Please note that we have now moved to:
www.rawfoodlifestyles.com
See you there!
Linda
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Raw Food Diet : Detox Symptoms Part 1
Detox symptoms are one of the most talked-about things in any raw food diet. Regardless of the respective school of philosophy, most raw food gurus have much to comment on the topic of detox symptoms.
Based on experiences about myself, newbies and veteran raw foodists whom I know, most had at some point of time in their raw lifehoods, went through detox periods. These can range from mild fatigue to full-blown colds/fevers.
The key to remember here is that no 2 people are alike, and there is no standard benchmark you should measure yourself against. Your body speaks to you! Always follow your instincts if you feel you are not well enough to carry on, and seek professional treatment if you feel the need to.
Of course if you have been eating totally raw and still experience detox synptoms after a year, it is not normal! You may be following the diet wrongly, or you could be eating the wrong foods.
For myself, even though I was eating mostly raw for 2 years, my detox synptoms came only 3 weeks after I turned 100% raw. The first 3 days of going 100% was already amazing for me with the following changes:
1) My mental fog lifted and I started to see the world as it is, not as what we have been conditioned to.
2) I felt so full of love for the nature, the eco-life, the animals and fellow human beings I see everywhere.
3) My skin glowed and my eyes cleared.
4) I was eating buckets of food everyday! And gained a little weight ;)
5) My energy level increased by about 50%.
These continued for the next 3 weeks. And then the big detox synptoms came. I felt really lethargic, tired, and suffered an intense cold which lasted a full week. I slept most of the time, drinking only blended soups because no food could make it through the mountain of ulcers in my mouth! I had fever too, and it was simply miserable!
But guess what - after that week, I had been flying till now! I dropped some weight during that sick period (for good!), and had an even more amazing list of experiences:
1) My energy levels shot through the roof! I was literally over the moon with joy because I could run & swim with almost double my speed and not feel tired. I'm usually back to shape the next day without aches or pains.
2) My mental focus sharpened greatly.
3) Intuition improved.
4) My hair started turning black after 4 months!
5) I'm constantly happy for no reason. And when I do get stressed at work, it does not get into me!
6) I need lesser sleep hours and get more work done!
You know what - I could go on for ages. To me, I got these experiences after my detox period and so I thought you may wish to hear about them too! Until today I'm still over the moon, or maybe even beyond the milky way :)
To read more, please refer to Raw Food Diet : Detox Synptoms Part 2
Join me and jump for joy today, because nothing beats being alive!
Love from Linda
(C) Copyright 2008, Linda Loo
Based on experiences about myself, newbies and veteran raw foodists whom I know, most had at some point of time in their raw lifehoods, went through detox periods. These can range from mild fatigue to full-blown colds/fevers.
The key to remember here is that no 2 people are alike, and there is no standard benchmark you should measure yourself against. Your body speaks to you! Always follow your instincts if you feel you are not well enough to carry on, and seek professional treatment if you feel the need to.
Of course if you have been eating totally raw and still experience detox synptoms after a year, it is not normal! You may be following the diet wrongly, or you could be eating the wrong foods.
For myself, even though I was eating mostly raw for 2 years, my detox synptoms came only 3 weeks after I turned 100% raw. The first 3 days of going 100% was already amazing for me with the following changes:
1) My mental fog lifted and I started to see the world as it is, not as what we have been conditioned to.
2) I felt so full of love for the nature, the eco-life, the animals and fellow human beings I see everywhere.
3) My skin glowed and my eyes cleared.
4) I was eating buckets of food everyday! And gained a little weight ;)
5) My energy level increased by about 50%.
These continued for the next 3 weeks. And then the big detox synptoms came. I felt really lethargic, tired, and suffered an intense cold which lasted a full week. I slept most of the time, drinking only blended soups because no food could make it through the mountain of ulcers in my mouth! I had fever too, and it was simply miserable!
But guess what - after that week, I had been flying till now! I dropped some weight during that sick period (for good!), and had an even more amazing list of experiences:
1) My energy levels shot through the roof! I was literally over the moon with joy because I could run & swim with almost double my speed and not feel tired. I'm usually back to shape the next day without aches or pains.
2) My mental focus sharpened greatly.
3) Intuition improved.
4) My hair started turning black after 4 months!
5) I'm constantly happy for no reason. And when I do get stressed at work, it does not get into me!
6) I need lesser sleep hours and get more work done!
You know what - I could go on for ages. To me, I got these experiences after my detox period and so I thought you may wish to hear about them too! Until today I'm still over the moon, or maybe even beyond the milky way :)
To read more, please refer to Raw Food Diet : Detox Synptoms Part 2
Join me and jump for joy today, because nothing beats being alive!
Love from Linda
(C) Copyright 2008, Linda Loo
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Breaking Fitness Records!
After the charity milk run some weeks back where I had amazingly completed 9.4km in an hour, I still was unable to accept the truth that my fitness had shot through the roof. And I wasn't even training at all!
Well actually, we were not running at our best. (By the way, we brisk walked from china town to the race starting point - which is about 1.5km approximately.) During the race, we were half running, half walking and making jokes with the race volunteers. And then halfway through, a young girl tripped and fell in front of us. My partner ran off to summon the medic, while I stayed to help.
All in all, I think the delay took about 5 - 7 mins. And I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw my timing of 1 hour at the finishing line! I thought my watch was not working or something ;)
That night was a serious reflection time for me. I recalled the time when I was training furiously for a half-marathon 3 years ago. I used the word "furiously" because I had only 3 months to prepare for it, and I had never attempted running so long before.
I bought all the running books I could lay my hands on, diet, strength exercises, yoga (well, yoga did actually help by speeding up recovery), and signed up for online training guides (like the famous Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle by Tom Venuto. And, my timing for both the Singapore & Hong Kong marathons was 2 hours 40 mins & 2 hours 50 mins respectively.
I was doing interval, weights, and the step up trainings, in fact everything the experts were teaching. I also had aching joints, sore knees (which I resolved by taking calcium tablets) and sore ankles. Although i felt fitter and stronger, but the recovery days were long.
And now, 3 years older, I'm faster, lighter and younger. Life is good man!
Of course, I may not be among the best, and there are many more fit buffs like you gals & guys out there who are better than me. But the idea is not to compete against others; rather, a continuous challenge to myself to always be at my best, achieving my fullest potential. Now ain't it cool!
Are you living at your fullest right now, because nothing beats being alive.
Greens make me fly!
May all you who read this be full of abundance, love, joy, super stamina, youth and radiance :)
Linda Loo
Well actually, we were not running at our best. (By the way, we brisk walked from china town to the race starting point - which is about 1.5km approximately.) During the race, we were half running, half walking and making jokes with the race volunteers. And then halfway through, a young girl tripped and fell in front of us. My partner ran off to summon the medic, while I stayed to help.
All in all, I think the delay took about 5 - 7 mins. And I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw my timing of 1 hour at the finishing line! I thought my watch was not working or something ;)
That night was a serious reflection time for me. I recalled the time when I was training furiously for a half-marathon 3 years ago. I used the word "furiously" because I had only 3 months to prepare for it, and I had never attempted running so long before.
I bought all the running books I could lay my hands on, diet, strength exercises, yoga (well, yoga did actually help by speeding up recovery), and signed up for online training guides (like the famous Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle by Tom Venuto. And, my timing for both the Singapore & Hong Kong marathons was 2 hours 40 mins & 2 hours 50 mins respectively.
I was doing interval, weights, and the step up trainings, in fact everything the experts were teaching. I also had aching joints, sore knees (which I resolved by taking calcium tablets) and sore ankles. Although i felt fitter and stronger, but the recovery days were long.
And now, 3 years older, I'm faster, lighter and younger. Life is good man!
Of course, I may not be among the best, and there are many more fit buffs like you gals & guys out there who are better than me. But the idea is not to compete against others; rather, a continuous challenge to myself to always be at my best, achieving my fullest potential. Now ain't it cool!
Are you living at your fullest right now, because nothing beats being alive.
Greens make me fly!
May all you who read this be full of abundance, love, joy, super stamina, youth and radiance :)
Linda Loo
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Do You Microwave?
Are you one of the many who owns a microwave and appreciates its convenience? I was definitely one of them, being the busy executive who is always running short on time. At one point in my life, I was using the microwave oven to cook anything from packaged foods, pop corn, vegetables, meat and even warm drinks & soups. And man, I was definitely not in the best of shape then!
2 years ago, I read an article posted by a health forum user about his experiments on plants. He took 2 identical live potted plants, and watered them for 7 days using a) tap water from the tap, and b) tap water heated by a microwave oven and cooled. He then took pictures of the 2 plants, which looked shocking! The one watered with the microwave water died, shriveled and dark; while the one watered with normal tap water looked normal and alive.
Although I was unable to trace the authenticity of the article, it was enough to deter me from living off the microwave oven. After digging out various research reports on electromagnetic microwaves and how they affect our food, I gradually cut down my microwave oven usage. Then, last year when I conducted the water experiment on my own cactus, I threw out the microwave.
What disturbs me until today is that for every 6 friends I share this with, only 1 seems to have vaguely heard this before, but nonetheless still using his/her microwave oven; while the other 5 of them had never heard of it before. This is less than a 20% probability and it is not optimistic at all!
How Do Microwaves Cook Our Food?
Microwaves are a form of Electro-Magnetic Waves. These waves are used today in the technology of cell phones, television and satellite computer information. They are used to relay information via signals.
From what I had been able to gather from research, microwave ovens contain magnetrons which produce microwave radiation to interact with food molecules. These radiation causes food polar molecules to vibrate, and thus create molecular “friction” – which heats up the food from within. But at the same time, it causes substantial damage to the surrounding food molecules – either by shattering or deforming them.
This form of cooking is considered unnatural and have even been found to mutate some food molecules into carcinogens (which is cancer causing).
Along the way, I have also discovered some interesting facts:
1)Most of these research were undocumented and none of them had been formally approved officially either by FDA or government authorities.
2)The doctors & scientists involved in the research are either retired, self- employed, or had gotten into trouble before with the authorities at some point in time. A very good example is Dr Hans Ulrich Hertel. You can simply google his name and read more of his works.
3)Some established health sites which I visit frequently still has a “neutral” opinion on microwave ovens. And they are trusted, credible sites which I read for health information.
Well I guess they must have their reasons and stands for having that view. In order to get unbiased evidence, I simply use multiple sources for reading & research over the years.
For those of you who are intrigued by EMFs (Electro-Magnetic Fields) and how they can possibly affect us, here are 2 books which I’m sure can satisfy you:
1)Cross Currents: The Perils of ElectroPollution, The Promise of ElectroMedicine by Dr Robert O Becker
2)Electromagnetic Fields: A Consumer's Guide to the Issues and How to Protect Ourselves by B Blake Levitt.
If you want free research, you can also get them from the internet. In fact, once you start to look for it, you can see the evidence everywhere! I have read enough over the past 2 years to know that microwaved foods are not good for me, and I want to be responsible for my own health.
Perhaps for a start, you can try to pay close attention to how foods taste when they are cooked using microwave ovens. And if you really must, then conduct an experiment on your plants. (Well not that I recommend it, but given a choice between you and your plants’ lives, I would choose yours for sure!)
And ever remember your mother’s comment that microwaved foods taste funny and unnatural? Perhaps some mothers do know best after all!
Of course, that also depends on where you stand currently. For a person who is living off fried foods, soda, alcohol and cigarettes, EMFs are probably not that dangerous at all, on a relative scale. But if you are someone like me who is concerned about long-term well-being and want to consistently be at my best, it is definitely a worthy concern.
Cheers to Your Abundance, Health & Joy!
© Copyright, 2008 Linda Loo
2 years ago, I read an article posted by a health forum user about his experiments on plants. He took 2 identical live potted plants, and watered them for 7 days using a) tap water from the tap, and b) tap water heated by a microwave oven and cooled. He then took pictures of the 2 plants, which looked shocking! The one watered with the microwave water died, shriveled and dark; while the one watered with normal tap water looked normal and alive.
Although I was unable to trace the authenticity of the article, it was enough to deter me from living off the microwave oven. After digging out various research reports on electromagnetic microwaves and how they affect our food, I gradually cut down my microwave oven usage. Then, last year when I conducted the water experiment on my own cactus, I threw out the microwave.
What disturbs me until today is that for every 6 friends I share this with, only 1 seems to have vaguely heard this before, but nonetheless still using his/her microwave oven; while the other 5 of them had never heard of it before. This is less than a 20% probability and it is not optimistic at all!
How Do Microwaves Cook Our Food?
Microwaves are a form of Electro-Magnetic Waves. These waves are used today in the technology of cell phones, television and satellite computer information. They are used to relay information via signals.
From what I had been able to gather from research, microwave ovens contain magnetrons which produce microwave radiation to interact with food molecules. These radiation causes food polar molecules to vibrate, and thus create molecular “friction” – which heats up the food from within. But at the same time, it causes substantial damage to the surrounding food molecules – either by shattering or deforming them.
This form of cooking is considered unnatural and have even been found to mutate some food molecules into carcinogens (which is cancer causing).
Along the way, I have also discovered some interesting facts:
1)Most of these research were undocumented and none of them had been formally approved officially either by FDA or government authorities.
2)The doctors & scientists involved in the research are either retired, self- employed, or had gotten into trouble before with the authorities at some point in time. A very good example is Dr Hans Ulrich Hertel. You can simply google his name and read more of his works.
3)Some established health sites which I visit frequently still has a “neutral” opinion on microwave ovens. And they are trusted, credible sites which I read for health information.
Well I guess they must have their reasons and stands for having that view. In order to get unbiased evidence, I simply use multiple sources for reading & research over the years.
For those of you who are intrigued by EMFs (Electro-Magnetic Fields) and how they can possibly affect us, here are 2 books which I’m sure can satisfy you:
1)Cross Currents: The Perils of ElectroPollution, The Promise of ElectroMedicine by Dr Robert O Becker
2)Electromagnetic Fields: A Consumer's Guide to the Issues and How to Protect Ourselves by B Blake Levitt.
If you want free research, you can also get them from the internet. In fact, once you start to look for it, you can see the evidence everywhere! I have read enough over the past 2 years to know that microwaved foods are not good for me, and I want to be responsible for my own health.
Perhaps for a start, you can try to pay close attention to how foods taste when they are cooked using microwave ovens. And if you really must, then conduct an experiment on your plants. (Well not that I recommend it, but given a choice between you and your plants’ lives, I would choose yours for sure!)
And ever remember your mother’s comment that microwaved foods taste funny and unnatural? Perhaps some mothers do know best after all!
Of course, that also depends on where you stand currently. For a person who is living off fried foods, soda, alcohol and cigarettes, EMFs are probably not that dangerous at all, on a relative scale. But if you are someone like me who is concerned about long-term well-being and want to consistently be at my best, it is definitely a worthy concern.
Cheers to Your Abundance, Health & Joy!
© Copyright, 2008 Linda Loo
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Raw For Life Video Clip
Enjoy! I was especially attracted by what the top athletes and trainers had to say. Because if eating this way makes them so outstanding and fit, I'm sure it can't be bad for me! ;)
Baby On Green Smoothie
This is one of those rare videos of crying babies, which makes me laugh!
If something tastes so good to a baby, who knows nothing better, ain't it gonna appeal to us too?
If something tastes so good to a baby, who knows nothing better, ain't it gonna appeal to us too?
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Raw Food Diet For Beginners: Top 5 Essentials You Must Know!
Now that you are finally convinced that Raw Food makes sense, and ready to make some changes, it is time for action! Whether you are using raw foods to heal from a chronic health condition, for its beauty enhancing properties, or just to lose a few pounds and get back in shape, there are some tips to help you succeed when you first embark on the journey:
1) Take Baby Steps
Remember: small changes on a sustainable basis go a long way! It is better to start with a small change every day which you can keep up, rather than dive nose-deep into a totally new diet only to spiral into a binge on junk processed food again.
For newbies, you can start by replacing one meal a day with fresh fruits & vegetables. I would suggest having an all-fruit breakfast. You can have anything – apples, papayas, mangoes, bananas etc. Just take note to eat enough to last you till lunch. Most people will not eat enough fruit and they get ravenous before lunch. Because of the high water & fiber content of fruits, you can’t eat much of them at one go. But because they are relatively less calorie-dense (compared to your conventional breakfasts of cooked noodles, corn-flakes, breads etc), you become hungry pretty soon again. The trick is to incorporate more bananas, mangoes and other more calorie-dense fruits to fill you up. If I’m forced to choose only one type of fruit, I would go with bananas. They charge you up with simple sugars, make you full, and can keep you going indeed! Do you know you would have enough fuel to run 10 km just on 2 medium bananas?
If it is possible for you, another way to start is to have fresh fruits before every meal you eat in a day. Now this is definitely going to benefit you! When you eat fruits on an empty stomach, the vitamins & nutrients are assimilated properly by your body and you reap all the benefits. As an added bonus, it also takes up some stomach space so that you will not over-eat the main course.
We often hear people complaining that fruits give them gas, or cause stomach upsets, and so they avoid fruits. Do you know why? Fruit gets a bad name here simply because they are eaten at a wrong time. When you eat a heavy meal consisting of meats, cooked fats & other processed stuffs, your body needs time to break them down. These foods move slowly in your digestive tracts. And what happens when you shove down that piece of fruit? It stays there & ferments while waiting for the rest of the earlier foods to digest. The process of fermentation produces gas, which is what usually people feel uncomfortable about. Furthermore, the nutrients of the fruit are not properly absorbed.
For anyone on a meat concentrated, highly processed & nutrient-void diet, any small change could save his/her life tomorrow or in future.
2) Exercise!
This is vital for anybody seriously looking to change to a healthy life-style! I’m not kidding – nobody can succeed on the road to health transformation without moving your body. Well nobody’s saying you should run a marathon, but even a few minutes of running up the stairs can do you good. It’s very simple actually, to incorporate just 15 – 30 minutes of brisk walking, or slow jogging everyday. If you can do 30 – 45 minutes of simple cardio 4 -5 times a week, even better!
For those who are really leading superman/superwoman lives with completely no extra time to work out, here are some tricks you may find useful to sneak exercise into your day:
For drivers, park your vehicle at a fair proximity to your destination, and use that to do a fast walk to & from your car. Or try to leave the car on weekends, and take public transport to your travel points. If you travel with family or friends, you can take the time to catch up with them (interactions are more fulfilled since you don’t have to watch the road!), if you are alone you can read or listen to your favorite MP3. Unless you really need the car for transportation purposes, you will enjoy the break from driving!
This one is a no-brainer – take the stairs whenever you can.
Busy moms may find this useful – when you move around the house, try to tie a small weight to each of your ankles. If you live in a house with stairs, even better! You will find that just 20 minutes of moving around or doing light housework with this little trick can bring your heart rate up & if you move fast enough, even work out a good sweat! (Just remember to watch where you step in case you trip.)
Another one for busy moms – put on your favorite dance music when you do housework and dance to it. Have fun & work out at the same time!
If everything else fails, remember – just taking a short brisk walk of 15 – 20 minutes a day makes a huge difference to someone who does not move his/her body at all!
3) Know how to Make 7 Easy Raw Recipes
This is when you are past the fruit breakfast stage. I love fruits and I can survive on them all day! However, you may not be able to get everything you need from a pure fruit diet, so you will need to eat other vegetables & some nuts/seeds.
I suggest 7 recipes because these is the minimum you need to know to sustain yourself. You can rotate a recipe everyday & not get sick of them at all. When you are ready to move on to the next stage, then you may want to learn about making raw gourmet treats to indulge yourself!
In order to be sustainable & practical - the recipes should meet the following guidelines:
They must be easy to prepare, preferably under 15 minutes.
They should include easily available ingredients which you can get everyday from your local market.
Of course, they need to be tasty to satisfy you. Hey afterall, eating is an enjoyment isn’t it!
They must be filling enough to keep you full until the next meal.
You should be able to easily make more and store for your next meal. (Although I don’t recommend this since it is much better to eat them fresh while the nutrients are still intact.) This is again for those of you who are already leading super-crazy lives.
4) Find a Support Buddy or Group
Humans are not designed to be alone! If you are lucky enough to stumble onto Raw Foods, chances are you are probably the only one in your family, neighborhood or even community. It takes tremendous strength & conviction to take on a change alone – and you already should be applauded for it! But also bear in mind that most people fall away because of peer and social pressure.
The solution to this is to find a Raw Support Group, or a Raw Buddy. Remember how gym instructors motivate us? And how exercise columns always advise us to find a work-out buddy? It’s the same theory. You need to have some form of support along the way, otherwise you will almost definitely fail! When you first start out, I guarantee that you will meet with criticisms, sneers, and defensive people who are out to crush you. But you do not need to focus on that…. Rather, focus on the positive. Feed what you want to grow, and ignore what you want to die (starve it & it dies!). Keep your mind on your objective & most importantly, don’t let others tell you what’s best for your body. Go and feel it for yourself.
Surround yourself with the right people. If you cannot find a raw vegan group, then surround yourself with encouraging, health - conscious people who are naturally more open-minded. Even if you can’t talk about raw foods, their positive energy will do you good.
When I first started out on a raw lifestyle in Singapore, I stood out like a sore thumb. People view me as a weirdo at best, and a lunatic at worst. Friends & family frown on my diet with disapproval. Social situations turned out extremely bad because I was still learning how to handle them. (By the way, you can manage family & social gatherings beautifully even on a raw lifestyle ;) read my Socialization on a Raw Vegan Lifestyle – Top 5 Survival Tips You Must Know!) But guess what? I ignored the critics and listened to my own body, and I succeeded. And the reward for that is a list of amazing benefits which outnumbered the effort by far!
5) Observe Your Own Body
Last but definitely not in any way less important, you need to keep track of your progress! If you do not know how your body is reacting, what is going to keep you on course? And would you be even able to measure your results against your objective?
“Feel your body” is the most common advice I give to beginners. You need to listen to it and see what it is telling you, how it is coping, what you are doing, good or bad. Most of the time, we busy city dwellers don’t know how it feels to connect with our body, and by the time the signs show, it is usually too late. I’m not asking you to sit cross-legged and “ohmmm” your way to try and levitate. I’m talking about simple daily observation of your body system. How do you feel when you first wake up, do you wake up with serious bad breath and a coated tongue, how do you feel when you eat your first meal, after various different meals, how do you feel after a particular food, how do you feel after a good work-out etc… these tells you volumes about yourself! Someone who ignores how donuts & coke is affecting him will continue to eat them for decades until he/she hears bad news about their health. And by the way, the same donut & coke fella will not know how these foods make him feel because the body is already numb to it. Put him on raw foods for a week and then ask him how he feels!
Depending on the foods you eat, you will feel different. Humans are able to survive on many kinds of foods, but to the extent of life quality, health condition, fitness & how good you look outside? They can greatly vary! I choose to eat Raw Foods because I want the best out of my life. I want to live long, live joyful, look beautiful, accomplish more things, and save some money on medical bills later in life! I want to run like never before, break my own records, realize my maximum potential & perform at peak every day. Because for me, life is simply too short to be “unliving” ;)
Remember to always have fun – whether in Life or with Raw Foods!
© Copyright, 2008 Linda Loo
1) Take Baby Steps
Remember: small changes on a sustainable basis go a long way! It is better to start with a small change every day which you can keep up, rather than dive nose-deep into a totally new diet only to spiral into a binge on junk processed food again.
For newbies, you can start by replacing one meal a day with fresh fruits & vegetables. I would suggest having an all-fruit breakfast. You can have anything – apples, papayas, mangoes, bananas etc. Just take note to eat enough to last you till lunch. Most people will not eat enough fruit and they get ravenous before lunch. Because of the high water & fiber content of fruits, you can’t eat much of them at one go. But because they are relatively less calorie-dense (compared to your conventional breakfasts of cooked noodles, corn-flakes, breads etc), you become hungry pretty soon again. The trick is to incorporate more bananas, mangoes and other more calorie-dense fruits to fill you up. If I’m forced to choose only one type of fruit, I would go with bananas. They charge you up with simple sugars, make you full, and can keep you going indeed! Do you know you would have enough fuel to run 10 km just on 2 medium bananas?
If it is possible for you, another way to start is to have fresh fruits before every meal you eat in a day. Now this is definitely going to benefit you! When you eat fruits on an empty stomach, the vitamins & nutrients are assimilated properly by your body and you reap all the benefits. As an added bonus, it also takes up some stomach space so that you will not over-eat the main course.
We often hear people complaining that fruits give them gas, or cause stomach upsets, and so they avoid fruits. Do you know why? Fruit gets a bad name here simply because they are eaten at a wrong time. When you eat a heavy meal consisting of meats, cooked fats & other processed stuffs, your body needs time to break them down. These foods move slowly in your digestive tracts. And what happens when you shove down that piece of fruit? It stays there & ferments while waiting for the rest of the earlier foods to digest. The process of fermentation produces gas, which is what usually people feel uncomfortable about. Furthermore, the nutrients of the fruit are not properly absorbed.
For anyone on a meat concentrated, highly processed & nutrient-void diet, any small change could save his/her life tomorrow or in future.
2) Exercise!
This is vital for anybody seriously looking to change to a healthy life-style! I’m not kidding – nobody can succeed on the road to health transformation without moving your body. Well nobody’s saying you should run a marathon, but even a few minutes of running up the stairs can do you good. It’s very simple actually, to incorporate just 15 – 30 minutes of brisk walking, or slow jogging everyday. If you can do 30 – 45 minutes of simple cardio 4 -5 times a week, even better!
For those who are really leading superman/superwoman lives with completely no extra time to work out, here are some tricks you may find useful to sneak exercise into your day:
For drivers, park your vehicle at a fair proximity to your destination, and use that to do a fast walk to & from your car. Or try to leave the car on weekends, and take public transport to your travel points. If you travel with family or friends, you can take the time to catch up with them (interactions are more fulfilled since you don’t have to watch the road!), if you are alone you can read or listen to your favorite MP3. Unless you really need the car for transportation purposes, you will enjoy the break from driving!
This one is a no-brainer – take the stairs whenever you can.
Busy moms may find this useful – when you move around the house, try to tie a small weight to each of your ankles. If you live in a house with stairs, even better! You will find that just 20 minutes of moving around or doing light housework with this little trick can bring your heart rate up & if you move fast enough, even work out a good sweat! (Just remember to watch where you step in case you trip.)
Another one for busy moms – put on your favorite dance music when you do housework and dance to it. Have fun & work out at the same time!
If everything else fails, remember – just taking a short brisk walk of 15 – 20 minutes a day makes a huge difference to someone who does not move his/her body at all!
3) Know how to Make 7 Easy Raw Recipes
This is when you are past the fruit breakfast stage. I love fruits and I can survive on them all day! However, you may not be able to get everything you need from a pure fruit diet, so you will need to eat other vegetables & some nuts/seeds.
I suggest 7 recipes because these is the minimum you need to know to sustain yourself. You can rotate a recipe everyday & not get sick of them at all. When you are ready to move on to the next stage, then you may want to learn about making raw gourmet treats to indulge yourself!
In order to be sustainable & practical - the recipes should meet the following guidelines:
They must be easy to prepare, preferably under 15 minutes.
They should include easily available ingredients which you can get everyday from your local market.
Of course, they need to be tasty to satisfy you. Hey afterall, eating is an enjoyment isn’t it!
They must be filling enough to keep you full until the next meal.
You should be able to easily make more and store for your next meal. (Although I don’t recommend this since it is much better to eat them fresh while the nutrients are still intact.) This is again for those of you who are already leading super-crazy lives.
4) Find a Support Buddy or Group
Humans are not designed to be alone! If you are lucky enough to stumble onto Raw Foods, chances are you are probably the only one in your family, neighborhood or even community. It takes tremendous strength & conviction to take on a change alone – and you already should be applauded for it! But also bear in mind that most people fall away because of peer and social pressure.
The solution to this is to find a Raw Support Group, or a Raw Buddy. Remember how gym instructors motivate us? And how exercise columns always advise us to find a work-out buddy? It’s the same theory. You need to have some form of support along the way, otherwise you will almost definitely fail! When you first start out, I guarantee that you will meet with criticisms, sneers, and defensive people who are out to crush you. But you do not need to focus on that…. Rather, focus on the positive. Feed what you want to grow, and ignore what you want to die (starve it & it dies!). Keep your mind on your objective & most importantly, don’t let others tell you what’s best for your body. Go and feel it for yourself.
Surround yourself with the right people. If you cannot find a raw vegan group, then surround yourself with encouraging, health - conscious people who are naturally more open-minded. Even if you can’t talk about raw foods, their positive energy will do you good.
When I first started out on a raw lifestyle in Singapore, I stood out like a sore thumb. People view me as a weirdo at best, and a lunatic at worst. Friends & family frown on my diet with disapproval. Social situations turned out extremely bad because I was still learning how to handle them. (By the way, you can manage family & social gatherings beautifully even on a raw lifestyle ;) read my Socialization on a Raw Vegan Lifestyle – Top 5 Survival Tips You Must Know!) But guess what? I ignored the critics and listened to my own body, and I succeeded. And the reward for that is a list of amazing benefits which outnumbered the effort by far!
5) Observe Your Own Body
Last but definitely not in any way less important, you need to keep track of your progress! If you do not know how your body is reacting, what is going to keep you on course? And would you be even able to measure your results against your objective?
“Feel your body” is the most common advice I give to beginners. You need to listen to it and see what it is telling you, how it is coping, what you are doing, good or bad. Most of the time, we busy city dwellers don’t know how it feels to connect with our body, and by the time the signs show, it is usually too late. I’m not asking you to sit cross-legged and “ohmmm” your way to try and levitate. I’m talking about simple daily observation of your body system. How do you feel when you first wake up, do you wake up with serious bad breath and a coated tongue, how do you feel when you eat your first meal, after various different meals, how do you feel after a particular food, how do you feel after a good work-out etc… these tells you volumes about yourself! Someone who ignores how donuts & coke is affecting him will continue to eat them for decades until he/she hears bad news about their health. And by the way, the same donut & coke fella will not know how these foods make him feel because the body is already numb to it. Put him on raw foods for a week and then ask him how he feels!
Depending on the foods you eat, you will feel different. Humans are able to survive on many kinds of foods, but to the extent of life quality, health condition, fitness & how good you look outside? They can greatly vary! I choose to eat Raw Foods because I want the best out of my life. I want to live long, live joyful, look beautiful, accomplish more things, and save some money on medical bills later in life! I want to run like never before, break my own records, realize my maximum potential & perform at peak every day. Because for me, life is simply too short to be “unliving” ;)
Remember to always have fun – whether in Life or with Raw Foods!
© Copyright, 2008 Linda Loo
Monday, July 7, 2008
Amazing Raw Food Videos!
This is where you find interesting raw food trailers & videos which contain real live testimonials and examples. Meet people from all over the world who have already been living this way, how it transformed their lives, what they have to say and most importantly, see how they look like! Then refer to my article: Top 10 Benefits of Eating Raw! and play a matching game :)
My Comments: This is one of my favourites, because it shows how easy & delicious it actually is! And yes, those sushi rolls, tantalizing pastas & pates and all kinds of amazing desserts are real, we make them effortlessly ;) Wanna find out how? Email me lindaloocs@yahoo.com.sg to find out about my classes!
My Comments: This one is just added as a teaser to tempt you! Honestly, the fantastic complexion & radiant, sexy looks are just bonus benefits; the real value far outweighs that - which includes healing & nourishment.
My Comments: This is one of my favourites, because it shows how easy & delicious it actually is! And yes, those sushi rolls, tantalizing pastas & pates and all kinds of amazing desserts are real, we make them effortlessly ;) Wanna find out how? Email me lindaloocs@yahoo.com.sg to find out about my classes!
My Comments: This one is just added as a teaser to tempt you! Honestly, the fantastic complexion & radiant, sexy looks are just bonus benefits; the real value far outweighs that - which includes healing & nourishment.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
When & How Did Raw Foods Come About?
Is the Raw Food Diet a new fad or trend that is seeping into Asia like the latest fashion statement? Well, I was never a fan of History, BUT I am definitely 1 curious cat. And because I am still alive (more than ever!), let’s explore some facts & research on the History of Raw Food, its Evolution & Place in Humanity. Now mind you, there is a TONNE of information, sometimes conflicting, on this topic which can knock out even a seasoned reader. And how do I deal with it? Simple - I just look at facts, research done by professionals & recognized Institutes, as well as actual living examples. And then of course I listened to my own body to see what works for me. It is pretty easy actually!
Humans are suffering from degenerative diseases generations after generations. In the latest decade, it seems to be getting out of hand. I have always noticed & be disturbed at the endless battle with new, unheard of diseases & ailments while our scientists furiously invent new "pills & drugs" for cure....
Before History on Raw Food was documented, there were some evidence from countries like Iran & India where early communities ate & thrived on raw vegan foods... Humans only learned & started to cook after they discovered fire, and we also happen to be the only species to cook our food.
Hippocrates was a student at "Mathematikoi" (a religious & philosophical school founded by Phythagoras where all students were required to be vegetarians), and Hipporates is a well-known figure (the Father of Medicine). From research, both Hippocrates & Phythagoras were believed to have eaten a primary raw vegan diet.
In 1930, Dr Paul Kouchakoff (from the Institute of Clinical Chemistry in Lausanne, Switzerland) proved a human body condition known as "Digestive Leukocytosis". This is a reaction where white blood cells in the body increase immediately, and is produced only when cooked foods are eaten. When natural & unheated plants are eaten, Leukocytosis did not occur. And what is this Leukocytosis relevant to? This is in fact, a stress response produced by the body when it is invaded by a dangerous pathogen (ie. a harmful virus) or trauma.
In 1933, Forbes EB wrote a paper saying that "Cooking renders food pasty, so that it sticks to the teeth, and undergoes acid fermentation..." His paper linked the consumption of cooked food to dental degeneration.
In 1936, dentist Weston A Prince also observed the latter amongst an evolving generation which abandoned unadulterated nutrient dense foods for nutrient- void processed foods. That was coincidentally a beginning period of civilization for humanity.
In 1941, Dr. Edward Howell, an Illinois physician, wrote Food Enzymes for Health & Longevity. And in 1981, he published Enzyme Nutrition And "Eat Me Raw". These 2 books claimed that the pancreas is forced to work harder on a diet of cooked foods, and that food enzymes are just as essential to digestion as the body's self-generated enzymes.
In 1966, A. Hovannessian healed his sick child with raw food, and published a book called "Raw Eating" in Iran.
In the late 1960s, Viktoras Kulvinskas & Ann Wigmore discovered powerful healing benefits of a raw diet. They opened The Hippocrates Institute (which by the way, is still very active today and managed by Dr Brian & Dr Maria Clement). The Institute has been curing sick people with "Incurable Diseases".
In 1975, after Viktoras published "Survival into the 21st Century", raw food started to trickle into the main stream. The Gersons Institute (based on raw food healing research by Dr Max Gerson) was set up shortly in 1977. "The New Raw Energy" by Leslie Kenton in 1984 further increased exposure of the raw food diet.
Now, up to then, raw food still comprised mainly of boring salads & juices. Along came pioneer raw gourmet chef Juliano, who entered the scene with his restaurant "Raw" in LA, California. He attracted movie stars and models whom suddenly seemed to gain youthfulness & beauty without surgery, now did that grab the media's attention! And do you know that Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson & Alicia Silverstone are raw foodists? I wouldn't mind having that body & youthfulness, not at all! ;)
Since then, the raw food scene has been exploding with new raw gourmet chefs, books, institutions to teach raw gourmet cuisine, raw food classes, and even motion pictures being made this very minute! You can see youthful & energetic "raw gurus" springing up all over US, UK, and yes, even Asia now. Go ahead & search for it - they are all over the place!
So, what is my take on Raw Vegan Foodism? Is a 100% Raw Vegan diet the best for health? To me it is quite simple... I know that just by adding more fresh vegetables & fruits to any of my meals make them healthier & more nutritious. We should not be promoting a Raw Vegan or even Vegan/Vegetarian Diet for everyone because honestly, nobody has a right to dictate what is a perfect diet for You. Because You, are unique and You have your own special nutritional requirements. As long as it works for your body, eat the freshest, least adulterated & least processed foods you can get your hands on. Just listen to Your Body and pay attention. Instead of 100% Raw or Vegan, focus on 100% health! We have got enough evidence, medical advice & even government endorsements which encourage consumption of fresh fruits & vegetables on a daily basis, to know that these are good for us. Period. Never mind 100% Raw or not, 100% vegan or not.... if you are like me, you will just want to get the most nutrients & taste out of every meal!
2 years ago, I spent like a prince but ate like a pauper. Expensive dinners at restaurants, popular hawker fare, donuts, commercially sold pies, pastries & beautifully packaged junk/convenient/pasteurized food (which are also ridiculously modified for the manufacturers' profit margins). I could blow a good S$3,000 just on food bills in a single month. At the same time, I visited the clinic for colds & fevers on the average of 3-4 times a year (not bad, considering Singapore's outpatient leave of 10-30 days per annum!). The interesting thing was that I looked 10 years older than me now.
How about now? I spend half of what I used to, and I eat like a King. I look way younger than I was 10 years ago. Don't believe? Come see for yourself! :)
Make your meals richer,
Eat like Kings & Queens!
© Copyright, 2008 Linda Loo
Humans are suffering from degenerative diseases generations after generations. In the latest decade, it seems to be getting out of hand. I have always noticed & be disturbed at the endless battle with new, unheard of diseases & ailments while our scientists furiously invent new "pills & drugs" for cure....
Before History on Raw Food was documented, there were some evidence from countries like Iran & India where early communities ate & thrived on raw vegan foods... Humans only learned & started to cook after they discovered fire, and we also happen to be the only species to cook our food.
Hippocrates was a student at "Mathematikoi" (a religious & philosophical school founded by Phythagoras where all students were required to be vegetarians), and Hipporates is a well-known figure (the Father of Medicine). From research, both Hippocrates & Phythagoras were believed to have eaten a primary raw vegan diet.
In 1930, Dr Paul Kouchakoff (from the Institute of Clinical Chemistry in Lausanne, Switzerland) proved a human body condition known as "Digestive Leukocytosis". This is a reaction where white blood cells in the body increase immediately, and is produced only when cooked foods are eaten. When natural & unheated plants are eaten, Leukocytosis did not occur. And what is this Leukocytosis relevant to? This is in fact, a stress response produced by the body when it is invaded by a dangerous pathogen (ie. a harmful virus) or trauma.
In 1933, Forbes EB wrote a paper saying that "Cooking renders food pasty, so that it sticks to the teeth, and undergoes acid fermentation..." His paper linked the consumption of cooked food to dental degeneration.
In 1936, dentist Weston A Prince also observed the latter amongst an evolving generation which abandoned unadulterated nutrient dense foods for nutrient- void processed foods. That was coincidentally a beginning period of civilization for humanity.
In 1941, Dr. Edward Howell, an Illinois physician, wrote Food Enzymes for Health & Longevity. And in 1981, he published Enzyme Nutrition And "Eat Me Raw". These 2 books claimed that the pancreas is forced to work harder on a diet of cooked foods, and that food enzymes are just as essential to digestion as the body's self-generated enzymes.
In 1966, A. Hovannessian healed his sick child with raw food, and published a book called "Raw Eating" in Iran.
In the late 1960s, Viktoras Kulvinskas & Ann Wigmore discovered powerful healing benefits of a raw diet. They opened The Hippocrates Institute (which by the way, is still very active today and managed by Dr Brian & Dr Maria Clement). The Institute has been curing sick people with "Incurable Diseases".
In 1975, after Viktoras published "Survival into the 21st Century", raw food started to trickle into the main stream. The Gersons Institute (based on raw food healing research by Dr Max Gerson) was set up shortly in 1977. "The New Raw Energy" by Leslie Kenton in 1984 further increased exposure of the raw food diet.
Now, up to then, raw food still comprised mainly of boring salads & juices. Along came pioneer raw gourmet chef Juliano, who entered the scene with his restaurant "Raw" in LA, California. He attracted movie stars and models whom suddenly seemed to gain youthfulness & beauty without surgery, now did that grab the media's attention! And do you know that Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson & Alicia Silverstone are raw foodists? I wouldn't mind having that body & youthfulness, not at all! ;)
Since then, the raw food scene has been exploding with new raw gourmet chefs, books, institutions to teach raw gourmet cuisine, raw food classes, and even motion pictures being made this very minute! You can see youthful & energetic "raw gurus" springing up all over US, UK, and yes, even Asia now. Go ahead & search for it - they are all over the place!
So, what is my take on Raw Vegan Foodism? Is a 100% Raw Vegan diet the best for health? To me it is quite simple... I know that just by adding more fresh vegetables & fruits to any of my meals make them healthier & more nutritious. We should not be promoting a Raw Vegan or even Vegan/Vegetarian Diet for everyone because honestly, nobody has a right to dictate what is a perfect diet for You. Because You, are unique and You have your own special nutritional requirements. As long as it works for your body, eat the freshest, least adulterated & least processed foods you can get your hands on. Just listen to Your Body and pay attention. Instead of 100% Raw or Vegan, focus on 100% health! We have got enough evidence, medical advice & even government endorsements which encourage consumption of fresh fruits & vegetables on a daily basis, to know that these are good for us. Period. Never mind 100% Raw or not, 100% vegan or not.... if you are like me, you will just want to get the most nutrients & taste out of every meal!
2 years ago, I spent like a prince but ate like a pauper. Expensive dinners at restaurants, popular hawker fare, donuts, commercially sold pies, pastries & beautifully packaged junk/convenient/pasteurized food (which are also ridiculously modified for the manufacturers' profit margins). I could blow a good S$3,000 just on food bills in a single month. At the same time, I visited the clinic for colds & fevers on the average of 3-4 times a year (not bad, considering Singapore's outpatient leave of 10-30 days per annum!). The interesting thing was that I looked 10 years older than me now.
How about now? I spend half of what I used to, and I eat like a King. I look way younger than I was 10 years ago. Don't believe? Come see for yourself! :)
Make your meals richer,
Eat like Kings & Queens!
© Copyright, 2008 Linda Loo
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Top 5 Raw Food Myths & Misconcepts
Myth No. 1
Raw Food is too strict, like a Religion
Raw Food is too strict, like a Religion
It can't be further than the truth! Raw Food is NOT a religion & it should not be treated or cause people to behave in any of that direction. It is about a way of eating to sustain our best possible health as well as for the best of our Mother Earth. Nurturing & protecting Mother Earth is crucial for our survival because it is our natural habitat, and we are so connected to it that mankind will perish if Mother Earth gets destroyed.
There have been different views and theories in the Raw community, and there are also some groups with stronger opinions. I respect all of that, and I also respect that every individual has the right to choose his/her own pace. As long as the awareness is created, and we continue to make the information & skills available, we should allow everybody to progress at their own level. In fact, just adding more salads & vegetables will make that person's diet healthier for that day.
Personally, I choose to eat this way because I perform at my best on it! There are days when I eat steamed vegetables because I get really hungry outside. Its no big deal actually - just that I could have enjoyed my meal & gotten much more nutrients if I were to eat a raw salad. You can always make up for that by eating extra raw veges when available later.
There were a few occasions which I deliberately ate some meat, cooked roots, and even bread, just to see what difference it made to me. Well, it definitely did not knock me out, so don't worry! I just did not feel as good - when I ate meat I could feel the meat sitting inside my stomach taking hours to move, & the next day there was an obvious odour in my perspiration which shocked me! When I had the boiled roots it was just discomfort & grumpiness for a few hours after the meal, next day was ok. When I ate bread, I felt all sleepy and the next day, I wake with lesser energy & slight body stiffness. For all 3 occasions, I felt determined not to touch them again the next day. So, I would say that I choose to eat raw because I eat whatever that makes me feel good!
Myth No. 2
Raw Food is Medicine
It is food we are talking about, food we use to nourish our cells, repair our bodies & organs so that all's well under the roof. The real magic is not in the Raw Foods; it is in The Human Body. Our intelligent body system have the ability to heal & repair itself, IF you respect it & treat it properly. That includes a clean diet, clean water, adequate rest, adequate exercise, love & laughter! When you embark on Raw Foods, you are freeing your body of the years of abuse delivered from over-processed foods void of nutrients & enzymes, AND at the same time, supplying it with vitamins, minerals & enzymes! When treated kindly, the body automatically performs magic to heal & becomes at its best!
Myth No. 3
Raw Food is Boring/Unpalatable
What's that again? I always cannot understand this comment about being "boring". It is possible to create a new raw dish every single day of your life - if you choose to ;) You can almost achieve that just by combining 2 different fruits together every single day - and we are talking about nothing else besides fruits. Till today, I continue to be amazed at the creative power of human beings, how more raw chefs are springing up from all across the continents & joined the
movement, making available all the amazing new recipes!
Technically, it is not exactly raw like you take pluck a leaf and eat it straight. You process it in a blender to break it down so that our bodies can digest it, and also season with some quality ingredients like sea salt, miso, vinegar etc. There are also dehydrated foods like crackers & breads & cookies, where the food is heated to a max of 115 degrees F. These are especially great when you are travelling.
Myth No. 4
Raw Food is unsustainable
I am living proof that it CAN be done, even on the beautiful island of Singapore. Just because you are different from the rest does not mean you are not doing the right thing. I can write a whole course on eating this way sustainably for as long as you want to - there are so many ways & its such a fun, interesting & inspiring journey!
Myth No. 5
Raw Food is Impractical
Some people think that this lifestyle is expensive. Well guess what, in the long run, you actually save alot more. There are no gas bills to pay for cooking. Instead of blowing a regular fortune at the restaurants, you use the money to buy better quality foods from the supermarket; you save so much from just cutting out meat, dairy & processed stuffs - they cost more than fresh produce because you are actually paying the manufacturers, distributors, advertisers etc in between. If you buy fresh produce, you are only paying for the farmers' labour, transport and a small margin to the supermarket. You also save in terms of medical bills because your natural immunity system is higher and you are less prone to common illnesses. And oh yes, did I mention the energy already? You will have the energy to accomplish more than what you could before. Personally, I get more things done than most of my peers in a single day than they can in 2 days or more. Now what does that mean to you? Simple, more energy = more work done = better productivity = promotion & bonus = money.
That's all for today folks. There will be more related, value packed posts coming up on this subject, so stay with me!
Yours in The Best of Health!
(c) Copyright, 2008 Linda Loo
Raw Food Diet: Top 10 Benefits of Eating Raw Foods Diet!
I had always preferred the name Live Foods rather than Raw Foods. The name Live Foods is self-explanatory: We are alive, so eat live foods!
Instead of a lengthy explanation of the molecular structure of a sprout, I prefer a more layman & straightforward of live foods. Put simply, live foods are “living” foods which contain life forms and are capable of growing. Before you eat something, ask yourself, will this food grow if you plant the seeds in the ground & water it? If yes, that food is a living food. A fresh apple will grow; but a bag of apple chips, apple pie/strudel will not!
Some of the comments I get from people on the Raw/Live Foods diet are: "Boring, unpalatable, bland, unsustainable etc". Personally, I think it is just a question of how to, and whether you want to make an effort towards better health. After you take action to start, its impossible not to carry on because you taste the sweetness & power of superior Health, Energy AND Clarity!
There is an endless list of the benefits of going raw......When we first start on a clean & fresh diet, our magnificent body goes into the healing & re-building mode, where millions of chemical processes are carried out to rid our toxins, nourish our cells & heal the impaired organs for a maximum performing body. Behold the magic of our body!Just for the fun of it, I always like to notice the positive benefits, list them down, and then think about how much I would love to share that with everybody I know :)
Today, let's just list 10 of them:
1) You literally jump out of bed every morning feeling vibrant, alive & totally awake.
2) You have more energy than you can remember before, AND you are more energetic than most people your age.
3) You have clear sparkling eyes. If you already have large, sparkling eyes, than eating live foods will give you the most beautiful pair of shutters!
4) You drop excess weight naturally, AND you maintain your ideal weight effortlessly. Ladies, imagine that! (Seriously, the benefit of weight loss & maintenance is a "by-product" that is good to have. People who have gone raw before will know exactly what I am talking about!)
5) You have clear, dewy skin that is the envy of all your friends. If your skin is already in good condition before, than eating live foods will give you young, firm skin which is irressistable to touch! Another bonus for the ladies ;)
6) You are already taking a road AWAY from the top killers like diabetes, cancer & heart diseases on a live foods diet, because the diet excludes all the causal factors by default. Goodbye to diseases & Hello to good health!
7) You have better stamina than before, even if you do not exercise that much. The first time i went raw, I could run 10 km all the way breathing through my nose. And if you are a weight-lifting fanatic, this is something you definitely want to try because you will have so much more energy to train and build your dream body!
8) This is my favourite: after about 4 months, my grey hair started turning black! I have personally come across people who was bald before had their hair grow back after 6months on raw, and some others who reported disappearing of grey hairs after 30 - 60 days.
9) You feel happy, smiley & peaceful. There are countless raw foodies who experiences a natural & lasting "buzz" or "high" all the time!
10) It is fun & you get to eat a large variety of foods. Mother Earth has presented to us such a large array of fuits, vegetables, nuts & seeds that you can create new tasty dishes for every day of your life! Have you ever noticed how good a durian or mango taste the moment you cut it up & devour it? It does not need seasoning, cooking or additional ingredients to make it edible because that is what nature has given us.
Live today!Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is Mystery, Today is a Present.
Cheers to Your Best Health & the Greatest Laughter Possible ;)
(C) Copyright, 2008 Linda Loo
(C) Copyright, 2008 Linda Loo
Monday, June 9, 2008
Should We Go Organic?
Global organic food consumption has doubled over the period 2002 to 2006. Standing at an impressive US$40b as at 2006, it is one of the fastest growing sectors in the food industry. In Singapore, we have also seen rapidly climbing sales where in 2007 alone, distributors & retailers reported a doubling in sales of organic foodstuffs, skincare & baby products.
So what then is organic food? Put simply, they are food stuffs grown and produced without the conventional use of pesticides, artificial fertilizers, genetical modifications & food additives. Organic livestock typically refers to animals raised without the use of antibiotics or growth hormones.
Why eat organic food? Besides freeing our body the burden of cleansing & detoxing these harmful chemicals & artificial additives, organic food also contains more nutrients then their commercial counterparts. A 4 year study funded by the European Union showed that organic fruit & vegetables contained more than up to 40% more anti-oxidants than conventional equivalents.
Is it possible & sustainable in Singapore? Organic foods are generally more expensive than conventional ones. Fortunately, due to world-wide awareness & collective action taken to increase organic productions, prices have not been inflated as much as conventional foods. This was one of the reasons for increased consumption in Singapore last year when inflation was at an all-time high & people started to switch to organic foodstuffs.
Although price remains a consideration, it is definitely possible to incorporate some organic food consumption based on an individual's affordability. The following are 2 famous quotes which you may find interesting, or familiar:
Let thy food be thy medicine,
and thy medicine be thy food.”
- Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, 460 - 376 B.C.
If we eat wrongly,
No doctor can cure us;
If we eat rightly,
No doctor is needed.”
-Victor G. Rocine, a Norwegian homeopath circa 1930
Personally in Singapore, I find it challenging to get organic versions of everything. So what I do is to try my best possible to buy organic whenever possible. Of course, it is so heartening & delightful to see more & more imported & locally grown organic produce!
The following is list of foods which are best consumed in organic versions. I hope it helps you in making marketing decisions for you & your family!
Fruits:
Peaches, Nectarines, Strawberries, Cherries, Apples, Pears, Grapes, Tomatoes
Vegetables:
Spinach, Lettuce, Celery, Sweet Bell Peppers
Note: To all the great organic farmers, producers, distributors, retailers (& anybody else who makes it possible)whom happen to read this, we want to say a huge Thank You in appreciation of your efforts in enabling us to have nutrient dense, clean & nourishing foods! Cheers to Love, Joy, Peace & Abundance!
So what then is organic food? Put simply, they are food stuffs grown and produced without the conventional use of pesticides, artificial fertilizers, genetical modifications & food additives. Organic livestock typically refers to animals raised without the use of antibiotics or growth hormones.
Why eat organic food? Besides freeing our body the burden of cleansing & detoxing these harmful chemicals & artificial additives, organic food also contains more nutrients then their commercial counterparts. A 4 year study funded by the European Union showed that organic fruit & vegetables contained more than up to 40% more anti-oxidants than conventional equivalents.
Is it possible & sustainable in Singapore? Organic foods are generally more expensive than conventional ones. Fortunately, due to world-wide awareness & collective action taken to increase organic productions, prices have not been inflated as much as conventional foods. This was one of the reasons for increased consumption in Singapore last year when inflation was at an all-time high & people started to switch to organic foodstuffs.
Although price remains a consideration, it is definitely possible to incorporate some organic food consumption based on an individual's affordability. The following are 2 famous quotes which you may find interesting, or familiar:
Let thy food be thy medicine,
and thy medicine be thy food.”
- Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, 460 - 376 B.C.
If we eat wrongly,
No doctor can cure us;
If we eat rightly,
No doctor is needed.”
-Victor G. Rocine, a Norwegian homeopath circa 1930
Personally in Singapore, I find it challenging to get organic versions of everything. So what I do is to try my best possible to buy organic whenever possible. Of course, it is so heartening & delightful to see more & more imported & locally grown organic produce!
The following is list of foods which are best consumed in organic versions. I hope it helps you in making marketing decisions for you & your family!
Fruits:
Peaches, Nectarines, Strawberries, Cherries, Apples, Pears, Grapes, Tomatoes
Vegetables:
Spinach, Lettuce, Celery, Sweet Bell Peppers
Note: To all the great organic farmers, producers, distributors, retailers (& anybody else who makes it possible)whom happen to read this, we want to say a huge Thank You in appreciation of your efforts in enabling us to have nutrient dense, clean & nourishing foods! Cheers to Love, Joy, Peace & Abundance!
(C) Copyright, 2008 Linda Loo
What Are Raw/Live Foods?
"It's not the Food in your Life; it's the Life in your Food...."
The Raw Food, or Live Food Diet as commonly termed, is a diet made predominantly of uncooked fruits, vegetables, nuts & seeds. In fact, all the foods that we humans consume everyday were once raw & living foods - it just depends on how long ago & how much it has been changed, that's all!
The secrets of live foods lie in their intact & unadulterated enzyme content. Scientific experiments have proven that enzymes start to degrade at 106 degrees F (appr. 40 degrees C), and are completely destroyed when foods are heated to 212 degrees F (appr. 80 degrees C). Certain cooking methods (like deep frying) also changes the molecular structure of the food which may be toxic for the body.
So what are enzymes? Enzymes are "The Elixir of Life", "The Life Force" or "Energy" of food. The dictonary defines enzymes as: "Any of the various complex organic substances, as pepsin originating from living cells and capable of producing certain chemical changes in organic substances by catalytic action (as in digestion)"
In layman terms, enzymes are vital for daily body functions & optimal health. They are the guys that tell Mr Vitamin C to mend our skin, breaks down fat into soluable fatty acids for our vital organs & many more functions which contribute to our well-being. Basically, vitamins, minerals & hormones are not able to perform their work without enzymes. They cannot communicate with our body unless the enzymes are present. When we eat Live foods, with all the enzymes intact, it literally breaks itself down and goes to where it is needed inside our bodies, all on auto-pilot!
Of course, we also have natural occuring enzymes inside us to assist in digestion. However,they are limited, and recent statistical reports show that we have enough enzymes to last us till our 40s. When these are gone, many people start to be less energetic, & this is probably the reason for a diminished immunity as well as ageing.
"Enzymes may be the key factor in preventing chronic disease and extending the human lifespan,"
Dr Edward Howell
The secrets of live foods lie in their intact & unadulterated enzyme content. Scientific experiments have proven that enzymes start to degrade at 106 degrees F (appr. 40 degrees C), and are completely destroyed when foods are heated to 212 degrees F (appr. 80 degrees C). Certain cooking methods (like deep frying) also changes the molecular structure of the food which may be toxic for the body.
So what are enzymes? Enzymes are "The Elixir of Life", "The Life Force" or "Energy" of food. The dictonary defines enzymes as: "Any of the various complex organic substances, as pepsin originating from living cells and capable of producing certain chemical changes in organic substances by catalytic action (as in digestion)"
In layman terms, enzymes are vital for daily body functions & optimal health. They are the guys that tell Mr Vitamin C to mend our skin, breaks down fat into soluable fatty acids for our vital organs & many more functions which contribute to our well-being. Basically, vitamins, minerals & hormones are not able to perform their work without enzymes. They cannot communicate with our body unless the enzymes are present. When we eat Live foods, with all the enzymes intact, it literally breaks itself down and goes to where it is needed inside our bodies, all on auto-pilot!
Of course, we also have natural occuring enzymes inside us to assist in digestion. However,they are limited, and recent statistical reports show that we have enough enzymes to last us till our 40s. When these are gone, many people start to be less energetic, & this is probably the reason for a diminished immunity as well as ageing.
"Enzymes may be the key factor in preventing chronic disease and extending the human lifespan,"
Dr Edward Howell
(C) Copyright, 2008 Linda Loo
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
The Truth About Milk & Dairy
"Media, Media on the Wall. Who's the most deceptive, of them all?"
It is so heartening to see fellow mankind waking up gradually to the misrepresentations of society. 2 years ago, when I tell my friends that milk & dairy may not be so good for us, they tell me to "relax, everyone is consuming it so it should be fine!". Now, when I tell them the same thing again, they go "really? I read that somewhere too, maybe there's some truth..."
There must be a reason for Japan to refuse dairy & meat products from US. When I researched on this, my mind went back to the time I visited Japan for a holiday, and I don't remember seeing anything imported from US in the dairy section! Well... even if they are a pro-homebrand nation, I could at least see some US imported products other than consumables (I mean shoes & bags).
Personally, I had a challenging time giving up dairy. 2 years ago, after discovering that one of the major yogurt brands actually contained a coloring (this coloring was made from crushed beetles' legs!!), there was a huge internal dissonance. I finally settled on plain, uncoloured yogurt.
My love for milk probably started where all of you started too - when we were babies. The familiar taste of warm, comforting milk. Please don't be mistaken, I think if we live in an organic farm and we have a goat, I have nothing against the occasional glass of fresh goat's milk. (Provided our goat is cared humanely & free of vaccines or GMO feeds). Unfortunately, living on an island, we no longer know what constitutes our food & drinks by the time they reach our table.
While 'weaning' off milk (at 28 years old!), I comforted myself that its okay to drink occasionally for enjoyment & its better than drinking alcohol! After that, whenever a close friend or loved one told me they drink milk because of the calcium, I will share with them what I have researched. You can actually get so much more calcium from spinach! And best of all - the calcium is absorbable by your body.
In 1994, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition discovered that the absorbtion rate of calcium from vegetables are usually more than 50% (while that of milk is about 30%; another question is can the calcium in milk be digestable by humans - this is another story altogether!) Leafy greens like spinach, collard, kale can give you more calcium than milk, and for those who dont like greens, try to snack on dry figs.
The biggest hurdle for me was cheese. Being a hard core cheese lover, it took more than awareness. It was only until the discovery of self-made Raw cheese, that I finally succeeded! Now, I delight myself in whipping up a bowl of creamy, rich nut cheese anytime I feel like it. Its so easy and beats commercial cheese anytime!
The BIGGEST reward I could ever receive from giving up dairy was - my morning sinus which had been following me ever since I could remember, was gone! In the past, I used to have running nose for the first 3 - 4 waking hours almost every other day. Miraculously, it went away just like that!
Dairy & meat products are acidic forming - ie our body forms an acidic ph level when digesting these consumables. Perhaps I may post a short summary about that sometime soon.
2 years later, from the shocked looks on the faces whom I share the 'beetles legs' story with, it is obvious that this is still a pretty much unknown fact. But, it is so heart warming to see more global awareness on milk & dairy. More and more doctors are coming forth with their secret research (they must have been previously secret for a reason) and publishing them in books, newspapers, magazines, internet etc... all except for television of course. It would be hilarious to have a doctor's clip on the truth of dairy right after we see our favourite celebrity drinking a glass of 'calcium rich, low fat & delicious' milk on TV. ;)
(C) Copyright, 2008 Linda Loo
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Raw Ba Cho Mee!
As I write this, I'm staring proudly at my invention today - Raw Ba Cho Mee with Ketchup! This must be the first raw version of Ba Cho Mee in Singapore & Asia!
Seriously, it does not make alot of sense to be emotional over a bowl of noodles.... except for the fact that:
1)It is raw
2)It is organic vegan (yes even the ketchup)
3)It is the first Raw version of a local dish!!
Because the Science of Live Foods is so relatively new, there has been a lack of recipes which resemble our familiar Singapore hawker fare. But there will be alot more coming up in the near future - as myself (and other fellow live foodists too) continue to invent new dishes!
I looked back at 2 years ago when I first stumbled onto the Raw Food Diet. At that time, information was rather limited; but nonetheless enough to make some DIY trials at home. My initial reaction was skeptism - chewing on raw broccoli weren't too appealing; however, curiousty soon got the better of me. Then and there, I started my first encounter with Raw Foods.
For 3 days, eating nothing else but fruits, raw vegetables & avocados, I dived totally into raw foods! The first day was pretty normal, except that I was constantly hungry. The first wierd thing happened on the morning of the second day. I woke at 5 am - this was 3 hrs earlier than my usual wake time. Even wierder than this was - I felt pretty fresh and the grogginess lasted only a few minutes.
I went about my day as usual, still sticking to raw foods, but getting quite sick of bananas & fruits. I did not prepare any recipes simply because I didn't believe in the theory yet. However, my energy level seemed to be uncommonly high for a shorter sleep time.
By the third day, there was so much energy that I didn't know what to do with it!! I became so bored after accomplishing all my usual stuff that I literally sat down & watched if I could catch my fingernails growing. At that time, there was also a wierd & unfamiliar feeling. It was not fear, not joy, not sadness... none of the usual feelings we have.
After telling my friends about it, they thought I had gone insane. Well, it could have been possible to tell them to try it for themselves, but at that time, it felt silly for even bringing it up! So I kept it to myself, and unfortunately, I fell off the diet.
It was only 2 years later that I realise what that 'wierd' emotion was about.
It was mental clarity - after living a good 27 years of mostly an unconscious life. It was a combination of joy, empowerment, revelation, sadness & sense of responsibility (yes - in this particular order!). It was only during the Teachers' training on Raw Food Chef (in Kittery, Maine) that all these were put into perspective.
And right now, while I write this Blog, I'm so clear that I'm headed in the right direction. It is my desire to share all that I know with everyone else who has made this choice, to help & motivate one another, not only in Singapore, but all over the world especially Asia!
Seriously, it does not make alot of sense to be emotional over a bowl of noodles.... except for the fact that:
1)It is raw
2)It is organic vegan (yes even the ketchup)
3)It is the first Raw version of a local dish!!
Because the Science of Live Foods is so relatively new, there has been a lack of recipes which resemble our familiar Singapore hawker fare. But there will be alot more coming up in the near future - as myself (and other fellow live foodists too) continue to invent new dishes!
I looked back at 2 years ago when I first stumbled onto the Raw Food Diet. At that time, information was rather limited; but nonetheless enough to make some DIY trials at home. My initial reaction was skeptism - chewing on raw broccoli weren't too appealing; however, curiousty soon got the better of me. Then and there, I started my first encounter with Raw Foods.
For 3 days, eating nothing else but fruits, raw vegetables & avocados, I dived totally into raw foods! The first day was pretty normal, except that I was constantly hungry. The first wierd thing happened on the morning of the second day. I woke at 5 am - this was 3 hrs earlier than my usual wake time. Even wierder than this was - I felt pretty fresh and the grogginess lasted only a few minutes.
I went about my day as usual, still sticking to raw foods, but getting quite sick of bananas & fruits. I did not prepare any recipes simply because I didn't believe in the theory yet. However, my energy level seemed to be uncommonly high for a shorter sleep time.
By the third day, there was so much energy that I didn't know what to do with it!! I became so bored after accomplishing all my usual stuff that I literally sat down & watched if I could catch my fingernails growing. At that time, there was also a wierd & unfamiliar feeling. It was not fear, not joy, not sadness... none of the usual feelings we have.
After telling my friends about it, they thought I had gone insane. Well, it could have been possible to tell them to try it for themselves, but at that time, it felt silly for even bringing it up! So I kept it to myself, and unfortunately, I fell off the diet.
It was only 2 years later that I realise what that 'wierd' emotion was about.
It was mental clarity - after living a good 27 years of mostly an unconscious life. It was a combination of joy, empowerment, revelation, sadness & sense of responsibility (yes - in this particular order!). It was only during the Teachers' training on Raw Food Chef (in Kittery, Maine) that all these were put into perspective.
And right now, while I write this Blog, I'm so clear that I'm headed in the right direction. It is my desire to share all that I know with everyone else who has made this choice, to help & motivate one another, not only in Singapore, but all over the world especially Asia!
Binaural Sound Therapy
Cheers!
To Abundance, Love, Joy & Peace :)
(C) Copyright, 2008 Linda Loo
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