the shrek shake

As promised, I began my day with a bright green smoothie! 


WHY would you ever mix greens into a smoothie? This is crazy talk. I thought so, too. Until I became a belieber. I mean believer. 


The first mistake is to think you're just blending up a bunch of leaves and holding your breath while slurping down this slimy,  shrek-y concoction. 


The key is to mix it all together with fruit! Once you add fruit into the blender, all is well in the world. It will smell good, taste good, and make you feel GREAT. 


The truth is, we are getting nowhere NEAR the amount of greens that we need to be consuming in our diets. No one really wants to go around eating salads day in and day out...lame. So, that's where smoothies and juicing comes in. I've been juicing my veggies for a while now, and although I think it's a great way to get a TON of veggies into your diet, I've got to be honest--it tastes nasty. 


Juicing is great when you are trying to heal your gut because it requires absolutely no work from your digestive system while giving it an incredible kick of nutrients to support the healing process. GOOD stuff. Not knockin it, just haven't found a way to completely enjoy it yet. 


But, all is well in the blending world. You can have your salad and enjoy it too--with an added bonus of not consuming all of the crap we like to add on top of our salads to make it somewhat enjoyable -- croutons, fatty dressings, bacon bits... you'll be greatly reducing the consumption of salt and oils in your diet. None of the bad stuff but ALL of the good stuff! AND it tastes way better and goes down way easier.


The reason our greens are so important is simple: they contain chlorophyll. Chlorophyll, or "liquid sunshine," has been seen to help in the growth and repair of tissues. It's ridiculously healing stuff. A molecule of chlorophyll closely resembles a molecule of human blood. According to Ann Wigmore, "consuming chlorophyll is like receiving a healthy blood transfusion." 


In case you're feeling a little inspired to get blendin', let me tell you about the benefits of adding a green smoothie to your daily diet:


-look and feel younger
-have more energy and motivation
-clearer, more positive thoughts
-improved digestion and assimilation 
-better concentration and mental focus
-be calm & feel at peace
-increased immunity
-weight loss
-finally stop unhealthy habits
-increase productivity 


Get excited! Here's a simple recipe to kick off the madness:


one handful of spinach (or any other greens, kale tends to be strong)
1-2 frozen bananas
1 tbs of ground flax seeds (optional)
enough apple juice/water/ or almond milk to blend well


BAM! You've got yourself a Shrek Shake! 


As for me, I need to get back on the right track, so I'm going to be doing a green smoothie feast for the next three days. My big brother is getting married on Saturday, so I want to be in ship shape--no tummy aches allowed. :) Shrek Shakes it is for the next three days! I'll keep you updated on my progress!


love & lettuce,
d

we gotta go where we can shine

It's a funny thing. Once you let something go from your life that needs to be left behind, you often find an empty hole in your heart in the shape of that particular thing or person. This is why oftentimes, people who are in abusive relationships skip from one bad relationship to the next, and don't understand what they're doing wrong. 

What I've learned is that once you let something go, you need to make sure you have something else to fill the empty space with. This doesn't mean going to find some "rebound" boyfriend...actually, don't, please...haha. But, what it does mean is that you need to take some time to think about what it is that you want to welcome into your life. Maybe a hobby or a sport you used to play when you were younger. Something that you always think about doing that puts a smile on your face, but you never seem to have the time to do it. For me, it's dancing. I used to dance almost every day of the week, for hours on end, when I was younger. It's something that since I've been sick I haven't been able to do much of. So, now that I'm beginning to feel better and now that I've made space in my life by letting go of what no longer serves me, I am going to fill that with dance classes! I guess that sounds funny, but we all have our things, right? :)


A lot of times you'll meet people who have been sick for years who begin to feel better and heal on a raw food diet after just a few weeks. It sounds crazy, but it is not uncommon that these people will stop the diet all together and go back to unhealthy patterns once again. The thing is, if you've been deathly ill for years, it (unfortunately) can begin to define who you are. Once the problems go away and you start to feel vibrant, there are no more doctors and medications to complain about, no more aches and pains and sleepless nights...what's left to talk about? What's left to complain about? Nothing much...


People are funny. Ever notice how we thrive off of negativity? We love to talk about how awful our jobs are, how annoying our friend is, how terrible traffic is. It's just human nature. So, if one day, all of those things to complain about suddenly vanish (boohoo), how are we going to socialize? 


For some people, they simply don't know how else to live their lives in any other way than being sick. I say this with the utmost respect and compassion. Change is difficult. And for some, it can be paralyzing. I am first to say that I have been in this exact position--feeling vibrant and healthy, and then going right back to my old ways of being sick. Being healthy and fully alive is a dream that many people have, but when we can actually grasp that dream, how many people would truly receive it? Mariane Williamson wrote an incredible poem that begins like this: Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. 


The poem ends with these lines: As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. 


I'm not telling you that you need to be a raw foodist in order to be "powerful beyond measure." I'm also not saying that it isn't a path to that state, but everyone has their own road to take. When I was deciding whether or not to become a yoga instructor, I met a teacher who would walk into a room of 50 people and have everyone captivated. She is my favorite teacher to this day and it is because she has completely embraced who she is, and she doesn't apologize for being awesome. She knows she's great, and by owning that, she in turn allows everyone who meets her to do the same. It's easy for us to shy away from compliments and from giving ourselves credit for how great we are, but who is that serving? No one. We should all be proud of who we are and excited to share ourselves with the world. If you don't like who you are, or aren't proud of the life you lead, then what is holding you back? You are your own best friend and advocate, and you are the only person who has the power to change your life. Give yourself permission to shine. When you do, you'll give everyone around you that same gift. 


My raw food journey has been very up and down but in the past couple weeks I have been able to sustain a much higher percentage of raw foods. However, I've noticed that when I start to feel really great, I let myself go a little bit. Just a little cooked food turns into a little more, and more, until I just had two slices of pumpkin pie and a fully cooked dinner. Once in a while it is okay for me to eat cooked food, but I have to have so much control when I do it. Since it is highly addictive, it's hard to know when to stop, and the cravings intensify greatly. Also, since my body has gotten used to feeling so great on all of the raw/living food, it immediately knows when I am allowing toxins in. The first thing that happens when I begin to eat more than one meal of cooked food a day is feeling a mental haze. I get tired and lazy and just want to hibernate. Then comes the chills--my body gets so cold that no amount of layers can remedy it. It's pretty crazy to see the way that my body reacts now that it is a little "cleaner." 


So, to get back on track, I'll be starting tomorrow with a green smoothie...which is where I'll leave off for tonight. Get ready to read all about these delish drinks mañana. 


love & lunges,
d


ps- by the way, I'm not going to apologize for quoting Miley below. Or for playing her song on my playlist. Just like she's just being Miley, I'm just being Dana. xo

There's always gonna be another mountain.I'm always gonna wanna make it move.Always gonna be an uphill battleAnd sometimes I'm gonna have to lose.It ain't about how fast I get there,Ain't about whats waiting on the other side.It's the climb.

a little bit stronger

Courage is the power to let go of the familiar.
-- Raymond Lindquist 


We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the life that is waiting for us.
-- Joseph Campbell 

Have you ever let go of something you never imagined you could? This week I had to let go of something that I've been holding onto for years. I finally realized the only way for me to move forward, to live more fully, and to heal--both physically and spiritually--was to let go. By letting go, I regained my self-worth -- without which, I could never expect to go very far. To quote one of my favorite songs, "sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same" [all at once, the fray].


I can sit here and write to you about the most healing foods in the world, the most calming yoga postures, and the benefits of going raw. But, none of that means anything if you don't realize your worth. The first step to healing yourself and the rest of the world is to love yourself unconditionally. I can promise you that if you're still holding onto something that does not build you up, you will have a much more difficult time trying to improve your life--it will seem more of a chore than a pleasure. You will only meet resistance and self-doubt. But, let go of whatever is holding you back -- negative thinking, an unhealthy relationship, an un-admitted addiction -- and get ready for your life to begin. Admitting you need to let go is half the battle. 


Let go of what no longer serves you.


And open your heart to the world that is embracing you and pushing you forward toward your best self. 


This week I got a little bit stronger. And it feels good. 


love & let go,
d


ps ~ if you're interested to read more about what I have to say about the topic of letting go, check out a blog entry I wrote about a year ago: You May Return Here Once You Realize You Are Always Here. 

wakey wakey, chocolate shakey!

enjoying my chocolate banana smoothie before my morning yoga practice. so good the birds were singing. sis, this one's for you--head tilt and all!

Who woulda thought that a girl on an endeavor to eat a mosssstly raw/living food diet would be indulging in chocolate shakes pre-yoga sesh? Could it really be true?? YES. Raw chocolate is the bomb dot com.


Side-note: Rony, if you're reading this, I know I gave you a raw cacao bean and you almost died trying to eat it. But, when it's made into a powder and put in a shake, it's muy delicioso and I'll prove it to you next time you try some of my food ;)


So a goal that I have for this blog is to start spreading the word about something super awesome: raw superfoods! Today we'll start with my (thus far) favorite...drum roll please...the cacao bean (aka raw chocolate!). This is God's gift to raw foodies.


As an aspiring teacher, allow me to give you a little history lesson. Cacao beans were brought to Central America during the times of the Mayans and Aztecs--the beans were so revered that they actually used them as a form of money! Montezuma, the famous Aztec emperor, filled his vaults not with gold, but with about 960,000,000 raw cacao beans! Now that's a choc-o-holic if I ever knew one...


Let's get on to the exciting facts:


*Cacao is the #1 natural source of magnesium of ANY food....magnesium builds strong bones and is associated with increased happiness. Over 80% of Americans are chronically deficient in magnesium.


*It is high in sulfur. Sulfur builds strong nails, hair, beautiful skin, detoxifies the liver, and supports healthy pancreas functioning.


*Cacao diminishes appetite, due to it's MAO inhibitors--these facilitate rejuvenation.


*Cacao contains phenylethylamine (PEA) which is an adrenal-related chemical that is also produced within the brain when we are in love :) It increases focus and alertness.


*Anandamide (the bliss chemical) is found in cacao. it is released naturally in the brain when we are feeling great.


*Cacao is the highest known source of antioxidants. It has nearly 20 times the antioxidants of red wine and up to 30 times that of green tea.


Raw foodies love their cacao. It opens the doors to endless amounts of desserts--minus the calories, fat, and sugar!


I must say, the other day I started feeling a little down (must of been the cloudy weather). I didn't have the energy to make anything, but I forced myself to make this shake. Let's just say I no longer was a dana downer...this stuff seriously has some happy chemicals in it! After drinking my smoothie I was out the door, getting stuff done, and enjoying my cloudy day!


I have seen cacao used in raw mint-chocolate brownies, raw chocolate mousse, and raw chocolate cakes. The way that I like to use cacao in my diet is in smoothies--simply because it's super simple and quick. Feel free to play around with different ingredients, but here's the recipe for my raw chocolate banana smoothie:


1-2 frozen bananas
about a cup of coconut water
2 spoonfuls of raw cacao powder
1-2 spoonfuls of raw almond butter


Smoothie Tips:
-always peel your bananas and freeze them the night before for a creamy, frothy smoothie!
-adding raw almond butter increases the "filling" factor of your smoothie and gives you a great dose of protein
-using coconut water not only tastes heavenly, but it contains more potassium (about 294 mg) than most sports drinks (117 mg), it also contains less sodium, and has the same electrolytic balance as we have in our blood--so it is often called the "fluid of life."


If this didn't make you excited about raw foods, I'm not sure what will...
Don't worry, I still have a few more tricks up my sleeve!


love & lettuce,
d

raw food 101

Whenever I start to tell someone about the raw food diet, a lot of questions come up. The most common questions I get are:


*What do you eat?
*Why are raw foods considered to be healing?
*How do you get enough protein?


So, I thought I'd take a moment to address these questions. Hopefully they'll clear up any confusion and help you better understand how this diet is so healing.


First of all, raw and living food is not cooked, heated, or processed. It is (hardly ever) contained in a bottle or jar. It is never in a can. Raw food consists of uncooked fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, and sprouted grains. They are not altered in anyway and enjoyed in their natural state. This includes sea vegetables, dried fruits, beans, raw honey, sea salt, raw carob powder (helloooo chocolate!), spices, herbs, almond butter, fresh fruit/veggie juices, and the list goes on.


What raw/living food does not include is: meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, eggs, processed frozen foods, cooked grains, store bought juices (these are pasteurized), coffee, soda, caffeinated tea, sugar, and alcohol (except red wine!).


I bet a lot of you reading this are terrorized by the idea of eating in such a way, but let's look at why a person may choose to go this "extreme." The main reason that raw food has helped people feel well and healthy for the first time in their lives is because this diet feeds your body and cells with vitamins, minerals, enzymes and other substances that cooking destroys. The two most important factors connecting raw food to improved health are enzymes and acid alkaline balance.


As we age, our body's natural source of enzymes becomes depleted. If we continue to cook away the enzymes that are present in our food, we will eventually begin to use our own natural enzyme reserves. We need to replenish this source with the foods that we eat. The process of cooking our food makes it very difficult for our bodies to digest the food that we eat; consequently, the food begins to be stored in our bodies as toxins, leading to all sorts of diseases. The enzymes that are contained in raw food actually aid in the digestion of that food when it is chewed. If we fail to gain enzymes from raw food and continue to use up our enzyme reserves by digesting cooked foods, we become more susceptible to aging, disease, and premature death. I know, scary, right? Cooking our foods destroys enzymes and is detrimental to our immune system, brain function and energy levels.


When I began eating a mostly raw food diet, I almost immediately experienced an improved state of mind and clarity. I am more energized, more at peace, better able to focus, and I feel as if a "mental haze" has been lifted. Feeling emotional clarity, increased energy, and healing of physical problems are things that people who go raw notice. We need to be mindful of our enzyme reserve, and eat enough whole, raw foods in order to improve our quality of life and health.


Another huge factor that plays a role in the healing power of raw foods is how this diet is very alkaline forming for our bodies. The Standard American Diet (SAD) consists of foods that are extremely acid forming once we put them into our bodies. When we consume acidic foods (example: milk, eggs, cheese, meat, sugar, pasta, pop, you get the picture), we are creating a playing ground for disease to manifest. When your body is too acidic the systems and organs of your body need to work overtime in order to reach homeostasis. Think about your organs always being in the state of fight or flight. If the body is in this state for a long period of time, it becomes exhausted, and an exhausted body cannot compete with disease. An acidic body impacts your mental state, causing headaches, slower thinking, dulled mentality, and even depression. Fatigue, muscle stiffness, pain, and low calcium states are also on account of an acidic environment.


Diet is the major factor in our bodies becoming too acidic. Many doctors believe that our diets should be made up of 80% alkaline foods and 20% acid foods. The goal is to have an internal environment that is slightly alkaline. We can do this by eliminating acid producing foods and enjoying a diet high in raw foods.


Fun fact: almost all fruits and vegetables are alkaline forming. Certain foods are externally acidic, but internally alkaline, such as: grapefruit, oranges, lemons, and limes.


Tip: A great way to start your day is to begin with a large glass of water with fresh lemon juice squeezed into it. Lemons are extremely alkaline forming.


And now for the burning question.....Where on EARTH do you get your protein, crazy lady?! Let me tell ya. Eating protein does not create protein in your body. Amino acids are what create protein in your body, and the best source of amino acids are dark, leafy, green vegetables. When you eat meat, you're not actually getting as much protein as you think you are. For example, say you're going to eat a chicken breast. It has 20 grams of protein in it. Once it is cooked, 50% of the protein is destroyed. Now your body needs to digest and assimilate this dense source of 10 grams of protein (which can take up to 100 hours). If you're lucky, you might end up getting a few grams of protein.


A bowl of uncooked greens or sprouts may only contain a few grams of protein, but--and this is key--you can easily digest and assimilate every single gram because they still have all of their minerals, enzymes, and vitamins intact. In the end, you get a lot more protein while eating a lot less food. One cup of store bought almond milk contains 1 gram of protein (because it has been heated in order to be stored and sold in stores). On the other hand, raw almond milk contains 10 grams of protein! Click here for a link to a recipe for homemade, raw almond milk.


More fun information to come! Stay posted and let me know if you have any questions you'd like me to address :)

"If we eat wrongly, no doctor can cure us; if we eat rightly, no doctor is needed." -Dr. Victor G Rocine, 1930

love & lettuce,

d

surf's up

I woke up early this morning, before the sun rose. What's even stranger is that I felt completely rested. It's not even like I went to bed early, I don't think I was in bed until around midnight. I looked out the window and realized that this new lifestyle is already working miracles in my life. I've been feeling so good for the last few days that I almost forgot what life is usually like for me. 


Typically:
-I never feel rested, even after sleeping 12 hours
-I am always in pain after I eat anything...I used to joke around that the only thing I can eat without getting sick is an ice cube
-I get anxiety about going downtown for class, finding parking, and making it through without being distracted by pain 
-My stomach is usually distended because of the inflammation from the Crohn's


But now...:
-I feel well rested, and instead of having a roller-coaster of energy throughout the day, I feel like I am on a steady ride
-I don't experience pain after eating
-I went to class this week with NO anxiety, totally felt back to my old, chill self 
-Just out of curiosity, I weighed myself this morning and saw that I've lost six pounds since Monday. I did this because I noticed my stomach was a lot flatter, and pressing on it doesn't hurt nearly as much as it did before. As a disclaimer, I just want to say that I'm not doing this diet for the purpose of weight loss--my intention is to heal, and whatever else happens along the way is a bonus. However, many people do use this as a weight loss tactic. I know from experience that this diet tends to bring your body to the weight that it wants to be at, which is so great! But, I do not think it's healthy for people to go on yo-yo diets, so I don't encourage anyone to do this for weight loss purposes unless they intend to stick with the lifestyle, because you'll just gain the weight back and then some after returning to cooked food. 


In addition to all of those great benefits that I've already noticed after FOUR DAYS people (and not even being completely 100%, I might add), I've also noticed that my skin is so much clearer, softer, I don't use as much moisturizer, and it looks like my skin tone has evened out a lot. It's exciting to see these changes on the outside because that means that my inside--where it counts--is going through similar changes!! I just am so excited at this point, and can hardly imagine what more time in this lifestyle will reveal. 


I usually don't remember my dreams, but my dream felt so real last night that I woke up smiling because it was so great. Not much happened in my dream, but I know I was surfing. Surfing is probably my favorite thing to do, besides dancing. I thought about it and realized that this week has been a lot like surfing a really smooth wave. A couple years ago, my family and I went to Costa Rica for New Years. We found a beach that hardly anyone was at and set up camp. I walked down the beach to find a break that looked welcoming, and found one that was pretty far out, but there were a couple people out there, so I knew it was legit. I started paddling out, finally made it to the line up, and took a few minutes to catch my breath, talk to the other surfers, and notice the seal that was swimming beside me. After a few attempts at getting in some waves with no success, I finally scored the best wave of my life. It all felt like slow motion. I paddled into the wave, felt it pull me in, and I knew I was getting a ride. I popped up, stood up straight, and realized I was totally stable. I was so far from shore that the ride ended up being what seemed like a lifetime. I got comfortable, bent my knees, skimmed the water with my fingertips, took some deep breaths, and laughed as I took time to look around me. My family was too far away to see me, and the other surfers only saw the beginning of my ride, I knew that I was the only one who was witnessing this moment--and I liked it that way. 


The reason I'm talking about surfing is because I feel a little bit of that sensation right now. The liberation that comes from realizing that you're fully supported by the ocean beneath you is a lot like the liberation that comes from realizing that I'm fully supported by the raw, living food that the earth has supplied me with. By eating this whole food, my body is better able to support me in the way I want to live my life. And that is freedom. I can imagine if you've been healthy your whole life, and not really experienced much sickness, this might not be much of an enlightenment. But, my "normal" was sick, tired, and pain. This week, my "normal" is energized, happy, pain-free, and easy going. This is the beginning of a whole new life. 

how I turned into a crazy, raw food loving, (clean) hippy

In order to jump start my detoxing process, I am using the "Clean" system. It's a detox program started by a medical doctor that lasts for 3-4 weeks. On the cleanse I'll drink a shake for breakfast and dinner and eat a solid meal for lunch. I can snack as much as I'd like, as long as I stay within the list of foods that are allowed. The program doesn't require me to be 100% raw, but my goal is still going to stay there. 

Speaking of that goal, I have to confess that I had a couple slices of homemade pizza tonight. I know I didn't have to tell the world, but I want to be honest! I'm not going to feel bad about it, because what good would that do? It's all a part of my process. And, I think it was a great thing because I feel AWFUL. My stomach is hurting so badly that I can barely stand up straight. So, lesson learned. I'm not going to be eating pizza again anytime soon! 

Before I get any further into this blog, I'd like to take a minute to reflect on what brought me to this place--not only to help you, my awesome reader, understand why the heck this girl would restrict herself to carrot sticks (joke. seriously. I eat way cooler things than that), but also to remind myself why this is so important to me. So, allow me to reminisce a sec, yeah? 

It was almost exactly a year ago that I moved back to Chicago from L.A. because of my health issues. I was two months into my year of volunteering with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in sunny East LA when my body decided to tucker out. To be honest, I hadn't been feeling well before I left for JVC in early August, and my health progressively worsened as time went on. My volunteer work as well as my commitment to my community took priority over my health, and although I tried my best to ignore the signs, I no longer could hold myself together. It broke my heart to leave JVC, my roommates and the community that I grew to love. 

On October 1st of 2010, I flew home to Chicago and was hospitalized. I had to have a blood transfusion among other fun things. I had never allowed my Crohn's to get in the way of anything that I set my heart to, and now that it had brought me home, I had to put my foot down. I became semi-obsessed with finding a cure, anything that would give me relief. Knowing very well that Crohn's Disease is a chronic disease with no known cure, I still knew in my heart that there had to be something to help. 

Somehow I was led to Karyn's Raw in Chicago's Lincoln Park. I read all about Karyn Calabrese and the people that she had helped on her detox program. So for the month of November, I started my first vegan/raw food cleanse. Each Wednesday of the month, Karyn had a two hour seminar on the detox protocol for the following week. She also taught us all about the benefits of raw food. All of this new information on holistic healing completely rocked my world. My entire life I was told by doctors that nutrition had nothing to do with my disease. But Karyn and this new world I was being opened up to begged to differ. And not only did I have to take her word for it, I experienced the effects for myself. 

After the detox class ended, I slowly ended my raw food kick...the holidays rolled around and I started poppin' ginger cookies rather than ginger root. (ginger root would be gross to pop, but it's a good kick in a veggie juice ;) Anyway, things got rocky again, and my health was extremely unstable for the next few months. Enough became enough again, and I was led to the Optimum Health Institute in San Diego. I spent a couple of weeks there in April. At OHI, they believe in healing people through the use of raw, living food. And that's what we did! We juice fasted and ate lots of leaves. I can't lie and say that I was twirling around, wearing leaves in my hair, and loving life at the time. I actually snuck out a couple times thanks to a couple great friends, ate some sushi and maybe some fudge from the Del Coronado. Don't tell. BUT, what I will say is that I felt incredible. I was glowing from head to toe. Those leaves really have some power in them. And I was determined to like them, gosh darnit. 

My family and friends can be a witness to you of what has happened between then and now. It's been a bumpy ride. Being in the real world has it's challenges for a raw foodie. Once again, I slowly progressed back to a cooked food diet, and my health declined with me. August comes around, and I am back in the hospital for surgery this time. I still am thanking God that it wasn't more serious than I feared, but I know I can only be lucky so many times. It was the wake up call I needed. And here I am. 

But this time something's different. I've got you :) I'm pretty sure you're the missing piece I've been looking for this whole time. You're holding me accountable even if you don't know it. And, I have the high hope that this might reach someone who needs to read this message just as badly as I needed to hear it. 

love & lettuce,

d

the stages...

I really hope that you watch Modern Family. If you don't, please, for your sake, start. 


The reason I bring this up is because last week's episode did an incredible job at depicting the feeling one has when "cleansing." Cam [left] decides to go on a juice fast and his partner, Mitchell, does it along with him in order to support his efforts. Mitchell explains how Cam goes through "stages" whenever he begins a new diet:


1. throwing out all of their food 
2. blaming Mitchell 
3. "soap actress"
4. a rush of epiphanies 
5. despair
6. rage


I'm not going to ruin the clips, but please watch them if you didn't see the episode. They're too good to pass up! 


So what does this blog have to do with Cam and Mitchell? Nothing much other than the fact that the first week or two of going on a raw food diet is a "detoxing" period. All of the toxins from eating cooked food begin to release from your body and that can result in some unwanted side effects: headaches, fatigue, short-tempers, mood swings, soap actress like moments, you name it--it can happen. This sounds terrible...and it is, it sucks. When you get to this stage, it can all be "remedied" by stuffing your face with some nice cooked food. But, it only brings your body back to where it is accustomed to being. The key is to push through this TEMPORARY discomfort in order to come out on the other side. And ladies and gents, I've been to that other side. The grass is definitely greener. Of course, life happened, and I slowly slipped back into eating cooked foods again...bringing me back to the place where I need to start all over again. So, why not just get it over with, once and for all? Once you get all of those toxins out, raw food becomes so much more desirable, you feel light, clean, and easy going. It's a natural high.


I hope you enjoy the clips and maybe they can help you better understand what I'm going through this week. It's all pretty comical when you think about it. 

Now that I think of it, maybe I should rethink going to see A Dolphin Tale this weekend....


Till next time,


love & lettuce,
d

into the wild

I know this movie tends to tick a lot of people off. People don't understand why some well-off kid would give his money away, leave his family and all of his possessions behind, and set out for Alaska. I get it. As much as I know I would never abandon my loved ones, I must say, I get where Chris is coming from. Sometimes we just need to break through the walls that hold us in, the expectations that come from ourselves and those around us..."society, you're a crazy breed, I hope you're not angry if I disagree." [eddie vedder, society]


I'd actually really love to go on a journey like Chris did, minus the ending, which I won't ruin for anyone who hasn't seen the movie (hint, SEE IT or read the book). I am always longing for the freedom that comes with letting everything go. When we don't have anything, we've got nothing to lose, and that, my friends, is total freedom. 


I think this story hits people for a lot of reasons. But I think we can all relate in some way because we each have some "wild" that we are drawn to walk into. And that's where my journey to self-healing begins. I'm leaving behind all that is comfortable and normal to me, and setting out for the wild, the unknown. I have no idea where this journey is going to lead me. What I do know is this: once I step foot into my wild and don't look back, I'll find my freedom. I'll no longer be held back by the chains of sickness and self doubt. I'll be ready to live. More fully than ever before. 


Those are some big statements, aren't they? Well, they could be bigger. I'm not going to go into explaining all of the science behind a vegan/raw food lifestyle in today's entry, but what I will say is that this is the answer to almost any physical, spiritual, or mental disparity that you could think up. Again, another big statement. But, let me tell you from experience. I've been suffering from Crohn's Disease for the last fifteen years of my life. After just a couple of days of turning to this lifestyle, the pain subsided. After just a week, I had no symptoms whatsoever, and felt healthier than I have ever felt my entire life. I've met others who have healed themselves of fibromyalgia, depression, diabetes, late stages of cancer, and the list goes on. 


Truly, we are what we eat. What we put into our bodies determines just about everything. Ann Wigmore (a famous woman in the raw food healing world) once said, "dead food, dead bodies; live food, live bodies." When we eat food that has been cooked even slightly, our body recognizes it as a toxin, which causes leukocytosis. This basically means that our white blood cell count raises, which is never healthy. On the other hand, feeding our bodies living foods, like uncooked fruits and veggies, fills our bodies with tons of enzymes, increases our immunity, rebuilds our cells, and supports the body to heal itself. For more information on the science and benefits of a raw lifestyle, visit Alissa Cohen's website:  http://www.alissacohen.com/raw_faqs.html. Of course, there are tons of more resources that I'll be updating you with throughout my journey. 


So many of my friends and family have been asking what they can do to help me. I've been overwhelmed with how loving and incredible people have been throughout my ups & downs of dealing with this disease, I've actually been asked if someone can donate their colon to me! :) People are great. Well, I think I've finally found what you can do to help me. I need your support in staying healthy. I know from experience that this diet is responsible for making me feel my best, but it of course is very counter-cultural. So, all I ask is for your support. And how can you support me? Just by reading this blog I know I've got your support, especially if you're far away. And you could also support me by not offering me cooked food. If you forget, don't worry, I'll forgive you ;) 


So, thank you for reading, thank you for your support & prayers, and I'm excited to share this journey with you!


Here we go, day 1. 100% raw. So much more to come...keep checking back :)


"I now walk into the wild..."


love & lettuce,
d