Durian Fruit – Benefits of this stinky yet delicious favorite of the Raw Food World

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Durian: smells bad but tastes great?

Durian: smells bad but tastes great?

Ahh, the blessed durian! Seems like people either love it or hate it. Durian is a fruit native to South East Asia and happens to grow all over the island of Koh Samui, Thailand.

It is the big brown spikey fruit that you may seem at certain times of the year piled high on little road stands around the island. Inside the durian is the soft, custard-like flesh of the fruit and it tastes delicious. If, that is, you can get over the smell! Yes, it is the durian fruit that is widely known for being the worst smelling fruit ever. The smell is often compared to rotten eggs, dirty socks, smelly armpits and even toe jam. And it’s true!

In many places around SE Asia, durian fruit is banned in hotel rooms, buses, taxes and public areas because the smell is so strong, it can linger for hours, even days.

But, just like an aged cheese that might initially smell uninviting, when you get to the flavor, it can be astoundingly good! Amazing good! Quite possibly the best raw food experience you could ever possibly have!

The Durian Fruit, a favorite amongst Raw Foodists

The Durian Fruit, a favorite amongst Raw Foodists

Durian is sold fresh, either as an entire fruit or conveniently opened up and packaged for you. They also make durian chips which are deep fried – it’s like a potato chip but slightly thicker and made from durian. Even though the chips are cooked and fried, they are certainly a better alternative to potato chips which are most likely genetically modified and most certainly contain preservatives.

Like cheese, some people like the fresh durian more firm while others prefer it more soft, like a custard. In the supermarkets here in Thailand, they will not let you touch the pre-packaged durian because everyone wants to poke it to see how it feels!

In Thailand, they also make durian ice cream and durian candies. Thai people love the fresh durian! They instinctively know the durian fruit is good to de-stress naturally, gain energy & make you feel happy!

Local, Organic Tropical Fruit - Durian!

Local, Organic Tropical Fruit - Durian!

Durian is considered to be ‘The King of all Fruits.’ The ‘Queen’ is said to be the mangosteen, which, interestingly enough, comes into season at the same time as durian. Many people say that to balance out the energy of durian, one should also eat mangosteen sometime in the course of the same day as eating durian.

There are many health benefits to the durian fruit. It is excellent for overall cleansing because it is a natural sulfur food. It is an excellent source of good fat which is important to the raw food diet. It is organic and locally grown, so especially is you visit Asia, you should be eating this fruit and not buying imported irradiated grapes from Brazil!!

Perhaps the best health benefit of the durian fruit is that it gives you a natural high. It is an excellent raw food for relieving stress naturally due to the high amounts of tryptophan in it. Tryptophan is a naturally occurring element in the durian known to relieve anxiety, depression, insomnia, pain and pre-menstrual conditions (PMT).

Freshly Cut Mon Thong next to Durian Ban

Freshly Cut Mon Thong next to Durian Ban

Just as there are different varieties of apples, there are several different types of durian. The ‘Durian Ban’ is the small round shaped durian and is more used for the seeds which are traditionally cooked and eaten in Thailand. The ‘Mon Thong’ is one of the most popular varieties. In Thai it means ‘Golden Pillow’ and it really does look like a golden pillow! This durian is know to be sweet and very tasty. Then there is the ‘Channee’ which is a bigger durian.

I encourage you to try them all and see which durian you like best! If you can’t make it to South East Asia for your durian, try your local Asian market. Many times they sell whole frozen durians. Ask around! Whatever you do, don’t miss out on trying this very special fruit!

More Raw Food Desserts:

Raw Food, Detox & Healthy Living in Hong Kong, China

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Yes, it’s true! You can be healthy while living or visiting Hong Kong, China. I was just recently there myself offering Green Smoothie Classes and Iridology Readings, so my information below is based on personal experience. Overall, I was rather impressed with what I found.

Life Organic Cafe, Hong Kong

Life Organic Cafe, Hong Kong

Life Organic Health Cafe is definitely a convenient option is you are in Central Hong Kong – Soho area. They have some raw food salads on the menu and some nice raw flax crackers and raw granola. The takeaway bar downstairs is a cheaper alternative to the restaurant menu.

Overall, I’d rate the food as ‘ok’ – nothing amazing, and I did have to question their sauces and wonder about food additives….but if you are looking for something on the healthier side of Hong Kong, it’s a good place to start. There is definitely room for improvement and I hope to see more vegan, organic, additive-free raw food options on the menu in the future.

Life Cafe 10 Shelley Street, Soho, Central Hong Kong www.lifecafe.com.hk

Mix is a great chain of smoothie, vegetarian salads and fresh juice bars in Hong Kong. They have several locations in the Central area, including the Landmark, Connaught Place and Hollywood Road. The best thing they have on the menu is fresh wheatgrass – what a welcomed boost of mineral and chlorophyll love in the middle of city life! Definitely worth the investment in your health to have a daily wheatgrass shot! Just go to Mix early, as they often seemed to run out…They also offer a wide selection of fresh smoothies…but be wary of the apple juice that they add to the smoothie as it surely has added sugars. A healthier alternative would be to order your smoothie with fresh fruit and water and ask for your wheatgrass shot to be blended in as well! Now that’s some healthy bliss!

Mix Smoothie & Juice Shops, Various Locations in Central Hong Kong, also at the International Airport and Tsim Sha Tsui

Anita Cheung & Jennifer Thompson Smoothie Jamming with Greens and Superfoods in Hong Kong!

Anita Cheung & Jennifer Thompson Smoothie Jamming with Greens and Superfoods in Hong Kong!

If you are looking for a SuperFood boost to your diet, Hong Kong can offer it to you. The SuperFood Queen of Hong Kong is Anita Cheung and if she doesn’t have it, she can most likely order it for you. Anita has the highest quality vegan, organic raw cacao, coconut oil, goji berries, spirulina, powdered greens, probiotics, hemp seed, flax seed, maca root and more.

She also specializes in creating a detox program that will help you stay healthy while living in a stressful environment like Hong Kong! So stop in for a visit today!

Anita Cheung at I-Detox, Soho, Central Hong Kong www.i-detox.com

For health supplements and an interesting supply of various healthy products, you should make a visit to Green Concepts Health Shop. They have 2 locations – one in Causeway Bay and another smaller shop on Wellington Street in Central Hong Kong. I was very impressed to see the Arise and Shine products for sale there at a very reasonable price. In addition, they have a great selection of homeopathic remedies, an excellent supply of natural henna hair dyes, some great water purifiers, an interesting library of books for sale. I will definitely be visiting this shop on future Hong Kong visits!

Green Concepts Co., Ltd. 54 Jardines Bazaar, Causeway Bay & 74 Wellington Street, Hong Kong
www.healthshop.com.hk

Jennifer teaching Green Smoothies in Hong Kong

Jennifer teaching Green Smoothies in Hong Kong

Whoever said you can’t get organic food in China? I thought I died and went to organic heaven when I found Three Sixty, Hong Kong’s largest organic and whole foods store. It’s not cheap, but nothing in Hong Kong is! Every dollar spent was well worth it in my opinion, and for sure I would recommend this place if you are looking for food with no animal by-products, artificial growth hormones or antibiotics and no artificial preservatives, colour and flavours.

They have fresh produce, raw food, vegetarian & vegan takeaway, organic milk and cheeses, herbal teas and even organic coffee. Three Sixty, when are you coming to Bangkok??

After all that healthy shopping and delicious eating, you will sure need some time to relax! Energy Healing can keep you balanced and refreshed, and Hong Kong has the best practitioners on hand to help you. I highly recommend Shakti Healing Circle – it’s a wonderful retreat in the heart on Soho in Central Hong Kong. They offer Reiki Healing, Yoga, QiGong and dance workshops. Check their website often, as they often host international practitioners from around the globe.

Shakti Healing Circle, Soho, Central Hong Kong www.shaktihealingcircle.com

Teaching the Science of Iridology in Hong Kong China

Teaching the Science of Iridology in Hong Kong China

And, finally….always check in to see if I am in Hong Kong, China so you can be sure to join my Green Smoothie Class, Healthy Habits Lecture or Introduction to Iridology Talk. I also teach a class on the Truth in Food Labeling which I would definitely offer on a future visit.

Check my schedule to see where I am or contact me to book an online Iridology session – with the power of the internet, we can meet anywhere in the world!

Jennifer's Green Smoothie Class at i-detox.com, Hong Kong China

Jennifer\’s Green Smoothie Class at i-detox.com, Hong Kong China

More on Traveling Raw:

Alkalize Your pH – How Alkaline Acid Balance affects your Health

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The pH level is a measure of your acid/alkaline balance in the body. It is based on a scale of 1 to 14, with 7 being neutral. Ideally in a healthy body, the pH of the blood should be about 7.385.

All information in this article is for educational purposes only.
It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health condition.

Dr. F. Batmanghelidj, author of Water for Health, for Healing, for Life, explains the pH scale further. He says, “Why 7.4, and what is pH? From 1 to 7 on the pH scale is the acid range, 1 being more acid than 7. From 7 to 14 on the scale is the alkaline range; 7 is less alkaline than 14. On the pH scale, 7 is neutral, meaning optimum. Thus, pH of 7.4 of the interior of the cell denotes its natural, slightly alkaline state. This state promotes health because it is the state that best suits the enzymes that function inside the cell: They achieve optimum efficiency at this pH. Adequate flow of water in and out of the cell keeps the cell interior in its health-maintaining alkaline state.”

Factors that affect pH include stress, diet and lifestyle.

If the body is too acidic, you can start to experience feelings of imbalance including gas, constipation, bloating, acne, heartburn, acid reflux, indigestion, mild headaches, gastritis, candida and frequent flus. Advanced symptoms of over-acidity include Crohn’s disease and even cancer (all forms).

If your diet is largely composed of meats, fish, cheeses, breads, white flour foods, greasy take-aways, chocolate, coffee, wine, beer and cigarettes (all acid-forming), you may be suffering from an over-acidic body.

The body needs an alkaline pH to maintain clean blood, good enzyme reserve and healthy immune function.

Did you know that antacid pills are the highest selling product in pharmacies around the world? Imagine how many people could reclaim their health, simply by choosing a better combinations of food!

With Iridology, I can easily assess if my client is suffering from acidosis. It is one of the first things that needs to be changed for the body to get well.

Remember the 80/20 rule!

The general recommendation to maintain a healthy pH is: Eat 80% alkaline-forming foods and 20% acid-forming foods.

When we talk about ‘acid-forming’ and ‘alkaline-forming,’ we are looking at how much acid the stomach has to produce in order to digest the food. An orange, even though it is acidic outside the body, when we eat it, the stomach has to produce almost no acid. Therefore, oranges are ‘alkaline-forming’. Apple cider vinegar is clearly acidic when sitting on your counter. But, inside your stomach, it becomes ‘akaline-forming,’ because the stomach has to produce almost no acid to digest it. Conversely, something like bread requires a lot of acid to digest, so it is considered to be ‘acid-forming’.

How to get a more Alkaline pH:

  1. Eat more fruits and vegetables!Greens are the Great Alkalizer. Another reason to have your Green Smoothie every day!
  2. If you eat meat, bread or cheese, try to add more vegetables. Get creative with your side salads!
  3. Add fresh lemon, lime or raw apple cider vinegar to soups, salads and juices. Mother Nature’s alkalizers!
  4. Take probiotics! A healthy gut is alkaline.
  5. Rest and sleep! Engage in positive conversations. Laugh. Practice unconditional love. All alkaline-forming activites.
  6. Create peaceful mealtimes. Be conscious while you are eating your food.
  7. Give thanks for the gift of food, an offering to your temple of a healthy body, mind and spirit!

Read more information on the liver and liver cleansing here:

Gallstone Liver Flush – Recipe & Cleanse Info

How to Do a Coffee Enema at Home

How to Do a Castor Oil Pack for Liver Cleansing

How to Do Onion Socks for Healing



How to Eat Clean: Start with Green Smoothies!

Green Smoothie for DummiesCheck out my book Green Smoothies for Dummies – I’ve got loads of recipes using dark leafy greens and many delicious combos without any chemical additives, flavorings or refined sugar. It’s so easy!

Clean your body from the inside out and watch your skin improve, your hair and nails get stronger, your eyes look brighter and your waistline slim down….all naturally and effortlessly! It’s simply amazing and your only regret will be that you didn’t start drinking green smoothies sooner.

When you take care of your whole body, you get whole body health.

When you let your food be your medicine, you are always moving towards better health.

Find the book Green Smoothies for Dummies on iTunes or amazon.com!

For more on how to achieve your health goals and actually start feeling great, book a private health consult with me via Skype.

How to Book Your Health & Nutritional Coaching Session:

1. Take photos of your eyes with a smart phone or digital camera.
2. Email the photos to me for approval for Iridology Analysis.
3. We schedule a time to meet via phone or Skype!

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