Growing up I thought everything was fine just like it was. I was a part of a great family, a great community, the whole bit.

It was normal to me to eat processed foods and factory farmed meat. It was also normal to me to attend funerals for my relatives who kept dying of heart attacks. That’s just how life is, right?

At least it was until I went to University, and got exposed to raw foods. That was the first small liberation of my soul.

Let me explain what I mean by that. Until I started questioning the foods that I was raised to eat and that everyone around me consumed on a regular basis, I was part of the industrial system.

You know the one.

The one where animals are raised in cages and fattened up for consumption. And the one where humans are raised in classrooms and cubicles and fattened up for retirement.

All my years of being a straight A student in this system had taught me that I was doing the right thing. I was on the right track, I was about to graduate with a degree in Software Engineering, I had a job on Wall Street lined up, I was the perfect example of this system doing good in the world.

Except my soul wasn’t being fulfilled. I didn’t know it at the time, but changing my diet to raw foods would lead me to drastically alter my life path. Instead of taking that job on Wall Street at the height of the economic melt down, I did the “risky thing” and started my own health coaching business.

That step off the industrialized assembly line was the second small liberation of my soul.

It wouldn’t have been possible had I not started with what I knew I could improve: my diet.

I went into raw foods not so much because I was sick but because I had watched so many young family members die of preventable degenerative diseases. I knew that the one thing that was getting passed down was our eating habits, and I wanted out.

From there came a much deeper connection to my inner knowing. I got connect with my source, the divine, god, whatever you want to call it.

That connection is what helped me to see the other ways that I was still stuck. When I started my business The Raw Foods Witch, I thought I had to leave everything I had been building behind. But soon after, my skill set and passion for technology re-emerged in a way that would allow me to gift small liberations to others, too.

In a way, I think that every single business I’ve started has been with that goal in mind: to help you find the small liberation of your own soul.

Helping you find your own small liberation…

I believe that the best way to do that is by being fully conscious. That means being conscious of the food we eat, whether it’s vegan or raw or from a sustainable source.

It also means being conscious of how we spend our time: is it building our dreams, taking care of ourselves and the planet, or contributing to a system that we don’t believe is helping the world?

And if you find yourself in a situation where you don’t like what you’re a part of, how can you make the best of it right now so that you can bring the consciousness energy you possess to it, so it can shift?

Maybe that means eating something you don’t consider to be totally healthy because your grandmother made it with love.

Maybe it means showing up at your nine-to-five job because it helps you care for your family.

You’ll do both knowing that you’re on this path to make things better for yourself and the future generations to come.

For the small liberation of your soul is just around the corner.

The post Small Liberation – How Stepping Off The Assembly Line In One Part Of My Life Had a Domino Effect appeared first on Raw Foods Witch.

If you eat lots of raw food, or know of someone who does then this list will help you pick the perfect gift this holiday season. This easy to follow raw food gift buying guide will come in handy this Christmas season.

One thing to keep in mind though, is that people who eat more raw food or are into environmental causes prefer to tread lightly on the earth. So only buy them something if you know they will appreciate the gesture. :)

Raw Food Books & Stocking Stuffers

Great Raw Food Books that make great Gifts

Alright, so I’m a huge book worm. If you’ve watched any of my more recent videos you know what my bookcase looks like. I personally love looking through raw recipe books for inspiration and to spice up my kitchen routines.

That being said, always check to make sure the person you are buying a gift for doesn’t already have the book you’re getting them. :)

Here are a bunch of great raw themed books that will be a sure hit this Christmas!

• RAWvolution: Gourmet Living Cuisine: Recommended by @CarlaRose as a great coffee table book.
• Living Raw Food: Get the Glow with More Recipes from Pure Food and Wine: Sarma’s new book is also another gorgeous photo filled recipe book.
• Ani’s Raw Food Kitchen: Easy, Delectable Living Foods Recipes: A great starting guide to raw with lots of yummy recipes.
• Ani’s Raw Food Desserts: 85 Easy, Delectable Sweets and Treats: More dessert recipes, because honestly who can say no to raw desserts that are this good?
• Raw Food/Real World: 100 Recipes to Get the Glow: The first book by Sarma and Matthew, a dazzling array of photos and recipes.
• The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health.
• Raw Food Made Easy For 1 or 2 People: Simple raw recipes that taste great, what more could you really ask for?
• The Raw Gourmet: This is one of the classics, written before most other raw food books and still standing the test of time.
• Green for Life: This is the perfect gift for anyone who doesn’t currently eat a lot of leafy greens. A super short read that can truly change lives.
• Sweet Gratitude: A New World of Raw Desserts: Cafe Gratitude desserts are some of my favorite, and this book shares their recipes. Yum!
• Everyday Raw: Another great raw food recipe book by Matthew, that will tantalize your taste buds.
• I Am Grateful: Recipes and Lifestyle of Cafe Gratitude: This book is perfect for the Cafe Gratitude fans in your life. Or for those who have yet to experience the Cafe’s special vibe.

Dry Skin Body Brush

If you’ve read my post on the benefits of dry skin brushing then you’ll know that most raw food lovers will enjoy this gift.

Here’s the gist of it: dry skin brushing is great for removing toxins from the skin, allowing for lymph circulation, reversing cellulite, and getting smoother skin.

I recommend the Purest Palm Body Brush, it’s the one I use every day.

Salad On the Go Containers

This makes a great gift for anyone, regardless of whether or not they have kids. It’s a great container that you can bring with you whenever you travel, or even if you’re out and about for the day.

The lid allows you to store a salad dressing, and you can pack a delicious salad in the main compartment. Never worry about leakage or soggy salads again! Get the Aladdin Chill & Go for yourself, or for the health conscious friend who is often on the go.

A Case of Larabars

When I asked what makes a good gift for fellow raw foodies on Twitter, @LuvSchweetHeart recommended a case of Larabars. I thought it was a brilliant idea, and with so many flavors to choose from you can’t go wrong.

My favorite type of Larabar is the Cashew Cookie. It’s just got the best balance of chewiness and the flavor isn’t too overpowering. You can buy a whole case of Cashew Cookie Larabars online and have them shipped before Christmas!

Handmade Raw Chocolate Treats

Gnosis Chocolate offers a variety of handmade raw chocolate bars. You can order online, and have mouth watering chocolate in time for the holidays!

Shazzie’s Chocolate bars are full of superfood goodness, and are perfect if you live in the UK. There’s a flavor for the goddess in you and for the goddess in your raw food friend or partner.

One lucky duck treats are great if you live in New York City, but they also offer shipping. Why not treat your raw foodie with some delectable desserts and hand made cookies.

Nut Milk Bags & Sprouting Bags

I’m a big fan of making your own nut milks, and sprouting your own sprouts. If the raw foodie in your life has yet to explore these new ways to “cooking” then getting them a nut milk bag is the way to go!

You can buy the kind of Nut Milk Bag that I buy here, they are handmade in Vermont. I met the lovely lady who makes them, and it really made my day to know I’m helping local people every time I make some nut milk or sprout some mung beans.

Raw Food Appliances Make Very Generous Gifts

When I surveyed Twitter, @NaomiNiles recommended kitchen appliances and tools, and I totally agree! Some of my kitchen appliances came as gifts and I couldn’t have been a happier little witch. :)

The Cadillac of Blenders: The Vitamix

The Vita-Mix or sometimes known as the Vitamixer is definitely a top of the line blender. I know several people who are asking for one from Santa, too.

I got my first brand new vitamix this year and I cannot see myself going back to my old blender.

Yes, it’s expensive. But if you’re spending money anyway, you might as well get something that will last. The vitamix comes with a crazy 7 year warranty, a 30 day no risk money back guarantee, and they’re even offering a 3 payment plan.

The best thing about my vitamix is that I can make green smoothies for skeptical people and they love them. The secret: no chunks!

The greens go down smooth, and I know I’m contributing to someone’s health without forcing them to gulp something down uncomfortably.

Also, I get this question a lot – the Blendtec and the Vitamix are very comparable blenders, and I definitely recommend you get whichever one you personally prefer. Either way, you’re getting a high end blender that’s going to last you for years to come.

Food Processors That Make Tasty Meals

I happen to have a Magic Bullet, but to be honest since I got my vitamix I haven’t used another type of food processor. It’s enough to handle my blending and processing needs.

That being said, after getting a blender, I think it’s a good investment to have a food processor. If you are shopping for a new raw foodie who doesn’t yet have a food processor, I recommend the Cuisinart Prep 11 Plus Food Processor.

Raw Food Dehydrator for Crunchy Treats

This is the cadillac of food dehydrators, it’s the Excalibur 3900 Deluxe Series 9 Tray Food Dehydrator. I’ve had mine for a few years now and I love having it to make raw crackers, cookies, breads, kale chips, and other dehydrated snacks.

You can also buy them second hand, or opt for a cheaper smaller version. Most dehydrators don’t come with a temperature setting though, but the Excalibur does.

Fresh Juicer for The Juice Loving Raw Foodie

I picked up a Breville Juice Fountain about a year ago and I love how quickly it juices and how easy it is to clean. One of the benefits is that it’s a good quality juicer, for a pretty fair price.

It also has a wider opening, so you don’t need to cut fruits or vegetables as small to get them juiced. It’s also super quick, so you don’t need to spend 20 minutes a day juicing, and it’s also easy to clean and assemble.

The juicer I own is the Omega J8005 Nutrition Center Single-Gear Commercial Masticating Juicer. What I like about it is that you can use it to make green juice, and other treats like nut butters, raw fruit sorbets and ice creams, and baby food.

It’s got a heftier price tag, but because it uses a mastication system you’re actually getting more juice for your buck. Before I got this blender I always cringed when I saw how much juice was left in the pulp. Now the pulp is totally dry.

Pasta Making Spiralizer & Spiral Slicer

One of the easy and delicious raw recipes that gets a lot of raw foodies excited is raw pasta! This type of pasta is usually made from spiral sliced vegetables like zucchinis or spaghetti squash.

After using a spiralizer, you get angel hair pasta! Or at least something that imitates the texture and look of pasta, but tastes light and delicious.

If the raw food lover in your circle doesn’t have a spiral slicer yet, you can go with a basic Saladacco Spiral Slicer or a more advanced Tri-Blade Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer.

The Homemade Icecream Maker

Okay, so you can make raw ice cream using a vitamix, an omega juicer, and a food processor. Why do you need a specialized icecream maker you ask? Well apparently, we raw inclined folks like to collect kitchen gadgets… Just kidding!

With a specialized ice cream maker you can blend up the raw ingredients you like, then add them to the ice cream maker to get fluffed up. This is very different from soft serve ice creams you can make with the vitamix, the juicers, and the food processors.

I rest my case. This is the Cuisinart Pure Indulgence Automatic Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet, and Ice Cream Maker.

(And no, this is in no way a hint to my boyfriend or family members. Ahem. Seriously, though.)

Raw Ingredients or Superfoods

Most raw folks love to create in the kitchen and these ingredients are so much fun to experiment with! If you’re not familiar with what types of raw ingredients or superfoods you should get the raw foodist in your family or friends circle, here’s a quick run down.

• Raw Chocolate or Cacao Powder
• Organic Maca Powder
• Organic Goji Berries
• Chia Seeds Aztec Superfood
• Organic Hemp Seed Protein Powder
• Spirulina Natural Powder

Gift Certificates to Raw Food Restaurants

If you live near a raw restaurant, or are planning to travel near one then gift certificates make a great gift! What better way then to try some fun new raw dishes than by eating out at a raw restaurant.

• Cafe Gratitude in California, USA.
• Pure Food & Wine in New York City, USA.
• Grezzo in Maine, USA.
• Live Food Bar in Toronto, Canada.
• Rawlicious in Toronto, Canada.
• Raw Aura in Toronto, Canada.

There are tons of other raw restaurants out there too, so do a google search or look at Happy Cow to find ones in your area!

Gifts for Raw Moms with Kids

Kid Friendly Raw Recipe Book

This is the perfect gift for busy moms who want to include more raw foods into their kids’ diet. It’s hard enough being a mom, let alone trying to come up with raw recipes your kids will love.

With this ebook you’ll get your kids to join in the raw fun, and get recipes like Chunky Monkey Ice Cream, Froggy Delight Green Smoothie, and Alien Slime Smoothie. Yum!

Give Monkey Mike’s Raw Food Kitchen a Whirl!

Kid-Engineered Snack Containers

These little Munchkin Snack Catchers are great when you’re on the go with younger kids. You can easily feed your kids munchables like grapes, berries, nuts, and seeds, without making a mess!

Your children can take out as many of the small snacks as they want, and there isn’t as much of a chance of spilling grapes all over the floor.

Giving Goodwill by Adopting a Family in Need

Master J. Begin wrote this short piece about giving to someone in need this holiday season.

This Christmas is going to be a real Christmas for us! Our group has decided to adopt a couple of families that truly are in need and the entire team will pitch in by donating gifts and food so they can have a wonderful Christmas.

The concept is easy: get in touch with a local childcare agency or church and ask if they know of a family that could use help this Christmas. Find out the number of family members and their gender, and voila you have your adopted family.

This concept can be used in your workplace or in any group. It is making this Christmas so exciting and fun for us! Imagine a wave of giving taking place across the nation… And it becomes a blizzard of goodwill!

Green & Eco Friendly Gifts

When I asked about green and eco gifts, @DRumbold had some great suggestions! Here they are. If you’re planning on hosting or would like a lovely eco-friendly bouquet of flowers, then Harmony Hill Gardens is the place to go.

Dorinda also recommended Eco Friendly Apparel from Green Changes. They’ve got some nice t-shirts that I’m sure some raw foodies would enjoy.

And of course you should check out some of Dorinda’s recycled green handmade soap. It’s just gorgeous, and will keep even the most adventurous raw foodies squeaky clean.

Another great gift idea for raw foodies is to buy JoeyFiveCents’ repurposed vintage jewelry. There are also a slew of other great small handmade gifts available on Etsy. I personally need to restrain myself from visiting the Etsy site, since there’s so much goodness there.

Another great place to shop for green and eco products is Carla Rose’s Green & Chic online shop. She’s got a variety of beauty products and other environmentally friendly gifts for the raw foodie in your life.

What Do You Intend to Give This Holiday Season?

Even though this gift guide is all about the material gifts we can give each other, I want to remind us that giving and receiving can take place in other ways too.

Being there for someone through thick and thin, providing love and support, being a good friend or family member, these are all great gifts! These are gifts that cannot be replaced by material things.

So go ahead, let us know what you intend to give this holiday season… no matter what type of gift it is. And feel free to share this list with those who could use some inspiration.

Originally published November 2009.

The post Raw Food Gift Buying Guide for the Holidays appeared first on Raw Foods Witch.

Photo Credit

If you’re new to raw food and don’t know where to start, you’ve come to the right place! Here are my top 5 blog posts to get you started.

Is It Necessary To Go 100% Raw?
In this post I go through the different options for incorporating a raw diet. Explore the best way to bring more a more vibrant raw diet into your life.

13 Witchy Ways Green Smoothies Help You Feel Great All In Less Than 13 Minutes
Green Smoothies are one of the easiest ways to incorporate more raw into your world. Find out how and why green smoothies are raw magic!

Go Raw or Die Trying?
Often we feel we need to go all or nothing when trying new things. Find out how to make lasting healthy changes that will keep you going on your raw food journey.

21 Ways to Sneak More Vegetables Into Your Diet
Whether you’re a long-time raw foodist or just starting to take steps towards a healthier lifestyle, this post give you creative ideas to beef-up your daily vegetables intake.

9 Ways Raw Food Changed My Life
More than helping you to look and feel better, incorporating more raw foods in your diet can have surprising other benefits.

As you step into your raw food journey you might find yourself drawn back to the dark side with those pesky cravings. Check out my online course I’ve put together to help Cure Cravings Forever! And for that love of sweets replace those unhealthy desserts with delicious 30 Healthy Desserts You Can Eat Every Day and rediscover the magic of eating healthy!

The post New to Raw Food? Top Five Blog Posts to Get You Started appeared first on Raw Foods Witch.

This funny pain relief patch story starts a few years ago in the middle of a freezing winter. I was a student living in a residential building, and on my way to school one morning after a particularly icy storm, I fell down the outside stairs of the building.

Not graceful, holding onto the railing, type of falling. But the kind you see in movies where the person’s swept off their feet as soon as they hit the ice, and lands swiftly on their behind.

Except I didn’t land on my behind because I was walking down a set of stairs, so I got solid contact with the stair on my lower back. Ouch.

I thought I had broken something because it was so painful, but when I limped my way over to the health services they told me that I wouldn’t have been able to walk if I had broken something. I thanked them profusely for the good news, and the lack of helpful advice and was on my way.

That night my boyfriend recommended I apply a Chinese pain relief patch, that his parents had given him.

I had seen commercials for pain relieving creams and similar things, and I had used Arnica gel for bruises from my martial arts days… but this pain relief patch concept was new to me.

Enter The Pain Relief Patch

So we peeled off the sticky part of the patch, and applied it to the deep purple bruise on my lower back. I immediately felt a sense of relief. The smell of the pain relief patch was pretty strong, it had a minty feel to it, and it immediately relieved the pain.

I took it slow for the next couple of days, and kept the pain relief patch on. A few days later I removed the pain relief patch (which was a bit of a painful process because it was so thoroughly “glued on”) and the bruise had subsided.

I praised Chinese medicine, and went back to my usual life. I didn’t know where my boyfriend’s parents had bought this pain relief patch, or what was in it… but I was happy I had it in my time of bruising need.

Fast Forward To This Year

Earlier this year I met a wonderful woman named Briana Borten, who co-created an all-natural pain relief batch called Imbue.

Now I haven’t had the extreme circumstances that warranted the use of a pain relief patch since that stormy winter day, but after listening to Briana talk about the other ways a pain relief patch can be used for therapeutic purposes really got my mind going.

I did a little bit of research about pain relief patches in general, and now that I’m looking back I can see how most pain relief patches are full of unwelcome ingredients. This is especially important since you’re putting this pain relief patch against your skin, for all of the ingredients to seep into your skin. Eeks.

I’m all about holistic healing, and that’s exactly what the Imbue pain relief patch is based on.

That’s where Imbue is different. Because the Imbue pain relief patch was designed with Chinese medicine principles in mind, and has gone through in-depth research and testing to use only the safest and highest quality ingredients for your body to absorb. Now, that’s my kind of alternative medicine!

So… does this all-natural pain relief patch really work?

Okay, so I love all things natural and healthy, but sometimes there’s the doubt that this won’t work as well as a super commercialized big name brand.

So I sent an Imbue pain relief patch to my dad, who often has pain on his foot from an old injury that gets triggered when he walks a lot. I wasn’t really sure what to expect, since my experience with pain relief patches was limited to that one big bruise incident, so I didn’t know if it would work for an older inflammation type of pain.

Soon after sending him the Imbue pain patch, my dad called to let me know it worked like a champ! He put it on his foot, and in his words – it took all the pain away. He was able to sleep well after having walked a lot, and he was just so happy to have a pain relief solution that was so easy and also safe and effective.

When You Hurt, And You Need Pain Relief Fast

So all of that to say, I’m a huge fan of Briana’s Imbue pain relief patches, and if you like to be prepared for unexpected situations (even if you don’t live in a snowy-icy land like me!) then grab some of these for yourself.

I hope you got something out of this pain relief patch review, even if it’s just entertainment and maybe a glimpse into the world of Chinese medicine and natural pain relief.

The post Pain Relief Patch – My Imbue Pain Relief Patch Review appeared first on Raw Foods Witch.

This is a guest post by Lisa Consiglio Ryan who provides ways to detox and embrace clean living.

Hello. Oh, hello in there! Wake up! Spring is here. It’s time to come out and play; dance your dance.

Spring is nature’s birthing season. A time for creation and development. So this is a good time to take a look at your life and make a new plan. What do you want to clear out as the past in your environment, within yourself? What do you wish to see happen this year? This can be a new start.

Speaking of new starts and new beginnings, this time of year reminds me of cleansing. AND a great way to supercharge the season is to detox.

Spring is the perfect time to do a detox because you can take a good look at habits and set health goals. During springtime, you are filled with inspiration and have more energy to achieve these goals. You’re more active, creative, and more apt to stick to your routines.

Once you experience a detox that incorporates whole foods and daily activities that support your body, there isn’t anything in the world that can compare to the feeling you get after a detox. You may feel increased bouts of energy, eliminate your cravings, lose weight, reduce bloating and get rid of belly fat. Your mind is clear and focused, and even your mood can improve. You might even glow!

Now doesn’t that sound lovely?

Here are my top 3 ways to detox during the spring:

1. Eat whole, real foods: Try a gentle, clean food-based detox. The first step is to eliminate foods that have barcodes. This means avoid foods that come in a can or box; processed foods. I usually remind myself of this rule when I shop. Eliminate foods with added sugar, dairy, alcohol, caffeine, gluten, soy, and animal protein. Stick to organic fruits and veggies for your cleanse. Lots of vegetables, fruits, greens, grains, legumes, beans…
2. Pump the green goodness: Spring time foods consist of dandelion greens, spinach, parsley, watercress, asparagus, peas, fennel, and mustard greens. You can also add in additional dark leafy greens such as kale, Swiss Chard, and collards. The chlorophyll from the leaves feed the blood, and help your body achieve balance. Therefore, ridding your body of toxins becomes easier. You feel cleaner.
3. Determine the length of your detox: 10 days is a perfect time period to feel and see changes in your body. It’s just enough time to really get the full effects of a detox. It takes time to make changes, and your body needs time to adjust to eating differently, getting rid of toxins, and establishing habits. So a cleanse less than 10 days might not give you the full effects. If you are new to detoxing or want a power-boost to jump start healthy living, then 10 days is a good start.

Beauty Remedy Juice Recipe

(my signature juice perfect for spring plus gives a glow inside and out)

Ingredients to juice:

1 bunch of spinach leaves (or kale, just remove stems; approximately 6 leaves)
½ lime
1 apple
1 cucumber
½ inch fresh ginger root

Makes one 12 oz. glass of green goodness.

Are you ready to get your detox on this spring?

Lisa Consiglio Ryan is the founder of Whole Health Designs. She provides detox programs for women who desire to embrace clean living. Lisa is also developing her own line of raw juices.

Join Lisa for her popular Spring Renewal 10 Day Detox.

Connect with Lisa on Facebook and Twitter.

The post 3 Easy Ways to Detox This Spring appeared first on Raw Foods Witch.

If you feel like you’re doing everything right: you’re eating raw, you exercise, you detox, you sleep enough, you take vitamins… but you’re just not feeling better? Maybe you still experience symptoms or have health issues. Then this video is for you.

Doing everything right but not getting better?

Click play to watch.

This is an amazing TEDx talk by Lissa Rankin and it’s worth the 18 minutes it will take you to watch, because it will change your outlook on health.

To your health,
Nathalie

The post Are you doing everything right for you health, but not seeing results? appeared first on Raw Foods Witch.

This is a guest post by Dawnmarie Childs on Not Getting Pregnant – and how she managed to turn things around.

Photo credit

It was about a year ago that I last contributed to Nathalie’s blog about my achievements through a raw food diet. I was not getting pregnant. In 2006, I was fat, tired, depressed, anxious, constipated, separated from my husband, and infertile. At least that is what the reproductive endocrinologist told me. “Your FSH is too high. You need an egg donor. There is nothing I can do for you.” He was right. There was nothing he could do for me. But there was something I could do for myself. Never one to take “No” for an answer, I researched what I could do to improve my fertility… and I found raw foods.

I Was Not Getting Pregnant – Was Food to Blame?

While I couldn’t find anything in the human medical literature about food and fertility, I did find a veterinary article regarding heifers and their improvement of reproduction with dietary changes. That, paired with the information in Gabriel Cousens’ Rainbow Green Live-Food Cuisine, where he reported that hormonal changes can be improved with diet, I decided to give raw a go.

I was strictly raw for three years and in that time, I went from the above with numerous prescribed and over the counter pills, to needing absolutely nothing. My blood sugars stabilized, my anxiety and depression resolved, my cholesterol lowered to about 87, my blood pressure lowered, my weight was in a healthful range, but my FSH continued to rise.

Still looking for answers, I sought other treatment in addition to the raw foods diet. Clear Passages in Florida, through Osteopathic based techniques, helped relieve pelvic adhesions that could interfere with fertility. Colonics improved my bowel health. Supplements helped replace missing enzymes and essential nutrients. DHEA was to help improve “egg quality.” And yoga was added to open the pelvis.

While I was working toward better health, my online friendship turned into romance. Jerry and I were married in March of last year. I moved from one coast to the other to be with him and with his children. Prior to the move, we looked for further answers at a prominent fertility clinic in New York City. After a pelvic ultrasound and lab tests, the prognosis given wasn’t much better. My FSH more than doubled. My AMH was zero. My right ovary was defunct and my left ovary only had one follicle in production. “You need an egg donor,” was the reply that I was given. Jerry was devastated, but I was determined. We enjoyed a lovely meal at Pure Food and Wine and then contemplated the next move.

“I’m going to go back to Clear Passages for a little more work. And then I’m going to see Randine Lewis.” Randine, Osteopathically trained, converted to Chinese medicine after medical school. She holds annual retreats for those who are fertility challenged. Randine put all of my lab data into perspective for me. “Of course your AMH is zero. You are producing only one follicle at a time. The AMH that you do have isn’t measurable. It doesn’t mean you can’t get pregnant.” At the retreat, I received acupuncture, an evaluation for Chinese herbal remedies, education regarding fertility, and a lot of support. I left with a renewed hope. I believed that motherhood was going to happen for me.

There Was Hope for Not Getting Pregnant

A few weeks after I returned to my new home, the herbs arrived. They smelled foul. They tasted terrible. After the first packet of herbs, I was knocked out on the couch for two days. I lowered the “dose.” I was getting nauseous. I continued to be exhausted. Something seemed to be very wrong. I felt like I was going crazy. Simple slights made me want to sob uncontrollably. I called my husband at work, very upset. And then it hit us. I was laaaaate (in Dr. Evil ally Frau voice), by 5 days. “Honey, pick up a stick on your way home from work.”

Jerry arrived with the package in his brief case. I ran to the bathroom. The results came back quickly. I wasn’t sick. I was pregnant! Alexander Perry Childs was born the day after my 42nd birthday. He was 7 pounds 7 ounces and 20 3/4 inches long. He is a healthy gorgeous boy who has more than doubled his birth weight at three months and is just growing by leaps and bounds. He is the joy of my life.

How did I get pregnant with the odds against me? Was it the raw foods? The acupuncture? The herbs? The colonics? The yoga?

By the time I met Jerry, my life was in balance. And raw foods helped bring my physical and mental well-being into equilibrium. While there are plenty of pregnancies achieved in dire circumstances, I was only going to get pregnant under ideal conditions. And thankfully, that was so. Motherhood is challenging. I would not have been supported in my first marriage as I am in this union. I also wouldn’t have wanted my child exposed to the medications that I required previously to function. And I likely would have had it more difficult during the pregnancy had I continued my health-less lifestyle I held previously.

And, as a physician, what did I learn from all of this? First of all, don’t treat the lab, treat the patient. Secondly, the body has the inherent capacity to heal itself. Thirdly, western medicine doesn’t have all of the answers. And finally, eat a whole food plant based diet, and you can achieve almost anything – not getting pregnant is reversible.

The post Not Getting Pregnant – How One Woman Turned Things Around appeared first on Raw Foods Witch.

The quick answer is yes! And I’m excited to share this workout with you, designed by my friend Nichole Kellerman, who is a personal trainer and knows a lot about working out and eating healthy.

Welcome Nichole…

What’s up, what’s up, it’s Nichole Kellerman here to give you some killer tips on how to keep your body in top notch from EVERY angle.

Watch Nichole Demonstrate the Workout

Okay- so we all know that being healthy isn’t just about what you put in your mouth, it’s about many components; diet, exercise, sleep, stress management, emotional stability, spirituality and the list goes on.

Think of it like a wheel, if a section is missing it wont function properly.
So today I am talking about the exercise and throwing in some mental exercises as well. :) 
This work out has many dynamic movements that incorporates multiple muscle groups and joints creating a strong, fit injury free body!

Plus I have added some positive affirmations to go along with each movement included in the exercise.

(see video for visual examples and proper form)

1. Side Lunge to Shoulder Press, Balance – “I am climbing to new levels”

-With one dumbbell (5-12lbs) feet together, step out to the side reaching to the inside of the opposite foot.
-Step back to the starting position
-Press arm up overhead and kick moving leg in front of you, to balance

2. Back Lunge To Rotate- “I Love My Life”

-Start standing, with one weight, holding on both sides
-Lunge back (ideally 90 degrees at each knee)
-Arms out, rotate over the front leg
-Back to standing
-Alternate to the next leg

3. Deadlift To Row “Out With The Old In With The New”

-Feet together, legs straight but knees NOT locked
-Both dumbbells in hands bend over, shoulders back, till you feel a stretch in the back of your leg
-Back up to standing, pull arms back, squeeze shoulder blades and repeat
-Advanced perform on one leg (one leg deadlift)

4. Plank With Tricep Kickback “Create Your Own Affirmation”

-On the floor, core tight, hips down
-Keep core tight (belly button to spine)
-Pull one are up, lock elbow into waist
-Kick arm straight squeezing tricep
-Switch arms

5. Cardio Dance Party

-Put on your favorite jam and DANCE!
-DO NOT SKIP THIS!
-This is vital for your health, happiness and heart :)
-Let go, have fun, be silly, get out of your head and into you body
-*All out* go for it, your body needs this

You can do these exercises just about anywhere! And since I’m feeling super generous (I think it’s the green smoothie I just drank kickin’ in ;) I’d love to give you free access to the 10 page Stretch Routine I usually only give my paying clients! Click Here get your copy now.

Then just print and follow with these detailed pictures and descriptions.

Click Here to grab your copy now!

If you have any questions at all, feel free to contact me, I am here to help.

xo,

Nichole Kellerman, CPT, CMT
Health & Lifestyle Coach
NicholeKellerman.com
720.515.2695

Nichole Kellerman, is a certified personal trainer and massage therapist with the drive to help as many women as possible be fit, healthy and happy, all while having a blast! Having struggled with her weight and self image in the past, she has now dedicated her life to showing women how to love their bodies and get that head-turning confidence they all deserve! Learn more about Nichole at http://nicholekellerman.com.

The post Do You Still Need to Workout If You Eat Raw? appeared first on Raw Foods Witch.

Photo Credit

This is a guest post by Angelina Ignatova and she answers “why eat fruit”.

Maybe you’re just not a fruit person, or you’re wondering why eat fruit when you’re not sure you’re even eating enough vegetables? We’ll address both why eating fruit is important, but also how to eat fruit at the right time to avoid the side effects.

Why eat fruit?

Why do we eat food? It’s a rhetorical question, isn’t it? One can say it’s in order to survive and this would be almost right. Let’s close our eyes to the fact of breatharians’ (prana eaters) existence and move the attention to the delightful world of healthy food.

The most important aspect of a daily diet composition is nutrition – and why eat fruit is precisely because fruit is a big part of this rich palette of choices, called a healthy eating pyramid. Scientists say that if you eat at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day you may lose weight and also keep the right blood sugar level.

So let’s first understand how our digestion works during the day. When we swallow food, the first stop is our stomach. The gastric juice, containing a small amount of acid, starts to transform the food into the perfect consistency for the next step.

This is a very important part of the process; when a delicious apple or a nut cluster turns into a “smoothie”, because only in this form can all the nutrients be easily absorbed by our intestine.

Imagine that you ate, say, two pieces of toast and some fruit. When the fruit is ready to move to the intestine, the bread (which is more difficult to digest) blocks it and restrains it from moving on.

Gastric juice continues to digest the bread, while the fruit also continues to react with the acid and the mixture “fizzes” even more than it should.

That’s why sometimes when a person eats fruit after a meal they experience bloating, belching and a feeling of heaviness. Fruit is a rich source of fructose, vitamins and fiber. If you eat them properly, they will significantly benefit your body.

Why eat fruit if you’re not eating it at the right times?

Here are some tips to help you take full advantage of fruit:

• Do not eat fruit when your stomach is full! You can do it at any time, but not after a meal.

• After you eat some fruit, wait about 30 minutes before you eat anything else.

• The best time to eat fruit is before the afternoon. They gradually increase the blood sugar level and awake the digestive system after night.

• Why eat fruit when you’ll get a stomach ache? Try not to eat fruit with foods that are hard to digest.

• Bananas and avocados are very heavy, so it’s better not to eat them in the evening. Take a banana or an avocado salad as an afternoon meal when the digestive system is ready for it.

• If possible, prefer fresh fruit to frozen and canned ones because the processed fruit contain lots of sugar and, most likely, artificial preservatives, thus losing most of their nutritional value.

Photo Credit

If you used to eat fruit as a dessert and then suffered from unexplained stomach-ache, try to follow this advice and see what happens. You can also find more healthy eating tips and information on this site – http://www.eatinghealthy.org. Stay fit and nature-friendly and don’t forget to wash all the fruits and veggies before enjoying them!

Angelina is a vegetarian and a yoga addicted writer from Aliso Viejo, CA. Her biggest goal is to make everybody be healthy and live happily. Follow her on Twitter at @_eatinghealthy and get more tips that answer why eat fruit!

The post Why Eat Fruit? appeared first on Raw Foods Witch.

Banana Breakfast Sundae

This is a guest post by Jennifer Blanchard on food allergy.

You’ve seen the words everywhere: gluten-free, vegan. Maybe you know what they mean, maybe you don’t.
If you have food allergies, though, you know exactly what they mean. They mean freedom from the ingredients that cause your body harm. They mean a way for you to enjoy food without sacrificing your health.

Common Food Allergens

• Dairy (milk, cheese, butter, cream, etc)
• Gluten (wheat)
• Eggs
• Soy
• Peanuts
• Tree nuts (cashews, almonds, walnuts, etc.)
• Fish (flounder, bass, cod, etc.)
• Shellfish (crab, lobster, shrimp, etc.)

Dairy and gluten (wheat) are the two most common allergens. And the number of people with these allergies grows every day.
In fact, 60 to 70 percent of Americans have undiagnosed food allergies. That’s a ton of people walking around with no knowledge that their bodies are begging them not to eat certain foods. When you continue to eat foods that you’re allergic to, you wreck havoc on your body. And over an extended period of time (years and years and years), the damage from the allergens in your food can cause disease. Do your body and yourself a huge favor and find out now if you’re allergic to anything. Years from now when you’re happy, healthy and disease-free, you’ll be grateful you did.

How Raw Food Can Help with Food Allergy

There are so many benefits your body gets from eating raw food. And raw food is also great for people with food allergies (or for people who are transiting to not eating food allergens anymore) because raw food is naturally allergy-free. I don’t think there are too many people who can say they’re allergic to kale or bananas or onions (and if you are allergic to one of those items for some reason, there’s still plenty of raw goodness available for you to enjoy). Whether you’re attempting an elimination diet or in the process of removing your food allergens for good, I highly recommend adding raw food into your diet.

When I found out about my food allergies (dairy, gluten/wheat), I decided the only way I was going to survive was if I found delicious replacements for all the things I loved that I could no longer eat (like ice cream, milkshakes and bagels with cream cheese).
Take the time to discover if you have food allergies. And if you discover that you do, here are two of my “replacement” recipes that I hope will make your transition process a little bit easier:

Cookies and Cream Shake

“Cookies and Cream Shake”

(to replace my milkshake obsession)

Before I knew I was allergic to dairy, I used to drink a milkshake at least five nights a week. Now that I’ve transitioned my diet to dairy-free, I no longer crave shakes (thankfully!), but on the rare occasion when I want one, I make this “shake” instead.
The raw cacao gives it the perfect amount of chocolate and the crunch it gives is like crumbled cookies.




Ingredients
• 1 banana, chopped
• Raw cacao nibs, to taste
• Almond milk, enough to cover everything in the blender
• 1 tablespoon of raw agave nectar
• ½ cup of ice

How To Put It Together
1. Chop the banana (or break it apart with your hands) and place it in your blender.
2. Add raw cacao nibs (to taste).
3. Add the tablespoon of agave nectar (adding more or less to suit your taste).
4. Toss in the ice.
5. Pour almond milk over all the ingredients until everything is almost covered completely.
6. Blend until all ingredients are smooth and mixed. If you want a thicker shake, add more ice and blend.

Banana Breakfast “Sundae”

(to replace my bagel with cream cheese breakfasts)

Removing gluten/wheat from my diet was the best decision I ever made. Now I’m no longer walking around with stomach pain or a foggy head, and when I’m at work, I’m not asleep at my desk at 3 p.m. But breakfast is my favorite meal, so I wanted to make sure I still had something delicious to start my day with (now that my bagel and cream cheese fix was no longer feasible). I decided to combine my love of ice cream sundaes with my love of breakfast and this is what came out of it:

Ingredients
• 1-2 bananas, chopped
• 2 tablespoons of cashew butter
• 1 tablespoon of raw pecans, chopped
• 1 tablespoon of dried cranberries

How To Put It Together
1. Chop the banana(s) and place them into a bowl.
2. Top with cashew butter, pecans and dried cranberries.
3. Fold together slightly.
4. Serve with a fork.

Substitute you favorite fresh fruit, nut butter, chopped nuts or dried fruit, or try different combinations every morning! How do you make living with food allergies more enjoyable?

Photo Credit

Jennifer Blanchard is a certified holistic health and food allergy coach who’s allergic to dairy and wheat/gluten. Her goal is to help people with food allergies thrive in life and continue to enjoy food, regardless of the ingredients they can no longer eat.

The post How Raw Food Can Help You Live Food Allergy Free appeared first on Raw Foods Witch.