a different book. I read the reviews and decided to get it. The book is a real labour of love and provides the tools for doing relationship with your soulmate, but I would add any relationship would benefit.

This is what Katherine wrote at the end of the book:

"In my work over the years I have come to see that people are divided into two categories. Those who want love in their lives and will faithfully do the work to actualise love; and those who want love in their lives but won't. Those who will do the work understand love as a creative action that they are free to choose in any given moment. Those who won't do the work tend to see love as a thing to get or as a place to hide out. I pray with all my heart that I have enticed you toward the former. For that is the fulfilment of my purpose in life - to ever expand my capacity to give and receive love with all those who cross my path, and to help others to do the same. You, dear reader, are the fulfilment of love for me. And now I beseech you to please pass it forward".

I cried because she inspired me. I loved the definition of love as creative action we can choose any time (including how we choose to nourish ourselves!). The book is brilliantly written and having a chapter to read a day with an exercise provides an excellent way of breaking it down. I can't recommend it enough. I have a full a4 notebook of my notes and exercises that I keep reviewing. Well you know I had been working through 'Life on Purpose' by Brad Swift. But I took a break after passage 4. And it has worked out beautifully (as indeed things do!) because I felt it was time to complete it especially as 'Calling in the One' had meant I had done even more questioning and internal work that would enhance the process. Plus so much of the book chimed with Life on Purpose, and indeed Katherine had defined her own purpose too! I decided to go back to the beginning and do a bit every morning after my run replacing the 'Calling in the One' reading and exercises. It was a little more difficult as it is not set out in daily format, and I found just as I was getting into the exercise I would have to get ready for work!

Anway I did that for a week, and got up to Bank holiday monday. I decided that Monday I would do the rest of the book. And I did I started at 7.30am after my run and apart from an hour outside in the afternoon I kept going until 9.30pm. Felt VERY GOOD!

The next day I woke up with such peace and for the next few day I kept finding pieces of my life purpose jumping out at me from various things I was reading, loads of little synchronicities. I asked myself how am I extending freedom in this situation?, Have I worshipped today?, is this a should action or an inspired action?. And I'm so grateful for the process and seeing it through, and best of all my purpose 'clicks' so I find I am always referring back to it. I immediately birthed a purposeful prayer project, and other inspired projects in the pipeline. Everything perfect in its time.

Here is something that Brad wrote towards the end of the book:

"As a person on purpose, you have within you the seed that may one day grow into your being a servant to the world - when the context of your life is no longer about you. In fact, at that point it stops being just about your family, your close network of friends, your community, or even your country, and it expands to include the whole world and its role in the Universe."

http://www.lifeonpurpose.com/index.php?page=1

Amazing possibilities..

My life on purpose..

..A life of freedom rooted in wholeness, beauty, truth, order and love. A life of worship, inspired action and full self-expression.

And of course this makes it so clear why I am passionate about pursuing and sharing health that is informed by the principles of life, and exploring the reasons and potential for eating a fresh, live plant-based diet among other things!

Lovely Synchronicities

2008-08-10T12:58:00.000-07:00

Juice: Orange/celery juice
Exercise: Yoga, dry-skin brushing
Results so far: very smooth skin, since I started my fast the shoulder that I strained has gotten better each day. From waking with it feeling very stiff before the fast, on just the first day I woke and it wasn't the first thing that caught my attention. Bowel movements (BMs practically everyday). Some mucous release via throat. Very high mental clarity.

I am 8 days in to my annual summer fast (abstaining from solids, just fresh juice and water) and cleanse! I am full of energy although yesterday felt really drowsy. For me I've found every seven days the cleansing seems to go up a level. As part of my commitment I'm running everyday (I rested today), doing yoga everyday and dry-skin brushing everyday to rev up the lymph drainage system. I'm also doing some reading before I leave for work. When I run I do a running meditation, just focusing on and repeating one phrase the whole way. It probably sounds counterintuitive but I have even more energy than when I'm eating solid foods. Which proves the point that food doesn not give us energy, food provides fuel and material for repair and construction. Our (nerve) energy is replenished through sleep.

It feels great to start each day this way. And good to hit the end of the first week milestone. It's been a very busy week and had a two day awayday so had to plan in advance re what to do at lunchtimes to avoid drawing attention to myself. But when you decide and commit to something, an answer always come through. And everything worked out plus I took my own juice with me.

So many synchronicities have been happening as well. When synchronicities (lots of meaningful connected happenings) it shows you are on your path and not out of 'sync'. I had been thinking about being able to buy all my fruit and veg organic. I buy some things organic at the moment like carrots and smaller items. And I also wanted to find a nice organic delivery company so I don't have to carry too much as well, and begin to see more of my vision manifest. I'd looked at a couple of the well known ones but I didn't feel 'drawn' to them. So left it for a while knowing that it would come.

Then I was thinking about possibly doing a mainly orange juice fast. I came across the cute site through reading one of my raw school emails. http://www.fruitgod.com/index.html and Anne had done an orange juice fast which made me think aha!.

Then I decided to have another search for organic delivery companies and found this!
http://www.organicdelivery.co.uk/shopfront/shopfront.php

Immediately I was drawn to them, before I explored what they had to offer. Then I saw they sold juicing oranges! I stepped out in faith and put my first order in and yesterday (yes, they do Saturday deliveries!) I returned home to a box of fresh, fragrant organic oranges. The customer service over the phone was great (can also order online). I resonated with their 'reason for being' and I hope to buy more organic from them. To top it off in the newsletter that came with the box, their was a short article how I think it's the owners, went to on holiday to Cornwall to stay with friends who ate only raw foods, how cool is that?! And then (yes, there is more) there a mini profile on Saf raw restaurant which I've not only visited but is down the road from where I work! Happy to be connected to a business that gets my lifestyle.

Also Planet Organic has opened in Mossy Well. Do you think I'm being set up!

It's Just an Emotion

2008-08-03T14:46:00.000-07:00

Exercise: yoga
Food: fresh juice (apple/spinach/lime)

Hellooo

I have been immersed in books. I'm reading 'Left in the dark', 'The writings of Florence Scovel Shinn', 'Being Here', 'Changes that Heal' and 'Calling in the One'.

I've also been thinking about when you start to eat raw, how important it is that you also learn about emotional poise and dealing with the 'stuff' that is exposed when you stop hiding it and numbing it with cooked food. And boy does it come out! In fact eating raw is the best when you are ready for change on all levels, it's more fun and things complement each other. E.g. eating raw helped my fasting practice, and my fasting practice made me more inclined to eat raw. Eating raw made me more grateful to God for understanding what true health is. And drawing closer to God has made me more courageous to be me, to step out find truth and act on it. And so it goes on..

Here is a video (in five parts) from Professor Rozalind Gruben- Graham who eats an all raw vegan diet, is married to Dr Doug Graham well know author of the 80 10 10 way of eating raw. They have a toddler age daughter who is the cutest. They had a picnic and seminar yesterday here in the UK but unfortunately I couldn't make it. Anyway after that long intro! Here is the video.. really makes you think about the way we do things, and hopefully make changes!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icsFTnltYuY

I've been eating more nuts of late. But I feel the effect the next day while I feel fine during the day I don't want to get up in the morning. I note these effects and what I'm feeling. At this stage this is fine, but I'm open to letting nuts fade out to the right levels, but I'm not forcing the issue. It's like when I first went raw I kept wanting crisps even though I hardly ate crisps when I ate cooked vegan! I just kept immersing myself in quality raw food material, knowing that as long as I was open to letting crisps go, they would go at the right time. Now if I were to look at crisps I do 'feel' my mind running ahead to say no. Basically the message that crisps do not serve me or my health goals is embedded in my subconscious now. This is part of what Prof Roz says but much better than me! Happy watching.

Immerse Yourself

2008-07-27T14:59:00.000-07:00

Exercise: Walking
Food: 5 bananas, mango and spinach smoothie, almonds, grapes

I notice when I read my living nutrition magazines I get really inspired by my raw lifestyle. I am inspired on a daily basis, but I get further insights from reading and also get to hear how other people are doing. I have read loads of raw books in a relatively short period of time. My subconscious is now becoming increasingly raw! It's weird but I can look at certain foods now and I can literally feel my mind running ahead to work out the long term consequence not just the short term gratification of my potential decision!

Immersing yourself in information and experience of things that are important to you helps you get to where you want to go faster. Catherine Ponder refers to this in 'The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity'.

So first step decide what subject takes your fancy, and then just learn about it, talk and listen to relevant people, practice it , then it becomes a part of you and before you know it, you're an expert!

It applies to languages, a friend of a friend went to Paris to learn french. He lived with a french family, and the teacher refused to speak a word of English. He said he was compelled to learn in that situation, and that after a while something just clicked and the language was just there.

We all know the principle: What you focus your attention on is what you get.

On a separate but not unrelated topic read this fab email from Matthew Bilt;

Did you know there's a way to ALWAYS get what you want...?Well there is, and I'm going to sharewith you how to ALWAYS win and get whatyou want...In fact - even when YOU lose youWIN.Why?Simply - because you are unattached toany outcome.Here's how this works...Let's say you are wanting to create yourdream house or dream relationship...Instead of physically going to a realtor and picking out the exact house - OR meeting some guy or girl and thinkingto yourself..."THIS IS THE ONE"You step back for a second and think aboutthe ESSENCE of what it is that you want.In a relationship - you can get the VIBEof the type of person you want to be with.Or for a dream house, you get the VIBEof what the dream house does for you.So - map out your desires based on the essence of what you want.This is ESSENCE vs. Form... and it's a verypowerful concept.Begin to align yourself with the essence ofwhat you want and not worry about what formit comes in... For example - your dream relationship could be with that one guy or girl you just met... butthere's 100 other people that would do the job just as well.SO STOP GETTING ATTACHED!The same goes for any job/business/goal/relationshipetc, etc, etc.This applies to EVERYTHING.Figure out what the essence and feeling of whatit is you want to create - demand that essencebut be totally unattached to what form it showsup in.It will come to you VERY Fast.That's all for today.We teach more cool stuff like this in our12-Weeks to Abundance course but the letterisn't up yet...So if you're interested just e-mail me.And I'll hook you up.Talk soon!Matthew Bilt Publishing, Inc.7-1650 St. Mary's RoadWinnipeg, MB R2N 1G2

It's All In The Fruit

2008-07-17T13:34:00.001-07:00

Exercise: Brisk walking, some yoga
Food: 6 bananas, some dates, bunch of grapes, punnet of cherries, v large handful of mixed nuts, salad of baby spinach, cucumber and celery

You may have noticed I haven't been putting escalators up in my exercise for the day. Well I've decided to focus on doing more yoga on a daily basis. I still do the escalators but not all the time, but when I do stand it's because I'm reading a book. I refuse to just throw my time away!

At the moment I'm immersed in 'Left in The Dark' by Graham Gynn and Tony Wright. I'm nearly half way through and there's a lot of science involved.

'..cooking therefore represents one further step away from the ancestral diet that nurtured our brain growth. This new change accelerated the degeneration that had been slowly taking place over the preceding 200,000 yrs. A system, which was already on a downward slope, now constructed itself out of materials ever lacking in the biochemistry needed for healthy functioning.

I am convinced more than ever (not that I need convincing mind) that humans are frugivores i.e. fruit eaters and that if we are going to tap into the potential that God has blessed us with in any impactful way (when I say impactful way I mean character-changing, life-changing, world-changing, and generational change) then we won't be able to ignore this. Ghandi is an example of someone who radically changed his lifestyle to fulfil his purpose and the way he ate was a part of this.

I feel very stirred up inside because I know you and I are not here on earth in order to simply meet meet our needs, and get by. We are here to be ourselves fully and out of that being to impact generations through vision and mission.

Gaining Clarity

2008-07-13T15:16:00.000-07:00

Exercise: Lots of walking
Food: 5 bananas, pineapple juice, guava and mandarin smoothie, bunch of grapes, a few dates, a large handful of pistachios, carrot, celery and sweetcorn salad

I've signed up for the 48 ways of wisdom from Aish.com. And one of them was explaining the importance of having clear definitions to be able to make correct evaluations of the results you see in your life.

For example many people say they are into healthy eating. But what do they mean by healthy eating? eating organic meat, being vegetarian, eating fruits? You have to research each area to find out the truth of the matter not simply what you believe to be the truth. Truth remember can stand on it's own merit, it is verifiable, it is does not need belief to stand it up. And so you go and do your research and find that actually meat is not a requirement for health in fact it can be a requirement for anti-health. Then of course you have the decision to eat it or not, both options equally valid. But both options giving different results either in the short term or the long term.

When you say you want to be fit what do you mean by fit? Why do you want to be fit? What is the best way to become fit? Are you committed (single-mindedly focussed). Do you know that fit is not the same as healthy? Fit simply means being able to achieve certain feats usually within certain time limits. It doesn't necessarily mean healthy eating and lifestyle habits are present. We've all done things through sheer force of will! Healthy and fit go together, one without the other is none at all.

Clarity brings consciousness which empowers commitment.

We Can Have Health Now

2008-07-08T16:10:00.000-07:00

Exercise: yoga
Food: Big bunch of red grapes, salad- leaves, carrot and celery, pistachios, 1 banana, quite a few dates!

I bought a large 300g bag of raw pistachio kernels from Tesco thinking I will use it to top up my 'nut tub' at work for the week. Hmm very moreish might have to rethink that plan. The grapes from Sainsbury's were juicy but tasteless, M&S wins hands down. But the organic green ones from Sainsbury's are crisp and refreshing. Okay that's the supermarket round up.

Here is something I got from my first copy of Vibrance magazine! It's written by Dr Robert Sniadach. His website is below.

http://www.transformationinstitute.org/index.html

"God is not playing some perverse trick on us. It is not as if God made superb health the endpoint of some incredibly tough maze, one which only brilliant scientists and learned doctors could even begin to fathom. He is not standing back and laughing as we grope for all sorts of 'cures'. I suspect that he is very saddened by our suffering, especially when nearly all of it is unecessary. He made provisions for us, as he made provisions for all His creatures on Earth.

God created Man. God created Nature. God makes it all work. Trust that it all works. Trust in Nature. Trust in Man. Most of all, trust in God.

In The Dark?

2008-07-04T18:18:00.000-07:00

Exercise: Run, yoga
Food: 6 bananas, fresh oj, pineapple and celery juice, salad of leaves, carrot and celery, smoothie-mango, goji berries and coconut milk

I stumbled upon a new website (like I need another one!) while reading the latest edition of mini passion magazine from www.detoxyourworld.com, it's www.leftinthedark.com

Read the introduction at this link,

http://leftinthedark.org.uk/introduction

I just had to paste this para from the site!

An investigation into the evolution of the human brain.A journey to the edge of the human mind.
The human brain, over a period of perhaps a million years, expanded at an increasingly rapid rate then, some 200,000 years ago, this expansion suddenly stopped. There is, to date, no plausible scientific explanation for either of these linked events.Religious and mythic traditions of paradise inform us that we once lived in a benign state of perpetual wonder and joy but from this we regressed. The reasons for this are obscure. Do these apparently unrelated perspectives have something in common?

How exciting!!! I have to get this book. I'm a great believer that Truth with a capital T can stand on it's own merit i.e. it's not dependent on belief and is verifiable. And for me the test for Truth is that it brings more freedom into my life period. Read the Introduction link and then ask yourself whether your doubts about eating raw, particularly FRUIT might suddenly be emigrating to some far off land!

I've got to do some more reading, (good science is invaluable) and will unpick it here. What I will add for now is that I noticed when I became consciously raw I was recognising truth more easily, was drawn to my purpose, coincidences and synchronicities were happening that I couldn't ignore, my mind became clear, my spiritual awareness heightened, becoming more courageous and adventureous, I was becoming more me. It's not just eating raw food, as I was changing/investing in new life habits and continue to do so as you will know, yoga, prayer, meditation, being in nature, making decisions based on my values. But eating raw biologically appropriate food is one of the most significant factors along with taking away food that weighs the body down and ties up its creative energy.

A very simple book to read that can help bring clarity is Grain Damage by Dr Douglas Graham. I love this book! It's so easy to read and short but packs a punch. You can buy it on Amazon.com

Graham writes: "during the 'Golden Age of Man' almost three thousand years ago, historical records indicate that man thrived brilliantly on a diet composed primarily of fruit, with the addition of some tender vegetables. This time period produced a disproportionately huge number of history's greatest thinkers, given that the world's population was barely twenty million".

WOW!!

Present And Correct

2008-06-29T15:31:00.000-07:00

Exercise: Run, Yoga
Food: Dates, 2 bananas, salad of leaves, capers, avocado, tomatoes, olives and tofu, pineapple and orange juice

I am completely surrounded by the message of 'BE PRESENT'. I hear ya God! I'm reading 'Row, row, row your boat: A guide for living in the Divine Flow' by Steven Lane Taylor and it rocks. Just a bit of awareness can bring freedom. One thing he says is we need to be present to recognise the clues and signs right in front of us to live the life we want. And when we're not in the present we are usually stuck in the past or projecting to the future.

Today I went for a run and I decided to do a running meditation. I've made this up for myself I don't know if anyone else does it. As I ran I was repeating the phrase 'I open myself fully to giving and receiving love'. It was such a joy and I felt I'd run it in half the time although I hadn't. It was one of those times when I could have run forever plus I got to expand my heart. At home I'm still developing my meditation practice but I might repeat a verse of scripture like 'Be still and know that I am God' or a phrase like the one above. The possibilities are endless.

On www.aish.com there are 48 ways to wisdom. And one of them is about staying present. It states that killing time is a crime. And I agree time is not for killing it's for purposeful living, purposeful work, purposeful play, purposeful relationships etc. You get the gist. The thing that was so profound was the statement that we find it painful to be in the present, that is why we waste time. Think about it we numb ourselves with TV, food, alcohol, drugs, shopping and the rest, or we focus on the past or daydream about the future but not in any meaningful way. The extent to which we do these things may well be an indicator of how much or how little purpose we have in our lives.

I continue to marvel at all the resources we have access to in our lifetime. I leave you with Oprah's address to the Class of 08 at Stanford Uni.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bpd3raj8xww

Now, Now, Now

2008-06-25T17:06:00.000-07:00

Food: 6 bananas, 2 small mangos, oj, salad of leaves, carrot and sweetcorn with a pesto dressing, a handful of organic cashews and almonds
Exercise: Escalators, long walk

I have this habit of checking out a book on Amazon and then I get reading the books that have been linked into that book, and then I'm far away from where I started and am reading the 50th rave review of yet another addition to my wishlist! I LOVE reading, learning and applying.

Now I got to reading reviews of a book called Being here:modern tales of enlightenment
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Being-Here-Modern-Tales-Enlightenment/dp/1888043180/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214439459&sr=1-1

I actually read the reviews on Amazon.com there were loads and all five stars. You can get a lot out of a well-written review;) I haven't read the book yet (although I will be shortly!) but already gleaned some wisdom, it's all about living life right now wherever you find yourself. It is so tempting and I have been there to be wanting to achieve goals in order to 'start' living. However listen up insight on it's way ;) the past is gone and we hope to see the future, but we definitely have now. Sooooo it makes sense to experience the joy, wisdom, peace, love and fulfilment now. And it's simply a choice. It would be great if this kind of stuff was taught in school it is empowering and liberating all at once.

Am noticing some changes in my eating habits I don't seem very drawn to green smoothies at present. I ate the mango just cut up into slices. Normally even though I really like mango, I would much rather smoothie it. Am also having nice long gaps between eating and stopping eating earlier. I'm enjoying my emotions even when they are not happy ones and catch myself thinking through what it really is I'm feeling etc. Interesting new development. Just realised something else, it's in the present that we change, that we are transformed.

Having a Rest

2008-06-22T14:47:00.000-07:00

Food: 2 bananas, orange and pineapple juice, bunch of grapes, some dates, small bag of cashews
Exercise: Escalators, long walk

I fasted yesterday, I'm back to my one day a week fasting . If you fast one day a week for a whole year, you are going without food for 14% of the year, imagine the rest you give your body not to mention the the ripple effect on your finances, the environment, the time you can spend on something else.. If you keep going at one day a week after seven years you would have fasted for the equivalent of one year imagine the rest and rejuvenation for the body.

I read a recommendation somewhere of one day a week, one week a month and one month a year.

This is not the same as starvation, or an eating disorder or being forced to go with out because there is no food. This is voluntary fasting from a place of love with the full understanding of what it means and what to expect. It has spiritual, physical and mental benefits.

Fasting is not something you just jump into, in the same way you don't just jump into running for a marathon, you train for it! First of all you prepare your mind, you read and learn about the discipline, then you start to practise e.g. with fasting start with one meal or snack time and monitor your feelings, your body etc. You can do this with support of a health practitioner.

I always find extended fasts much easier than one day fasts. The first day is the hardest it's that jarring between eating (sometimes continuously) and then not. But once you've relaxed into it it's very liberating, your mind becomes very focused. Initially there may be detox symptoms, depending on how you eat.

My little toes were sore from a pair of sandals I bought and yesterday the pain completely disappeared. I felt very peaceful too. Plus I had a real boost to my self-esteem for seeing it through.

I've been fasting regularly now for two years and a half years (sometimes water and sometimes with fresh juice). I'm really glad I did the training, and I still am training... It's a habit that can easily get lost because it's so contrary to modern lifestyles, but it's one I personally want to keep.

Ebbs and Flows

2008-06-18T13:32:00.000-07:00

Food: 10 bananas, some dates, salad of leaves, carrot, sweetcorn and avocado, a large handful of cashews and almonds
Exercise: Escalators and brisk walking

Before last night I hadn't eaten a banana for about five or six days, basically because I had to wait for them to ripen! So I found I was eating less fruit say in a day some grapes, a salad and some nuts. But was feeling tired in the mornings and less inclined to run. Was on period too but doesn't affect my running. Last night had quite a few bananas. And today I felt more energised. I need more fruit than salads/nuts to maintain a good equilibrium. Although sometimes I want lots of salads that I can just chew and chew. I go with it for as long as I need to. The principle is natural biologically appropriate foods, but the detail for each individual will be different and will change over time as our bodies get stronger, our needs change and we improve the rest of our lifestyle.

I like bananas and dates as my staples. Others prefer citrus or apples and pears. I also enjoy eating big bunches of grapes particularly if I'm out and about as they also help quench my thirst. I'm also loving pineapple and orange juice. I don't really eat pineapple cut up, not that I don't but I much prefer it juiced and the same for oranges. If I could have only one thing it would be fresh orange juice.

I've gone off tomatoes for a while. But drawn to a carrot/lettuce mix after Italy. And have had a break from spinach. I also cooled off mangoes but have some organic ones ripening for later in the week. Previously I'd pretty much abandoned carrots.

That's the beauty of eating this way, you can eat very simply and get abundant nutrition. You just eat what you're drawn to within the principle of natural eating.

We don't really have to worry about nutrient content of foods we would just eat what are bodies are designed to eat. Animals don't check they are getting enough protein they just eat within the boundaries of their design and hunger. But we do have the benefit of scientific study which only confirms time and time again the importance of more fruit and veg in the diet.

Hmmmm....think about it.

Healthy Mind

2008-06-13T16:51:00.000-07:00

Exercise: Lots of brisk walking
Food: 1 L Freshly squeezed orange juice, cashew nuts and large salad of leaves, carrot and sweetcorn with a touch of olive oil and balsamic vinegar (not altogether!)

I'm devouring more of my Living Nutrition magazines. The content is just so great and I will be subscribing to the rebranded, redesigned version (now called Vibrance). http://www.livingnutrition.com/

I've just reread an article called the Organic Mind by Lee Glickstein (www.speakingcircles.com)
Lee explains how we can develop an organic mind as opposed to a conventional mind to match and express our developing physical vitality as we go more raw. An organic mind is fertile, fluid and flexible among other things while a conventional mind is rigid with assumptions, 'right ways' and judgements.

These are Lee's suggestions for creating an Organic Mind,
1. Appreciate others like you would appreciate a tree, a river or a fruit i.e. with no judgement
2. Listen while you speak, and softly maintain eye contact
3. Notice natural silence and join it every day
4. Let your judgements pass. Laugh at yourself
5. Listen, listen, listen, softly and with your whole body, listen to the essence of others

And his seven traits of the Organic Mind,
1. Appreciates silence and acts from a foundation of listening
2. Listens to the essence of others and speaks only into the essence of others
3. Conversations move quickly through content into the sharing of meaningful ideas
4. Meets every person through soft, available eyes
5. Is down to earth, laughs and cries easily
6. Thinks less and less about more and more
7. Thinks universally

A lot to munch on there! But such great stuff...

Raw in Roma

2008-06-11T16:35:00.000-07:00

Exercise: Escalators
Food: 8 bananas, salad with leaves, avocado, sun-dried tomato, carrot, gherkins, and pesto dressing, bread, tortilla chips nibbled in Fresh and Wild, cashew nuts

I have been in Italy these past few days, first to a wedding in Pescara and then to Rome. The wedding was beautiful in a little village outside Pescara. The reception was held in a castle and on the way we passed fig trees, olive trees and apricots trees, how amazing is that! I want to live there!! I had the juiciest plumpest olives at the canape reception pre dinner. Re dietary requirements, I simply said vegan, no wheat or dairy and that am really happy with a salad. But didn't specifically mention raw.

So knew it would be okay, and also as long as my body was happy and I felt alright eating something then I would go with it. It was a classic five course meal, while everyone was complaining that they had overeaten on lots of meat, I felt just fine. My first course was vegetable soup, then a trio of boiled broad beans, courgettes and another vegetable I can't remember, then I had a plate of mushrooms and potato, then a mixed salad of leaves lightly dressed and finally a plate of seasonal fruit. I had about three conversations with people who asked me about my eating choices and it was really great to talk to them. In some ways I was slightly dreading it but then I would remind myself everything was okay, that I could eat what I wanted, and that I could just be me even if different, this wasn't about labels.

And of course when I said that it was easy! To top it off we danced the night away..

The first night before the wedding some of us went for a pizza, I really didn't want pizza or pasta or rice so one of my friends asked for them to prepare a salad for me. It was very simple, leaves, carrot and sweetcorn, lightly dressed. It was one of the best meals I have ever had.They had given me a good sized bowl but I was still hungry (probably helped by the fact that we arrived at the hotel at 7pm after setting off at 10am from London that morning!) So this time I got the italian words needed to ask for another one and they brought me a huge bowl and it was still delicious. I guess I had paid them a compliment by asking for another one and they rewarded me well!! It was in my top 10 of raw meals, hunger met simple nourishing fare.

Rome was wonderful and it was good to be back again. My hotel was perfect with a fruit stall at the end of the road that also served freshly sqeezed oj do you see why I say that I am the most blessed woman in the whole world? It's run by a charming lady called Augusta, check it out if you go on Via Della Vite off Piazza Spagna. It was quite blissful to eat when and what I wanted. To spend the whole day walking outside in the air and sunshine, feasting on the sights and poking my head into various ancient and modern nooks and crannies. I revisited an old favourite Cafe Magnolia who do about 10 different creative salads as well as pizza and pasta so a good place to bring friends. Of course it came with bread and I had some. I know I was sleepy from the dancing of the night before and all the travelling but that night I slept for 12 hours straight and could have slept more but got up at noon because I didn't come to Rome to sleep!! That's the effect on me good to have the reminder...

It's good to be home..

Everyone Needs Compassion

2008-06-05T16:54:00.000-07:00

Exercise: Escalators
Food: 8 bananas, fresh Oj, cashew nuts mixed salad with carrot, leaves, avocado, sundried tomato and sweetcorn, a handful of dates a few hours after the salad

Deep down I know that it would have been a good to fast today. I wasn't feeling hungry and felt my body could do with a rest especially as I had quite a few cashew nuts which needed to be fully digested.

Did I then fast, heck no, I carried on business as usual. I soon felt the consequences, my body certainly didn't want the cashews. And I could feel it trying to get equilibrium! A couple of loo visits and everything was fine!

There is a quote that goes something like, "Greatness is being courteous and kind to everyone especially when there is no apparent benefit".

And I was thinking it would be lovely if we could be kind to ourselves as well, not just how we treat our spirit, mind and body i.e. what we eat , how we move around etc but also when we mess up and make the wrong choice. Like me today! Compassion brings hope. So let's be kind to ourselves so we can be kind to others.

We are the revolution..