I'm finally back home after what seemed like a long journey, but what really amounted to a week away. I guess it seemed so hectic because I drove to Tampa and back with my son for his college orientation, then got on a plane to NY the next day. Lots of packing and unpacking, although I still haven't unpacked entirely from the NY segment.
I had a very productive week, so I'll fill you in on each part of my trip.
First up- Tampa:
The trip took about four hours and much to my surprise I could have gone without stopping if not for my pea sized bladder and outsized water consumption. Not your ideal combination. Last time I went I had to stop because of the pain in my sit bones caused by the cancer, but not this time. Woo-Hoo- another great sign.
Anyhow, the orientation went well and although it was a bit talky, boring, and overlong, we did get at least some useful information. And my son got his schedule and signed up for the ultimate frisbee team, which is of primo importance of course!
The best part of the trip was a raw and vegan restaurant called The Grass Root.This was by far and away the best raw food I've ever eaten, excepting my own of course. The seaweed salad was magnificent, and Michael had the Live Spaghetti and Marinara with Treatballs, which was out of this world. We also had Marrakesh, which was raw hummus, assorted veggies and sprouts on a bed of lettuce. Yummy! Michael raved about the vegan key lime cheesecake for desert. I didn't have any because it was made with tofu, which I'm totally against, but is a necessary evil if you serve vegan food.
I also spoke to the chef for a long time. She looks 20 years younger than her actual age and saw many ailments disappear after trading in her SAD diet for a raw vegan one. She even gave me a piece of homemade natural soap made by one of her customers.
I loved the place so much that I went back the next night for the massaged kale salad while Michael was spending the night at the dorm. Definitely two enthusiastic thumbs up for this place!
We got home on Friday evening and I left the next night for NY. I flew into Long Island airport and spent a couple of days in Southampton for some quality time with my awesome, wonderful cousin. We had a great time shopping around Sag Harbor, pampering ourselves with a mani/pedi, lounging by the pool, shopping at the health food stores, and even going to the movies. We managed to fit in some green juices from the local juice bar and I made us green smoothies in the magic bullet. I actually found a way to make a mean smoothie sans Vitamix! The trick is to blend the leafy greens with some water first, then add the other ingredients in stages. A bit more work, but good in a pinch!
I made us a raw tomato tahini soup also in the bullet and some raw vegan sushi. I even found some raw, untoasted nori in the local health food store! NY rocks when it comes to raw resources. Of course my rolling skills are not up to the par of my cousin's wonderful husband, who took over the sushi rolling with ease. I think maybe he gets more practice than I do.
The next night we had raw cabbage salad and massaged kale and avocado salad wrapped in collard leaves. I put out the salads and it was "roll your own".
The next morning my brother came early, and after some green smoothies we were off to the city for my appointment with Dr. Gonzalez. Amazingly there was no traffic and we made it in record time.
Dr. G was his usual upbeat, positive, insanely knowledgeable self and he was thrilled with the results of my metabolic testing. Some of my numbers were extremely impressive, including the total toxins, which went from a 15 to a 10 in only 6 months! My cancer numbers were 23, down from a 29. The goal is to be at or less than 10, so I have a way to go, but still a big dip in such a short time. The first thing to go when this number reaches 10 is my 4AM enzyme dose, so I definitely have a new goal in mind! Overall, most of my numbers went in the intended direction or stayed stable.
After my appointment I met a good friend for lunch. On our long walk over there we stopped at a local juice bar for a green juice, then on to Quintessence.
I was surprised at how tiny the place was, but what we both noticed was that everyone eating there was so healthy looking and slim. This is in sharp contrast to what you see when you go to a traditional TGI Fridays type eatery.
I had marinated chard mixed with coconut noodles and my friend had a green soup and sundried tomato pate rolled inside cucumber or zucchini. Whatever it was it was delish! To my dismay, I was too full for desert, which looked amazing.
After dinner we walked back to her office after which I took a taxi to LaGuardia airport for my flight home. I definitely want to make sure I have more time in the city next time to try out all the raw restaurant choices.
Well, gotta go unpack, so here's my tomato tahini soup recipe:
This recipe is bullet sized for one person.
1 tomato cut up
2-4 tablespoons tahini (depending upon how much you like it)
1 clove garlic (there will be no vampires around after eating this)
1 tsp curry paste
cayenne pepper to taste
celtic sea salt
1 oz extra virgin olive oil
filtered water (start with a small amount and add more to adjust consistency)
Whirl in blender or magic bullet
That's it- enjoy!
Friday, August 1, 2008
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Raw addiction
It's funny how this lifestyle becomes addicting. I was thinking the other day that I never particularly cared for cooking, but now I'm so into my "uncooking", It's so satisfying to create a dish from raw, healthy foods that essentially replicates and usually blows away it's SAD counterpart.
Many of these recipes are as easy as popping a bunch of veggies into the blender, or slicing up some veggies. I'm at the point now that I may start with a recipe, then ad lib as I go along.
Here's some of the simplest ideas:
You like pasta? How about raw, veggie pasta:
The "pasta" is simply spiralized zucchini. Yellow squash, carrots, beets, daikon radish, parsnip, or any firm vegetable works also.
The sauce is tomatoes, garlic, onion, basil, and any other spices you desire whirled in the blender or magic bullet. Uncooked, delish, and bursting with enzymes and important nutrients.
Serve with a side of dehydrated flax crackers and you won't even miss Italian night.
Flax Seed Veggie Crackers
1 cup flax seeds, soaked at least 4 hrs.
1/3 cup fresh cilantro, parsely, or whatever spice you desire
3/4 cup sundried tomatoes, soaked at least 2 hrs (if you use sundried tomatoes in oil from a jar, omit soaking)
1 tsp kelp or dulse (or both)
1 jalapeno or hot red pepper to taste
1 tsp cayenne
1 tbsp olive oil
1 clove garlic
1 onion
2 cups veggie pulp from juice
Place all ingredients except flax seeds in blender or food processor and puree.
Add soaked flax seeds, which will now be gelatinous and thick.
Spread onto non stick sheets in dehydrator and dehydrate at 105 degrees for 8 hrs. or until top is dry.
Flip onto mesh rack and dry an additional 5-8 hrs or until crisp.
These crackers can be easily modified by adding different ingredients, so experiment!
If you've been missing bread and the dehydrated crackers and flat breads don't quite do it for you, here's a recipe for healthy sprouted bread that's absoulutely delicious! While not technically raw, it's cooked in low temps for a short time, so the inside temperature of the bread is probably not high enough to kill the enzymes. I'm going to experiment with dehydrating it next time instead, but it may take forever due to the thickness.
Sproutman's Basic Sprout Bread
From Steve Meyerowitz' "Sproutman's Kitchen Garden Cookbook"
Soak 1 cup of hard winter wheat in jar for 8-10 hrs. Sprout for 2 days until the shoot is the length of the berry. (The shoot is short and thick, and grows in the opposite direction of the hair-like roots.)
Grind the sprouts in food processor or Omega/Champion juicer with the blank screen to form a smooth paste.
Form a 1 1/2 X 3" loaf by hand. Wet hands constantly while shaping to prevent sticking.
Line cookie sheet with seeds (I used sesame) to keep bread from sticking and bake at 250 degrees F for approximately 2 1/2-3 1/2 hrs. or until underside is firm. The inside will remain moist. Lift bread up momentarily half way through baking to avoid sticking.
Even my dog is crazy for the veggies now. I've created a monster that stalks me every time she hears the juicer.
Veggie dog waiting for her next fix
Then she inhales the pulp without even breathing!
She never takes her head out of the bowl.
Ah, but now she has her new slim figure to show for it!
Well, I hope everyone had a great 4th. I got a bird's eye view of some great fireworks:
Cool!
Many of these recipes are as easy as popping a bunch of veggies into the blender, or slicing up some veggies. I'm at the point now that I may start with a recipe, then ad lib as I go along.
Here's some of the simplest ideas:
You like pasta? How about raw, veggie pasta:
The "pasta" is simply spiralized zucchini. Yellow squash, carrots, beets, daikon radish, parsnip, or any firm vegetable works also.
The sauce is tomatoes, garlic, onion, basil, and any other spices you desire whirled in the blender or magic bullet. Uncooked, delish, and bursting with enzymes and important nutrients.
Serve with a side of dehydrated flax crackers and you won't even miss Italian night.
Flax Seed Veggie Crackers
1 cup flax seeds, soaked at least 4 hrs.
1/3 cup fresh cilantro, parsely, or whatever spice you desire
3/4 cup sundried tomatoes, soaked at least 2 hrs (if you use sundried tomatoes in oil from a jar, omit soaking)
1 tsp kelp or dulse (or both)
1 jalapeno or hot red pepper to taste
1 tsp cayenne
1 tbsp olive oil
1 clove garlic
1 onion
2 cups veggie pulp from juice
Place all ingredients except flax seeds in blender or food processor and puree.
Add soaked flax seeds, which will now be gelatinous and thick.
Spread onto non stick sheets in dehydrator and dehydrate at 105 degrees for 8 hrs. or until top is dry.
Flip onto mesh rack and dry an additional 5-8 hrs or until crisp.
These crackers can be easily modified by adding different ingredients, so experiment!
If you've been missing bread and the dehydrated crackers and flat breads don't quite do it for you, here's a recipe for healthy sprouted bread that's absoulutely delicious! While not technically raw, it's cooked in low temps for a short time, so the inside temperature of the bread is probably not high enough to kill the enzymes. I'm going to experiment with dehydrating it next time instead, but it may take forever due to the thickness.
Sproutman's Basic Sprout Bread
From Steve Meyerowitz' "Sproutman's Kitchen Garden Cookbook"
Soak 1 cup of hard winter wheat in jar for 8-10 hrs. Sprout for 2 days until the shoot is the length of the berry. (The shoot is short and thick, and grows in the opposite direction of the hair-like roots.)
Grind the sprouts in food processor or Omega/Champion juicer with the blank screen to form a smooth paste.
Form a 1 1/2 X 3" loaf by hand. Wet hands constantly while shaping to prevent sticking.
Line cookie sheet with seeds (I used sesame) to keep bread from sticking and bake at 250 degrees F for approximately 2 1/2-3 1/2 hrs. or until underside is firm. The inside will remain moist. Lift bread up momentarily half way through baking to avoid sticking.
Even my dog is crazy for the veggies now. I've created a monster that stalks me every time she hears the juicer.
Veggie dog waiting for her next fix
Then she inhales the pulp without even breathing!
She never takes her head out of the bowl.
Ah, but now she has her new slim figure to show for it!
Well, I hope everyone had a great 4th. I got a bird's eye view of some great fireworks:
Cool!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Rainy Day Recipes
I was inspired by all the rain today to stay inside and do some decluttering and culinary experimentation. I managed to clean out my bathroom closet and create some new recipes.
For breakfast I had some Raw Apple Banana Bread topped with homegrown clover sprouts and pureed strawberries. Very yummy and so easy to make.
RAW APPLE BANANA BREAD
2 apples (I use granny smith)
1 cup ground flax
1/8 cup extra virgin coconut oil
1/2 banana
1/4 cup chopped, soaked almonds
1/4 cup water
raw agave to taste (if using red apples, this may not be necessary)
shredded coconut
Blend all ingredients except almonds and coconut in food processor or vitamix
Stir in almonds and coconut
Spread 1/2 inch thick on keflex sheet
Dehydrate for 10 hrs. at 115 degrees
Flip and dry 2 additional hours
I was recently in Whole Foods (my second home) and I was tempted by this dark chocolate bar by Vosges. It's called "Red Fire" bar and it just sounds so exotic and delicious. It's dark chocolate with Mexican chili's and cinnamon.
I didn't buy it because A)Too much sugar B)Too much green- and I don't mean the kind I juice! $8.49 for a candy bar- good grief!
So I got to thinking- hmmm...why not make a healthier raw version. It's more like a fudge than a candy bar, but still delish.
I had some left over and dipped some strawberries into it.
RED FIRE FUDGE
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup agave
seeds from one vanilla bean
1/2 cup raw cacao powder
1/4 cup chopped almonds
1/4 cup dry coconut flakes
cayenne to taste
chili powder to taste
cinnamon to taste
Blend first 6 ingredients until smooth. Stir in remaining ingredients. Add small amounts of the last 3 ingredients until the taste is to your liking. Remember, it's always easier to add more than to adjust for too much spice.
Spread mixture on a pie plate lined with natural wax paper and freeze until set. Caliente!
For lunch I made a Thai Vegetable soup that I found on Raw Freedom Community, but messed around with the ingredients a bit to fit what I had in the house. Since it was pouring out, I didn't feel like going to the store.
I have to admit, I'm getting really good at improvising.
THAI CURRY SOUP
2 mini red bell peppers
1/4 tsp. sea salt
2 carrots
1/3 cup soaked cashews
2 radishes
1 cup warm water
1 tsp. curry paste
1/3 cup almond milk
1/2 tbsp. agave
1/8 cup vidalia onion
1/2 tsp tumeric
Blend all ingredients in VitaMix until smooth. Garnish with coconut flakes and parsley sprigs.
All in all I actually enjoyed my rainy day, but I'm still hoping for some sunshine tomorrow!
For breakfast I had some Raw Apple Banana Bread topped with homegrown clover sprouts and pureed strawberries. Very yummy and so easy to make.
RAW APPLE BANANA BREAD
2 apples (I use granny smith)
1 cup ground flax
1/8 cup extra virgin coconut oil
1/2 banana
1/4 cup chopped, soaked almonds
1/4 cup water
raw agave to taste (if using red apples, this may not be necessary)
shredded coconut
Blend all ingredients except almonds and coconut in food processor or vitamix
Stir in almonds and coconut
Spread 1/2 inch thick on keflex sheet
Dehydrate for 10 hrs. at 115 degrees
Flip and dry 2 additional hours
I was recently in Whole Foods (my second home) and I was tempted by this dark chocolate bar by Vosges. It's called "Red Fire" bar and it just sounds so exotic and delicious. It's dark chocolate with Mexican chili's and cinnamon.
I didn't buy it because A)Too much sugar B)Too much green- and I don't mean the kind I juice! $8.49 for a candy bar- good grief!
So I got to thinking- hmmm...why not make a healthier raw version. It's more like a fudge than a candy bar, but still delish.
I had some left over and dipped some strawberries into it.
RED FIRE FUDGE
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup agave
seeds from one vanilla bean
1/2 cup raw cacao powder
1/4 cup chopped almonds
1/4 cup dry coconut flakes
cayenne to taste
chili powder to taste
cinnamon to taste
Blend first 6 ingredients until smooth. Stir in remaining ingredients. Add small amounts of the last 3 ingredients until the taste is to your liking. Remember, it's always easier to add more than to adjust for too much spice.
Spread mixture on a pie plate lined with natural wax paper and freeze until set. Caliente!
For lunch I made a Thai Vegetable soup that I found on Raw Freedom Community, but messed around with the ingredients a bit to fit what I had in the house. Since it was pouring out, I didn't feel like going to the store.
I have to admit, I'm getting really good at improvising.
THAI CURRY SOUP
2 mini red bell peppers
1/4 tsp. sea salt
2 carrots
1/3 cup soaked cashews
2 radishes
1 cup warm water
1 tsp. curry paste
1/3 cup almond milk
1/2 tbsp. agave
1/8 cup vidalia onion
1/2 tsp tumeric
Blend all ingredients in VitaMix until smooth. Garnish with coconut flakes and parsley sprigs.
All in all I actually enjoyed my rainy day, but I'm still hoping for some sunshine tomorrow!
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Fasting and Foraging, South Florida style
I know it's been a while since my last post. I've have lots to talk about, so I decided to save it all up and do a combo post.
I've been juice feasting in varying degrees for the last week or so. I just felt like my body needed extra detox, so I went for it.
I met a dude called "Tony the Gardener", who takes over abandoned urban community gardens in some pretty rough neighborhoods. He grows organic, "wild crafted" herbs and vegetables which are vastly different from the organic veggies I'm used to, as I was about to find out.
I went to meet him in Whole Foods parking lot and waited 30 minutes with my friend before she gave up and went home. He has no cell phone and my only communication with him was through email. I figured I'd already made the trip so I went inside to pick up a few things and wait a bit more. About 15 min later he called from a pay phone (they still have those?) and said he got held up harvesting in the rain, but would be there soon. He showed up soon after with 3 huge boxes of....WEEDS! He said that because I was so nice and waited, that he would throw in the third box for free. Wow, free weeds, just what I need.
I tell you, these looked like what you would throw away when you clean your garden. There I was on my kitchen floor, with my computer on one side of me, the box of weeds on the other, looking on foraging websites trying to figure out what this stuff was. Two hours later, I was sure of dandelion with the root attached, basil, lemongrass, and some type of cabbage. The rest was a mystery.
I decided to be daring, so the next morning I stuffed it all in my juicer. It smelled like I was mowing my lawn, and tasted like I was drinking it. Well, Tony said that this stuff would be potent. Maybe it would just take some getting used to. So I suffered through two more juices, but it was the salad that would prove to be the last straw.
I decide to eat for the first time in three days, so I made a salad and added some of the weeds. I put some dressing on and the weeds just sucked it up, so I added more and more, and each time it just sucked it up like a sponge. This stuff was like it's own life force, feeding on the dressing for it's nourishment. Would it grow and multiply? Well, if it does, it's doing it in the back of the garbage truck, because I threw it's weedy ass into the circular file! And I don't even want to talk about the snotty cactus-thingy! The nightmares have only just stopped! =shudder=
I guess I'm just not that adventurous yet. But on to my juice feast.
For three days I drank 3-4 juices a day and 2 green smoothies.
Here's an example:
Breakfast Green juice-
radish, kale, cucumber, parsley, bell peppers, yellow squash, watermelon rind
The radish makes this pretty pink on top. The picture just doesn't do it justice. I'm such a girly-girl!
Lunch- Choco Cherry Green Smoothie
1/2 avocado
1 cup watermelon
4 cherries, pitted
2 oz. coconut water
1/4 cucumber
1 large handful spinach
2 tbsp. hemp seeds
5 ice cubes
sweetleaf dark chocolate flavored stevia to taste
coconut flakes
Blend first 4 ingredients until thick and smooth. Add the rest of the ingredients except the coconut and blend until smooth.
Garnish with coconut flakes
Post lunch- another juice
Dinner-Green Soup
I don't measure, just dump everything green that I can find in. The things that are important to include are the avocado for creaminess, and the cucumber and celery for the juicy base.
I think I added spinach, kale, collard, chard, cucumber, celery, avocado, zucchini
Then add spices, whichever you like. Mine had dulse, basil, cilantro, parsley, himalayan sea salt, cayenne
Add some purified water and into the Vitamix it all goes. The cayenne gives it heat, so you get that "hot" feel.
Post dinner- another juice
In between, I drink lots and lots of water with lemon or PH drops. I always drink lemon water through a straw to protect my teeth.
On day 4, I had a few bites of the weed salad for dinner. That staved off my salad craving for a while.
On the 5th & 6th day, I ate a healthy breakfast and did green juices and smoothies the rest of the day.
My breakfast was sprouted quinoa & sprouted buckwheat with berries on day 5, and two dehydrated flax crackers with sprouts, avocado, and berries on day 6.
All in all, it was easy and I really didn't crave eating food. I felt satisfied, but I did miss my berries, because I never juice my fruit and I use very little in my smoothies. I like to eat it for breakfast, so it was nice to get back to that.
I've been juice feasting in varying degrees for the last week or so. I just felt like my body needed extra detox, so I went for it.
I met a dude called "Tony the Gardener", who takes over abandoned urban community gardens in some pretty rough neighborhoods. He grows organic, "wild crafted" herbs and vegetables which are vastly different from the organic veggies I'm used to, as I was about to find out.
I went to meet him in Whole Foods parking lot and waited 30 minutes with my friend before she gave up and went home. He has no cell phone and my only communication with him was through email. I figured I'd already made the trip so I went inside to pick up a few things and wait a bit more. About 15 min later he called from a pay phone (they still have those?) and said he got held up harvesting in the rain, but would be there soon. He showed up soon after with 3 huge boxes of....WEEDS! He said that because I was so nice and waited, that he would throw in the third box for free. Wow, free weeds, just what I need.
I tell you, these looked like what you would throw away when you clean your garden. There I was on my kitchen floor, with my computer on one side of me, the box of weeds on the other, looking on foraging websites trying to figure out what this stuff was. Two hours later, I was sure of dandelion with the root attached, basil, lemongrass, and some type of cabbage. The rest was a mystery.
I decided to be daring, so the next morning I stuffed it all in my juicer. It smelled like I was mowing my lawn, and tasted like I was drinking it. Well, Tony said that this stuff would be potent. Maybe it would just take some getting used to. So I suffered through two more juices, but it was the salad that would prove to be the last straw.
I decide to eat for the first time in three days, so I made a salad and added some of the weeds. I put some dressing on and the weeds just sucked it up, so I added more and more, and each time it just sucked it up like a sponge. This stuff was like it's own life force, feeding on the dressing for it's nourishment. Would it grow and multiply? Well, if it does, it's doing it in the back of the garbage truck, because I threw it's weedy ass into the circular file! And I don't even want to talk about the snotty cactus-thingy! The nightmares have only just stopped! =shudder=
I guess I'm just not that adventurous yet. But on to my juice feast.
For three days I drank 3-4 juices a day and 2 green smoothies.
Here's an example:
Breakfast Green juice-
radish, kale, cucumber, parsley, bell peppers, yellow squash, watermelon rind
The radish makes this pretty pink on top. The picture just doesn't do it justice. I'm such a girly-girl!
Lunch- Choco Cherry Green Smoothie
1/2 avocado
1 cup watermelon
4 cherries, pitted
2 oz. coconut water
1/4 cucumber
1 large handful spinach
2 tbsp. hemp seeds
5 ice cubes
sweetleaf dark chocolate flavored stevia to taste
coconut flakes
Blend first 4 ingredients until thick and smooth. Add the rest of the ingredients except the coconut and blend until smooth.
Garnish with coconut flakes
Post lunch- another juice
Dinner-Green Soup
I don't measure, just dump everything green that I can find in. The things that are important to include are the avocado for creaminess, and the cucumber and celery for the juicy base.
I think I added spinach, kale, collard, chard, cucumber, celery, avocado, zucchini
Then add spices, whichever you like. Mine had dulse, basil, cilantro, parsley, himalayan sea salt, cayenne
Add some purified water and into the Vitamix it all goes. The cayenne gives it heat, so you get that "hot" feel.
Post dinner- another juice
In between, I drink lots and lots of water with lemon or PH drops. I always drink lemon water through a straw to protect my teeth.
On day 4, I had a few bites of the weed salad for dinner. That staved off my salad craving for a while.
On the 5th & 6th day, I ate a healthy breakfast and did green juices and smoothies the rest of the day.
My breakfast was sprouted quinoa & sprouted buckwheat with berries on day 5, and two dehydrated flax crackers with sprouts, avocado, and berries on day 6.
All in all, it was easy and I really didn't crave eating food. I felt satisfied, but I did miss my berries, because I never juice my fruit and I use very little in my smoothies. I like to eat it for breakfast, so it was nice to get back to that.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Those amazing dads
Since today's father's day I want to dedicate my blog to all the dads out there, especially my own wonderful dad, Garry.
My dad is incredibly supportive and is always there when I need him. He's been by my side throughout this entire ordeal and is always amazingly positive. Although he wasn't always aligned with my decision to pursue alternative avenues, he did the research and is now solidly in my camp.
The support of family through a health crisis is key, as attitude is at least 90% of the battle. So for this in addition to putting up with me during my extremely rebellious teen years, I cannot thank my dad enough!
Yesterday I checked out another raw restaurant called Soma Cafe in Lake Worth. My friends and I had a Kale salad made with green apples, celery, and a delicious lemon based marinade, an awesome corn chowder with hints of cilantro and cayenne for a nice spicy kick, angel hair zucchini "pasta" with marinara, and for desert apples with "caramel" dip and chocolate chip "rawkies".
Everything was delicious, the service was attentive, and the owner was very appreciative of our input and constructive criticism. (The raw macaroons rated a less than favorable review and were replaced by the chocolate chip "Rawkies"). All in all, the restaurant gets our recommendation and is on the revisit list.
http://www.thesomacenter.com/nourishment.html
Lastly, I made this awesome apple flax bread yesterday. It's got a nice moist texture and tastes delicious topped with my raw almond/cashew/hemp butter. Yesterday I added some pureed raspberries. Yummy, healthy, and low on sugar.
Here's the recipe:
APPLE FLAX BREAD- thanks to Anthony (Rawmodel.com)
2 apples (I used green for less sugar)
1 cup of organic ground flax
1/8 cup of organic extra virgin coconut oil
1/4 cup of purified water.
Blend all in food processor
spread 1/2 inch thick on dehydrator sheet and dry for 10 hours.
Flip and dry for another 2
CASHEW ALMOND HEMP BUTTER- my own creation
1 cup soaked organic raw cashews
1 cup soaked organic raw almonds
4 tbsp organic shelled hemp seeds
organic extra virgin coconut oil as needed
Blend nuts and seeds in food processor, adding small amounts of oil as needed to obtain a creamy, buttery texture.
Unbelievably simple, delish, and healthy! Add pureed berries for a healthy take on the classic SAD food staple, peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
My dad is incredibly supportive and is always there when I need him. He's been by my side throughout this entire ordeal and is always amazingly positive. Although he wasn't always aligned with my decision to pursue alternative avenues, he did the research and is now solidly in my camp.
The support of family through a health crisis is key, as attitude is at least 90% of the battle. So for this in addition to putting up with me during my extremely rebellious teen years, I cannot thank my dad enough!
Yesterday I checked out another raw restaurant called Soma Cafe in Lake Worth. My friends and I had a Kale salad made with green apples, celery, and a delicious lemon based marinade, an awesome corn chowder with hints of cilantro and cayenne for a nice spicy kick, angel hair zucchini "pasta" with marinara, and for desert apples with "caramel" dip and chocolate chip "rawkies".
Everything was delicious, the service was attentive, and the owner was very appreciative of our input and constructive criticism. (The raw macaroons rated a less than favorable review and were replaced by the chocolate chip "Rawkies"). All in all, the restaurant gets our recommendation and is on the revisit list.
http://www.thesomacenter.com/nourishment.html
Lastly, I made this awesome apple flax bread yesterday. It's got a nice moist texture and tastes delicious topped with my raw almond/cashew/hemp butter. Yesterday I added some pureed raspberries. Yummy, healthy, and low on sugar.
Here's the recipe:
APPLE FLAX BREAD- thanks to Anthony (Rawmodel.com)
2 apples (I used green for less sugar)
1 cup of organic ground flax
1/8 cup of organic extra virgin coconut oil
1/4 cup of purified water.
Blend all in food processor
spread 1/2 inch thick on dehydrator sheet and dry for 10 hours.
Flip and dry for another 2
CASHEW ALMOND HEMP BUTTER- my own creation
1 cup soaked organic raw cashews
1 cup soaked organic raw almonds
4 tbsp organic shelled hemp seeds
organic extra virgin coconut oil as needed
Blend nuts and seeds in food processor, adding small amounts of oil as needed to obtain a creamy, buttery texture.
Unbelievably simple, delish, and healthy! Add pureed berries for a healthy take on the classic SAD food staple, peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Got Protein?
Lately the hot topic surrounding vegetarians and vegans seems to be getting enough Amino Acids and Protein. The naysayers will tell you that you must ingest something that once moved and had a mom in order to get enough of those.
I don't go up to people at the drive thru and ask them "how do you get your chlorophyl?"
so I wish the burgermeisters would stop asking me how I get my protein!
The answer is easy- I get them from my vegetables (and an occasional nut, sprouted bean, or grain).
Here's the down and dirty:
We can get our protein from both animal and vegetable sources. The difference is that animal proteins are "complete" meaning that they contain all of the essential amino acids, while vegetable sources usually are incomplete (low on or missing certain essential amino acids). Different vegetable sources are deficient in different amino acids, so as long as one eats different vegetables, one can get all of the essential amino acids throughout the course of the day.
Some vegetable sources such as beans and nuts are especially high in protein, and some such as quinoa and hemp seeds are complete proteins.
Soy is also a complete protein, but much of it is unusable to the body and it contains a trypsin inhibitor. Soy also stimulates mucous production similar to dairy products and most of it is genetically modified and chemically treated.
Here's the real clincher: During digestion, all proteins are broken down into their amino acids so that they can enter the bloodstream where they become the building blocks of cells. What's not needed is excreted by the body.
Vegetables contain amino acids in their pure form, whereas animal sources contain proteins that must be broken down into amino acids.
So in other words, the body has to work much harder to extract the amino acids from the protein and then get rid of what it doesn't need!
Another interesting fact: The RDA for protein is 0.36 grams of protein per pound of body weight, which for me works out to about 36 grams. A can of tuna has 32 grams, which makes it easy to see why most Americans get WAY too much protein!
*There's 2.5 servings in a can of tuna
This is bad, because diets high in protein can lead to kidney problems, and if carbohydrates are restricted can leach calcium from the bones.
So where do I get my protein? Let me count the ways:
Spread the veggie love!
I don't go up to people at the drive thru and ask them "how do you get your chlorophyl?"
so I wish the burgermeisters would stop asking me how I get my protein!
The answer is easy- I get them from my vegetables (and an occasional nut, sprouted bean, or grain).
Here's the down and dirty:
We can get our protein from both animal and vegetable sources. The difference is that animal proteins are "complete" meaning that they contain all of the essential amino acids, while vegetable sources usually are incomplete (low on or missing certain essential amino acids). Different vegetable sources are deficient in different amino acids, so as long as one eats different vegetables, one can get all of the essential amino acids throughout the course of the day.
Some vegetable sources such as beans and nuts are especially high in protein, and some such as quinoa and hemp seeds are complete proteins.
Soy is also a complete protein, but much of it is unusable to the body and it contains a trypsin inhibitor. Soy also stimulates mucous production similar to dairy products and most of it is genetically modified and chemically treated.
Here's the real clincher: During digestion, all proteins are broken down into their amino acids so that they can enter the bloodstream where they become the building blocks of cells. What's not needed is excreted by the body.
Vegetables contain amino acids in their pure form, whereas animal sources contain proteins that must be broken down into amino acids.
So in other words, the body has to work much harder to extract the amino acids from the protein and then get rid of what it doesn't need!
Another interesting fact: The RDA for protein is 0.36 grams of protein per pound of body weight, which for me works out to about 36 grams. A can of tuna has 32 grams, which makes it easy to see why most Americans get WAY too much protein!
*There's 2.5 servings in a can of tuna
This is bad, because diets high in protein can lead to kidney problems, and if carbohydrates are restricted can leach calcium from the bones.
So where do I get my protein? Let me count the ways:
Spread the veggie love!
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Graduation Day
The last few days have been pretty busy. I finished doing my "purge" cleanse, and aside from almost fainting outside of my son's graduation ceremony, it went by unceremoniously. It's pretty tough eating nothing for two days save for 2 oranges and a couple of gallons of watered down citrus juice.
But it's behind me now and I'm just savoring my last couple of days without pills.
The best thing is that my son graduated with honors from high school! And the great part is that I was there to see it and enjoy it- and I'm so grateful for that!
But it's behind me now and I'm just savoring my last couple of days without pills.
The best thing is that my son graduated with honors from high school! And the great part is that I was there to see it and enjoy it- and I'm so grateful for that!
Monday, June 2, 2008
Hippocrates Sprouting 101
This past Saturday my friend Donna and I went to Hippocrates Health Institute in West Palm Beach for a Raw Cuisine/Sprouting & Wheatgrass Class. The class was from 10AM-4PM and included their famous raw buffet.
First up, the fabulous Michael Bergonzi lectured on the importance of chlorophyl, wheatgrass, greens, and of course the almighty O2. Michael stresses over and over the importance of proper breathing and oxygenation. Ok, breathe....
Michael stresses that food is not a cult or a religion, but a choice. You can choose to eat healthy, or you can choose to eat McDonalds. Either way, it's only food. This rings true to me, because I find that many vegans and raw foodists are food snobs. Hello, you're not superior to someone else because of what you eat. Sorry, but it's just not that easy!
He also praises the awesome Kris Carr, a graduate of the Hippocrates Health Educator Program. He points out that what makes Kris so notable is that she deals with her medical lemons with a positive outlook. I agree, but that's just part of it. There's just so much more that makes Kris so fabulous, but I could go on about that forever because I absolutely love Kris- XOXO!
Next we took a tour of the amazing greenhouse packed to the gills with the most beautiful, lush, green wheatgrass and sprouts I've ever laid eyes on. And the oxygen emitted by the plants was so unbelievable that I wanted to set up a tent and camp out there for all eternity! Ok, breathe....
Then it's back to the lecture room for a raw food prep class given by chef Ken Blue. He prepared such raw goodies as pizza, caesar salad, marinated mushrooms and marinated zucchini. Even better, these treats made their way onto the huge, deliciously fresh lunch buffet.
We had our lunch outside overlooking a beautiful lake and pond with a waterfall, shaded by lush greenery. The grounds at Hippocrates are unbelievably beautiful and tranquil. It's incredibly healing and cathartic just being there, so it's no wonder that it's the number one healing retreat in the country!
After lunch we headed back inside for the wheatgrass and sprouting class. Although I've been doing fairly well with my own sprouting, I learned some things to tweak my technique for better sprouts and bigger yields.
Last, it was into the store for some retail therapy. I picked up some sprouting seeds and trays for more of my patio farming.
The day was at once peaceful, serene, and informative, and Michael is one funny dude. It's like "stand up sprouting".
For more information on Hippocrates Health Institue, contact their website at http://www.hippocratesinst.com.
For sprouting and wheatgrass help or info contact Michael at http://www.hippocratesgreenhouse.com or email him at wheatgrassking@yahoo.com.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
The name game
Last week my friend and I went to a raw foods preparation class. Somewhere between the nut pate and the chocolate nut ice cream pie, we were both dreaming of bonding with our bathroom commode. The other day I went to a raw ice cream social with my meetup group and in the midst of my stomach's revenge it occurred to me that any diet can be unhealthy. Everyone automatically assumes that if you're a vegetarian, a vegan, and especially a raw vegan you must be a health nut. Well, nothing could be further from the truth.
I have known many vegetarians who eat no vegetables, unless you categorize french fries, potato chips, and ketchup as vegetables. (Just to clarify- I don't!)
Then there are the vegans, and some of them take things a step further- they don't eat dip with their chips or drink milk in their coffee, but still no veggies.
So now we move on to the real radicals- the raw vegans. Now they must have a healthy diet, right? Well, the answer may shock and surprise, as it did me. The answer is a resounding "not necessarily".
Raw simply means not cooked, and vegan means no animal products. So eating a diet loaded with heavy nut pate's, rich desserts oozing with agave and maple syrup, and dehyrated grain snacks may be both raw and vegan, but healthy it's decidedly not.
So what do you call a person who actually eats vegetables? I think we should have a name of our own. How about "vegevore"? It sounds like some kind of prehistoric animal.
And what about those of us who take it even further and juice green vegetables, blend green smoothies, and eat sprouts and salads as our primary diet? "Salajuiceatarians"? That sounds like we've graduated with some kind of honor.
All I know is that it seems to me that a vegetarian should eat vegetables. If not, they should give the name back to it's rightful owners.
Maybe they could just call themselves "nomeatarians" or "nutaholics".
I have known many vegetarians who eat no vegetables, unless you categorize french fries, potato chips, and ketchup as vegetables. (Just to clarify- I don't!)
Then there are the vegans, and some of them take things a step further- they don't eat dip with their chips or drink milk in their coffee, but still no veggies.
So now we move on to the real radicals- the raw vegans. Now they must have a healthy diet, right? Well, the answer may shock and surprise, as it did me. The answer is a resounding "not necessarily".
Raw simply means not cooked, and vegan means no animal products. So eating a diet loaded with heavy nut pate's, rich desserts oozing with agave and maple syrup, and dehyrated grain snacks may be both raw and vegan, but healthy it's decidedly not.
So what do you call a person who actually eats vegetables? I think we should have a name of our own. How about "vegevore"? It sounds like some kind of prehistoric animal.
And what about those of us who take it even further and juice green vegetables, blend green smoothies, and eat sprouts and salads as our primary diet? "Salajuiceatarians"? That sounds like we've graduated with some kind of honor.
All I know is that it seems to me that a vegetarian should eat vegetables. If not, they should give the name back to it's rightful owners.
Maybe they could just call themselves "nomeatarians" or "nutaholics".
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
My appointment with God
I've gone over this in my mind so many times. I thought I'd gone over all the possibilities, thought I was prepared. Then came the case of the clairvoyant oncologist and the disappearing tumor.
I walked into the office with my posse, hereinafter referred to as my cheering section. Dr. Medical walks in and flips through my chart. "Well, this is very good." Cheering section agrees.
"So, what are you doing for treatment?" asks Dr. Med as he frantically flips through my chart. I tell him I'm doing an alternative protocol. "Are you taking Tamoxifen?" he asks after some more flipping. I tell him no, not anymore. "But you were taking it, right?" I say yes, I was up until about a week ago.
"Well that's what killed the tumor." HUH? But you told me that there was no curative treatment. And this is the really unexpected part: "There isn't. It will come back", comes the response. Cheering section is looking considerably less cheery by now.
Ok, I know there's always one party pooper in the crowd, but this is a bit extreme. But Dr. M isn't done yet. He goes on to tell me that the trouble with us alternative nuts (I paraphrase of course- Dr. M is nothing if not polite) is that we attribute our victories to that treatment and then abandon the conventional treatment that's really doing the job.
I guess I should have realized that my body's lack of Tamoxifen was the real reason for my cancer and now that it was being replaced, I'd be all good. At least until it comes back. Or gives me cervical cancer.
So now that I'm off the Tamoxifen I speculate that any future gains will be attributed to the following, in the order listed:
1.Tamoxifen (Dr. M made sure to inform me that it stays in my body for 2 months)
2.Being in the same room with Tamoxifen
3.Sharing a straw with someone taking Tamoxifen
4.Living within 50 miles of a drugstore selling Tamoxifen
Gosh, with such a wonder drug out there, it's surprising that we have so many people dying of cancer, don't you think?
And even more amazing, since Dr. M is apparently God, he can now be sure who's tumors will come back!
What a joyous day in the War against Cancer!
I walked into the office with my posse, hereinafter referred to as my cheering section. Dr. Medical walks in and flips through my chart. "Well, this is very good." Cheering section agrees.
"So, what are you doing for treatment?" asks Dr. Med as he frantically flips through my chart. I tell him I'm doing an alternative protocol. "Are you taking Tamoxifen?" he asks after some more flipping. I tell him no, not anymore. "But you were taking it, right?" I say yes, I was up until about a week ago.
"Well that's what killed the tumor." HUH? But you told me that there was no curative treatment. And this is the really unexpected part: "There isn't. It will come back", comes the response. Cheering section is looking considerably less cheery by now.
Ok, I know there's always one party pooper in the crowd, but this is a bit extreme. But Dr. M isn't done yet. He goes on to tell me that the trouble with us alternative nuts (I paraphrase of course- Dr. M is nothing if not polite) is that we attribute our victories to that treatment and then abandon the conventional treatment that's really doing the job.
I guess I should have realized that my body's lack of Tamoxifen was the real reason for my cancer and now that it was being replaced, I'd be all good. At least until it comes back. Or gives me cervical cancer.
So now that I'm off the Tamoxifen I speculate that any future gains will be attributed to the following, in the order listed:
1.Tamoxifen (Dr. M made sure to inform me that it stays in my body for 2 months)
2.Being in the same room with Tamoxifen
3.Sharing a straw with someone taking Tamoxifen
4.Living within 50 miles of a drugstore selling Tamoxifen
Gosh, with such a wonder drug out there, it's surprising that we have so many people dying of cancer, don't you think?
And even more amazing, since Dr. M is apparently God, he can now be sure who's tumors will come back!
What a joyous day in the War against Cancer!
Monday, May 12, 2008
No skeptics allowed
I was discussing with some friends the other day why some people have such difficulty believing that alternative treatments work. It seems that even though the proof is in the pudding, they want cake instead.
In my case, I had a tumor on my liver. It showed up clear as day on an MRI and lit up like a Christmas tree on PET CT. No, I didn't have a biopsy and the reason I didn't is because my oncologist told me there was only a 5% chance that maybe it wasn't cancer. Factor in the coincidence that it just happened to disappear during the 3 months I've been using this treatment and your 5% goes down somewhere close to 0%. Yet, somehow it's easier for people to align themselves with almost zero odds in favor of believing that it was my treatment that made the thing disappear.
If I told them that chemo made my tumor disappear, they'd surely believe that. Hell, I'd bet that if I told people that the Virgin Mary appeared on my grilled cheese sandwich and the tumor disappeared, many of them would believe that. So no matter how far fetched the theory, (I mean grilled cheese? Please! I'm a raw vegan after all! ) it's still easier for people to accept. The fact that something natural could work is simply unfathomable.
This is just such a sad commentary on the state of medicine in this country. People are so brainwashed into thinking that diseases can only be cured or controlled by toxic substances, drugs, and invasive procedures. My logical mind tells me that if the disease wasn't caused by a deficiency of the drug then it can't be the answer. We must address the cause if we have a hope of preventing it from recurring. People must begin to think outside of this nice, neat box that's been constructed for them. It's up to us all to open up to new possibilities and be the change.
On a lighter note, I had a fabulous weekend exploring an organic farmer's market in Miami, spending some quality time with my older son at the beach, and going to dinner at an awesome new raw, organic, vegan restaurant called LifeFood. It's in Miami, owned and run by a great guy named John, and the food was delish! At least for me- I don't think the family is quite ready for this yet. But at least we didn't stop at McDonalds on the way home.
In my case, I had a tumor on my liver. It showed up clear as day on an MRI and lit up like a Christmas tree on PET CT. No, I didn't have a biopsy and the reason I didn't is because my oncologist told me there was only a 5% chance that maybe it wasn't cancer. Factor in the coincidence that it just happened to disappear during the 3 months I've been using this treatment and your 5% goes down somewhere close to 0%. Yet, somehow it's easier for people to align themselves with almost zero odds in favor of believing that it was my treatment that made the thing disappear.
If I told them that chemo made my tumor disappear, they'd surely believe that. Hell, I'd bet that if I told people that the Virgin Mary appeared on my grilled cheese sandwich and the tumor disappeared, many of them would believe that. So no matter how far fetched the theory, (I mean grilled cheese? Please! I'm a raw vegan after all! ) it's still easier for people to accept. The fact that something natural could work is simply unfathomable.
This is just such a sad commentary on the state of medicine in this country. People are so brainwashed into thinking that diseases can only be cured or controlled by toxic substances, drugs, and invasive procedures. My logical mind tells me that if the disease wasn't caused by a deficiency of the drug then it can't be the answer. We must address the cause if we have a hope of preventing it from recurring. People must begin to think outside of this nice, neat box that's been constructed for them. It's up to us all to open up to new possibilities and be the change.
On a lighter note, I had a fabulous weekend exploring an organic farmer's market in Miami, spending some quality time with my older son at the beach, and going to dinner at an awesome new raw, organic, vegan restaurant called LifeFood. It's in Miami, owned and run by a great guy named John, and the food was delish! At least for me- I don't think the family is quite ready for this yet. But at least we didn't stop at McDonalds on the way home.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Clean Sweep
Well, another enzyme cycle bites the dust. As appreciative as I am for my enzymes, 5 nights of uninterrupted sleep is such a treat! It's positively Zen-like- eating when I want and no pills! Ah, the little things we take for granted!
This month's detox is called "The clean sweep". It's actually the easiest for me of the 3 procedures that I alternate on my off cycles. The clean sweep is achieved by adding Bulking agent to 8 oz. of apple, carrot, or tomato juice followed by a glass of water twice a day for 5 days. That's it! Piece of raw carrot cake!
What happens is that the bulking agent absorbs tons of water like a sponge and enlarges, gradually working it's way through and pushing out all the stored wastes, bacteria, and other organisms in it's path. These wastes can accumulate over many years and can interfere with nutrient absorption. Ok, probably t.m.i. (too much info) already. Time to get started on my z's.
This month's detox is called "The clean sweep". It's actually the easiest for me of the 3 procedures that I alternate on my off cycles. The clean sweep is achieved by adding Bulking agent to 8 oz. of apple, carrot, or tomato juice followed by a glass of water twice a day for 5 days. That's it! Piece of raw carrot cake!
What happens is that the bulking agent absorbs tons of water like a sponge and enlarges, gradually working it's way through and pushing out all the stored wastes, bacteria, and other organisms in it's path. These wastes can accumulate over many years and can interfere with nutrient absorption. Ok, probably t.m.i. (too much info) already. Time to get started on my z's.
Monday, May 5, 2008
It's Raining Miracles
The universe is providing for my family big time these days!
In addition to my health miracle, the other night my amazing, precious 18 year old son was involved in a roll over crash while a passenger in his friend's car. The car rolled over and over 4 times, yet all 5 boys walked away without a scratch! The paramedics told one of the boys that he's lucky to be alive, never mind unharmed.
Then as if that's not enough, my son went back the next day to the scene of the crash looking for his wallet and found it just laying there on the grass with everything still in it.
All I can say is THANK YOU, THANK YOU, A MILLION TIMES THANK YOU!!! I hope I'm worthy enough to be able to pay it forward and give something back to the universe.
Of course this is not what I have in mind, but it's a start. I've gotten some requests for the raw cereal I eat every morning, so I promised I'd post the recipe and directions. Here it is:
RAW 14 GRAIN CEREAL
Wheat Berries
Buckwheat
Rye
Oat Groats
Millet
sesame seeds
brown rice
flaxseed
corn
alfalfa seeds
lentils
mung beans
barley
almonds
Mix all together and store in fridge.
To prepare:
The night before take 2-3 tablespoons and grind in a coffee grinder or magic bullet until a fine powder consistency.
Put in bowl and add purified, spring, or coconut water. The cereal soaks up many times it's weight in water, so make sure it's a bit thin.
Cover and put in fridge overnight.
The next morning mix and add more water/coconut water if necessary. Add berries, coconut meat, stevia to taste.
I also found a great interview with Dr. Gonzalez wherein he explains in detail his program and how it works.
In addition to my health miracle, the other night my amazing, precious 18 year old son was involved in a roll over crash while a passenger in his friend's car. The car rolled over and over 4 times, yet all 5 boys walked away without a scratch! The paramedics told one of the boys that he's lucky to be alive, never mind unharmed.
Then as if that's not enough, my son went back the next day to the scene of the crash looking for his wallet and found it just laying there on the grass with everything still in it.
All I can say is THANK YOU, THANK YOU, A MILLION TIMES THANK YOU!!! I hope I'm worthy enough to be able to pay it forward and give something back to the universe.
Of course this is not what I have in mind, but it's a start. I've gotten some requests for the raw cereal I eat every morning, so I promised I'd post the recipe and directions. Here it is:
RAW 14 GRAIN CEREAL
Wheat Berries
Buckwheat
Rye
Oat Groats
Millet
sesame seeds
brown rice
flaxseed
corn
alfalfa seeds
lentils
mung beans
barley
almonds
Mix all together and store in fridge.
To prepare:
The night before take 2-3 tablespoons and grind in a coffee grinder or magic bullet until a fine powder consistency.
Put in bowl and add purified, spring, or coconut water. The cereal soaks up many times it's weight in water, so make sure it's a bit thin.
Cover and put in fridge overnight.
The next morning mix and add more water/coconut water if necessary. Add berries, coconut meat, stevia to taste.
I also found a great interview with Dr. Gonzalez wherein he explains in detail his program and how it works.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Enzyme Appreciation
It's so freeing to have the proof that what I'm doing is working. I mean I've read my report so many times it's about to make the bestseller list. The wording on those things is so darn ambiguous that I want to make sure I didn't misunderstand anything. Like, for example it says that the prior liver lesion is "no longer appreciated". To tell you the truth, I never appreciated the damn thing to begin with. If there's someone out there that appreciated my liver lesion at any time, I want to know who you are!
At any rate, after careful analysis my original interpretation still stands. It's now a history book.
So let's move on to something I really do appreciate. Since my great news, there's been much interest in my protocol, so I thought I'd re-post my oh so exciting schedule. It would bring me so much joy to help even one person make a decision that may just save their life.
Here goes:
Wake up at 3:30AM- take 16 pancreatic enzymes. Roll over and pass out.
Wake up again at 7:20AM- Take 16 enzymes and 2 supplements.
9AM- juice carrots and greens
9:30 AM-eat breakfast of raw 14 grain cereal with berries, take 24 supplements and 3 enzymes.
Heat up coffee for morning enema-(made the previous night)
Dry brush skin
11:30AM- take 16 enzymes and 4 supplements
2PM- Green Smoothie in Vita Mix, take 1/2 tspn vital 10, 22 supplements, and 3 enzymes.
3:30PM- take 16 enzymes and 4 supplements. Make coffee for afternoon enema.
4:30 afternoon enema, green juice
6:30- prepare and eat raw veggie dinner. Take 24 supplements and 3 enzymes.
8 PM- Green or carrot juice, take 16 enzymes and 2 supplements. Prepare coffee for morning enema. Prepare raw 14 grain cereal to soak until morning.
9 PM- Salt and soda bath (2X per week), dry brush skin.
11PM- take 16 enzymes and 8 supplements.
3:30AM- lather, rinse, repeat
In between there at some point take a walk, jump on rebounder, live life (believe it or not!)
Oh, and the diet is not exactly as prescribed, but it works for me, since eating animal products just doesn't resonate with me. The prescribed diet is actually much more liberal and each person gets an individualized diet according to their metabolic type.
At any rate, after careful analysis my original interpretation still stands. It's now a history book.
So let's move on to something I really do appreciate. Since my great news, there's been much interest in my protocol, so I thought I'd re-post my oh so exciting schedule. It would bring me so much joy to help even one person make a decision that may just save their life.
Here goes:
Wake up at 3:30AM- take 16 pancreatic enzymes. Roll over and pass out.
Wake up again at 7:20AM- Take 16 enzymes and 2 supplements.
9AM- juice carrots and greens
9:30 AM-eat breakfast of raw 14 grain cereal with berries, take 24 supplements and 3 enzymes.
Heat up coffee for morning enema-(made the previous night)
Dry brush skin
11:30AM- take 16 enzymes and 4 supplements
2PM- Green Smoothie in Vita Mix, take 1/2 tspn vital 10, 22 supplements, and 3 enzymes.
3:30PM- take 16 enzymes and 4 supplements. Make coffee for afternoon enema.
4:30 afternoon enema, green juice
6:30- prepare and eat raw veggie dinner. Take 24 supplements and 3 enzymes.
8 PM- Green or carrot juice, take 16 enzymes and 2 supplements. Prepare coffee for morning enema. Prepare raw 14 grain cereal to soak until morning.
9 PM- Salt and soda bath (2X per week), dry brush skin.
11PM- take 16 enzymes and 8 supplements.
3:30AM- lather, rinse, repeat
In between there at some point take a walk, jump on rebounder, live life (believe it or not!)
Oh, and the diet is not exactly as prescribed, but it works for me, since eating animal products just doesn't resonate with me. The prescribed diet is actually much more liberal and each person gets an individualized diet according to their metabolic type.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
The bright side of the moon
The results of the MRI and PET CT scans are in, and the news is AMAZING! It's better than I could have ever anticipated that after only three months on Dr. Gonzalez' enzyme therapy protocol my liver mets have "resolved". Roughly translated that means gone, see ya, buh-bye! Hello, healthy liver. I could say it a million ways, but to keep the redundancy to a minimum I'll just say that I'm over the moon and I like it here!
My bone mets are stable with no new lesions seen, so that's also a blessing as bone mets can be very aggressive. Dr. Gonzalez also explained to me that bone can look metabolically active on a PET even while it's healing, which makes sense as bone heals via metabolic activity. So in other words, my bones could be healing and remodeling, with cells laying down more bone, which would simply show up as activity on the PET and therefore be misinterpreted as still being cancer. I'm definitely going with that one.
At any rate, I'm so happy and grateful for all the things that make living a beautiful thing. I'm living my life for this moment and all it has to offer. I'm blessed with an amazing array of family and friends who have been and continue to be an integral part of my journey. Thank you for all your love and support.
I've made so many wonderful new friends on my journey, mostly as a result of landing in Kris Carr's CSL community of hope and love. There I've been lucky enough to have been able to learn and share, to give and receive love, prayers, great advice, laughter, pain, and most importantly hope. So thank you Kris for creating this haven for healing and to my friend Eileen for sending me Kris' book. Your thoughtful expression of kindness set off a chain reaction which would become an essential part of my healing journey.
Love and eternal light to all!
My bone mets are stable with no new lesions seen, so that's also a blessing as bone mets can be very aggressive. Dr. Gonzalez also explained to me that bone can look metabolically active on a PET even while it's healing, which makes sense as bone heals via metabolic activity. So in other words, my bones could be healing and remodeling, with cells laying down more bone, which would simply show up as activity on the PET and therefore be misinterpreted as still being cancer. I'm definitely going with that one.
At any rate, I'm so happy and grateful for all the things that make living a beautiful thing. I'm living my life for this moment and all it has to offer. I'm blessed with an amazing array of family and friends who have been and continue to be an integral part of my journey. Thank you for all your love and support.
I've made so many wonderful new friends on my journey, mostly as a result of landing in Kris Carr's CSL community of hope and love. There I've been lucky enough to have been able to learn and share, to give and receive love, prayers, great advice, laughter, pain, and most importantly hope. So thank you Kris for creating this haven for healing and to my friend Eileen for sending me Kris' book. Your thoughtful expression of kindness set off a chain reaction which would become an essential part of my healing journey.
Love and eternal light to all!
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Crosses to bear
This week brings the first scans since I began my treatment. I hate like hell to put all that toxic crap in my detoxed body, but at this point they are a necessary evil. I ask everyone to pray to whatever higher power you believe in or the universe or just cross body parts for me. I can use all the energy and karma I can get.
I had an abdominal MRI yesterday and Thursday is the pelvic PET CT. The person at the hospital rattled off a long list of what I shouldn't eat for 24 hours in advance, none of which I eat 24 days in advance or 24 months in advance, so at least that was easy. No sugar. check. No flour. check. No bread. check. You get the picture. Now if they said no veggies, then I'd be in trouble.
I'm trying hard to stay present and not allow my mind to go to those dark places. I'm staying positive. I've got options and plan B's, so it's all good! Life is beautiful and my amazing, awesome son turned 18 today. He's grown into such a wonderful person and I feel a surge of love so strong every time I look at him. He even has a PH in the purple range. I mean, what more can a mom ask for?
Well, it's kind of hard to type with your fingers crossed and I can't see what I'm typing with my eyes crossed, so I guess I'll go to bed now.
I had an abdominal MRI yesterday and Thursday is the pelvic PET CT. The person at the hospital rattled off a long list of what I shouldn't eat for 24 hours in advance, none of which I eat 24 days in advance or 24 months in advance, so at least that was easy. No sugar. check. No flour. check. No bread. check. You get the picture. Now if they said no veggies, then I'd be in trouble.
I'm trying hard to stay present and not allow my mind to go to those dark places. I'm staying positive. I've got options and plan B's, so it's all good! Life is beautiful and my amazing, awesome son turned 18 today. He's grown into such a wonderful person and I feel a surge of love so strong every time I look at him. He even has a PH in the purple range. I mean, what more can a mom ask for?
Well, it's kind of hard to type with your fingers crossed and I can't see what I'm typing with my eyes crossed, so I guess I'll go to bed now.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
I know I haven't posted in a while. I hate it when life gets in the way of my blogging!
Anyway, I completed my liver cleanse, which worked really well so I guess it was worth being awake all night due to nausea. For you detox newbies, the liver cleanse is a non-surgical way to get rid of gallstones. Let's just say no stone was left unturned.
The periods without enzymes are like mini vacations, the detox procedures not withstanding. It's so nice to be able to eat whenever I'm hungry rather than on a timer. But all good things must come to an end and I'm back on the clock.
I know it's short, but I gotta go take pills, go to Whole Paycheck for veggies, and jump on my rebounder.
Anyway, I completed my liver cleanse, which worked really well so I guess it was worth being awake all night due to nausea. For you detox newbies, the liver cleanse is a non-surgical way to get rid of gallstones. Let's just say no stone was left unturned.
The periods without enzymes are like mini vacations, the detox procedures not withstanding. It's so nice to be able to eat whenever I'm hungry rather than on a timer. But all good things must come to an end and I'm back on the clock.
I know it's short, but I gotta go take pills, go to Whole Paycheck for veggies, and jump on my rebounder.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Vitality and abundance
Things have been going well for me. I'm on my last day of the 20 day pill cycle, so I'm looking forward to 5 days of being able to sleep through the night. Of course there is always a but in this program (and also a lot of butts), which this time is the liver cleanse. The liver cleanse consists of drinking a gallon of apple juice mixed with phosfood over 4 days, which amounts to about 3-4 glasses per day. Sounds like a walk in the park so far, right? Well if it is then day 5 is a walk in a dog park without shoes. Maybe even doing cartwheels and headstands.
On day 5, I have to drink epsom salts several times (see my earlier post about the "purge" for reference to how I feel about epsom salt), eat heavy cream and berries, drink bentonite clay, then drink 1/2 cup of olive oil. Let me just tell you that while this may make for a good science experiment, it doesn't sit in the stomach too well. Don't try this at home, folks.
Anyway, it's a good thing that I'm reading Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth" and learning to live in the moment so I don't have to think about those future events. The book is giving me many "aha" moments and contributing great insights into my mind and the games it plays. I've had many laughs at my mind's expense.
Over the last few weeks I experienced some firsts. I went to dinner with my family to celebrate my dad's birthday and brought my own food for the first time, I went to my first raw foodies meetup at my first raw restaurant, and I had a model search company invite me to audition in the mall. I guess A.A.R.P. magazine was looking for models, but I decided the market was already saturated with 40-something, 5'2" models, so I politely declined.
Seriously though, I've been really loving my new lifestyle and have met so many awesome people who share my views about health and wellness. I'm really passionate in my belief that proper diet, nutrition, and avoidance of chemicals can really bring about or restore health and vitality. I also strongly believe that when one is presented with a health issue, it is a warning which calls for action. Conventional medicine has it's place in buying us the time we need to address the cause of the health issue, but if we stop there and return to our previous lifestyle we are probably in for a relapse or recurrence somewhere in the future. If this all sounds like a bunch of mumbo-jumbo propaganda, please be assured that it is the vital truth. It's something I wish I'd known when I was diagnosed 11 years ago. Instead, like many others, I believed what I was told that cutting and burning the cancer out would be the end of it. It just doesn't work that way. I can only pray that more people begin to see that.
On day 5, I have to drink epsom salts several times (see my earlier post about the "purge" for reference to how I feel about epsom salt), eat heavy cream and berries, drink bentonite clay, then drink 1/2 cup of olive oil. Let me just tell you that while this may make for a good science experiment, it doesn't sit in the stomach too well. Don't try this at home, folks.
Anyway, it's a good thing that I'm reading Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth" and learning to live in the moment so I don't have to think about those future events. The book is giving me many "aha" moments and contributing great insights into my mind and the games it plays. I've had many laughs at my mind's expense.
Over the last few weeks I experienced some firsts. I went to dinner with my family to celebrate my dad's birthday and brought my own food for the first time, I went to my first raw foodies meetup at my first raw restaurant, and I had a model search company invite me to audition in the mall. I guess A.A.R.P. magazine was looking for models, but I decided the market was already saturated with 40-something, 5'2" models, so I politely declined.
Seriously though, I've been really loving my new lifestyle and have met so many awesome people who share my views about health and wellness. I'm really passionate in my belief that proper diet, nutrition, and avoidance of chemicals can really bring about or restore health and vitality. I also strongly believe that when one is presented with a health issue, it is a warning which calls for action. Conventional medicine has it's place in buying us the time we need to address the cause of the health issue, but if we stop there and return to our previous lifestyle we are probably in for a relapse or recurrence somewhere in the future. If this all sounds like a bunch of mumbo-jumbo propaganda, please be assured that it is the vital truth. It's something I wish I'd known when I was diagnosed 11 years ago. Instead, like many others, I believed what I was told that cutting and burning the cancer out would be the end of it. It just doesn't work that way. I can only pray that more people begin to see that.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Watch out for the crazy, green woman!
Things are going great and I'm loving life! I finally figured out why I was bloated all the time- and the winner is....carrot juice! So now that I banished those orange demons from my juicer, my belly's getting back to normal. My Doc says it's probably an allergic reaction, so I just substituted some wheatgrass and green juice instead. I just hope I don't turn green instead of yellow, because green just doesn't go with my hair color.
Yesterday I took my fat, lazy, dog on a 3 mile walk and had to drag her half way home while cheering her on with "you can do it, Ginger, we're almost home!" I may now be known as the neighborhood nutcase, but I felt great. And today I took a 1 1/2 hour Vinyasa Yoga class and was the most limber person in the room. Not bad for a chick with cancer!
So now if I could just get to bed on time, I'd be batting 1000! Some habits are just so hard to break. Well, I guess it's 10:00 somewhere, right?
Yesterday I took my fat, lazy, dog on a 3 mile walk and had to drag her half way home while cheering her on with "you can do it, Ginger, we're almost home!" I may now be known as the neighborhood nutcase, but I felt great. And today I took a 1 1/2 hour Vinyasa Yoga class and was the most limber person in the room. Not bad for a chick with cancer!
So now if I could just get to bed on time, I'd be batting 1000! Some habits are just so hard to break. Well, I guess it's 10:00 somewhere, right?
Sunday, March 30, 2008
A course in miracles
I think having cancer teaches you many things, some invaluable and some not so much. It's like some kind of lesson taught by a perverse professor who wants you to learn the hard way. So while I'm still not jumping up and down about being put in this class, and I'm looking forward to graduating out of it, at least I'm taking something positive from it.
You have to follow the lesson plan carefully so you don't miss anything because each subsequent lesson builds upon the one before. Somewhere in the midst of the confusion and the frustration, you begin to make some sense of the whole thing and then it just all begins to click. You start to ace your exams and before you know it, you've passed with flying colors.
I know for me somewhere between getting to know coffee in ways I never thought possible (It's never even sent me flowers!), and learning to give myself the heimlich while choking on 25 pills, I've learned some miraculous things about myself and others that I probably wouldn't have without professor C.
First and foremost I've learned that I'm an indestructible, butt-kicking, spitfire who laughs in the face of destruction. Yeah, right! But anyway, I'm definitely braver and stronger than I ever thought I would be. And I also learned who I can and can't count on, and some of that realization has been eye opening. I've forged some pretty strong bonds with some pretty terrific people that I'm so grateful to have on my side.
Another important lesson has been just learning to live for and relish each moment. To appreciate all the people and things that make my life special. To live for now, instead of later. To let go of resentments and judgements. To put myself first. OK, so I haven't aced that one yet. Maybe I should get some tutoring.
You have to follow the lesson plan carefully so you don't miss anything because each subsequent lesson builds upon the one before. Somewhere in the midst of the confusion and the frustration, you begin to make some sense of the whole thing and then it just all begins to click. You start to ace your exams and before you know it, you've passed with flying colors.
I know for me somewhere between getting to know coffee in ways I never thought possible (It's never even sent me flowers!), and learning to give myself the heimlich while choking on 25 pills, I've learned some miraculous things about myself and others that I probably wouldn't have without professor C.
First and foremost I've learned that I'm an indestructible, butt-kicking, spitfire who laughs in the face of destruction. Yeah, right! But anyway, I'm definitely braver and stronger than I ever thought I would be. And I also learned who I can and can't count on, and some of that realization has been eye opening. I've forged some pretty strong bonds with some pretty terrific people that I'm so grateful to have on my side.
Another important lesson has been just learning to live for and relish each moment. To appreciate all the people and things that make my life special. To live for now, instead of later. To let go of resentments and judgements. To put myself first. OK, so I haven't aced that one yet. Maybe I should get some tutoring.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Felony in CancerLand
As I write this it's been just about 48 hours since I've eaten, with the not so notable exception of two oranges. I couldn't finish all my citrus punch yesterday because it felt like it was burning a hole through my esophagus, so I added water and finished it today. The epsom salts gave me such severe stomach distress that I didn't take my dose today. So, now I feel guilty that I cheated and didn't comply with my detox. I feel like the cancer police are going to come and put the cuffs on me. And I'm too weak to resist, so I hope someone bails me out. Well, at least the Reiki circle was a success.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Purge this!
Today is the first day of my five day vacation from the pills, but like always there's a caveat to that- this time the ominously named "Purge".
I started my morning as usual with my "upside down coffee break" and then began my purge. The recipe calls for drinking a tablespoon of epsom salts dissolved in water three times in a one hour period. Simple right? Well, if you've never had the displeasure of drinking epsom salts let me just say that if I was faced with a decision of whether to drink a glass of epsom salts or a glass of my own urine, I would actually have to think about it. I have never questioned compliance with this program until now, but I have to confess that the thought did cross my mind more than once this morning. Actually three times to be exact.
Now with that experience behind me I have to ingest nothing but a gallon of punch made from orange, grapefruit, and lemon juice mixed with water for the rest of the day. A glass every hour in fact. Oh, I forgot- I can eat an orange for dinner. Better pull out the good china for that one.
And I get to repeat the whole process again tomorrow. Pulling out the heavy artillery from my weapons arsenal this time!
On a positive note, I'm going to a Reiki Circle with my fabulous cousin later and my good friend is in from NY. Isn't life great?
I started my morning as usual with my "upside down coffee break" and then began my purge. The recipe calls for drinking a tablespoon of epsom salts dissolved in water three times in a one hour period. Simple right? Well, if you've never had the displeasure of drinking epsom salts let me just say that if I was faced with a decision of whether to drink a glass of epsom salts or a glass of my own urine, I would actually have to think about it. I have never questioned compliance with this program until now, but I have to confess that the thought did cross my mind more than once this morning. Actually three times to be exact.
Now with that experience behind me I have to ingest nothing but a gallon of punch made from orange, grapefruit, and lemon juice mixed with water for the rest of the day. A glass every hour in fact. Oh, I forgot- I can eat an orange for dinner. Better pull out the good china for that one.
And I get to repeat the whole process again tomorrow. Pulling out the heavy artillery from my weapons arsenal this time!
On a positive note, I'm going to a Reiki Circle with my fabulous cousin later and my good friend is in from NY. Isn't life great?
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Having your card confiscated- PRICELESS!
I think the magnetic stripe on my cancer card is damaged. I mean, once in a blue moon I come out of the cancer closet and pull out my cancer card- and it's rejected!
First my son got stopped for riding his dirt bike and the police officer acted like he was public enemy number one. I was just barely able to exchange the cancer card for a get out of jail free card, but the cop was so unimpressed that he still gave him four tickets and a court date. I think I should ask for a credit line increase.
Then I tried to use it to get some medical bills reduced but again- Rejected!
Is this card getting so darn commonplace that the members are no longer afforded any benefits?
Of course I'm just looking forward to the day mine gets permanently confiscated. "Oh sorry miss, but your no-cancer credit's no good here". Who the heck needs the stupid thing anyway!
First my son got stopped for riding his dirt bike and the police officer acted like he was public enemy number one. I was just barely able to exchange the cancer card for a get out of jail free card, but the cop was so unimpressed that he still gave him four tickets and a court date. I think I should ask for a credit line increase.
Then I tried to use it to get some medical bills reduced but again- Rejected!
Is this card getting so darn commonplace that the members are no longer afforded any benefits?
Of course I'm just looking forward to the day mine gets permanently confiscated. "Oh sorry miss, but your no-cancer credit's no good here". Who the heck needs the stupid thing anyway!
Sunday, March 16, 2008
What are you grateful for?
That's what it says on a plate my best friend gave me for my birthday. I had one of the best birthdays I've ever had. I am so grateful for the people I have in my life who help make every day on this earth special. It's amazing how when the chips are down some people just show up so incredibly for you that it takes your breath away. I feel so lucky and blessed to receive and return so much love.
I even took some new pictures so I can post one that actually looks like me. I've changed so much mentally over the last year or so that I figured I may as well reinvent myself physically as well. The best part is that I'm pretty happy with the new me and that's always a good thing!
I even took some new pictures so I can post one that actually looks like me. I've changed so much mentally over the last year or so that I figured I may as well reinvent myself physically as well. The best part is that I'm pretty happy with the new me and that's always a good thing!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Hooray for getting old!
I remember when my birthdays were a big deal. They were cause for a big, celebratory night on the town complete with the requisite post birthday hangover. I'm not quite sure when my birthdays themselves started getting old, but at some point they became something I didn't want to think about let alone celebrate.
Well thank you cancer for making me appreciate my birthdays again. I'm having another one this week and I'm not only looking forward to it, but I'm actually relishing it.
That's right, I'm grateful for getting older. I guess I've realized that the alternative is decidedly less attractive. So yeah, I'm gonna celebrate. I'll be rocking my family room dance floor. I'll drink my veggie juice from a martini glass, eat raw,organic birthday cake, and have a pajama party with my posse.
I'll put birthdays on the list of things I'm grateful for and on the list of things I won't take for granted. Every day is an opportunity to learn and grow, to mess up and get it right. Birthdays are like big, fat curtain calls for the year gone by.
It's all a journey and the ride's as important as the destination.
Happy birthday to me!
Well thank you cancer for making me appreciate my birthdays again. I'm having another one this week and I'm not only looking forward to it, but I'm actually relishing it.
That's right, I'm grateful for getting older. I guess I've realized that the alternative is decidedly less attractive. So yeah, I'm gonna celebrate. I'll be rocking my family room dance floor. I'll drink my veggie juice from a martini glass, eat raw,organic birthday cake, and have a pajama party with my posse.
I'll put birthdays on the list of things I'm grateful for and on the list of things I won't take for granted. Every day is an opportunity to learn and grow, to mess up and get it right. Birthdays are like big, fat curtain calls for the year gone by.
It's all a journey and the ride's as important as the destination.
Happy birthday to me!
Monday, March 3, 2008
Life in the fast lane
I thought I would illustrate a typical day on my program. This is during the 20 days each month that I'm on my enzymes and supplements and has been abridged to include only program-related tasks. Obviously, life still takes place somewhere between the lines (believe it or not).
So hold onto your hats and send the kiddies under cover, cause this is not for the faint of heart! (kidding...Disney is more titallating than my life these days)
Wake up at 3:30AM- take 16 pancreatic enzymes. Roll over and pass out.
Wake up again at 7:20AM- Take 16 enzymes and 2 supplements.
9AM- juice carrots and greens, eat breakfast of raw 14 grain cereal with goji berries, blueberries and blackberries, take 24 supplements and 3 enzymes.
Heat up coffee for morning enema-(made the previous night)
Dry brush skin
11:30AM- take 16 enzymes and 4 supplements
2PM- juice carrots and greens, prepare and eat raw veggie lunch take 1/2 tspn vital 10, 22 supplements, and 3 enzymes.
3:30PM- take 16 enzymes and 4 supplements. Make coffee for afternoon enema.
4:30 afternoon enema
6:30- juice carrots and greens, prepare and eat (mostly) raw veggie dinner. Take 24 supplements and 3 enzymes.
8 PM- take 16 enzymes and 2 supplements. Prepare coffee for morning enema. Prepare raw 14 grain cereal to soak until morning.
9 PM- Salt and soda bath (2X per week), dry brush skin.
11PM- take 16 enzymes and 8 supplements.
3:30AM- lather, rinse, repeat
Well, all that excitement has exhausted me. Goodnight.....
Friday, February 29, 2008
You are what you eat? I hope not!
After much ado, the alternative treatment winner is...enzyme therapy. The treatment is a nutritional one consisting of high doses of porcine (as in oink) pancreatic enzymes, supplements, coffee enemas, and a customized, organic diet.
I take pills around the clock. I actually set my alarm for 3:30 AM to down 16 pig pancreas pills (can you say that 5 times fast?) through a sleep deprived haze. The idea is to sock it to the cancer constantly. My life is like "beat the clock" because the enzymes need to be separated from food by at least one hour.
I'm not complaining, though, because I'm lucky to have these weapons in my arsenal. War is never easy, and cancer is a formidable foe. Plus, I get 5 days vacation from the pills every month. How lucky am I?
I take pills around the clock. I actually set my alarm for 3:30 AM to down 16 pig pancreas pills (can you say that 5 times fast?) through a sleep deprived haze. The idea is to sock it to the cancer constantly. My life is like "beat the clock" because the enzymes need to be separated from food by at least one hour.
I'm not complaining, though, because I'm lucky to have these weapons in my arsenal. War is never easy, and cancer is a formidable foe. Plus, I get 5 days vacation from the pills every month. How lucky am I?
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