Have you ever felt exhausted even though you just woke up from an 8 hour sleep? Is it a struggle to concentrate on a task for longer than a few minutes? Do you feel like you have ‘brain drain’ by the end of the day or after lunch?
Perhaps it’s not just lack of quality sleep or getting older or being stressed out. It could be what is on your plate.
Food can play a major role in concentration and memory. Eat the right kinds of foods and boost your mind and health at the same time. The right type of foods support a brain’s cognitive function as well as support memory and concentration.
So what are some of the ‘right kinds’ of foods?
Fats
Our brain is made up of 60% fat. Essential fatty acids such as omega-3 and omega-6 are vital for effective brain functioning. Our brain requires high levels of DHA (docosahexanoic acid) which is also crucial in supporting a healthy nervous system.
Other healthy fats which have been shown to boost cognitive function include olive oil, coconut oil, flaxseeds, nuts and seeds and avocado.
Broccoli
A great source of vitamin K, broccoli which is known to enhance cognitive function and improve brainpower.
Magnesium
Magnesium is a very important mineral for calming of the nerves. Magnesium protects the nerves by supporting and building the myelin sheaths which insulate the nerve fibres. Many of us are magnesium deficient which also disturbes our sleep.
Tomato
Tomato's contain lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that helps protect against the kind of free radical damage to cells which occurs in the development of dementia, particularly Alzheimer's.
Vitamins
Folic acid and vitamin B12 help prevent homocysteine from building up in the body, which is higher in those with Alzheimer's. The best way to get any B vitamins is through a complex. B vitamins are never found in nature in single isolation. You will always find them in groups or in a full complex and that is the way a supplement should be too. The only exception is a B12 as Methylcobalamin.
Other vitamins & nutrients that support brain health & functioning are:
Slice tomato into thick rounds. Remove the flesh from a coconut keeping it as intact as possible.
Start to layer the tomato, 2 spinach leaves, coconut flesh, asparagus spears, and repeat again with the tomato, spinach leaves, coconut flesh, asparagus spears until you are left with 1 tomato slice. Place this tomato slice on top. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and coconut oil and add hemp seeds to garnish if desired.
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Chaga 100g Chaga Mushroom is known by the Siberians as the ‘Gift from God’ and the ‘Mushroom of Immortality’. The Japanese call it ‘Diamond of the Forest’, while the Chinese deem it ‘King of Plants’. Chaga mushroom has traditionally been consumed as a tea for thousands of years to support overall health and longevity.
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Do you ever feel tired when you wake up and wonder why, after a good night’s rest, you feel so sleepy and groggy?
Do you get to lunch time and moan at the thought of the rest of the afternoon looming before you?
Do you look at people, as if they are from planet Saturn,
when they say they wake up feeling refreshed and full of energy for the
day?
You’re not alone! The exhaustion and lethargy you feel could be adrenal fatigue.
Your adrenal glands are no bigger than a walnut and weigh
less than a grape, yet are responsible for one of the most important
functions in your body; managing stress!
“Adrenal fatigue is a growing trend’, writes James L. Wilson, ND, DC, PhD, author of Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome. “The
adrenal glands are known as ‘the glands of stress’. It is their job to
enable your body to deal with stress from every possible source, ranging
from injury and disease to work and relationship problems. Your
resiliency, energy, endurance and your every life depend on their proper
functioning” [1]
When your adrenal glands are fatigued, a condition known
as adrenal fatigue or adrenal exhaustion, occur and your entire body
feels it. You end up suffering from extreme exhaustion. It occurs when
the glands release high quantities of cortisol which eventually depletes
the adrenals so that they can’t produce enough hormones.
Eating for adrenal health is one of the most long lasting
and rewarding health routes you can take. Most health experts recommend
heart healthy fats, 6-8 serves of vegetables per day, sea salt or pink
himilayan salt and good quality proteins.
Most of my colleagues agree with me that vegetarians and
vegans suffering from adrenal fatigue benefit from increasing their B
COMPLEX supplementation and essential amino acid intake.
I find that when a vegetarian or vegan clients comes in with
adrenal fatigue, most often they have a poor quality protein intake.
Not having enough protein affects the glucose-insulin balance, making
the adrenals work harder.
What are some of the signs of adrenal fatigue?
Fatigue and weakness, especially in the morning and afternoon
A suppressed immune system
Increased allergies
Muscle and bone loss and muscular weakness
Depression symptoms
Cravings for foods high in salt, sugar and fat
Hormonal imbalance
Skin problems
Autoimmune disorders
Increased PMS or menopausal symptoms
Low sex drive
Lightheadedness when getting up fro sitting or lying down
Decreased ability to handle stress
Trouble waking up in the morning, despite a full nights sleep
Poor memory
15 Foods That Harm the Adrenals:
Coffee & black tea
Sugar
Juices
Alcoholic beverages
Deep fried foods
Rancid oils, seeds and nuts
Soda especially diet soda
Processed meats and cheeses
Textured vegetable protein
Chocolate
White flour in breads, pies, cakes, cookies and pasta
White rice
Cows milk
Artificial sweeteners and ingredients
Fast food: junk food and foods which you are allergic to, have an intolerance to, sensitive to or addicted to
Combine all the ingredients together gently with a large spoon.
Make the dressing in a separate bowl and add to the ceviche.
If desired, sprinkle with lentil sprouts or other sprouts of choice
Many
many moons ago when I was a young girl, I retired from gymnastics and
found myself without a sport. I played with triathlons, swimming,
cycling and then fell into Personal Training. I gained my ACHPERS
qualifications, becoming a part time aerobics instructor. I’ve always
had a tendency to put on weight fairly easily and have had to work
fairly hard at keeping it off. Somehow, the weight seemed to migrate to
my derriere and hips more than anywhere and as I got older, a tummy
pouch appeared. It became worse after having a child and it is now
something I really have to work hard at.
I know there will be many women who will be nodding their
heads in agreement right now. Below are my top 4 exercises I recommend
for keeping the belly toned and flat while helping the core muscles to
stay stronger longer. Please keep in mind that although these exercises
are targeted at working the stomach, they will also help with other
muscle groups. The best exercises target as many muscle groups as
possible. It is not possible to lose weight or mass from one particular
area. When you lose weight or reduce your body size, you lose it
overall.
The burpee: This
challenging exercise is considered the ultimate full body exercise. For
beginners I have adapted the exercise to make it much easier. Start
slowly with this one and build it up as you get fitter and stronger.
This will work your whole body: hamstrings, chest, arms, deltoids and
abs.
The way to perform a burpee:
Begin in a squat position with hands on the floor in front of you.
Kick your feet back to a pushup position (for beginners, step your feet out behind you)
Immediately return your feet to the squat position.
Leap/jump up as high as possible from the squat
position while holding in your core. To hold in your core, imagine you
doing a wee and then halfway through you need to instantly stop the wee
by squeezing your inner muscles. This is called activating your core.
When performing burpees, the key is to perform them in
quick succession in order to gain the conditioning benefits this
exercise is famous for.
The bicycle exercise:
Also known as cross over sit ups: To perform this exercise, lie flat on
your back with your legs straight and your fingertips lightly touching
your temples. Sit up and simultaneously bend one leg. Draw your knee
toward your chest and slightly twist your torso only until your knee
touches your opposite elbow or close enough to. Return to the starting
position and then repeat. Make this exercise more demanding by keeping
your feet raised six to eight inches off the ground.
The bicycle sit up involves movement at the spine and
hips at the same time. The complex nature of this exercise means it may
not be suitable for all exercisers, especially beginners. As with all
strenuous exercise, to minimize your risk of injury, warm up thoroughly
before beginning your workout. This exercise works the obliques, the hip
flexors, the rectus abdominus and the transverse abdominal muscles.
Side plank:
Lift your body of the ground and balance on one forearm and the side of
your foot. Contract your abdominals and relax your shoulders. And
remember to continue breathing. Hold this position for up to 30 seconds.
You will need to engage your core for this exercise.
Rowing machine: Found in all gyms, this is another
superb whole body exercise that conditions the stomach muscles
beautifully. The best way to use a rowing machine is through interval
training. When you go into anaerobic exercise, you go into fat burning
mode, then when you ‘cool down’ (rest until your heart rate comes down
and your breathing normalises), you give your muscles a chance to
recuperate and re-oxygenate. One of the most famous exercise programs
that teaches interval training is called PACE. Beginners, start off nice
and easy with this and build your stamina up.
As with all exercise programs, ensure you use a Personal
Trainer and consult your Medical Practitioner first to ensure exercise
is right for you.
RECIPE
Kelp noodles are one of my favourite foods. They are so
light in calories, that a WHOLE PACKET is around 18 calories! That’s
right, only 18 calories for the whole packet! When you add in powerhouse
seaweeds and raw crunchy vegies, you have a nutrition packed meal that
is light but still filling enough to ensure you feel full after.
Mix all ingredients together and serve immediately. Serves 2
Raw Food Classes in Melbourne
Foundations of Raw Living Foods Series
The Foundations course is designed to provide a
complete and comprehensive introduction to the Raw Living Food
lifestyle. Classes are based on the teachings of the true pioneers and
experts of Living Food such as Dr Ann Wigmore. Learn about the tools and
techniques of the Raw food kitchen, 8 delicious & nutritious demos
per class, generous tastings and print-outs of all the recipes so that
you can make them at home. Classes hosted by Certified Raw Living Food
Teacher Ace Rosen.
Dates:
Level 1 – Saturday Feb 23rd OR Saturday Mar 2nd
Level 2 – Saturday Mar 16th OR Saturday Mar 23rd
Level 3 – Saturday Apr 6th OR Saturday Apr 13th
Time: 1-5pm
Location: South Yarra, Victoria, 3141 (full address details are given upon booking)
Lighten Up Mind Body Planet: A one Day Urban Retreat
9th February
As
well as yoga, meditation and coaching, we will spend the afternoon
introducing raw food principles and demonstrating how to use super foods
and sampling the delights we create.
At this event you will explore how to;
lighten the body with healthy, nourishing food choices;
lighten the mind through the ancient arts of yoga and meditation;
lighten the planet by making informed choices about the food you and your family enjoy now and in the future.
With Summer here, the days are getting longer, certainly
warmer and are becoming more enticing for us to spend time outdoors. The
beginning of Summer, leading up to Christmas is a great time to really
nourish your body with alkalising foods, detoxing soups and salads and
some whole body nutrition.
There are only 45 days until Christmas! I’m sure most of
you, like me, will be frantically trying to finish off work projects,
attend numerous Christmas parties and end of year celebrations, have
last minute ‘essential’ meetings, are tying up loose ends before the
holidays and getting in all the Christmas shopping. This is the perfect
time to take stock of what you are eating and how you consume it.
Eating for a Sexy Summer Body is one of my most popular
programs and it is so very easy to do! Some of the benefits of this
program is a diminished appearance of cellulite, skin that positively
glows, sharper concentration, feeling fuller longer with less food
intake (as reported by 62% of my clients on this program) and many more.
It is really such a simple program that I loathe to call
it a program. It is basically a few minor adaptations and inclusion of
specific nutrients. Many years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting David
‘Avocado’ Wolfe who changed my life forever. I had a chance to ask him
about some of my results and what I could do improve them for my
clients. Let me tell you, David Wolfe is a lovely man who gives from the
heart.
Here is a breakdown of the top 10 tips for a summer body direct from the Eating for a Sexy Summer Body program:
1. Wakame & Dulse seaweed:Wakame
seaweed has one of the highest nutrient to calorie rations - from a
vegetarian source – of the anti inflammatory Omega -3 Essential Fatty
Acid EPA. Both wakame and dulse are great sources of the Vitamins A, B1,
B2, B3, B5, C, E, K, folate and soluble/insoluble fibre. Dulse
also has some great minerals essential for glowing skin, calm nerves
and healthy bones such as minerals like potassium, calcium, magnesium,
phosphorous, chromium, iodine and zinc and trace elements. Have a miso
soup once a day in the afternoon, around the time that you really want
to reach for a piece of chocolate and see the mood improving effects.
2. Chlorella:
Wow! I love this superfood. It contains all of the B vitamins, vitamin
C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, amino acids, magnesium, iron, trace
minerals, carbohydrates and a higher amount of protein (more than 50%)
than meat, per grams of weight. It also has a unique set of
phytonutrients. It binds to toxins and carries them out of the body. Its
high amount of protein makes it a staple for many people who do not eat
meat. (Balch, Phyllis, CNC. Prescription for Nutritional Healing.
p.65).
Chlorella is a definite on my list for this program. The
nutrients you gain from this phenomenal product cannot be found in any
other product.
3. Barley Grass Powder:
At the early stage of its growth, the barley plant is closer in
composition to vegetables than grains, hence the name 'barley grass'. Barley
grass powder thus contains very dense nutritional and healing
properties in a concentrated form that is easily assimilated by our
digestive system.
There are no known toxic effects to consuming barley grass. It also has very strong alkalizing effects on the body.
Barley grass contains very large amounts of vitamins,
minerals, amino acids, enzymes and other beneficial nutrients. These
include:
essential and non-essential amino acids
high amounts of antioxidants
high amounts of enzymes, including the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase (SOD)
high amounts of folic acid
pantothenic acid
high amounts of carotenoids, including beta carotene - apparently more than 6 times the amount of carotene in spinach
flavonoids
high amounts of vitamin B1 - apparently 30 times the
amount in cows' milk; and apparently also 4 times the amount in whole
wheat flour
vitamin B2
vitamin B6
high amounts of vitamin B12
high amounts of vitamin C - apparently nearly 7
times the amount in oranges; and apparently also more than 3 times the
amount in spinach
high amounts of calcium - apparently more than 10 times the amount in cows' milk
copper
high amounts of iron - apparently almost 5 times the amount in spinach
magnesium
manganese
phosphorus
potassium
high amounts of organic sodium - apparently more
than 25 times the amount in celery; organic sodium helps in joint health
as well as improves digestion
zinc
Barley grass is also rich in living chlorophyll. Chlorophyll has the following benefits and effects:
It is the basis of all plant life, playing a critical role in photosynthesis.
It is the first product of light, containing more light energy than any other element.
It is anti-bacterial, stopping the development and
growth of harmful bacteria. It can be used inside the body as well as
topically as a healing agent.
It rebuilds the blood. Chlorophyll is very similar in structure to blood hemoglobin.
Liquid chlorophyll gets into the bodily tissues, rejuvenating and rebuilding them.
It alleviates blood sugar problems.
It neutralizes toxins in the body.
It helps to purify the liver.
Liquid chlorophyll washes drug deposits from the body.
What barley grass and barley grass powder can do:
It helps to alkalize the body.
It helps in cell DNA repair.
Barley grass acts as a free radical scavenger, reducing the amount of free radicals in the blood.
4. Mega Hydrate: David
Wolfe introduced me to Mega Hydrate. When I first heard about this
product, I was sceptical. And then I tried it after doing my own
research. I am a true convert now! Water isn’t water until you’ve Mega
Hydrated it! Try it at least once and see the difference for yourself.
This is an excerpt directly from the Mega Hydrate website: “For over three decades, Dr. Patrick Flanagan has studied
the remote regions of the world where people live healthy active lives
past the age of 100 years. While the diets in these regions differed
dramatically, Dr. Flanagan discovered the amazing fact that the drinking
water in these regions was almost identical and came from frozen
glaciers that had melted. This water, known in some circles as "glacial
milk," displays some very distinct physical differences from the water
that most of the civilized world is drinking.
The surface tension of glacial milk is much lower.
This means that the water can be absorbed directly into the cells of the
body with much greater ease facilitating hydration and nutrient uptake.
It also means that waste materials can be removed from the cells more
easily by the same life-giving water. Dr. Flanagan also discovered that
glacial milk, or "life water," had very distinct physical properties of
viscosity, heat, and energy potential. After decades of laboratory and
field research and study, Dr. Flanagan uncovered what may be the most
important discovery about the true nature of hydration. He discovered
why the waters are so different and can hydrate the human cell so
effectively where people of these remote regions live well past 100
years of age.
For thousands of years, man has trekked to the
mountains and the sea for physical, emotional, and spiritual
replenishment. Dr. Flanagan discovered that the water from these regions
contains massive quantities of negatively-charged hydrogen ions.
Several decades ago, this fact was confirmed by other scientists.
Negatively-charged ions have proven to be highly beneficial to the human
organism”.
When you do your workouts or whatever exercise it is that
you choose to do, try it with Mega Hydrate. Your body cells feel more
alive, more vibrant.
5. Dry Skin Brushing:not only does
this quick and easy before shower treatment assist the lymphatic system
to work more efficiently, it also helps your skin to feel soft and
silky. Just what you desire for summer. After you shower, apply some raw
virgin coconut oil to your body to add a dewy glowing look to your
skin.
Your skin is your largest organ and many toxins are released
through it every day. All you need is around 5 minutes before a shower
while the skin is dry. It is even safe to do while pregnant. By
assisting with the detoxification processes, you ease the burden on the
liver and kidneys, you boost your body’s natural immunity, skin brushing
helps with dispersing cellulite as well as reducing swelling and fluid
retention. The lymph ‘pulses’ much slower than your heart rate. I’ve
seen figures quoted from every second to every 7 seconds. Brushing in
circular motions from the extremities to your heart in slow soft
movements gives the best results.
6. Once a week lymphatic massage:this
one is a delight for most people. Many years ago, I was a Sports
Massage Therapist and OH&S Compensation Claims & Injury
Assessor. I used to perform lymphatic massages regularly and I found
that far and above any other massage therapy I used to do, this one
always had the most clients falling asleep on me! I believe it was the
combination of the slow gentle movements, the soft music and the
essential oils being burned.
7. Ginger: Ginger is fantastic for circulation.
Adding ginger to juices, as a tea or simply chewing in a small sliver
has great health benefits.
8. Asparagus:a fantastic vegetable
to eat fresh as it contains a high amount of potassium – a mineral well
known for its ability to reduce belly fat. When consuming potassium,
keep in mind its antagonist is sodium and when you disrupt the balance,
you disrupt the body’s homeostasis. Approximately 1 cup of fresh
asparagus is equivalent to 288mg of potassium. Also, 1 cup of asparagus
has only 40 calories!
9. Red Papaya: Papaya is rich in enzymes called
papain and chymopapain which helps with the digestion, in particularly
it breaks down the proteins from the food we eat into amino acids. The
latest research shows that amino acids are present in every single cell
of the 73 trillion or so cells in our body, they are necessary for every
chemical/enzymatic reaction as well as for our mental and physical
health. As we age we produce less of the digestive enzymes in our
stomach and pancreas, which leads to ineffective digestion of proteins.
Due to this we end up with excess amount of undigested protein, which
leads to overgrowth of the bad bacteria in our gastrointestinal system
and not enough of amino acids to perform all important chemical
reactions. There is one other little beauty tip that I love about
papaya: if you smash 1-2 tablespoons of papaya flesh and spread it on
your face, leave it for about 3-5 minutes or sooner if you feel tingling
and then wash off, your skin will GLOW! Add a good quality natural
moisturiser or raw virgin coconut oil after.
10. Avocados:apart from the myriad
of phenomenal nutrient and health benefits of avocados, one not well
known benefit is that avocados increase nutrient absorption! A study
suggests that, when participants ate salad included avocados, they
absorbed five times the amount of carotenoids (a group of nutrients that
includes beta carotene and lycopene) than those who do not include
avocados. Grab yourself an avo.
A Sexy and Healthy Summer body doesn’t need to be hard.
By altering a couple lifestyle habits, adding in one or 2 nutrients and
supplements, you can radically change the energy and vibration of your
body.
One of the quick and easy salad recipes from the program is the Nutrient Detox Salad (please source organic ingredients where possible)
1 ripe avocado diced
1 ripe beefsteak tomato diced
6 Cos lettuce leaves shredded
2 large pinches of wakame previously soaked and
drained (keep the water later to add to the cup of miso soup for the
afternoon pick me up drink)
up to 1 bunch asparagus sliced
Dressing:
2 tablespoons tamari
1 tablespoon light miso paste
1 tablespoon raw dark unfiltered agave nectar
water added for desired consistency (I personally prefer a thick dressing)
Spirulina is a complete protein
consisting of 65-71% protein. It contains all eight amino acids and
eighteen amino acids in total.
While protein is useful for
building muscles and strength, it is also beneficial for building
endurance, balancing blood sugar, balancing brain chemistry for
neurological health, for rapid healing, building strong bones and
much more
Unlike animal foods, Spirulina is a
pure raw source of complete protein. It is rich in Vitamins A (beta
carotene), B1, B2, B6, E and K. It is an abundant natural source of
chlorophyll, salts, phytonutrients and enzymes. Spirulina is the best
source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) – an anti inflammatory
essential fatty acid necessary for a healthy nervous system.
Spirulina As A Blood Builder
Clinical experience has taught me that all the studies conducted
about the anemia alleviating abilities of spirulina are true – even
for our animal friends! I've found that spirulina has been extremely
effective in alleviating anemia, increasing hemoglobin, increasing
red blood cell formation, reducing platelet aggregation and improving
the overall quality of the blood.
This is due to the following reasons:
spirulina contains high concentrations of chlorophyll – a well
documented blood builder
it is high in iron
it is rich in phycocyanin – a brilliant blue polypeptide. It is
this wonderful blue pigment that helps induce the production of more
stem cells found in bone marrow. Stem cells are the beginning
rudimentary cells that can develop into both red and white blood
cells
Spirulina As A Powerful Immune
System Booster
Spirulina is a powerful tonic for the immune system, accelerating
production of the humeral aspect of the immune system. This increases
the production of antibodies and cytokines including interferons and
interleukins (white blood cells) allowing the body to better protect
itself agains invasive microbes and viruses.
The production
of bone marrow stem cells, T-fighter cells, macrophages (immune
system 'mops'), B-cells and the anti cancer Natural Killer (NK) cells
increases markedly.
Gamma-linolenic Acid in Spirulia
In an excerpt taken from Paul Pichford, Healing with Whole Foods:
“The richest whole food sources of GLA are mother's milk,
spirulina microalgae and the seeds of borage, black currant and
evening primrose. GLA is important for growth and development and is
found most abundantly in mother's milk. Spirulina is the next highest
whole food source”.
GLA is an essential fatty acid, hence it promotes beautifully
soft skin and hair whilst also encouraging shiny and strong hair.
As
GLA inhibits the formation of inflammatory prostaglandins, spirulina
is an excellent choice in reducing the inflammatory symptoms of
arthritis.
When purchasing spirulina, select a product with a 'fresh smell'.
When spirulina starts to go bad, it smells sour and rancid.
Avoid products that use 'tableting agents' which help keep spirulina
tablets from crumbling to powder. Spirulina naturally clings to
itself and can be pressed into tablets without tableting agents.
Can you dose with too much spirulina? Yes, of course you can. You
will know if you have too much as it will pass straight through you.
Spirulina is also non fattening – at only 4 calories per gram, it
is a low calorie, nutrient dense superfood.
RECIPE
GREEN HIT NOODLES
Serves 1-2 people. Keeps for a day when refrigerated in a sealed container. I
like to change my sprouts around a bit so I'll often change the alfalfa
sprouts to Sunflower sprouts. Have fun with your sprouts
Put the oil, tahini, spirulina, apple cider
vinegar in the bowl you'll be eating out of and mash together. Add the
seeds and mash again. Add the sprouts and mix. Rinse the kelp noodles
and add those, mixing for a final time.
Eat with love and appreciation for all
things green, knowing you are feeding your body some pretty amazing
nutrients. For an alternative, you may wish to substitute all marinate
ingredients with Namu shoyu & tamari.
About Broccoli Sprouts In
past studies, compounds in broccoli sprouts have been shown to reduce
the risk of getting breast and colon cancer and to act as an
anti-bacterial agent against Helicobacter pylori, an organism associated
with causing stomach ulcers. As reported in the May 10, 2004 edition of
Time, a new study indicates that eating broccoli sprouts may cut the
risk of stroke, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
Broccoli sprouts contain phytochemicals called
isothiocyanates including sulphorophanes, which induce enzymes that
reduce inflammation and detoxify carcinogens. They're also rich in
fibre, vitamins and minerals (while being low in calories). So far,
research shows this combination of nutrients and phytonutrients means
cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli sprouts, may prevent cancer and
help soothe airway inflammation.
Cacao butter, (also known as cocoa butter) is the natural cream coloured vegetable fat extracted from cacao beans during the process of separating the powder and liquor from the bean. 70% of the world's production of cacao butter is produced in the West African nations Nigeria, Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire. Cacao butter has a soft, sweet cacaoaroma, and is one of the most stable fats known.
The Ultimate Moisturiser: Eczema and Dermatitis Symptoms eradicated with CacaoButter?
Cacao butter has been called the ultimate moisturizer, and has been used to keep skin soft and supple for centuries. It is one of the most stable, highly concentrated natural fats known, and melts at body temperature so that it is readily absorbed into the skin.
Cacao butter is often recommended for treatment of skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis. When applied topically, it creates a barrier between sensitive skin and the environment and also helps retain moisture.
In addition, cacao butter contains cacao mass polyphenol (CMP), a substance that inhibits the production of the immunoglobulin IgE. IgE is known to aggravate symptoms of both dermatitis and asthma.
Can using cacao Butter help the fight against cancer?
Recent research indicates that massaging the skin with cacao butter may help relieve stress, boost the immune system, and even prevent cancer. This is because cacao butter, like chocolate, contains a lot of CMP.
Researchers in Japan reported that CMP inhibits the growth of cancerous cells and tumours by reducing active oxygen levels in the body, and concluded that CMP inhibits the oxidation of LDL (good) cholesterol and the production of inflammatory cells; there is some evidence that the CMP in cacao butter may also help prevent heart disease and ease arthritic symptoms.
Preliminary research indicates that CMP actually helps suppress excessive T-cell activity in the immune system, which could help treat conditions associated with overactive immune systems, such as psoriasis, fibromylagia, and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Some Uses for Cacao Butter
Add a spoonful to your bath water for a luxurious experience.
Great for dry, itchy skin, or sore muscles.
Try adding Lavender or Chamomile essential oil as well, or an herbal infusion made from soothing herbs.
Use in massage for overexerted muscles
Add to soaps for a conditioning effect that adds a good lather.
Add it to your handmade soap recipes.
Use during pregnancy to keep the skin supple, & to prevent stretch marks.
It may also be used after giving birth to reduce stretch marks.
Process almonds until finely ground and place in a bowl
Coarsely process pecans, cranberries and goji berries and add to bowl
Leave hazelnuts whole and add to bowl
Add minced chili or powder
Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well by hand
Taste test to get the desired level of chili bite
Press into a cling wrap lined 15cm x 15cm (6in x 6in) container
Refrigerate overnight
Cut into squares and enjoy
Store in fridge in an airtight container
*Suitable to freeze
Pamela Vinten has just released her latest re-write of her raw, natural chocolate recipe eBooks. It is a brand new look incorporating 8 of her previous books into one purchase (2 books plus bonuses) so is great value. There are many new recipes as well as the original ones - over 80 in total. Check out her books atwww.amazingguiltfreechocolate.com
There are many other bonuses as well. Pamela's delicious raw chocolate is gluten and dairy free, diabetes friendly, vegan and fat burning. Read her web site to find out why. Eat chocolate and take off weight!
PERMANENT PRICE DROPS
MSM Sulphur 1kg was $75 now $57.75 400g was $32 now $25 200g was $15.95 now $12.95
Maqui Berry Active
Powder Organic 200gwas $59.95 now $39.95 100g was $34.95 now $24.95
We were so excited to receive the first newsletter contributions. We had a great time reading through them all and have posted the first recipe below - a beautiful Raw Banoffie Pie by Lou Dwan. We're sending Lou a $50 Raw Power Gift Certificate.
Recipe Contribution
by Lou Dwan
There are always those flavours that instantly zip you straight back to childhood. For me, anything caramel was just the ticket. Staying at my Grandparents, our treats would always be salted peanuts and Caramello chocolate. Caramel Easter eggs were munched first.
The coveted dessert that my Mum would make on an occasion was Banoffie Pie - biscuit crumb base, ooey gooey caramel, bananas, cream and grated chocolate. I think these days I would be buzzing off the sugar in one of these bad boys, simply by sniffing it. My taste buds have definitely matured and evolved since my childhood sugar loving days. Refined sugar and me aren't really the best of friends at this stage in my life - I've turned to more natural sources when I indulge in a sweet treat.
It's amazing how, over time, you can "programme" your taste buds to appreciate the natural sweetness that is abundant in things like dates - the earth's caramel. Processed white sugar and high fructose corn syrup filled caramels? No way - here's my raw and refined sugar free version of my childhood favourite:
Pulse the base ingredients together in a food processor until a soft crumb is formed. Push into a non stick spring form cheesecake pan... compacting down firmly. Place in the fridge.
In a food processor or high speed blender like a Vita Mix, whizz together the "Cream" scraping down the sides as necessary. Mix until super smooth.
Pour on top of base, and place in the freezer for about 4 hours.
Transfer to the fridge to soften slightly before serving.
Garnish with raw cacao nibs/greated raw chocolate or sliced banana and a sprinkling of raw cacao powder.
Are you a bit of a word-smith? A budding J.K. Rowling of the raw food community? :-) We would love to hear from you! We are looking for interesting articles, personal stories, recipes or product reviews written by our raw food community members. Anything that you think our 10,000-strong newsletter community would like to read about. We will be giving a $50 Raw Power Australia gift voucher for each contribution that we accept to include in the newsletter. So, get out your crayons, pencils, pens, keyboards or iPads and send your beautiful prose to info@rawpower.com.au
Note: contributions advertising a business service are not for consideration. If interested, please contact us to see how we can work together.
Price Drop
Great news! The Oscar Vital Max 900 Juicer has had a permanent price reduction from $495 to $449. Remember, it comes with a 20 year warranty on the motor and a 5 year warranty on parts!
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're only getting the newsletter out tonight due to a concern over one of the products we've been stocking that we've been monitoring. Read below for more details. On a more happy note, we've got a beautiful Icecream recipe by Omid and an interesting article by Anand.
In this Newsletter:
- Boysenberry and Blueberry Icecream by Omid Jaffari
- "What's more valuable than gold in an economic meltdown" by Anand Wells - Ejuva temporarily out of stock; indicate your interest now - Raw Food Kitchen price commitment
- Layby for Christmas
Place all the ingredients, except for the cardomom pods, in the Blender and blend until smooth.
Transfer to a bowl, stir in the cardomom pods and place it in the refridgerator. After about 20 minutes, take the bowl out, remove the pods and pour the mixture into an ice cream maker.
Turn it on and let it churn for about 15 minutes.
When the ice cream is half frozen, add the cardomom pods, and leave for another 20 minutes (or until you get your ideal consistency). But after that, remove all the visible pods before scooping it out.
Enjoy!
THIS WEEK'S READING What is more valuable than gold in an economic meltdown?
While many people buy gold as security in times of economic turmoil, my number one priority is to have access to high quality food and water. You can’t eat your gold! For that reason we are members of a very exciting project called Organic Farm Share http://www.organicfarmshare.com/
At this time Organic Farm Share is only open to members from Northern NSW and Southern QLD, however, there is still plenty of other things you can do to begin taking charge of your food supply.
In many ways we have lost connection with our food. How it is grown, where it comes from are often a mystery to many people. Up until now we have had the luxury of being able to go to the supermarket and fill up our trolley with cheap food that, according to a study done by Ceres in Melbourne, has travelled on average 70,000 kilometres! I was amazed to discover that 60 cents in the dollar of food we buy is paying for its transportation. Clearly this is not a sustainable practice and unless we change what we are doing we are going to run into some serious trouble in the not to distant future.
Why?
According to the 2008 Living Planet Report humankind first exceeded the world’s capacity to regenerate itself in the 1980s. Within one generation (30 years) from that point, our human activities have outpaced the world’s capacity to regenerate itself by 30%. This means that if we continue at our current pace, within just one more generation, we will exceed what our planet can provide by 100% requiring the equivalent of two planets to maintain our lives. An impossible equation.
To most of us living in the western world the idea of a food shortage is very hard to imagine, however, according to many scientists and leading authorities it is a very real concern.
Australian journalist and science writer Julian Cribb states in his book "The Coming Famine - The global food crisis and what we can do to avoid it" that “Experts predict the crisis will peak by the middle of the twenty-first century; it is arriving even faster than climate change.
Not just peak oil, but peak land, and even peak people, have and will continue to create vast pressures on the food chain, with humanity running through every available resource - nutrients, fish stocks, arable land, usable water, fertilisers - without regard for the future. Yet there is still time to forestall catastrophe,” says Cribb in his introduction.
I know that much of this may sound doomsdayish, however, it is based on good science and I agree with Cribb that we can avoid this disaster through taking action on a personal level.
While I am not advocating that everyone leaves the cities and moves back to the land to grow food, I believe we do need to take action now by learning to grow at least some of our own food and harvest wild edibles for our own food security and for the future of human life on Earth. In addition to this homegrown food and wild edibles are more often than not higher in nutrients that bought food and they are always fresh.
So where does one begin?
The easiest and quickest way to grow your own food is by sprouting. This can be done whether you live on the 100th floor of a skyscraper or in a cave. All you need is seeds, water and some form of container for sprouting.
One of the most affordable and simple options is use 2 litre glass jars with muslin or plastic fly screen and rubber bands. Or if you want to go high tech you can buy self watering sprouting systems live the Easygreen Sprouter for around $350. If you haven’t tried growing sprouts before I would recommend you begin with jars.
Once you have got the hang of it you may like to graduate to an automatic sprouting machine. The main advantage of these automatic sprouters is that there is no manual soaking or rinsing necessary: just fill the sprouter up with water and seeds and you will have sprouts in 3-4 days. This can be very convenient if you are too busy or forgetful to rinse your seeds on a regular basis.
Not only are sprouts incredibly easy to grow they are also some of the most nutrient dense food on the planet and are a truly living food, right up until the moment you eat them.
Our friend Koa the bush food medicine man, carries a sprouting bag (made from muslin) when he goes bush. He harvests wild seeds, soaks them in his sprouting bag and hangs them off his backpack while hiking or from a tree at night. This is an ingenious way to grow sprouts even while on the run!
What is even easier than growing sprouts?
Harvesting wild edibles some of which are also known as weeds. That’s right; we are often surrounded by food and don’t even know it! For a start there are over 400 varieties of grass all of which are edible. While the fibre in grass is difficult for humans to digest we can still chew grass or even better, juice it. I often let the grass in my back yard grow long so I can harvest it and add it to juices. Grass is highly nutritious packed full of chlorophyll and phytonutrients. It also has the ability to draw more minerals from the earth than any other plant. So you don’t have to go to the trouble of growing trays of wheatgrass when you can juice your back lawn. If you do harvest grass or any other wild edible, make sure it is clean and not sprayed with pesticides of any other toxic chemicals. For this reason it is never a good idea to harvest wild edibles close to any roads.
Apart from grass there are an enormous amount of highly nutritious wild edible weeds bushes and trees from dandelions to farmers friends, from Hibiscus flowers to bulrush roots. There is no need to ever starve to death if you are stranded in the wilderness and know how to identify wild edible plants.
Education is a key to successfully harvesting wild edibles because some plants are highly toxic. In Australia I recommend Tim Low's book, "Wild food Plants Of Australia" and Isabel Shippard's “How can I use herbs in my daily life?” If you are based in North America you can’t go past "The Encyclopedia of Edible Wild Plants of North America", by Steve Brill.
In addition to reading books, I have found it very helpful to have someone help me identify wild edibles. See if you can find someone locally who can take you on a wild edible walk. In Byron Bay you can go on a walk with wild edible expert Cockatoo Paul.
Koa Windsong also offers workshops when he is living in Northern NSW. And Sergei Boutenko holds regular wild edible walks in the USA and in also in the countries he tours. Members of the Live Food Challenge have access to Sergei Boutenko’s video presentation on greens and wild edibles – he lists some of the more common wild edible plants and offers some great advice on foraging and plant identification. Members also have access an amazing interview with Koa. Koa can go bush and survive without a bought supplies indefinitely when he chooses to and is an inspirational character.
Another more traditional way to improve your food security is to grow your own veggie or permaculture patch. This can be done even if you live on a suburban block. It is truly amazing to see how much food can be grown in a small space. If you don’t have time there are now businesses who will come to your house and convert your garden to an edible permaculture food forest! In some areas they will even look after it for you for a fee.
Live Food Challenge members also have access to the video Home Grown Revolution. It is a short documentary about how a family grows over 6,000 pounds (2,720kg) of food per year on a small suburban block (1 tenth of an acre) in Pasadena USA, just 3 minutes from LA. Very Inspiring!
It is time to ditch the lawn and begin growing food producing plants.
There are so many different ways to grow your own food – if interested I recommend doing a permaculture course and getting your hands dirty. Permaculture is about creating natural habitat and ecosystems which more or less maintain themselves. It is a much more natural and lower maintenance method than growing veggies traditionally in rows.
So now you have some great strategies for maximising the quality and security of your food.
By taking responsibility for your food supply, instead of relying on multinational organisations to feed your family, not only will you have created food security; you will have become a part of the solution needed for the very survival of our over-taxed planet.
Grow for it!
Anand
P.S. If you are interested in seeing how one country survived and then thrived a “Peak Oil” experience I highly recommend the wonderful documentary - Power Of Community - How Cuba Survived Peak Oil, it is a very inspiring example of what can be done when the traditional food supply goes down.
EJUVA TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK - Please indicate interest
We sold out of our limited Ejuva Body Cleansing Program stock in three days ... that's how popular it was. We have some more on the way and if you are interested in purchasing it, please email us indicating your interest so we can place a more accurate order with the manufacturer. We wouldn't want you to miss out.
RAW FOOD KITCHEN PRICE COMMITMENT UNTIL XMAS
If you can find any product in our Raw Food Kitchen catalogs (Appliances, Dehydrators,Juicers, Water Purifiers) cheaper (including GST & shipping) at any other legitimate online store then we will match that price up until Xmas as long as we're not losing money on the deal. Just call us on 07 3715 7620 to place your order. Laybys do not apply.
LAYBY FOR CHRISTMAS
We are offering a layby service for any purchase of $500 or more. Just place your order using our Direct Deposit (EFT) payment option and clearly specify "LAYBY ORDER" in the Shipping Instructions field. A minimum $100 initial payment is required to secure the shopping basket. Final payment of the balance is required by December 16, 2011. Cancellations will incur a $50 re-stocking fee. Please indicate the invoice number clearly in all bank transfers.
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.
Food can play a major role in concentration and memory. Eat the right kinds of foods and boost your mind and health at the same time. The right type of foods support a brain’s cognitive function as well as support memory and concentration.
Do you ever feel tired when you wake up and wonder why, after a good night’s rest, you feel so sleepy and groggy? 
Ingredients:
Many
many moons ago when I was a young girl, I retired from gymnastics and
found myself without a sport. I played with triathlons, swimming,
cycling and then fell into Personal Training. I gained my ACHPERS
qualifications, becoming a part time aerobics instructor. I’ve always
had a tendency to put on weight fairly easily and have had to work
fairly hard at keeping it off. Somehow, the weight seemed to migrate to
my derriere and hips more than anywhere and as I got older, a tummy
pouch appeared. It became worse after having a child and it is now
something I really have to work hard at. 
The burpee: This
challenging exercise is considered the ultimate full body exercise. For
beginners I have adapted the exercise to make it much easier. Start
slowly with this one and build it up as you get fitter and stronger.
This will work your whole body: hamstrings, chest, arms, deltoids and
abs. 
The bicycle exercise:
Also known as cross over sit ups: To perform this exercise, lie flat on
your back with your legs straight and your fingertips lightly touching
your temples. Sit up and simultaneously bend one leg. Draw your knee
toward your chest and slightly twist your torso only until your knee
touches your opposite elbow or close enough to. Return to the starting
position and then repeat. Make this exercise more demanding by keeping
your feet raised six to eight inches off the ground. 
Side plank:
Lift your body of the ground and balance on one forearm and the side of
your foot. Contract your abdominals and relax your shoulders. And
remember to continue breathing. Hold this position for up to 30 seconds.
You will need to engage your core for this exercise. 
In
past studies, compounds in broccoli sprouts have been shown to reduce
the risk of getting breast and colon cancer and to act as an
anti-bacterial agent against Helicobacter pylori, an organism associated
with causing stomach ulcers. As reported in the May 10, 2004 edition of
Time, a new study indicates that eating broccoli sprouts may cut the
risk of stroke, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
Cacao butter has been called the ultimate moisturizer, and has been used to keep skin soft and supple for centuries. It is one of the most stable, highly concentrated natural fats known, and melts at body temperature so that it is readily absorbed into the skin.
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