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!

Intentions and Opportunities (Part 2)

Here I go ready to publicly announce more intentions for the year 2009. Continuation from last post:

6) By this Spring, I plan to be a regular vendor at the Sunday Farmer's Market in Ballard. I would like to be already, but have run into an unexpected snafu. Upon handing over my filled out paperwork, I learned that the Dept. of Agriculture sometimes makes visits to the markets to make sure everyone is abiding by the rules/regulations. Because the name of my skincare line is currently Organic Healing Skincare, I may run into problems if they see me and all my marketing materials, without an organic certification (even though the ingredients are certified organic themselves). I have some choices: I could chance it (they and other vendors recommend this) - and if they show, tell them I have begun the certification process and cover up everything that says 'organic', I could change the skincare name (ugh, headache, but still a big possibility), or I could not be a vendor at the markets. I have no idea what's in the cards for this one. Ah, a crossroads. I would love to to build local support for the skincare line and jump through this one hurdle. I'm open to receiving feedback on this one, and if you have any name ideas, forward them along!

7) I will be exhibiting at the Seattle Green Festivals on March 28-29 and have secured a wonderful booth because I signed up so early. I'll post the booth # as the event gets closer, but you can expect to see me right next to the Festival Sponsors! You'll be able to experience Organic Healing as 2 Raw Spirit Festivals this year: Santa Barbara, CA (June 5-7) and Prescott, AZ (Sept 26-27). These events are definitely the best gatherings in existence - an absolute must if you feel drawn by the living foods and superfoods movement (which I gather you are if you're reading my blog!). At all 3 festivals (and maybe even more), you'll get to sample (and purchase) the recent talk of the town - Elements for Life products. This way, you can beautify internally and externally - the best remedy for flawless stunning skin.

8) Last month I did a Special Skincare Offer and it was wildly successful. I will now take some time to refine a few of my handcrafted products and will not be doing the Special Offer this month as I expected. I received really wonderful constructive feedback (except for the 1 person who took advantage of the offer and broke the mutual agreement - shame on you, that's really bad karma) and will be working as always to refine, re-formulate, and perfect, making the very best healing skincare creations ever. I intend to have a similar Special Offer again and will make the announcement when the time is right!

9) Bumping up the frequency that I do self-guided detoxification programs (juice cleanses, 1 day a week liquid/blended food only fasts, the HealthForce Healing Cleanse) and routine activity (for the winter, it's all about Bikram hot yoga, running, and hiking). I have been wanting to do weekly juice fasts, and will be starting this week! My healthy eating habits come naturally; I do believe we all have the innate knowing of what to consume for superior health.

10) The last intention I'll list here is to continue to passionately spread the word of Superfoods, raw foods, cleansing, juicing, and medicinal herbs - all to heal the body, inside and out. My raw food classes and workshops will be starting up in the coming months in Seattle (and maybe even beyond).

I hope you've created a list for yourself as I have and are ready to jump on board to an enlightened way of living. Don't let anything stop you, and please, don't compromise yourself.

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!