Raw Food Recipe: Spicy Pumpkin Seed Cheese

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Finally, I am sharing this recipe after so many requests! I made this yesterday and everyone loved it! Luckily I remembered to photograph it before it was all gone!

Add Spicy Pumpkin Seed Cheese to a Yummy Raw Organic Salad

Pumpkin seeds are naturally high in zinc and are therefore excellent for the glandular system. They are also a good anti-parasitic and anti-fungal food, combine that with the garlic and you have a powerful immune booster!

Pumpkin Seed Cheese Ingredients:

  • 2 – 3 large garlic cloves
  • 1.5 – 2 cups raw pumpkin seeds
  • Juice of 4-5 limes (freshly squeezed is best)
  • 1 tsp. cayenne pepper (add more to increase ‘spicy taste’)
  • 1 tsp. cumin powder (to taste)
  • dash sea salt or Himalayan salt (to taste)

Spicy Pumpkin Seed Cheese Directions:

A delicious 100% vegan raw food cheese

Grind the dry pumpkin seeds in a mini food processor. Empty and put aside. Then, chop/grind the fresh garlic in the same mini food processor.

Add the ground pumpkin seeds again, squeeze in the fresh lime and add the spices to taste.

Chop/grind again.

The consistency should be moist; if still dry, add more lime juice. This dip tastes best if left to sit overnight, but can also be eaten immediately.

You can also add 1 Tbsp. of nutritional yeast for some extra B vitamins and ‘cheesey’ taste.

How to Eat

Serve with fresh veggies or add to a salad

Serve this dip with freshly sliced cucumber and carrot sticks for a delicious 100% raw food vegan snack. To use as a salad dressing, try this combo: Peel 3 medium zucchini and then grate with a normal size grater into a bowl. Add 1 bag or bunch of fresh spinach (rinsed and clean). Mix the zucchini and spinach in the bowl. Add 3/4 – 1 cup of the pumpkin seed cheese, mix all ingredients and serve. A simple salad that tastes amazing and is so good for you!

Please note: I call this a ‘seed cheese’ because the fresh lime gives it a slightly cheesey flavor, but there is no cheese or dairy in this recipe, it is pure cholesterol-free vegan protein and raw food bliss!

Raw Pepitas or Raw Pumpkin Seeds

Be sure to use raw pumpkin seeds and not dry roasted pumpkin seeds so you get all the enzymes of the raw food version (and it will taste better too!).

You can buy raw pumpkin seeds in the bulk section of WholeFoods or at your local health food store. The good thing about buying them in bulk is you will often be able to get organic pumpkin seeds.

Occasionally, you may see pumpkin seeds labeled as ‘pepitas’ (Spanish for pumpkin seed). For example, at Trader Joe’s, you will find the raw pumpkin seeds packaged as ‘Raw Pepitas.’ However, the ones at Trader Joe’s are not organic. Remember, always do the best you can with what you have.

More Raw Food Dressings & Dips:

Finding Peace after Honey Boo Boo

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Spending the last 2 months in the USA has made me realize how much people need to create peace within the borders of their own country. Being out of the US for 11 years has been a wonderful blessing because I’ve had the fortune to live a simple, clean, healthy life. After just a few weeks here, I felt over-stimulated with drug advertisements, fear mongering news and materialistic reality shows. When ‘Honey Boo Boo’ is the No. 1 show watched in the US and over 5 million iphones are sold in 3 days, we are clearly in need of serious spiritual re-alignment.

According to Dr. Gabriel Cousens, peace within the body is the first level of awareness. From the Essene of the Gospel of the Peace, Book 4:

“First Shall the Son of Man seek Peace with his own body,
for his body is a mountain pond that
reflects the sun when it is still and clear;
but when it is full of mud and stones, it reflects nothing.”

Broadcast Mental Waves of Bliss

With the end of 2012 nearing, it is now more important than ever to develop and maintain a spiritual practice, focusing on love, health and peace. Early morning is a good time to take advantage of the stillness of your mind. Say to yourself, “I am healthy. I am happy. I am grateful. I live in a peaceful world full of healthy and happy people. I send joy and spiritual waves of health and peace to every living being on this planet.” Keep your thoughts positive and imagine the world that you want to live in, a world without gossip, bullying, violence or hate.

As much as you possibly can, avoid mindless television. Set a limit for how much tv you will watch every week, and stay committed to it. Try to post only positive, uplifting information on Facebook and Twitter. Go to your local library and get health and spiritual books. Dedicate 30 minutes every day to developing your mental state into that still and clear mountain pond. Use the time to read, listen to a spirtual CD, watch a health DVD, join a Reiki group, or simply spend time watching a sunset or being with your loved ones. Don’t let this time slip away. Every day is a gift and your health is the greatest gift of all.

I’ve been saying this for awhile now: Our role as pioneers of health, raw food and detox is to become a beacon of love, to help the world transition into a new age. Imagine millions of beacons of love around the globe, staying grounded and focused during these turbulent times, using the most powerful force know in this universe- love, to guide the way. The ancient Essenes taught us to seek Peace within ourselves first. Now, more than ever, is the time to do so.

<strong>More on Motivation:</strong>

Organic Raw Food, Vegan & Detox in Tokyo, Japan

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Tokyo is an amazingly clean city and fairly easy to navigate despite the lack of signs in English. We found the Japanese people to be extremely kind in helping with directions, walking us to the correct subway or bus station and even helping to carry our bags. Summer is a great time to visit Japan, especially for enjoying the outdoors, nature, mountains and hot springs. Mt. Fuji is only 1.5 hours from Tokyo and well worth the visit!

Although admittedly everything is very expensive in Japan, it is still possible and relatively easy to eat raw foods in Tokyo. I arrived with bags of raw seeds, goji berries and raisins just to be safe because I did not know what to expect…yet I was pleasantly surprised with the availability of fruits and vegetables and ease of staying raw during my 1-week stay.

I loved these cabbage bags, at every 7-11 and supermarket!

Our first stop in Tokyo was at the b-sangenaya Hotel at the Sangenya Subway Station. This hotel turned out to be very convenient because directly across the street is a supermarket!

I was very happy to buy fresh peaches and cherries for my first raw food meal in Japan! The peaches were very expensive at 400 JY each ($5 USD) but they were well worth it! I was also happy to find bags of pre-cut cabbage and salad (with carrot and onion) for 100 JY each. I bought 3 small bags to make a nice breakfast salad for only 300 JY (about $4 USD).

Raw Food Talk at the Pink Cow in Tokyo

Our second day in Japan took us to the Pink Cow Restaurant where I hosted a Raw Food brunch and workshop on Detox and Raw foods. The turnout was amazing! We had 50 people and more than half of them were Japanese!

I was so happy to see such an interest in raw foods and healthy living in Japan. The Raw Food brunch consisted of a massive buffet thanks to the efforts of Traci from the Pink Cow.

After the talk, we were taken for a walking tour of the area by one of the participants, Katrine of www.rawfoodhomerecipes.com. What luck we had to turn the corner, literally 500m from the Pink Cow, to stumble upon a Farmer’s Market selling organic fruits and vegetables!! I was so happy!! The Farmer’s Market is every Saturday and Sunday from 10am – 6pm and has a fantastic selection of local vegetables such as sweet corn, tomatoes, purple bell peppers, organic cabbage, elephant garlic, fresh kale and lots of variety of greens for Green Smoothies! They also had huge peaches for 100 JY each, a much better price than 400 JY at the supermarket!

Best displays and lots of free tasting ok!

The vendors all generously offered free samples of everything, and just from the walk through the market, we were full!! There was also a nice selection of raw nuts, seeds, goji berries, dried mulberries, cranberries, sun dried raisins and sun dried tomatoes. I bought a local salt which contains natural sulfur…it’s meant to be very good for healing. The salt can be eaten, added to a bath or used as a face scrub. I highly recommend this market for a chance to meet local farmers of Japan friendly and to learn more about the availability of fresh fruit and vegetables – they are very open to talking about their farming practices and their crops.

Just at the end of the market, we found an Organic Restaurant and Shop called Daylesford Organic. Wow, things just kept getting better and better! I would recommend this restaurant as a nice treat in Tokyo…because it’s expensive, it may not appeal to everyone’s budget. But it’s good to know that there are organic restaurants in Japan! They had a lot of nice organic products as well, including organic pear juice and organic tomato and spinach sauce.

Natural House Aoyama in Tokyo, Japan

Continuing just a few hundred meters down the street, we found the Organic Store called Natural House, a very nice store with a large selection of organic product, products, pre-prepared meals and even a salad and juice bar. Tokyo is a place for healthy, vegan raw food! I was very pleasantly surprised after hearing so many bad things before I arrived. I honestly say it much much easier to eat raw food in Japan than I ever imagined! And the peaches in the summer are amazing!

Delicious Japanese peaches

Here are a few other good travel tips for Japan:

You can get a mobile phone for free at the Narita airport when you arrive to Tokyo. Just look for the signs near the Rental Car and Bus counters. There is one place called Mobal at mobalnarita.com when you can get a Japanese cell phone for free, really! All incoming calls and text messages are free; you will only pay if you send an SMS or make an outgoing call. I used this phone a lot and paid nothing! Simply leave a credit card number as a deposit, and as long as you return the phone and charger at the end of your stay, you will pay nothing! Don’t lose the phone though…the fee is about $1,000 if you lose it! As I said, I had no problem and I highly recommend this service for anyone who needs a phone for a short stay in Tokyo.

Definitely get out of the city to Mt. Fuji and Hakone for the hot springs. The buses are easy to take from Tokyo to Fuji, and from Fuji to Hakone. The nature and scenery outside of Tokyo are really fantastic. Mt. Fuji can only be climbed in the summer from late June – August so try to plan your trip to be there during that time. There is more fresh fruit in season during summertime too, an added bonus for a raw foodist in Japan!

Sunrise from Mt. Fuji

Finally, try not to worry too much about radiation during your stay in Japan. I had a few people make comments to me saying ‘bring a geiger counter’ and such, which I felt was unsympathetic and a bit cruel considering how many Japanese people suffered from the earthquakes there. Since I don’t eat fish anyway, I wasn’t too worried about the food. The Japanese people explained to me that the growing of vegetables moved to other islands in the south after the earthquake, and truth be told, we have no idea how much radiation damage exists all over the entire planet so why live in a state of fear? I advise to take chlorella tablets as a precaution but not to worry too much because what can we really do? I enjoyed every minute of my stay in Japan – the Japanese people are absolutely the kindest and most helpful people and I think everyone should go to Japan and experience the Japanese culture at least once in their lives. I hope to visit again, without the geiger counter and full of love!

At Natural House Aoyama Organic Store

<strong>More on Traveling Raw:</strong>

How to Do a Coffee Enema at Home

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And a Normal Water Enema too!

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.

I’ve had a lot of requests from people asking how to do an enema at home and especially how to do a coffee enema. Even if you never do an enema at home, it’s always good to know how it’s done! Personally I always travel with an enema bag just in case…it’s a great thing to have for any unexpected constipation or even food poisoning while on the road. You can set it up in minutes as long as you have a towel rack to hang the bag from and a toilet of course!

An enema is done while laying on the floor, as opposed to a colema which is done on a colema board. Both use gravity-fed water, but with the colema board, when you feel the urge to release, you can simply ‘let go.’ With an enema, you have to first clamp the line shut, remove the tip, stand up to sit on the toilet, and then release. So there are a few extra steps involved. It seems complicated but it’s actually very easy! The key is to use the clamp and always be ready to stop the flow of water when you feel full.

How to Do a Plain Water Enema

Before doing a coffee enema, you should always do a plain water enema and wash everything out until the water runs clear. Then you are ready for the coffee. If doing a cleanse at home, you should also do at least one water enema per day during the fasting or juicing phase of your cleanse.

1. Prepare the Water.

Buy distilled water in advance and have it ready for your enema. You can heat up some of the water to body temperature. If the water seems too hot to touch, then it is too hot for the enema! In that case, add room temperature water to bring down the temperature of the water.

2. Set up Enema Bag.

There are a few different types of enema bags out there. My favorite is the type that looks like a hot water bottle – it has a wide top to add the water easily and clean afterwards. This type of enema bag comes with 2 different tips – one is smaller and is for rectal insertion. The other is larger with several holes and it is for vaginal insertion. For an enema, you only need the smaller tip. You can screw the tip onto the end of the water line. Then, be sure the clamp is shutting the line so no water can pass through the hose. Next, hang you enema bag on a towel rack. You want to be sure that the tip can still be inserted comfortably. If the bag is hanging too high, you won’t have any extra hose line to be able to insert the tip. The towel rack is usually more stable than trying to hang on a door knob. When you have the bag clipped and hanging, you are ready to add the water. Fill up the bag with distilled water warmed to body temperature. (If the water is cold, the colon will contract and things will not flow out so easily. If the water is too warm, the colon can relax too much and may become a bit ‘floppy’ after the enema. Body temperature keeps things just right.)

3. Prepare towels for Comfort.

Enema at Home Set-Up

Lay one towel flat on the floor and use another for a pillow so you are comfortable during the enema.

4. Place plastic colander in toilet (optional).

This is an option for the hard-core cleansers who like to check out their mucoid plaque or look for worms during their enema. You can have a pair of plastic gloves on hand as well as a pair of chopsticks to thoroughly investigate all. It’s best to buy the colander and chopsticks at a Dollar Store, and clean with hot water and vinegar every day during your cleanse.

5. Use olive oil or coconut oil for lubricant.

Have this ready in the bathroom so when you lie down, you have everything you need.

6. Play some music, turn the phone off and take a final pee.

Before you lie down to start your enema, empty your bladder by having a pee. Having any extra pressure in the bladder can make it harder to retain the water.

7. Fill the hose with water to remove air pocket.

Before you begin, it’s a good idea to clear the enema line from air. If you forget this step, the worst thing that will happen is you will get a big air pocket in your colon and have a nice release of gas with your exit water. When the bag is full of water, take the tip and aim it over the toilet. Release the clamp, allowing the water to flow. As soon as you see the water come out, clamp the line again. Now the line is full of water instead or air and you are ready to begin!

8. Relax!

Yes, your colon is now ready to be a 2-way street.. so don’t think about it being 1-way only! The water helps rinse out old, undigested, fermented, rotting fecal matter. Once that gunk it out of your system, your whole body works better. This is a great thing, so rejoice and be grateful for all the good you are about to do for your body! Take a deep breath and relax…it’s going to be ok!

9. Ready for Insertion!

Enema Clamp

Lie down on the floor, either on your right side or your back, whatever feels more comfortable (I prefer lying on my right side). Gently add some lubricant to the plastic tip and also to the rectal area. Take a breath, and on the exhale, insert the tip just enough (about 1 inch) so it rests comfortably inside the rectum. When you feel comfortable, release the clamp on the water line and let the water start to enter. Keep one hand on the clip so you can stop the flow at any time. As soon as you feel any pressure, stop the flow by clamping the line. Take a few deeps breaths and as you feel the water move deeper inside, release the line again to let more water flow inside. Repeat this as many times as you can. As soon as you feel the urge to release, clamp the line and remove the tip. Then stand up and sit on the toilet, releasing the water into the toilet.

10. Repeat until the Water Runs Clear.

Initially you may find it very difficult to retain any water. This is completely normal. As you become more comfortable with the process and as you go further into your cleanse, you will naturally find that you are able to retain more water before releasing. It is very normal to have to repeat this process a few times before you even go through one full enema bag (between 1 and 2 liters). It is recommended to repeat the process until the water runs clear. This may take 2 or 3 times of filling the enema bag, for a total of 2 to 6 liters of water.

How to Do a Coffee Enema

Before doing a coffee enema, you should always do a plain water enema and wash everything out until the water runs clear. Then you are ready for the coffee. It is absolute imperative that you use 100% certified organic coffee. Do not use anything less! Commercial grade coffee can damage the liver.

A coffee enema is an excellent way to clean the liver, but should only be done when the colon is clear. During a normal cleanse or at the end of a cleanse is a good time to do a coffee enema. Just doing one in the middle of eating a Standard American Diet (SAD) will not have a positive effect on the body. Please do not use this as a “magic pill” to try to clean your liver quickly. You can actually draw toxins into the liver if the colon is toxic, and then you will be doing more harm than good!

1. Prepare the Coffee.

Add 3 Tablespoons of ground organic coffee to 1 quart of distilled water. Let it boil for 3 minutes, then simmer for 20 minutes. Strain and cool until the water is at body temperature.

2. Retain for 12-15 minutes.

Use the same set-up as above, insert the 1 quart (strained) coffee and retain for 12-15 minutes. Lay on the right side during this time. Breathe deeply. Dr. Max Gerson found that all of the caffeine is absorbed from the fluid within 12 minutes.

3. Release.

That’s it! The coffee enema is an easy way to get the liver to dump bile and toxins quickly. It should be done only about 2 times per week during a cleanse, and definitely not any more than that if feeling unwell after the enema. Replenish your electrolytes after a coffee enema by drinking a fresh juice. Carrot, beet and celery juice is especially good after a coffee enema.

Read more information on the liver and liver cleansing here:

Liver Flush Detox Drink – Recipe for a Daily Liver Cleanse

Gallstone Liver Flush – Recipe & Cleanse Info

How to Do a Castor Oil Pack for Liver Cleansing

How to Do Onion Socks for Healing


More on Healing Crisis:

More on pH health:

More on Health Food:

10 Ways to Make Your Raw Food Kitchen Healthier

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Create a Healthy Living Space for a Healthy You!

Making a plan for healthy habits has to include a healthy space to make your creations. Your kitchen should be a comfortable clean inviting place. When the energy is good, you feel happier. The food picks up that vibration and actually becomes healthier for you. It’s true!

Take some time this week to get your kitchen ready for all those yummy Green Smoothies and real Healthy Bliss!

1. Clean out your pantry of expired foods.

Old foods have a dead energy. Get rid of them! Check the dates on everything periodically. If there is no date, get rid of it if you have not used it in more than 1 year.

2. Check foods for mold.

Look in any jars or powders in your fridge. If you see mold, get rid of it! Mold can spread through spores in the air; if one food is infected, others will be soon too!

 

3. Switch to glass containers.

Although glass storage is more expensive than plastic, it’s an investment in your health. Especially when storing salads with vinegar, the plastic can be leached into the food. Store dry goods in glass jars. For glass containers, look for store coupons, buy on sale, or check discount stores.

4. Get sharp knives.

Having a good set of sharp knives makes preparing food so much more enjoyable and easier! Is it time to replace a knife, can it be sharpened? Get your kitchen ready for chopping bliss!

5. Store cutting boards dry.

When you rinse your cutting boards, be sure they are totally dry before putting away. Stacking wet cutting boards makes a breeding ground for bacteria and mold.

 

6. Create healthy counter space!

Keep your kitchen in order by only keeping healthy essentials on the counter, like a blender or juicer. When those items are looking at you every day, you are much more likely to use them!

7. Clean out the fridge and defrost the freezer.

It’s easy to wipe the refrigerator shelves with white vinegar and baking soda. Old remnants of food on shelves is not only unsanitary and but has a stale energy. Your food should be treated and stored like valuable jewelry, in a beautiful clean container!

8. Play music, make the kitchen fun!

The happier you are when preparing food, the more likely you are to do it again and again. Take time to be grateful, feel happy, appreciate your health, and give thanks to your food while you prepare your creation. Sing out loud, the more fun the better!

9. Decorate with fresh food.

There’s nothing more inviting to a healthy kitchen than a bowl of fresh colorful fruit, a line of tomatoes on the window or a few fresh herbs growing in small containers. As you rotate foods with the season, your kitchen changes too!

10. Get inspired with new recipes & cookbooks!

Clean out any old cookbooks from your unhealthy past and make way for new recipes and inspiration for the New You! Experimenting with raw food salads, smoothies and recipes keeps life interesting. When your food tastes good and is good for you, healthy bliss comes naturally!

If you're ready for juicing, this is the juicer for you!

If you’re ready for juicing, this is the juicer for you!

More on Healthy Living:

Benefits of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

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Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (or ACV for short) is one of those amazing healing foods that has lived up to its health benefits for almost 2,000 years. I always say, look at the ‘tried and true’ if you are looking to add better staple foods to your diet. I’d say a 2,000 year success rate is pretty good, don’t you think?!

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.

Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is a Raw Food!

First of all raw ACV should be raw and that means unpasteurized. It should say on the label ‘raw’ or ‘from the Mother.’ Household brand names of ACV like Heinz are not raw. It’s the fermented or raw ACV that is so good for you so be sure to buy the right one. My favorite brand is the Bragg’s Raw Apple Cider Vinegar. Raw ACV is the only vinegar that is alkaline-forming to the body. All other vinegars (white, balsamic, red wine, etc) are acid-forming. For a health balanced pH, raw apple cider vinegar is one of the best things to add to your diet. To understand more about acid and alkaline pH, read this article: ‘Alkalize Your pH – How Alkaline Acid Balance affects your Health’.

According to Paul Bragg, Apple Cider Vinegar is a ‘perfect food’:

Natural (undistilled) organic, raw ACV can really be called one of Mother Nature’s most perfect foods, the worlds first natural medicine. It is made from fresh, crushed apples which are then allowed to mature naturally in wooden barrels, as wood tends to “boost” the natural fermentation. Research worldwide supports and commends what Hippocrates (the father of medicine) found and treated his patients with in 400 B.C. He discovered that natural, undistilled Apple Cider Vinegar (or ACV)* is a powerful cleansing and healing elixir – a naturally occurring antibiotic and antiseptic that fights germs, bacteria, mold and viruses – for a healthier, stronger, longer life!

Label reads ‘With Mother of Vinegar’

One of the benefits of having raw ACV every day is it is a naturally high source of potassium and enzymes. Many people link potassium deficiency to dark circles under the eyes, early senility, chronic fatigue, high blood pressure, arterial and heart problems, arthritis, kidney stones, irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease. Signs of potassium deficiency include fatigue, achy bones and muscles, tired eyes, itchy eyes, dry scalp and brittle hair and lack of mental alertness.

Paul Bragg says, “But the truth is . . . you must have potassium to build and maintain youthful, healthy tissues! If you don’t get required amount of potassium daily, you soon acquire an old-age look and feel.This premature ageing is usually due to potassium deficiency and unhealthy living!”

Can you see how a healthy diet is really the key to feeling better?

With the standard diet of devitalized foods that clog the small intestine and ferment, leaving backup and buildup, most people have a much lower absorption rate than normal. The reason why raw apple cider vinegar is a good source of potassium is because, in liquid form, it is almost instantly and fully absorbed.

Available Online, Click Here

You can even gargle with raw ACV (1tsp. to 1/2 glass of water) to help clear a sore throat, naturally! It is also good for insect stings, bites, ear infections, acne, viruses, yeast (candida) and fungus problems. You can apply a watered-down solution directly to the infected area and also drink 2 Tbsp. of raw ACV in a glass of water both morning and night.

To improve digestion, gas, heartburn, burping and stomach bloating sip 3 tsp. of ACV before your meal. Hold in mouth for a minute before swallowing. This helps digestion to start in the mouth.

On a daily basis, try to have at least 2 Tbsp. of raw Apple Cider Vinegar to keep your body healthy and strong. You can mix 2 Tbsp. with water and drink upon rising, add the ACV to a juice or smoothie, or make a delicious salad dressing.

For a salad dressings try this recipe:

Mix 2 garlic cloves (chopped), 2 Tbsp. ACV, 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, 1 Tbsp. raw organic honey, 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice, 1/3 cup water, 1 tsp. dried basil leaves, dash cayenne pepper, dash cumin powder and Himalayan salt to taste.

For more information on the healing power of ACV, I highly recommend the book Apple Cider Vinegar Miracle Health System by Paul and Patricia Bragg.

A good brand of ACV to try for yourself is the Bragg’s Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar.

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

More on Skin Cleansing:

Aloe Vera: Nature’s Alternative to Botox!

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There are countless new products and procedures out there promoting healthy, age-defying, clear and beautiful skin. You can spend anywhere from $10 to $1,000 or even more for that ‘youthful’ glow. Even women in their 20’s are spending money on Botox, fillers and dermal abrasion procedures to avoid getting wrinkles later in life. It all seems a bit crazy to me, especially when Mother Nature provides an inexpensive, nutrient-filled natural alternative – right in front of our very eyes – Aloe Vera!

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.

Look for Fresh Aloe Leaf in your local supermarket or organic veggie store

It’s true. Aloe Vera really is Mother Nature’s alternative to Botox. Did you know that ingesting the natural, clear interior gel of the Aloe Vera Leaf can increase the body’s natural collagen production? Rubbing pure Aloe Vera gel on the skin at night provides a natural tightening agent for the skin to keep it fresh and give a ‘natural face lift’ look. Use what nature has provided, and over time you will see and feel the difference for yourself!

Aloe Vera – Cleans from the Inside Out

Aloe contains many minerals, amino acids and vitamins and is a natural anti-inflammatory food. It’s known to help with absorption, digestion and elimination for anyone suffering from bowel conditions, especially inflammation of the colon. It can help with constipation and provide a mini daily detox effect when taken on a regular basis. You can easily add the fresh inner gel to a morning smoothie or stir into a juice for a real superfood boost.

Aloe is best eaten and applied when fresh. Try to buy a large Aloe Vera Leaf from your local health food store or gourmet supermarket and store it in the fridge. Every day, cut out a piece of fresh gel about 1 inch x 1 inch. Do not ingest the green skin – you can throw that part away or add it to your compost bin. Take the fresh gel and add it to a fruit smoothie for a delicious and healthy breakfast blend.

Try apple, banana, fresh Aloe Vera, 1 cup water, 2 Tbsp. ground flax seed blended into a fantastic healing drink. Sweet fruits combine well with the Aloe Vera to hide it’s naturally bitter taste.

If you can’t find the fresh Aloe Leaf, look for 100% organic Aloe Vera Juice sold at your local health food store and add 1-2 capfuls to your smoothie. Do not use any normal store-bought aloe vera gel in a tube as there may be added chemicals or other ingredients that are not edible. Fresh is always best. A fresh Aloe Vera Leaf should remain fresh when stored in the fridge for about 2-3 weeks.

Fresh aloe in a smoothie is great for digestion too!

You can also apply the fresh cut inner gel of Aloe Vera directly to your skin for a 100% natural skin cleanser, toner and beautifying treatment. Place on the skin at night before bed or apply for 10 minutes in the morning prior to showering. Combine the Aloe Vera skin treatment with an Aloe Vera smoothie or juice every day and you’ll be investing in good health and great skin from the inside out, naturally!

Where to Buy

If you can’t get fresh aloe vera, then go for the 100% certified organic aloe vera juice, available for sale online.

More on Liver Cleansing:

What are Irradiated Foods? What you don’t know CAN hurt you!

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Consumers Beware! This symbol means your food is IRRADIATED!

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.

The things they do to food these days! Now there’s food irradiation as a form of preserving food. That means zapping it with gamma rays, very much like X-raying food. It’s purpose: to extend the shelf life by killing insects, bacteria and other micro-organisms.

So what’s wrong, you ask, with that? After all, we X-ray ourselves. We don’t turn radioactive. But remember that low radiation is not exactly the same. The doses here are extremely high, up to an equivalent of 300 million chest X-rays.

Don’t you wonder what happens to the food’s cells at that level of radiation?

Food is passed into a shielded room where it is bombarded with gamma radiation from a radioactive source. The dose depends on the type of food:

  • Fruits and vegetables – up to 100,000 rads
  • Poultry – up to 300,000 rads (or 30 million chest X-rays)
  • Spices – up to 3,000,000 rads (or 300 million chest X-rays)

 

Does it work to preserve food?

Depending on the dose, the rays can kill bacteria that cause food to spoil. But, it can still get reinfected again. Also, some bacteria can’t be killed at lower doses of radiation. Those that survive are free to breed quickly, since they no longer have competitors.

Is Irradiated Food wholesome?

Irradiation destroys most vitamins – especially vitamins A, C, E and thiamine. Fruit juices lose more vitamins than fruits, which lose more than vegetables and grains, which in turn, lose more than meat.

Is Irradiated Food safe?

In irradiation, the chemical structure of food is altered. Unstable molecules or ‘free radicals’ are created that are unlike any created by other types of cooking. These can damage the body cells and promote cancer. They may also cause premature ageing of the skin and body.

Why do Manufacturers love it?

Irradiated foods look fresh even though they may be several months or years old. There’s no way to tell them apart from really fresh food. So, consumers can be easily deceived.

How do you know it’s been Irradiated?

DON’T BUY if you see this!

Look for the deceptively eco-friendly looking symbol for Irradiation on your foods. It has such a ‘clean and green’ healthy look that you might not even notice it! But now you know the truth!

Consumers beware!! This is an important label that you will want to recognize for what it is. If you see it on a package, that food has been IRRADIATED. Consumers should also know that the FDA has said the word “pasteurization” is an acceptable substitute for “irradiation”.

What can you do?

Write to your local politicians, supermarkets and food manufacturers and demand that these Frankenfoods be banned. Do everything in your power to educate others on the importance of eating natural, whole and pure!

Source: the book Danger Foods: A CAP guide to Hidden Dangers in Foods.

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Raw Food Dessert Recipe: Cacao, Hazelnut & Banana Bliss

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Raw Hazelnut Cacao Bliss

This recipe is fast and easy for a delicious raw food dessert. Have you ever tasted a fudgesicle pop? Well, if you freeze this chocolate-like creation, it actually tastes like a fudgesicle! But this is a healthy version, full of anti-oxidants and other nutrients.

Make this tasty gluten-free vegan treat to share with family and friends…they will not even know it’s a raw food! It’s also great for kids, and with this dessert…they are getting valuable nutrients in addition to a great taste.

Raw Food Recipe: Cacao, Hazelnut & Banana Bliss

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup raw hazelnuts, ground (can also use raw almonds)
  • 3 ripe bananas
  • 3 Tbsp. raw cacao powder
  • 1 Tbsp. raw maca powder
  • Water from 1 young green coconut plus coconut flesh (can replace with 1.5 cups cold water + 3 Tbsp. coconut oil)
  • 2 Tbsp. raw honey (optional)
  • 2 Tbsp. raw ginger, grated (optional)
  • 6 raw dried organic apricots, chopped (optional)

Healthy Bliss…yes!

Grind the hazelnuts or almonds with maca and cacao powder. There is no need to soak the nuts. Use a mini-food processor to grind the nuts to a fine powder. (You could also add 1-2 Tbsp. of other superfoods, such as acai powder, pomegranate powder or goji berries.)

In a blender, blend the coconut water and bananas. Add the ground nuts and powders and blend again. Add the raw honey and/or fresh ginger (optional) and blend again.

Pour mixture into a container. Top with chopped hazelnuts or almonds and chopped apricots. Place in freezer and let sit for 6-8 hours. Serve with love, and enjoy!

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Raw Food, Detox & Organic in Tel Aviv, Israel

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A Mediterranean climate combined with nutrient-rich soil make the perfect conditions for year-round seasonally fresh raw foods in Israel. Whether you are looking for a healthy holiday destination or are simply ‘raw-curious’ about what to eat in Israel, Tel Aviv is a great place to start. On my recent trip to Israel, I was impressed not only by the availability of organic raw food but also amazed by the flavor of everything. Finally, cucumbers and oranges that have taste, wow!

Fresh Juice at Carmel Market

Depending on what time of year you visit Israel, you will find locally grown pomegranate, oranges, grapefruit, apricots, peaches, bananas, guava, watermelon, strawberries, cucumber, tomatoes and of course olives! When you arrive, a good place to start is the Carmel Market, or ‘Shuk Ha’Carmel,’ Tel Aviv’s largest fruit and vegetable market. While not organic, the market does have an abundance of fresh produce. I found the best thing to buy at this market is a freshly made juice. Be sure to walk to the bottom end of the market; at the top end you will get charged 20 ILS for a juice; keep walking down and the prices go down too…near the bottom half you will find a nice man on the right side who sells his juice for 10-12 ILS.

Organic Produce at Shuk Ha’Carmel

Also at the lower end of the market, you will find one organic store on the left-hand side. It’s called Nizat Ha’duvdevan (Hebrew for “The Cherry Bud”). Look for the large cherries on the sign and the nice baskets containing dried fruits and nuts. All the prices there are fixed, but be sure to check your change…a few times I was given the wrong change, and it was not in my favor! 🙂 Nizat Ha’duvdevan has other locations through Tel Aviv like the one near Rabin Square (which used to also have a raw food cafe but the cafe is no longer there).

Inside Shuk Hanamel At Tel Aviv Port

If you like olives, you may want to taste them at the Carmel Market, but don’t buy…they are not overly good and every vendor tried to over-charge me. A normal price for Kalamata olives is 40 ILS per kilo; here they will try to charge you 60-80 ILS per kilo! For the best olives, wait until Friday and go to the Organic Farmer’s market at Tel Aviv Port. The market is outside of the Shuk Hanamal and across from the Aroma Cafe. They have the best olives, and they always charged me the right price too! Try the lemon-infused green olives, or the black olives with fresh herbs, or the green olives with garlic – well, actually try any of them – they are all delicious! Yes, organic really does taste better!

Teva Eden store in Kfar Saba

Another good store for buying organic fruits and vegetables is the Eden Teva store. They have several locations throughout Tel Aviv, including inside Rabin Square Mall and at Kfar Saba. This is a good place to find gluten-free products, organic produce and nutritional supplements. Look for the raw tahina made with sprouted sesame seeds…it’s in a glass jar and is stocked with the normal tahina. It comes from Ethiopia and it’s amazing!

Organic Salad with Tahina at Barzilay

For eating out, Israel is a raw food paradise. Every restaurant has a salad on the menu, and usually the portions are very big! You can always get fresh lemon for dressing or ask for a side of tahina (sesame seed paste). If you want to try a nice organic restaurant, there is a great place just 20 minutes outside Tel Aviv in Hod Hasharon. It’s called Barzilay at the edge of Yarkona and Hod Hasharon. They have an indoor dining area as well as outdoor seating in their own organic gardens. This is a great place for a late brunch or a nice afternoon lunch so you can sit outside and enjoy the sun while eating your freshly picked veggies.

BLOG UPDATE: Meshek Barzilay Restaurant MOVED to Neve Tzedek. The new address is: 6 Ehad Ha’am st. Neve Tzedek, Jaffa 6514206, Israel and the website is http://www.meshekbarzilay.co.il (currently only in Hebrew). They are still making vegetarian, organic and vegan foods on their menu.

After all that delicious food, you may be in search of some detox. I checked out the colonic place at Tel Aviv Port called the Saker Institute. To be honest, I was not impressed by this place and felt that their focus was too much on selling more colonics and detox kits than actually taking care of the client. I recommend to eat some delicious organic dates – they usually help to get the bowel moving, spend your money on food, and book your colonic back at home.

Beautiful views in Amirim, just bring your own food!

For a nice day trip out of Tel Aviv, consider visiting the vegetarian community at Amirim, a village in the north of Israel. It’s about a 1.5-2 hour drive from Tel Aviv and offers great views of the Sea of Galilee. The village is nice and quiet and a good place to stay for the night while exploring the northern region of Israel, but strangely enough it doesn’t boast any decent vegetarian or raw food restaurants, even though there is a community of raw foodists living there.

Back in Tel Aviv, you might be tempted to try some of Israel’s famous hummus. Head to 14 Shivtai Israel Street in Jaffa for the best hummus in Israel, at Abu-Hassan (Ali-Karavan). There is always a line, so be prepared to wait, and get there early because when the hummus is out, the restaurant closes. It’s best to get there between 10am and 2pm. While not raw, for vegans or vegetarians, trying a local hummus is a must for the full Israeli culinary experience.

If you’re planning to stay in Israel longer, check out some of the new vegan communities that are springing up everywhere and look for the new “Meatless Monday” options available on the menu in many restaurants in Tel Aviv. A great place to start is on Facebook with the VeganFriendly.co.il page. You can find vegan support rallies and different workshops and lectures on raw food and vegan living in Israel. (Simply copy and paste the Hebrew text into Google Translate to understand in your native language.)

Israel has so much to offer for raw food and anyone interested in healthy eating, so get out there and enjoy! Bete’avon or Bon Appetit!

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Recipe for Raw Food Detox Salad: Cucumber & Onion with Tangy Dressing

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A great recipe for after your detox, this cucumber, celery and onion salad is a delicious blend of flavors and combined with spinach makes for a nice lunch or dinner salad. It has very little fat and is a good salad for weight loss or for keeping your weight off after your fast.

Tangy Cucumber and Onion Salad, especially great after a Detox

You can use different dressings for the salad, but in this creation I made a tangy Green Onion dressing. If you mix the ingredients together and allow to sit in the refrigerator for a few hours, the salad will taste even better! Cucumbers are great for the skin and for overall cleansing due to their high-water content. Onions are an anti-parasitic, anti-fungal and anti-viral food. Celery is a high source of organic sodium, an important mineral for anyone suffering from arthritis or joint pain. Ground flax seed in the dressing adds fiber and omega proteins. Raw apple cider vinegar is excellent for balancing pH health and is also good against internal fungus (candida) and parasites. Cayenne Pepper is great for circulation and for strengthening the blood and the heart. Let your food be your medicine!

Raw Cucumber & Onion Salad

Ingredients:

  • 2 large cucumbers, chopped
  • 1 white onion, chopped
  • 2 stalks of celery, chopped
  • 1/4 cup green scallions or green onion, chopped
  • Fresh spinach leaves, cleaned

Dressing:

  • 1/2 cup raw apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup green scallions or onions
  • 2-3 Tbsp. ground flax seed
  • 1-2 Tbsp. raw honey
  • 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
  • pinch of cayenne pepper

A Yummy Salad to Serve with Family & Friends!

Mix all salad ingredients in a large glass bowl and set aside. Make the dressing using a mini-food processor. First, add the apple cider vinegar and scallions and blend. Then add the ground flax seed, raw honey, cayenne and salt and process until creamy.

Pour the dressing over the salad and mix thoroughly. To serve, arrange the spinach leaves on a plate in a nice circular pattern. Place the salad on top for a beautiful, healthy creation!

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Genetically Engineered Food – No more Frankenfoods!

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Lately it seems that everyone is talking about organic vs. non-organic food. While the media distracts us with this issue, the food industry is sweeping in Genetically Engineered foods under our very noses. It’s time we understand what the implications are for our health and for future generations.

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.

Not normal DNA

Imagine crossing a tomato with a fish or a potato with chicken genes. These are actually considered ‘normal’ transgenic crops these days. The chemical industry is promoting genetic engineering as a harmless answer to agricultural problems; that these foods taste better and last longer.

But what are we really getting?

Are there dangers with GE foods?

The answer is categorically: Yes!

Essentially we are playing a game of health roulette with genetically modified foods.

The result?

-An increase in allergic reactions

(when new and unidentified proteins are transfered from one food to another, leaving people unaware that their food contains another food’s genes which they are allergic to)

-Antibiotic resistance

(when an antibiotic-resistant genes move from a crop back into the environment) and

-Gene Pollution

(what will happen when GE foods start to mutate over time, reproduce and spread?)

And if that wasn’t enough, the price of food can be controlled once a company owns a patent on it’s seed. A seed that occurs naturally in the environment cannot be patented; but a Genetically Engineered seed can.

Ask for non-GM foods!

How do you know if your food has been genetically altered? You can’t. Products are not regulated in developing countries and many of those products are imported into developed nations.

What can you do?

Write to your local politicians and demand that these Frankenfoods be banned. Ask your local farmer if he uses ‘Round-up Ready seed.’ If the answer is yes, you know it’s a GMO food. Don’t buy it. Find another farmer and support natural, local, whole and pure!

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