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Tag Archives: raw food
New Article: Natural Ways to Detox from Heavy Metals
In our toxic world, there are so many poisons and contaminants that can hamper our health and do serious damage to our bodies in the long run. One that many forget about, although they may have fillings, is heavy metals. As I started to detox regularly, I became interested in learning more about heavy metal detox and what natural methods were available. There are a variety of cleanses that can be purchased; but through my research I compiled a few sources that can be consumed regularly or taken over a specific period of time to rid the body of heavy metals including: chlorella, cilantro, liquid activated zeolite, and bentonite clay (which you can buy in two forms: one type to ingest, and the other for external use–I love bentonite masks!)
If you have metal fillings, or have never considered a heavy metal cleanse, check out my latest article via the link below. – X0X0 Raw Girl
Click here to read the full article: http://nutrition.suite101.com/article.cfm/natural-methods-to-detox-the-body-of-heavy-meta
Natural Beauty Highlight: Kompalya Thunderbird
Although she most recently spent most of her time behind the scenes as a radio host, this foxy raw lady in her mid-thirties, still gets holla’d at on the street corners by twenty year olds. When I first met Kompalya years ago, I assumed we were the same age and was shocked to learn otherwise. I appreciated her positive energy, and she was among the fabulous raw foodies who inspired me to change my lifestyle. The best tip I got from her was reading African Holistic Health by Dr. Llaila Afrika. She said if you really want to go raw, read this book. It worked for me. After reading it I immediately threw out things in my cabinets and started to detox. People thought I was crazy because I started to get paranoid about processed foods, and rightly so. Who wants to know that they are also consuming bleach and paint thinner when they eat their cottage cheese? Ew. Anyhow, thankfully, this lovely lady has allowed me to interview her and find out how she stays healthy, young, and beautiful. – XoXo Raw Girl
How long have you been raw and/or vegan & what made you transition into eating raw? Are you 100% and if not, why not? What kind of detox process did you go through since starting on this path, ie: fasting, cleanses etc?
I have been raw for five years, it was a natural transition from eating vegan foods that began to stimulate indigestion. I found raw foods tasty and fit my life style highly during my yoga training. At that time I was training in Kemetic Yoga and one of the principles was eating more raw plant-based foods as those in times of Antiquity. RAW foods have a long history that date back the long before the Americas.
I slowly began to comprehend the true Divine principles of Yoga and no longer wanted to consume food that was processed mainly for profit. Also, an understanding of how the animal kingdom is being treated lead me to forsake meat all together. The challenging part was to stop wearing our friends, ie, leather, suede etc…
During the first five years I was 100% raw, however due to heavy work demands within the artistic field I did begin to delve in to vegan food again. I can honestly say it is very harsh on the body. Once you are raw for a long period of time your body chemistry begins to change the slightest in take of sugar made me sick! My cells and organs could feel the difference and my immunity would weaken almost immediately after eating something processed.
I did not do a detox prior to becoming raw, before being raw I was vegan for 12 years. I felt no need for a harsh detox mainly due to the eating regime I follow. Such as, no eating after 6pm. I will eat larger portions of food during the day before 3 PM. I will take healing smoothies in the morning that consist of herbs and vitamins I need for the day. Drink lots of water and stay away from junk. I would do a liver flush once a month along with an enema if I felt the need for it. I will also take my minerals since the soil is so depleted of it at this moment in our history.
What are some of the most immediate benefits: mental, physical, and/or spiritual you have received from changing your lifestyle?The immediate benefits of being RAW (or vegan) is clarity of mind. I found it easier to concentrate and stay focused. I was no longer the angry woman filled with volatile emotions. I noticed an immediate change soon after I cut red meat from my diet. My weight remained at a steady level for years before changing. Sorry for any of the MEN reading, but my menstruation was no longer as painful and my moods swings left automatically, if like magic. I noticed a serious difference in my choices in how I looked at myself and the world.
Do you supplement? And if so, what supplements do you take? I use supplements, at this time I take liquid vitamins from an organic company. I felt my energy level increase a lot after taking organic liquid vitamins.
What do you believe defines true beauty? I love this question!! Esosa thank you for asking women this question! To me the true definition of beauty is defined by the essence of our character the deeds we have done for others, the process in which we manifest our true divine selves in this world and how we reach to others. We are all beautiful and no one culture holds the blue print to beauty. We can all rest in the bosom of who we truly are when we reach into our wisdom pool and share it with the world. True beauty to me is not in the cars we have, the homes we live in, but within the essence of our being! Allowing our inner light to match with the outer world we radiate in beauty.
What is your skin care regimen like? I have no skin care regime, never have never will. I drink lots of water, use natural soap or some times just tea tree oil and lemon mixed together. Good skin comes from within.
What do you think is the most challenging part about maintaining a raw diet long-term? Have you found it difficult to interact socially: family and other relationships? It is arduous to maintain a RAW life style long-term. My long-term stresses came from working long hours in the entertainment field and being surrounded by many who did not take health as seriously as I did. This put a strain not only on my physical body, but in many of my work environments. I was ostracized, made fun of, talked about and called names by many with whom I worked for and with. Some tried to comprehend the lifestyle; others did all that I mentioned above.
I realized not everyone is meant to be RAW and at times it is best to tell others you are vegetarian, it eases peoples apprehensions and still allows you to be yourself. The challenging part was not always having the time necessary to bring my own food to work, which left me at the whim of society. Cooked processed, non organic food.
Dating also became difficult, because many men I met felt they would lose their strength if they are on a complete RAW plant-based diet. It also became apparent that a few would try to change my diet instead of understanding what the RAW living lifestyle truly is.
I do believe the world is changing for the better. Many people are awakening to the fact that food is a commodity and many corporations are not invested into our health, but profit. We have to focus on the good changes and collaborate with those who are evolved on the path and those beginning the journey!
How important is your spiritual life & do you think that it has anything to do with your natural beauty & staying young? My spiritual path is important to me, it is like my older sister guiding me along my earth walk. I am not sure if my spiritual path has anything to do with me staying beautiful or young. I could be crippled and still be on a spiritual path. I could be ugly and still be on a path.
Kompalya Thunderbird is a performing artist who has performed in England and in many Off- Broadway Productions in the NYC area. Her talents in performance lead her to have a successful radio program on Progressive Radio Network for over two years.
Her successful radio program included an annual one month holistic health initiative. Which allowed many non-conventional doctors and holistic practitioners to give advice on natural remedies from colds to cancer. Her healing practice in Reiki has allowed her to view dis-ease from a different perspective. “Reiki practitioners have no doubt on the mind, body, soul connection to health and the amazing benefits of healing the energy field”.
Reiki works well in eliminating toxins in the body and in conjunction with regular medical practices. Kompalya has been practicing Reiki since 2003. If anyone is interested in further information on Reiki please contact Kompalya at reikiwisdom@gmail.com.
How to Make Raw Blueberry Banana Pancakes
Hey raw vegan party people! So I had a blast dreaming up this raw pancake recipe. They are yummalicious and since making these I have come up with several other delectable variations that I promise to share (raw apple cinnamon pancakes are also delish). Back in the days when I was on the S.A.D.D. (standard American death-trap diet) I used to love pancakes and french toast, but now the thought of all that white flour and bread makes my stomach queasy. There were a bunch of raw pancake recipes I came across. Most consisted entirely of nuts. I decided to make a version that was less nut heavy and ground the oat seed or “oat groat” into a flour and added that into the recipe. In order to make these you need a dehydrator and a high-speed blender, and you are ready to go! The longest part is the dehydration, but its easy if you start the day before. It takes no time to blend the batter and you can just leave them in the dehydrator and go about your business. Trust me, It’s worth the wait ;). -XoXo Raw Girl
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BthWV75RVGg]
Ingredients:
2 bananas, 2 cups almond flour (made from grinding raw almonds), 2 cups oat flour (grind oat groats into flour), 1/2 -3/4 of a small container of organic blueberries, 1/2 cup agave nectar, 1 tablespoon vanilla, 1/4 cup flaxseed meal, 1/2 cup water (or as needed)
First grind your almonds into almond flour, and grind your oat groats into oat flour. If you have less oats than nuts you can use a 3 cups to 1 cup ratio—3 cups almonds and one cup oat groats, feel free to play around with it. Put all ingredients except for flaxseed into blender and blend. Stop and use wooden spoon or spatula to mix in ingredients, then blend again until smooth. Pour batter into a bowl and mix in flaxseed meal to thicken batter. Set dehydrator for 115 degrees and portion out your pancakes onto teflex sheets after coating with a little bit of extra virgin olive oil. Dehydrate for 6 hours minimum then flip off of teflex sheet and let the other side dehydrate for another 4.5-6 hours. When done they should not be gooey, but firm and little flexible. Serve with fruit and grade B maple syrup if needed. They will already be sweet so you may eat them as is!
Makes around 8-9 medium size pancakes. Enjoy!
Fashion Designer Donna Karan Was a Raw Foodie
Donna After Going Raw
Fashion week is over, but I’m still mourning the loss of one of my favorite designers, Alexander McQueen. His was usually the only collection I religiously checked up on. This year I started browsing other designers to prep myself for the fact that next year, there will be no Alexander McQueen genius to scope. While checking out other collections, I couldn’t help noticing Donna Karan’s post-show picture on the runway, looking like she’d gained back the majority of weight she lost in 2003.
A couple years ago, probably mostly for the vanity reasons of being thinner ( sigh-fashion), Donna adopted the raw food diet and had a raw chef on call making her delectable dishes daily. Apparently in addition to shocking the fashion world with her new figure she reported that she felt more energized and was enjoying more optimal energy and health. But…I think her “diet” was a clear example of the fact that nothing works long-term unless you are committed to changing your lifestyle. I’m sad Donna fell off the wagon, the fashion world in general has an air of toxicity on many levels—having a sexy raw foodie designer in the midst might have injected a short fizzled focus on true health in the fashion industry. Well, regardless, the collection was pretty bad ass so at least she’s bringing sexy back in that way. – XoXo Raw Girl
How to Sprout Step-by-Step
Hey fabulous vegan lovers:
Sorry that Raw Girl was M.I.A. yesterday! I am on day two of another film shoot 🙂 Almost done. Here’s a short video which breaks down step-by-step how I sprout wheat berries which I use to make Rejuvelac. There are many other ways to sprout. Sometimes I use a sprouting tray, others recommend using a glass jar and then growing the sprouts in a dark cupboard. Do what works for you; this method was the bootleg method that I used when I first started going raw using a bowl and covering with a plate. A dark environment without too much humidity is key, and rinsing is necessary to ensure they do not mold. Happy Sprouting! 😉 -XoXo Raw Girl
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=facf7wpMG0Y]
VEGGIE LOVE: Cactus Pear
Hey gang. This Veggie Love segment is dedicated to a new find that has got me coming back for more. My new love is cactus pear, a Mexico and Latin American staple that is, quite literally, the fruit from the cactus plant. Its skin is scary and prickly, but the inside is sweet, earthy, and the most fabulous color pink. Pair this diamond in the rough with its insane nutritional quality and we have ourselves a supermarket superstar.
Cactus pear only recently began reaching the consumers in the 1980s, when health scientists became aware of their medicinal qualities–one researcher even called them magical. Perhaps we have the next “superfood” on our hands?
To start off, cactus pear is known for its extremely high antioxidant count–limiting free radicals in the arteries and throughout the body, and preventing tumor growth and cancer cell production. Some studies have even found that this fruit shrinks tumors! The healthy oxidized state the pear promotes is also great for your skin–making you look younger, longer.
Cactus pear can also reduce blood sugar levels; meaning it can not only prevent, but treat diabetes. It’s great source of fiber also helps absorb and remove unneeded cholesterol. With traditional vitamins and minerals, cactus pear is high in calcium which strengthens bones and teeth. Its high Vitamin C content prevents cell damage, helps wounds to heal, fights infections, and aids in the absorption of iron. The fruit is also high in magnesium and taurine, nutrients important to brain and heart health.
Are you sold?
Preparation:
Handle with care. While most commercial cactus pears have had their spikes removed, you can still get a prickly splinter (which I found out the hard way). You might even want to use gloves. To remove the outer skin, cut on a tilt about a centimeter deep into the fruit and move knife in a circle around the fruit, then cut in half. You may even be able to peel the skin like an orange after the initial cut. The center of the fruit is loaded with tiny seeds which are edible, but hard. The flesh in-between the skin and the seeds is the best part and can be easily chopped once the seeds are scooped out. Just be careful of your clothing; the deep magenta color can be more dangerous than a red beet.
Cactus pears can be used in all sorts of ways: chopped on top of salads, made into jams, thrown into smoothies, or eaten plain. One you are familiar with the taste (a balance of light sweetness and earthiness), you can experiment. So far my favorite way to use them is in a delicious Cactus Pear Smoothie. Its sweet, chocolaty, and the color of bubble gum. I genuinely described this smoothie as “bomb-alicious.” Give it a try:
Ingredients: Flesh from 1 cactus pear; 1 frozen banana; 1/2 Tbs raw cacao powder or nibs; 2/3 cup coconut water; 1/3 cup filtered water.
Blend all ingredients together and drink up!
Note: I ran my whole cactus pear with seeds through the Vitamix before making the smoothie and then strained the liquid to remove the seeds. This way, you use a little more of the fruit. If you’re short on time, just use the flesh.
I hope you enjoy this wonderful smoothie and all the benefits cactus pear has to offer.
Here’s to feeling great about what you eat and sharing the veggie love.
–Kenzie, signing in for Raw Girl
7 Habits of Highly Effective Raw Vegans
I just finished reading the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, which I always heard about but never picked up. It is a good read, but as I was plowing through the book, I started thinking to myself: what are 7 Habits of Highly Effective Raw Foodies?
And then, the light bulb went on over my head. Below is the list I came up with. There may be more or less, but these are the points I have found myself working on consistently since starting on the raw path.
– XoXo Raw Girl
1. Embrace Moderation A.K.A. Watch the Excess. Chill on the nuts. They are heavy and hard to digest if eaten in excess, especially if not soaked. A lot of raw recipes and raw restaurants feature dishes that are nut-heavy and will leave you feeling, well, a little bloated. Get creative and substitute or indulge from time to time but mostly keep your diet plant-heavy. If you used to be a sugar addict avoid excessive amounts of raw foods with sugar. Minimize use of large amounts of salt, even if it is Celtic or Himalayan.
2. Don’t Be Full of Sh%# A.K.A. Regular Colon Cleansing. Learning this tip that should have been taught to me in grade school changed my life. Everyone should be concerned with ensuring that their body sewage system (which the colon is) is maintained and regularly cleaned out.
3. Be a DIVA A.K.A. Emphasize Quality. Drink lots of pure or energized water. Find the freshest organic produce available. If you eat non-organic fruit from time to time it won’t kill you, but if you minimize this it’ll keep your body from being loaded with yet another toxin from the pesticides.
4. Add Fuel to Yr Fire A.K.A. Practice Adequate Additional Supplementation and/or use of herbs. This means you are taking your B-12 regularly and using other supplements to provide daily optimal nutrition. Herbal bitters are wonderful, and using a range of other types of herbs in moderation and with care can really boost your overall health if it starts to lag.
5. Live La Vida Toxin-Free A.K.A. Ramp up on Detox. Mineral cleanse, parasite cleanse, shower filters, regular fasting, avoiding beauty products with chemicals… I think you get the picture.
6. Get Off The Couch A.K.A. Get Regular Exercise. General exercise is always good, but it’s also good to incorporate into your exercise regimen workouts that support detoxification: yoga, rebounding etc. Not only will you be foxy and centered if you practice either of these two exercises, but you will give your organs a nice toxin rinse in some of those yoga poses and boost your lymphatic system with the rebounding.
7. Insist on Beauty Sleep A.K.A. Rest it up! Adequate amounts of rest and relaxation always lead to a more productive, happier raw vegan. Although you may find you need less sleep, still make sure to get what you need and not eat anything too close to bedtime.
How to Make a Green Immune Booster Smoothie
This green smoothie was a concoction I threw together to help out a sick family member. I am very big on proper food combining and usually make sure not to mix citrus with other things, but in this case I made an exception. People who eat a lot of junk tend to have stomachs of steel anyhow, because the majority of people are used to eating all kinds of food in one sitting regardless of the fact that it may take a different set of enzymes to digest. Will go more in-depth on food combining sometime soon.
That said, I was pleasantly surprised that my stomach didn’t get queasy at all when I tested this smoothie. I added in orange juice for vitamin C, flaxseed and prunes to help elimination, bananas to slow digestion, and spirulina and alfalfa sprouts to boost immunity. Worked like a charm or at least made a difference because the next day my loved one was up and moving.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDxbY3_wrXo]
Ingredients:
fresh squeezed organic orange (3 oranges)
4 preservative free dried prunes
3 Tablespoons of flaxseed
3 Tablespoons of spirulina
large handful of sprouts ( I think I used at least half the container)
2 ripe organic bananas
Remember when you are sick, it is not best to suppress your symptoms with a whole bunch of drugs that put a band aid on the condition but do not address the core problem. I rarely ever find myself ill, and going raw and medicine-free has taught me how to heal myself naturally and know what my body needs when I need it. Start listening more when you are sick instead of telling your body to quiet down by overloading yourself with tylenols, midols, cough syrup, etc. Rest is needed, and usually a departure from solid foods, and flushing out your colon solves a myriad of problems. At least you’ll know you got to the bottom of the real issue and will enjoy the fruits of long lasting health.
– XoXo Raw Girl
Act Now! The GE Gangsters Are Trying to Take Out Alfalfa
Unfortunately my friends, the Monsanto mafia is at it again. Apparently, genetically engineering corn is not enough. Considering all of the money they have made, all of the disease creating processed foods sold from the genetically engineered (GE) corn, all the farmers put out of business or bankrupt, and all of the fields of natural corn contaminated by the GE corn, you would think they perhaps could stop there? Unfortunately not. Now these folks want to colonize and orchestrate another gangster takeover of a very nutrient dense food: alfalfa.
That’s right, Monsanto is looking to introduce Roundup Ready Alfalfa into the market. Keep in mind that their roundup ready crops (these are crops that are compatible with the pesticides they created) when grown, contaminate crops that are not GE. What this means is one field can be planted, the crop will spread and contaminate other natural sources. This phenomenon is definitely plant colonization at it’s best and will threaten not only our lives from the processed foods they will sell, but it will do more damage to the livelihood of our American farmers, who are already knee-deep in debt and being bullied by the food corporations insistent upon having complete control of the market.
More is at stake than just alfalfa people. If Americans do not wake up, I have no doubt that we may soon see a complete takeover and have no true sources of natural food available. They MUST BE STOPPED NOW before the organic veggie hits the fan.
Please visit the link below to read more and send comments! We have to take action, and only have until this Wednesday, March 3rd. If we don’t stand up for our rights to un-colonized, un-engineered foods, who will?
http://ga3.org/campaign/alfalfaEIS/explanation
Ready to dish out an organic can of whoop-ass.
-XoXo Raw Girl
9 Ways to Get More Bang for Your Beauty Without Spending a Buck
Somehow, we have all been duped into believing we need a product for every separate beauty endeavor. We have to have several types of moisturizer, face washes, and scrubs for different parts of our body. One of the first things I did when I started going raw is simplify. Not only is this good for your health but it eases some strain on your wallet to boot. I tossed out products full of chemicals and parabens, and started to search for all-natural options to my once full medicine cabinet. When I started to get concerned about what I was putting on my body being as pure as the food I was consuming, I realized that a lot of products could be used for both. Below is a list of some versatile items that can offer double duty and add a little extra wiggle room to your budget.
1. Extra Virgin Organic Coconut Oil – Awesome total body moisturizer which can also be used in the kitchen. If used as a moisturizer it protects the skin against the aging effects of free radicals, minimizes wrinkles, and can clear up dark spots on the skin. It can also be used as an excellent conditioner. Most oils when heated turn rancid, coconut oil happens to be the most heat-resistant oil and therefore the best for cooking. The chained fatty acids in coconut oil have the ability to internally kill parasites, bacteria, and viruses in the body.
2. 100 % Natural Shea Butter – I heart shea butter. It’s like ten products in one. Shea butter is made from the nuts of karite trees in West and Central Africa. I use it as a moisturizer and also on my hair. A lot of people with locks use beeswax or other products that can leave residue in the hair, but I am extremely particular about avoiding chemicals or anything that may damage my hair (which might be why it grows like wildfire). Shea butter has been used to heal burns, scars, sores, dandruff, dermatitis, stretch marks, and also protects the skin from environmental and free radical damage. In addition it contains cinnamic acid which protects the skin from UV rays. Also works as a conditioner and makeup remover. If I was stranded on a deserted island, I could live easily with shea butter as my only beauty product. Isn’t it a lot more glamorous to be rescued skin glowing and protected from uv rays, hair conditioned and shimmering in the sunlight, and body moisturized and scar-free? I think so.
3. Extra Virgin Cold Pressed Olive Oil – Another fabulous oil that you can take out of the kitchen into the bathroom. Olive oil is an excellent moisturizer or night cream, best when applied to damp skin so you don’t feel “greasy.” If you need to exfoliate, mix olive oil with sea salt and use as a scrub. Awesome to use to remove eye makeup, and can also prevent wrinkles in the process! Also can be used as a deep conditioner, and dandruff controller that can be massage into the scalp after shampooing. And don’t forget after all that if you need to make a quick, easy, and tasty salad dressing you can put a capful or two of olive oil with a squeeze of lime or lemon and some sea salt. What more can a girl ask for?
4. Essential Oils – These oils are powerful! In particular, Young Living Essential Oils, which are the highest grade, and can be taken externally and internally are magnificent. If you are feeling tired or lethargic during the day you can rub a couple drops of peppermint behind your ears and on your temples and inhale. You will feel alive in seconds. You can also add peppermint to your tea. A lot of the oils are nice to add to baths as well. The most miraculous thing is that you can relieve headaches, cramps, fatigue and a myriad of other symptoms with these oils in addition to using them for aromatherapy to promote psychological and emotional wellness. Ladies: the Young Living essential oil blend called Dragontime, is incredible and when rubbed over your tummy can relieve menstrual cramps. It has helped me get through a day effortlessly that would have quickly turned sour without relief. Forget midol this works well and it’s also better for you.
5. Oats, Citrus, Honey – Of course you can eat these things, but you can also make a banging facial mask out of them too. Check the archives I included the recipe for the mask recommended to me by makeup artist Ryan B. Anthony. It is awesome for exfoliation and leaves your skin glowing. You can tell everyone that is truly a 100% natural glow–because they will ask!
6. Avocados – I may just have to write a veggie R&B love song in the style of Barry White in honor of avocados. They truly are my first, my last, my everything. I love love love avocados! They make great additions to smoothies. Guacamole is my favorite, and it’s good to know that after I get down with my guac and finish scraping my bowl, I can also mash up a side plate and moisturize my skin with an avocado mask.
7. Watercress – For skin spots, watercress juice can be applied externally. Watercress juiced along with other veggies helps control inflammation of acne because of its high Vitamin A content. Try cantaloupe or honey melon juice which helps flush out toxins mixed with watercress.
8. Bentonite Clay – Internally this clay can be used as a natural detoxifier, to clean the colon, and to regulate elimination. Externally bentonite clay masks draw toxins out of the skin and will leave you glowing.
9. Cucumbers – Juicing cucumbers is refreshing and always makes a good base that can be mixed with other veggies. Cucumber juice has high water content and helps to flush out the body and also cools body temperature. On your face, we all know the age-old tip that cucumber slices over the eyes can reduce puffiness. In addition to that cucumber when blended or juiced makes an awesome toner. It can be mixed with celery juice, honey and or lemon, or even a bit of apple cider vinegar.
Hope you’ll give some of these tips a try, it’ll give you some extra dough for those stilettos you’ve been eyeing without sacrificing your diva glow. I’m going to get my veggie mask on!
– XoXo Raw Girl