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Sugars are in almost every processed food and in some cases are also added to natural foods in restaurants as a way to keep you coming back because many restaurant owners know “you’re hooked on sugar” and you need a good fix to feel good. I had to look at processed sugars as a drug and like all drugs, we should educate ourselves to the dangers and how to wein off and detox from them.

Just say “know sugar”

Below is what I did to get un-hooked from sugar. I  haven’t had any cravings for the processed un-natural sweeteners for many years. My body just needed to be re-set and fed natural goodies.

It’s a crime

to see kids led around like addicts on a sugar leash and that is why I decided to write this post. I saw a mother leading her child around the store with a lolly pop and of course this allowed her to control the kid by withholding it at her will. The child was crying and reaching up like a crack addict to the one person the child trusts that will not harm them. Even though many parents know the dangers of sugar on a developing child, they have a “hard to handle addict” on their hands now and don’t know what to do to get them back in balance, or do they? In my opinion, this is nothing short of child abuse, period.

Follow these 7 steps and you will have an instant shift taking place in your body.

1.  Be consious of what types of sweeteners are added to your food and what they do internally and mentally to your health. Learn the Trap. Say NO to all Sugary chemical Sodas.
2.  Read all labels and make a choice to not ingest it or ever feed it to your children, friends and family. Stay away from all poisonous artificial sweeteners and especially high fructose corn syrup.  Educate yourself.
3.  Find natural healthy alternative sweeteners, fresh fruit juice, dates, raisins, yacon syrup, agave (sparingly), etc…. We live in an exciting time when our “healthy” markets have many choices.
4.  Add more enzyme rich and mineral rich foods into your diet. Sprouting, fermented foods, cultured non-dairy foods and fresh squeezed juices are a good start. These will help reduce the cravings for sweet sugary foods. Of course we hope everyone reading is up to speed or knows the benefits of a whole-food, plant-based diet.
5.  Know how to assist the body in its job of detoxifying from the poisons and know that there can be a period of discomfort when the body is purging those toxins. Explore Juice Fasting, a Raw Food Lifestyle and other alternative detox programs and processes.
6.  Exercise daily for at least 30 minutes and make sure to include aerobic and some resistance in your routine.
7.  Take time to have fun, laugh, socialize, meditate, daydream, contemplate and even visualize your Self in the future having a more, healthy lifestyle with like-minded friends offering support with love and a clearer mind, body and spirit.

If you are not off Processed Sweeteners, there is no time like NOW.

Write to us and let us know what worked for you to kick the habit or how you got your family to stop eating sugar.

Infographic by OnlineNursingPrograms.com.

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This of course is what I thought until I realized that not all seeds these days are good. Many Scientists, Chemical Engineers, Chemical Companies, Large Corporate Interests do not care about the healthy Seeds anymore. What they care about is the profit at the expense of everyone’s health and in fact are obligated and legally bound to turn a profit no matter what. The ethics and human health factors have been completely eliminated from their guiding principals. Not even knowing the long and even short term health consequences that these greed-driven choices are going to produce and in fact already are producing is nothing less than criminal.

For me it’s not about being afraid anymore, it’s about standing up and consiously deciding to no longer buy poisonous food. There are plenty of healthy choices out there now for those learning to take charge of their own health.

Find a source for your organic food and or learn to grow your own and share this knowledge with others. We need to keep the seeds that are good for us protected. Care, nurture and grow them as the real-food they are, full of the life-force their parents and grandparents had.

Who gave the scientists and Chemicals Companies the power to alter our food as far away from a natural source as possible? The answer is clear and you might already know. For those who are new to this, when you look into it, you will see that corporate driven farming is heading in a completely dead-end direction. The original, organic and natural state of our food and their sources (seeds) are the only direction to be heading. The Food-like, commercially grown produce that is being sold in the supermarkets is almost completely inedible and is in fact causing more harm than good for those eating it. Don’t just take my word for it, talk to the local organic farmers and the experts who are testing the commercially grown food. What they are finding is not just sickening but worth standing up against and stopping.

Planting seeds

I recently planted my first 4 types of heirloom tomatoes and after a week or so, these little growing sprouts broke surface like the harmonic voices of a barber shop quartet and began reaching for the light. “You go little mater’s!”, I thought as I kept them watered and excitedly planned their beds for that triumphant day when I’ll move them into their new positions among the other singing acapella’s of the organic choir.

Know your environment

To put a life into an environment filled with toxic chemicals and un-natural stimulants produces a life-force out of harmony (no barber shop quartet or chorus available) and also alter’s it’s DNA, triggering a survival mechonizm (as protection) of storing the toxins in fat cells leading the host to be large (obese), flavorless (starved of nutrients) and hooked on chemicals for the rest of it’s life. Ok let’s stop talking about what we are doing to our children and get back to the plants. It is no different.

Alter a plant’s DNA

Altering the DNA directly affects the human or animal’s DNA that eats it. No wonder ALL DIS-EASE is on the rise and with this new deadly DNA altered food it will only get much worse. (it’s not natural and can’t exist in a natural state)

What part of un-natural do people not get? Look at the lists below and tell me that it’s OK to sustain this way of thinking.

Plants

• Chemical fertilizer dependency to survive
• Genetically altered DNA (GMO)
• Chemical Insecticides
• Chemical gas and liquid baths to make the product’s color look better

Children

• Chemical laced food-like products
• Anti-biotic, steroids and other dangerous chemicals given out like candy and found in the processed food chain
• Eating so-called-foods with DNA changes (GMO)
• Corn Syrups, Processed High Fructose Sugars
• Bleached Flours, Sugars, Rice (the white foods)
• Dead cooked food without any life-force left to nourish it’s host

These chemicals all contribute to a body’s internal and external poisoned environment thus promoting and encouraging diseases to grow rapidly. Begin flooding the body with living food, oxygen, nutrients, enzymes, good healthy flora and the body thrives and begins a detoxification process. This is such critical subject and some say it’s never too late to begin and that has proven to be debatable. Some people would rather defend their un-healthy diet and beliefs around food than see the truth and turn their health around. Food additions seem more powerful than any drug-addition out there.

Solutions are in every breath we take

Here are some tips:

• Eat clean whole-foods that are truly natural
• Read labels and know everything on it. If you can’t pronounce it or understand it, Don’t eat it!
• Make wholesome meals and eat as much organic living food as you can
• Drink Fresh Organic Juices daily
• Culture your intestinal flora with Fermented Veggies, Cultured Drinks (Kombucha, Water Kefir)
• Sprout your own seeds and nuts
• Make healthy snacks. (not so-called “natural” packaged snacks) Know the ingredients
• Eat mono-meals when you can (bananas, grapes, other fruits, etc….) and shop from local farmers.
• Exercise daily in some form to keep your Lymph and other systems moving and healthy
• Relax, meditate and visualize and if it’s new to you, practice makes it easier.
• Join like minded groups (like Meetup) and share recipes and potlucks
• It’s proven that our immune systems respond very positively and quickly to love, laughter, deep breaths and most of all, fun. En-Joy the journey

Remember!

As far as dead lifeless food is concerned. If you don’t buy it, They will have to stop selling it. Since they are $ driven, just stop giving them the $. Do it for yourself, your family, your friends and even your global community.

You supporting Organic Healthy Growers, Teachers and Responsible Healthy Product Companies is what is making this movement have one of the most positive impacts on our alternative health-care system.

If your life has been filled with poor choices and unhealthy chapters, it is never to late to change course and detoxify the body in a way that allows you to literally heal yourself from the inside out on a cellular level. (see Juice Fasting)

Your love is enough to change and rock this world at any moment. You are not alone! There are millions of like-minded people out there sharing the same dreams of a healthy, balanced and loving world.

Watch the Docs

If you haven’t seen some of these movies, I would recommend taking a look. They could change your life, I know because they helped change mine.

• Food Inc.
• Forks Over Knives
• Dying to have known
• Hungry for Change
• Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead

Reach out and let us know what has made the biggest difference in turning your health around. We are always interested in hearing about someone’s healthy journey.

Image Sources: azrainman, kyletaylor, eagle102

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For those who are not familiar with Rancho La Puerta, a health retreat in Tecate Mexico, you’re in for a real treat.

Mario and I wanted to experience a sample of The Ranch and we discovered that they have a “Saturday at the Ranch” excursion which is an all inclusive tour that includes being picked up in San Diego, driven across the border and into the ranch in time for breakfast. We were greeted at the reception with a moist scented towel and a glass of fresh squeezed juice. Afterwards, they took us to the main dining hall where we enjoyed a wonderful breakfast.

The history of The Ranch is fascinating and goes back over 70 years when Edmond and Deborah Szekely founded it as the world’s first destination fitness resort and spa.

Miles of great hiking trails

One of their lovely guides took us on a tour and then a great nature walk. It’s a very large area and worth a look at their map. We arrived back in time for a wonderful buffet lunch consisting of all organic salads and fresh dishes.

A day to remember!

What we experienced in one day is just a taste of what a week at The Ranch is like and “me like”. They say that once you get into the routine (first few days) with all the activities and entertainment, you begin to experience Rancho at a whole new level and by weeks-end you don’t want to leave. I can see why.

Lots of Free Time

After lunch we explored some more of the beautiful grounds with the old growth forests and flower gardens.

Since we were here for one day we wanted to take advantage of as much as we could. Organic gardening, some sun, spa, hiking and even a nap under a beautiful shade tree.

At 3:00 pm they drove us a couple of miles to Rancho’s own organic farm, cooking school and culinary center called

La Cocina Que Canta - “The Kitchen That Sings”

We were greeted by Denise Roa (Executive Chef of the School and Kitchen) and she immediately took us out to the farm where we picked strawberries and ate them fresh from plant and sampled Mulberries, Fennel and other various vegetables along the tour. Denise is very passionate about plants, cooking and the organic way of growing. “This is my dream job” Denise told us as we looked out through the cathedral windows at a view of a beautiful healthy garden.

We didn’t get to meet the head gardener Salvador Tinajero, who is obviously passionate about growing healthy fruit and vegetables. We at Kale University believe strongly in the importance of organic growing, so this day was amazing to experience.

After the farm tour we were taken into the Kitchen School and Denise gave us an introduction for the Hands-On Cooking Class that lay ahead of us and our tasks in preparing a beautiful fresh organic meal which consisted of about 90% ingredients grown on the property.

The menu included:

• Hand-made Tamales with a cranberry/vegetable stuffing.
• A Salad Bar with Pico de Gallo, Chipotle Lime Sauce, Aztec Guacamole, Pineapple Salsa and Picante Sauce.
• Stuffings and Toppings with a choice of Shrimp filling or fresh grown Oyster Mushrooms sauteed.
• Sides included Mexican Red Rice, Frijoles Colorados del la Olla with Guajillo Chile, and a Corn, Radish and Spinach Salad with Cilantro and Chipotle Yogurt Dressing.
• Dessert was a choice of Vanilla Flan or a Coconut (non-dairy) Ice-cream. They were very accommodating for the two of us since we’re vegans.

If you have been to Rancho La Puerta or planning to go we’d love to hear from you and get your feedback.

Don’t let the cooking class intimidate you, we had a few in our group who had self proclaimed “no cooking experience” and they loved it and said they were now encouraged to start preparing more “at home” meals.

Wellness Spring

is a new non-profit organization founded by Deborah Szekely and with her vision and all of our help we can make it one of the most powerful movements in the country. There has never been a better time to step up and demand that those  representing us in Washington and in each of our states are held accountable for the future of our country’s health. Too many heads are turning a blind eye to the problems and obvious causes of our ballooning weight and disease.

With special interest agendas and irresponsible lax-labeling laws, our processed-non-nutritious, food-like products that are being sold across this country and around the world are making more people sick than ever before in human history. After spending time at The Ranch I realized that what Deborah has created is more than a health resort but a microcosm for what our lives should be like every day. To eat chemical free organic food and to exercise and enjoy the company and support of like minded people who want to learn to stay healthy through their mind, body and spirit.

It is time to act and help with a great cause. For $10.00 a year you can all make a tremendous difference. Let’s all “Be the cause of our own health”.

We at Kale U. join Deborah in this cause and for you to help make a difference please Click Here to donate.

http://www.wellnesspring.org/

Images from our time at the Rancho.

Image Source: Kenario

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What makes this natural breakthrough technology so different from anything else in history? It literally kills 100% of the bacteria, viruses and spores that come in contact with it. It’s also safe to use and green for the environment.

We recognize the need for natural, green and non-toxic solutions when it comes to our health. This is our pick for the yearbook! and it fits all our criteria.

The synergy that occurs when Ozone and Hydrogen Peroxide blend creates a powerful new Super-Hero called Trioxidane and it’s a natural born killer. Our own human bodies create this gas (Trioxidane) as a natural defense to kill off deadly viruses, bacteria and spores on a daily basis and this can only happen when our body’s are healthy, in balance and nutritionally rich.

Look to nature for the solutions

When the body’s immune system is low and in jeopardy we can’t create an oxygen rich defense and we become susceptible to diseases. We all know that Anti-biotic and chemicals are not the solution and in fact they are a good part of the problem. That is why it’s vitally important to stay healthy through a whole-food, oxygen-rich and plant-based diet with exercise.

Forward thinking Doctors

A team of scientists at Medizone International have invented and produced a new technology that mimics this natural body defense (that most of us take for granted or are unaware of) and they have been able to flood sealed-off spaces (such as hospital rooms) with this gas, successfully destroying every major bug or pathogen that tries to stand in its way. The world of sterilization and preventative infection measures are going to be changed forever. This new device is setting a new standard for sterilization around the planet.

It couldn’t come at a better time with all the “super bugs”, hospital acquired infections and airborne viruses contaminating our schools, planes, hospitals, clinics, hotels, cruise ships, gyms, and almost any open public space you can think of.

It has taken a few years of testing and perfecting this new science to achieve the stable, dependable and endless repeatability stage that it’s at now. The American Journal of Infection Control Peer Review speaks volumes about this exciting new technology.

Finding Solutions

We are excited, thrilled and deeply appreciative to the doctors and scientists who are making it possible.

Congratulations! to the visionaries who dreamed a dream. One day looking back, humanity will recognize your dedication and focus to achieving this amazing solution to a problem that seemed for decades, to be solution-less.

image source: AsepticSure

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Well when it comes to my health, I believe what I don’t know about food could kill me, so I think a little word like “why” is a huge portal to knowledge and true power (the ability to act.)

Why Do We Blindly Trust Industries and Authorities?

I used to think that doctors and food companies were dedicated to my health. As I started asking “why is my blood pressure so high?” and “why do I need to take medication instead of finding out the cause of the problem?” I discovered very few knew the answers, so I was more curious than ever. What I found out was that doctors could not really explain the cause- my blood pressure was just dangerously high and if I was to take these pills I could bring it down to a more manageable level.

A Turning Point

The more I asked why the more frustrated I got so I began a mission to question the authorities that for my whole life had been telling me that “you shouldn’t ask such questions.” Their answer usually was “because that’s the way life is” or “this is probably just a genetic problem.” So many times they said it “must be hereditary” as the final “let’s shut him up, because how can he argue with that one” answer. I had bought it hook line and sinker until I discovered that while we may have the potential to develop a disease, eating well can stop the disease from ever manifesting in the body.

I Became Determined

I asked about blood pressure to different people and searched for clues about it over and over until I began to better understand the body and the internal artery inflammation that takes place due to diet and I came to realize that by taking certain steps to change my diet I could actually reverse the inflammation and damage that was being done. “FinalIy,” I thought “No more Pills! Sign me up!”

You Know Your Body Best

The body is an amazing “kingdom” and so many people treat it like its out of their control or knowledge. The fact is our body reacts much better when we take control and treat it with respect and love. The next time you reach for something you know is bad for your body ask yourself “is this a loving thing to do”? if the answer is no, then you know what to do.

Learn to listen and speak to your body and you’ll do more than thrive, you’ll become an amazing super-being with new super powers.

By asking questions about organic whole-food, nutrition, detoxing, and processed food, I set in motion a new way of looking at my diet and health and it gave me amazing energy, I lost a lot of unwanted weight and my thoughts became clearer and more focused.

My advise to those reading is…

Question everything that is not natural. We are being bombarded with toxins and people who have no interest or compassion for your or your family’s well being. Even if it’s someone who is a supposed “authority” on health, you need to ask if their words make sense, and resonate with you so you know the truth for yourself. Also see if they are giving advice from their experience and ask “how natural is what they are telling me?” Let your food be your medicine and medicine be your food” has rung true for millions of people and continues to inspire me, over 1500 years after it was spoken by Hippocrates. It’s the simple truth, the answer hiding in plain sight.

You Have a Choice

Being your own source of knowledge, is extremely powerful rather than letting others (corporate interests) tell you what they want you to know (and do and buy.) As many of you know there are people out there who are credible, respected and have no interest in misleading you. This is why we became inspired and felt compelled to gather trustworthy sources here for you. In fact, leaders in the true healing movement are interested in you learning the truths about your own health and self-healing through sharing and reaching out to those who have real-life stories to tell. It’s important to find the strength and courage and desire to uncover the truth.  It’s sad but true- ignorance to what is going on in your own body and within society at large, can literally kill you. You could break it down as in: ignor-ance: you choose to ignore it.

Take stock of your current choice, your willingness to accept the truth. What kinds of information about the health care system, the food supply, the war on cancer, the rise of obesity and related diseases, and the spoils of corporate America are you willfully ignoring because you don’t have the energy to do something with the information you might learn if you dug deeper?

We Are Here To Help

We at Kale U are well aware that there are people out there who are struggling with debilitating diseases and we will always extend a hand to those who are seeking alternatives and natural healing as a way to not only reverse disease but thrive on a whole new level, with all the energy and information that we can share. We aren’t doctors, but we have uncovered some simple truths about how to live a healthy, vibrant life.

Healing has to happen in the cells and when the food cells you take in are clean, alive and full of oxygen, the body knows exactly what to do with them- use them to clear out old toxic cells and create new healthy ones. The detoxification process may be uncomfortable and sometimes painful, but the body needs to clear out the poisons first before so deep healing can begin.

Be Strong, Be Well

So have the courage to question anyone and everything you don’t understand and take back your power to “be the cause of your own health.” Because no one out there will ever be able to do that for you, no matter what their degree, or how convincing they may sound. A child may think “its just food” but an adult knows better and can teach and nourish a child in ways they don’t fully understand yet. Parents are like gods to a child, so it’s important to know the facts about food and nourishment so that this generation and our next can reverse the S.A.D. (Standard American Diet) path. It’s not just about food anymore, it’s about true cellular nourishment. It’s about truth.

Image Sources:oskay, lorihopperphotography, cogdog, didbygraham

Self Improvement from SelfGrowth.com- – SelfGrowth.com is the most complete guide to information about Self Improvement on the Internet.

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I was taught early-on about the importance of eating plenty of meat, potatoes, some cooked vegetables and plenty of dairy (milk and cheese mainly) as a way to build strong bones and maintain my health.

The Beautiful Truth

Fast forward 40 years. In my cozy living room I watched a film called The Beautiful Truth which investigated why we have not pursued “The Gerson Therapy” in this country. This one movie set in motion a need to watch more health-related films as well as a mission to research diet and fitness. Knowing the truth is always more liberating to me than denying or defending something I do not fully understand. I was about to wake up!

My diet was sacred and anyone who dared knock it or threaten it was in breech of our friendship or was unconsciously placed on my “enemy of the food” list and I could no longer invite them into my “meat and potato club” so to speak. Example: I remember years ago, a couple who were so energetic and they called themselves “vegans” and as I watched them eat, all I could think were thoughts such as “hippie” or “detached from reality” or perhaps “a little weird” or even “just a fad”. I also thought one day they would realize they were just fooling themselves and would probably become anemic and sick. The word vegan was a foreign-sounding word attached to an even more foreign-looking diet which included raw plants, like what animals ate. “How could anyone ever enjoy that?” I questioned. “Give me a hamburger, fries and a milkshake any day.”

How limiting was my way of thinking? Looking back now I see what a good job my parents, siblings and especially society had done to maintain a certain level of “brainwashing.” The power of commercial advertising slogans (quick, healthy, get all your daily requirements, meet your nutritional needs, natural, etc…) were bombarding us every turn we took. It all sounded so nice and logical. I figured that they must know what’s best for me and my well being, right? WRONG!

I personally think that each of us owes it to ourselves, to take responsibility, to know the truth, especially when it involves our own well being.

While I’ve since watched many similar documentary films, these are still the five top movies that completely changed my life, and not just my heath but every aspect. Once I became open to discovering the truth and bettering myself, I realized everything is so connected, and in such a beautiful way. These film trailers are short but they will give you a good sense of what is being illuminated and exposed, and they will inspire you to make positive changes in your life like they inspired me!  The Beautiful Truth was just a precursor- here are my five top film recs for your queue.

1. Dying To Have Known

2. The Cove

3. Blue Gold

4. Food Inc.

5. Forks Over Knives

Let us know in the comments below what your favorite health-related movies are so we can start listing them on the site!

Image Source: 9229859@N02

Feature Image Source: steelmore

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I still can’t get used to watching some kids tune out socially and stare into the screens of devices and TVs for upwards of seven hours per day (7.45 is the national average) while their life expectancy is dropping. These kids are the first in two centuries expected to live a shorter life than their parents. Children need to get out into sunlight to nourish their bodies as well. They’re becoming more obese and experiencing worse health conditions than any other past generation. Gym teachers report that kids have forgotten how, or never learned how to run properly. Combine their poor diet, lack of exercise, excessive screen-time and very little outdoor/natural sunlight-interaction and you have a recipe for obesity and disease.

Taking Responsibility

As an adult, I like to set a good example, so the diet change starts with me first because I feel it’s impossible for others to get inspired or encouraged by someone who is not making healthy choices in their life. I like the saying “be the cause of your own health” because it always has to start from within. As adults and especially as parents, we need to take responsibility no only for our own health, but the health if those in our care. Kids don’t have car keys and debit cards, and until they do, we need to put healthy foods in their mouths from the high chair to high school. No one else is responsible for the health if our own families- not the schools, not the government, not the health care system. These establishments have also shown they are not to be trusted with the responsibility of making decisions regarding our families.

Be Willing to Face the Truth

It’s very scary what is in the food these days and some kids have become so addicted to the sugars, fats and additives that Candida, acidity and other imbalances are already running rampant through their little bodies. I wonder how many parents have tested their kids with a simple home PH test to see how acidic or alkaline their system is. My guess is maybe 1 out of 1000 kids (or even parents) knows what being alkaline is or what living plant-based food even does for the body.

Encourage Imagination

When I was young my grandfather would say “go outside and connect with the world.” I usually couldn’t wait to go play with my friends outside, and sometimes I was content to play by myself. We would use sticks and rocks to make amazingly complex forts and traps to crush the enemies that were invading from the north. I look back now and see how much I was engaged/connected with nature and my imagination. In my opinion many kids are becoming less social in human connections and more social in cyber connections. Both can stimulate the brain but the one without the human contact is becoming too technical and far less human-emotional and socially engaging which leads to an inability to spontaneously interact in a human-to-human social setting. In my observation I find a part of a generation having a hard time expressing themselves and commonly unable to hold an intelligent conversation especially about the future or what they want to create for themselves.

8 Tips to Helping Kids Stay Healthy

1. Stop buying any fast food or sodas. They are nothing less than poisonous to your children!
2. Limit time spent online each day for both yourself and your children and encourage everyone in the family in their endeavors that involve outdoor activities and social interaction.
3. Stop buying and eating frozen meals, canned food or anything that is commercially processed. The longer the shelf life, the shorter your life. Make it a family outing each week to go to the Farmer’s Market or health food store and have fun with trying healthy new foods.
4. Throw out anything in your pantry with refined sugar or ingredients you don’t understand. Sugar and other sweeteners are addictive and toxic substances
5. Stop eating meat and dairy and turn to a vegan diet for a while to see how you feel. Protein, calcium and Vitamin D are things you should seriously research if you feel your family needs animal products to get these nutrients.
6. Start eating more raw whole foods as part of a plant-based diet. Phytonutrients, antioxidants, chorophyll and other micronutrients are what will protect your loved ones from diseases more than anything else.
7. Get outside more together and appreciate nature and sunshine to feel connected to the earth and get Vitamin D.
8. Learn about health as a family and discuss ways that you can help and encourage each other to make positive changes every day. When you see a family member slipping up, remind them of the how important their health is to you. When you see them making a good choice, tell them how proud you are of them and how it makes you happy when they are healthy.

“Kids can’t stare at a screen and their hands aren’t available to text or play video games when they are building a snowman, splashing in a stream, scaling a rock wall, digging in a garden or climbing trees.”

Carol Torgan, Ph.D., in an article on the The National Wildlife Federation website

Image Sources: sneddon, 28208534@N07

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When I first heard the phrase re-booting your system I thought that was a perfect way to put it since it is exactly that.  I could give myself a gift to reset my over-worked and under-appreciated taste buds, lose the toxic waste (weight) and learn about a whole food plant-based lifestyle. I could let go of the addictions and corporate brainwashing I had engrained deep within my sub/unconscious mind. But then it sank in- that years of knowing what was best for me, was suddenly flying out the window and I felt like I was not in control of my eating habits anymore. As I look back now, this was part of the process of cleansing out the toxic thoughts and propaganda that had shaped my body, life and what I thought was my destiny.

I spent 7 days eating as much raw fruits and veggies as I could and was ready to just start drinking my new health cocktails. They consisted of fresh organic fruit and vegetable strained juices. For this period, all pulp is removed, since the point is to stop the body’s digestion and peristalsis for the length of the fast, allowing the body to use the energy that it normally used to process the food instead in a seek-and-destroy mission.  My body was healing the build-up and residue of all the previous illness and abuse I had racked up for years or more accurately, my whole life up until that point.  Detoxification was swift and sometimes there were accompanying detox symptoms. My skin was the first to show signs of eruptions. I also felt waves of flu like symptoms but with each day my energy got better and I felt it was really working. After day 4 for me my body’s metabolism had changed and I no longer had any desires for food whatsoever.

Toxins were being released and I was trying to help get them out with daily enemas of water. As I look back now I realize that without the coffee in the enema, I was never really allowing my liver to open up the bile ducts and release the built-up toxins. Max Gerson was an amazing individual and Doctor/Scientist who dedicated his life’s work to showing how people could heal themselves with diet, juice and the coffee enemas which allows the bile ducts to eliminate the diseased cells, toxins and tumors that the body could not clear out easily on it’s own. His work is carried on by his daughter Charlotte in San Diego and the Institute is teaching people from all over the world how to heal from within with The Gerson Therapy.

As my senses became more alert, listening to music was a natural way for me to meditate and in ways I had always dreamed of.  A violin playing could not only bring me to tears but lift me up with it’s vibrations and hauntingly beautiful callings. I felt as though the violin was creating a sound track for my fasting journey. This of course led to wonderful sessions of deep classical relaxation.

I broke my fast after 7 days and started to chew again. I was surprised that I really hadn’t starved to death as I had feared and was actually feeling more energy than I had in many years. I had lost a good 10 pounds and it was more than I had anticipated. I was exercising a fair amount each of those 7 days (rowing machine and long walks).  Juicing and eating whole foods rich in oxygen has changed my life in more ways than I could ever explain and probably the most important way is that I have no need for doctors visits. My body and health is in balance and I love feeling great all the time.

Fasting with Juice is an art that’s easily mastered. Main ingredients: Honesty, Desire, Determination and The Willingness to Change.

How to start

To begin a juice fast you need to be clear on a few things and of course a buddy or Juice Coach is ideal if you have them available. It all depends on how much “power of your will” you command and only you know the honest answer to that one. Look, if you decide to go for it, then walk the walk because those who talk the talk are a dime a dozen and have nothing to show for it, except in some cases a tremendous amount of knowledge or “buzz words.”

I can speak for myself, my partner Mario, Joel and Suzanne when I say we all have extensive experience “walking the walk.”  I have over 20 years of Juice fast coaching and cleansing. We all have our stories and experiences to share with regards to how it changed our lives but more than that, we are living a life now free of illness, cloudy thoughts, low energy and excess weight. I think that a plant-based diet and periodic juice fasts start a process that opens up a whole new world and lifestyle filled with more love, light, fun, aliveness, friends, social opportunities, self awareness, joy and no need for health care. Like Hippocrates said “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”. This is what I believe and live by every day.

7 tips to a successful juice fast:

1. Know why you want it and why you don’t want it. Get mentally prepared with journal work.
2. Plan and stick to a preparation period by eating raw food for 7 days
3. Prepare a menu for the week. Plan your fast and fast your plan.
4. Aid the liver in cleansing through the coffee enemas so that toxins do not re-enter the bloodstream and become reabsorbed
5. Listen to your body and exercise every day. Meditation, fresh air and sunlight are essential.
6. Break the fast gently with 7 days of raw food. Starting out slow with an apple or something light and easy to digest. You are waking up your digestion and peristalsis.
7. Living your new lifestyle with total freedom and total responsibility is an amazing feeling especially when your tastes have been reset, so enjoy the new YOU and don’t let your old lifestyle or group of friends keep you from being happy by lowering your vibration. You deserve to be healthy, happy and full of energy. Thrive!

Step by Step

Taking the steps to get there is more satisfying than the arrival, and yet once arrived, the steps to multiple futures with possibilities are limitless. All I can say is Walk The Walk!  Whatever direction you choose is right where you belong. Juice fasting for me is also a type of spiritual journey whether I believe in anything spiritual or not, it’s a deep connection that can not be explained or put into words. Only experienced.

We all want to feel more alive and happy and if taking a little time out of our lives to clean our vehicles (bodies) in the process of life is the answer to maintaining our health, then let’s make it happen.

The S.A.D. (Standard American Diet) part of all of this is that we have years of abuse and neglect to deal with and not very many professional doctors (who are many by the way) that we look-up-to for guidance, know much or anything about diet or nutrition. They are rapidly becoming the less powerful ones to turn to regarding true health issues and healing advice.

Juicing is a process. Put in clean materials (veggies and fruit) and out comes clean, concentrated potent nutrition.

The truth is, If you are eating anything commercially processed, you are building up and lining your organs, digestive tract and arteries with massive amounts of toxins. Our body’s were never designed for all this dead food and especially the quantities in which people are consuming it. Our bodies truly can-not handle it all and so we have created a self-breeding-ground internally for all the diseases we now face and the effects are evident externally as well all around us.  WAKE UP and smell the coffee and I don’t mean the drinking kind. When we “reboot our body,” tastes for sugar and fat and other unhealthy habits we hold just naturally drop away. The desires for unhealthy foods are gone. “But I like my diet” you might say, well then stay on it if you think you’re healthy and thriving. You have no idea unless you have traveled to the other side how amazing your life and health can be. Give yourself  “a gift” and know first hand, 7 days can change your ways. Now, I know juice fasting is not for everyone and I would strongly advise you to prepare and make sure you are a safe candidate for juicing.

I have personally juice fasted for 30 days along with some other friends and we all did it safely and with life-changing results.

For those first starting out with a juice fast, take the time to prepare and schedule it so that you don’t have distractions, appointments or other issues. It’s a life changer as well as a health changer so if you are not ready mentally and physically, then you could set yourself up for failure. We at Kale U. are experienced and offer coaching for those of you who might need a guide.

Joel, Suzanne, Mario and Ken aka the Kale U Crew

There are many like-minded people out there and help is available to bring the acidic body back into alignment so that oxygen-rich nutrition can heal and reverse any illnesses we have. Whole plant foods, living foods, and fresh juices can give your body a chance to heal naturally from the artery and digestive clogging food groups that are being sold to the masses with messages like “you need more animal protein.” Learn the truth about living healing foods and let’s all thrive together on a Whole Food Plant-Based lifestyle.

Have any of you ever done a long juice fast?

(This does not, by definition include smoothies.)  If so, share some of your thoughts and experiences with us in the comments below!

Image Sources: jpcorreacarvalho , puuikibeach

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People may think that because we eat mostly raw, all vegan food that our diet is full of boring, plain greens and vegetables.  They may think that we don’t care much for food and it’s easy for us to just nibble on a carrot throughout the day.  People who have never considered eating a vegan diet often think that they could never give up their favorite foods because the taste would just never be as good in a meatless version.  Maybe some of these popular misconceptions are keeping the Food Network producers from creating even one out of their entire lineup of shows devoted to vegan cooking.

As this wonderful Ecorazzi article explained it’s been established that the Food Network channel concepts are created with people in mind who like to “watch people cook and eat, and not necessarily those who want to learn to cook” according to the anonymous source allegedly in-the-know at the network (as quoted in the aforementioned article.)  It has also been said that they are catering to the large percentage of male viewers.  But that doesn’t take into account the huge number of vegetarians and vegans who would watch a plant-based cooking show!  There are foodies in the veg-world too who are making gorgeous, healthy, delicious recipes every day.  At the end of that article, there is a list of fabulous ideas for show concepts that we would love to see on the Food Network.  Especially considering the recent scandal centered around Southern-fried buttah queen herself, Paula Deen (who has four shows by the way) one would think that maybe now would be the time to at least get some healthier options in for those who are pleading for it now more than ever.  (I’ve avoided writing a post about her this week- it’s been done.  But I must say- I’m saddened that she “features” vegetables meant for “side dishes” on her site. Subtle, but still frustrating.  I really hope she accepts Dr. McDougall’s bet!)  Of course, there will always be the fans of rich dessert cooking shows and shows that are all about grilling meat.  And to each his own!  But why, out of the hundreds of shows, can we not get at least one in there for those of us who would watch people cook and eat plant food?

Rays of Light

At least this year was dedicated to the almighty veg (albeit with lots of cheese!) by one the most beloved of all the Food Network personalities, Giada De Laurentiis.  Giada recognizes that many people want lighter fare and need to get more creative with the healthy foods they are learning to love.  Speaking of gluten-free flours and alternative sweeteners, she says “I’m trying to find fun ways to incorporate these things that have actually been around for a long time, not necessarily in our culture, and make them more mainstream.”  Yes, thank you Giada!  “Mainstream” and “vegetarian” are always words we like to hear in the same sentence.

Enjoy this video of the lovely Giada explaining her decision to feature more meatless meals.

Baby Steps

Now if we could get someone to take it all the way to cruelty-free- 100% vegan!  Here’s a hopeful: I loved this article explaining how Chef Matteo Silverman was scoped out to be on the Food Network competition show Chopped, but clearly explained he would only participate in a totally animal-free kitchen.  Chopped casting director Beth Schiff had paid a visit to the restaurant where Chef Matteo worked, and later commented that the network is actually considering running a vegan version of the competition sometime in the future.  Way to hold your ground and be true to yourself, Chef Matteo!  We’re holding out hope for that Vegan Chopped!  All the amazing vegan and raw chefs out there deserve a chance to shine.  The food speaks for itself, people just need to see it and taste it for themselves!

Pseudo-Healthy Finds From Food Network

For all the picking and pleading, there are some gems to be found and appreciated off the Food Networks current offerings.  Not all their shows feature all unhealthy meals, by any means.  We really like a lot of the fresh recipes we’ve seen scattered throughout the line-up. Whether they masqueraded as appetizers or side dishes, or even made their way to the middle of the table, we appreciate all the plant-based recipes ever made.

Here is their page for vegetarian cooking, which looks to be filled with highly-rated meat-free recipes. Their Healthy Eating page has some good, clean food, plant-based or not, so that’s a step in the right direction. They only have one show (Ellie Krieger’s) listed under healthy, out of hundreds of shows on two channels. This is sad- a) because they have a huge influence and thus a huge responsibility in my opinion to help bring healthy eating into the spotlight considering the sad state of the country’s health. b) because this obviously reflects what really matters- the demand, this is obviously what the people want- they are just giving it to them. And c) Yes, the host of the one “healthy” show Ellie Krieger is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition; no, that doesn’t mean she teaches people about truly healthy food!  Anybody who is willing to sell out to the meat & dairy industries and continue to promote their cancer-promoting, misunderstood products in not going to get any points in my book for teaching true nutrition.

Weigh In, Leave a Comment!

What do you think?  In this world where you probably know someone who’s either watched Forks Over Knives or Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead (if not both) in the past month, is there a place for veganism in the mainstream? Can it happen? I’m talking healthy fast food restaurants with drive-through windows. I’m talking 5 star restaurants having plant-based menus.  And yes, that could mean a show… nay, a channel dedicated to preparing food with fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, herbs and spices.  Is this a pipe dream or do you see this as a reality by the end of 2012?  Come on people, the world is ending, it’s now or never. Wink, wink.

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