You have other options...

My sister, me, Nani, my brother

When my grandmother (Nani) was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer about 3 years ago she was given very few options. In her case it was chemotherapy or nothing. It astounded me that in all these decades of treating cancer, doctors give three options depending on the cancer... chemo, radiation, surgery, or a combination.

It's appalling actually because since then, I have researched and found at least half a dozen different doctors and organizations that are having success by treating cancer patients with "alternative" medical treatments. I have written about The Gerson Therapy before along with other alternative treatments (you can find it here) but I received an email from them today with a success story that I wanted to share.

"It's now 7 ½ years since I was diagnosed with stage IV mantle cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and turned down all four of the chemotherapy drugs they wanted to put into a port near my shoulder. I'd been a member of the Gerson Institute for many years and I always figured that, if I were ever to get cancer, I'd start Gerson Therapy immediately. On the way home from Dana Farber Cancer Institute where the lymphoma specialist told me what treatment he wanted me to take, Pete and I stopped at a health food store and loaded up on organic produce. I followed Charlotte's book to the "T."  

When I returned to my oncologist's office with my follow-up lab reports a couple of months later, he exclaimed, "This is absolutely fantastic!" Then, he wrote me a letter saying, "Keep doing what you are doing. The chemo would not have cured your cancer anyway." At the five year point, I was called in to my local oncologist's office who had been ordering the lab work and CT scans since diagnosis. She said I didn't have to be followed any longer and added, "Had you taken the recommended chemo, I doubt you'd be alive today." My oncologists were very compassionate and pleased to watch me doing so well with my holistic approach.

--Joyce Forsythe

Unlike many people faced with the devastating diagnosis of stage IV cancer, Joyce already knew of alternative treatments she could turn to. She had learned of the Gerson Therapy years before by living near Dr. Gerson's center outside New York City. Joyce had also been a member of the Gerson Institute for years and heard the stories of the many patients who recovered by strictly following the Therapy protocols.  

While deciding not to take your doctors' advice may never be easy, it is easier when you have been able to learn about the alternatives before you find yourself in a situation of fear and stress. That's why your support is pivotal. As cancer rates rise and toxins in our foods, air and water become more prevalent, it is important that people learn about that there are viable alternative treatments, like the Gerson Therapy, before they become ill. 

We know that the Gerson Therapy may not be the right choice for everyone. It requires a strong commitment to a very new way of eating and living. But it is a path for many people - and could be the path for many more, if only they know about Gerson before they become ill. Please help us spread Dr. Gerson's message of hope and healing today. Help by donating The Gerson Institute directly.

I thought it important to share success stories with you because you don't usually hear about them. And you sure as hell don't hear about them from Oncologists. It's very frightening when you are sitting in the doctor's office waiting to hear the odds of survival of someone you love and being told the treatments that they do have don't even work. Hopefully this makes it into the hands of someone who can use it before they waste precious time.

If you or someone you know has cancer, please forward this to them or direct them to Alternative Cancer Therapies.

McRib is back...YUCK!

There are so many things wrong with this sandwich I don't even know where to start. McDonald's only saving grace is that it doesn't offer the sandwich all the time. Thank you McDonald's for not allowing us to purchase another disastrous option most of the time. 

Let me preface this by saying that I do eat meat... however, I am picky about where it comes from. And the McRib shouldn't even be allowed to be called meat.

Richard Mandigo, the professor from the University of Nebraska, who developed the "restructured meat product" that the McRib is actually made of, described it as:

Restructured meat products are commonly manufactured by using lower-valued meat trimmings reduced in size by comminution (flaking, chunking, grinding, chopping or slicing). The comminuted meat mixture is mixed with salt and water to extract salt-soluble proteins. These extracted proteins are critical to produce a "glue" which binds muscle pieces together. These muscle pieces may then be reformed to produce a "meat log" of specific form or shape. The log is then cut into steaks or chops which, when cooked, are similar in appearance and texture to their intact muscle counterparts. ... Such products as tripe, heart, and scalded stomachs are high in protein, completely edible, wholesome, and nutritious, and most are already used in sausage without objection. (Original Source)

Yummmmm. Restructured meat products are going to the top of my ABSOLUTELY DO NOT F**KING EAT LIST.

According to the current box labeling, the sandwich consists of just five basic components - a pork patty and BBQ sauce with pickle slices, onions and a sesame bun.
But, as Time magazine points out, a closer examination of McDonald's own list of ingredients reveals that the sandwich contains a total of 70 ingredients, including azodicarbonamide, a flour-bleaching component that is often used to produce foamed plastics (think gym mats and the soles of shoes). In fact, "the compound is banned in Europe and Australia as a food additive," says Time. Other ingredients include ammonium sulfate and polysorbate 80. (Original Source)

Why does anything need 70 ingredients? PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE... do not eat this! If you want something covered in BBQ sauce at least get something in it's original form like a chicken wing or real ribs... not something that was conjured up in a laboratory and made of chemicals in a factory. These should come with a warning label like cigarettes do. This will cause: cancer, heart disease, chronic inflammation, digestive issues, arthritis, obesity, diabetes, and on and on and on...

YUCK!

Is it a Christmas Miracle... or ear candling?

So normally I get sick at least once during the Christmas season. It's usually a combination of lack of sleep, too much stress, and/or burning the candle at both ends. Anyway I cut it, I get sick. This year, even though I was surrounded by sick people, I (knock on wood) haven't gotten sick yet.

I have a crazy suspicion that I know why I didn't get sick. There was one day a few weeks back that I started to feel like I was getting sick. It was the kind that starts in the back of your throat and it feels like your ears hurt. I got home and planned on sleeping it off, but before I got into bed I candled my ears. Then I got on the phone and before I knew it, it was like 2 hours later and I felt completely better. That was odd!

Yesterday morning I woke up and felt the same I'm-definitely-getting-sick feeling. So I immediately candled my ears, and it pretty much went away.

One of the things that I've noticed (it's about to get really REAL) in my ear candling experiences is that when I've had mine done and I haven't been sick the ear wax comes out like a waxy powder. When I've done it, either to myself when I feel like I'm about to get a cold or to my friends after they've become sick, the ear wax comes out in dark clumps. Gross I know, but it's something to think about. I have heard it said by a few doctors I respect that the ear wax in your ears is the perfect breeding ground for colds and infections.

Welp... I'm sure some could argue that this is just a theory, but I'm convinced. And I'll be candling my ears every time I feel like I'm coming down with something.

That is all. You can go back to your day :)

Hi.... I'm Jess. I think I used to write a blog

It's been a while. Sorry! Fortunately, I have nothing healthy to report to you. I have been keeping my head above water for the past few weeks and everything, aside from the occasional workout and occasional green juice, has fallen by the wayside.

The only thing I've cooked in the past 3 weeks has been my WORLD FAMOUS banana bread. Lucky you because I am about to share the once-secret recipe with you.

• 2 c. whole wheat flour
• 1 c. brown sugar
• 1 stick organic butter (softened)
• 2 farm eggs
• 5 overripe (black) bananas
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 splashes vanilla extract
• spices: ground ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix together sugar and salt, butter, eggs, bananas, and spices.
3. Add in flour a little at a time until all is mixed in. 
4. Bake for 1 hour, or until knife comes out clean from the middle of pan

They key to my moist-ass-banana-bread is the 5 overripe bananas. Any less and it just isn't the same. A great breakfast on a cold morning. 

Enjoy!

Breast Cancer Insanity

There's nothing better than checking my email first thing in the morning and reading an article about another young girl deciding to remove her breasts because she is trying to prevent breast cancer. 

Allyn Rose is on the left

Astounding: Miss America contestant will have both breasts removed, and she doesn't have cancerOriginal Source

Allyn Rose, 24, has announced she'll have a double mastectomy after the Miss America pageant is over.

She doesn't have cancer.

"If I were to win [the contest]...I would have this incredible platform to speak to my generation..." Rose said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com

Rose has been making the rounds of media outlets, announcing her intention, promoting what can only be called the medically-assisted culture of self-mutilation.

Read Mike Adams' devastating article about the new study showing mammograms produce vast over-diagnosis of non-existent cancers, leading to cut-burn-poison treatments.

http://www.naturalnews.com

The case of Allyn Rose goes even beyond that. She has received no diagnosis of cancer. This is now a growing trend: precautionary mastectomies.

In Rose's case, it's about a marker, called Wiskott-Aldrich, which signals a very rare immune disorder, almost always found in boys.

Rose has been called a carrier. She is without symptoms.

But because this marker is said to run in her mother's family, because her mother died at a young age, as a result of breast cancer, and because, we are told, breast cancer "runs in her mother's family," Allyn Rose has decided to have both her breasts removed.

Medical literature claims a high correlation between this Wiskott-Aldrich marker and cancers. But breast cancer specifically?

The director of the Wiskott-Aldrich foundation, Dr. Sumathi Iyengar, told the Washington Post's Reliable Source there was only some anecdotal evidence pointing to a possible connection.

I spoke with Dr. Iyengar and she was much more emphatic, stressing there is "no evidence" proving a link between the Wiskott-Aldrich marker and breast cancer.

On this basis, a healthy young woman of 24 is having both her breasts removed; she has been hailed as a hero; and she will go on the road and function as a promoter for her cause.

Naturally, Allyn Rose is working with the Susan Komen Foundation, notorious for its propaganda about the need for mammograms and "early diagnosis" and treatment.

What message will Rose be sending to young impressionable girls who want to gain status, recognition, and praise? The answer is obvious. Suddenly, popularity and acclaim are just one surgery away.

Major media outlets are playing along, of course. Where are the medical reporters raising objections? Nowhere.

Jon Rappoport
Original Source 

WTF??? Does no one see how horribly messed up that is? The Susan Komen Foundation should be shut down and everyone arrested for promoting this absurdity. This poor (by poor I mean stupid) girl is getting her breasts removed because she thinks it will prevent her from getting cancer. Nothing, aside from lifestyle changes will prevent anyone from getting cancer! If she has an impaired immune system she should start juicing. She's only 24. Ugghhhh! 

I hope she doesn't win Miss America for the sole reason that if she does she's going to start spewing her garbage about how every young girl should get a double mastectomy before she is even diagnosed with breast cancer. 

I'm done with my rant. Have a nice day!

Anxiety Level: ORANGE

On a scale of 1 to 10, ten being insanity, I've been around a level 7 lately. It's a combination of my overflowing to-do list and drinking regular coffee instead of decaf, and not regularly physically exerting myself. Luckily (for everyone else) only my nails and cuticles have been effected. Which brings me to my super important topic of today.

I am going on record as saying I AM COMPLETELY DONE BITING MY NAILS AND CUTICLES. 

I took a look at my toe nails the other day and was like Wow! I have really nice toe nails. (Thank God I don't have an insane urge to bite them!!). Then I looked at my nails, which right now look like a hyena was gnawing on them, and was thoroughly embarrassed and fed up. I could have really nice nails if I could just keep them out of my damn mouth.

So the task at hand is to cognitively train myself to believe I am not a nail biter. Stressful situation or not, I am not a nail biter.

I know I'm not curing cancer with the information I'm talking about, but it might make me a little less neurotic and therefore improve my quality of life.

Does anyone else have any tips that helped them stop???

P.S. I've tried the pepper nail polish- nothing. I actually like pepper.

I need sleep!

So in lieu of the fact that everyone in my life is getting sick right now, I am in serious "I NEED SLEEP" mode. Sleep is the one thing that if I let myself go I will get sick. And it is just not an option for me right now. SO last night I slept for 11 hours. And tonight I am planning on doing the same. Coincidentally, I just saw this article from Dr. Mercola on common sleep mistakes that people make.

1. Using the snooze button. While a few minutes more in bed may be tempting, using the snooze button could backfire as interrupted sleep can increase your fatigue. GUILTY!
2. Irregular sleep schedule. A regular routine of going to bed and getting up around the same time each day will help promote better sleep, while constantly interrupting your schedule can easily lead to insomnia and fatigue. GUILTY!
3. Taking long naps during the day. GUILTY!
4. Eating sugar before bedtime. Sugar alters the chemical balance in your body, which can contribute to impaired sleep. UMM...SOMETIMES...
5. Drinking coffee or caffeinated beverages too late in the day. GUILTY!

Since I am in the middle of a crazy work schedule right now, I have found it really hard to maintain taking care of myself. I haven't worked out consistently in like a month, I've barely been juicing, and I've been eating out a lot. But the one thing I know I need to stay on top of is my sleep.

Giving thanks that I don't have to cook on Thanksgiving

In honor of the Thanksgiving dinner that I will not be cooking this week, I will present to you some short Mark Bittman videos of some really simple, delicious, and healthier alternatives to mashed potatoes and stuffing. *Disclaimer: There is nothing wrong with mashed potatoes and stuffing. This is what I would be cooking if I was having dinner at my house. One of these days...

Braised Turkey

Herb Stuffed Duck

Layered Vegetable Torte

Butternut Squash Salad (raw)

Braised Artichokes

Walnut Torte

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Daily Yoga

That's me... just kidding! Maybe someday

I recently fell off the workout wagon and it is starting to show. I'm not gaining weight, but I'm not sleeping as well as I do when I work out regularly, and I've been waking up with seriously stiff muscles in my neck and back. This usually happens every year when we are under the time pressure of get-everything-setup-before-Thanksgiving-or-we-won't-be-selling-Christmas-trees.

I recently bought a hot yoga package which I am trying to find the time to use, AND I just realized that there is a workout channel on On Demand. DUH!!!! I can just do yoga in my living room! So that's what I'm doing everyday from now on. I'm going to do at least 20 minutes of yoga every day.

Today was my second day doing it... I'll keep you posted!

I love bibb lettuce

Since discovering how much I love bibb lettuce salads with other kinds of lettuce just don't compare. I probably wrote about this before, but the best way to make a salad with bibb lettuce is just add dressing. The second best way is what I'm about to tell you. I discovered it on the menu at my FAVORITE restaurant/bar/nightclub over the summer and I just made it myself.

I'm not exactly sure how they make the apricot vinaigrette so I winged it:

• handful of dried apricots (organic, unsulfured)
• raw apple cider vinegar
• raw olive oil
• water
• bibb lettuce
• Gorgonzola cheese
• walnuts

1. Soak the dried apricots in water overnight (they will take their original shape when done)
2. In food processor, add apricots (including water from soaking), oil and vinegar, blend.
3. Toss lettuce and dressing in bowl.
4. Top with crumbled Gorgonzola cheese (organic) and crushed walnuts.

AMAZEBALLS! While the dressing is not exactly the same, it gives a similar sweet effect. This is definitely one of those things I could eat every day.

One thing about nuts. EAT THEM! (unless you are allergic) They are packed with vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats. There is nothing wrong with eating fat if it comes from the right source! Right source- fruits, vegetables, nuts. Wrong source: hydrogenated oils, fried foods, candy bars, etc. You get the point.  

And I'm eating my second bowl right now. 

It's about that time...

It's the start of Christmas season again. Maybe not for all of you, but we are starting to set up the stands so we can start selling the Christmas trees the day after Thanksgiving. Just another one of the many random things I am involved in. For those of you who were reading last year, I am extremely busy this time of year so naturally one of the things that falls off is how often I can cook.

I got a little ahead of the game and prepared a few things so that I don't have to eat fast food on the road for the next 8 days. I'm going to bring my handy-dandy green juices along with me, some fruit, and the fruit nut bars that I made!!! I used to get these from Lisa (and if you are in Monmouth County, NJ I highly recommend her if you want raw foods but don't have the time to prepare or don't know how).

I have been meaning to call her (Lisa if you are reading this... I need to order some things from you!!!) but I keep forgetting, so in lieu of her fruit nut bars I tried to make my own. I had a bunch of dried fruit and nuts hanging around. I have no idea how she makes them so I winged it.

Here's what I put in (although I'm pretty sure any dried fruit/nut combination would work):

• raw almonds
• raw cashews
• raw macadamia nuts 
• raisins
• dates
• water

All you do is put the combo in a food processor, chop until super fine consistency, add a little water so the mixture balls up, spread out on a baking sheet into one big square, refrigerate overnight. I'm not sure if you are supposed to score them before or after. I didn't score them before so I'll let you know how it goes. 

Some other ingredients I didn't think about until after: shredded coconut &dark chocolate chips!!!

These are great to-go snacks and you can make a huge batch of them and they last for a really long time when refrigerated.

Healing Cancer World Summit

I wrote about this about a year ago, and I think it's so important that I'm going to let you know about it again, because the Healing Cancer World Summit is running it's second annual event right now.

This summit focuses on "alternative" medicine doctors, cancer researchers, and cancer survivors. I put alternative in quotes because many of the views of these doctors are the opposite of the main stream views on cancer treatments. However, I believe that the views of these contributors are the new "main stream" treatment of cancers. 

Here is the post where I summarized last years' Healing Cancer World Summit contributors, and here is the link where you can sign up to hear this years' contributors. If you or someone you love are facing a cancer diagnosis or battling a cancer, this may be the most important information you will be exposed to. 

I'll tell you what (and I've said this before), if I were to be diagnosed with cancer I would 100% be looking for an "alternative" treatment to the conventional cancer treatments: surgery, chemo, and radiation. That is how strongly I believe in what these doctors, holistic practitioners, cancer survivors are promoting. 

Knowledge is power. I would love to hear your opinions about all this, positive or negative.

Soup of the Day

Since I got back, I've been trying to use our veggies from the garden. Over the weekend I made a delicious soup with Swiss chard from the garden. I was a little nervous because I don't usually start soup with water, but I didn't have any chicken to make stock with or any veggie stock, so water it was!

• 3 cans cannelloni beans
• 1 lg bunch Swiss chard
• 5 links pre-cooked sausage
• 2 lg sweet onions 
• 3/4 stock pot of water
• 6 cloves chopped garlic
• dried herbs: thyme, sage, garlic, white pepper, sea salt, rosemary, thyme

1. fill pot w/ water, chopped onions, garlic, all herbs, chopped sausage.
2. bring to boil for 30 minutes
3. add beans, simmer for 2 hours
4. add Swiss chard, simmer for final 30 minutes

It took longer than I thought because I started with water. It takes a while for all of the flavors to meld together, but it's worth it if you have the time. If not, use prepared stock. I also cooked egg noodles and added them into the individual bowls topped with Parmesan cheese. It was surprisingly amazing! That was the first time I cooked a soup like that, and got a few compliments from my mom and some friends that were staying over. (Patting myself on the back)

Next up! Either black bean chili or chicken soup!

Back in NJ

Well, I finally made my way back to New Jersey. I got in 2 a.m. Friday morning and was never so happy to be home. It is so weird that almost 2 weeks ago I left and everything was normal. I came home to gas lines that were hours long, barely any stores open, most people still without power, and many that had lost everything. My family and I were fortunate to not have any damage, and I was lucky enough to come home to a warm apartment with electricity, cable, and internet.

My heart goes out to those who were less fortunate. I wish everyone a safe and speedy recovery. It will take a while to get back to normal, but we will. It's NJ. We don't have the reputation we do for no reason.

On the brighter side, I thought I would be eating canned food for a while, but low and behold I found some goodies in the garden. I didn't think we would be harvesting veggies into November, but lucky us!

Stay strong New Jersey!

Judging the Competition

While at Whole Foods I picked up one of their fresh pressed raw juices. While it didn't taste anything like ours and had different ingredients I would like to comment on a something. I really should be comparing WF juice to our Recipe #2, however I don't have any more here in my hotel room, and there isn't much difference in the color between the two.

If you notice Raw Generation juice is darker than the Whole Foods juice. That means more greens! When you are drinking a green juice you want it to be dark green right? Notice the number of  dark green ingredients in each!

Whole Foods Ingredients:

• apples
• spinach
• cucumber
• celery
• parsley
• lemon
• lime
• ginger

Raw Generation Ingredients:

• wheatgrass
• kale
• spinach
• collards
• Swiss chard
• apples
• lemon

And the color difference... both in frosted bottles.

When you are buying green juices, look at the ingredients. A lot of the juice companies that are popping up pack majority of the bottle with fruits/vegetables that put off a lot of juice like apples, cucumber, celery. While we use apple juice in our recipe #2, half of the bottle is filled with juice of 5 dark greens leafy vegetables: wheatgrass, kale, collards, spinach, and Swiss chard. 

Whole Foods juice: $5.45 (2 greens)

Raw Generation juice: $4.99 (5 greens)

There you have it! You get more greens with Raw Generation juices. 

Beets... the red headed step child of root vegetables

hahahahhahaa, when I went to Google a picture of a red head a lot
of pictures came up about gingers stealing souls LOL had to put one up

I happen to be fond of red heads because we have a lot of them in our family, however, somewhere along the way they got a bad wrap. Kind of like beets. I just started using beets in some of my juices and like them in small amounts in addition to apples, lemon, carrots, and ginger. That makes a really tasty juice that is super detoxifying.

I just came across a video for a beet salad that looks amazing! I've been itching to experiment with beets in salads lately, and plan on doing so once I get home. Yes, still in LA. Take a look. Hope this inspires someone to start using beets!

The perks of staying in a hotel

When I was packing to come to LA I didn't have any room in my bag for my running sneakers (mainly because I had to bring all of my monster heels). I figured it wouldn't really matter anyway because I wouldn't have time to workout between the conference and catching up with friends who live in town.

But now that I'm stuck here with some time to spare and a beautiful hotel gym, I want to workout. I had planned on getting a trolley over to the closest mall and buy a pair since I needed new ones anyway, but yesterday while I was in the bathroom I noticed a little message on the mirror.

This is the greatest thing I've seen a hotel do EVER! besides the hotels that are putting juice bars in their lobbies (hopefully that will be the trend soon). How convenient!?!?! This is one of those services that would seriously make me consider staying at a Westin where ever I could while traveling. And it is only $5 to rent them for your stay! and they give you a coupon if you want to buy anything New Balance online. Talk about a great marketing idea on both New Balance and Westin's part!

About to hit it hard!

I'm stuck

So a week ago I wrote that I was creatively stuck. Well I just finished the conference, got myself unstuck, and now I'm physically stuck... in Los Angeles. Hurricane Sandy has shut down the northeast so I'll be out here until Thursday.

It may be a blessing in disguise. I made so much progress creatively and personally while I attended the conference. Now I am stuck here with my computer and a lot of time to organize my thoughts, reach out to all of the great contacts I've made, and make a game plan for where I want to take Raw Generation after our other business wraps up after the holidays. It turns out being stuck here isn't such a bad thing.

all raw juices & kombucha from Whole Foods

I'm also gonna get some sun, a lot of sleep, and drink a lot of juice. Luckily, there was a Whole Foods a few miles down the road so I took a cab and stocked up for the next few days. I also have a bunch of Recipe #1's left over from the conference so I can get my greens while I'm here (hence the jugs of unpasteurized apple and orange juices- can't deal with straight veggie juice just yet). The thought of eating room service for the next 3 1/2 days makes me want to VOM, not to mention how easily it is to gain weight that way.

P.S.- if you are staying in a hotel and it doesn't have a refrigerator (or one stocked with alcohol and candy bars like mine) call the service desk and ask if they can have one brought up like I did.

Hope all of you on the East coast are staying alive and dry! XOXO

On the road again...

So tomorrow I'm going to L.A. for a conference filled with health coaches. These are my people. I went to the same conference back in May and had the most amazing 3 days and met a bunch of like-minded people. This conference couldn't have come at a better time because I've been really lacking creative motivation with everything in my life. I kind of feel stuck. Like, I know there are things I want to be creating and developing for Raw Generation, but I feel scattered. Part of it is because I am in the thick of our other seasonal business so my days are split between juice and Christmas trees.

I've also been completely unmotivated to cook which makes for a really dull blog about cooking. Sorry! I guess it should be expected that after a solid 14 months of cooking and writing I temporarily ran out of things to cook and write about....

Lately, my regimen of eating healthy consists of juicing at least once a day, eggs for lunch w/ chopped up veggies, and whatever I feel like picking on for dinner (last night I had air-popped pop corn with butter). I've been eating like a bird.

Hopefully this conference gives me the much needed creative motivation. Otherwise, I'm going to have to rename the blog to 'Plenty of Things to Do & NO THYME'.

The New Flu Shot

1000 x better than a flu shot

For those of you who are unaware...it is not really necessary to get a flu shot. People get sick because they have compromised immune systems. So all you have to do is work on building your immune system and you can avoid getting sick.

P.S. every time I have gotten a flu shot I have gotten the flu. When I don't get the flu shot, I don't get the flu. Go figure. You can see why I am against getting the flu shot.

How do I build my immune system? 

1) Take a vitamin D supplement every day. Check our Vitamin D guide for details about choosing the proper dosage.

2) Get as much sunlight as you can for as late into the year as you can manage. Even getting sunlight on just your face helps produce more vitamin D in your body. (I go tanning in the winter for a few minutes a few times a week)

3) Drink immune-boost beverages like Raw Generation Juices, which contains a blend of dark greens including wheatgrass! Get much needed vitamins and minerals in one bottle (or shot of wheatgrass juice). (shameless plug!)

4) Get regular exercise to boost your circulation and immune strength. This exercise should be frequent and moderate. Do not over-stress yourself at the gym, or your immune system will be temporarily compromised. 

5) Take supplements especially designed to protect your respiratory tract. These include Lomatium, Osha, Elderberry and more.  

6) Eat more meals that are rich in pungent spices. Eat more curry, which is rich in turmeric. Eat more ginger. Eat more cilantro, rosemary, thyme and other rich spices. This includes cloves and nutmeg, two spices you'll typically find in eggnog drinks. These spices boost immune function and taste great, too! 

7) Clean up your diet. If you're eating cheese and drinking processed milk, those substances are to be avoided during the winter influenza season, especially. In many people, cheese and dairy products tend to cause sinus stuffiness, which is really a lack of sinus circulation. This can make you more susceptible to physically catching and harboring a virus floating around. 

8) Boost your trace minerals intake, especially zinc. Both zinc and selenium are hugely important for immune function. Zinc is especially well known for functioning as a shield support against many viral attacks. One of the best ways to boost your trace minerals intake is to switch to a natural sea salt or a high-mineral salt.  

9) Move your lymph! Rebounders (mini trampolines) are great for this purpose. Jumping rope also works, as does just hopping in place for a few minutes each day. You can also do arm rotations and other simple movements to keep your lymph circulating. Lymph movement is crucial for immunity. 

10) Take immune-protective herbs such as goldenseal, garlic, echinacea, osha root and elderberry.  

11) Get plenty of sleep. A lack of sleep compromises the immune system. 

12) Reduce your levels of chronic stress, if possible. Stress also compromises your immune system, and it even "uses up" nutrients in your body, leaving you nutritionally depleted. 

13) Laugh a little! Watch some comedy movies, or spend some fun time with family and friends. Laughter boosts immune function at many levels. It's good for your body and your mental health. Find creative ways to expose yourself to comical situations and you'll benefit as a result. :-)

Instead of getting the flu shot... try a daily wheatgrass shot! I drink at least a bottle of our Recipe #2 each day (which includes wheatgrass).

A.W.O.L.

I apologize for my mini-leave-of-absence. I moved at the end of last week and have been all discombobulated since. But I've finally unpacked my office, put away all of my clothes, hung curtains in my room so I can sleep past sunrise without being blinded, and went through a week's worth of emails.

I'm getting back into the swing of things, just ordered lots of healthy food to cook, and have a bunch of recipes to try and write about.

On a completely different note (not related to healthy eating or cancer prevention), I've found what I'm naturally good at. Shooting zombies. I took a shooting class the other day (I know super important given all of the other things I have going on right now lol).

I highlighted the shots so you could see...
I swear this is no exaggeration.

Apparently I'm a natural, according to the teacher who I think wanted to recruit me to her shooting team. I shot 4 different guns, and killed every zombie. Who wants to take me hunting!?!?!?!?

Anyway, back to healthy stuff tomorrow!

Moving On

Today I am finishing packing my life for my move tomorrow. FYI...this is why I have been M.I.A. on the blog for the past week) It is a bitter sweet day. I've lived here for the past 3 1/2 years and absolutely loved almost every minute of it. I am for sure going to miss living 1/2 a mile from the beach, but there are some other memories I will be glad to not be reminded of every day.

It's weird how the move coincided with my 30th birthday. Not sure if I subconsciously did that or what, but I moved to the beach to be where the party is when I was 26 and not really caring about my job. Now I feel like I am starting a new chapter. I am more serious about my work now and am moving to make my life easier and happier.

Just some ramblings for today... gotta get back to packing!

Au revoir Bradley Beach!

In my 30's

Yesterday I graduated to the 30-34 age bracket. Leading up to my birthday I was a little sad that my 20's are over... but then I realized that I can still act as ridiculous as I always do. Age is just a number, and I definitely feel younger than I have in a long time.

It was a rainy gloomy day, but I had such a great birthday. Had some drinks and awesome Nutella pizza at my favorite restaurant with a few of my favorite people. My dad asked if I wanted to go to pick out Barbies for my birthday present (we didn't but I'm seriously considering). I heard from all of the amazing people in my life. It was a great day.

When I was younger I never really thought about getting older. I sure as hell didn't think about what I would do when I was an adult... which I guess I seriously am now. The only thing I really ever cared about was that I was having fun. That was always my priority. And while "having fun" has changed it's form, it is still a priority to me.

I hope you all are having as much fun as I am!

(If not...what are you waiting for?)

Prop 37: My Humble Opinions

On November 6, 2012, California voters will decide whether to require labeling of food products containing ingredients derived from genetically modified organisms (Prop 37). It is all I have been hearing about lately, and while I am completely against genetically modified foods, I am also completely against the government forcing companies to do anything about it. 

Here's why...

1. When the government gets involved in business it imposes tremendous costs on industry X, Y, or Z. This is often "in the best interest of the public", but it actually hurts everyone because it takes the responsibility and necessity of being informed away from the people. It tells people "don't worry the government will take care of you." 

2. The more regulations, the higher the cost. I'm sure that Prop 37 doesn't just effect companies that are producing foods including GMO's. There will for sure be collateral damage. Food will inadvertently become more expensive and the food available will not be any more valuable for the extra cost. 

3. The food industry is in bed with the government. I'm afraid that this monster is too big to tame overnight. There are a handful of corporations that own and control majority of the major food brands. They lobby in Washington, donate to politicians who will help them, have huge budgets. This is not to say that I don't believe that a few people can create a huge change (revolution if you must)... given the right circumstances a one person can change everything. But getting the government involved is not going to get GMO's out of our food. 

So what do you do? 

In light of the fact that most of the items at any given grocery store (including Whole Foods) contain genetically modified ingredients, you stop buying them. Companies are run off of profits. If the company loses profits it changes it's product(s) or it goes out of business. As much as it is important for everyone to not be eating genetically modified foods, it is more important for YOU to stop eating. And YOU don't need the government to tell you what is or is not genetically modified.

I'll tell you in a nutshell:

• any product containing corn that is NOT organic
• any product containing soy that is NOT organic
• any product containing canola oil that is NOT organic
• any product w/ high fructose corn syrup in it
• any product w/ hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils in it
• any meat that was not humanely raised
• any dairy that comes from animals not humanely raised
• any fish that was not wild caught

Why the animals? Because they are fed corn and soy, and whatever they eat, we eat. 

The more fresh fruits and vegetables you buy, the less processed junk you will buy. It's that simple. But just because it's simple doesn't mean it's easy. 

It took me being completely grossed out by certain foods to cut them out of my diet- cold cuts, conventional meat, conventional dairy, factory farmed meat, most processed/packaged "foods" that are sold in the grocery store. It's hard to get over  what you are used to, but it gets easier the more you know about the reality of our food industry.

What will it take you to start changing the things you put in your mouth?

Ethnic Food vs. American Food

I was having a conversation with my sister the other day about the amazing food we've eaten in other countries.  I have no idea how we got on this topic, but I have to admit it is one of the more intelligent conversations we've had in a while.

Anyway, she asked me if I liked Indian food, and I said 'yes, actually there hasn't been an ethnic food I've tried and not liked- ever!' One of the things our food (in America) is really lacking is spice. I'm not talking about hot pepper spicy, I'm talking about using different spices. That is one of the great things about eating different ethnicity's foods. A lot of other countries still use their traditional spices for cooking. And they still cook with traditional methods... i.e. everything is not deep fried.

We were both marveling at the fact that the food we've eaten in other countries is different too...it's real. Most of the food we eat here is heavily processed and either sweet, salty, or sour in taste. There are 3 other tastes that most American's don't even know about- bitter, pungent, and astringent.

When I was in the Bahamas I ate conch at least twice a day- prepared in all different ways. When I was in Puerto Rico I ate rice, beans, beef, and tropical fruit. Even the prepared foods were more homemade than the homemade foods most people eat here.

I encourage you all to start experimenting with different spices when you cook (hopefully you are cooking at least something :) I recently started buying all sorts of random spices as I came across them, and have come up with some very tasty combinations along the way. Spices are sooo very healthy for us all.

Here's a list of some common (and some not so common) spices.

IN SEASON: October

sweet potatoes

It's been a few months since I've written about what is in season... basically because during the summer almost everything is in season and it's easy to get lots of fresh produce. October is one of my favorite months not only because it is my birth month or Halloween but because the weather is always amazing and I instinctively want to start cooking again. During the summer I naturally want to cook less, eat less, and as of late eat a lot of raw fruits and veggies.

pumpkins

butternut squash

broccoli

spinach

lettuce

cranberries

apples

pomegranates

grapes 

Even though we live in America and it's possible to get every kind of fruit and vegetable all year round, it is still better to eat what's in season. Theoretically produce is more nutritious when it is in season (whether that is the case today with all the pesticides and junk is another topic for another day). And nature always provides the foods we need to thrive in each season. Until very recently we ate with the seasons. Roots, berries, greens, sprouts in the spring. Fruit and greens in the summer. Root vegetables, apples, squash, greens, nuts in the fall. Nuts, meats, root vegetables, and grains in the winter.

One of my long term goals is to continue to eat more and more with the seasons. I have been working on it over the past year and have come pretty close to now craving what is in season. I still get thrown off with "American" foods, especially on the weekends, but I am finding that certain foods are more or less appealing to me during certain times of the year. 

Stay tuned for some new recipes from me!

A Pain in the Neck

Well, this week was a weird one. I randomly woke up and coughed my way into a pinched nerve Wednesday morning. That was fun let me tell you. I spent the entire day horizontal alternating ice packs with heat.

It is, and has been, my firm belief that back/neck pain is a result of your emotions. And for those of you who don't believe in the mind body connection, it is real. It has been thought that our brains are separate from our bodies in some way. But I beg to differ. If you could actually see the nervous system, it touches every part of our body. If you were to isolate you would see that it is literally as prominent as our veins. How do you think you feel pain when you burn your finger? Nerves.

So then how can our emotions effect our health? Well, emotions are chemical reactions that take place in our brain due to the types of thoughts we are having. But emotions cause physical feelings too. Think about when you lose someone you love, you actually hurt. Or when you are nervous about something your stomach becomes nauseous. Everything is connected.

I know exactly why I got a pinched nerve. I was already under stress (self imposed I might add), which I hold in my neck and shoulders. I woke up on the wrong side of the bed due to some really kreeeepy and upsetting dreams (happens more often than not) and then I had some things that I didn't want to deal with. So I stuffed all that, and voila! Pinched nerve in my neck.

The Moral: It's better to speak your mind even if it will upset someone else than to stuff it and end up with paralyzing neck pain. 

Officially over it

he would have fit right in w/ us last weekend

I do this to myself all the time. I still think I can party like I am in college. Well, reality has a way of telling you what's up when you don't follow it's rules. I always wondered when I was younger why adults don't drink that much, if at all. I know now. It's because it takes 3 times as long to get over it than it used to. 

I was at a bachelorette weekend (keep in mind I stopped drinking Saturday after dinner and literally drank 10 waters after that) and I am still recovering. I AM OFFICIALLY OVER IT! The amount of fun I have when I drink pales in comparison to the S-H-I-T that I feel like for days after. 

In light of my impending 30th birthday, I am feeling that I need to really stop acting like I am in college. I need to take care of myself so I don't end up looking prematurely haggard. 

Just some thoughts on this beautiful Tuesday. Tomorrow I'll be back to normal.

I'M SHOCKED! GMO's found to be deadly over entire lifespan

I have thought for a while that GMO crops are going to be found harmful to our health. Looks like they have. I hate to say I told you so, but ...

This video is short, but if you are looking for more evidence there is tons of it out there. Just look around for a few minutes. This is pretty serious stuff, and I hate to see the "unexplained" rates of cancer skyrocket in the years to come. 

The best thing you can do is get rid of and stay away from the big GMO crops: 

• corn (found in almost everything)
• soybeans (found in almost everything)
• canola (vegetable oils)
• sugar beets (refined white sugar & molasses)
• conventional meat (fed GMO corn and soy)
• farm raised fish (fed GMO corn and soy)

CHECK FOOD LABELS! Unless it is labeled "certified organic", "GMO free", or in the case of meat "humanely raised" those ingredients are more likely than not genetically modified. If I hadn't done this already I would start today: slowly stop buying food products with these toxic ingredients and start buying real food that will help you counteract the effects likely already underway from the 15 + years of eating GMO foods. 

The more I learn, the more clear it is that real food does not make people sick. Food like ingredients and food "products" make people sick. Heavily processed foods make people sick. Sugary foods make people sick. Fake foods make people sick. Every now and again is fine, but all day everyday people eat junk food and it adds up. People are paying the price down the road for fast, cheap food.

Who's going through their cabinets tonight?