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Got Veg? DC & MD Book Signings This Weekend!
Last weekend’s book signings were incredible. Big HUG and thank you to all of the lovely people who came out to buy the book and talk health! I was inspired to meet so many people who are ready to take accountability for their diet and make positive changes to improve quality of life. This coming weekend on Saturday I’ll be holding two more book signings in the DC area at the Turning Natural MD Location and hosted by my hair stylists at Loc Lov Styles in Capitol Hill. Below is the info. Really hope to see you there! XO
Saturday, March 5th Book Signings
11:30 AM – 2:30 @ PM Turning Natural MD, 7748 Marlboro Pike Forestville, MD
5:30 – 7:30 PM @ Loc Lov Styles, 402 8th Street NE, Washington DC (Capitol Hill)
The Healing Power of Acupuncture
blackwomenshealth.com
Last week, I braved the elements and ventured over to a traditional Chinese medical clinic for a session of acupuncture. My first experience with acupuncture was years ago, when I was living in Brooklyn and training for a marathon and got seriously injured. After one session with a therapist my ankle and knee healed very rapidly. If you are like I was at first, the idea of getting poked with needles in order to promote your health may seem a bit cray-cray. However, my most recent session really opened my eyes to that fact that there is nothing crazy about it at all. In fact acupuncture not only balances the organs and the overall energy or “chi” of the body, in is effective in treating numerous conditions including: chronic pain, digestive issues, gastrointestinal disorders, menstrual cramps, fibromyalgia, infertility, sleep disturbances, chronic fatigue, asthma, sport injuries, weight loss, acne, migraines and more. If you want to see some incredible testimonials just get on YouTube and search for acupuncture. More research is being conducted, but acupuncture can also have a very positive effect on relieving stress, anxiety, and even depression.
So how does this work? There are a lot of different scientific theories floating around about why acupuncture produces results, but the basic idea is that the insertion of thin needles releases any blockages or disruptions in chi (or qi), which then travels through channels in the body called meridians. Think about your body like a vehicle. When any part of the vehicle is not functioning optimally it affects the flow and eventually whether or not the car will run properly. When our organs are either overworked or weak, because of the wrong fuel (diet), or other factors, eventually we get clogged up in some areas and may show outward signs of imbalance. Acupuncture acts like a retuning of our overall energy flow so that balance can be restored.
If you are still a skeptic, don’t knock it until you try it.
~Xo Raw Girl
Raw Food! Things I Ate Today
Raw Kelp Noodles with Basil Avocado Pesto & a Raw Green Burrito. YUM. XO
Juice! Mellow Yellow Refresher
Mellow Yellow Refresher
Ingredients:
3-4 yellow carrots, 1 lemon, 1 head celery, 3 apples, ginger root (to taste)
Wash & prep all fruits and veggies. Run through juicer, strain, & enjoy! -XoXo Raw Girl
P.S. Want more recipes? Over fifty awesome raw and cooked vegan recipes in my forthcoming book Got VEG? Preorder Now!
New Release Date: Thrive on VEG!
Veggie Lovers,
I regret that the release date for my next book Thrive on VEG! is going to be pushed back one additional month, a new release date is coming soon. Extra time is needed to hone all of the recipes that will be included. For all who have pre-ordered thank you; you will be receiving a bonus for your patience and will receive an email shortly. Very excited about sharing this book with you, which will include some recipes that will be great to use for the upcoming holiday season. Below are a few images of dishes I have been working on to include in the book which will feature raw and cooked vegan recipes. As always, appreciate your patience and support!
-XoXo Raw Girl
Apple Crisp
Roasted Root Veggies
Whipped Sweet Potatoes & String Beans w/ Shallots
Ayurveda 101
Ever since I was introduced to Ayurveda, I’ve been hooked. Learning more about doshas and energy imbalances while at Wanderlust (the yoga festival) helped me to realize that I needed to move from the East Coast and that the stagnant energy of where I was living was affecting my health. As soon as I took steps to relocate everything shifted back to optimal. The wonderful thing about Ayurveda is that it emphasizes the bio-individuality or uniqueness of every being and takes into consideration the whole person, mind, body, and spirit.
Ayurveda is the traditional system of medicine that originates from India and has the goal of maintaining health and preventing the onset of disease. This is system is personalized and considered a macro-explanatory model for disease because it takes into consideration the whole person being treated along with environmental factors. Ayurveda is based on three entities called doshas: vata, pitta, and kapha. The doshas help to explain the makeup of the body along with the temperaments of individuals for the purpose of understanding balance and imbalance. Ayurveda is based on energies of the elements including: fire, air, ether, water and earth; and each dosha corresponds to one or more of the element energies. Every single person at birth comes into the world with a specific makeup of these doshas that is fixed, and referred to as Prakriti. One’s Prakriti is the most important factor in ayurvedic medicine because it determines the treatment plan for each individual. Optimal health is achieved when there is optimal functioning of the doshas and the interactions between them to maintain balance in the body. Proper elimination, clear thinking, proper functioning of sensory organs, and a peaceful mind are also considered signs of good health.
Diagnosis of disease in the ayurvedic system is holistic involves examination of the manifestations of disease, subtypes of disease, and severity of condition. Development and progression of disease within Ayurveda, is explained by deviations or imbalances in the doshas. Imbalances of the doshas can be caused by a range of external or internal stressors including: environmental conditions, nutritional deficiencies, physical stress, or emotional turbulence. Treatment of any condition is highly personalized and includes parameters for overall health, diet, digestion, immunity, and response to environmental factors. Ayurveda also takes into consideration six tastes: bitter, sweet, sour, pungent, astringent, and bitter. These can be used to determine dietary changes or herbal treatments that also help to counteract imbalances. Herbs may be used in tandem with manual treatments, massage, dietary and lifestyle advice, nutritional supplements, and yoga to restore balance. If you are experiencing a health challenge that seems to be a impossible to diagnose, or if you just want to try a different perspective, Ayurveda may offer you interesting new insights. -XoXo Raw Girl
References
Sumantran, V., & Tillu, G. (2013). Insights on Personalized Medicine from Ayurveda. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 19(4), 370-375.
Iyer, J. (2013, July 1). The Goal of Ayurvedic Treatment. Tampa Bay Wellness, 7-7.
Pre-Order Your Copy of Thrive on VEG!
After working diligently for the past few months, a release date has been set for my third e-book Thrive on VEG! The book will be available on October 15, 2014. I’m ecstatic to share it with you, because it is the resource that I wish I had when I was embarking on a plant-based lifestyle. The goal of the book is to give a simple overview of the many variations of a plant-based diet, discuss the health benefits going VEG can offer, key nutrients needed to stay optimal, tips and tools for transitioning, how to set up your plant based kitchen, and recipes so that you can begin your journey immediately. Thank you so much to all of the readers who have asked questions that prompted the idea for this book! Below I’ve included the Table of Contents so you can get a sneak peak at what topics are covered. My most recent draft of Thrive on VEG! is currently 75 pages, but I anticipate the final draft may end up being somewhere around 100 pages packed full of great information, delicious vegan and raw recipes (will be printable), and inspiring insights for anyone interested or curious about a plant-based lifestyle.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i. What is a Plant-Based Diet?
ii. Levels of Plant Based Diet
iii. How to Thrive on a Plant Based Diet
iv. 7 Habits of Highly Effective Plant Eaters
v. Benefits of Plant Based Diet
vi. How to Transition
vii. Setting Up a Plant Based Kitchen
viii. Plant Cuisine Seasoning & Substitution Tips
ix. Recipes
x. Resources
To pre-order your copy click the button below. The first ten people to order their copy in advance will receive a Free 15 Minute Health Consultation via phone with yours truly! All buyers will receive their e-book via the email provided on October 15th, 2014.
