Reflecting Upon Your Achievements in 2009

What a day!

A bit about my day:
I spent the whole day working with some new business partners and I’m so excited about what’s coming in the new year. I’ll limit the self-indulgent chatter and just say that if you’d like to learn more about the live events and workshops I’ll be organizing in Montreal, you can check out the Crudessence website. In the meantime, you can check out the view from the loft where I’ll be teaching in these pictures I’ve included.

Last night I managed to work up a bit of a fever—still processing those mashed potatoes, it seems. By necessity, I was on lemon water and kombucha for the day.

When I came into the office this morning I was met with smiling faces and a familiar glowing granola energy. At lunchtime the kitchen staff put out a big spread of salads, sauces, pâtés and treats. It was amazing to be at a staff meeting where EVERYONE was eating raw food.
During the lunch hour, I got to chatting with a few of the other girls and was so reassured to hear some of the foods they’d eaten over the holidays, that I actually burst out laughing. Knowing that my friends chose to eat macaroni dinners and microwaved carrots rather than upset, annoy or irritate their families at Christmas time was touching and reassuring.

At one point during the lunch hour, the new head chef (who is not a raw foodist, but is a trained chef) presented a tray of cookies. They were COOKies, with milk, flour and eggs, but they were made with love. EVERYONE on staff took one or two out of gratitude for the offering. I was on liquids only, but was moved to see people put aside their food obsessions to partake of a special offering.

About the 21-day challenge:
So, let’s talk about what’s going to happen over the coming days and weeks.

Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve! Wow. Another year whips by and here you are wondering how it all happened so quickly.

I think the first thing for us to do is a proper review of the year. There’s no need to make any of these tasks long or complicated. As you’re reading these notes, get things done.  Even if you just take a few moments and scribble some thoughts in an old notepad, it’s better than not doing anything at all. It is important to put things in writing. Taking ideas from thought to paper is a powerful process.

What were the biggest things you accomplished this year? Take the time and reflect back on the last 12 months. If you have to pull out a calendar, do it. Now is the time to celebrate the things you did well and honor your achievements and improvements in 2009. Before we take the time to set new targets and resolutions, let’s validate all that went well and all we did successfully.

Months slip through the sands of time rather quickly. Take a few moments to recall where you were last new year’s eve. Where were you? Who were you with? What were you doing? What did you hope to achieve for yourself in this last year? What can you validate yourself for having achieved and accomplished? What can you celebrate about 2009?

Put your focus on the things you want to create more of. There may have been some rough months and rocky roads, but you got through them and are stronger for it. Honor what you did well, so that you feel inspired and empowered.  Scan briefly the months of the year and just jot down a few of the key points, events, realisations that stand out for you looking back:

• January
• February
• March
• April
• May
• June
• July
• August
• September
• October
• November
• December

Tomorrow and over the rest of the weeks, we will be more focused on creating targets and objectives for the New Year. Now is the time to review, celebrate, validate all that happened in 2009.

We wouldn’t be raw divas if we didn’t have our interests strongly grounded in food and nutrition. So let’s talk about some of what we can accomplish for ourselves over the course of our 21-Day Challenge.

One of the things that I’ve noticed (having worked with nearly 30,000 women around the world) is that extreme fasting, juice feasting and water fasting can be very difficult to bounce back from and often results in bingeing or even WORSE dietary habits after the fact. For the purposes of this 21-Day Challenge I’m going to recommend a slow and steady route to getting back on track. Rather than put our attention on all the things we should be avoiding, let’s focus on what we can be adding.

Salt is my major addiction, and the more I try to tell myself NOT to eat it, the more I feel compelled to eat it and find it everywhere I look. Whatever it is you are wanting to “avoid” focus on its opposite or a healthy alternative. For me, focusing on a lot of celery, tomatoes and mineral-rich greens is key to liberating me from my salt addiction. Telling myself to avoid salt does NOT work. Another thing that makes a big difference is drinking enough water. Chances are, no matter what you’re eating, you’re probably not drinking enough water.

They say it takes 21-days to develop a new habit. Spend some time thinking about the healthy habits you’d like to adopt for yourself. As we go through the process of setting our resolutions, objectives and targets for the New Year, I highly recommend you post them in the comments section of the blog. What a powerful way to share them, hold yourself accountable and inspire others at the same time!

In my next post I’ll cover a few objectives for food-related targets that might inspire you over the 21-Day Challenge ahead. I’ll also let you know how our New Year’s resolution and objectives will play themselves out over the weeks to come. We’ll be looking at about 10-12 specific areas of your life and setting ideal targets, short terms goals and action steps! Often we have a nasty habit of setting resolutions out of guilt for what went wrong last year and while feeling bloated for having eaten too much over the holidays! Let’s stay focused on the good stuff so we can create more of the same.

Since we’re “Raw Divas” and most of what we do is centered around food and diet, I recommend you at least articulate the food related objectives that you’re ready to start implementing when January 1 hits. What healthy habit would you like to implement in your life? For me, it’s making green juices. I would say I will be avoiding salt, but as I mentioned, that’s not been working so well. I’m going to be VERY careful about focusing on what I want to do MORE of. Adding more greens is where it’s at for me right now. I admit, the temptation to restrict fat, throw myself into a juice fast or hard-core regime is strong, but I’m convinced that slow and steady will help me win the race this year.

Okay, my dear. I’ve made this long enough and am off to prepare myself a green juice and something to eat. Wishing you a night of inspiring reflection and projection about the good things to come.

Love,

Tera

Get Back on Track After the Holidays

I arrived home last night after a wonderful trip out West to see my family. We played in the snow, sang songs and made memories with loved ones. I’ll have a lot more pictures uploaded to my Facebook page soon, but will sprinkle a sampling here for fun. While I could ramble on about the festivities and gifts, I’d much rather get to talking immediately about the food, cuz that’s just what I do best.

I was most certainly well-intentioned at the outset. I packed my enema bag, my juicer and my green jugs all the way to Alberta. My vision had been a juice fast lasting 10 days. I thought I’d be able to hold up against the cauliflower casseroles and butter tarts. I hoped I’d be able to muster up the discipline to make 6 liters of juice a day and just sip my way to bliss over Christmas and into the new year…

…but, I had an arm-wrestling match with mashed potatoes and the mashed potatoes won. Once the mashed potato ban had been lifted, it was open-season finger dipping for this diva. Though I did manage to steer clear of the butter tarts in the end, I’m home now and nursing a running nose.

Action. Reaction. Guess I had it coming to me.;-)

I’m grateful that my body informs me, in no uncertain terms, that there are new limits to what I can do. I simply can’t pack back potato chips without expecting consequences. I watch in awe as my family ploughs through piles of steamy veggies, gobbles up all manner of cooked critters and creamy sauces. They appear to bounce right back up from the table looking perky. They appear to be just fine with their food choices. I have genuine respect and admiration for people like MAC who could probably eat a tin can and eliminate it perfectly and painlessly the next morning.

I don’t think it’s every woman’s lot in life to be food obsessed, but it most certainly has been mine. The only thing that released me from the clutches of constant food chatter in my mind was transitioning to a diet of simple, fresh, raw foods. Now it’s in my best interests to be somewhat food obsessed, since I make my living helping others get on the healthy bandwagon, too.

It’s been nearly 7 years that I’ve been on a “raw food diet.” I’ve tried low fat, high fat, dehydrated, sprouted and purréed foods. I’ve met some incredibly fascinating people and encountered powerful ideas about what makes the body well. I’ve seen some pretty healthy looking meat-eaters and some awfully overweight raw vegans, too. I know there’s a powerful and inspiring message about compassionate and responsible living out there, but I’ve often seen vegans display little compassion for their fellow humans.  I admit that some animals I’ve observed were rather careless and unkind about their interaction with humans, too. I don’t believe in ultimatums or that there is a “right way” to eat. I think truth is relative to one’s point of view.

It’s easy to be seduced by the slim figures and clear complexions of raw vegans who make it all look so blissful and natural and easy, but I’ve borne witness to enough teary-eyed emails by now to know that there are a lot of people who struggle to implement healthier habits. Some are trapped in unhealthy bodies and they want out, but lack the support, the stamina, the mojo, the self-confidence and motivation to make it happen. There are others who simply choose to live with a bit of balance and appreciate the steamier side of eating.

Maybe for some people it is easy, but I’ve devoted what I do to supporting the passionate health-seekers who, in spite of good intention and determination, still stumble, fall and binge on baguette instead of making themselves another green juice.

The potato-wrestling women like myself out there are everywhere. I was surprised and delighted to discover that even in small town Southern Alberta, (population 3,000) someone recognized me in a grocery store from my site. (Love to you, Heather!)  Even while cross-country skiing in the middle of a practically isolated National Park, with about 10 other people in the whole place, another diva recognized me from my website as I was whipping by on cross-country skis. (Smoooches to you, Kathryn!)

What I understand the more I encounter inspiring people like Heather and Kathryn, is that I don’t want to teach women how to eat more raw food, and I most certainly don’t want to teach them how to be a “raw foodist”. I want to teach women to love themselves enough to listen to their bodies, choose the foods that support them, and the foods that make sense ethically, economically, and anatomically. I’d love to create an army of women who are equipped with the confidence and support they need to embrace an attitude of acceptance and gratitude the next time mashed potatoes win another arm-wrestling match.

There are only three days left until 2010. THIS is the time to take inventory on your success and review all that’s happened in the last year. It’s time for you to create targets, new objectives, rhythms and goals for the coming year. It’s been a tradition the last couple years to offer a special gift to our community on New Year’s Day. It’s a beautiful little Dream workbook that helps you map your targets for the coming year in different areas of your life. This year, you’re not getting your present.

I decided that rather than just pass along another download you may or may not take the time to read, I’ll be walking you through the process here over the next few days. Let’s do it together. The spirit of community will inspire us to make it happen. We’ll take baby steps over a few weeks, instead of feel overwhelmed by an ebook we’ll never get around to printing off.

Since many of us are gearing up for the 6-Week Detox that starts in early January, the timing is PERFECT. If you’d like to join me in this adventure, all you have to do for now, is check back HERE on the blog again tomorrow. If you’re signed up to Health in High Heels or our 7-Day Diva Detox, you’ll automatically receive a little love note when I post something new.

As far as food and eating goes, I’ll be setting out some proposed guidelines and suggestions tomorrow. For now, focus on the GREEN stuff and getting lots of it. They say it takes 21 days to form a new habit, so starting officially on January 1st until January 21st, I’ll be keeping things hopping around here and certainly do appreciate your love, support and participation.

2010 is going to be an incredible year. I can feel it. Let’s spend some time together painting beautiful pictures we can all walk into…

Yours against the mighty mashed potato and beyond,

Tera

P.S.

Oooh. I almost forgot. Our boxing day sale ends at midnight on December 31st. Coupon code: RAWMOM30 at the checkout and save 30% on most of our e-books at www.rawmom.com. Looking to get back on track for the long haul, you can still get a 20% discount if you sign up for the 6-Week Detox before 2010 strikes! Coupon Code: 6WDMOONSALE at the checkout.

P.P.S.

Our Clutter Free Diva program will remain at 50% off until the end of our 21-day challenge! You’ve got 23 days to save up and clear out your clutter!!

Kate’s Christmas Cure-All!

- by Kate Nicholson

Well, I managed to negotiate Christmas fairly successfully. Not 100% raw, but high raw and vegan. No sugar or alcohol (don’t need either to have a fun time anymore!). I offered round Doll’s delicious ‘cocoa surprises’ from her ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ cookie recipes after dinner. (Thank you so much for those, Doll!). Much dubiousness initially from all of the non-raw brigade (especially the men), which changed to exclamations of delight after a bite! They polished off the lot. Ha!

Next day, when everyone emerged at breakfast time slightly hung-over and groaning at all the rich food they’d consumed, I offered green smoothies all round. Amazingly, they all (from the 93-year old down to the 8-year old) agreed to try them.

The concoction I whizzed up was designed to be cleansing, refreshing, and energising.

Greenberry Delight!

Serves One. Increase amounts according to numbers.

• 1 generous cup frozen strawberries
• 1 large banana
• 3/4 cup parsley
• ½ cup kale (stripped from stem)
• splash of Agave
• 1 heaped tsp spirulina

 The frozen strawberries give a delicious juicy coolness; they’re packed with vitamin C and potent antioxidants such as the anthocyanins which give them their rich red colour and which help to protect cell structures and prevent oxygen damage in the body. They are also anti-inflammatory (excellent for my sugar eating folks) and protective against certain cancers.

Good old bananas provide a great source of energy which got my flagging family off the sofa and out into the countryside for a good long walk. (Not the 93-year old. My smoothies aren’t quite that magical!). They also provide the mood boosting amino acid tryptophan and have a natural antacid effect on the stomach to counteract the acidity caused by a glut of rich foods. Their high levels of potassium are beneficial for lowering raised blood-pressure, while their generous levels of B vitamins improve nerve function.

Parsley contains volatile oils which have been shown to inhibit tumour formation in animal studies and is a rich source of vitamin C and vitamin A. It is high in antioxidants and is considered an effective blood cleanser, dissolving sticky deposits in the veins and maintaining the elasticity of the blood vessels. Parsley is also excellent for cleansing the breath! (Good for my cigarette smoking brother-in-law).

Kale, a member of the brassica family, is another cancer preventative due to its sulphur-containing phyto-nutrients, such as sulforaphane, which boosts the body’s detoxification enzymes. Sulforaphane is formed when cruciferous vegetables such as kale are chopped, chewed, or blended. Kale is also well known for its carotenoids which protect the eyes from developing cataracts. In addition to its many other benefits, Kale provides a good dose of calcium.

Agave, although not raw, is a useful natural sweetener for its low impact on blood sugar and the saponins it contains which have anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties.

The fresh water algae Spirulina is an excellent source of chlorophyll (anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and wound-healing, it helps in growth and repair of tissues and neutralises free-radicals. It is also destroyed by cooking, so keep drinking those greens!).

Well, my family have all vowed to eat more raw food and try to get green smoothies into their diets on a regular basis. I intend to make sure this is one New Year resolution they all stick to!

Moments in Thyme . . . Who Took the Safe out of Safekeeping?

By Joyce Wiatroski

I’ve come to the conclusion that once one reaches a certain age there is no such thing as putting something away for safekeeping.

For several years now, things I’ve put away for safekeeping have become so safe they’re never seen again. Have you any idea the time lost searching? The utter frustration?

The taxing turmoil of turning the place upside down? Not to mention the discouraging defeat of facing the consequences of losing an item.

I’ve gained a new respect for those folks who just pile things up on the kitchen counter, the dining room table, or the bedroom dresser. At least there is a good chance of finding what you’re looking for. Just dig through the piles.

Woe to the neatnik who compulsively picks up! And do I ever learn? Well, not so far.

I was gifted early in December with a copy of O Magazine — the one with Ellen on the cover? It’s a neat issue and it might have actually paid for itself if I hadn’t been so anal.

In that issue, Hallmark ran an ad with a $5 off coupon for greeting cards with an expiration date of 12/24/09. Wow, what a deal! I carefully tore the little coupon along the perforations and, I know — you can see this coming, right? I put the coupon away for safekeeping!

I hunted high and low — so sure I would have put it in my purse to have handy when out shopping. But no, it wasn’t there, even though I looked multiple times! As if the more I looked in the same places, the better chance I’d have of finding it. After all, how many places would I have put a little coupon?

December 24th came and went and today, December 26th, as I swished dust from one surface to the next, I found a little stack of “items of interest” tucked away in the bookcase. Stuff we should toss when it comes in the mail, but that holds just a modicum of interest encouraging us to put it aside to look at later. Though later rarely comes.

There sat the $5 Hallmark coupon—in the place of honor—top of the stack! Completely worthless. Yet, even with its value now void, finding it offered a small bit of comfort and consolation.

Is this just another manifestation of old age, brain cells dying off producing more memory loss? Will a supplement help? More green juices? Or perhaps I should attempt to change my anal ways before my expiration date arrives?

I’ll try to come to grips with the realization that things are only things. And I’ll tell
myself it’s okay to leave some things out on the counter in plain sight. A place guaranteed to provide safekeeping! And you know what? Even if we do forget some things as we age, and misplace others, overall we’ll continue to manifest . . .

Like fine wine, women grow better with thyme.

Joyce Wiatroski is the wit and wisdom found on the foodiefumblings blog.

Happy Holidays!!

Welcome back green smoothie goers!  We hope you had a splendid holiday with friends and loved ones.  As you get ready to celebrate the New Year, we’d like to share a very special poem from one of our green smoothie program participants!

A Thank You From Mrs. Claus

- by Rena Reason

T’was Christmas day and the North Pole was humming
With laughter and song and dancing and drumming,
The elves were gleefully at play in the snow,
And the reindeer were frolicking to and fro.

Since Santa had traveled the world far and wide,
He settled in his rocker, a bit sleepy eyed,
But thanks to Green Smoothie Queen, I hurried to the kitchen,
Got out my blender and knew what to mix in,
Then handed Santa a green jug and said “Sip on this!
It’s full of flavor, nutrition, and bliss!”

Said Santa, “It’s sweet like candy cane, and as green as a Christmas tree!
It’s bliss to my lips, yummy to my tummy, and gives me great energy!
This beverage gives such leverage, Ho, Ho, Ho, I feel so alive!
I could sing out Christmas jingles and dance the Jive!”

These groovy Green Smoothies are quite a sensation,
Let’s get the word out all over the nation,
Milk and baked cookies are things of the past,
Green Smoothies are the real elixir at last!

Thank you your Majesty, Green Smoothie Queen,
for showing me how to blend fruits and greens!
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good year,
Let’s drink to our Health with Green Smoothies and Cheers!

The Top Detox Foods That Support Healthy Skin

The body is continuously working to stay in an alkaline state and the body’s acid-alkaline balance adjusts throughout the day depending on the types of foods you consume. In today’s fast paced society, we consume high amounts of refined foods that contain sugar, cow’s milk products, excess salt, alcohol, wheat as well as meats that contain high amounts of saturated fat. Over time these foods can cause increased inflammation in the body and can wreak havoc on the skin causing acne, psoriasis and eczema. Adding in detoxifying foods will not only keep your body in an alkaline state, but depending on which detox foods you include in your diet, will help to eliminate toxins that have accumulated over time.

Adding the following foods to your diet, will allow your body to detox naturally:

• Apple contains pectin which helps to excrete heavy metals and is cleansing for the liver and the kidneys.
• Artichoke increases bile production and purifies and protects the liver and has a diuretic effect on the kidneys.
• Asparagus is a great diuretic that helps to support and maintain restorative properties that promote good bacteria in the intestines.
• Cruciferous Vegetables (Broccoli, Sprouts, Cabbage and Cauliflower) increase levels of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that supports the liver in releasing toxins.
• Fennel has strong diuretic properties that help eliminate fats from the body.
• Garlic known as nature’s pharmacy has powerful antioxidants properties that convert to sulphur based compounds which bind to mercury as well as food additives. It also activates liver enzymes that help to filter out refined foods.
• Ginger for some, is known as a panacea that relieves bloating and nausea, but also helps to stimulate digestive enzymes which supports healthy digestion.
• Lemon stimulates the release of enzymes and helps convert toxins into a water-soluble form that’s easily excreted from the body. Read more »

Ayurveda: Using Timeless Wisdom to Restore Balance To Your Life (Part II) – Vata Dosha

- By Patrizia

Brrrr….the weather here on the East Coast has suddenly turned cold, dry, and very, very windy.
With an early winter at the doorstep, there’s no better time than now to introduce the first Ayurvedic Metabolic type (or constitutional type), also known as Vata Dosha.

If you had the chance to read my first newsletter a couple of weeks ago and to take the Ayurevedic test (shown through the web link), you may now have an idea of your own dosha/s or ayurvedic type. Many of you will probably find that you are bi-doshic, meaning you have two of the constitutional types close to each other (i.e. Vata/Pitta, Kapha/Vata etc).

By the way, if this is all new to you, that’s ok. The information is just meant to be an introduction to what Ayurveda can do to help you in your life; maybe it will inspire you to know more by reading appropriate books on the subject. If you have not taken the test yet, go back to the last newsletter that talks about Ayurveda and, please, take the time to do the test. It’ll make things much easier if you’re going to read this and my next newsletter on this subject.

Now, VATA (which is often translated as: “that which moves“) is usually the first dosha studied in Ayurveda. The Vata dosha is a combination of Space and Air Elements, and therefore, expresses all the qualities of these. You don’t need to have a PhD in anything to close your eyes and imagine the qualities of Space and Air… but I’ll mention a few of the qualities or sensations you may expect to imagine: light, delicate, dry, fast moving, variable, irregular, sensitive, unstable, free… We’ll now expand more on these concepts and apply them to the body, the mind, the seasons, and the age in which we live.

Fall and Early Winter are considered part of the Vata season in which Space and Air are predominantly active. If you live in a four-season geographical climate, this will be even more obvious to you. The weather turns chilly, wind starts blowing in all directions, and the skies are grey. This can be a tough time for Vata predominant individuals, because they tend to go out of balance with the increase of these elements. If there is a little “rule” in Ayurveda, it is that of “The opposite cures”. But let’s explore further.

As we think of Nature’s seasonal changes, we must not forget our seasons of life. Vata covers the last period of our lives, which is on average from 60 years old and onward. If we want to use Ayurveda to optimize our diet, we must first consider looking into our lives with honesty and recognize our strengths and weaknesses, wherever they show up…whether they are reflected more in our physical health, emotional health, etc. Vata-dominant people have an antelope-like body. They tend to be very irregular in their habits (sleeping, eating, exercising, etc.), and they go out of balance very quickly. Since Vatas tend towards sensitivity, they need to be more respectful of their lifestyle and pay more attention to routines. In fact, if there is one phrase that goes well with Vata individuals, it is: FIND THE RYTHM.

Vatas tend to have poor digestion and generally suffer from constipation. Due to their easily provoked-by-stress natures, they tend to lose weight very quickly (and it can be challenging for them to gain it back). They are the ones who tend to yo-yo more than others. If you find yourself daydreaming, trying to connect to a million friends at a time, involving yourself in a thousand different activities without bringing one to its conclusion, or if you are constantly attracted by a spiritually oriented diet that does not respect your body’s needs…well then, welcome!! You are probably 99% a Vata type.

A lot of modern diseases tend to be related to the Vata dosha (and, remember its elements??), especially when it comes to getting older. Therefore, there is a thinning of the bones, loss of hearing , tremors, loss of muscle tone, digestive upsets, more sensitivities to loud noises, and more serious conditions like Alzheimers, Parkisons, etc. The first rule for Vata is, again, FIND THE RYTHM and strengthen the digestive fire (called “Agni” in sanskrit).

You must start listening to your needs more; find the time to reconnect with your own Self and respect the rhythm of nature, of the day… By the way, the Vata times of the day (in which Vata dosha is more sensitive) are: 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Start with regular mealtimes. For most Vatas, three main meals are recommended with a couple of snacks in the middle. Good, fresh, warm foods help Vata individuals ground themselves and stimulates the digestive fire.

If you are following a completely raw food diet and you want to find more balance (since cold, raw foods tend to throw off Vata individuals very quickly), you must at least warm up your meals to 118 F (really, if you want to be that strict), never eat foods out of the fridge (way too cold for Vata’s delicate digestion), and use good condiments with a heavier quality to them – Vata types do need more fatty foods than the other body types (because these foods have the grounding qualities that most raw foods miss).

One teacher expressed this in a clear, simple way: warm, moist, and heavier foods with sweet, sour, or salty tastes will nourish tissues, emotions, and overall bodyweight. Foods that are extremely bitter, astringent, or pungent in nature should be avoided. Use spices to give a warm quality to your meals: garlic, cumin, fennel, ajwan seeds, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves etc. will support a stable digestion. If you find yourself nervous, anxious and maybe craving coffee or tobacco, see if you can pacify those urges with some of these aromathic oils (or a combination of them): neroli, lemon, jasmine, sandalwood and vanilla. Make sure to give yourself a massage every day with a warming oil like sesame or avocado, jojoba, etc. (you can/should actually gently warm the oil). Touch is very, very important for Vata types and lubricates the skin as well as stiff joints. In addition to the oils, you may also prefer warming, calming colors: gold, orange, indigo, blue…

Exercise gently, maybe choosing a slow vinyasa (flow) yoga, tai-chi, swimming, or frequent walks in nature… Pay attention to your breath. Balanced breathing leads to a steadier mind and a more balanced life.

Daily and seasonal routines are a must in Ayurveda. Learning to pay attention to the subtle changes before your health is compromised is a way to pay respect to yourself and to Mother Nature. No matter where you live on the Planet, no matter what people think you should look like, start living in a way that actually nourishes your health and joy…your body and mind will inevitably follow to create the balance you’ve always strived for and which is your birthright.

To a Joyful Health,

Patrizia

P.S. To find out more about the specific foods appropriate for the Vata constitution (and/or any other Ayurvedic type) you can Google or explore books like: Ayurveda- A Life of Balance by Maya Tiwari or Ayurveda: The science of Self Healing by Dr. Vasant Lad. These are just two examples.

Busting the Christmas Cravings!

Looking at the greens in your fridge and not sure you’re up for a full-throttle garden glory, but not wanting to resort to cooked food either?  Kate has your solution!

- by Kate N.

You know those days when you wake up craving something sweet and decadent? Well, that happened to me this morning. Work has been so insanely busy over the last two days, I’d gotten home too late to get to the shops to stock up on yummy fruits and veggies. I wandered into the kitchen this morning to be greeted by a mountain of chocolate cookies and cakes my sister had brought over the night before. All that remained in ‘my’ corner of the kitchen was one solitary avocado…Was I tempted by the cooked food? No! Thanks to the lessons I’ve learned on my BES journey, I rolled up my sleeves and got creative.

Here’s what I made:

Chocolate Heaven Smoothie

1 avocado
handful of mint leaves
some frozen cherries
nut mylk  (small amount for a thick ‘dessert’ type smoothie, more for a liquid one)
raw cacao powder (about 2 heaped tsp or to taste)
1-2 Tbsp Agave or 1 tsp raw honey

Blend and enjoy!

The avocado provides a good dose of lutein, which helps to maintain healthy eyesight. It’s also rich in potassium, vitamins B, E, and K and a good source of monounsaturated fat (giving the smoothie a wonderful creamy texture).

Cherries are rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C, magnesium, iron, and folate; one study (by the University of Michigan), suggests that they are good for fat loss, particularly belly-fat.

The mint aids digestion, while the cacao offers an abundance of health-giving nutrients – antioxidants, flavonoids, catechins and above all, the wonderful mood-enhancing theobromine, making you feel all loved up and happy!

P.S. – If the sight of shortbread and cookies is still making you vibrate, then you may need some heavy duty craving cullers.  Right now, you can take advantage of The Raw Divas Cravings and Emotional Eating Program for a third of the regular price!

Mirror Mirror On The Wall Who Is The Fairest Of Them All?

Almost all of us have a distorted image of our body, often due to the importance our culture places on outward appearance and the onslaught of media images of airbrushed models and celebrities. On a daily basis, we talk to ourselves in ways we would never speak to another. Imagine speaking to a child the way you speak to yourself about your body. It would devastate and squelch a child. It affects you similarly, causing stress and emotional pain in your body, which can make improving your health or losing weight even more difficult.

Think of all the intelligence, creativity and time you spend on improving, altering and judging your appearance. Who would you be and what could you accomplish if your valuable resources weren’t used this way? Constant emphasis on the external makes us discount the great presence and intelligence that is housed by the body. It makes us forget the magic of our internal rhythms and fail to acknowledge the beautiful bodies we have.

The body you have right now is incredible! It never misses a heartbeat, it maintains homeostasis and it miraculously digests whatever you put in it. It is your instrument for expressing your creativity, intelligence and love. By focusing on the 1% you don’t like or wish were different, you may be ignoring the remaining 99% about your body that is beautiful, unique and delightful.

What would your life be like if you were simply at peace with the body you have? You may wish to make your body healthier and stronger, but could you do that out of love and respect for your body instead of the opposite? Could you begin to treat yourself with kindness, to limit the negative self-talk and to reconnect with your inner wisdom?

Take a minute to imagine what that would feel like. It would mean celebrating your body rather than punishing it. It would mean nourishing your body rather than depriving it. It would mean a chance to watch your body flourish when treated with care and respect.

Tracy Neely, a board-certified holistic health counselor and licensed esthetician is founder and owner of Nourish & Flourish Healthy Living, a holistic nutrition and wellness consulting practice located in Orlando Florida. Tracy has a passion for nutrition and skin care and wants to support women who want to get in the best shape of their lives and feel beautiful at any age. Tracy is a mother of a wonderful little boy and a wife to an amazing man and enjoys doing yoga, juicing and creating green smoothie recipes, reading books and going for walks with her family.

Moments in Thyme . . . Going Green?

By Joyce Wiatroski

Have you stopped to think of the significant impact we raw foodies make on the protection of the environment?

Buying organic means we’re voting with our dollars to eliminate pesticides and chemical fertilizers, not only from our bodies, but from seeping into the earth and on into our ground water.

Everywhere we look these days someone or something is hyping green.

That green refers to the environment. The green of green smoothies, green juices and green salads certainly affects the environment, too, in a very positive way.

Think about it!

The bunches of dark leafy greens we buy don’t come packaged in cardboard, Styrofoam or fancy plastic packaging. With very little exception, we use (eat) all we buy. A head of romaine or a bunch of kale, for instance, has no bones, fat or gristle to toss out. We don’t have to unwrap cellophane outer covering, pull it out of cardboard boxes or remove tin lids to get to it.

The remains from the items we must peel and pit are perfect candidates for the compost pile, eliminating smelly garbage pails and keeping down the total amount of weekly trash, helping to reduce the burden on landfills.

When you stop to think about it, eating green does much more than keep us slim and improve our health. Each meal replaced with living foods, preferably organic, makes a bold statement that will have a long lasting, far-reaching ripple effect.

Let’s all move into 2010 making consistent green decisions as we continue to manifest —

Like fine wine, women grow better with time.

Joyce Wiatroski is the wit and wisdom found on the foodiefumblings blog.