Thursday 7 October 2010

Tuesday 5 October 2010

Tuesday!

October 5th                                                            Balance

Whether you are suffering in this life, or smiling with opulence and power, your consciousness should remain unchanged. If you can accomplish even-mindedness, nothing can ever hurt you. The lives of all great masters show that they have achieved this blessed state. --Paramahansa Yogananda, "Man's Eternal Quest"
 

Monday 4 October 2010

Monday!

October 4th Balance




Do not make unimportant things important, nor concentrate on trifles at the expense of vital matters, or you will hamper your progress. Impulsive actions that are not in keeping with one's duties are undesirable. --Paramahansa Yogananda, in a "Para-gram"

Sunday 3 October 2010

Halva-like Goodness!

Combined some soaked organic and fair trade sesame seeds with dried fruit(with citrus peels:) and raw cacao powder to make the most deliciously-indulgent chocolatey fix ever(think of a healthy chocolate orange but nicer:). Sesame seeds are a excellent plant-source of Ca, essential fats, amino acids, Fe and feel-good chemicals to beat away the seasonal blues(yum:)!

Friday 1 October 2010

Friday, 1st October 2010

October 1st Balance

Mahavatar Babaji to Lahiri Mahasaya: "The millions who are encumbered by family ties and heavy worldly duties will take new heart from you, a householder like themselves....A sweet new breath of divine hope will penetrate the arid hearts of worldly men. From your balanced life, they will understand that liberation is dependent on inner, rather than outer, renunciations.' --Mahavatar Babaji, in "Autobiography of a Yogi"

Thursday 30 September 2010

We need more Peter Tachells in this World, yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

One of the very few living folk that one has admired from afar for mamy years has finally been acknowledged and honored recently in the form of a blue plaque(Normally bestowed to people that have passed away first)outside his London home. Peter has fought and campaigned tirelessly for human rights and justice for decades and this simple gesture given by the people makes me incredibly-proud of him and others that selflessly give their time to promote peace and harmony throughout the world. We need more Peter Tatchells in the world! I'm very happy for him and a great day for unity and justice. Other folks I greatly admire include the Liberty campaigner and founder. Joanna Lumley for putting her TV actress fame to good use to highlight the Gurka's campaign for justice in their noble efforts in the world war.

Tuesday 28 September 2010

Eats later!

Raw vegan houmous!

Sprouted chickpeas
For the Tahini Sauce:
2 medium lemons
1 cup tahini(I use soaked organic sesame seeds:)
1 medium red onion
3 cloves garlic
1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves
1/2 cup fresh coriander leaves
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/3 cup cold-pressed olive oil
1 teaspoon sea salt, plus additional (up to 1 teaspoon) to taste

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Put the sprouted chickpeas in a food processor and blend well. Remove to a large bowl.

2. To make the Tahini Sauce: Put the lemon first, then the remaining ingredients, in a blender and blend well.

3. Pour the Tahini Sauce into the bowl with the chickpeas and mix well. Taste and adjust the seasonings. VoilĂ !

Ideally, served with some ubber fresh leafy greens:)

Eats so far!

Appreciated a rather yummy-tummy feast of jumbo oats, chia seeds, raw cacao pwd, Himalayan pink salt and sugars!

Friday 24 September 2010

Spiritual Diary: Saturday, 25th September 2010

September 25th Perfection

Through the use of the Kriya key, persons who cannot bring themselves to believe in the divinity of any man will behold at last the full divinity of their own selves.
—Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, “Autobiography of a Yogi”

Thursday 23 September 2010

Spritual Diary: Friday, 24th September 2010

September 24th Perfection

If others fool away their time, you be lost in God. You will go ahead. Let your example change others’ lives. Reform yourself and you will reform thousands.
—Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, in “Rajarsi Janakananda: Great Western Yogi”

Wednesday 22 September 2010

Eats!

9 frozen greengages from the freezer(tastes like a healthy sorbet but better:)!

MH done

September 23rd Perfection

Don’t waste time in seeking little things. Naturally it is easier to get other gifts from God than the supreme gift of Himself. But don’t be satisfied with anything less than the highest.
— Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, “How You Can Talk With God”

Full Moon Tonight!

An interesting and auspicious time to reflect and to meditate, perhaps?!!!

'God grant me the courage to change the things I can change, serenity for the things I can't and wisdom to know the difference...'

Monday 20 September 2010

Tuesday, 21st September 2010 Spritual Diary!

September 21st Right Activity

We will be seen on this stage of life again and again, until we become such good actors that we can play our parts perfectly, according to the Divine Will. Then the Stage Manager will say: “You need ‘go no more out.’ (Rev. 3:12). You have done My Will. You have played your part, and acted well. You did not lose courage. Now you have come back to Me, to be a pillar of immortality in the temple of My Eternal Existence.”
—Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, “Man’s Eternal Quest”

Friday 17 September 2010

Saturday, 18th September 2010

September 18th Right Activity

If we are at peace within our beings, we can harmoniously carry on our duties even in the business sphere. We can accomplish admirable things in the world without necessarily clashing with others. After our day’s work is over we can retire within to be with God again. Eventually, even in the business world, we can perform all our duties with the full consciousness of God’s presence. If we are calm and peaceful, come what may — success or seeming failure — we remain even-minded, feeling the certainty that His will is being done.
—Sri Sri Rajarsi Janakananda, “Rajarsi Janakananda: Great Western Yogi”

Thursday 16 September 2010

Friday, 17th September 2010

September 17th Right Activity

You came to earth to accomplish a divine mission [to be reunited with God]. Realize how tremendously important that is! Do not allow the narrow ego to obstruct your attainment of an infinite goal.
—Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, “Sayings of Paramahansa Yogananda”

Raw Chocolate Bliss!

Enjoyed and appreciated a substantial bowl of raw(soaked over night:)oat groats, prunes, cardamon, raw cacao powder and almond milk. Packed-full of antioxidants and brain-inducing neurotransmitters(as well as Mg for a healthy nervous system and skin-boosting sulphur:)that really boost your mood and well being. I've observed prior to commencing asanas raw cacao gives yoginis a flexible edge that can only enhance our daily practice to a deeper level. What more could you ask for? For a good online deal go to funkyraw.com(raw Cacao pwd from £9.97 for 500g:0). If you think the cooked and processed dark raw chocolate is good you just wait to you try this! your healthy palate is in for a healthy treat! It's so versatile too. Great in your power smoothies to the morning to the most decadent celebration cake / treat / dessert.

Raw cacao, also known as raw chocolate or cocoa, is an increasingly popular healthy alternative to regular chocolate. It is an appetite suppressant so it can help in losing weight. It makes you feel good too since it’s a natural anti-depressant. Raw chocolate is also great in raw puddings and makes a satisfying snack.

It's down to the perfection of extraction of this most antioxidant-rich, most PURE and ridiculously great-tasting 100% Raw Cacao Powder...

This super delicious Cacao Powder, produced to ecological standards (totally free from agro chemicals) is created by freshly cold-pressing Cacao Beans into a cake which then separates the oil from the protein and fibre. The temperature is never allowed to exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit and is usually 104 degrees F (all other cocoa powders are exposed to temperatures as high as 300 degrees Fahrenheit!), with a high-accuracy thermometer monitoring the process. Slowly, the pure, liquid cacao butter begins to sift off down a stainless steel valve and the remaining dry 'cake-like' material is then cold-ground, fine-milled and sifted so that only the finest, most bio-available raw cacao particles filter through into the finished product. This allows for maximum digestion and antioxidant absorption!

ORAC and more…

Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity is a rating scale the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) has developed: a high-tech way of measuring the ability of antioxidants to absorb cell damaging, wrinkle causing, tissue destructive free radicals.

It has been revealed that 25,200 ORAC units of Antioxidant power can be found in a single spoonful of Raw Chocolate Powder! This is approximately 955 ORAC units per gram.

This is much higher than most foods. In fact, it has been claimed that Raw Chocolate Powder has about 723% more (or about 7 times more) antioxidants gram-per-gram than typical dark chocolate, which is supposedly the bench mark for ‘healthy’ chocolate in ‘cooked’ terms, and isn’t even nutritionally usable and beneficial in the long term to humans. While everyone else is singing the praise of dark chocolate - Raw Chocolate is way beyond that.

In Raw Chocolate Powder, much of the oil is removed, while nearly all of the active nutrients remain. For example...

The amino acid Tryptophan is found naturally in cacao, which enhances relaxation and promotes better sleep.

Researchers have discovered that phenylethylamine (PEA) has a positive effect in enhancing feelings of love and Chocolate has been proven to be an excellent source of PEA.

Raw Chocolate is the richest food source of magnesium of any common food. Magnesium is the number one mineral that assists and supports healthy heart functioning.

Raw Chocolate Powder has a high level of Arginine, the aphrodisiac-like amino acid believed by body builders to build muscle and aid in recovery.

Recommendations…

Add cacao powder to all your favourite smoothies, desserts, protein drinks, nut milks or anything else you can think of. Just one or two spoonfuls can transform any recipe into a healthy chocolate treat. It even goes great on top of fresh fruit!

Have you noticed the transformation of the lovely Kelly Osborne recently? I think she has blossomed into a very beautiful young woman(go Kelly:)! She now has the tiniest of waists!

Tuesday 14 September 2010

Love!

Eating strawberries every day could
lower the risk of heart disease and stroke.

In a new study, people who ate
strawberries for two months had
reduced markers for atherosclerosis,
or furring up of the arteries.

The research was carried out on
people with metabolic syndrome, a
collection of symptoms including
obesity and high cholesterol levels,
which are both associated with a
raised risk of heart disease.

In the University of Oklahoma study,
patients had four cups of a drink made
from 50g of freeze-dried strawberries
and water, or three cups of fresh strawberries.

Cholesterol levels in those
who’d had the strawberries dropped
by 10 per cent; meanwhile, their levels
of a compound called vascular cell
adhesion molecule-1, associated with
a higher risk of atherosclerosis, was
also reduced by nearly 20 per cent.

It is thought the benefits are down
to ellagic acid, an antioxidant in
strawberries.


Source: UK daily!

Sunday 12 September 2010

Thrift Chic!

Invest in one or two key items per season that will update your wardrobe.

Top tip: Opt for a new jacket to give an old outfit a 2010 vibe.

Designer Bianca Spender: Only buy things you truly love – the items that make your heart flutter.

Top tip: Beautifully draped dresses are key item for your summer wardrobe

Harper’s BAZAAR’s Claudia Navone: Sometimes spending more is spending less. Invest in pieces that you will wear for years.

Top investment: Opt for a really classic handbag that will finish off your outfit.

Shop Til You Drop’s Justine Cullen: Shop smart. Focus on one piece you really love rather than 5 pieces you only like.

Top tip: A high quality, soft leather jacket will see you through from winter to summer.

Harper’s BAZAAR’s Edwina McCann: Less is more. Spend money upfront on pieces that will last and that you will treasure.

Top tip: Save for the new 1950’s style shoe. Timeless, classic and will last forever.

Australian Women’s Weekly’s Debra Thomas: Know the value of taking the time to think about what you want to invest in.

Top tip: Think about an item in terms of cost per wear before you buy.

Friday 10 September 2010

September 11th Effort

September 11th Effort

All the experiences I have told you about are scientifically attainable. If you follow the spiritual laws, the result is certain. If the result doesn’t come, find fault with your effort. Intensity in all your religious practices is the only way. Those who don’t meditate regularly and deeply are restless whenever they do meditate, and give up after a short effort. But if you make a greater effort day by day, the ability to go deep will come. I don’t have to make any effort now; the whole world is gone instantly when I close my eyes and gaze into the Kutastha Center [the spiritual eye, in the forehead between the eyebrows].
—Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, “Man’s Eternal Quest”

September 10th Effort

September 10th Effort

You should make a greater effort. Forget the past and trust more in God. Our fate is not predestined by Him; nor is karma the sole factor, though our lives are influenced by our past thoughts and past activities. If you are not happy with the way life is turning out, change the pattern. I don’t like to hear people sigh and ascribe present failure to past-life errors; to do so is spiritual laziness. Get busy and weed the garden of your life.

'Each minute of life should be a Divine quest'

—Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, “Sayings of Paramahansa Yogananda”

Monday 6 September 2010

Gotta admit she's looking-good on it(Inspirational Mamma:)!

Dr Enid Taylor, 54, is a naturopath and lives in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, with second husband Glen, 56, a colon hydrotherapist. enid has three children, aged 27, 33, and 35, from her first marriage.


Height - 5ft 6in

Dress - 10 to 12
Weight - 9st 9lb
People constantly mistake me for being about ten years younger because I've got a good figure.
I put it down to a raw food diet and colonic irrigation every three week - where the bowel is flushed out to cleanse the system - at a cost of £75 per treatment. I don't have a gym membership and I don't do any exercise, although we have a treadmill at home and I spend a lot of time gardening.
After having my third child I went up to a size 16, in spite of the fact I'd alway
been fairly healthy, eating muesli for breakfast and cooking meals - such as shepherd's pie and beef bourguignon - from scratch.
But in 1997, I changed my diet, cutting out wheat and dairy initially. I slimmed right down and felt 15 years younger immediately.
That was until I hit the menopause in my late 40s and gained about 20lb that I just couldn't shift. I tried a slimming club for six months, but I didn't like it. Then I discovered the raw food diet and the weight fell off. Eating a raw diet gives me a feeling of both energy and calmness. I follow it for about eight months of the year.
During winter, I tend to succumb to things like roasted vegetables, and if we go to someone's house for dinner, I always eat what they've made because a day off doesn't do any harm.
Ordinarily I start my day drinking what I call 'Shrek' juice because it's bright green like the ogre. It's made of spinach or kale, with cucumber, celery, lemon, lime and apple. Lunch is crackers with avocado or hummus, and dinner is a salad with a delicious olive-oil dressing.
Colonic irrigation costs around £75 a time, cleans out my system and has cured me of constipation. It keeps my stomach flat and gives me a bounce in my step. It's not enough to look good for my age - I want to feel good, too.
Raw food might sound extreme and my family think I'm a crank, but it makes perfect sense to me to live off the land rather than destroy the valuable vitamins and enzymes in food through cooking.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1309347/How-YOU-pay-great-body-One-blew-11-000-surgery-relies-walks-park-Look-women-decide.html#ixzz0ykkwAArg

Monday 30 August 2010

Thought of the Day!

One purpose in discovering your own personality is to know how you affect others.
Consciously, or unconsciously, people feel your personality, and their reaction is a clue."
- Paramhansa Yogananda

Sunday 29 August 2010

Lovely Laura's Yummy Cake Recipe(Thank-you, Laura:)!

Apple Cider Pound Cake (makes 8 slices in a standard sized round spring form tin)

1-3/4 cups plain wholemeal flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup Full Fat Greek yogurt
3/4 cups brown sugar
2 tablespoons sunflower oil
2 tablespoons of softened unsalted butter
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1-1/2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Pre heat oven to 180c and coat your choice of tin with some spray oil (I used a standard sized round spring form tin) combine the flour, salt, baking powder and cinnamon in a bowl. In a separate bowl combine the sugar, oil, butter, yoghurt, egg and vinegar. Mix the dry into the wet until you are left with a stiff batter (it will be pretty stiff – don’t worry!) Fill your tin with the mixture and press out evenly. Bake for 30 – 35 minutes until slightly golden. Allow to cool and then store in the fridge. If serving as a whole cake, sprinkle with some sieved icing sugar for presentation – then serve with your choice of yoghurt, ice cream, custard or a sweet sauce made by mixing a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon of agave syrup, 1 tablespoon of Greek yoghurt and cinnamon to taste (this is what I served mine with last night).

Saturday 28 August 2010

Paul's Asparagus!

Roasted Garlic Asparagus

1 bundle fresh asparagus
2 T. olive oil
2-3 cloves minced garlic
1/2 t. pepper

Wash and prep asparagus. Drizzle with olive oil, toss and spread on baking sheet. Sprinkle with pepper and garlic, toss again. Roast at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes

Worth Remembering!

CHOOSE YOUR PAIN

Which one gets you where you want to go???

Friday 20 August 2010

Happy Birthday.....................

to my beloved, let's hope we can get back down under soon!

Monday 12 July 2010

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

Spain has won the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, my Spanish Paternal grandmother will be pleased!

Saturday 10 July 2010

Keeping Hydrated!

Dietary sources of electrolytes
Many sports drinks, bars, tablets and gels are formulated with electrolytes to help you replace those lost during exercise. The Standard American diet includes about 6-9grams of sodium intake per day. Basically 1 glass of orange or tomato juice can replace all the potassium, magnesium, and calcium lost in 2-3 liters of sweat. Sodium is readily found in tomato juice, soups, salt added foods, or you can add ½ tsp table salt per liter of water. Potassium is abundant in both orange juice and bananas.

Eight practical recommendations
1) Use electrolytes with your water when hydrating. Hydrating solely with water leads to water intoxication and an electrolyte imbalance.

2) Acclimate to heat by exercising in heat

3) Test different levels of electrolytes during training in heat

4) Weigh yourself prior to a long exercise bout in heat and again afterwards. Subtract the total fluids you took in and the difference will be your hydration deficit. Rehydrate with 150% of your fluid losses (at approximately.68L fluid/lb lost or 2L of fluid to replace a 3 lb loss).

5) Do not make any drastic changes to your diet for the days leading up to the race and on race day. Drastic changes can adversely affect your electrolyte balance.

6) During races in extreme heat, consider cooling your head, neck at aid stations where ice is available. Not only does this feel good, it allows the oxygen carrying blood to concentrate on the working muscles, which in turn improves your exercise capacity.

7) Make sure your recovery drink or meal contain adequate levels of all 5 electrolytes. This comparison review looks at the electrolyte levels of the leading recovery drinks on the market http://www.firstendurance.com/research.html

Acceptable ranges for electrolytes in a recovery drink
Sodium: 150-750mg
Potassium: 200-1000g*
Calcium: 400-1200mg
Magnesium: 200-800 mg
Chloride: 90-750mg
*Excess potassium can become problematic (see potassium above)

Wednesday 7 July 2010

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

The Tropical Queenslander's have won the State of Origin Rugby contest!

Tuesday 6 July 2010

Super Eco-delicious Brown Lentil Sprouts!

Lentil sprouts pack a punch of powerhouse of nutrients that delivers quality nourishment in a ecolicious, convenient form!

Lentil sprouts are so easy to make and are so good for you! Lentil sprouts contain Vitamins: A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, B15, B17, C, K, choline, folic acid, inositol, PABA Minerals: boron, calcium, chlorine, copper, iron, magnesium, molybdenum, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium, sulphur, zinc The amounts are loosely given. I love them over salads, but are good snacks on their own. Cook time is sprouting time.

As a long-term naturalist and natural health enthusiast I've been sprouting on and off for years. My favourite sprouts include: sunflower, buckwheat, mung bean, chia, and now brown lentil(Not too keen on the green thought).

To the brown lentil sprouts I dressed it with:

*Chilli powder

*Fresh garlic

*Pink salt

*Fresh lime juice

*Extra Virgin Olive oil

to this one added a couple of red / yellow / orange bell pepper and serve it with some crisp organic cucumber or any healthy salad!

Sprouting Tip!

Never get the sprouted tails(white)bigger then the lentil itself(once lentils have sprouted ie with white tails refrigerate for freshness.

So quick, so easy and fast-food at it's very best!

Love this!

Monday 5 July 2010

Delightful, Lemony Surprise!

Appreciated a rather healthy and scrummy concoction(raw vegan cereal:) of sprouted buckwheat, ripe bananas and the juice of 1 lemon. This was especially sublime as this was a experiential dish full of bioflavonoids, amino acids, calcium, rutin, b vitamins, vitamin c and would make an ideal healthy fuel start for all the family(I'm sure growing children would appreciate this:). I was soo exited that I had to share this yummy recipe with ya all!

Namaste!

Sunday 4 July 2010

Hola!

There's this great opportunity for UK-based readers to win a handy piece of culinary equipment, courtesy of www.girlonraw.com and a UK-based business that specialise in handy travel culinary devices.

Thursday 1 July 2010

Happy Birthday Diana!



Happy Birthday Diana!





Diana (Princess of Wales) Remembered!






Today would of been Diana's 49th birthday! I feel humbled to share the astrological, watery-sign, early Cancer with this devotedly-loving mother and compassionate soul. This is a pictorial tribute of how one would like her to be remembered.

Buckwheat Heaven!





Appreciated a nourishly-tasty bpwl of germinated buckwheat and berries(Goji and strawberry:)!

Wednesday 30 June 2010

I am Blessed!

I appreciated a scrummy kale salad(I adore kale and determined to grow it in my garden forest when circumstances allow:) with the most deliciously-juicy sweet cherry tomatoes on the vine, garlic, pink salt, lime juice, rocket, red bell pepper, chili and olive oil dressing. It has to be one's favourite balanced meal in the Universe!

Monday 28 June 2010

Positive News!

Inspired by this month's Yoga and Health magazine, one took advantage of the glorious sunny weather we've been blessed with lately, here in Blighty and took myself to the local park to for some restorative healing in the form of the Tibetan Rites and ancient asanas. I got over one's self-consciousness and just got on with it!

Just like to share with you a inspiring corporate business story that one read in the UK press recently(I loved it soo much I had to share with you all:):

Grocer's Organic Rooftop Allotment

'A London supermarket is sourcing organic vegetables - from it's roof. Lettuce, Curly Kale, Beets and Tomatoes are sprouting at Budgens in the Broadway, Crouch End, in what is believed to be the first supermarket garden. Food in the Sky was devised by store owner Andrew Thornton and designer Azul-Valerie Thome'.

Source: ES June 2010

It was soo refreshing to read that supermarket employees can really make a difference to the community(Good work, Guys:) and may this be a start of many supermarket / corporate rooftop gardens!

Saturday 26 June 2010

Hemp Power!

Why Hemp?

The humble hemp seed is the most sustainable crop on earth! It's versatility is just mind-blowing! Unlike cotton production which poisons agriculture workers, uses up resources and contaminates water supplies, hemp grows abundantly without the use of fertilises and vast amounts of water.

*As a food it's a complete protein source as well as being a powerhouse of omega 3 essential fatty acids(essential for a healthy brain and heart:). These good fats help you to release excess weight unlike the undesirable trans fats in processed foods.

* As a clean fuel source unlike fossil fuels(oils, coal, tar etc.) that pollute and contaminate land and rivers significantly contributing to global warming and the mess we're in now.

* Hemp makes an excellent and durable fabric for clothes(bags, diapers etc.) and has far superior tensell strengh to cotton and repels more ultra violet rays then any other fabric.

*Hemp makes excellent ethical, skincare preparations(moisturizers etc.) it must be down to all the nourishing omega 3 essential fatty acids(I especially love the UK-made Yeoh brand:)

* Hemp makes a ethically-sourced paper unlike tree paper!

*The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a disaster waiting to happen Oil is far from ethical and ultimate kills many lives on land and sea. People go to war over oil, fueling the ego and greed mentality. It plays a huge contribution to the deforestation of the rainforests(whether for animal production, industry or paper production) is wide-spread pollution and environmental degradation on a global scale. We can't plant enough trees, they're our lifeblood! I'm scared for our children's future. Ultimately, all this is down to is unnecessary irresponsible human behaviour. Time to mend our ways perhaps?

* Reuse, Recycle, Reduce

* Eat and wear Hemp(Go vegan, eat a plant-based high-water fuelled diet:)!

* Pratise Yoga / Meditation

Friday 25 June 2010

Sunny Daze!

I appreciated a lovely, light and hydrating breakfast of organic cucumbers, Granny Smith / green apple and fresh strawberries making us feel wonderfully-light and energetically-vibrant like a child!

Eating high-water foods will change your life. Your eyes will sparkle, your skin will clear, your elimination will be easy, in fact, most everything will change, including how many times a day you need to go pee! :)
That's okay! Getting to know the nearest bathrooms is not always a bad thing.

If you are already a intuitive eater, then you are probably ahead of the pack in this area provided you are avoiding salt that will cause us to retain water. Salt (sodium chloride) is a poison that the body needs to dilute with retaining water to keep it away from the delicate tissues of the body.

We need natural sodium found in coconuts, celery, greens and some melons to keep us hydrated. Normal Walker, author of the book "What's Missing in Your Body" about Vegetable and fruit juices said that celery juice is the perfect solution to hot weather and keeps us cool. Intuitive eaters in general have body temperatures about 5degrees less than SAD eaters due to the fact that the body does not have to create a fever to "burn" up the heavier concentrated foods like starches, proteins and fats. These foods "sludge up" the circulation of the body and make it have to work harder.

Juicy fruits and veggies are the best for weight-loss. The reason for this is their cleansing ability. Also, in the book "Your Body's Many Cries for Water" it tells us that many cravings we get are because we are mistake thirst for hunger(If in doubt drink some water:0).

I'm no physician but in my humble opinion the best hydration natural drink solution to consume is pure coconut water(Perfect balance of hydrating electrolytes for the human body and therefore perfect for sports enthusiasts, mums-to-be, children and elderly alike:). Closely followed by awesome combo of organic celery and bananas. This is also great after a workout or strenuous activity. Let's no forget the humble fruit tomato, full of lycopene makes it a natural sun preventative measure too! This does not mean to disregard the slip, slop, slap(slip on a shirt, slop on some sunscreen, slap on a hat)mantra. Common sense still prevails!

Tuesday 8 June 2010

June 8th Peace

June 8th Peace

Be honest with yourself. The world is not honest with you. The world loves hypocrisy. When you are honest with yourself you find the road to inner peace.
—Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, Lecture

Sunday 6 June 2010

Soul Souper Soup!

3 carrots
3 sticks of celery
2 onions
2 cloves of garlic
olive oil
400g (14oz) tin of cannellini beans
200g (7oz) cauliflower
200g broccoli
200g spinach (I used baby spinach leaves)
2 large ripe tomatoes (I used two handfuls of cherry toms)
salt and pepper
cayenne pepper (I added this. Because it makes you feel alive!)
1.8 litres hot chicken or vegetable stock
(JO uses 2 stock cubes; I used Marigold vegetable stock powder)

1.Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a big pot over medium heat.
2.Chop up the celery, carrots, onions and garlic.
3.Chuck the above veggies in the pot. Cook for around 12 minutes until the carrots have softened but still holding their shape.
4.Meanwhile drain the cannellini beans. Break up the cauli and broccoli into small florets. Quarter the tomatoes.
5.Add those veggies to the pan along with the hot stock. Stir together.
6.This is where I added a few good shakes of cayenne pepper.
7.Bring to the boil the simmer for 10 minutes until the veggies are tender. This was more like 20 on my crappy stove.
8.When ready to serve, add the spinach to the pot and cook a further 30 seconds. Remove from heat.
9.Season with S&P.
JO says you can blend half the soup if you like it less chunky, but that would mean more washing up! He also suggests drizzling it with some extra virgin olive oil, which I'd never tried before but it was bloody delicious. This is the second JO soup I've made this month and they both had spinach chucked in at the end - that iron-y flavour

JO's recipe!

Saturday 22 May 2010

Inspirational Mama!

You can visit Anne's website at www.fruitgod.com and buy her book "Fruitarianism Path to Paradise"


Okay, as I was writing these out, I realized I had the most questions for you since you've been raw the longest. :) You are a fascinating person with a wealth of experience, thanks for doing this:

Thank you for this interview Michele;
it is a pleasure to answer your questions.

1) You were raw fruitarian when you got pregnant with Cappi--
Did you get any cravings? If so, how did you deal with them?

I did not get any cravings for cooked or processed food when I was pregnant with Cappi, but I did find that I had an attraction for the more savoury fruits; and I ate more Tomatoes, Cucumbers, and Avocados than I normally do.

Did you get any morning sickness or any other pregnancy-related sicknesses?

I was not sick, nor did I get any backache when pregnant. Certain smells did made me feel a bit queasy though. I felt very well and healthy and full of energy during my pregnancy, and I really enjoyed the nine months; it was a very special time in my life.
I worked as a massage therapist until I was eight months pregnant, and my bump was small so many of my clients did not even know I was pregnant.

How was the delivery?

I had a long second stage, and I did have some pain, but this was all managed with deep conscious breathing, and a wonderful midwife. I did not have any drugs and needed no stitches
I think that as we are physically formed in the womb (including our reproductive organs) genetics and the lifestyles and diets of our parents and grandparents will affect our own birth experiences.
I feel that we can do much with our own diets and lifestyles in order to have the best birth possible within our circumstances. But I do feel that 'The Sins of the Fathers' (or our forebears' lifestyles) will genetically affect our birth experiences.

How quickly did you recover from the birth?

Very quickly, I was back to my pre-pregnancy weight within a few days, and my stomach was back to flat the next day. This was a very pleasant surprise for me as after my first pregnancy (on a transition diet) my stomach took months to get back to flat.
I had good energy the next day and was out walking with one-day-old Cappi.

Did you eat more during the pregnancy? What did a typical day's food look like for you?

I did eat slightly more, and I really enjoyed my fruit.
I only put on 10kg(22lbs) during the pregnancy.
During the pregnancy, I was eating more Avocado and non-sweet fruits than I usually did.
I would have a seasonal juicy fruit for breakfast, maybe Orange Melon, Watermelon, Pineapple, or Passion Fruit.
I would have more juicy fruit mid-morning (unless I was working)
Lunch would usually be Avocado.
Mid afternoon would be more seasonal juicy sweet fruit.
Then in the evening I would sit down to dinner with Camlo, my elder son. We would have Avocado, Tomatoes, Cucumber and Bell Peppers.
I usually eat mono fruit meals, but I would often have a mixture of non-sweet fruits at dinner.

Was Cappi normal weight/height when born/growing up?

Cappi was in the 'normal' percentiles at birth and growing up, but at the lower end.
However, I personally think that it does not make sense to try to fit children who are on a simple raw diet into data charts based on children on a SAD diet.
Raw children, I feel, will have an endocrine system that is well-balanced, and therefore they will develop and grow at the appropriate time.
So many children have an endocrine system that is imbalanced, due to their diet containing processed food, growth hormones, and a large amount of animal products. As a result, many children, in Western society, are experiencing precocious puberty, and I think that this may affect lifespan, because for many mammals the longer the species takes to reach puberty, the longer is their lifespan.
Because hormones are responsible for growth and development, I would expect the growth and development of a raw child to be significantly different to a child on a highly processed diet that also contains animal products.
So I feel that standard height and weight charts are not really of much use to me and my children.
My elder boy was always, by Western society standards, a 'late developer' but he is now taller than anyone else in the family!

How was your nursing experience? How was your milk? How long did you nurse Cappi?

I loved nursing, one reason being that you have to take time out from everything else to sit and nurse; and for me, especially during the first weeks, it became a time where the World stopped turning and all that I needed to do was to take time to enjoy and focus on feeding my baby — nothing else mattered during that time.
I always had a good milk supply, and Cappi self-weaned at four years old.

How do you feel about home births?

I think that if the mother feels happy with birthing at home, then it needs to be an easy option for her. It seems that in Western society that option can be difficult to obtain.
If there are no complications, then, to me, home seems to be a wonderful place to give birth.
Cappi was born at home, under water, and it was so nice to be able to snuggle up with him in my own bed straight after giving birth.
It was also special to have my elder son present at the birth.

Did Cappi have any "childhood" diseases?

Cappi has had none of the 'usual' childhood illnesses such as mumps, measles or chicken pox. His elder brother has never had any either.
Both have not been immunised, and both have been in contact with other children with these diseases.
Cappi has had a few minor 'colds' which I see as elimination. I think that although his diet is good and has a Hygienic lifestyle, environmental pollutants cannot be avoided. We live near many Pineapple and Avocado farms where pesticides are frequently used.

What was his first food? What is his favorite food?

I cannot remember exactly what Cappi's first food was, it was probably some soft fruit such as mashed Banana or Papaya. Cappi showed an interest in fruit at a very early age. At three and a half months he started to reach out for my fruit — we were in Bali, and the fruit was just wonderful.
I have just asked Cappi what his fave fruit is; he called out "Durian!"

2) What do you feed your pets?

Our cat has BARF raw cat food, he also loves Avocado and will come running up at full speed if he spots anyone eating an Avo. I have heard that Avos can be toxic for cats and dogs, but I know of many pets who seem very healthy eating them. I also add nutritional yeast to the cat's diet.

3) Do you grow your own food? If so, what do you grow?

I love fruit trees and bushes and we have several young ones in our garden. Cappi really enjoys being able to pick his own fruit; and home-grown always tastes so wonderful.
Most of our baby fruit trees have yet to produce, but in the past year we have harvested Tomatoes, Mangoes, Blueberries, Mulberries, Strawberries, Passion Fruit, Youngberries and a lone (but very delicious) Fig from a very young Fig Tree.

4) How much do you spend each week on food?

For Cappi and I, Our food bill probably averages at around AU $160–$180.
If we are getting a lot of our fruit from fruit-growing friends, it will be less than this, and also if I am on a mono diet then I will spend less.

5) Tell us about the benefits of massage. How often do you get massages? How does massage fit into Natural Hygiene in your opinion?

I love Massage. Whilst I do not think massage heals the body, I certainly think that it can aid healing and increase a feeling of well-being by reducing stress and increasing blood and lymph flow.
I also find reflexology an amazing tool for diagnosis of imbalances and weaknesses in the body.
Therefore, I feel that massage can aid the body in its own healing; and so like sunshine and relaxation, massage can fit nicely into a Hygienic lifestyle.
I self-massage most days. I got lots of massages when I was pregnant, but have not had a professional massage since I gave birth to Cappi.

6) What made you turn into eating vegan? How old were you? What made you then want to go fruitarian?

As soon as I left home, I adopted a vegetarian diet, a year later when I was 19 I became a vegan. Becoming vegetarian and then vegan were purely for ethical reasons. I had been fortunate enough to have pretty good health as a child and teenager. However, when I went on a vegan diet, I immediately noticed a great improvement in my health. This discovery was totally unexpected, but it led me to make the connection between how I felt and what I put into my mouth; and this started me off on a quest to find the optimal diet for myself.
This quest led me to attend a talk by David Shelley, a local fruitarian author, at my local Animal Rights group. I was immediately impressed with David's glow, fitness, happiness, and energy.
I read David's book, and then along with a group of vegan friends I started to transition to a fruit diet.

8) Could you describe what you feel "overeating" is?

To me, overeating is when an individual eats an amount that is greater than the optimal quantity that the body requires at that specific point in time.

9) Where do you see yourself in 50 years?

Living in a Beautiful World, still raving over fruit, and going on foraging adventures with the great grandchildren.

10) What are some of your hobbies outside of health?

I love drawing, dancing, listening to live music, playing with Cappi, walking along beaches, spending time in rainforests, sewing, and collecting old or unusual fruity objects.

11) What is your favorite fruit?

Charentais Melon.

12) Where do you find all your interesting fruit research that you include in your blogs?

I love finding old books about health and fruit, they really inspire me. I love old copies of books, they seem to have a real history and a nice feel inside their covers. I also love researching on the internet. The internet has really helped me to find rare fruit and Natural Hygiene books; although, it is always exciting to me to scour second-hand bookshops.

13) How many meals a day do you consume?

Usually 3 or 4. If I mono diet, it is often 2 meals.

14) What time do you wake up in the morning? What time do you go to bed?

In the Summer I usually wake up between 4 and 4.30am, in the Winter usually between 5 and 6am.
I usually go to bed between 9 and 10 pm in the Summer and between 8 and 9pm in the Winter.

15) Were you tempted by cooked foods when you went raw? How did you deal with that? Do you ever get tempted now? If you don't, when did the cravings go away?
How did you keep your resolve?

I had a year transition to a fruit diet, and so I eased gently into a fruit diet, which, I feel, helped with cravings. I did not get big cravings for cooked food after this time. Except for a period of about 36 hours a few years into my raw diet when I got an intense craving for cooked eggs. I had not eaten eggs for about 8 years, and had never missed them when I became a vegan. I think if I had not been an ethical vegan, I would have caved in and had some.
The craving went away after 36 hours, never to return. I think that I may have been eliminating some toxins from cooked eggs I had eaten in the past, and this led to the craving.
Also, when I started out on the fruit diet, I had a new baby, and because I wanted to raise my child on a fruit diet, I did not want to be eating any cooked food myself; so I think having a child helped my resolve to be consistent on my fruit diet.

16) What advice would you give young people today?

Have fun, aim to be happy and positive, and enjoy your life in a way that will benefit both yourself and the planet.
Be aware that the choices that we make at any age will affect all the future ages of our lives.
Plant fruit seeds when you are young and you will have trees that grow up with you.

17) What is the most important element to health in your opinion?

Love, combined with natural food and clean air.

18) Did you have a hard time with being raw in the cold weather in the UK? If so, how did you deal with it?

Not really, as I was born in a cold climate. I found it important to exercise more to warm my body, especially if I was on a Melon mono diet.
I loved running in the cold, and would run in a vest and shorts to fruit shops, even at freezing temperatures. I have very fond memories of running in the cold.

19) What difference to you notice between Cappi's health and that of his friends? Does his diet cause any social challenges? If so, how do you handle it?

I notice that Cappi has a different kind of energy compared to children who are on SAD diets. His energy is bright and vibrant without being 'hyper', and it seems that his energy is more sustained than the 'up and down' energy of many young children. Also he never gets that thick green mucus that is so often being discharged from many children's noses!
Cappi also has a great attention span, and will spend ages engrossed on a project; I think that attention span can be greatly affected by chemicals and highly processed foods.
I have never found any real social challenges with both my children. I have found most people to be supportive and interested.
I feel that if one has confidence and faith in one's diet then this is mirrored back in how other people's responses to one's diet.
One special memory for me was during Camlo's (my elder child) first year in school; At Christmas the staff gave stockings full of sweets to the children, and they made a special fruit-filled stocking for Camlo. I was very touched by their thoughtfulness.
I have been blessed with great friends who have specially catered for my children when my children went to their birthday parties or played at their homes.

20) Do you ever have dinner guests over? If so, what do you serve them? What do you do when invited over as a dinner guest to someone else's house?

I sometimes make a fruitarian dinner, whilst at other times I have cooked a vegan meal for them.
Most people know about my diet, and I have been beautifully catered for at other people's homes. I am very grateful for the energies that friends and family have put into providing for my sons and I.

21) What kind of exercise do you do and how often?

I usually do a 40 minute workout first thing in the morning.
As I do not drive, I get to do plenty of walking most days, which I love.
I also dance for more intense exercise. I used to do a bit of running, but as I am homeschooling Cappi and care for him all day, I tend to dance instead as this fits in better with our lifestyle.

22) Describe your most challenging situation you've dealt with as a raw foodist.

I have been fortunate to have had a very happy and positive time since adopting a raw food diet.
I do feel, as I mentioned earlier, that if I have faith in my diet and lifestyle then that faith will be mirrored back to me both in how people react to my diet and also how I react to situations.
I have always found a great supply of fresh fruit wherever I have been. Sometimes great fruit seems to manifest in the most unlikely situations.

23) You've been on TV and have had magazine articles featuring you and your diet. Do you get recognized in public now? What do people say to you? Are they receptive? How do you handle the pressure? What do you say to those who tend to not be supportive?

I got recognised quite a bit after I was on 'Today, Tonight' on Aussie T.V.
I find most people to be interested and if not open to the diet themselves at least curious and wanting to know more.
I do not tend to get unsupportive comments in person, but I would hope that I would deal with them using Non-violent Communication.
I have had some negative comments on the internet, and I feel that it is often more challenging to communicate via the internet as there is a lack of personal contact. I try to use Non-violent Communication, and I try not take the comments too personally.
Generally, I do not feel any pressure, as the vast majority of my interaction with others is positive.

24) What does your extended family like your parents and siblings eat? Are they supportive of your diet? If not, how do you handle it? If so, how have you positively impacted them?

My family are on traditional Western diets. My late mother became vegetarian in her mid sixties after being raised in a Butcher's shop! She even had a quote by George Bernard Shaw taped to her fridge door. My mother was wonderful with Camlo, always taking care, and making time, to source and give him lovely fruit. My mum was the least judgemental person I have ever met and she always respected my decisions and never judged them. I am very thankful for having such a great mum.
My sister has also been supportive of my diet, and she really takes time to give Camlo and Cappi fruit to eat when they visit her. I really appreciate this.
When I spend time with my niece and nephew, they get to eat a lot of fruit. When I used to go and visit my sister and her family, I would usually take a Melon with me; the one time I arrived Melonless, my niece just looked at me and said "Where's the Melon Aunty Nan?"

25) What motivates you?

The wonderful inimitable feeling from being on a light fruit diet surpasses anything I have ever felt, and it is the desire to continue to feel great that motivates me.
I am also motivated by other raw foodists I have had the pleasure to meet, both in the fruity flesh and via the internet. I am inspired by the way people have transformed their health by changing their diets and lifestyles.
I am also motivated to exercise and keep my body in good condition when I watch Erwan Le Corre's videos.

Thank You Michele for the interview

Tuesday 13 April 2010

Wake Up!

Our health equals the health of wildlife and Earth. We are all connected. What you do each day impacts wildlife thousands of miles away. People should recognize that and adjust their lives accordingly to be a part of the solution rather than carry on being part of the disease we are calling global warming.