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Back to One: The End of the Year Cleanse
buckshappening.com
Sometimes it really feels good to reset and revamp. It’s not like setting the clock back, but more so starting from where you are and undergoing a process of renewal. I’ve been feeling like in many areas of my life this process of going “back to one” is happening, and thus, it felt like an awesome time to take on a cleanse. As the end of the year approaches (can you believe how fast it went by) cleansing allows us to rejuvenate our bodies, while letting our minds and spirits reflect on the time that has passed and our next steps.
I chose this time to take on a gentle two-week full body herbal detox in a box that cleanses my skin, liver, lungs, colon, kidneys, blood and lymphatic system. Also combining this with a parasite cleanse and seven-day liquid fast so that I can move into the new year, with my body reset and full of vitality, and mind ready to take on new tasks.
Just as I am resetting my body through fasting and detox, I find that the New Year is a great time to reset my mind. It’s important to me to spend adequate time ruminating on the goals I accomplished, and also look at where I fell short to examine what new approaches or what character flaws may be standing in my way. Most people make resolutions that lose their legs by the second month of the year. In order for us to set goals that stand the test of time, we have to examine our motives and really connect to how our goals will increase the quality of our lives and also touch others.
We also can change the way we look at our goals and ourselves, by not only focusing on where we want to be, but also who is it that we have to become to get there? That shift in thinking alone, made me realize that in order to get to where I am going it won’t be through just daily actions, but also continuous self-evaluation and development of my character. Below is a list of New Year’s back to one actions that may inspire you to get “Back to One.” – XoXo Raw Girl
- Create a vision board for 2011 in all important areas of your life: finances, spiritual, career, relationships, health. Place it in a visible place and look at it daily.
- After you’ve created this vision board or wrote down your goals spend time visualizing how achievement of these goals will enhance the quality of your life and those around you.
- Write a letter to yourself that describes in detail what goals you would like to accomplish in all areas of your life and what kind of person you have become at the end of 2011. Seal it and do not open until the end of 2011. (I did this last year and it was amazing!)
- Take on a Fast or Cleanse. Fasting can be as simple as abstaining from certain foods you are trying to cut out of your diet or going full-out and doing fresh juices only, blended food only, or even raw food only periods.
- Clean House. This one feels really good. I hate going into the New year with too much baggage. Taking a day or however long to reduce the clutter in your life not only make room for more good to come, it frees up more mental space!
For more on juice fasting, check out these previous posts:
Tips for a Stress Free Fast
http://rawgirltoxicworld.com/2009/11/18/tips-for-a-stress-free-fast/
The Benefits of Juice Fasting
http://rawgirltoxicworld.com/2009/11/18/my-article-on-…-juice-fasting/
VEGGIE LOVE: Celery Root
If you’ve ever wandered around the grocery store looking for something new to eat but are too nervous to pick up the (sometimes scary looking) vegetable you’ve never heard of: fear no more. My new Raw Girl recruit Kenzie, is going to give you the low-down on the organic produce aisle where hidden gems can be unearthed that are worth incorporating into your diet. Welcome to Veggie Love, a Raw Girl Toxic World segment meant to share all the nutritional insights and yummy recipes of not-so-typical fruits and veggies. -XOXO Raw Girl
This week, we’re going to dive right in to the scarcely used root veggie: celery root. I was first introduced to this veggie during my time in Copenhagen, Denmark—where celery root is not hidden behind the parsnips and beets but piled high in even commercial, non-‘health food’ stores.
Celery root is literally the root of the celery plant (sometimes called Celeriac). And when the rough skin is peeled off, it is a fibrous, water rich vegetable loaded with vitamin C, vitamin B6, phosphorus, potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, and thiamin. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that protects against cell damage, helps heal wounds and fights infections, promotes healthy bones, teeth, gums and blood vessels. Vitamin B6 makes hormones, insulin, antibodies, and cell membranes and helps maintain a steady blood pressure.
The combination of minerals in celery root support muscle contractions, a healthy nervous and immune system, strong bones, and a steady heartbeat. They also aid in cell repair, stabilize metabolic reactions and maintain oxygen levels in blood cells and muscles. Celery root is also high in dietary fiber which lowers blood cholesterol, promotes easy and slow digestion, stabilizes blood sugar, and keeps you full longer.
After all this good information it’s time to eat up!
Preparation:
Celery root stores well—up to 3 weeks unpeeled. To start, Chop the ends of the root and peel the rough skin off with a large knife. Once it’s peeled it will be a crisp white. Use some lemon juice or soak in vinegar water to prevent browning.
EAT IT RAW: Celery root has a strong nutty flavor. Shred, chop, or grate into salads for a new flavor or try this recipe…
Pink Celery Root Slaw
Veggies:
1 celery root: shredded or mandolin cut, 1 large beet: shredded, julienne peeled, or mandolin cut, 3 carrots: shredded, julienne peeled, or mandolin cut, 1 apple: shredded, julienne peeled, or mandolin cut
Dressing:
1 cup cashews: pre-soaked for 6 hours, 2 Tbs agave nectar, 2 Tbs apple cider vinegar, Juice from ½ lime, 4 Tbs filtered water (added slowly)
Make the dressing in blender or VitaMix creating your desired consistency with the water. Pour onto sliced veggies. You may have dressing left over, depending on taste.
ENJOY IT COOKED: While in Denmark, my favorite thing was to sauté the root in large circular pieces either with cinnamon or paprika and rosemary. Delicious. Celery root can also easily be added to soups, stir-fries, and any vegetable medley to add variety.
Veggie Love is meant to assist you in diversifying your diet and educate you on the benefits of your veggie choices. So get out there, experiment, and feel confident about your new veggie know-how. And please, share your knowledge; share the love.
– Kenzie, Signing in for Raw Girl
Anti-Aging SHE-RO #4
I actually don’t know exactly how old Lillian Butler is, but I know for a fact that for her age she looks incredible. The first photo on the left is of her at the age of 46, after adopting a raw diet! Below is a recent image of her and her husband.
When I first embarked on the idea of going raw, I took Lillian’s intro to raw crash course, which was extremely informative and gave me the tools to dive in.
Apparently, Lillian was a vegetarian for 10 years, but was not experiencing optimal health. After some time of incorporating more into her diet she decided to go raw, and sweetly enough, her husband Eddie Robinson (whose skin also glows like a light bulb!) joined her in beginning a new lifestyle. Together they opened a really lovely raw restaurant in the Bronx, Raw Soul, which also offers catering, meal delivery, and chef training. They have a wide range of INCREDIBLE desserts, and the regular courses are yummy as well.
For more info about Raw Soul, visit www.rawsoul.com
Lillian Butler & her husband Eddie Robinson
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
Divinely Delicious Raw Green Goddess Yogurt
Mostly due to the fact that I heart spirulina, I created this quick raw recipe that can be used as an early morning pre or post-gym meal or dessert. For those of you who cringed at the thought of green yogurt, it’s green of course because of the spirulina, and a great way to get a nice dose of nutrition and dessert in one meal. The spirulina tends to boost my energy (even more—scary), so I try not to eat this too late in the evening.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ1zfdZyDCY]
Ingredients: (makes 2 servings)
2 ripe organic bananas, diced pineapple, 3 dates, 6 pitted & dried prunes (preservative free), purified water, 1 tablespoon of spirulina powder
Put all in high speed blender, add a little water and blend until a creamy, thick consistency. (Make sure not to add so much water that it beomes runny, unless you want to drink it as a juice, which is also good. I messed up in the video and had to add more dates) Pour into bowl and sprinkle with diced fruit and or shredded coconut. Enjoy!
The copyright of this recipe is owned by Esosa Edosomwan (AKA Chef Eazy E.) Permission to republish this recipe in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Tropical Green Sunrise Smoothie
Since spirulina is my new supplement fetish, I have experimented with several morning smoothie combinations. This particular combination is divine, especially if you love tropical fruits like I do.
Ingredients:
1 Thai Coconut (will use meat and water, also can just use plain filtered water), 1/4 pineapple, 2 ripe bananas, 1 kiwi, 1/2 mango, 1 Tablespoon Spirulina
Break open your Thai coconut using a butcher knife. (If you have never done this, you may want to get help, but it’s worth the struggle.) Pour coconut water into a glass. Scoop out coconut meat and put in blender. Add in all your ingredients including the Spirulina, and pour coconut water into blender to get the fruits blending. You will probably only use about half of the glass of coconut water to blend, the rest you can drink and enjoy. Blend until smooth and drink up!
The copyright of this recipe is owned by Esosa Edosomwan (AKA Chef Eazy E.) Permission to republish this recipe in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
New Article: “The Wonders of Spirulina”
About two years ago, I was introduced to spirulina, when offered a green shake at a vegan spot in Brooklyn. I thought it was good but I knew nothing about this strange-sounding food, so I never really started regularly incorporating it into my diet until a couple of months ago. For now, I generally add it in powder form to my morning post-workout smoothies, and my delectable raw “Green Yogurt” dessert (a recipe I will share), and find that it gives me an incredible amount of energy that lasts throughout the day.
As I did some research for this article, I was excited to learn more in-depth about the incredible amount of nutrients this algae provides. In this age of biggest losers, obsessive dieting, and fad health frenzies, heavens knows we need to teach people to start incorporating more nutrients in their diets. I was upset last night when I heard trainer and life coach Jillian Michaels (with the fabulous abs) connected with Biggest Loser inadequately respond to a question about overweight people feeling too hungry to cut their portion sizes. People are frenzied over the incredible portion sizes they eat, but what they forget is that when they ate that giant fast food meal or whatever, they just fed the body a lot of empty food devoid of nutrients, and that’s why they are still hungry!
Of course, there is an emotional component as well that cannot be overlooked, but those who are sexy raw foodies or have tried raw food, know that they feel surprisingly full after meals, mostly because they body is actually being fed food with nutrients and just empty calories. Spirulina is one of the wonder foods that can introduce a great deal of necessary nutrients in your diet and boost your immune system.
To read the full article:
http://nutrition.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_wonders_of_spirulina
Gourmet Raw Vegan Pizza! – Part One
My Finished Pizza on Dehydrator
Most of my raw recipes are quick and require very little equipment, but over the holidays I decided to try my hand at a gourmet recipe. I bootlegged this delicious pizza recipe from raw chef Elaina Love, and of course added my own secret ingredients. If you are a food connoisseur or just someone who loves good pizza, the rich raw flavors in this recipe will win you over fast. It was amazing and disappeared from the dinner table quickly, but as a forewarning, making the crust takes time. The actually prep time is quick but then the crusts have to dry in a dehydrator for anywhere from 8-12 hours. So this definitely requires planning a day in advance, but is worth the wait and you can also maximize your time if you make a lot of crusts and save them for later in the freezer. Make sure to have fun and modify ingredients to your taste buds!
Crust Ingredients:
3 cups chopped yellow zuccini, 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, 1 cup soaked almonds (soak 1/2 cup to get 1 cup when soaked), 1 cup flaxseed meal, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, ( I added in a bit of yellow curry*)
Sauce Ingredients:
1 cup sun dried tomatoes (soaked briefly), 3 chopped regular tomatoes, 2 dates, garlic clove, 1 teaspoon sea salt, 1/4 teaspoon oregano, 7 basil leaves, 1/16 onion
Here is the cheesy video I watched that breaks down preparation step by step:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8zg5Jmf3tk&feature=related
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8zg5Jmf3tk]
Best Fresh Juice Spots in NYC
At this point, I pretty much have every raw vegan spot in every borough in the city committed to memory. Here’s a list of locations where I found the best organic fresh juice in NYC:
1. 
LifeThyme Natural Market (410 6th Avenue @ W.9th Street) Why # 1? Only one name necessary: MELVIN. I am a firm believer that the energy with which food is prepared greatly affects how well food is assimilated. Melvin, is an incredible dreadlocked man with great energy who has the art of juicing down to a science. I also appreciate that the brother knows how to handle a coconut, which is rare in Manhattan (elsewhere you might end up with pieces of coconut shell in your smoothie). He is usually found whipping up juice and smoothies for long lines of customers who know him well in the am hours until early afternoon. My favorites there: Sweet Christine, Coconut Smoothie with pineapple and banana, & of course a Juice with all greens.
2. Gobo Restaurant (401 6th Avenue @ W. 8th Street) I stumbled upon the juice at Gobo one day, when Melvin wasn’t around at LifeThyme–it is literally almost across the street. They have very fresh wheat grass juice, and other blends, and every time I have gotten excellent service.
3. Westerly Natural Market (913 8th Avenue @ 54th Street) Although they sometimes take their sweet time making your juice or can’t find a coconut, I still love Westerly. They have a nice range of juices and smoothies, and great vegan snacks to grab on the go!
4. Integral Yoga Natural Foods (229 13th Street between 7th & 8th Ave.) Integral Yoga has been hit or miss in the past. I never really feel great energy there from the people making the juice, but I still stop by if I am in a bind and in the area because they have a range of fresh organic produce and its the cheapest place to get a large celery and apple juice which is the bomb when detoxing!
Anti-Aging SHE-RO #1
Imagine being a grandmother and still looking this fly?
My anti-aging She-ro #1, Karyn Calabrese is a former actress and model, and now grandmother with two grandchildren. And she might be able to drop it like its hot better than I can…
In an interview in 2005 with ABC, (meaning she is now 62!), Karyn said:
“I’m 58 years old. I don’t know what illness is. I have more energy then I know what to do with. I truly believe it is the life style I lead…I had every allergy known to man. I was a mess — terrible skin, so I became vegetarian first, then I became a vegan, then I met Dr. Ann Wigmore after reading her book. It was the next thing for me to move forward to becoming a raw foodist.”
Karyn owns and operates her own restaurant, Karyn’s Fresh Corner in Chicago. For more info visit: http://www.karynraw.com/