The other day I received a box from Amazon.com, courtesy of the UPS guy.

I’d been expecting this, a Z-Star Manual Juicer Wheatgrass Juicer.

What was I thinking? Why the “manual” juicer with a hand crank?

Well, my main reasons are listed below. But, I’ve read a lot about the benefits of wheatgrass juice, drank shots of the stuff already, and am convinced that the stuff is good for me.

. . . .

My Reasons For Buying A Manual Juicer

• Well, the rationale was that I wouldn’t have to use electricity, using my own physical energy to churn out some wheatgrass juice and other types of juices. Thus, saving a bit on my electrical bill by doing the work myself, knowing that daily use of an electric juicer can add up.
• Another reason for going manual was to save money, obviously. Because buying an electric version would cost maybe 2-3 times more.
• And last but not least, a manual juicer can be taken anywhere, even to places where there is no available electricity! I could even take this on camping trips.

. . . .

A Box Within A Box

Once I opened the Amazon.com box, another box was inside which was the actual box for the product.

. . . .

The parts were all wrapped up neatly and protected well. It was very obvious which parts were which, and assembly looked like it was going to be a breeze!

. . . .

Easy To Assemble, Ready To Go

Right out of the box, the Z-Star Manual Wheatgrass Juicer was pretty-straightforward, and easy to assemble.

The hand crank was easy to turn with most fruits and vegetables. Juicing wheatgrass was a breeze, but I admit that I had some difficulty with juicing carrots and watermelon rinds. I feared that if I applied to much force something would break. But that’s understandable with tougher foods.

The fact is, this manual juicer seemed very sturdy and easy to use with most fruits and vegetables.

Another plus is the fact that it’s easier to clean than my two other centrifugal juicers! Not a problems at all.

The Raw Food Lifestyle
The Philosophy and Nutrition behind Raw and Live Foods

Author: Ruthann Russo, PhD
Publisher: North Atlantic Books
Year Published: 2008

. . . .

I received this book from the publisher quite a while ago, and I’m now finally getting around to writing a dedicated review of The Raw Food LIfestyle by Ruthann Russo, PhD.

This book discusses “the philosophy and nutrition behind the whole Raw and Living Foods Lifestyle. It’s an extensively researched book, and a complete overview of the raw and living foods lifestyle. It covers everything from the healing aspects and health benefits of raw/living foods, to the spiritual aspects and eco-friendly, sustainable living benefits.

So far, The Raw Food Lifestyle covers a lot of ground regarding the Raw/Living Foods Movement, and approaches it from both an academic viewpoint and a practical one, analyzing the nutritional content of raw foods, and debunking the myths and clarifying a lot of the information that is out there regarding raw foods. Some possible issues of concern aimed at raw foodists: the issue of where to get vitamin B12, the agave nectar debate, and the raw chocolate controversy… is covered and explained in detail in this book.

The book also covers the spirituality of the raw food diet, covers the connection between a raw living food lifestyle and yoga and mindfulness meditation. And goes over the history and the pioneers who paved the way for the modern movement. And briefly covers the leaders who are prominent in the raw food movement today.

This has been a very interesting read and can serve as a good reference book and guide for the person who is new to raw foods or is wanting to gain more extensive knowledge on the lifestyle.

From Amazon.com:

Using examples from her own life, Russo lays out a practical plan for making the switch that starts with realizing the need to change one’s diet (and health), and then stresses small dietary changes to discover what raw foods work, and assessing reactions. She profiles cacao, raw sweeteners, water, pH level of foods, juices versus smoothies, salt, the process of dehydrating food, garlic and onions, and overall food preparation. Russo highlights what supplements (superfoods, vitamins, green products) to include in the diet. She emphasizes the spiritual aspects of the movement as well, exploring meditation, yoga, Buddhism, peacefulness, and fasting.

. . . .

Ruthann Russo is an educator, health counselor and passionate raw foodist. She is a member of the faculty at Tri-State College of Acupuncture where she teaches complementary and integrative medicine.

She has been a vegetarian and vegan for more than 20 years, and a raw-food enthusiast since 2007.

. . . .

You can buy this book directly from North Atlantic Books.

This book is also available on Amazon.com.

This week has been full of heavy rain and strong winds. Lots of rain and flooding, trees falling and becoming uprooted. I see broken branches from eucalyptus trees, having fallen to the streets.

So, I’ve been looking back to the days just prior to the storms, and going through some sunrise photos I’d taken. And I came upon this one that was very interesting, and looked somewhat promising as a start to a new day.

I’m taking the notion of cultivating a more positive attitude and approach to the New Year. It seems the past year-and-a-half has been very trying for me. Lots of negative energy getting kicked around in my life. I confess it disrupted my usual positive flow.

Am I working to get this positive flow back?

Perhaps…

I confess too that I let the negative energies around me get the better of me. I had stopped being raw for awhile, and I paid the price. I didn’t feel well at all, not my usual energetic self, but I now realize just how addictive a lot of cooked foods are, especially rice and other cooked grains.

It’s hard when we live in a world where cooked foods, fast foods, so-called “fine dining” is considered the norm. As much as I now am dedicated to the raw vegan lifestyle and in 2010 (so far) I am a practicing raw foodist, it’s quite hard when you’re surrounded by family and friends who aren’t raw and consider you the oddball of the group.

But at the same time, people admire me for my “courage”(?) and dedication to the raw food lifestyle. And there really is more to it all than just raw food. It’s about achieving a sense of well-being, of practicing “ahimsa” and practicing compassion.

A raw food lifestyle truly makes it easier to practice Zen in all aspects of Life. And it’s just one part of a (w)holistic approach in experiencing our journey through Life to its fullest…

A New Elixir of Life

Just make sure all ingredients are 100% raw and organic! You’ll be able to feel the difference.

My recipe for making 100% Raw Almond Milk can be also be found here.

Ingredients

1 – cup freshly made almond milk
1 – large banana
1 – tablespoon raw agave nectar
1 – tablespoon raw cacao powder
15 – ice cubes

In Addition, I Add The Following Super Foods

1 – small handful of Tibetan Goji Berries
1 – emptied capsule of Marine Phytoplankton
1 – tablet of Spirulina, 16oz, Healthforce, Manna (Original Species)
1 – tablespoon of Hemp Protein Powder 16 oz, Nutiva (Raw, Certified Organic)
1 – small scoop of MSM Powder 16 oz. (Methyl-Sulfonyl-Methane)

Basic Instructions

• Put all ingredients into a high-speed blender and blend until smooth!
• Pour into glasses and serve with straws. Makes 2 servings.
• Looking for more instructions? That’s it.

I usually have one of these smoothies first thing in the morning to get me going for the rest of the day.

Of course, you can experiment with other super foods and vary the ingredients to your personal taste. Sometimes I cut the banana into slices and freeze first, and have both a combination of ice cubes and frozen banana slices. You just have to play around with the combination and avoid having it too thick to blend.

Enjoy!

Buy The Products Used In The Above Recipe

Cacao Powder

Agave Nectar

Cacao Nibs

Note: This is similar to a Cacao Banana Smoothie recipe I posted sometime last year, but the big difference is the raw, freshly made almond milk. Soy milk (from the other recipe) of course, is not raw. But, the almond milk tastes so much better freshly made, and allows me to be 100% Raw!

Simply put, a green smoothie is a blended drink consisting of approximately 60% fruit and 40% greens.

Why drink green smoothies?

Though it may look green in colour, a green smoothie is suprisingly tasty, sweet and packed full of essential nutrients. And being a raw food beverage, it contains an abundance of enzymes your body needs.

Green Smoothie Revolution

In her book, “Green Smoothie Revolution: The Radical Leap Towards Natural Health”, Victoria Boutenko promotes the healing benefits of drinking green smoothies and making them a daily part of your food intake.

From Amazon.com

Thanks to processed and fast foods, being overworked, and feeling stressed while eating on the fly, it is increasingly difficult for most of us to eat anywhere near a balanced diet. We may not be obviously sick, but may suffer from lack of focus, insomnia, sluggishness, or any host of symptoms caused by nutritional deficiency. Green Smoothie Revolution takes aim at this silent epidemic by restoring balance to our diets.

Combining nutrition and know-how with recipes that pack a powerhouse punch, Victoria Boutenko reintroduces long neglected fruits, vegetables, and greens in the most persuasive style for our busy lives: with fast prep and delicious results. Featuring 200 recipes, Green Smoothie Revolution offers both simplicity (4 ripe pears, 1 bunch parsley, 2 cups water; blend well) and enough variety to keep taste buds happy and nutrients coming from a wealth of options.

Ms. Boutenko and her family have been raw foodists since 1994, adopting the raw food lifestyle because of chronic illnesses in the family that have since been eliminated or brought under control through a diet of raw foods.

Highlights from Green Smoothie Revolution

• 1. Leafy greens contain Chlorophyll, which is in essence “liquefied sunshine”. Plants literally produce and synthesize food from sunlight. And virtually all creatures on the planet are trying to consume this “liquefied sunshine” either directly from plant food, or by eating an animal that has consumed it directly. It seems logical to get the sun’s energy directly from plant sources.
• 2. This book is highly informative and has over 200 green smoothie, raw soup and pudding recipes. There’s even special green smoothie recipes for children and pets.
• 3. There is a helpful section for beginners that features simple, easy to prepare green smoothies. As well as a “tips and techniques” section to help make your smoothie preparation much easier.
• 4. A chapter on “blending versus juicing” covers the nutritional benefits of both, and how blending green smoothies can be more advantageous.
• 5. The book ends with case studies and personal success stories, and how the Boutenko family discovered the benefits and health advantages of the raw foods. It is inspiring to read how this family overcame their health problems by adopting a raw food lifestyle.

In Summary

Overall, I highly recommend this book. I’ve been an evangelist for the Raw Food movement and promoted the health benefits of delicious 100% Raw Cacao-Banana Smoothies, but reading this book has convinced me that green smoothies can truly deliver. Already, I have tried a few of the recipes in the book, I can definitely feel the nutriontional boost in energy from this amazing beverage!

“In more than thirty-five years of practice as a psychiatrist affiliated with the Harvard Medical School, I have learned one thing very well: Human behavior is very hard to change. Now Victoria Boutenko is persuading me otherwise.… Thirty days of green smoothies will change how you feel, and how you feel about yourself. That’s no small achievement for one small book.”
—A. William Menzin, MD, Harvard Medical School

. . . .

Green Smoothie Revolution is published through North Atlantic Books “a leading publisher of alternative health, martial arts, and spiritual titles.”

This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.
—the Dalai Lama

This Journey is Mine, and Mine Alone…

I apologize if I seem to promote the raw food lifestyle as if it’s the best thing for everyone. I realize that we are all on our personal journeys.

In my own, I have tried many diets to help me lose weight and stay healthy. And, I know many people who don’t subscribe to a raw vegan diet because it is either too foreign to them, or they believe it’s not a healthy diet.

I can respect that….

From my own personal experience, and after experimenting over the years, I’ve simply found that a raw vegan diet can help me lower my blood pressure more effectively and quickly than any other diet outside of fasting. If it still didn’t work for me, then it’s not the diet itself but what I was including in the diet, or not including in it.

I’ve realized that even if a diet is raw vegan, it doesn’t make it healthy per se. One could eat too many bananas or too many avocados. Even on a raw food diet, it can be unbalanced. With any kind of diet, variety is the spice of life.

Learning To Understand The Realities of My Being

But regardless, I’ve realized that periodic fasting plus a “healthy” raw vegan diet can improve my own health and vitality. The results show in my performance levels as a musician, drummer, pianist, etc… as a human being.

I’ve also realized that within my raw vegan diet I can “fine tune” it to help me lower my blood pressure. There is a direct correlation with health and vitality and the notion that “we are what we eat”.

Also, how much we eat….

Right now I’m trying to graze more throughout the day rather than eat huge meals like I had been doing. For someone who is prone to high triglyceride levels in the blood, it seems that is the best strategy for me.

Blood Chemistry versus The Raw Food Diet

Because I am raw vegan I have no problems with my cholesterol levels. They are relatively low now at 170 and 43.

My triglyceride levels were more than 310+ which my doctor says is in the relatively high risk zone. Problems that may occur due to high triglyceride levels would be the risk of stroke or heart disease, kidney failure, or even pancreatitus.

So, whatever I am doing for my diet, it is out of necessity and not because I am pushing an agenda or trying to promote the raw vegan cause.

I stopped eating animal foods when my doctor told me I can have 1 serving of fish or seafood in a week. No chicken, meats, etc. But just 1 serving of fish or seafood per week!

That led me to the decision long ago to become a vegan. Then I read of the benefits of going raw, not just health-wise but energy-wise too. I don’t think it’s a placebo effect. A raw vegan diet can definitely (and effectively) boost one’s energy levels.

Right now I feel very healthy. And I seem to be on the right path, for my own personal journey… hopefully, I can stay disciplined enough to continue to improve and experience a healthy life…. and a healthy lifestyle.

I have realized that without our supreme health we simply can not experience life to the fullest. We will always have some hindrance because of health issues. And that is why I continue to strive in what I do.

The Philosophy of Kindness…

Anyway, getting back to the true purpose of this post… promoting the philosophy of kindness. For the world is cruel, but only because we are possibly no connecting in more positive ways… we are lacking in compassion, understanding, etc… and we just all need to focus on our mindset. Because mind and body are one… and making our world a better place to live starts with our “selves”…

I know I need to be more kind to others. No matter how they treat me, or whether they understand me or not. It all begins with a smile and an act of kindness.

Superfoods: The Food and Medicine of the Future, is the newest of the many books written by raw food guru, David Wolfe, on the “raw experience”.

The new book is due to be released on April 28, 2009.

Considered by many in the raw food world as one of the leading authorities on raw foods, David Wolfe has been a proponent for the raw food lifestyle and natural healthy living for more than 14 years. He has a Masters degree in food nutrition and Bachelors degrees in Science and Mechanical Engineering.

A Reference Book on the Top 10 Superfoods

I recently received my “review copy” of Superfoods from David Wolfe’s publisher, North Atlantic Books, and I must say that, having browsed through the entire book, I feel this will be the definitive reference on superfoods.

The Top 10 Superfoods

Excerpt from the Editorial Review at Amazon.com

Superfoods are vibrant, nutritionally dense foods that have recently become widely available and which offer tremendous dietary and healing potential. In this lively, illustrated overview, well-known raw-foods guru David Wolfe profiles delicious and incredibly nutritious plant products such as goji berries, hempseed, cacao beans (raw chocolate), maca, spirulina, bee products, and a host of others. As powerful sources of clean protein, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, antioxidants, good fats and oils, essential fatty and amino acids, and other nutrients, they represent a uniquely promising piece of the nutritional puzzle.

This accessible guide presents persuasive arguments, based on sound science, for the pivotal role of superfoods in promoting nutritional excellence, health and well-being, beauty enhancement, sustainable agriculture, and the transformation of diet, lifestyle, and planet.

What I like so far about the book is the organization. The book covers the Top 10 Superfoods on the planet, and devotes a chapter to each. In addition, each chapter devoted to a given superfood covers a lot of ground… history, cultivation, the essential ingredients that make each food a superfood. Also, there are recipes in each chapter that feature that superfood, starting from simple recipes to more elaborate and complex ones.

Superfoods: The Food and Medicine of the Future will likely be an essential addition to your raw food reference library!

. . . .

“Is there anyone more passionate, dedicated, or knowledgeable about the tremendous benefits of superfoods to our bodies, minds, and planet? Not likely. Wherever you are in terms of what goes in your mouth, David Wolfe presents a compelling claim to add a little more vitality to your plate.”
—Angela Bassett, actress and author

“David Wolfe has written a brilliant, wisdom-filled, illuminating book that is essential reading for everyone interested in reaching optimal health! Superfoods are indeed the food of the future for a healthier world.”
—Patricia Bragg, N.D., Ph.D., author and health crusader

“Anyone who is ready to experiment with this class of foods can grab this book and get a complete overview of not only what a superfood is, but how one can effectively use them in their personal diet… The information in this book is absolutely complete.”
—Raw Food Right Now

Sorry folks. I have been neglecting this site lately, mainly because of the following reasons:

1. I’m frantically preparing my taxes right now because I have an appointment with my accountant this Friday.

2. Have been concentrating on marketing and promoting and musical groups I am currently performing with.

3. I’ve been doing a lot of other work online to pay some bills and save up for some studio recording equipment (I plan to record at home).

Anyway, I’m back, somewhat. But plan on being “more” focused on this site in the next week or two.

I thank you for visiting this site and for your continued support…

The Joy of Cashew Milk, & Other Absurdities

Regular people must think us raw foodies are totally on the fringe when it comes to diet and lifestyle. I mean, to turn your back on hamburgers, hotdogs and pizza?

Are you nuts!?!

Well, frankly… yes! I eat plenty of them now… nuts, that is!

But when people come home from work feeling tired and fatigued, they blame it on the job, or the stress, or getting through an hour’s worth of traffic.

They don’t consider that food could be the problem causing their tiredness and fatigue. Or the lack of certain foods.

I have this theory that, unless you go totally raw… and I mean, like TOTALLY raw, your simple NOT going to feel the benefits, that amazing “euphoria” you get when adopting (and adapting to) a 100% raw food lifestyle!

You see, the more processed, refined, chemically enhanced foods that go into your system, the more YOUR body has to work on handling all the toxins and junk that come with that food. And the less nutrients your body gets, the more it struggles with eliminating the poisonous stuffs, and less time rejuvenating and healing the body.

Enzymes, which are abundant in raw foods, are the stuff that helps metabolize food and is vital for the body’s maintenance and healing. Cooking simply destroys much of those important enzymes, AND cooks and steams away all that vital water… overall the body just has a tough time and thus…

…feeling tired, fatigued, low on energy and less vitality.

Major Relapse For The Sake of Culture and Heritage

Last year in June, after coming home from the Philippines after attending a funeral there, I was feeling extremely fatigued and had no energy whatsoever to even do simple tasks. I thought I had chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

The reality concerning my fatigue wasn’t really the stress because of a death in the family, although naturally that would be a big blow to anyone. I think it was the simple fact that (for the two and a half weeks I was there in the Philippines) my diet had changed from a “high raw” vegan to a total omnivore.

Talk about absurdities…

I really let myself go, and that is my big confession for the year 2008. But I guess a part of me was saying, “Well, you’re back in the homeland now, so you have to experience the food, it’s a part of the culture”!

Today I’m still on my raw food journey and approaching day 100. When that happens I don’t know what will happen. Maybe, I’ll revert to a 75-90% raw diet (but most definitely vegan), maybe I’ll continue to be 100% on my own… or maybe I’ll go on a long juice fast, or feast.

We’ll see how that goes in a couple of weeks…. :o)

So, what has this article have to do with cashew milk? Well, nothing really. It just sounded good at the time, but actually, I’ve been loving cashew milk in my raw cacao smoothies! It is amazing and different than almond or walnut milk. And definitely blends well with the cacao, in my humble opinion…

The photo above is simply flax crackers with some fresh homemade salsa. I’ve been getting into salsa this past week. Eating it with jicama slices, flax crackers, kale chips. It’s quite refreshing!

My 100% Raw Food Journey

I have been so busy with a LOT of different things in my life, I’ve been neglecting this site and haven’t been keeping track of my daily raw food intake!

But, I assure you that it’s been pretty much the same faire. I’m usually pretty consistent with what I eat, perhaps to a fault. I need to eat a bit more variety. But for the most part I think I’m eating a well-rounded diet of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.

I do, however want to make sure I post something for Day 75, as I think this is a milestone, and that I have completed 3/4 of my intended 100 day goal.

A Few Quick Notes

Jicama slices and salsa give me *cough cough* gaseous problems. Perhaps too much fiber?

I love cashew milk with my cacao banana smoothies!

When I was having an energy slowdown and possible “detox symptoms”, I was eating almost all fruits and vegetables. Nuts and seeds can be used effectively to reduce the negative effects of the detoxification process.

A Little Bit of Energy Slowdown

Earlier this week I had a slowdown in energy levels. But, at the same time I was really pushing the envelope, if you will. The good thing is that my sleeping habits have improved considerably! My wife calls me the windup doll, because I’m usually going strong throughout the day, but at around 9pm, maybe 10pm… I just start significantly running out of steam. Y’know, like those little toddlers that run around all day, then just fall asleep wherever they were last seen playing?

That’s been me. And one good thing about going raw is that it has cured my insomnia.

Focusing On Inches, Not Weight

Other than that I’ve been feeling pretty good. And I think I’ve lost more weight because regular clothes I’ve been wearing have been quite loose. And pants I couldn’t fit into before, I can now fit into just right!

I never weigh myself, though. And this is just a personal thing. If I get to the point where I have to weight myself every morning, I can mentally set myself up for failure. Weight can fluctuate throughout the week because of water intake, not necessarily calories. So, I am going strictly by how the clothes feel and how I look. And I’ve reduced at least 2-3 inches from my waist size, so there’s definitely an improvement there.

So, not really looking at weight. Just to look good, and to actually perform better on drums and piano. So, I must definitely make sure I’m getting enough food throughout the day!

Food Intake – Day 75

Breakfast

• 1 – small avocado
• 1 – small glass of acai juice

Mid-Morning

• 1 – cacao banana smoothie (with cashew milk, spirulina)
• 1 – small glass of acai juice

Lunch

• 1 – cacao banana smoothie (with cashew milk, spirulina)
• 1 – mostly sprout salad (with lettuce, chard, frisee, raddichio, sprouts, olives, artichoke hearts, salsa with oil and vinegar)

Mid-Afternoon

• 6 – flax crackers
• 6 – kale crackers
• 1 – half cup of garlic dip

Dinner (projected)

• 1 – large salad (with lettuce, chard, frisee, raddichio, spinach, olives, sprouts, tomatoes, avocado with oil and vinegar)
• 5 – flax crackers
• 1 – half cup of walnut dip
• 1 – glass of red wine

The above photo is just another one of my BLT open face sandwiches that I’ve been into lately, simply because I’m enthusiastic about being able to make raw cashew mayonnaise!

Day 69 finds me not my best today…

And I skipped writing about what I ate yesterday, but pretty much ate the same foods as today.

I think I’m either:

• 1. Going through a “detox” phase.
• 2. I’m just a bit frustrated that I don’t have a dehydrator and can’t really afford one just yet.

Matt Amsden’s Famous Onion Bread

So, I was trying to make that onion bread from Matt Amsden’s RAWvolution book and letting the stuff dehydrate in near my kitchen’s south facing window. It’s an experiment so far and we’ll see how it goes. Apparently, it takes more than 24 hours to actual dehydrate the bread so that it’s ready for consumption.

A Bit of Frustration

But I’m frustrated when others around me can’t share in my joys of being a raw vegan. And for that, even though I thank all my fellow raw vegans who support me online, it’s just tough when you’re always exposed to the doubters and critics. It can make it a very lonely life in real life.

Anyway, here is today’s raw diary so far:

Breakfast

• 1 – raw cacao banana smoothie (with spirulina)
• 1 – tangerine
• 1 – avocado

Lunch

• 1 – plate of “finger foods” (olive on raw mayo and a cucumber slice)
• 1 – cup of fresh salsa

Dinner

• 1 – medium salad (lettuces, spinach, sprouts, tomatoes, olives, in oil and red wine vinegar)
• 1 – raw cacao banana smoothie (with spirulina)

. . . .