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June 7th 2009 Water (draft copy)

The lovely hot weather we have been enjoying has brought up a timely query regarding water. This has caught me off-guard, as many of you know that I provide extensive handouts on all aspects of natural healing, except water.
This is because it is such a huge subject and yet the one ‘everyone already knows.’

Do you like this amazing picture of frozen ice?

So here I am going to share a summary of some of my own personal findings regarding water – in no particular order of importance.

Tap water and filters
While we all know that water is good for us, it can become a real headache as to how much and which water we should be drinking. In fact the experts seem to disagree on most areas except that we do need water!
Another big subject is around tap water. Many Natural Health experts agree that tap water is not the best for our health. I am not going into this here as it really can be a huge subject but some of the concerns are around the type of fluoride that is added and that tap water still contains low levels of hormone mimicking chemicals which disrupt our delicate endocrine system (hormone). These include Chlorine, radon gas, lead and aluminium.
This leads on to the next big debate – which filter system is best. Again a huge subject, with bewildering pros and cons on all the many different filters. My own research into this subject, which has been on and off for the past few years, is still not conclusive as to what the best answer is. However currently this is where I stand;

 Whenever possible filter tap water. A cheap jug system is fine and will remove a smaller % of toxins – but remember to change the cartridge at the correct time.
 If you decide to invest more money into a filter system, then you need to get your own water supply checked first. My own experience has shown that filters vary as to what they remove – so save yourself some money by seeing what you need removed from your own water. Here in the UK I tried to research my own water supply, but have to admit I was still confused and have yet to invest in a great filter. Sorry, when I finally have more info I will share details here.
 Storing water in plastic bottles is another area that has had a lot of press. Especially if you keep bottled water in the car you might want to look at using a different container.
 Water filters for the shower and bath is another area that many of us may forget. Remember that the skin is a two-way barrier and will absorb not only chemical’s from shower gels but also from unfiltered washing water. Shazzie from DetoxyourWorld.com makes the valid comment that with a hot shower or bath we ingest through breathing as well. She also suggests buying a product called the Crystal Ball that removes all chlorine from the bath, you just place it in the bath as you run the water and it just bobs about. As it is said to replace dry itchy skin with softer skin I intend to get one for my daughter’s bath – I’ll let you know how it goes. I do know that this doesn’t actually have to be that expensive to install shower filters etc but for now my money is being spent on the actual products I use with the water such as chemical-free shower gel etc

Dehydration
I’m sure most of you are well aware how important water is for your health and how much of a health risk dehydration is. Here is a short summary just to remind you;
 Colon Health – “It is impossible to regain colonic efficiency, with regained peristalsis and a regular passage of waste matter, while the body is dehydrated” Elaine Bruce Living foods Programme. The old time healers all believed that the colon was the secret to good health and water is one of the secrets of a great colon.
 Many Naturopaths and Health professionals believe that chronic and persistent dehydration is the root cause of almost all currently encountered major diseases of the human body. Yes that means that it is very possible that you will feel better as soon as you start to drink more water – whatever health condition you have!

By the time you feel thirsty, you are already very dehydrated.

How much is enough.
Good question with several answers! The general rule is 1.5 –2 litres a day. This still depends on several factors. Some people work out the amount on body weight – which seems fairly logical (suggest you drink half your bodyweight in ounces). Others look at time of year, heat and humidity. How much are you sweating moisture out? How many cooked foods are you eating – cooking reduces moisture by up to 80%.
Some say that coffee, fizzy drinks and even alcohol counts. Others that only pure water can be included. I have found so many problems within the body when coffee, fizzy sugar drinks and alcohol are consumed that I feel this cannot be the case. In fact I often suggest drinking more water if you do consume those beverages. I count herbal and green teas as part of my water content. To be honest I have always drank quite a lot throughout the day and evening and soon feel ‘not quite right’ if I don’t. I may even drink more than 2 Litres and found this increased after I gave up my daily coffee habit.
I do not enjoy hot water, but cannot see any problem with drinking water this way. I like it cool with lemon or lime, but enjoy it plain as well. Sometimes in the evening if those around me are drinking alcohol I will have carbonated water with lemon and ice. I believe the temperature of your water makes a difference to speed of reaching the colon, but can’t find that research. The correct temperature is room temperature. Starting the day with a glass of water and lemon or hot water is suggested by nearly all health professionals and is a good place to start if water is a problem for you.

Boring Water
So many people have said that they find water, well, boring and tasteless that I thought I would share the following information which certainly made an impact on me.
 Water is a unique substance – chemical formula H2O- two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
 ‘To this day it cannot be explained why water is liquid. All known natural laws and their functional structures do not hold true for water’. Wifried Hacheney, German physicist and water engineer 1991. In the periodic Table of Elements most elements surrounding oxygen – Chlorine, Fluoride, Sulphur and Carbon when combined with hydrogen produce noxious gas at room temperature.
 Water – Oxygen and Hydrogen combined is liquid at room temperature
 All other liquids become denser as they cool, water is at its densest at 4C
 Below this temperature water expands and becomes lighter (ice floats!)
 According to the periodic table and theoretical science water freezes and boils at the wrong temperature!!
 The human body is about 70% water, 70% of our brain, 92% of our blood and 99% of our metabolic processes depend on it.
 Dr Bernard Grad of McGill University discovered that if you subject water to a small magnetic field, heat it or subject it to light, the atomic bonding in water gets altered and there is a reduction in the surface tension.
 If a substance – like a flower or crystal, is placed in water that is then exposed to light, heat or magnetics, the water holds the memory of the energy pattern of that substance. This is how homeopathic and essences are proved scientifically.
 “Water forms ‘clusters’ that take the shape of platonic solids (the tetrahedron, cube, octahedron, etc). This enables water to completely enclose other molecules and make copies of its shape. This leaves an imprint that carries vibrational frequency and information” Fred Hageneder ‘The spirit of Trees’.

Other Findings
As I said at the start my research has been ongoing for a few years now and there is some really amazing information about water. I will share some of this briefly as I admit I still have loads more to research. For now, I would urge you to filter any drinking tap water. As I said earlier a cheap counter top filter should remove chlorine, and is a great place to start. You could look at filtering your shower cap or getting a crystal ball for the bath. Before you spend more money on a big filter system do your research. What does your local water contain? You can also test yourself to see if you are high in any chemicals found in water. This will help you make an informed choice. Some experts do not like distilled water for everyday drinking, as it is ‘empty’ water – while others suggest it is useful.
David Wolfe in an interview in The definitive Guide to Water makes the comment that we are like a living ocean in that our internal water contains salt. He suggests adding a pinch of pure sea salt to every couple of gallons of drinking water to maintain balanced hydration. Ocean water from a mineral prospective is identical to chlorophyll, which is almost identical to our blood haemoglobin. Slightly salty (mineral) water was used by the old time healers to improve the bowel function.

I know that many of my crystal healer friends suggest placing a crystal in your drinking water. This may be due to the Silica content of crystals. Silica is found in natural spring water, and has many health benefits as well as making water feel different. Silica is also responsible for containing high energy partials, these are said to be minerals that respond to our consciousness and explains some of Dr Masaru Emoto’s work with water crystals. If you haven’t come across his amazing book Messages From Water please check it out. He shows how water responds to messages such as prayer, thoughts and music. Many people bless or Reiki their water before drinking, and I think this book shows us why this is so important. I am sure you can buy silica in some form that can be added to drinking water – there is growing research and products to add to our drinking water all the time.

Many forward thinking health gurus also talk about spiralizing their water. The thinking is that most of us have straight piped water. However water naturally likes to meander and spiral – look at water going down a plughole. Just as chemicals change (react) when heated it has been found that hydrogen in water responds to spiralling. Herbalists use to spin their medicinal tea one way for a minute and then change and spin the other way for a minute which they believed improved the tea.
As a herbalist I was taught to boil some herbs before using. But now I am looking into low heating my decoctions. Some research has shown that when water is boiled at a high temperature, allowed to cool and then drunk, the body will produce a white blood cell reaction to that water. Teas taken after low heating did not have the same reaction.
This brings me back to intention. Whenever you prepare and drink water or tea take a moment. Remember that you are mostly water. Remember that water responds to intention. Make sure that your intention is positive, peaceful and healing.

I hope that you have found this brief information interesting, it has been a timely reminder to myself about this amazing energy that shares this planet with us and is contained in our bodies. There really is so much exciting information regarding water and it’s impact on our health on many levels.

 

 

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May 2009 Healing

Health, healing and recovery from disease in my personal experience seem to come down to various factors. This is why I am convinced that treating the individual is the best way to go. For this reason I cannot follow ‘one way’ only and have to accept that just because an idea worked for 9 people, it may not be correct for the tenth person.

Some time ago I came across what for me was a life changing suggestion. I can’t remember who or where it came from now, as I have read a great many books and articles. The important point is that it made an impact on me, and as we know a lot of what we read doesn’t and this was true every time I came across this idea. The suggestion was that what we believe can change or build our future. I know that some tests were done through quantum physics that seemed to show that even scientific studies could be effected by the beliefs of those involved in the tests.

Of course this is where the placebo effect comes in and that comment ‘ It’s probably all in my mind’. But for me, it seemed to open all sorts of doors of possibility. I have always been fascinated by the placebo effect, if some one can feel better when all they have taken is a harmless pill, or recovered even though the surgeon has not removed the organ, to me that is amazing and exciting.

It shows that the body truly is amazing and magical. It also has in recent year’s lead to many people being made to feel that everything that has gone wrong in their life was brought on by negative thoughts. Now I am all for a positive outlook, but I have come to believe that there is more to it than meets the eye. If you cannot believe deep down that something is your truth, what you truly believe, then no amount of going through the motions of acting positive can make it so.

So for me, here we have a dilemma. Clearly a positive outlook is a huge bonus to health and healing, but what to do for those who do not have this positivity or belief.
This is a work in progress and I am well aware that my viewpoint will and should change as I continue my research. I think it is helpful to be open to new knowledge and understanding, and to understand that our truth and belief’s may and possibly should change as we experience more of life.

This has been where my personal understanding of spiritual knowledge has been of great help. It’s not that I quote spiritual laws at people, but more that I try to live my life by them, and people do seem to respond to that. For me, ever the positive sceptic, we can never totally prove or disprove spiritual truth. It is equally clear to most of us that most people want to choose which spiritual truth they follow, if any. Which I guess is why we have so many religions and branches of religion in the world.

It has also been proven through some research done with cancer patients that having a spiritual belief was the most healing technique of all. Some would call this positive thinking, others that they had a lack of fear and deep strength and community with which to support them.

It certainly makes you think. That I think is the first step. If you never come across certain knowledge then you never have a chance to explore it further. Some beliefs of course do not encourage you to explore spiritual knowledge further, unless you become initiated further. It is exciting that in this day and age many of us have the freedom that should we chose we could explore many different beliefs. One of my patients has spent many years exploring the different religions and spiritual beliefs and we have had some thought provoking conversations.

Sometimes I know that new clients have many doubts, especially regarding the healing side of my work, although I am surprised by the number of people who still do not realise that many modern day drugs are plant based, or that changing your diet can be a huge factor in healing!

I believe these doubts are very normal and part of the belief system. It is a fact that even the very best alternative practitioner will not get 100% results. This is also a huge frustration for many genuine practitioners and therapists. In this day with all our amazing scientific technology and easy communication, there are still millions of sick people in every part of the world taking their medications and never truly regaining their health.

I believe from my work that health and healing has to take into account more than one or two factors. In fact the longer I do this work the more I realise health is a larger and more fascinating subject than I ever could have imagined. I also believe very strongly that your own belief system around your healing journey is a huge factor if not the biggest.

From my healing work I find many times that most of us have no love for ourselves, and have spent many years disliking, ignoring or actually hating ourselves. I have also observed that when I feel healing come in as I work, the only word I can find to describe this feeling is love. Is this coincidence do you think? All the great religions and spiritual truths talk about the power of love. Could it be that in this day and age when we have it all, the one thing lacking is love of ourself?

I truly believe that each person has a soul living this life through a physical body. I believe that we are caretakers for this planet and all life that currently live here. I think we should have huge respect for ourselves and our journey and the many challenges along the way. We could recognise in our neighbour this also. But mostly I wish that we could all feel love towards our physical bodies with its emotions and mind that bravely travel the journey and direction of our soul, experiencing life each precious second at a time.

So what will you chose to believe? Do you even know what you do believe? Maybe that’s the place to start. Let your beliefs grow and change, be open to the new, and hold on to what serves you best at your highest level. Whatever you chose, I hope it brings you joy, comfort and mostly love and healing.

Joxx

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May 29th  Let me introduce Hemp Seeds (rough copy no photo's)

But first a quick answer to a question I am asked a lot. What should I eat? Which is the correct diet? Those who know me will guess my answer! In my training over ten years ago, my school followed the guidelines Dr Christopher suggested over 50 years ago. This was a vegan diet, low heated wholegrains, and mainly fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds – low heated during cold weather and uncooked in hotter weather. For the most part I think this is still excellent advice.

I feel processed (convenience) and dairy foods are more of a problem than small amounts of unprocessed meat or fish.
Natural sugars and fruits have to be better than refined sugar and chemical alternatives no matter how low calorie they are.
We need good fats unheated, but should avoid heated fats. No fat in the diet can be dangerous.
Green leafy vegetables are the unknown superfood and should be included everyday.
I do not think we need to do 100% and get hung up over our diet, but we should remember that it is what we do most days that count’s.

But mostly having seen all the experts, from raw food to macrobiotic disagree on major fundamental points it is clear that there is no one way to eat correctly.
Achieving weight loss does not mean that your diet is healthy in long term or even in the short term.

Food and diet are an important area of health. However they are certainly not the only factor.

Look at your energy levels, look at your skin, eyes and hair. Are you happy? Are you in good shape? Do you sleep? Do you need sugar, caffeine, salt, nicotine, painkillers (or other medications) and/or alcohol to get through the week? Are you doing what you are supposed to be doing? Are your relationships content and fulfilling? Can you relax? Do you exercise?

These and many more questions are what I take into account. I also look into the deeper aspects of health such as your energy field, aura and soul journey. We are all on a journey to experience life and to grow as humans on an individual level. Once you finally realise that this is your life, your physical body, your emotions, your dreams, your choice and your chance it really does become a totally different ball game!

So the question I ask is how do I want to feel and what will help?

Hemp Seeds

Rich in Essential Fatty Acids Omega 3 and Omega 6

Dehulled organic hemp seeds - the seed with the shell taken off! Ideal for sprinkling on salads, adding to smoothies and desserts, or just for nibbling on their own.

Here's what our editor had to say about this superfood in the autumn 2007 issue of Get Fresh! magazine:

"There are over three million edible plant species on the planet, but no other can compare with hemp in nutritional value. Hemp seeds are a packed with protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and antioxidants. As long as they are consumed raw, both the amino acids and the essential fats in hemp seeds are in the ideal ratios for human nutrition. A high proportion of hemp's amino acids come in the most easily digestible form known to man: globulin edestin, very similar to the protein found in human blood plasma.

Hemp is a rich source of vitamin E and its balance of essential fatty acids mirrors the diet that the human race evolved on, which is a 4:1 ratio of omega 6s to omega 3s. Clinical tests have shown that the standard diet of today is likely to provide a ratio closer to 20:1 and in many subjects tested, omega 3 levels are too low to even register.

Consuming the wrong ratio of essential fats - namely not getting the all-important omega-3s - has been shown to be a risk factor in heart disease and cancer, as well as infertility and other endocrine problems, and in nervous system disorders and mental illness. There is evidence that regular consumption of hemp can improve memory and relieve attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It is also beneficial for the skin: the oils in hemp moisturise the skin from the inside out."

I bought a small amount from www.fresh-network.com when I placed my last order for more carob and cacao powder – this was where I also get my Himalayan salt. I tried some hemp seeds before which were really tasty in smoothies and sprinkled over salads. However I came across the following two recipes from Kirsten’s blog where she has several ebook’s one devoted to hemp recipes – so important is this amazing seed.

CREAMY DREAMY HEMP MILK
By Kristen Suzanne of KristensRaw.com
Yield 4 cups

2 1/2 cups water, more if desired
1 1/2 cups hemp seeds
1 - 2 tablespoons raw agave nectar or 2 – 3 dates, pitted (optional)
Blend all of the ingredients until creamy and smooth.

Variations:
- Make it vanilla by adding the seeds of a vanilla bean or some vanilla extract
- Make it chocolate by adding 1-2 tablespoons (or more!) of  raw chocolate powder (cacao)
 
CHEEZY HEMP NACHO SAUCE
By Kristen Suzanne of KristensRaw.com
Yield approximately 1 1/2 cups

1/3 cup water
1 clove garlic
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 red bell pepper, seeded, rough chopped (approximately 1 cup)
1 cup hemp seeds
2 1/2 tablespoons nutritional yeast flakes
1 tablespoon chilli powder*
2 teaspoons tamari, wheat-free
1/2 teaspoon Himalayan salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon turmeric powder

Blend all of the ingredients in a blender until smooth and creamy. This can be stored in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.

Serving suggestions:
· Use this for dipping fresh veggies or corn chips (Raw or not - it's up to you!)
· For those eating cooked vegan foods, this is an awesome sauce on top of veggie burgers
· This also makes a delicious Raw vegan dressing on a hearty salad with romaine lettuce, chopped tomatoes, and cucumbers.
JO; I have not really enjoyed many of the raw cheese type sauces I’ve made so far. However this one really was tasty although as usual I made some adjustments. Because I added too much water I added Pine nuts and this seemed to work really well. I couldn’t find my cayenne powder so I used paprika instead. This recipe looks similar to others I haven’t enjoyed so maybe the hemp is the magical ingredient and I added enough salt this time as well. This one really is worth trying – let me know how you get on.

 

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And All Things Sweet………………………..(Sometime in May - sorry laptop crashed this is my rough draft without photo's)

Ahhh the sugar debate rages on in all corners of the healthy food world. I am sorry but I have no ultimate advice or answer. What I can give you is my personal insights thus far on my own healing journey.

Facts – refined (white sugar) and calorie-free sugar alternatives are seen as a poison in the body. Not only do we have problems with blood sugar levels such as hypoglycaemia, and diabetes, but we now know that sugar causes inflammation, causes candida and fuels cancer. Sugar is addictive, mimics and increases the stress cycle in the body, and has a negative effect on our emotions from feeling sad and weepy to hyperactive and irritable. Some experts believe that we should avoid fruit because of its sugar content, others that because of the fibre fruit is a healthy sugar etc etc

The biggest problem is that year on year, we are consuming more sugar per person than ever recorded. Much of this sugar is hidden in processed foods and often we do not really even consider the sugar content of what we are eating. Life is no easier with the manufactured calorie-free sugar alternatives, already research has shown that these are treated in the same way as sugar by the body and claims are made that they actually cause weight gain.

My own experience with sugar is involved in the stress cycle – after finally kicking a bad addiction to black coffee and caffeine, I find I now have a sugar addiction. I know if I switch back to drinking coffee, I will stop craving the sugar. But, instead I have decided I need to face my sugar demon head on. Well, slow step by step actually. I have a sneaking feeling that the ultimate answer is to stop all sugar including fruit. But I’m not ready for that one yet. Also, the effects of stopping sugar can be debilitating for many especially without preparation. So please, if you suspect you have a sugar problem get some professional help.

Couple of things that can help with sugar withdrawal;

Herbs such as liquorice, Gymnea, burdock, Goat Rue, Elecampane, gentian, dandelion root, fenugreek, nettle, Siberian Ginseng, prickly Ash and many others can all help with balancing different aspects of blood sugar levels.

Super food or supplements that contain algae’s and seaweed’s are also very useful – I am currently taking my herbs and superfood twice a day and making sure I have at least one cup of rejuvenate tea.

Keep away from refined sugar and alternatives and look out the hidden sugar that you are consuming without realising.

So, what about these amazing ‘raw’ chocolate desserts and cakes that the raw food community enjoy? Well to be honest they are still thrashing out the final answer on the sugar/fruit debate. In the meantime their puddings and cakes are at least natural and for the most part taste amazing. In the name of research I have reviewed for you an amazing ebook called “Just Desserts; Delicious, Nutritious Raw Delights” by Heathy Page who certainly has a talent for raw desserts.
But first, before I go further lets introduce a few of the key ingredients that may be new to you.

Raw Chocolate (Cacao) comes in the form of nibs, powder and butter. Shazzie from the UK site Detoxyourworld  has tons of information and you can order online. Because of my problem with caffeine I do have a problem with cacao, so for me a good alternative is Carob powder.

Natural sweeteners come in the form of Agave Nectar – you can buy raw. There is still a debate going on, but for now I use and enjoy it. You can also use soaked dates.

Healthy fat comes from nuts and seeds, including coconut oil and butter. You can also buy nut and seed butters. Avocado is another healthy fat used in desserts. Another online site I use is The fresh network. Some of these are now sold in major supermarkets, but may not be raw. Local health food shops may also stock many of them. If anyone has come across another online site – please let me know and I will share it here.

Just to give you a taster; these are the recipes that I have printed out ready to try from Heathy Page’s ebook “Just Desserts; Delicious, Nutritious Raw Delights”:
Chocolate Orange Cake
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Maple Pear Tarts
Chocolate Oatmeal cookies
Double chocolate Energy bar
Quick N easy Moist Chocolate cake
Peppermint chocolate squares
Chocolate Sauce
Easiest Caramel Sauce 1

These are just for starters. I can’t share the recipes, but I will let you know how I get on and even try and take some pictures. The ebook has many helpful hints and tips and many of the recipes are not too involved and just need cooling in the fridge. This ebook cost me less than £10 and I think that once you get the idea you can start adapting the recipes.

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30th April 2009 Gratitude

Hello to all my readers!
I have been receiving great feedback from many of you regarding this blog. I am so pleased, I have a technical ‘thingy’ that lets me know that my blog here is read everyday now and April saw 300 ‘hits’ to this blog page. Wow that is quite amazing, and I am thrilled!
As you should know by now, the main idea of this blog page was to provide you with further support and inspiration between treatments. From all your positive feedback I know this has been the case so far, and I shall do my best to continue and improve the quality and content over the coming months.
Now the last week has been hectic and emotionally draining for me and I thought I would share some of this with you, as I am sure many of you will have been through similar situations. First can I thank those clients who have been so understanding when I have had to re-arrange times, it was appreciated and also the love and understanding you all showed me.

My amazing and very independent parents have both been ill, which has meant hospital, doctor and general ‘looking after’ visits. I am happy to report they are both doing well and the pressure has eased. At the same time I also took the very difficult decision to move my daughter to a new school. This all happened over the same 4-day period – doesn’t it always happen that way?

As you can imagine this has brought up lots of thoughts, emotions and conversations, as these situations often do. The main one that I want to share with you has been my over-riding sense of Gratitude. Once the initial stress or emergency is over, it can be so clear to see all that we have to be grateful for. It is so easy to take people and situations for granted, and often when our mind and heart are full of worry, fear and panic we do not ‘see’ the help around us. But as soon as you notice one small thing to be grateful for, you can start to see so much more.

This is the situation I find myself in, and for the last 48 hours I have allowed myself the pleasure of recognising and acknowledging all the things in my life right now that I am grateful for. This of course is a technique or exercise that many therapists and self-help books suggest, and many people have a journal where they jot down a list of all they are grateful for each day. This is a wonderful way to focus your attention on all that has been good through your day, and some days we all need a tool to help focus on the positive eh? However, the last day or two I have really been able to appreciate in the very moment, those things that have touched me and I perhaps usually never really notice. Just for a split second, in the actual moment, we can both fully experience and appreciate the little (and big) things in our day. If anything the split second it takes to appreciate and be grateful really seems to add to the pleasure. Sounds too simple? Wondering what planet I am living on, I know. But give it a try some time and I am sure that your day will start to improve – fast. It can even be a game, trying to spot the blessing in every situation. I prefer to keep mine quietly to myself though, as I’m not sure how appreciative others would be to having this pointed out to them!!

Well I have found it very helpful and uplifting during a difficult time, and if nothing else it has allowed me to feel better and that always has a knock on effect. Of course some things we are grateful for are huge (such as amazing family and friends) and while they are often there for us all the time – how often do we take the time to really appreciate them?

So to continue the topic of Being Grateful, I am sharing a recipe that I came across this last weekend. This is so simple to make, so yummy to eat, a new comfort food (and healthy) and very easy to take with me to eat on the go. I found it on the Raw Freedom community Forum and just jotted down the general idea, so no exact measurements and maybe tweaked a bit.

Sunflower & Broccoli Salad To Go

Head of broccoli florets, chopped.
Onion chopped
Red pepper chopped
Cup of sunflower seeds – soaked for an hour to two

Dressing
Cashew nuts
Apple cider vinegar
Agave nectar or date to sweeten.
Water.
Blend to dressing consistency

Optional – dried seaweed or soy salad bacon ‘bits’ (I Know).
I did add both seaweed and the pretend bacon bits and it was amazing. Just add the dressing and let this sit for while in the fridge or counter top so the flavours really mix.

Also, I made some more of my apple pie/crumble (see blog entry for March 22nd) – it doesn’t look pretty I know, but was another comfort food hit. This time I combined almonds, walnuts and soaked dates for the base. Then I chopped a few apples (with their skin on) and blended with soaked dates and raisins, a spot of water, cinnamon and vanilla essence (optional). I know one of my clients is now making this simple pudding for people at work and family on a weekly basis. So trust me, it tastes better than my presentation and camera skills show! PS I 'dusted' it with dried coconut.

I have to finish by thanking you all again for your kind comments and encouraging me to continue my sharing.

Much love
Joxx
 

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 April 24th 2009 – Bored of Salads??

There may come a time when despite feeling and seeing the huge benefits of eating a large % of raw living fruits and vegetables especially salads, you reach a point where either you are just plain bored of salads or you really crave more exciting foods. This was the case for one of my clients last week, and I can totally relate to how she feels, and if you are in the same situation please know that it is very common!

PS the salad above was my raw onion cracker, with a caesar dip, topped with a raw walnut/sunflower seed burger and side salad

So, here are a few tips I use that may help you;

Salad Dressings

Boredom can be because we are eating the same ingredient’s everyday. Research has shown that many of us eat the same 20 foods each and everyday, whereas our ancestors consumed over 200 different foods. Variety of foods does more than stimulate our interest; it also allows us to receive a full spectrum of nutrients. There is also the topic of eating foods ‘in season’ which few of us do these days – eating fruits and vegetables in their correct season when they are truly ripe and ready to eat can make a huge difference to their taste and flavour. We can eat strawberry’s most of the year, but nothing beats the flavour of my home grown ones that are only around for a month or two!

Here are some of the commonly recognised Raw Food Groups;
1.Leafy Green Vegetables
2.Vegetables
3.Herbs
4.Fresh fruits
5.Dried fruits
6.Wild greens
7.Nuts
8.Seeds
9.Grains (sprouted)
10.Sea vegetables
11.Mushrooms
12.Edible flowers
13.Oils
14. Spices
15. A huge range of raw sweeteners, flavourings and superfood goodies.

Many of the above groups change through the year as they become available and in season. Do you use all of the above groups?
One easy way to start increasing your variety is to change your dressings and dips often, and maybe keep several in the fridge so you always have choice.

Here are two I enjoyed this week.

Caesar Dressing 2 (pictured above)
5 tbs tahini
¼ cup pinenuts
1 clove of garlic
2 spring onions
1 lemon, juiced
3 tbs apple cider vinegar
3 soft dates
3 tbs nutritional yeast
black pepper
1-2 tsp sea salt
2 tbs olive oil
fresh water add slowly to get how you like it.
Blend it all up.

Mock Chicken Salad (the raw table)
¼ cup sunflower seeds
1 cup cashews
1 cucumber, peeled and sliced
2 green onions
1 cup pecans
1 celery stick
1 tsp dried dill
¼ tsp curry powder
juice of half a lemon

Put ingredients into food processor and pulse until chopped medium to fine.
Jo Notes; I didn’t use pecans and used 50/50 sunflower and cashew. I made it first with soaked sunflower and added raisins and a drop of water so was creamier which was yummy. 2nd time I added dried and soaked apricots and more curry powder but didn’t soak seeds or add water so it was drier. Much preferred the creamier version.
I stuffed red peppers and also topped romaine leaves and enjoyed!

Another way I add variety is to select 'Italian' herbs and spices to make a dressing and then use a vegetable peeler to make courgette and/or carrot pasta ribbons. I simply coat my 'pasta' in the dressing and pile it on top of finely chopped salad. I have my eye on aThai dressing and would use with broccoli, carrots and peppers with bean sprouts. Herbs and spices are the secret ingredient to many lovely meals. I hope this helps fire your own imagination and inspiration - let me know any great ones and I can share them here.

Yellow Smoothie?
I used banana, fresh peach, ginger, fresh mint, and romaine lettuce. Thought I would share for those who really struggle with bright green colouring!

Final thoughts today

One of my patients commented that she hadn't realised how passionate I was about the living foods diet until she read this blog. This got me thinking. When people come for a treatment with me, I just don't have time to share all the information I would like, which is why I share it here. My 1:1  treatments are all about YOU and the healing experience. Many of you I know are fascinated about the healing, intuitive and spiritual side of my work, while others are maybe more nervous about that aspect of my work. This has been quite a dilemma for me. Do I share insights into how I work and what fascinates me on the energy/spiritual side??

The truth is that healing can still be received, benefits felt, whatever you believe, think or feel around the idea of healing. Now thats a comfort isn't it? On the other side of the coin, including many of the natural healing aspects of my work such as the living foods, actually improve a persons energetic vibration and spiritual side of life. Which just goes to show how amazing our bodies and this life we live truly are!

 Let me know your feedback at your next treatment, and I will ponder this some more!

Take care,

Jox

 

 

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April 19th 2009 Help with 'Where to Start'

A few clients have mentioned they could use more help around 'Where to Start', and so here are some of my own tips. Please remember that once you start having regular treatments with me, I can pinpoint those areas that need addressing now, and those that can wait. We are all individual and there can never be 'one' way, so all I can do here is share what works for me. All you need to do is try it and adjust it to suit your own circumstances and personal likes and dislikes.

You have to do it to suit you, adjust everything so it is more enjoyable/easier/fits in with your life.

Having said that, change and introducing 'new ideas' will always feel different and push us out of our comfort zone, for this reason I always;

1. Concentrate on one change at a time - if I've gone off course, I do the same when it's time to get 'back on with it'.

2. We are creatures of habit; so remember it takes repetition and will power at the start to introduce a new 'healthy habit' and the same to overcome/replace an old habit - which is why I can only tackle one area at a time!

3. Start your day as you mean to continue. This took me some time to work out - I was very attached to my big cereal breakfasts (loaded with sugar & poor food combining) and cup of coffee (caffeine) for many years. But on an energetic level you are sending out a very powerful 'Intention' for your day. If you slip later in the day you can console yourself with 'At least I started out alright' and also each new morning is a fresh start to try again. Not to mention that it will actually be easier to stick to your routine because you and your body will feel better.

Currently, I have a big green smoothie for breakfast each morning. I like it with banana and sometimes a teaspoon of raw nut butter (Almond or hazelnut) pears or frozen berries are favourites. My home grown parsely is just ready to be used and my mint leaves are also nearly ready - on nice mornings it's very rewarding to step outside my backdoor and pick my greens fresh! I also have my herbal tincture with superfood and any other supplements I am taking. Later I try and have 1-2 mugs of my rejuvenate tea, which gives me the 'lift' I miss from the caffeine.

4. This last tip for today is my favourite tip and so easy. I just try to ensure that at each meal I include at least 51% raw fruit or vegetables. So for breakfast either start with melon or grapefruit or a fruit salad and cut down on whatever usually follows. Lunch and tea are easy to incorporate a large side salad and you don't have to miss out on the foods you normally have. They do have to be raw and fresh fruit and vegetables though and more vegetables than fruit is better especially the green leafy ones.

If you do this it is very easy to be 50% raw and to start receiving the amazing benefits with very little work or planning. It also gives you a chance to give your time and concentration to other changes you are working on.

I'll be back with more ideas and recipes soon!  Joxx

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April 17th 2009 Bonus offer around Diabetes information

Hi Folks

This is just a quick update on Diabetes Action Day (April 25th).

Through my work, either with the Iridology, reflex touch or through general consultations I see more and more blood sugar imbalances.

Just to recap blood sugar imbalances can manifest through a whole range of symptoms some of the most common include;

Feeling; weepy, angry, chaotic, anxious and irritable. Hyperactivity and poor concentration swings. Many people with blood sugar imbalances find themselves on a rollercoaster of emotions, up and down.

Physically; Energy will also be up and down as the body tries to correct blood sugar levels. Many people suffer with headaches and migraines which can be traced back to late/missed meals. Other common symptoms include shaking and blackouts (fainting).

Diabetes 2 (late onset) is generally thought to be caused by lifestyle and diet, and those who are pre-diabetic and/or suffer with hypoglycaemia and candida can do a great deal to help improve their condition through changes to diet and lifestyle.

This is where I can really help, offering ways to enable you as an individual find what works best for you - either with medications or trying an alternative approach. As some of you know this is where my Morrell Reflex Touch work can be so beneficial, I can see what is working and what needs further balancing.

Of course there are many herbs that I use in my clinic in both tea and tincture form that are well documented in helping the body re-balance blood sugar levels and to support other areas of the body that may be vulnerable.

At the end of the day, if you take medications or an alternative, there are two areas that still need support and can really assist both methods;

Emotions - It can be liberating to experience life through our emotions. But it can be exhausting emotionally as well as physically to be under the influence of chemical induced highs and lows from consuming refined sugar. When we are no longer under this influence any lows we feel, are temporary, and a positive indication from our 'internal monitor' or 'inner-self' that changes are needed in one form or another. Balancing our blood sugar levels allows us to claim back our emotions and live life fully.

Diet - There are several different approaches to balancing blood sugar levels through diet, and as with many things the experts all disagree which is best. But I believe what we need to eat to make us healthy is as varied as we are individual. For any of you who are interested and/or curious about the amazing claims of reversing diabetes using live, natural plant based foods then this next bit is for you!

As I mentioned on an earlier post, I have been following with great interest a group of diabetics as they share their amazing healing journey on raw foods. To help generate funding to perform a much larger trial (natural foods cannot be patented or sold at great profit - so no funding!) you can go to the following link and buy an inspirational DVD following those on the first trial, who reversed their diabetes ie came off their meds.

If you buy before 30th April you receive a whole bundle of bonus material - I already have put my order in!!

Heres that link;

www.rawfor30days.com/53expertsgiveback.html

If you suffer or think you may be suffering, from a blood sugar imbalance, I may be able to help in a whole range of different ways. Please contact me for further information on 01280 844965 or jo.chillzone@btinternet.com

Please note; I never suggest that anyone stops their Hospital/GP medications or treatments - any adjustments to medications should be made under supervision of your Doctor.

So, this was a longer post than I intended, but I hope it caught your attention, or that you can pass this information on to others who may find it interesting/helpful.

Cheers Jox

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April 15th Green Smoothie Finale on Radio Northampton!

Hello and a warm welcome to any Radio Northampton listeners………….

I thought I would share with you my amusing day with Radio Northampton. I had been approached by the friendly producer Anna, who had seen my website and was looking for somebody to come on the show and talk about natural remedies.

My initial reaction was a mixture of excitement and terror, as many of you know I am really much better on a 1:1 basis and have a few issues with public speaking………….However Anna was very encouraging, and was very interested in my articles about the Green Smoothie.

I did think hard before agreeing to talk on radio and spoke at length with one of my mentors Pat Morrell who had done many years on radio. Alternative healing can be a highly emotive subject, and many claims about so called ‘miracle’ pills leaving people very sceptical.

So here for the record I want to share that amazing healings DO happen. BUT, they are the result of huge lifestyle changes often after weeks of hard work. In my experience they are more about the amazing courageous people and not about taking a miracle pill or herb.

Making a green smoothie ‘on air’ for my first ever radio interview did cause my husband and mother to question the wisdom – all my life I have had strange effects on electrical equipment and it is well known fact that machines see me coming!

But the chance to spread the word about the amazing green smoothie couldn’t be passed up. To recap for those who missed the call;

*The green smoothie is just blending fruit and green leafy vegetables.
*Leafy greens are amazing and contain nearly all the vitamins, minerals and amino acids (proteins) in the correct quantities that humans require.
*The smoothie also contains fibre – ‘the magic sponge’ for the colon
*The greens contain chlorophyll (liquid sun) which is like having a ‘green’ blood transfusion – healing and cleansing all our organs and reducing bacteria and fungus

You can read more here and here.

The green smoothie trial started by Victoria Boutenko in her book Green for life has been continued throughout the world since 2005 and common benefits include;

*weight loss
*improved energy levels
*Reduced cravings for caffeine and sugar
*Improved skin conditions
*Improved emotions
*Just about every health condition has also been mentioned

A couple of points I covered with Bernie the lovely presenter was that you have to choose the fruit you love, in season if possible, so that you enjoy your smoothie.
The greens need to be rotated, spinach and romaine lettuce are mild, parsley and coriander add taste, broccoli and kale are also good. I also use cress or other sprouted seeds.
Unlike with juicing, you use all the fruit and greens, so by adding water you can easily make a pint of smoothie – so its cost effective as well.

The smoothie I made for Bernie included pineapple, banana, coconut, spinach leaves and water – quite exotic for me, but when I made it in the morning it was lovely.

Now at this point I would say and they are so easy to make……………………

The technical people at the radio station had set up their own blender, and being very brave it was sat on top alongside all the many wires and technical looking switches and buttons required for recording.

The interview commenced with Bernie being wonderful with my nerves as I chopped and prepared the smoothie as we chatted. Needless to say this was a lovely super blender, unlike my own cheap humble make (for years I just used a hand blender).

The ten minute slot whizzed by until we got to the part where we needed to try my creation. Still answering Bernies questions I fumbled as I tried to find out how to lift the jug out. Then oh yes, I unscrewed the bottom of the jug…………………and stood horrified as bright green smoothie poured all over the top amongst the technical gear, over our feet.

I admit I couldn’t speak for laughing (not sure if this was the correct response) as Bernie made a great recovery and the rest of the crew hovered around me with large amounts of ‘mopping’ materials. My husband and daughter were actually in the recording room with me to witness my minute of fame.

What can I say? A huge thank you to Bernie and the radio crew who were lovely to me despite the damage and mayhem I caused on their show. I guess the radio listeners will not forget green smoothies for a while.

My last comment on the day is that my daughter whom I have to admit has run a mile from all my smoothie concoctions has now asked for a kids smoothie maker. She even said that hers would include two green leaves, but, she wouldn’t tip hers over the floor!!

 

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April 13th 2009 Kid's Cookies

Welcome!

Today Aimee and I made a 'raw' homemade cookie that Aimee loves! In case you are not aware, my daughter views anything I have made or 'suggests' she tries with massive suspicion....................

So, when I come up with a recipe she loves I have to share it!

This is my slightly modified Oatmeal Raisin Cookies by Carmella from the brilliant ebook The Best of Raw Freedom Community.

3/4 cups of cashew flour

3/4 cup Oat flour

1/4 cup Agave Nectar

1/4 cup of melted coconut oil - Coconut oil is very good for us, I don't have all the data to hand, but I will get back to you on this one.

1/4 cup raw cacao powder or carob powder or mixture of both

Pinch of salt, tsp cinnamon and vanilla extract (which I forgot)

1/4 cup of raisins

Method; Grind oats and cashew to fine flour in coffee grinder/Food processor

In a large bowl mix all ingredients except the raisins by hand and then fold the raisins in.

Line a plate or cookie tray with parchment paper and drop the mixture by the spoonful. I actually rolled into balls and then gently pressed into cookie shape.

Let them set in fridge or freezer. These are so yummy and really sweet you won't believe! I would say these are great for energetic children who burn lots of energy and need a little chocolate treat. I know the photo's don't do them justice!

 They lend themselves to all sorts of variations and I will certainly be making them again...............with more modifications and to ring the changes. I may use all carob powder sometimes which would make them less sweet, and you could use different nuts and dried fruit.

 Anyway I hope you all had a lovely Easter break, if you are like me and found that you strayed from your chosen health/food choices, don't despair! This coming week I will share all my own tips for getting myself back on track............

 Joxx

  

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April 11th 2009

Jo's Update

Hello and welcome any new readers!  This is just a very quick update to let you know what's happening in my life at the minute. This Easter I had planned to make a range of raw gourmet foods (I've had my eye on lasagne) and raw chocolate treats and explain to you a little about my findings with raw chocolate (cacao) it being Easter and all. Funny how things turn out isn't it??

Instead with the wet holiday, we decided to use the time giving my tired kitchen a much needed revamp - I have lot's more to say in future posts about clearing clutter, creating a supportive environment and about kitchen's in general. But here I will just say that with floor tiles going down and intensive painting my kitchen has been off-limits for playing and creating living food creations.................

So instead I will share my super quick salad dressing - I just buy a tub of organic Houmous and water it down to a runny cream thickness - it's not raw food, but over a large salad I can live with it and it is fast, simple, full of goodness and yummy!

Next week I am talking on Radio Northampton about green smoothies. If you miss the call or want to know more about green smoothies I have more information here and here. I thought I would share a few more smoothie recipes here on my blog next week.

To mark April 25th Reversing Diabetes Action day (see April 9th post) I am planning something special that will be of benefit to not only those suffering with diabetes, but also the many who have blood sugar imbalances and candida.

Now, to inspire many of you to 'play' with raw living foods as I haven't been able to get to my kitchen I thought I would share one of my sources of inspiration for Gourmet raw food - Russell James The Raw Chef news letter at www.therawchefblog.com

 

Issue 19 - Chocolate Torte with Whipped Cashew Cream
For the base

1/2c cashews
1/2c pecans
1T coconut oil
1T melted cacao butter
1t agave
1t lemon juice

Pulse all ingredients in a food processor until they bind.

Press into a 9” springform cake pan and place in the fridge to set.

 For the filling

2c Irish Moss paste*
1c cacao powder
1 1/2c grated or chopped cacao butter which has then been melted
1c water
1T lemon juice
1/2t tamari
1t vanilla extract

Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender until smooth and pour on top of the base.

Leave in the fridge to set.

 *Irish Moss paste can be made by soaking 1c Irish Moss in water for 3 - 5 hours and rinsing THOROUGHLY until rinse water turns clear (there'll be a lot of sand in the moss).  Then blend the rinsed moss with 2c pure water in a Vita-Mix until completely smooth.  Leave to set in the fridge if not using straight away.

Chef’s tip:  Add 4 drops of food grade peppermint oil to the filling mixture for a mint chocolate variation.

For the cream topping

1c cashews, soaked for 2 hours or more
1/2c water
3T Irish Moss paste
1/2t vanilla extract
1/4c agave nectar
1t lemon juice
Pinch salt
1T macadamia oil (optional)

Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender until smooth.

Serve with chocolate torte and fresh berries.

Jo's Notes; The raw food world is starting to use Irish Moss to reduce the amount of nuts used in gourmet desserts - I haven't used any yet, it's on my very long list 'to do'!!
 

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April 9th 2009 - Hot off the Press - News For Diabetics!!!

We are told that at least 250 million of us suffer with diabetes worldwide (many more are pre-diabetic) and the number is growing. In my training as a herbalist and naturopath we were told we could not say that we could help diabetes or reduce insulin levels....................

However a couple of years ago a client I am working with asked if I could help him with his diabetes type 2. This started me looking into what others are doing for diabetes naturally. I came across the brilliant book "There is a cure for Diabetes" by Gabriel Cousens MD and David Rainoshek. His Tree of Life programme which has been around for over 35 years has proved that it is possible to completely reverse Type 2 diabetes and markedly improve the condition of those suffering from Type-1 diabetes.

April 25th is Reversing Diabetes Action day!

Visit www.rdnmovement.com which is home to the Movement to Reverse Diabetes Naturally - I am a member.

A whole host of events are being lined up across the world and by visiting this site you can find out more.

For anyone who lives locally (Oxon, Northants, Bucks) and wants to find out more about helping their diabetes I am happy to hold a FREE talk discussing living foods,Natural Healing and herbs that can help.

Please email jo.chillzone@btinternet.com if you are interested and then I can arrange a date and venue.

 

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Getting Inspired, a Great Mentor and Hope – Part 2  April 2nd 2009

Part 1 was all about the beginning, when we come to realise that we don’t want to continue in the same situation with our health, emotions, lifestyle or perhaps physical shape. We discussed how we have to find our personal reason ‘why’ it’s now time to do something about it. For me this seems both personally and with my clients to be about finding that spark of self-love that most of us either neglect or refuse to acknowledge exists and lies burrowed under excuses, fear and putting others needs and beliefs before our own.

Big stuff and nearly everyone finds this step the hardest, some need to hit rock bottom where the only place left to go is deep inside before the long trek back up. While others myself included find “getting Inspired, a Great Mentor and Hope” can propel us faster, easier and to places not yet imagined.

Having felt ill or in pain one way or another since a child, by my late twenties I reached that point where I knew life had to be better than this, this was such a strong feeling and arose from finally accepting that I deserved more. This I now know is the pivotal timeless ‘moment’ when on some deep level we choose a better or bigger path for ourselves. I hope that if you have been to see me or are still investigating if I can help, that you have also reached this life changing moment.
I believe that this has to come from within you, why some take longer and suffer more before they reach this point I have no definite answer, but I do know that it is essential to our growth and healing.
Luckily for me as soon as I reached this moment, my life played out a succession of amazing opportunities (some might call this synchronicity) which brought into my life inspiration, amazing mentors and the gift of hope. At the time of course I wasn’t aware of it in these terms, but now helping others I see this so clearly.
Inspiration in this instance means I was inspired by others, by their own life, their work and their words. The life, works and words of Dr John R. Christopher and his lifetime spent curing thousands of incurable diseases through local weeds growing in the back yard and dietary changes was certainly the first and is still a huge influence on my life and work today. Twenty years later we have easy internet access and a huge boom of people writing about their amazing and incredible success stories overcoming just about every obstacle and detailing how they did it.

I shared with a client the other week, that I did in fact spend many years researching the details of some of these inspiring people. What I shared was that they all did it in slightly different ways, and kept trying until they found out what worked for them.
Once you start looking for inspiration and inspiring stories they appear everywhere, and often the most inspiring people are those you least expect.
Use the wonderful experience of others to feed your belief that you too deserve more,
and as you come across their stories, eventually they will appear ‘normal’ rather than a ‘miracle’. Of course each story/person will have some magical quality that inspires, but after reading so many cases you cannot help but feel a growing hope for your own circumstances.
 Sometimes you will feel and see what made a person succeed, and their story will touch you on a deep level as those same qualities inside you start to awake and respond.
A Mentor in this context means someone who is more accessible, and available to guide you on your journey. These can of course be someone you pay for their expertise such as a teacher or coach. I have had different mentors for different stages of my path, and the value they can give from their place of bigger/wider/longer expertise together with knowing you as person can be priceless.
Some may actually be friends and colleagues whose strengths and support during the ‘bad’ days are provided without a need to ask and know that payment will be made ‘in kind’ when needed. I’m sure you have some already, but you may need to seek new ones who support and understand your new path as well as your trusted ones. Again the virtual world we live in means that now we can have support in an instant from our computer and is a wonderful gift of technology. This is why I have started this blog, as a friendly mentor to help inspire you!

Lastly we come to Hope. I believe all emotions are powerful, but perhaps none more than the power of Hope. Hope is a positive emotion and can lift our vibration, it offers no false promises only to try the next door, take the next step. I know that many people feel that to hope for something better is one step too far, and their fears of having their hopes dashed can prevent this important emotion.
What I do know is that there is a way that will work for you to find and hold on to hope, almost certainly there will be more than one method that can work for you. For me reading so many truly inspiring stories (at the beginning of my path) finally allowed me to see inspiration on an almost daily basis in every aspect of life. Amazing Mentors that had the right experience and words of comfort to pick me back up again when I stumbled – and I stumbled a lot – were and continue to be another priceless gift.
Like many of you, I still have a ways to go and new horizons to discover, but you can be sure that seeking Inspiration, a Mentor and Hope will be what keeps me going.

Nutritional Yeast.

Today I am sharing some information about a cheap condiment that is big on taste and high in nutrition and without a doubt has helped me on my living foods path.
Nutritional Yeast ( I use Engevita brand – but there may be others) is not live yeast, and so is fine for those suffering with candida. It is not the same as Brewers yeast – which is a by-product of the beer-brewing industry and has a bitter flavour.
Nutritional yeast is the secret ingredient alongside high mineral content salt such as Himalayan that can provide a cheesy taste without dairy. It is not high in fat or calories and will not clog your arteries or lymph like dairy products can.
It comes as flakes that can be sprinkled over soups/rice/pasta as an alternative to Parmesan and also dissolved in liquid to give a cheesy/nutty taste. I add it to a variety of nuts and pine nuts together with Himalayan salt and pulse in the food processor to make my own ‘Parmesan cheeze’ to sprinkle over salads. I also add it to salad dressings and other savoury dishes for flavour and to thicken sauces.
Nutritional yeast is very high in the B complex vitamins including B12 (while live yeast uses up our precious B vitamins) and Protein. I have copied the nutritional data below for you as it is easier than just repeating it all! As you can see it is a wonderful supplement.
Nutritional yeast is grown on mineral enriched molasses and at the end of the growth period the culture is pasteurised to kill the yeast (so this is not a ‘living’ food but fantastic anyway). Yeast is a single-celled fungi present in the air around us living on fruits and grains, converting different types of sugar to alcohol.
Nutritional Yeast can be a help for those needing to regulate blood sugar levels as it contains a trace mineral called chromium, also known as the Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF). Engevita is a purely natural food, specifically produced for human consumption and is a primary grown strain of Saccharomyces Cerevasiae.
Here’s that Nutritional Information I Promised
per 100g:
Energy 1500kJ/357kcal, Protein 45g, Carbohydrates 33g (of which sugars 1g), Fat 5g (of which saturates 2.5g), Dietary Fibre 20g, Sodium 1g,
, Phosphorus 1200mg, Magnesium 180mg, Iron 4.5mg, Thiamin (Vitamin B1) 15mg, Riboflavin (vitamin B2) 25mg, Niacin (Nicotinic Acid) 150mg, Pyridoxine HCl (Vitamin B6) 1.8mg, Folic Acid 23pg, pantothenic acid 1.3mg .
Other Information
Engevita nutritional yeast is one of the richest natural sources of the B group of vitamins. It is also rich in protein, amino acids, enzymes, minerals and trace elements.

I get mine from my local health food shop, as I mentioned before it is very in-expensive, and I am sure you could get in ‘on-line’. If you are struggling with cheese it is really worth playing around with a few recipes containing nutritional yeast, but remember that cheese lovers also crave the high salt content in cheese.

 

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April 2nd 2009

Understand your Dandelions!

Dandelion (Taraxacum Officinale) is one of my herbal allies and in fact was the inspiration design for this website and past leaflets. It has very bad press from gardeners but is beloved by herbalists all round the world. At this time of year it is the young green leaves (before flowering) that I collect most mornings and add to my green smoothie. I only pick them from my garden where I know no chemical sprays have been used, and only use a few leaves at a time as they are bitter, but great in salads as well.

Why eat Dandelion leaves?
Greens are the secret to great nutrition, like having a green blood transfusion and make you feel great!
Dandelion leaves specifically are high protein (19-32%) which helps keep you feeling full not starved.
They are also nature’s store cupboard of B complex including riboflavin (0.29-1.8), thiamine (0.23-1.70), niacin (.80) and choline (essential for liver function).
High in Iron and phosphorus, Vitamins C & A, potassium and calcium and loads more but I’m sure you get the idea.

This Green smoothie was made from dandelion leaves, spinach a whole ripe mango and a small piece of ginger root – yummy………………..
By eating Dandelion leaves you will activate your stomach to produce more hydrochloric acid, this will help you digest your food better and extract more calcium from food.
Because the leaves contain phytosterols they can also help lower cholesterol levels and rebuild the liver.
But Dandelion leaves are most used by herbalists in teas for balancing the urinary system as one of the safest diuretics because they are high in potassium and low in sodium.
The root and flowers are also medicinal and used often in my clinic in tincture form, teas or even as coffee! Some of the above information came from Susun Weed an American Wise Women who writes with a true love and understanding of our everyday weeds in a range of books.

This was a very short insight into my personal foraging with Dandelion, and hope it has inspired you to look more closely with love and admiration all that nature provides for us all so abundantly. I grow and encourage certain weeds into my own garden where I know they are safe to pick and eat, and will share more with you through the year.
Caution
Never eat anything you can not 100% identify and in this day and age chemical sprays are a very real hazard.

I’ll be back soon with more information and inspiration over the Easter Break!

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Spring is Here! 29.3.09

At least it feels as though spring is here in Northamptonshire! (whoops! hubbie is in the background). I think we all respond to the promise of Spring and certainly I do each year.

Spring is a great time to start new ventures or invest a new spurt of energy into existing ones........... and so it is with healing. Spring is the best time for cleansing and I will be getting ready for my liver cleanse and suggesting it's benefits to many of my clients. The traditional 'Spring clean' may have come from this awareness and at some time I will share more info on the healing benefits of spring cleaning.The old healers believed we could help the body prepare for each new season by cleansing and fasting - and while many of us may feel we have lost touch with the seasons I feel this is still true to today.

Connecting to nature can be very healing and nurturing. In my garden I have a breakfast patio and a tea-time patio and have been known to sit out with huge jumpers on in winter if the sun comes out for a steaming cup of tea! I love to garden (in fair-weather!) and potter and am sure this wonderful past-time helps us connect to nature and the seasons. In future blog's I will be sharing ways I use to connect with nature and improve my health in the garden and hope to inspire you to do the same.

Other ways to connect to nature include exercising outside this can be anything from walking the dog, jogging and a family bike ride or outside games - in this country most of us tend to hibernate in winter but now is the time to make the most of any sunshine and dry days. Spring daylight helps us make more vitamin D after the dark winter and research has shown how beneficial this is to our health and emotions - so go on you now have a brilliant reason to drop everything when the rains stops and the sun peeks out!

Spring is also of course when many of us feel a need to eat lighter foods including fresh baby vegetables which brings me to my adventures in the kitchen this week.

 Raw Goddess Heathy has come up with another winning salad dressing as far as my taste buds are concerned here is my modified version;

Ranch Dressing/Dip

1 1/2 cups of cashew nuts or macademia or comb of both soak for 2 hours for creamier dressing.

1/3 cup of each apple cider vinegar & olive oil

3 tablespoons each of lemon juice and Agave nectar (or 3 soaked dates) 

1-2 teaspoons of bouillion powder and 1 teaspoon garlic powder or fresh garlic 

Sea salt, basil and dill to taste.

Blend until smooth and then add chopped parsley and dill - will keep in fridge but will thicken.

I loved this dressing and am about to make loads more for this week. The phots's show me using this dip with Romaine lettuce wraps, I chopped some grapes,grated carrots, spring onions, cucumber and sliced olives piled on the leaves and drizzled with the sauce, so simple but really yummy!

I also enjoy courgette pasta - made from using my veggies peeler to make ribbons of fine pasta and coated with the dressing - you can sprinkle with sea salt and leave for 30 mins and you can add all sorts of yummy veggies and seeds. I did try to 'uncook' a pasta dish in my dehydrator with a mock cheese sauce, but much prefer eating it fresh as above!

I have another manic week in the clinic before Easter holidays start. I also wanted to say thank you for the feedback from this blog and I am so pleased it is encouraging many of you - this is why I share my honest accounts!

Next time I will continue part two of following your path and will talk about hope, inspiration and mentor's.

As always wishing you all the support and inspiration you need for your own healing journey!!

Joxxx                                                         

 

 

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Tips for Following your Path –part 1 24.3.09
The Start
Your Path just means your personal journey this could be a journey to greater and improved health, a new better body image, a change of emotions and outlook, following a new food plan or other life-style change. Here I am sharing my personal path of exploring living foods and other natural healing approaches to my life.

So today we are going back to the very start of our path – time and again I have realised that it is so important to get this in place and right for YOU.
The Start covers big issues such as why do you want/need/think/feel you should follow your path in the first place. Karen Knowler calls this the big Why, and the teachings of Abraham refer to this as the contrast.
I have found that if I start any new venture in a half hearted way it rarely lasts and never succeeds. What does seem to work is if I spend time focusing and getting clear right from the outset on my personal why. It never seems to work if we try to do things to please others or because we feel we ‘should’. So by personal I mean what YOU truly want or need, what drives you?
Some of my clients have found this hard to start with, but all therapists will tell you that it is the key ingredient to any success and lasting changes.
So how do you find this powerful driving force within you? Start with where you are right now. How do you feel?  Jot down and /or acknowledge all the areas you are not currently happy with at this moment. Common Examples include;
Over Weight
Appearance such as skin, nails, hair, eyes.
Fatigue and constant tiredness
Poor sleep
A health issue that is starting to get you down
Feeling angry and irritable all the time
Feeling anxious and down most of the time.
Now jot down next to your list the improvement you would really like to see in these areas.
Such as;
Over Weight – Lose a stone or drop a size.
Fatigue – have more energy
Poor sleep – have regular good sleep

Hopefully you get the idea? Of course this can be modified to suit you and your circumstances. The contrast between how you feel now and how you would like feel is your starting point. If you are over weight but this is not an issue for you, then don’t list it. Only include what you truly want. This can and will change, but it is so important to be honest with ourselves at all times. Sometimes there may only be one issue that comes up, or once you start you can see many areas of your self and life that you would like to improve. The secret is that the contrast or improvement has to be realistic for you to believe. Everyone is different, but for many of us seeking and finding small improvements sets us up to reach just that bit further next time, it also encourages us to keep going.

Now we need to take it one step further. In our example we have identified fatigue as our ‘problem’ and that we would like/need/want to have more energy. To make this personal and strong for us we need to know what this looks like. So having more energy would mean; we could play with the kids after school and enjoy it; that we could attend that evening class on bookkeeping that we’ve wanted to do for years; that we feel able to tackle the housework/gardening/DIY project that has overwhelmed us for some time.
You need to make sure that it looks good to you, so it is something worth really wanting and needing. Make it as real and clear as you can. Now you have your start, Your big why, your reason. Make this your focus rather than your current lack of it. Pin pictures that represent your positive reason on the fridge, or paste on your computer. Get creative, it does help to have lots of gentle reminders.

As I type this my new book Everyday Raw by Matthew Kenney has just been delivered reminding me of the next step – inspiration! I shall share more another time, but hope this helps some of you whom I have seen over the past few days…………………….

Today I am making this mayo for the first time,

Avocado Mayo (Sunny RawKitchen)
2 ripe avocados
1.5tbs lemon juice
2 pinches celtic sea salt
½ cup soaked really raw cashews
1 tbs parsley
1 tbs avocado oil (I’ll have to use flax oil)
¾ cup of water
Blend until smooth

Jo's comments ; Not sure what I did, but this was not a huge hit with me and if I don't love it totally I won't make it again...........how did you get on?

I have a very busy week ahead, but will be back with more information, inspiration and hopefully more photo's!!  Much Love Joxx

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March 22nd 2009 Mothers Day Greetings

Welcome to you all on a sunny Mothers Day weekend. With my five year old daughter now old enough this year to understand about Mother’s day, and my own mother needing a medical procedure –mum being the one who has always been there for everyone else – it feels right to talk today about mums and mothers.

Most mums today are multi-tasking to the limit. Many of us are fitting a career around childcare, and whatever way we decide to do it, we always wonder if we made the right decision. Caring for our own elderly parents while ensuring our little angels don’t miss out on their social activities and for those of you with more than one child to cater for, I really applaud your brilliant diary keeping! Of course a modern mum also has to have her own exciting social life, with the body, outfit and hair to go with it. Then there is the house and home, and various pets that need to be spotless and run like clockwork. Husbands and partners need supporting and ‘special time’ and are often away a lot of the time.

So no surprise then that through my clinic and work I support many mums and it is always, always a huge delight when a mum comes seeking help and support.
I am a huge fan of ‘caring for the carer’ and mum is the ultimate carer. Having followed a spiritual path for many years before becoming a mum, one huge understanding hit me fairly early on. I now understand a little more just what ‘unconditional love’ is. The baby that cries all night, the toddler that paints your bathroom in your favourite and expensive lipstick, the constant calls of ‘mum!’ the endless games and repeated films, the untidy bedroom, kitchen, lounge and yet………………in the space of a heart beat we can and do forgive them totally and completely everything and everytime. The times I’ve stood there pushed to the very limit, almost beside myself and five minutes later (Ok sometimes much later) am awash with the glow of motherly pride.

As our children meet each life lesson one at a time as mothers we feel their pain, bewilderment, hurt and anxiety as much and often more than they do.
A mother’s love is often regarded as the most important healing a child can receive and I believe as mothers we know and recognise this on a very deep level. A new mother’s intuition regarding her baby is nearly always correct, that feeling that all is not well should be acted on. Although of course unless trained never self-diagnose but seek a professional. The intuition is nearly always correct, but the very nature of the close link means we may be in an heightened emotional state and so welcome the calm of outside support and expertise. This link continues throughout life and I know my own mother even today still refers to it and is always correct – even if I try to pretend all is well!

 I am sure this explains the difficulties during the teenage years and the eventual flying the nest syndrome so many mums face, the link changes and both mother and child need to adjust, as the link becomes finer and subtler. According to my own beliefs and many others, this link continues in a different form even when one has left the earthly life, the love link endures more than we know.

But there can come a time when the mother feels ‘empty’ all her reserves used up and sometimes wracked with guilt and self-loathing because of this. Again I think that at times all mums must feel this and that it is a natural system whereby the body speaks to us that all is not in balance. But it makes sense really, unless you can continually replenish your stores of love and strength with a good dash of limitless patience and sprinkle of humour the day may come when you run low.
Certainly all good therapists and healers are taught how to look after their energy so that the work they do does not drain them. In fact quite the opposite, my own work leaves me invigorated and refreshed. But, and this is so crucial, at all times I have to listen to my body and energy levels, and then act on what I receive. I believe this information could and should be shared with Mums so that they too can feel that their work leaves them feeling great most of the time. Knowing what to do and how to recognise when things are not going so well is a very important lesson that as mothers we all need to learn and act upon.

One very insightful tip I have found is that my daughter herself responds to how I am feeling about myself. So now, when we may be in the throws of a ‘difficult patch’ I try to remember and focus on this invisible link that connects us so closely. If I can change my energy from being ‘reactive’ to the situation, or switch my focus to her rather than anything else that has been on my mind I find that I can often sense the underlying cause of the immediate conflict and deal with it. But the secret here is that I take a second to check in with what’s going on with me first, sometimes my issues have to wait but at least they have been acknowledged.
So this mothers day my main message is take whatever treats come your way with an open heart to receive, for by receiving for ourselves we start the slow business of re-stocking the abundant storeroom of love that is at the centre of every mother and mum-to-be. Receive with a glad heart every small (or large!) gesture of love shown to you, if none seems forthcoming from those around you, then I urge you to seek it out yourself. Some of mine include;
 *Book a Pamper treatment, healing or beauty, looking and feeling good for an hour can be amazing!
*A lunch with friends or at least a good chat with a dear friend on the phone – chances are they will have been through the same as you and totally understand.
*Arrange an evening all to yourself and then indulge yourself for a few hours – me time is important, so adapt to suit your circumstances and even 10 minutes will help.
*Learn how to look after and nourish yourself better, go slowly and get support when possible, not all support is expensive and sometimes the results really are worth it.
 *Book a surprise meal or night out with your Man – reconnect.
 A shopping trip –retail therapy is alive and kicking.(On-line and mail-order works as well)

Whatever plans you do have, I wish you a wonderful weekend. 

Here are the raw food puddings I am making for our family get together this Mothers Day. I will share how I got on, modifications, feedback and pictures to follow!

Chocolate Almond Butter Pie By Heathy
Crust;
1 cup pecans
½ cup almonds ground
½ cup dates
Process ingredients together in a food processor until crumbly and the mixture sticks together. Press into the bottom of a 9” pie plate.

Filling;
1 ¼ cup almond butter
½ cup agave
¼ cup + 1 tbs cacao powder
¼ cup of almond mylk (see dairy-free article for info)
1tsp vanilla
1/8 tsp sea salt
2 tbs melted cacao butter.
2 large bananas, sliced into rounds.

Combine all ingredients, except bananas, in a food processor until smooth. The mixture will be thick. Spread ½ over the pie crust. Arrange banana slices evenly on top. Now spread the remaining filling over the bananas. Top the pie with sliced banana.

Comments;

For the pie crust I soaked my dates as they were dried and found it easiest to use (clean!) hands to press this down - it was quite thin in my 8" pie tin - the one with the detachable sides. The filling tasted divine when I whipped it up! Overall it was easy to make - even for me. It was fairly expensive I guess with nearly a whole pot of almond butter and very rich. Comments from my family -who are not into raw food - was that it was 'very rich', two didn't like banana's so my mistake there, my sister liked it but found it left a bitter aftertaste (raw chocolate) and would have liked it sweeter! I sliced and froze what was left for next weekend. I would make it again, maybe without the banana. 

Apple Pie By Heathy
Crust;
2 cups pecans
½ cup walnuts
½ cup dates
process ingredients together in a food processor until crumbly. Press into 9” pie plate.

Filling;
6 medium apples, cored, peeled and separated
½ cup pitted dates
¼ cup raisins or more dates
2 tsp cinnamon
Blend 2 apples, dates, raisins, cinnamon until smooth.
In food processor chop the 4 other apples.
Mix into the blended mixture.
Spread into pie crust. Chill.

Comments;

I didn't have a second special pie tin - think they are called 'spring-form tins' you can detatch the sides after they have set and just present on the bottom tray, anyway so had to use a pyrex dish which didn't help presentation and mean't that the pie crust was deeper. Very easy to make and quite cheap especially in season. Comments from my family were that it was very nutty but they liked the filling, my sister commented it tasted 'healthy'! - so another time I would do more filling and less pie crust and use the correct tin. I think I would have preferred it more as a crumble ie the topping on top and low heated in my dehydrator or very low oven to warm it slighty and another time I would have served it with a raw cream such as blended macademia nuts. Anyway I enjoyed it for breakfast this morning and froze the other bit.

Photo's will be here in a day or two, my five year old daughter took the pictures and I haven't checked them yet. It was fun and I can't wait to have another go!

If you have a go at making these let me know how you get on!!

Much Love Joxxx

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 18th March 2009

I have an indepth article for you to get your teeth into and I really hope it helps many of you understand a bit more of this fascinating journey........

Before we get to that though I wanted to thank the lovely members from the local FHT group where I did a talk last Monday - despite my usual nerves I did enjoy it and wanted to thank you all again for the great feedback you gave me. I intend posting an article with further information about my range of blossom teas soon and will cover even more interesting findings regarding the teas - coming soon...

At the end of this article I share details of my current salad addiction, and it's good for me!

When it all goes wrong!

This month in my clinic there has been a common feeling of that it has all gone wrong around food or lifestyle for a few of you. Some of you I know, are quite hard on yourselves when despite your best intentions another month has passed and either you are no further forward or feel as though you have gone backwards. Some times called yo-yoing, often never discussed, but oh so very common. For those of you who like me find they don’t have that iron will 100% of the time, I have some interesting hints and tips to understanding what is going on.

Many times over the past fifteen years I have hit periods of my life when it’s felt as though it’s all going wrong and the diet has gone out the window or the fantastic routine that I know will really help, just doesn’t ever start. Chances are this will come up for you too at some point and maybe more than once if you are like most of us. Over the years I have gained experience and insights and have found that they help me and also many of my clients.

So for all of you, sit back while I will share my own thoughts, and hints and tips for those times when despite all your best intentions one small slip leads to another and before you know it you feel as though you are back to square one!

My usual response when this happens is unexpected to say the least – I usually say something like ‘That’s great!’ Because, as you sit here before me feeling awful actually something important and positive has happened.
You now have your own personal proof that your body (and emotions) has responded to changes - OK not the way you intended but the fact that you are feeling not so good is still a response. It’s a fact that no matter how inspiring and amazing someone else’s story was, the one you are most likely to remember is your own. Healing is experiential.

So, we have to start from where we are (because we can’t do anything else) and at this moment you are feeling and seeing and experiencing your body’s response to changes you have made. For now ignore the ‘I’ve gone wrong, I’ve failed thoughts’ they’ve done their purpose. Take a moment to really feel the discomfort, it may be physical or emotional or most likely both – this is your body saying ‘Warning! I am out of balance’. You and your body have just communicated.

So the first step is to acknowledge the communication. Lodge it in your mind for important future reference. I feel ……………………. Because I ……………………..  This will be different and individual for all of us. I also include a loving understanding of why I had that coffee or couldn’t resist the chocolate bar at the garage or enjoyed the takeaway on Friday night. Understanding why we slip is so important. Note; The slip may not be food related it could be emotional or around lifestyle I treat it the same way – this month it has been all food related!

The loving understanding of why we slip is the part most of us forget. Why is important, but loving understanding of why is crucial to long term success.

The sooner you get to the stage that you acknowledge your bodies warning the better. Many of us continue until the body is effectively shouting before it has caught our attention. When we are in a great place healthwise you will find that you have fewer cravings and are not so tempted. You have effectively raised your vibration and are more ‘in-tune’ with your body. This is a lovely place to be! I have found that this is when you are starting to make choices intuitively that feel good.

Most of us start out with great intentions and enthusiasm known as the ‘honeymoon phase’. But then wham we are hit from the side and didn’t see it coming and suddenly before we know it old habits have crept back in.

Old habits in my experience are the number one reason many of us slip. Think about it, many of them start in childhood and have continued for many years and most of all they are a known comfort. I am sure that any of you who are in this situation will find that the cause of your slip was habit.

Maybe for reasons outside your control last night you had very little sleep, but still today you have the kids to get to school and a job to do. This may have happened to you before over your lifetime and the response that you used many times before was to have coffee with something sweet. The instant energy fix is a remembered habit. (You have recently learned that this instant hit that feels so good, has a long term side effect that you now wish to change i.e. the fleeting high is not worth the eventual cost).
Either you will grab the coffee and sweet without thinking because you are tired and this is a habit or there will be an internal fight going on in your head. “I know it’s not great for me. But, I really need it. Surely just one won’t hurt” etc etc.
If you have still managed to resist, when you finally get to work you are offered coffee and cake and again this has been a ritual for years at your work, part of the social side of work. So, one way or another for your own reasons Why, you have the coffee and cake.
Now again you have a choice, do you just enjoy it, bless it and then determine a small recovery plan or with every mouthful do you have feelings of guilt and self-loathing??

A few hours later, the high has turned into a low. You feel more tired and now also irritable. Again you may have been expecting this, forewarned is forearmed and all that and so you have a few things in place to deal with it. Or the lows hit you even harder and again you make choices that bring those quick fix feelings setting you up for even worse lows. OK so this is in detail because this was a very common habit for me for many years. You may totally understand this one, or your own situation may be different, but hopefully you get the gist.

In my example the first time my body spoke to me was that morning as I woke up tired and dreading coping with a full day. Both my physical body and my emotions were letting me know I was out of balance. In this set of circumstances on a different day might have involved making mugs of my Rejuvenate tea (designed with just this issue in mind!) making sure I had double of my superfood supplement. Maybe uplifting music in the car as I dropped off the kids. Keeping a positive outlook that I knew I could cope and that tonight I would make sure I could catch up on my sleep. 

But the secret of course is that we have to learn ‘to know ourselves’ and listen out for the language of our body. I have found that often the same issue will repeat it self, until we master the lesson. So one great tip is to go back just like I have done here, see if you can remember the first hint that your body was signalling an imbalance. I have found that most of the time the first signal will be an emotional one, if that is ignored then you get the physical reminder. Just recognising how you automatically start to respond to certain emotions or situations is a huge first step. That may well be all you can to start with, just acknowledge what is happening even if for now, you can’t change the outcome. Eventually you will be able to change. Be patient and loving with your self. Obviously long-term big issues will take more time and work to overcome.
If this particular issue comes up more than once for you the next step has to be to plan some help. As I mentioned earlier being aware of the moment the craving, imbalance or negative outlook starts and why is the first step. It would be great if you could go straight to your why and fix it instantly and of course healing the deeper root issues is our aim.
But for most of us, we need help limiting fire damage allowing us time to really heal those deeper issues. So this is where a plan can help. If you know that every time A happens you are going to do B you can then start putting in place C & D which can replace B.
Remember that B will usually feel good and comfortable because it’s usually a lifetimes habit. C & D are new and different. This is why whenever possible I try and get you to make C & D part of your daily routine, slowly they will become habits. Good habits.
So when starting to introduce new lifestyle changes I find it easier to do one at a time. Give it all the time and attention you can. Remember why you are doing it, and then give it time to make a difference. Some people only seem to need to make one change and then they are off. My experience was that I needed to do quite a few things for a while before I noticed the benefits – but they paid off.

Right so hopefully you understand yourself better now and have at least started some kind of plan or positive change to start improving the situation. The last point I want to discuss here is the emotional side. Any negative emotion around the issue such as guilt and self-loathing will make the situation worse. Again acknowledge the emotion, then release it. Better still if there is no positive use of the emotion i.e. it makes you feel worse then find a better feeling emotion. There is so much I can share around emotions I will leave this for another time!

I am going to finish by reassuring you that it is quite normal and in my experience part of the journey to greater health to have days, times and periods of your life when you slip. Life is all about change, nothing remains the same. I have found that each time I slip and can learn more about myself from the experience I then become stronger and eventually when that specific aspect of my journey has been truly learned and experienced it is left behind as I go on to the next one.

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Let me share my salad addiction!

Yep I'm really excited to share this one with you. I found it on rawgoddessheathy.blogspot.com a great raw food blog site.

 Dairy-free parmesan cheeze
1/2 cup brazil nuts
1/2 cup pine nuts
1 teaspoon nutritional yeast
1 small garlic minced
1/4-1/2 teaspoon sea salt or Himalayan
Pulse brazils,yeast,garlic and salt in Food Processor until almost ground. Add pine nuts and pulse until crumbly.
Freeze and use as needed.
** Jo; worth trying although you may need to adjust flavours to suit you....
I use Engevita yeast flakes - high in B vits and used more than 1 tsp has a lovely cheesy nutty taste.
I used less garlic as I am a wimp with raw garlic.
You really need the salt as this is often what we crave when we want cheese - use sea or Himalayan as they are very nutritious.
I kept mine in the fridge and used everyday sprinkled over a healthy Caesar salad and kept well for 4 days .............I eat a LOT of salad!!

Caesar Dressing
2 medium avocados
½ c cashews
½ c water
¼ c lemon juice
¼ c olive oil
2.5 tbs acv
2 tbs nutritional yeast
2 tsp sea salt
1-2 tsp black pepper
2 medium cloves garlic
1 large date

Blend till smooth. Keep in fridge mine didn't last many days.................

Crutons? I used my home made un-cooked onion bread more info to come.

 

This is what I am making this Mothers Day!

I will share how I got on next time!

Much love and light

Joxxx

 

 

 

 

 

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March 2009

Where to start? Well my new website started in October 2008 felt like the start of a new beginning. I have never really advertised much and just allowed local word of mouth filter through. But with my daughter now happily settled in school, it feels like the right time to take my work to the next level. I love having a small clinic, so the 'next level' for me has to be providing clients with even better quality and resources.

So this has started here with my website. The yellow colour really pushed me out of my comfort zone I can tell you and it has taken me a while to accept. But as I was only reminded this week, so many of you while having your healing treatments comment that it feels as though the sun is shining and some I know 'see' gold light.

I was just on the verge of changing the whole colour, but that voice inside convinced me it was fine - so now you know - I am not changing the clinic to yellow, it's all to do with the energy................like so much in life especially healing.

Today I am going to share with you what my diet used to be like, and where I am now. This is not what you think, but I hope it helps many of you when you share the food side of what you have been doing!

My life used to revolve around dairy and wheat, lots of it. Cheese on toast, ice cream, chocolate, lots of coffee and alcohol. Takeaways, Mums Roasts, meals out, all were great. I didn't like cooking, and was not great when I tried. So, anything pre-packaged, frozen and 'bung in the oven' was my idea of doing tea. Constant weight issues (not surprising eh?) mean't that in between I went on starvation mode and followed whatever diet for a few weeks and way back then they worked for a while.

Needless to say, this was when I was pretty poorly and at my worse I did lose a lot of weight, but still looked awful.

Once I started my four year training course, I was single and my total focus was on getting well. My coffee went black and down to one a day, my chocolate went dark or plain. I became vegan - no animal products including dairy, although I did sometimes indulge in feta cheese and the odd processed veggie product such as nut burgers. I ate a lot of jacket potatoes and rice with cooked veggies and salad. I moderated my alcohol and introduced herb teas, tinctures, and supplements. I transformed my health and cured myself 90%.

Fast forward 10 years and today I am married with my daughter and a busy life where just like many of you, I come pretty low on the 'must do list'. The following is my 5/7th diet, pretty solid Mon-Fri, then the weekend comes...............I do my best and this is my 2009 focus and I will share with you how I succeed.

So, Breakfast is usually my green smoothie. Sometimes I feel hungry especially towards menstruation, so I then include almonds or hazelnut butter and find I can go to lunch no problems. I have loads of information about the Green Smoothie throughout this site. Today mine was banana, pear, celery, cinnamon, and spinach.

I usually have a herb tincture that I prepare the night before with watered down apple juice NOT made from concentrate and a heaped teaspoon of Superfood (a fantastic natural supplement see resources for more info). I take a B complex as I used to have B12 injections and the last year or two (maybe due to a large blood transfusion after giving birth) I felt the need to up my B vits - this may change as I try to listen to what my body tells me. Through the winter I take a Vitamin C supplement as well.

Most mornings I skin brush (But let's get real I'm a mother on school run duties, I do what I can) and have an 'amazing' shower that goes hot and cold on its own!

Homemade raw crackers, or bought crackers or at a pinch whole meal pitta with Hummus and salad and olives is a typical lunch.

Tea is usually a large salad sometimes with fish or jacket potato or sweet potato.

Supper is three dates as my sweet and also for fantastic colon health.

Some days I am starving and may have carrot sticks and dip, a 'healthy bar' hmmm or if temptation is very bad some dark chocolate.

I have finally dumped the coffee and rarely drink alcohol. Not bad, but as you will agree lots of room for improvement. Of course some days are very good and some well let's just agree I'm human.

And that's the point, you can only start from where you are. The last few years this was all I felt I could manage for many reasons. However here with you in 2009 I feel ready to share my adventures as I play with some ideas that have caught my attention. Not all is food related and I look forward to sharing my experiences good and bad in future posts. I hope to have more photos here as well!

 

 

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March 15th 2009

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