Tag Archives: live food

Green Smoothies Revisited

Posted on by
Reply

You know what I need more of in my life?

…Green smoothies.

uncle sam green smoothie man

I have been a green smoothie devotee since coming across the lovely Victoria Boutenko in 2011.  Blending large amounts of greens, from sweet butter lettuce to bitter kale and collards, with bananas and other fruits became a staple of my diet.  When I prioritized drinking at least one green smoothie per day, I felt and slept great.  It was the most painless way for a wimp like me to get in all those greens that, let’s face it, I wouldn’t have eaten otherwise.  Living in coastal Southern California, I had the luxury of an organic backyard garden, and, squired by my Vitamix, I couldn’t be stopped.  I was like a green smoothie mad woman scientist!  They helped me create a personal definition of what it could look and feel like to eat raw, or, more realistically for me in the longterm, high-raw.  You see, I had been introduced to Dr. Gabriel Cousens’ Live Green Rainbow Cuisine in the mid-2000′s, and while his message (alkalinize your body and regulate your blood sugar by eating raw, mostly low-glycemic veggies and fats, prevent illness, feel and look healthier) resonated with me, his meal suggestions and recipes were beyond what I had access to at the time.  Some of the equipment required (dehydrators, blenders, juicers) was too expensive, and some of the produce, products, and supplements, weren’t locally available.  I shelved the idea of raw until 2011, when I began this blog and learned to love simple blended meals.

Last year, I moved to the damp rainforest of coastal Northern California.  High-raw felt refreshing down south, but in my new climate, it felt heavy and downright cold.  As fall moved into winter and the grey skies wept for days on end, I ate a lot of bean soups.  I wanted warming, drying foods.  Now that we are transitioning back into summer, I am finding myself again craving the nutritious, creamy deliciousness that is the green smoothie.

Here’s how I make my green smoothies now.  I’m flexible, with a method to my madness:

  1. Choose your base.  I usually use a cup or so of water, but if I’m feeling it, I’ll first juice some apples, ginger, carrots, and/or cucumber for some extra concentrated nutrients.  Coconut water is an electrolyte-charged alternative.  Non-dairy milks, like almond, rice, coconut, or hemp, provide a yummy foundation for your breakfast smoothies.  I like mine thick, but play with your ratios until you find the texture that suits you best :]
  2. Choose your greens.  If you’re afraid of strong flavor, start with baby spinach.  Then go change your diaper.  Just kidding, but really.  Don’t be a baby.  You can use any edible greens, and bonus points for the weedier and herbier varieties ;].  Try and alternate types regularly, though; there is a theory that the oxalates might build up and hurt you if you continually eat, say, spinach.  Rotate every time you purchase or harvest and you’ll be fine.
  3. More veggies?  Might I suggest a few stalks of celery?  I don’t like beets, but you might.  When in doubt, add more greens.
  4. Choose your fruit(s).  I start with one or two bananas.  They mask the intense flavor of the greens, while lending a creamy consistency.  I don’t like it when my smoothies are grainy or thin.  Gross.  So always use a banana, or an avocado!  As for what comes next, add what you will, but be careful of certain combos: Sweet fruits (bananas, dates), acidic fruits (pineapples, strawberries, grapes), and melons- try and choose one category per smoothie.  Yeah right, but seriously, watch out for mixing melons.  That’s about as far as I follow those rules :p
  5. BOOST IT: Maca, cinnamon, hemp protein, (soaked) flaxseed, coconut oil, oats, almonds or any other nuts… these are a few of my favorite things.  Get creative :]

Although I am no longer 100% raw, I still use the principles of nutrition and holistic living I learned while I was, and I continue to build on them.  I will be revisiting and revising them in future entries.

Mutually Beneficial Relationships with Animals: Can They Exist?

Posted on by
Reply

I had moved to a new town just in time to begin third grade, and I could barely contain my excitement the spring we incubated a clutch of chicken eggs.  When they finally hatched, I instantly fell in love with a tiny black chick.  He was so fluffy and tiny!

I begged my parents to let me have him.  I think they had residual guilt from denying me the first grade black bunny, “Magic,” so they eventually agreed, with the caveat that I had to first earn an ‘A’ on my upcoming president report.  Obviously I chose Abe Lincoln, and I made a point of doing a great job.  I got my ‘A,’ and I couldn’t even sleep from excitement, daydreaming about my new buddy and the awesome adventures we were going to have together.

The day arrived to bring my chick home.  I watched in horror as the dairy farm representative gathered and removed all the chicks, loading them into a white commercial van, their chirps barely audible.  I was, of course, heartbroken.  My mom came to the rescue and drove me to the old Santa Paula Mill that weekend, where she paid 50 cents to bring home what would become our family pet for the next decade.

pet chicken

mmmhmm.

“Checkers” spent the first several months of her life living in the house with us.  My mom and grandpa soon built her a large backyard hutch, and she loved to take dirt baths in the sun, retiring to her house as it dropped from the sky.  One morning, we woke up to find our Malamute-Lab mix stuffed in the hutch with her.  Not eating her.  Sleeping with her.  She would groom him, and they would often share food.  She came when called, followed my mom and me everywhere, and attended many, many days of grade school with me, perched on the old wooden bookshelf in the back of the classroom.  I had wonderfully supportive elementary school teachers.

When she was around a year old, Checkers began laying eggs, and they were turquoise, and two and a half dozen a month!  I had never seen green eggs before, and being a kid, I was beyond thrilled.  Their yolks were a rich golden yellow, and made great pancakes.  She had a great diet, which included tablescraps and supplements in addition to her chicken feed, and it showed.  I have to imagine that, as far as eggs go, Checkers’ were as wholesome as could be.  They were happy eggs coming from a truly happy, healthy, and loved hen.

I think chickens make great pets for children, and I hope to have a few more in the future.  They are intelligent, have distinct (hilarious) personalities, and are simply good company.  They will also lovingly offer your family a source of nutrition.  See, and here is were I differ from some of the hardcore vegan/animal ethics activists, I believe that there are friendships with animals that can be mutually beneficial (do I have to add ‘without killing them?’).  We provided a loving and caring home for our hen, and she gave us eggs.  Likewise, I volunteer at a stable filled with horses that are cared for by a team of knowledgeable and loving individuals.  The facilities are beautifully maintained, and the horses have only one job: Saturdays, they whisk the disabled up and away from their chairs and through the forest, on a short trail running parallel to the ocean.  The retired horses receive the same loving care and attention, but spend ride time lapping up extra grooming and pets.  It’s a really healthy, positive place, inside and out, and everyone leaves with a boost, including the animals.  The social and physical activity benefits all of us.

4h

These do not at all seem like exploitative situations to me.  On the contrary, from the way I see it, we all win.  I think that we could greatly profit from exploring and developing more respectful, mutually-beneficial relationships with the animals, both on the individual level and at large.  I’m not saying to go out and get yourself a flock, but hey, maybe.  You could start smaller by encouraging your children to join an association like 4H, giving them hands-on projects to build their self-confidence and sense of community, while cultivating compassion and empathy for the other members of the animal kingdom.  We will only improve ourselves as we pursue a more balanced relationship with our natural world, an inevitable side effect as we seek and define truth.  I know that we will sleep better, too.

The Monsanto Protection Act: Total BS.

Posted on by
2

The Farmer Assurance Provision, AKA: HR 933, AKA: “The Monsanto Protection Act,” is so sneaky, gross, and transparent that it’s hilarious.  What’s with these storybook villains we have running the show?

eye of sauron LOTRThe bill, signed by Obama in late March, was written with Monsanto, and several members of Congress were apparently unaware of that they were approving a “Monsanto Protection Act,” as that little detail was TL;DR.  The provision castrates the federal government’s ability to ban the selling or planting of genetically modified or engineered seeds, even if found to be harmful to the consumer (spoiler: research shows they are).  Yes, you read that correctly.  And no, it probably wouldn’t have banned the seeds (with which federally-subsidized crops are sown) anyway, but still.  Now it extra can’t, what with another bureaucratic loop for opposing legislation to have to battle through.  We are in the second act of the Monsanto drama, and this is the part where degraded morals and ethics unwind to illumination.

I really don’t think I need to add much more commentary; the material wrote itself.  Sign a petition urging Obama to veto the Monsanto Protection Act here.

Diatomaceous Earth

Posted on by
Reply

I have been around animals, household and barnyard, my entire life.  Every year, from cat to horse, our buddies are dewormed.  Following an annual or biannual deworming schedule is recommended by veterinarians to avoid health complications from a variety of parasites, including pinworm, roundworm, and hookworm.

The past several weeks, I have been wondering: why is regular deworming not equally recommended for humans?  I realize that most of us are not outright eating our feces, but the unfortunate reality is that an estimated 85 – 90% of Americans carry a parasite, with the CDC projecting that 60 million Americans carry Toxoplasma gondii, a specific parasitic variety that gives me nightmares (thanks a lot, Joe Rogan, for bringing this into my psyche).  According to the Veterinary Record, 15% of potting soil contains roundworms, and we are inevitably exposed to multiple varieties via our environment and food.  Even Dr. Oz says that “90% of humans will have a problem with parasites in their lifetime.”  I know that I’ve certainly consumed my share of sushi (sans wasabi), rare meats, and undercooked eggs.  I won’t freak you out any more, but the statistics indicate that you’re probably carrying around one of these ingrates.

I am not at all an advocate of fear, but I am a proponent of action.  Perhaps the fear factor and high-def macro photography is why we don’t talk about this… or I could be totally full of shit, but I don’t think so.  There seems to be an unspoken American consensus that we humans are above the other members of the animal kingdom, but I accept that the same rules apply to and affect us.  This includes pathology.  Europe agrees on this point, and recommends annual or biannual deworming for both pets and their people.  It’s not scary, it just is what it is.

worm monster

So what do we do about it?

We have options, including specific preparations sold online and in health stores.  Prior to the 1930′s, people regularly took herbs, castor, and mineral oils to expel the buggers.  I have chosen to use regular old diatomaceous earth.  I finally got my hands on a 5 lb sack of Perma-Guard food-grade (this part is very important) DE, which I purchased for my home and animals.  DE is widely recommended and used for animal deworming, from small animals to large livestock, as the shape and hardness of the diatoms dehydrates and destroys internal parasites.  Containing a huge amount of silica and trace minerals including calcium, magnesium, and iron, I decided it could only help the healing of my fracture (as well as my hair and skin, yay!), so I began working up to a teaspoon a day about a week and a half ago.  There is a lot of contradictory information out there about DE, and it took me two years of research before I decided to put it in my body.  Its history of safe and effective use in animals is well- and widely-recorded, and I feel confident about taking this modest amount for 90 days.  I am also particularly pleased with my seasonal timing.  I think it makes a lot of sense to include your body in your spring cleaning.  I am excited to observe any changes, but so far there has (perhaps thankfully) been nothing noteworthy, with the exception of possibly higher-quality sleep and slight sedation.  I will continue updating as I complete my course.

Parasites can be the stuff of nightmares and horrific YouTube hits, or a simply managed reality in humans as well as their pets.  I believe the latter, and that we need to be addressing their presence in both on a consistent schedule!

Day 364: Doors.

Posted on by
Reply

When things are going well, it’s a lot easier to look on the bright side, to be hopeful and have faith in oneself and others.  The challenge comes with maintaining this sort of attitude when both voluntarily and involuntarily closing doors, when things might not be going as smoothly.  It’s not easy, and some moments can be a lot more difficult than others.

I’d like to think of these cycles of “good” and “bad” the same way I understand “life” and “death;” that is, I believe they are but two sides of a single coin, existing and manifesting both independently and simultaneously.  Another way of expressing this is to say that I firmly believe that when one door closes, another opens.  There may be a touch of faith at work here, but what the hell.  May as well stack as many cards and half-full glasses on your side of the table as possible.

Right now, I have the option to close just such a door.  I can plainly see the knob on the other side, but I have no idea what might lie behind that big, heavy, sealed entrance.  Stuff like this shows me again that it’s never black and white (a distorted and self-defeating pattern of thought) either out there nor in here in this crazy existence.  Decisions aren’t always easy to make, and I’ve been burned, hard- I still have the scars.  Here now, however, is the opportunity for exponential growth, with the prospect of soaring high over those crappy old ashes, and I know I’m going to do it.  Here’s to progress.

Day 346: A Retrospective.

Posted on by
1

I can’t express how grateful I am to have started this blog. While I can’t say that raw foodism saved my life, I can absolutely say that the paths resulting from embarking on my raw foodist experience have changed my life, and in only positive ways.

A year ago, I was at a serious crossroads following some major life changes. Beginning a raw food experiment led me to researching many aspects of natural health, including using alternative (usually homemade!) products for my home and personal needs, the concept of orthomolecular medicine, and other more natural methods to treat symptoms and causes of both chronic and acute illness. It also strengthened my conviction and resolve that a vegan (>;51-80% raw, seasonally-based, whole-food) diet is my ideal way of living.

With all the legitimate information out there on the great range of holistic (physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual) benefits of adopting, implementing, and embracing such a lifestyle, I can no longer claim ignorance to the fact that both people and the animals they eat get hurt by the production and consumption of the standard American diet. I don’t want to hurt anything. I’m not saying that my way is right, or even appropriate, for everyone, and I certainly don’t hold anyone in judgement for their dietary preferences. However, I DO believe the vast majority of people would greatly benefit across the holistic board by adopting a seasonally-based diet of >;51% raw, plant-based, whole foods (organic if possible). I encourage those who are considering making the change to go slowly, be gentle with themselves, and develop and maintain compassion for others. That’s truly the recipe to success, in my opinion; approached with love, grace, faith, courage, and compassion for yourself and others, you will only improve yourself, your situation, and your environment. I have come to realize, acknowledge, and appreciate our common thread, micro and macro, on a much higher level than I did previously, and I now own the responsibility to honor the ethics I know with my heart to be true. This means taking care of my needs in a way that is, at its foundation, more selfless.

I have experienced a lot of schema shifts through this adventure. My perspective and approach to relationships, work, school, and even… myself(!) has changed. It’s as if some sort of switch was tripped and I began to develop and see with a new sort of clarity. I suppose learning about the short- and long-term consequences of eating the standard American diet opened my eyes to what I perceive to be a more outward and objective reality. I am thankful for this.

One of the coolest parts has been the positive metamorphoses I’ve seen in my acquaintances, friends, and family. It’s true; what you do really does influence others, so put out the good shit! My mom uses my homemade beauty products (with great results!) and my BFF and her husband purchased and LOVE their Vitamix. Friends have adopted green smoothies, using them to replace a meal a day, with results including boosted immunity, weight loss, and an increase in overall vitality. After Gary Yourofsky’s lecture, several students decided that veganism was right for them. I think I may have even talked my dad into trying a probiotic, but don’t quote me on that one just yet ;]

In conclusion, thank you to everyone who has ever read, commented on, or subscribed to my blog. The best part of all of this really has been the possibility of touching someone else’s life in a positive way. I hope that you will never stop seeking your personal truths.

xox,

M

Day 162: Wise Words.

Posted on by
2

Go placidly amid the noise & haste, & remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly & clearly; and listen to others, even the dull & ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud & aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain & bitter; for always there will be greater & lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity & disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shied you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees & stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors & aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery & broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.

1692

Day 157: Evening Skintone.

Posted on by
2

One Saint Patrick’s Day, when I was a child, my godmother gave me a little book filled with traditional Celtic folklore, signed “From one Irishwoman to another~”  I kept it on my nightstand, and remember reading some of the holistic remedies with fascination.  One of them, “to fade freckles,” included washing the face with milk and lemon juice.  I think it may have also included the indication to do this the night of the full moon.

Having worked in the beauty industry, I have seen a lot of products which promise to fade freckles, age spots, hyper-pigmentation, acne scarring, and other dark spots and discolorations.  These preparations often contain ingredients like citric, lactic, or glycolic acid and low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide.  Hydroquinone, otherwise known as the Michael Jackson skin bleach, works by shutting off the production of melanin by the melanocytes.  It doesn’t technically “bleach” the skin; it simply slows or eliminates the generation of pigment on a cellular level.  It is also a known carcinogen.

There are safe and effective alternative or holistic treatments which are far more budget-friendly. One of them is… surprise, washing the face with raw milk and lemon juice.  Why? Milk contains lactic acid, and lemons contain citric acid.  Both of these alpha-hydroxies exfoliate and increase cell-turnover, yielding a brighter, more even complexion.  So why the indication to apply the night of the full moon?  Probably a combination of these two reasons: 1) your skin cells renew every month (the moon is a convenient way to track your application), which is why it takes that length of time to start seeing real results, and 2) there is a high concentration of energy at the full moon, possibly enhancing your end result. This is why you might consider trimming your hair or nails with the waxing moon if you want them to grow, or waiting until it begins waning to slow growth.

You can purchase vegan-friendly products such as Devita’s High Performance Glycolic Acid Blend, which I adore, and which contains around 10-12% glycolic.  Alpha Hydrox’s AHA Souffle, boasting a 12% concentration, is also a solid bet at $11.99.  Looking for a whole, raw approach?  Rub your face with a lemon wedge once or twice a day, or try one of these Ayurvedic remedies.  I personally don’t use raw milk, but I find lemon juice to be really tolerable and effective.  Just make sure to wear sunblock while using any of these regimens, as your new cells will be very photosensitive- otherwise you may end up with more dark spots and discoloration than you began with :[

 

Mitten has perfect skin.

Day 142: The Sweat.

Posted on by
10

At the exact moment my upper lip begins glistening with a fine layer of sweat, my temperature reaches breaking point.  There’s a moment of panic and I gasp in a lungful of dewy air, heavy with the flavor of sacred herbs.  A jolt, and I feel as though my heart will burst as I wake up into a dream.  My eyes fly open, desperately grasping at the dark edges of the void I find, projecting the blazing images of my disoriented mind, which tilts frantically in the wholly foreign environment.  I press my face into the earth, immediately finding some relief in the cool mud, which cakes my cheek.  Breathe, I command my body, but I quickly realize that any attempts to exert control, either over myself or my environment (which have become one), will be met with resistance from every atom:

Logic does not exist in the lodge.

…It’s suspended in the outside world, which I assume is still moving; I’m really not sure that time exists at this point either.  Deprived of sight and intoxicated by the unfamiliar and kaleidoscopic play on the other four common senses, it’s impossible to retain a normal state of mind. Plunging back into the nihility, I identify the sounds of humming, drumming, moaning, and sobbing.  Warm droplets cascade down my nose and shoulder.  I feel fairly confident it’s sweat, and not mine, but it would be impossible to say to whom it might belong; I feel at least four other warm bodies pressing against various parts of mine in the darkness.  I also feel pretty certain I’m on the brink of a having a mindblowing panic attack, but I’m not going anywhere.  Physically.  The water pourer had made that crystal clear.  Even if I could escape, blindly crawling through the carpet of mud and limbs, while maneuvering around the pile of scorching hot stones toward the sealed door, would be a daunting task indeed. Instead, I flatten to the ground as much as possible, and decide to withhold my ego and try simply to observe; that’s the only way I’ll make it.

Pressed into the mud like a worm, I let myself become hypnotized by the lyrics of a dozen healing hymns.  I don’t recognize any of the native words, and it doesn’t matter.  When the flap finally opens two hours later, I feel new.