Organic Food IS More Nutritious!

"Organic food is even more nutritious, of course, if you enjoy it raw, with all the fresh, whole nutrition intact and no toxins created by cooking!"

Organic food IS more nutritious, especially if fresh, and eating it is vital to good health; let those who claim otherwise try to prove their case! I still see articles in reputable magazines stating that there is no nutritional difference between organic produce and regular supermarket food. I've even repeatedly received this erroneous information from Agricultural Extension offices and Professors of Agriculture at "reputable" State Universities...although one Professor, probably safely tenured, told me in hushed tones that "of course, most of our funding comes from chemical companies." Here's how I found the truth. In May of 1995, when I thought I was pretty healthy, a business acquaintance talked me into trying an unusual food supplement. After some misgivings I did, and became astounded at my improved health...lowered weight after a 30 year losing battle, more energy, loss of a chocolate addiction, and additional pleasing results. Testimonial tapes from different food supplement companies disclosed that others claimed similar amazing results.

This quite unexpected situation led me into an ongoing research into "why" and a continuing study of the links between soil fertility, plant nutrition, and animal/human diet and health. I'm now to the point where I can argue with "experts" and often win. Here's the proof that organic produce is more nutritious and necessary for good health...let's build the case step by step:

First, Dr. Westin A. Price, DDS, of Cleveland, Ohio, wondered about negative trends in dental cavities in the late 1930s. He examined 14 native tribes in places like Africa, the far North, New Zealand, Australia, South America. Dr. Price found that where original native diets were followed there was very little evidence of dental cavities. BUT, when modern white flour, white sugar, and canned foods were introduced, not only did dental cavities increase markedly, but the next generations of these people developed poor bites, restricted nasal breathing, cavities, and often other physical deformities. These findings were implicit evidence that malnutrition even negatively affects DNA! The original native diets varied from sea oats, to fish, various plant crops, insects, animal blood, etc. and they were richly natural, organic, and not polluted with pesticides. The Price-Pottinger Foundation was formed to republish Price's 1939 book, Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, from time to time, until the world wakes up to its message. The last updated 1989 publication carried endorsements from leading authorities, one of whom, Dr. H. L. Newblood, MD, said, "This is the most important book ever written." However, as the age of NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium) salt based fertilizers became dominant, and wonder drugs turned medical schools away from nutrition - from post W.W.II to the present - this information fell by the wayside according to Dr. A. Hoffer, MD, Ph.D. He added "Recent research has shown that, on a uniformly poor diet, the offspring of each generation deteriorates more and more. Unless we begin to take the message [of Dr. Price] seriously ...I think we are in for major health catastrophes."

Second, in 1948 a remarkable study was sponsored by Reader's Digest, and conducted at Rutgers University by a team led by Dr. Firman Bear. This was before the age of "organic gardening" and examined the differences in nutritional content of commercially raised snapbeans, tomatoes, cabbage, spinach, and lettuce as grown in 10 different states covering South Carolina to New York to Colorado. Findings: trace mineral and nutrient content vary considerably, are affected by geography, climate, fertilizing and liming practices, and that the "variation is of considerable significance to [the health of] animals and man." Third, during WW II, Prof. William Albrecht, one of the greatest soil scientists ever known, then a department head at the University of Missouri, analyzed 70,000 US Navy dental records as a function of where in the US it was that the sailors were born and raised. Findings: Sailors from the topsoil rich midwest had far fewer dental cavities than sailors from other parts of the US where the soil was more eroded and less rich in nutrients.

Fourth, more of Dr. Albrecht's work showed how animals like cows and sheep would naturally seek out more nutritious pasture...areas where overgrazing had not occurred, where a mound of hay had been left to rot, adding nutrients back into the soil, etc. Albrecht made a film "The Other Side of the Fence" demonstrating this information.

Fifth, in 1993, Doctor's Data Lab, in Chicago, did a study published in the Journal of Applied Nutrition, Vol. 45, Issue #1. For over two years, researchers collected specimens of similar variety and sizes of apples, peas, potatoes, corn, etc. from Chicago area organic food stores and supermarkets, just as would a local shopper. Their lab test results showed that organic produce had TWICE the nutritional element content of regular supermarket produce, on a fresh weight basis (how else would one buy fresh food?!) and far less of the dangerous heavy metal residues; aluminum, lead, and mercury.

Sixth, also in 1993 came the book Genetic Nutrition: Designing a Diet Based on Your Family Medical History, by Drs. Simopoulos and Herbert, and B. Jacobson. They showed that as ancient man settled in different parts of the world, dietary practices and natural selection led to adaptations such as Eskimos easily eating high fat/fish diets but having trouble assimilating carbohydrates, Finns and many European peoples adapting to dairy products while Asians easily able to eat fish and rice had a lactose intolerance. However, I found the authors did not comment on the link between soil fertility, plant nutritional content, and animal/human health. So, I wrote to Dr. Simopoulos and received a most cordial reply including a copy of her article published p. 1412, The New England Journal of Medicine, Nov. 16, 1989. It showed favorable fatty acid levels to be far higher in chicken egg yolks from wild purslane and range fed chickens than from commercial supermarket eggs.

Seventh, in 1993 came the book Super Nutrition Gardening by William Peary and Dr. William Peavy, an understudy of Dr. Albrecht. The authors show that a one-acre planting yielding one ton of tomatoes will remove 800 pounds of the soil's mineral nutrients, the rest of the weight coming from air and water. With 23 elements essential to human health being taken out of the soil, obviously just fertilizing with NPK, and perhaps calcium, hardly replaces what is withdrawn. (16 elements are declared essential for crop growth, according to the Soil Science Society of America, which is oriented toward farm crop yields and not primarily your health.) Further, excessive NPK fertilizing displaces the absorption of other minerals, AND even produces nitrate forms of nitrogen within the plant tissues, not good for human consumption. Zinc, selenium and other minerals are already known as in severe shortage in both soil and human health. The authors show how to analyze your soil, add rock dust and other needed nutrients, and produce food rich in nutritional elements. MDs S. Davies and A. Stewart are quoted, "the quality of (regular commercial) food is often so poor that the actual nutrient intake in terms of vitamins and minerals is inadequate and can produce disease."

It is NOW, when more and more lay persons and health care professionals are becoming frightened over soaring health care costs, increases in degenerative diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart problems, and the increase of antibiotic resistant strains of killer "bugs," that attention is coming back to the vital role played by nutrition. Strong immune systems tend to fight off diseases. The immune "system" is basically the health level of each of the body's trillions of cells. And, the best cellular health can only come from sound nutrition, including the all important micro-elements.

Eighth, famed medical researcher, Dr. M. Colgan, in his 1994 book, The New Nutrition, says about iodine, "About 50 micrograms (millionths of a gram) per day is sufficient for most people. This is still an amount so tiny you could hardly see it on the head of a pin." About Vitamin B12, where only a few micrograms per day are needed, "without it one declines into pernicious anemia, leading to blindness, insanity, and death."

CONCLUSION:

There is sufficient authentic and legitimate research, along with common sense, that shows your best nourishment AND HEALTH comes from obviously more nutritious organic food, much of it eaten fresh and raw to assure live enzymes and vitamins. So, grow your own soil enriched organic food and eat it freshly picked. It is even smart to grow your own sprouts, especially in winter, first soaking the organic seeds in a liquid kelp type fertilizer, and then spraying them with same while they grow. Next best: buy certified organic produce, from local organic farmers when possible. Given the practicalities of travel, urban living, etc., it is also wise to take an organic whole food supplement. Stay with whole foods to keep your body in balance, unless competent testing by a licensed health care practitioner discloses a specific need in addition. Don't let anybody tell you otherwise. The proof IS there! The odds favoring your having a long healthy life depend upon your following the organic food pathway. Social critics like John Robbins in his books Diet for a New America and Reclaiming Our Health..., and Charles Walters in his acres USA publications, describe the wrongs coming from reliance on vested interests surrounding America's allopathic medicine and agribusiness industries. Our degraded health as individuals and as a nation are described. Certainly change is needed. We should all legislatively push for open competition in the health care field, and more small organic farms. But massive change takes time, and one needs to be aware of the dilemma of poor old Dr. Semmelweis, who went insane 100 years ago trying to get Doctors to wash their hands before traveling from examining a cadaver to delivering a baby.

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This article was first published in the November 1997 edition of the Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients.

Bob Heltman is President of Leading Edge Products & Services Co., and is an independent scholar and freelance author who has published in numerous magazines. You may reach him on Internet: bobh@ioa.com

Overeating?

I struggled with my weight for almost 20 years and overeating was a regular experience. I most often ate to 'feel' a certain way, or because I felt a certain way and wanted comfort. This is not uncommon, most of us eat emotionally, due to lack of nutrition and as a result of addictions to foods.

Now I follow the 'have I earned my hunger?' question and feel satiated naturally without a temptation to overeat. Of course, it does happen occasionally, most often when out at a social gathering.

The following article by Paul Nison explains this concept in detail and how we can break the 'overeating' habit.

This month my article is about overeating. I chose to write abut this topic because, even though most people overeat all year, they especially overeat around the time of the holidays.

I have found that people do not eat and drink for nourishment only. Most people go way beyond their nourishment needs. Their need for nourishment becomes a pleasure to fulfill their addictions. How many people have heard that too much pleasure can be a bad thing? That is very true, and indulging in the pleasure of eating and drinking too often has left our world full of sick people, crying for help but not willing to give up their pleasers that are causing the problem. Many people do not even know that overeating is the cause. (Drink is not limited to alcohol, today many people consume many different beverages simply for pleasure, coffee, soda, energy drinks, etc.)

People are treating their own body as waste dumps, stuffing as much food and drink in as possible. Overeating might seem harmless, and a person can seem to get away with it for many years, but it is slowly leading to disease inside the body. Nothing takes more energy from the body than dealing with too much food. It drains our energy, creates disease and intoxifies our blood stream, leading to many deadly problems.

My good friend Dr. Fred Bisci has this to say about overeating:

Overeating creates havoc in the body, causing improper digestion and improper elimination. When the large intestine retains food longer than it should, harmful bacterial action occurs. The result is that gases and toxins are formed. They are absorbed by the tiny vessels on the walls of the bowel and poison the entire bloodstream. This is known as auto-intoxication.- Dr. Fred Bisci

It is so sad that people are conditioned to over-consume food. More money is spent on food each year than gas and medical care combined. These people who are overeating are also using more gas driving to and from the doctor and medical facilities, resulting in more money spent on medical care when they overeat.

"Man lives on 1/3 of what he eats. The doctor lives on the other 2/3's"
Why do people eat so much?

Most people eat for false hunger. It is important to learn the difference between hunger and appetite. Most people have never felt true hunger, but they say all the time, “I’m so hungry.” This is just your programmed appetite kicking in. It usually happens when you see or smell something you like. Many times food was the last thing on your mind until you see a commercial or billboard with an advertisement for food. Once people start, they just can’t seem to stop.

People in most of the civilized world don’t eat out of hunger; they eat for pleasure. There is nothing wrong with a little pleasure. A little pleasure has never hurt anyone. However, a lot of pleasure has killed many. Learn to control your pleasure. You must gain control. It’s fine to experience the pleasure of food, but overdoing it turns into overeating. Learn to insure that all your nutrient needs are met while reducing your caloric intake to the amount needed. The right number of calories is different for everyone, but you can be sure that the higher the quality of the food (the closer it is to nature), the fewer the calories needed.

Boredom is another major reason why people overeat. Keeping busy is a great way to avoid thinking about food. The body can last for weeks without food. It is very rare for anyone to reach the point of true hunger.

If one doesn’t reach true hunger, how does he or she know when it is time to eat?

The answer is to eat when you feel you need food for its value, and not for emotional reasons. And then, when you consume food, limit it only to what you feel your needs are, not your appetite. Most people could reduce their meals to half of the current amount, and their health would improve.

I suggest each person figure out their own nutritional needs not on “how they feel”, but on a simple occasional blood profile. A simple blood test will show any differences if anyone is not getting enough, but just about everyone (who is healthy) can cut down to two high quality meals a day of fruits, vegetables, nuts and/or seeds. Once you figure out what you need, have set meal times to help yourself not eat more than your body needs.

As people consume more and more food, they usually look for more and more stimulants and condiments to relish their food. The best way to get out of this habit is to give your digestive organs a rest and stop consuming all foods for a certain amount of time. This is also known as a fast or fasting.

One of the major health secrets when it comes to eating is moderation and also occasional abstinence. Going one day a week without food is something I recommend to every person. Yes, fasting one day a week to give the body a complete rest is extremely beneficial. This can be done with water or green vegetable juices.

Most people overeat, and once they get started they just can’t seem to stop themselves. Before eating, ask yourself, “Do I need to eat, or do I want to eat?” If the former, enjoy your meal, but be true to yourself. Your wellness will depend on it.

To your best health,

Mark

Raw Roadtrip - Part Two

Just returned from my second raw roadtrip driving almost 2000 miles from Chicago back home to Arizona. This time I decided to start my journey at Cousin's Incredible Vitality one of the premier raw and vegan eateries in Chicago. After a nice visit with Chef Mehmet, I selected several burritos wrapped in collard greens along with a vanilla cheesecake to go.
All the dishes were delicious and the vanilla cheesecake was better than any cheesecake I've ever tasted! Chef Mehmet was welcoming and has made available some unique services to the health community in Chicago. He offers a wide range of classes and certifications including detox sessions, raw food how-to prep classes, associate raw chef certifications as well as yoga. You can regularly find an interesting event hosted there including authors, health practicioners, and for holiday gatherings. Cousin's also has an amazing raw food bar that's 'all you can eat' in addition to its abundant selection of menu items. Stop by to say hello to Chef Mehmet for an experience you'll remember and want to return to regularly.

These to-go meals were great for late afternoon dinners over the next few days while fruit and water kept me satiated in the mornings and evenings.

I found eating raw much easier than stopping and waiting for a S.A.D. meal (as I did many years ago) when I would then normally feel tired from the excess burden of processed foods on my digestive system. Now, I enjoyed abundant energy for the 12-14 hours a day driving and was grateful for the fresh and organic fruits I found at Whole Foods on my way out of town.

Next I stopped in St. Louis to meet a new friend for lunch at 'Eternity Vegetarian Deli'. The food and company were great and learned much. The deli is transitioning into mostly raw and living foods and now has a good mix of vegetarian, vegan and raw dishes. If you're in the area, stop by for a nice treat.

Going through Missouri you'll notice, just before the south end of the state, several factory outlet stores. Of particular interest to me were the wooden bowls... they're perfect to serve dishes at potlucks and get togethers and are great looking as well. I stopped at the Shepard Hills outlet shop and found some nice 'factory second' bowls at about half the retail price.

Just over two days after I started I was happy to be back in Arizona on my way home. Another great roadtrip with fun and healthy experiences!

To your best health,

Mark

Thanksgiving Feast

Here are pictures of the recipes in the previous post from the Thanksgiving feast I shared with friends this year. The dishes consisted of kale avocado salad, jicima potatoes and gravy, veggie stuffing, succulent cranberry sauce, fall acorn squash soup, pumpkin pudding and sweet! sweet potato pie. These recipes were all delicious, easy to make and enjoyed by everyone. They're great to make for all your holiday guests... they'll never know they're vegan and raw!

Create your mini album at ShowMyPics.com

Included are some additional pictures of the Thanksgiving meal at our local 'Raw Friday' restaurant prepared by Chef Moon at the Blue Nile Cafe in Tempe, Arizona. The meal was outstanding and included a spicy spinach and avocado soup, side salad with tangy dressing and a Thanksgiving Platter with a rosemary veggie loaf, walnut raisin and celery stuffing, sweet and tart cranberry sauce and mashed 'potatoes'. Delicious!

I'm very grateful for sharing this celebration with friends. One of the greatest gifts in life is the expression of gratitude. It not only feels good, but also brings joy and more of what you wish into your life. Try it and I'm sure you'll agree.

All the best for your health and happy Thanksgiving wishes!

Mark

Healthy Holiday Recipes

Just ran across this introductory video of some tasty and healthy holiday recipes. The recipes are made from fresh, raw ingredients and made to satisfy anyone, raw or not. Dorit, the guest chef, shows you how to make a complete holiday meal, from soup to dessert. She also gives you tips on why presentation is important, especially when serving family and friends. This video is one of many raw and vegan health related educational materials from Storm and Jinjee Talifero of The Garden Diet. View the introduction video at RawFoodHowTo.com and to download the complete video, visit Natural Paradigms.

Giving you thanks and joy-filled holidays!

Mark

Meat Linked To Breast Cancer

Another study from Harvard Medical School has linked eating meat with breast cancer in women. This study of 90,000 women found that the more meat women ate in their early years, the more profound was the occurance of breast cancer as they aged the next 12 years. The authors also noted that eating meat was already associated with colon and other cancers and strongly urged the reduction in meat consumption.

This should come as no surprise since, as the authors noted, cancer has already been linked to many other cancers. With this knowledge, the continued increase in breast cancer cases doesn't make sense, does it? In today's world there is more funding, both charitable and public, to find a cure for breast cancer, but the cases continue to rise.

Based on these studies alone, the answer has always been right in front of us. Diet. What you eat and how you treat your body will dictate how it reacts. Studies have confirmed this for years. They always find that when you elimated meat from your diet, the occurances of disease drop dramatically. The China Study, one of the largest ever found that people who eat a diet high in fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds are significantly healthier.

Why spend millions on new drug research when a simple campaign to educate people will save more lives than any drug could. The answer to better health and near elimination of disease is to change your diet. Eat mainly fresh and organic fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, drastically reduce or eliminate meat and processed foods and watch your life change.

To your best health!

Mark

P.S. To learn more about the vegan raw diet, visit RawFoodHowTo.com where you'll find articles, videos, recipes, resources and more.

Before fire, there was raw!

In the beginning, before fire, there was raw! In 1931 a team of Swiss medical researchers proved that the body's immune system treats dead, burnt, factory food (cooked food) as a disease and raw living foods as an ally. The cooking process removes the water and ruins the nutrients in food leaving a toxic, indigestible, addictive and ultimately fatal substance. The words "alive" and "living food" mean that the food has THE POWER OF PRO-CREATION! A SEED! Every piece of fruit and every leaf further contain an active, functioning immune system, a life force & according to equipment designed to look at brainwaves, a consciousness as well! Where living food has intricate readings, processed foods & flesh have no reading at all, a complete flat line (dead)! (You are what you eat!)

Long after fruits have been picked, sit at the market and then in your fridge, it's still alive! ... it continues to possess a life force, water still pumping through its veins, one of its tiny seeds still able to pro-create more then billions of giant fruit baring trees! Dead foods are dead, and they spoil and rot deep in your guts, finally becoming some vicious mold (cancer) which in a delivery of excruciating pain eats you from the inside-out! just like you're going to be if you eat it!... but not before. Imagine what we would be like on a diet of life and perfection!

This is an introduction to Juliano's 'Raw In Denver' video where he demonstrates preparing raw dishes as well as the benefits of raw foods. Insightful piece. You can see the video online at 'Raw Food How-To'.

Be Rawsome!

Mark

Less For Better Health

To avoid sickness eat less; to prolong life worry less.
- Chu Hui Weng

Studies have shown that eating less prolongs life. It makes sense since the digestive system is probably the most overworked system in the body today. Did you know that digestion uses the more energy than anything else you do, especially when eating a conventional food (S.A.D.) diet. Ever get tired after a large meal? It's your energy being directed to digesting your food.

Eating a living food diet, and eating less, lessens the burden on your digestive system and lets it work normally... allowing your body to run more efficiently and last longer.

Similarly, by letting go of the things in your life that you have no control over, and stop worrying, you free your energy towards better health and wellness.

To your best health!

Mark

Raw In Phoenix on Friday?

If you live in Arizona or happen to be visiting the Phoenix area, you won't want to miss the Friday Raw menu at the Blue Nile Cafe.

Although I now am happy to eat very simply with many whole fruits and salads, I enjoy the creativity and taste of the raw dishes Chef Moon prepares each week. She presents a new cultural theme each Friday, from Middle Eastern, to Italian, Indian... each week something new. The presentation is awesome with taste and flavor to match.

The soups are particularly enjoyable... one of my favorite is the sweet carrot ginger.

There are normally at least three choices of entrees (one or two often include a salad), a salad, soup and desert.

The raw menu is available for both lunch and dinner and in between as well. You'll leave satiated... great for raw fooders and anyone looking for a delicious and healthy meal.

The Blue Nile Cafe is located off the corner of Rural and University at 933 E. University Drive, Tempe, AZ 85281

Phone: (480) 377-1113

To your best health!

Mark

Do I Have to Eat 100% Raw?

Do I have to eat 100% raw?

It's a question I hear often and there is much debate on the subject.

Personally, it's the right decision for me. Here's the consideration. You see, my experience was when I was eating a mostly raw diet, I would eat a little cooked food and notice that I would then have cravings for more cooked food. But when I eat only raw, living foods, my cravings went away, energy increased, all pains were eliminated, clarity was profound, eyesight improved, slept better.... all major benefits in my experience. If I mistakenly eat cooked food, not only can I immediately taste the difference, I also don't feel my best. I've noted others with similar experiences after eating only raw foods.

Here's a great example... a quote from Gideon Graff, a raw foodist and co-owner of a raw foods center in Georgia:

"The biggest challenge was committing 100% to raw foods. Until you make that commitment, you allow yourself to eat this, eat that, and for people like me--a binge eater--every time I allowed myself to eat some cooked food, it always led to more cooked food and it was very hard to keep raw. Once you've cleaned up a little bit, you feel the damage of eating cooked food much more than you did before. It makes you feel bad. So, committing to 100 percent as really a good experience. "

You can experience great benefits from adding more raw and living foods into your diet, at any level.. and you'll get the most benefits by eating only raw foods. There is no comparison between some and 100%. Listen to your body, it will tell you when you're ready and only you can feel the difference. I challenge you to make the commitment.

For me, committing to 100% raw foods was a blessing and made it easier to experience the benefits of natural and abundant health.

All the best in your journey!

Mark

Nature's Remedy, Back to Basics: Sleep

Something most Americans overlook in today's increasingly active and busy world is one of the simplest and most effective ways to avoid getting sick and dis-ease...

Sleep.

Our bodies are designed to heal themselves of anything, given the right environment and opportunity. Popular wisdom tells us to take this or that... although it normally only masks the symptoms and doesn't 'heal'. Only your body can heal itself of anything if you let it - nothing else. And that's the key... letting it.

If you're feeling under the weather or not yourself, the most effective and natural way to return to a state of good health is to take it easy! Rest, sleep... do nothing and let your body heal itself. Of course popular wisdom tells us that we need to get over that cold, flu or other illness fast (or even faster!) and get back to whatever you were doing (work, school, work :).

This idea of resting has been presented to me several times in the past few weeks and I'm certain it's for a reason. We can easily get caught up with too much on our plates and not take the time to sleep properly and rest. Sleep deprivation and insomnia are at epidemic rates in the US and the decline in health and increase in obesity are equally staggering. A coincidence?

I believe it's time to get back to basics, simplify our lives and take time to rest and get adequate sleep to allow us to live fully with health and happiness always.

What do you think?

To your best health!

Mark

www.VeganRawDiet.com

Why Raw and Living Foods?

If you're wondering why eating more raw and living foods is beneficial, view this insightful video from Brenda at Living Foods Institute and find out about cancer, doctors, prescription drugs and more. Select 'click to play' below. Enjoy!

Mark

Fruit For Sight

We know how delicious and good fruit is for you. Here's a study showing another benefit... seeing.

A recent study published in the June 2004 issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology indicates that eating 3 or more servings of fruit per day may lower your risk of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), the primary cause of vision loss in older adults, by 36%, compared to persons who consume less than 1.5 servings of fruit daily.

In this study, which involved over 70,000 women and over 40,000 men, researchers evaluated the effect of consumption of fruits; vegetables; the antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E; and carotenoids on the development of early ARMD or neovascular ARM, a more severe form of the illness associated with vision loss.

Food intake information was collected periodically for up to 18 years for women and 12 years for men. While, surprisingly, intakes of vegetables, antioxidant vitamins and carotenoids were not strongly related to incidence of either form of ARM, fruit intake was definitely protective against the severe form of this vision-destroying disease.

To your best health,

All good things!

Mark

Vegan Diet Reverses Diabetes Symptoms

Vegan diet reverses diabetes symptoms, study finds

by Yahoo News

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - People who ate a low-fat vegan diet, cutting out all meat and dairy, lowered their blood sugar more and lost more weight than people on a standard American Diabetes Association diet, researchers said on Thursday.

They lowered their cholesterol more and ended up with better kidney function, according to the report published in Diabetes Care, a journal published by the American Diabetes Association.

Participants said the vegan diet was easier to follow than most because they did not measure portions or count calories. Three of the vegan dieters dropped out of the study, compared to eight on the standard diet.

"I hope this study will rekindle interest in using diet changes first, rather than prescription drugs," Dr. Neal Barnard, president of the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine, which helped conduct the study, told a news conference.

An estimated 18 million Americans have type-2 diabetes, which results from a combination of genetics and poor eating and exercise habits. They run a high risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and limb loss.

Barnard's team and colleagues at George Washington University, the University of Toronto and the University of North Carolina tested 99 people with type-2 diabetes, assigning them randomly to either a low-fat, low-sugar vegan diet or the standard American Diabetes Association diet.

After 22 weeks on the diet, 43 percent of those on the vegan diet and 26 percent of those on the standard diet were either able to stop taking some of their drugs such as insulin or glucose-control medications, or lowered the doses.

The vegan dieters lost 14 pounds (6.5 kg) on average while the diabetes association dieters lost 6.8 pounds (3.1 kg).

An important level of glucose control called a1c fell by 1.23 points in the vegan group and by 0.38 in the group on the standard diet.

DROPPING DRUGS

A1c gives a measure of how well-controlled blood sugar has been over the preceding three months.

In the dieters who did not change whatever cholesterol drugs they were on during the study, LDL or "bad" cholesterol fell by 21 percent in the vegan group and 10 percent in the standard diet group.

The vegan diet removed all animal products, including meat, fish and dairy. It was also low in added fat and in sugar.

The American Diabetes Association diet is more tailored, taking into account the patient's weight and cholesterol. Most patients on this diet cut calories significantly, and were told to eat sugary and starchy foods in moderation.

All 99 participants met weekly with advisers, who advised them on recipes, gave them tips for sticking to their respective diets, and offered encouragement.

"We have got a combination here that works successfully," said Dr. David Jenkins of the University of Toronto, who worked on the study. "The message that we so often get with diet is that it is no good because nobody follows it for very long."

Dr. Joshua Cohen, George Washington University associate professor of medicine, said everyone diagnosed with diabetes is told to start eating more carefully.

"That may be among the hardest things that any of us can do," Cohen told the news conference.

The vegan diet "is at least as good, if not better than traditional approaches," Cohen said.

Vance Warren, a 36-year-old retired police officer living in Washington, said he lowered his a1c from 10.4, considered uncontrolled diabetes, to 5.1, considered a healthy level, over 18 months. "My life is much better being 74 pounds (34 kg) lighter," Warren told the news conference.

(Mark's Note: You'll notice that the vegan diet had almost double the success over the American Diabetes Association Diet recommendations. Also a new movie about how changing your diet to overcome diabetes is coming out... check it out at http://www.rawfor30days.com ... very exciting for your health!)

Raw Rules To Live By?

Ran across these rules from Joel at RawLifeLine.com originally written by GoDaddy President Bob Parsons and found them applicable not only to life in general, but to a raw food and healthy lifestyle as well. Change some of the words and apply them to your raw adventure and enjoy and be well!

16 Rules To Live By

1. Get and stay out of your comfort zone. I believe that not much happens of any significance when we're in our comfort zone. I hear people say, "But I'm concerned about security." My response to that is simple: "Security is for cadavers."

2. Never give up. Almost nothing works the first time it's attempted. Just because what you're doing does not seem to be working, doesn't mean it won't work. It just means that it might not work the way you're doing it. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it, and you wouldn't have an opportunity.

3. When you're ready to quit, you're closer than you think. There's an old Chinese saying that I just love, and I believe it is so true. It goes like this: "The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed."

4. With regard to whatever worries you, not only accept the worst thing that could happen, but make it a point to quantify what the worst thing could be. Very seldom will the worst consequence be anywhere near as bad as a cloud of "undefined consequences." My father would tell me early on, when I was struggling and losing my shirt trying to get Parsons Technology going, "Well, Robert, if it doesn't work, they can't eat you."

5. Focus on what you want to have happen. Remember that old saying, "As you think, so shall you be."

6. Take things a day at a time. No matter how difficult your situation is, you can get through it if you don't look too far into the future, and focus on the present moment. You can get through anything one day at a time.

7. Always be moving forward. Never stop investing. Never stop improving. Never stop doing something new. The moment you stop improving your organization, it starts to die. Make it your goal to be better each and every day, in some small way. Remember the Japanese concept of Kaizen. Small daily improvements eventually result in huge advantages.

8. Be quick to decide. Remember what General George S. Patton said: "A good plan violently executed today is far and away better than a perfect plan tomorrow."

9. Measure everything of significance. I swear this is true. Anything that is measured and watched, improves.

10. Anything that is not managed will deteriorate. If you want to uncover problems you don't know about, take a few moments and look closely at the areas you haven't examined for a while. I guarantee you problems will be there.

11. Pay attention to your competitors, but pay more attention to what you're doing. When you look at your competitors, remember that everything looks perfect at a distance. Even the planet Earth, if you get far enough into space, looks like a peaceful place.

12. Never let anybody push you around. In our society, with our laws and even playing field, you have just as much right to what you're doing as anyone else, provided that what you're doing is legal.

13. Never expect life to be fair. Life isn't fair. You make your own breaks. You'll be doing good if the only meaning fair has to you, is something that you pay when you get on a bus (i.e., fare).

14. Solve your own problems. You'll find that by coming up with your own solutions, you'll develop a competitive edge. Masura Ibuka, the co-founder of SONY, said it best: "You never succeed in technology, business, or anything by following the others." There's also an old Asian saying that I remind myself of frequently. It goes like this: "A wise man keeps his own counsel."

15. Don't take yourself too seriously. Lighten up. Often, at least half of what we accomplish is due to luck. None of us are in control as much as we like to think we are.

16. There's always a reason to smile. Find it. After all, you're really lucky just to be alive. Life is short. More and more, I agree with my little brother. He always reminds me: "We're not here for a long time; we're here for a good time."

(The above rules for living is included with the permission of Bob Parsons (http://www.bobparsons.com) and is Copyright © 2004-2006 by Bob Parsons. All rights reserved.)

Why Go Meat-Less?

If modern civilized man had to kill the animals he eats, the number of vegetarians would rise astronomically.
- C. Morgenstern

If we - that is, society - switched to a vegetarian diet, atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, which accounts for most heart disease, would vanish.
- William Roberts, M.D. editor in chief of the American Journal of Cardiology

From both a moral and health aspect... the benefits of avoiding meat in your diet.

To your best health!

Mark

(quotes from the book 'Your Right to Be Beautiful' by Tonya Zavasta)

Raw Foods and Hunger

One of the things I've noticed since transitioning to a raw food diet is that the hunger 'pangs' I'd had in the past... stayed in the past :).

Sure, I may feel like eating something, although I no longer have intense feelings of hunger. I can often eat some fruit throughout the day and a nice salad for dinner and feel satisfied. More importantly I feel full of energy, light on my feet, relaxed and grounded.

This is how our bodies work naturally... and why eating fresh, organic and raw foods is optimal for your health... and longevity.

One of the reasons those on the SAD diet (standard american diet) get hunger pains is in part the additives in processed foods (MSG for example) and in part because the normal American stretches their stomach far beyond their normal size. Emotions and stress play a factor as well.

Go raw and feel great!

All the best for your health,

Mark

Get Your Greens With Blended Salads

One of the many questions I receive is along the lines of... "it's hard for me to get more greens in my diet, how can I do it?"

The short answer is, it couldn't be easier... if you want to. Making your salad the main dish for dinner is a great start... and then start experimenting with different greens. There's an abundance of green leafy vegetables that you can make into dozens of salads, burritos, wraps and many more.

Here's a favorite that's quick, easy and a great way to increase greens in your diet.

Blended Salad

One of the benefits of blended salads is that you can get a large amount of greens into a meal.. and you can be creative with what you add to the mix. Here's one of my favorite recipes:



(serves 1-2 ... adjust accordingly)

3-4 Kale leaves
5-6 Romaine Lettuce leaves
2 Roma Tomatoes
1/4-1/2 Cucumber
2-3 Green Onions
Handful of fresh Cilantro
1/2 Avocado
Handful Sun Dried Tomatoes
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 Red Pepper
Sprouts (alfalfa, brocolli, etc)
Sprouted Pumkin Seeds

Add all ingredients except green onions, red peppers, sun dried tomatoes and avocado into a blender or food processor and blend until you get a smooth consistency. I recommend adding a little at a time and saving the sun dried tomatoes until the end and blend partially to leave small chunks. Top with chopped avocado, green onions, pumpkin seeds, and sprouts and you have a super green meal! You can be creative and make any combination you'd like... toppings, different greens, vegetables, seeds... make a different one every time and have fun!

Enjoy!

All good things,

Mark

Delicious Summer Salad

Looking for a healthy, live-food dish? Try this satisfying and easy to make salad I call "Avo-Veg Delight".

What you'll need:

(all fresh, uncooked and preferably organic)

• 1-1 1/2 Avocado
• 1-2 Tomatoes
• Handful Cilantro
• 2-3 Kale Leaves
  
• 1-2 Green Onions
• 1/3 Red Pepper
• 1/2 Corn on the Cob
• 3-4 Large Romaine Leaves
• Handful Parsely
• Juice of 1/2 Lemon
• 1 tsp Cumin

Optional:

• Sea Salt to taste
• Flax Crackers (GoRaw makes a great -very thick- original flax variety)
• Pumpkin seeds
• Sunflower seeds
  

Here's How To Make It:

In a large mixing bowl mash up avocado. Add all chopped vegetables, squeeze lemon, add cumin and optionally sea salt to taste. Mix up well. Lay out 3-4 large romaine lettuce leaves and add one large scoop of salad on each romaine leaf. Eat as a salad or wrap lettuce leaves around salad and eat burrito style! Enjoy with live flax crackers or your favorite veggies.

Makes 1-2 servings.

This is a very satisfying dish! Enjoy experimenting with different veggies and have fun.

Enjoy and all the best for your health...with living foods!

Mark

Raw Road Trip

Greetings from my first 'raw roadtrip'! I'm currently in Amarillo, Texas traveling from Chicago back to my home in Arizona and the first roadtrip since starting my raw journey.

Many of you have written to share your experiences when traveling and here's how I'm doing it.

My first stop before leaving Chicago was Karyn's, the popular raw vegan cafe, restaurant and marketplace. Picked up a few ready to eat meals (garlic pizza and california rolls... both were great choices) along with some pumpkin seeds, raw crackers and small salad from the buffet. I dropped these into a cooler with some ice packs and went on to Whole Foods Market just minutes away.

At Whole Foods I picked up spring water, 5 bunches of bananas, a quart of fresh strawberries, a bag of dates, and some apples (all organic). Dropped everything in the car and with plenty of food for 2.5 days of driving was ready for my first raw road trip!

In addition to the food I picked up, I had placed an order for the Phi Plus (raw whole food) I've mentioned before and had several bags ready to go.

I started the day with several glasses of water and then several hours later added a few bananas and strawberries. Throughout the day I added dates and grabbed a banana whenever I got hungry. At dinner time I pulled out one of the prepared meals from Karyn's along with some raw crackers. Evening snacks included Phi Plus and dates. I drank less water than I normally do to minimize the stops along the way! :)

I'm in my last day of travel now, feeling great and still have plenty of food. Eating fresh whole foods I brought along made it easy to eat whenever I was hungry, make fewer stops and gave me lots of energy to be able to drive as long as I wanted.

Share your travel experiences by leaving a comment!

Thanks for reading and all the best for your health...

Mark

Yummy Raw Dish Pics

Here are some pictures of delicious raw dishes I've prepared over the last few months. Recipes and more pictures to come. Enjoy!

Create your mini album at ShowMyPics.com

To your best health!

Mark
Vegan Raw Diet

Quick, Healthy Snack

Here's a quick healthy snack.. especially for those times when you're transitioning and hungry for something sweet.

Banana Treat

• 1-2 Ripe Bananas
• 1-2 Soft, Pitted Dates
  or
• Handful of soaked raisins
• 1/2-1 Tbs Raw Almond Butter
  

Mash the bananas in a bowl, add raw almond butter and dates (cut them into small pieces) or soaked raisins and mix together well. Quick, easy and delicious. Enjoy without guilt!

To your best health,

Mark
Vegan and Raw - The Ultimate Diet For Weight Loss, Healthy and Life

You Know You're a Raw Foodist When....

• You can't STAND the smell of any kind of Fast Food no matter how delicious it's supposed to be and you can detect who has just eaten a greasy burger by noticing the odor of Fast Food Ooze coming out of that person's skin
• ...your idea of junk food is celery dipped in tahini, agave, cinnamon and cocoa powder....or the best part of your day is when you get to turn on your juicer
• when the guys in the produce department know your name
• You know that a "9" on the sticker on the fruit/veggie (example: 94031) means the produce is organic.
• Your cravings have gone from chocolate chip cookies to a banana wrapped in romaine leafs!
• when you're packing for a trip and the 1st thing you think of is your juicer.
• when your friends use organic produce to bribe you into doing things for them
• When you're buying fruit and the cashier looks at you puzzled and then asks, "You ate all that fruit you bought yesterday?!"
• ...you start using words that are not in the English dictionary...like RAWESOME.
• you walk into a natural foods store and can barley find something to eat
• you make SEXY sounds while eating a mango....

Source: Nature's First Law Forum

Enjoy... to your best health!

Mark

Why Cheating Doesn't Work

OK, you've decided to "go raw". Congratulations!

But now you have temptations and cravings for cooked and processed foods. Is it ok? Is it acceptable to eat mostly raw?

Sure, eating some cooked/steamed foods is ok, it just depends on your goals and how you feel. Of course, you'll get the most benefits by sticking to as close to a 100% raw diet as possible. Again, it depends on your goals.

Here's the rub. I've been researching the reasons for the cravings and observing my experiences. What I've found is that by eating cooked foods occassionally, you're actually building a desire for more cooked foods. This also applies to spices, salt, garlic, chocolate, sugar and other foods.

If you crave a pizza and eat it, you'll have a desire for more. If you have salt, you'll build a desire for it again. It's a vicious circle that won't end unless you give it up. There are other reasons you crave certain foods. Sometimes your body may be low on a particular mineral that could trigger a craving.

In my experience, just a few weeks after going 100% I lost all desire and taste for cooked foods. It was a natural result of eating raw. I also found that when I tasted something cooked, I then had a desire for it again. After a short time, that desire went away. I also quickly gained a strong and healthy desire for fresh greens, fruits and other vegetables... a desire that's lasted and only grows with time.

My personal goal has never been to label myself 100% raw... I've chosen to be 100% raw for the way I feel as well and the health benefits. For me, they've been dramatic and I feel grateful for the many benefits I've experienced.

Here's an interesting quote from the great German thinker Goethe:

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy,
the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.
....
That the moment one definitely commits oneself,
then providence moves, too.

All sorts of things occur to help one
that would never otherwise have occurred.
A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising one's favor all manner of
unforseen incidents and meetings and
material assistance which no man
could have dreamed would come his way.

Whatever you can do or
dream you can, begin it!
Boldness has genius, power
and magic in it."

In essense, until you commit yourself 100% to whatever you desire (in this case, better health through eating a vegan, raw diet) there will always be hesistancy, and you'll never reach your goals, whatever they may be.

Something to think about.

All the best for your health!

Mark
"The Raw Guy"

What We're Eating Now, Delicious Appetizers

Appetizers are great, especially when they're delicious and raw! Here's a wonderful dish inspired by Living Nutrition Magazine... "Poppers".

Here's what you'll need:

1-1/2 cups of sun dried tomatoes (soaked)
1 cup of macadamia nuts
Basil (about 10 leaves)
2 zucchini
1 pint large cherry tomatoes

Here's how you make them:

First, soak the sun-dried tomatoes for about an hour. Drain and save the soak water. Process the macadamia nuts in a blender or a food processor. Then add the sun-dried tomatoes. You'll want a nice pate-like consistency. If it's too thick, add the soak water slowly. Lastly add the basil and finish processing.

Slice zucchini with a madolin or peeler into long, thin strips. Add the pate and roll up the zucchini slices. Scoop out the middle of the cherry tomatoes and fill them with pate. Arrange on a plate and garnish to your preference.

These were a real hit over the holidays with my family and friends. Great for veggies and meat eaters alike (you might even inspire a few friends).

Enjoy!

Mark
"The Raw Guy!"
Vegan Raw Diet