Live Long Naturally ©2012

Researchers at Harvard University predict if our friends become obese, we are half as likely to become obese as well. They also state 42% of Americans will be considered obese (over the course of 20 years that is). Believing this increase your chance of it being true, exercising your will power and controlling your taste buds won’t. Research and doctors can state their findings and give a prognosis of death all they want. Ultimately, the way we look and feel is our doing. This study goes on to say, ” obesity can spread like an infectious disease and people can catch it from their friends.” When and where does the brainwashing end?

In conclusion, they believe befriending only thin people does not guarantee you’ll be thin. This practically goes against what the study showed, which is correct? Apparently, it seems that unless fat friends lose weight together (or remain obese), nothing will change. If anyone buys into this, then yes, they’ve lost half the battle and they will be the ones half as likely to become obese.

Only you can decide which is best for you and not until you’ve tried them on yourself. Each person is different – no two diets and lifestyles have been the same since day one, so each person will react differently to foods. Even blood type can play a role in likes and dislikes. What causes bloating in one person may make another feel fabulous. The health of one’s intestines plays a huge role on how the body responds to diet.

For instance… if a person goes from eating a Standard American Diet (SAD) of fast and processed foods then decides to eat raw… you’d better believe there will be some discomfort! And it won’t all be bad. Chances are the body is in detox mode, which quite often will lead to bouts of feeling worse before feeling better.

It is possible to try all three ways of eating. Summertime is a great time to eat raw, though you can eat raw warming food in Winter. Macrobiotic is delicious and nutritious with an Asian flare. While vegan… it’s easy to go vegan for a day or more. Nowadays eating vegan and vegetarian are easy and the choices are many.

Whatever your food preference may be, make it real!

Preparation is key for success in most endeavors, so are deadlines. Today is the day before week 3 of my 52 week resolution. Rainy weather here in Southern California already has me craving some hot comfort food. However, there’s an easy solution – broth!

Simply get water boiling (or a healthy broth) and add whatever vegetables you have handy. Once all is tender, blend and drink. I call this liquid vitamins. And… because I drink it while fasting my body happily soaks it up like a sponge. I’ve given it to non-fasters, they not only love it, they feel great after drinking it!

Vegetable ideas to put in “soup.” Broccoli, onion, garlic, cabbage, potatoes (or quinoa), beets, carrots, etc. Anything goes really! I flavor mine with liquid aminos, or kosher salt or himalayan salt, then spice it up with a dash of cayenne, which by the way… is great for circulation and ridding the body of mucus.

A few other cold weather ideas to prepare for a fast… herbal teas, hot water with lemon, room temperature water, master cleanse drink, and/or blended miso soup. These liquid elixirs can be consumed anytime – cold weather, colds or flu are especially good times.

THE WHITE HOUSE GARDEN!

Kitchen Gardeners (.org) has done an excellent job at highlighting the White House Garden for 2009. By now, the President and First Lady have had plenty of time to experience the wonderful taste of real food and the benefits it can do for ones body and wallet.  We can only hope it inspire them to make it a part of the forever talked about Healthcare Reform.

There’s nothing like eating off the land of your own garden, whether in a yard or a raised bed. You don’t need a whole lot of space to grow a season of crop. Many people are even growing vertical gardens. My winter crop consists of a salad… beets, carrots, spinach, lettuce, indeterminate tomatoes, and broccoli. I’ve also planted some edible flowers such as Nasturtium and pansy’s. I cannot wait to eat my first homegrown bowl of salad! 

I encourage you to look over the site by clicking on the photo – you may be inspired to grow your own, buy local, in season, and/or organic from your local CSA or Farmers’ Market. 

May you live long and naturally with REAL food!

will be to fast one day each week… 

Years ago when I had a really busy schedule on the road as a truck driver… I decided to fast one day a week for an entire year.My body and mind felt great, not to mention lighter! Keeping busy makes fasting quite easy and very doable so long as you pack enough liquids to carry you through the day. A gallon is great amount to strive for – it can come in the form of herbal teas, fresh juice (or diluted bottle juice), plain water or by adding raw apple cider vinegar or chlorophyll to your water. I also I like drinking the “Master Cleanse” drink as part of my one day fast.

Anyone can fast successfully when you wean yourself off food the day (or more before). My goal the day prior to and after my one day fast is to eat as much raw vegan food as possible. By this I don’t mean to stuff myself, what I do mean is in place of cooked heavy foods. Eating raw and vegan is by no means a requirement, it just makes easing into and out of fasting a healthier approach.

I have not made a New Years Resolution in decades, however… what I have done is get people together for what I call a Detox Challenge. This one day of fasting was one way for me to help a friend get back on track with her health. Fasting does wonders for the body, mind, and spirit – it gives me more productive hours one day a week.

Got a health promoting New Year Resolution?