Start the New Year off with a Detox

Since overeating during the holidays has become commonplace and even "tradition", most people naturally look to the new year as a fresh start and thus make resolutions to lose weight, quit bad habits like smoking, and start going to the gym.

Goal-setting/planning is the first step towards making positive changes for your health and we recommend that you consider a detox program to kick off the new year. A detox program can aid your body’s natural cleaning process by releasing excess toxins and wastes, improving circulation, and replenishing your supply of alkaline minerals.

There are many different detox methods that you can implement as well as time periods you can choose to do them for. We recommend that you consider the following suggestions and select the methods and time periods you feel are most realistic for you. Obviously the more methods you implement and the longer you do them for, the better your results may be, however taking on too much at once could be counterproductive if you fail to stick with them. We have heard of cleanses lasting anywhere from three days to three months, and people changing their diets for a lifetime or doing one-day-a-week fasts indefinitely.

A detox program can benefit virtually everyone, however if you have a health condition or are pregnant or nursing, you should discuss with your physician before starting any new eating or lifestyle program.

Here are some methods to naturally cleanse and detox your system:

Juice fasts

Fresh juice fasts (especially those high in greens) are a popular way to cleanse and alkalize the body. You can try starting every day with a glass of fresh juice, replace one meal a day with juice, or go all out and drink nothing but juice for weeks or months as Joe Cross did and inspired many others to do in the film "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead." We recommend cucumber-pear and kale-green apple as easy and cleansing duos, but keep in mind that the act of juicing even the most alkaline of fruits and vegetables creates a mildly acidic juice, therefore we recommed that you offset the acidity by diluting with 9.5 Chanson alkaline ionized water. You can juice your own if you own a juicer, or there are companies on the internet that you can order from which will deliver fresh juice to your door daily for the duration of your cleanse.

Hydrate with alkaline ionized water

Drinking Chanson alkaline ionized water is essential throughout any detox program because it helps to flush out the many toxins that will be stirred up and eliminated from fat stores and organs in your body like your lymphatic system and your kidneys. Ionized water is microclustered which means it penetrates cells deeper than traditional water and can thus flush them out more effectively. A Chanson water ionizer is a wonderful investment for overall day-to-day health, not just during a detox. You can also try one day a week "water fasts" where you drink nothing but Chanson ionized water to cleanse your system.

Liquid feast

One of the reasons juice and water fasts are so effective is because they give your body a break from having to work so hard to break down your food for digestion. Therefore you can also try a liquid diet of blending or pureeing your food if you wish to consume more than just juice or water. Soups and smoothies are examples of liquid feast "dishes" you can try and are recommended by Dr. Robert O. Young in his book "The pH Miracle for Weight Loss."

Cut the crap

When we consume unnatural foods, they can leave behind a dense residue in our cells, which can turn into excess weight, body odor, wrinkles, cellulite and premature aging. Therefore, sugar, artificial sweeteners, animal products, processed foods, and fried foods should be eliminated from your diet during a detox and reduced in general for overall health. For example, just because coffee, alcohol, milk and sodas are liquids does not mean that they are acceptable for a liquid feast. Likewise, ordering "fresh juice" off of a Jamba Juice menu is not going to have the desired effect due to the excess sugar their smoothies contain. Dairy products clog your system and are acidifying, so avoid yogurt also.

Eat raw

If you choose to incorporate some solid foods into your diet, then you should rely heavily on raw alkaline fruits and vegetables as snacks, starters and even meals. Raw foods are more nutrient-dense than cooked foods and their negative ionic charge is the opposite of the positive ionic charge of toxins in our cells. The fiber found in fruits and vegetables will also help with elimination as well. Consider munching on carrot, celery and bell pepper sticks dipped in hummus, salads with oil-based dressings, and fruits dipped in almond butter.

Colonics

According to Dr. Norman Walker, author of "Colon Health: The Key to a Vibrant Life": "The elimination of undigested food and other waste products is equally important as the proper digestion and assimilation of food...the very best diets can be no better than the very worst if the sewage system of the colon is clogged with a collection of waste and corruption." A colonic is a safe and effective method for cleansing the bowels and can be performed by a professional or done in the comfort of your own home with the use of a colema board as often as once a month. Without them, buildup in the bowels can lead to prevention of the absorption of water and nutrients, constipation, growth of harmful bacteria and yeast and autointoxication (when toxins are absorbed into the bloodstream through the colon wall).

Go green

While you're working hard to watch what goes into and comes out of your body, don't forget to keep an eye on the toxins you may be exposing yourself to externally. Virtually all chemical-based household cleaners and many personal beauty products like shampoos, deodorants and toothpastes are acidifying to the body and contain known carcinogens. Chanson ionized acidic water--the byproduct of a water ionizer--is an all-natural alternative to everything from mouthwash and facial toner to Windex and Lysol.

Exercise--the alkaline way

"Instead of hard exercise (which creates lactic acid), one should practice traditional Asian soft-style exercises such as yoga, Tai Chi, and Chi Gung on a daily basis throughout the duration of any detox program" according to Daniel Reid, author of "The Tao of Detox." Don't have the time and/or desire to learn traditional Asian exercises? Rebounding on a mini-trampoline can dramatically improve lymph flow while exercising every cell in the body, and walking, stretching and aerobic exercise also works well.

Pledge to be stress-free

When stress hormones are released into the system in large amounts, toxins are created and can slow down the detoxification enzymes in the liver. Negative emotions are also very damaging and should be minimized. Dr. Young has seen negative emotions have a more damaging effect on one's alkalinity than the worst of foods, and world-renowned photographer Dr. Masaru Emoto has documented the effects of negative words on water crystals with pictures (this is important considering that we are about 70% water!)

Practice hydrotherapy

To increase circulation and help flush out toxins, try alternating a very hot shower for five minutes, with cold water for 30 seconds, for a series of three times in a row before wrapping in a towel and getting into bed for 30 minutes. But don't try this before installing a Chanson Spa Shower Filter, which filters harmful chlorines and chloramines from the water which would otherwise be absorbed by your skin and lungs.

Sweat it out

One way toxins are released from the body is through perspiration, which is why most spas offer saunas and steam rooms. Infrared saunas are preferred as they can cause you to perspire more than twice as much, and if you are going to be using a steam room or wet sauna make sure it is using filtered water so that you are not inhaling the contaminants found in tap water.

Breathe deeply

"Deep breathing greatly enhances oxygenation of the blood and tissues, which helps neutralize acidosis and maintains a healthy alkaline environment inside the body" according to Reid. One of the main ways to move the lymph system is through breathing deeply, so try focusing on your breathing several times throughout the day.

Dry skin brushing

To increase lymph flow, you can use a natural bristle brush on dry skin by brushing in circular motions towards the heart. This will help your lymph system rid itself of the toxins that collect in the lymph glands and keep the pores of the skin open.

We hope that you will find these detox suggestions helpful and will try to implement one or more of them this new year for better health.

DISCLAIMER: The author of this article is not a trained physician. This advice is not meant to replace that of a qualified physician. If you have a health condition or are pregnant or nursing, you should discuss with your physician before starting any new eating or lifestyle program.

The Bones of the Matter: 13 Reasons You May Be At Risk For Bone Loss And Not Even Know It

Researchers estimate that about 1 out of every 5 American women over the age of 50 have osteoporosis and that men over age 70 are at a higher risk for osteoporosis. However bone loss can begin as early as our 30s and may be a direct result of diet and lifestyle.

Calcium and phosphate may be reabsorbed back into the body from the bones to combat acidity as we age, which weakens bone tissue and can result in brittle, fragile bones that are more prone to fractures. Once diagnosed with osteoporosis, one can expect to lose an additional 1 to 2 percent of bone mass each year if they take no action to prevent or slow bone loss. It's precursor osteopenia has no symptoms, but your doctor can perform special spine and hip X-rays to measure bone density.

While osteoporosis has some well-known risk factors such as a low-calcium diet, inactivity, and bad genes, the following triggers may surprise you.

High Dairy Consumption

A 12 year long Harvard Nurses’ Health Study found that those who consumed the most calcium from dairy foods broke more bones than those who rarely drank milk. Surprised? Although cows milk contains 118 mg of bone-building calcium in every 100 grams, the problem is that those 100 grams also contain 97 mg of phosphorus, and phosphorus actually blocks the absorption of calcium.

Like all animal protein, milk acidifies the body which in turn triggers a biological correction. Calcium from our bones is used to neutralize the acidifying effect of milk. Once calcium is pulled out of the bones it leaves the body via urine, so the surprising net result is an actual calcium deficit after drinking milk. For more information on the dangers of milk, click here.

Medications

All medications--whether they be over-the-counter, prescription, or the very drugs which are designed to help osteoporosis--are acidifying to the body. Just as with milk consumption, your body needs to buffer acidity by pulling alkaline minerals from within the body, primarily calcium from your bones. Long-term use of any drug can therefore weaken the bones. In particular, antidepressants, glucocorticoids (steroids), anticonvulsants and the contraceptive Depo-Provera have been linked to bone loss.

Eating Disorders

If you are currently suffering from or have ever experienced anorexia or bulimia you are at a higher risk for osteoporosis due to malnutrition, excessive weight loss, calcium deficiencies, severe drops in estrogen, and excess cortisol production. To prevent further damage, those with eating disorders should seek professional help immediately.

Smoking, Excessive Alcohol Consumption

Smoking cigarettes may interfere with calcium absorption and is associated with an increased risk for bone fractures, while large amounts of alcohol can deplete hormones and increase cortisol levels, contributing to an alarming loss in bone density. Fortunately, bone health will return gradually after you stop smoking. It is recommended that you try to limit alcohol intake to a maximum of one drink per day.

Diabetes, Gastrectomy and Weight-Loss Surgery

The bone structure of diabetics is a little more porous than that of non-diabetics, so it’s easier to break.

Some evidence points toward an increased risk for bone loss after weight-loss surgery or the removal of part of your stomach because it could affect the ability of your digestive tract to absorb calcium and vitamin D.

Inflammatory Conditions, Kidney Disease, Hypoparathyroidism, Estrogen Deficiency

Chronic inflammatory conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia put you at risk for osteoporosis, while kidney disease and hypoparathyroidism can also wreak havoc with your hormone levels which ultimately affects your bone health. And anything that causes a drop in your estrogen levels can harm your bones, which is why bone loss accelerates after menopause.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is extremely toxic and harmful to all cells including bone cells. Fortunately one can generally recoup most, if not all, of their bone mass once treatments are over. However, you might want to consider a plant-based diet as an alternative to conventional cancer treatment.

Steps You Can Take to Help Prevent Bone Loss and Increase Bone Mass

1. Replace cows milk with one of the following more alkaline alternatives: almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk, rice milk or goats milk.

2. Adopt a plant-based diet. Research shows that it's better to get your nutrients from food than from supplements. Consider the amount of calcium your body will absorb from eating 100 grams of the following alkaline foods: almonds (254 mg), broccoli (130 mg), kale (187 mg), sesame seeds (1,160 mg) and kelp (1,093 mg).

3. Drink Chanson alkaline ionized water. Reverse osmosis, distilled, and most bottled waters contain water that has been stripped of all minerals and is actually acidic. Drinking Chanson alkaline ionized water may be a significant source of calcium, providing over one-third of the recommended dietary intake of this mineral in adults. Chanson alkaline ionized water is micro-clustered which makes it easier to absorb at the cellular level and thus improves mineral absorption and overall hydration.

4. Make sure you are getting adequate amounts of Vitamin D. According to PubMed, it is recommended that you get 800-1,000 international units of vitamin D3 daily, which helps your body absorb calcium. The best source of vitamin D is natural sunlight (10-15 minutes a day without sunscreen). If this isn’t possible for you, Vitamin D supplements may be helpful.

5. Engage in weight-bearing exercise. During weightbearing exercise, bone adapts to the impact of weight and the pull of muscle by building more bone cells. Try walking, jogging, dancing, stair climbing, bowling or golf.

DISCLAIMER: The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only. The author of this article is not a medically trained physician; therefore, any theories or suggestions put forward are intended to supplement and not replace the advice of medically or legally trained professionals.

Motivation to Diet

The title Motivation to Diet is deceptive because for me personally, I don’t want to diet, I’m looking for a lifestyle change. I used the word "Diet" because that is what people understand and are used to and also because in the truest form, any eating pattern that we choose is our "diet" regardless of if we are trying to lose weight or not.
I’ve been trying to lose weight for the last four years rather unsuccessfully. I’ve put effort in, and have had various motivations to do it, including wanting to fit into my wedding dress that had to be altered to fit me from the original size I was when it was created.
When I met Ronnie I told him that I was seriously under my normal weight because of grief, prayer and fasting, and not to expect that I would always weigh 120. Since I have gained beyond my normal weight of 138, my husband has hinted at his displeasure about my weight for some time. I have tried to loose it but I don’t think that it was a total priority in my mind.
Quite honestly, I think it can be hypocritical for men to gain weight and then criticize their wives when they do. ESPECIALLY if it’s like in my case, where its Ronnie, bringing the junk food home and in some cases quite literally feeding it to me!
Here’s an example from two nights ago. Ronnie: I feel like pizza, do you want pizza?
Me: No, I don’t want pizza, I’m on a diet and I’d like you to support me on it.
Ronnie: You’ve been doing so well I thought you’d like a "cheat day."
Me: I’ve only been on the diet four days, no I don’t want a "cheat day," I want results.
I’m not trying to rant on my husband there, I’m sharing it because I know that some of you have had similarly frustrating experiences.
What I do want is to share what has radically changed my thinking although that is something that has been in the process for over a year in terms of my health and well being. I’m going to quote from several sections of one chapter in Shaunti Feldhahn’s book For Women Only – What you need to know about the inner lives of men. She surveyed hundreds of men and this quote is from a chapter called The Truth About the Way You Look – Why what’s on the outside matters to Him on the inside. "This chapter is about something our men desperately want us to know, but feel absolutely unable to tell us…The effort you put into your appearance is extremely high on his priority list. Yet the chances that you know his true feelings are extremely low. What I’ve learned about men’s needs in this area has been life changing. It has jarred me out of a dangerous complacency. Call me naïve, but I just didn’t realize that the issue of appearance was such a big deal—such and imperative deal---for a guy. Of course, having learned just how visual men are, I should have gotten a clue. But somehow I assumed that if I was out of shape, I was the only person who was negatively affected."
Article continued, click here for full version.

By Nedalee Ruiz
Nedalee is the author of The Desperate Parents Handbook http://www.desperateparent.com/
Nedalee recommends http://www.healingwatermachines.com/ for more articles on health and healing.
Copyright © 2008 By Nedalee Ruiz Permission granted to reproduce in entirety only including links and author credits.

The Tortoise and the Hare

Well, I've stated eating healthier and making better food choices. Already my energy has increased. So Like the Hair in the fable, I'm out of the starting gate. The holidays have been hard for Ronnie, he seems to have been hit hard by depression over the loss of his Mother. He's putting off his New Year's resolution diet for a few days and comforting him self with food. I saw him eat an entire pint of ice cream last night which is not unusual.

So having lost my guinea pig for the blog, I will have to step in and post my own fat pic.

To summarize some of my last posts for those of you who haven't been following along, Ronnie lost 40 pounds last year drinking alkaline ionized water and eating a more alkaline diet. He gained it back eating comfort foods after he quit chewing tobacco and lost his Mother in the same month. He's vowed to lose it and more this year, but hasn't started trying yet.

My effort will include mild exercise, a more alkaline diet, and lots of alkaline ionized water. I am going to explore Vegan, Alkavarian, and Raw foods, but have not committed to eating them exclusively as I'm still an omnivore who loves Bar-b-que. Like any wise dieter, I will try to avoid the dreaded white foods, Rice, Potatoes, Sugar, Milk and Bread. But again, I not going to say never. As you will see from my food posts which will follow, I had Cream of Ham and Potato soup for dinner the first night of my diet and may have some more since the pot isn't finished.

What I am doing is a very public TEST diet. Raw fooders eat lots of high fat items like nuts and avocados but burn the fat and lose weight. I'm going to see if a fairly inactive over 45'er can get weight loss results.

So here are the current stats:
On January 1, 2008 I weighed 165.5 up about 3 pounds from before the holidays. I swear the new weight feels like it's all in my butt. It feels like I have a caboose waddling after me for the first time in my life. My weight is also up almost 30 pounds from my after baby weight from the second child who is now 23. I kept that weight for almost 20 years.

My weight can fluctuate even if I weighed 3 times a day, so I'll only weigh in once a week or so.

My measurements, (don't tell anybody)
Are a ghastly 41 - 35 1/2 - 38 1/2

What I ate:
Jan. 1, 2008
Breakfast- Blueberry Smoothie
Lunch- Fresh broccoli florets dipped in store bought humus. (Broccoli is high in protein.)
Snack Trader Joes Spicy Ranchero Egg White Salad -Low fat, high protein, low carb, cholesterol free and only 50 calories. Tastes like cottage cheese with taco seasoning. Defiantly not raw, not vegn, not alkaverian. I bet that if you soaked almonds in water and chopped them in a food processor with the other ingredient you could make a vegan/raw version.
Another Snack- Store bought salad
Dinner 2 cups Cream of ham and potato soup.

Jan. 2, 2008
Exercised 20 minutes on a rebounder. (I've worked my way up from only five minutes.)
Breakfast- Blueberry Smoothie I buy my blueberries frozen and organic at Trader Joes for under $4 a pound which will make me about 6 smoothies.
Lunch- Tuna wrap because my last avocado was rotten so I couldn't have the avocado wrap that I had planed.
Snack- Apple
Dinner- Pomegranate Salad- Don't freak out, it's not complicated, the pomegranate seeds were just a garnish on a purchased salad from Trader Joes. It had some goat cheese too so it wasn't vegan.
Snack- Celery with tuna and humus

Diet, Diet, Diet...Nope

Diets fail. Lose a little, gain it back and then some. Lifestyle changes work. But it can be hard to make changes if you don't have the support of the people around you. My two teenage boys are the perfect example. I've wanted to eat healthier for ages. But they complain when something has the word "organic" on it. In their minds the word "organic" equals "fake." So cooking two meals is a pain. My way around that is that I let them cook and eat whatever they want within reason after they've eaten some of what I made.

Most diets are about depravation. Count your calories, eat less, bla bla bla. My new diet isn't about depravation or about calorie counting. It's about making healthier choices. Choice number one, I will have fresh vegetable juice or a Blueberry smoothie in the morning for breakfast. I've never been a breakfast fan, but I choose to have something now because it is impossible to loose weight on less that 3 meals a day, your body goes into preservation mode. Five small meals are even better than 3 if you want to lose weigh.

Men and women actually lose weight differently. Because of that I'm going to join Ronnie on a very public diet. Have you seen that commercial where the fat cartoon lady is complaining that her husband quit drinking soda and lost 14 pounds and she lost one? I laugh every time I see that commercial because it's so true! Like I said in a previous post, Ronnie lost 40 pounds last year with very little effort. I wasn't as committed and didn't come close to matching his results. This year, I am committed and want to see how far that commitment can take me.

I've packed up the left over homemade Christmas candy to mail to my daughter so it won't go to waste and will be out of temptations way.

I'm going to exercise up to 20 minutes 3 times a week. I haven't done any exercise this past week because all the excess sugar over the holiday lowered my immune system and gave me a bad cold. I'm still sniffling and weak so I'll hold off on exercise for a few days. Most of my work is done form the computer so I lead a very sedentary lifestyle. I've had three gym memberships in the past and never went for more than 5 months and NEVER lost any weight from working out. As a matter of fact, I always gained weight and the trainers would smile and say that was good because muscle weights more than fat.

This post is getting long, so I will wrap it up. I will be posting our starting weights and some pictures soon. The main reason that you should follow along with our progress on the blog is to see how easy it is to lose weight with the methods we will be using.

Because I want increased energy more than I want weight loss I will be adding a lot more raw food into my diet. For people who don't know about raw food, the thing that comes to mind is raw meat or carrots and celery sticks. Let me assure you, there is now raw meat. And while I may choose some carrots and celery sticks from time to time, there is a whole world of great tasting easy to prepare gourmet raw foods which we will explore on the blog.

Consider this passage of scripture from the book of Daniel in the old testament of the Bible. Chapter one verse 8-16.
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king." So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

"Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. "Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king's delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants."
So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days. And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king's delicacies. Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.

By Nedalee Ruiz
Nedalee is the author of The Desperate Parents Handbook
http://www.desperateparent.com/
Nedalee recommends http://www.healingwatermachines.com/ for more articles on health and healing.
Copyright © 2007 By Nedalee Ruiz
Permission granted to reproduce in entirety only including links and author credits.

The Power and Purpose of Fasting

Fasting has many beneficial proposes and can come in many forms. Fasting helps to cleanse the body and focus the mind. Fasting gives the digestive tract a welcomed rest and also helps to cleanse the colon. Fasting can lead to temporary weight loss of as much as a pound a day. One of my favorite benefits of fasting is that when you are done, the flavors of food are amazing. You taste buds seem to come alive and fresh healthy foods suddenly have a much stronger appeal than sweet or unhealthy foods. This is because artificial flavors have overwhelmed you taste buds and numbed them to the calmer flavors of natural foods. A full fast would require that one abstain from all foods and drink for a period of time. Some will fast all food and drink only water. In one example, during Ramadan, Muslims won’t even swallow their own spit during the day light hours. However people modify their fasts all of the time. Some people will go on a liquid only fast getting most of their nutrition through shakes or smoothies. Other people only fast a certain food like meat or chocolate. I must tell a funny story here. When I was in high school, my boyfriend told me that he was giving up chewing gum for Lent. Not being a Catholic, and not knowing what Lent was, I thought he meant he was giving up chewing gum to chew pocket lint instead. Personally my first fast was water only, for spritual purposes and lasted 9 days. It felt good to have that much self-control. I have continued to fast over the years for various reasons and lengths of time. My longest was 22 days. But all of my fasts have had the wonderful benefit of causing food to taste better. Doctors say that one should never fast for more that three days without water, although it is recorded in the Bible that Jesus was able to fast 40 days without food or water. A typical side effect of fasting is that you may experience flue like symptoms about the third day of a fast as your body eliminates toxins. If you are not on a religious fast, and excluding liquids, it is recommended that you drink copious amounts of water to flush toxins. Try for a full glass of water every half-hour. I personally choose alkaline ionized water as it is up to six times more hydrating and the hexagonal shape of the water molecule causes it to get into my cells better than bottled or tap water. A short fast is the perfect way to cleanse your palate and begin a transition healthier eating. It is highly recommended if you are trying to become more spiritual or become healthier.
By Nedalee Ruiz
Nedalee is the author of The Desperate Parents Handbook
http://www.desperateparent.com/
Nedalee recommends http://www.healingwatermachines.com/ for more articles on health and healing.
Copyright © 2007 By Nedalee Ruiz
Permission granted to reproduce in entirety only including links and author credits.

New Year Resolution Diet

This button popping picture was taken of my husband, Ronnie, on Christmas day 2007. He's going on a diet Jan. 1st 2008. Follow along on the blog to see how easily and quickly he looses the weight. He's not too happy that I'm making a public spectacle of him. But I know that he will appreciate the added motivation to stick to his goals. See you on the 1st. And Happy New Year.

Man splits pants, see what he's going to do

Ronnie, my husband, has gained a lot of weight this year. Yesterday, in Home Depot he bent over to pick up something he'd dropped in the check out line and split open his pants! He has vowed to change his eating on New Years and I'm going to document it here on the blog. Last year he had lost 40 pounds in three short months by making some simple changes in his diet. He drank alkaline ionized water. He cut meat out of his diet, decreased sweets, and increased vegetables. The results were remarkable and we are going to see if he can recreate them as we follow along on the blog. He swore that he never felt hungry or deprived and that he really didn't have time to add exercise to his regime.

Ronnie's Mom passed away in May, and the grief sent him into a wild self-comfort eating binge for over seven months for which he has dearly paid the price, seeing his health and energy decline and his weight increase. We've calculated that on some Friday nights out with his friends he would consume up to ten THOUSAND calories in a single night!

So be sure to join us in January as we begin to document his journey back to health.

Sugar ARGGG

Sugar ARGGG

I just bought 4 packages of various dried fruits. As soon as I took the first bite,
I knew there had to be added sugar. I had only read the label on one of the
packages. Sure enough, even with only two ingredient, with they way they
worded it, I had missed that they added sugar to the fruit!

Last week, I challenged my teenage sons to each pick out a box of cereal for
themselves. My only rule was that it couldn't have sugar or a form of sugar
in the first three ingredients. I had wanted to make it the first five ingredients
but was afraid that would be too difficult. Turns out, it was IMPOSSIBLE
to find even one box that didn't have it in the first 3. Not Cheerios, not
flavored oatmeal, not Wheat Chex, or Wheeties or flakes, nada.

Now my boys were just plain mad at me instead on the cereal manufactures!
My boys don't understand that the average American eats 120 POUNDS of
sugar a year! And they don't understand the negative effects of that sugar on
our bodies and immune systems. A great book on the subject is Sugar Blues.
Read it years ago, but I believe that the authors name is William Duffy. I'm
sure about the Duffy part, not so sure of the first name. Anyway, he even
says that sugar is added to canned corn and cigarettes!

Random Ramblings

God determines who walks into your life....
it's up to you to decide who you let walk away,
who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go."


Here is a link to a vegetarian blog with recipes.
http://vegetablejapan.blogspot.com/

Personally, I'm an omnivore, who is interested in
health though spirituality and nutrition. So I will
provide eclectic information related to parts of the
whole person, body, mind and spirit. Right now
we are focusing on Raw diets, but I am not
personally exclusively raw. Only two of the
speakers on the Raw Sum mitt so far have been.
But impressively, one is aspiring to make the
Olympic team at age 40 and the other cured
himself of diabetes.

Be blessed,
Nedalee

Free Living Foods Conference Call Today Nov. 21, 2007

Sergei Boutenko: "Free" Living FoodsChef and Author of "Eating Without Heating"

After successfully combating juvenile diabetes 15 years ago through a raw diet, Sergei shares his wisdom regarding helping children kick the junk food habit. And as the owner of Harmony Hikes, he will also offer tips for finding fresh, local and better than organic wild foods for Free!

Date: Wednesday November 21st 2007
Time: 8:00 PM Eastern Standard Time
Phone Number: (641) 715-3800
Access Code: 7028756
Code: 72

Listen on your computer for free at: http://www.rawsummit2.com/free_access.html Link will only be active for 24 hours.