Lift your spirits juice

Feeling a little low lately due to the cold weather and some personal stuff I'm trying to work though. A simple juice that makes me more light hearted is a combo of oranges, lemon, ginger and strawberries. I've been doing some reading and it turns out citrus smells have been studied and are proven to lighten your spirits. "Citrus is shown to help patients affected by hysteria and depression... Pleasant smells lower the heart rate and reduce stress, and that in itself makes you feel better," according to Dr Charles Spence Dr. Charles Spence is an experimental psychologist at the University of Oxford. He is the head of the Crossmodal Research group which specializes in the research about the integration of information across different sensory modalities.
..... Click the link for more information. at the Department of Experimental Psychology, Oxford University.

Lift Your Spirits Juice

• 2 Medium Oranges (rub the skin between your fingers to get the smell of the essential oils from the peel on your hands and breathe it in:)
• 1/2 a Medium Lemon
• 2C Organic Strawberries
• 1 sm knot of ginger

Juice through a standard juicer breathing in the smells as you go :)

Orange

David Wolfe on Thyroid Health

12 Days of Raw Cookies - Coconut Fruit Bars

Chewy sweet very tasty...

Base:
3C shredded coconut
4 dates soaked and pitted
4T honey (if you don't like honey use maple syrup)

Blend dates and honey until smooth mix with coconut and press flat on to a non stick surface (like a cookie sheet).

Topping
1C Dried chopped cherries
1/2 Dried chopped Cranberries
1/2 C walnuts in pieces
1/4c Orange Juice
4T Honey
1T lemon/orange or lime zest
2 Dates soaked pitted and chopped

(if it is too runny ad more fruit) mix honey oj and zest let sit for an hour (to let flavours mix) then mix with chopped fruits and walnuts spread mix on top of coconut base place in fridge or freezer until firm and cut into squares

12 Days of Raw Cookies - Peanut Butter Chocolate

If you aren't a fan of peanuts try almonds or cashews. I roll these in a ball and make them like a thumprint cookie.

Nuts for Chocolate Cookies

• 2c peanuts or (almonds or cashews - soaked)
• 1/4 c melted coconut oil
• 1/2 rolled oats
• 2T maple syrup
• 1/4c cacao
• 2 dates soaked and pitted

blend 1 1/2 c of nuts with oil until almost smooth (if you have a vitamix use this instead of your food processor) add dates, maple syrup and blend a little more. Crush remaining nuts into biggish pieces and stir these in with 1/2 rolled oats - roll into balls and flatten out with a fork.

12 Days of Raw Cookies - Carrot Cake Balls

This is a great one if you juice regularly save your carrot pulp to make these.

• 1/2 Cup Cashews
• 1/2 Cup Walnuts
• 2 Cups Carrot pulp (or shredded carrots about 3 medium carrots)
• 1/2 C Raisins
• 1 pinch ground cloves
• 1/2tsp grated ginger
• 2 soaked and pitted dates
• 1tsp maple syrup
• 3T grated coconut
• pinch of nutmeg
• pinch of cinnamon

Grind nuts and spices together in food processor or blender, add the rest (except coconut) and blend together until sticky roll in balls then roll in coconut. Super Yummy --- again photos to come!

12 Days of Raw Cookies - Oatmeal Cranberry

Another cookie recipe w/o a photo (for now sorry guys - I'll post some after the Christmas crazies are over!)

Oatmeal Cranberry

• 2 cups ground raw cashews
• 1 cup ground raw oats
• 1/4 cup Maple Syrup
• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup coconut oil

Blend all in a high speed blender or food processor until resembles cookie dough stir in
1C of dried cranberries. These can be rolled in coconut and served doughnut hole style or flattened out and cut into shapes

Too much Holiday Cheer? - 2 Juices

I had too much cheer at my office party last night. I don't drink often or much so a few glasses of wine went a long way. This morning after the obligatory why did I do this to myself thoughts I made a few glasses of Day after juice (full of vitamin C).

Day After Juice

• 2 Oranges
• Ice
• 1 Pomegranate

3 Days After Juice

• Beet with top (small)
• 4 Carrots
• 1 Medium Apple
• 2 Handfuls of Spinach (Kale or dandelion greens)

Wash well and juice in a juicer. If your juicer doesn't handle greens well try blending them in a blender with a little water and straining through a nut mylk bag (or any strainer) then whisk in with the juicer juice. If you have fresh Dandelion Greens you can use them instead of Spinach (excellent for the liver).

3 Day after Juice will "push" your liver and will probably make you feel more ill if you try to drink it the day after an alcohol binge so save it until you aren't feeling the effects of abusing yourself so much.

Beets, especially the beet roots, are excellent for healing the liver after abuse from alcohol and other toxins. Beet tops are even higher in nutrition than the root, but both are high in important vitamins and minerals. The vitamins that beet roots are especially high in are vitamin C, niacin, thiamine, and iron.
Carrots are extremely high in carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, and other B vitamins. Carotene is important because it helps rebuild white blood cells that have been ravaged and depleted with drinking. White blood cells are critical for a healthy immune system.
Apples are here mainly to make the juice tasty but, they provide vitamin A, vitamin C, and is a good source of carbohydrates to help with the sugar metabolism of people trying to detox from alchohol. Juice the apples with the skin on for maximum nutritional benefits.
Dandelion root and greens are a superfood for the detoxing the liver. Juicing this vegetable will provide more nutrients than many other vegetables, and even more vitamin A than carrots. "Dandelion root is regarded as one of the finest liver remedies, both as food and medicine. Dandelion root improves the flow of bile, improving ... liver congestion..." (Micheal T. Murray, N.D.) 

Kale is a powerful green to include in the juicing recipe for recovering alcoholics because of its high iron content, high calcium content (a cup of kale or collard green juice has more calcium than a cup of milk), and is high in potassium, an essential mineral. The thiamine content in kale is greater than in beets, as well. Spinach is high in iron, but also has high amounts of the B vitamins.

12 Days of Raw Cookies - Minty Cookies

• 5 soaked pitted dates
  1/2C mint leaves
• 1C soaked almonds
• 1T cacao powder

Blend dates, mint and soaked almonds in food processor or vitamix roll in balls and then roll in cacao powder (no dehydrating needed!)

12 Days of Raw Cookies - Apricot Biscotti

Another repost... buttery yummy Apricot Biscotti (spice cookies for tomorrow taking a bit longer to dehydrate than I thought!)
 
Moons of the faithful Biscotti

• 1 1/2 C Dried Apricots (soaked for .5/hr to soften)
• 2C Almonds
• 3 Large Pitted Dates
• 2T Raw Almond Butter
• 1t Cinnamon
• 1T Vanilla
• 1/4C Soak Water (reserved from Apricots and Dates)

Soak almonds in water overnight. Drain and rinse. Soak the Apricots and Dates in water for around .5 hour to soften. Drain set aside soak water. In a food processor, chop almonds until fine. Add dates, apricots, almond butter, cinnamon, and vanilla blend drizzle in water until a dough like paste is formed (will be a little chunky). To form roll all dough into a large loaf shape cut into biscotti. . Dehydrate at 110 for 20hrs flip off non stick sheets and return to dehydrator for 4-8 hrs.
Stores well in plastic bags in the freezer.

12 Days of Raw Cookies - Lemon Coconut Moons

The photo doesn't do these little cookies justice - they are really delicious (actually that photo is going to drive me nuts so I'll probably have to post a better one soon!). I think next time I'll make them more like a thumbprint cookie with maybe a curl of lemon zest on top of each one...

Lemon Coconut Moons

• 2C Cashews
• Juice from 2 Lemons (medium to large sized)
• Zest from one of the lemons (about 4T)
• 1C Hemp Hearts 
• 2C Shredded Coconut
• 4 large soaked and pitted medjool dates

Blend or Food process cashews into a powder add remaining ingredients and blend until the mixture resembles a raw cookie dough. Shape into moons or rounds and flatten dehydrate over night at 115 degrees flip and dehydrate another 3 to 4 hours (tasty w/o drying as well - but the dehydrator makes them a little crispy on the outside which is nice)

12 Days of Raw Cookies - Sweet Pecan Cookies

Silly me forgetting that I have to dehydrate my next few cookies before I can take photos sooo another repost of a favourite for day 3 - I promise next cookies will be new recipes!


Crumbly Sweet Pecan Cookies - delicious with cold almond milk!

• 2C Pecans
• 1/2C Pitted Dates
• 3T Maple Syrup
• 1t vanilla
• 1/2t cinnamon
• 15-20 Pecan halves for garnish

Soak Pecans in water for a few hours (2 should be enough). Drain and rinse. Soak dates in water for 15-20minutes until soft - drain. In a food processor chop pecans until finely ground. Add dates, maple syrup, vanilla and cinnamon - blend until smooth. If not sticky enough add a little of the date soak water.

Use a tablespoon to scoop out mixture roll into ball using your hands. Place balls on non-stick dehydrator sheets press out balls with the palm of your hand to 1/4 inch thickness. Dehydrate at 115 to taste (around 20 hours if you like them quite dry). Flip cookies to dry the underside and return to dehydrator for 2-5 hours. These store really well in baggies in the freezer or refridgerator.

12 Days of Raw Cookies! Devilish Delight Rum Balls

The first cookie is a repost of my Devilish Delight Chocolate Balls because they are my favourite (the cherries and real raw chocolate give them a rummy taste - well I think it does - try them and judge for yourself)

Devilish Delights

• 3C Walnuts (soaked and drained at least 20 mins)
• 1C Almonds (soaked and drained - a few hours is best)
• 2C Dried Cherries
• 1C Pitted Dates (soaked for 20minutes - reserve soak water)
• 2.5C Shredded Coconut
• 2.5T Cacao Powder
• 4T Cacao Nibs (if you have fine without)
• 1/2C Raisins or Dried Cranberries
• 3T Maple Syrup
• 1/2T Basalmic Vinegar (brings out the taste in the cacao - I'm not sure why but it works)
  

Pulse Walnuts, Almonds, Cherries, Pitted Dates, Cacao, Cacao Nibs, Maple Syrup and Vinegar in food processor until goopy (if it is too dry add reserved soak water from dates 1T at a time until the consistency is similar to peanut butter). Stir in Shredded Coconut and Raisins mix well with spoon. Scoop out with a tablespoon and roll into balls in the palm of your hand. Use a small bowl of shredded coconut to roll the ball in to coat. Put balls on a plate lined with parchment paper and stick them in the fridge or freezer until firm until. I've been told these taste like they have alchohol in them due to the cacao nibs. I think they would be excellent at Christmas instead of rum balls.

Puffy Face Juice

So today a small post on a recipe for "Puffy Face Juice" - think Vince Vaughn - I saw his photo the other day - and thought that man needs a good food detox and some Puffy Face Juice. I tend to carry "puff" in my face as well - with me I think it is mostly due to allergies and the lymphs in my neck not draining properly - probably my liver struggling too - not sure. About 6 months ago I started drinking what I call "Puffy Face Juice" and doing self lymphatic massage on my jawline neck. I've had people comment that my face/neck look slimmer so something must be working...

Puffy Face Juice

• 1c blueberries (anti-oxidants)
• 1c pineapple (diuretic)
• 1/4 of small beet (helps to stimulate the liver and get bile flowing)
• 1 medium piece of ginger (warming)
• 1 medium apple (helps body clear out toxins)
• 1/2 medium cucumber (electrolyte-restoring) OR 1c watermelon - I switch it up depending on what I can find.

Run all through your juicer and drink as soon as possible after you make it so you don't lose any of the nutrients.

Lymphatic Face Massage
Just under the jawline (where your doctor feels to see if you have swollen glands - there) press firmly but not hard on both sides hold for 4-6 seconds then stroke upwards towards the face lightly - and that's it. Once a day in the shower in the morning or before bed.

More things I love... So Delicious Coconut Milk

 

I don't usually push products but, I'm loving this stuff so much I wanted to share.

I've been adding it to my smoothies and hot cocoa for about a month now. I'm noticing a difference in my waistline and my energy level. This coconut milk isn't like the kind in the cans - it has about 5g of fat  per cup and it needs to be refrigerated. I've only tried the unsweetened (which is delicious), it is also available in vanilla and sweetened. I had to order it through an organic food co-op locally and have it shipped north because it isn't available at any of the stores here - I'm starting to get antsy about running out before I can place another order for it in a few months...

• Dairy Free / Lactose Free
• Soy Free
• Gluten Free
• Rich in Medium Chain Fatty Acids
• Excellent Source of Vitamin B12 (vegetarian friendly)
• Formulated for Maximum Calcium Absorption
• Cholesterol Free
• No Trans Fats
• Certified Vegan

 

 

Coconut Milk Hot Cocoa

• 1 Cup Coconut Milk
• 1tsp Organic Cocoa Powder
• 1tsp (to taste) Maple Syrup
• .5 tsp cinnamon

Heat milk on low/medium until hot on stove top, whisk in cocoa powder, cinnamon and add maple syrup to taste. (if you are a raw foodie - you can warm your milk to 115 - make a paste with a little of the milk the cocoa/maple syrup/cinnamon then stir it in to the rest of the milk - just as yummy as the hot stuff)

For more info on coconuts:
 http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/

Detoxing without fasting - basics.

A bit of a ramble about detoxing....
Anyone who knows me knows I'm in to fasting. I've posted a few times about why I choose to fast and why I think it works for me. Fasting isn't everyone's cup of tea however - I remember several years ago talking my mother into doing a short fast with me and it was far and away NOT her thing. After the first day she was suffering terrible headaches and nausea. I wasn't as aware back then about how important it is for people who eat a regular diet to detox and clean up their systems before taking on a fast - for some people - a lot of people - doing a week or two of clean eating without going on a fast is a great gentler way to detox than taking on a full on fast.

If you are stressed or feel like you are missing vital nutrients in your diet (or aren't absorbing the nutrients you are putting into your body properly), eating more simply will give your body a break. If you can get past the initial discomfort while your body cleans out the junk and are willing to battle your brain while it is telling you "I need my coffee" or "I'm sad/angry I want a cookie - I deserve a cookie!" or what have you. The end result - is worth the effort (in my humble opinion).

What does detoxing do?

"Detox is a naturally occurring physiological process wherein the body rids itself of toxic substances through sweat, urine, and feces, Dorfman says. These toxins typically include air and water pollutants and processed food chemicals. "The body first eliminates these toxins through the gut; whatever the gut can't catch gets into the bloodstream and passes through the liver, which flushes them out. sometimes toxins don't leave our body - they hang around in our lymph and digestive systems.
Detoxing provides your body with a nutritional break so that it can become a better waste dumper and nutrient absorber. A proper detox lasts about a week and involves eating a nutritious, well-balanced diet that's high in essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants, drinking plenty of water and clear fruit juices, and getting enough rest. You can also incorporate moderate exercise into your routine.

When?

I tend to go on fasts or cleanses when I'm going through changes in my life - when I need to centre myself or gain more clarity. Some people like to do it in the spring or at the start of the new year.

What to put in...

Start your mornings off with an 8-ounce glasses of warm water with  half a lemon squeezed into the water - lemon wakes up your digestive juices. (try to drink between 8-10 glasses of water a day - I count my herbal teas in with this)

During the day eat a variety of fresh fruit, whole grains (quinoa is an excellent one and loaded with protein), and lightly steamed veggies. I'll also use coconut oil to about 4tblsp for fat. Smoothies and fruit and veggie juices are also great...

With one of my glasses of water during the day I'll mix in a powdered vitamin c supplement (I use a brand called Emergen-C) - This aids in neutralizing free radicals produced by your body as you begin to detox, from things like sugar and caffeine. Another thing that helps if you are feeling sick to your stomach is ginger or mint tea. 

What to cut out...

• Sugar, (so this means sodas, chocolates, candies, cough drops - anything that has sugar in it is out)
• Caffeine
• Vinegar
• Corn 
• Mushrooms
  
• Dairy (if you consume it - creates excess mucus in the body).
• Anything processed

In addition to the food things to think about:

• Take hot baths with epsom salts (contains magnesium that can be absorbed through the skin)
• Dry body brushing (helps the body eliminate toxins more quickly)
• Yoga or Walking daily - anything to help keep your blood moving and allow your lymphs to sweat out toxins.
• Neti Potting - sometimes I'll get stuffy while I'm detoxing 
• Turn off the news - take a mental break - allow yourself to avoid negative emotional stuff coming at you through your tv or computer.

Make sure you are regular while all this is going on - if you aren't going #2 at least once a day. Munch on prunes or try drinking laxative tea.


What you'll have to put up with....
You'll probably be tired for awhile, have a headache or two, be hungry and grumpy - for the first 2 or three days after that it usually goes away.

When you go back to eating a more regular diet - be as my friend calls it a "petite eater" ... chew things carefully  - introduce foods you haven't been eating back one at a time...

If you have health concerns - talk to you doctor before radically changing your diet. You are trying to be nice to yourself not throw your body into shock.

Full Moon in Taurus - enjoy simple pleasures

Tonight's full moon in Taurus has us focusing on earthly concerns. It is a good time to cozy up our homes and prepare for winter, take pleasure in handicrafts, think of new ways to generate income, and mine our depths for inner guidance. This moon is also known as the Frosty Moon or Mourning Moon - allow yourself to slow down and be in tune with the season. Take risks, be creative develop your talents.

Juice Fasting is not a diet.

I had a coworker forward me a New York Times article today on Juice Fasting. The reporter in the article went on a 3 day juice fast. She talked about the shock her body went through so on. As you read it turns out she didn't like her green juice so she pretty much drank pineapple juice and cashew milk for her fast. The article was cute and funny and probably made a lot of people who have tried fasting laugh and she did say she might give it another try in the future. However and here is the rant... It is disturbing how many people seem to be labeling juice fasting as a "diet fad" juice fasting is a cleansing program - not a diet to lose weight and like anything (check out the movie Super Size me and see what horrible things can happened to the human body when you try to live on McDonalds food for 30 days) can be dangerous if you don't follow the rules and put the correct combination of nutrients into your body daily - but seriously for 3 days how much damage is pineapple and cashew juice going to do if you are a fairly healthy person already? Is it any worse than going on a 3 day fast food bender? I hardly think so. Perhaps - what these people are experiencing when they come off of a SAD diet directly into a juicing program is detox. Since cleaning up my diet and eating high raw vegan diet - I experience very little to no discomfort at all when I fast... It centres me, it strengthens my immune system - but most of all it makes me truly grateful for my food.

I'm reposting "Juice Feasting Basics" for anyone is interested in how to Juice fast in a healthy way...

Friday, May 01, 2009 Juice Feasting the Basics
I've had a few people ask me what the "basic rules" of juice feasting are - as I understand them they are as follows...

• Drink a minimum of 4 quarts of fresh, raw (organic if possible) vegetable and fruit juice daily - that is12-20 pounds of fresh fruit and veg a day.
• 2lbs of green leafy vegetables and one head of celery daily (this is part of the 4 quarts not in addition to). Celery is important because it is very hydrating and alkalyzing. It is full of organic sodium and minerals.
• The idea is to re-mineralize, and alkalyze the leafy greens will help you do this (that is why it is important to consume more greens than fruit). Leafy greens will also supply you with protein.
• Some of the supplements suggested are Vitamineral Green, spirulina/chlorella, bee pollen granules, and 1-2 Tablespoons of high-Omega-3 content oils, I've talked with quite a few feasters who feel these are a great compliment to juice feasting but, not absolutely necessary. - I take them.
• As I've mentioned before daily enemas are suggested to help your body eliminate wastes more efficiently.
• Why not green smoothies? What about fiber? This is what David Rain has to say on the subject "Normaly, fiber is great for moving things through the intestinal tract and colon and an appropriate pace, but when the body must separate out juice from fiber, there is an energy expenditure there that is significant. One of our main aims in the Juice Feast is to reduce this burden as much as possible – give the body a vacation from solid food – so that the saved energy can be transferred to cleansing processes.
  
  The reason that fasting works is that you are giving your body physiological rest from digesting food. This rest allows the body to go about the process of "housecleaning" with the energy saved from the usual act of digestion. Juice Feasting works with the same principle. When you remove the fiber from your produce and drink plant juices, you give the body physiological rest. This principle is also known as "Physiological Compensation." My colleague John Rose writes about Herbert Shelton's explanation of this principle:
  
  Physiological Compensation - "Energy saved in one department may be expended in another." When we give our bodies a "solid food vacation" by only drinking freshly made fruit and vegetable juices, the energy that would have been used to convert the solid food into liquid is then redirected or re-channeled to the elimination cycle. Even though no solid food is going in, there will be massive amounts of uneliminated waste matter coming out of our intestines. Once our colon, which is our major channel of elimination, begins to free itself from its toxic load, then every cell in our bodies will start dumping out its accumulated waste matter into our system to be eliminated."

By drinking only juice, the body gets a break from digesting food. This energy can then be used instead to cleanse the body of old matter and ultimately rebuilt itself. David Rain, believes that most people need 92 days to fully cleanse, and overcome any health challenges. He believes the body goes back in time about 120 days for each day you are on the feast.

White Tea, my immune system & flouride...

It is that time of year again - tea time. For me when it starts to get colder outside I find myself guzzling teas all day in an attempt to keep my body temperature up. I love herbal blends but, my favourite all time hot thing to drink is White Tea. A lot of people drink green but I find it to be a little bitter for my taste.

White tea is made from immature tea leaves that are picked shortly before the buds have fully opened. The tea takes its name from the silver/white fuzz that still covers the buds, which turns white when the tea is dried. Tea leaves destined to be sold as white tea undergo less processing than any other type of tea (including green). Instead of air-drying, the unwithered leaves are merely steamed. Studies have indicated that White Tea is even better for you than Green. Because it is not processed heavily White Tea's health benefits are greater than any other type. Rich in antioxidants, white tea has proven greater cancer-fighting ability than even green tea. White teas are known to boost the immunes system, helping to fight viruses and infection-causing bacteria - BUT what a lot of people don't know is that White Tea does contain fluoride - which I try to avoid because I have had problems with my thyroid gland.

"The tea plant, Camellia sinensis, naturally absorbs fluoride from the environment more effectively than other plants. And as it ages, more fluoride is absorbed by the leaves, so the younger leaves have less fluoride than the older leaves. In practical terms, this means white tea (which is only very young leaves) has less fluoride than green, black or oolong teas, which include older leaves (Herbal teas do not contain any Camellia sinensis leaves and have almost no fluoride to speak of)."

If you are concerned a few things you can do to reduce the amount of fluoride in your tea...

• Buy good quality LOOSE leaf teas (a lot of fluoride is contained in "tea dust" in the bags of cheaper teas)
• Drink more White - which has the least amount of flouride - than green/oolong/black - or choose Herbal "teas" (which technically don't contain tea leaves so aren't tea but, you get my drift) which have no fluoride.
• Buy Japanese teas - which contain less flouride (absorbed into the teas from the soil - Japanese have less!)

There have been dozens of studies done on the health benefits of White/Green teas so I feel in moderation drinking White tea is beneficial even with the fluoride. I've posted a link to a terrific website which has loads of info.

http://www.heavenoftea.com/tag/studies/

Hunter Moon - Full Moon In Aries.

Full moon in Aries which is pushing all signs to seek truth. You might be especially feeling the effects of this moon if you are a cardinal sign (Aries, Libra, Capricorn or Cancer). This full moon helps us to release the energy of something that has come to an end. With the old energy gone we are able to focus on new more positive things that are coming into our lives. In terms of relationships with others we are reminded that people come and go and not to walk in other people's shadows but, rather to forge your own paths. Watch out for people (and even animals) to be acting more aggressively over the next few days - arguments, mood swings and the like. It is a good time to reflect on what our purpose is.

Allergies I'm scent-sitive.

Sorry I've been away so long. I've been struggling with some health/life issues lately so I've been consumed by that. I have switched back eating high raw instead of all raw now that fall is underway. At first I was feeling healthier but, now I'm noticing my immune system seems to be weakened again. I had almost forgotten how much certain chemicals/scents effect me because my immune system was so strong after my Juice feast that those issues just went away (I was even cuddling my parents cats!). So the scoop I have been having to expose myself daily for the past few months to an air borne allergen that finally knocked me on my butt this Monday. I had been having headaches, sniffles, coughing (usual stuff) but, on Monday my throat started to swell - I couldn't swallow and was having problems breathing - for anyone who has had this happened you know how scary this can be. My doctor described it well. She says when you have an air borne allergy to something like say a certain scented fabric softener. The first time you are exposed it is sort of like someone who has a milk allergy and consumes a bit by mistake - you are uncomfortable for maybe an hour with some bloating or indigestion so it isn't too bad (I sneeze and maybe have a bit of a headache), but if you sit down and decide to eat several bowls of ice cream and top it off by guzzling down a jug of milk you are probably going to end up in the emergency room. Me exposing myself to this allergen daily for months finally put my body in a state of toxic overload. Luckily I have a very good employer who is doing everything in his power to help me stay healthy - our office is a scent free zone but things like this are difficult to enforce. He is trying and so am I so back to my juice and a pure/pure diet - it works - I know it does. The reason I decided to write about it is because I wanted to say I this - I know it is hard but, if you are having similar problems - say something and keep saying something. Don't do what I did and stay at your desk trying to put up with it because you don't want to cause anymore waves - if saying something isn't working walk away. It may not make you very popular with your coworkers but, you don't want to end up at the doctor's office or in the emergency room unable to breathe or swallow - not fun! Sooo the next few posts I think will be about my attempts to coax my immune system back into being strong.
j

Canadian Thanksgiving

This weekend is Canadian thanksgiving check out my posts from last year for nutloaf, pumpkin pie and a few other tasty things (in the recipe section - top of the page). I'll be posting the results of my apple cider vinegar - turned out faboo!! I have photos too.

Recipes

Ocean

Totally random - I just enjoy listening to it so much I wanted to share :)

Full Moon In Aries - Corn Moon

Full Moon in Aries today. This full moon has a Libra Sun opposing - which means the focus is on relationships - Aries (self) Libra (other). We are encouraged to seek balance. "This Full Moon is about emotional declarations. Something has been building inside of us, likely of a personal nature, and now is the time when the energy of the cosmos fairly demands that we let it out. Over the next two weeks, we will discover what this declaration means for us. For now, we can't sit on our feelings. We need to express them." Take deep breaths and contemplate all concerns one at a time. Separate desire from practicality, jealousy from genuine disappointment, Follow your instincts at all costs and do not second guess your opinion about individuals at this time.

Mind Like Water

I stumbled across this today. I've been ugh lately - this helped.

Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water my friend.

Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

My parents sent me a large box of apples from Saskatchewan. The apples are very sweet but, a little mealy. I'm really interested in fermented foods lately so I've decided to to try making my own Raw Apple Cider Vinegar. I started my brew on Saturday - they started bubbling almost right away. I checked them last night again and they are starting to smell boozey already - exciting!

Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

• 10 parts apple juice (I am loving my new Hurom slow juicer btw:)
• 1 part Apple Cider Vinegar (as a starter - Bragg is a great brand) OR
• 1/2 pkg champagne yeast to 10c of apple juice (if you want things to progress more quickly)

Pour into a large clean glass container cover with something breathable and stir daily. Keep sniffing and when it stops bubbling and smells like vinegar give it a taste and see if it is ready. Rack and bottle. Keep the cloudy sediment at the bottom - it is called the "mother" and is the yeasty goodness (starter) you will want to use to make more batches in the future.

Because my apples were mealy they came through the juicer a little mushy - and not as clear apple juice I'm hoping the mush will break down more and I'll strain off the liquid - I'll post some photos soonish.

More things I love

A girls road trip to rainy (beautiful :) Juneau over the long weekend. My friend Pam and I discovered a great health foods store in the heart of downtown . Rainbow Foods (224 4th Street) was a great place to spend an drizzly afternoon. If you find yourself in Juneau it is worth a visit. We also played many many scrabble games on the long ferry ride to and from Skagway (again the rain) but was really nice to play - I'm new to it - I just started playing scrabble on my trip to Europe last winter - I needed the practice.

Rainbow Foods

My New Juicer is Here!

Hurrah and Ta Da! I ordered my new Hurom slow juicer a little over a week ago and it is here.. Excited! I'm starting a Juice "Feast" after the long weekend. The ease of cleaning won me over - I'll post more after I've used it.

Insomnia? - Cherries and Sage.

I'm having a bout with insomnia this week. It usually happens when the seasons change, I'm under stress or having allergy problems. This fall (yes it is fall where I live) I'm being hit with all three. So grumpy/tired and sneezy is where I'm at. When this sort of thing happens I stock up on cherries. Yep cherries and fresh sage if I can find it. If I'm feeling restless I find a cup of sage tea with a little maple syrup does wonders and no it doesn't taste like stuffing - It is kind of wonderful and a wee bit minty - I've told my Dad about it and he is also hooked.

Sage Tea (for one cup)

• Water Boiling
• 4 Medium Sized Sage Leaves (I like the Pineapple or Broad leaf kind)
• Sweetener to taste.

Pour the Boiling water over the sage leaves turn saucer upside down over the cup so none of the goodness escapes in the steam and let steep for a minute or more.
Why it works: Sage has natural anti-depressant properties that help to calm the mind before you go to bed. It is also supposed to be great for women going through menopause.

Cherries
There have been many medical studies that have proven that consuming cherries helps with insomnia. Cherries are filled with the hormone melatonin. "Melatonin is naturally made in the body by the pineal gland. It is produced by the body during sleep and around the night hours to induce sleep. The body produces less of it as we age, though, which is thought to be directly related to age related insomnia"
A lot of people buy melatonin as a supplement (liquid or pill) to help them sleep - but I prefer to go straight to the source :) - much tastier that way and less risk of side effects. Melatonin is contained mostly in the skins of cherries so I eat them whole or juiced and added to a little soda water depending on the weather and my mood. Around 1 cup a day for a few days seems to do the trick for me. Cherries have also been proven to be good for people suffering with arthritis or gout! Give it a google lots of info out there.

More info on Cherries: Medical News Today

Cherry/Sage Tea (one large mug)

• Water Boiling
• 4 medium Sized Sage Leaves
• 1 shot glass of black cherry juice
• sweetener if you like ( I like honey but, if that goes against your belief system/diet requirements - try maple syrup)

Zuvo Water Filter Giveaway!

One of my favourite bloggers Bitt over at a "Bitt of Raw" is holding a great contest until August 27th. She is giving away a Zuvo water filter. Zuvo water filters hook up easily to most standard faucets. Here is the link to Bitt's site to enter. I'm posting the You Tube Video about it below. Good Luck! Crossing my fingers I'll win it myself :)

Enter Here: http://www.bittofraw.com/2010/08/importance-of-good-water-zuvo-water.html

More things I love - Starfire and You Say Tomato.

I went to Skagway, Alaska this weekend and had a fantastic meal at a local hot spot called Starfire 4th Ave between Broadway & Spring it is a Thai restaurant that has several veggie friendly options (cooked). Another great spot is You Say Tomato a health foods store packed full of fun goodies including local produce. Inside You Say tomato is North Eden (a little hole in the wall take away - burritos and the like - again veggie friendly) You Say Tomato is at State at 21st Street.

Garden Goodness

A fresh summer salad loaded with goodies from my friend Krista's garden. Spinach, Peas, Berries, Romaine lettuce... YUM YUM YUM.

Garden Goodness Salad
1C Baby Spinach
1C Baby Romaine
1/2C Peas Chopped
1/2 Baby Tomatoes Cut in Half
1/4 Medium Red Onion
1/2 Cup Mixed Raspberries & Saskatoons

Curried Dressing
1/4C Balsamic Vinegar
4T Dark Maple Syrup
1/4C Soaked Cashews
1T Curry Powder
1 Pinch Ground Corriander
1 Pinch Ground Cumin
Pulse in high power blender or food processor until nuts are crumbled (or you can blend until smooth I like a bit of crunch)

Full Moon In Aquarius - new directions

The full moon in Aquarius is a time to tie up loose ends and take an individual stand for what you believe in. Let go of any old self defeating patterns. Start preparing yourself for new things that are coming. Let go of your preconceived notions about how things "have" to be or "should" be start looking in new directions.

"This Full Moon is also Midsummer Night, the night of mistaken identities and magical shifts between the worlds. The line between conscious and unconscious is blurred. And the trine of the Sun to Jupiter and Uranus shows that anything is possible! Miracles can happen, dreams can suddenly come true."

Sources: http://artcharts.com/blog/2010/07/full-moon-july-25/

http://celestialspace.wordpress.com/2010/07/15/full-moon-in-aquarius/

A fun little aside...

* In Sweden on Midsummer in the evening it a tradition for unmarried girls to go out and pick seven different types of flowers - remaining silent while picking each one. That night when they go to bed the girls put the 7 flowers under their pillows. It is believed that on this night only if a girl does this she will dream about the man she will marry.

More things I love... Crows

Summer Head Cold - Raw Garlic Soup

Ugh. Am I the only one who would like to strangle people who come to work sick and pass it around? I for one would rather handle the extra work load than catch a nasty head cold. But people do and colds are a part of life. I have fought - it is settling in and instead of being angry at my thoughtless coworker. I'm turning my mind to juice and food so I can assist my body in recovering as quickly as possible. So a list of a few natural things I do when I feel a cold coming on...

1. Oregano Oil great for the immune system and sinus - don't take the drops straight they will burn the inside of your mouth instead put 2-4 drops in tea or water with a bit of sweetener - or what I do get veggi caps from a health food store (the kind to make your own vitamin capsules with) and mix 4 drops of oregano oil with grapefruit seed extract. I take 2 or 3 of these a day - never on an empty stomach when I feel something coming on.
2. Garlic, onions and ginger all great immune system builders. If I'm feeling really lousy I'll make ginger tea (cut up ginger steeped in boiling water for 10 minutes or so - I let it cool and drink it with a little lemon juice, cinnamon and black pepper as a tea). Garlic/Onions - I make garlic soup when I'm sick - I think it works just as well or better than chicken soup (just as tasty too - recipe at the end of this post).
3. Orange Juice - fresh squeezed of course :)
   
4. Hot Bath - I'll put in a bit of dried yellow mustard and epsom salts if I feel I need to sweat it out.
5. Rest - sometimes giving up the fight and just sleeping it off is the best remedy of all.

RAW Garlic Soup

• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium white onion (about 1 1/2 cup)
• 1 teaspoon pink sea salt
• 1pinch of black pepper
• 4 cups vegetable juice (for this I use a blend of whatever I have on hand usually carrots, celery, and red pepper)
  
• 1c walnuts (soaked)
• 1c cashews (soaked)
• OR 2C soaked almonds OR 1C nuts and 1 small zucchini (if you use the zucchini only use 3 cups of veggie juice)
  
• 1/2 C fresh cilantro
• 1tsp of curry (or 2tsp of paprika)
  
• 1tablespoon of tahini
  
• 4 cloves of garlic
• juice of 1/2 lemon, or to taste

Blend all together until smooth in a high speed blender - I keep mine blending in my Vitamix until it is warm. Sprinkle top with Hemp hearts. (I'll find a photo and post a little later :)

Under Pressure - Green Smoothie

Feeling a bit argg! Even after popping my trusty B complex and C vitamins which usually do the trick for me. When I'm feeling stressed out I'm often temped to grab refined carbohydrates to stuff the feelings down. During my Juice Feast I learned that the best answer to stress is keeping my body clean from all the "comfort food" junk - however - yesterday I must admit the refined carbs won out 4 chocolate chip cookies later I realized okay - maybe I needed a little release but, lets go on from here and not do this again. So on that note... some great foods that help the body heal from stress overload (and not a one is a chocolate chip cookie!).

Blueberries - We all know these are one of the healthiest foods around. Blueberries are very high in vitamin C, which has been shown to give the body added reserves to help it deal with high levels of stress. Also, blueberries contain a high amount of fiber, which helps regulate blood sugar levels. Blood sugar levels that fluctuate too much are a major contributor to stress for some people.

Oranges Another food that is rich in vitamin C. When you are stressed, your body releases even more free radicals than usual. Vitamin C helps to keep the free radicals in check, and repairs the body.

Green Vegetables Broccoli, kale, and other dark green vegetables are chock full of vitamins that help replenish our bodies in times of stress. Many vegetables also contain potassium which is great at calming down your nervous system.

Almonds A good source of Vitamin B2 and E, as well as magnesium and zinc, almonds are high in fat, but most of the fat is unsaturated. Like vitamin C, vitamin E has been shown to fight the free radicals associated with stress, and in particular, those free radicals that cause heart disease.

Dried Apricots Rich in magnesium. Some say that magnesium helps reduce heart palpitations brought on by stress. Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant as well. (also high in fiber and vitamin C) ... check out my "Moons of the Faithful Biscotti" recipe for a sweet tasty stress busting treat.

Avacado Contains healthy fat that can help battle stress.

Sweet Potatoes—Sweet potatoes can satisfy that carb/sweets when we are under great stress. Full of beta-carotene and other vitamins, and the fiber they contain helps your body to process the carbohydrates slowly.

Stress Busting Green Smoothie

• 1/2C Blueberries
• 1C Fresh Orange Juice
• 1C of Mixed dark leafy greens (like Kale and Spinach)
• 1/2 cup of almond milk

Blend leaf greens and orange juice and almond milk in a high speed blender until smooth add blueberries and pulse until frothy. I like to sprinkle some sliced almonds on top of mine as well... yummy. If you haven't tried a green smoothie before you will be surprised at how unsalad like this tastes - very berry fruity!


"You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection."
- Buddha

Best Juices for Singers

I was looking up throat remedies for my boyfriend who sings yesterday and ran across a couple of great juicing tips for public speakers and singers who want to keep their voices in tip top shape during a show.

Pineapple Juice
A number of professional singers gargle or drink Pineapple juice during shows.
According to Isabella Snow , a long time blues singer it is very important for singers to keep their throats well lubricated - to do this she says Pineapple Juice does a great job .
"Far and away, the best choice available. Doesn’t matter if it’s room temp or a bit chilled, but nothing cold. And nothing with chunks in it, those can make you cough. Pineapple juice is slick, it will instantly moisten your throat, wet your tongue – and cause you to salivate, which is the best lubrication you can find. 1 glass per 45 minute set, a sip or two between songs, that’s all you need. Remember, you’re just lubricating, not quenching thirst. Do not go overboard with pineapple juice, you will spend the next morning in the bathroom. Crazy as pineapple juice sounds, it’s the best thing you can use, and I’ve converted every opera singer I’ve ever mentioned it to."

Source: http://hubpages.com/hub/Tips-For-Singers-and-Public-Speakers-Throat-Lubrication-
Tori Amos' Lemonaid

On stage, Tori Amos drinks a lemonade like drink to rehydrate herself. She calls it "Duncanade" after her former chef Duncan Pickford, is similar to an electrolyte replenisher. (she also uses lip gloss to keep her lips moist during performances - thinking Raw Coconut Butter/Oil might do the trick just as well :).

Duncanade:

• 2 L. water
• 2 lemons, chopped, seeded and pithed (1 whole lemon per L. of water)
• Blend lemons with 1 1/2 L. of the water
• Strain and discard pulp
• Blend that with 10-12 oz. honey that's been blended with 1/2 L. water
• Add the remaining 1 L. water
• 4 pinches of salt (1 pinch for every 1/2 L. water -- more if you sweat a lot)
• 24 drops of essential lemon oil (6 for every 1/2 L. water)
• 1/4 t. cinnamon
• Strain again

"This magical lemonade works wonders for me. The honey in it feels smooth going down your throat, and best of all, provides instant salivation. Duncanade is also extremely tasty -- not too sweet, and not too sour."

Source: http://retrogrademusic.blogspot.com/2009/03/singers-with-sore-throats-beyond-normal.html

All Praise the Cabbage

Many people overlook the health benefits of cabbage. It has been recognized for centuries for its ability to cure stomach and intestinal distress. Uncooked Cabbage is high in glutamine, an amino acid that is essential for intestinal health. It has also been proven to be both antibacterial and antiviral. Cabbage contains Vitamin K (essential in the production of blood clotting proteins); potassium (helps regulate blood pressure); and quercetin (antioxidant that is a natural antihistamine that can benefit allergy sufferers). Cabbage is an excellent source of vitamin C. It is also a very good source of fiber, manganese, folate, vitamin B6, potassium, and omega-3 fatty acieds. Cabbage is also a good source of thiamin (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), calcium, potassium, magnesium, vitamin A, and protein.

Good for what ails you… :)

• CONSTIPATION The juice of cabbages is often used to relieve constipation. Beware can make you windy if you have a lot of junk in your system it needs to break down.
  
• ENLARGED PROSTATE
  
• Anemia: High in chlorophyll - good for blood building.
• OBESITY Research has shown cabbage contains a chemical called tartaric acid, which inhibits the conversion of sugar and other carbohydrates into fat.
• JOINT PAIN Raw cabbage is one of the best vegetables you can take to ease inflammation of the joints. You can eat it however you like, just make sure it is fresh and uncooked! Herbalists suggest to eat fresh cabbage in the morning prior to any other food. I've also been reading that cabbage leaves rolled with a rolling pin until they are releasing their juice and wrapped around a sprain (held in place with a banage) or pulled muscle work wonders.
• ULCERS many people claim they feel better after drinking fresh cabbage juice for only 5 days! "1 liter of the fresh juice per day, taken in divided doses, resulted in total ulcer healing in an average of 10 days. The high content of glutamine, an amino acid that is the preferred fuel for the cells that line the stomach and small intestine, is likely the reason for cabbage juice's efficacy in healing ulcers. "
• Alzheimer's Red cabbages contain significantly more protective phytonutrients than white cabbages and are said to help alzheimer's patient. Antioxidant polyphenols can protect brain cells against the damage caused by amyloid-beta protein, suggests a study published in Food Science and Technology.

Interesting Historical Tid Bits…
The Egyptians ate cabbage with vinegar before a night of drinking to prevent hangovers. Cabbage is still today considered one of the best remedies to cure hangovers! The Romans also ate cabbage to cure every imaginable ailment under the sun! They ate it raw with vinegar before and after each meal.

Cultured Cabbage Juice (good for GI tract killing fungus and parasites)

1. Fill blender with chopped green cabbage.

2. Add distilled water until 2/3 full. Blend on hiigh for 1-2 minutes.

3. Pour out into large bowl and repeat for 2 more batches.

   Cover with cheese cloth, gauze or stocking and let stand at room temperature X 3 days.

4. Strain to separate juice & pulp. Place cultured cabbage juice in refrigerator.

   When supply gets low start new batch, but add 1/2 cup of cultured juice (Starter) and new batch will be ready in 24 hours."

When juicing cabbage you should not drink more than about 4oz of cabbage juice at a time and it is best mixed with other juices such as carrot / apple juice. The flavour combination of carrot and cabbage is well tested, as cabbage and carrot are the base ingredients of many varieties of coleslaws. Coleslaws are highly popular dishes that regularly appear in a raw food diet.

If you consume too much cabbage juice in one go then you may experience a feeling of gas and slight cramps in the intestine due to the sulphur in the cabbage juice reacting with bacteria that exist in the intestines.

Sources:

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=19#healthbenefits

http://www.happyjuicer.com/juicing-ingredients/Cabbage-juice.asp

Herbal Liniment

I hurt myself a few days ago - running up and down a long flight of stairs... I'm currently walking like an 80 year old - ouch - it ALWAYS pays to stretch (yes John, I was listening). A good reminder I suppose. So on that topic another use for my herbs... liniments and another post from mountain rose herbs... (rub it on and relax with a cup of Yarrow tea - made from the dried white flowers on the top - a good natural pain killer).

Full Moon In Capricorn - Deal with it.

Today's full moon is also a partial lunar eclipse. Capricorn is a sign of practicality, achievement, responsibility and structure.

Solar eclipses, help us to uncover things that have been unclear to us, especially when it comes to emotions. If you've been having problems clearing away any old emotional junk now will be the time you find the energy to do it. Many will find they no longer have the patience to deal with situations that are at a dead end. This eclipse will effect anyone whose natal planets are in the early degrees of the cardinal signs (Aries, Libra, Capricorn, Cancer). Any emotions that come up now are most likely fears or anxiety over situations we have been avoiding dealing with. This is not a time to be afraid - things are pushing us to move forward whether we like it or not. If we take a good hard look and are honest with ourselves during this full moon we can discover what is real in our lives and what is illusion. This will probably cause a lot of people to feel uncomfortable and rushed. Expect some cranky folks out and about today or/and some emotional conversations or thoughts to be coming up. Try not to over react and keep in the moment for the next few days. Remember to stay true to yourself and to keep processing how certain situations are making you feel. It is time to get our heads out of the sand and to deal with it - whatever those emotions are that have been nagging at us it is time to take a closer look.

"We may find ourselves establishing or reevaluating our goals/aspirations and define what the necessary steps are toward achieving them, including what we must sacrifice or let go of."

For more check out

http://www.astrogrrl.com