Tuesday 26 February 2008

Photographing The Root Work


When I took my 'Before' photo back in May, I felt truly at my worst.

I saw myself with such disgust and hopelessness. I felt defiant standing there posing, and almost did it as an exercise in showing myself just how far I'd gone. As in, 'LOOK AT YOURSELF!'

As crappy as it felt, I'm SO glad I took those photos...shitty little camera on self timer in a low light basement suite...doesn't matter, what matters is that I documented it.

My point?

Even if you never, ever show any other soul on earth, let alone post it online, I think it's a great idea to take your own version of a 'Before' picture and tuck it away somewhere.

Doing so might feel low in the moment, but what it does is offer a starting point.

It lifts the veil of denial and sets things in motion, however subtle at first.

It's photo proof that as you make changes in your lifestyle that support your goals of vibrant health, that things really are changing.

I once planted some seeds and put the little pot on the window sill.

Weeks went by and I saw nothing, even though I watered it carefully whenever it got dry, even though I didn't forget about it, even though I was really wanting it to sprout. Nothing happened.

So one day, I just figured it was hopeless and I took the pot off the window sill, turned it over in my hand to pop the soil out, and planned to throw it in the garbage.

What I saw next stopped me in my tracks.

This perfectly square, massive tangle of thick, healthy roots!

"Omg, I'm SORRY!" I said to the plant as I rushed it back into the pot and patted it down in shock.

"I'm sorry!!" Oh, wow!!"

Even though there was nothing 'showing' yet on the surface, there was absolute strength, change, and magic happening under the soil. It was what I've come to call 'The Root Work'.
Without it, none of the surface stuff would ever happen. To think I almost scrapped the whole thing because it wasn't showy enough, soon enough.

Similarly, all our efforts that go into changing our lifestyle...

When we don't see results on the surface, we tend to dismiss our efforts as not working.

What's happening inside our body is much like what's happening under the soil...tremendously important 'root work' is under way.

There has to be trust that even though it doesn't yet look like the orchid you've taken care to plant, that you've laid the foundation to turn it into exactly that.

If you plant the seeds of health, health is what you will get.

Start to notice the most subtle of changes on the surface, and know that deep, good work is happening as it should.

The slightest change on the surface...better skin, sweeter breath, looser pants... all the result of some rawkin' root work goin' on. Keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Take another photo. Document your journey even when it feels like you're not moving.

Trust me, you ARE.

Photographing The Root Work


When I took my 'Before' photo back in May, I felt truly at my worst.

I saw myself with such disgust and hopelessness. I felt defiant standing there posing, and almost did it as an exercise in showing myself just how far I'd gone. As in, 'LOOK AT YOURSELF!'

As crappy as it felt, I'm SO glad I took those photos...shitty little camera on self timer in a low light basement suite...doesn't matter, what matters is that I documented it.

My point?

Even if you never, ever show any other soul on earth, let alone post it online, I think it's a great idea to take your own version of a 'Before' picture and tuck it away somewhere.

Doing so might feel low in the moment, but what it does is offer a starting point.

It lifts the veil of denial and sets things in motion, however subtle at first.

It's photo proof that as you make changes in your lifestyle that support your goals of vibrant health, that things really are changing.

I once planted some seeds and put the little pot on the window sill.

Weeks went by and I saw nothing, even though I watered it carefully whenever it got dry, even though I didn't forget about it, even though I was really wanting it to sprout. Nothing happened.

So one day, I just figured it was hopeless and I took the pot off the window sill, turned it over in my hand to pop the soil out, and planned to throw it in the garbage.

What I saw next stopped me in my tracks.

This perfectly square, massive tangle of thick, healthy roots!

"Omg, I'm SORRY!" I said to the plant as I rushed it back into the pot and patted it down in shock.

"I'm sorry!!" Oh, wow!!"

Even though there was nothing 'showing' yet on the surface, there was absolute strength, change, and magic happening under the soil. It was what I've come to call 'The Root Work'.
Without it, none of the surface stuff would ever happen. To think I almost scrapped the whole thing because it wasn't showy enough, soon enough.

Similarly, all our efforts that go into changing our lifestyle...

When we don't see results on the surface, we tend to dismiss our efforts as not working.

What's happening inside our body is much like what's happening under the soil...tremendously important 'root work' is under way.

There has to be trust that even though it doesn't yet look like the orchid you've taken care to plant, that you've laid the foundation to turn it into exactly that.

If you plant the seeds of health, health is what you will get.

Start to notice the most subtle of changes on the surface, and know that deep, good work is happening as it should.

The slightest change on the surface...better skin, sweeter breath, looser pants... all the result of some rawkin' root work goin' on. Keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Take another photo. Document your journey even when it feels like you're not moving.

Trust me, you ARE.

Tuesday 19 February 2008

Awesome, Rawsome Dinner!


From Gabriel Cousens' Rainbow Green Live Food Cuisine
Need a dehydrator, a blender, and a food processor

Sun Raw Samosas
p. 200

2 c red cabbage
1 1/2 c water
3 tbsp curry
2 tbsp cayenne
1 1/2 c pine nuts, unsoaked
3/4 c olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp ginger, minced
1 tbsp lemon juice
3 tbsp celtic salt
1 1/2 c peas fresh or frozen thawed
1 1/2 c sweet potatoes, chopped
1/2 c golden flax seed, ground


In a blender, process cabbage, water, curry, and cayenne until smooth.

Place in a food processor with 'S' blade and blend 2 tbspn celtic salt, pine nuts, olive oil, garlic, giner, and lemon juice until smooth.

Transfer to mixing bowl and add peas, sweet potatoes and remaining celtic salt and mix well.

Place a heaping tablespoon of the mixture into hands and form into a ball. Roll in ground flax and place on a dehydrator tray with a Teflex sheet. Form into a triangle and dehydrate at 145 degrees for 2-3 hours.

Remove from Teflex sheets and continue dehydrating for 2 hours at 115 degrees F. Serve warm with Mysore Mint Chutney.




Mint Chutney
p. 276

1/2 c raisins, soaked
1/2 c water
1 apple
2 tbsp fresh mint, minced
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
3 black peppercorns
1 teaspoon garam masala
1/2 teaspoon cardamom

Process all ingredients in a blender until smooth.



Tabouleh
p. 247

2 c cucumbers, chopped
1 c tomato, seeded and diced
1 c parsley, finely chopped
2 1/2 tbsp oilve oil
2 tbsp lemon jucie
1 tbsp fresh oregano, minced
1 tbsp garlic, minced
1 teaspoon celtic salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix well.


Awesome, Rawsome Dinner!


From Gabriel Cousens' Rainbow Green Live Food Cuisine
Need a dehydrator, a blender, and a food processor

Sun Raw Samosas
p. 200

2 c red cabbage
1 1/2 c water
3 tbsp curry
2 tbsp cayenne
1 1/2 c pine nuts, unsoaked
3/4 c olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp ginger, minced
1 tbsp lemon juice
3 tbsp celtic salt
1 1/2 c peas fresh or frozen thawed
1 1/2 c sweet potatoes, chopped
1/2 c golden flax seed, ground


In a blender, process cabbage, water, curry, and cayenne until smooth.

Place in a food processor with 'S' blade and blend 2 tbspn celtic salt, pine nuts, olive oil, garlic, giner, and lemon juice until smooth.

Transfer to mixing bowl and add peas, sweet potatoes and remaining celtic salt and mix well.

Place a heaping tablespoon of the mixture into hands and form into a ball. Roll in ground flax and place on a dehydrator tray with a Teflex sheet. Form into a triangle and dehydrate at 145 degrees for 2-3 hours.

Remove from Teflex sheets and continue dehydrating for 2 hours at 115 degrees F. Serve warm with Mysore Mint Chutney.




Mint Chutney
p. 276

1/2 c raisins, soaked
1/2 c water
1 apple
2 tbsp fresh mint, minced
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
3 black peppercorns
1 teaspoon garam masala
1/2 teaspoon cardamom

Process all ingredients in a blender until smooth.



Tabouleh
p. 247

2 c cucumbers, chopped
1 c tomato, seeded and diced
1 c parsley, finely chopped
2 1/2 tbsp oilve oil
2 tbsp lemon jucie
1 tbsp fresh oregano, minced
1 tbsp garlic, minced
1 teaspoon celtic salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix well.


Anniversary!

Photobucket
Today marks my 9 month anniversary into raw sobriety!!
9 months have FLOWN by in a joyful, light, raw swirl!
I've effectively turned my life completely around!
I've birthed a new hopeful, lively, vibrant SELF; one I couldn't have dreamed up.
The only hard part was letting go of the SAD Familiar. The rest has been beautifully easy.
More, please :)

Anniversary!

Photobucket
Today marks my 9 month anniversary into raw sobriety!!
9 months have FLOWN by in a joyful, light, raw swirl!
I've effectively turned my life completely around!
I've birthed a new hopeful, lively, vibrant SELF; one I couldn't have dreamed up.
The only hard part was letting go of the SAD Familiar. The rest has been beautifully easy.
More, please :)

Friday 8 February 2008

Kitchen Gadgets

Kitchen Equipment

Ain't nuthin' like the real thing, Baby... ain't nuthin' like the real thing...

Sing it with me! :D


The right tool for the job is everything. You know when you shake your head and go, "Why didn't I do this sooner??" Like the citrus juicer, it makes me hear choirs. No more pickin' seeds out of sting-y lemon juice.


Doodads that make life easier:


well-labled measuring spoons. I'm going to take my own advice and get some. I've squinted at mine for too long. They're silver with tiny silver writing, hello.
garlic press. Don't go for cheap, the good ones are worth the extra couple bucks.



little stackable measuring cups. These go from 1/8 cup to 1 cup.





apple corer/slicer. These go a long way when you're juicing or pie-ing.




a good peeler. This is still the best kind, to me...

A sink colander. Great for rinsing greens, not so great for rinsing soaked seeds. Well, it's fine...until you need to clean it. Took me so freaking long once to pick the &#$*@& seeds out of the mesh. But as I say, GREAT for rinsing bigger things. aheh. :?


These are pretty basic items, and all 100% useful! In a future post, we'll work our way up from basic and go for the OMG I WANT THAT items :)

Kitchen Gadgets

Kitchen Equipment

Ain't nuthin' like the real thing, Baby... ain't nuthin' like the real thing...

Sing it with me! :D


The right tool for the job is everything. You know when you shake your head and go, "Why didn't I do this sooner??" Like the citrus juicer, it makes me hear choirs. No more pickin' seeds out of sting-y lemon juice.


Doodads that make life easier:


well-labled measuring spoons. I'm going to take my own advice and get some. I've squinted at mine for too long. They're silver with tiny silver writing, hello.
garlic press. Don't go for cheap, the good ones are worth the extra couple bucks.



little stackable measuring cups. These go from 1/8 cup to 1 cup.





apple corer/slicer. These go a long way when you're juicing or pie-ing.




a good peeler. This is still the best kind, to me...

A sink colander. Great for rinsing greens, not so great for rinsing soaked seeds. Well, it's fine...until you need to clean it. Took me so freaking long once to pick the &#$*@& seeds out of the mesh. But as I say, GREAT for rinsing bigger things. aheh. :?


These are pretty basic items, and all 100% useful! In a future post, we'll work our way up from basic and go for the OMG I WANT THAT items :)

Sunday 3 February 2008

Hmmm....

"I don't understand why asking people to eat a well-balanced vegetarian diet is considered drastic, while it is medically conservative to cut people open and put them on cholesterol-lowering drugs for the rest of their lives." - Dean Ornish, MD

Hmmm....

"I don't understand why asking people to eat a well-balanced vegetarian diet is considered drastic, while it is medically conservative to cut people open and put them on cholesterol-lowering drugs for the rest of their lives." - Dean Ornish, MD

Saturday 2 February 2008

Day of Thanks!!

Thanks to Alissa of http://raw.ivorylodge.net/ for nomination me for the Inspirational Blogger Award :)



It is now my task to pass this on to 5 other bloggers who inspire me, but I will do so one at a time, because this is not something I take lightly :)

My first pick is FiddleMama of http://fiddlemama.blogspot.com/
This heartfelt woman just speaks to me on so many levels. A musician, a mama, a passionate believer in all things natural, I just love her and gently fierce, organic convictions.


********************************************************************************


More thanks to all the International readers of this blog, and lurkers of the message board! I sure appreciate the visits, and my web statistics are going into the thousands. It's so lovely to track visitors from all over the world, and to know that on some level, a little of what I do touches others. Thank you for caring!!

Day of Thanks!!

Thanks to Alissa of http://raw.ivorylodge.net/ for nomination me for the Inspirational Blogger Award :)



It is now my task to pass this on to 5 other bloggers who inspire me, but I will do so one at a time, because this is not something I take lightly :)

My first pick is FiddleMama of http://fiddlemama.blogspot.com/
This heartfelt woman just speaks to me on so many levels. A musician, a mama, a passionate believer in all things natural, I just love her and gently fierce, organic convictions.


********************************************************************************


More thanks to all the International readers of this blog, and lurkers of the message board! I sure appreciate the visits, and my web statistics are going into the thousands. It's so lovely to track visitors from all over the world, and to know that on some level, a little of what I do touches others. Thank you for caring!!

Friday 1 February 2008

Food Additives Found to Cause Hyperactivity in Children

by David Gutierrez (NaturalNews) Originally published January 29 2008

Two different cocktails of common food colorings and preservatives increased hyperactive behavior in children, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Southampton and published in the journal The Lancet.

In the study, which was commissioned by the United Kingdom's Food Safety Agency (FSA), researchers fed children fruit drinks spiked with either a mix of sunset yellow coloring (E110), tartrazine (E102), carmoisine (E122), ponceau 4R (E124) and sodium benzoate (E211) or a mix of sunset yellow, quinoline yellow (E104), allura red (E129) and sodium benzoate.

Two different groups of children were tested, one composed of children aged three and the other composed of children aged eight or nine. In all, more than 300 children were tested.The children were monitored closely after drinking the cocktails. Among older children, hyperactivity significantly increased in both groups. Among younger children, the researchers said, hyperactivity increased more significantly among those who had the cocktail containing the more common combination of flavors and preservatives.

"These findings show that adverse effects are not just seen in children with extreme hyperactivity (such as ADHD) but can also be seen in the general population and across the range of severities of hyperactivity," the researchers wrote.

Because the children were given a combination of additives, the researchers were unable to determine what contributions each of the individual ingredients might be making to hyperactivity. Nonetheless, many colleagues hailed the study as significant, and the FSA forwarded it to the European Union's Food Safety Authority for review.

"This is a well designed and potentially very important study," said Dr. Sue Baic, a dietician at the University of Bristol. "It supports what dieticians have known for a long time -- that feeding children on diets largely consisting of heavily processed foods, which may also be high in fat, salt or sugar, is not optimal for health."

"There is no doubt," added consumer health advocate Mike Adams, "that artificial coloring chemicals directly cause behavioral problems in children.

I believe they cause this effect by interfering with normal nervous system function.

Such harmful chemicals should, in my opinion, be banned from all foods and beverages."

NaturalNews.com printable article

Food Additives Found to Cause Hyperactivity in Children

by David Gutierrez (NaturalNews) Originally published January 29 2008

Two different cocktails of common food colorings and preservatives increased hyperactive behavior in children, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Southampton and published in the journal The Lancet.

In the study, which was commissioned by the United Kingdom's Food Safety Agency (FSA), researchers fed children fruit drinks spiked with either a mix of sunset yellow coloring (E110), tartrazine (E102), carmoisine (E122), ponceau 4R (E124) and sodium benzoate (E211) or a mix of sunset yellow, quinoline yellow (E104), allura red (E129) and sodium benzoate.

Two different groups of children were tested, one composed of children aged three and the other composed of children aged eight or nine. In all, more than 300 children were tested.The children were monitored closely after drinking the cocktails. Among older children, hyperactivity significantly increased in both groups. Among younger children, the researchers said, hyperactivity increased more significantly among those who had the cocktail containing the more common combination of flavors and preservatives.

"These findings show that adverse effects are not just seen in children with extreme hyperactivity (such as ADHD) but can also be seen in the general population and across the range of severities of hyperactivity," the researchers wrote.

Because the children were given a combination of additives, the researchers were unable to determine what contributions each of the individual ingredients might be making to hyperactivity. Nonetheless, many colleagues hailed the study as significant, and the FSA forwarded it to the European Union's Food Safety Authority for review.

"This is a well designed and potentially very important study," said Dr. Sue Baic, a dietician at the University of Bristol. "It supports what dieticians have known for a long time -- that feeding children on diets largely consisting of heavily processed foods, which may also be high in fat, salt or sugar, is not optimal for health."

"There is no doubt," added consumer health advocate Mike Adams, "that artificial coloring chemicals directly cause behavioral problems in children.

I believe they cause this effect by interfering with normal nervous system function.

Such harmful chemicals should, in my opinion, be banned from all foods and beverages."

NaturalNews.com printable article
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