There is a lot of research coming out showing that the recent ideas about the dangers of saturated fats and the need for low-fat diets have actually contributed to the prevalence of obesity, diabetes and other diet-related health problems. An article on NaturalNews.com the other day talks about a heart surgeon openly admitting that low-fat diets recommended for years by mainstream medicine actually cause heart disease and that consuming healthy fats (including saturated fats) is vital for good health.
Mike Adams from Natural News has written many articles about this over the past few years. In "The Great Fat Debate - Why Virgin Coconut Oil is best" (2009) he talks about the origin of much of the confusion over fats and that coconut oil - being made up of two-thirds medium-chain fatty acids - helps us lose weight, reduce cholesterol, improve diabetic conditions and lower the risk of heart disease.
In another article, he compiles a list of expert research findings on the role of the essential fatty acid Omega-3 in preventing diseases of inflammation.
Essential fatty acids are those fats that the body cannot produce on its own. Your body gets these fatty acids directly from food. There are only two EFAs: alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid, and linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid.
Almost all the polyunsaturated fat in the human diet is from EFA. Some of the food sources of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are fish and shellfish, flaxseed (linseed), hemp oil, hemp nuts, soya oil, canola (rapeseed) oil, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, leafy vegetables, and walnuts.
Omega-3 fatty acids, such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are important for enzymatic pathways required to metabolize long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Low plasma concentrations of DHA is associated with depression and suicide.
To Optimise your omega 3 essential fatty acid levels on a vegetarian diet -
Have a daily intake of nuts, seeds and their omega 3 6 9 oils.
Include good sources of the nutrients which aid essential fat conversion – zinc, magnesium, calcium, biotin and vitamins B6, B3 and C.
Avoid things that inhibit conversion; alcohol, trans fats (from animal foods and processed foods), smoking, caffeine, viral infections, stress and excess intake of vitamin A and copper.
Balance your intake of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. Due to the widespread use of sunflower oil in food manufacturing and grain fed livestock we tend to have a much greater intake of omega 6 to 3 fats in our diets. This imbalance can lead to the conversion enzymes getting used up for omega 6, restricting omega 3 conversion. The ideal balance is around 3 to 4 parts omega 6 to one of omega 3.
Buy your seed oils cold-pressed and from the fridge in your health shop. Also buy in small quantities so it remains fresh. At home store them in the fridge and use them cold. If heating oils use butter, ghee or even better coconut oil.
Some people may have less of the conversion enzymes and may need to be strict with the above nutrient supporters and inhibitors. These people include those with atopic allergies (asthma, eczema and hay fever which run in the family) and those with diabetics.
Increase your algae intake when planning a pregnancy, pregnant or breast-feeding.
Have an essential fatty acid test to determine your specific needs and if your diet is meeting these.
Do you need oily fish?
If you optimise your intake of essential fats, and their conversion, the majority of people can achieve good health without fish. Oily fish also has a number of drawbacks in addition to the ethical considerations such as the overfishing of our oceans. The seas are increasingly polluted and unacceptable levels of toxicity such as dioxins and PCP’s as well as mercury have often been found in fish destined for the food chain. Farmed fish is also not the answer as this unnatural method of rearing fish not only relies on a processed diet which may not convert to the same nutrients in the fish, but also requires the uses of antibiotics and other harmful agents to prevent the spread of disease.
Algae sourced DHA supplementation is however recommended in pregnancy as studies have shown lower levels in babies born to vegan mothers. Finally if you have a health condition such as diabetes or atopic allergies or even if you are mildy stressed you may be limited in your ability to convert your own fats so you'll need to consider an algae based DHA EPA supplement such as Klamath Lake blue green algae.
½ cup desiccated coconut food dyes (optional – not raw)
Method
Combine all ingredients except food dyes until smooth.
Divide the mixture into 3 bowls and add a few drops of food dye to each bowl to give pink, green and yellow eggs. Start off with a little dye and gradually build up until you reach the desired color. If desired add a little peppermint essence to the green egg mixture for a mint flavoured egg.
Place in fridge to set but still pliable Roll into egg shapes and place back in fridge
We hope you had a great Australia Day and that 2012 has started nicely for you. Are you familiar with the latin quotation: Mens sana in corpore sano (A healthy mind in a healthy body)? You know, it's so true that what we eat is so important, not only to our physical health, but also to our mental well-being. One Raw Food blogger that we really like is Lori Clayton who is a regular contributor to the We Like it Raw site. Here's a great article by her titled "Healing Mood Disorders with Food". In it, she lists some Good Mood foods:
Sesame Seeds: High in calcium, magnesium, tryptophan
Kelp: High in calcium, omega 3, protein, zinc, magnesium
Cashews: High in tryptophan, which is a precursor to serotonin
Greens: High in calcium and folic acid
Guava: High in vitamin C, tryptophan
Figs: High in calcium, magnesium, fiber
Cacao: High in magnesium, also makes opioids that make you happy!
Avocados: High in essential fatty acids, tryptophan, folic acid
Foods and beverages to avoid are the usual suspects: artificial sweeteners (much better to substitute our low-GI sweeteners), foods high in saturated fat, sugar, caffeine and wheat. Lifestyle is also an important factor with exercise increasing endorphin levels, meditation helping to keep you relaxed, and being in the sunshine increasing serotonin and helping your body generate Vitamin D which has been proven to help with depression. You can also supplement Vitamin D.
Speaking of Vitamin D, a new meta-analysis study published shows that adequate circulating Vitamin D reduces the risk of all-cause mortality by 29%. Furthermore, it lowers colorectal cancer risk by 40%! Read more here >>>
Whether children should be immunised (with pharmaceutical concoctions) is a hotly debated subject. Recently a family member was so upset with our decision to not traditionally immunise Bodhi (our 5 month old baby boy) that they won't speak to me anymore. They believe that we are being very irresponsible and are putting his life at risk. The divide between pro-immunisation and anti-immunisation camps can run deep.
While I don't doubt that vaccinations can reduce certain diseases in the population, Runi and I have serious concerns about their safety and effectiveness and have chosen build Bodhi's immunity naturally.
An enlightened doctor I know said that governments are only interested in vaccinating the "herd" to be seen to be preventing outbreaks of polio, measles etc, however, they are not interested in reporting many of the documented and suspected side effects of immunisations including autism, narcolepsy, seizures, brain inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction to name but a few.
In addition to this, an uncontrolled survey in Germany of 10,598 participants showed that unvaccinated children are far less affected by common diseases (including allergies, hay fever, asthma/chronic bronchitis, neurodermatitis (itchy skin), Otitis media (middle ear infections), Sinusitis, Herpes, Warts, Polyps and fungal infections) than vaccinated children. http://www.vaccineinjury.info/vaccinations-in-general/health-unvaccinated-children/survey-results-illnesses.html
Is it possible that vaccines are disrupting and compromising our children's delicate immune systems and are causing a whole host of other health problems and is there another way to protect children from potentially dangerous childhood diseases?
Runi and I have chosen to boost Bodhi's immune system naturally. My personal experience is that a properly functioning immune system can ward off most disease or lessen the intensity and duration of disease when it strikes.
So how can you immunise your children and yourself naturally? Here is what we are doing:
1/ When pregnant eat an excellent organic whole food, high raw diet. (Please note that I am not advocating a vegan or even a vegetarian diet unless that works for you). Make sure you are getting enough folic acid (B9) vitamin B12, iron, calcium, zinc, vitamin D and essential fatty acids in particular. We chose to supplement all of these key nutrients just to be on the safe side.
2/ Breast milk - Once baby is born, breastfeed him/her to full-term. Ideally three years or more. This is undoubtedly the safest immunisation available, especially if your diet is alive and high in the important nutrients.
3/ Homeopathic immunisation - We chose to immunise Bodhi homeopathically. It is non-toxic and safe and according to an Australian study effective.
4/ Whole Food - Once eating only offer children fresh whole organic foods with a high percentage (70% or more) raw. Food can be medicine or poison: steer clear of all refined products including sugar, wheat, pasta, most bread, commercial pasteurised dairy and oils. Include LOTS of leafy greens, green juices and green smoothies. Leafy greens are perhaps the most medicinal foods on the planet. I highly recommend getting in a good juicer like an Oscar and a good blender like the Semak Vitacrush. This is not an expense; it is an investment in your family's health.
If you are lucky enough to start your child early you will be creating a very positive food imprint for them. Studies have shown that when stressed, adults often revert back to types of food they were fed when upset as an infant. Imagine going for greens when you feel stressed instead of cake, bread, chips, "bad" chocolate or other common comfort foods!
We have already mixed green juice and green smoothie with breast milk and given Bodhi a taste of what is coming and he seems to like it.
5/ Superfoods and supplements - Here are key the nutrients your child will require. We will be supplementing Bodhi with the following:
- Vitamin B12 for healthy red blood cells, a good nervous system and good growth and development (especially important for vegans)
- Vitamin D (in winter or sunless conditions only) - Very important for the immune system and bone development
- The essential fatty acids DHA and EPA for brain and eye development. If you are not vegetarian Krill Oil is one of the best sources. One of the best plant based sources of DHA and EPA is marine phytoplankton such as Oceans Alive. Another source of non-animal DHA is micro algae including spirulina, chlorella and AFA algae such as E3. Chia seeds and hemp nuts are high in other essential fatty acids but not DHA or EPA . The great news is that most of these ingredients can be put into a child's smoothie or juice without them even noticing.
6/ Sunshine - we take Bodhi out in the sun (often naked) most days to make sure he is getting enough vitamin D. Breast milk is very low in Vitamin D and most breast fed babies are deficient in this very important vitamin. Obviously we take him out when it is not too hot so he doesn't get burnt!
7/ Earthing - for the Earths negatively charged electrons (which help reduce inflammation and free radical damage) and electro-magnetic radiation protection. Bodhi gets plenty of Earthing when I carry him for morning and evening barefoot walks as well as dips in the river and ocean. In the evening he sleeps on an Earthing Bed Pad which we have wrapped around his cot mattress.
As you can see from these photos, Bodhi is a picture of health and I am confident in our decision, to not vaccinate and build his immune system naturally.
Having said that, I am in no way offering this information as prescription or medical advice. It is simply what Runi and I are choosing to do. I also didn’t vaccinate my first two children who are both grown up now. I recommend that you do your own research and make your own decisions.
If you are interested in finding out why vaccines are potentially dangerous and what the government and doctors are not telling you, Dr Mercola's website is a good place to begin)
Also I highly recommend the documentary ‘The Greater Good” You can watch the trailer here.
It will be eight years this January 2012 since I embarked on a high raw food diet. In that time I have experimented with a wide variety of approaches including low fat, high sugar (from fruit), low sugar and higher fat, vegan and non-vegan, 75% raw to 100% raw.
So which is the best approach? I would have to say all of them and none of them. I have experienced the healthiest, happiest eight years of my life since eating a high raw, whole food diet and it appears to me that avoiding processed foods is more important than getting obsessed with what percentage raw I am eating. In retrospect, perhaps it would be more accurate to say the best approach is to remain aware and flexible and act accordingly. My body’s requirements change over time and what works for me today may not work tomorrow. If I am stuck in an ideology of how I “should” be eating, I may ignore or miss by body’s signals and innate wisdom.
I am currently on an 80% – 90% raw food, low glycemic diet that includes animal protein (eggs, goats kefir, fish) and lots of cultured veggies and this is working very well for me. If anything I am feeling better than when I was experimenting with a 100% raw vegan approach.
What has been a constant through out my eight years of experimenting are the following seven things:
I have completely avoided refined/processed foods
I have maintained a high percentage of raw food 75% or more
Leafy greens have remained central to my diet (including juices, salads and smoothies)
I haven’t drunk coffee or alcohol or taken pharmaceutical or recreational drugs
I have exercised on a regular basis
Animal protein has remained under 10% of my diet
I have eaten organic wherever possible
By sticking to the above guidelines I have had more energy and been healthier than I was during my 20s and 30s with cold symptoms only showing up 3 times in the eight years as opposed to 1-3 times a year!
Breakfast – A smoothie made in myVitacrush 1500w blenderwith 400ml of raw goats milk kefir with 3 organic raw egg yolks, 1/8 tsp of non-gmo soy lecithin, 1 tbs carob powder, (you can substitute the carob for cacao powder if that works for you)
Lunch – A big green salad with avocado,dulseornoriseaweed and sometimes some with some lightly baked local fish – I often drizzle my salads with apple cider vinegar andhemp oiland when out of Australia I will sprinklehemp nutson top as well.
- "Are you deficient? How to get the most from your diet" by Anand Wells, Live Food Education
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THIS WEEK'S READING
Are you deficient? How to get the most from your diet
Many leaders in the natural health movement agree that disease is caused by two things: toxicity and deficiency. Nutritional deficiencies are far more common than we may realise. Why?
Because our soils have become depleted in key nutrients from unsustainable farming practices and therefore the food grown in this soil is also deficient.
Our fruit and vegetables are often picked unripe and are gassed to artificially induce ripening. In most cases this practice drastically reduces the vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients available.
Malabsorption. Malabsorption result from our body's inability to absorb and utilise vitamins, minerals and other nutrients contained in our food. This can be caused by the following:
Helicobacter infection in the stomach, (the bacterial infection that causes stomach ulcers).
Candida (Yeast infection), as a result of a bacterial imbalance in the gut due to a lack of probiotic bacteria.
Parasites acquired through the consumption of contaminated food and drink.
The inadequate production of stomach acid (hypochlorhydria) due to age degeneration, zinc deficiency, or the consumption of certain drugs.
Allergies to gluten, and lactose can result in a leaky gut wall, where food particles pass into the blood stream without being properly digested and utilised.
The consumption of certain food additives causes the body to excrete vitamins and minerals.
Stress
Exposure to heavy metals and other toxins
So what can we do to make sure our bodies are getting all the nutrients they need to thrive?
While most of us eating a balanced organic whole food diet can get a majority of our nutrients from the food itself, there are also circumstances when it is beneficial to use supplements and superfoods. But before we look at supplementing lets first see how we can obtain maximum nutrition from our food.
1. Eat fruits and vegetables that have been freshly picked as much as possible.
This means locally grown and in season. If I had the choice between eating a freshly picked conventionally grown orange or an organically grown orange that was picked 6 months ago 10 000 km away, I would choose the conventional orange. After 6 months in cold storage nearly all of the vitamin C disappears from fruit along with a whole host of other beneficial nutrients.
So how can you ensure that you are eating freshly harvested fruits and vegetables? Well nothing is fresher than harvesting from your own trees and veggie patch. We have recently become members of a wonderful project called Organic Farm Share which is a community owned organic farm in Northern NSW Australia. The farm is being designed to feed several hundred local families. If these are not options for you, sprouts can easily be grown in any home in either jars or special sprouting machines. Sprouts are the most alive of all living foods as they are still growing even in your fridge until the moment you eat them.
The next best option is to buy your produce from farmers or growers markets. If you are unable to buy organic, there are things you can do to clean the produce and minimise pesticide exposure like spraying with a solution on apple cider vinegar water and hydrogen peroxide.
2. Store your produce properly.
While harvesting and then eating organically grown produce straight from the plant is by far the best option for maximum nutrition it is not practical for many of us so knowing how to store your food is a very important factor in maximising its nutritional value.
Vegetables are powerhouses of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. Unfortunately, after you pick vegetables, their nutrients start to break down. They continue to lose their nutrient value as time goes on. Light, heat and exposure to air can speed up that process, so it's important to eat vegetables as soon as you can after they're picked, or store them in a way that helps slow their nutrient loss.
Any type of storage results in some deterioration. Produce on store shelves has already begun to lose vitamins, and nutrient losses multiply each day. Wilting is a sure sign of nutrient loss, especially of climate-sensitive vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Lettuce, kale, silverbeet/chard and other leafy greens that are prone to wilting register a higher ascorbic acid reduction after several days of optimal cold storage than does cabbage, which is more resistant to wilting. Green beans lose 58 per cent of their original ascorbic acid during the first three days of refrigeration after harvesting.
While a certain amount of nutrient loss is inevitable, we can minimize it by purchasing the freshest possible produce and storing it under optimal conditions.
Refrigerate all leafy greens such as lettuce, dandelion, collards, mustard greens, chard, watercress and broccoli. They keep best when they are dry and wrapped in plastic or put in airtight plastic containers to prevent loss of moisture and vitamins. Cucumbers and eggplant, however, are best stored in paper bags in the crisper to protect against excess cold temperatures that cause the development of pitted, mushy spots.
Refrigerate carrots or store in a cool place in perforated bags or containers to allow air circulation. Protected from heat and light, carrots retain their nutrients for up to seven months. Their beta-carotene actually increases during the first five months of storage then remains stable for two months before decreasing.
Tomatoes tend to lose flavour if refrigerated. They are best stored loosely in a basket that permits air to circulate. Unripe tomatoes should be stored on a counter or on top of the fridge, which allows the ripening process to continue. Any type of produce that continues to ripen after picking, including unripe pears, peaches, and plums, must not be refrigerated. These should be stored in a brown paper bag at room temperature until ripe.
Citrus fruits may be stored at room temperature for several days and will last for up to two months if refrigerated. Apples must always be refrigerated. They will keep for several months, but gradual loss of nutrients, especially vitamin C, still occurs with lengthy storage. Store apples away from vegetables, or keep them in a plastic bag, as they give off ethylene gas as they ripen, promoting spoilage of other produce.
Here are a couple more tips on storing fresh produce
Store your vegetables whole. Don't slice them, as slicing vegetables exposed the flesh to air and light, which helps quickly break down the nutrients. Intact vegetable skins offer protection from light and air.
Store root vegetables in a dark, cool place like a cellar or low cabinet. Keep them in the crisper drawers, which are generally farthest away from the refrigerator lights and adjusted to be cooler than the rest of the refrigerator.
So as you can see when you bring your produce home, how you store it will make a huge difference to how long it will last and retain nutrients.
3. Nutrient dense superfoods
Another way to maximise you nutrient intake is to eat the most nutrient dense foods you can get your hands on.As you are probably already aware we consider fresh wild leafy greens to be the #1 superfood as they match human nutritional needs most completely. The second best would be more traditional leafy greens such as kale, spinach etc.
You may also like to take advantage of a wide range of dried and powdered superfoods which can be very high in certain nutrients and micronutrients. While fresh is always best it is still possible to benefit from some of these dried nutrient dense foods which are not commonly available fresh.
Here is a list of some of the more popular super foods.
AFA Blue Green Algae - 60% protein, long chain fatty acids, PEA. To detoxify body, increase mental focus and concentration, stabilize mood swings, balance blood sugar, decrease insulin requirement, decrease side effects of chemotherapy;
Spirulina – 60% protein, contains most of the essential minerals and vitamins, particularly iron and the B vitamins
Bee Pollen – rich source of high-quality protein since it contains all the essential amino acids plus quite a few more. Bee pollen contains vitamins A, B, C, and E, and is extraordinarily rich in most of the B vitamins, including folic acid (folate).
Chia Seeds – High in omega 3, 22% protein, a powerful source of the antioxidants that protect delicate essential fatty acids from oxidation
Cacao – high in antioxidants and magnesium and mood enhancing chemicals such as Anandamine
Maca – balances hormones, increases energy, full of minerals, vitamins, and protein, containing many of the essential amino acids, and particularly rich in calcium and magnesium,
Lucuma Powder – High in betacarotene, niacin (B3) and iron
Mesquite Meal – High in calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and zinc, and is rich in the amino acid lysine
Purple Corn Extract – Powerful antioxidant with anti-mutagenic, antimicrobial and anti-carcinogenic properties.
Coconut Oil - Anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal; great for skin; assists weight-loss; assists body to burn fat; lowers bad cholesterol; lauric acid; important in building and maintaining immune system; doesn’t go rancid at room temp; Good for thyroid
Acai Berry – extremely high in antioxidants and essential fatty acids
Goji Berries - They contain 18 kinds of amino acids (six times higher than bee pollen) and contain all 8 essential amino acids (such as isoleucine and tryptophan). They also contain up to 21 trace minerals Goji berries are the richest source of carotenoids, including beta-carotene (more beta carotene than carrots), of all known foods or plants on earth! They contain 500 times the amount of vitamin C, by weight, than oranges making them second only to camu camu berries as the richest vitamin C source on earth. Goji berries also contain vitamins B1, B2, B6, and vitamin E.
2012 Probiotic superfood – Re-colonise the GI tract with the full spectrum of Lactobacillus (friendly) bacteria. Contains significant enzymes, vital amino acids and a broad spectrum of essential nutrients. Helps break down nutrients. Keeps the colon clean and healthy. Health effects of compromised probiotics: toxins in the GI tract - lupus & psoriasis, partially digested proteins - eczema, arthritis, & immune system disorders. Contains the complete Lactobacillus bacteria family.
Sea Vegetables – most sea vegetables including sea weeds such as kelp, Nori, dulse, arame and wakame to name a few contain highest levels of trace minerals and iodine that you will find in any foods. These important minerals are often found lacking even in organically grown produce.
There are many many more superfoods available with more arriving on the market all the time.
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