Wednesday, April 15, 2009
relationships with omnis
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Seeds...not just for the birds!!!
Chia Seeds, Salvia hispanica: is a seed cultivated in Latin America and was culitaved by the Aztecs, and was used in drinks and as a food source. This seed is high in omega-3 fatty acids, a rich source of antioxidants and a variety of amino acids.
I enjoy chia seeds in shakes, and on top of salads. I purchase my chia seeds from Raw Food Planet: http://www.rawfoodplanet.com/raw
country/Canada.htmlanada.html
Pumpkin Seeds (aka pepitas): Raw pumpkin seeds are packed full of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. A 1/4 cup serving gives you almost half the recommended daily amounts of manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, copper, vitamin K, and zinc. Pumpkin seeds are a good source of protein and monounsaturated fats.
Not only are pumpkin seeds nutritional powerhouses, but they pack some pretty impressive health benefits as well. Some of the health benefits associated with pumpkin seeds include bone health, anti-inflammatory properties, lower cholesterol levels, relief of prostate, bladder and kidney problems, help with depression and learning disabilities, and elimination of parasites from the body.
Sunflower Seeds: Aside from being naturally rich in folate and antioxidant Vitamin E, sunflower seeds are also packed with mono- and poly-unsaturated fats. These delicious seeds that offer great texture to any salad, or eaten on their own also are high in selenium and copper, which, together with Vit. E, prevents cellular damage that may lead to cancer, heart disease, and other health problems.
Interestingly, studies also indicate that sunflower seeds are also high in many phytochemicals– such as choline, lignan, phenolic acids, and betaine, as well as the amino acid arginine — which have a wide array of health benefits.
Sesame Seeds: Sesame seeds a very good source of manganese and copper! They are also a good source of calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, vitamin B1, zinc and dietary fiber.
In addition to these important nutrients, sesame seeds contain two unique substances: sesamin and sesamolin. Both of these substances belong to a group of special beneficial fibers called lignans, and have been shown to have a cholesterol-lowering effect in humans, and to prevent high blood pressure and increase vitamin E supplies in animals. Sesamin has also been found to protect the liver from oxidative damage.
In addition, sesame seeds are 25% protein. They are especially rich in methionine and tryptophan, often lacking in adequate quantities in many plant proteins.
Hemp Seeds: Hemp seeds are a great source of protein - more than fish, beef, eggs, chicken or tofu.Although not quite as much protein as whole soy, hemp protein contains all 20 known amino acids including the 9 essential amino acids (EAAs) our bodies cannot produce.
Some health benefits attributed to eating raw hemp seeds include:
- help improve the immune system
- lower blood pressure and blood LDL cholesterol levels (the “bad” cholesterols)
- improve cardiovascular circulation and function
- improve organ function
- increase energy levels and metabolic rate
- reduce the symptoms of PMS and menstrual cramps
- reduce inflammation and the symptoms of arthritis
- improve recovery of muscles after exercise
Clearly, seeds are not just for the birds! They are delicious, nutritious, and an essential compliment to any plant-based diet!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
GTA Vegan/Vegan-Friendly Spas
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Falling Off the Raw Food Wagon
- have a baked sweet potato alongside your raw salad
- enjoy your favourite sprouted bread with nut butter of your choice (Ezekiel Bread is great)
- enjoy a baked butternut squash for dinner - topped with some nutmeg and maple syrup
3. revisit your favourite raw food book or go-to website for recipes, get inspired and try something new. Perhaps you just need a creative boost to keep you going...
4. Reeducate yourself. Commit yourself to reading some literature about raw foodism, and why this diet leads to optimal health and wellbeing.
5. Attend a raw food seminar, cooking class, event or detox vacation to surround yourself with like minded people to help you continue on your raw food journey.
Falling off the wagon happens to the best of us, but recommitting yourself to a raw foodist lifestyle and persevering through this phase, is just one step in your raw food journey you had to experience.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Raw Retreats
I'm planning a vacation - a raw inspired vacation! Currently, I'm in the research phase of figuring things out: where I want to go (stay in Ontario, out-of-province, or beyond...), what I'd like to do, and whether I want it to have a detoxification/spiritual experience, etc. Also, I need to figure out whether I want to do this on my own, or bring somebody along with me to experience this trip with me.
From the research I've done so far, some possibilities include:
Healthy Eating and Consciousness Program
Pacha Mama (Costa Rica)
The one thing that I do know that I'd like to experience is good raw food (with perhaps a detoxification experience), and beautiful landscapes to explore. I wouldn't mind some healing rituatuals like massage therapy, daily yoga, etc. The next factor to consider is how long I'd like to go for, and budget...but, other than those details, I can't wait for a new experience!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Where to eat in the city?
Where can I have a wholesome snack?
Are there any vegetarian/vegan restaurants that have raw food options?
Raw food restaurants in the Greater Toronto Area:
Monday, March 16, 2009
Klean Kanteen Bottles
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
my detox experience
Thursday, March 5, 2009
RAW fed pets
In my opinion, any dog owner open to feeding their dogs raw need to get educated before making the switch. First its important to appreciate the benefits of raw before commiting to embracing this dietary lifestyle for their dog/cat....it is the way nature intended them to eat....kind of sounds like the same reasoning we use to explain why we practice a raw vegan lifestyle! : )
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
New RAW Hemp Protein Powder Supplement
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Zucchini Pasta...DELISH!
I found a great raw pasta sauce recipe from my raw food bible " The Complete Book of RAW FOOD- Healthy, Delicious Vegetarian Cuisine made with Living Foods"(edited by Julie Rodwell). It's a great recipe! Try it and enjoy!
Pasta:
Julienned Zucchini
Tomato Sauce:
6 sun-dried tomatoes, soaked 2 hours
2 cups choped fresh tomoatoes
10 basil leaves
4 Medjool dates, soaked 2+ hours
pinch of paprika
1 red pepper
----> Blend all ingredients with a hand-held blender
To liven up this pasta dish, I thinly sliced carrots, zucchini and brocolli florets to add to my pasta. Overall, I was quite impressed with this recipe! My next attempt will hopefully involve zuchinni sliced by a spiralizer, and a yummy pesto sauce; perhaps with some nut loaf on the side!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
My raw style...a day in the life
A typical day for me will begin with a green smoothie after an empty-stomach morning workout.
Here's my recipe green smoothie recipe (a Natalia Rose recipe):
6-8 kale stems
1 head of celery
2 apples
1 medium beet
1 lemon
1-2 inches of ginger
After my morning smoothie, I stick to all-fruit meals throughout the day until dinner.
Dinner is usually a huge salad, followed by a raw desert. Right now, I'm completely obsessed with my own variation of a 3 pepper salad I found in Natalia Rose's Life Force Energy book:
3 peppers (3 different coloured peppers)
2 ears of raw corn
2-3 roma tomatoes
2 green onions
1 tbsp olive oil
juice of half a lemon
1/2 tsp of celtic sea salt and pepper to taste
2 tbsp of hemp seeds or pumpkin seeds sprinkled on top
If I'm hungry before or after dinner, I'll make myself another green smoothie.
My approach is very simple, and doesn't entail a lot of elaborate food prep (dehydration, soaking, etc.). Howevever, to keep my tastebuds happy and the creative juices flowing, I do try my best to test drive at least one new recipe a week.
So, that's pretty much it, a day in the life....
Sunday, February 15, 2009
LARABARs are better than your average candy bar...WAY better!
Larabars are absolutely delicious, contain only a handful of raw ingredients, come in a variety of flavours AND they happen to be the perfect compact dessert/snack/postwork-out meal! ....why I didn't come up with this concept, bewilders me...
For anybody who hasn't tried one, some interesting facts about Larabars include that they are vegan, raw, unprocessed, sweetened naturally (with no added sugars), and each bar contains 6 of fewer ingredients!
I've tried many raw bars, but Larabars happen to be my favourite. I have yet to find another 'raw' bar that I enjoy as much as these guys. The other bars I've tried either have flax seeds in them (I'd rather add sprouted ones to a salad, than eat them in a bar), are chocolate flavoured, or just really aren't that enjoyable.
Although I do embrace a predominantly low-fat raw vegan diet, and try to steer away from too many dehydrated foods and nuts, I do endulge from time-to-time on these bars....especially as a dessert or if I'm on the run and have to eat...but when I do eat these bars, it's good times....really good!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Online Resources
http://www.veg.ca/ (Canadian vegetarian directory)
http://www.aniphyo.com/index.php
http://www.soystache.com/ (check out the raw links page)
http://rawfoodist.wordpress.com/
http://www.rawandjuicy.com/rawfoodblogs.html
FACEBOOK GROUPS:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=2204780217
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=6623197941&ref=ts
Monday, February 9, 2009
Raw food dining in the city
Friday, February 6, 2009
Supplements?
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
My reasons for going RAW
3. Excess weight seems to just melt off your body when you eat a raw and living food diet.
6. Enzymes are destroyed when food is heated above 112 degrees.
7.We need enzymes for every function in our body. To walk, to talk, to breathe, and to move, life itself depends on them. Cooking food kills enzymes.
10.The first thing that is lost when you cook something is the water content. Our bodies are between 60% to 75% water. Vegetables and fruits are loaded with water.
11. Cooking destroys 50% of the protein in our food. Between 50 and 80 percent of the vitamins and minerals are also destroyed.
12. Oxygen is lost and free radicals are produced when foods are cooked.
19. It is very common for people who eat raw and living food to feel a type of "buzz" - a natural, very pleasant high.
21. No diet- including vegetarian or vegan diets - even comes close to producing the healthy, all-over beauty, raw and living food accomplishes.
22. "Live foods produce live bodies; dead foods produce dead bodies."
23. A major reason why a raw and living food diet helps reverse or slow down the aging process is the high levels of certain vitamins, trace minerals and anti-oxidants found in this type of food.
24. Switching to a raw and living food diet has helped so many people feel well and healthy for the first time in their lives.
26. Within days of beginning this diet, people notice mood improvements. The mental "haze" lifts.
27. Eating a raw and living food diet makes you feel more energized, but also more at peace; more able to focus and concentrate.
28. Your body will reshape and repair itself.
29. Weight loss and healings are "secondary" benefits to this diet.
30. This diet will affect you positively on every level: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
31. An abused body, once shown some kindness, will work like crazy to become healthy and whole again.
32. As we age, our body's natural source of enzymes becomes depleted and we need to replenish this source through the foods we eat.
The best reason of all... because it tastes great!