Rejuvenate With Raw Foods

Over the years we have been introduced to a multitude of diets and anti-aging programs. They all promise spectacular benefits to health. And while some of them make a lot of sense, they may work for some people and bring disappointment to others. People differ in constitution and metabolism, but there probably is no better way to rejuvenate than through the raw food diet. Although there can be no single recipe for all, the raw food diet advocates claim increased vitality and exceptional health. People with Type 2 diabetes were able to reverse their condition in only thirty days after going on a raw food diet.

Raw food diet is considered to be the secret key to longevity. It has the potential to detoxify the body, reverse degenerative processes, and deliver all the nutrients needed to sustain optimal health. Raw foods contain vitamins, minerals, live enzymes, fiber, amino acids, antioxidants, anti-carcinogens, phytosterols, plant hormones, and many other compounds with high healing potential.

Raw food diet usually comprises of 75-100 per cent uncooked, "living", mostly organic foods. The raw food diet is a diet based on unprocessed and uncooked plant foods, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, sprouted seeds, grains, and beans, nuts, dried fruit, and seaweed. Raw honey and cold pressed, virgin oils are used. Some proponents of this diet also consume raw, unpasteurized, non homogenized milk and cheese. In some cases nutrient rich organic raw eggs are added to the diet.

There are some foods that are better absorbed when cooked or sprouted. These foods include beans, potatoes, egg plants, asparagus, and most of edible mushrooms. (Although it is possible to eat white button mushrooms in their raw state, for instance, one should be aware that these mushrooms contain cancer-causing hydrazides that are normally destroyed by cooking).

Raw foods are considered to be more nutritious as heating food above 118º F is believed to destroy enzymes that normally could assist in digestion and absorption of food. Cooking is also thought to diminish the nutritional value and "life force" of food. The vitamin content of many vitamins diminishes during cooking and minerals are washed away. Researchers agree that cooking destroys over 50 per cent of B vitamins, with as much as 96 per cent of Thiamine (B1), up to 96 per cent folic acid, and up to 72 per cent of biotin being lost. It is estimated that 70-80 per cent of vitamin C is being wasted due to cooking. Protein loses almost half of its bio-availability. Researchers found that cooking alters protein into substances that may disrupt cellular function and accelerate aging and degenerative processes. The nutritional value of fats is lost as they change their molecular structure during the cooking process. Foods that have been baked or burned, particularly these with a high starch content, contain highly carcinogenic compounds called acrylamides.

People on raw food diet report that raw food diet has numerous health benefits such as:

    * increased levels of energy and stamina

    * increased mental alertness

    * strong immune system

    * improved joint health

    * improved skin tone and overall appearance

    * better digestion

    * normalized body pH

    * weight loss

    * reduced risk of developing Type 2 diabetes

    * reduced risk of developing cardiovascular disease

    * decreased risk of many cancers due to better detoxification of the body

There is a lot of fear and misconception about raw food. Many people do not understand how important it is to consume live foods that are not only rich in vitamins, but also in enzymes. When we eat food that is mostly cooked and denatured through the industrial process, our bodies need enzymes to digest it. Properly chewed raw digest itself and delivers vital enzymes that are so necessary to support bodily functions. Cooked fats, for instance, lack the enzyme lipase and have much less biologically active fatty acids. When we consume raw, virgin oils, they begin their digestion with their own lipase in the slightly acidic environment of our stomachs and enter the small intestine in a predigested form. Cooked fats, on the other hand, reach the small intestine in a highly undigested form and require body's own lipase for their digestion. It is very much possible that this altered fat metabolism plays some role in obesity and cholesterol levels in the blood, as the body is constantly depleted of its own lipase and loses the capability to fully metabolize dietary fats.

Transition to raw food

After years of living on a mostly cooked food diet it may not be easy to make the transition to a 100 per cent raw food diet. The transition may be much easier if a person is living in a warm climate or begins the process during the warmer seasons, as the body temperature may drop a bit in the beginning and we crave warming comfort foods. Adding warming spices such as black pepper, chili peppers, and ginger, will keep the blood circulating. Learning about raw foods and joining a support group where like-minded people exchange ideas and experience will help one to experiment and become more creative in the kitchen. It is, however, important to introduce dietary changes gradually. A certified health practitioner should be consulted if there are some health concerns or an existing disease.

To begin, one should gradually add more fresh fruits and vegetables to the menu. Replacing boiled vegetables with a raw salad, snacking on raw carrots or radishes instead of chips, eating an apple instead of doughnut, drinking freshly squeezed fruit or vegetable juice instead of soda, or having a fresh fruit smoothie for breakfast, are just a few ways simple ways to start the transition.

Initially, one may notice changes in digestion. Enzymes and fiber in raw vegetables may speed up the digestion, causing some discomfort. But as the body adjusts to the new diet and the intestines are working to remove old fecal matter, the discomfort disappears and digestion returns to normal. The detoxification organs are working to remove toxins that accumulated in the body over the years. At this stage one should reduce the consumption of animal products and introduce more raw vegetables. People who do not wish to give up meat, should opt for the best, organic quality on the market.

The preparation of raw food is rather simple, although gourmets now create elaborate raw food menus. Preparing a salad or making a juice are rather easy and one can use all the ingredients that are in season. More complex methods involve sprouting and dehydration of foods. As one feels more comfortable with raw foods, it is sensible to introduce new ingredients and new recipes. Nowadays bookstores offer a multitude of raw recipe books. There are also many websites and raw food networks offering valuable advice.

After the initial transition and detoxification process, when the body has regained the ability to absorb nutrients, a person on a raw food diet will notice visible changes in the way he or she looks and feels. As we age, our bodies need support. Energetically charged nutrition rich in vitamins, enzymes, bioflavonoids, and other vital nutrients, helps us heal, regenerate, and reverse aging. It is believed that human cells are designed to live about 120 years. The life extension, however, could only be desirable if we were mentally and physically fit at this age. Raw food diet is probably the best strategy to live a very long and healthy life.

By Dominique Allmon 

For healthy raw food recipes please click here

*This information is for educational purpose only. It is not meant to diagnose or cure a disease.



Rejuvenate with Raw Foods by Dominique Allmon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Natural Treatments for Radiation Exposure

Even relatively modest doses of radiation can increase the risk that a person will develop thyroid cancer at some point in life. There's a delay between exposure and cancer that can run 10 to 20 years. - Dr. Rigual

Nuclear power plant disasters like the Chernobyl reactor explosion in 1986 or the most recent disaster at the Fukushima nuclear power plant make us aware about the dangers of radioactive exposure.

Radiation is colorless, odorless, tasteless and chemically inert and can only be detected with a Geiger counter. Any amount of radiation is potentially dangerous because of its effect on the living cells. Radiation can disrupt normal chemical processes within the cells and cause abnormal growth or cell death. Cells that are affected by the radiation divide and produce more abnormal cells. This pathological division may eventually lead to cancer.

Our bodies have the amazing capability to heal themselves. When we are exposed to low doses of radiation, healthy cells are able to repair the damage rapidly. Cells that died due to exposure are replaced by the body. If we, however, are exposed to very high doses of radiation, the body may not be able to replace the damaged cells fast enough and tissues or organs may fail to function properly. This is when the radiation sickness sets in.

More than sixty radioactive elements are found in nature, but most people are unaware that they are exposed to radiation on a daily basis. Radiation is present everywhere and there is no way to escape it. 

There are three different types of radiation:

• terrestrial radiation - emitted by the rocks, soil, oceans, and plants. Radioactive elements enter our bodies when we drink water, breath air, or eat foods which contain them. The naturally occurring radioisotopes such as carbon-14, potassium-40, thorium-223, polonium-218, uranium-238 and its decay product radon-222, are the elements that cause exposure to radiation from within our bodies. 
• cosmic radiation - is the results from the interaction of cosmic rays with the upper atmosphere of our planet. Cosmic rays permeate the entire Space and are composed of highly energized, positively charged particles and high energy photons. They approach the earth at the speed that almost equals the speed of light. Most of these particles are blocked by the earth's atmosphere and the magnetic field, but many are able to penetrate and form radioactive isotopes that affect us daily. The exposure grows with the altitude. High mountain peaks and high altitude intercontinental flights receive the highest dose of cosmic radiation. 
• man-made radiation - is the radiation caused by human activities and is found in many areas of our daily lives, often where we do not even expect it: our building materials such as bricks and cement may contain uranium ores and are sources of the deadly radon gas; tobacco products contain radioactive polonium-210 which naturally occurs in tobacco plants; commercial food irradiation; radiation from computers and television screens, cell phones, medical diagnostic technology such as X-rays and CAT scans, and the full body scanners at the airports, contributes to the daily cumulative exposure; nuclear waste and nuclear power plants disasters bring another dimension to our daily lives as fallout is highly radioactive and has immediate cell damaging potential. 

The dangers of radiation are well understood by the medical and the scientific communities. In order to determine the damage caused by radiation, a total dose resulting from repeated exposures to ionizing radiation over a period of time has to be established. Radiation has a cumulative effect which means that even if we were never exposed to a radioactive fallout from a nuclear power plant, the damage results from our exposure to different forms of radiation over longer periods of time. This is the reason why people who, for instance, work at nuclear facilities or who operate x-ray machines have to be constantly monitored.

Since we are naturally exposed to radiation, additional exposure should be limited to an absolutely necessary minimum. Nuclear fallout, however, comes unannounced and carries far more deadlier radiation than any other source, with the exception of an atomic bomb, of course. Cesium-137 and iodine-131 are the radioactive particles that contaminate the environment after a nuclear fallout. As these particles are carried by the winds, they can contaminate vast areas thus affecting people who do not live in the immediate vicinity of a nuclear disaster.

Fortunately, the atomic incidents are rather rare, but since they occurred in the past, we have gathered enough experience in the field of treatment and prevention. Traditionally few very effective supplements and herbs were used to prevent the body from the possible effects of radiation or to "detox" the body after exposure. They offer simple and natural solution and are quite effective and rather inexpensive.

Natural treatments for radiation:

• iodine - is one of the most important natural antidotes to radiation. Our bodies need iodine for the optimally functioning thyroid gland which utilizes it to produce metabolism regulating hormones. Unfortunately, the thyroid cannot tell the difference between the radioactive iodine-131 and the beneficial form of iodine that is normally found in natural sea salt and in sea vegetables. This is most unfortunate as the radioactive iodine attaches itself to iodine receptors in the thyroid causing mutation and cell death and, eventually, cancer. Supplemental iodine, which usually comes in a strongly bound form of potassium iodide, is usually administered to prevent the damage from exposure to the radioactive iodine. The bound forms of iodine, however, are biologically inefficient as the body is able to absorb only about 20 percent of this nutrient. For a better protection nascent iodine is the preferred choice. Nascent iodine supplements deliver iodine in its atomic form which is easily absorbed and utilized by the thyroid gland. It is important to understand that supplemental iodine can only protect against radioactive iodine, but does not protect against other radioactive particles such as cesium and strontium.
• sodium bicarbonate - a substance also known as baking soda, is the best means to minimize the kidney damage caused by the uranium exposure. Oral doses or infusions of sodium bicarbonate help alkalize the urine and render uranium ions less toxic to the kidneys. Sodium bicarbonate binds with uranium and promotes its excretion from the body thus reducing the severity of the damage caused by radiation. Sodium bicarbonate can also be added to bath water for a full body detoxifying effect. The suggested amount is one pound for a low grade exposure and up to five  pounds for an acute radiation exposure. Sodium bicarbonate is also very effective in removing uranium from contaminated surfaces and from the soil.
• sweet water algae - micro-algae such as spirulina and chlorella have been used with great success by the Russian doctors to treat patients after the nuclear reactor explosion in Chernobyl. Micro-algae are very rich in nutrients and have the capability to bind to toxins and sweep them out of the body. They alkalize and purify the blood and restore its chemistry. The algae also enhance the immune system that is normally compromised by radiation.
• seaweeds - especially kelp, are rich in sodium alginate, a polysaccharide which binds to radioactive strontium and removes it from the body. Sea vegetable are also rich in iodine and help prevent uptake of the radioactive iodine. Other nutrients such as vitamin B 12, iron, sulfur, and zinc, inhibit the absorption of radioactive cobalt, plutonium, sulfur and zinc particles. 
• medicinal mushrooms - mushrooms such as reishi and maitake enhance the immune system after the exposure to radiation and prevent tumors from forming in the body. They also protect the DNA from the damage caused by ionizing radiation. Mushrooms are rich in beta-glucans that are known to protect and restore the skin from the damage caused exposure to radiation. 
• Korean ginseng - is an herb that increases mental and physical endurance. It has the capability to inhibit tumor growth and prevent hemorrhage after exposure to radiation. It prevents the degeneration of bone marrow and stimulates formation of new white blood cells.
• organic sulfur - inhibits the uptake of radioactive sulfur. It also enables transport of oxygen across the cell membranes thus contributing to a fast regeneration of the damaged cells. The mineral has the ability to detoxify heavy metals and neutralize free radicals. It is a building block of many amino-acids that are necessary to restore the damaged body tissues.  
• liquid zeolites - especially the clinoptilolite which can absorb all kinds of toxins and help remove radiation not only from the human or animal bodies, but also from the affected environment. Clinoptilolite was successfully used to clean up the radioactive damage after the Three Mile Island incident and in Chernobyl. Because of their molecular structure and the negative charge, zeolites are able to absorb positively charged mercury, aluminum, cadmium, lead, arsenic, and radioactive ions of uranium and plutonium. Zeolites trap these and other substances like a sponge and carry them out of the body without causing any additional damage to the body.

As I mentioned above, our bodies can heal themselves. A healthy body with a strong immune system is capable of correcting any damage. We can support our bodies with balanced nutrition, regular detoxification, and proper relaxation and stress management. Daily diet should be supplemented with vitamins and antioxidants to protect the body from free radicals that are generated by the radiation.

We cannot escape radiation, but we can protect our genetic substance from the damage caused by it. People working in nuclear power plants, miners, flying personnel, and those who are in daily contact with medical diagnostic technology should take extra care and undergo regular detoxification.

By Dominique Allmon

*This information is for educational purpose only. It is not meant to diagnose or cure a disease.

Natural Treatments for Radiations Exposure by Dominique Allmon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Spring Detox Program

Change of seasons is a good time for reconstruction and renovation. As winter comes to its end, you should consider a detoxification program for your body. This will help the body not only to remove toxins accumulated during cold winter months, but also to shed pounds and prepare the immune system for the coming spring when many allergy sufferers are affected by the pollen released from the plants coming back to life.

When life throws you lemons... make a detox lemonade

You might already have your own detoxification routine, but if this is your first time, take special care not to be too harsh to your body. Do your detox as gently as possible in order to avoid the so called healing crisis. The healing crisis occurs when the body is detoxifying too rapidly and toxins are released faster than the body can eliminate them. Nausea, headache, vomiting and overall malaise are the most common symptoms. To avoid such reactions you should prepare your body for your detox program. More about it later.

In our daily life we are exposed to thousands of man-made chemicals and the number is on the rise. Our environment, our food and water supplies are flooded with damaging compounds that negatively affect our bodily functions, suppress our immune system and disrupt our hormonal balance. Most health problems are related either directly or indirectly to toxicity and hyper-acidity of the body. The food we eat and the water we drink regularly may not be supplying our bodies with alkalizing nutrients necessary for detoxification. The body, unable to process and detoxify all the noxious substances, is storing them in our fat tissue. Often, weight gain is the result.

Detoxification begins with nutrition. Now is the time to scrutinize your eating habits. To avoid the healing crisis you should gradually remove sugar, caffeine and alcohol from your diet, as well as all the unnatural and processed foods that contain additives and preservatives. Choose organic produce whenever you can and add more fresh fruit and vegetables to you diet. Especially when consumed raw, fruit and vegetables contain vitamins, alkalizing minerals, and enzymes necessary for the proper function of all bodily systems, as well as fiber necessary for the stimulation of the bowel elimination. Regular bowel movement is important and necessary for the elimination of toxins via the digestive tract. Depending on your condition you may want to consider a colon cleansing program that includes colonic water irrigation sessions performed under the supervision of a qualified therapist.

When you introduce alkalizing foods into your menu and remove everything that harms you, your body will initiate a detoxification process. You may want to test your body pH every day to see the changes. Such test can easily be performed with special pH stripes. Samples of urine and saliva can be tested twice daily. Body pH fluctuates during the day. The healthy pH ranges fall between 6.8 and 7.4. Once you achieved the optimal alkalinity of your body, you may want to begin your detoxification. The entire detox program may take three to four weeks depending on your condition. You may want to replace solid foods with freshly made fruit and vegetable juices to speed the elimination of toxins from the body.

To help the kidneys function properly, increase your water consumption. Drink 10 - 12 glasses of purified water. Start your day with the Master Cleanse: a glass of warm water mixed with the juice of half organic lemon, one teaspoon of organic maple syrup and a quarter teaspoon of cayenne pepper. This will activate your liver's detoxifying function and help alkalize your body. Herbal infusions made of detoxifying herbs such as dandelion, ginger, goldenseal root, peppermint, and sage, will further activate and support the body's detoxifying processes.

During your spring detox program you should eliminate as much medication as possible and only take what is absolutely necessary for your condition. You may consider taking natural supplements to support and stimulate your body's detoxifying processes. Because the liver is your most important detoxifying organ, you may want to take liver supporting supplements during your spring detox. Amino acids such as L-cysteine, L-methionine, and L-glycine taken together with zinc, selenium, and the vitamins B3, B6, C, and E, are best suited to activate the production of glutathione which is an important component of vital detoxifying enzymes.

While on a detox program, it is also vital that you examined what you are putting on your skin. Unless certified organic, most personal care products contain dozens of harmful, often cancer-causing chemicals. Check the labels carefully and discard everything that may cause more harm than good. If unsure, visit Skin Deep Website to find out how safe the products you are using really are. There are also excellent organic household cleaning products and detergents that will help you reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals in your own home.

Skin brushing, sauna, steam baths, alternate hot and cold showers will help your blood circulation. To get your lymph moving some form of exercise is necessary. Refrain from heavy workout during your detox program. Try yoga, Tai Qi Chuan, Qi Gong, or walking, instead. Jumping on a mini trampoline is considered to be the best lymph flow stimulating exercise. Be gentle to your body during the detox program as it is working hard to remove and eliminate the toxins that were stored in the tissues for too long.

To support the detoxification process and help eliminate the healing crisis, you may want to use the foot detox patches. This is an excellent non-invasive product that removes toxins from your body while you sleep. It is a well known detoxification product in Asia, especially popular in Japan. Based on the ancient poultice formulas, foot patches combine ancient knowledge with modern research. The product stimulates blood circulation and the lymph flow and draws the toxins out of the body. In order to show some considerable effects, the patches should be used every night, on both feet for the course of three to four weeks.

Remember to relax and get adequate amount of sleep. Detoxify your mind from all the negativity and stress. Stress is one of the most misunderstood toxic factors. An unnatural tension that is present in the body over extended periods of time has negative side effects like hyper-acidity and toxic colon, that are felt throughout the entire system. Proper relaxation is necessary for your body to perform the detoxifying action. The importance of sleep during your detox program cannot be underestimated as all body systems regenerate while you sleep. Detoxification program is a great opportunity to detoxify your emotions. Anger, hatred, and jealousy are destructive emotions that negatively affect your body pH. Meditation, personal journal, or if necessary, a psychotherapy, may help you find emotional balance and deal with difficult emotions.

Good health is attainable and it is within your rich, but you have to commit yourself to supporting your own body and make some lifestyle changes. Detoxifying and cleansing your body from inside out on regular bases, at least twice a year, will help you rejuvenate and eliminate many ailments. You will also be able to lose weight if you need to. The results can be seen almost immediately: increased energy, improved cognitive function, strong immune system. You will not only lose some unwanted weight, but you will also look and feel younger. Your skin will shine with a new glow and will have a better tone. Allergies, skin rushes, wrinkles, and impurities may disappear after your body becomes more alkaline. You will not only look better, you will become more resilient and have more energy to enjoy your outdoor activities.

By Dominique Allmon


*This article was written for educational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose or cure a disease. Please, consult a certified health care provider before beginning your detox program.


Spring Detox Program by Dominique Allmon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.