Changing To A Raw Food Diet

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Raw Food Diet and Weight Loss- Get in Shape Easily

Raw food diet consists of fresh fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts etc., and they are not cooked over 116 deg F so that the enzymes present in such foods that help in digestion do not get destroyed by heating. Though these foods are healthy they might lack in proteins, calcium and iron. The best way to lose weight is to eat healthy and exercise regularly. Natural fat binders like Proactol can also help. 

It is commonly known that when food is cooked at over 166 deg F, enzymes that aid in digestion and absorption present in foodstuff get destroyed. The idea of Raw Food Diet is to eat uncooked and unprocessed foods such as fresh vegetables, fruits, sprouts, seeds, grains, nuts, dried fruits etc.,

Such a diet is low on saturated fats, hydrogenated oils and sodium content. Where as it is rich in other minerals such as magnesium, folate and potassium. Moreover, the fiber content in such a diet is also high. As such, raw food diet has less fat and is therefore low in calorie content.

All this makes is a really healthy diet with abundant benefits  that include improved digestion an skin appearance along with reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Such a diet is likely to help you lose weight effectively without any sort of adverse side effects.

What All can you eat

As stated above, you can have organic and natural stuff such as fresh fruits, vegetables, seeds, beans etc., Moreover, you should go easy on water which happens to be extremely important for your body and it’s vital functions. Furthermore, water is a natural appetite suppressant as well.

What cooking techniques can be used

The most important thing is that the foodstuff should not be heated to over 116 degrees F. Sprouting of beans, seeds and grains make them easier on digestion at the same time providing their flavor and variety. Similarly you can soak nuts and dried fruits. Juicing of fruits and vegetables as well as blending with other items will add variety to diet. You can use dehydrated food also.

Precautions

Though such foodstuff is very healthy,some people might experience couple of harmless reactions like nausea, headaches or cravings if they have been on diets rich in meat, caffeine or sugar. Moreover, it is not suitable for pregnant or nursing women or children and people who are anemic or suffer from osteoporosis.

Though such foodstuff is rich in minerals and low in calories, it is likely to be deficient in proteins, vitamin B12, calcium and iron. You may consult your physician for suitable supplements.

Criticism

Critics argue that such foodstuff is not only lacking in proteins and other essential minerals but the premise that it gets unsuitable if cooked over 116 deg F is also contentious because our body uses its own enzymes to digest and absorb dietary stuff and does not need enzymes present in foods to help in this process.

If you really want to stay in shape and shed those extra pounds you need to eat healthy and wholesome and exercise regularly. In the long run this is the only approach that can help you. However, there are certain natural diet pills that can help you get rid of excess kilos. Fat binding Pills are the latest buzz word in the weight loss circles and this is because such pills reduce fat absorption by the body which helps in cutting down fat intake. Moreover, it can also reduce cravings and suppress appetite naturally.

Proactol is a Top Fat Binding Pill which has been listed as one of the Top 5 Ways To Lose Weight by The Telegraph, UK. It is completely organic and is certified and endorsed by medics. Moreover the claims it makes with regards to weight loss have been examined and approved by ERSP.

Natural Weight Loss Pill

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Fruitarianism And Bootcamp Fitness Richard Blackman Style

To read the rest of this transcript as well as access 14 other raw food experts just like Richard Blackman, please click here! 

Finally, Natural Weight Loss that’s Effective

That doesn’t mean to say they are. So now you’re looking to lose weight. Preferably with a natural weight loss solution? And to keep it off permanently? But you don’t want to go on a limited food diet or have your stomach clamped. 

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Winners of the 2009 James Beard Foundation

Technorati Tags: pros and cons of raw food diet, raw food diet meal plans, starting a raw food diet

When you start eating more raw foods, you may find you’re not as thirsty or don’t need as much water or other beverages as you normally do. There are several reasons for this. First of all, raw foods, such as raw fruits and vegetables have a higher volume of water in them, so your body is getting the hydration it needs from foods.

This doesn’t mean you should stop drinking water or juices. You don’t want to adopt some of the more radical elements of the  raw food trend. First and foremost, listen to your body. It will tell you what it needs. If you’re overweight, sluggish, tired, depressed, your body might be telling you to make some dietary changes, and raw foods might be one way to alleviate some physical disorders.

But if you’re overweight and have symptoms of Type II diabetes, overwhelming thirst can be one symptom. When you start consuming more raw foods, with a higher fiber and moisture content, you may start to lose weight, and that can go a long way to reducing your blood sugars.

If you’re not overweight, or don’t have Type II diabetes, you still might find you’re not as thirsty as you normally are. First of all, if you’re drinking water and juices, you’re not consuming caffeine, which is so dehydrating and makes you thirstier. And by not consuming as much in the way of cooked foods or especially highly processed foods, which have astronomical sodium counts, you won’t be as thirsty either.

By consuming more raw, uncooked food, and pure water and fruit juices, you’re putting your body into balance. Keeping sodium to normal levels found in foods means you’ll start to require a more balanced amount of water. Don’t think of this as changing or taking away. Think of it as adding balance, and it will make the process of eating healthier much easier.

By: Jude Simons

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Want to find out about alphonso mango and mango tea? Get tips from the Mango Fruit website.

CN&R > Green Guide > Nature’s call

“We come from a very health-oriented family, but also one that likes fine food with elegance,” said Ashley White, who manages the new restaurant. “Our taste for cuisine evolved over the course of our lives.” Ashley’s father, Craig White, … “The difficulty with a raw-food restaurant is that you have to base your menu on what will be available, but I like the challenge.”

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Sprouting Grains and Legumes | Green Living Ideas

Sprout Beans for Raw Food Dishes. Almost any grain or legume that you can eat in its dry form can be sprouted. Lentils, adzuki beans, mung beans, alfalfa, sunflower, and radish seeds, and chickpeas can all be sprouted.

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There are a whole range of chemicals used in food production and some residues may be left especially in  food eaten raw like vegetables and apples.

This is mostly to some of us who believe in the magic of loosing weight with raw food diet, like fruits and vegetables.

Basically, all that matters to a good percentage of humans in a moment of terrible hunger pangs is merely any accessible food to alleviate this.

Such food as the ones mentioned above might have pesticide residues that can be harmful to the body regardless of the kind of the consumer we are talking about.

At the food stores, we do not find vegetables carrying the social status tags in terms of who is rich or poor, only prices for different types and qualities.

The decision to buy this while leaving the other is left to the potential customer who may not bother to find out how and where these foods are grown.

As a result, it is not only the poor who are subjected to food full of harmful residues, everyone must be careful.

It is good to let your mind out of the U.S and explore the plight of the rest of humanity around the world.

Take for instance a simple scrutiny of a slum life especially in many countries of Africa, where hardships of life may not allow residents to make variety of  decisions concerning food and their health .

These are dwellings where all descriptions used to depict poverty are traceable and food as a basic need is hard to come by.

It is also the places where mass sewage wastes have not been contained in pipes and end up flooding anywhere thus contaminating even water drainages.

One may not dismiss the thought that this rotten waste could be used to produce all kind of vegetables consumed in the slums and also by other closer residents who may not be aware.

Remember for such deprived inhabitants, it is what can fill the belly that matters now and not soon after health problems.

Such vegetables may contain dangerous residues that may cause terrible problems in one way or another, yet it is not their fault that their governments neglect their welfare.

You the reader may never have consumed these and never will, but raw sewage wastes used to grow food crops is not the only harmful residues that may contaminate your food.

As an ordinary consumer who knows nothing about food growth and production, you cannot invent better methods than the ones experts have created.

However, just to be sure you are observing the best food hygiene standard in your kitchen or wherever, you can read the following easy to follow tips.

Make sure you thoroughly wash those fruits or vegetables before you can eat to remove as much pesticides as possible and also dirt, pests and so on.

It is important that you peel all your fruits and vegetables, because much of these residues are contained in the peels.

READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE FOLLOWING THE LINK BELOW

By: Esteri Maina

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

An original article by Esteri Maina onFRUITS AND VEGETABLES

 From The Blogosphere:

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Technorati Tags: food additives, hormones, pesticide problem, pesticides in food, toxic food

So, now that you know what a  raw food diet  is all about, you need to decide, is it right for you? Well you do no

t need to incorporate raw food 100% of the time. You can just eat more fruits and vegetables and no processed foods. Try drinking fruit juices until lunch time and then eating a healthy veggie sandwich. For dinner, eat so

me blanched vegetables with a co

oked meal with no meats. When you gradually detoxify your body, you will see dramatic results. First, you will go through the detoxify process, where you will feel tired, have headaches, skin eruptions, etc. Once you are over this tough t

ime, you will feel light, not dragged down, energetic, vitality, and conscious, among other things. You will have more mental clarity and therefore be more productive.

Your body will feel cleansed, you will be able to treat disease and prevent new ones from forming. You will see a

dramatic weight loss, for instance five pounds a week. You will also notice that you do not seem weighed down with colds or sicknesses because your immune system is much stronger. You will be saving money because you can either grow your vegetables or buy them at a farmers market. Buying organic food w

ill save the earth and provide agricultural su

pport, which is much needed. You will also save time and money because you will not be in the kitchen cooking up a storm. You will not be eating animals, because these animals have been pumped with high hormones and that wouldn’t benefit you anyway, but instead toxify you. This in turn, puts an end to animal farming. You will not be plagued wi

th depression, pms, or acne. In fact, your skin will be absolutely glowing, you will feel rejuvenated. This type of eating also slows the aging process.

Your senses will be enhanced; you will be

more flexible and fertile. You will be more creative, motivated, and also relaxed. You will focus more on relationships and be more environmentally attuned and inwardly attuned. What you will notice is an amazing  spiritual awakening  that you have never experienced before because you have changed your vibrations to a higher level capable of clearer thought patterns.

By: Jude Simons

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Find tips about mango varieties and how to cut a mango at the Mango Fruit website.

Here goes everything…My raw food experiment: What’s In Our Food

A raw food diet is the most effective

way to reduce and almost completely wipe out these foods from our lives. If you are not at that point, or you have children, like mine, who are not 100% raw, then my best advice is pay attention.

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Here goes everything…My raw food experiment. Sunday, February 8, 2009. Kelp Noodles Short Review and Recipe …. My daughter’s raw video. Loading… Brighter Planet’s 350 Challenge. 

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I am trying so hard to lose weight, gaining 7 lbs on raw food was a big blow to me. I wanted to make sure I released those pounds quickly so that I could move on with my original weight loss goals. 

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Raw kale salad, with carrots, creamy avocado, sesame seeds, nutritional yeast, and spicy salsa! And more ways to eat – see previous post here!

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I just haven’t figured out if it’s the greens or the bananas, but I should certainly do my experiments and let you know how it goes.

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When you start experimenting with raw food, I suggest making it as easy as possible. Certainly experiment with making raw foods.

Technorati Tags: cons about the raw food diet, raw diets vegan, raw food detox diet, transition to raw diet

"When you are green inside, you are clean inside", holds a lot of truth. This missing element in many people’s lives would cause all vegetation to die, and subsequently, all animals and man. Without chlorophyll, plants would not be able to take nutrition from the sun, because the process of photosynthesis would not go on. In this article I will explain the benefits of chlorophyll, and why raw foods are the best source for this nutrient. But first, let me review, for those having trouble remembering what chlorophyll is.

Chlorophyll is the green pigment found in plants, that enables them to take nutrition from the air, sun, and water, and make them "living",  raw foods . This green pigment covers up any carotene pigment in the plant. Chlorophyll is more than just a pigment, obviously, but the pigments tell-tale green color is a great indication if what we are going to eat, or juice, has this most essential element.

Many studies have been done on chlorophyll’s benefits. It is fascinating to me that the chlorophyll pigment, is almost identical to our blood pigments! The biggest difference is that the chlorophyll pigments center atom is magnesium, while our bloods center atom is iron. Think of it! The element that causes plants to be able to convert light into energy, is almost identical to our blood pigment. Thus the nickname: "green blood". It is no wonder that chlorophyll has been shown to work wonders for our blood! With undiseased blood, most diseases are impossible.

It stands to reason that since chlorophyll is a natural deodorant, that animals that eat grass should have sweet breath. It is implied here that they don’t, but being the city girl that I am, I will just have to take others’ word for this. However, there was a study done by a veterinarian, Dr. Maurice E. Serling. He gave his canine patients in his veterinary hospital doses of chlorophyll, and banished all halitosis and body odor after six hours! When the tablets were discontinued, the odors resumed, and when they were started again, the odors left again!

There are many benefits of chlorophyll, really too many to list in detail in this article, since it has been used to fight many different diseases, but I hope to give you a basic understanding of a few of its benefits. They are: purification of the blood, liver, constipation and gas corrector, emphysema, abcesses of the liver and kidney, kidney stones, and it has also been shown to be an excellent topical for infections and burns! Chlorophyll contains properties that break down carbon dioxide, and release oxygen, which kills bacteria. It has even been used in deep surgical wounds! Its absence of toxicity, and promotion of repair tissue/skin, and soothing qualities makes it a miracle antiseptic, and it is my belief that if it could be patented, it would be, along with the air we breathe. (Thank goodness that’s not so!)

The raw foods that contain chlorophyll are:  green leafy vegetables  of all kinds, green olives, romaine lettuce, sea vegetables, broccoli, green peas, leeks, bell peppers, wheatgrass juice, and barleygreen (juice). The best salad green for chlorophyll is spinach. It has been shown that cooking changes the chlorophyll, but the results are inconclusive to how it affects us. It results in the magnesium atom in the center, though, being replaced with hydrogen; and chlorophyll being absent after 20 minutes of boiling. Even though green vegetables are full of chlorophyll, many who are really sick do not absorb this chlorophyll due to the sad shape their colon is in; so the raw foods should be juiced, since the lack of fiber in the juice causes the chlorophyll to be absorbed in a matter of minutes!

Ann Wigmore has an unforgettable personal testimony of how she overcame gangrene in her leg. She was told she had to have her leg amputated, or she would die. She absolutely refused, even though her parents, and the Doctor were angry with her. She was basically left alone, and describes hours of solitude outside; since she couldn’t get around very easily, she ate grass! She believes the wheatgrass juice cured her, thus her entrance into that industry. The Bible does say that the herbs are for the healing of the nations, and given Ann Wigmore’s testimony, and scores of others, I think that it is safe to say that the chlorophyll in these herbs is definitely a factor!

In conclusion, raw foods remain the best way to consume chlorophyll, with juicing your vegetables or drinking wheatgrass or barleygreen being the best. It is possible to lightly steam vegetables, and still get some chlorophyll, but it is not ideal, because of the changed atom structure, and the unknown consequences of doing so.

Raw Food Diet

Raw food diets promote eating and drinking ‘living’ food. A diet of at least 75% raw food offers numerous health benefits, starting with weight loss and detox. Read about all the benefits of a raw food diet and try some simple but yummy

B Raw Food Diet B

Basically a vegetarian diet, the raw food diet promotes eating and drinking ‘living’ foods. Living foods and juices contain the maximum amount of fibre found in raw produce, fibre that can be lost in processing. Such foods are easily

Is Raw Food Bad For You

The best way to take in the benefits of is to eat a lot of raw, green vegetables. Unfortunately, cooking these vegetables, even lightly usually kills the chlorophyll content in the plant. Key Benefits Of Raw Food Diets

Put down the raw chocolate, stop eating 30 bananas a day.

It seems there are many people eating a raw food diet who are very confused about what is healthy and not healthy. Many raw fooders eat tons of chocolate and others over eat on fruit. There is even a website group that suggest people

Diet to become pregnant | FOODS Dieting

Fish (especially sea), vegetable oils of cold extraction, eggs, soy food, raw nuts and seeds contain necessary acids. Reduce consumption of rich fats to minimum, as they suppress work of immune and reproductive systems and are toxic for organism … Laminaria contains chlorophyll, amino acids, minerals.

by Roxanne Vick

Technorati Tags: benefits of, chlorophyll, cleanse, detox, eating raw food diet, green leafy vegetables

Do you have a young child whose weight or eating habits are out of control? Need some real world help with ‘taming the cookie monster’?

 Here are some things that worked for our family…

Our daughter, now 14 years old, was plump from birth and thrived happily for her first year on a combination of breast milk and formula. When she was completely weaned and eating only solid foods, however, she began to gain a great deal of weight at an unhealthy rate. This continued for the next year until, on the advice of her pediatrician, we began to modify our daughter’s eating habits. She was barely two years old, but her doctor felt strongly that we should make some changes before her weight became a lifelong problem. The goal was to prevent further weight gain until her height could catch up with her weight, without depriving her of nutrition or having her feel deprived of the comforting aspects of food.

I’m happy to report that our daughter is now a slender, healthy teenager with good eating habits and no ‘food issues’, but learning how to modify our family’s eating behavior was a long trial and error process. Because she was still mostly pre-verbal, discussing nutrition or reasoning with our toddler was not an option. We kept trying new things and learned over time what worked for her. (These tips should prove useful with older children as well but are NOT meant to replace professional advice: Be sure to talk to your pediatrician before changing or restricting your child’s diet.)

 Eliminate Extra Fat on Your Body Now 

Here are some important lessons we learned: Enlist the cooperation of ALL family members and caregivers. Chart your progress over time. Eat what your child eats Get creative in dealing with your child’s individual needs. Don’t starve your child! Be patient and expect resistance and setbacks

Enlist the Cooperation of ALL Family Members and Caregivers.

The first step is to explain thoroughly to grandparents, daycare providers etc., your concerns and those of your pediatrician’s, pointing out that overweight children move more slowly, get less exercise and therefore develop less body confidence, often have social difficulties in school, and frequently become overweight adults.

Reassure them that you will follow good nutritional practices, that your child is under the care of a competent pediatrician, and that you will take special care to fill her psychological need for food in more appropriate ways.

Explain your goals for your child’s weight (e.g. zero weight gain until weight catches up with height), and tell staff your child should not be praised OR punished where food is concerned, only encouraged to eat slowly and move on to another activity when a reasonable-sized meal has been eaten.

Chart Your Progress over Time

Once a month weigh your child and measure her height, being careful not to express displeasure if her weight has increased. Instead, praise her, saying ‘how proud you are of the ways she is growing’. Get a copy of your child’s growth chart (weight-for-height) from her doctor, and keep it updated monthly. This gives important feedback regarding whether your methods are working, and you can adjust meals, activity levels, etc. accordingly. Never scold your child for overeating or being heavy: Our daughter went through the chubbiest part of her childhood completely unaware that she was in any way ‘different’, and eventually succeeded in achieving a healthy weight.

Eat What Your Child Eats

This requires commitment and discipline! You will only make things much, much worse if you single out a child to eat differently than the rest of the family. The whole family should be working toward healthy life-long eating habits and it’s your job as parents to make sure this happens. I do know it’s HARD to not order pizza when you are too tired to cook, but make it a once a month treat instead of a mainstay meal.

Do the obvious things to cut down on fat in your diet, including switching to skim milk, eliminating butter, cutting back on cheese and fried foods, and cutting out desserts altogether. Snack only on  fresh veggies or fruit , and an occasional Popsicle treat (no fat!). Serve water as a beverage with dinner, (think of milk as a food rather than a beverage) and allow unlimited quantities of steamed or raw veggies (no butter, no ‘dip’). You as parents should decide how much ‘main course’ of a meal your family should have. Serve the heavier foods directly onto plates from the stove rather than bringing piles of food to the table, so there is less temptation to have seconds. Make sure portions are generous enough to satisfy true hunger, but not excessively large.

If seconds are requested, ask your child to wait a few minutes to ‘let her food settle’, or until everyone else has finished, and then give her a smaller second portion, and no third portions for anyone unless it’s a low-fat Item. Do the same yourself, and save any ‘Ben and Jerry’s’ binges for after your kid’s bedtimes.

Get Creative in Dealing with Your Child’s Individual Needs

Sometimes waiting a few minutes in between servings did the trick and our daughter realized she was full before gobbling up a whole second helping, but she would often feel torn about leaving any food on her plate, and stuff herself to the point of a tummy ache just to finish what she started. (This happened even though we NEVER insisted she ‘clean her plate’, a misguided and outdated parenting policy!).

To help her ‘let go’ of a meal we promised that we would ’save it for her’ in the refrigerator, and then wrap it in plastic and let her see us put it away. This really seemed to do the trick: She got to remain ‘in charge’ of ‘her’ food, but didn’t have to feel any sense of loss if it went uneaten.

We did the same kind of thing with candy, too. (People love to give chubby kids candy!). We had a ‘candy jar’ on top of the fridge, where we put any gifts of hard candy she received (we weeded out the chocolate after she went to bed). After dinner, to help her know that ‘eating time’ was finished, she was allowed to choose one piece of hard candy for dessert. This solved the in-between- meal whining for candy issue as well as gave an endpoint to the meal without serving a heavy dessert.

If your child has some quirks around food (and don’t we all?) think hard about what need the food may be filling, and try to meet that need more appropriately. Common needs are Control, Boredom, Anxiety, Anger, and Loneliness. Get creative and keep trying new things. The consistent message you should be sending is that her needs are important and you will help fill them, without using food as a substitute. Your child should always feel that she will get enough to eat when she is hungry, and if you don’t keep junk food in the house, she will learn to eat healthy food to feel full.

Don’t Starve Your Child!

It seems obvious but it’s worth mentioning. Even the chubbiest kids get hungry and need to eat to keep up their energy levels. Regularly scheduled low-fat between-meal mini-snacks can help with this. The worst thing you can do (in my opinion) is make such an issue out of food that it becomes an unpleasant weapon of control. Your child should always feel in charge of her eating, and your job is to help her learn the best possible eating habits.

When you child does ask for food always offer something from the ‘unlimited’ list: a steamed or raw veggie, or occasionally some fruit, unless it’s obviously NOT an appropriate time for snack (just before bedtime, or moments before a meal is served).

Consistently attempt to replace your child’s need for comfort food with some activity that she enjoys: Say "Let’s read that new library book together first!", and offer a snack AFTER the activity. In this way you can gradually learn to tell when your child is actually hungry and when she has some other need, such as feeling tired, bored, scared, sad, or just wanting some attention. Gradually she’ll learn to tell the difference, too, and slowly stop using food as her first ‘fill the need’ strategy.

By consistently offering only healthy food in reasonable quantities, with ’seconds’ allowed of the heavier foods, and some ‘unlimited’ foods always available, your child will retain a great deal of control. She will get to decide how much ‘unlimited’ food to eat, and won’t constantly hear ‘NO’ when asking for more. ("You’ve already had seconds on the chili, honey, but you can have more carrots if you want").

Allowing a snack when requested eliminates the chance of anxiety developing over NOT getting something to eat when your child actually IS hungry. By stalling the snack for a few minutes to read with your child or play a game, you send a message that food will always be available, but it’s really not an urgent problem, and in the mean time there may be a better way to comfort herself.

Be Patient and Expect Resistance and Setbacks

Changing family eating habits can be difficult, especially when food has been used as a source of family comfort or entertainment (and it occasionally is, even in the most ‘perfect’ of families!). Expect your overweight child and other family members to resist changes in eating habits, especially older children who have had longer to become entrenched in the junk food life. Keep firm in your knowledge that you are doing your best for your family, and even if it doesn’t always go smoothly you will KEEP TRYING. Don’t become discouraged or feel like a failure when your child gains weight or begins ’sneaking food’. This isn’t a reflection on your worth as a parent, but instead shows how difficult this problem can be. If a family crisis or change in routine (i.e. vacation) throws you back into bad habits, start again. This is a PROCESS and is the best gift you can give your child.

For more then 50 years it’s been used for rapid weight loss… 

It’s true the Master Cleanse can help you lose up to 20 pounds, look younger, ease chronic pain, cleanse your body of internal waste, and boost your energy levels in 10 days but… read more…

Candlelight Burning, Part III « Journey Into Wholeness

I knew intuitively that I needed to be eating a 100% cleansing raw food diet if I wanted to heal completely. I knew that I needed the appropriate colon care and digestive support to facilitate this process…Read more…

Some Thoughts On ‘Is There A Perfect Diet?’ « Live Food Louisa …

Hope that you are really well today, and enjoying your raw food eating still, especially as we move out of winter into the coming warming weather, and more light now. Hooray! Following a raw food diet in the winter with short hair it …   Read more…

A Guide To Colon Cleansing Detox Diet

Main ingredients of colon cleansing detox diets are raw fruits, vegetables, fruit juices, and lots of fiber. This diet cleanses the body of toxins that get accumulated in the body due to cigarettes, pollution, chemicals and caffeine. … When looking for a good and effective colon cleansing diet recipe, look for the one that suits your lifestyle and body needs. Make sure that the recipe does not contain any processed foods, and has plenty of fiber, fru…   Read more..

Raw food diet and weight loss PART1- Lilou interviews Karyn …

LIlou interviews Karyn Calabrese on raw food diet and how it can help with weight loss and maintaining weight loss and energy . This interview is in 4 parts. … I am just about to start a cleanse – so great timing! I like how she talks of taking responsibility for ourselves first and foremost.Read more…

How To Cleanse The Colon Naturally With Food

And the stresses, air pollution, and junk foods of the modern day aren’t helping either. This is probably why we need to be more careful these days of what we eat, and when we eat. Cleansing the colon naturally with a good diet is just one … and fresh raw fruits. It is recommended that vegetables be lightly steamed and incorporated with seeds, nuts and whole grains. All these foods are rich in fiber that could help flush out unwanted wastes and to…   Read more…

Some Useful Resources

The American Heart Association (www.americanheart.org)

The NIDDK: the National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health.
(www.niddk.nih.gov/health/nutrit/pubs/helpchld.htm)

About The Author

Cathy Strahl, M.P.H., is the mother of two and the owner of www.ShopHopping.com, an on-line retail store featuring hand-selected developmental and educational toys for infants and children through age 13.

This article was posted on September 16, 2004

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A few years back, when I was just learning about  raw food nutrition , I went to a raw food festival in Oregon. It was in a beautiful outdoor setting, next to a lake, and very appropriate for nature loving raw food enthusiasts.

Under the canopy of shade trees, I enjoyed listening to several top pioneers of the raw food movement speak on the benefits of raw nutrition. I also met an impressive man who had recently won the non-supplemented Mr. Universe contest as a raw vegan – at the age of almost 50, competing against men 1/2 his age! He certainly was and still is living proof that you can get enough protein on the raw vegetarian diet.

But of all the amazing people I met that weekend, there is one who really sticks out in my mind. She was working at a booth selling organic coconut oil from Mexico. During one of the sessions, while most people were listening to the speakers, I paused to sit with her and listen to her incredible story.

"A few years back," she said, "when I was in my middle 50s, I was diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer. My doctor gave me only about 6 weeks to live. I was shocked, but instead of sitting at home waiting to die, I decided to fulfill a long time dream of visiting Mexico. So I packed a few things and went to a remote beach in Baja.

Given to my stomach problems, I wasn’t able to eat any spicy Mexican foods. Even most fruits were out of the question. In fact, the only thing that really felt good to eat was young coconut water and young coconut flesh.

And since there were a lot of coconut palms on the beach where I was staying, that’s all I ate. After about 3 weeks I noticed I began to feel a bit better. And then when the dreaded 6 week deadline passed and I actually felt a whole lot better. I stayed in Mexico for another month, continuing the coco diet.

When I finally returned home the first thing I did was pay a visit to my doctor. I wish I had a picture of the total shock on his face when he saw me walk through the door. Not only was I alive, but I looked pretty good too. I was down 15 pounds and had radiant skin with a nice tan. After collecting himself, my doctor ran some tests and found that I was cancer free.

That inspired me so much that I decided to sell my stuff in the US and move to Mexico. Within a few weeks I had put a deposit down on a coconut farm in Mexico"

The story of this very alive woman touched me and motivated me to do some research on the nutritional properties and benefits of young coconuts. I had often enjoyed them but had no idea how great they were for my health.

As it turns out, young coconut water and young coconut flesh is one of the most amazing foods we can eat. Here’s some of the reasons why:

The water and flesh from young coconuts contains the full range of B vitamins, with the exception of B6 and B12. B vitamins are essential for providing us energy as they break down carbohydrates and proteins. They also support nervous system function and, interestingly, the muscle tone of the stomach.

Young coconut water is antibacterial, and antibacterial.

Young coconut water is high in minerals, particularly calcium (for bones), magnesium (for the heart) and potassium (for muscles).

An average young coconut provides 3 grams of dietary fiber which helps proper digestion and elimination.

Fresh coconut water is very high in electrolytes – much higher than most sports drinks. This makes it a great choice for athletes and children who exercise a lot.

Finally, the water of young coconuts is completely sterile and so close to the structure of human blood that it can be transfused directly. In fact, it was regularly used during WW II for wounded soldiers when blood supplies ran low.

Where You Can Get Young Coconuts:

Coconuts grow only in tropical climates. If you live in a tropical climate, they’ll be easy to find. Make sure to ask for young coconuts and not mature ones. Young coconuts are about 5 months old and have green hulls as pictured here.

If you don’t live in a tropical climate you may be able to find coconuts in your local health food store. Usually they are from Thailand and are white in color – the green hulls have been removed for shipping. You can also try an Asian supermarket.

Don’t confuse young coconuts with mature ones – these have dark brown shells and very thick flesh. The water from these coconuts doesn’t taste good and has lost most of it’s nutritional potency. Also, if you buy young coconut water packaged in a box, make sure it’s not been pasteurized. If it has, it’s  healing effect  is greatly reduced.

Interesting Coconut Folklore

In Sanskrit the coconut tree (cocos nucifera) is called "kalpa vriksha," meaning "the tree which provides all the necessities of life."

In India, coconuts are symbols of fertility. When a woman wants to have a child, it’s common for her to go to a priest to receive a blessing with coconuts.

A legend from the Phillipines holds that humans originated from two coconuts washed up by the sea onto a rocky shore.

Young coconut flesh is the first solid food for babies to eat in Thailand, traditionally fed to them by a Buddhist priest.

In traditional Balinese culture, women were forbidden to touch the coconut tree. Men feared that a woman’s touch may drain the fertility of the coconut tree into her own fertility.

New Guinea natives believe that when the first man died on the island, a coconut tree sprouted directly from his head.

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By: Mark Ament

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