AU REVOIR

I'll be honest, it's been on my mind for sometime now!  And now, as my husband and I embrace a new path, planning our first pregnancy, it seems appropriate to say farewell to the beautiful six years I've spent on this blog sharing my up's and down's exploring all things raw.

The three weeks I recently spent at Hippocrates Health Institute has given me a lot of time to self-reflect and really think about the new direction my husband and I are getting ready to embark on.


It has been an amazing experience, sharing a part of myself (my ambitions and struggles) with you, my readers.  The journey no doubt has created the perfect segue connecting me to the next phase of my life.

There is so much I will miss about this chapter in my life — for it has given me such a remarkable and beautiful glimpse into nature, spirituality, my own being, and what's truly possible.  My only hope now is to share some of this knowledge, experience and wisdom with my future baby(s) and grandbaby(s).
And so it is with a heavy heart, yet a light spirit that I say my final goodbye.

DIET IS ONLY HALF THE STORY

Or perhaps it's even only a third.  More and more I'm starting to realize that health is less about what we eat, and more about how we live!

Nutrition is a crucial component to healthy living, of course, but it's even more relevant in the context of lifestyle.  It is equality important what we choose to think, how we feel, and who we surround ourselves with. If you’re eating all the right things (which can vary widely depending on who you ask), but you're holding on to negative or resentful emotion, you may not achieve your desired level of health no matter how "perfect" you believe your diet to be.  Stress, lack of physical movement, emotional pain, spiritual disconnection are just a few factors outside of diet that affect the quality of our health and well-being. 

For this reason, I would love to start shifting the conversation away from just raw foods and recipes, to a broader understanding of what healthy living is all about. You might see me talking more and more about things like joy, and creating a fulfilling spiritual practice.  In fact, if you haven’t visited the Raw Radiance website in a while, you may want to take a look (as it won’t be around for much longer).  I am currently in the midst of rebranding with a new direction and focus.  Stay tuned!  

If you have been following my blog, you may have noticed that I've taken some time off in recent months (more like an entire year).  There are several reasons behind my decision to step away.  Everything from feeling uninspired in my own diet and lifestyle, and wanting to be more fully engaged in my personal life.  But mostly, I think I just simply burned out.  

During my time away from blogging/social media, I have tried to regroup and redefine my vision and direction for my life.  I have spent a lot of time exploring so many other interests like interior design and reading up on parenting.  My hunch is that being a mama is the next big chapter in my life ;)

As far as my lifestyle goes, here's where I am today.  My diet is varied and I'm far more flexible with my eating habits.  I don't care to define myself by any particular lifestyle or diet.  And even though my path began with an interest in raw foods, I no longer feel the need to limit the conversation to just diet and nutrition. There's just so much more to health! 

I still prefer a plant-based approach as the core foundation of my diet, with a strong focus on dark leafy greens and algae (spirulina anyone?).  I have kept the basic principles of the raw food diet (green juices, green smoothies, green salads, etc).  In fact, juicing continues to be a daily foundational practice for me, as it always has been.  But I now enjoy animal products on occasion as well. I find that unpasteurized eggs, raw goat/sheep yogurt, wild-caught sardines, and yes, locally-sourced organic meat have beneficial nutrients harder to come by on a strictly plant-based diet.  

On the other hand, I'm also intrigued with the concept behind Dr Fuhrman's nutritarian diet. His focus is on maximizing the micronutrient concentration in foods per calorie count.  You can read more about that on www.drfuhrman.com.  However, I do feel this approach is a bit too strict for this stage in my life.  Restricted dieting is not exactly something I'm interested in.  My goal is primarily balance and flexibility in all areas of my life, especially diet.  

So here I am, on a quest to redefine my definition and approach to health.  My aim is to deepen my understanding of health and well-being from a broader perspective.  And so the journey continues!     

TO BE A 100% RAW, OR NOT TO BE?

One of the most common questions I get is, "Do I need to go 100% raw?"

In my opinion, not necessarily! It depends on what you are trying to accomplish.

For those who are dealing with an illness or disease, it may be necessary to intervene with a strict protocol to detoxify the body on a cellular level... to reverse the condition and heal the body.

For the majority of us, incorporating 50-70% raw fruits and veggies into our diet is optimal for long-term success.

The problem with trying to attain a 100% raw diet as a percentage, is that it’s easy to lose sight of whether or not the diet is balanced. Living on cacao, dehydrated crackers, and raw desserts is technically 100% raw, but is that healthy? For me, it’s less about the percentages and more about keeping my diet balanced.

The foundation of my diet is primarily leafy greens, in the form of green juices, green smoothies and green salads. I try to eat high water-content fruits and veggies in place of dehydrated foods. I also make sure to get in sea vegetables and micro-algae like spirulina and chlorella.

My non-raw staples include steamed/backed root vegetables, gluten-free grains, legumes, eggs and goat/sheep yogurt, etc. (Yes, I'm not vegan!)

The idea of all or nothing, or that all cooked food is poison is simply a thing of the past! It is far more important to focus on getting high quality, organic whole foods.

It is equally important to be at peace with the lifestyle we have chosen. If we're always stressed out about not eating perfectly enough or in a constant state of guilt, we've missed the point! I often see people struggle with raw foods thinking they have to be perfect 100% of the time, trying to live up to some unrealistic ideal. But it's not about perfection, it's about enjoying a healthy and balanced lifestyle... which is absolutely possible on a high-raw diet.

So before you jump in 100%, make sure to first lay down a strong, healthy foundation for your diet. If you do choose to go a 100% raw, I admire your courage. Just keep in mind that the raw food lifestyle is all about creating a healthy and happy life. And definitely remember to keep it balanced!

REPOST (10/1/2009)

COCONUT-BANANA & BLACKBERRY PARFAIT

Coconut-Banana & Blackberry Parfait

1 banana

1 young Thai coconut (meat only)

½ cup walnuts (soaked)

Juice of ½ lemon

1 Tbsp raw honey

¼ tsp vanilla extract

Pinch sea salt

Soak walnuts 6 - 8 hrs, rinse and drain.  Crack open a coconut and scoop out the meat (reserve the water for drinking).  Blend walnuts and coconut meat along with all remaining ingredients until smooth.  Set aside.

½ cup blackberries

1 tsp raw honey

Blend blackberries with honey in a mini-blender!  Layer a dessert glass and serve.  Enjoy!

BRUSSELS SPROUTS APPLE SLAW

1 cup brussels sprouts

1 apple

1 celery stalk

1/4 cup minced red onion

1/4 cup black currents (or raisins)

Shred brussels sprouts, apple and celery in a food processor.  Combine with minced onion and currents in a separate bowl and mix together.

Vinaigrette

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1/2 tsp raw honey

Pinch Himalayan salt / black pepper

Whisk vinaigrette ingredients and toss with the salad. Enjoy!

OFF TO HIPPOCRATES HEALTH INSTITUTE

In just a few short days, one of my long awaited dreams will finally come to fruition.  I will be arriving at the Hippocrates Health Institute for a 3-week Life Transformation Program.

The dream has been a long time in the making, six years to be exact.  From the very first time I heard about the program, back in 2007, I knew this was my destined next BIG step in my exploration of health and nutrition.  (See my brief mention of it in a 2009 post titled Manifesting A Dream.) 

What better time to experience this amazing program than in preparation for a healthy first pregnancy?  I love how destiny seems to align so appropriately - the timing couldn't be more perfect.  

I put HHI smack in the middle of my vision board long ago, but for six LONG years the dream just sat there waiting for me. And when I say waiting, I literally mean it was just sitting there waiting for me to get off my ass and make it happen... ; )

By the way, for any of you who still think manifestation is the process of dreams magically falling in your lap... I've got news for you!  The real process of manifestation is owning your dreams (and the responsibility that comes with making it happen).  Took me a while to catch on too. 

So that's what I did.  I took my destiny, my dream, into my own two hands, set up a savings account, and got to work!  

Luckily, the timing turned out great, as my hubby and I are looking to start a family in the near future.  Perfect opportunity for a complete mind, body and spirit cleanse!  

I should mention, that even though the Hippocrates program focuses on a strict raw vegan protocol, I don't intend to proceed with a vegan pregnancy.  I'll leave the details regarding my views on diet and pregnancy for another post.  But I will say that my intention, as of this point, is to incorporate a few select animal products into my diet (in "therapeutic" doses) following the cleanse.  I'll probably have to explain the "therapeutic" part as well.  

In any case, I thought about blogging during my cleanse at the Hippocrates Health Institute, but I may just take those three weeks to really immerse myself into the program and enjoy my stay there.  I do hope to follow up with a post upon my return however... so stay tuned! 

RAW FOOD & YOGA

A match made in heaven!

Regardless of the style of yoga practice you prefer, I have found that a predominetly raw food lifestyle and yoga are a perfect complement to one another.  The union of these two are unlike anything else.  

I often enjoy some fresh coconut water before my yoga practice, and I like to end my practice with a low-glycemic green juice for hydration.  It makes me feel like I'm floating of clouds once I'm done!

Yoga in Sanskrit translates to “union”.  The practice is designed to unite breath and posture, which in turn creates unity and balance in mind, body and spirit.  Yoga, of course, also increases flexibility.  I like to think or define the practice of yoga as a meditation in movement.

Here's a fun one to try... the Five Tibetan Rites.

I first heard of the Five Tibetan Rites from my friend and fitness guru, Larisa Simpson of EuroFit LLC, who not only helped me to lose weight, but has also taught me, among other things, to love and honor my body.  If you have yet to discover the Five Tibetan Rites, it’s a beautiful routine to add to your yoga practice. 

The Five Tibetan Rites, aka the Five Rites, are a form of yoga practiced by Tibetan monks for centuries for healing, rejuvenation, and longevity.  The monks who practiced the Five Rites reportedly lived long and vibrant lives.  Unlike the traditional yoga practice of India, the Five Rites emphasize “a continuous sequence of movement” rather than “static positions”.

The Five Rites are said to balance the seven energy Chakras centers to promote a free flow of prana (chi energy) revitalizing mind, body and spirit.  A daily practice of the Five Rites can increase energy and vitality, restore emotional and mental clarity, help one sleep more soundly, increase strength and flexibility, balance hormonal levels, assist the body in detoxification and weight management, and enhance a sense of harmony and well being.