Travelling Raw -- Homemade Trail Mix!

Assume nothing! Always bring some food
along for yourself

I addressed this travelling issue years ago in an early blog.  You may want to back up and see what I said there.  Today I want to reflect on a recent trip I took, and some of my observations about trying to maintain a high level of raw eating in the situation I was in.

We do lots of travelling these days, since my husband and I retired a couple of years ago.  We drive in the car to visit family, we stay in motels and hotels, and we travel by plane.  I like travelling by car, because it’s easy to pack a blender with me, and I know I’m only a grocery store stop away from my much favored green smoothie operation, no matter where we are. 

Travelling by plane is another animal, however, and for me, more challenging where my diet is concerned.  Last week, for example, I was at a meeting in another city. The sponsoring organization was very solicitous of my dietary preferences, and ordered me special salads, chose restaurants where there was a good salad option with lots of dark greens. 

Additionally, there was adequate fruit around in motel where we were meeting, so the situation washn't entirely bleak, by any means.  It was, though, boring.  apples, oranges, pears, and standard (no frills) salads were pretty much my fare.

Apples, oranges, pears -- beautiful!

Oh, but wait!  In a flurry to get myself to the plane on time, I had not prepared any pate`s which are normally good travel companions, and fun diversions from the “rabbit food.”.  In one sense, I admit, I could have done a better job of taking care of my own dietary preferences in that regard.  I did, however,  carry with me some raw bars, a knife for cutting up apples, and some extra fruit, including grapefruit, which I find very refreshing at the end of the day.

What I was happiest about, though, was that I had put together some of my own homemade trail mix, measured out into Snack bags in ½ cup servings. Having it available was a real treat. And that’s what I want to pitch to you today.

There are so many pre-made trail mixes, especially in airports, and they look enticing and well, maybe not so nutritionally deficient as some of the other things hanging on those many racks.  We all know, though, that a look at the ingredients on the wrapper of any one of those mixtures tells a grim story of salt, sugar, various fats, and a host of additives and preservatives.  Also, all the nuts and seeds that they contain have been roasted, rendering them nutrient deficient.  And, those innocent looking little packages are expensive as all get out!

Homemade trail mix - raw seeds and nuts,
and dried, unsugarred fruits

All that is to say that it’s a much better deal for your health and your pocket book if you make your own trail mix.  It’s very easy, so easy to put together, keeps a long time, and travels well under any conditions.  You can add or eliminate ingredients according to your own taste and diet preference, and you always have a ready source of a tasty energy booster.

Here is my approach.  You’ll find more fun and creative things to add as you go along. 

Begin in the bulk foods department .  I buy one of those medium sized bags of each of the following:

Raw nuts and seeds

-Raw Nuts and Seeds—almonds, Brazils, pecans, cashews, walnuts, filberts (hazel nuts), sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds. (Macadamias and pine nuts don’t keep quite as well, and they are very expensive, so I skip them for trail mix.) Nuts are fattier than seeds, and seeds are more protein dense and less expensive. Buy them all raw so you get all the vitamins, minerals, and enzymes in  tact. 

-Dried fruits from the bulk bins or the packaged bulk shelves in Clover’s or other health food stores : raisins, currants, goji berries, figs, apricots,  etc. Others, which I then cut up, include papaya spears, mango slices, date rolls, pineapple, etc.   Take care to buy the ones that have no sulfur, sulfites or sugar included.  Sugar is more concentrated in dried fruits than in fresh, so don’t overdue.  It’s all about balance, and there’s lots of room for creativity.

-There are other bagged, raw berries that I like and are labeled “raw”, like golden berries and mulberry berries. 

Goji berries- high in anti--oxidants
and noted for increasing longevity.

-Raw cacao nibs add a really nice surprise chocolate treat in trail mix, and are high in magnesium and anti-oxidants.

Then I put these all together-- one cup of each thing, perhaps adding an extra half cup of sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds.  Suit yourself. This mixture will keep very well and travels very well.  Enjoy!!

Admittedly, buying all the ingredients can be a shock at the cash register.  I try not to flinch, remembering that I’m only going to eat ½ cup a day, and that everything I’m buying will keep for a very long time.  It’s an investment in my own health and well-being, after all, and far less costly than anything that’s packaged that even comes close to the same nutrient value.  It’s also a nice thing to have in my pantry at home when company comes by.

 Let me know how you do with this venture.  Respond below this post, so we all can benefit from your discoveries.  Happy Travelling.  Happy Healthy Eating!

Clean Inside and Out

Raw fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds
make for a good cleanse

There is certainly a case to be  made for eating a diet that is naturally cleansing to the body, that is, a diet that helps to clear the digestive system of unwanted debris and bacteria.  A diet high in raw, whole fruits and vegetables provides the hydration, nutrients, and fiber content to keep the body in a healthy balance. 

However, there are also cleansing programs that can be used either independently or inconjunction with the raw food detox diet.  Herbal cleansing programs, for example, come in a variety of forms that are customized to individual levels of commitment, and are readily available at local health food stores and at Amazon.com.

Herbal Cleanse Kit (an example)

An herbal cleanse is usually a kit that contains a variety of cleansing mixtures (powders, liquids, and capsules) that are to be taken over a period of three to five weeks.  During the program, digestion is strengthened and the colon, liver, gall bladder, and kidneys are cleansed by the elimination of bacteria, mold, yeast, fungus, and parasites.  Herbal cleanses usually consist of a variety of herbs and natural ingredients known for neutralizing and eliminating these unwanted guests. 

The Master Cleanser, which is also known as The Lemonade Diet, is, among other things, an easy way to get introduced to the health benefits of fasting.  Stanley Burroughs began  this program in the 1970s, and many people subscribe to its ease, simplicity, and effectiveness today.

Basically, the Master Cleanser consists of three components:
-- Lemon water with cayenne, fresh lemon or lime juice, and maple syrup  to sweeten it up, drunk all day
-- A daily  morning salt water flush
-- An organic laxative tea at bedtime during the cleanse.

The Master Cleanse

This simple method for flushing out the digestive system is safe, cheap, and effective.  The combination of the lemonade mixture throughtout the day, laxative herbal tea before bed, and salt-water flush each morning enables the body to perform a deep cleaning that can be done from 10 to 40 days.  Lemon juice provides much-needed minerals, especially sodium,while also dissolving mucus in the body.  It is also very alkalizing, and helps restore the acid/alkaline balance in the body.  The maple syrup provides calories for energy in the form of simple sugars. Cayenne pepper adds a potent kick to the Master Cleanser by breaking up mucus and dilating blood vessels, which aids in cleansing and the elimination of toxins.  Because The Master Cleanser is so simple and effective, it has become the most popular of all the different cleansing programs.  If you'd like specific directions, you can find Stanley Burroughs' book The Master Cleanser at health food stores near you, or click the Amazon icon in this sidebar to see it available at Amazon.com.

My own dietary cleasing experience has been limited to some fasting, and mostly to eating as high percentage raw diet as I can.  This is the slowest cleansing method, to be sure, but just as effective in the long run, and, I believe, less stressful for the body.  I have nothing against the packaged cleanses on the market, and I know that many people have been helped by them. I do admit to being reluctant to pay for a particular blend of herbs which may hasten a body cleanse, but  in the end, may not provide any better cleansing than can be had by eating a diet rich in raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. 

Suit yourself! I  welcome your discussion on this matter.  Leave a comment, if you like.  I'd love to hear from you. To view some of the available relevant products, click on the Amazon icon in the sidebar.

Independence Day -- Freedom

"Seek freedom and become captive of our desires.  Seek discipline and find your liberty."       -- Frank Herbert

I had to google Frank Herbert to find out something about him.  I had never heard of him before.  This quote of his struck a chord with me, though, as I was trying to pull together some thoughts about personal freedom during this Freedom and Independence Celebratory week.

And, of course, I was thinking about freedom in the context of food, and the freedom, or lack of it, that I sometimes experience.  Let me roll with this a bit.

It's easy enough to say, "I'm a free person.  I can eat anything I want."  So, we run with that and end up solving the choice issue that we see in this picture by wolfing down that pretty piece of cake.  Free?  or Enslaved?  If I  were that person, I would spend some time telling myself how much I enjoyed that cake. I deserved it, after all, as I worked hard all day, put up with some idiot drivers, or a hang nail, or something.  I am entitled to treat myself to something wonderful.  And, by golly, I enjoyed it.  But then what?  In a few minutes the remorse sets in....the "why did I do that to myself? thoughts, the talking down to ourselves, berating ourselves for our lack of control.  We were free to eat the cake.  We ate the cake, and now we really don't feel as free as we feel out of control, and trapped by our own lack of will power, or whatever.  In short, we feel anything but the freedom that seemed like such a good thing a few minutes ago.

The truth is that there are so very many foods out there that are actually addicting.....primarily those with fat, sugar, and mostly the combination of the two of them.  They are as addictive as any other drug substance around, plain and simple.  (If you want a good dose of this line of thinking, read Michal Moss' new  book, Salt, Sugar, Fat, his Pulitzer Prize winning expose` about how the food industry works hard to keep us addicted to things they sell us, with very little or no concern for our actual health.  It's a great read.)

 

But I digress.  My point is that often what seems like freedom when we are craving this food or that, we perhaps   we choose it, not because of the freedom we pronounce, but our addiction to it. Sorry thought, and yet, I think, certainly true for me sometimes. You decide for yourself.

I think Frank Herbert, who turns out to be a great science fiction writer of the 20th century, has it right in his quote above.  The more we can curb our appetites, so to speak, make choices of food that actuallly support our health and well-being, the more we can walk past those "I gotta' have that cake" moments and live in some real freedom --  free from remorse, free from self-recrimination, free from unwanted pounds and other unfavorable health consequences, free to live and celebrate the joy of life and the many other gifts that come to us in this wonderfully free country.

So, celebrate our many freedoms well this week.  We'll be joining family out of town.  My rule of thumb for these big festive, fun meals is to contribute something that I really want to eat.  I'll probably make a good kale salad and the blueberry pie, the recipe for which I published here last week.  Be good to yourselves.  Your family and friends will actually appreciate you more for giving them some real honest to goodness nutrition. And good nutrition can also be delicious and delightful.

Happy July 4th!  Happy Freedom! Oh, and if you're interested in the book I mentioned, you can click on the Amazon icon in the sidebar here and get it very quickly.  Enjoy!

Let me know about your holiday celebration and how you like the book!

 

My Favorite Recipes- Blueberry Pie

I've been writing this blog for several years, very regularly for the last few months, and have never put a recipe on it. The time has come. I thought it would be fun to toss you a favorite recipe of mine periodically, and see if you like it as much as I do.

During my last 6 1/2 years as a high Raw Food eater, I have gathered a list of favorite "go-to" recipes.  Some are definite seasonal favorites, others work very well for, potlucks, or travelling, or times when quick and easy is a "must." This Blueberry Pie recipe fits into several categories, is an unquestionable favorite of mine, and a crowd pleaser among many different groups of people. I think I made it for the first time during my first year Raw, and I look forward to enjoying it again every summer. 

We are still in the growing season for blueberries, so they are plentiful at the stores, and



easy to find in the local organic spots near you.  I enjoy this recipe so much at this time of year--- I've made it about 4 times since May, and am still going strong.  So, enjoy!  This

Beautiful Berries!

simple, straightforward recipe that takes little time to prepare, and sets up in the refrigerator quickly.  It has a jelled blueberry filling and mounds of whole blueberries just like the traditonal blueberry pie.

BLUEBERRY PIE
(adapted from Living on Live Food, by Alissa Cohen)


Crust:
2 cups almonds
1/2 cups dates, pitted and soaked (medjools are the best-the big wrinkly ones)
1 - 2 TBS shredded raw coconut (optional)

Filling:
5 cups blueberries
2 bananas
1 1/2 TBS honey

For the Crust:
1.  If you're using the coconut, sprinkle it evenly  on the bottom of a pie pan.  It helps make the crust lift out of the pie plate easily.  This works for any raw pie with a nut/date crust.

2.  In a food processor, grind the almonds until fine. 

3.  Add the dates and blend until smooth.

4.  Remove from food processor and pat down into a pie plate.

Filling Mixture

For the Filling:
1.  In a food processor combine 4 cups of blueberries, 2 bananas, and 1 1/2 TBS of honey.  Blend until smooth.

3.  Remove from processor and add in 1 cup  of whole blueberries.

4. Pour into crust.

5. Refrigerate for at least 3  hours.


Note:  The blueberries are gelatinous and will cause the  pie to solidfy. Blueberries are very good for your eyesight, and contain potent antioxidants-- more than many other antioxidant foods.  Amazing.

Perfect for July 4th Celebrations

Enjoy!  And let me know how you liked it.  And watch for my next favorite recipe to appear.

Live Well  ~  ~  Eat Raw

The Wonders of Wheat Grass

Sometimes, people ask me if I drink wheat grass juice.  I do.  Sometimes, people ask me if I grow wheat grass.  I do not.  Sometimes, people ask me if I juice wheat grass.  I do not. So here's my deal. 
I am compelled by the arguments for drinking wheatgrass, phenomenal as it seems to be.  It has the same chemical makeup as human red blood cells (hemoglobin) except that blood contains iron, which makes red.  Wheat grass contains magnesium, which makes it green. It is a complete protein loaded with minerals and enzymes, and long known and apprecieated for its healing properties.  Chlorophyll is partially responsible for those healing abilities.  The green plant pigment aids in red blood cell production, detoxification, boosting the immune system, and alkalizing the body.  Additionally, other reported benefits include Improved digestion, elimination of body odor, anit-viral, anti-fungal, balancing blood sugar, reversal of aging signs, improved dental conditions, improved vision, reduced inflammation, and alleviation of depression.  That's an impressive list of benefits.

In his book Survival into the 21st Century, Kulvinskas praises wheatgrass.  "In therapeutic amounts, it will detoxify the body by increasing the elimination of hardened mucous, crystallized acids, and solidified, decaying fecal matter.  Wheatgrass juice's high enzyme content helps dissolve tumors.  It is the fastest, surest way to eliminate internal waste and provide an optimum nutritional environment.  Wheatgrass juice can also be used as a poltice, wash, douche, or bath, stimulating healthy new cells and fighting infections."

People who are quite ill, and are treated at various natural healthy clinics, are often put on a firm regimen of wheatgrass.  If you are in that category of persons, then  doing more research on wheatgrass would be a very wise thing to do.

I drink wheatgrass when I can.  We have a vegan restaurant in town, The Main Squeeze, who sells it by the shot ,(if you're just starting out, don't drink any more than that!), and I generally order some with my lunches there.  Many people choose to grow their own wheatgrass, which is certainly a more economical way to have it available.  My reason for not even attempting it is that our 3 cats love to nibble on all things green and growing, except for the wheat grass that I can get for them in  the pet store. Go figure.  Also, if it's home grown, it takes more tending to, for the prevention of mold, harvesting, etc., than I am willing to pursue.  If you're game, go for it! However you introduce yourself to wheatgrass, be ready for a taste with lots of personality!  All those nutrients make for a strong flavor that takes a little getting used to.  Once you do, you adjust, you may be quickly persuaded to add it to your overall future heatlh regimen.  It's a good thing.
Regarding juicing wheatgrass, some of the upper end juicers do a good job with it, others, not so much.  There are special juicers for just wheatgrass, some manual, others electric.  I simply have just not gotten into that realm, being fairly content with the number of small appliances in my highly raw kitchen.  If you're inclined, however, talk to some other folks less lazy than I, and look at some of the YouTube videos on the subject.  Should you want to purchase one from Amazon, I appreciate your going through the icon on the right or the option pictured  below to get to it.  I get a small percentage of each sale that way, which helps me to spread the word I am trying to spread, and it's no extra cost to you.  Thanks for that.  And I also appreciate any conversation you care to share about wheat grass or any other of my blog topics.  Be well!

Lemon Water - Morning Jumpstart

According to Ayurvedic philosophy, choices that we make regarding our daily routine either build up resistance to disease or tear it down.  Ayurveda invites us to get a jump start on the day by focusing on morning rituals that work to align the body with nature’s rhythms, balance the doshas*, and foster self-esteem alongside discipline.
So while your mind may say you have to check emails, take the dog out, get the kids out of the door, and that you can’t be late for work, or that you just don’t have enough time to cultivate your own morning rituals.

In my last blog I talked about a relatively new morning ritual of mine – oil pulling.  I happily report, now 3 weeks later, that my annoying cough is gone.  Go figure.  I notice some other benefits as well, but will save them for another time.

Another of my morning rituals, though,for the last 2 or 3 years or so, is to drink a glass of warm water with 1/8-1/4 teaspoon of lemon juice (1/2 lemon).   Over time I have heard many of the benefits of this practice, so many that they are just too good to ignore.  Here are some of them.

1.  Boosts your immune system.  Lemons are  high in Vitamin C and potassium.  Vitamin C is great for fighting colds and potassium stimulates brain and nerve function and helps control blood pressure.

2.  Balances pH.  Lemons are quite and alkaline food.  On their own they are acidic, true, but inside us they’re alkaline and do not create acidity.  An alkaline body is an important component of good health.

3.  Helps with weight loss.  Lemons are high in pectin fiber, which helps fight hunger cravings.  It also has been shown that people who maintain a more alkaline diet lose weight faster.

4.  Aids digestion.  The warm water serves to stimulate the gastrointestinal tract and peristalsis—the waves of muscle contractions within the intestinal walls that keep things moving.  Lemons and limes are high in minerals and vitamins and help loosen toxins in the digestive tract.

5.  Acts as a gentle, natural diuretic.  Lemon juice helps flush out unwanted materials because lemons increase the rate of urination in the body.  Toxins are, therefore, released at a faster rate which helps keep your urinary tract healthy.

6.  Clears skin.  The vitamin C helps decrease wrinkles and blemishes.  Lemon water purges toxins from the blood which helps keep skin clear as well.

7.  Hydrates the lymph system.  Starting the day on this hydrated note helps prevent dehydration and adrenal fatigue.  Lack of proper hydration compromises many body systems, which leads to toxic buildup, stress, constipation, and a host of other ills.  The two small adrenal glands which sit on top of your kidneys partner with your thyroid to create energy.  They also secrete important hormones, one of which is aldesterone which regulates water levels and the concentration of minerals, like sodium helping you to stay hydrated.  They also regulate your stress response.  It’s important  to treat your adrenals well and avoid dehydration. Lemon water is also much kinder to your adrenals than coffee and other caffeinated drinks, which stimulate them.

Try this easy practice for awhile, and be attentive to what changes or doesn’t change for you.  I’ve been at it for so long that I can’t pinpoint which benefits I am experiencing more, but I can tell you that if I’ve been away from home for awhile, I am happy to get back to my morning lemon water when I return.  It’s just a good start to the day.  Let me know how it works for you.

*Dosha – any of 3 principles: kapha (earth and fire), pitta (fire and water), and vata (ether and air) which, according to the Ayurvedic construct, are the sonstituents that orchestrate a person’s mental and physiologic functions, including metabolism and mind/body type.  (Segen’s Medical Dictionary, 2012)

Adapted from an article, source unknown.  My apologies to the lost author.)

How About Oil Pulling?

Leah and Jane-December, 2009

Some of you may recall that I got my start into a high raw food diet 6 1/2 years ago after I was  introduced to it by my then 15 year old granddaughter, Leah.  A few years ago, maybe 4 or 5, when I was visiting Leah and her family in Colorado, she and her mother, my daughter Laura, were oil pulling. Either there, during that visit, or later, when I arrived home, I gave it a try, and pretty quickly dismissed the practice as just too off-beat, and of too questionable a benefit for me to pursue.  I was still adjusting, after all, at that time, to this raw food diet, and dealing with all its attendant psychological and sociological ramifications. Oil pulling?  I think not, thank you.

Recently, though, when I was visiting with Rene Oswald, long time raw food practioner, author, and teacher, she said how much she enjoyed the practice of oil pulling, did it daily, usually in the shower, as do many others, it turns out, and had no plans to ever give it up.  She thought that since oil pulling reportedly helps to remove toxins from the body, it might help me with a chronic post nasal drip thing that I've had lingering since an early spring cold and cough. The cough has, annoyingly enough, left me clearing my throat often, sometimes to no avail, wondering if I'll have a coughing fit when I do a public reading or speaking thing, and doing lots of coughing, at least for awhile, during a biking or swimming workout. Like I said....annoying.

So, now that I'm two weeks into the daily practice, and after a little research, here's what I can tell you.

Oil pulling or oil swishing, is an ancient ayurvedic simple, cost effective, natural remedy procedure that involves pulling or swishing oil in the mouth for oral and systemic health benefits.  It is mentioned in the Ayrvedic text Charaka Samhita, where it is called Kavala Gandusha or Kavala Graha, and is claimed to cure about 30 systemic diseases ranging from migraine headache, to diabetes and asthma.

Oil pulling has risen from an ancient Ayurvedic natural remedy technique to an effective self help nature cure method for restoring and maintaining overall health. 

 It involves putting about a tablespoon of oil in your mouth, then swishing it around your teeth for a few minutes.There are thousands of different types of bacteria in the mouth. Some of them are friendly, others are not.

There are thousands of different types of bacteria in the mouth. Some of them are friendly, others are not. Certain bacteria can cause harm, such as Streptococcus Mutans, which is the main culprit behind plaque buildup, gingivitis, and cavities. The bacteria in the mouth create a "biofilm" on the teeth -- a thin layer that they use to adhere to the surface . This is what we know as "plaque." Having some plaque on teeth is normal, but if it gets out of hand, it can cause all sorts of problems. Oil pulling helps to remove the plaque and other debris by capturing it in the moving oil and then dissolving it . There are studies that show that a large amount of oral bacteria and plaque are removed with each application, and breath is sweetened, teeth polished, and the mouth just generally feels cleansed and smooth. Still other studies suggest that oil pulling helps to detoxify and heal other parts of the body, although those studies sound less definitive, at least in my humble, and fairly brief reading.
 

Some will say, "Who needs this?" Good question. I think that at the least, oil pulling is an easy practice to adopt and can't hurt. Ayurvedic medicine, the oldest recorded medical system in existence, has been around a long time. I think giving the practices that have survived the test of time deserve at least a fair shot. Sort of like yoga. With all the modern exercise and relaxation modes around, why pick an ancient one like yoga? Precisely because it is ancient and it has survived, and people have never really stopped doing it. There must be something to it.

Back to Oil Pulling

Traditionally, the Indians used sesame or sunflower oil. Any oil will work -- almond, peanut,  etc..  Many people these days, as do I, use coconut oil because its Lauric Acid ( about half the fats in coconut oil) is proven to be antimicrobial, and good in many other ways as well, not the least of which is that it has a more pleasant taste than the others. It's a strange sensation at first "chewing" on coconut oil, as it heats up in the body and liquefies; after that it may feel strange for a few days, then becomes part of the routine.

Here's the how to:

1-Put a teaspoon to a tablespoon of oil in your mouth.

2-Swish the oil around in your mouth for 10-20 minutes, "pulling" it through your teeth. Avoid getting it into your throat (as in gargling), or swallowing it, as this will transmit some of the "pulled" toxins further into your system. There's no need to use a lot of force with this. If your face or jaw hurts, use less oil, force, or time, or all three for a few days.
3- Spit out the oil, preferably into the toilet, lest it clog up the sink, rinse out your mouth and then brush your teeth.

It's best to oil pull on an empty stomach, before you brush your teeth. It works best for many people to do it in their morning shower. Suit yourself.

There is lots more to read, if you're interested, than what I've given you here. I'm into my third week with it, and do notice that my mouth feels cleaner, and my teeth sparkle. I'm sure that my dentist, who already praises me for my mouth care, will be delighted at the improvements in my oral and dental health. My nagging cough seems a little better, and if there is another level of detoxifying and immunity building going on, of which I currently am unaware, so be it. I'm sure this is a no risk venture than can only bring good. Give it a try. See what you think. Let me know.