Detox or "cleansing"

Picture from www.herbsforhealth.com

I am finally experiencing the dreaded detox that everyone tells you about. I have had four days of acidic nasal discharge, sore throat and fatigue. On The Path of Health list, we have been encouraged to use the word "cleansing" rather than detox, because the connotation is positive. I am trying to stay positive. My symptoms are telling me that my body is cleaning house and I am happy that it is doing so.

Of course, part of the problem is that I have been "too busy" to rest. (Of course, it's just that I haven't been making rest a big enough priority.) So, I've been cheating on my sleep, and generally just working myself to the point of exhaustion.

Now my body is DEMANDING that I pay attention. Today, I have really felt awful, and I'm finally taking the time to really rest. The most strenuous thing I've done is read blogs and sort through blueberries. Actually, I stayed in bed until 1 p.m.

I felt that maybe I should fast, but was conflicted since I am breastfeeding my active 2 year-old and do not want to jeapordize my milk supply. I visited Dr. Graham's VegSource Forum and he advised me to not fast more than 36 hours, but to monoeat and REST. I waited until 4 p.m. to eat, and then ate watermelon to the point of satiation--about 12 cups. What a wonderful resource his forum is--I encourage anyone to go there with questions.

I plan to rest as much as possible tomorrow, but Saturday is Farmer's Market, and my partner must be away, so there's no avoiding getting there.

However, I must say, that I do feel much better than I did this morning. So, we can hope.

Community Garden Event a Big Success

Volunteers enjoying a much-needed break for dinner

Our community garden held a very successful volunteer event on June 5, 2007. Approximately 40 volunteers weeded paths, the vegetable garden and the flower beds, planted flowers, spread new mulch, and helped the children plant their vegetable patch.

The rain showers held off and it was a very nice, breezy evening. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute and can only say thank you to everyone who was so generous to donate and be involved.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Picture from http://paperstreetcycling.com/sweetpea/

Today, I turn 31. And I feel at least a year younger than I did on my last birthday. I have so much to be thankful for.

Tonight is a big volunteer event at the garden and almost 40 people are coming to work. Isn't that fantastic?!?

Also, my scale said the magic number that I was aiming for by my birthday. 120 pounds this morning.

What the heck is this raw foods thing you're doin'?

Frequently Asked Questions: Part 1

So it occurs to me that some of my readers, including my closest friends and family, have no clue what exactly this whole thing is about...

Here are some questions that I bet you've wanted to ask, but haven't.

1) Why raw foods?

I believe that human beings, like all animals, have a diet that is prescribed by Nature and perfectly-designed to keep them healthy and functioning within their ecosystem. Moving away from that natural diet results in disease of all kinds.

Cooking food destroys many of the nutrients and enzymes in the food. It creates toxins called AGEs and acrylamides that are associated with serious diseases such as cancer. Cooking food also allows us to eat foods that are not designed for our species, such as meat and grains, and when eaten over time, these foods cause chronic diseases.

2) So, what exactly do you eat?

I eat a diet based on fruit and tender greens. Many so-called vegetables, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers, are actually fruits.

3) Isn't that dangerous?

No.

4) Are you sure? All the experts say we have to have a balanced diet. Where will you get your protein and calcium and all that stuff?

Lots of "experts" say lots of things. Let's look at nature. Let's look at human biology. Let's look around us at the effects of that so-called balanced diet.

First off, human beings need the most protein when they are infants because they are growing so rapidly. And yet, the protein content of human breastmilk, the sole food they need for the first year or so, is only 5-15% protein. How can an adult require more protein than an infant?

Secondly, excess protein consumption CAUSES calcium loss. We can easily get all of the calcium we need from fruit and tender greens, if we aren't consuming things that cause calcium loss (too much protein, salt, acid-forming foods).

Thirdly, human beings cannot digest high protein foods easily. Humans lack the digestive systems of carnivores or omnivores. They do not have high-levels of stomach acid to digest raw meat. Likewise, legumes are indigestible in their raw state, and cause much digestive discomfort in their cooked or sprouted state.

Finally, studies show that protein consumption, especially animal protein, is linked with increased risks of cancer and other chronic diseases. (For more information on this, read The China Study by T. Colin Campbell.)

Our closest relatives in nature are the Bonobo monkeys. They eat a diet of primarily raw fruit, with some raw shoots and a very small amount of raw seeds. Our tooth structure, our digestive system, all of our innate senses and abilities--all are most like animals who are fruit-eaters, not like those of carnivores, omnivores, granivores, or insectivores.

5) What about Vitamin B-12? Human beings need it and the only place to get it is in animal products. Doesn't this prove we need to eat meat?

A lot isn't known about Vitamin B-12 and why deficiencies of this vitamin are becoming so common. Actually, Vitamin B-12 deficiency is equally common among meateaters than it is among vegans. The primary problem with B-12 deficiency arises from a lack of B-12 absorption rather than B-12 consumption. Eating the proper foods means your digestive system will work better, making deficiency less likely.

Also, it is thought that our industrialized food system might have something to do with a loss of B-12 in the soil because of farming practices. Also, there is thought to be a loss of B-12 on produce because of treatment with pesticides or irradiation. Some have suggested that exposure to pollutants might cause our bodies to become deficient in B vitamins. Another theory is that our food is too clean and that exposure to the bacteria in soil, insects, and feces would prevent Vitamin B-12 deficiency. All of these are theories.

Many raw vegans have normal B-12 levels without consuming supplements. Others choose to take supplements just in case. Some people feel that it is important to avoid consuming frozen foods because they may kill off intestinal flora in the gut and interfere with B-12 synthesis. Others claim that periodic fasting increases the body's ability to absorb B-12.

Anyone who is concerned that they may become deficient in B-12 can have their blood tested by a doctor and consume a supplement if they choose.

6) Yeah, well, I guess something has to kill us. We can't live forever. I'd rather have fun eating before I die.

O.k., that's assuming people are having fun. Everywhere I go, everyone I meet is suffering needlessly every day. They are overweight or obese. They are depressed and tired. Over 80% of Americans take some form of medication daily. This figure doesn't count all of the stimulants people consume in the form of caffeine, nicotine, etc. All of the surgeries and medications and technologies are not making us less sick and tired. And for what? The joy of a hamburger, cola and a sundae? Are they really THAT good?

Believe it or not, the cause of disease is not genetic. It's not nature attacking us with germs or viruses. When our bodies are healthy, we do not suffer disease.

You don't need to have "fun" with junk food. I have fun eating ripe colorful delicious fruits. I have fun gardening and walking and spending time with friends and family. I feel great physically and have the energy for many fun pursuits. As I age, I'll be healthy enough to continue to be active and have adventures, rather than spending a lot of time and money trying to stop my body from falling apart.

7) Isn't it really complicated? Lots of sprouting and dehydrating and making green smoothies?

No. There are some raw foodists who choose to eat a lot of pretend cooked foods or complicated recipes. There are sproutarians. Then there are raw foodists who are inspired by the Natural Hygiene movement and its followers, such as Doug Graham. I am following the last group because it makes the most sense in terms of health and biology.

If we really study our body's biology, we find that our ideal diet consists of mainly sweet fruits such as bananas and melons, supplemented with other fruits, tender leafy greens, and possibly a very small amount of overt fats from seeds and avocados. Anything else can cause serious health complications. For example, dehydrated foods often cause constipation, dehydration, diarrhea, mouth wounds, tooth decay, etc.

Many raw foodists eat an enormous amount of their calories from fats such as nuts and avocadoes, which causes all kinds of health problems. See Dr. Graham's 80/10/10 Diet for more information.

8) So just whole fruit and salad? That sounds unappetizing. I couldn't live without hamburgers or spaghetti or cake and ice cream.

First of all, fruit and salad are absolutely delicious. Try it and you may like it. In fact, cooked food is actually not very good without adding huge amounts of excitotoxins (toxins that are addictive because they create an opiod sensation in the body, like a drug), such as salt, spices, sugar, chemical food additives, etc.

Here's a test, take out your hamburger meat and smell it. Mmmm, don't you want to just shove some in your mouth? O.k., now take some in your hand. Ooo, doesn't that feel good? No? O.k., cook it up. Now, take a bite. Don't add any salt or catsup or seasoning of any kind. Really taste the flavor. Hmmm. Not so hot?

Try again. Take out some wheat flour. (You couldn't even try the wheat berry in it's whole form--it's impossible to chew and digest.) Sniff--not too hard, it'll go up your nose! Taste. Mix with water into a plain pancake and cook on a nonstick surface--don't add anything to it including oil or syrup. Yummy?

Now, repeat this test with an apple or a banana or your favorite fruit.

9) Doesn't eating this way make you an outcast? I bet there are no restaurants you can eat at. What about all of the holidays and birthdays?

No, I'm not an outcast, although sometimes when I'm feeling melodramatic, I feel like one. Yes, being different can be a challenge. Some friends and family do make an effort to have fruit and salad available at social occasions. I try to fly under the radar with people who I feel won't be supportive. Most people don't really notice, or at least, don't say anything. I can connect with people on other things that we have in common. Food isn't the only thing that connects us!

As for restaurants, I can usually get a plain salad anywhere. Buffets are sometimes a good option, although it depends on the buffet, because the salad and fruit can be poor quality. I don't eat out much; it's not that thrilling to me anymore.

Birthdays and holidays are a challenge for me because I want to help my kids make good food choices, which can be challenging in these settings. Also I don't always enjoy feeling singled out for being different. So far, I personally don't feel deprived at these occasions. I don't really miss the junk--it's not even "food" to me anymore.

10) Are you 100% raw? Have you ever "fallen off the wagon"?

I was 100% raw from late April to late September, 2007. From September through December, I struggled with emotional eating, eating lots of junk food. I gained 30 pounds during that time. I am working on clearing my emotional blocks so that I can enjoy my health again.

11) Doesn't the fact that so many people struggle falling off the wagon show that the 80-10-10 raw way doesn't work? You must be deficient in ____________, don't you think?

People use food as a substance to numb their feelings. In particular, eating fat, cooked food, or chemical-laden junk food requires so much energy to digest and eliminate, that our body is forced to shut down the processing of feelings. Many people don't realize how much they have relied on food as a coping mechanism.

So, I think when a person struggles with "falling off the wagon," it would be helpful to try to sort out the emotional baggage that it interfering with their success. Chances are, that baggage is contributing to a lot of other problems besides overeating.

June Food Expenses

Picture from http://www.platte.k12.sd.us/ttl/week3.htm

This is going to be a complicated post. Hopefully someone is going to teach me how to put this all into more readable tables.

Note: All figures represent the spending for a family of 5 and one cat

Grocery Receipts

6/1 Hare Today Gone Tomorrow (online), $100.06, frozen meat for the cat
6/1 Cub Foods, $25.59--bok choy, cherries, cantaloupe, frozen mango
6/1 Aldi, $51.08--romaine lettuce, apples, bananas, frozen raspberries, frozen mixed berries, cucumbers, multi-colored peppers, mangos
6/1 Sav-A-Lot, $35.92--8 large watermelons
6/1 Cub Foods, $2.60--cat food
6/2 Farmer's Market, $8--Raisin walnut bread (my husband's purchase for himself), eggs (for the cat), romaine lettuce
6/2 Cub Foods, $1.98, 6 gallons reverse osmosis water

6/4 Freeport Food Co-op Buying Club, $1.28, 1 can of albacore tuna (for the cat)

6/4 Aldi $4.18, bananas

6/4 Sav-A-Lot, $26.10, 4 watermelons, organic apples, nectarines and peaches, avocados

6/4 Cub Foods, $0.99, 3 gallons reverse osmosis water

6/7 Aldi, $25.99, 12 lbs. bananas, 4 watermelons (price went up on the watermelons!)
6/9 Farmer's Market, $5.50 Sprouted Salad Crunchies, eggs (for the cat)

6/9 Aldi, $23.08, 4 watermelons, Asian noodles (my husband's purchase for himself)

6/12 Aldi, $30.06, 4 watermelons, 4 cucumbers, 12 lbs. bananas, 3 lbs. Granny Smith apples, 4 plums, 4 cucumbers

6/12 Cub Foods, $8.98, 9 gallons reverse osmosis water, 2 12 oz. packages frozen mango

6/14 Cub Foods, 24.95, 5 cans organic cat food, 2 watermelons (sale!), 2 avocadoes, 1 pkg. sundried tomatoes, 2 12 oz. packages frozen mango

6/14 Nature's Path Health Food Store, $17.15, 23 oz. agave nectar, taurine (for the cat)

6/15 Cub Foods, $33.68, 5 watermelons, 2 pints blackberries, 2 pints raspberries, 2 12 oz. packages frozen mangos

6/15 Aldi, $13.91, 20 lbs. bananas, 4 lbs. green grapes, 3 large zucchini

6/16 Cub Foods, $9.79, 2 12 oz. packages frozen mangos, 2 packages scrub pads

6/16 Freeport Farmers Market, $3, sugar snap peas

6/17 Cub Foods, $8.07, 16 kiwi fruit, 2 pints blackberries

6/18 Cub Foods, $29.03, 4 watermelon, 8 kiwi fruit, 2 12 oz. packages frozen mangos, 2 avocadoes, 1 red pepper, 1 large head bok choy, 9 gallons reverse osmosis water

6/19 Cub Foods, $8.28, 10 lbs. bananas, 1 12 oz. package frozen cherries

6/21 Cub Foods, $29.07, 6 gallons reverse osmosis water, 8 lbs. bananas, 1 large watermelon, 2 large cantaloupe, 1 canary melon, 3 red peppers, 2 avocados, 2 lbs. tomatoes, 1 12 oz. package frozen cherries

6/23 Aldi, $7.68, 5 lbs. bananas, 2 cucumbers, 1 bunch celery, 1 watermelon

6/23 Farmer's Market, $7.50, 1 head bok choy, 1 large bag sugar snap peas, 1/2 batch of sprouted salad crunchies

6/23 SHARE food program, $13.50, Organic produce box containing 1 cantaloupe, 3 lbs. Golden Delicious apples, 4 kiwis, 3 pears, 1 large head broccoli, 1 lb. carrots, 1 cucumber, 1 head iceberg lettuce

6/24 Aldi, $9.87, 5.5 lbs. bananas, 2 lbs. green grapes, 2 lbs. red grapes, 2 avocados

6/25 Cub Foods, $3, 9 gallons reverse 0smosis water

6/27 Cub Foods, $8.74, 2 12 oz. packages frozen mangos, 2 cans organic catfood

6/29 Cub Foods, $15.14, 5 cans organic catfood, 1 watermelon, 1 cantaloupe, 3 gallons reverse osmosis water

6/30 Farmer's Market, $11, Shell peas, 2 cucumbers, 1 large head heirloom cos lettuce, 2 lbs. better than organic apricots

6/30 Cub Foods, $36.55, 15 lbs.? Organic bananas (discounted for ripeness), 2 watermelon, cucumbers, 1 cabbage, 2 1/4 lbs. Braeburn apples, 2 lbs. strawberries, 2 12 oz. packages each frozen cherries and mangos

6/30 Nature's Path Health Food Store, $10.01, Amber Agave Syrup (not raw! A mistake made by my husband. We planned to take it back, but my daughter opened it without asking. Grrr.)

Total: $645.77

Farmer's Market Expenses

6/1 Bags for bagging lettuce, $4.40
6/4 Organic chickpeas for Sprouted Salad Crunchies, $1.01

6/21 Limes and onion powder for Sprouted Salad Crunchies, $3.80

Total: $9.21


Garden Expenses

6/1 Cub Foods, $7 watermelon and kale plants
6/2 Farmer's Market, $6 cucumber and melon plants
6/6 Local farmer, straw for mulching, $15

6/16 Farm and Fleet, organic pest control sprays, 12.82

6/17 Cub Foods, eggplant and tomatillo plants on clearance, $4.82

6/21 DeMeester's Greenhouse, purple and yellow snap bean seeds, yellow and white patty pan squash seeds, large bag of rotonone (organic pesticide), $19.85

Total: $65.49

Farmer's Market Income

6/2 $8
6/9 $15.50

6/11 $7.50

6/16 $17.00

6/16 $13.50 (a friend sold lettuce for me at another area market)

6/18 $7.50

6/23 $4

6/30 $0

Total: $72.00

Free Food

6/1 Aldi dumpster, approx. $13.45 in colored peppers, a lot of sweet onions that I won't count because we're not eating them
6/2 Gift of asparagus from Farmer's Market vendor, $3
6/4 Aldi dumpster, approx. 122.36 worth of stuff--15 heads iceberg, 1 lb. romaine, 3 lbs. Granny Smith apples, 1 lb. Red Delicious apples, 14 D 'Anjou pears, 1 mango, 2 lbs. Roma tomatoes, 3 cucumbers, 3 3pks of colored peppers, 1 quart strawberries, about 84 pints of blueberries (but 2/3 of it was waste), plus a lot of stuff to give away that I did not count in the money total because I gave it away
6/7 Aldi dumpster, 6 lbs. oranges and 3 lbs. Red Delicious apples, approx. $8.50

6/9 Aldi dumpster, 9 lbs. oranges, 4 lbs. organic sweet cherries, 10 pts. blueberries (about 1/2 waste), 2 3 pks. peppers, 11 D 'Anjou pears, 15 lbs. Granny Smith apples, 8 lbs. Roma tomatoes, 2 quarts strawberries, 2 lbs. baby carrots, one package of chicken patties for the cat, and a lot of other stuff not counted in the total because I'm giving it away, approx. $78

6/12 Aldi dumpster, 14 lbs. Roma tomatoes, 3 lbs. red grapes, 4 lbs. organic sweet cherries, 5 pts. blueberries, 3 lbs. Gala apples, 1/2 qut. strawberries, 10 colored peppers, 3 cucumbers, 2 D'Anjou pears, 8 lemons, 15 limes, 1 zucchini, and 1 lonesome perfect peach, approx. $66

6/12 Mulberries from local trees, approx. $3

6/14 Mulberries from local trees, approx. $2

6/15 Aldi dumpster, 50 lbs. bananas, 9 lbs. Red Delicious apples, 6 lbs. Granny Smith apples, 3 3-packs of colored peppers, approx. $38

6/19 Mulberries from local trees, approx. $3

6/19 Peas from my farmer friends, approx. $1

6/20 Bibb lettuce from my farmer friends, approx. $2

6/21 Mulberries from local trees, approx. $1

6/22 Mulberries from local trees, approx. $1

6/22 Aldi dumpster, 6 lbs. Red Delicious apples, 6 lbs. Granny Smith apples, approx. $10

6/23 Black raspberries from a nice lady's patch, $9

6/23 Aldi dumpster, 1/2 lb. sweet cherries, $1

6/24 Aldi dumpster, 12 heads iceberg lettuce, 9 lbs. oranges, 1 lb. sweet cherries, $22 (more stuff not counted because we gave it to friends and neighbors),

6/24 Red and black raspberries from a friend's patch, $12

6/26 Aldi dumpster, 16 avocadoes in perfect condition!, 15 lbs. oranges, 10 lbs. green grapes, 5 quarts strawberries (after trimming), 4 lbs. sweet cherries, 10 lbs. bananas, 1 3-pack zucchini (more not counted because we gave it to friends and neighbors), $71.70

6/27 Aldi dumpster, 14 lbs. oranges, 12 lbs. green grapes, 1 red apple, $71.66

6/27 Mulberries, gooseberries, $3

6/27 Purslane, huge quantities! $priceless? I guess I'll charge myself $4

6/28 Red and black raspberries from a friend's patch, $12

6/28 Aldi dumpster (via a dumpster-diving friend), 8 colored peppers, 3 lbs. Granny Smith apples, 2 lbs. red grapes, 12 Roma tomatoes, 1 pint grape tomatoes, 1 bag baby carrots, $17

Total: $575.67

Garden Produce (market value based on what I would charge at the Farmer's Market for said amount of produce)

6/1 Four Seasons Lettuce, approx. $2
6/2 Four Seasons Lettuce, approx. $2
6/3 Four Seasons Lettuce, approx. $1
6/4 Four Seasons Lettuce, approx. $2
6/5 Four Seasons Lettuce, approx. $2

6/6 Four Seasons Lettuce, approx. $3

6/7 Four Seasons Lettuce, approx. $1

6/8 Mixed lettuce greens, approx. $3

6/9 Mixed lettuce greens, approx. $3

6/10 Mixed lettuce greens, approx. $3

6/11 Mixed lettuce greens, approx. $1

6/12 Four Seasons Lettuce, approx. $1

6/13 Four Seasons Lettuce, approx. $2

6/14 Four Seasons Lettuce, swiss chard, spinach, approx. $4

6/15 Mixed lettuce greens, spinach, approx. $5

6/16 Mixed lettuce greens, approx. $3

6/18 Four Seasons lettuce, approx. $2

6/19 Four Seasons lettuce, approx. $1

6/20 Four Seasons lettuce, approx. $1

6/21 Spinach approx. $2

6/22 Four Seasons and Black-seeded Simpson Lettuce, approx. $4

6/23 Four Seasons and Black-seeded Simpson lettuce, approx. $2

6/24 Four Seasons and Black-seeded Simpson lettuce, approx. $2

6/27 Black-seeded Simpson lettuce, approx. $2

6/28 Endive, $1

Total: $57

Finally, some rest

My favorite napping photo ever. That's my youngest when she was about 9 months old. Too bad that the photo quality is so poor. And too bad about those cooked peas on her tray. Oh well, I didn't know any better.

Today was Farmer's Market. It rained a bit just before market and just as market was ending. Attendance was down, but not too bad. I made a whopping $8, which I managed to spend all before I left. Luckily, my friend Kristi who shares her booth with me did pretty well. I only sold ONE bag of lettuce. Although I'm not a smoothie person, I'm going to be making a whole lot of green smoothies to use up all of this darn lettuce this week.

After market, I took a much-needed 2 1/2 hour nap. I woke up feeling a bit under the weather and I know I need to get more rest. After my nap, I took it pretty easy and spent some quality time with the family and relaxed. Tonight, I've been having fun hanging out at the Really Raw Food Forum. What a great bunch of people!

Today I ate:

9:30 10 C. of watermelon (immediately felt sick, almost like I would throw up, but it passed quickly)

3:45 (after my nap) Ate 2/3 of a medium cantaloupe. It was soft and juicy, but not sweet. Annoying.

6:15 Large salad of romaine, Four Seasons lettuce and red pepper with blended raspberries, bananas and more Four Seasons lettuce on top

About 950 calories for the day because I missed lunch.

Finally, some rain

The above photo is a 4 x 8 raised bed from our community garden. We have 15 of these that we rent out for $10 a season. I have one, but this is NOT mine, because mine doesn't look this good yet. So I chose someone else's to show off. LOL! The garden also has two large areas where we grow food for a local food pantry. Today I managed to unload a carload of compost and plant yellow crookneck squash, zucchini, okra, and slicing cucumbers just before it started raining. Yay. We really needed the moisture.

I harvested some more 4 Seasons Lettuce from my farm garden in the rain. It is supposed to rain tomorrow, which means less customers, so I didn't take it all like I originally planned.

As you may remember, my family has gone round and round with what to do for our poor cat. We want to feed him a biologically-appropriate raw diet so that he is healthy and so that our kids won't be tempted to eat cat food. But our finances are so limited. I did some research at http://www.catnutrition.org and was shocked at how complicated it was to make your own cat food. I am not ready to be grinding and chopping meat in my own kitchen. But the premade stuff is too expensive for our budget. Finally, I just impulsively took some of our latest paycheck and purchased 40 pounds of raw preground/precut meat at Hare Today, Gone Tomorrow. http://www.hare-today.com/ . Really, that money should have paid other bills. But I can't just can't part with my cat. I also preordered some salmon oil and torula yeast at our local health food store. Luckily I didn't have to pay for that yet!

It is a big leap of faith. I hope it pays off and that our cat and our kids will be healthier for it. I will post more on this experiment

Tonight I managed a dumpster run in between everything that's going on. I got about 30 pounds of Vidalia onions and a dozen colored peppers. The onions will probably be a give-away item. I just can't leave decent produce in there to go to waste...

I didn't do any proper resting today, as I'd planned. And it is now midnight (I have to be up at 6 a.m.). Sigh. Something to work on.

Today's food:

9:30 a.m. Smoothie with 2 C. raspberries, 1 large banana, and 1 C. Four Seasons lettuce poured over 4 C. romaine
1:15 p.m. 12 cups of watermelon
5:00 p.m. 6 more cups of watermelon
8:30 p.m. A large salad of romaine, Four Seasons lettuce, and grape tomatoes, with 1/2 of a large cucumber and 1 cup of grape tomatoes blended and poured over the top, a sprinkle of cumin and a sprinkle of onion powder