Our Raw Life

Substitute unhealthy, unkosher bacon with eggplant recipe!

2012-02-08T14:36:00.000-08:00

Raw Creamy Fiesta Dressing for Tacos

2012-02-03T16:48:00.000-08:00

Here is a video for the raw Creamy Fiesta Dressing with recipes below.

Creamy Fiesta Dressing
1 cup hemp seeds
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
3 T lemon juice (or apple cider vinegar)
2 T olive oil
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1 garlic clove

(Add enough water to blend to desired consistency)

Raw Walnut Taco Filling:
1 1/2 cup of walnuts (soaked)
1 1/2 tsp. cumin
3/4 tsp. coriander
2 tsps. nama shoyu

Process in food processor. Dehyrdrate 6-8 hours.

Natural Hair and Skin Care Ideas

2012-01-30T14:41:00.000-08:00

Cleanse Your Liver & Gallbladder!

2011-07-18T13:21:00.000-07:00

Please note that I recently changed the instructions of the actual
liver/gallbladder cleanse and inserted the instructions from Andreas Moritz's book called The Amazing Liver & Gallbladder Flush to avoid any confusion. I highly recommend reading this book and following the directions to obtain the best results. You can order it here at www.rawlife.com.

Paul and I recently decided to do a liver/gallbladder cleanse together. It's always more fun to have someone to cleanse with! After a few weeks on the road, we felt like our bodies deserved a kick start, and this liver/gallbladder cleanse is pretty simple too, so we thought it would be easy to do it in between trips.

The liver is one of the most vital organs in the body. It is the largest organ and also performs the most functions. It filters the blood and excretes waste through bile, which is then sent to the gallbladder. When oil or fat is present in a meal, it signals the gallbladder to contract and squeeze bile, which helps the oils and fats to be properly absorbed by the body.

There are six fundamental things that tend to damage the liver:

1. Overeating
2. Eating and drinking refined white flour products, processed foods, junk foods, white sugar, and fried foods.
3. A low-protein, high-carbohydrate and fat diet.
4. Alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, theobromine, and hard, recreational drugs.
5. Medicinal drugs and pharmaceuticals.
6. Consuming insecticides, preservatives and other cumulative poisons.

You can also help your liver and gallbladder by eating foods high in potassium, like brown rice, bananas, blackstrap molasses, almonds, seeds, kelp, dulse, prunes and raisins. Drinking lots of pure water, and eating mostly raw, organic foods and fresh fruit and vegetable juices.

It is important to be nice to your liver! If the liver is functioning properly, most illnesses and cancers can be eliminated!

While it is possible to control a few aspects of your health, like what you eat and drink, there are a few things that you cannot control, like environmental toxins, and damage that may have happened before your health journey. This is why it is important to cleanse and fast. Your body needs a break and an opportunity to do its job!

Fasting and cleansing is not for everyone, and I do not advise pregnant and nursing mothers to do any heavy cleansing or fasting. I am currently nursing Noa, but this cleanse is pretty simple and gentle, so I did not have an issue completing it. But it is important that if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, that you do major cleansing when you are finished. That way you do not jeopardize your health or your baby's, by dumping too many toxins into your blood too fast.

There are many websites online that describe different ways to do this liver/gallbladder cleanse.

Here are the directions from The Amazing Liver & Gallbladder Flush:

You will need:

Apple juice: 32 ozs. a day/for 6 days
Epsom salts: 4 TBSP dissolved in 3 8-oz. glasses of water
Extra virgin olive, cold-pressed: one-half glass 4 oz.
Either fresh grapefruit (pink is best), or fresh lemon and orange combined
2 pint jars, one with a lid

1. Drink 1 container of 32 ozs. of freshly juiced apple juice, use packaged apple juice if not juicing.

2. Avoid foods that are cold or chilling, animal foods, dairy products and fried foods. Eat normal, but do not overeat.

3. Plan to do the actual cleansing on a weekend. That will allow you time to rest if needed.

4. Avoid any medication, vitamins or supplements.

5. Cleanse your colon before and after your do the liver flush. Either by colonics or enemas.

6. One the 6th day:

Drink all 32 ounces of apple juice in the morning. Eat a light breakfast, juice, fruit or oatmeal. Eat a light lunch of plain cooked or steamed vegetables and white rice preferably basmati. Do not eat protein foods, butter, or oil. Do not eat or drink anything (except water) after 1:30 p.m.

The Actual Flush:

Evening:
6 p.m.: Add 4 TBSP of Epsom salts to 24 ounces of water (three 8-oz. glasses) of filtered water in a jar. This makes four 6-oz servings. Drink first portion (3/4 glass) now. This will open the bile ducts, making it easy for stones to pass.
8 p.m.: Drink second serving.
9:30 p.m.: Do a water enema if you have not had a bowel movement or colonic.
9:45 p.m.: Wash and squeeze grapefruits by hand and remove the pulp. You need 3/4 glass. Pour the juice with 1/2 cup of olive oil into jar. Shake hard until it is watery.
10 p.m.: Stand next to bed, and drink concoction while standing, without interruption if possible. Some people use a large plastic straw.
LIE DOWN IMMEDIATELY! Turn of lights, lie flat on your back, with one or two pillows propping your head up. Your head should be higher than your abdomen. Or, lie on your right side with your knees pulled toward your head. Lie perfectly still for at least 20 minutes, and try not to speak. You may feel the stones traveling along the bile ducts like marbles, but there will not be any pain.

The Following Morning:

6-6:30 a.m.: Drink your third 3/4 glass of Epsom salts. You may go back to sleep, or do light exercise.
8 - 8:30 a.m.: Drink your fourth glass of 3/4 glass of Epsom salts.
10 -10:30 a.m.: You drink fresh juice, then 30 mins. later, eat fresh fruit. One hour later you may eat light food. By the evening, you should be back to normal start feeling signs of improvement!

What to Expect:
That is it! The next morning, be prepared to pass gallstones in your stool. They look light to dark green, are very irregular in shape, are the size of grape seeds to cherry seeds, and feel like gelatin.

To permanently cure health issues, all stones must be removed, and this can take up to 8-12 liver flushes! Liver flushes should be performed is 3-week or monthly intervals.

Paul and I were both tempted to take pictures of ours, but I was not sure if I was ready to expose myself so much! But I will post a few pictures of what ours looked like instead.

This really is an easy cleanse, and you only need 6 days to complete it. I encourage everyone to try this cleanse! You will be amazed at the results, and feel energized, lighter, and happier!

What do you feed your baby?

2011-06-16T20:01:00.000-07:00

Here is a video of a few commonly asked questions Paul and I receive, and my responses!

Article for EternityWatch Magazine: Growing Your Food; Improving Your Health!

2011-05-03T10:32:00.000-07:00

I recently contributed this article to the online magazine, EternityWatch. Click here to subscribe! Check out their website also at www.eating4eternity.org!

Growing Your Food; Improving Your Health!

By Andrea Nison

It is easy to feel a little overwhelmed when you begin your health journey. Sometimes it seems that the more you read and study, the more confused you become about what you need to be healthy. There are so many things to learn, and so many things to un-learn too! Once you jump in with both feet, you soon realize that this journey to a healthier life isn’t just about the food. There are so many other aspects to a healthy life, including emotional and spiritual health too.

Although the food you eat is not the only factor determining your health, you still must take into consideration the quality of the food you are eating. Of course eating mostly raw fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds play a huge role in determining the quality of your health, and making sure that these foods are organic is of high importance. But what happens when you are not able to receive vital nutrients from these raw foods? What if you are lacking important nutrients and you can’t seem to get them through any of the foods you are eating? This is where the incorporation of supplements into your diet plays a major role in determining how successful your health journey becomes.

The quality of our food is not the same now as it was 100 years ago. Vitamins and minerals have slowly been depleted from the soil. An article in the February 2009 issue of Time Magazine stated that today’s supermarket vegetables are almost 40% lower in minerals than those grown fifty years ago because of soil depletion and harvesting methods. There are more than 70 trace minerals necessary to produce healthy, nutrient-rich crops, yet most current farming methods routinely put back only three to five of them. No wonder our food is becoming less and less nutritious and farmers are forced to apply toxic pesticides to their weak plants to keep insects away so that they can get their crops to the market. It’s a vicious cycle, and we are left with unhealthy plants and depleted soil.

One of the best ways to guarantee that the food you are eating contains high-quality vitamins and minerals is to grow it yourself, using nutrient rich soil. But that is not all! You must begin to incorporate composting methods to help the soil return to its once fertile state after years of abuse and mistreatment. Composting is the decomposition of plant remains and other once-living materials. It is the best way to recycle your yard and kitchen waste, and it plays a critical step in reducing the volume of garbage sent to landfills. Adding the compost back into the garden soil will help enrich and condition the soil and it also works as a natural pesticide. There are many resources and handbooks available to help you get started recycling your kitchen waste. Composting is not only easy; it is fun!

Now you don’t need a lot of space to start your own garden. Square foot gardening is a technique used to help maximize garden space. Square foot gardening is usually done in a small, clearly defined area, using closely planted raised beds with a strong focus on composting. There are many resources online that will show you how to set up a garden bed using a square foot gardening technique to help you utilize your garden area. By growing your own food, you are able to add compost and other nutrient-rich soil to the garden beds, which will then provide you with living foods that are filled with vitamins and minerals.

You don’t even need a garden to start growing your own food! You can easily start growing sprouts and wheatgrass inside your own home. Sprouts are one of the most complete and nutritional foods that exist. They are rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins and enzymes. Some sprouts, like lentils, can be sprouted in jars and ready to eat within 2-3 days. It may seem like a lot of work at first, but by growing your own food, you are taking a step toward control of your health and your life!

I understand that not everyone has the time or room necessary to start growing your own food. And if this is you, then incorporating a few important supplements into your diet will help you obtain these vital nutrients and keep you moving on your health journey. Even if you are growing your food, you may still need to add a few supplements into your diet because some vitamins and minerals are not obtainable by eating a strictly vegan diet.

Everyone has different body chemistries and make ups, so not everyone needs the same supplements. There are a few supplements that I recommend to everyone, including vitamin D, vitamin B-12, probiotics and enzymes. These supplements are beneficial to everyone, but you might need to take a common blood test to help determine if there are any other areas you might be lacking, and then you can take the steps necessary to improve.

Vitamin D, the essential nutrient obtained from sunlight, is known for its many wonderful benefits, including protection from multiple sclerosis, diabetes, cancer, and other diseases. Vitamin D is essential for strong bones because it helps the body use calcium from the diet. There are many different causes for a vitamin D deficiency, especially if you are on a vegetarian diet, because most of the natural sources are animal-based, including fish and fish oils, egg yolks, cheese, and beef liver. If you are eating a plant-based diet, then supplementing with vitamin D could be beneficial for you.

Vitamin b-12 is another vitamin that is not found in any plant food. It is, however, abundant in many meats and fish, and in smaller amounts in milk and eggs. This makes it difficult for people following a strict vegetarian diet to get the necessary amount of vitamin B12. Adding a vitamin b-12 supplement to your regime will ensure that you are receiving enough of this vitamin, and there is no risk of taking too much vitamin b-12 because it has a low potential for toxicity.

Probiotics help maintain the natural flora in the intestines, inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria that cause digestive stress, improve digestion of food and absorption of vitamins, stimulate the immune system, and help make vitamins needed by the body. You can purchase Premium Grade Probiotics at our webstore at www.RawLife.com .

Enzymes are an important supplement because the body depends upon enzymes to help purify the blood, break down fats, cleanse the colon, maintain proper cholesterol levels and maintain peak energy levels. Enzyme supplementation with meals is a very good preventive measure, especially if you are eating foods that are nutritionally incomplete.

There are also many different vita-mineral greens on the market now, and these green powders are a simple and easy way to add more vitamins and minerals into your diet. It’s easy to add a scoop to smoothies or nut milks, and even water.

I recommend monitoring your blood work on a regular basis to determine if you have any deficiencies, and until then, start adding these recommended supplements to your diet. Even if you are able to grow your own food, it is still important to monitor your blood work to make sure you are receiving everything you need, and incorporating the appropriate supplements is extremely important and beneficial.

Starting to Eat Healthy

2011-03-01T11:42:00.000-08:00

While traveling on the road, Paul and I meet lots of families with concerns about what they are feeding their children. Common questions that both Paul and I get asked a lot are “How do you start feeding young children raw foods?” and “What are you feeding Noa?”

It might seem a little overwhelming at first when you start to make healthy changes to your family’s diet, but once you get the hang of it, it starts to come naturally! A great place to start is to replace a meal or snack that might not be that “healthy” with something that is healthy. If you find a healthy alternative for a food in your diet that you know is not good for you, then you won’t even miss that food!

I know for me that learning how to make a few raw food desserts helped me resist the temptations of the unhealthy desserts I was so accustomed to eating. It is so simple to make a raw, fruit pie using nuts, dates and any fresh or frozen fruit as a topping. I often made these pies for my friends who weren’t familiar with the raw food diet, and they loved them! You can also make date balls with the same ingredients you use in the pie crust; dates and nuts. It is really simple, and children love them!

When we first began to introduce raw foods into Noa’s diet, she had just turned 1. We really tried to hold off on feeding her any foods because we did not feel that it was necessary for her to eat anything other than breastmilk from me. She barely had any teeth to chew any food either! We researched a lot about what age is appropriate to start feeding infants, and we decided that we would not introduce new foods until she turned one, and she was almost two before I really felt like she was actually eating. She mostly put food into her mouth, chewed it up, and then spit it out. I did let her put food into her mouth before she was one, like avocados and bananas, but she was not consistently eating solid foods. I admit too, there was a lot of pressure from family members and friends to start feeding her. I tried to explain nicely that we are waiting, and that she is receiving enough nutrients from me for it to be any concern.

Now that Noa is two, she is eating a diet similar to mine. We drink fresh green juices in the morning, which can include kale, collards, sunflower sprouts, celery, cucumber, apple, and carrot. For snacks, we eat blueberries, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, bananas, apples, cucumbers and lots of other fresh fruit, especially if it is in season. Black sapotes are in season now here in South Florida, they are also called Chocolate Pudding Fruit, and if you aren’t familiar with them, they are a delicious fruit, high in ascorbic acid. We have been making lots of recipes with the black sapotes that I will be posting soon. Noa loves them, and can recognize them in the market too. I love it when she says “black sapotes” and points to them before I can even find them! For lunch, we eat avocados and kimchi, and maybe sprouted and lightly cooked quinoa too. We really try and keep it simple, and we also adhere to the Daylight Diet.

If you are beginning to make the transition to healthier foods for your family, then try and make it fun for them. And try not to use the word “healthy” too, because that might trigger an automatic “ewwww” response. Just have fun and be creative, and your family will follow your lead!

Raw Food Recipe: Spanish Rice

2011-02-17T14:16:00.001-08:00

Paul and I have been having a lot of fun lately, making raw food recipes! We will be posting many more to The Raw Life Health Show soon, so stay in touch.

Here is a recipe from one of our favorite books, How We All Went Raw, by the Top Raw Men.

Spanish Rice

1 head cauliflower, grated in a food processor
4 green onions, diced
2 tomatoes, diced
1 orange bell pepper, diced
1 Jalapeno pepper, diced
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup cilantro, diced
1 avocado (mashed in)
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon sea salt (optional)
1/4 cup cold pressed extra virgin olive oil

Mix together and serve!

This recipe book is simple, and has lots of pictures too. You can purchase it from our web store: www.RawLife.com, by clicking here.

Yummy Kimchi!

2011-01-30T18:59:00.000-08:00

Recently, I started adding a little kimchi to my diet, and now I can't stop! I am eating it everyday and loving it!

If you haven't heard of kimchi before, it's a traditional Korean vegetable dish, made with fermented vegetables and seasonings. The most common kimchi recipes are made with napa cabbage, radish, green onion, or cucumber. It is commonly used as a side dish, added over rice, salads, beans, grains and nori rolls. My favorite way to eat it is with avocado. I may even add a little cooked quinoa to the mix, and even Noa loves it! She eats the kimchi alone! She absolutely loves it, and I am thrilled too!

Not only is kimchi delicious, but it is one of the healthiest foods you can put into your body. It is rich in vitamins and minerals, and contains a number of lactic acid bacteria, including Lactobacillus kimchii. Because of the fermentation process, it is full of probiotics and easy to digest.

After spending 3 years working at Hippocrates Health Institute (HHI), I became accustomed to eating sauerkraut daily, which is another fermented food made with finely shredded cabbage. I liked that the sauerkraut was made right there in the HHI kitchen. Once I stopped working there 2 years ago, I also stopped eating fermented vegetables on a regular basis. But once I started adding them to my diet again, I realized how important they were to my overall health!

Kimchi and sauerkraut are also super easy to make! You can find recipes online, or you can try this recipe from our friend Ani Phyo and her book Ani's Raw Food Essentials:

Napa Cabbage Kimchi
By Ani Phyo
Makes about 8 cups
Pickling time: 2 to 3 days

1 napa cabbage, cut crosswise into 2-inch chunks
1/2 medium-size daikon radish, peeled and cut into quarters lengthwise, then 1/2-inch-thick chunks
2 tablespoons sea salt
1/2 cup water
2 green onions, sliced into 2-inch lengths
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1 tablespoon Korean chili powder

Place the cabbage and daikon pieces in a large mixing bowl.
Place the salt and water in a separate small bowl, mix to dissolve. Pour over the vegetables. Set aside at room temperature overnight to soften.

The next day, drain, reserving the saltwater the vegetables were soaked in. Add the green onions, garlic, ginger, and chili powder to the cabbage mixture, and mix well. Tightly pack the mixture into a 1/2-gallon glass jar with a lid. Pour the saved saltwater into the jar, leaving 1 inch of space at the top. Tightly close the lid. Leave the jar in a cool, dark place for 2 to 3 days (depending on the termperature and how pickled or fermented you want your kimchi). Refrigerate after opening. Will keep for a couple of weeks in the fridge.

I am looking forward to making Ani's kimchi recipe soon, and we will be posting a video of it on The Raw Life Health Show too! But before I get in the kitchen to start experimenting, I make sure I keep a few jars of Sunja's Kimchi in the fridge. I found Sunja's Kimchi at Whole Foods, and it contains only natural ingredients, and it is raw too. I am hoping I can make my kimchi taste as delicious. And according to Ani, her Korean recipe is truly authentic. I will keep you all updated, and let me know if any of you try to make it too!

Back Home in South Florida!

2011-01-10T17:44:00.000-08:00

We are finally back in sunny South Florida, and we are definitely more appreciative after being away for almost 2 months. Especially with all of these winter storms across the U.S.!

We were so blessed by many of you on this last tour, and are so thankful that we reconnected with old friends and made so many new ones. Although we love being on the road, we are excited to settle down and get back into our routine at home. I hope to start homeschooling Noa soon, and there is plenty of work to get done around the house. And of course, we are always in the process of getting rid of "stuff."

Paul and I are both so excited to announce our new website that we recently launched:

www.TheRawLifeHealthShow.com.

This website is created for all of you who are serious about your health. We wanted to give you access to the latest information regarding natural health and healing topics, recipes and so much more. This site allows us to remain connected to all of you when we are not on the road.

If you are interested in becoming a member to the Raw Life Health Show, then click here!

We also posted our latest e-newsletter that you can view by clicking here!

Now that we are home, there is a lot of work to get done, but hopefully you'll be seeing a lot more of us through The Raw Life Health Show. I hope to get back in the kitchen to make simple and tasty recipes and I will also be answering a few questions each week. So if there are any topics or questions that you want to discuss, just post them below and we will try and answer them soon.

Thanks again to all of you who have blessed us and supported us with words of encouragement, prayers, and in so many other ways!

Fall in NY, Potty Training & Elimination Communication

2010-10-14T18:38:00.000-07:00

Right now, we are in NY visiting Paul's family. We are having a blast staying with Paul's twin sister and her husband on Staten Island. The fall weather has been amazing, and we love visiting the parks and watching the trees changing.

Today we visited the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and enjoyed the fall colors and cool weather. We only have a few more days left of this trip, then we fly back to Florida for a short visit home. We are trying to squeeze in as much fun into this trip as we can because when we return in November, it will be cold!

We have a packed schedule until the end of the year, and will be on the road until January. Please check out Paul's tour dates HERE and come and say hi! We love connecting with old friends and especially love making new ones!

Noa is having a blast visiting the parks, playing and making new friends. I love that she can spend time with Paul's family, and it's fun having Paul show me around Brooklyn where he grew up.

Noa is almost 21 months, and we are taking huge steps toward becoming potty trained.

Since Noa was about 11 weeks, I began a practice called Elimination Communication (EC). EC is a toilet-training method that uses timing, signals, cues, and intuition to address an infant's need to eliminate in an appropriate place, like a toilet, portable potty, or even bowl. While at home, I mostly let Noa play diaper-free, and I tried to tune into her elimination rhythms and take her when I felt she needed to go. I was not always in tune with her, and when we went out, I would put her in a diaper. I did not practice this 100% of the time, but I did my best, and when it was not convenient or if I had a day with lots of "misses", I tried not to be too hard on myself. I always tried to keep a small portable potty with us in the car, and even took her in public restrooms and held her over the toilet. I started using a "pssssss" cue, and she caught on! It was really amazing connecting with her and tuning into her needs. It also was a huge help and encouragement that my close Mama Friend Debra was also practicing EC like a pro and I was able to learn a lot from her too.

Here is a picture of Noa at about 3 months, sitting on the potty while I cue her.

I'll admit that it did seem like more work getting started with the Elimination Communication early, but now that Noa is approaching two, she is almost completely cuing and letting me know on her own when she needs to go. She even makes her own "tssss" sound, or says the word "potty". I always try and take her potty when I go too, and she has no problem saying "no" if I ask her, especially if she is busy playing!

I will definitely write more about EC again, but for any moms who are interested in letting their new babies or even older infants go diaper-free, here are few quick tips to help you get started:

1) Babies will not eliminate while they are sleeping, so always take them potty immediately after waking up in the morning or after a nap.

2) Take them potty after a feeding.

3) Before a bath.

4) At different intervals throughout the day (15 mins., 20 mins, etc.).

Once you get started, it gets easier and starts to become routine! You will be amazed at how easily you can tune-in to your baby. I loved showing Noa the proper place to eliminate at such an early age and now that she is older, she knows where to go. There is no un-training!

I encourage all of you parents out there to try EC even once a day to get started! You will be amazed at how natural it feels and how connected you become to your baby.

Check out these websites to get more information on going diaper-free and Elimination Communication: DiaperFreeBaby.org & the EC Store.com.

Check back here too, and I will be posting more!

Life on the Road

2010-08-24T18:07:00.000-07:00

We have been traveling now since July 29th, and it has been quite an adventure! It has been the longest trip we have made as a family since Noa arrived in our lives. We quickly learned that 3-4 hours in a car is enough for one day and spending some time at a park or playground everyday is a must.

Many of you have blessed us by opening your homes to us and we have loved making new friends too! And there are times when we decide that a quiet night in a hotel will be a nice break, as long as we can open a window. Noa has had a blast playing with new friends which gives me a nice break too.

Overall, I think we are managing pretty well with life on the road. I definitely need to learn to not over pack, and I have some ideas to help me be a little more organized. There is definitely some consistency and routine to our days even though we may be in a new city or town.

We often have people ask us what we eat while we are traveling, and we definitely keep it simple. We actually brought our VitaMix with us on this trip and have only used it a few times. We stop at a supermarket almost everyday and are able to find organic greens, avocados and fresh fruit. We have eaten so many locally grown peaches the past 2 weeks that we decided we are peached out! Watermelons and cantaloupes are in season, so those have been a nice treat. But we only eat the seeded watermelon, and so should you! Seeded watermelon is more nutritious than the hybridized unseeded varieties and it tastes better too.

A typical day usually starts out with some fruit for us, and maybe a raw egg or two. I actually swallowed my first raw egg yesterday and liked it! It seems like an easy way to get some high quality nutrients.

Then we may eat a light salad, or some nuts or seeds like pumpkin, sunflower, cashews or walnuts. We bring apples, blueberries, raisins and any other fresh fruit we can find to snack on, and Noa likes these fruits too. I may also buy some hummus and sprouted grain tortillas to have later if I'm still hungry, and Paul and I both like to stop eating pretty early. Sometimes the day is almost over and we realized that we have not really eaten that much, and we feel okay. If I'm a little hungry and it is getting too late to eat, I might sip on a little water or tea and it takes the hunger away. That way I can still get a wonderful night of sleep on an empty stomach.

Eating on the road definitely has a few challenges, and I am looking forward to being back home and having access to a kitchen. But maybe I am enjoying having a little break from the kitchen too!

I hope to write more soon and blog more of our road trip adventures. We will be home soon and we hope to get more recipes posted too, so keep in touch!

Here is a picture of us with an amazing family who invited us to the Creation Museum in KY. We had such a great time, thank you very much!

Vegetable Nori Rolls

2010-07-04T18:09:00.000-07:00

I love the experience of eating out, and when I went raw, I soon began to miss going to my favorite restaurants with my friends. It's a little difficult when you change your diet to find places to eat that will accommodate you. Instead of turning down invitations, I began to join my friends and sometimes I would eat before and then sip on water while everyone else indulged. Or I could find a simple salad on the menu, and I would bring my own dressing in my purse, or I would ask for a little lemon and olive oil.

But when we decided to go out for sushi, I was excited because I could actually order from the menu. I would order vegetable rolls with no rice. At first, I would get funny looks from the servers, but the sushi chefs had no problem making it for me. It may not have been that filling, but I was still able to have the sushi experience with my friends that I loved so much.

I even learned how to make my own vegetable rolls at home from my friend Jessica who had been to Japan several times. It's so easy! Once you master the rolling, you can make it with anything! I began to make my own vegetable rolls using lots of different vegetables and fruits like cucumber, carrots, avocados, sprouts and lettuce greens. You can even make nut pates and spread them on the nori sheets like you would rice.

Once I began working at Hippocrates, I learned about the alkalizing grains like quinoa and millet. After being 100% raw vegan for a while, I began eating some of these cooked grains and loved them! I even made rolls using millet and avocado and Paul loved them too!

I love making these vegetable nori rolls. They are so easy to make and you can be creative using different ingredients and they will taste great.

Paul recently talked about the importance of consuming sea vegetables like nori on The Raw Life Health Show . Right now, we have raw nori sheets available at a discounted price at The Raw Life Health Store .

Click here to order!

Here are few examples of some of the nori rolls I made recently. You can slice them like sushi or eat them as hand rolls.

If you need a little help getting the "roll" down, you can find the bamboo rolling mats at a local Asian supermarket for pretty cheap. But after a little practice, you won't even need it.

Linen for Your Health!

2010-05-07T17:44:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, I posted about how Paul and I were making the transition to more modest clothing and how we discovered the amazing health benefits of linen fabric. We are now in the process of changing everything to linen! From our clothes, bed sheets and even curtains, we want everything to be made of linen. I am even planning to reupholster Paul's work chair with purple linen (his choice)!

It has been so exciting researching and learning about the history and benefits of linen. Linen is even mentioned throughout the Bible. It is one of the oldest textiles, dating back 3500 years ago. Yahweh instructed Moses to make garments of linen for Aaron and his sons when serving in the Tabernacle (Exodus 28:39-43). The actual Tabernacle in the wilderness had curtains made of fine linen (Exodus 26:1-6). The body of Yeshua was wrapped in linen (Matthew 27:57-61). And in Revelation, it is prophesied that linen will be used as a sign of purity: Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure" - for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints (Revelation 19:6-8).

It is amazing to me when scientific facts confirm what the Scriptures have said for thousands of years. Linen is made from the flax plant, which is complementary with human cells. It measures 5,000 signature frequencies compared to cotton, which has 40, and organic unbleached cotton which measures 100. Pure wool also measures 5000 units of energy, but we don't need to wear any wool while in Florida! Also, wearing black of any fabric collapses the energy field, yielding it useless.

Linen provides an excellent filter protection against noise, chemical exposure and dust. Sleeping on sheets of linen can also provide a better night's sleep, absorb moisture, and is more durable than cotton bedding.

While I am browsing through stores, I try to look for anything linen. I recently found shirts and pants at Target made with 100% linen and Paul and I had a blast picking out his new wardrobe. I bought a couple of things, but I hope to start making linen skirts and tops soon, so I am holding off on buying too many items. My friend Debra has also been inspired to wear more linen and spotted linen clothes for children in the window of boutique while we were walking. The clothes were quite expensive, but looked simple to make. So making linen clothes for Noa and other young ones will be on my list to make too!

Making changes to a more modest wardrobe has been quite challenging for me, but discovering the healing benefits of wearing linen has really helped make this process more simple and easy. One health advocate whose writings have really inspired me about dress reform is Ellen G. White, author and co-founder of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. White has many teachings on diet, health and nutrition and she also emphasized the importance of proper dress by not exposing the limbs, which she claimed can cause circulation problems, and by not wearing clothing that is too tight, again causing circulation problems. I am not familiar with all of White's religious teachings, but I have found truth in her teachings about health, diet and dress.

I am amazed at how Yahweh reveals these wisdom nuggets to me as I continue on my journey to optimum health and healing. It is definitely a process and He is gentle with me as I make changes when I am ready. We are all in different places, and I am encouraged by all of you who are also growing and learning in these areas. Please post comments and share your knowledge too so we can inspire each other!

Attachment Parenting and Creating Healthy Children

2010-04-18T17:43:00.000-07:00

We recently had the honor of hosting our friend Karen Ranzi for a few days while she began her first major book tour in West Palm Beach, speaking about her new book Creating Healthy Children Through Attachment Parenting and Raw Foods. I was familiar with the Attachment Parenting concept before I met Karen, but after meeting her when I was about 6 months pregnant at the Raw Spirit Fest 2008 in Sedona, she left a strong impression on me that helped me understand the importance of Attachment Parenting, especially the first 3 months of an infant’s life. We only had a brief discussion, but she advised me to not do anything for the first 3 months post-partum, not to worry about housework, cooking and shopping. Karen said that my main job is to hold my baby 24 hours a day, and even take showers with her! I thought that 24 hours a day seemed a little extreme, but now looking back I completely understand her urgency. Keeping our newborns close to us at all times is the most important thing they need!

I may not have been able to hold Noa 24 hours a day, but we did incorporate Attachment Parenting into our lives about 90% of the time. I carried her in a sling almost all day while she napped or just hung out. She immediately went from the car seat to my chest anytime we went anywhere. I began bathing with her and letting her sleep on my chest at night. It was amazing! I fell so in love with her and really felt a strong bond that continues to grow. Being so close to her allowed me to intuitively meet her needs and really get to know her.

Now at 15 months, she is maybe in the sling about 50% of the time. She prefers to run around and explore and is becoming very independent. But when we are out and I prefer her to be with me, then I put her in the sling and she is perfectly happy.

There are so many benefits to incorporating Attachment Parenting, and I hope to go into more detail in the future. If you are interested in learning more, please check out Karen’s book Creating Healthy Children Through Attachment Parenting and Raw Foods. I am reading it now and it is filled with so much valuable information. This book is well researched in so many areas. Karen shares her own experiences, references and testimonials as well as her wisdom and scientific knowledge of the human body. We may not be in agreement with every single issue Karen discusses, but we respect all points of view and encourage others to have an open mind and try things for themselves.

I remember when Paul and I were figuring out the things that we needed after Noa was born and I really wanted to buy this high-end stroller for about $600.00 because I thought we “needed” a bassinet. After discussing it with Paul, and then our midwife who said we don’t even need a stroller if we are doing Attachment Parenting, I decided that maybe it would be wise to spend less on a stroller and now I am so thankful we did! Noa would have grown out of the bassinet within months! I barely used the stroller until Noa was about 9 months, and then I started taking her for walks around the neighborhood once or twice a day. I continued to use the sling, and never really brought the stroller anywhere. Now Paul and I joke about how it would “not” be funny if I got my way and spent so much money on a stroller we hardly used. Thankfully Dave Ramsey has instilled in me some of his money wisdom and I can talk myself out of some of these “wants” that I think are “needs.”

If you are in the market for a stroller, then check out Karen Ranzi’s new book and maybe it will change your mind completely about even “needing” one at all.

I am continuing to understand the importance of Attachment Parenting everyday. Another great book to read is the Continuum Concept by Jane Liedloff. This book really enhanced my understanding of child wearing and co-sleeping. I understand that Attachment Parenting may not be for everyone. But I do believe that even incorporating wearing your child part-time will be of a tremendous benefit to both you and your child. I even encourage mothers with two, three and four year-olds to start wearing their children part of the day.

I look forward to writing more extensively about all of these topics in the future. Please let me know if you have any questions, comments of concerns!

Creamy Fiesta Dressing

2010-04-07T10:59:00.001-07:00

1 cup hemp seeds
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
3 T lemon juice (or apple cider vinegar)
2 T olive oil
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1 garlic clove

(Add enough water to blend to desired consistency)

Raw Walnut Taco Filling:
1 1/2 cup of walnuts (soaked)
1 1/2 tsp. cumin
3/4 tsp. coriander
2 tsps. nama shoyu

Process in food processor. Dehyrdrate 6-8 hours.

Living Debt Free!

2010-04-03T17:45:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since the last post, and I have been trying to make time to write, but life seems to be a little crazy lately!

We got home from our trip to California and Arizona a little over a week ago, and then it was time to prepare for Passover. I was hoping to have my spring cleaning finished before the first night, but now I am just hoping to be complete by summer! I have a few different piles accumulating that I plan to donate, including lots of clothes that I no longer wear and don't plan to wear again (and some I probably should have never worn). It feels so great to let go of these items and make room for clothes that fit into my current lifestyle.

We bought a car yesterday! One thing that Paul has taught me is to learn to live within our means. We currently drive a 10 year old car that I bought a few years before Paul and I met. He helped me pay it off when we got married, and we have shared it since then. We are strong believers in Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University and have been working to pay off all our debt, including our house. We desire to live completely debt free! It is such an amazing feeling to not be a slave to the government. We no longer use credit cards except for business transactions (which is paid off every month) and if we do not have money to buy something, we don't buy it! This was a completely new concept for me! I have had to really retrain my thinking, but now I am a strong believer in living debt free!

So we saved some money and bought a used 2002 Honda Civic with 50,000 miles. This car will be perfect to help us get around town here in West Palm Beach. It is efficient and runs great. There are a few quirks that we have to get fixed, like the back windows don't roll down and we need to install a CD player, but we own it! We did not have to take out a loan and we do not have any buyer's remorse!

I encourage any of you who may be in debt to start listening to Dave Ramsey's show, buy his book, or listen to his CD's (Click here to buy The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey from our site). He will give you step by step instructions to help free you from financial debt. We are currently free from credit card debt, school loans and car payments. Our next goal is to pay off our house, which we hope to do within the next few years. It has taken lots of prayer, discipline and retraining on my part to be able to live this way, but the blessings are abundant. We are free!

Fruit Flies No More!

2010-03-11T21:24:00.000-08:00

One thing about living in South Florida's warm and humid climate is that our kitchen can easily become a breeding ground for those annoying fruit flies. I learned quickly that overripe fruit and an unsealed compost container will feed these pests overnight and soon turn into a big problem.

So I have learned a few techniques to keep these tiny flies at bay. Here are a few tips to help you as the weather gets warmer and more fruit comes into season.

#1: Fruit flies eat the yeast that develops when overripe fruit begins to decompose, so avoid storing overly ripe fruit on counter tops and move this fruit to the refrigerator.

#2.Keep counter tops clean and wash and put away any utensils used for cutting fruit.

#3. Keep all compost bins tightly closed and store them away from the entrance to the home.

#4. Pour apple cider vinegar (click here to order) and a small amount of dish soap inside a glass, stir it, then place open glass near where the fruit flies are congregating and leave it overnight. In the morning you will find that the fruit flies are attracted to the smell and will fall in and drown.

#5. For those of you who might feel a little bad about "killing" these pests, then place an overly ripe fruit in a glass or jar, cover it with saran wrap, then poke holes in the wrap with a fork. Leave the glass or jar on the counter during the day and overnight. The flies will fly in, but are unable to escape. Then relocate them outside far away from the house.

So these are few tips to help keep your home free from these tiny nuisances. These tips have definitely helped us keep these pests under control.

Raw Taco Buffet for Home Church

2010-02-28T12:46:00.000-08:00

I signed up to make lunch for our home church Sunday, a small group of about 15-20 adults plus kids. It was a little work, but so much fun! I love introducing raw, healthy recipes to open-minded souls! Everyone was enthusiastic and encouraged to try more raw recipes.

I decided to do a raw taco bar. Here are the recipes:

Raw Walnut Taco Filling:
1 1/2 cup of walnuts (soaked)
1 1/2 tsp. cumin
3/4 tsp. coriander
2 tsps. nama shoyu

Process in food processor. Dehyrdrate 6-8 hours.

Guacamole:
4 avocados
1/2 onion
1 tomato
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
1 tsp. cumin
2 TBSP lime juice

Fresh Salsa:
5 med. tomatoes
1 onion
1 clove garlic
1 TBSP cumin
1/2 cup fresh cilantro

I made two batches of the salsa. I processed first batch in food processer. Then I chopped second batch and mixed into first batch.

I used romaine leaves and set up the taco station with fresh cilantro, chopped onion, and sliced jalapenos. It was fun and simple!

Here is a picture of a few tacos I made for Paul before the lunch. We used the collard wraps from the garden instead of the romaine leaves. Paul ate them up!

More on Modesty!

2010-02-18T17:14:00.000-08:00

The past few days have been amazing since posting the last topic about modesty and how Yahweh is putting it on my heart to make changes regarding my wardrobe. I wanted to share these verses that really spoke to me and gave me even more revelation and confirmation about my lifestyle and the woman of Yahwah I desire to be.

I read Titus 2:3-5 and was amazed at how it spoke to me! I love how the Word of our Father can speak directly to the heart. Here is a version from the Aramaic translation:

Titus 2: 3. And so also the elder women that they be in behavior as is becoming to the Fear of Elohim; and not to be slanderers, and not to be addicted to much wine, and to be teachers of beautiful things. 4. making the younger women to be modest, to love their husbands and their children, 5. to be chaste and Set Apart and to take good care of their households and to be obedient to their husbands, so that no one may reproach the Word of Elohim.

These verses really spoke to me about the importance of teaching the younger women to be modest. After the first lecture Paul gave about modesty, I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this subject, and having my husband teach about it! I already feel that we live our lives pretty openly and when you feel strongly about a message, like eating healthy, then people are always observing what you eat! So I thought I would be ready to crawl under a rock and hide after this one. But I was actually encouraged even more by his lecture! Even more encouraging to me was when moms of teenagers came to thank us because their daughters were encouraged to dress more modestly! The next day I saw these beautiful girls wearing beautiful skirts and they were dancing and having fun and their hearts had changed! That is what spoke to my heart. Seeing the importance of teaching young women to dress modestly. I knew at that moment that I needed to be setting a righteous example for these young girls. It's not about me, it's about Him, and he calls us to teach and guide younger women!

I am so thankful for all of the spiritual "moms" who have guided me and shared their wisdom with me throughout my life. Now that I am a wife and mother, I hope to bring the same wisdom and encouragement to other women, and to guide and teach my daughter in truth and purity. We definitely need to grow and learn from each other!

It was also amazing that some of the older men who listened to the lecture thanked Paul and shared with him that this is a topic they struggle with as well. It humbled me to discover that these strong men of Yahweh struggled with immodestly dressed women. It is more common than I had thought! I no longer want to be a stumbling block to these sensitive men who are pursuing righteousness.

I am slowly making changes to the way I dress, and trying to find new clothes that are more acceptable to who I hope to be. It's not easy trying to find modest clothes in the malls and other stores that I was used to shopping. I know that Yahweh is really speaking to me about where I spend my money and the businesses I am supporting. I definitely want to make our own clothes soon, but in the meantime, I am trying to be mindful of what and wear I buy my clothes, and the kind of fabric they are made with.

If any of you have any suggestions, please let me know! I am looking for clothes that are made with fabric 100%, like cotton, linen and wool. It hasn't been easy, but I know that when I find something that meets my "new" criteria regarding modesty and fabric that it is meant to be for me.

Karen reminded me of a video that Paul did with Rico Cortes and he discusses the vibrational frequencies in our words, thoughts and clothing. She has a great blog at http://been-couraged.blogspot.com/2010/02/new-linen-skirt-for-simple-life.html, so check that out too.

Now that I have started our "Spring Cleansing," I am going to remove some of those items in my closet that I know are no longer acceptable for me to wear. I may not be ready to get rid of everything, but in time it will get easier. At least I'll be making room for the beautiful clothes I am envisioning wearing in the future!

Almost Time for Spring Cleaning!

2010-02-15T16:15:00.000-08:00

I’m really excited to begin my first phase of Spring Cleaning! Spring is just around the corner, and I always associate the beginning of this season with cleaning. I hope to start first with my closet! I bought a few organizing totes, and I’m going to try to be more efficient and organized with my things. I also hope to go through my clothes and remove items I have not worn for more than a year. Paul and I both try not to hold on to too much “stuff.” It is so freeing to not be tied down by your personal belongings. We feel that we can fly off at anytime without worrying about leaving our things behind. Paul lets go of his things too quickly sometimes, and I am the one who makes excuses to keep things. It can be pretty funny when Paul is looking for a book or something else that he has given away and then we end up buying it again!

I am also feeling a major pull in my heart to adopt a more modest wardrobe. Modest dress has been a topic of discussion for Paul and me since the beginning of our marriage. It is definitely one I have spent time praying about also. I am really beginning to understand how important it is to be set apart from the world. I also know that I am currently not where I hope to be in the future, regarding modesty. I am growing and changing everyday. This is a journey and I am praying for strength and guidance to become the woman that Yahweh wants me to be. So the changes I am making now may be small, but they are changes in the right direction. I admit that I can still get caught up in the current styles and trends, but I know that in my heart, these material things are not important to who I truly am.

Another great way to start a spring cleaning regime is by beginning a fast or cleansing program. Try juicing or eating a 100% raw diet for a days, and the EJUVA Herbal Cleanse is another awesome way to rid your body of excess toxins. We try to do this program yearly, but I am holding off now until I am finished with breastfeeding.

I encourage all of you to start a little spring cleaning! Whether it is your closet, your diet, or your spiritual life, try cleaning different areas in your life to create room for more positive things to come to you this year.

Carob Pods as a Teething Alternative!

2010-01-31T14:44:00.000-08:00

I recently found this article on the Raw Mom Blog, soon after I posted the article about our new love of fresh carob pods. In the article, Ruth Hofer states that local aboriginal women living near her in Australia used the whole dried pod of the carob tree for their babies to suck on as teething rusks. I thought this was amazing! I had actually thought about giving the pods to Noa because they seemed to be hard enough and wouldn't break off in pieces as she chewed it. I was a little concerned about the seeds, but she doesn't seem to chew off enough to reach them inside.

I am loving this fresh alternative for teething! The pods even contain a mildly analgesic effect to help numb sore gums. I have them with me now all of the time. I snack on them in the car and usually give one to Noa for the car ride as well. She loves playing with them and holds them in her hands while I shop and run errands.

I was so thankful that Paul decided to order more! We went through 10 lbs. in almost 1 month! He didn't want to overdo it, but I am still craving them and love how satiating they are. He gave in, ordered 10 more pounds and he is loving them just as much!

Noa's teething does not seem to be too uncomfortable for her now, but when and if it does become painful, I will probably try a little clove oil. A friend also suggested trying chamomile too for teething. But these carob pods are keeping us both busy for now!

Garden Collard Wrap Recipe and Update!

2010-01-21T15:52:00.000-08:00

I know it has been a while since my last post, and I am ready to get this ball rolling again. We had a busy holiday season, and Paul's mom Elaine came and visited us for 3 weeks. It was really nice having a helping hand and I was a little nervous when it came time for her to leave. I loved that Noa could spend time with her Grandma. But now we are back to normal, and keeping busy. Paul is in Dallas, Texas this weekend. He has a packed travel schedule for the next 6 months and he's excited to spread the message about health and healing naturally. Noa and I will be joining him on a few trips, but we'll be home most of the time.

Our garden is flourishing and we love being able to pick fresh greens and herbs daily. I use the collards to juice and make wraps for lunch.

Here is a simple recipe for any wrap:

First, I spread a walnut pate on the collard leaf.
Walnut pate:
3 cups walnuts
2 TBSP nama shoyu
2 carrots
1 handful cilantro
2 celery stalks
cumin and sea salt to taste

Then I topped it with the following:
avocado
tomato
sprouts
chopped lettuce
dulse
sprinkle chia seeds

I then topped it with a cashew ranch dressing:

1 cup raw cashew pieces
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 TBSP honey
2 TBSP fresh lemon juice
2 TBSP apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup of water (or desired consistency)
2 tsp parsley flakes
1 1/2 tsp onion powder
3/4 tsp dill
1/2 tsp garlic powder
3/8 tsp salt
1/4 tsp basil

These wraps were so simple and delicious! You can use any greens like romaine, or even nori sheets to make these wraps.

I have been making the herbal infusions daily and loving them! It looks like I am no longer craving kombucha because these infusions quench my thirst and are so refreshing. Right now, I am only making the oat straw and stinging nettle infusions, but I'll keep you all updated as I continue.

Interview with Rhio from Hooked on Raw

2010-01-11T18:57:00.001-08:00

Rhio and her partner Leigh recently visited Paul and me in West Palm Beach and set up our kitchen for their radio show Hooked on Raw with Rhio. We had lots of fun and touched on some interesting subjects!

Check out my interview running this week or download the podcast here!

Herbal Infusions

2010-01-09T19:22:00.000-08:00

Herbal Infusions

Recently, I began to make my own herbal infusions after being inspired by Susun Weed and her interview on The Raw Mom Summit. I purchased the herbs stinging nettle and oat straw to experiment. I followed the instructions from www.susunweed.com and soon discovered how simple and easy it was to make these delicious and nourishing infusions. An infusion is different than steeping the average tea bag. Keeping the jar covered and steeping it for more than 4 hours allows for the nutrients and minerals to transfer to the drinking water, which makes these infusions so medicinal.

They are so many nutritional benefits to these infusions!

Stinging nettle is used for the following :

* diuretic
* breaking down arthritis crystals and gout
* heavy menstrual bleeding
* anti-allergy and hay fever
* shrinking enlarged prostate
* hemorrhoids
* detoxifier
* increased breast milk production
* asthma
* skin complaints including eczema

Oat Straw benefits:

* fighting osteoporosis
* building bones
* pain relief
* calming hyperactive children
* soothing elderly people
* fighting anxiety
* panic attacks
* boosting immune system
* depression and nervous exhaustion
* antidepressant

It’s so easy:

1 ounce of dried herb (approx. 1 cup)
Fill 1 quart glass container with boiling water. Seal tightly, and let it sit overnight.

The next morning, strain out the herb, and refrigerate the tea. It will stay fresh for about 3 days. We return the used herb to the earth by putting it back in our compost.

I find these teas refreshing and light and sip on them all day. You can drink them warm or iced, and adding a little mint leaf or lemon will make them even more refreshing.

Herbal Infusions are a simple and economical way to boost your immune system and keep you healthy!

Clove Oil & Teething

2009-12-21T07:49:00.000-08:00

Last week, I was experiencing an earache and gum soreness because of a wisdom tooth coming in. I have yet to have any of my wisdom teeth removed, and I don’t plan on having this procedure done anytime soon. I feel that these teeth are there for a reason, and I don’t experience any issues except for maybe a few days every year when one of these teeth seem to break through even more. There seems to be enough room for these teeth, and I am aware that it is important to keep them clean. But of course, every time I go to the dentist, they try to pressure me to have them removed. Maybe someday in the future I may consider it, but now that I am breastfeeding and plan to have more children, I don’t want to burden my body with anesthesia and unnecessary surgeries.

So, as this tooth began to break through from the surrounding gum line, I realized that soon, Noa will be getting teeth and it might be a little sore and painful. Two of her bottom teeth have come in without any pain or problems, but I heard that some of the others might not be so easy. Usually I just bare through my wisdom teeth dilemma without any relief from the irritating pain. I just pray and hope that the Father imparts to me some “wisdom” that I might need at this period in my life. But this time, I wanted to try and find some relief so I will know how to help Noa when her other teeth and molars arrive.

Clove oil has been used in the past to help with toothaches and pain, and I had some on hand so I gave it a try. I put a few drops on a cotton swab and rubbed it on the sore gum and tooth. Instantaneously, I felt relief! It was incredible! I couldn’t believe how quickly the clove oil worked and how long it lasted. For 2 hours, I completely forgot about the pain. Once the oil’s effects wore off, I just reapplied the clove oil and was relieved again. It seemed to also speed the recovery process. By the next day, the gum surrounding the wisdom tooth was not as sore and I didn’t even need to apply the oil.

It amazes me how quickly these essential oils can work in our bodies. Clove oil has been used in dentistry for centuries. It has very strong pain-killing properties, as well antimicrobial and antifungal uses to help heal acne, warts, scars and parasites.

I know I will definitely be using it to help Noa through her teething process. I may dilute the clove oil with an edible oil like olive or coconut, so it is not as strong for her. I highly recommend using clove oil first before trying any pharmaceutical methods for teething. It is another miraculous, natural healing tool given to us by our Creator.

Carob: The “Better Than Chocolate” Alternative

2009-12-14T20:39:00.001-08:00

This week, John Kohler came to visit us again. He is our friend who helped set up our urban homestead in our tiny courtyard. He flies in from California, and this time he brought us the most delicious dried carob pods from Ojai! I had never tried carob like this before, and I was amazed at how much flavor they had and how satisfied I was after eating a few.

I learned about the carob pod when I started using it as an alternative to chocolate at the beginning of my health journey 10 years ago. But I had never eaten it directly from the pod, I always bought it in a powder form. I used it to sweeten raw desserts and other cake and cookie recipes. It has a roasted, chocolate flavor without the negative stimulating side-effects that chocolate has. It tastes like a sweetened cocoa bean, without the bitterness. Carob pods are loaded with antioxidants and can be used as an expectorant, laxative and demulcent.

There are possible biblical references to carob. It is reported that John the Baptist subsisted on “locusts and wild honey.” In Matthew 3:4, the word “locusts” may have been mistranslated to grasshoppers instead of carob because it is also known as the “locust bean.” Also, in Luke 15:16, the Prodigal Son desired to eat the pods he was feeding to the swine because he was starving. These pods were probably from the carob tree because it is resilient to harsh climate and drought and the pods were fed to the swine to save on resources.

Carob pods are also mentioned in the Talmud: Berakhot reports that Rabbi Haninah subsisted on carob pods. Pods were eaten in Ancient Egypt and were known as a sweetener. Carob juice drinks are drunk during the month of Ramadan in the Islamic faith and a dried carob fruit is traditionally eaten on the Jewish holiday of Tu Bishvat.

I love carob, and now love to eat it directly from the pod! It is such a delicious snack, and fun to eat. Be careful of the small sized seeds that are hard like pebbles. I suggest taking small bites around the edges first so you can see the seeds inside and remove them before eating. If you are in Ojai (Tiffany!) then try to find this local source and try these carob pods. I’ll be doing some research in the meantime to try and find more resources and will let you all know and maybe we can get them on the website soon too.

I think I may never go back to chocolate again. Maybe I shouldn’t say “never,” but at least now I know there is a more delicious, healthier alternative to eating chocolate.

Avo-Lime Pie Recipe!

2009-12-10T13:18:00.000-08:00

Crust:

2 cups grated coconut
1/2 cup cashews
2 TBSP raw honey
1 TBSP lime zest*
2 TBSP water
sea salt as desired

Filling:
3 ripe avocados
1/2 cup lime juice
1/2 cup raw honey
Zest of 6 limes*
2 TBSP coconut oil
2 TSP vanilla powder or extract
sea salt as desired

1/2 cup chia get or 2 TBSP psyillium husk powder

Process crust ingredients in food processor until ball forms, then press into a springform pan.

Blend all ingredients for the filling in a high speed blender, add the psyillium husk powder, then blend again, or stir in chia gel by hand.

Pour in the filling on top of the crust, and let stand in the refrigerator until it sets.

Enjoy!!!

*Lime zest is the outermost skin layer of citrus fruits. You can remove the zest with a citrus zester, paring knife or vegetable peeler. Use only the colored part and add to the recipe. You can also squeeze the oil out of the zest using a sprout bag.

We will be posting a how-to-video for this recipe soon, so check back!!!

Essential Oils We Use

2009-12-09T05:47:00.000-08:00

There are many different ways to access the benefits of essential oils. The most common uses are applying topically, inhaling, diffusing and taken as a dietary supplement. We use a wide variety of oils and are not yet familiar with all of the essential oils available.

Here are some of the most common essential oils we use:

Peppermint is used to combat inflammation, parasites, fungus, and it is used to help digestion, curb appetite, and has many other benefits.
-Paul makes a tooth soap with the peppermint oil and Dr. Bronner’s soap
-We put a few drops in tea and other recipes
-We use it in massage oil, directly inhale it, diffuse or use as dietary supplement

Lavender also has many uses and benefits, such as antiseptic, antifungal, relaxant, reduces blood fat/cholesterol, and promotes tissue regeneration. We also use it for bug bites, and I rubbed it on my stomach throughout my pregnancy to prevent stretch marks.
-Drop a few drops in the bathtub
-Blend a few drops with Jojobo or almond oil and use to massage

Sandalwood is an immune stimulant, helps skin conditions and the herpes virus. It enhances deep sleep, stimulates the pineal gland, which is the center of emotions, and is grounding and stabilizing.
-Drop into a diffuser before bed
-I make a blend with sandalwood, ylang ylang and jojobo oil and wear it daily

Ylang Ylang is used for heart issues, anxiety, depression, hair loss and intestinal problems. It has antispasmodic, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic qualities, and also regulates the heart. Ylang Ylang is known to balance male-female energies, enhances spiritual attunement, combats anger and low self-esteem, and restores confidence and peace.
-Use in massage oil, diffuse, inhale or take as a dietary supplement

Frankincense is an ancient anointing oil used in religious ceremonies for thousands of years. It was one of the gifts given to Yeshua at his birth. It was valued more than gold during those times, and only those with great wealth possessed it. It is known for being antitumoral, immuno-stimulant, antidepressant, and muscle relaxing. It is used to treat depression, cancer, respiratory infections, inflammation and is immune-stimulating. It stimulates glands in the brain and produces vital hormones including thyroid and growth hormone. There are more than 52 references to frankincense throughout the Scriptures.
-Use it is massage oil and rub into vita-flex points, directly inhale, diffuse, and use as a dietary supplement.
-We like to diffuse it throughout the house

Four Thieves Blend is a highly antiviral, antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-infectious oil blend. It was created by 15th-century thieves who rubbed oils on themselves to avoid catching the plague while they robbed dead bodies. This blend consists of clove, lemon, cinnamon bark, eucalyptus and rosemary.
-Four Thieves can be diffused , applied topically and ingested internally

PLEASE NOTE: When using oils straight from the original bottle, be careful not to contaminate the opening with your fingers. The oils on your hands can change the molecular make-up and make them less potent.

There are hundreds more essential oils that are used for healing, so don’t feel overwhelmed. Just start by becoming familiar with a few at a time and you’ll be an expert before you know it!

The Power of Essential Oils

2009-12-06T20:02:00.000-08:00

The Power of Essential Oils

Essential oils are powerful and ancient therapeutic agents used for healing and anointing throughout the world. When extracted through high-quality processes, the oils provide antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and hormone-balancing effects. They are used to reduce pain, release muscle tension and provide positive emotional lifts.

Essential oils can be much more potent than using high quality herbs, and finding a high-quality, therapeutic source can be difficult. We use essential oils regularly, and have an arsenal at home in our cabinets. We use oils when traveling and at home. The Four Thieves blend we spray on planes, chairs, hotel rooms and anywhere we want to disinfect. We are able to offer you high-quality essential oils like Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Peppermint, Rosemary, and the Four-Thieves blend at a low price, but we do not carry all of the oils that we recommend. I suggest signing up for a Young Living Account here and use 889264 to sign up as your sponsor and enroller, and become your own distributor. I believe you have to purchase at least $50.00 per year, but it is worth it. Young Living provides the highest quality therapeutic oils available. We are able to purchase a few of these oils from the same distributor at lower prices on our site, and hope to add more in the future. We are not trying to promote an MLM, but want to give you access to what we have found to be the highest quality oils on the market.

I also recommend purchasing the Essential Oils Desk Reference compiled by Essential Science Publishing. This guide is necessary to get started learning about the miraculous benefits of essential oils. I used it regularly throughout my pregnancy. There are certain oils not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding and I wanted to make sure I used them correctly. It is a loaded with information, and if you are serious about using oils and learning about their therapeutic benefits, this will help.

There are so many uses for essential oils, so I will be posting more later. Hopefully this will help you get started using them too, if you haven’t already. Let me know if you have any questions. I have a great resource of people who have vast knowledge and wisdom about the oils and they would love to share their knowledge.

It is so exciting learning about the benefits of essential oils and I’ll be writing more about how we use them and the ones that we love and use the most.

The Benefits of Honeybee Products

2009-12-04T17:19:00.000-08:00

So what’s all the buzz about? Well, for those of you who are strict vegans, eating anything that comes from a living creature is off limits, including honeybee products.
I considered myself “vegan” until I learned that honeybee products are some of the most nutrient-dense foods we can consume.

I am not a big supplement person so obtaining my nutrients from food is the best way. After snacking on a few honeybee products, I found that my energy and stamina definitely improved. I did a little research, and I found that these honeybee products are some of the most nutritious foods on the planet! These bee products include: honey, bee pollen, royal jelly and propolis.

Honey is an antiseptic with cleansing properties. It aids in tissue repair, reduces scar tissue and inflammation. It is a delicious and nutritious sweetener added to tea, recipes and eaten alone.

Royal jelly is a honey bee secretion use in the nutrition of the larvae. It contains B vitamins, water, protein, simple sugars, high amount of fatty acids, trace minerals and enzymes. It is also used as an antibacterial and antibiotic agent.

Bee pollen contains all the nutrients needed for survival. It has a high concentration of B vitamins as well vitamins A,C,D and E. It is great for men and women’s health regarding reproduction. Hippocrates claimed bee pollen to be the secret against old age.

Propolis is the resin used to seal open places in the hive. Natural health professionals use propolis for the relief of various conditions, including inflammation, viral diseases, ulcers, superficial burns or scalds. Propolis can be ingested, applied topically or used for many other purposes.

These honeybee products are so nutrient dense and easy to consume. Just place a couple teaspoons of honey, royal jelly, bee pollen or propolis in your smoothie, almond milk, or just eat it alone. It is an easy way to ensure your body is getting vital nutrients that it may be lacking. You will notice that you are not as hungry because your body is getting what it needs.

Obtaining these bee products is not an easy task. I admire people in this profession, and I have heard most of them have such a great respect for the bees and how they provide us with this miracle food. Becoming familiar with a local apiary or bee yard is great way to ensure that you are obtaining high quality products and also supporting local farmers.

So whether or not you consider yourself a “vegan,” adding these honeybee products to your diet will provide your body with an ample supply of nutrients and you will feel healthier and happier.

The Discover Kingdom Health Summit

2009-12-02T09:45:00.000-08:00

Starts November 30th, 2009 for 7 nights
6 pm Pacific / 8 pm Central / 9 pm Eastern

Imagine inviting 7 Health Experts into your home to teach you how to create an inspirational health plan that will give you more energy, more peace, and more power than you ever thought possible!

Click here to view more details

Raw Lemon Cheesecake with Strawberry Sauce Recipe

2009-12-02T09:25:00.000-08:00

Crust:
2 cups almonds (soaked at least 6 hours, dehydrate 2 hours)
1/2 cup medjool dates

Process in food processor

1/4 shredded coconut

Sprinkle coconut on bottom of spring form pan. Press in crust on top.

Cheesecake Filling:
3 cups cashews (soaked 2 hours)
3/4 coconut oil
3/4 honey
3/4 lemon
1 tsp. vanilla powder or extract
sea salt to taste

Blend ingredients in high speed blender. Pour mixture on top of crust. Tap pan to remove air bubbles.

Strawberry Sauce:
2 cups strawberries
1/2 cup dates or honey

Blend in high speed blender. Pour sauce on top and freeze together, or serve sauce separate.

In response to our recent coming out of the vegan closet!

2009-12-01T15:03:00.000-08:00

The word is out! Paul and I have recently come clean about occasionally eating some raw animal products like goat’s milk and sheep’s cheese and raw cage-free, vegetarian eggs. We are no longer “vegan.” After 10 years, it’s actually liberating to not put myself in a box or under a certain label. I am learning to follow my body, which I believe to be the most important way to monitor my own health. Everyone needs to listen to their own bodies! I don’t believe that there is one way for everyone to eat. I am 100% supportive of the raw-vegan diet, and know that it is an extremely cleansing and healing diet that will benefit almost everyone who tries it on a short-term basis. That can be anywhere from a few weeks, to years depending on the person’s health. But long-term the vegan diet may not be as sustainable as we were led to believe.

This isn’t something we just did on a whim. We have been interviewing lots of people the past few years on our quest for vibrant health. We are open-minded and willing to experiment. If it’s not working, we will be honest and let people know. It is our responsibility to be straightforward and truthful in our journey so we do not mislead anyone. Our passion is to show people the healing benefits of the raw, living foods diet and for someone who has attained a healthy lifestyle, re-introducing raw sheep and goat products on occasion will probably be okay. But if you are in a health crisis, then adopting a raw-vegan diet will be beneficial for most people. If you are looking to heal from a serious illness, then please seek professional supervision before embarking on such a dramatic diet change.

What we have found is that maybe it is better to have a raw egg yolk in an almond milk once a week instead of loading our body with tons of supplements that are expensive and may not even be assimilated into the nutrients we need! A few years ago, before Paul left the vegan world, he had a dream that all of the supplements he was taking were sticking to the inside of his intestinal tract like glue! He couldn’t have asked for a clearer sign from our Creator that maybe overloading on supplements was not the right path for him. He decided to try other methods, and some people mentioned to him to try raw animal products like eggs and goat and sheep products.

I know there are a lot of fanatics out there who are disappointed that we are now experimenting with animal products (I read their comments on The Raw Life Health Show.) And I have been that fanatic vegan years ago! But there are also just as many people who are supportive and thankful that we are honest and lots of others who agree with us on this point.

I’m sure that this will be a debatable issue for some time. I guess that is how we learn and grow, and both Paul and myself are far from where we hope to be in the future. Thanks to all of you for your support and growing with us! We appreciate everyone’s comments and experiences.

Blended Salad Recipe

2009-11-28T19:19:00.000-08:00

This recipe is so simple and delicious. We add variety with different vegetables, sprinkling on top crackers, dulse, or sauerkraut.

Blended Salad:

1 tomato
juice of 1 lemon
3-4 celery stalks
3-4 handfuls of greens (collards, romaines, kale, etc...)
cilantro to taste
1 avocado

(seasonings like sea salt, garlic and cayenne can be added to taste)

Blend it up, and eat it quick because it will oxidize quickly after blending.

Re-Release of the Raw Mom Summit!

2009-11-28T13:31:00.000-08:00

The Raw Mom Summit is back!

Starting Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

Top Health Leaders from around the world come together and share their truth and knowledge on topics such as:

-Prenatal and postnatal care
-Attachment Parenting
-How to feed your family when one eats meat, and the other doesn't
-Getting kids excited to make food
-Sustainablilty and Permaculture
-Longevity tips

...And so much more!

Click here for more information and to register for the next Raw Mom Summit!

A Simple, Natural Approach to Better Skin, Health and Overall Well-Being: Dry Skin Brushing

2009-11-24T18:06:00.000-08:00

Dry-Skin Brushing is an ancient healing and detoxification technique used by Russians, Turks and Scandinavians for centuries. Detoxification is performed by a number of organs, glands, and other organs including the skin, gut, kidneys, liver, lungs, lymphatic system, and mucous membranes. This technique helps the skin in the detoxification process.

Paul and I have both been dry-skin brushing for many years, way before we were even married. It's part of our daily routine and I can tell you that I definitely notice when a day goes by and I have not skin brushed. There are so many benefits to this natural health technique and I think everyone should start fitting it into their daily routines.

I'll name just a few of the benefits of skin brushing:
-Sheds dead skin cells, promoting cell renewal
-Increases circulation, discharging metabolic waste, aids in lymphatic drainage which drains mucoid matter into the colon
-Increases muscle tone
-Rejuvenates the nervous system
-Assists in absorbing nutrients by unclogging pores
-Helps breakdown cellulite
-Helps digestion

And the list continues!

Dry-skin brushing is such a simple way to to promote healing! It's so easy. Just purchase a natural bristled brush (Click Here to buy the one Paul uses),
and first thing in the morning, before you shower, sweep the body with the brush starting with the feet upwards, always brushing toward the heart. Showering afterward will help remove the dead cells. One brushing session generally lasts about 15 minutes. If you are feeling under the weather, then adding a few more sessions during the day will promote faster healing.

You may also buy a softer bristled brush to use on your face. It's one of the many methods that Tanya Zavasta suggests to help prevent wrinkles and exfoliate. She has the facial brushes available at her website BeautifulonRaw.com.

This is just one simple way to aid in your journey to better health naturally! Many more tips to come!

Our Raw Life

2009-11-20T10:52:00.000-08:00

The time has finally come! I am now ready to focus on the passions of my heart, and I hope to find more time to do it all. The words of our wise mid-wife Janice are ringing true! She told us last year before Noa was born, not to expect to get much done for at least a year after her birth. Well, Noa is now 10 months, and I am finally ready and motivated to start following my passions again! And having Noa along for the ride is definitely an extra blessing.

I recently ended my extended part-time position at Hippocrates Health Institute, where I worked for more than three years. Working there was a wonderful experience, and I learned so much about the raw food diet and lifestyle. A part of me is sad and a little nostalgic about my time there, but it’s a new season! I’m so excited to start sharing my experiences as a new mom, being a wife to Paul Nison, and our desire to live a sustainable lifestyle, and to help others do the same naturally. Our main focus is to share with people the truth about natural living and healing. Our creator made us perfectly! If we allow our bodies to do the job they were created to do, then we can heal from obesity, sickness and disease, and begin to thrive!

I believe that we are living sacrifices, designed for living a fasted-lifestyle. Yeshua (Jesus) lived it perfectly, and I desire to be more like him everyday. He is the perfect role-model for me, and I have learned so much by reading The Scriptures (Bible). A favorite verse that encourages me is 1 Peter 4:7-8. It states: But the end of all things approaches: therefore be sober and wakeful for prayer. And above all things, have fervent love one towards another, for love covers a multitude of sins.

We are called to be clear-minded and self-controlled so that we can pray. What wisdom, that if we live a lifestyle of fasting and prayer, it will be easier to hear His voice so that we can pray! I long to be a loving example of Yeshua’s love, and I know that in love, I am also forgiven for my sins. What an incredible gift of life!

So this blog will begin the documentation of our journey through life, and our passion to help others as we have been helped, by discovering the truth!

Please feel free to post comments and you can also email me at andrea@rawlife.com. We will be covering a wide range of topics, from mothering & fathering, raising kids naturally, elimination communication (diaper-free), sustainable living, raw foods and so many others. If there is something you would like us to cover, please let us know!

My husband Paul also has a video blog where he posts videos every weekday. So please check that out at www.therawlifehealthshow.com.

We look forward to hearing from all of you, and have a great Raw Life!

Blessings in love,

Andrea Nison