Superfoods on a Mission

I am so proud to announce my latest project SUPERFOODS ON A MISSION. SFOAM’s mission is to bring nutrient dense food to those who need it most and subsequently educate others in the process.

It is our intention to receive donations of SUPERFOODS from various manufacturers of only the highest sources along with monetary donations and grants to be used for purchasing these foods and operating the organization.

Mission #1 is underway with donations from Victoria Boutenko and Passion For Life Nutrition (Mama Chelsea’s). Victoria personally donated several copies of her Green for Life Books and PFL donated several packages of their best selling RawGranola, which includes goji berries and cacao. Also included in the First Mission are GoPals nori snacks and Odwalla Superfood Bars, Spirulina & Wheatgrass.

Since this first mission wasn’t planned and needed to happen in a rush, the non profit is not yet officially running but it is expected to be up and going in the next 45 days.

This first batch of Educational materials and SUPERFOODS is making its way to Iraq for a team of 5 soldiers who are serving though the Holidays. Although SFOAM doesn’t support the war, we do support the need for everyone to benefit from the nutrition and healing power of SUPERFOODS.

We believe good health, fresh water and education should be available to all. Our current target is those serving in the military and those with weakened immune systems, or lacking food. We request that you participate with us in spreading the word and helping those in need.

Blessings,

RawMa

 

15 Green Smoothies

Here’s why I love the Boutenko’s. It couldn’t be an easier than this to get your greens in.

 

July Raw Food Challenge

With the summer months heating up and making me feel so much better, I’m very motivated to get back to my Raw Routine. I lost my game this past winter but have taken on new life with the help of our friend the Sun, Green Drinks and exercise.

I have a sense of renewed motivation with my reaction to the scale last week along with the decline of Dad’s Health.

Some of you may remember he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in late 2009. He’s a great man, but very set in his ways and continues to be stubborn about his intake of whole foods. Of course it’s not just him, but my mother is the one who prepares the meals and even though I don’t like to point fingers I must say that it’s not that hard to “hide” the veggies in the food you make. In fact, I have found it really easy to incorporate tons of fruit and veggies in ways that my kids eat it with no problem.

It’s not all good. I have had my share of trial and error recipes with the Raw Food uncookbooks and my discerning family’s palate, but I’m not asking my dad to try elaborate raw meals. What I want here is WHOLE FOOD NUTRITION. You know…like what grows…can be picked….doesn’t have to be prepared much if at all. At the very least buying a bag of spinach and freeze it then blend up a handful with some frozen fruit. To me it’s simple. I know it’s not a cure but when you have almost zero fruits and vegetables daily, your energy, clarity and function shut down. In his case it’s worse because he is on medication that is causing severe side effects and he really needs all the help he can get. In the last 2 weeks, he has fallen and rushed to the Emergency room receiving a total of 10 stitches in his face. The falling is absolutely tragic to witness and humiliating and painful for him to endure. He is reluctantly now using a cane after much urging. His brain isn’t communicating with his limbs and so he begins to fall and with his arms by his sides he can not react to the fall until after it happens. So, with it progressing so quickly I really want to help any way I can aside from buying him a football helmet to wear ☺

Since I am still learning about how to help, I would love to hear any advice you may have for this journey. In the meantime, my Raw Food Challenge will last until the end of July. Who’s joining me?

♥RawMa

 

Brain Fog…Just say NO!

Is your head in the clouds…or could it be more of a FOG? He’s what I know for sure. When my intake of food shifts from the Standard American Diet to RAW, my body begins to detoxify and my mind fog begins to clear.

Since we live in a world of toxins, it’s normal to encounter the fog often without even realizing it. For me, since I’m usually between 70-80% raw, I really notice a big difference in my clarity. The higher raw, the more clear I am able to think. Thank goodness there is a cure for brain fog that doesn’t include a dose of pills. If I add in more greens and wheatgrass, it speeds up the process even more. I also know that if this happens in wintertime, my winter blues will fade away, which lead me to believe that processed foods are depressing. They make me fat and my mind goes to this foggy place. Depending on what I eat, even if only on occasion, I get really sleepy immediately after eating. The odd thing is that it’s hard to remember that bad things happen when eating processed foods especially when our senses are heightened with the aroma of pizza, bread, or apple pie.  It’s like being in a comatose state. I know because I’ve been there and it sucks. The after effects and repercussion of eating the SAD way have a terrible back-handed result for me and for many others.

Significant improvement in brain function is a common side effect of proper nutrition.

The brain requires many nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, a range of amino acids, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and other nutrients. Among the most important nutrients are calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, L-glutamine, L-taurine, choline, thiamine, B6, B12 and other B vitamins. B-vitamin deficiency is known to cause confusion, irritability, stupor, and even death.

Don’t punish yourself and think you can’t beat it. It’s a process that may take some time to work through. It happens to everyone who tries to make significant changes in their lives and change is hard, but so worth it. Just think about how much you can save in health insurance is you instead focus on your health right now and are consciously balancing your life with PREVENTATIVE care for your body. That’s what I practice by eating Raw, Living foods. I care about my future health, and I care about yours as well. Today I see so many seniors using their social security checks to pay for their bags of medications and I just want to cry, and then show them how to make green smoothies. Seriously, we can learn a lot from our elders. In this case, it would be a lesson in what not to do. PREVENT disease now, so you can have a brighter future that doesn’t rely on pills that cause other issues for your health. Ok, I can hear some of you screaming…”some people need meds”, yes I agree, but many do not need the add on drugs prescribed.

When there is a problem, does the doc give a pill, or an organic menu enhanced with a protocol to resolve the underlying problem? This debate can go on forever, but I just witnessed my own father taking meds that had side effects and the doc gave him yet another pill for that symptom when I know it can be fixed with better nutrition. He’s a stuborn guy who is very set in his ways, so I encourage him as much as he allows me to with better health ideas.

Anyone experiencing brain fog can begin by improving diet and lifestyle. Eliminate junk food, sugared foods, and highly processed foods. Reduce, or preferably, eliminate wheat, dairy, and other foods that may be causing allergic reactions. Rather than soda pop, coffee, or juice drink a minimum of 8 glasses of good water every day and add in some lemon to help out the detoxifying process.

EAT REAL FOOD and watch the miracles in your life and your health.

~RawMa

 

Dextoxing with Raw Foods and Colon Hydrotherapy

Once you’ve spent any amount of time diving into improving your health, eventually you’ll realize that no matter what you put into your body, it all needs to come out as well.

A really good cleanse does a body good. I always do an annual cleanse almost like a spring cleaning but for my body. I love the way I feel so light after a cleanse. Last year I did several cleanses over a period of months that worked for certain parts of my body. I began with a liver cleanse that lasted for 2 weeks, then moved on to a heavy metal cleanse, kidney, gallbladder, lymph and colon. My thought on the order of the cleanse made sense to me at the time, but I began with the liver and ended with it as well since I knew I would be flushing it with more toxins as the cleanse continued for other parts of the body. I thought maybe if I did the liver first, it would be able to process out the series of toxins to follow easier.

I’m about to begin a new cleanse and this time, I am considering a good whole body cleanse, but my main intention is to cleanse and build my digestion in a way that will benefit me for a longer period of time. Naturally Raw Foods assists in cleansing the body from toxins. It’s high fiber content and enzymes act as a broom to sweep away toxins. I feel the need to help it further along, so I will also be going to see a Certified Colon Hydrotherapist. I had a great once back in Valencia, CA but since I’m in Oregon now, I’ll have to do some homework on the local hydrotherapists and get a good referral ahead of time. DO NOT go to a therapist who isn’t certified in some manner for this process. If you haven’t been before, it can be a little intimidating and it’s nice to have someone with a good bedside manner who has the experience to back it up.

I’ve also heard about the coffee enema but haven’t tried it yet. Why not wheatgrass or spirulina? Just wondering why of all things a coffee enema? Guess I have some research to do.

I’ve been asked a lot about the Master Cleanse. I have friends who swear by it and certainly loose weight and toxins with the plan, but I personally haven’t been able to stick to it for more than a couple of days. Some people are more focused than me and can totally handle it. I prefer to cleanse a little daily as well with lots of lemon juice and I add cayenne to my water during winter months.

Here’s a handy tip for you. Last winter I had a nagging cough in the middle of the night and I was able to relieve it only with some liquid cayenne in warm water. I gargled then swallowed the water and it went away. It also warmed me up a bit. I get my liquid cayenne from HerbFarm. It’s available at most natural food stores. I love to use it in sauces also because it can blend easier than the powder but you have to be careful with how much you use since it’s so potent.

That’s it about the cleanse so…bottoms up!

~RawMa

 

Sprouting Seeds

There are many different seeds you can sprout. Pick the ones you love and begin to play with your living food. The health benefits are tremendous when you eat sprouts of all kinds. I like to sprout sunflower seeds and lentils. After drying them out, I sprinkle with my favorite seasoning so I can snack on them throughout the day.

Directions to Sprout Sunflower Seeds
Here are the basic steps to sprout sunflower seeds.

Purchase sunflower seeds for sprouting: To make sunflower seed sprouts, you must start with organic, hulled sunflower seeds. The kind you can buy at the grocery store are usually roasted and salted or at the least, just roasted, which kills the enzymes inside the sprout, making them unable to grow. There are plenty of sources for sunflower seeds: Health food stores, grocery chains such as Whole Foods Markets and Fresh Fields, and online sources such as Sprout People.
Cull the bad seeds: After purchasing the seeds, go through the seeds and remove any that are discolored or look funny. Rinse the seeds under cool water. It may be helpful to place the seeds in a fine mesh strainer, rinse, then pour them into your bowl or sprouting jar.
Find a sprouting bowl or jar: Sunflower seeds sprouts can be sprouted in a plain ceramic or glass bowl, or you can use a Mason jar or sprouting jar. Because they soak rather than sprout, you will only need to keep them in water for a few hours before they’re ready to eat.
Pour about 1 cup of seeds into the bowl. If you think that will make too much for you to eat, reduce the amounts but keep the proportion of 1 to 3 (1 portion of seeds to 3 portions of water).
Add 3 cups of cool water.
Soak for two hours.
Drain the water.
Rinse with cool water
Enjoy…they’re ready to eat!
Sunflower seed sprouts should never develop leaves or roots. Look for sprouts that just have a bit peeking out from the seeds. That’s a sign of a good, wholesome, nutritious sprout.

Storage
If you must, you can store sunflower seed sprouts for a few days but they don’t store well. The secret to longer storage is to pat them dry and store them in a cool spot in the fridge. Cover the glass bowl or jar or pour the sprouts into a plastic bag to store them.

Enjoy!

 

Wheat Grass’ secret weapon is…

CHLOROPHYLL! When you consume wheat grass for a few days in a row, you begin to notice many benefits (no, it’s not the flavor). If you do nothing else but add in a few shots of wheat grass every week to your diet, you will see massive improvements to your mental clarity, vision, skin and digestion among a few. Chlorophyll is most abundant in wheat grass, green leafy vegetables, barley grass and certain forms of algae. To get chlorophyll benefits, you may want to increase your current consumption level of all of these foods. You can also purchase liquid chlorophyll in health food stores but my favorite way to get it is from fresh Wheat Grass.

Chlorophyll is widely believed to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which means that it can be useful in helping to heal the body in a variety of different ways. It is also considered to be an internal deodorizer and if you purchase the liquid form of chlorophyll, you can use it as a mouthwash.
Get your fill of liquid sunshine today and feel the energy!

 

30 Day 100% Raw Challenge

Well, after many months of 80% raw, I was feeling the need for a body cleanse. The best way to clean out your system is to go hard core 100% raw. In order to get the full benefits and feel the bliss of the raw living vegan food lifestyle, you have to just do it…for a minimum of 30 days. You will be glowing in no time at all.
I hope you join me in this adventure. I officially started Sept. 1st, so I am on day 4 and it’s a breeze so far. The key to make this work for you is a little forethought and minimum prep work.

I’ll be posting my daily food diary so you can get an idea of how I’m making it work. I’m enjoying seeing people’s response to what I’m eating. Once I share a tried and true treat with them, they really get interested.

There is still a huge misconception of what “Raw” actually means. It doesn’t sound that appealing, especially if someone doesn’t know you that well. They may assume you eat raw meat. I’m personally a raw vegan at best, but mostly raw vegitarian. I know my body doesn’t do well with dairy, but my mind struggles with cheese. This 30 day cleanse has already brought me amazing clarity, courage, confidence and better outlook on my day. I can’t encourage you enough to give it a shot. If you’re new to this, don’t be affraid. You can do it.

 

Hair in the Raw

As I am getting a little older, and a little Rawer, I’ve noticed some changes to my hair along with some other changes that I felt could be age related, not Raw related.

A few months ago I began to notice I was loosing more hair than normal after shampooing. At first I thought it was the amount of stress in my life. I tried various remedies to assist my problem. I washed it less often, massaged my scalp and put coconut butter on it to help rejuvenate the ends for a healthier “look”. Finally, upon a routing doctors visit, I mentioned it since the doc had requested some blood work as I was also experiencing very low energy. This is unusual with raw foods at I was at 75% raw, so I knew something wasn’t right.

In addition to loosing hair, the hair I had was becoming dull and wirey. Even though we strive to have a balanced life, sometimes things happen to wake us up. Just because I was 75% raw doesn’t mean I was making solid balanced nutrient choices. This has been a challenge for me and I tend to go for the raw desserts a bit too much. Even though I was loosing hair, I was still mainly concerned with the quality of the rest of my hair. Doing what most people do…looking at the symptom, not the problem itself.

The results came back and indicated a sluggish thyroid along with an unhealthy low percentage of Vitamin D. Since this was my first visit to our new family doctor, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I selected her as our family doctor specifically because she also practices homeopathic medicine. I was thrilled when she wrote me a prescription for Kelp. I had to laugh because in the past when I went to a medical doctor, it was always some kind of drug they were trying to pawn off on me. 90% of the time I would throw the prescription away and search out a natural remedy.

This was a real treat. I felt like my life relating to health was finally coming to meet me on my terms. I was told that kelp in all forms would improve my thyroid function due to the Iodine and as an added benefit would enhance my hair. It’s been 3 weeks now and my hair is stronger and fuller than it’s been in months. Thankfully, I’m loosing the normal amount of hair now.

I was not previously eating Kelp on my Raw diet and I was concerned about the taste, so I opted for the easily absorbing liquid formula from my local health co-op. This was so interesting to me, but the Vitamin D thing really threw me. Growing up in Southern California, we never had to think about Vitamin D. We just got it every minute of the day, but when we moved to Southern Oregon I didn’t account for how many cloudy days there would be, not to mention getting more raw once we moved. These two things combined put me so low on the Vitamin D reserves, that my new doctor recommended 2000 I.U. per day in a supplement. I found a great Vegan brand that is Lanolin-free called VegLife. Since I’ve been taking them, I feel much better and my outlook has improved as well. Sunshine in a bottle. I also began a detox program and started 2 oz. daily wheatgrass shots again. I just feel sooo good when I do this for myself.

The moral of this story is that all of our bodies are different and therefore need different vitamins and minerals to function at optimum capacity.

I highly recommend getting your blood work done so you know where you stand. Once you know, begin learning about vitamins and minerals from natural sources so you can have the benefits of a COMPLETE LIVING FOOD lifestyle.

If you want to dig right into it, a great book is David Wolfe’s Eating for Beauty. He did a wonderful job breaking it all down. I just finished reading it this weekend. If I had read it sooner, I could have avoided some of these changes I went though.

~RawMa