Mom and I are getting frustrated over some of our attempts at making raw food dishes and we have put our heads together and come up with the reason why. The basics is the answer.
Think of it like this; if you were a chef in a restaurant, you would be required to add things to your recipe, things like milk, water, butter, cream, juice, whatever is considered the wet stuff, the liquid ingredients. You would also need to add dry things.
The difference between the chef and you is, they already have those things on hand; they either came from a box, a container, carton or a package. In your case, you will make these things as you go which is in keeping with “rawism”. In the beginning of your raw journey, you may want to go ahead and purchase pre-made nut butters and cream, nut milks, seed milks, etc. You can choose to make your own juices or buy organic juices that match the raw criteria. Either way, you will then have the ingredients you need to finish your recipes.
A good example of starting with the basics is a recipe mom and I received recently. Somewhere in the body of the recipe, it calls for adding “butter” to your dry ingredients and you wonder where the “butter” came from. Well, the first ingredient on this list is coconut. By now, you should have taken the meat from a coconut and blended it into butter. There is your “butter”.
Remember, there are many basics to a recipe, if you have those basics on hand ahead of time, you will cut your preparation time down considerably. Make your sauces, creams, milks and butters and keep them ready.
We bought a “ball” of candy which as it happens turned out to be the “paste” in the recipe for a choco maca shake. If you have a bunch of those little balls of paste made up ahead of time, you can quickly add your liquid ingredients and make your shake in much less time.
We have agreed to purchase the basics to start with and, as we go, we will start making the basics for ourselves. Hopefully this will cut down on the frustration when things don’t turn out the way it should. It may seem like it is more expensive to start out this way but, by the time you try and try again and still don’t come up with what you want, you are wasting money on those attempts. We are going to gradually start making our own basics but, in the beginning, we are going to purchase them always keeping in mind the raw criteria. Earth Balance makes some great spreads and Cascadian Farm makes some raw veggies available in the freezer section of the supermarket. You can get raw nut butters, milks, creams and such. You can purchase many varieties of nut milks and seed milks at your local grocers as well. Many health food stores carry all of these products but may be a bit more expensive. Shop around. Start there so you don’t get frustrated and turn back before you give it a chance.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Saturday, October 11, 2008
SHOULD YOU GO ORGANIC
That is the question many have raised in recent years and more and more you will find organically grown/raised products at your local supermarket. An even bigger question is what exactly is organic? What does it mean?
Organically grown fruits and vegetables means that the land has not been treated with herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers for a period of at least three years and the produce is not subjected to harmful toxins. It means the produce you buy is unprocessed or very little process has taken place. Studies have shown that nutritional qualities is based on how the produce is grown; without the chemicals, the soil is more nutrient rich leading to more nutritious products. When they are not treated, they become more robust and capable of fighting off disease and these components are passed on to you.
For non-organic meat and eggs, it means the animals are given hormones for quicker growth and faster yield. They are given antibiotics to prevent disease. Again, these chemicals are passed on to you, the consumer. It has been found that these antibiotically-charged products have led to our immunity to antibiotics. Animals that are given treated grain can store these chemicals in their fat cells. When you consume animal fat, you are consuming these chemicals. When buying lean meat, you lower that risk but the risk is still there.
With organically produced milk, the animals are kept in a more confined area that is kept chemical-free and their feed is a key element. No chemicals for them means no chemicals for you.
So when asking yourself if you should go organic, think about what the product has been treated with and if you want to be treated with the same and remember, the more you receive these harmful additives, the more you will require them. Become chemical-free and take the plunge, go organic, you will be glad you did.
Organically grown fruits and vegetables means that the land has not been treated with herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers for a period of at least three years and the produce is not subjected to harmful toxins. It means the produce you buy is unprocessed or very little process has taken place. Studies have shown that nutritional qualities is based on how the produce is grown; without the chemicals, the soil is more nutrient rich leading to more nutritious products. When they are not treated, they become more robust and capable of fighting off disease and these components are passed on to you.
For non-organic meat and eggs, it means the animals are given hormones for quicker growth and faster yield. They are given antibiotics to prevent disease. Again, these chemicals are passed on to you, the consumer. It has been found that these antibiotically-charged products have led to our immunity to antibiotics. Animals that are given treated grain can store these chemicals in their fat cells. When you consume animal fat, you are consuming these chemicals. When buying lean meat, you lower that risk but the risk is still there.
With organically produced milk, the animals are kept in a more confined area that is kept chemical-free and their feed is a key element. No chemicals for them means no chemicals for you.
So when asking yourself if you should go organic, think about what the product has been treated with and if you want to be treated with the same and remember, the more you receive these harmful additives, the more you will require them. Become chemical-free and take the plunge, go organic, you will be glad you did.
Monday, October 6, 2008
RAW FOOD RESTAURANT IN FLORIDA
On several occasions, my mother and I have had the pleasure of dining at "The Present Moment" raw food restaurant in St. Augustine, Florida. Yesterday, they offered an "uncooked" class which was attended by many people who are in varying degrees of rawism. There were several 100% raw foodists there and several who were just getting started, like mom and I. It was a very enthusiastic gathering and the class was an enjoyable experience. I had a chance to speak with several people and the thing mom and I like the most is how friendly everyone is. I think it has something to do with the good food they are consuming. The owner of the restaurant headed up the class and started out by saying raw food is good for the mind, spirit and body.
Yvette showed us how to make a variety of sauces to have on hand and showed us different ways to use these sauces. She also suggested that we date and label everything we make and Agave plastic bottles are great storage containers to use for this purpose.
We learned how to make portabella croquettes which has a seafood flavor added in which made them appear like crab cakes, or in this case, "uncrabby cakes". They were delicious as was the spinach and cheese sauce mix. The spinach she used was from Cascadian Farms and can be found in the freezer section of your local grocers. She did some research on some of the Cascadian Farms items and found them to be compliant with the "raw" guidelines.
We learned how to make a vegetable sushi and tamales. We were also able to sample some of the juices, shakes and organic wine that are available at the bar.
The booklet we received contained the above recipes with the addition of several more great ideas and a lot of helpful information. I imagine if you visit their website, you can request a copy of this booklet, there may be a small charge for it but it is well worth it.
The evening was topped off with a wonderful homemade raw ice cream which was loaded with flavor and very satisfying to the palate.
The Present Moment has a shop next door where you can find everyday items to incorporate into your raw food lifestyle with ease.
The experience was a good one and we are looking forward to our next visit to this lovely restaurant and hope that if a visit to Florida is in your future, keep this raw food restaurant in mind and add it to your itinerary, you will not regret it.
While you are there, visit the historical city of St. Augustine with all of its old buildings, an old fort, jail and school house, there is much to explore and a variety of tours available that are pleasurable for all ages.
Yvette showed us how to make a variety of sauces to have on hand and showed us different ways to use these sauces. She also suggested that we date and label everything we make and Agave plastic bottles are great storage containers to use for this purpose.
We learned how to make portabella croquettes which has a seafood flavor added in which made them appear like crab cakes, or in this case, "uncrabby cakes". They were delicious as was the spinach and cheese sauce mix. The spinach she used was from Cascadian Farms and can be found in the freezer section of your local grocers. She did some research on some of the Cascadian Farms items and found them to be compliant with the "raw" guidelines.
We learned how to make a vegetable sushi and tamales. We were also able to sample some of the juices, shakes and organic wine that are available at the bar.
The booklet we received contained the above recipes with the addition of several more great ideas and a lot of helpful information. I imagine if you visit their website, you can request a copy of this booklet, there may be a small charge for it but it is well worth it.
The evening was topped off with a wonderful homemade raw ice cream which was loaded with flavor and very satisfying to the palate.
The Present Moment has a shop next door where you can find everyday items to incorporate into your raw food lifestyle with ease.
The experience was a good one and we are looking forward to our next visit to this lovely restaurant and hope that if a visit to Florida is in your future, keep this raw food restaurant in mind and add it to your itinerary, you will not regret it.
While you are there, visit the historical city of St. Augustine with all of its old buildings, an old fort, jail and school house, there is much to explore and a variety of tours available that are pleasurable for all ages.
Friday, September 26, 2008
WHEATGRASS MENTIONED ON THE TONIGHT SHOW
I am just getting started with wheatgrass and had my first real taste of it the other night. Wow, I thought I was going to start mooing but with all the benefits, I am going to start doing wheatgrass shots on a regular basis. I think I may put it in my smoothies to hide the flavor.
I was watching "The Tonight Show" last night, 09/25/08, and they had a segment of Presidential Jeopardy on with three very good impersonators for Bush, Palin and Obama.
One of the "answers" was "whole foods" and the Obama impersonator said it was a place to pick up some non-dairy tofu curry and some WHEATGRASS.
I thought it worth mentioning on my blog because more and more, mom and I are running into people that know about wheatgrass, have heard about it or are already consuming wheatgrass. Don't forget to check out mom's wheatgrass blog at GROW YOUR OWN WHEATGRASS. The tray shown in the picture is an actual tray of my mom's wheatgrass.
Friday, September 12, 2008
A WELL-BALANCED RAW FOOD DIET CONTAINS ALL THE PROTEIN NEEDED TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY BODY
The importance of protein in your diet is best explained in The Center For Young Women's Health. If a raw foodist follows a well-balanced diet, they will get all the protein they need naturally from those raw foods. Protein contains the amino acids your body needs to help build and repair muscle, maintaining healthy tissue. Without protein, your body can start to break down leading to a variety of health issues. When on the raw food diet, you want to be sure you get all the nutrients your body needs including protein. There are many ways you can add protein to a raw food diet. Nuts are a great example of this; you can make purees or pate and also make your own milk from nuts. Seeds can also be ground and added to your recipes. Hemp seed milk is not only being sold in health food stores, it is now on the shelf at some of your local supermarkets. You can make your own butter from many of the nuts and seed varieties.
Many vegetables are rich in protein including your leafy vegetables such as romaine lettuce, kale, spinach, cabbage, chard and arugula. These types of protein can easily be added to a smoothie or, if you feel like munching on something, they can be used in a salad.
Until studying the raw food diet myself, I did not realize that many fruits contain protein as well; watermelon, tomatoes, pomegranates, dates, kiwi and avacodos are great sources of protein. The Fruit Pages contains a comprehensive table listing all nutritional information for many fruits and vegetables.
In addition to obtaining protein from seeds, nuts, vegetables and fruit, according to The Fat Free Kitchen, one ounce of wheatgrass per day contains the nutritional value of 2.5 pounds of vegetables and Living-Foods lists 35 very interesting uses for wheatgrass. Wheatgrass is sometimes hard to digest so juicing it is considered the best way to go and, if you have problems growing accustomed to the taste, you can add wheatgrass juice to grape juice or, again, throw it in with your other smoothie ingredients, let the other items conceal the taste.
Many vegetables are rich in protein including your leafy vegetables such as romaine lettuce, kale, spinach, cabbage, chard and arugula. These types of protein can easily be added to a smoothie or, if you feel like munching on something, they can be used in a salad.
Until studying the raw food diet myself, I did not realize that many fruits contain protein as well; watermelon, tomatoes, pomegranates, dates, kiwi and avacodos are great sources of protein. The Fruit Pages contains a comprehensive table listing all nutritional information for many fruits and vegetables.
In addition to obtaining protein from seeds, nuts, vegetables and fruit, according to The Fat Free Kitchen, one ounce of wheatgrass per day contains the nutritional value of 2.5 pounds of vegetables and Living-Foods lists 35 very interesting uses for wheatgrass. Wheatgrass is sometimes hard to digest so juicing it is considered the best way to go and, if you have problems growing accustomed to the taste, you can add wheatgrass juice to grape juice or, again, throw it in with your other smoothie ingredients, let the other items conceal the taste.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
DIABETES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE
If you have diabetes, you really need to watch your blood pressure. With diabetes comes a higher risk of heart disease so the target BP level is lower.
A natural approach is much safer as well as less expensive. For hypertension, I am currently on four different costly medications with their attendant side effects and hope to one day come off of all of those.
There are many ways to lower your blood pressure naturally and I am going to share a link with you. DLife – For Your Diabetes Life has a list of 16 non-drug ways to lower your blood pressure.
Please click on the above link and start working towards a much lower blood pressure today, the natural way.
Friday, September 5, 2008
THE PROBLEM WITH PROCESSED FOODS
My dad and stepmom purchased what they thought was a can of turnip greens. Instead, when they opened the can, they found the can contained what appeared to be pork and beans. The name of the company is Glory. This particular brand is available nationwide and started showing up on shelves several years ago. It was created at the Ohio State University Food Industries Center and boasts a southern-style flavor in over 50 varieties of heat-and-serve products.
With a company that large, you would expect them to have some pretty stringent food safety measures in place but to mis-label, well, someone dropped the ball and you are left wondering what else they could be missing.
The more I turn to organic foods, raw foods, fresh fruit and vegetables, the more I worry about what really is in that processed food, or in this case, that can of "turnip greens". Are the cans on your pantry shelf what they really say they are? If you want a good scare, read the label.
With a company that large, you would expect them to have some pretty stringent food safety measures in place but to mis-label, well, someone dropped the ball and you are left wondering what else they could be missing.
The more I turn to organic foods, raw foods, fresh fruit and vegetables, the more I worry about what really is in that processed food, or in this case, that can of "turnip greens". Are the cans on your pantry shelf what they really say they are? If you want a good scare, read the label.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
POMEGRANATES - A HEALTHY FRUIT
Pomegranates are considered a fruit, somewhere between a lemon and a grapefruit. The fruit of the pomegranate is actually a berry and can be used in many forms from juicing to making extracts.
Pomegranates are loaded with Vitamin C and B and have antioxidant qualities as well as antiviral and antibacterial effects on dental plaque. It contains an ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitor which aids in lowering systolic blood pressure and has been found to reduce heart disease risk factors such as your LDL level.
As usual, I am trying to find different things to put in a smoothie and, due to its bitter taste, it would be better to add with other fruits such as banana, pineapple and strawberry. It is another way to easily include healthy fruit in your diet, just add it to your favorite smoothie.
Pomegranates are loaded with Vitamin C and B and have antioxidant qualities as well as antiviral and antibacterial effects on dental plaque. It contains an ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitor which aids in lowering systolic blood pressure and has been found to reduce heart disease risk factors such as your LDL level.
As usual, I am trying to find different things to put in a smoothie and, due to its bitter taste, it would be better to add with other fruits such as banana, pineapple and strawberry. It is another way to easily include healthy fruit in your diet, just add it to your favorite smoothie.
Friday, August 29, 2008
GREAT AMERICAN SEAFOOD COOK-OFF - CHOOSE YOUR FAVORITE RECIPE TO WIN A TRIP TO NEW ORLEANS
As I have mentioned before, I am not a 100% raw foodist and it is interesting to mention that most of the sushi varieties include seafood of some kind so if you are into rawism, sushi and seafood make a nice choice.
For those of you who like your seafood cooked, Louisiana hosts the Great American Seafood Cook-Off once a year in New Orleans. This particular cook off requires the use of domestic, sustainable seafood, available locally which assures freshness and local fresh seafood always tastes better to me. It is also a good thing for your local fishermen when you buy locally.
For the year 2008, one of the five favorite recipes chosen was created by Chef Brian Landry of Louisiana. The name of this recipe is Shrimp and Andouille Cassoulet. The reason I chose this recipe as my favorite is because I love shrimp. I like to have shrimp cooked many different ways and this looked like a new and what looks like delicious way for me to try my favorite seafood item. If when reading a recipe and looking at a picture of the prepared food your mouth waters, you know it is going to be good. It also looks relatively easy to prepare which is another good reason why I think it is the best.
I don’t know what Andouille sausage tastes like as I have never had it and since the recipe suggests a substitute, I would probably use either smoked sausage or bacon. I really like the taste of bacon and shrimp together. If you have ever had bacon-wrapped shrimp on the grill, you know what I am talking about.
Visit the "cook off" web site at www.GreatAmericanSeafoodCookOff.com where you can find this recipe as well as several others. There are five top choices and you can vote for your favorite and enter to win a trip to New Orleans prize package. There is no purchase required, no obligation, just click on your favorite recipe and enter to win, it is that simple.
For those of you who like your seafood cooked, Louisiana hosts the Great American Seafood Cook-Off once a year in New Orleans. This particular cook off requires the use of domestic, sustainable seafood, available locally which assures freshness and local fresh seafood always tastes better to me. It is also a good thing for your local fishermen when you buy locally.
For the year 2008, one of the five favorite recipes chosen was created by Chef Brian Landry of Louisiana. The name of this recipe is Shrimp and Andouille Cassoulet. The reason I chose this recipe as my favorite is because I love shrimp. I like to have shrimp cooked many different ways and this looked like a new and what looks like delicious way for me to try my favorite seafood item. If when reading a recipe and looking at a picture of the prepared food your mouth waters, you know it is going to be good. It also looks relatively easy to prepare which is another good reason why I think it is the best.
I don’t know what Andouille sausage tastes like as I have never had it and since the recipe suggests a substitute, I would probably use either smoked sausage or bacon. I really like the taste of bacon and shrimp together. If you have ever had bacon-wrapped shrimp on the grill, you know what I am talking about.
Visit the "cook off" web site at www.GreatAmericanSeafoodCookOff.com where you can find this recipe as well as several others. There are five top choices and you can vote for your favorite and enter to win a trip to New Orleans prize package. There is no purchase required, no obligation, just click on your favorite recipe and enter to win, it is that simple.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
RAW FOOD RESTAURANT IN ST. AUGUSTINE FLORIDA
I just had the most incredible meal at a raw food restaurant in St. Augustine, Florida. The name of this restaurant is "The Present Moment Cafe". They boast "fresh organic living food made with love and gratitude".
The ambience is great, there are pillows in the booths and you are immediately provided with a carafe of water that contains lemon and cucumber slices, delicious and healthy, a natural way to flavor your water.
The menu mentions that there is no meat or fish, no dairy products and no processed foods used and nothing is cooked. A haven for raw foodists.
Even if you are not into rawism, you may find this food surprisingly good and filling. There are so many things to choose from including dessert. I ordered the "tacos for life" and nearly licked my plate clean. My mother said she had not seen me eat with such enjoyment in a very long time. I can date that back to when I started taking something for diabetes, my appetite has changed completely. I have started adding fruits and vegetables to my diet, drinking smoothies and green smoothies and have actually started losing my taste for certain foods, bad foods, things I should not eat anyway.
By the way, their corn and cabbage slaw is nothing to sneeze at, I got some of that to go. Mom received it with her veggie burger and it was hard not to keep eating from her plate. The veggie burger was a little iffy, we were not sure we liked that as well but everything else we got was great including the salad and some sprouted flax corn tortilla chips. Those were so good, we bought some of those to bring home too.
They have a little market next door where they sell many things on the raw food list including books, the aforementioned chips, agave nectar and so on. Please visit their website and, if you ever find yourself in St. Augustine, visit their restaurant and store, it is well worth the effort.
The ambience is great, there are pillows in the booths and you are immediately provided with a carafe of water that contains lemon and cucumber slices, delicious and healthy, a natural way to flavor your water.
The menu mentions that there is no meat or fish, no dairy products and no processed foods used and nothing is cooked. A haven for raw foodists.
Even if you are not into rawism, you may find this food surprisingly good and filling. There are so many things to choose from including dessert. I ordered the "tacos for life" and nearly licked my plate clean. My mother said she had not seen me eat with such enjoyment in a very long time. I can date that back to when I started taking something for diabetes, my appetite has changed completely. I have started adding fruits and vegetables to my diet, drinking smoothies and green smoothies and have actually started losing my taste for certain foods, bad foods, things I should not eat anyway.
By the way, their corn and cabbage slaw is nothing to sneeze at, I got some of that to go. Mom received it with her veggie burger and it was hard not to keep eating from her plate. The veggie burger was a little iffy, we were not sure we liked that as well but everything else we got was great including the salad and some sprouted flax corn tortilla chips. Those were so good, we bought some of those to bring home too.
They have a little market next door where they sell many things on the raw food list including books, the aforementioned chips, agave nectar and so on. Please visit their website and, if you ever find yourself in St. Augustine, visit their restaurant and store, it is well worth the effort.
Friday, August 22, 2008
VITALICIOUS 100-CALORIE MUFFINS AND BROWNIES
Vitalicious.com
has recently joined with PepperjamNetwork...sign up today!
to offer delicious 100-calorie muffins and brownies. Vitalicious was featured on Good Morning America for their 100-calorie Vitabrownie and was listed as one of the 125 best packaged foods for women in Women’s Health Magazine.
They offer a variety of products including Vitatops, Vitamuffins, Vitamixes, sugar-free and carb-free choices and their website lists many recipes. They have gift boxes and samplers, heart-healthy muffins and cakes. There are many flavors to choose from but my favorite is anything with chocolate and they have lots of that but being diabetic I think I will stick with the sugar-free variety, must check to see if it comes in chocolate.
Many people love muffin tops and they sell bakeware to make your own muffin tops using their Vitamixes muffin mix.
They are offering free shipping over $175 and click here for your Vitalicious Coupon- Get 5% Off
. Try these yummy-looking muffins that are healthy and delicious.
has recently joined with PepperjamNetwork...sign up today! to offer delicious 100-calorie muffins and brownies. Vitalicious was featured on Good Morning America for their 100-calorie Vitabrownie and was listed as one of the 125 best packaged foods for women in Women’s Health Magazine. They offer a variety of products including Vitatops, Vitamuffins, Vitamixes, sugar-free and carb-free choices and their website lists many recipes. They have gift boxes and samplers, heart-healthy muffins and cakes. There are many flavors to choose from but my favorite is anything with chocolate and they have lots of that but being diabetic I think I will stick with the sugar-free variety, must check to see if it comes in chocolate.
Many people love muffin tops and they sell bakeware to make your own muffin tops using their Vitamixes muffin mix.
They are offering free shipping over $175 and click here for your Vitalicious Coupon- Get 5% Off
. Try these yummy-looking muffins that are healthy and delicious.
TIP FOR TESTING SUGAR IN SO-CALLED DIET PRODUCTS
Did you know that you can use your test strips to see if your "diet" or "sugar-free" products are really what they say they are?
Very important, take a small portion of the product in your mouth, mix it with your saliva, then spit some of it on the test strip. You must mix it with your saliva in order for it to work properly as the salivary enzymes will release the glucose.
Personally, I can't see myself doing this in a restaurant or when attending a meal at someone's house but it is a good way to check things out prior to eating out and such.
Very important, take a small portion of the product in your mouth, mix it with your saliva, then spit some of it on the test strip. You must mix it with your saliva in order for it to work properly as the salivary enzymes will release the glucose.
Personally, I can't see myself doing this in a restaurant or when attending a meal at someone's house but it is a good way to check things out prior to eating out and such.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
CHOCOLATE HEMP MILK
If you read my Wolfdog Den Blog, you will see a post where I came home today to find that two of my wolfdogs had drank my chocolate hemp milk. This type of milk is not cheap and has a great flavor that I like to sip slowly, savoring it whereas I think they just kind of punctured the container and drank it down without even tasting it. I know it was "partly" my fault as my mother gently reminded me as she was laughing uncontrollably, because I left it within reach.
I am seriously considering "feeding raw" all of my animals, following a completely raw food diet for them. I guess they were getting a head start on the healthy life by drinking some hemp milk; if it is good for us, it must be good for them.
I will be covering the raw food diet for dogs here on my blog and let you know how it goes. I have been doing a lot of research on this and want my dogs to be healthy too. Favorite this blog and check back often for updates.
FLORIDA FLOOD WATER SAFETY ALERT
Florida is currently experiencing Tropical Storm Fay. With Fay have come very high rates of rainfall, record-breaking in many cases. Flood waters are dangerous and the news channels are trying to get the word out there.
Do not drive in flood water, it has the ability to carry off a large SUV and place you and your passengers in the path of imminent danger. The slogan reads "Turn Around, Don't Drown".
If you have children, do not allow them to play in flood water, they can get bitten by snakes, bugs and some have seen alligators in the streets of Florida where flooding has occurred. There is a report where three kids had to be rescued when, playing in flood water, they were washed away. Luckily those kids were all pulled to safety.
In addition, there are numerous bacterial factors to consider. This water is very dirty water, do not let your kids play in it.
If you have need to walk through flood water, if you have kids who have played in flood water, make sure you wash any area of your body that has touched flood water with a lot of soap and water.
In some areas, there is a fear of electric shock. As you know, water and electricity do not mix, please be careful. There are some areas where power is being shut down due to this risk.
In addition, there are boil water alerts in areas where the water treatment plants were shut down due to lack of power either by the storm or utility workers.
Keep your radio or TV on and tuned in to the news channels for more information.
Stay safe.
Do not drive in flood water, it has the ability to carry off a large SUV and place you and your passengers in the path of imminent danger. The slogan reads "Turn Around, Don't Drown".
If you have children, do not allow them to play in flood water, they can get bitten by snakes, bugs and some have seen alligators in the streets of Florida where flooding has occurred. There is a report where three kids had to be rescued when, playing in flood water, they were washed away. Luckily those kids were all pulled to safety.
In addition, there are numerous bacterial factors to consider. This water is very dirty water, do not let your kids play in it.
If you have need to walk through flood water, if you have kids who have played in flood water, make sure you wash any area of your body that has touched flood water with a lot of soap and water.
In some areas, there is a fear of electric shock. As you know, water and electricity do not mix, please be careful. There are some areas where power is being shut down due to this risk.
In addition, there are boil water alerts in areas where the water treatment plants were shut down due to lack of power either by the storm or utility workers.
Keep your radio or TV on and tuned in to the news channels for more information.
Stay safe.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
ALZHEIMER'S MEMORY WALK - SIGN UP TO BE A TEAM CAPTAIN TODAY
This coming Fall, there will be over 600 communities joining in a 2 to 3 mile walk for Alzheimer’s. If you have Alzheimer’s in your family history or know someone with Alzheimer’s, you can help with research by joining up for a walk today. Go one step better and organize your own team of walkers, sign up to be a team captain, get people motivated.
Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that attacks the brain cells whereby the person eventually forgets how to do things they have been doing for years, they forget family members, can no longer perform even menial tasks and typically need nursing home care with close monitoring.
Alzheimer's disease is a fatal disease. Act now and help stop memory loss that is associated with Alzheimer’s disease and sign up for the Alzheimer's Memory Walk to walk or captain a team today.
Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that attacks the brain cells whereby the person eventually forgets how to do things they have been doing for years, they forget family members, can no longer perform even menial tasks and typically need nursing home care with close monitoring.
Alzheimer's disease is a fatal disease. Act now and help stop memory loss that is associated with Alzheimer’s disease and sign up for the Alzheimer's Memory Walk to walk or captain a team today.
CHRISTINA APPLEGATE HAS DOUBLE MASTECTOMY
Again, not really related to smoothies and raw food but it is so important that you get your annual mammograms and do your monthly self-breast examinations especially if you have a family history of breast cancer.
Christina Applegate, the 36-year-old actress recently underwent a double mastectomy. There is a family history of breast cancer in her mother. Luckily, an MRI found the cancer early and she has a very good prognosis. In the coming months, she will be undergoing staged breast reconstruction surgery. I am sure you are with me when we wish her all the best and salute her bravery to go ahead with a double mastectomy which increases her chances of remaining cancer-free.
On September 5, Miss Applegate will be appearing in an hour-long special where a new song will be performed by multiple artists including Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Miley Cyrus, Carrie Underwood, Sheryl Crow, LeAnne Rimes, and Melissa Etheridge just to name a few.
The name of the song is "Just Stand Up" and will debut on I-Tunes and the radio on September 2. This is a TV event to fund cancer research.
Miss Applegate currently stars in the very popular sitcom "Samatha Who" and was first seen appearing in long-running sitcom, Married With Children" where she played the role of Kelly Bundy.
We wish you well Miss Applegate and hope that women the world over take a leaf out of your book and get checked on a regular basis. You may save a life....your own.
Christina Applegate, the 36-year-old actress recently underwent a double mastectomy. There is a family history of breast cancer in her mother. Luckily, an MRI found the cancer early and she has a very good prognosis. In the coming months, she will be undergoing staged breast reconstruction surgery. I am sure you are with me when we wish her all the best and salute her bravery to go ahead with a double mastectomy which increases her chances of remaining cancer-free.
On September 5, Miss Applegate will be appearing in an hour-long special where a new song will be performed by multiple artists including Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Miley Cyrus, Carrie Underwood, Sheryl Crow, LeAnne Rimes, and Melissa Etheridge just to name a few.
The name of the song is "Just Stand Up" and will debut on I-Tunes and the radio on September 2. This is a TV event to fund cancer research.
Miss Applegate currently stars in the very popular sitcom "Samatha Who" and was first seen appearing in long-running sitcom, Married With Children" where she played the role of Kelly Bundy.
We wish you well Miss Applegate and hope that women the world over take a leaf out of your book and get checked on a regular basis. You may save a life....your own.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
COCONUT OIL
I remember years ago, seeing coconut oil on many food product labels. But, because of industry decision to remove all saturated fats, especially those originating in the tropics, coconut oil was removed as a result of that even though there is a very small amount of saturated fat in coconut oil. Thinking back, it would seem that "America" started to put on weight soon after this decision was made and continue to do so. In addition, heart disease was on the rise and not just occurring in the elderly, it was being diagnosed in people of much younger ages. Of course, many industry leaders would not be happy with that statement but, I feel it is important to let you know about the health benefits of coconut oil.
Coconut oil has a long shelf-life and even after a prolonged period of time, does not become rancid which leads to the belief that it has antioxidant qualities that keep it from going bad. In addition, it is known to help with high cholesterol levels and heart disease, stimulates the thyroid which can lead to weight loss. Studies have shown that if you use coconut oil rather than saturated oil you are less likely to develop cancer. And lastly, coconut oil has an antiviral effect which makes it a natural antiseptic.
There are many ways to add coconut oil to your diet. Add it to a smoothie, make your own salad dressing and use it as the base and, if you are not a raw foodist, you can substitute it in your favorite recipes.
Coconut oil can be found online or at your local health food store.
Coconut oil has a long shelf-life and even after a prolonged period of time, does not become rancid which leads to the belief that it has antioxidant qualities that keep it from going bad. In addition, it is known to help with high cholesterol levels and heart disease, stimulates the thyroid which can lead to weight loss. Studies have shown that if you use coconut oil rather than saturated oil you are less likely to develop cancer. And lastly, coconut oil has an antiviral effect which makes it a natural antiseptic.
There are many ways to add coconut oil to your diet. Add it to a smoothie, make your own salad dressing and use it as the base and, if you are not a raw foodist, you can substitute it in your favorite recipes.
Coconut oil can be found online or at your local health food store.
JELLY BELLY - SUGAR-FREE
Did you know that you can get Jelly Belly® Sugar Free Candies - Buy Online!
They have a very large assortment of candies both with sugar and without. They don't just make jelly beans, they have gummy treats, confections, chocolates and gourmet assortments. Having diabetes is limiting sometimes, especially when you crave something sweet. Again, there are controversial issues over the sweetener (Splenda) used in the sugar-free Jelly Belly candies so this is a personal choice.
Right now, they are offering free shipping for orders $50.00 and over, plus 10% off for orders $75.00 and over. Order some sugar-free chocolate coated raisins or peanuts. Visit their website for prices.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
WHAT IS THAT TAPE OLYMPIAN KERRI WALSH IS WEARING?
I realize this is not related to smoothies and raw food but I thought it worth mentioning as several people have asked this question and, it is health related.
The tape that Kerri Walsh is wearing is kinesiology tape. I note today that her partner Misty May-Treanor is also wearing some. This tape is commonly used for muscle pain or myalgia. When lifting heavy objects or walking a long way, muscles can become inflamed. When that happens, compression of the space between muscle and skin occurs. This results in constriction of normal lymphatic fluid flow. This communicates “pain” to the brain and causes this muscular pain.
Kinesiology tape is used commonly following surgical procedures such as rotator cuff repair, knee replacement, hip replacement, anything that requires the surgeon to cut through muscle layer.
Regular athletic taping and kinesiology taping are different. Elastic tapes are used with at least 150 to 160% elasticity for kinesiology taping.
What happens is, the tape lifts the skin from the muscle and allows better passage of lymphatic fluid, eventually easing the pain that the person is experiencing.
If you experience frequent muscular pain, if you perform regulars tasks that require heavy lifting or anything that puts your muscles to the test or had recent surgery, kinesiology tape may be the way to go. I think I am going to try it for muscular pain I get in my neck due to herniated disks. My situation is severe muscle spasms. I want to see if it works and will write a followup once I start the process and log results. I also read that it helps with muscle cramps. I get calf muscle cramps when walking or standing for any length of time. I am going to try it on my calves to see if it helps.
The tape that Kerri Walsh is wearing is kinesiology tape. I note today that her partner Misty May-Treanor is also wearing some. This tape is commonly used for muscle pain or myalgia. When lifting heavy objects or walking a long way, muscles can become inflamed. When that happens, compression of the space between muscle and skin occurs. This results in constriction of normal lymphatic fluid flow. This communicates “pain” to the brain and causes this muscular pain.
Kinesiology tape is used commonly following surgical procedures such as rotator cuff repair, knee replacement, hip replacement, anything that requires the surgeon to cut through muscle layer.
Regular athletic taping and kinesiology taping are different. Elastic tapes are used with at least 150 to 160% elasticity for kinesiology taping.
What happens is, the tape lifts the skin from the muscle and allows better passage of lymphatic fluid, eventually easing the pain that the person is experiencing.
If you experience frequent muscular pain, if you perform regulars tasks that require heavy lifting or anything that puts your muscles to the test or had recent surgery, kinesiology tape may be the way to go. I think I am going to try it for muscular pain I get in my neck due to herniated disks. My situation is severe muscle spasms. I want to see if it works and will write a followup once I start the process and log results. I also read that it helps with muscle cramps. I get calf muscle cramps when walking or standing for any length of time. I am going to try it on my calves to see if it helps.
Monday, August 11, 2008
AGAVE - LOW GLYCEMIC SUGAR SUBSTITUTE
Being diabetic, I try to find ways to sweeten certain foods to make it palatable. I have found Agave to be a great substitute for sugar and honey. It is sold in three different forms; light, amber and raw. The raw is only heated up to 113 degrees so for those of you on a strict raw food diet, you can add Agave to your diet without going off your diet plan. In addition, it is organic, vegan and kosher so it should fit right into your lifestyle.
Agave comes in plant form and blossoms at the end of its life cycle and the blossom is the part they use to make Agave.
It is easy to use, you can add it to your smoothies, cereal, fruit and beverages such as tea.
I get mine at the health food store, have not noticed it at any of the local supermarkets.
Try some today, it is a much safer alternative substitute sweetener.
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