In My Mind’s Zen Garden

This is awesome. I need to incorporate ‘green smoothies’ into my raw foods diet.

Also, here’s a very nice Young Coconut Shake recipe I found on WendiDee’s Pure Jeevan site. Awesome!

[ link via Raw Food Chat ]

This person does a good job of explaining the protein myth.

Enzymes are biomolecules that catalyze (i.e. increase the rates of) chemical reactions. Almost all enzymes are proteins.
—from Wikipedia.org

For the raw vegan, s/he can get an abundance of enzymes from fresh fruits and vegetables. And coincidentally, almost all enzymes are proteins. In addition, amino acids can be found in virtually all foods, and are the “building blocks” of protein.

The ultimate fringe food culture sexes it up for the mainstream…
—from Raw Food Chat

Earlier this morning I had an epiphany about Whole Foods, that hip, expensive place that’s pretty much the ONLY supermarket where I can buy organic, raw vegan foods in mass quantities.

Yes, I think its time has come, that the Raw Food Movement is ready for the mainstream.

Not Just A Fringe Group Anymore

Formerly a “fringe” group of vegans intent on going that additional step toward a 100% raw food diet, raw foodists (or raw vegans) are beginning to benefit as large health food companies like Whole Foods is really beginning to embrace the whole raw food movement completely.

I recently have been able to buy organic raw vegan meals at Whole Foods. Mainly courtesy of Leaf Cuisine. And, being a raw vegan who’s been having trouble creating my own raw gourmet dinners at home, it’s a blessing that now Whole Foods offers a more complete experience for the raw vegan, and not just organic fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds.

Leaf Cuisine Does Good

Leaf Cuisine seems to be the main supplier of organic raw vegan meals, averaging between $5 to $10 per entree. Available meals include: Raw Vegan Pad Thai, Rawsagna (yes, a raw version of Lasagna!), Bombay Burrito, Veggie Sun Burger with Salsa, and Falafels with Tahini Sauce… all raw, vegan (vegetarian with no animal products), and 100% certified organic!

Raw Caesar’s Salad Dressing

One item that’s a “godsend” for raw vegans is Leaf Cuisine’s raw caesar salad dressing! I’ve tried it and it’s delicious, though it doesn’t really taste like traditional caesar salad dressing with the anchovies of course. I mean, where else can one get a raw vegan caesar’s salad dressing that’s certified organic?

Availability Of Raw Vegan Meals on the Rise

Anyway, knowing that there is a growing availability of raw food meals out there is very reassuring for someone like myself who’s been struggling with creating my own gourmet meals at home. Of course, nothing wrong with the big hearty garden salad. You can always add whatever raw ingredients you’re in the mood for at the moment. But it’s good to know there are more choices out there.

[ This post is my contribution to RBJ's April Collaboration Project... in connection with Earth Day ]

A while back I posted an article entitled Boosting Your Energy Level With Smaller Meals.

I still stand by that bit of advice. I firmly believe that overloading the body with one huge meal is very detrimental to one’s overall energy level. It causes all the body’s energy to be drawn toward the digestive system in order to handle the overload. Not only that, overeating at any given meal is just hard on the body, period. One might feel in “food coma” heaven, but it doesn’t really help maintain a higher energy level for performance and efficiency.

Raw Foods and Performance

But let’s talk about the relationship of energy level and what goes into our body that can help boost that energy level. I believe raw foods is a way to improve one’s energy level and performance.

Caffeine and Sugar versus Raw Foods

By performance, I mean everyday activity and how one is generally feeling minute-by-minute. Usually, foods and beverages that contain sugar and caffeine can boost energy levels for a brief time. But then, as everyone knows, the body “crashes” and we lose that energy and drive, so we try to re-energize with another dose of sugar and/or caffeine.

Raw Foods are Easier To Digest

Raw foods contain live enzymes that aid the body in digestion and other internal processes, and because raw foods are in their raw, original state, they are very easily digestible, and thus the body doesn’t have to spend too much of its own energy in digesting the food eaten.

Better Nutrition To Calorie Ratio

Another value of raw foods is that generally they are packed with more nutrition than cooked foods. And when one primarily eats a raw food diet, this pretty much doesn’t include all the junk food and fast food that’s readily available out there, and which is not healthy for the body. Junk food and fast food also contain lots of empty calories, less nutritional value, and also contains additives, preservatives, residual pesticides, etc, etc… that the body doesn’t need.

Raw Vegetable Juices For More Energy

In my own experiments with raw foods, I’ve found that I get the most energy when juicing vegetables like carrots, cucumbers and celery. In fact, any kind of raw vegetable juice is ideal for boosting energy levels consistently. And trust me, being a 50 year old drummer, I need the same energy level I had when I was a 20 years old in order to maintain the same level of drumming at 50. And to be perfectly honest, I am a better, more energetic drummer now than I was back then. I just had youth on my side at 20.

What To Eat On A Raw Food Diet

So, what foods does one eat while on a raw food diet?

In Summary

I could go into another article about the benefits of raw juices. But, just to share with you some favorites for boosting energy levels, I like to juice watermelons, carrots, cucumbers, and celery. And beet juice is quite good too.

After about a week on a mostly raw foods diet, you’ll notice a dramatic increase in your energy level. And it won’t be a quick, fleeting boost like what coffee or tea can give you… it’ll be a dramatic, constant energy boost that can carry you for the remainder of the day. So, if you’re interested in experimenting with a raw foods diet to give you more energy for performance, try it for a week and see what it can do.

Vegan Sushi No. 2
Photo by randomguru

I recently received a nice comment about this photo.

This is a good example of vegan sushi; a simple combination of avocado and cucumber surrounded by vinegared sushi rice wrapped in a nori sheet.

This is Zen simplicity.

Other components of this particular meal: a bowl miso soup, a slice of kiwi, a tofu wedge, a cup of green tea, and some wasabi and soya sauce.

This is a good meal to go with a philosophy of eating smaller meals, 6 times a day. Of course, this is just an example of one meal, and variety is the spice of life. But, as much as we all love to eat, sometimes in mass quantities, pacing oneself and eating several smaller meals a day is healthier and easier on the body.

Also check out: Boosting Your Energy Level With Smaller Meals and The Zen of Raw Vegan Sushi

I continue to receive hits via Google regarding the following enygmatic question… Are Filipinos Asian?

So, in keeping with my mission to further settle this matter once and for all, I thought I would do a follow-up article to a previous post I wrote entitled, Yes, Filipinos Are Asian!

Hopefully, we can convince those naysayers who claim that Filipinos are not Asian, and also persuade those Filipinos who are either unsure, think they are something else like Pacific Islander, or simply want to distance themselves from the Asian classification altogether.

The Official Geographical Definition

Geographically speaking, The Philippines is, in fact, located in Southeast Asia.

Taiwan and Hong Kong are just a few hundred miles to the north and northwest, and even closer still is Malaysia and Indonesia to the south and southwest, respectively.

Map courtesy of Wikipedia.org

So geographically, The Philippines falls within the boundaries of the Asian continent, and so it is correct for Filipinos to be classified as Asian.

Filipinos Are Asian On A Nationalistic Level

The Philippines is a country in Asia with a similar history to Singapore:

That said, if you are Filipino or Singaporean, then you are referring to yourself on a “nationalistic” level. Though ethnically, you may be Indian, Malaysian, Chinese, or any number of different ethnicities. But nationally you would be considered Filipino or Singaporean.

There is no doubt that Singapore is considered an Asian country, and that Singaporeans are considered Asians. Should there be any doubt then that Filipinos too are Asians?

From Wikipedia.org:

Asian Americans are Americans of Asian ancestry. They include sub-ethnic groups such as Chinese Americans, Filipino Americans, Indian Americans, Vietnamese Americans, Korean Americans, Japanese Americans, Cambodian Americans, Laotian Americans and others whose national origin is from the Asian continent.

Genetic Studies Show That Filipinos Are Asian

Some interesting genetic studies have shown that Filipino origins can directly be linked to the Ami tribe of Taiwan, considered the closest genetic relative. Overall, genetic studies have connected Filipinos to Chinese, Korean, and Indonesian ethnic groups, all originating from Asia.

From Wikipedia.org:

Some genetic studies, based upon very small samples of the population, have begun to provide clues to the origins of Filipino people. Much remains to be learned by larger studies of valid statistical significance about the ancestry of the various Austronesian Philippine ethnic groups.

A Stanford University study conducted during 2001 revealed that Y-chromosome Haplogroup O3-M122 (labeled as “Haplogroup L” in this study) predominates among Filipino males. This particular haplogroup is also predominant among Chinese and Korean males. That finding is consistent with the theory that people migrated from China south into the Philippines.

Another haplogroup, Haplogroup O1a-M119 (labeled as “Haplogroup H” in this study), is also found among Filipinos. The rates of Haplogroup O1a are highest among the Taiwanese Aborigines. Overall, the genetic frequencies found among Filipinos points to the Ami tribe of Taiwan as their nearest genetic relative.[7]

A 2002 China Medical University study indicated that certain Filipinos shared a particular gene marker that is also found among Taiwanese aborigines and Indonesians.[8]

A 2003 University of the Philippines study based on 50 participants each from the islands of Luzon and Cebu provided some insight into the various places of origin of early Filipinos. Some rare genetic markers were found which are shared by people from parts of Asia.

Why Filipinos Shouldn’t Be Called Pacific Islanders

First, let’s look at Wikipedia.org’s definition of a true Pacific Islander:

Pacific Islander… is a geographic term used in several places, such as New Zealand and the United States, to describe the inhabitants of any of the three major sub-regions of Oceania… Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia.

Wikipedia goes on to specifically explain that The Philippines is considered a part of Asia, and is NOT considered part of Oceania, and Filipinos aren’t recognized to be Pacific Islanders:

Inhabitants of Russia’s Kuril Islands, Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, and the Taiwanese, Japanese, Philippine, and Indonesian islands, although technically bordering edges of the Pacific Ocean, do not fall under the definition of “Pacific Islanders” because such islands are not actually located within the Pacific or therefore any of the three regions of Oceania (Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia)

Map courtesy of Wikipedia.org

Because of the above definition of “Pacific Islander”, and because The Philippines is excluded (along with other Asian countries such as Taiwan and Japan) from the regions of Oceania, then the above information leads us to conclude that Filipinos simply are not Pacific Islanders.

How Application Forms Caused Part of the Confusion

Many Filipinos in the United States may have filled out college or job applications and had come across the part where you had to check your ethnicity. Many times, “Filipino” was listed separately from Asian, leading people to assume that the two groups are separate.

Why was this? And what was the reasoning behind this? My theory, simply put:

Is there any wonder that part of the confusion may have originated from The Philippines being a former colony of The United States? And with a need to classify Filipinos apart from other Asian groups, application forms and the like were tailored so that various government, corporate and private organizations could further differentiate certain ethnic groups from one another for statistical purposes.

The Whole APA Fiasco

On the other hand, to add to the confusion, certain authoritative entities had lumped both Asians and Pacific Islanders into one ethnic group for simplicity’s sake… namely APA, or Asia Pacific Americans. Though it may have been innocently done and with good reason, group Asians and Pacific Islanders together into one group has proven detrimental to the identity of Filipinos everywhere.

Here is some information regarding the use of APA, or Asian Pacific American:

Asian-Pacific American is a term that was used in the United States to include both Asian Americans and Americans of Pacific Islander American due to its official use as a race on the United States Census between the years 1990 and 2000. Since 2000 the United States Census Bureau has split these two groups apart because the majority of the people included in the term considered themselves to be two separate groups when questioned by the anthropologists who designed the racial definitions for the 2000 US Census. Now, Asian American and Pacific Islanders are two separate races on the US Census 2000, so the term Asian-Pacific American has decreased in use.

In Summary

I just wanted to conclude with specific definitions from Wikipedia.org that show differences between Asian and Pacific Islander:

The definitions and differences between Asian and Pacific Islanders are also clearly defined:

Asian. A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam. Thus it includes “Asian Indian,” “Chinese,” “Filipino,” “Korean,” “Japanese,” “Vietnamese,” and “Other Asian.”

Pacific Islander.

A native or inhabitant of any of the Polynesian, Micronesian, or Melanesian islands of Oceania. Some examples of the ethnic groups that would be considered Pacific Islanders are the indigenous peoples of Hawaii, the Marianas, Samoans, Guamanian, Chamoru , Tahitians, Mariana Islander, and Chuukese.

And I hope this finally settles the controversy and answers the questions… people have a right to be proud of their cultural heritage, but it’s important to know exactly what that cultural heritage is, and just as important to convey the truth. Then hopefully, the truth will speak for itself.

“Our task must be to widen our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”—-Albert Einstein

Warning: This video shows the full impact of animal abuse and cruelty. It’s hard to watch because in reality, I don’t think anyone wants to watch animals getting slaughtered, nor would they enjoy such a thing:

. . . .

We Don’t Know What We Can’t See

I think that most people don’t really know what happens to the animals that become food on their plates. Usually the dead meat of animals are packaged in neat little styrofoam containers, wrapped in plastic wrap. Or, they come in bite-sized pieces like Chicken McNuggets or in sandwich form like a hamburger.

When we’ve come to know animal food in more manageable bite-sized pieces we don’t see the whole animal. But in essence we would be the main reason these animals are being slaughtered in the first place… because it’s a law of supply and demand.

We Have A Capacity For Compassion

But I feel people would think twice if they knew the animals they eat have been kicked, tortured, fed unnatural amounts of steroids and hormones, and slaughtered in the most cruel and inhumane way.

I remember watching a cow get slaughtered on a farm once, and also a pig. I think it was one of the most compelling reasons to become a vegetarian and vegan. I LOVE animals, and it just didn’t feel right to me that animals should be killed and slaughtered so that we could have a hamburger, or a steak.

The Difference Between Killing Animals and Killing Plants

People always rationalize that well, plants are living too. And aren’t we doing the same to plants?

Well, that may be true, but no one can deny the differences between killing animals and killing plants for food. If you watch the video, the poor animals are resisting and seemingly begging for their life. They look frightened.

Killing plants for food and killing animals for food… two distinct acts. But, the killing of animals seems more vicious and cruel.

Why A Few People Become Fruitarians

Perhaps that is why some vegans have become fruitarians. They don’t even want to kill plants. So, being a fruitarian would be to eat only the fruits, seeds and nuts that fall from the plants and trees.

So maybe what we were really meant to do was to follow what was said in Genesis:

Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you…”

Hmm… words to ponder… deeply.

Further Readings: Animal Aid UK

We all know that the organization PETA gets a bad rap for sometimes being controversial and even radical in their ways. As a vegan myself, I have stopped eating animals because of the atrocities committed against animals so that certain major food corporations can profit.

Here’s an interesting video by Pamela Anderson and KentuckyFriedCruelty.com. Note: Some of the images of chickens being abused and killed are pretty disturbing.

I was a member of PETA for a few years and then I forgot to renew my membership. I think I just may join again, because I do believe animals have rights and should be treated humanely.

KFC suppliers cram birds into huge waste-filled factories, breed and drug them to grow so large that they can’t even walk, and often break their wings and legs. At slaughter, the birds’ throats are slit and they are dropped into tanks of scalding-hot water—often while they are still conscious. It would be illegal for KFC to abuse dogs, cats, pigs, or cows in these ways.

KFC’s own animal welfare advisors have asked the company to take steps to eliminate these abuses, but KFC refuses to do so. Many advisors have now resigned in frustration.

I recently took a few photos of what I [typically] eat as far as sushi goes. Below is my version of Raw Vegan Sushi. The only thing not raw here is the miso soup, but then again I’m not 100% raw vegan just yet. I tried in the past but it’s too hard for me, especially when the weather is cold.

Ingredients for the Raw Vegan Sushi Rolls:

Dried Organic Nori Sheet
Avocado Slices
Radish Sprouts
Spinach
Cucumber

…and a touch of simplicity!

I cheat a little by using veganaise to hold the rolls together. Veganaise is a vegan version of mayonaise, so it’s not really “raw”.

This tastes extremely good to me, and I’m not missing the sushi rice, believe it or not. It also tastes very clean, and heathy. A good clean energy boost

!

A while back I wrote a post entitled, The Best Superfoods, with the intention of creating a list of foods considered healthy enough (by many nutritionists) to be classified as “superfoods”.

In this post I’ll be concentrating on superfoods that can be eaten raw, or usually come in dried or powder form. In other words, my focus will be on superfoods that are suitable for raw foodists, foods packed with an amazing array of nutrients, amino acids and other beneficial ingredients.

What is a superfood?

Here are a few definitions worth noting:

Why eat superfoods?

The simple answer… because superfoods are healthier for you than say, a Big Mac or a bag of chips.

But seriously…

People interested in improving their health, boosting peak performance in sports, etc… (or simply wanting to improve their overall sense of well-being), can benefit substantially by eating foods that provide the most nutrients and life-enhancing properties. And this is where the whole concept of eating superfoods makes sense.

Incidentally, most (if not all) superfoods CAN be eaten in their raw, natural state. In fact, it makes perfect sense to eat superfoods raw for a couple of really good reasons:

That said, let’s take a look at our list of 8 essential raw superfoods.

. . . .

8 Essential Raw Superfoods For Optimum Health

And this wraps up my list of 8 Essential Raw Superfoods.

Here are some further readings to explore:

10 Superfoods For Age-Defying Beauty
Superfoods 101
The Sunfood Diet Success System
Superfoods Thought To Prevent Disease and Increase Longevity

. . . .

A couple of years ago I wrote a post entitled, Raw Foods: The Grand Experiment. I had already been a vegan for a number of years, and a vegetarian for more than two decades. Anyway, I’d been reading about the concepts of eating only raw foods online and in various books. And back when I initially wrote that previous article I thought I’d give raw foods a try.

The main concepts concerning a raw food diet were fascinating to me:

1. More Energy and Stamina

I’ve read about triathletes eating primarily a raw food diet to maintain higher energy levels for performance and endurance. So, being a musician and drummer, the idea of enhancing my performance through an optimum diet greatly interested me.

2. Optimum Health

In order to perform on a musical instrument and to perform at one’s highest level of performance, one needs to practice on his/her instrument for hours each day. But one can’t perform well unless he/she is physically, mentally, spiritually strong. So, maintaining optimal health is really something every musician should focus on.

3. Detoxifying Effects

I’d been reading from various sources that eating primarily a raw food diet has detoxifying effects, meaning that a raw food diet aids the body in getting rid of toxins and waste products that clogs the body and potentially contribute to a diseased state. Though the medical establishment has traditionally scoffed at the idea of detoxifying the body, there are many studies that point to the benefits of detoxifying the body.

4. Rejuvenating The Body

I’ve also been reading that, if there are any natural sources out there that help to rejuvenate the body and keep one looking as youthful as possible, it is the concept of eating raw foods that are natural and contain more micro-nutrients in relation to their macro-nutrient (carbohydrate, fat and protein) counterparts. This basically refers to foods that have a very high nutrient content while containing more fiber and less calories and fat. In other words, more bang-for-your-buck… more nutrition and less calories mean calorically less dense and good for the body.

My Raw Food Story

So from 2005 I began eating 75% raw food diet, but still maintaining a 100% vegan diet. And at the same time I found myself practicing Yoga everyday. So, between the Yoga and the raw food diet I did find I had more energy and felt quite healthy with more stamina especially with regards to my performances on drums and piano. My drum solos, especially, I felt were more focused and creative.

Falling Off The Raw Food Bandwagon

Then, somehow in the first part of 2007 I totally got off track. I even went as far as to eating red meat, chicken and and seafood but I’d always feel sick and unhealthy afterwards. Though I may have had cravings that probably stemmed from childhood, I just never felt as healthy when not a vegan or raw foodist. But the first half of 2007 was dealing with all this, and trying to get back to a more healthy lifestyle.

Getting Back On Track

During the latter half of 2007 I was able to fall back into a very healthy routine of exercise, eating raw foods and practicing Yoga once again, and I even became serious about gardening as an exercise and form of meditation. And going into 2008, I’ve been maintaining a successful routine since.

What I’ve been finding out with a raw food diet is that it’s a very clean diet. Raw foods get processed and assimilated into the body faster as opposed to eating animal foods, which tend to slow the body down because it takes more effort for the body to digest the animal foods. On a raw food diet one eats for the benefit of “feeling” extremely healthy as opposed to eating for the cravings and the tastes.

More Energy For Work and Play

It seems that eating a sensible raw food diet gives one more energy throughout the day. There are no need for naps, especially after lunch or a big dinner. And one doesn’t really need all that much sleep. During my performances my drum solos are more focused and they feel more effortless to me. And I think that boosts my creativity.

One needs to be sharp and focused when performing jazz music, or any music that is challenging, and the difference between eating a big steak and eating a raw garden salad is like night and day.

Raw Foods Will Benefit Even Meateaters

The important thing I’m noticing is to stick with eating a raw vegetable salad everyday. If you are not a vegetarian, ideally it’s beneficial to eat a raw garden salad at every meal. And for added energy, drink a raw smoothie preferably at least once in the morning for an added boost. I don’t drink coffee or go to Starbucks any more. There is no need for CAFFEINE! As of right now I’ve been caffeine free all of 2008.

If you are a devout meateater, or you are trying to eat sensibly with a chicken or seafood diet, eating more raw fruits and vegetables will definitely add to your health. I do think the rejuvenating benefits are there and it definitely helps to maintain a youthful appearance, even into middle age and beyond.

In summary, the raw food diet is definitely a healthy one, provided that mostly raw organic fruits and vegetables are eaten, rather than eating junk food. Though, with a raw food diet there is pretty much no junk food to eat at all…. and thus, out-of-sight, out-of-mind.

Stay tuned… as I’ll also be posting about the 10 Essential Raw Superfoods.

I love going to Whole Foods Market. There are two of them in San Diego that I know of, but I only go once-in-a-while when I have to buy some raw food products. Whole Foods is the ONLY grocery store I know of that features a dedicated “raw foods” section, located near the front of the store!

Anyway, I was reading this article about Whole Foods this morning. Supposedly, WalMart is going organic too! Will they successfully compete with Whole Foods by bringing to us organic foods that are cheaper? Who knows….

It’s hard to find fault with Whole Foods, the haute-crunchy supermarket chain that has made a fortune by transforming grocery shopping into a bright and shiny, progressive experience. Indeed, the road to wild profits and cultural cachet has been surprisingly smooth for the supermarket chain.

Local grocery stores may also have a small raw foods section (apart from the usual produce), but Whole Foods has this section that has all the serious, expensive items, like the best Agave Nectar, raw Cacao powder, raw Cacao nibs and various raw crackers. Whole Foods is also the only place where I can by “raw bread”, and I love those raw curry crackers, which no other store seems to carry.

Of course, above and beyond social and environmental ethics, and even taste, people buy organic food because they believe that it’s better for them. All things being equal, food grown without pesticides is healthier for you. But American populism chafes against the notion of good health for those who can afford it. Charges of elitism—media wags, in otherwise flattering profiles, have called Whole Foods “Whole Paycheck” and “wholesome, healthy for the wholesome, wealthy”—are the only criticism of Whole Foods that seems to have stuck.

Whole Foods has a good thing going… they’ve created a super-awesome ambience in which the aisles are fully stocked and items can be found in beautiful, natural wood shelves. They’ve got the awesome deli and food-to-go areas. Their produce seems to be the best and freshest out of all the stores I’ve been to, and socially speaking, it seems to attractive a LOT of the hip, progressive, environmentally conscious folks… as well as the rich.

Organic produce and foods… I am convinced that my family and I should eat organically grown foods free of pesticides and free of genetic engineering (I don’t care for salmon in my apples, thank you). But, the prices at Whole Foods are astronomical…

Granted, I mostly go for those rare raw food products I can’t find anywhere else. So, Whole Foods has that hold over me. But while there I end up buying other things. And though the experience of shopping in Whole Foods is very pleasant, and much hipper than going to other common supermarkets, there is always that big surprise when checking out at the cash register… I may buy what seems like just a few items, and suddenly those few items cost me $150!

I try not to go to Whole Foods too often. It’s expensive. And I really only go when I need things I can’t get anywhere else.

It just makes me wonder if places like Whole Foods is creating this gap between the poor and the rich, those who can afford to eat healthy foods versus those who can’t afford them. But that’s always been the way of the world.

However, I still love shopping at Whole Foods whenever I can. They definitely have made it feel hip and cool to go to the grocery store…

The one major thing I’ve learned from last year was that what one puts into his/her mouth determines who you are. I know, this might be a “given”, but honestly, how many people actually follow this philosophy seriously?

And in 2007 I found myself in both sides of the spectrum of eating. During the first half of 2007 I had reverted back to a fast food junkie lifestyle, and though I satisfied my (then) fast food cravings, I felt sick and unhealthy most of the time, not to mention fat. And it got to the point where one person mentioned to me that it looked like I had gained 20 lbs. Now that was embarrassing, and I hated that guy for mentioning it, but sadly enough it was true. I gained weight, I looked fatter, and I felt un-healthy.

By mid-2007 I had to do something.

I struggled with eating and ran/walked 5 miles a day. I did weight-training but then I sprained my right wrist (which was bad for me, being a drummer).

I needed to get back on track and back to feeling good about myself. And I’d always been vegetarian and for most of the decade have been vegan.

In the latter half of the year I had thought hard about going back to being a raw vegan, eating ultra-healthy superfoods again, and getting my energy level up again so I could burn more calories.

By Thanksgiving, I think I had gotten back in tune with being a serious raw vegan again. I didn’t succumb to eating Turkey, and people seemed to respect the fact that I was a raw vegan.

Now here we are in the new year of 2008.

My seriousness and dedication to the raw vegan lifestyle has really paid off, I feel. My energy level has dramatically improved and I feel like I could do a LOT throughout the day. I’ve found new energy to do all my chores and housekeeping duties, to do lots of gardening and practicing on piano and drums. The energy level I currently have is quite phenomenal, and being that I will be 50 years old this month!

The one thing I really addressed in 2007 regarding my food intake were my “cravings”. Often times, we confuse what is actually good and healthy for us for our present cravings! This is a very important thing to ponder on, because I feel that we all have cravings that might not necessarily benefit us health-wise.

And, regarding cooked foods… I think cooking not only destroys valuable enzymes, vitamins and minerals that our bodies need. Cooking also destroys our natural sense of taste for natural, wholesome foods like fruits and vegetables. This is somewhat fact, as I know of several friends who don’t eat any fruits and vegetables at all, favoring all cooked foods.

In the book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan, his food manifesto is simple:

Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.

One doesn’t have to be a raw vegan like myself (but trust me it would really help, in regards to one’s energy level). But at the very least… we need to all start eating more raw plant foods, and less processed and refined foods that are more devoid of nutrients than we care to realize.

Sorry to sound so “preachy” again. It’s just that when I get on a roll with topics like this, and I see myself transforming and feeling so much more healthier… I am simply expressing part of that outcome, which is a very positive feeling.

My wife has noticed an improvement in my appearance and complexion, so she’s trying to be more of a raw vegan as well, though she sometimes eats fish and other seafoods. But she mainly eats a lot of raw fruits and vegetables now. I definitely have noticed my complexion improve in the past few months. It’s been a subtle thing, but my wife mentioned that I had a glow about my face when I performed on TV last month. So…

Now I’m discovering the benefits of raw chocolate (cacao powder), goji berries, and agave nectar. For those who love chocolate, you don’t have to deny yourself that if you are a raw vegan. Raw cacao and raw agave nectar (as a sweetener) tastes even better than chocolate candy bars and much more healthier for you. I never could quite believe it myself but all the research online seems to be pointing to that fact. That raw chocolate is actually healthy, is considered a superfood, and contains lots of anti-oxidants, nutrients, and minerals.

Anway, this whole project of going raw vegan has definitely made me more aware that we are exactly what we eat. We need to eat more organic produce to avoid pesticides. We need to eat healthier for performance and for generally feeling great!

The movie “Supersize Me” is another source that drives that point home that we are what we eat…..

So, I visited Yahoo.com for the first time this year and right off the bat I see the top article:

Top 5 Habits To Increase Longevity

Okay, this is information I’ve read about before. Especially the part about eating several smaller meals a day, instead of 3, or even 1 meal a day like I used to do long ago.

In the Western culture, meals are taken three times a day, but it is much better to eat five smaller meals. When you eat smaller portions five times a day, you deliver a steady stream of nutrients, blood sugar, and energy to your body throughout the day.

Additionally, eating this way is less taxing on the digestive and metabolic systems and also reduces your risk of heart disease.

. . . .

The Home with New Shutters

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Eating 5 or 6 smaller meals a day is something I’ve been doing lately, so I’m already into that habit. I totally agree that it’s less taxing on the digestive system as a whole. Easier on the body in general. And I notice I have more energy throughout the day. If one feels like taking a nap or feeling sluggish after a meal, then that’s probably when you’ve eaten too much food at one time, obviously.

And I’ve also read before that a good habit doesn’t take hold until like the 19th day, so the following makes sense. After so many days a habit becomes automatic:

It takes 14 to 21 days of repetitive behavior to form a new pattern in your brain. Once the pattern is formed, it becomes an automatic behavioral response.

Okay. The Top 5 Habits….

1. Eat five small meals a day.

2. Climb the stairs instead of using elevators.

3. Laugh it up!

4. Drink 8 glasses of water every day.

5. Unwind with meditation.

Sure, these make perfect sense. And I pretty much already follow these with exception to drinking 8 glasses of water every day. Does anyone really do this? As a mostly raw vegan I eat plenty of fruits and veggies that contain mostly water. But, I’ve read recently that there is a difference between getting your water from food and drinking the water directly. But, I’d said I can drink about 4-5 glasses of water a day. I have plenty of juices and smoothies, but I wonder if it counts or not.

Resolutions

People usually say they don’t make New Year’s resolutions, or they make them around this time of year.

Sure, I’ve made them. But I think the world “resolution” has gotten a bad rep over the years.

I prefer the word “Goal” nowadays.

It’s important to make plans and set goals at the beginning of the year. I’m sort of bad at making all those detailed goals. But I’m good at setting some big goals, like traveling and acquiring something of importance.

Here are some of my random goals for 2008:

1. Improve on my (mostly raw) vegan diet even further.

2. Get a dehydrator (for making gourmet raw vegan dishes).

3. Travel to Asia in June.

4. Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Times Square in New York.

5. Finish the meditation garden in the backyard.

6. Perform more on piano (and practice more).

7. Improve on my yoga and meditation practices.

And I think that’s plenty to think about. I think it’s important not to set too many goals. Then one might compromise a few important goals and simply make it too hard to achieve them all.

But, I’ll definitely have to follow the above tips for longevity.

Dhrumil and his friend Gabe Anderson talk about what inspired them to create the daily raw food lifestyle blog, welikeitraw.com. Plus how the site is designed for the hipper, and not hippy side of raw living and how inspiring Sarma Melngailis’ posts are for their readers.

G Living Lifestyle

We Like It Raw is a great site for finding out about the Raw Foods community. And it actually IS a Raw Community. New York raw foods chef, Sarma Melngailis, has a blog on the site and her and site-founder Drumil Purohit are two people at the front of the Raw Revolution.

Also one of the top experts on the raw foods lifestyle is David Wolfe.

One very big thing I’m discovering about the Raw/Living Foods lifestyle is the use of raw chocolate (cacao). It’s definitely a healthier alternative to those who love chocolate like me. And diabetics should rejoice in being able to combine ingredients like raw cacao powder and agave nectar.

Chocolate (cacao) is considered a superfood, so in its purest form it IS an excellent source of antioxidants and nutrients. The problem is how that cacao is processed to make it unhealthy for us.

NY Raw Chefs Sarma Melngailis and Matthew Kenney

One thing however, that I’ve noticed, is that the big Chocolate companies are now offering chocolates that are something like 75% cacao. The only problems I’ve seen in chocolates have always been the type of fat used and dairy products such as butter or milk, which contain cholesterol.

Well, it’s just nice to see all these Raw resources on the Internet popping up here and there. For a while, I thought I was alone in my discovery of the Raw Foods lifestyle. I’m still not 100% Raw and I think it would be too hard for me, but I do “feel” the difference when I eat like 75% raw or more.

Although I consider myself a “Raw Vegan” I am still a bit skeptical. But I’m still intent on doing all the research I can on nutrition and trying my best to apply what I’ve learned to my life experience. But so far, I’m pretty convinced that animal products tend to lead to heart disease, stroke and diabetes… while fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds seem to help the body to rejuvenate.

What would be my reasons for adapting a healthy diet?

Optimum Health

I supposed I am concerned about my health. Diagnosed with high blood pressure, I wanted to investigate all those foods that would be beneficial to me and would help lower my blood pressure.

Also, I know that in the past I’ve eaten a certain way and although the food tasted exquisite, it didn’t do my body good and in the end I felt miserable and sluggish.

And I do remember when I was a child and felt so much energy and just felt so great, as a musician I need to always feel that way now, because I know that the way I feel affects how I perform. Which brings me to my second reason…

Performance

In the 1990s, I remember that a LOT of my performance enhancing items (with regards to my drumming) fell into two categories:

1. Caffeine - I would have to go to Starbucks, or any coffee shop just to get my fix of caffeine just to wake up. I was dependent on it and always felt it was a type of drug that, in the end, didn’t do anything for me nutritionally. And, it made me lose a lot of sleep.
2. Ginseng - My life back then also consisted of taking vials of Red Panax Ginseng to enhance my musical performances on drums. I still think Ginseng extract is a good thing. My performances always seemed more focused and I seemed to be in the Zone more with Ginseng. And I still do.

But seriously, I’ve always wanted to eat the ideal diet that would help make me feel great and with abundant amounts of energy, and perhaps some energy on reserve.

And as I grow older, it’s more important for me as a musician to be physically fit and healthy. So, eating to benefit my performance is something I’ve always strived to perfect, and is an ongoing process to this day.

Weight Control

I’ve always had a problem with one particular food…. RICE!

Once I eat it, I’m not entirely satisfied unless I’ve eaten at least a couple of plates full of it. Then, because of my Filipino heritage, in the past I remember eating lots and lots of rice with chicken adobo and pork sihnigang, along with lots of fried lumpias (egg rolls), and noodles laden with lots of grease.

Some people seem to do well with eating the SFD (Standard Filipino Diet)… I myself don’t. I gain a lot of weight and no matter how much I exercise, I gain even more weight and feel sluggish all the time.

Eating pizzas, spaghetti, meatloaf, burgers, blah blah blah…. I would just gain and gain more weight. Then I would have to buy new clothes because I could no longer fit into my old clothes. It doesn’t sound right, does it?

What I’ve noticed about a raw vegan diet is that as far as weight goes, it’s easier to maintain and control one’s weight while eating lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts. There is lots of fiber, no empty calories, and more nutrition than eating a SAD (Standard American Diet).

So far with a raw vegan diet… I’m losing weight. And, I’m able to control my weight without having to do tons of exercise just to maintain my weight. And I’m able to eat a LOT of food, feeling lighter and with more energy. A raw vegan diet is definitely not a diet of deprevation as far as volume is concerned.

Ethical and Ecological Concerns

Believe it or not, I also became a vegan because of my concerns for animals.

For one, animals are “tested on” regularly in labs. And animals are used as food in a multi-billion dollar industry that is more concerned about profits than our health or the health of the animals that are killed for food. And from my research I’ve discovered how horrible those conditions are for cattle, pigs and chickens, etc…

I’ve always wondered why society has singled out certain animals for food and certain animals for pets. Shouldn’t all animals be treated equally, and fairly?

Once, when I was with the boy scouts, we witnessed a large cow get slaughtered for food. It was the most horrific sight I ever saw, and was one of the main experiences of my life that caused me to become a vegetarian.

Sure, it’s just an animal, and not a human. But it seems to me that animals have feelings too, and they don’t want to die. It seems that although they don’t have an advanced form of life that humans have… their lives should still be respected.

I know, I know….

The main argument is that, what about plants? They’re living things too. And perhaps they have feelings too and would feel pain as well.

But when you harvest and kill plants for food, as far as we know we can’t detect (at least to our senses) any suffering… what more when we slaughter a pig and hear it squeeling for it’s life?

So, as humans we make a conscious decision to draw the line somewhere. I would rather draw the line to where I’d spare all the animals and instead at all the plants. At least my conscious would feel better.

But this is just my personal decision, and we as humans can rationalize however we feel our lifestyles should be. But I been feeling compassion for all the animals in recent years. So, by consciously avoiding all animal products I guess I’m not hoping that helps keep those animals alive that would’ve been slaughtered for my benefit.

Well, this last reason is the most controversial.

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But to summarize… my food experiences have lately been a Scientific experiment to see which foods make me feel great both immediately and in the long run.

The more I investigate the human consumption of animal products, the more I read that too much animal foods can lead to stroke, heart disease and diabetes. Where one moderates when it comes to animal products is up to the individual. For me, when my doctor gave me a sheet of paper that said would I could and couldn’t eat, most (if not all) animal products were eliminated from the diet. With exception to seafood once or twice a week….

…once or twice a week!

That’s practical a vegan diet already.

I rationalized… might as well eliminate those two servcings of fish and become a vegan?

And the more I read about raw foods, the more I experiment with focusing on raw foods and how it’s making my body feel.

Raw foods seems to be a step in the right direction. But, is all cooked foods actually detrimental, and perhaps a form of slow poison? That would be hard to say, since most humans nowadays enjoy their foods cooked.

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Refined Sugars and Refined Grains

Recent studies I’ve been reading have pointed out to a reduction in white flour products, like donuts and pastries, etc… Obviously though, I think everyone by now knows that foods made with white flour and refined sugars are bad for you.

Moderation is the key. But, how much is moderation? And what happens if someone completely eliminates those things from one’s diet?

I figure that, if someone had an occasional donut or two after church. Or, an occasional indulging in apple pie or cake, is not going to hurt one.

Who knows…. in the end it all boils down to the individual’s personal experiences with food.

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Anyway, from my personal experience, I’m going through a period where I’m literally “deconstructing” my whole concept of eating. Questioning why I’ve been eating certain foods in the past. Experimenting with what makes me feel good and what impacts me negatively.

All my research and experimentation has brought me to this “raw vegan” lifestyle. By eating foods with a lot of fiber and roughage, my stomach is feeling satisfied without taking on too many calories. And foods containing more vitamins and minerals give me that added energy and don’t weigh me down. And I end up eating more while controlling my weight.

Life, though, continues on and is a process of continual change. Hopefully, it is evolving as it should and for the better…..

It’s amazing how much my appetite has changed, how I’ve realized that I’ve had certain cravings for foods that weren’t exactly good for my body. Humans can change bad habits in 19 days, from what I’ve read. I don’t know where I’ve read that but it sounds right.

Well, it’s better for me to crave cucumber juice and broccoli, rather than crave a Big Mac and fries. So, let the deconstructing begin!

My one big reason for trying to eat as healthy as possible…. performance! While drumming and working as a musician. Plus, being able to feel really great!

So in my dedicated search for the best foods possible for optimum health, I find there are lists of superfoods all over the web, and I’ve come upon some interesting lists that pretty much have the same stuff.

And incidentally, most if not all, are foods raw vegans CAN eat, thank God… so basically, most if not all, superfoods CAN be ingested in their RAW state.

And for you Salmon lovers, even Salmon is considered a superfood (on Wikipedia’s list of superfoods) can be eaten raw as Sashimi.

So, let’s take a look at some of the healthiest foods on the planet.

Apples

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away…”

An old saying, but it remains true. Aside from the obvious fiber content, apples have antioxidants, flavonoids and polyphenols. Containing lots of nutrients, apples also are one of those few foods (celery included) that actually require more calories to digest than the calories they contain.

Avocados

Like olives, avocados contain healthy monounsaturated fatty acids, the so-called good cholesterol, as well as fiber, potassium, magnesium, folate and antioxidants. Avocados help the body absorb more nutrients from other foods — the tomatos in the same salad, or in salsa.

Blueberries

Blueberries contain antioxidants of many kinds, including anthocyanins and other polyphenols, and carotenoids. They also have fiber, folic acid and vitamins C and E. And they taste good with very few calories.

Dark Chocalate

I’ve been going for the raw Cacao powder, in which Dark Chocolate originates.

The magic word here is flavonoids, the same kinds of antioxidants that make tea so potent a health brew. Research shows flavonoids have a role in helping lower blood pressure and in keeping your arteries from clogging — both good news for your heart. Only dark chocolate does the trick, not milk or white. And the more cocoa solids the better — look for the percentage on the label.

Kiwis

Vitamin C, vitamin C, vitamin C — kiwis are loaded in this antioxidant, which also makes oranges a superfood. Kiwis rival bananas in potassium, pound for pound. And flavonoid antioxidants abound in the skin, which is edible but best if you rub the fuzzy stuff off first.

Oats

Kings o’ fiber, oats also deliver protein, potassium, magnesium and other minerals, and phytonutrients, including antioxidants. Their cholesterol-lowering powers are well known, and all that fiber is also believed to help stabilize blood sugar. Oats’ combination of nutrients appears to have more healthy effects than if each nutrient were consumed separately — which seems to be true of all whole grains. And, they’re inexpensive.

Spinach

What doesn’t spinach have? It’s loaded with lutein (great for eyes) and many other carotenoids, which are healthful antioxidants; plus other antioxidants like coenzyme Q, in serious doses; plus several B vitamins plus C and E; plus iron and other minerals; plus betaine, a vitamin-like nutrient research suggests is good for your heart. And with almost no calories, you can eat as much as you want. Also good for similar reasons: kale, chard and other dark leafy greens.

Spirulina

Spirulina is something I’ve recently been getting into, and it’s a complete protein, meaning it has the nine essential amino acids humans need in order to make protein. And there is B12 and the rest of the B Complex vitamins, as well as minerals and antioxidants.

Walnuts

All nuts have been rehabbed as good-for-you foods, for their healthy fats and micronutrients. A few go a long way, though, as they are calorie bombs. Walnuts’ main claim to stardom are their omega-3 fatty acids, which fight heart disease. Other goodies: plant sterols, which lower cholesterol, and lots of antioxidants.

Yogurt

I have been eating vegan yogurt, which should have the same probiotic benefits.

Nutritionist Jo Ann Hattner says if she could pick only two superfoods, they would be yogurt and tea, because their health-giving attributes have been known for centuries. Yogurt’s claim to fame is live cultures, also called probiotics or beneficial bacteria. They are what turns milk into yogurt (but some commercial yogurts are heated to kill the cultures after they do their work, so be sure to read the label). In your gut, they fight bad bacteria, aid digestion, help metabolize food and generally tune your system up. Yogurt also is a good source of calcium and protein.

[ taken from sfgate.com ]

A Long List From Wikipedia: Superfoods

* Dark chocolate[3]
* Berries: blueberries[1], goji berries[3], and acai berries[3]
* Beans [1]
* Broccoli [1]
* Oats [1]
* Oranges [1]
* Pumpkin [1]
* Salmon [1]
* Spinach [1]
* Tomatoes [1]
* Turkey [1]
* Walnuts [1]
* Yogurt [1]
* Spirulina
* Green tea and white tea from the camellia sinensis plant (also black tea, but with less benefits)[1]
* Nettle leaf
* Horsetail
* Alfalfa leaf
* Dandelion leaf
* Kamut grass
* Oat grass
* Burdock root
* Kale
* Parsley
* Ginger root
* Rose hips
* Orange peel and lemon peel
* Beet root
* Lemon grass
* Bilberry leaf
* Black walnut leaf
* Red raspberry leaf
* Goldenseal leaf
* Rosemary leaf
* Watercress

My latest vegan concoction is a Raw Organic Cacao Smoothie (with Himalayan Goji Berries)!

I simply mix the following ingredients in a blender:

1 organic banana
1 tablespoon 100% raw organic cacao powder (raw chocolate)
1 tablespoon 100% raw organic brown sugar
1 cup organic soy milk
1 capful organic vanilla extract
1 handful raw organic pumpkin seeds
1 handful Himalayan Goji Berries
1 handful organic blueberries
1 pinch Celtic Sea Salt
12 ice cubes

Makes approx. 2 servings

Note: Goji Berries are actually a complete protein, containing 18 amino acids, including the 9 essential amino acids that the human body needs and can not produce.

Raw Cacao, Goji Berries, Pumpkin Seeds and Blueberries are considered super foods.

But aside from the obvious nutritional benefits that this smoothie contains… it tastes quite good!

For the first time yesterday, I actually brought an ice chest to the gig yesterday. It contained bottled water, raw vegan bars, raw chocolate, green energy drinks and ginseng extract. The band WAS fed a nice dinner and I had my vegan dinner, which was delicious. But it wasn’t really enough. I need more food as a vegan. And, I’m finding that my digestive system doesn’t react too kindly to cooked foods now. Ayway, the only thing I forgot was a nice big vegan sandwich.

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Discovering that I had newfound energy with my current eating habits, I found myself falling asleep at the wheel around 3am in the morning, coming home from my out-of-town gig last night.

Yesterday I woke up at around 5am. I did gardening, cleaning around the house, going to the dry cleaners, buying groceries and putting them all away in the refrigerator. The prepared my clothes and loaded my drums into the van. Drove 2 plus hours to the gig, performed the gig from 6:30pm to 11:30pm.

And after loading my drums back into the van I had to drive to UC Riverside in the rain to pick up my son at around 1am in the morning. To make matters even more difficult, I got lost going from the gig to UC Riverside in the rain. Somehow I found myself in Orange County.

Good think our saxophonist, Jim, was carpooling with me.

So, after finally picking up my son at around 2am. I made the final journey back to San Diego, finding myself having to pinch myself because I was falling asleep at the wheel.

But I finally made it home!

And I just noticed that I was actually awake then, from 5am to 3:30am… almost a full 24 hours duration!

This raw vegan diet really gives one a lot of energy, but one has to respect one’s limits of physical endurance.

I have another gig tonight, but I really need to take it easy today.

The following are random things I’ve discovered about exploring a mostly raw vegan lifestyle.

1. Energy. Energy. Energy… = Go Go Go…
2. I seriously need to buy a dehydrator and a food processor.
3. I like basil leaves in my vegan sandwiches!
4. Carrots turn my juicer orange. Must clean right away.
5. I LOVE cucumber juice, and taste that it really is a melon.
6. Carrot juice really makes me hyper.
7. Celery juice is the easiest to juice; though my least favorite.
8. Apple juice from the juicer is the best.
9. My current favorite seeds are 100% organic raw pepitas.
10. There are more people going raw than I imagined.
11. Lots of raw vegan videos on YouTube. So now I don’t feel so alone. :)
12. Lots of raw foodies on Flickr too. With awesome photos.
13. A fresh garden salad is so beneficial to digestion. Even meateaters should always have a fresh salad with their meals.
14. I get headaches now when I have coffee or white sugar.
15. Saving all those fruit and vegetable scraps; great for the compost pile!
16. Being a raw vegan and organic gardens at home go hand-in-hand. Money saving.
17. I LOVE avocados!

I’ve eaten cooked foods most of my life. So, comparing cooked foods to a renewed almost raw vegan diet is very easy to do, actually. One can easily compare one’s health and feelings back when one was eating cooked foods to the new raw dietary regimen.

Well, as I’ve mentioned in earlier posts, I’m not 100% raw vegan yet.

To recap, a vegan is one who eats fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds… while totally avoiding all animal products whatsoever, from dairy to eggs to fish, chicken, pork and beef.

The raw vegan goes one big step further and eats raw fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. whole grains are generally cooked, so isn’t part of the raw vegan lifestyle. For me, I’m allowing organic sprouted whole grains that generally have flax seeds in them, giving me the Omega-3 and Omege-6 fatty accids that is good for the heart. I’ve also allowed one condiment… veganaise, a basically soy-based version of mayonaise, for my raw vegan sandwiches.

So, I’m currently a “strict” vegetarian or vegan that eats 70% or more raw foods. The “strict” term that has been going around is misnomer, because when one thinks about it, a vegan diet isn’t all that restrictive.

For one, you have an abundance of foods from the plant kingdom, that I really should have to list down. There are tons of various types of fruits and vegetables out there, and lots of nuts and seeds.

I believe that raw vegans can also have pressed extra-virgin olive oil, and raw vegans can have lots of raw cacao chocolate. But I think there is some controversy as to whether a raw vegan should have honey or not.

Agave nectar is the syrup derived from the Agave cactus. It is twice as sweet is regular table sugar… and it’s healthier, and also raw!

Feelings While Being a Raw Vegan

I’m feeling an abundance of energy now. Like I can do so many things in a given day. The organic raw juices have helped considerably. But I think that since cooked meats and other animal foods taken more time and energy for the body to digest, I think that when you go on a raw vegan diet you suddenly get a lot more energy that used to be for digesting the cooked meats.

Also, raw foods seem to be easier for the body to digest. And thus is absorbed by the system quicker and more efficiently.

There is some controversy as to whether the enzymes in raw foods are an issue versus eating cooked foods that supposedly waste or lose those raw enzymes. So, the debate is still out on that.

But…

I’m definitely a believer when comparing raw fruits and veggies to cooked foods. Cooked foods definitely take longer to digest and more work for the body. Raw foods are utilized more quickly and with less energy, and 1. You feel more energy because, well, their raw foods, and 2. the body doesn’t have to spend more time and energy process the foods if they aren’t cooked.

I have definitely felt the difference.

With raw foods, it’s like I’m totally wired as if I’ve had tons of coffee, without the side effects of coffee. And if you’re like me who loves to have sugar with coffee, you definitely will feel the kick or jumpstart, but then your crash.

With raw foods (and especially raw juices) you feel the energy rush, but you don’t come down. You just keep going and as long as you remain very active throughout the day, you’ll be on this incredible “roll” if you ate the proper ratio of raw foods.

Throughout The Day

I’m finding out that a glass of carrot juice and apple juice in the mornings is a great jumpstarter. And then eating a veggie sandwich for brunch, and another for a late lunch is great! Then for dinner, one concentrates on a large salad with a variety of different veggies, raisins, seeds, etc…which primarily will be a carbohydrate meal. A veggie sandwich with lots of protein is good for lunch. And with the dinner salad (and this is a large one) I find I have more energy to do things later in the evening (especially beneficial for us musicians who work at nights).

Before, I would have this heavy protein dinner and I’d feel sluggish and tired afterwards, then I’d be just good enough to recline on my sofa and watch TV until I fall asleep.

A large salad for dinner, with some fruits for desert, is an excellent meal for the evening. Giving me still more energy to do things into the evening.

So far so good….

I’m hoping to transition to a 100% raw vegan diet once again. And I’m trying to do all the research to make sure I do it correctly.

There is a whole raw vegan movement out there and is documented on several websites.

Rawvolution.com is one good source, and of course there is David Wolfe’s site.

It’s a week after Thanksgiving.

How’s everyone doing?

Well, for myself, I usually ask the following questions in the back of my mind. Or, at this point my healthy diet and lifestyle have completely gone downhill from here:

1. Did I succumb to some relative’s suggestion to eat a little turkey?

Ah, I remained strong and determined. I had no turkey this Thanksgiving. Anyway, my distant memories of eating turkey were one of consuming rather dry, heavy fowl flesh that had to be accompanied with a lot of gravy because of its texture.

2. Did I totally slack off on my healthy diet and lifestyle after Thanksgiving and going into the holiday season?

Fortunately, I’ve remained committed to eating very healthy right now… one week after Thanksgiving and for the past few months now.

I’ve pulled my electric juicer out of hiding and have been juicing: apples, oranges, tangerines, carrots, and celery.

And I’ve been eating mostly raw fruits and vegetables. Making salads and veggie sandwiches. Snacking on smoothies, nuts and raw cacao chocolates.

Where I have faltered a bit has been in buying an occasional bag of vegetable chips from the health food store. And a couple of times I did buy some onion rings from a fast food restaurant. Pretty bad, I know. But at least I didn’t get a big combo meal with the humongous burger, large fries and large soda.

Nowadays, I don’t drink soda at all. I’m totally weaned from that. And I don’t really drink coffee. I’m weaned from that too, which is a big money saver, considering all those daily Starbucks mochas I used to get in the past.

So, for the most part, I’m eating very healthy. And doing lots of gardening as a moderate exercise, and doing yoga as well.

And for the first time in like a long time, I seem to be going into the holidays eating well and feeling healthy. The feeling healthy part is the key, because the more you eat healthy, the better your mind and body feels, and you feel up to doing a lot of those things that need to be done during the holiday season.

But, with the flu and cold season coming… that would be the big test.

The Goldenseal extract is working wonders so far. I’ve had a couple of instances where I felt a cold coming on with the sniffles, and had taken the Goldenseal extract and hours later I’d feel better again.

I need to get some Echinacea extract to help in avoiding the cold.

Okay, so I’m doing well so far. But this weekend on Saturday and Sunday, the big band will be off to Arizona and the real test will begin, on whether or not I can maintain a healthy diet during that time. Life on the road is always tough. Too many bad choices for dining out, and very few healthy choices.

So I must plan a strategy to get me through Saturday and Sunday. I can bring fruits and nuts, which are easy to take along. And try to get some healthy smoothies somewhere. I may have to eat less raw vegan foods until I get home.

And I can buy a bunch of those raw vegan bars from the health food store…..