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Cleansing in the New Year…
Last year, I began the ritual of juice fasting into the new year. The aim of the fast was to give my body a rest, clean out my system, affirm release of old habits or blocks of the past year, and renew a spiritual and physical connection. Last year the fast was 10 days. This year, I made it to day 7 and then on day 8 had a strange burning desire for vegetable broth that I couldn’t shake, so I used the last three days to come down off the fast. If your looking for a way to jump start the year, amplify new positive resolutions, or renew yourself spiritually, physically, or mentally, you may want to give fasting a try. Just make sure to consult your doc if you have a special condition and to give your body adequate time to come down off the fast.
If you aren’t a fan of fasting cold turkey on vegetable juice, or would like to ease into it, here are some modifications that may allow you do some form of cleansing in this New Year:
- Try starting and ending the day with vegetable juice or master cleanse, and eating a meal mid-day.
- Eliminate meat for a specified period (3 days to a week) If you are transitioning into the vegan world, and still eating all kinds of meat, you can use your fast to eliminate red meat and still eat fish.
- Go raw for a couple days: meaning you consume only fruits and vegetables and/or juices for a specified period of time.
- Try to go for 3 days to a week not eating any packaged, heavily processed, unnatural foods. Read the labels on everything you consume and try to understand what the ingredients actually are in the food you are eating. It’s harder than you think… as they say, ignorance is bliss!
- Substitute morning meals for fruit smoothies with flaxseed or pysilium husk.
For a refresher on the benefits of fasting feel free to revisit this article: Juice Fasting: The Ultimate Tool for Anti-Aging & Spiritual Awakening
** Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. Listen to your body, consult w/ yr doc if need be, and take my advice at your own risk. Side effects may include general joie de vire, a spiritual awakening, or an increase in magnetism & overall sexiness.
Gourmet Raw Vegan Pizza! – Part One
My Finished Pizza on Dehydrator
Most of my raw recipes are quick and require very little equipment, but over the holidays I decided to try my hand at a gourmet recipe. I bootlegged this delicious pizza recipe from raw chef Elaina Love, and of course added my own secret ingredients. If you are a food connoisseur or just someone who loves good pizza, the rich raw flavors in this recipe will win you over fast. It was amazing and disappeared from the dinner table quickly, but as a forewarning, making the crust takes time. The actually prep time is quick but then the crusts have to dry in a dehydrator for anywhere from 8-12 hours. So this definitely requires planning a day in advance, but is worth the wait and you can also maximize your time if you make a lot of crusts and save them for later in the freezer. Make sure to have fun and modify ingredients to your taste buds!
Crust Ingredients:
3 cups chopped yellow zuccini, 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, 1 cup soaked almonds (soak 1/2 cup to get 1 cup when soaked), 1 cup flaxseed meal, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, ( I added in a bit of yellow curry*)
Sauce Ingredients:
1 cup sun dried tomatoes (soaked briefly), 3 chopped regular tomatoes, 2 dates, garlic clove, 1 teaspoon sea salt, 1/4 teaspoon oregano, 7 basil leaves, 1/16 onion
Here is the cheesy video I watched that breaks down preparation step by step:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8zg5Jmf3tk&feature=related
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8zg5Jmf3tk]
Best Fresh Juice Spots in NYC
At this point, I pretty much have every raw vegan spot in every borough in the city committed to memory. Here’s a list of locations where I found the best organic fresh juice in NYC:
1. 
LifeThyme Natural Market (410 6th Avenue @ W.9th Street) Why # 1? Only one name necessary: MELVIN. I am a firm believer that the energy with which food is prepared greatly affects how well food is assimilated. Melvin, is an incredible dreadlocked man with great energy who has the art of juicing down to a science. I also appreciate that the brother knows how to handle a coconut, which is rare in Manhattan (elsewhere you might end up with pieces of coconut shell in your smoothie). He is usually found whipping up juice and smoothies for long lines of customers who know him well in the am hours until early afternoon. My favorites there: Sweet Christine, Coconut Smoothie with pineapple and banana, & of course a Juice with all greens.
2. Gobo Restaurant (401 6th Avenue @ W. 8th Street) I stumbled upon the juice at Gobo one day, when Melvin wasn’t around at LifeThyme–it is literally almost across the street. They have very fresh wheat grass juice, and other blends, and every time I have gotten excellent service.
3. Westerly Natural Market (913 8th Avenue @ 54th Street) Although they sometimes take their sweet time making your juice or can’t find a coconut, I still love Westerly. They have a nice range of juices and smoothies, and great vegan snacks to grab on the go!
4. Integral Yoga Natural Foods (229 13th Street between 7th & 8th Ave.) Integral Yoga has been hit or miss in the past. I never really feel great energy there from the people making the juice, but I still stop by if I am in a bind and in the area because they have a range of fresh organic produce and its the cheapest place to get a large celery and apple juice which is the bomb when detoxing!
20 Minute Lip Smacking Vegan Sweet Potato Pie
While most people were slaving over a hot stove this holiday season, I kept it cool in the kitchen and still managed to whip up several delictable desserts and a main course in record time, including a Sweet Potatoe Pie which was ready to eat in 20 minutes. This is a vegan, (almost raw–suitable for those who are less than 100% raw)recipe, as the sweet potatoes used were baked prior to preparation.
In order to make the crust, you need a high speed blender (I use a VitaMix) or a food processor, capable of grinding the nuts.
Ingredients
For the filling:
3 or 4 medium sized baked sweet potatoes (bake before hand until soft)
3-4 cups of dates (these add sweetness so modify according to your sweet tooth)
For the pie crust:
2 cups walnuts, 2 cups pecans, 1/2 cup raisins
Put the dates in a bowl and let soak in hot water. While the dates are soaking, put walnuts and pecans into your blender or food processor until the nuts are ground into almost a powder (make sure there aren’t huge chunks). You can stop blending and use a spoon or spatula to move nuts around to catch any large pieces that haven’t blended properly. Once the nuts are ground, add in the raisins and continue to blend. DO NOT ADD WATER or you will have a mushy hot mess o’ nuts! To get it all consistent you will have to stop blending and manuever mixture around in order to make a consistent mixture. Once the raisins and nuts are thoroughly blended, grab pie dish and use your fingers to press the mixture into the the dish to form the crust. Make sure there are no holes.
Then, rinse out your blender and add the dates and the sweet potatoes (without the skin of course) adding a little of the hot water as need. Blend until a creamy, thick consistency, continuing to add water if needed.
Pour the filling into the crust, and put in the freezer for 5 minutes, 10 minutes max. Serve & enjoy !!!
Want to have a regular crust and still keep it vegan or vegetarian? Get a premade crust, try the 365 Brand Whole Wheat crust at Whole Foods. To modify you would pop the crust in the oven, and make the same filling while the crust is baking. Once crust is done pour in filling and pop in freezer. Still only 20 minutes!
The copyright of this recipe is owned by Esosa Edosomwan AKA Chef Eazy E. Permission to republish this recipe in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Anti-Aging SHE-RO #2
They say “black don’t crack,” so Christy Turlington has a lot of explaining to do. Of course she is a supermodel, but she is still managing to age with grace and still make the hottest new models look like amateurs. It must be all that yoga. Whatever it is, I am definitely taking notes.
In a TIME Magazine article in 2001, Turlington said that she practices at home three mornings a week, and tries to take at least two classes a week. As far as the benefits of yoga, she says: “I was interested in cleaning my body on a deeper level. Yoga really purifies your organs and blood. You feel that. You feel that circulation of energy. But the real lesson yoga gives you is learning how to be present.
My New Health Article on “Quinoa”
Below is a link to my new article about the health benefits of quinoa, which includes a description of how to prepare it. http://nutrition.suite101.com/article.cfm/quinoa
Quick Tips for Interesting Quinoa recipes: (it can be cooked or sprouted by soaking)
- Prepare quinoa and mix in parsley, diced tomatoes, diced mint, garlic, and lemon juice for a tabouleh like dish
- Use quinoa as a filler for wraps
- Add quinoa to soup
- Try quinoa as a substitution for rice in sushi. Wrap in nori rolls (seaweed) with diced and sautéed vegetables.
- Season with curry, thyme, & sea salt and mix in with any salad
Anti-Aging SHE-RO #1
Imagine being a grandmother and still looking this fly?
My anti-aging She-ro #1, Karyn Calabrese is a former actress and model, and now grandmother with two grandchildren. And she might be able to drop it like its hot better than I can…
In an interview in 2005 with ABC, (meaning she is now 62!), Karyn said:
“I’m 58 years old. I don’t know what illness is. I have more energy then I know what to do with. I truly believe it is the life style I lead…I had every allergy known to man. I was a mess — terrible skin, so I became vegetarian first, then I became a vegan, then I met Dr. Ann Wigmore after reading her book. It was the next thing for me to move forward to becoming a raw foodist.”
Karyn owns and operates her own restaurant, Karyn’s Fresh Corner in Chicago. For more info visit: http://www.karynraw.com/
Interview w/ Dr. Fred Bisci
Why do I appreciate Dr. Fred Bisci? He is a natural doctor who has been on a raw food diet for over 40 years, but doesn’t preach raw foods like a fundamentalist! They key points that he expresses in this interview that are integral for living a healthy lifestyle is eating a processed food-free diet with no chemicals or altered substances, whole foods, and living a high quality stress free lifestyle. Basically, the biggest issue affecting your health is what you choose NOT to eat. He also stressed that one can be healthy on a diet that is largely raw but not 100%. I personal have gone back and forth in the past couple years between 100% and 80%-90% completely raw, 10-20% cooked unprocessed foods.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xULmBuCmIPg]
World Diabetes Day: Another Travesty
Today, Saturday, November 14th, is World Diabetes Day, a United Nations sanctioned event.
This is an unfortunate event commemorating this disease now affecting an estimated 246 million people worldwide. Why is it unfortunate in my opinion? It is funded by over a dozen drug companies who have a strong interest in seeing that information about how to cure diabetes through natural means like the raw/living foods lifestyle does not reach the ears of the public.
For 6 days only from today the producers of the film “Simply Raw: Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days” and the companion “Raw for Life” 2 disc DVD set are giving awa their films for 50% OFF the regular price in an effort to raise awareness on how to reverse diabetes with raw and living foods.
The film features actor and raw foodist Woody Harrelson, peak performance coach Tony Robbins, Rev. Michael Beckwith from “The Secret,” Morgan Spurlock from “Super Size Me,” Dr. Gabriel Cousens, and Raw Food Advocate David Wolfe. I have seen the film, which I describe concisely as almost the opposite of “Super Size Me,” (definitely left inspired rather than disgusted). It follows several diabetics type one and two, who reverse their conditions through adopting a raw diet in the span of thirty days. It is a very compelling film that the general public needs to see. Please watch it and recommend it to anyone you know with diabetes. It could save their life!
For more info visit the link below:
Why go RAW?
In this world full of toxins, and chemicals, STDs, and countless other terrors that can shorten our life spans, the question I asked myself was, why not? After holding my ground amidst naysayers who foamed at the mouth as they tried to convince me I NEEDED MEAT & processed foods, or that just a little bit of chicken or fish every now and again wouldn’t hurt…I managed to kick the crack habit of processed foods and begin the liberating and joyfully sober journey of eating a diet that integrated a large portion of raw fruits, veggies, nuts, and seeds in 2003. In 2007, after running into too many completely raw foodies who were twice as old as me, looked my age, and could drop it like its hot better than I could, I was ready to make the full fledged leap.
What started out as a one night stand, turned into a very hot, thriving, passionate relationship with consuming foods full of life force. I woke up one morning after and realized I got my groove back like Stella. My acne cleared up, I stopped feeling tired all the time, stopped getting sick, and all of a sudden began to expand my creative and spiritual horizons and cross bridges I would have run scared and sobbing from previously. As I continue along the path, I remain committed to remaining AGE-LESS, in-tune with my body, mind, spirit and sharing that inspiration. I know you may NEED meat, or that you may love the way that processed food smells and tastes, and I know you don’t care about the industrial materials and chemicals your eating as long as it comes with ketchup and a Coke. But if you wake up one morning and look in the mirror and decide the gut has to go, the acne has to go, general dis-ease has to go; if your creativity is blocked, or maybe you can’t even get out of the bed because your just too dag on tired, again. Eat an apple. Grab some greens. Or my favorite: get hooked on the natural high from fresh juice. Your one night stand may turn into a long term love affair.