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?

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

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.

Spinach Mushroom Tarts

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.