The Best Superfood for Hormone Balancing

Maca is a Peruvian root that's grown high altitude in the Andes and withstands such intense weather conditions (extreme temperatures, winds, etc) that when you consume it, you naturally become more resilient because of what it endures as it grows in the mountains. Remember, you become what you eat. If you're looking for balance in mood and hormones, with a boost of stamina and endurance (in the bedroom too!), then this ancient healing food is for you. It looks like a radish and is actually a cruciferous vegetable just like broccoli and cauliflower.

Raw Maca Powder is high octane fuel for maximizing physical or emotional performance at home or on the job. You can raise your daily vitality and sense of well being through the roof with this amazing Superfood that restores and revitalizes energy reserves by providing nourishment deep at the core of the body's endocrine system. This amazing and potent Superfood is a gently dried and powdered raw organic root that tastes great can be used creatively in smoothies, desserts, drinks. You'll notice in previous posts that I add it into quite a bit of of my recipes.

The 5 primary benefits of Maca are - Energy, Strength, Healing, Hormones, and Fertility (all of these get thrown off by hormone imbalance and can be easily brought back into balance).

* Increase Physical Energy and Daily Stamina
* Key Nutrients to Support Libido and Peak Sexual Functioning
* Helps Promote Physical & Emotional Well Being by Providing Key Nutrients for Hormonal Balance For Men/Women of All Ages
* Nutritional Support for Healthy Menopause Transition
* Increase Mental Clarity and Focus

To bring yourself into balance and improve skin conditions, add a spoonful of raw maca powder into your kitchen creations and you'll notice an immediate difference. A majority of skin inflammation, acne, and rosacea are caused by hormone fluctuations and imbalance that maca has the potential to address entirely. Maca is one where you don't have to wait too long to feel the effects, which is likely why most everyone loves it.

This malty-tasting Superfood is a FOOD, not a supplement, so there is no toxicity. The typical dosage is 1 tsp - 1 tbsp, depending on if you're using it as maintenance (as sustained energy for active people) or therapeutically (for skin problems, etc). We want results... remarkable results... and we want them now! You want to make sure you get RAW Maca, not roasted, so that the nutrients haven't been cooked right out of the root. The 2 companies I get mine from are Elements for Life and HealthForce - they provide the highest integrity and quality products you can find.

Upcoming Class: Using Superfoods to Unleash the Edible Goddess Within

Have you ever wondered where to begin with Superfoods or how to consume them? Did you know that by using them you can reach entirely new levels of health? This FREE class will be an introduction to HealthForce Nutritionals Superfoods and the most palatable ways to include them in your nutritional program.

Come hungry - this class is also a Superfood tasting for you to experience a handful of these nutrient-dense medicinal foods and you will absolutely feel the immediate benefits and leave with a super high (with no crash)! My homemade Superfood Cacao Magic Blendie will also be served (recipe will be provided for you to take home).

Everyone will receive 1 sample bottle of Superfoods of choice PLUS tastes of WIldBar, the raw cacao & wild blue green algae energy bar - (http://www.Wildbar.info) and two articles that will greatly inspire action. I'll share the conscious decisions you can make to take control and responsibility and live an abundantly thriving future of health. Are you ready to live your best life ever?

Saturday, August 15, 2009
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Location: Granola's Mill Creek
Street: 15506 Main St., Suite 101
City/Town: Mill Creek (North Seattle), WA
No Limit - ALL Are Welcome

What's in a Raw Superfoodists Fridge?

Given the Superfood lifestyle I strictly follow (in all fun ways), what in the world is in my personal fridge? I just returned home from a road trip down to Santa Barbara where many of the experiences throughout the week have left me speechless, and fortunately I came home to a fridge filled with food. The wonders of eating this way is that you can always keep staples in your fridge that keep for long periods of time and just replenish the fresh produce via a weekly trip to the farmer's market.

I don't travel anywhere without my Superfoods (see the top shelf for some of my favorites) and pack them into one box to have with me at all times. A bit co-dependent, I know - but this box is likely the most important piece of luggage that I carefully secure and tend to while traveling. Did you read the previous post about how my adoration for Superfoods is kind of like a love affair (where the infatuation doesn't end)? Whatever your lifestyle and food choices, I hope you experience this same overflowing joy and serious love for the food that nourishes your body and mind.

Some of the Raw Superfood goodness I like to keep around and always have whether I've made it to the co-op or farmer's market recently or not, is:

* raw cashews, pumpkin & sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, chia seeds, walnuts
* some sort of raw decadent treat ready to grab and go (sweet tooth here!)
* cacao powder, cacao nibs, cacao paste, chocolate bliss (chocolate LOVE)
* coconut water (preferably the real deal, but if not, some is better than none)
* ready-made nut mylk and raw granola (currently the one from Cafe Gratitude & Living Intentions)
* bee pollen, millet miso, olive oil, coconut oil, dates, nutritional yeast (not raw)
* several different frozen fruits in the freezer (the more the merrier)
* Heavy amounts of WildBar (the all-organic, raw Superfood nutrition cacao bar)
* ReVitaPhi, Vitamineral Green, Spirulina, Pure Synergy, E3Live, Elixir of the Lake (I like to have it ALL, and I use them ALL - so versatile to incorporate into your meals)

On top of all this, in a drawer you can't see in this picture, I've got fresh greens and fruit both in the fridge & on the shelf (fuji apples, my dearest half dozen mangoes, blueberries, strawberries, grapefruit and passion fruit - that crinkly thing on the right side of the 2nd shelf). I picked up a sapote from the Raw Spirit festival and devoured that too quickly - it tasted just like a succulent pear. I get chills thinking about how good my life is just from eating this way! I recognize it's not for everyone, and I never in a million years thought I'd be writing from this perspective, but I gatta say, IT ABSOLUTELY SUPER RAWKS!

Don't Know Where to Start (re: nutrition)?

How do you know where to begin on your journey to eating better? What's the best thing to introduce first, and the best choices to eliminate right away? Are you confused by all the information you've heard and have no idea where to go from here?

Start right HERE. In the present moment with your common sense and your bodies innate knowing of what's best for YOU. I believe that we all need to figure things out for ourselves, by experimenting with foods and exploring new ways of living. You may want to sort and sift through a variety of health-oriented books (email me if you'd like some recommendations) and 'expert' opinions, but I'd steer clear from latching on and becoming rigid in your ways. We need to remain flexible and allow ourselves and our eating habits the option to change, evolve and grow (which inevitably happens especially when you 'go raw'). I just read an awesome article on the RFRN! blog about guru hopping and finding a style that works for you. If you continue to follow what someone else says and disregard the underlying ability of your own body, then it's likely you won't stick with the raw food journey for the long haul.

Start with a REASON. Why are you choosing to make different choices in regard to the way you eat? For me, the shift began over 8 years ago after feeling so out of control for someone else's health, that I felt I had absolutely no choice but to do something for my own. It's been a slow, gradual process, although some things did happen overnight and much quicker than I anticipated. I didn't follow any one 'expert' opinion of what I should do, I just heard one of them say, DO WHAT MAKES SENSE TO YOU. I heard this again in the 2008 Rawkathon and typed that note into my phone so that I would read it often. I say this to as many people as humanly possible when they ask me 'Where do I even begin?'

TRIAL and SUCCESS. No one ever told me about how toxic calcium supplements were, I just somehow knew that I shouldn't take them. It didn't make sense to me. What did make sense to me was making a medicinal loose leaf tea several times per week of nettles, alfalfa, horsetail, oatstraw, noni and red clover blossoms (even though I had never done this before & just heard about it). Come to find out through David Wolfe (his philosophy makes absolute sense to me), these herbs are exceptionally high in silica which changes to calcium in the body, and therefore helps to build bone - just for starters. I gravitated toward making medicinal teas and the superfood green powders, innately knowing that plants must be exceptionally high in the calcium, iron, magnesium, and other critical minerals (they are thriving & surviving in our world w/ out any supplements!). No pills are necessary to meet my daily needs. I get it all from Superfoods and Superherbs.

Do the changes you're making resonate so deeply with you that no one else's opinion matters? That's how I know I've made the right choice for me. When I feel so strong and confident in something I'm doing or eating, and it's irrelevant what he/she is doing, then I know I'm on the 'right' path. Personally, I don't believe there is a wrong path - just trials (which are not considered failures) that really are your greatest lessons. I could list off dozens of foods that are superior to others and foods that you should definitely be eating to experience a level of health that is unknown by too many, but it's not necessarily the same for everyone and this is YOUR ride.

My answer to the question of this blog post is to just start somewhere. Think Super Nutrition: Superfoods, Superherbs, Raw and Living Foods, Fresh Vegetable Juice (meaning not bottled), Homemade Smoothies, Enzymes-rich (uncooked) and Nutrient-dense (unrefined and unprocessed) FOOD. Add this all in... and the rest will fall into place. Keep asking yourself, Does this make sense to me?

10 Ways To Eat Superfood Green Powders

Shown left to right - ReVitaPhi, Greener Grasses, Vitamineral Green, Pure Synergy.

Struggling to find creative ways to eat your Superfood blends, Super Herbs, and the Nutrient-Dense Greens? Try these 10 suggestions and please comment if you've found other delicious ways to incorporate them!

1) Raw Chocolate Blendie - the official recipe shows the Superfoods as optional, but I tend to always add ReVitaPhi, MSM and Maca to this.

2) SuperFruit Smoothie (homemade nut mylk, coconut water, or medicinal tea as the liquid base with banana, fresh or frozen fruit, superfood blends and sweetener of choice (I like dates, local raw honey, or agave)

3) Added to Homemade Hummus (green hummus!) - I spread this on everything!

4) Straight up in coconut water (AKA the Performance recipe in The Sunfood Diet Success System - 7th Edition, by David Wolfe)

5) Mixed together with freshly made vegetable juice (Rainbow Magic)

6) Mint Chocolate Superfood Fudge or the Raw Chocolate Dream Fudge (there's so many versions of this fudge!)

7) The Best Ever Raw Chocolate Mylk - I've had this daily for weeks before, it's that good!

8) Blended into your homemade salad dressing (Creamy Dreamy Green Dressing)

9) Sprinkled over salads and soups (start with small amounts and taste until it's to your liking)

10) Like a hard-core Superfoodist, mixed in just plain water (shaken well together in a mason jar)

If you're just starting out taking Superfoods, I'd start with just 1 tsp per day and use them consistently for several weeks before bumping up the amounts. A good guideline with Superfood Green Powders is to add 1 tsp every 3 weeks, working up to 1-2 T per day. This way your body has the time to adapt to these super nutrient-dense foods. You'll still benefit immensely even with the lower amounts and changes in how you look and feel will become obvious as the weeks pass!

Need a High Protein Raw Superfood Snack?

I got this recipe out of David Wolfe's new book, Superfoods: The Food and Medicine of the Future and just made a double batch of them now (changing the original recipe just a bit - I omitted the vanilla bean because I didn't have any on hand).

To make eating a high-raw diet easy, it means that you need to have raw food nearby (at least I do, I ALWAYS carry food with me), fresh food and scrumptious snacks in the fridge, all ready to just grab and go. Since I am a woman on the go, I like to have some things prepped ahead of time that are packed full of nutrition to get me through long work days. This is a new favorite of mine:

Spirulina and Chocolate Balls

1/4 cup hemp seeds
1/2 cup raw cacao powder
2 T Spirulina, Healthforce, Manna (Original Species)
1 T Tocotrienols/Rice Bran Solubles (Raw Super Vitamin E)
2 T Coconut Oil/Butter, Sunfood Nutrition (raw, certified organic)
3 T raw, local honey (support your farmer's market)
1 small sprinkle of Pink Crystal Salt

Thoroughly mix with lots of love, rolls into little balls, and freeze for a quick and easy grab and go snack.

And now, if you'd like a potent herbal elixir to have on the side...

16 oz coconut water
1 tsp Merlin's Herbal Magic Roots Elixir

Shake well and enjoy this deliciously energizing and caffeine-free tasty beverage made of all organically-grown and wild-crafted herbs.

Merlin's Herbal Magic Roots Elixir Ingredients:
Maca, Marshmallow Rt., Slippery Elm Bark, Triphala, Ginseng, Nettles, Ashwaganda, Astragalus Rt, Burdock Rt, Dong Quai, Fo-Ti Rt, Kelp Powder, Licorice Rt, Milk Thistle Seed, Pau D'Arco, Sarsaparilla, Saw Palmetto Berries, Shizandra Berries, Wild Yam Rt, Anise Seed, Cinnamon, Ginger, Bilberry Leaf, Catsclaw, Cayenne, Dandelion Rt, Gingko Leaf, Gota Kola, Irish Moss, Olive Leaf, Passion Flower Herb Villa Orchid Bean.

Less is more with this Magic Roots Elixir. I love this blend because it has all sorts of herbs I may not otherwise have on a regular basis, and it's all in one! Test it out to see how much YOU thrive on.

Superfoods in Skincare?

Absolutely! It's the Best Ever!

This is what I put on the dry erase board that I display at my booth when I exhibit at festivals. I think it's eye catching - people need to know what sets my skincare line apart right from the start! My reasons for using Superfoods in my product line are plenty, but most important comes right back to absorption (as it does with food, too). I'll go into the other reasons in future posts in greater detail. First off, YOU ABSORB UP TO 75% OF WHAT YOU PUT ONTO YOUR BODY (maybe even more). That should be enough of a reason, am I right? If we absorb the majority of what goes on our skin, why not make the most of it? We take Superfoods internally knowing the potential they have on our health, well-being and longevity, so throwing them into the mix of what is applied to the skin may just yield similar results.

I am not a professional researcher, scientist, or lab worker, but I know that if you put chemically-saturated lotions and creams, body scrubs, face masques, and toners on your youthful skin, you won't have the natural beauty that really is possible. You'll look older quicker and experience the poor signs of aging faster than you can keep up with. My solution is to utilize the healing power of Superfoods to create the radiant glow that is so highly desired. Why not address this both internally AND externally?

To extend the Spring Promotion through May, I'm offering a FREE 4oz Mocha Java Healing Body Scrub for ALL orders placed through May 31. If you love your mocha's in the morning, or the whiff of coffee and chocolate any time of day, this might just become your new favorite body exfoliant. Take advantage of this offer today, as there are going to be some changes to my line in the very near future, and the current products on my website will no longer be available except through special order. This change will take effect beginning July 1, 2009.

I plan to re-launch my raw Superfood skincare line under a new name, packing in even more nutritional punch, once I've joined forces with the right business partner. If that's you, or you know someone who would jump on this opportunity, send them my way. As many of you know, I trust just a few companies for sourcing ingredients: Elements for Life, Sunfood Nutrition, and Mountain Rose Herbs. My future partner needs to have these same standards - I am unwilling to compromise :) I'm not 'closing the doors', just making some necessary changes to create an even more solid foundation and plan for a super future, and in the meantime, scaling back on my product offerings.

Order the current Organic Healing raw Superfood skincare while you can! I will extend a discount to any order over $250. Please email me for details.

I Am (Proudly) Obsessed With Superfoods

How can you not be, right? I think about them all day. It's like a love affair and I just can't get enough. You'd think the honeymoon phase for me would be over since I've been slurping up every Superfood I can get my hands on for the past 8 (yes, EIGHT) years, but no, the infatuation just seems to build. And I love it, everything about this feeling, knowing the morsels of goodness it brings to my beaming healthy body.

I recently asked on Twitter and Facebook what I should write my next blog post on, and a brilliant response came from a friend. I had posted a link to the You Tube video called Visions of Paradise, one of the coolest videos yet by David Wolfe, and someone suggested that I blog on MY Visions of Paradise. So as I sit down to write this now, I recognize that I could match all that he says in the video (soooo worth watching) and then you really know how I would have it if I could wave that magic wand over the planet and make it happen. Without the power of the wand, I'll just let us in the know of Law of Attraction make it happen and patiently wait as it all comes to fruition. But, I can add to this vision, and that's my unwavering adoration for any and all Superfoods and the wish for all others on the planet to experience the PHENOMENAL benefits of these gorgeously superior foods. WHY? Well, should I dive into some personal things so you can really understand where my passion comes from? Just a few bits and pieces here.

Let's begin 8-10 years ago...

I was NOT living the lifestyle that I am living now. I come from a nutritionally lacking childhood rooted in the Standard American Diet (born & raised in Chicago on pork chops, ribs, Italian beef, sloppy Joe's, etc). So, eight years ago, when I began to really get into health and wellness, I would order my veggie burger with bacon and cheese (and think it was a fabulous choice because it was a veggie burger). This is what I would eat after drinking alcohol the night before without much discipline. I could put away way too much for a petite person like me to handle, yet I did it anyway (I was majorly coping through the most difficult, life-changing event I'll ever experience - my story will be released just before Christmas 2009). Anyway, I was smoking cigarettes, totally addicted, chain-smoking and not caring (or not enough to QUIT for good), and in a place that is so far from where I'm at now that those who have recently met me would never believe where I have come from.

It was no coincidence that the girl I happen to be living with right when I moved to Seattle in 2001 had just become a raw foodist and introduced me to this whole new approach of eating. I had never even heard the word organic before, and had no idea what natural food was. She had begun a detox program and with one pinky toe 'in', I joined her and we started taking David Wolfe's The Sun is Shining product (a powerful green Superfood blend that would change my life forever), AKA: Vitamineral Green or ReVitaPhi). Apparently, without my knowing, this green food worked feverishly to alkalize my depleted, malnourished, addicted body... and the rest is history!

Do You Really Want Thinner Thighs?

Then it's all about making what you put into your mouth a priority. Enough said, but I will go on. If you really want thinner thighs, a slender figure, and an irresistible body, what foods should you be eating to get you this alluring figure at the speed of lightening?

Well, let me tell you what is working for me, and possibly if you commit to the same general routine, you will achieve the same results by this summer. For starters, the more fresh, alive, juicy, high-water content foods you eat, the quicker the fat will melt right off. Coincidentally, you'll also feel more alive and vibrant (and look the part in your face too). You'll retain less water, be less bloated, and you'll notice your stomach is starting to look flatter. Anytime I used to eat cooked food (any cooked food), my stomach would always expand (and drive me crazy!). Although it was annoying, I figured that's just what happens when you eat... until I started eating foods that were ALIVE, and then noticed that I could eat raw foods without that dreaded side effect. Raw food is slimming, and even though thighs are difficult areas to slim down, you can absolutely do it (visualize your ideal thighs!). If you continue with fresh foods you'll see that your legs appear longer (thin always looks longer/taller), more toned, and certainly more sleek.

Juicing is something that greatly encourages weight loss in trouble areas because you are intensely hydrating your system (and therefore feel more satiated) and infusing it with massive amounts of needed nutrients (reducing cravings). Think of what the results would be if you just replaced 1 meal (or snack) with 1 juice. Instead of filling up with a heavy meal from the get-go, why not try eat according to the circadian rhythm and drink the 1st meal of the day? In the mornings, I make a fresh vegetable (or sometimes fruit) juice for myself, and drink it while making a green, fruit, or chocolate smoothie for lunch and tending to my morning duties. Creating a ritual like this is helpful for feeling grounded right from the start and is just a real good habit to have!

For the Top 20 Best Ever Superfoods List, check out: http://tinyurl.com/cq9ozz. You can order many of them at: http://www.HealingSuperfoods.net (cacao, noni, goji berries, marine phytoplankton, medicinal mushrooms, blue green algae, powdered grasses, and maca). Instead of eating ridiculous amounts of depleted food to get a small amount of nutrition, you can eat Superfoods, which are incredibly nutrient-dense, (without having to eat those massive amounts of food). Many Superfoods are complete proteins, providing your daily requirement for vitamins and minerals, and simultaneously kick up your metabolism (think goji berries, cacao, and beauty enhancing green powders). You'll probably want to check out maca as well if you're planning on incorporating exercise into your new slim-down routine since it's been used for thousands of years to build stamina and endurance.

Raw foods, juicing, and Superfoods are without question the best plan of attack for cellulite that won't go away, super-toned legs, and the quickest way to feel confident walking around in shorts. Thunder thighs are a thing of the past!

The Best Ever Raw Chocolate Mylk

This one is a favorite staple of mine simply because every little sip is absolutely mouth-watering. I love thinking about how much nutrition is in just even half a cup of this - it's off the charts! If you've ever thought about living on cacao smoothies for a few days or even weeks at a time, you certainly could it with this one as part of the program.

Raw Chocolate Mylk

2 T raw cacao powder*
1 cup raw cashews*
6 dates*
1 tsp virgin coconut oil*
1/2-1 cup frozen blueberries or blackberries*
1/4 agave (or to taste)*
3-4 cups purified water, coconut water, or homemade nut mylk (I love Brazil nut mylk)*
1 T Vitamineral Green or ReVitaPhi*
2 tsp MacaForce - Vanilla Spice or Carob Peppermint (or plain raw maca powder)*
1 spoonful Truly Vitamin C (Acerola cherry powder)*
1 T Synergy Superfood Blend (or just 2 T of VMG or ReVitaPhi)
2 tsp MSM powder
2 T cacao nibs
1 T pine nuts
2 tsp chia seeds
2 tsp hemp seeds
1 tsp bee pollen
1/4 tsp (pink) Himalayan Crystal salt


To Prepare: Blend WELL. I add the liquid in first, then powders, Superfoods, and cashews and start blending on high speed (the Vita-Mix rocks). Once the nuts are blended well, I add in the frozen berries and continue until it is a thin, drinkable consistency with the chunky bits all broken up.

Although I typically cut the recipe in half, the above makes about 2 quart full-size mason jars. You can store it in the fridge if for some crazy reason you can't find someone to share it with. If you do not have every single ingredient, don't stress.. make it anyway and just leave out what you don't have. Every once in a while I add a banana to it, just because it adds to the creaminess factor. I put a '*' next to the ingredients that are crucial in making it turn into Raw Mylk Madness. But, with that said, know that the full experience comes when you include the full dozen Superfoods. You WILL feel the extra bliss! Besides Elements for Life, I get the highest-quality Superfoods through Sunfood Nutrition (David Wolfe's company), Raw Vegan Source (just outside of Seattle), and HealthForce Nutritionals (the work of Jameth Sheridan). You can link to them directly from the links to your right.

I've given this drink to people who have never even heard the word Superfood before, as well as conventional MDs, Pharmacists & their techs, and closed-minded people who are resistant to anything 'raw'.. and this BLOWS THEIR MIND! I am regularly asked to make them a batch, bring it to them (soon!) in a convenient mason jar, and they'll pay me good money for it! Just try it at home.. you'll see what everyone is raving about!

Cultivate Raw Beauty with Healing Superfoods

Are you wanting to take the guesswork out of eating raw and Superfoods and have everything you need handed right to you to make this the easiest change you've ever created for yourself?

If you'd like the instruction on how to make the best Superfood Smoothies EVER, all the information you could ever want to know about Superfoods, an in-person demonstration, a FREE goodie bag to get you started at home, and TONS of nutritious food to boot.. you're in luck! All this with the intention of clearing skin conditions and revealing gorgeous, silky skin that radiates a natural, youthful glow.

In this upcoming class in Seattle, I will serve, and demonstrate how to make~

* Homemade Brazil Nut Mylk (easy, quick, and versatile)
* Green Smoothies (simple, sweet, and delicious!)
* Cacao smoothies (a tasty powerhouse of nutrition)
* Strawberry Apple Island Fire

Even more raw goodness will be served, but not demonstrated~

* Medicinal Stunning Skin Herbal Tea (alfalfa, burdock root, comfrey leaf, horsetail, nettle leaf, noni, oatstraw, and red clover blossoms) - you will be shown how to do this at home
* Island Fire Noni Elixir (a live enzyme tonic elixir with Tahitian Noni, Ginger, Lemon, Turmeric, Cayenne, Raw Vinegar, Agave, Colloidal, Plant, and Ocean Minerals) - served as a chilled cocktail, the NoniTini
* Individual samples of several Superfood powder blends, including Vitamineral Green, Earth, and Fruits of the Earth.

What You'll Go Home With (included in class cost)~

* FREE trial size of your Superfood of Choice
* FREE sachet of loose leaf herbs for you to create your own Medicinal Stunning Skin Herbal Tea at home
* FREE Healing Body Scrub sample of Bethanne's own handcrafted, raw skincare line, Organic Healing
* FREE guide to Sulfur-Rich Super Foods for Stunning Skin
* Handouts with recipes of everything you enjoyed during class


What experience/qualifications do I bring to the class?
* Certified Nutrition Educator - specializing in raw and living foods (since Spring 2007)
* Creator and Manufacturer of the Organic Healing Skincare line (since Winter 2006)
* Superfood Extraordinaire and Advocate (since 2001), and Writer (Healing Raw Beauty Blog and soon to be for eZine Articles) (since 2008)
* Superfood Educator and Demo Rep for HealthForce Nutritionals (since early 2008)
* Elements for Life Superhero (company that offers a broad spectrum of high vibration, transformational products and services that naturally supports the unfolding of our highest potentials of well-being and personal empowerment) - this is the one David Wolfe stands behind and is involved in

This class is for those who are serious about achieving everything you've always wanted for yourself - superior internal health and flawless external beauty! The benefits of every single one of the Superfoods you experience will be discussed in great detail.

Class Day and Time: Sunday March 15 from 1-3pm, at Bethanne's House in North Seattle .. small class setting in the comfort of a cozy home.

Class Cost: $25. You can pay directly online at: http://tinyurl.com/b8vwd3 or via phone at: 206-362-0520 or email me at: HealingOrganically@gmail.com

Why ReVitaPhi Absolutely Rawks

Many of you are already aware of the phenomenal benefits of green Superfood powders, and I'd like to go into great depth about the one that I consider superior to the rest. With the exception of Vitamineral Green, ReVitaPhi is simply where it's at. It has everything you need to cover all your nutritional needs - in a raw, vegan, organic, and wildcrafted kind of way. Formulated by Jameth Sheridan, N.D., creator and formulator of HealthForce Nutritionals (and Vitamineral Green) and distributed by Elements for Life, this green food is so comprehensive you will be able to eliminate the need for popping pills to ensure you reach your daily value of nutritional needs. And, to top it off, ReVitaPhi is 100% bio-available - meaning it's super digestible and utilized, in a form your body recognizes because it's food, and you therefore reap the benefits of MAXIMUM absorption. It can't get any better than that, because that is precisely what we are searching for when we turn to supplements (including multi-vitamins) to fill in the nutrient gaps.

With a green Superfood blend like ReVitaPhi (AKA the Alkalizing Beauty Blend), the intensely color of green shows just how much chlorophyll is packed into the bottle. Taking this internally will infuse your cells with life force, allowing the body to begin regenerating on a cellular level. This green makes your cells more permeable, letting the abundance of vitamins and minerals into those cells easily, and begins the process of eliminating nutrient deficiencies - and therefore cravings for unhealthy food that's lacking in nutritional value. It can be that simple: pack your body full of a supercharged, concentrated, nutrient-dense Superfood - in RAW form, and watch your health transform. This one is for those that want nothing short of superior internal health and flawless external beauty. Don't settle for anything less!

The best way to consume ReVitaPhi is to start off with 1 tsp per day and gradually work your way up, adding another teaspoon every other week. This will allow your body to acclimate and adjust to the deep detoxification and healing that's taking place. You want to work up to 1-2 tablespoons per day, all of which can be taken together or apart, any time of day. There's no stimulants in ReVitaPhi, so even if it's later in the evening and you realize you've forgotten your greens.. get up and eat them! Within a very short amount of time, you'll feel and see the results of using food to obtain and replenish vitamins, minerals, phyto-nutrients, anti-oxidants, protein, and absorbable amino acids - leading to greater physical, mental, and emotional balance.

You've been so patient - now it's time to mention what's in this outstanding bottle of goodness! But first, I need to mention that there are NO BINDERS, NO FILLERS, NO ADDITIVES, NO PRESERVATIVES OR ANYTHING UNNATURAL ABOUT ANY INGREDIENT IN THIS PRODUCT. Every single ingredient is a green plant, adaptogenic herb, enzyme, or probiotic. And, it's packaged in a glass jar, with a metal lid and an oxygen absorber to ensure the potency, which will be as potent today and in the future as it was the date of manufacture.

Ancient Herbs - Moringa Olifera, Indian Tulsi, Ashwaganda, Gotu Kola, Gingko Biloba, and Ho Shu Wu (Fo-Ti)

Land Vegetables - Barley Grass, Nettle Leaf, Horsetail, Alfalfa Leaf Juice, Dandelion Leaf Juice, Barley Grass Juice, Oat Grass Juice, Kale & Spinach Juices, Broccoli & Parsley Juices, Beet Juice, Carob Pod, Ginger Root, and Nopal Cactus (blood sugar regulator - great for hypoglycemia)

Wildcrafted Aquatic Vegetables - Icelandic Kelp, Nova Scotia Dulse, Laver Seaweed, and Bladderwrack Seaweed

Enzymes (for optimum absorption) - Protease, Amylase, Lipase, Cellulase, Bromelain (this one is plentiful in fresh pineapple), Papain, and Alpha Galactosidase

Full Spectrum of Probiotics - over 40 billion (yes, you read that right, over 40 billion different probiotic cultures and strains, whereas in a probiotic supplement or yogurt would be just 2-5 billion); you can imagine how happy your colon will be :) These are very therapeutic levels and you can't help but notice a difference!

To clarify the difference between ReVitaPhi and Vitamineral Green (both formulated by Jameth Sheridan), ReVitaPhi is adaptogenic, helping our bodies to become more resilient and more effective at managing stress. The herbs included are known as tonics, safe taken on a daily basis, to build the system and create a buffer between you and everything outside of you. ReVitaPhi is specifically formulated to enhance beauty - Ho Shu Wu (Fo-Ti) has been used for centuries as an anti-aging tonic and remedy for eczema that also stimulates the adrenal glands and purifies the blood (resulting ultimately as clear skin). In China, where it is called Ho shou wu, Fo-Ti is said to possess almost magical rejuvenating properties and it is especially popular with the elderly who believe it can help one maintain hair color and preserve youthfulness (source: http://tinyurl.com/cz2zjt). Tulsi is another herb that you'll find in herbal tea remedies specific to beauty and youth, since it's a potent anti-oxidant and adaptogen. Vitamineral Green contains algaes, such as Spirulina and Chlorella, which are exceptionally high in plant-based (raw) protein, and therefore a wonderful source of amino acids. Personally, I take them both every day because the properties of each totally resonate with my body.

You can order ReVitaPhi at www.HealingSuperfoods.net

Attracting Everything You've Always Wanted

I see evidence every day that the Law of Attraction is working on my behalf to create the life I am here to live. To support the changes I'm experiencing in my personal and professional life, I've been immersing myself in the Law of Attraction material around the clock. The general idea of this belief system being that the more often you think certain thoughts and the more attention you give to each one that comes through, the more likely it is for them to manifest. In the car, I'm currently listening to the free CD that came with the book I just bought, Money and the Law of Attraction, which is really just 1 of several books on the Law of Attraction worth checking out. The words that are spoken in this CD seem to have me nodding in acceptance, acknowledging these truths, with an understanding of the thoughts I must put more attention to - all to get to where I want to be. FYI: This CD/book is not just about finances and is relevant to multiple areas of life.

Nothing that you're living is just happening to you; we are not victims of our own life or circumstances - our life, and perception of our reality, is a direct response to our thoughts and the pattern of thoughts that we're constantly repeating and telling ourselves. Therefore, to create the life you want to live, there must be a deliberate creation of the life you want. It seems obvious when I heard it on the CD and read it in the book, but you must start telling a different story if you want things to change! Tell your story the way you want your life to be. Magic just might start to happen. Have blind faith.. what's the worst that could happen?

I love this quote taken directly from the CD: 'You will never again beat a negative drum and not have conscious awareness of it - and that is such a good thing because you cannot choose something that feels better, until you are aware of what you are choosing.' I compare this to eating raw foods and Superfoods because I believe we actually do have control over our health, body, and quality of life, and that once we have the information, we can no longer make naive choices about what goes into our body. More often than not, you just can't go back (long-term) to the old ways once you know and you're on the other side of the tracks - it would go against who you've become and wouldn't feel right. Now it's time to apply this same perspective to the areas in need of improvement.

As I live and breathe this living foods lifestyle and it's become so natural for me without exerting much effort to maintain (a blessing in itself), I can relate to those who have yet to arrive, as this newer way of thinking is not my default thought process every minute of every day. Interestingly, living foods and Superfoods play a vital role in allowing who I am to be fully expressed; they heighten my self-awareness and allow the shift to intentional thinking to be made with greater ease. When we eat food that is alive, at some point down the road, we are faced with looking at our old self, and as time passes, layers of the past shed off literally creating a new person (mind and body). Our potential as a vibrant being becomes more clear and recognizable, and begins to manifest. Now imagine if you combined all this together.. living foods and practicing this deliberate vibrational thinking.

For many years now, I've been contemplating sharing a part of my personal life that was key in bringing me to where I am today. One of the first blog posts of the Healing Raw Beauty Blog I even wrote about my desire to do this! I wondered how to best offer this, knowing it would provide the feeling of relief to me and hope for others. Coincidentally, at Raw Spirit Festival 08, I happen to have a booth located near a guy who was selling the super cute Thank God I'm Raw t-shirts. He mentioned this book series he was a part of, with stories from authors who had triumphed after extremely rough circumstances and experiences, and on the other side of the pain found a greater sense of self, and hope, waiting for them. Relating this to the Law of Attraction, in my interpretation, I put it out to the Universe that I've been wanting to do this and my thoughts have been on finding the most appropriate way to do so. Apparently, the Inspired Authors, LLC feel there's no better time than the present and I will write my story for the 3rd volume of the Thank God I series that will be released at the end of 2009. Wow! I'll be a published book author in less than a year! I am not releasing my chapter title until the release date gets closer (anticipation!). To me, this is just one example of the Law of Attraction working its magic.

I definitely recommend picking up this book and listening to the free CD, but only if you are really ready to take control and create the change that may just revolutionize your entire way of thinking, thus resulting in living your best life ever. What has been your experience with this way of thinking? What have you been able manifest as a result of changing your thoughts?

Accepting Change and Seeing New Beginnings

It appears that I have come to yet another point in my life where great changes are happening. This is the result of much hard work and very clear intentions .. with a heartfelt change thrown into the mix. How does one embrace change and how much of a role will my attitude and diet play into this?

It's difficult to accept (unwanted) change because something is obviously happening that we don't want to happen .. and for me, currently, that just happens to affect a few aspects of all that surrounds me. After hours of thought (and several life experiences to back it up), what I come up with is that every time major changes and upheavals happen in your life, it is because there is another door opening (although it may not be seen fully yet), and quite possibly better things are yet to come. The truth that I hold onto is that change is wonderful and required to move us forward, keeping us in the flow of life. It brings us to greater heights and strengths that we never knew possible. I'm doing my best to listen to myself and practice what I know to be true.

I have an immense amount to be grateful for that I clearly list in my 2009 Intentions. One setback just interrupts the flow, but it does not erase the abundance of good.

I have read a few things in newsletters that friends have forwarded on (and my awesome datebook - We Moon 09: At The Crossroads) in the past few days regarding change and would like to share them with you. These comments are catered toward events that are unfortunate or disheartening, but maybe you'll find a time where these thoughts are ones you need to hear.

* Choose to Stay Positive while everything around you is (or is perceived to be) falling apart.

* Unlike many who will allow their doubts and negative thoughts to take over and ruin their lives, hold steadfast to a positive outcome and trust that you'll be okay.

* It's wise to remain positive, even when you're in the middle of a crisis.

I will choose to stay positive in a changing world. I will focus on the growth that is to come from all the dreams that are finally falling into place. There is a lot to be grateful for. I will do whatever I can to help others succeed and pursue their own growth.

So you ask, how will I accomplish this and what will I choose for my coping methods this time around? Years ago, I would head toward unhealthy choices (well, detrimental habits that deserve no more attention). In the Winter of 07 - early 08 my body began to only tolerate fresh, raw and living foods during a very difficult time, as if it knew that living food was the best method to survive that personal transformational period (it was then that I became 'high raw' - very unintentional). Now, while I enjoy some of the most amazing professional opportunities (and power through that minor setback I mentioned earlier), I'm thinking of immersing myself in a world of green - smoothies, juices, salads, green salad dressings, green hummus, avocados (yes, my nervous system needs the fat and comfort) - an emotional and physical cleanse to support and embrace this time of change. Maybe I'll just eat green food (and my daily dose of Superfoods), and only if it's one of the many beautiful shades of green. I'll try on this GreenLand experiment and see what happens..

How do you get through major changes in your life? Has your way of eating influenced your coping skills?

Guilt-Free Indulgence: Superfood Fudge

To all those that have asked (and those that adore chocolate), here is the recipe I make on a regular basis to delight that chocolate craving of mine. When I was in college, my grandma used to periodically send me shoeboxes full of homemade fudge, and although they were made w/ Fluff (do you remember that stuff?), butter, and eggs, I loved them. Unintentionally, I am taking over her reputable role as a talented fudge maker and plan to ship this yummy dessert to my young nieces (who are not fed any raw or superfoods), and my own little ones (none as of yet though) once in college to carry on the tradition!

I used to make a really nice vegan fudge, and now that I'm high raw, this raw recipe is my new favorite! It tastes a world better than any previous version I've ever tried (and when I give it to others, no one can believe it's raw!). I made the fudge for my first Superfood Tasting Party held at my place yesterday afternoon. It was a meeting of like-minded individuals that are making conscious decisions in their life to enhance their health and well-being. I made some amazing connections and am grateful I got over my hesitation (probably fear driven) and finally started this group!

Thanks to Lenette with Go Raw Have Fun for the superfood fudge recipe idea!

Superfood Fudge - Mint Flavored

1/3 cup raw almond butter
1/4 cup coconut oil
2 T cacao powder
1 T cacao nibs
1 tsp Revitaphi
1 tsp Vanilla Spice MacaForce
1 tsp Blue Green Algae
1 tsp lucuma powder
1 tsp mesquite powder
1/2 tsp Cordyceps
1 capful peppermint extract

Oh! For those that are interested in knowing how my ankle is doing, it is healing quite well! I was able to stand on it for hours yesterday without a break and it wasn't throbbing in the evening. Looking it at, you wouldn't even be able to tell it was swollen to twice its size just a few days ago!

Putting Island Fire to the Test

If you've been following my Tweets lately, you'll notice that I've been mentioning the Elements for Life product, Island Fire, quite a bit. I have been taking 2 tablespoons in the afternoon (diluted with water so it can be enjoyed longer) for a spicy kick and sustained energy throughout the entire evening. What I noticed immediately was that I've become more clear in my thinking and have been able to concentrate, focus, and work for extended periods tirelessly. Now keep in mind that I am also starting most of my days with Gold Rush (24 Karat liquid Gold), and the mental clarity (plus creativity and imagination) is certainly related to to this, but it's been the Island Fire that revs me up ready to tackle all projects on the ever-growing to-do list.

Just about a week ago in Bikram yoga, I must've twisted my left ankle while overextending myself in one of the poses (possibly in the early part of the standing series). Oddly, I didn't notice inflammation or swelling, or experience any pain, until 3 days later when I returned from a leisurely 3 mile walk around Greenlake Park. Why is it that right when I make the commitment to be more consistently active, which has always been struggle for me, that one of the main joints on my body is in poor condition to do so? Is the universe telling me I should just kick up my feet and give up? No way! Being who I am (a proud Living Superfoodist striving for equal dedication to exercise), I reach for raw foods, fresh juices, green smoothies (new love for this!), medicinal herbs, and superfoods to see how resilient I've become by living this pure lifestyle.

My self-determined protocol for super speedy healing and recovery:

* 1/2 a pineapple a day (either freshly cut or dropped into a green smoothie)

* frozen organic cherries in my superfood smoothies

* Enzyme therapy with HealthForce's Digestion Enhancement Enzymes (providing all enzymes)

* Arnica pellets throughout the day

* Truly Vitamin C (which from FOOD, not synthetic ascorbic acid, immensely speeds recovery of ANY kind - physical and mental trauma)

* Turmeric powder (from Mountain Rose Herbs) added to my Superfood cacao smoothies

* Maha Vishgarbha oil (from Tattva's Herbs, some local friends who created an Ayurvedic herbal company)

* A homemade salve that relieves muscle soreness and inflammation

* Island Fire (a live enzyme Tonic Elixir with 140 + Bio-Active Enzymes, Raw Tahitian Noni Juice, Raw Hawaiian Turmeric Juice (olena), Raw Ginger Juice, Meyer Lemon Juice, Spices, colloidal plant and ocean sourced ionic minerals, including rare trace elements (gold, platinum, silver, and Indium).

* MSM powder - naturally occuring form of dietary sulfur

I've been gradually implementing this protocol and will pay great attention to what is working and how quickly I get results. This supercharged regimen allowed me to perserve through yoga this morning. You might think I'm nuts to have gone to yoga class with one working ankle, but I missed the heated room and everything else about it. I said I'd be happy even if I stayed in Savasana the entire time, which fortunately was not the case. We'll see how my body feels tomorrow!

Using Herbs to Eliminate Nutrient Deficiencies

I'm asked every single day about vitamins and minerals and how optimal daily needs can be met. Most want to find an inexpensive way to remedy deficiencies and fill in the gaps between their refined sugar, caffeinated energy drinks and lifeless Healthy Choice frozen meals. How can we address and resolve this question?

One day a week I work at an 'integrative' pharmacy (that's another post) and my genuine heartfelt response to the vitamin/mineral question is to refer them to herbs and medicinal teas. It's unlikely the corporate pill-pushers want me around because of my minimal contribution to rising synthetic supplement sales! When people have a real need, I try to convey what was already present prior to the convenience of vitamin shops, supplements, and pills. Beautiful Nature - herbs, plants, roots, barks, greens - we have been given all that we need to keep our body emotionally, psychologically, and physically balanced and resilient. However, some have been steered so far away from a natural diet by a culture constantly whispering in our ear that 'food' comes in a box, can, or package, all of which is in an adultered state. Supplementing has become a perceived magic bullet to remedy the detrimental effects of processed and refined foods the people I talked with won't live without (cooked addiction).

I would much rather be unconventional and eat raw and living foods, build resilience with adaptogenic herbs, and reach superior health with superfoods. In my conversations with these desperate individuals (this is not a judgment, it's the reality of what I've witnessed), I think my approach comes across quite clear through the passion in which I talk, but most people really just want the short answer, quick fix, and to be on their way to Starbucks. I may be a poor synthetic supplement salesperson because I honestly want for others to grasp the enormous potential of pure food and superfood boosted living. I've been told countless times during my Superfood Education sessions (whether at HealthForce demos or in Healing Wellness Programs), that I can sell absolutely anything - if I wholeheartedly believe in it. To me, that's not selling - that's sharing and healing.

In Mountain Rose Herbs' January newsletter, there was a phenomenal article written titled 'Just Say No to Synthetic Vitamins and Processed Foods!' and I really recommend you read it. I love that this information is available to us! It's just a matter of making ourselves aware, keeping informed of the truth, and following the ancient herbal wisdom.

My favorite herbal remedy is a delicious thirst-quenching blend I call Stunning Skin Medicinal Tea. This inexpensive blend includes nettles, alfalfa, horsetail, burdock root, noni, oat straw, and red clover blossoms. This is also the blend that I use to infuse the organic olive oil I use in my Body Silks. As you'll read in the article link above, these herbs offer a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals - all in a highly bioavailable form our body recognizes and therefore absorbs. You'll replenish your reserves of vitamin A, B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (panothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B12 (cyanocobalamin), and vitamin C, D, E, and K. Minerals, such as calcium, chromium, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, potassium, selenium, sulfur, and zinc, are abundant as well. Who would have thought?

Cultivate health by adding herbs:
- as an infusion steeped overnight (add hot water to small handful of herbs and steep 6-12 hours for maximum potency) - it doesn't taste like medicine, but it is medicinal
- as your smoothie's liquid base - immensely healing
- as an herbal hair rinse in the shower
- in the bath (small muslin bag of herbs draped under spout) - soak and absorb the benefits through your skin
- in homemade skin care formulas in place of flower water (as the liquid part of a clay masque)

I typically make the tea every few days, store it in fridge, and enjoy it in these ways throughout my week. Comment on your experience and results! Do you use herbs in any other way?

Bethanne's Intentions/Opportunities 2009 (Part 1)

New opportunities are coming at me left and right, and I'll lay much of it right here so we can see what I'm up to these days together!

1) I've just organized the brand new Seattle Superfood Nutrition Meet-up Group and am amazed at the amount of members flocking to sign up! I'm not sure why, but I had been procrastinating creating this group (fear of .. ?) - and now that I have, I'm elated to see all of us join together in honor of the best foods on the planet (Superfoods, of course)! It's REALLY exciting right this very minute as the emails pour in for new member sign-ups!! Woo hoo! This seems to be an ideal way to build local community, share what I do, and meet more like-minded friends. We'll treat ourselves to my personal fav chocolate blendies, raw cacao desserts (superfood fudge, for sure), shots of Gold Rush, superfood snickety-snacks, and marine phytoplankton, until we drop. All creations will be homemade, raw, organic, superfood-loaded to the rim, and beaming with beauty! Check out the link and join us for our 1st Meet-up on Sunday Jan 25, at my house: http://www.meetup.com/Seattle-Superfood-Nutrition-Meetup-Group/.

2) As a holiday gift to myself, I joined the Elements for Life Superhero Team! I watched the 2 videos and immediately knew this was THE opportunity that would mesh perfectly well with everything else I am doing. It was an obvious decision for me: I eat superfoods every day and therefore much appreciate getting them at wholesale (who says you can't save mass cash on a raw/living/superfood diet?). The site created just for Superheros (distributors) is off the hook. I have the same giddy excitement about this as when I first began to eat high raw - (swimming in raw food nutrition books and uncookbooks, etc) - it all just feels really right. For me, this dream opportunity of starting a Superfoods business makes complete sense - another stream of income with huge possibilities, working with the Avocado himself, and the blessing of having the top Superdogs take care of virtually everything (entrepreneurs will tell you that it's the minor, yet required, time-consuming daily tasks that slow things down, until you are out-sourcing). I don't have to worry about any of that .. and I get to share the best foods in the world and watch how it changes THEIR world. That's priceless! I'll post a thorough review of Elements for Life and the life-affirming products soon! To read more Superhero goodness: www.HealingSuperfoods.net

3) Beginning at the end of this month, I am officially a student again! I joined Karen Knowler's Raw Food Classes Home Study Program and cannot contain my EXCITEMENT! Another decision, based on an inner knowing that this is perfect for me and will bring me to the next level as an Educator. The Program is all about learning to teach raw food classes - definitely something I've been looking forward to for some time and now with the proper guidance and technique ... I feel golden (especially with the addition of #4)!

4) To continue learning from Karen, this next program that has presented itself is called the Raw Professionals. This could very well be 'the' thing that tips me over the edge. To have this come into my life, business coaching with a raw foods coach (and not just a raw foods coach, but THE UK's Raw Food Coach), is literally what I've been asking for. Enough said. Ask and you shall receive. Believe it people!

5) After wrapping up the end of the year programs, I now have 5 openings available for my Healing Wellness Programs - either the 21 Day Turn-Around or the 90 Day Knock-Out. Because it's that time of year when everyone makes resolutions and doesn't stick to them, I am making it my mission to make sure 5 of you DO stick to the goals you set for 2009 and help you to start off on the right track. The Special New Year, New Intention Discount is a whopping 25% off either program. Only 5 people will be accepted to begin work in January. Refer to this blog post when contacting me to receive your discount.

Which one of these am I most excited about? As I listed these off, I'd think 'ooh, ooh, this one!', but really it's all of them for so many different reasons! It's like the universe has thrown at me the very best, top-notch opportunities and they've landed right in my lap. For 2009, I see a very bright future regarding my contribution to the raw foods and superfoods movement. And the best news? This is just the 1st half of the list (Part 1)! The 2nd half will be heading your way in just a few short days.

Winter wonderland survival

Although many would believe that eating raw foods in the winter is a hard choice to make, I like to prove otherwise. Actually, my full commitment to raw and living foods kicked off in the middle of last year's cold blustery winter. The reasons many 'go raw' didn't apply to me at this time: the need to lose weight, regain health, increase energy, eliminate sickness .. the list goes on. For me, it was a deep emotional pull that blew me away; however, my body literally wouldn't allow anything else to enter it (doesn't it always know best?) during this time of deep emotional and life transition. I remember thinking what odd timing it was for my body to drag me into this (it was very much an unconscious decision). And so the journey began.

I really prefer not to focus on the percentage of food I, or anyone else, is eating raw, because from what I've observed (and mutually shared in conversation with many other women), is that this can create a sense of not doing enough, among feelings of guilt, frustration, and failure. Percentages, numbers, and counting anything in regard to food can also possibly lead to disordered eating, especially with women. You need to read labels for one reason only: know and understand the source of your food (what is in it?). The more you focus on a number, the more you become disconnected with your body (because it then becomes about something else), and it's innate wisdom of guiding you to the best choice. I've wondered how one arrives at a percentage anyway? For me, I just know that I eat mostly raw and living organic food, with some exceptions (so is that 95% .. 99%?!). It seems absurd to claim a percentage and feel obligation to stick to it. Rules need to go out the window; we need to be flexible and do what FEELS best - doesn't that make sense? I suppose it's easier to know your percentage of raw the closer you are to 100%, but that number scares a lot of non-raw foodists away, and I believe this may be a reason they don't embark on the raw roller coaster ride in the first place (this was one factor back in the old days that made me hesitant - it was a perception that if I didn't do 100% all the time, I wouldn't receive the powerful transformation). Now that I know otherwise, I like to share my opinion.

I've always been one of those people that feels cold, especially on my hands and feet. I could be on a warm sunny beach, the wind could blow, and I'll feel cold - that's just how it's always been. I've read this has to do with circulation and/or the thyroid, but I disregarded this because my weight is ideal and there's no reason to believe my circulation is suffering. If you are an expert reading this and are thinking, 'I know what that's all about!' - please get in touch. I've heard a few raw food teachers and well-known advocates talk about how after a few years on raw they were able to get through a cold winter very well adapted to the extremes, but I never heard an actual explanation as to why. It's simple really: the cleaner you are internally, the better your circulation, and the less you need heavy food to insulate you - thus allowing a raw food diet to be an easy lifestyle in all seasons. It seems that time is what's needed to walk around comfortably barefoot. I am still cold this winter though (it's in the upper 20s with recent snow storms) and I look forward to having such stellar circulation next winter that this temperature doesn't faze me.

So, how do I survive eating a raw food diet in a winter wonderland? The attempt to keep my diet the same has been mostly successful, with the most noticeable shift in breakfast, from fruit smoothies to superfood fresh green vegetable juices (Rainbow Magic). Here's how I've wrapped up 2008:

❅ Primarily raw and living foods, with a shift toward more more avocados, root vegetables, nuts, seeds, heavier sauces and hummus

❅ Organic and wildcrafted superfoods - can't survive any season without them

❅ Fresh green vegetable juices - seriously the best way to start the day (the rest of your food choices throughout the day will be more in alignment with your raw approach)

❅ Naval oranges! My cravings have often been for citrus .. bringing me an abundance of vitamin C (from real food - never ascorbic acid!); pieces of fruit as a snack replacing the morning fruit smoothie; Truly Vitamin C powder from HealthForce

❅ Chocolate (green) superfood blendies - ridiculously nutritious and filling

❅ Green additions to most concoctions (juices, blendies, hummus, salad dressings, cacao desserts) - again, bumping up the greens and lessening the fruit

❅ Warm Earth soup (I'll post in more detail very soon) / miso soup with dulse and nutritional yeast

❅ Baked yams or squash - bite here, bite there (with cinnamon, agave, nutr yeast, or naked)

❅ Bikram hot yoga - there is nothing like heating your body at the core for 1.5 hours, especially during the chilly season

❅ Hiking (outdoors, yes in the snowy cold weather) - you really do warm up after just 15 minutes in the elements, and you get to feel so connected to the season vs. staying inside; go experience the cycles of nature!

Rainbow Magic Juice w/ Superfoods to boot

The best way to start the day is with this phenomenal superfood juice. I had to share it!

Rainbow Magic

Juice:
3 apples
1 lemon
lots of kale
2 stalks of celery
1 moderate size beet
small chunk of ginger
stalk & head of broccoli

Rainbow Magic keeps your blood sugar stable, is stimulating to the liver, cleansing on a cellular level, works as a diuretic (eliminating bloat, excess water), enhances digestion, absorption, and utilization of nutrients (allowing the nutrients you're consuming to get into those cells, detoxify, and rebuild the body from scratch - and begin to eliminate nutrient deficiencies by doing so), and according to Mike Adams, the Health Ranger with the super popular www.NaturalNews.com, happens to contain the most anti-cancer juice: broccoli (juice broccoli? YES, and you will LOVE it! You actually won't even taste it :) Just an ounce a day (or whenever you make the Rainbow Magic or any other juice).

Then, add: 1 spoonful (1 tbsp) of Vitamineral Green, Pure Synergy Superfood Formula, and Spirulina Azteca.
Add 1-2 tsp of Truly Vitamin C (by HealthForce) or Pure Radiance Vitamin C (by The Synergy Co.), and 1 tsp of E3 Live/Total Body Blend.

Juicing is easy and seriously fun; the hardest part about juicing is the prep ... washing and rinsing, over and over. However, I try not to over wash and my reason is for the B12. Am I making this up? I don't know, but according to David Wolfe, who we all know knows his stuff, he has admittedly eaten bugs and insects (not for dinner or anything) and confidently claims that they are a source of the depleted nutrient B12. So, I leave my farmer's market greens and veggies clean, but not squeaky clean. I never understood the idea of buying produce wash and cleaners. Maybe if it's conventional, then absolutely, but I only buy organic and never compromise on this. To answer those next questions you maybe asking, I prefer to buy local, organic, and seasonal produce (not an either/or situation). There's nothing challenging about it (shop at a farmer's market & you can easily have cheap access to local, organic and seasonal); it's a commitment to consuming the highest quality, highest energy, most nutrient-dense food available. And, I have no reason to compromise my values when they bring me to such euphoria.

I'm going to do the tedious, yet exciting task of listing every single ingredient you'll be consuming if you make this juice, so you can really see the abundant amount of nutrients that will be flooding your cells with goodness - it's really over the top!

Vitamineral Green: nettle leaf, barley grass, wheat grass, horsetail, moringa leaf, alfalfa leaf juice, dandelion leaf juice, barley grass juice, oat grass juice, nopal cactus, chickweed, ginger root, yacon root, beet root juice, broccoli juice, kale juice, spinach juice, parsley juice, amla berry, spirulina, chlorella, Icelandic kelp, dulse, laver, bladderwrack, alaria, nori, Irish moss, enzymes: protease, amylase, lipase, cellulase, bromelain, papain, alpha-galactosidase, 43 billion different strains of probiotic cultures (equalling 43 billion probiotic cultures per tablespoon), shilajit, magnetic, homeopathic, energetic, and vibrational energies. WOW!

Pure Synergy: Synergized algae: pure spirulina crystals, pure Klamath crystals, pure chlorella, dunaliella, wakame, dumontiaceae, Synergized phytonutrients & enzymes: fresh freeze-dried enzymatically active sprouts of millet, quinoa, broccoli, apple fruit, fresh freeze-dried blueberry, raspberry, green papaya fruit, natural plant enzymes, Synergized Chinese Mushrooms & Herbal Extracts: reishi, shiitake, maitake, agaricus, cordyceps, herbal extracts of astragalus root, eleuthero root, lycium (wolfberry) fruit, tang-kuei root, schizandra fruit, atractylodes macrocephala root, fo-ti root, paeonia lactiflora root, rehmannia root, codonopsis root, licorice root, jujube fruit, poria, ginger rhizome, tangerine peel, polygala root, ligusticum wallichii root, Synergized Green Juices: wheat grass barley grass, oat grass, alfalfa grass, parsley grass, spinach leaf, kale leaf, collard leaf, Synergized Western Herbs: nettle leaf, red clover flower, burdock root, yellow dock root, skullcap flower and leaf, dandelion leaf, ginkgo leaf, rose hips, rosemary leaf, clove bud, sage leaf, natural vitamin E (sunflower). WOW!

E3 Live Total Body Blend: MSM, spirulina (more spirulina! - can you believe people say not eating animals will leave you protein deficient?!), camu camu, vitamin E tocopherol/tocotrienols, organic cayenne, organic blue green algae, organic AFAMend and BrainOn, PEA (blue green sea extracts), crystalloid electrolyte sea minerals (organic copper, iodine, manganese, zinc, potassium, cobalt, sodium, selenium, chromium, silica, and boron). WOW!

Now, imagine what you will feel like after consuming ALL this, in just 1 tasty glass of fresh juice! Be prepared to feel better than ever .. you may reach paradise. Try it and let me know what YOU think!