Sign up for this Free Program and get a Bonus Week of Recipes and Menu Planners Invited by Curejoy to be an expert on their superb health information site, I was delighted to be asked to collaborate in creating a 7-day program on Alkalinity. CureJoy also maintains the Facebook page “Ayurveda” with over two […]
I’ve been eating raw foods for over 5 years now. For the past two years I have been doing a more raw fusion approach, combining raw foods with some cooked or alternating cooked meals with raw which seems to be easier to sustain and more practical. People are often turned off to the raw foods because of how difficult it can be to maintain this lifestyle – Raw Fusion is a manageable alternative.
Essentially, “raw fusion eating” aims for at least 51% of what I consume to be raw or living foods. When slightly over half of what you eat is raw (meaning not processed, denatured or cooked over 115 degrees) there is a lot less wear and tear on the body; your digestive system has an easy time absorbing the nutrients and releasing the waste and inflammation is kept at a minimum.
October 15-28, 2012 (latest Challenge)
From Dr. LJ’s Superfood Series with recipe for Coconut Plantain CookiesSuperfoods are foods that are exceptionally high in essential nutrients. Some examples of these that you may already know are blueberries, salmon, almonds, walnuts and organic apples.
These nutritional powerhouses are extremely popular with raw foodists, as they offer great taste and variety to the lifestyle, along with particularly potent vitamins and minerals.
Lucuma powder comes from a small fruit that grows in Chile, Ecuador and Peru. It surpasses even chocolate and vanilla as the favorite ice cream flavor in most of South America—and even some European countries! High in phytonutrients, this superfood serves as a sweetener substitute easily metabolized with a very low glycemic index, making it a safe, sweet option for diabetes and hypoglycemia disorders. Naturally gluten-free, it is chock-full of fiber, antioxidants, carotene, minerals and Vitamin B3.
Natural Alternative to Vitamin Water Are you hydration-challenged? Do you find it difficult to down your recommended 8 x 8 oz’s each day? I go in and out of good hydration cycles; sometimes right on track, other times neglectful to the point that I can sense my body craving liquid. So I was very excited […]
Raw, Vegan and Gluten-FreeI was watching the Dr. Oz show the other day, discussing foods that help promote restful sleep and I was struck by a combination of pumpkin seeds and applesauce, not a food combination that I would normally consider. Evidently, foods that are high in the amino acid, tryptophan (like pumpkin seeds) need to be combined with a carbohydrate in order to activate the niacin and seratonin that relax the nervous system and makes us drowsy.
According to this article on Livestrong.com, the amount of tryptophan found in a serving of food that contains this essential amino acid does not produce enough serotonin to cause sleepiness. The sleepy feeling you feel after eating a large meal — such as Thanksgiving dinner — typically comes from the high number of carbohydrates and calories you consumed.
That interesting fact as well as the pumpkin seed/applesauce combination started my Raw Fusion creative juices flowing so I decided to create a scone or muffin (see below) that can help people sleep since insomnia or some kind of sleep disorder affects as many as 100 million Americans (Sleep Wellness Institute). Wouldn’t it be great to just enjoy a delicious and healthy treat in the evening instead of taking medication? Let me know how these work for you (so far been getting thumb’s up from friends and family but that is not exactly hard science…)
For sweetening your dreams (and this recipe) you can use agave, maple syrup, honey, succanat, coconut nectar or palm sugar, which is derived from palm tree flowers.
Makes about 16 Scones (depending on size)
Make a festive recipe for your holiday parties that will totally impress your friends and family!
The Green and Red Walnut Boats are at 9:00 on the photo, surrounded by a quartet of mouth-watering raw appetizers from the Raw Fusion Recipe volume, including Angel’d Eggs, Fennel Seed Sausage with Dijon spread and BruschettMa Raviolis (forefront)
I was on the search for some shelled English peas the other day for a recipe I am developing for Living Tree Community (CLICK TO SEE: Pistachio Pesto Raviolis) I remember seeing a vegetable stand sign that said “shelled peas” a few weeks back so I stopped by. Evidently the English peas are not in season, but they had these interesting peas called “conch peas” (pronounced “Kahnk” just like the Atlantic shellfish) that had just arrived from Georgia.
GREAT SMOOTHIE RECIPES BELOW
Whenever I start teaching at a new locale, my inaugural class is “Raw Foods 101” – teaching the basics of the raw foods/raw fusion lifestyle with demo’s of delectable green smoothies and scrumptious salads.
It’s always very uplifting for me to get enthusiastic feedback from participants on how they are integrating green smoothies into their lifestyles and how their families are also enjoying them. Often they share their favorite recipes with me, but invariably their concoctions contain ingredients that I would not recommend.
I admit to being a purist on green smoothies: While experimenting from time to time with adding some nuts, nut milk, protein powders, dairy etc. is perfectly okay – hey, variety IS the spice of life, after all — I am extremely loyal to Victoria Boutenko’s (Green for Life) marvelous creation and believe that the formula works, as is