Day 4:  Food Combining

Day 4 was packed full of invaluable information that we would all use after leaving the gates of OHI.  It’s hard to imagine that the order in which we eat our food and in what combination we eat it would make a difference in digestion, but it does.  As I said in an earlier post, drinks such as water, Rejuvelac or juices should always be consumed within 5-30 minutes of eating any foods and should NEVER be consumed WITH food.

We should be able to get all of the minerals and nutrients we need every day just from the foods we eat.  And eating whole raw foods in their freshest, most natural state are best.  There are 2 types of raw foods:

1. Predigested, which are sprouts like those of seeds, nuts, grains and beans
2. Fermented, which are sauerkraut, Rejuvelac, seed cheese (made from sunflower & sesame seeds) and Essene crackers (fermented flat bread)

We can get the freshest foods by growing it ourselves.  But if that’s not an option, we can buy fresh, organic fruits and veggies at farmer’s markets or from the growers, themselves called CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture).

We lose nutrition when we change the structure from a whole food to a processed food.  Here are several ways nutrition is processed:

• Heat:  At 118 degrees, enzymes are lost.
• Freezing:  Breaks down fiber and enzymes are lost.
• Juicing:  Liquid is seperated from fiber.
• Dehydration:  Done at 105 degrees.
• Mechanical:  Chopping, dicing, blending

Although there is quite a bit of information out there about food combining and how to do it properly to get the optimal benefits of food, here are a few simple rules of proper food combining you can follow at home:

• Liquids alone
• Fruits alone (try to keep with the same kind of fruit)
• Melons alone
• Do not combine protein and starches
• Do not combine acid and sweet fruits

Image from stock.xchng.

Tags: Community Supported Agriculture, CSA, eating whole raw foods, farmer's markets, food combining, OHI, organic, raw foods

Wheatgrass is said to have some unique and, in some cases, curative benefits.  Rich with vital amino acids, chlorophyll, enzymes, minerals and vitamins, this young grass is most effective when freshly juiced.

• Acts as a disinfectant.
• Aides in digestion.
• Cleanses internal organs.
• Fights tumors and neutralizes toxins.
• Helps to detoxify the liver.
• Helps to reduce high blood pressure.Restores alkalinity to the blood.
• Helps to rejuvenate aging cells when consumed.
• Improves blood sugar problems.
• Relieves sore throats when gargled.
• Soothes sunburn.
• Stimulates healing; externally applied directly to the skin, it can relieve itching almost instantly.
• Works as a sleep aide.  Try putting a tray of wheatgrass close to your headboard.  It will enhance the oxygen in the air and generate healthful negative ions to help you get a more restful night’s sleep.

Image from www.juicingshack.com/…/wheatgrass-768423.jpeg.

Tags: amino acids, benefits of wheatgrass, detoxify the liver, improves blood sugar, reduce high blood pressure, rejuvenate aging cells, sleep aide, soothes sunburn, wheatgrass, wheatgrass juice

The Optimum Health Institute (OHI) in San Diego is known worldwide, mainly by word of mouth.  I visited their beautifully serene, peaceful campus yesterday and found that everything I had heard about the magic of OHI was, in fact, correct.

The mission of OHI is to help promote mental, physical, emotional and spiritual healing.  The best way to experience OHI is to attend one of their Sunday evening orientation sessions.  They are held from 4-6pm at the OHI campus in Lemon Grove, CA. 

At the orientation, you will take a tour of the premises where you will see the wheatgrass greenhouse, organic garden, pool and hot tub area and the  residential quarters.  After touring the grounds, you will attend an introduction where you will learn about OHI’s three-week sessions including classes drawn from 22 ancient spiritual disciplines.

The sessions are broken down into three 1-week courses.  Guests learn how to detoxify and purify the body with a vegetarian raw foods diet, fasting and juicing.  They also learn how to quiet the mind with journaling and meditation; and how to strengthen the body with yoga and light exercise.

OHI simply is a place of love, hope and faith in oneself.  Miracles really do happen; and if your body and spirit are in need of some nuturing and healing, I highly recommend visiting OHI for a tour of their facilities.  Trust me, you won’t want to leave.

Where do you go for spiritual healing?

Tags: ancient spiritual disciplines, juicing, OHI, optimum health institute, purify the body, raw foods, san diego, spiritual healing

Cholesterol Molecule

Why is high cholesterol bad for you?

According to the book, ChefMD’s Big Book of Culinary Medicine, high cholesterol can lead to can lead to inflammation and hardening of the arteries, premature wrinkling, memory loss, heart attack, and stroke.

John La Puma, MD recommends that to lower your cholesterol, you decrease consumption of these foods:

• saturated fat
• trans fats
• unfiltered coffee

and increase consumption of these foods

• black tea
• dark chocolate
• cinnamon
• ground flaxseed
• rice bran
• oat bran
• barley
• avocado
• macadamia nuts
• hazelnuts
• sunflower oil
• canola oil
• egg whites

Overall, the goal is to decrease LDL levels and increase HDL levels.

Tags: high cholesterol

Have you recently noticed fine lines and wrinkles pop up on your face that were never there before?  If so, take comfort in knowing that you’re not alone.  As we get older, the collagen production in our skin starts to slow down and elastin loses its spring.  Outside environmental factors such as sun, gravity and hot water also play a role in the aging process.

But don’t give up on your  skin just yet.  There are plenty of natural ways to help slow those signs of aging.  One of the easiest ways to protect your skin from further damage and help bring back the shine is by using antioxidants. 

Antioxidants are substances that protect cells by inhibiting the interaction between oxygen molecules and the different substances they contact. They assist in skin repair and help strengthen blood vessels.

You don’t need to spend alot of money on antioxidants.  Many can be found in their natural forms in the foods you eat every day.  Here are some of the most common antioxidants found in food:

Vitamin A:  Found in carrots, squash, broccoli, sweet potatoes, kale, tomatoes, cantaloupe, peaches, apricots and collards.

Vitamin C:  Commonly found in oranges, can also be found in limes and other citrus fruits, green peppers, broccoli, leafy green veggies, strawberries and tomatoes.

Vitamin E:  A fat-soluble vitamin, can be found in nuts and seeds, whole grains, leafy green veggies, liver oil and vegetable oil.

Selenium:  Which is most commonly associated with fish and shellfish, is also found in red meat, grains, eggs, chicken and garlic.

In addition to antioxidants, keep your healthy skin glowing by limiting your sun exposure and avoiding smoking. 

If you would like to read more about the positive benefits of nutrition and overall skin care, I recommend reading, “American Dietetic Association Complete Food and Nutrition Guide,” by  Roberta Larson Duyff and the ADA (American Dietetic Association).

Tags: antioxidants found in food, fight the signs of aging, natural antioxidants, protect your skin

On the outside a banana may look like a simple fruit, but inside are a multitude of extra reasons to eat this delicious fruit.

Almost everyone has heard the old adage, “An Apple A Day Keeps the Doctor Away”. However,  bananas may have apples beat on the health front. They contain four times more protein, twice the carbohydrates, fives times the amount of iron and twice other vitamins and minerals than apples do.

Bananas are high in iron. Iron is used by our bodies to make a protein in our blood called hemoglobin which transports oxygen to our organs and tissues.

Bananas are also high in potassium. Potassium is helpful in maintaining normal blood and heart function.  It also can combat calcium loss and help our bones stay healthy. It also help to regulate the body’s water balance.

Bananas are high in fiber. In addition to keeping us regular, fiber helps prevent heart disease, lowers blood cholesterol levels and helps us lose weight.

Bananas are high in vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 helps regulate our nervous systems. Deficiencies in B6 can cause headaches, flaky skin, fatigue and memory loss.

Bananas can also be used to help sooth stomach, prevent PMS symptoms, cure hangovers and help fight the effects of stress.