Tags
acne aging anti-aging beauty detox diet exercise fasting healing health healthy lifestyle healthy living healthy recipes inspiration juicing Living la Vida Raw meditation mindfulness Move Your Body Natural Beauty natural cures Natural Cures natural remedies nutrition nutritionist parasites raw raw food Raw Food for Thought raw foods raw girl Raw News raw recipes Raw Spirit Recipes skin spirulina stress vegan vegan lifestyle vegan recipes vegetarian Veggie Love wellness yogaNewsletter Sign-up
Tag Archives: raw food
Juice! Cucumber Pear Zinger
Cucumber Pear Zinger
1 Head of Celery
1 Large Cucumber
2-3 Pears
Ginger Root (as much as you like)
Juice, strain, enjoy! 🙂Â
-XoXo Raw GirlÂ
7 Habits of Highly Effective Health Enthusiasts
1. Embrace Moderation. We all have our vices. For some it may be sugars, refined carbs and flours, or salt. If you’re a raw foodist, you may need to chill on the nuts. Moderation is about overcoming the urge to binge eat or overeat any one thing, no matter how great it is for you. Our bodies desperately need diversity in our diets in order to function optimally and our digestive systems always work better when we know and listen to the voice that says: “Put the fork down.”
2. Don’t Preach to the Choir. I know you are super excited about your new raw, vegan, or macrobiotic lifestyle but that doesn’t mean you have to go around proselytizing it like an evangelist. One size doesn’t necessarily fit all; our bodies are so varied and so it’s always more attractive and better for your blood pressure levels if you avoid debating whose diet is the best over dinner. The best persuasion: gracing others with your energetic presence and letting them come to you with questions about how you get your all-natural glow on.
3. Be a DIVA. Generally we can be discouraged from having standards because it makes us look like, well, DIVAS. But if your mission is to be energized most of the time, there are certain things you should not except as acceptable food. Drink lots of pure or energized water. Find the freshest organic produce available. Just say no to GMOs. If you eat non-organic fruit from time to time it won’t kill you, but if you minimize this or at least avoid the fruits and vegetables in the “dirty dozen,” it’ll keep your body from being loaded with yet another toxin in the form of pesticides.
4. Practice Adequate Additional Supplementation. B vitamins, magnesium, manganese, iron, sulfur, and biotin are all extremely important in bodies’ process of converting our food to energy. It’s important to consume whole food sources and super foods that contain these nutrients and also find high quality supplements you can take to ensure daily optimal nutrition.
5. Live La Vida Toxin-Free. Nowadays, there are a million and one ways to “cleanse.” Heavy metal cleanses, parasite cleanses, colon cleanses, liver flushes, you name it and you can find it in your local health food store. These are all great from time to time if your body is out of balance or you need to address a pressing health concern. But a veteran health enthusiast knows that having daily lifestyle practices really can boost his or her health that extra mile like: shower filters, regular juicing or fasting, avoiding products with chemicals. Engaging in regular cleansing of the colon, the bodies’ sewage system, is a must for staying healthy and avoiding chronic diseases. There is so much toxicity in our world today so it’s important to stay well informed and then take whatever little steps you are comfortable with that keep you toxin-free. Even if it’s just biting the bullet and throwing out any toxic cleaning and beauty supplies in your bathroom.
6. Get Off The Couch. Just in case you missed the memo, research has show that those who love to move their bodies are around nine years younger than their non-exercising counterparts. Fitness King, Jack LaLanne, who stayed active into his nineties once said: “Exercise is king. Nutrition is queen. Put them together and you’ve got a kingdom.” If you are a highly effective health enthusiast you know that staying at the top of your game means that you must refuse to neglect your workout regimen. Worse case scenario you fall off every now and then, but you always find yourself back in the gym, at the yoga studio, or on the trail with renewed commitment because you love the payoff in vitality.
7. Insist on Beauty Sleep. Sleep is another precious commodity we undervalue in our culture. We are obsessed with “grinding” to get ahead and often sacrifice much needed R&R for promotions. Effective health enthusiasts are willing to get a little gangsta about their sleep. Lights off, phone off, and do not disturb signs will be used if necessary. Adequate amounts of rest and relaxation always lead to a more productive, happier version of you. Not only does sleep affect performance, learning retention, and brain functioning, sleep plays a major role in boosting our immunity, weight loss, and preventing the onset of many diseases. The best way to get adequate sleep is to attempt as much as possible to stick to a sleep schedule and go to bed and wake up around the same time daily.
-XoXo Raw GirlÂ
7 Natural Remedies That Kill Internal Parasites
Although it sounds crazy and a little scary to think about WORMS in our bodies, the fact is that 99.8% of people will be exposed to or experience health issues related to parasitic infection. You can get parasites from your pets, other people’s pets, from kissing or having intercourse with a person who has parasites, from contaminated drinking water (and a lot of drinking water is infected, especially tap water), from walking barefoot on contaminated soil, from improperly cooked or handled meat, improper hygiene, infected fruits or vegetables, and the list goes on. If you are a loyal reader of this blog you know that I’ve explored this topic before, but because of the overwhelming response, I want to address it again. -XoXo Raw Girl
So, what are parasites? Parasites are organisms that live in our bodies and feed off of our life force. They are worms that suck us dry by preventing nutrients from our food from nourishing our bodies, can cause damage internally to organs, and can cause a host of other symptoms that you and your doctor will most likely mistake for something else entirely. These can be anything from stomach and intestinal complications like constipation, irritable bowel syndrome or leaky gut, mood and anxiety issues, sleep disturbances, weight issues either via excessive hunger, or excessive weight loss, skin disorders like acne or rashes, food allergies, and excessive fatigue or lack of energy. Essentially, parasites can slowly but surely erode your quality of life. Below are a few key herbs and foods that can help you rid your body of parasites. If you choose to conduct an over the counter parasite cleanse, ensure that it at the very least includes cloves, black walnut, and wormwood in the list of ingredients.
 Cloves destroy parasitic eggs before they have a chance to develop. They are more powerful when purchased whole and ground up for consumption as they tend to lose their anti-parasitic properties rather quickly. Cloves contain powerful antimicrobial agents that travel through the bloodstream, killing microscopic parasites and parasitic larvae and eggs. Cloves are tremendously effective in killing malaria, tuberculosis, cholera, scabies and other parasites, viruses, bacteria and fungi, including Candida.
Black walnut hull is very effective at removing dead parasites and other parasitic wastes from the body. It is available in a powdered form, in capsules, as well as in tinctures. Black walnut hull has been used for centuries to expel various types of worms, including parasites that cause skin irritations such as ringworm. It also oxygenates the blood, which also helps kill parasites. Black Walnut hull is very effective against tapeworms, pinworms, Candida albicans, and malaria. It is also effective in reducing blood sugar levels, and facilitating the bodies’ natural detoxification process.
 Wormwood is one of the most powerful weapons in the parasite killer arsenal. It is an extremely bitter herb that is quite difficult to down, but the effects are well worth it. It acts as an anesthetic that numbs the parasites, thus forcing them to release their grip on the body. The herb is most effective against roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and pinworms. Wormwood is the second most bitter herb known to man and has been proven a powerful herbal remedy for malaria. The herb is now being used by locals in Malaria ridden countries and has proven even more effective than drugs without the danger of side effects.
Consuming Raw or Aged Garlic is one of the most effective ways to kill parasites. Garlic is an effective remedy for many types of parasites, from one-celled species to larger varieties such as hookworms and pinworms. Garlic is known to slow and kill more than sixty types of fungi and twenty types of bacteria, as well as some of the most potent viruses known to humans. All effective parasite cleanses always include garlic. It can be hard to consume large amounts of raw garlic, so another way to successfully include large amounts of garlic in your diet is to consume aged, odorless garlic pills.
Apple Cider Vinegar increases stomach acid if taken prior to your meals. This will keep the stomach free of parasites and will also ensure that you will kill off any larvae you inadvertently eat with your meals. A great way to incorporate apple cider vinegar is to add it to salad dressings or prepare a simple “apple cider vinegar tonic” which is apple cider vinegar diluted in pure filtered water and drink this concoction first thing in the morning and several times throughout the day.
Coconut Oil has an abundance of medium chain fatty acids, which after converted by the body, create a substance that efficiently kills parasites, yeasts, viruses, and pathogenic bacteria in the gut.
Pungent Spices such as: turmeric, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, chilies, horseradish, and cayenne, all make parasites run for cover. While conducting your cleanse you can use all or some of these spices freely to add flavor and aid you in kicking some parasite but.Â
Want to learn more about parasites and natural remedies? Check out my latest book Parasites, Be Gone! which includes in depth research, personal antidotes, Â and a two week cleanse to get you started on the path to becoming parasite-free.
Recipe! Absolutely Yummy Raw Raspberry Bars
 We made it! Today is Day seven of our 7 Days of Raw Fast! I hope you enjoyed the experience and had fun playing with raw food. Hopefully you loved it enough to consider increasing the amount of organic fruits and vegetables in your diet no matter what else you choose to eat. To celebrate our final day I whipped up a raw dessert recipe via Rawtarian. Below’s the recipe reposted. -XoXo Raw GirlÂ
Raw Raspberry Bars
Shortbread Bars
2 cups dried, shredded coconut
1/2 cup cashews
1/4 cup maple syrup (or honey or agave nectar)
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Raspberry Jam
1 1/2 cups raspberries
1/2 cup dates
Directions
1. Process all white shortbread ingredients in food processor. Process briefly until you get a crumbly consistency, similar to the white topping in my photos. (Mixture should stick together when pinched.)
2. Take 3/4 of the white mixture and press it down firmly into your pan/molds. Refrigerate immediately so the bars can start firming up. (Set remaining 1/4 white mixture aside, to be used later.)
3. Blend all raspberry jam ingredients together until a smooth, jam-like consistency is reached. If using frozen raspberries, you may need to add an optional 1-2 tablespoons water to the jam mixture to help it blend.
4. Get your white bars out of the fridge, and smooth the raspberry jam on top of the bars using the back of a spoon. Place back in refrigerator.
5. Refrigerate bars for at least 1 hour so that the jam can firm up a little bit.
6. Sprinkle remaining white crumble mixture on top of the bars.
7. Place in freezer for at least 3 hours to firm up. Your raw raspberry bars are now ready.
Coconut Morning Pick-Me-Up
I started whipping up this simple drink because I absolutely love starting my day with coconut. The dates give a nice natural sugar boost for morning energy and the spices just make it all that much yummier. -XoXo Raw GirlÂ
Coconut Morning Pick Me-Up
1 Young Thai Coconut (water and meat)
3-4 Dates
Dash of Cloves (optional)
2-3 Dashes of Cinnamon
Blend, serve, enjoy!
Recipe! How to Make Raw Tacos
We are on Day 2, of our 7 Days of Raw Fast! Here’s an awesome recipe that is also versatile because you can use it different dishes. My version of it actually combines a few elements from a few different raw taco recipes I found. The best part about this dish is it takes little to no time at and you can save your leftovers to use as toppings for salads or in wraps. As the ‘taco’ shell you can use romaine lettuce or try collard greens. -XoXo Raw Girl
Raw Taco Meat
1 1/2 cups walnuts (soaked for 1-2 hours or un-soaked work as well)
1/3 cup sundried tomatoes (soak for 30 min to hour in warm/hot water to soften)
1 1/2 tablespoons of organic extra virgin olive oilÂ
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons of tumeric or curry
2 teaspoons Braggs
Taco ‘Shell’
Collard greens or romaine lettuce
Add all ingredients to food processor and blend until you get a taco meat like consistency. Fill in topping to collard greens or romaine lettuce and add additional toppings like avocado, fresh tomatoes etc. Enjoy!
Need a live demo? Check out this past post which features a video of Aiya of blackveganlove.com sharing how to make her version of this recipe.
7 Days of Raw Begins March 1st!
If your a fan on the Facebook page you know we are counting down to March 1st, when Blackveganlove.com and I will be hosting a 7 Day Raw Fast. The challenge is completely FREE all you need to do is like the Facebook page and stay tuned to the blog for new updates, recipes, and inspiration to make it through the fast. Spring is just around the corner, so this is a great way to get your all natural glow on, or jumpstart your health goals.
Just in case you are a complete newbie to raw foods, here’s a brief summary by my buddy Aiya of blackveganlove.com:
Raw Food = uncooked, unheated, enzyme active, nutritionally dense, goodness straight from Mother Nature herself. So whether it’s fresh fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, pseudo grains, sprouts etc. none of them are prepared on a stove, in the oven, or heated beyond the 105-120 degree F range in a dehydrator. Vegan Raw Foodists create their dishes by blending, mixing, dehydrating, cutting, juicing, freezing, pureeing and chopping their food to come up with dishes that are both tasty and nutritious.
Hopefully you will be inspired to join in with us! If so, make sure you start planning your grocery list now and start stocking up on fresh organic fare before Saturday. Â -XoXo Raw GirlÂ
The Art of Eating for Beauty
I’m sure you have at some point in your life heard the saying: “you are what you eat.” If you truly take that statement to heart you realize that with every meal you have the opportunity to reinvent yourself; the nourishment you choose can either fuel your body or leave you feeling and looking like you’re running on empty. When considering optimal health, we have to think about food for the mind, body, and spirit. We all want to feel beautiful or appreciated for the uniqueness that we are but beauty is much deeper than a pretty face. True beauty could be considered the fullest most energetic expression of one’s soul. Below are some simple ways you can step into your true beauty and fill yourself up with spiritual and physical nourishment. -XoXo Raw GirlÂ
Eat Whole, Unprocessed Foods. If you are what you eat do you want to look like a stale bag of salt encrusted potato chips? Or would you prefer to radiate the energy from a fresh bowl of organic leafy greens? Sounds like an easy choice, but sometimes our taste buds get the better of us. Nowadays it is more important than ever to know that what you are eating is actually food, because the majority of packaged and to-go meals out there are full of chemicals, preservatives, harmful additives, or even hormones. Consuming these toxins does not only diminishes your outward appearance, it also has a direct effect on your emotional stability and joie de vivre.
Get Your Beauty Vitamins In. Food is one of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal to alter our physical body, increase our magnetism, and boost our overall sexy factor. As David Wolfe so eloquently sums up in his book “Eating for Beauty,” there are a number of nutrients that are essential for maintaining and cultivating an attractive appearance including vitamin A, C, E, silicon, sulfur, and zinc. In addition to these you’ll want to make sure you get enough magnesium, manganese, iron, and B vitamins which are all essential for the proper functioning of metabolic pathways that convert our food into energy.
Embrace Silence. Meditation, in whatever form you choose to practice, is the ultimate food for the soul. Not only is meditation a stress reliever, it can actually boost your mental performance. Research conducted at the University of California, Santa Barbara found that college students trained in mindfulness performed better on verbal reasoning sections on the GRE and also had improvements in retention of material. The outcome of the study suggests that mindfulness improves overall cognitive function. In addition meditation helps to balance out emotions and moodiness, and has been shown in numerous studies to reduce the risk of depression.
Do Yoga. Not only is yoga is healing modality that can help release bodily toxins, improve flexibility, boost your immune system, and improve blood circulation, it is another incredible way to give your soul the food it needs. On your mat as your learn to focus, breathe, and move through challenges without letting your mental chatter get in your way, you slowly but surely free yourself up to be the fiercest most beautiful version of you, outside in the real world.
Pursue Your Purpose. When someone contracts a serious illness or chronic disease, they expect their doctor to prescribe medication, and if their lucky some lifestyle changes. Often times in addition to those recommendations, the best prescription is to simply find what you love and do it daily. It is far too common to find ourselves living a life that is not our own and neglecting our true passions and calling. To be the best, healthiest version of you, find what it is that makes your heart sing and do it NOW. Not next week, ten years from now, when you have more money etc. When you love what you do and are walking in your purpose you will be happy, and a good dose of happy is an essential ingredient for optimal health.
Want to get your vegan glow on just in time for spring? The 7 Days of Raw challenge begins on March 1st! Like the Facebook Page for details and updates.
Â
Â
Why Biotin is Essential for Healthy Blood Sugar Levels
Are you experiencing hypoglycemic conditions? Do you find yourself sometimes irritable, fatigued, or having brain fog if too much time passes between meals? You may have low blood sugar that could be caused by a range of dietary issues, one being a deficiency in biotin. Our bodies’ convert glucose into the energy in the process of glycolysis. Â When we run out of glucose and our body either breaks down glycogen (which is stored glucose) to make energy, or converts other available substances to glucose in the process of gluconeogenesis.
During both of these important metabolic pathways,  glycolysis and gluconeogenesis,  there are many important steps that need different types of carboxylase enzymes to continue the processes. All of these enzymes are biotin dependent, meaning they need biotin to be present in the body in adequate amounts to function properly. Biotin is a water-soluble B vitamin that helps the body transform fat, protein and carbohydrates in your food to energy needed by the body. So if you happen to be deficient in biotin also known as vitamin H or vitamin B7,  your body will have problems creating more glucose when it needs it, and thus you experience low blood sugar levels. Pregnant women especially need biotin to ensure the health of their unborn child, and biotin is also a beauty nutrient as it plays a big role in maintaining healthy nails, skin, and hair.
Some good whole food sources of biotin include: swiss chard, spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, mushrooms, almonds, walnuts, avocados, bananas, strawberries, goji berries, cranberries, oats, soybeans, sunflower seeds, coconut water, and egg yolks (if you are vegetarian). In addition to ensuring that you incorporate a wide range of these foods into your diet, it is never a bad idea to find a good B-complex supplement, because all of the B vitamins play extremely essential roles in maintaining optimal body functioning. If you have been exposed to heavy metals like mercury or arsenic these too can disrupt metabolic pathways and lead to hypoglycemic conditions. Remember that true health is never about one vitamin or supplement; however our bodies are so complex and dynamic when we are not giving it all of the nutrients it needs, even the micronutrients, we cannot function at our best. -XoXo Raw GirlÂ