Recent Posts

Oct 23, 2009

Cold Postponed Juice Fast


My juice fast didn't work out that week because I came down with a cold. However, it was minor and only lasted 3-4 days. Before, I remember I would get sick for at least a week, so this was an improvement in my mind. I didn't have much body aches, no fever, no swollen glands, no cough, and no plugged ears. I did have the stuffy/runny sniffles though, but it wasn't bad.

But now that I am back to normal and feeling great, I can once again keep you up to date on the latest health news. Last weekend, i attended my second NewLife Expo in the city. I attened a few lectures and learned some new fascinating things. I gathered enough informaiton to write a lot of posts, so keep checking in.

Until next time...eat well.

image by  971Talk

Oct 14, 2009

Juice Detox


photo by amorphity 
 
A friend of mine just went on a juice detox program by Blueprint. He only did it for a day or two, which can still work. However, he didn't follow the directions properly and basically didn't prepare himself for it. In the end, it only made him feel worse and was a waste of money and time. If you are planning on doing a fast or detox, please take the time to prepare yourself, both physically and mentally. If you don't commit, the detox will only backfire and make you feel worse.

Anyway, my boyfriend and I have decided to commit to our own 3-day juice detox. I will bring my juicer and we will juice fresh fruits and vegetables every day for our meals, about 5 large glasses of juice a day. A few days before, we will prepare our bodies for the detox by slowly weaning out heavy dense foods and eat more leafy vegetables and fruits. A day before, I will eat only salads and water-based fruits like oranges and watermelons.

I will update our journey as we begin this weekend.

Wish us good luck.

Oct 12, 2009

New Life Expo


This weekend: Oct. 16, 17, 18th, is the New Life Expo.

I went to it last year and it changed my life. New Life Expo is three days full of events, lectures, workshops, and vendors all focused on raw nutrition, yoga and meditation, and other forms of holistic healing.

Some of the most noted speakers will give hour long lectures and workshops. Here are some that I'm looking forward to:

Sean David Morton is a fun and energetic speaker whose prediction have changed the lives of many. he is not a psychic by any means, more like a historian. he will tlak about the year 2012 and how to prepare for it.

VIKTORAS KULVINSKAS is like the godfather of the Raw Food movement. Writer of the best selling "Survival in the 21st Century", he is wise and a must see.

Donna Perronne is a nutrition counselor, a juice fasting guru, and colonoscopy practitioner. I'm been seeing Donna since last year and attend her meeting. I'm looking forward to listen to her lectures.

I'm also looking forward to seeing what vendors have in store for us this year. Last year I bought lots of raw cocoa, gojji berries, macca, and coconut oil.

Tickets are only $15 for one day, or $35 for all 3 days. I probably won't have time to attend all 3 days, so I will most likely go on Saturday or Sunday.

Hope to see you there.

Oct 8, 2009

Breast Cancer Awareness for Young Women



Yesterday I attended Pretty City shopping event. The first booth on my way in was Bright Pink. If you're not familiar with them, Bright Pink is a non-profit organization focused on prevention and early detection of breast cancer and ovarian cancer in young women with high-risk. But as I talked to the very nice girl, I regret that I don't remember her name, I realized that it's much more than that. Bright Pink is a support system and a community of beautiful young females who happen to be in high risk for breast or ovarian cancer. It empowers women to be proactive and be aware of their bodies. It educates them about the risk and informs them how to get help and screening.


Being at very high-risk of breast cancer myself, this organization really caught my interest. Many young women don't get advised to get screening at young age, many start in their late 30's or 40's. However, my mother was 40 when she got hers, and my sister was even younger at 35. I've already had a benign tumor removed and two biopsies. I make it a priority to get checked every 6 months.

Don't wait until it is too late. Women have a "..1 in 8 lifetime risk of developing breast cancer".
If cancer seems to run in your family, you might have the mutated gene, so be sure to request a genetic test from your doctor to know your risk.

Lastly, take care of your health with nutritious diet and exercise daily. You can lower your risk for cancer by eating right and being active. Get plenty of green veggies and fruits. Drink plenty of water. And always make time to relax and de-stress, as well as 8 hours of sleep.

Be Proactive about your health. For more information, make sure to check out www.bebrightpink.org.

pics by Bright Pink

Oct 5, 2009

Pilates in the Park




Yesterday I did Pilates for a good cause. SHAPE magazine organized  Pilates for Pink to benefit the breast cancer research fund. The entire day was filled with yoga and pilate classes. By the time I signed up, most classes were already full. I got a spot in Synergy class.

The weather was beautiful and sunny that day, so I decided to walk there. After a 20 minute brisk walk, I arrived about 20 min early and took my time scoping out the event, which was filled with sponsors and delicious Emerald chocolate covered almonds.

The class was taught by a very fun and flamboyant guy who can twist ans shout in all kinds of positions. The poses were relatively easy and the class seemed short, but the ambiance and fun energy made it all worth it. I left the class feeling refreshed and energized for the day.

Afterwards, I checked out the Aosis Shoes booth to find out what sneakers are better for my running style. It turns out, my feet flare out slightly and I tend to put weight on the inside of my feet more. Maybe if I had the right sneakers, I would run more often. Next, I signed up for a mini massage from one of the trainers at Equinox. It was just what I needed; even though it was only for 5 minutes, it still relieved my aches and pains.

I hope more magazines and other organizations follow SHAPE and offer fun fitness events for a good cause. I enjoyed myself and hope to attend it again next year. Maybe you'll join me?

Oct 2, 2009

Harvest Moon


photo by p-duke

This weekend, Oct. 4th,  is the Harvest Moon, also know as the Hunter's Moon and the Wolf Moon.

As defines by Wikipedia, Harvest Moon is "..the moon at and about the period of fullness that is nearest to the autumnal equinox."
This moon will only rise for 30 minutes, as opposed to regular 50 minutes; so there will be an "... extra long time between moonrises from one evening to the next." The extra light allows farmers more time to harvest their crops before autumn.

Besides being absolutely breath-taking, make sure you take plenty of photos, it is also great for our health.

Just like full moon effect tides, the Harvest Moon effects our health as our body is 75% water. 

To celebrate and greet the full Harvest moon, prepare a delicious and nutritious Butternut Squash soup, the main symbol and vegetable of autumn Harvest Moon.  Make sure to fuel your body with essential fall produce.

Full moons are the perfect time to start a diet. This is the time for a clean slate, to rid your body and environments of toxins.

School of the Seasons is a great site that teaches about the effects of moon cycles and it can help you in all aspects of your life.

Have a great weekend!

Oct 1, 2009

SuperFoods: Avocados



 image by eblaser

Today I'm having a large salad with avocados and veggies for lunch. I love avocados, and adore guacamole. here are some quick facts on this amazing fruit (that's right, it's a fruit and not a vegetable).

Avocados  are fabulous on salads, desserts, pureed. They contain some protein and starch, plenty of potassium, and vitamins A,B,C, and E. Those of you avoiding fats in fear that you will gain weight, please educate yourself on the different types of fat. Avocados have heart-protective mono-saturated fat which is easy to digest, and perfect for children. They also have high content of oleic acid, which makes them a powerful antioxidant.

Avocados are ideal food for anyone recovering from illness or surgery. Women who are planning conception or are having fertility problems benefit from the Vitamin E in avocados. The vitamin B6  relieves PMS pains; women suffering from endometrioisis or heavy periods should consume avocados regularly ten days before their next period.

Sep 30, 2009

Produce Exchange




I got a great tip today from Vital Juice.

A relatively new site Veggie Trader lets you turn in your abundant produce, let's say you have too much mint growing – like my bf does, for someone else's produce. It is like a food swap. You can swap your locally grown produce for your neighbor's, that way you don't end up eating the same thing every night.

Don't see anything you like? No problem. You can trade in for cold hard cash. Don't have a garden? No worries. Browse local produce by entering your zip code. It's that easy. Don't take my word for it, check it out yourself.

Also, make sure you visit  Vital Juice for more  great tips on living healthy and happy.

Flu Shots: The Great Debate

Yesterday I got an e-mail at work that my company will give out free flu shots to employees. This proposed a difficult dilemma for me. While I am somewhat against vaccines and had not had a flu shot is years, I also haven't had a winter without a flu. Now with so many mutated types of flu and the swine flu stalking our area, I'm debating whether or not to take advantage of this flu shot. So, I went on to do some research and here is what I found:

The flu shot is an injection of a killed flu virus. Great, so you basically are infected with a dead virus. Apparently, flu shots cover the most common strains of flu; with so many mutation of flu occurring every year, you are likely to develop some strain of flu not covered by the flu shot. Also, the flu shots are composed of last year's flu bug, so who is to say you will get the same bug? Hmm... so far the flu shot is  not looking so good. What else?

Well, these shots are chuck full of toxic agents. One of the worst is mercury which has been linked to autism, Parkinsons and Alzheimers. That's right, you get mercury shot up straight into your bloodstream. It seems that the flu shot is meant to kill the flu virus and everything else in it's way. That's the American solution: just kill everything.

That settles it. I won't be getting the flu shot. 

The best defense against flu and colds is a good diet, daily exercise, and homeopathic treatments like herbs and teas. Let nature nurture you and provide you with the medicine to heal naturally. Trust your body to heal itself without toxic waste. Take care of your body and it will take care of you.

What is your opinion? Are flu shots helpful or harmful?

Sep 29, 2009

Superfoods: Bananas


 A Banana A Day.....

It seems that apples get all the credit. "An apple a day...." –  but I say that bananas deserve more recognition.

I like to start my day of with a banana or two. Not only does this fruit wake me up and get me going in the morning, but the potassium in it provides instant and slow-releasing energy, so you're full longer and retain more energy until lunch. Also, bananas are one of the fruits can can be paired with other food groups. I especially like bananas with a handful of nuts or dried fruit.

Bananas are a perfect snack after a workout because of it's cramp-preventing potassium. Potassium deficiency not only causes muscle cramps, but also exhaustion, depression, and insomnia. If you suffer from any of those, make sure to consume bananas regularly.

They also protect against high blood pressure, heart disease, and fluid retention.

Bananas should be eaten when the skin becomes speckled brown; that is when they are ripe and the starch turns to sugar.

What are some of your favorite banana recipes? 

Go Bananas.... 

image by Imapix

Sep 28, 2009

Recipe of the Week: Raw Spinach Mushroom Tart



Today's recipe comes from a new blog I started following called Rawmazing. This is one of the recipes that especially caught my eye because I absolutely love mushrooms. Mushrooms contain more protein than most other vegetables. They are low in calories are full of phosphorus  and potassium.



Click on the link above to see the full recipe and instructions. The recipe is not as complicated as it looks. Try it out yourself and send in a pic or your creations.

Sep 25, 2009

Kom-bu-cha



Sound familiar?

If you haven't already caught on to the new trend wave of Kombucha, what are you waiting for? This isn't another fad diet trend, this is an ancient folklore concoction with tons of benefits.

Kombucha originated around 220 B.C. – this recipe is older than Jesus.

Basically, Kombucha it is cultured beneficial yeast and bacteria floating atop of tea and sugar. Now before you get all weirded out, remember that Beer is made of yeast too; unlike beer, Kombucha doesn't cloud your judgment and give you a beer belly.

The fermented mixture is high in B-vitamins as well as an assortment of pro-biotics – essential for raw foodists and vegans.

The benefits of Kombucha include the detoxifying the liver and gall bladder, aiding the digestive system, increasing the metabolism, cleansing the blood, raising energy levels and focus, and enhancing the immune system.


Cheers!

Sep 24, 2009

Healthy Bites




Even with the economy down the hole, like most people, I refuse to let go of my weekly dinners out with my boyfriend.

I love how I don't have to worry about grocery shopping, preparing, and then cleaning up afterwards. I like the feeling of being pampered and attended to by the servers. I love that I can actually have time to enjoy my company. What I don't love is how annoying and time consuming it is to find a healthy restaurant with vegetarian, or raw, meals.

It's not that bad in the city, since I'm very familiar with the area and it's healthy choices. But what about if I have to travel somewhere? Where would I find a vegetarian restaurant in the middle of nowhere? Lucky me, I found Good Food Near You. This nifty site tracks you down (when you provide the zipcode of your location) then tracks down the most nutritious "good food near you". You can even customize your selections by lowest calories, lowest fat, distance, and more. Each pick comes a recommended menu dish along with its nutritional facts. The database boasts nutrition information for more than 220,000 U.S. restaurant locations.

Check out Good Food Near You for yourself. And next time you find yourself in an unknown territory, you won't have any excuses not to eat healthy.

Sep 23, 2009

First Day of Fall




Happy First Day of Fall!!! And what a wonderful day it is: the sun is shining, it's warm and pleasant, and the air smells of season changing.

Fall is  the best time for farmer's market produce. Organic and local fruits and vegetables are at their ripest, full of essential nutrients to feed our body and prepare it for the cold winter. Local foods are by far the freshest than at any supermarket you can find. So, instead of hibernating like most of us do as soon as a cool breeze rolls in, plan on taking advantage of your local farmer's market and prepare delicious dinners from best quality ingredients. This is the time to experiment and try food you were hesitant about before.

To find a local farmer's market near you, check out Local Harvest for locations as well as upcoming events, news, and nutrition facts. Support your local farms and your health.

image by DGMiller777


Sep 21, 2009

Another Sunny Week



Ohmmm....
It's another great week of sunshine in September. I started my day off with a quick 20 minute yoga session to stretch and get my mind ready for the day. I recommend everyone to do yoga or just simple stretches for about 10-20 minutes every morning. Not only does it stretch your muscles, but it helps deliver more oxygen into your lungs, which ultimately helps circulation and provides you with much needed energy to carry you through the day.

The weather is absolutely gorgeous and I've decided to have my lunch in Bryant Park today. My green bag is packed with "tuna" salad on sprouted grain toast with alfalfa sprouts. I can't wait to get the last bit of sunshine before it gets frigid cold. If you can, I would recommend you to do the same. Sunshine is a vital source of energy and vitamins. But please make sure to go either before 10 am or after 4pm.

Happy Sunbathing.

Sep 18, 2009

Yummy Lips

Just discovered Hemp Organic Lipsticks by eco-consious company called Colorganics. The lipsticks are made of 95% certified organic ingredients, organic beeswax combined with carnauba & candelilla plant, and uses no petro-derived FD&C dyes. They deliver "natural pigments in a traditional lipstick shape, yet maintains it’s organic integrity". The company also carries lip tints, lip liners, glosses, and barlms in many different shades to match your skin tone and preferences.

Hemp products, and organic natural cosmetics, are safer for your skin and your health. Many of the mainstream cosmetics contain harmful chemicals and toxins that penetrate through the skin and get into our bloodstream. Thanks to Colorganics, you don't have to sacrifice health for beauty.

Be beautiful and healthy.


Sep 17, 2009

National Yoga Month

September is almost over, but in case you didn't already know, it is the National Yoga Month. Yoga studios across the states are opening their doors to new comers by offering an entire week of classes for free. You can choose from many different styles of this 5,000 year old practice. Here are some reason to motivate you to try it:
  • Reduces stress by encouraging deep breathing. It lowers blood pressure and heart rate, and helps you achieve pure relaxation.
  • Improves flexibility and mobility. It is especially beneficial for people with joint pain.
  • Strengthens and tones your entire body. Yoga uses your own body weight to build lean muscle and tone all over.
  • Helps you focus. Research proves that yoga improves concentration, focus, and memory. Take that Sudoku.
Check out YogaAlliance.org for more information and where to find a yoga studio near you.

                                          image by Eric Lon

Sep 16, 2009

Mostly Raw Diet

Welcome friends to my blog and my first post. I promise to daily (except the weekends) update you with nutrition information to help guide you to better health and overall well-being. I will post recipes, fun food facts, latest research, fitness, reviews, events, my own daily diet, and more.

Why (mostly) Raw?  Our modern society is addicted to fast food, greasy food, overcooked food, and this toxic diet is contributing to most illnesses. Raw food is pure and healing; It detoxes your body, gets rid of toxic waste, and establishes balance so you can fight disease and infections. I put the mostly in because going 100% raw is very difficult, especially living in NYC. Since I don't live alone, I have to think of others. I can't blend in the morning, and the social aspect can get extremely difficult. So, I opt for a mostly raw diet, or as I call it "Raw 'till Dinner" diet.  I try to eat raw all day until I get home from work, where then I can indulge in some cooked veggies or a small salmon fillet. I don't eat meat, but do eat some fish sometimes. I usually don't eat eggs and I don't drink milk.

So please, for the sake of you health, join the CookingOptional  Revolution.