Tag Archive for: organic farm

How to Make Kombucha, a Naturally Fermented Health Drink

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Kombucha is considered to be a health drink because it contains natural bacterias that can help replenish the bacterial balance in the colon. The kombucha itself is the yeast/bacteria combination which is formed into what is called a ‘SCOBY’ or Symbiotic Colony of Yeast and Bacteria. The SCOBY looks like a slimy pancake; some people refer to it as the ‘mother.’

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.

GT Kombucha

The ‘mother’ kombucha culture is what is used to make your own kombucha batches at home, in the same way that people brew their own beer. The kombucha drink will also become ‘fizzy’ when fermented, but the alcohol content is extremely minimal.

You can start your own kombucha culture by buying a container of GT Kombucha Drink from any WholeFoods store. Drink enough of the liquid to leave about 1/4 inside the glass; leave out at room temperature with the cap off but covered in cloth. In about one week, you will see your very own SCOBY pancake floating on top and you are ready to start fermenting!

All of the details on how to make your own Kombucha at home are detailed in the above video, filmed at my friend’s organic farm in Maui, Hawaii. Here is a brief set of directions which I received when I purchased my SCOBY online through Dom’s Kefir Grains:

Directions for Kombucha:

1. Prepare tea with 4 teaspoons of conventional loose tea or 4 teabags in 4 cups of boiling water. Steep for 5 minutes. (Green tea, black tea or a combination is suitable).

2. Strain tea in an 8-cup glass jar and dissolve 1/3 cups sugar (either raw sugar or organic refined white sugar).

3. Let sweetened tea cool to room temperature, then pour kombucha ‘mother’ with the solution in which she was stored.

4. Place a clean cloth or paper napkin over the mouth of the jar and secure in place with an elastic rubber band.

5. Ferment, leaving undisturbed, for 7-12 days at room temperature range of 19C – 25C (66F – 79F).

6. Strain kombucha tea and repeat the whole process.

As for how much kombucha to drink daily to enjoy it’s health benefits, I would recommend about 1-2 cups per day or 250ml- 500ml daily. It’s a nice refreshing drink to enjoy on a hot day, and the natural bacteria will help with digestion and even can help stimulate the bowels, thus avoiding constipation. Kombucha can help lessen any overgrowth of candida and is good for anyone suffering from intestinal parasites. If you are addicted to pop or soft drinks, and are looking for a fizzy drink that is still considered healthy, kombucha is the drink for you.

More Healthy Recipes:

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How to Make Kombucha, a Naturally Fermented Health Drink

by

Kombucha is considered to be a health drink because it contains natural bacterias that can help replenish the bacterial balance in the colon. The kombucha itself is the yeast/bacteria combination which is formed into what is called a ‘SCOBY’ or Symbiotic Colony of Yeast and Bacteria. The SCOBY looks like a slimy pancake; some people refer to it as the ‘mother.’

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.

GT Kombucha

The ‘mother’ kombucha culture is what is used to make your own kombucha batches at home, in the same way that people brew their own beer. The kombucha drink will also become ‘fizzy’ when fermented, but the alcohol content is extremely minimal.

You can start your own kombucha culture by buying a container of GT Kombucha Drink from any WholeFoods store. Drink enough of the liquid to leave about 1/4 inside the glass; leave out at room temperature with the cap off but covered in cloth. In about one week, you will see your very own SCOBY pancake floating on top and you are ready to start fermenting!

All of the details on how to make your own Kombucha at home are detailed in the above video, filmed at my friend’s organic farm in Maui, Hawaii. Here is a brief set of directions which I received when I purchased my SCOBY online through Dom’s Kefir Grains:

Directions for Kombucha:

1. Prepare tea with 4 teaspoons of conventional loose tea or 4 teabags in 4 cups of boiling water. Steep for 5 minutes. (Green tea, black tea or a combination is suitable).

2. Strain tea in an 8-cup glass jar and dissolve 1/3 cups sugar (either raw sugar or organic refined white sugar).

3. Let sweetened tea cool to room temperature, then pour kombucha ‘mother’ with the solution in which she was stored.

4. Place a clean cloth or paper napkin over the mouth of the jar and secure in place with an elastic rubber band.

5. Ferment, leaving undisturbed, for 7-12 days at room temperature range of 19C – 25C (66F – 79F).

6. Strain kombucha tea and repeat the whole process.

As for how much kombucha to drink daily to enjoy it’s health benefits, I would recommend about 1-2 cups per day or 250ml- 500ml daily. It’s a nice refreshing drink to enjoy on a hot day, and the natural bacteria will help with digestion and even can help stimulate the bowels, thus avoiding constipation. Kombucha can help lessen any overgrowth of candida and is good for anyone suffering from intestinal parasites. If you are addicted to pop or soft drinks, and are looking for a fizzy drink that is still considered healthy, kombucha is the drink for you.

More Healthy Recipes:

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Raw Food, Vegan and Organic Options in Seoul, Korea

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There is hope. You can find some healthy restaurants and vegan, organic foods in Korea. Hopefully this guide will help get you started.

Loving Hut Mushroom Salad

For a healthy vegan restaurant, be sure to check out the Loving Hut. They have a nice green salad which is all raw, and 2 mushroom salads which are not raw but I do recommend that you give them a try. According to their mission statement, they put loving intention into their food. I’m going to honest and say that I don’t think they are MSG-free, so watch out for those vegan sausages, soy proteins and other flavored faux meats. The Loving Hut also sells some vegan cakes, vegan bread, vegan ice cream and some organic body products too. There are locations throughout South Korea and many in the Seoul area.

The Loving Hut
http://lovinghut.kr
Locations throughout Seoul (check website)

Cafe des Verts, Seoul

If you are looking for organic coffee, there are a few options. One is Cafe des Verts in Gangnam-gu. They have organic coffee to enjoy in the cafe but also sell it to take home. 18,000 KRW will get you 200 grams of organic coffee from either Colombia, Ethiopia or Brazil.

On their online shop, they have the organic coffee and also many organic teas for sale including Organic Blueberry Rooibos Tea. Remember, if you are doing coffee enemas, you absolutely should be using organic coffee!

Cafe des Verts
http://www.verts.co.kr/
2F Donghoon Tower, Gangnam-gu (check website for other locations)

Another place for organic coffee in Seoul is the Cafe Il Cipriana in the Jongno-gu area. This is a quiet little cafe tucked just off the main road, and they sell all organic coffee, smoothies, salads and panini sandwiches.

Cafe Il Capriani
10-6 Gahoe-dong, Jongno-gu
+82 (0) 2 762 5825

Organic Veggie Store

Between the Angsuk Station Exit 2 and Cipriana, I found another Organic Store selling fresh produce and some products. The produce looked very good and I would definitely recommend that, but the packaged items they sell were a bit of a mix, and many of them are things which I would not ‘approve’ as healthy. Just an example to not trust all items in a shop because the sign outside says ‘organic.’ Look for hidden sugars and MSG for sure. They did have Olive Leaf Extract though which I highly recommend as a natural anti-biotic and immune booster.

If you are looking for supplements, try the Noble Shop. They have flax oil capsules, vegan B12 tablets and Evening Primrose Oil amongst other things. They also carry some good body products, including the ‘Kiss my Face’ line, Lamas Beauty and an entire range of make-up products that were not tested on animals. On their website, I even found a Garden of Life at-home Detox Kit called ‘Raw Cleanse’ for 70,000 KRW!

The Noble Shop in Korea
http://veganshop.co.kr/

Hansalim store in Seoul

Another good resource for organic body and home products and also organic fruit and veggies is the Hansalim Store. They probably have the best prices of all of the places I visited, so I highly recommend them. The only catch is that you have to be a member to buy there, and I think you need to be a permanent resident of Korea. So try to find someone who can sign up for you – it will be well worth it. They do home delivery for members and you can also order from their website.

Hansalim
http://www.hansalim.or.kr/
Many locations throughout South Korea (check website)

Don’t forget that in normal supermarkets throughout Seoul you can buy buckwheat noodles for just 5,000 KRW. This is a great alternative to wheat for anyone cooking at home.

Finally, a new service has just recently been launched in Seoul and that is fresh organic fruits and vegetables home delivery service. This I highly recommend – I mean, how could they make it any easier?! The project is called Veggie Hill, and they work with local farmers outside of Seoul to get the best quality fruit and veggies. You can order by email, phone or online.

Veggie Hill
http://veggiehill.com/
010 2781 0772

For information on yoga classes, healthy events and to buy Himalayan Salt Crystal Lamps, check out the Mind, Body Seoul Studio in Itaewon.

More on Traveling Raw:

Natural Charcoal Fluoride-Free Toothpaste from Korea

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Charcoal Home & Body Products

As I was traveling around Seoul, South Korea recently, I came upon an interesting store which specializes in all types of ‘Charcoal Living Goods.’ They have organic cotton clothing that is dyed with natural charcoal coloring and they also have an interesting body product line. Everything in the store is in Korean, including the labels and the marketing material, so it was difficult to know exactly what I was buying, but they were having a 2-for-1 on the charcoal toothpaste so I decided to give it a try. The toothpaste is normally 15,000 KRW for one tube; I bought 2 for that price, so $14 USD total or $7 USD each.

Charcoal Bristle Nano Toothbrush

They also had charcoal tooth brushes with black bristle brushes.

The woman explained to me that the charcoal bristles make the tooth brush more naturally anti-bacterial.

This seemed to make good sense to me, and knowing how much bacteria can live on toothbrushes, I was happy to see a new alternative.

I bought 5 brushes for 10,000 KRW or about $9.50 USD so they came to less than $2 each.

Luckily I have a Korean friend who was able to translate the label into English for me.

So here is what we found:

Forwell Charcoal Toothpaste

    1. Silicon dioxide
    2. Premium active charcoal
    3. PCC- Precipitated calcium carbonate
    4. Xylitol
    5. Peppermint scent
    6. Amino caproic acid
    7. Calcium hydrogen phosphate
    8. Allantoine
    9. Chlorohydroxy aluminum
    10. And more!

Well, the good news from my point of view is that there is no fluoride or sodium laurel ethyl sulfate (SLS) in this particular toothpaste. Fluoride is know to be a toxic material which can affect thyroid function, and the SLS is a foaming agent that is also known to have serious health affects. It is difficult to find a fluoride-free toothpaste in Asia, and this is certainly one that is readily available in Korea.

Fluoride-Free Toothpaste

The question is: what about the other ingredients? Well, I tried to do some research on these and it wasn’t easy to find so much obvious information. It seems like Xylitol is the healthier choice over sugar and saccharine and is commonly found in many other natural toothpastes. Silicon dioxide is used as an abrasive in the toothpaste and seems to be a common ingredient in the Asian toothpaste market. It comes from silica, or dust and quartz. Seems to me that baking soda would be a more natural alternative as an abrasive, but I’m guessing that the silicon dioxide is a cheaper ingredient.

The one ingredient that I am slightly suspicious of is the ‘Chlorohydroxy aluminum,’ mainly because of the ‘aluminum’ part, and I am just not totally sure what this ingredient is and if it has any relation to aluminum dioxide.

Still, we found no fluoride in the list of ingredients and the sales staff also assured me that this toothpaste is fluoride-free, so I leave you to make your own choice whether this is better than your Colgate or not 🙂 For me, I will continue to use it while in Korea.

The store is called ‘Forwell Charcoal Living Goods’ in the Insadong area of Seoul, South Korea. You can find more information on their website at www.forwell.co.kr but be warned that the entire site is in Korean! They have some other interesting products as well, such as Wood Vinegar Lotion, Charcoal Face Pack, Charcoal Shampoo and Conditioner, Charcoal cotton face mask and natural house cleaning products. If you suffer from any allergies, these are great products for you to check out. Also keep in mind, if you are doing a Master Cleanse, you should be reducing or eliminating all chemicals in your body during the cleanse and that includes chemicals in toothpastes, lotions and shampoos.

More Natural Body Products:

Raw Food & Vegetarian Restaurants in Bali, Indonesia

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Health Shop across from Kafe, Ubud

There are many options to choose from these days now that Bali has been put on the map with Julia Robert’s Eat, Pray, Love. You can experience your love in the rice fields of Ubud…and you can also eat healthy, organic, vegetarian and raw food at the same time!

In Seminyak/Legian area:

When you first arrive in Denpasar, you can have your taxi take you directly to one of these places where you will find healthy options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can also get take-away and eat in the taxi on your continuation up north or beyond…

ZulaBoth Zula and Earth Café in Seminyak, Bali have the same owner and hence have similar items on the menu. Earth Café has more raw food options but Zula also has good salads, juices and smoothies. The main focus of both menus is on vegan, macrobiotic foods. Zula is located on Jalan Dyana Pura Number 5, Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia.

Earth CaféMy personal favorites at this funky macrobiotic vegan restaurant are the Sprouted Wheatberry Salad and the Raw Soup. The salad is a great combo of greens and sprouted wheatberries with a tasty homemade dressing. The raw soup consists of shredded carrots, zucchini and raw veggies in a clear broth made from Bragg’s and water with ice cubes added to make it cold. It may sound strange, but it tastes great and it’s a nice change from the standard blended raw soups. Located on Jalan Oberoi (near the Montesorri School), Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia.

In Ubud:

Once in Ubud, you can start to relax and make your experience whatever you want it to be – peppered with art, culture, dance, yoga, raw food, massage, jewelry, temples, shopping or just relaxing at a café taking it all in around you. You can easily stay for a week and enjoy a different restaurant every day.

Clear Restaurant in Ubud, Bali

ClearThis restaurant is a good option for raw food, vegetarian food, ethnic food and ‘normal’ cooked food as well. It’s a good choice for dinner if you have a group of varied eaters in your party. The raw enthusiasts can try the Lifefood Pizza, made with a flaxseed and sundried tomato crust topped with mushrooms, tomatoes, red pepper and cashew pesto. For a local flair, enjoy the Rainbow Salad with jackfruit, mango, red pepper, basil, mint and almond butter dressing. Don’t forget to check out the toilet as well –it’s an interesting experience! Located at the top of Hanoman Street, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia.

Sari OrganikTake a walk through the rice fields and you will end up at Sari Organik, a lovely restaurant complete with it’s own organic farm. Surrounded by rice paddies, it’s a picturesque setting and a great place to head after an early morning walk before the sun heats things up. The juices, salads and smoothies here are all delicious and the organic factor really makes a difference. Organic does taste better! Access to rice fields from Jalan Raya, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia.

Little K outside of the Yoga Barn, Ubud, Bali

Little kLocated at the Yoga Barn, this raw food café has a full menu of items to choose from and a great view overlooking the rice fields and river below. They also have some cooked food options for breakfast and lunch and several healthy soups to fill you up after your power yoga class. Jalan Pengosekan, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia.

KafeLook for their Raw Special of the Day at this trendy meeting place in the center of Ubud. There are some nice salads that can be ordered without cheese or tuna while adding avocado instead. Try an array of juice and smoothie combos – they have some superfood smoothie blends and also an interesting turmeric shot. Jalan Hanoman, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia.

Soma Raw Food Cafe in Ubud, Bali

SomaSoma is ‘the’ raw food place to see and be seen in Ubud. It has a rustic, cozy atmosphere and is usually full of health conscious MacBookPro fans eating their gourmet raw food delights and updating facebook pages all the same. Try the Belly Love Juice made from aloe vera, ginger, turmeric, kencur, irish moss, mint, tulsi, lime and honey. The Live Love Pasta is a yummy blend of zucchini noodles topped with capers, olives, tomato, bell pepper, fresh oregano, dehydrated shallots and cashew cheese topped with flax cracker. It’s a good option for lunch. Dewi Sita Street, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia.

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Raw Food, Detox & Healthy Living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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Kuala Lumpur is a popular travel hub within South East Asia, but did you know it could also be a place to find organic vegan, vegetarian and raw food too? Next time you pass through KL, consider staying a day or two and take advantage of some nice healthy options that the city has to offer.

A Healing & Metaphysical Oasis

A Healing & Metaphysical Oasis

The Bukit Bintang area is a great place to start. Unwind from your travels with a yoga class or meditation at the Lightworks Metaphysical Shop.

Different workshops are held weekly so be sure to check their online schedule. Reiki, Tarot Card and other forms of Energy Healing are also available. They have a very good selection of New Age books, music, DVDs and crystals as well.

I occasionally offer Raw Food, Superfood and Iridology Talks and Classes at Lightworks throughout the year.

Check my schedule to see when I may be there next!

Lightworks Metaphysical Shop, 19 Jalan Mesui (Off Jalan Nagasari) Kuala Lumpur
www.lightworks.com.my

If you walk around the corner from Lightworks towards BB Plaza, you will pass right by some of the best fresh fruit vendors in Kuala Lumpur, and maybe even in all of Malaysia. Don’t miss your chance to try the durian. Yum!

Vegan Bread at Woods Bio Marche

Vegan Bread at Woods Bio Marche

When you get to Bukit Bintang, turn right and walk down the road just 150 meters towards the Low Yat Mall. On the right-hand side you will see Woods Bio Marche Macrobiotic Restaurant. This is a great option for vegan and vegetarian food. There is one raw food salad on the menu – the ‘5-energy salad with miso dressing,’ but mostly this is a cooked food restaurant. The restaurant also has a small shop which sells organic dried fruit, seaweeds, nuts, seeds, beans, Bragg’s Raw Apple Cider Vinegar and fresh organic fruit and vegetables.

Well worth a visit for sure! They also have locations at Bangsar and Bukit Kira.

Woods Bio Marche, Bukit Bintang (across from Low Yat Plaza)
www.macrobiotics-malaysia.com/

Middle Eastern Bliss

Middle Eastern Bliss

Still in the Bukit Bintang area, you can walk in the other direction back towards Lot 10 Mall. In the basement of Lot 10, there is supermarket where you can buy all types of dried Arabian dates. You will find them on display near the fresh fruit and produce area. Choose from Mariami, Piarum and Mozafati dates from Iran, Harmoni dates from Egypt and Medjool dates from California, USA. Now that is some serious raw food bliss!!

Across the road from Lot 10 on Bukit Bintang, there are several Middle Eastern restaurants where you can enjoy some really yummy salads. My personal favorite is the Tarbush Restaurant with ‘Arabic & Lebanese Cuisine to Satisfy All Your Senses.’ Love it!

Restoran Tarbush, 138 Jalan Bukit Bintang Kuala Lumpur
www.tarbush.com.my

Lee Yen, Jennifer & Callie - Girl Power!

Lee Yen, Jennifer & Callie - Girl Power!

If you have more time, make a trip out to the Mid Valley Mall. There you will find a fantastic organic store called Just Life Shop. This place is awesome. Full of organic produce, teas, dried foods, cleaning products, body products, books and more, this place is like a Disneyland for health advocates. Take the train or a taxi to Mid Valley, then walk through to the Gardens which is a smaller mall next door. You will find Just Life on the Lower Ground Level.

The staff at Just Life are so friendly and also highly knowledgeable. Their organic produce comes from local farmers and you can even arrange to visit the farms yourself. There are several locations throughout Kuala Lumpur and also in Penang – check their website for details.

Just Life Shop (several locations), The Gardens, Mid Valley Mall Kuala Lumpur
www.justlifeshop.com/

Yogi Tree Cafe - Wheatgrass Yeah!

Yogi Tree Cafe - Wheatgrass Yeah!

Also in the Gardens Mall is a nice little healthy restaurant called the Yogi Tree Cafe. If you have been hanging out for some fresh wheatgrass juice, then go straight to Yogi Tree!

Start with a fresh wheatgrass shot and chase it down with a freshly made juice – like the Peak Performer with grapes, pear, apple & pineapple. They have a good selection of smoothies and salads as well.

Yogi Tree Cafe, The Gardens 1rst Floor, Mid Valley Mall Kuala Lumpur
www.yogitree.com/

Rainforest Juice o.m.g. SO good!

Rainforest Juice o.m.g. SO good!

About a 10 MYR and 10-minute taxi ride from Mid Valley is the Bangsar Village Shopping Mall. In there you will find Country Farm Organics Restaurant and Store. This place is ok – they have a good selection of produce and products, but the restaurant did not ‘wow’ me. I wouldn’t go out of my way to get back there, but if I happen to be in the area, I would definitely stop in for a ‘Rainforest Juice’ (fresh wheatgrass and green apple juice). That is a great combination!

In the store, they have organic pet foods and a special gluten and wheat-free section.

Country Farm Organics, Bangsar Village Shopping Center, Kuala Lumpur
www.countryfarmorganics.com

For detox and cleansing in Kuala Lumpur, I would definitely recommend a visit to Dr. Chan at his Natural Health Clinic in the Pertama Complex. Especially if you are looking for a specialized heavy metal detox program, Dr. Chan is the man to see. He uses German technology to test for heavy metal toxicity and makes homeopathic remedies based on the test results. Dr. Chan works with a trained dentist in KL for safe removal of amalgam fillings. If you have had a lot of vaccinations or have a lot of dental work, you should seriously consider visiting Dr. Chan.

Dr. Chan, Pertama Complew 3rd Floor Kuala Lumpur
www.natural-health.com.my

NEW! Here’s an awesome Raw Food Malaysia update…there is now a detox and raw food delivery service in Kuala Lumpur! Whether you are passing through on holiday or a resident looking for healthy raw food delivery, this place is for you. I know I’ll be hitting them up the next time I’m in KL! Check it out: Delicious Detox Delivery, Malaysia.

I hope you enjoy your time in Kuala Lumpur, and remember that every destination can be a healthy and fun destination! You may even meet more like-minded souls!

More on Traveling Raw:

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:

Recipe for Ta’s Raw Food Jungle Salad with Video Demonstration

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This is the perfect salad for anyone who is looking to combine some great raw food textures and flavors and experience a mouthful of true healthy bliss!! Watch the video featuring my friend Ta to see how it’s done. The ingredients are listed below. If you are interested in buying a slicer for your green papaya, cucumber or zucchini pasta at home, I’ve got them available here at the Healthy Bliss Store! We have so much great info to share with you from Thailand, keep checking back for more recipes, inspiration and love!

Recipe for Ta’s Raw Food Jungle Salad

Mix together:

  • ~2 cups Shredded Green Papaya (slightly ripened). If you can’t find green papaya where you live, you can use shredded zucchini.
  • 1 Shredded Cucumber. Our favorite tool for shredding is the som tam slicer!
  • 1 Medium tomato, sliced.
  • Fresh young coconut meat (flesh), sliced (1 coconut).
  • 2 handfuls fresh Morning Glory greens. You can also use baby spinach or whatever greens you like!
  • 1/2 cup Kimchi (Ta’s is made with beetroot, cabbage and daikon)
  • 3-5 (or more!) fresh Thai chilies. You can replace with 1 fresh jalapeno.
  • 2-3 cloves fresh garlic (as you like).
  • 1 fresh lime, squeezed.
  • 2-3 fresh Tamarind fruits soaked in water for about 30 minutes. Use about 4 cups water to marinate. Add about 1/2 cup of this liquid to the salad.
Now that is some serious Healthy Bliss!!!

Now that is some serious Healthy Bliss!!!

Prepare the salad ingredients and have ready in a bowl. Mash together the chilies and garlic in a mortar & pestle, then add tamarind juice & lime juice and gently toss in ingredients. If you do not have a mortar and pestle, simply chop up the garlic and chilies, put in a small bowl, add the tamarind and lime juice. Stir to make your dressing, then toss the dressing into the salad.

Be prepared to enjoy this delicious, healthy jungle love!!

More Healthy Recipes:

Visions of Maui, Hawaii

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Finally, some pics to share my from time in Maui, Hawaii! For one week, I stayed with my friends in Hana on their organic permaculture farm – it was so great simply harvesting our food every day, eating from the land and living so in tune with the earth! At that time, we had plenty of wild edible greens and fresh herbs so we made beautiful salads every day. We also had a lot of papaya and liliquoi – the Hawaiian passion fruit – my favorite! One day we even made fresh liliquoi juice concentrate…so much fun and yummy too!

I also taught Green Smoothie Classes in Wailea and gave individual Iridology sessions there as well. The response was overwhelming, and I was so happy to see people interested in their health, nutrition and natural healing. Hawaii is a fantastic destination for a healthy holiday and Maui especially has a lot to offer for raw foods and organic farming!

More on Juicing and Smoothies:

Images of Natural, Healthy Hawaii…

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An abundance of natural, healthy foods just waiting for you in Hawaii 🙂 Check pictures of the raw foods available, healthy restaurants, organic farming, aquanponics, vegan and vegetarian foods, local eateries, fresh fruits, farmers markets and even green smoothies.

All great reasons to go to Hawaii for a healthy holiday!

For 2 weeks of my time in Hawaii, I had a nice family vacation with my parents, sister, brother-in-law and nieces. We satyed at a posh condo villa place – huge resort, full of tourists, and I couldn’t help but think what a perfect place this would be for a detox fasting spa. It’s ideal really, with beach, sun, pools, massage, nice views, relaxing time – if they offered a fasting program here I would totally do it!

Maybe in a few years the rest of the world will be ready for cleansing…certainly more and more people could use it!

More on Raw Food:

Life on an Organic Farm in Hana Maui, Hawaii – Video Tour!

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I’ve got 7 clips up on youtube showing all the fun we had on the farm in Hana Maui, Hawaii! Check them out – I’ve got farm shots, chicken shots, unidentifiable bug shots, goat shots, pond swimming and a general tour of the farm. And, coming soon…the full how-to video on making kombucha at home! Enjoy and let me know what you think!

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Bali Spirit Festival, Ubud, Indonesia – A Celebration of Yoga, Dance, Raw Foods & Love

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A great time was had by all in Ubud this year at the second annual Bali Spirit Festival…I had an Iridology booth at the Dharma Fair this year for the first time, and I was really excited to see people interested in what I do and to feel the response from my Iridology readings. My intentions for coming to the festival were to network and get a feel of the ‘scene’ here in Bali and, all in all, I felt that those goals were met 🙂 I connected with some great people, many of whom are locals and are involved in the raw food, yoga, meditation, detox, cleansing, energy healing spiritual healing world in Bali. I also met some great people who happened to be here on holiday and were able to enjoy the festival as well. I’ve got several clips on youtube from the festival itself…I’ve included them below for your to enjoy!

Friends Monika and Alan at Bali Spirit

Friends Monika and Alan at Bali Spirit

Bali Spirit went for 5 days from the 28 April to 3 May, 2009. I was so fortunate to have Alan as my friend, support and local guide during my time in Ubud, and also Monika who helped to take care of the booth, promote me and also be my videographer – Monika you did the best filming out of everyone so thank you!!

The gathering was all about Yoga, Meditation, Movement, Spirituality and Health.

Next year if I come back, I hope to share the booth space with some other cool folks to have more of a shared experience so I look forward to that! Here are my other interviews and video clips from the festival:

My booth at the Bali Spirt Festival featuring Iridology Readings and Crystal Healing. I also did a lot of Crystal Readings as well – this is really a unique type of energy reading that I really love to do – be sure to try it if you see me in Ubud at Bali Spirit again! We also sold lots of 100% cotton sprout bags and crystal mineral spray deodorant – both top selling items at the event!

Here I am talking about local foods that were available to eat at the festival so you can see for yourself the abundance of raw food love and organic, healthy Balinese fruits and vegetables.

I think here I am dabbling in the free sample spirit of the festival…hehe and showing you the fresh local cacao grown in Bali as well as other organic foods for sale.

Did I find more cacao? 🙂 Well I know how to enjoy a festival, that’s for sure! This was a great booth, full of locally grown raw cashews from Bali as well as cacao cashews snacks and a great Balinese sea salt for sale. Free samples? Yes! Lots! Come to the festival and see for yourself!

Just in case you were wondering what the actual yoga events look like at Bali Spirit, I take you inside the gates so you can check out the vibe and hear some of the live music, perhaps getting a feel of the celebration for yourself!

There is my awesome friend Alan in the background, a true free spirit and artist at heart – a great video just to see the Dharma Fair itself where the vendors are set up to sell their crystals, raw foods, jewelry, incense, clothes and of course food from the raw food restaurant Little K KAFE in Ubud and well as other local restaurants. Yum!

If you want more information on the Bali Spirit Festival check out their website at www.balispiritfestival.com.

In between working 9-10 hours every day at the festival, I somehow managed to see a bit of Ubud thanks to Alan…we spent one morning in the local market where Alan worked on some drawings and I just sat and enjoyed the commotion, watching all the locals come and go, buying veggies, drinking coffees and selling flowers. We also had some time to shop for Buddhas which was the only thing I wanted in Bali, so I took home 3 to add to my collection for the ‘meditation room’ in my future healing center – hehehe…

In the midst of all that, we also had some fun time catching up and drinking gin and tonics…oops! but ok, I am on holiday here 🙂 and we even managed a visit at his friend’s amazing house, which is available for rent if anyone is interested and house $900 USD/night to spend (don’t all jump up at once!)…it’s amazing, check it out at Villa Pantulan.

Jennifer teaching at the Green School, Ubud Bali

Jennifer teaching at the Green School, Ubud Bali

One day during the festival, I was jetted off to the Green School outside of Ubud, where I met the staff and gave them a green smoothie demonstration class! It was so much fun watching all the adults getting into the power of the greens. Ronald Stones, the director, told me that they plan to add Green Smoothies to their school canteen menu, and I really hope they do! If we can teach the younger generations about the importance of greens in their diet, then perhaps we can start to change the pattern of destruction in health, diet and lifestyle today. GO GREENS!!! And thank you BALI 🙂

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Identifying Wild Edible Greens for Green Smoothies

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Dandelion Greens

Dandelion Greens

If you are interested in eating more wild edible dark leafy greens in your diet, but don’t know where to begin in terms of identifying them, I have a fantastic link for you!

You’d be surprised to know that most weeds and many greens are edible, so if you are struggling financially on a raw food diet, you can definitely save money from picking wild greens for your smoothies. You will also benefit from the additional variety in your raw foods as well as the increased energy and enzyme capacity found in wild, uncultivated foods.

Miner's Lettuce

Miner\’s Lettuce

Some common edible weeds used in Green Smoothies include the above mentioned as well as malva, plantain, miner’s lettuce, dandelion, Lamb’s quarters and chickweed.

Now available! My Green Smoothie DVD and Green Smoothie eBooks,including 200 recipes and a Quick Start Guide, so you can learn at home at your own pace. You can become the next Green Smoothie success story!

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