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6 Reasons Why to Get Down with Mangoes: “The King of Fruit”
We’ve had a short spurt of beautiful weather down here in the DMV, and I’m hoping that soon the good weather will be here to stay. Whenever it gets warmer, I find myself longing for one of favorite fruits: mangoes! They are awesome to peel and eat or blend into smoothies. Although I eat them frequently, I never knew what nutrients I was getting. To my pleasant surprise, mangoes have a lot to offer beyond just being sweet and flavorful.
Mangoes are native to India, and belong to the same family as cashews and pistachios (I never would have guessed this). They are known widely as the “king of fruit” because they are packed with nutrients including, but not limited to: amino acids, vitamin A, C (1 cup has around 75% of the daily recommended value of Vitamin C), and E, beta carotene, calcium, iron, copper, magnesium, potassium, and B Vitamins. Sound good? Below are six more reasons why you may want to get down with a mango. -XoXo Raw Girl
- Promotes Good Digestion. The soluble fiber in mangoes prevent constipation, and also mangoes contain digestive enzymes that soothe the stomach and help to digest proteins.
- Keep Your Eyes Healthy. Apparently one cup of mangoes contain 25% of the daily recommended value of Vitamin A. This will help prevent night blindness, dry eyes, softening of the cornea, or any itching and burning in the eyes.
- Prevent Cancer! In a study conducted that Food Science and Human Nutrition Department of Florida they found after testing mango juice for antioxidant and anticancer activity that mango juice inhibits the growth cycle of cancer cells. In addition consuming mangoes or other foods which are high in soluble fiber is scientifically linked with a lower risk of contracting cancer in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Get that Vegan Glow. Mango is a fruit that will help keep your skin flawless, as it is known to help unclog pores if the pulp is directly applied to the skin. Also eating mangoes with keep your skin smooth and of course give you that vegan glow!
- An Anemic’s Best Friend. Mangoes are great for anemic and pregnant women because of their iron content.
- Parasite Killa! Last but never least, to my delight mangoes are another addition to a parasite killa’s arsenal. A study in mexico tested the effectiveness of plant extracts against giardia and found that mango has anti-giardia properties. Giardia is the most common parasite people are infected with because it is water-borne and spreads through our drinking water sources. I’m definitely keeping some mango ammo handy, from now on!
Natural Cures: The Wonders of Bentonite Clay
Years ago, my skin was horrible. Just before I started to really change my diet, a colleague of mine who was deep in the holistic lifestyle introduced me to bentonite clay to use on my skin. I was amazed at how it seemed to literally suck impurities out of my pores and left my skin feeling tight and firm. Since then, I have kept a large container of bentonite in my bathroom amongst my beauty products, and every now and then I can be seen roaming around the house with my bentonite mask on.
Besides it’s ability to be used topically on the skin to heal acne, eczema, wounds, insect bites (worked for me with mosquito bites–shrunk them down in a day), bentonite can also be taken internally and can heal anything from heavy metal posioning, food allergies, food poisoning, mucus colitis, spastic colitis, digestive disorders, viral infections, stomach flu, ***parasites (apparently parasites cannot reproduce in the presence of clay), stomach ulcers, diarrhea, arthritis, anemia, and the list goes on.
This miraculous clay has been used by indigenous people since the dawn of time, and even animals in the wild have been observed eating the clay or rolling in it to heal wounds. It gets its name from Benton, Wyoming; although bentonite clay can be found throughout the world, the largest concentrations of it actually are in the Great Plains in the U.S.
So how exactly does it work? Well, the clay itself has a negative electrical charge. When it absorbs water it expands and becomes like a porous sponge. Toxins and impurities have a positive charge, so they are drawn to the clay and bound. Not only is this clay amazing for intestinal health because of its ability to eliminate toxins, according to the Canadian Journal of Microbiology it also can absorb pathogenic viruses, herbicides, and pesticides. Want to make the clay more effective? Use apple cider vinegar to mix your mask instead of water.
You can find bentonite clay in powder, capsule, or gel form. Make sure if you are taking it internally, the kind you purchase specifies that the clay is safe for internal use. To start you can take up to a tablespoon a day mixed with juice on an empty stomach or at least an hour before eating. Its very important if you take bentonite internally, that you drink sufficient amounts of water, to assist the body in flushing it out. Whether your looking for a beauty boost, or some internal healing, bentonite clay is a powerful natural remedy not to be overlooked! -XoXo Raw Girl
Dear Raw Girl: How to be a Parasite Killa?
Hi this is Kristina from Arizona and I am seeking help. It seems like you have some knowledge on parasites and I was hoping you could point me in the right direction. I have been suffering with parasites for some time now. I have been taking a homeopathic treatment for the last 6 months now. It has seemed to help some, but I’m still dealing with these critters. I am afraid to even eat anymore because I don’t know if what I’m eating is feeding them. Please help! I was thinking about doing the master cleanse, but not sure if this is best for me. What can I do to finally get rid of these buggers? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you Raw Girl.
Dear Kristina: Thanks so much for your question! In addition to answering you here on the blog, I answered you live on the first episode of my radio show. Will let you know when it is airing. As far as parasites—they SUCK! The first thing I would want to know is what kind of homeopathic treatment are you taking? Make sure that if you are taking something over the counter that it includes ingredients such as black walnut hull, wormwood, cloves, and garlic. There usually are a host of other ingredients as well. Six months is a long time to not see results—so you may be eating things that continue to feed the parasites, or perhaps your treatment does not have the right ingredients. Also if you are married or have a boyfriend/partner, if you begin to cleanse and they do not, guess what—you’ll still be picking up their buggers!
If your homeopathic treatment is not doing the job, I recommend uping the ante by taking an extra dose of cloves and garlic. Now, for regular maintenance and prevention I take aged garlic (odorless) pills and cloves everyday. Its made it easier and prevented the little buggers from coming back into a full out episode. In addition to this your diet is key, if you really want to give your parasites a run for their money. I would NOT recommend the master cleanse, especially since you would be drinking a concoction with maple syrup, which may only make your problem worse. If you choose to fast, I would recommend that you fast on green juices with little or no sugar added (not too much apple, carrot, beet). This in tandem with the homeopathic treatment and colon cleansing, will help you kill the parasites, their eggs, and flush out any dead ones. If you persist, I am sure you will see the light at the end of the tunnel! After you fast, stick to straight up greens in your diet and no carbs, or sugars. If after a month or two nothing changes, you might want to find somewhere to get tested to see what type of parasites you have. Different parasites respond to different things, and you may need to adjust your parasite killa strategy accordingly. Hope this helps! You can do it! -XoXo Raw Girl
For more information about parasites and parasite cleansing, check out these previous posts:
http://rawgirltoxicworld.com/2010/12/04/dear-raw-girl-how-to-take-on-parasites/
Dear Raw Girl: How to Take On Parasites?
Hey lovely readers: I’m continuing on with my Dear Raw Girl category. Feel free to comment and ask any raw food/health related questions relevant to topics covered in my blog and I will do my best to give you any information I think may help you along your path. Thank you to all of you who have left comments with questions, will do my best to address all of them. -XoXo Raw Girl
Dear Raw Girl,
Hi ! You rock with all this valuable info. Thanks for sharing. Meanwhile, would a 3 week water fast help? I am also considering taking some strong medications if I am not ready for the long water fast? Herbs are good but do they do the whole job…from adult to hatchlings to eggs…lots of the symptoms resurface after a few months due to the eggs getting fed again…And lastly, when you eat the greens, do you wash them thoroughly and/or steam/cook them? I have come to the conclusion that raw doesn’t help and just adds to the risk of prolonged infection…steaming or cooking (Not frying) has a better value…we got to decide parasite v/s nutrition…I would take no parasite over low nutrition (through cooking)…saves a lot more time and headaches…wat you say? -P
Dear P:
Thanks so much for checking out the blog, and especially for taking the time to educate yourself about parasites. It is a serious epidemic that more Americans need to get hip to in order to enjoy optimal health.
As far as water fasting…Water fasting is definitely tricky and should in my opinion be done under supervision of a health professional if done for weeks at a time. It has definitely been known to cure a host of issues, and flush out the body. I am not completely certain about this, but I don’t believe that water fasting alone can rectify a serious parasite problem. Parasites need to be flooded with herbs/substances that weaken them and the body needs to have the right amount of good bacteria to create a parasite hostile environment. Rather than fasting on water, you could do a green juice fast and avoid sugars, and also take a parasite cleanser with the herbs necessary to kill them. In tandem with this, just taking apple cider vinegar everyday diluted in water can kill parasites living in the digestive tract. I personally would NEVER take heavy medications, as they usually kill both the good and bad bacteria. The parasite problem will just come back full force if you are not taking probiotics to replenish your good bacteria. If you choose to go this route, make sure you thoroughly understand the side effects of the medication.
As far as dealing with greens, you are very correct. Eating raw veggies does put us all at great risk for contracting more parasitic infections, but so does a host of other things from kissing, to shaking hands, or dealing with pets. Because it is so easy to contract parasites, it’s recommended that you undertake a parasite cleanse twice a year for regular maintenance. The key to killing parasite eggs is CLOVES. I realized that when doing a cleanse that I needed to take clove capsules in addition to the cloves in the herbal cleanse to ensure I was killing the parasite eggs.
I find that after about six months, some of the symptoms come back, probably due to exposure of various kinds. However, this does not mean you cannot eat your raw greens. I wash all my veggies very thoroughly with a Veggie Wash that removes pesticides and dirt; there is also the option to buy food grade hydrogen peroxide and wash your veggies in that solution. I am totally not opposed to eating steamed veggies from time to time, but I believe its worth the extra step of thoroughly cleaning your veggies to get live nutrition on a regular basis! -XoXo Raw Girl
Invisible Crustaceans in Every Refreshing Glass of NYC Tap Water
So the next time you’re in the Big Apple on a muggy summer day and you head out to eat or over to your friend’s place, and you just happen to down that nice refreshing glass of ice water to quench your thirst, you know what else you’ll be drinking? Shrimp. Seriously, I wish it was a joke. Am I the only one who thinks this is utterly disgusting? I really hope not. Sometimes when I am visiting friends, eating at a restaurant, or on-the-go away from home I get that look of derision when I turn down tap water. It’s that knowing—- “Oh your one of those whose too good for tap water,” look. Sometimes they actually just come out and say just that, (especially in New York). I just shrug, and smile, thinking about all the little critters that I am avoiding.
I know that I am a bit of a clean water Nazi, and I really am okay with that. Why? Because I love to avoid at all costs parasitic infections, trace pharmaceuticals, and now apparently in NYC, tiny shrimp in my glass of H2O. A friend sent me a link and I almost gagged on my glass of reverse osmosis water. Prior to this heads up, you wouldn’t catch me drinking water that was anything but alkaline or distilled in New York anyway, but this just makes my case all the more firm. I hope that all you lovely raw foodies and vegans (really anyone nowadays), but you especially, will get on the clean (truly clean, not just clean in the commercial) water bandwagon very soon.
Too many diseases nowadays are born just from lack of clean water alone. I definitely feel blessed to have such a wide range of choices between tap, glorified tap, bottled water, distilled, alkaline water etc. but I am not ignorant enough to forget the fact that for many people in our world it isn’t even an option. -XoXo Raw Girl
Check out the picture of the Shrimp in your NYC Tap Water:
http://gizmodo.com/5626497/you-swallow-invisible-shrimp-with-every-gulp-of-nyc-tap-water
For previous musings on water options, check out this past article:
The Wonders of Organic Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar: A Parasite Killa’s Best Friend
- (scrapetv.com) Do you want to be a Ghostbuster or Parasite Killa? Hint: one of them may still have intestinal worms.
If you ever catch me on the go you may see me guzzling a 16 oz Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar drink like I’m the loser at a beer pong party. (FYI: I don’t drink alcohol, so I only know about gatherings such as these from movies and programming on MTV, no firsthand beer pongage going on over here.) I drink them in the morning, in my car, while catwalking on M Street in Georgetown, and sometimes when the sun goes down. Why you ask is this Raw Girl so gung-ho about vinegar? Well, ever since I improved my overall health and well-being by taking on a parasite cleanse, I have grown wary of letting the suckers come back and get the best of me ever again. That means adopting a mostly green diet, limiting sugar intake, and regularly incorporating foods I know they don’t like, just in case.
Remember Ghostbusters? If you don’t for some odd reason it’s about a trio of misfit parapsychologists start hunting ghosts for a living in this science fiction comedy. Although I wish the existence of parasites was limited to fiction, my first parasite cleanse proved the opposite, and converted me from an average girl to a bona fide Parasite Killa. I learned quickly that if you were about to be taken out by parasites, Apple Cider Vinegar is like a Parasite Killa’s best ammo. Although there are many types of parasites and different foods irritate different worms, there are some parasites that will die automatically just with persistent consumption of apple cider vinegar. I can personally attest to this without giving you any wormy details. This should never be the only remedy you use if you do have worms, as additional herbs and cleansing will be needed depending on the types in your body. For prevention, a daily concoction of this diluted in water and drunk straight or mixed with honey definitely gets a gold seal.
Why is this exactly? Apple Cider Vinegar helps restore a proper hydrochloric acid balance in the body, and therefore promotes good bacteria and creates an environment in which parasites cannot thrive. It is a fermented drink, and if you remember my previous post, consumption of fermented foods is essential for great colon health. (Check out link below if you missed it.) In tandem with these benefits that give strength to a budding Parasite Killa, apple cider vinegar also provides a host of other benefits that may appeal to any health enthusiast:
- Aids proper digestion and can cure constipation
- Can help fight bacterial and fungal infections
- Can relieve join pain
- Balance cholesterol
- Can help heal skin conditions such as acne. age spots, and reduces the appearance of cellulite
- Protects against food poisoning
- Increases stamina
- Boosts metabolism and assists with weight loss
- Prevents bladder stones and urinary tract infections
- Known to be helpful with a host of ailments: constipation, headaches, arthritis, weak bones, indigestion, high cholesterol, diarrhea, eczema, sore eyes, chronic fatigue, mild food poisoning, hair loss, high blood pressure, obesity etc.
In addition to these zany health benefits, the nutritional profile of apple cider vinegar is quite impressive. The vinegar contains a host of vitamins, beta-carotene, pectin and vital minerals such as potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, chlorine, sulphur, iron, and fluorine. Pretty gangsta, if you ask me. If you’re ready to start killin’ those worms, or if you just want to incorporate something groovy that’ll enhance your health, get on the apple cider vinegar bandwagon. Two tablespoons added to a glass of water is sufficent. You can try a little more if you like, but make sure there is a LOT more water than vinegar. Make sure you always dilute the vinegar, as it is highly acidic when not diluted and if consumed straight in large amounts can lead to loss of teeth enamel or a yellowish color on your teeth. Always buy only the ORGANIC and UNFILTERED kind. The others will not give you the same benefits and do not have the same vitamins and minerals in tact. – XoXo Raw Girl
P.S. My cheesy Raw Girl Parasite Killa soundtrack:
When there’s something strange rumbling in ur tummy – Who u gonna call? PARASITE KILLAS! When ur energy’s low & you don’t feel good – Who you gonna call? PARASITE KILLAS! (I ain’t afraid of no worms)
Want to know other foods that help you keep a balance of good bacteria in your gut? Check out my past post on fermented foods: http://rawgirltoxicworld.com/2010/03/22/new-article-the-benefits-of-fermented-foods/
To find out about more foods parasites don’t like check this post: http://rawgirltoxicworld.com/2010/03/15/the-anti-parasite-diet-foods-that-make-parasites-run-for-cover/
The Anti-Parasite Diet: Foods that Make Parasites Run for Cover
Embarking on a parasite cleanse can be extremely frustrating. You are dying to get those critters out of you, but have to work against the fact that a lot of times, parasites dictate your cravings. Another frustrating point is that different parasites feed on different foods to thrive. So in order to really do some damage, a general parasite cleanse can be a great help but its also necessary to consume a wide range of foods that irritate parasites to ensure you have killed the various types.
As I continue on my parasite cleanse for this year, I have done a great deal of research on what foods and herbs people say assist the body in killing worms. This is the list of foods and herbs that I have compiled thus far and have incorporated in my diet, in order to really whip out a gangsta can of Raw Girl whoop-ass and rid my body of parasites.
1. Raw Garlic – One of the number one ways to kill parasites. All effective parasite cleanses always include garlic.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar – Increase stomach acids with Apple Cider Vinegar prior to your meals. This will keep the stomach free of parasites and will also ensure that you will kill off any larvae you inadvertantly eat with your meals.
3. Pumpkin Seeds – Can help to get rid of tapeworms.
4. Pineapple – Contain an enzyme bromelain, that is anti-parisitic. A couple sources claim that a three day pineapple fast will kill tape worms.
5. Cranberry Juice (unsweetened) or Carrot Juice & Carrots – Cranberry juice can be diluted in water. Carrots the juice or the veggie eaten plain kills em as well.
6. Coconut Oil – Contains lauric acid which is found in coconut products. Coconut oil is about 50% comprised of this saturated fat which after converted by the body creates a substance that efficiently kills parasites, yeasts, viruses, and pathogenic bacteria in the gut.
7. Fennel Seed Tea – Is a mild laxative and can be an irritant to certain types of parasites.
8. Herbs: Cloves,Wormwood, Black walnut hull and husks – These herbs are always incorporated into an effective parasite cleanse and should be among the ingredients listed in the capsules you take daily from parasite cleanses that can be bought in health food stores. Cloves kills the parasite eggs that may be lingering in the intestinal tract. Black walnut hull and wormwood kill the adult and developmental stages of around 100 different types of parasites. All three are essential.
9. Pungent Spices – Spices such as: turmeric, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, chilis, horseradish, and cayenne, all make parasites run for cover.
10. Probiotics/ Fermented Foods – Some options that can be made at home include: sauerkraut (fermented cabbage) or drinking rejuvelac (a drink made from fermented grains such as wheat berries). You can also take probiotic supplements. These help to replenish good bacteria and kill the bad.
Once again, if you didn’t know, you can get parasites a myriad of ways: from your pets, your loved ones—or anyone you kiss, also from shaking hands (washing hands regularly is key). So if you de-worm yourself and your partner does not, you’ll be back in the boxing ring with the parasites again sometime soon. Armed with my parasite cleanse, incorporating this list of foods into my diet, avoiding sugar, and consuming a lot of greens, I am determined to knock them out in this second round. Check out my newly published book Parasites, Be Gone! for more in depth info and a 14 Day Cleanse with original recipes. Take precautions and get to cleansing!
– XoXo Raw Girl
How to Make a Tangy Parasite Killa Cocktail
Caught up in my frustrated fervor to conquer parasites, I dreamed up this tangy cocktail that combines two ingredients parasites do not like: cranberry and pineapple. Besides giving parasites a run for their money, it’s also a fun late night cocktail to serve at a house party or shindig (if people still have those). Instead of getting drunk and compromising your health and your liver, why not serve up a non-alcoholic cocktail that may kill some harmful worms in your body? I’m down for the second option.
Ingredients:
2 cups diced pineapple
1/2 cup of organic unsweetened cranberry juice
1/4-1/2 cup filtered water
Wedge of lime (optional)
Blend together until smooth. A nice froth will be on top. Garnish with pineapple, squeeze in a little lime if you like, and drink up!
– XoXo Raw Girl
BEFORE COCKTAIL
(Parasite cleanses are frustrating sometimes.)
AFTER COCKTAIL
(This is how happy I will be when I finally kick some parasite but. It might be scary.)
Battle of the Internal Parasites: Knock Them Out Before They Take You Down
Today is Day 1 of another battle with parasites, and I am REALLY not happy about it. To commemorate, I wrote an in depth article on parasites, which you can access via the link below.
“What are parasites?” you mumble. They are annoying, disgusting, creepy worm like organisms, some visible to the human eye and some not, that can set up shop in the human body and pimp you out like a common prostitute. That would make, according to statistics, the majority of people in the world hookers. That’s right, you may think that your constant cravings for dessert and bread is completely normal, but you might be marching to the drum of the parasites inside you that thrive on sweets and carbs. Not to mention the fact that they prevent your body from absorbing nutrients from the foods you eat. “Oh that’s crazy,” your thinking. “There’s no way there’s any kind of worms inside of me.” If you had that thought it may just be the parasites talking!
A few years ago, I was introduced to the idea of parasites from a fellow yogi. He had just completed a parasite cleanse and said that it changed his life. I was telling him I was going raw, but having a problem with craving sweets and cutting out bread. He told me to do a parasite cleanse, but I forgot all about it until the veggie really hit the fan. I started breaking out, acne, rashes, felt tired all the time, and had the chills. Ran into another vegan friend who told me she battled with parasites for a year, and used to have the same exact symptoms I had. I know now that it was a combination of nutritional deficiency (mostly B12) and parasites.
My first battle with them began, and I got real gangsta. I consumed only things they didn’t like. Tons of greens, garlic, cayenne, apple cider vinegar, anything that I heard would kill them. Long story short without any stomach churning details, they exist. You won’t believe it, until you see what may come out of you. Anyway, this first bout, I arose, three months later, the victor. I was strutting like Ali leaving the ring. Got my groove back, my energy, and clear skin.
So how did this relapse happen again? Well there are a variety of ways to contract parasites including: drinking contaminated water, sexual contact (including kissing), hygiene, pets etc. On my end, I haven’t been as gangsta about protecting myself on the dating front as I could be, and although I am crazy about clean water, I remember an incident recently where the source was questionable. It could have been either or none of these things. But I will say this, the next time I go out and have a fabulous time, and the night is winding down and mood is just right, when Mr. Right leans in for a kiss, I will have to stop him like a true diva and ask “Have you done a parasite cleanse?” If he shakes his head no, I will have to whisper, “Well, then call me in two weeks,” and catwalk away. I wish I was kidding, but at least I know my health is worth the wait.
Read my Suite 101 Article on Parasites here:
http://nutrition.suite101.com/article.cfm/internal-parasites