My goal, ever since I found my "cure" for Lupus was to tell the world and in some small way help others heal themselves as well.
I have a very dear friend who as been suffering with her cancer for the last five years. I have seen her go to every doctor imaginable (in this country as well as others) to find her own cure. Sometimes she will go into remission, only to be told a few months later "its back". Since finding out about raw foods and the phenomenal impact it has on the body and mind I have encouraged her to make changes, including trying to find her way to the Hippocrates Institute, however fear is great in a sick body and while she has made some rather small changes in her diet, she has not allowed herself to fully heal. She has yet to let go of the belief that a doctor would fix her and that SOMEWHERE in this world someone could help her! While I kept thinking "Hello, I'm right here! Let ME help you!" but she had to get to the point where she realized that modern medicine was not the answer and the answer was staring her right in the face. She's finally there...
Today we had a nice chat and she has decided to come stay with me for a week so I can teach her what I know; show her how to take care of herself; and let her see at the end of the week that there is a cure for her and that she CAN have a better life.
I'm so happy, my soul is dancing!!!!
Remember when I told you about my "there" moment (see posting)? I had hit rock bottom; I was scared to death that I would die in my home and no one would know; and I promised God on my hands and knees that I would share what I learned with the world if He would help me find a cure. While I know through this blog (and my big mouth) I have been able to help others (sometimes whether they want it or not) and that just by being ME I am making a difference. Well today was a milestone for me, I am finally making a difference in someone I love. How amazing is that?!
May you ALL find what you need for your own CURE.
God bless....
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
A GF Passover
PASSOVER IS A CELIAC'S DREAM
Traditionally all kosher foods are gluten free with the exception of Gefilte and Matso (however, I just heard that there IS one brand of Gelfite that is GF). This list was complied from several Internet sites for those who want to share in the traditional values where Passover is concerned.
I know this sounds weird, but there are certain Jewish sects that don't even eat products made with matzah meal over Passover. So there are tons of products that are made without any matzah and therefore are GF. These products are all labeled non-gebrok (meaning no matzah). If you live in an area where there are a lot of Jews, there may be a Kosher grocery store. You can find tons of products that are GF, ranging from yogurt to cheese to salad dressings, etc. All these products are made without any grains and the vinegars used and foods starches used are all made from potatoes. They even have amazing (though full of sugar) desserts, made only from potato starch. A great bakery that makes kosher for Passover desserts and even states they are GF is called Schicks. Their web site is schicksbakery.com. You should check it out. Passover is a haven for celiacs. Just read labels and stay away from any products that contain matzah meal.
I know a lot of celiacs who pine away for Passover time to stock up on grain free chocolate chips, margarine, baking powder, etc. I buy all the chips and such we can have for a year -- my four celiac children like chocolate chip cookies like everyone else -- and when we run out, we're out.
I know a lot of celiacs who pine away for Passover time to stock up on grain free chocolate chips, margarine, baking powder, etc. I buy all the chips and such we can have for a year -- my four celiac children like chocolate chip cookies like everyone else -- and when we run out, we're out.
Actually, there are lots of gf passover foods. many stock up on some thing at passover for the whole year, since they need to be made without the 4 grains. just check to make sure there is no matza meal. there is even gf certified oat matza. there's gefilte fish also. just look for the words "non-gebreucht" and it won't have matza meal. so many things are made with potato starch instead- even some blintzes. and they are actually good. also remember that the "u" inside the "o" is not enough. it needs to say "P" inside the "U" and be "non gebreucht" to not have the matza meal in the recipe. also lots of desserts are in this category.
We're sending this note from Gluten-Free Trading Company to let you know about two things:
We've just received a big selection of Kosher for Passover items. Even our non-Jewish customers will be interested in these potato starch based products, which are available only in the spring. They include cookies, ready-to-eat cupcakes, egg noodles, chow mein noodles, salty snacks, "shake and bake" type coating mixes, "bread" crumbs, and of course matzo ball (dumpling) mix. For details please go to our website.
Gluten-Free Trading Company is based inMilwaukee , Wisconsin
________________________________________________________________Gluten-Free Trading Company is based in
SOME SPECIFIC PRODUCTS BY SPECIFIC COMPANIES
Leibers makes GF matzah ball soup mix.
There are GF potato and vegetable blintzes. Gefilte fish is a tough one, but, I hear there is a GF one. There are a ton of prepared baked goods made with potato starch. There is Gf Matzah! Yes, made in Israel
HOW TO MAKE GLUTEN FREE MATSO
HOW TO MAKE GLUTEN FREE MATSO
Check out this video clip of a lady making matso for Passover. It gives step-by-step directions on making it yourself GF! Go to: www.Iamglutenfree.blogspot.com
Friday, March 5, 2010
Are you sleeping enough?
There’s no denying the fact that we all need sleep. If you’ve ever gone without it — and who hasn’t at one point or another — you know what a profound effect it can have on your ability to get through your daily routine. But if you think getting a good night’s sleep just helps you stay alert, think again. In reality, it supports your health in a number of ways. Here are some of the more common examples of how sleep can benefit your overall health.
Getting Your Zs May Help Your Heart
You know that sleep is good for you, but did you know that it’s also good for your heart? It’s true. In fact, not getting enough sleep has been linked to two major risk factors for heart disease and stroke: increased blood pressure and cholesterol levels. But getting enough sleep may help to keep these numbers in check. What’s more, sleep also helps to ease inflammation in the body, which is important since inflammation is one of the key markers of heart health. So do your heart a favor and make sleep a priority.
And for another way to be good to your heart, try Schiff® MegaRed® Omega-3 Krill Oil. It’s sourced from krill, tiny crustaceans that thrive in the frigid waters of the Antarctic. MegaRed® provides an optimal combination of omega-3s, phospholipids and critical antioxidants, without the fishy smell or aftertaste. And just one MegaRed® softgel daily is all it takes to help promote cardiovascular health.*
Sleep Boosts Your Brain Power
You’ve probably noticed that not getting enough sleep at night can leave you feeling a bit foggy-headed the next day. But you might be surprised to learn that it’s not just drowsiness. Sleep directly supports your brain and your cognitive abilities in more ways than you probably realize. For one, it’s closely linked to brain plasticity, which refers to your brain’s ability to continue changing and forming new connections throughout your life. Getting an adequate amount of sleep actually enhances your ability to process new information and grasp new concepts more quickly. And it also has profound effects on memory. During REM sleep, for example, our brains organize and store memories, making it easier to recall them later on.
Sleep Supports the Immune System
While there’s no sure-fire way to avoid getting sick, there are plenty of things you can do to help keep your immune system working like it should. And getting an adequate amount of shuteye each night is one of them. While your body is at rest, it produces chemicals that modulate the immune system and enhance your ability to fight off infections. And that little boost can make all the difference if you come into contact with someone who’s sick. What’s more, sleep boosts the production of killer T cells, which help the body to fight off viruses. It also supports immunity by regulating the body’s production of cortisol, a hormone that has been linked to decreased immune function.
To help keep your immune system functioning like it should, try Schiff® ImmunAssure. It provides daily immune support and helps boost your immunity when you need it most. This science-based supplement contains immunoglobulins — a class of antibodies that trigger a powerful immune response — plus Vitamin C, Echinacea and Andrographis, all of which support healthy immune function.
Sleep May Aid in Weight Management
Want to help keep your weight in check? In addition to eating right and exercising, make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Studies have shown that people who get less than seven hours of sleep a night are more likely to be overweight than people who get seven hours or more. Why? One reason might be that sleep helps to control the production of leptin and ghrelin, two hormones that regulate appetite. When you don’t get enough rest, this balance gets disrupted. And as a result, your appetite for fats and carbohydrates increases, making you more apt to overeat and gain weight. Not getting enough sleep can also impact your metabolism by altering the way your body processes and stores carbohydrates.
Rest Is Restorative
Think about how you feel after a good night’s rest. Rejuvenated, right? Well, when you consider how restorative sleep is, it’s really no surprise. While you’re snoozing away, your body replenishes and repairs itself in a variety of ways. Protein synthesis is just one example of this. During sleep, your body produces proteins, which are the building blocks for all cells. These proteins help the body to repair itself from the cellular level up, reversing the damage of things like stress, infection and exposure to environmental stressors like pollution and ultraviolet rays. Sleep also stimulates the production of human growth hormone (hGH), which is essential for many physiological processes, including muscle, bone and collagen turnover. And all of this activity helps you look better too. No wonder they call it beauty sleep!
Melatonin helps set your body’s biological clock to initiate sleep. To help promote healthy sleep patterns, we recommend taking a melatonin supplement at bedtime. And with three varieties to choose from, we have one for every need.
We already touched on the fact that getting plenty of sleep helps to regulate your blood pressure, which will help keep your heart healthy. But another way that sleep supports heart health is by keeping stress in check. Since stress increases wear and tear throughout the body, managing stress is vital for good health. Conversely, not getting enough sleep can increase the level of stress hormones in your body, which contributes to high blood pressure and an increased risk of heart disease and other health problems. Not only that, the more stress hormones there are in your body, the more trouble you’ll have falling asleep in the first place. But by maintaining a regular sleep schedule, you can limit your body’s production of stress hormones, which will help you rest easier. And when you’re well rested, you’ll also be better able to cope with day-to-day stress.
Sleep Has Mood-Boosting Benefits
We’ve all heard the saying about waking up on the wrong side of the bed. But maybe what people really mean when they use this expression is that they just didn’t get enough sleep. After all, sleep is strongly linked to mood. The better you sleep at night, the more likely you are to be in a good mood the following day. One explanation for this is the fact that sleep affects the levels of chemicals in the body that regulate mood, like serotonin. So by making sleep a priority and getting enough rest each night, you’re more likely to be a happy, healthy person.
For another way to promote healthy moods, make sure you’re getting enough Vitamin D. In addition to supporting heart health and helping to maintain strong bones and muscles, this essential fat-soluble nutrient promotes healthy moods. To boost your levels of Vitamin D, we recommend spending a little time in the sunshine each day and taking Schiff® Vitamin D 2,000 IU. It contains Vitamin D3, which is more powerful and more efficiently absorbed by the body than Vitamin D2.
Being Well Rested Improves Alertness and Productivity
It should come as no surprise that how alert you are during the day is inextricably tied to the amount of sleep you get at night. And when you wake up feeling rested and alert, you’ll be more capable and productive as a result. You’ll be able to think faster and react more quickly — and that can also help keep you safe. Consider car accidents, for example. According to some estimates, sleep deprivation plays a role in 30% of all automobile collisions. That’s an eye-opening statistic. And if you work in a job where you deal with potentially dangerous situations, getting enough sleep is especially important. When you’re well rested, you’ll be better able to make smart, safe decisions.
Sleep Increases Energy
If you feel sluggish during the day, chances are you might not be getting enough sleep at night. Making sleep a priority will give you the energy you need to do the things you want to do. And because you’ll be busy burning all that energy during the day, you’ll also sleep better at night as a result. Talk about a win-win!
Sleep Supports Longevity
If all the little ways that sleep supports your health on a day-to-day basis weren’t enough to convince you to make sleep a priority, consider this: sleep may just help you live longer. Studies have shown that people who regularly get seven to nine hours of sleep a night have a tendency to live longer than people who don’t sleep that much. If you ask us, it sounds like all the aforementioned ways that sleep supports your health can really add up in the long run. And we don’t know about you, but that’s all the reason we need to make sleep a priority. For more tips on how to stay healthy, keep exploring www.schiffvitamins.com.
*May reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Supportive, but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
Getting Your Zs May Help Your Heart
You know that sleep is good for you, but did you know that it’s also good for your heart? It’s true. In fact, not getting enough sleep has been linked to two major risk factors for heart disease and stroke: increased blood pressure and cholesterol levels. But getting enough sleep may help to keep these numbers in check. What’s more, sleep also helps to ease inflammation in the body, which is important since inflammation is one of the key markers of heart health. So do your heart a favor and make sleep a priority.
And for another way to be good to your heart, try Schiff® MegaRed® Omega-3 Krill Oil. It’s sourced from krill, tiny crustaceans that thrive in the frigid waters of the Antarctic. MegaRed® provides an optimal combination of omega-3s, phospholipids and critical antioxidants, without the fishy smell or aftertaste. And just one MegaRed® softgel daily is all it takes to help promote cardiovascular health.*
Sleep Boosts Your Brain Power
You’ve probably noticed that not getting enough sleep at night can leave you feeling a bit foggy-headed the next day. But you might be surprised to learn that it’s not just drowsiness. Sleep directly supports your brain and your cognitive abilities in more ways than you probably realize. For one, it’s closely linked to brain plasticity, which refers to your brain’s ability to continue changing and forming new connections throughout your life. Getting an adequate amount of sleep actually enhances your ability to process new information and grasp new concepts more quickly. And it also has profound effects on memory. During REM sleep, for example, our brains organize and store memories, making it easier to recall them later on.
Sleep Supports the Immune System
While there’s no sure-fire way to avoid getting sick, there are plenty of things you can do to help keep your immune system working like it should. And getting an adequate amount of shuteye each night is one of them. While your body is at rest, it produces chemicals that modulate the immune system and enhance your ability to fight off infections. And that little boost can make all the difference if you come into contact with someone who’s sick. What’s more, sleep boosts the production of killer T cells, which help the body to fight off viruses. It also supports immunity by regulating the body’s production of cortisol, a hormone that has been linked to decreased immune function.
To help keep your immune system functioning like it should, try Schiff® ImmunAssure. It provides daily immune support and helps boost your immunity when you need it most. This science-based supplement contains immunoglobulins — a class of antibodies that trigger a powerful immune response — plus Vitamin C, Echinacea and Andrographis, all of which support healthy immune function.
Sleep May Aid in Weight Management
Want to help keep your weight in check? In addition to eating right and exercising, make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Studies have shown that people who get less than seven hours of sleep a night are more likely to be overweight than people who get seven hours or more. Why? One reason might be that sleep helps to control the production of leptin and ghrelin, two hormones that regulate appetite. When you don’t get enough rest, this balance gets disrupted. And as a result, your appetite for fats and carbohydrates increases, making you more apt to overeat and gain weight. Not getting enough sleep can also impact your metabolism by altering the way your body processes and stores carbohydrates.
Rest Is Restorative
Think about how you feel after a good night’s rest. Rejuvenated, right? Well, when you consider how restorative sleep is, it’s really no surprise. While you’re snoozing away, your body replenishes and repairs itself in a variety of ways. Protein synthesis is just one example of this. During sleep, your body produces proteins, which are the building blocks for all cells. These proteins help the body to repair itself from the cellular level up, reversing the damage of things like stress, infection and exposure to environmental stressors like pollution and ultraviolet rays. Sleep also stimulates the production of human growth hormone (hGH), which is essential for many physiological processes, including muscle, bone and collagen turnover. And all of this activity helps you look better too. No wonder they call it beauty sleep!
Melatonin helps set your body’s biological clock to initiate sleep. To help promote healthy sleep patterns, we recommend taking a melatonin supplement at bedtime. And with three varieties to choose from, we have one for every need.
- Melatonin is perfect for people who just want a little help getting to sleep.
- For people who want extra support, you can get Schiff® Melatonin Plus (something I used during my last flare). It contains more melatonin – 3 mg, along with theanine, a natural amino acid found in green tea, to help relieve occasional stress.
We already touched on the fact that getting plenty of sleep helps to regulate your blood pressure, which will help keep your heart healthy. But another way that sleep supports heart health is by keeping stress in check. Since stress increases wear and tear throughout the body, managing stress is vital for good health. Conversely, not getting enough sleep can increase the level of stress hormones in your body, which contributes to high blood pressure and an increased risk of heart disease and other health problems. Not only that, the more stress hormones there are in your body, the more trouble you’ll have falling asleep in the first place. But by maintaining a regular sleep schedule, you can limit your body’s production of stress hormones, which will help you rest easier. And when you’re well rested, you’ll also be better able to cope with day-to-day stress.
Sleep Has Mood-Boosting Benefits
We’ve all heard the saying about waking up on the wrong side of the bed. But maybe what people really mean when they use this expression is that they just didn’t get enough sleep. After all, sleep is strongly linked to mood. The better you sleep at night, the more likely you are to be in a good mood the following day. One explanation for this is the fact that sleep affects the levels of chemicals in the body that regulate mood, like serotonin. So by making sleep a priority and getting enough rest each night, you’re more likely to be a happy, healthy person.
For another way to promote healthy moods, make sure you’re getting enough Vitamin D. In addition to supporting heart health and helping to maintain strong bones and muscles, this essential fat-soluble nutrient promotes healthy moods. To boost your levels of Vitamin D, we recommend spending a little time in the sunshine each day and taking Schiff® Vitamin D 2,000 IU. It contains Vitamin D3, which is more powerful and more efficiently absorbed by the body than Vitamin D2.
Being Well Rested Improves Alertness and Productivity
It should come as no surprise that how alert you are during the day is inextricably tied to the amount of sleep you get at night. And when you wake up feeling rested and alert, you’ll be more capable and productive as a result. You’ll be able to think faster and react more quickly — and that can also help keep you safe. Consider car accidents, for example. According to some estimates, sleep deprivation plays a role in 30% of all automobile collisions. That’s an eye-opening statistic. And if you work in a job where you deal with potentially dangerous situations, getting enough sleep is especially important. When you’re well rested, you’ll be better able to make smart, safe decisions.
Sleep Increases Energy
If you feel sluggish during the day, chances are you might not be getting enough sleep at night. Making sleep a priority will give you the energy you need to do the things you want to do. And because you’ll be busy burning all that energy during the day, you’ll also sleep better at night as a result. Talk about a win-win!
Sleep Supports Longevity
If all the little ways that sleep supports your health on a day-to-day basis weren’t enough to convince you to make sleep a priority, consider this: sleep may just help you live longer. Studies have shown that people who regularly get seven to nine hours of sleep a night have a tendency to live longer than people who don’t sleep that much. If you ask us, it sounds like all the aforementioned ways that sleep supports your health can really add up in the long run. And we don’t know about you, but that’s all the reason we need to make sleep a priority. For more tips on how to stay healthy, keep exploring www.schiffvitamins.com.
*May reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Supportive, but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
New Smoothie......
Created this one all by myself! ;0))
BLUEBERRY POMEGRANATE SMOOTHIE
1 cup blueberry juice
1 cup pomegranate juice
2 scoops Amazing Grass Company SuperFoods (berry flavor)
3 cups of ice
1 tbsp raw agave
Blend on high for 20 seconds. Will come out like a slushy! Enjoy!
Serves 2
BLUEBERRY POMEGRANATE SMOOTHIE1 cup blueberry juice
1 cup pomegranate juice
2 scoops Amazing Grass Company SuperFoods (berry flavor)
3 cups of ice
1 tbsp raw agave
Blend on high for 20 seconds. Will come out like a slushy! Enjoy!
Serves 2
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Dry Skin
I have been living with DH for several years and pretty much have it under control but I have a horrible time with my dry skin. Do you have this problem too and if so how do you deal with it?
I do have dry skin, actually I have had dry skin for as long as I can remember. When my friends in high school were complaining about oiling skin I had no idea what they were talking about!
So I asked my dermatologist how do get my skin hydrated and she told me three very important things. First and foremost make sure you products are gluten free! No Wheat Germ Oil or Barley or Oats as your moisturizing ingredients and they are in a LOT of products so read your labels!
Second, that I needed to omit fatty oils and caffeine from my life because they causes the organs to dry out. She recommended that I eat more water producing/hydrating fruits and veggies (greens, watermelon,, pineapple, oranges, etc) and nuts (for their oils) AND to drink at least 8 or more glasses of water a day. She gave me this example about water: for every bottle of water we drink we only use 1/3 of it to hydrate our internal organs and skin, which is why its recommended we drink 8 glasses a day (or more) and if you consume products with caffeine in it, lets say coffee, you need to drink the same amount of water to balance it out meaning it doesn't qualify as your 8 glasses a day. I have found that by adding raw foods (more greens and fruits) to my diet my skin is much more hydrated!
And finally, she told me to do more to "seal in the moisture of the skin" on the outside to protect it from dry air/heat. I shower with a moisturizing gel (Yes To Carrots Showergel), rub down my wet body with a good massage oil (those made with coconut, jojoba, kukui, etc) ~ my most favorite thing to use is Alba Organic Body Oil made with kukui and coconut oils, but if I cannot get that I will use jojoba with some calming essential oils like lavender ~ and then towel off pushing the oils even further into my skin. During the summer time this is usually enough, however in the winter I add another layer of moisture by putting a good quality organic moisturizer on after I have dried off. I try to use the body lotion by Alba because it has great oils in it as well. Just a note about body butters: they are great, but I find with the oil on my body it may be more difficult to absorb so I use the lotion on most of my body and the butter on heals/elbows/extra dry areas. Just work with it and find whats best for you.
Did you know that when we are born we are 80 percent water and throughout life we tend to have only 50-60 percent of our body weight as water? This means we do this to ourselves! We are horribly dehydrated! Get moisture into your body wherever you can now because most diseases develop because of dehydration so do everything you can to stop it from happening to you! The sad part is no one ever "realizes" they are dehydrated. If you get "thirsty" you waited too long!!!! So get drinking!
I do have dry skin, actually I have had dry skin for as long as I can remember. When my friends in high school were complaining about oiling skin I had no idea what they were talking about!
So I asked my dermatologist how do get my skin hydrated and she told me three very important things. First and foremost make sure you products are gluten free! No Wheat Germ Oil or Barley or Oats as your moisturizing ingredients and they are in a LOT of products so read your labels!
Second, that I needed to omit fatty oils and caffeine from my life because they causes the organs to dry out. She recommended that I eat more water producing/hydrating fruits and veggies (greens, watermelon,, pineapple, oranges, etc) and nuts (for their oils) AND to drink at least 8 or more glasses of water a day. She gave me this example about water: for every bottle of water we drink we only use 1/3 of it to hydrate our internal organs and skin, which is why its recommended we drink 8 glasses a day (or more) and if you consume products with caffeine in it, lets say coffee, you need to drink the same amount of water to balance it out meaning it doesn't qualify as your 8 glasses a day. I have found that by adding raw foods (more greens and fruits) to my diet my skin is much more hydrated!
And finally, she told me to do more to "seal in the moisture of the skin" on the outside to protect it from dry air/heat. I shower with a moisturizing gel (Yes To Carrots Showergel), rub down my wet body with a good massage oil (those made with coconut, jojoba, kukui, etc) ~ my most favorite thing to use is Alba Organic Body Oil made with kukui and coconut oils, but if I cannot get that I will use jojoba with some calming essential oils like lavender ~ and then towel off pushing the oils even further into my skin. During the summer time this is usually enough, however in the winter I add another layer of moisture by putting a good quality organic moisturizer on after I have dried off. I try to use the body lotion by Alba because it has great oils in it as well. Just a note about body butters: they are great, but I find with the oil on my body it may be more difficult to absorb so I use the lotion on most of my body and the butter on heals/elbows/extra dry areas. Just work with it and find whats best for you.Did you know that when we are born we are 80 percent water and throughout life we tend to have only 50-60 percent of our body weight as water? This means we do this to ourselves! We are horribly dehydrated! Get moisture into your body wherever you can now because most diseases develop because of dehydration so do everything you can to stop it from happening to you! The sad part is no one ever "realizes" they are dehydrated. If you get "thirsty" you waited too long!!!! So get drinking!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Q & A
I get a lot of emails, of which I normally just respond to the person directly, but this past week I got several different emails and thought they were things others might be wondering as well. So here's a little Q&A that I hopes help all:
I find it hard being gluten free and a vegan. How do you manage it?
First, I read ingredients and always look around for great new products. Also, the more raw foods you eat the less you have to worry about gluten free. I have found that mostly it is the "processed" foods that I have difficulty finding both vegan and gluten free version (that taste good), however since I rarely eat processed foods I don't really have the concern. One great resource I love is VegNews Magazine. It is the only magazine I subscribe to and they are always reporting on great new GFV products (as well a vegan products and raw food recipes). I read it cover to cover several times before I give it away. For those of you who don't know, you can find some GF and dairy free products, but rarely are they egg free although sometimes we do get lucky ~ for example, Amy's has just come out with GFV Mac & Cheese and when I get a "craving" I just might have to try it!
I read that you are not 100% raw and wanted to know why. Also, why do you eat cooked foods and what kind of cooked foods are they?
I am probably 70% raw right now, however there are days when I am 100%, it just depends on me and what I feel like eating. However, when I do eat cooked foods rarely processed beforehand. For example I might want GF Oatmeal one morning or a Stirfry for lunch one day. Everything is fresh and as organic as possible, the grains are complete (whole grains in their natural state like brown rice or oats), and its usually only one of meals for the day. The reason I eat cooked foods now is that I finally understand the foods I'm eating. I learned that there are many diets out there that help those with lupus, cancer, MS, etc because they omit the same things: processed foods and refined sugars.
Going raw taught me what food was and how it affected my body and that I didn't have to eat all raw to get the nutrition I needed. Yes I know that once you cook the food you do loose some of its nutritional value, but hey....I'm human and like cooked foods especially in the winter (its a comfort thing...). I found those things that work best for me and stick to them, like a green smoothie when I get up every morning. No matter what, that gets into my body to get me going and I always eat fruit during the day and if I do eat something cooked I try to mix it with something raw (like on a salad I might put roasted red peppers and marinated artichoke hearts).
I recently read about a woman who was a vegan and got cancer so she started eating meat and healed herself. How can this happen?
First you have to understand that we develop disease in many ways and that the foods we eat are only one of those ways. We also have emotional issues that affect our physical selves as well and I can only speculate that this person had issues that were finally dealt with and that it probably wasn't just that she started eating meat again that healed her. I should note here that the person was probably one a vegan diet, not necessarily a vegan which is more of a lifestyle choice than just a diet.
I love cooked foods but don't want to get sick again. When you want "comfort that's cooked" what do you eat?
Comfort has to do with memories, usually, although sometimes it can just be warm and taste good. I try to look at the foods I loved before and how to make them healthy. I love potatoes (the Irish girl that I am!) but I don't mash them and put Earth Balance all over them. I cut up potatoes, carrots and onions and toss them with EVOO, salt & pepper. Bake at 400 for 40 minutes in a baking dish and they super yummy comfort food. I also do this with a head of cauliflower for 20 minutes and it is SO YUMMY!
I also love stirfry so I saute fresh veggies in EVOO for a few minutes, add some Braggs Amino Acids (these are as close to GF and Raw that you can get) and pour over cooked rice. Also, you don't need a lot to feel full and satisfied which is why I like these dishes. Also, I eat several times a day, so when I say I have a stirfry it fits in a small bowl. Another thing I love is Peanut Butter (haven't become a fan of the raw butters yet, sorry!) so I cut up two small apples and put a small amount of PB in a dipping bowl and have a great snack that's part cooked, part raw.
Do you find that being a Vegan helps you with your job?
Definitely! We all vibrate and when you eat something else that vibrates at the same (or just below) your level it affects your body emotionally. You become more irritable or don't think clearly or make as good of choices you could have. The problem in our world as that we get use to being like that and think its normal. I think its not....
If you could give me two things to do (without going raw) that would help me and my lupus, what would it be?
First would be to give up processed foods (and refined sugars are a processed food). Second would be to do a green smoothie every morning. If you can't stomach a totally green smoothie make your own. I like this one the best: 1 cup of almond milk (raw or otherwise), 2 big handfuls of greens (whatever you can get this time of year), 1 tbsp raw cocao, 1 tbsp raw agave, ice. You can also add a tablespoon of nut butter for a different version. These two things will get you moving forward to making better food choices and start the healing process.
First, I read ingredients and always look around for great new products. Also, the more raw foods you eat the less you have to worry about gluten free. I have found that mostly it is the "processed" foods that I have difficulty finding both vegan and gluten free version (that taste good), however since I rarely eat processed foods I don't really have the concern. One great resource I love is VegNews Magazine. It is the only magazine I subscribe to and they are always reporting on great new GFV products (as well a vegan products and raw food recipes). I read it cover to cover several times before I give it away. For those of you who don't know, you can find some GF and dairy free products, but rarely are they egg free although sometimes we do get lucky ~ for example, Amy's has just come out with GFV Mac & Cheese and when I get a "craving" I just might have to try it!
I read that you are not 100% raw and wanted to know why. Also, why do you eat cooked foods and what kind of cooked foods are they?
I am probably 70% raw right now, however there are days when I am 100%, it just depends on me and what I feel like eating. However, when I do eat cooked foods rarely processed beforehand. For example I might want GF Oatmeal one morning or a Stirfry for lunch one day. Everything is fresh and as organic as possible, the grains are complete (whole grains in their natural state like brown rice or oats), and its usually only one of meals for the day. The reason I eat cooked foods now is that I finally understand the foods I'm eating. I learned that there are many diets out there that help those with lupus, cancer, MS, etc because they omit the same things: processed foods and refined sugars.
Going raw taught me what food was and how it affected my body and that I didn't have to eat all raw to get the nutrition I needed. Yes I know that once you cook the food you do loose some of its nutritional value, but hey....I'm human and like cooked foods especially in the winter (its a comfort thing...). I found those things that work best for me and stick to them, like a green smoothie when I get up every morning. No matter what, that gets into my body to get me going and I always eat fruit during the day and if I do eat something cooked I try to mix it with something raw (like on a salad I might put roasted red peppers and marinated artichoke hearts).
I recently read about a woman who was a vegan and got cancer so she started eating meat and healed herself. How can this happen?
First you have to understand that we develop disease in many ways and that the foods we eat are only one of those ways. We also have emotional issues that affect our physical selves as well and I can only speculate that this person had issues that were finally dealt with and that it probably wasn't just that she started eating meat again that healed her. I should note here that the person was probably one a vegan diet, not necessarily a vegan which is more of a lifestyle choice than just a diet.
I love cooked foods but don't want to get sick again. When you want "comfort that's cooked" what do you eat?
Comfort has to do with memories, usually, although sometimes it can just be warm and taste good. I try to look at the foods I loved before and how to make them healthy. I love potatoes (the Irish girl that I am!) but I don't mash them and put Earth Balance all over them. I cut up potatoes, carrots and onions and toss them with EVOO, salt & pepper. Bake at 400 for 40 minutes in a baking dish and they super yummy comfort food. I also do this with a head of cauliflower for 20 minutes and it is SO YUMMY!
I also love stirfry so I saute fresh veggies in EVOO for a few minutes, add some Braggs Amino Acids (these are as close to GF and Raw that you can get) and pour over cooked rice. Also, you don't need a lot to feel full and satisfied which is why I like these dishes. Also, I eat several times a day, so when I say I have a stirfry it fits in a small bowl. Another thing I love is Peanut Butter (haven't become a fan of the raw butters yet, sorry!) so I cut up two small apples and put a small amount of PB in a dipping bowl and have a great snack that's part cooked, part raw.
Do you find that being a Vegan helps you with your job?
Definitely! We all vibrate and when you eat something else that vibrates at the same (or just below) your level it affects your body emotionally. You become more irritable or don't think clearly or make as good of choices you could have. The problem in our world as that we get use to being like that and think its normal. I think its not....
If you could give me two things to do (without going raw) that would help me and my lupus, what would it be?
First would be to give up processed foods (and refined sugars are a processed food). Second would be to do a green smoothie every morning. If you can't stomach a totally green smoothie make your own. I like this one the best: 1 cup of almond milk (raw or otherwise), 2 big handfuls of greens (whatever you can get this time of year), 1 tbsp raw cocao, 1 tbsp raw agave, ice. You can also add a tablespoon of nut butter for a different version. These two things will get you moving forward to making better food choices and start the healing process.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Learning to be Vegan again...
Today I almost had a heart attack! I was doing some research on vegan sources and found a page on PETA's website that shows the companies that ARE NOT vegan. Holy cow, you HAVE to check this out....her is a small sample (A-D) for you to check out! Who knew?!
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