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Recipe! Mediterranean Salad with Cilantro Goddess Dressing
Salads can get boring quickly especially if you stick to the romaine and lettuce model, so it’s imperative for a serious veggie lover to try new combinations and pack them full of a variety of textures and flavors that will leave you feeling satiated. I love a good Mediterranean Salad so I made one the other day and experimented with my own raw version of goddess dressing. Goddess dressing is my all time favorite but if I choose to consume a brand from the grocery store I immediately start sneezing because of the preservatives! To avoid the unnecessary toxins and keep it raw, below’s a version of the easy recipe you can whip up that worked really well. I used cilantro, which is a great detoxifier and added a lovely freshness to the salad, but you can also use parsley in it’s place and it will taste equally as good. -XoXo Raw Girl
Mediterranean Salad
Ingredients: Green Kale, Arugula, Mixed greens, Kalamata Olives, Sun Dried Tomatoes, Cucumber.
Wash all ingredients, dice up olives, tomatoes, cucumber, and add to salad bowl. For additional flavor-fulness add hummus and/or avocado on the side.
Raw Girl’s Cilantro Goddess Dressing
1/2 cup Raw Tahini or (regular tahini if vegan)
2 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
2 Tbsp Filtered Water
2 Tbsp Agave Nectar
6 Tbsp Cold-Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 Tsp Sea Salt
Small Handful of Cilantro
Add all ingredients to your blender. Blend, and pour over salad. Enjoy!
Awesome Benefits of Detox Superfood Chlorella
If you are an avid reader of this blog, you know by now how much I love to rave about the health benefits of green algae. Algae and other superfoods can transform your health because they allow you to consume an astounding amount of nutrition in one serving. Spirulina has always been my go-to-green algae because of it’s amazing nutritional profile, protein, ability to boost your energy, maintain a healthy weight, and support high levels of fitness. It’s cousin in the algae world chlorella was always on my list but I never really experimented with taking it regularly unless it was in my smoothie powders. I’ll admit, I kind of compared the two and figured spirulina was giving me the most green bang for my buck. What I have recently discovered is that I have been completely missing out on the wonders of chlorella, and how amazing taking it ALONG with spirulina can be for your body.
Chlorella is a fresh water single cell algae which like spirulina, has a nutritional profile that also catapults it into the category of a superfood. It is high in protein (around 60%), essential fatty acids, 18 amino acids, and more than 20 vitamins and minerals including potassium, zinc, iron, calcium, phosphorous, B Vitamins, vitamin C, D,E, and K. The biggest differences between chlorella and spirulina are that chlorella contains some additional nutrients like vitamin K and phosphorous, a whole lot of antioxidants, and one of the highest forms of chlorophyll. Chlorella also works to synergistically balance and normalize body functions, and has strong detoxification properties which aid the body in removing heavy metals, waste, parasites and other toxins. In addition to being a super detoxifier, chlorella has been shown to stop the development of cancerous cells, can rebuild nerves in the brain after serious nerve damage, strengthen the intestinal wall lining, eliminate constipation, and help to build up the amount of good bacteria in the body which aids in treating digestive and colon related diseases.
All that said, I’m sure you see that chlorella’s got it going on just like it’s cousin. If you’ve never tried it, taking chlorella and spirulina together actually is a powerhouse combination because you get the benefits of detoxifying the body, and also continue to build muscle and boost your energy. Chlorella can be taken in pill or powder form; because I already consume spirulina in powder form I decided to go for the pill option. You can also find really awesome grass powders that include both, along with a bunch of other groovy nutrients. Do whatever works for you, but makes sure to get a good dose of chlorophyll by any means necessary. That essential building block for life is essential for cultivating and keeping your raw vegan superpowers strong. -XoXo Raw Girl
Check out this past article which includes more about chlorella and it’s ability to detox heavy metals.
Recipe! Raw Cashew Nut Milk
My last post was about one of the dangerous ingredients in store bought nut milk, so I wanted to offer another basic recipe that you can make at home in addition to almond milk. Raw cashew milk is not only tasty, it is incredibly filling. If you’ve have never tried it, give it a go. After I made my cashew milk I had a little extra fun and made a strawberry banana smoothie. In one cup is the nut milk with some strawberry banana smoothie poured on top, and the other a plain smoothie. Have fun, get creative, and enjoy your preservative and stabilizer-free nut milk making! -XoXo Raw Girl
Ingredients:
1 cup cashews
3 cups water
2 tablespoons agave nectar or grade B maple syrup
2 vanilla seeds or 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract (optional)
LOVE
Soak cashews overnight and in the morning rinse. Add all ingredients in the blender and blend for at least one minute. If you have a mesh bag you can strain the milk. Serve & enjoy!
The Dangerous Ingredient in Your Store-Bought Nut Milk
If you walk into any grocery store and head to the dairy section, the shelves are populated by a plethora of dairy-free milks which started to become all the rage a few years ago. Veggie lovers now have the options to buy coconut milks, almond milk, hemp or rice milks, in addition to soy based dairy-free milks. In our fast paced world, having these options may allow you to breathe a sigh of relief, but unfortunately convenience on American grocery shelves most likely comes with a major health risk. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I knew something was fishy with some of those nut milks. A large majority of the almond milk available has the ingredient carrageenan, which is derived from red seaweed. At first glance, it may seem like carrageenan should be a healthy ingredient, as seaweed is a very nutrient dense food. Not the case. In fact, carrageenan has been proven by research to be linked to gastrointestinal issues, lesions, and colon cancer! Sigh. So much for an easy way to get nut milk!
Carrageenan comes in two forms: low molecular weight or “degraded,” and high molecular weight or “ungraded.” Degraded carrageenan has been shown to cause inflammation in the colons of rodents which resembles what in humans is called ulcerative colitis. Companies that process carrageenan claim that the food grade version is undegraded, but when tested every single sample was positive for degraded carrageenan and had amounts up to 25% of the cancer-causing carrageenan. Another alternative that can be used is guar gum, which is found in a lot of veg-friendly products. I’m not a huge fan of guar gum either, but it’s by far way less harmful than carrageenan. The latter c-word actually contains bonds that are foreign to human cells. When consumed it elicits from our body an immune response and inflammation which can be chronic and lead to cancer. We live in a toxic world my friends but there are brands that are taking care to avoid ingredients like carrageenan. Please read your labels carefully, and worst come to worse, carve out 10 minutes or less in the morning to blend your own almond or cashew milk. All you have to do is soak the nuts the night before and blend in the morning with water and a natural sweetener. For a little extra fun you can also add in cinnamon or cloves if you like. It may take a few extra minutes of your time but at the end of the day you’ll be cancer-free, and the only ingredients you have to worry about are nuts, water, and a whole lot of love. -XoXo Raw Girl
Ingredients:
1 cup raw almonds soaked in water overnight
3 cups water
1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract
2 dates (optional) OR natural sweetener like grade B maple syrup or agave
LOVE
Rinse the almonds several times, until the water is clear, Put the almonds, 3 cups filtered water, 1 tsp vanilla, and 2 pitted dates (optional) in high speed blender. Start at low, increase to high, blend for 1 minute. If you have a mesh bag you can strain the milk—by putting blended mixture into the mesh bag, over a tall wide container or a narrow bowl and then squeezing out all the liquid. Serve & enjoy!
Smoothie! Strawberry Pineapple Pleaser
Hey gang, so this past weekend I took a brief trip back to my former city of New York. It was nice to be back in the concrete jungle although more than once I had to stop, breath deep, and internally repeat Namaste to handle the inherent chaos. The highlight of my trip was getting to try some amazing raw dishes from some cool Upper West side raw vegan restaurants thanks partially to the awesome and generous hospitality of one of my dear friends. I had a beet ravioli, a zucchini linguini with spinach, a thai collard green wrap, seaweed salad, raw chocolate mousse (that was so good you want to do a jig while eating it), and a bunch of fresh juices. The food was so good I forgot to Instagram half of it until I was done eating!
The raw gourmet whirlwind was a real blast, but when I returned home today I was grateful for a chance to get back to basics and make a simple smoothie. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the idea of being raw if you make yourself believe that you must dehydrate, food process, and gourmet it up every meal. Please relieve yourself of that tension and enjoy starting simple to start. Remember that fruit or veggies by themselves can be a meals, and you can always have fun blending up new concoctions in your blender in record time. When you get absolutely bored, are feeling creative, or have more free time, the gourmet dishes will be waiting for you, I promise. -XoXo Raw Girl
1 Cucumber
1 Stalk of Celery
2 cups Pineapple
1 cup Strawberries
2 Bananas
Filtered Water or Organic Pineapple Juice
Blend all ingredients. Serve, and enjoy!
P.S. I’m now totally obsessed with Instagram! You can find me @TheRawGirl.
Raw Vegan Superhero Highlight: Bernando LaPallo, 111 Years Young
When you are off the beaten path and living la vida raw, it is necessary to find motivation to help you go the distance. I personally have always felt reinvigorated and inspired to continue my journey when I hear the stories of living examples who are reaping the benefits of their lifestyle well into their golden years. If you followed the first season of my radio show Healthy Living in a Toxic World, you may remember my longevity series which focused on interviewing HEROES and SHE-ROES who are on the raw diet, and remaining youthful over seventy. I interviewed two of my anti-aging she-roes Mimi Kirk and Annette Larkins, as well as Bernando LaPallo who was 109 years old at the time of interview. This amazing man turned 111 years old last year. Check out the video below for a sneak peak of how a raw vegan lifestyle has worked for him and if you haven’t listened to my radio interview with him yet, which is full of many nuggets of wisdom, check it out now online: Longevity Series: Bernando LaPallo. -XoXo Raw Girl
7 Ways to Regain Balance When the Veggie Hits the Fan
This past weekend I had one of those classic Oprah aha! moments. It was a beautiful shift that immediately led to me getting my groove back. Have any of you ever been so deep in your problems, issues, or challenges sometimes that you completely loose your joie de vivre? It’s so easy to get blindsided by our own misfortunes and forget that there is always someone who will see us as blessed; someone who may have had it worse than us to begin with. Well that’s where I was late last week, I felt like the veggie had really hit the fan and there wasn’t a light at the end of the tunnel. The mind goes over and over all the horrible things that have gone wrong and laments the new day like it’s the end of the world. I know I’m not the only one whose been there. Can I get an Amen? Whether it’s job loss, family issues, love issues, sickness or terminal illness there’s enough going on in this toxic world to cause us to really believe “The Veggie Has Hit the Fan!”
The worst part about receding into that space is that it not only effects you and how you relate to yourself, it affects others, especially the ones you truly love. Sometimes it’s not until you snap out of it, that you really see clearly through the fog and address the core of what is really bothering you. What has always inspired me about healthy living and raw foods in general is that consuming those foods, for me, puts one into direct alignment with a deep sense of peace and a natural flow where worry and chaos continuously diminishes and what is possible becomes increasingly evident. Some people may feel that from other practices or none at all…but I feel it from consuming living foods, meditation, prayer, and in the safety net that loving relationships provide when they are at their best. That’s really at the core of why I choose the lifestyle I lead.
The thing I am learning is that none of those emotions we tend to have worry, anxiety, fear, sadness, etc are ever bad. It’s how we deal with them that is important. They must be expressed or at the very least acknowledged verbally even physically sometimes in order to keep us from manifesting unhealthy habits to cope with the overflowing well of stuff we haven’t dealt with yet. Once they are released and acknowledged it’s amazing how that once looming grip looses it’s hold. All of a sudden the situation we once thought was our personal “hell” becomes our “heaven.”
Panache Desai who was a guest on Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday said several profound things about emotions and vibrational energy. First off that emotions are “energies in motion” and meant to be expressed. When we don’t express them over time they build up and become density in the the body and this changes our vibration. Mindfulness practices of all kinds and deep breathing are about keeping us light and free from the density of clogged vibrational centers that can accumulate from holding onto emotions as well as the damage we do by eating a bunch of junk food! Acknowledging what you are feeling, right now in this moment, voicing it, and being fully in the anger, the fear, or whatever allows you to create space for something else in a new moment. Below are a few ideas from my book of life lessons on how you can live a more balanced emotional life that feeds optimal health. Feel free to write your own chapter and own whatever comes to you, because it’s a very personal thing. That said, I must express that I am feeling a very profound sense of gratitude for you readers and for this revelation. Namaste.-XoXo Raw Girl
- Take a Long Walk in Nature. As I write this I have that Jill Scott song running through my head. Well Jill got it right to a great degree. A long walk in the park before or after dark will help you clear your head. If you walk in nature you will receive a lovely dose of oxygen, and can get energy from marveling at the trees, the lake, the chirping birds…whatever strikes your fancy. Just walk it out and be with what your feeling. Cry as you walk if you need to. You’ll eventually stop I promise. Nature has a beautiful way of reminding us how small we are, and returning us to the harmony we desperately yearn for that sometimes seems out of our grasp. It’s all an illusion.
- Meditate or Simply Be Still. A couple weeks ago I was watching a lecture by Wayne Dyer, who I love, and I remember this funny anecdote that he threw in about Deepak Chopra, (another one of my favorite people in the world that I haven’t met personally yet but will soon). Wayne said that whenever he calls Deepak to talk to him about a situation or problem in his life, Deepak says ever time, no matter what it is: “Meditate.” I know most of us love to call our friend that we know is going to validate our opinion or our emotions, and talking through it is definitely useful. But silence is golden. Silence gives you a chance to engage with your inner sage that already knows what it needs and what you should do. It’s so easy to loose touch of that voice, just like it’s easy to stop listening to our bodies and hearing when we should stop giving it toxic fuel. Along with meditation, stillness is key. The strangest thing about this funny universe we live in is that it already has all of the answers and solutions. We are so used to making it happen, exerting, forcing, and trying so much sometimes that we can forget that simply being is what can allow the answer or solution to emerge. So take a moment to just be, and breathe.
- Engage in Random Acts of TLC. What floats your boat? Perhaps you unwind with baths (my favorite), music, being creative, running, juicing, manicures, a new hair cut, and the list goes on. What makes you feel like the best version of you? Even if you are in a bind or have a small budget there are so many little pleasures that can bring a sense of luxury into your life, and your spirit will say thank you. If you are a giver, like me, and tend to over function by giving so much to others until you are depleted, this goes to the top of your list. Give to yourself FIRST, make yourself the only priority and watch how things shift. You will feel better and also beat whatever funky mood you’re in to the punch. Who is there to take care of you but you? How you treat yourself, teaches others how to treat you. So love on you, dance with you, sing with you, and all of a sudden life will start to feel lighter.
- Seek Divine Inspiration. There are a million and one spiritual teachers, preachers, or success coaches that I can think of who inspire the heck out of me. Who gets you going? If Oprah doesn’t do it for you (like she does for me) perhaps it’s your pastor, your neighbor, your old sage grandmother. Even if you don’t believe in a higher power or God, you can silently ask the silence around your hustle and bustle to lead you or guide you to the right inspiration in any given moment. You will always be answered in divine timing.
- Get into Downward Dog. We’ve gotten so accustomed with looking at yoga as great exercise, but don’t forget it also serves a major spiritual purpose and can help align body with mind. It is one of the great vibrational practices that can immediately bring you back to state of calm, surrender, and peace. So when things get cray cray, just say namaste.
- Fast. This is one of my favorite things to remember to do when I need a shift in energy or a breakthrough. Fasting is severely underrated. This kind of fasting would not be for the purposes of losing weight or cosmetic reasons although that can happen. Its more to subtract the distraction of bodily senses so that you can pay attention to the spirit’s call. Even one day can do wonders. You can chose to drink only water, or drink only liquids like vegetable juices. You set the parameters and your intention going in and without a doubt your energy does shift.
- Create Something. I’m an artist in the purest sense in that I thrive on new ideas and on birthing a concept from start to finish whether it be a blog article, a radio episode, a character, or a film. As an artist I know that a lot of times the drama I am creating in my real life, needs to be channeled to a stage, a piece of paper, an instrument, or a camera. Creativity can be so healing. The best music or art in general that becomes timeless for its ability to touch the masses always comes from the space of a deep emotional truth that we all know. We’ve all been there in some capacity. We’ve been afraid, in love, angry, frustrated, or just plain borderline depressed. Creating something, anything, is way to facilitate your emotions or “energies in motion” into something beautiful that just may touch the lives of others. A book that I am obsessed with that encourages creative flow is Julia Cameron’s The Artist Way. You may be thinking, “Well I’m not an artist.” The truth is yes you are, each of us were made in the image of a Creator and have the ability to express our unique soul ideas into something anything. So paint, scribble, compose a silly song, sing, take that dance class; do whatever you like to express your divine soul signature.
Natural Remedies for Peptic Ulcers
We all love to eat food right? Most of us self-respecting veggie lovers not only want to find out ways to eat spectacularly healthy food with spectacular taste, but to also learn some of the ways that Mother Nature has got our back, front, and everything in between. That said, we often take for granted the delicate yet immaculately efficient process which is our digestive system. It’s a long journey from mouth to (ahem) “organic output” and every step of the way is just as important as the next to make sure everything flows perfectly.
The stomach is a very important site of digestion where strong acids and digestive juices such as pepsin and hydrochloric acid continue to break food down into more digestible forms. A stomach (peptic) ulcer is literally a burning of the mucous lining of the stomach which protects the rest of the body from exposure to the powerful acids in the stomach. This causes actual lesions to form in the stomach which can range from ½ inches to ¾ of an inch or in some severe cases even up to 1 to 2 inches. Yea pretty scary. According to John Hopkins Medicine there will be 500,000 new cases of Stomach ulcers each year. At any time over 5 milllion new cases may develop. Symptoms include but are not limited to: burning in the abdomen right underneath the ribs, vomiting, nausea, weight loss, bloating, black tarry stools, irritation to the stomach after consuming spicy foods.
How do these ulcers develop? Well the most common cause of peptic ulcers is a bacteria called helicobacter pylori which is a spiral shaped bacteria that due to its shape is able to penetrate the stomach lining, leaving your body exposed to the powerful acids the stomach secretes. According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 20% of people under 40 years old and half of adults over 60 years old in the U.S. are infected, with higher rates in developing countries.
The good news is stomach ulcers can be treated by eating foods that strengthen the stomach and with a few dietary changes (like excluding spicy foods for a while) can alleviate symptoms and give the stomach time to heal itself aided with mother nature’s most powerful medicine. Below are some helpful natural remedies and tips to alleviate symptoms of stomach ulcers and increase your overall health. Look into these natural remedies and don’t forget to move that body! In order to preserve your stomach health and support your body in its natural healthy function. -XoXo Nicola, Signing in for Raw Girl
Cabbage Juice is great for treating stomach ulcer. The amino acid arginine helps boost blood flow to the stomach lining. This strengthens the stomach lining and aids in healing ulcers. You can also mix the cabbage juice with carrot juice for a sweeter taste. Researchers have found that ulcer patients who drink 1 quart of raw cabbage juice a day often heal their ulcers in five days.
Honey isn’t an option for a lot of vegans, but in it’s raw form helps reduce any inflammation in your stomach and also attacks bacteria which keeps complications at bay.
Bananas neutralize the hyperacidity in the stomach that is caused by the gastric juices. Reduces inflammation and strengthens the stomach lining.
Bilberry is used frequently in Russia to treat ulcers by reducing inflammation in the stomach and intestines and protecting mucous membranes.
Produce rich in flavonoids like red bell peppers, strawberries, and citrus fruits can improve your condition. Studies report that they can assist in inhibiting growth of H. pylori.
Palm Tree Yoga Pose is a yoga posture that is great for increasing blood flow to the stomach and increasing overall feelings of wellness. Regular practice of Yoga in general will also be beneficial because of numerous poses that support healthy digestion and overall wellness.
Raw Girl’s 21 Day Challenge is On!
Cue the bells, whistles, and trumpets…spring is finally here! For those of you who follow the Facebook page, you know I mentioned wanting to host a virtual wellness challenge. I only moved forward because a nice amount of you were interested, so I hope some of you will come on board for the journey with me.
It is time for a spring cleaning. In this new season, I myself have been focusing relentlessly on wellness mind, body, and spirit. When you embrace making daily progress in each of those areas daily, amazing things begin to happen. The goal of the challenge is to give you an opportunity to see major changes in your mindset, body, vitality, or just simply inner peace by combining living foods, regular exercise, and mindfulness practice. Focusing on all of these areas really gives you an opportunity to “transform;” and by that I mean not just losing weight or boosting your energy temporarily, but seeing lasting changes and adjustments to unhealthy habits and reprogramming new healthier ones to replace them. There is no way you can lose if you are committed to seeing your end result! I will be your guide through the 21 Days, and the package includes one-on-one coaching sessions with me, a detox plan, and additional raw recipes to help jumpstart your raw journey. All of this for about the same price of a one hour consultation.
Very excited to have the challenge sponsored by GAIAM, who will be giving the winner a 3 month subscription to GAIAM TV and a yoga mat up to 60$ in value. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to jumpstart your wellness. The challenge begins on April 25th. I recommend participants register no later than April 21st to have time to get prepared. The first five participants to register will receive an additional hour of one-on-one coaching. This challenge is something new and a way for me to get to know more of you lovely readers personally. I am ready to be of great service to all involved. If you have any feedback on the program, questions, concerns, or suggestions, please email me at rawgirltoxicworld@gmail.com! -XoXo Raw Girl
Visit this page on the blog for more info or to register: http://rawgirltoxicworld.com/21-day-wellness-transformation-challenge/
Smoothie! Green Chia Energizer
Just in case you missed it, check out this past post on Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia Seeds and their amazing benefits. Chia seeds are a great addition to any diet to boost performance, energy, and weight loss. Chia seeds also help to stabilize blood sugar levels.
A brief recap: “Chia seeds are native to Southern Mexico and Guatemala, and are from a species of flowering plant that is in the mint family. In pre-Columbia times, chia was a staple in Aztec and Mayan diets and even used as a survival ration. The seeds are rich in omega-3’s even more so than flaxseed, and they offer a great dose of nutrients including: calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, potassium etc. In addition as I mentioned already, they are a good source of protein, antioxidants, and dietary fiber. Based on a 2,000 calorie diet, 1 oz of chia seeds provide 9% of the Daily Recommended Value for protein and 42% dietary fiber.” Chia can be eaten alone and sprinkled in salads, soups, etc., soaked in water and eaten as a porridge or pudding mixed with a natural sweetener, nut milk, and toppings, or you can add the chia gel to any kind of smoothie for a nice nutritional boost. -XoXo Raw Girl
Ingredients
1/2 cup Chia Seed Gel (or as much as you like)
1 Teaspoon Spirulina
2 Bananas
2 cups of Pineapple
1/4 Cantaloupe
Add all ingredients to Blender. Blend, serve, enjoy!