Weekly Re-cap!

Hey all!

Hope you had a fantastic week and weekend. I know my American friends are probably watching football so I'll try to make it brief. I had an okay week, rather painful (I'll explain in a sec)but filled with awesome food! I cannot remember which day I did what so I'm just going to rattle things off as my brain remembers them.

Still waiting for my laptop AC adaptor so sorry no picts:(

• My foodie treat of the week...MISO! I've seen it in so many recipes and I never bought it. I really love the complexity it adds to the dish! I want to try a miso dressing soon.
• Made Vegan Dad's Creamy Chunky Cauliflower Chowder. Loved it and ,of course, the miso was fantastic in this dish.
• An old injury flared its ugly head and so I could barely walk or bend over for two days. I had to jump from the second floor of a house in an emergency situation when I was 18 and I landed on my feet instead of rolling. I never saw a doctor afterwards and now I'm paying the consequences. On Friday I saw a chiro here in Nelson and he was able to loosen me up pretty good and now I'm feeling much better. I did a lot of stretching too which I think was beneficial.
• As the hubby was craving more blended soups, I made another one of Vegan Dad's creations. This time it was the Cream of Potato and Broccoli soup. This one had coconut milk as a thickener so naturally it was delicious. I actually made this one twice...super good.
• Made a bunch of smoothies this week too. Tried some weird combos like banana, celery, lettuce, hemp protein, cinnamon, and honey. I really liked its smooth and sweet flavor.
• Then I finally got around to making this ridiculously easy soft serve that I read about on Gena's blog. Yes, it did change my life. So delicious and the possibilities to dress it up are endless. I can't wait for the summer when I will add strawberries. Yum! And hey, if you are trying to lose those extra few pounds and can't stay away from ice cream, here is a really great alternative that literally costs only pennies to make. And is guilt free!
• Tonight, in the spirit of Superbowl Sunday, Ry and I ordered pizza. I got the thin crust vegetarian with soy mozza. I really liked it and Ry said it even tasted better than his chicken pizza. Duh!!

This week.....

• I saw a post somewhere on the blogosphere about juicing with your blender which got me intrigued. I'll let you know how it goes.
• I'm going to attempt another raw soup, this one from Nomi Shannon's book, The Raw Gourmet.
• Experimenting with salad dressings. It's really endless but I want a few basic winners in my arsenal that I can whip up quickly.
• Getting my back in order. I have three appointments this week. My chiro said it takes, on average, four appointments to get to where you want to be so hopefully by Friday I'll be 100%. You know what I think helped when I was really bad? Lightly jumping on my mini-trampoline. Weird I know, but I always felt better when I got off than when I got on.

What are you going to try this week? Hope you have a good time and come out with some amazing creations. Here's to good health!

What did your groundhog see?

Well, not YOUR groundhog, per se, or do you have one? Cool...I think. I'm really talking about the furry weather forecaster who comes out of his cave on Feb.2 and either sees his shadow..or not. Well, the Canadian hog, Wiartin Willy, saw his shadow. Apparently we are in for 6 more weeks of winter. His buddies to the east and the south also saw their shadows, so its unanimous! Yet, I think these forecasters have forgotton one key element-global warming. At the coast they are wearing shorts, shorts!! Even in Nelson its been abnormally warm, I think even weather records may have been broken. There is no evidence that we even had a winter, no snow piles or streets with tons of gravel (watch out winshield!). It really is crazy. I'm not sure if you know but Vancouver, BC is holding the Winter Olympics this year..in about 5 days actually. Now, Whistler and the surrounding mountains just didn't get enough snow so they have to truck it in from Washington State. My friend today actually just saw two huge trucks full of snow heading towards the mountains. Hello,big bucks! This is actually humorus because last year we had record snowfall at the coast. My car remained buried for a week. It was a winter wonderland and an absolutely wonderful season for the ski hills. Now, if you have visited or lived on the west coast at all, you know Vancouver rarely gets snow, at least not in the city itself. So, I bet you the Olympic committee is really hoping Mr.Willy is right and will bring them some fresh snow. Personally, I doubt it. It's already February and the weather is really going to start warming up. Bummer!

Photo courtesy of The Vancouver Sun

I know this has nothing to do with health but I wanted to give a shout out to my home province. I am kind of sad that I won't be able to see any of the events as I'll still be in the Kootenays but I'm not sad that I don't have to fight for a parking space or pay $40+ for that space. If you are taking in the Olympics..very cool and hope you have a great time. And of course, GO CANADA GO!

Aloe vera

The ancient Aloe vera (A. barbadensis) plant with its spear-like, succulent leaves has made its way from native Africa, to your favorite health food store, and even your own home. There are more than 300 types of aloe, but it is Aloe vera that is used most commonly. The Liliaceae family in which Aloe belongs is also home to garlic, asparagus, and onion. What a powerful Family! Aloe has been traditionally used to help treat burns and other wounds, and as a purgative (constipation aid). Yet, over the years, more and more uses for aloe have been discovered. With more active research taking place, the list of incredible healing powers of this herb is sure to lengthen.

Aloe vera contains 75 potentially active constituents who all work synergistically. These include anthraquinones, saccharides, vitamins, non-essential amino acids, essential amino acids, inorganic compounds, and enzymes. It is this powerful combination of molecules that allows the plant to repair itself if the skin becomes damaged. This is visible when you break off a piece of the leaf to use, the next day there is a seal and the plant is protected again.

The anthraquinones are part of the aloe latex, the bundle of sheath cells from its skin. These cells stimulate the walls of the digestive system to contract, essentially aiding in the relief of constipation. This practice should be guided by a health practitioner as it may cause severe cramping. Other plants (cascara and senna) from the same family as aloe are considered to be gentler laxatives. Some of the enzymes found in Aloe vera include carboxypeptidase and bradykininase. These enzymes, along with the amino acids tryptophane and phenylalanine, are involved in relief of pain and reduction of inflammation and swelling. The mineral zinc in the aloe gel also aids in the anti-inflammatory properties of this plant. The polysaccharides, especially glucomannan, in the gel are thought to greatly increase the health of the skin.

Aloe vera has been proclaimed as a strong preventative agent for ulcers and other digestive problems. A research article on the International Aloe Science Council’s website noted an interesting study whereby an individual was given aloe gel before an ulcer-inducing stressor. This group resulted in a 80% reduction in the number of ulcers compared to a control group that was given saline. If the aloe was given after the ulcer had formed, the participant healed three times faster than the control group.

The health benefits of Aloe extend to heart related diseases as well. A study on Albino rats that were fed a high cholesterol diet along with aloe polysaccharides had decreased total cholesterol levels, decreased phospholipids levels, and increased HDL (the “good”cholesterol) compared to the control group. According to a Natural News article, aloe can reverse blood that is clumpy and sludge-like in appearance. This would allow the blood to carry greater amounts of oxygen, reducing the chances of a heart attack or stroke.

Cancer is a terrible disease that will affect 40% or more of us in our lifetime. There are many herbs and plants that contain anti-cancer compounds, including Aloe vera. Aloe’s effects are twofold; it builds up the immune system and destroys tumors. An experiment using mice with Sarcoma-180 tumors that were fed aloe exhibited reduced tumor growth. Another study using a molecule from aloe called Aloctin-A showed anti-tumor capabilities via increased immunity.

Burns, cuts, and wounds are commonly treated with aloe. Its antifungal and antibacterial capabilities make it Mother Nature’s band aid. The gel actually creates a physical barrier to prevent bacteria from entering the wound while simultaneously drawing blood to the needed area. This allows for faster healing.

These are just a few examples of the amazing capabilities of Aloe vera. New research is exploring aloe’s immune boosting abilities and how it can be used to treat HIV/AIDS, its anti-cancer molecules, and its ability to save soldiers who have lost extreme amounts of blood. I hope that you go pick up an aloe plant (or two) and start using it right away! Your body will thank you.

I add aloe to my smoothies, use it to keep my summer tan, and apply the gel directly to my face for firm, smooth skin. It really is an awesome herb to have available in your home. If you can't find a plant, then head to your local health food store as they have 100% aloe vera gel to purchase.


References

Foster, Steven & Johnson, Rebecca L .(2006). Desk Reference to Nature's Medicine. Washington,D.C. : The National Geographic Society.

Hutchens, Alma R.(1973). Indian Herbology of North America. Boston, MA: Shambhala Publications , Inc.

Duke, James A, ph.D. (1997). The Green Pharmacy. Emmaus, PA:Rodale Press

Happy Monday!

Hello all,

Hope you had a great weekend! I work both days so my weekend was pretty short. Although Saturday was pretty awesome. Ry and I went out for breakfast to our favorite place, The Full Circle. This place never fails to make my tummy happy. Then we went to drive Ryan's car around in circles at the parkaid where he is storing it for the Winter. It felt like the movies, winding up and down all the levels at high low speed. We just needed someone to be chasing us to top it off! We then headed to the gym where I completed the first week of the TT Original program. Loving it and loving that I can lift more each time. The gym we go to is part of the community centre here in Nelson so access to the pool is included in your pass. What a better way to end a workout than to sit in the steam room and stretch and breath. Then run to the pool and cool off when you feel like you are burning. Repeat. Ahh!! Then we completed the afternoon with some awesome nutrition in the form of a power-packed green smoothie with hemp protein. So, yummy. Then my beautiful day ended with me going to work..blah! It was only a short shift, thank goodness! Sunday I worked until 5 and then we did our grocery shopping for the week. I was pretty beat when we got home so dinner was simple-huge salad, red quinoa, and steamed squash. We watched Extract which was okay but didn't make me really, really laugh. I find that I resort to old classics to really get me laughing. Dumb and Dumber, anyone? P.S. this was the first soundtrack I purchased on cassette, and I still love those songs. I bet you my Mom still has the cassette stashed somewhere too! Way off topic but I can get away with babbling on Monday, right? After the movie, we read our books. Ryan is reading Cesar Millan's Be The Pack Leader, trying to learn all we can for when we get a pooch. I just picked up Nomi Shannon's book The Raw Gourmet as I recently heard about it via Gena's website, Choosing Raw. I just flipped through it a little bit as my eyes were starting to close but everything looks great! I'm going to pick a few recipes out of there and give them a shot. I'll let you know how it goes. And if you have any suggestions about which recipes I should try from the book let me know!

Well that was my weekend! How was yours? Hope you had some time off to do something you love to do. And here's to a great week. Woot Woot!

Another PS- I totally forgot to mention the band that was here in Nelson the other weekend. Their name is The Accorn Project and they are from Bellingham, WA. They had this totally unique style that involved a mix of jazz, funk, rock and roll, and pop. Their instruments included a saxophone, keyboard, bass, drums, slide, and percussion. So, if you see their poster around your town go check them out! I really thought they were awesome!

I'm going to be writing another post hopefully today about Aloe Vera and its benefits. I am going to be submitting it to Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo who might choose to use it in her newletter. I'm so excited to submit a post to her as I think she really is a trail blazer when it comes to knowledge on raw foods and nutrition. Wish me luck!

Do vegetarians look like skinny, shriveled vegetables when they get old?

Hey all!

To answer my title question.... I think not! I can talk about the numerous studies that talk about the benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle. We have heard it over and over that vegetarians live longer, have fewer diseases, and generally have a lower BMI (body mass index). Yet, when someone says the word "vegetarian" or "vegan", visions of weak, skinny, or crazy animal activists come into people's minds. I have seen many veg*ns and the majority do not fit into any of those categories. This stereotype has got to change. And I have the person to do just that! No not me, silly! I would like you to meet Mimi Kirk. Mimi was one of the winners of PETA's Sexiest Vegetarian Over 50. Julian was voted the other winner, he's 51 and has been vegetarian for 33 years! Amazing hey? Now, you may been wondering, "how old is Mimi"? Well, brace yourselves, she is 71, YES 71 and she's been veg*n since she was in her 30's! Isn't she gorgeous? I just asked the Hubby how old he thought she was and he said late 50's, early 60's. I hope I get this response when I'm in my 70's. She is truly inspirational and so positive about life. Yesterday I listened to an audio interview with her and Jim Dee on Pure Jeevan's site. I liked how she made it clear that she lived, and is continuing to live, a normal life with challenges like everybody else. She only recently sold her business, she has 4 children and 7 grand kids, and has a boyfriend 19 years younger than her. In the last two years she has become 100% raw and said it has given her even more energy!

She is a thriving example that us veg*ns will continue to look fabulous well into our senior years! Still any skeptics out there? No? I didn't think so!

I just became Mimi's friend on facebook which is where she mostly communicates with her fans and answers questions. So, add her as a friend today (She is under Mimi Kirk)! You know you want a sexy 70 year old veg as one of your friends. Who can say they have that?

Ps. I just made Nikki's Sundried tomato zucchini hummus, and let me tell you, it totally ROCKS! It's so yummy and you really have to try it. I also made some banana oatmeal raisin cookies from A Grateful Life on the Gone Raw website. This is a raw recipe but I don't have a dehydrator so i improvises. I turned on my oven to the lowest setting for a couple minutes then turned it off. Placing the cookies in the oven when it cooled down a bit (my lowest setting is 140). These were great but I think I should have taken them out a bit sooner. Super yummy too! Sorry no picts as I'm still waiting for my laptop charger to arrive.

Did you get your laugh on today?

Hey Everyone!

So, technology is not on my side today. I've lost internet connection throughout the day, ,my laptop AC adapter decided it was time to die, and my work computer won't accept my USB stick. Ever heard the expression 'when it rains, it pours.' Well that about sums up my day. Luckily, I work from home so I can blog from my other computer. The bad thing is I can't access any pictures. So, what's a girl to do? Write a post about laughing things off, of course!

I think I can speak for most people when I say, laughing is awesome. I mean when something makes me laugh I am usually infected by it for a couple of minutes. It feels so darn good to get a good chuckle out that it must be good for you to do on a regular basis. They do say that laughter is the best medicine!

In fact, laughing is actually called a healing activity. Natural News says that laughter can be broken down to three levels. The biophysical, the biochemical, and the bioenergetic levels.

Biophysical Level- Laughter moves lymph around your body, boosting immune system function. So, why not jump on your rebounder and laugh hysterically. Or, is that not a good idea? I will test it out and let you know:) Killing two birds with one stone here guys and gals!

Biochemical Level- Every minute of laughter produces so many healing biochemicals in the body which you simply could not find in a pill. These chemicals range from serotonin to immune helpers like interleukins. Having these circulate around in your body can produce numerous health benefits including reduced chronic stress.

Bioenergetic Level- As you are laughing hysterically, you are actually breathing in heaps of oxygen. All this oxygen has to go somewhere, so the ciruculation system picks up the pace to get it to your cells. Along with improved circulation, comes mental clarity and disease prevention. People actually go to oxygen bars to improve their focus. Yes, these people are paying for lots and lots of air! Also, did you know that many parasites, and even cancer, cannot live in an oxygenated environment?

Research by Dr. Lee Berk suggests that even if you know you are about to laugh, that is enough to change the biochemistry. This anticipation caused the increase of two hormones, beta-endorphins and human growth hormone. The endorphins are involved in elevating mood and the HGH is involved in immune function. Another study looked at the reduction of bad stress hormones and found that the same anticipation of laughter reduced cortisol, epinephrine, and dopac (related to dopamine).

Laughter is so good for you they even have classes where you just laugh. How cool would that be to have in University or high school?

So, how does laughing actually take place? A cool article by Care2 sums it up pretty well. First off, it actually only takes about a half a second for something to register as being funny. This causes electrical "waves" to move about the higher functions of the cerebral cortex, the outer most tissue of the cerebrum. The left hemisphere of the brain analyzes the words and their structure. The right side of the brain makes sense out of it. The visual-sensory section of the occipital lobe conjures up images, the limbic section makes you happier, and the motor sections make you laugh or smile.

It amazes me how quickly all these connections can take place allowing me to laugh!

So, have a great laugh today! Whether its a movie, a funny pet moment, or pasting a post-it to your co-workers back (be nice!), enjoy a chuckle and know that you are doing a great thing for your health!

P.S. if you want to watch something super funny and cute, check out the YouTube vid below. The hubby and I watched it over and over and it still didn't get old.

Sending the Love to Haiti

Happy Monday!

I had the craziest working weekends and so I'm sorry for the lack of posts. Nothing too much to report, except Olympic stuff which I'll talk about another time. I really feel like I need to talk about the devastation that has hit one of the poorest countries on the planet.

I knew that it happened, and I knew it was bad, really, really bad. Yet, somehow I still didn't completely "feel" the pain, the sorrow, and the hopelessness of the people. That is until yesterday. I don't have cable TV so a lot of what I have seen and heard was through brief news articles here and there. So, I came home last night after a long day and I opened my inbox and clicked on the an email from the Huffington Post who is hosting the journal of Dr. Mark Hyman. He is in Haiti providing medical aid, along with his wife Pier who is an orthopedic surgeon. I read his post and totally lost it, tears were just pouring down. Not only was it heart wrenching to hear his stories about the suffering of the Haitians, but it killed me to feel his own helplessness. He is a trained medical doctor and he has to pick and choose who he can treat as supplies have not arrived. It was so personal and it felt like I physically absorbed his words and they settled heavily on my heart. I became angry that they cannot get a bottle of water or a piece of bread and yet here in North America businesses and people alike throw away perfectly good food. I quickly realized being angry would not help anyone and I had to DO something. So, today I made a donation via CBC's website. In Canada, the government is going to match donations up to $50 million which is pretty cool.

There is a special place in my heart for those who are living in poverty and have little hope. I have vowed to myself to visit as many of these countries as I can once I'm an ND and to try to make a difference in some small way.

I live a privileged life, and most people in North America can say the same. The hardest decision I have to make some days is whether to have one piece of chocolate or two. I truly feel humbled by Mark Hyman and the people of Haiti . I pray that all the donations and volunteers can help re-build the crumbled nation and the spirit of the Haitian people.

If you can donate anything to help those in Haiti, please do. Coffee shops here in Nelson are donating tips and earnings. So, check out your local business to see if they are collecting donations or supplies. Below I've listed some charities if you don't know where to donate online and some other cool ways to get Haiti some help.

Red Cross

International Rescue Organization

Canada for Haiti

Purchase a Haiti T-Shirt

Click to Help Haiti via Care2 - FREE, simply click on the button and the Sponsors do the rest!

Provides funds to OXFAM.

World Water Relief- Clean water is so scarce. They will use the funds to install water filtration systems.



The little baby below was delivered by a Red Cross volunteer. Unfortunately, her mother passed away.





Please send out lots of prayers and positive thoughts to those in Haiti!