Remember... dandelion?!?

I am making a conscious effort to get to know and use all those "weeds" that I pull out in the garden and that are edible. My first attempt will be with dandelion (as soon as they poke their little leaves out... a bit early around these parts!).

Dandelions have some interesting medicinal properties. They have been used as far back as the thirteenth in Welsh medicines and they are mentioned even further back in literature of Arabian physicians of the tenth and eleventh centuries. It is a system cleanser and detoxifier (because of its bitter juices), and it stimulates digestion, improves liver function while cleansing the kidneys. It has been a traditional remedy for scurvy. The leaves are rich in iron, potassium, calcium and phosphorus. They supply vitamins B and C, linolenic acid, more vitamin A than any garden plant and are one of the best plant sources of copper. The flowers are rich in choline (a B-complex vitamin). The root is very midly laxative, and the leaves, midly diuretic. Some herbalists recommend applying the milky sap on warts.

Did you know that in Japan there exists a Dandelion Society? In 1860, some 214 varieties of dandelion were grown in that country in shades of copper, white, orange and black! I'm impressed!

With such awesome attributes, don't you wish you could learn to love these? I sure do! Here is a recipe to tentalize your taste buds into loving dandelion greens. Use young spring leaves that you know are unsprayed and not anywhere near a busy roadway. I guess you could also buy some, but where's the fun in that?

The original recipe was created by Jennifer Italiano, owner of Toronto’s first all-raw restaurant, Live Organic Food Bar. I tweeked it a bit, for those "not-so-fond" of dandelions.

Dressing:
1/4 cup raw tahini (or nut butter)
1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (blood orange is nice!)
2 Tbsp dulse flakes (or other dried seaweed)
1 Tbsp grated fresh ginger root
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp curry powder
pinch salt

Salad:
4 cups dandelion greens, large stems removed, chopped
2 pears or apples, cored and thinly sliced
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
-----
4 cups leafy greens (romaine, spinach or other)
sprinkle of raw walnuts, soaked and dehydrated

In a blender, mix all dressing ingredients thoroughly.

In a large salad bowl, combine the dandelion, pear (or apple), and red onion. Pour the dressing over all and toss gently.

Allow to sit for at least 10 minutes (up to 2 hours), to marinate. Mix in the other greens just prior to serving. Sprinkle with some walnuts if so desired.

Makes 2-4 servings.

Picture from Herbal Treatment

Have met the humble broccoli?

A vegetable gaining - deservedly so - in popularity, the broccoli contains so many nutrients that it deserves to be featured prominently at our tables. And not just accompanied by dip, as the recipe (pictured here), will show.

Raw broccoli contains vitamins A and E (alpha tocopherol) in modest quantities; vitamin C in quantities similar to that of whole oranges. Its stores of calcium resemble those of whole milk and are generally easier to assimilate. It also contains a good dose of folic acid and selenium, an element that helps to fight off cancers and viruses (among other things).

Looking past its nutritional value, broccoli has some remarquable medicinal attributes. Its sulforaphanes et indoles have veritable anti-tumor properties, especially against breast and colon cancers. Broccoli sprouts contains between ten to a hundred times the protective power of mature broccoli! Need a better reason to include these into your regular diet?

When we eat broccoli, and other members of the cruciferous family, our bodies set in motion a whole series of reactions. These direct and balance the detoxification mecanisms of enzymes and their partners, each having its protective properties, resulting in a natural synergy which optimized our cells' capacity to fight free radicals and potential carcinogens. This explains the important reduction in cancer risks produced by regular cruciferous intake.

Do you want to really take advantage of this knowledge? Grab a broccoli and make a delicious recipe with it! Try this one: Chinese Broccoli with Peanuts (or Almonds). A real pleaser! And so different than the usual broccoli & dip. A very nice way to eat more of this nutritious cruciferous vegetable. And add some broccoli sprouts to your next salad! Bravo!







Photo: Carmella of RFC

10 Reasons to Stop Cooking - Part 1

How many people do you think have spent their entire lives searching for the fountain of youth? How many have spent their last dollar on some miracle cure for whatever ailment they had? What would you give to be in super health, to feel like you are on top of the world, in control of your life and finally have the full use of all your faculties?

There is a simple way to achieve all these lofty goals. Not a pill. Not a potion. But the formula does exist. It is quite simply a return to basics: raw and living foods. Every other animal on this planet eats exclusively raw foods and they are just fine! When was the last time you saw an obese dear? A wolf in need of eyeglasses? Raw foods are what we are meant to eat. They are what our bodies need for optimal health.

In the next few weeks, I will go over 10 very good reasons to stop cooking. My reflections are made on the basis of the book The Live Food Factor, by Dr. Vetrano, Victoria Boutenko, S. Schenck and V. BidWell. Interesting reading...

First reason: Super Health

The first effect of the living foods lifestyle on the body is increased immune system function. It is actually scientifically documented, by a clinic in Berchtesgaden, Germany. "Their researchers found raw diet effects that yielded antibiotic, antiallergenic, tumor-inhibiting, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory results". Wow! Is there any other diet which can make such claims?

The famous phrase by well-known founder of modern medicine, Hippocrates, "Let food be thy medecine" is more true and profound than most realize. No medecine in itself can cure the body of illness. The body cures itself. It has, within itself, all the necessary mecanisms to heal, cure, detoxify, prevent and restore. We only need to provide adequate raw materials (no pun intended!) for it to accomplish its "miracles".

So many conditions have been cured, or greatly improved, by living foods. These include, but are not limited to: diabetes, ulcers, cancer, jaundice, arthritis, fibromyalgia, asthma, ulcerative colitis, obesity, gout and gastrointestinal disorders, to mention only these.

Many people turn to raw foods as a result of an illness. But as the old Chinese saying goes: "To administer medicine after the illness begins is like digging a well after becoming thirsty". Even if you have no apparent health problem, you might still want to consider the living foods lifestyle as a means of prevention of future disease.

Finally, ponder this for a while: the vast majority of your cells are replaced within two years. So, after two years on a raw foods diet, you would be a whole new "raw" you!!! More vibrantly and radiantly alive than you ever thought possible.

Reflections on The Live Food Factor

Spring 2009 Detox - Day 7

Final day of detox. How time flies! With all the raw energy available to you now, with eased digestion and improved sleep, what will you do? Projects won't be lacking, I'm sure of it.

Why not think of integrating living foods into your lifestyle? Without going all rigid and uncompromising, there are ways to eat mainly living foods while still leaving room for the rest. Now, let's see how to make the last meal of the day a living foods meal.

Supper

This is the meal where the whole family sits down and catches up on daily events. We have fun, we enjoy each other's company, we joke around... No time for raw warfare!

If meal preparation becomes too much of a burden, ask for help. Usually children will love spiralizing the fruits and veggies, or spinning the lettuce dry (how doesn't like to see just how fast that thing will spin). They can set the table, help make the sauce or soup with the blender (with parents watching) and bring some truly inspired ideas to the meals if listened to! Believe me.

Meals that will please most include a big salad, vegan wraps or zucchini "pasta" with a raw marinara sauce. Why not try a mexican fiesta with raw dehydrated crackers, guacamole, homemade salsa and all the trimings? Or try to "rawify" an old family favorite as a family?

Incorporating the living foods lifestyle into your own will take time, patience and perseverance not to mention creativity. But it is worth it, truly. Some time can be saved if you buy some organic foods already prepared: prewashed lettuce, baby carrots, or dehydrated crackers (at the health food store). You could also make larger quantities of some staples, like pâtés, and use them in different ways during the week: once as a pâté with cucumber slices, once as a filling for sushi, another time as an extra to your salad. Vary its flavor each time by adding different herbs and spices.

Integrating more healthy living and raw foods into our lifestyle is always going to be a challenge because we live in a society of hyper-commercialized fast and quick foods, all prepared in advance for the consumer. These foods are full of chemical and hardly fit for human consumption. But your health, and that of your family's, is really worth the effort. Pay now with your wallet or pay later with your health. It is our choice, individually and collectively.

Spring 2009 Detox - Day 6

Once breakfast is habitually a raw event, you are now ready for the next step on your transition to living foods: lunch!

Living foods lunch

Favor high water content foods such as leafy green vegetables (lettuce, spinach, collards, kale, etc.), sprouts (sunflower, alfalfa, etc.) and vegetables, all raw of course. Once you have made this a habit, your food intake is two-thirds raw!

You will have plenty of variety with these choices. The classical choice, salad, comes in all shapes and colors. A green smoothie is easy to bring along at the office in a tightly-sealed container. You can also bring fruit (or a nice fruit salad), dehydrated fruits (apricots, gojis, dates, etc.) or soaked nuts and seeds. Vegetable sticks with a dip (nut or seed-based, or vegetable-based) make a satisfying lunch. Mexican lovers can bring a raw fiesta with them in the form of guacamole, home-made salsa, and dehydrated crackers. Holé! Add some sunflower sprouts to this and you're in business.

If you go out with colleagues for lunch, try to eat a little something before heading out: this will help you make better choices. There is no stopping a hungry stomach! Drink a green smoothie, grab a few nuts or seeds, a banana or an avocado before going to lunch. Also, you can bring some nuts, seeds or raisins to perk up the restaurant's salad. Why not a sliced avocado and some sprouts? You can whip up a quick homemade salad dressing before work, in the morning. Nobody will say a thing.

Do not hesitate to ask for a custom-made raw vegan salad, without dressing, when you are at a restaurant. Most places will be more than happy to accomodate you and will bring you a very nice salad, exactly to your specifications.

Spring 2009 Detox - Day 5

At this stage, it is important to start thinking about keeping some healthy habits after the week is over. How do we do this? One meal at a time, quite simply.

Breakfast

The simplest way to transition to living foods starts with breakfast. This is our first meal of the day and it sets the tone for the rest of the meals of the day. Why not start the day right?

In the morning, the body is busy cleansing. So the breakfast has to be light and easily digested in order to not disrupt this process. Fruits fit the bill perfectly. Most fruits contain around 80% water. Eating these high water content foods allows the cleansing going on in the body to get done unhindered because fruits are easily assimilated.

To further ease digestion, eat fruits alone, on an empty stomach. Think of eating high water content fruits first (they will digest quicker), keeping bananas, avocados and dried fruits for later in the morning. Accelerate further the cleansing by having a mono-meal (meal consisting of one food only).

Chewing food properly is of utmost importance to healthy digestion. Too often, we do not take the time to chew our foods properly (properly meaning, to a creamy texture) before swallowing. This places a heavier workload on the stomach, who must grind food down to digestible morsels.

Those susceptible to candida problems would do best to have a green smoothie or a green juice in the morning. These liquid meals are alkalizing to the body and very easily assimilated (and so require little digestive energy).

Start the day right with a nice raw and living meal: green juices, green smoothies, or fruits - it's up to you. After that, you'll have loads of energy for all those other things you have to do in the day!

Spring 2009 Detox - Day 4

Now that the difficult third day is behind us, we will turn our attention to a very important aspect of this spring detoxification. The primary reason motivating this special week, at least in my mind, was to simplify our food intake so as to free up as much energy as possible for internal cleaning. Why would I feel the need to do some "spring cleaning" if I already eat well? Overstimulation.

Overstimulation

Overstimulation? In living foods? Yup! And I am not referring to coffee or refined sugar or even salt. I'm talking about this tendency we have to eat complex meal consisting of a multitude of ingredients. While these meals are pleasing to the palate, they are more difficult to digest. Simply put, digesting complex meals requires more energy than digesting simple meals consisting of only a few (or even one) ingredients. We have fallen into the habit of eating for pleasure not to meet our real physiological needs nor for nourishment.

We have come to expect and want an infinite variety of foods. I'm the first culprit here (do you have any idea of the variety of tomatoes I plant each year?). We want new recipes, complex and subtle flavors, an explosion of flavor at every bit! There is nothing wrong with this, but it does require more energy to process such meals.

So this week, we will reacquaint ourselves with the subtle and rich flavors of simple foods. We will rediscover the pleasure of simple fare. We shall remind ourselves that, more often than not, simplicity is best.

Spring 2009 Detox - Day 3

Third-Day: the Decisive Day

Most know that when you start including more raw and living foods in your diet, the 3rd day is the hardest. While the body adapts to its new regimen, it may very well have some rather unpleasant reactions: bloating, flatulence, burping, headaches, etc... A lot of people get discouraged by this unpleasantness and give up on the whole raw food thing judging their bodies unable to adapt to this new diet.

What is going on explains itself rather simply. The typical diet these days has little fiber in it. And if it does, it is cooked fiber, which is not of the same quality as raw fiber. Our digestive tracts are just being "swept" clean by all that raw fiber. This is where the discomfort comes from. And since the body is being swept clean, the impurities are being evacuated, causing the headaches. It will take your body some two or three days to adapt.

If your experience some of these symptoms, be patient. Drink lots of water to facilitate the evacuation of impurities and also to expedite the sweping of the digestive tract. Try to rest if you can. Instead of rushing back to cooked foods, take time to observe what is going on and take notes. Establish a good communication with your body. Listen to what it has to say.

Take example on our "raw" owl: he observes attentively with his piercing stare.

And while you're at it, looking and observing, why not check this 25 minutes video. The title: What would it look like. It's all about oneness. So from a very personal introspection to a global vision... Sometimes cleansing is not just about cleaning up...

Photo found on Flickr

Spring 2009 Detox - Day 2

What quantity of food should I eat? Should I count calories?

These are questions that often come up. Especially during a detoxification, which seems to be associated with diet and weight lost. But this is not the aim of this detox.

The best way of controlling the quantity of food you consume is quite simply controlling the quality of the food you consume. During the present detox, if you avoid salt and spices (which excite the appetite), then very naturally, your appetite will adjust to meet your true physical needs.

In fact, and especially if you are very active physically, you will have to take care to eat enough. Raw and living foods naturally contain lots of water and fiber but little calories, even more so if you avoid nuts, oils and avocados (as in the present detox). The usual diet of people is the exact opposite of raw and living foods: it is low in water content and fiber but rich in calories. The need and reason for a transition period becomes self-evident when considering these facts.

Eat raw and living foods as much as you need to feel satiated. If you ate a good proportion of your previous diet in the form of cooked foods, you might need to eat more often while your body adjusts. Go for wholesome fresh and living foods and you will not need to worry whether you overeat or not.

Snacks can take the form of fruits (always handy) and vegetables (sticks, slices, etc.). Take some of these with you at all times and you will have healthy options to guard against the temptation of other less ideal options.

The detox menu for today consists of a green smoothie for breakfast, a tropical salad (pineapple, oranges, baby greens and sunflower sprouts) for lunch and another green smoothie for supper.

Spring 2009 Detox - Day 1

Ah! Spring has sprung and I feel like cleaning!!! The windows of the house have been closed all winter. The snow is melting revealing flower beds and a garden. But it is too soon to open the windows or plant anything... What's a girl to do? How about a spring detoxification (aka detox)? Why not!

And here I am. Day one. I planned my menu, I bought the foods. This week, it's simplicity all the way. Simple foods. No concentrated fats (nuts, oils or avocados). No dehydrated anything. Just fresh, clean, simple fruits and vegetables. No fancy recipes, but rather, simple meals made up of a few ingredients. This will liberate a lot of energy in the body so it can clean up and get rid of any and all impurities.

So, what better way to start this day than with a tall glass of water? Nothing will help you more during this week of "housecleaning". Begin each day with a tall glass of water. Then wait for hunger to manifest itself. If you have to leave the house, then bring along a breakfast, so you won't be tempted by "less-than-ideal" options.

We all know that raw and living foods contain a great deal of water. But you still have to drink. Start the day with a glass of water and hydrate adequately during the day. Just try not to drink with your meals as this dilutes digestive juices and hinders digestion. The water you drink during this week will help rid your body of its impurities.

Today I am having liquid meals only. One green smoothie for breakfast and two energy soups during the course of the day. If I need a snack, I'll be eating veggie sticks (no dip!).

Water will become your best friend this week. So, drink, drink, drink! Get your hands on the purest water you can find and drink.

Photo Credit: Robert Mclassus

Un-Pout Smoothie

I went the adventurous route a few days back and discovered an all new country of possibilities in the Smoothie Universe. Wow! How can changing just one ingredient transform a familiar staple into an adventure into unchartered territory? Well, that's what I did. My green smoothies will now take on a life of their own.

This recipe, of course, begs for modifications and additions. It's just to inspire you. See where you end up! And, do not forget to tell me all about it! I am soooo curious!!!

Here's to eating (well, drinking!) our greens and loving it!

The ingredients:

1/2 cup fruit kefir
2 bananas
Juice of half lemon
3 tbs hemp
2 cups spinach
1/2 tsp cinnamon
a few drops of vanilla

Blend everything together into a creamy, delicious, super-nutritious smoothie! Enjoy.

Lemon love...love lemon

Some love lemons, some hate them. Where do you stand? These little jewels are very common and should be included into our diets regularly. Aside from their fabulous taste, they are endowed with a wide range of nutritional benefits.

Lemons are yellow fruits of an acidic nature. Lemon juice is used throughout the world in various cuisines to add flavor and taste to foods.

It contains a very good amount of copper, magnesium, manganese, iron, phosphorous, potassium and calcium. It also has small amounts of zinc and sodium.

Lemon contains excellent levels of vitamin C. It is also a good source of thiamin, vitamin B6, riboflavin and pantothenic acid. Lemon also contain traces of vitamin B2.

Most of the health benefits of lemon can be attributed to the presence Vitamin C. Lemons are good for digestion, cancer, heart diseases, arthritis, boosting immune system, diabetes, liver disorders, infections, dental care, hair care, skin care, and urinary tract infections.

Now, knowing all the above, don't you feel like eating more lemons? Here is a simple yet delicious recipe using the little gems.

Banana-Lemon Pie
Recipe inspired from Raw Rose's book, "Uncooking with RawRose"

3 cups pecans or walnuts (unsoaked)
1 1/2 cups raisins (unsoaked)
4 medium bananas
juice and rind from 1 1/2 medium lemons
poppy seeds, berries, slices of fruit, flowers or sprigs of
mint (optional)

Process nuts in food processor.
Add raisins to the nuts in food processor and process them until the mixture starts to clump together. Press the mixture into a pan.
Grate the lemon rind on top of the nut/raisin crust. Juice lemons into a bowl. Slice bananas into the lemon juice; stir gently to coat the bananas with juice. Spread banana slices/lemon juice on the crust.
Optional: Decorate with poppy seeds, berries, slices of colourful fruit, flowers or sprigs of mint.







Photo credit: Mosaica of RFC

Are you taking good care of your thyroid?

What? Thyroid? Well... I don't know, you'll probably answer. How exactly does one take care of a thyroid gland? Where is the gland, first of all? These are all good questions.

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland. It is part of the endocrine system and is located in the throat, near what we call the "adam's apple". The thyroid secretes hormones (messenger-like chemicals that our body produces so that different part of the body communicate with one another).

According to Harvard Women's Health Watch, 1 in 10 women over 50 HAS hypothyroidism or inadequate thyroid hormone levels. Some research points out that 25% of adult American women presently have clinically detectable thyroid dysfunction. Apparently, thyroid disease is becoming more common in our society. So, what can we do to protect ourselves?

Here are some of the easy steps you can take.

1) Drink lots of purified water.
2) Use unrefined, whole sea salt
3) Eat seaweed regularly (3-5g per day of powdered kelp; or 1 once per week)
4) Consume an abundance of raw fresh organic vegetables and fruits (for vitamins and minerals)
5) Include lots of green leafy vegetables in your regimen (green smoothies are even better!)
6) Use a water filter to get rid of chlorine in your water supply (that includes a shower filter as well)

Next week, I'll finish this list with 9 more things you can do to keep that thyroid gland of yours happy and running smoothly.

Until then, here's a nice simple green smoothie recipe, to get you going!

3 peaches
1 big handful spinach
Water, to taste

Blend together until smooth. Peaches are sweet enough not to add any sweetner in there but, if you want to, you can add some dates or agave nectar. If you have coconut water available, you can substitute that for the water and get a bonus dose of precious electrolytes! Enjoy!