TV hosts such as Dr. Oz have taken juicing and green smoothies to mainstream America, and the popularity of juicing has soared. It’s catching on with all sorts of people – from soccer moms to busy executives, stars and athletes. That’s because it’s a quick, easy and economical way to get healthy and stay fit. Many stars eat raw food and juice to prepare for a role or an appearance. Some athletes power up their performance with the high-energy fuel of raw juice. But for most Americans, it’s a way to energize their day and get healthier.

People who embark on a juicing-for-health program often get excited because they lose weight so easily. But after the initial thrill of the pounds melting away without a lot of effort, they usually say weight loss became secondary to all the other great health benefits they experienced.

It may seem too simplistic that what you eat or drink could have a profound impact on your health. But [...]]]> By Cherie Calbom, MS

TV hosts such as Dr. Oz have taken juicing and green smoothies to mainstream America, and the popularity of juicing has soared. It’s catching on with all sorts of people – from soccer moms to busy executives, stars and athletes. That’s because it’s a quick, easy and economical way to get healthy and stay fit. Many stars eat raw food and juice to prepare for a role or an appearance. Some athletes power up their performance with the high-energy fuel of raw juice. But for most Americans, it’s a way to energize their day and get healthier.

People who embark on a juicing-for-health program often get excited because they lose weight so easily. But after the initial thrill of the pounds melting away without a lot of effort, they usually say weight loss became secondary to all the other great health benefits they experienced.

It may seem too simplistic that what you eat or drink could have a profound impact on your health. But a recent study, which evaluated surveys of 500 people on a living foods diet, showed amazing health benefits from choosing raw foods. (Freshly made juice is the supreme raw food). The study showed that more than 80 percent of the people surveyed lost weight. But that was only the beginning of their transformation. These people reported marked improvements in immunity, digestion, allergies, women’s issues, and chronic illness. They enjoyed better sleep and the need for less of it.

They also described improvement in many skin conditions such as eczema, skin eruptions, dryness, oiliness and susceptibility to sunburns. Their hair grew thicker, stronger and more lustrous, with decreased thinness, weakness, oiliness, dryness, dullness and dandruff. Nail strength improved. Body odor decreased sharply while eyesight and sense of smell improved. There was a marked increase in energy, and a significant decrease in addictions and use of medications. Results also showed a substantial decrease in allergies. And, the vast majority of respondents (87.5 percent) reported better mental, emotional, and spiritual health.¹

So what’s really going on when people consume live juice that could offer such stellar benefits? When you consistently drink fresh raw juice, especially vegetable juice that includes plenty of dark leafy greens, along with eating lots of vegetables and fruit and a very healthy diet, your whole internal environment changes. Juice, which is rich in antioxidants, cleanses the body of stored wastes and toxins that interfere with the proper functioning of cells and organs. This garden-in-a-glass offers an abundance of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, phytonutrients and antioxidants – a cornucopia of nutrients that increase the mirco-electric potential of the cells. This improves the body’s use of oxygen so the muscles and both the muscles and brain are energized.

A healthy, vibrant internal environment is a key to optimum health. This means our cells, organs, and systems are able to do the jobs they are designed to do. A healthy bio-terrain also requires plenty of enzymes, which are abundant in raw juice. Further, vegetables and fruit are very alkaline, which helps to balance a diet that is often quite acidic for most Americans.

Raw juices are also replete with biophotons – those light rays of energy plants get from the sun. When we pasteurize juice (all commercial juices are pasteurized even the ones in store refrigerators) those beautiful rays of energy are destroyed. The latest research by Professor F.A. Popp and Dr. H. Niggli shows that, in addition to the chemical composition of our food, light energy (biophotons) is an important factor in food value.²

The more light a food is able to store, the more nutritious it is. Naturally grown, sun-ripened, fresh vegetables and fruit are rich in light energy. Therefore, the capacity to store biophotons is a measure of the quality of your food. Stored energy from the sun finds its way into your cells via food in the form of these minute particles of light. They energize cells by supplying fuel for the mitochondria (the energy furnaces of your cells that pump out adenosine diphosphate, the fuel that is used by cells). Practically speaking, this means you feel more energized and your metabolism revs up.

Often, people who can’t lose weight because of toxins, find that fat just melts away on this diet, which includes two glasses of vegetable juice a day along with a low-carb diet that is rich in living foods. One reason juice facilitates weight loss is because it’s concentrated with nutrients. Along comes the antioxidant-rich juice that binds up toxins and carries them out of the body. Then, the body can let go of fat cells that were storing toxins to protect delicate tissues and organs.

People often report that when they change their diet to include plenty of live juices, their body undergoes a transformation similar to a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. They start feeling better, lighter, and more energized as time goes on. Sleep improves. Energy kicks up a notch, and mood improves. The mind becomes more alert and creative, while disorganizing brain fog fades away because all the nutrients in fresh juice help the mind and body revive.

In the process, overall health improves. Ailments and chronic diseases begin to heal for many people. Then, a person’s whole life changes because they have the energy to accomplish their goals.

Cherie Calbom earned a Master of Science degree in whole foods nutrition from Bastyr University. She is author of the best-selling book, “The Juice Lady’s Turbo Diet,” along with seventeen additional books including “Juicing, Fasting, and Detoxing for Life.” She has appeared on scores of TV shows including CNN and Fox National News.

Sources
1 Raw Food Diet Study http://www.iowasource.com/food/lenkastudy_0806.html Accessed April 22, 2011.
2 McDonald’s and Biophoton Deficiency http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/ciencia/ciencia_industryweapons78.htm Accessed April 22, 2011.

Photo credit: bitt

Juice has gotten trendier with each passing year, and for good reason. When I found myself choosing green juice over my morning coffee I knew I was hooked. One juice in particular has recently captured my attention: a new brand called Liquid Pump, a creation of The Pump Energy Food, a New York City staple. Liquid Pump is not your grocery store’s juice. It’s made fresh every morning at The Pump, it’s non-pasteurized, and it doesn’t contain any preservatives, artificial flavors or colors, or refined sugars. The simple, raw ingredients speak for themselves: simplicity is delicious. Liquid Pump is cold-pressed, allowing it to retain the nutrients of the produce—much like old-fashioned hand-squeezing methods. My favorite is the Green Magic Drink, which is made from cold-pressed OJ, pineapple, basil and avocado.

I’ve become so hooked that I find myself hopping in my Ford Edge to pick up a few days’ worth of juice at one time. I’ve learned that drinking Liquid Pump for [...]]]>

Juice has gotten trendier with each passing year, and for good reason. When I found myself choosing green juice over my morning coffee I knew I was hooked. One juice in particular has recently captured my attention: a new brand called Liquid Pump, a creation of The Pump Energy Food, a New York City staple. Liquid Pump is not your grocery store’s juice. It’s made fresh every morning at The Pump, it’s non-pasteurized, and it doesn’t contain any preservatives, artificial flavors or colors, or refined sugars. The simple, raw ingredients speak for themselves: simplicity is delicious. Liquid Pump is cold-pressed, allowing it to retain the nutrients of the produce—much like old-fashioned hand-squeezing methods. My favorite is the Green Magic Drink, which is made from cold-pressed OJ, pineapple, basil and avocado.

I’ve become so hooked that I find myself hopping in my Ford Edge to pick up a few days’ worth of juice at one time. I’ve learned that drinking Liquid Pump for breakfast and lunch gives me more energy. This is what many of my Rha foodie friends refer to as eating light to heavy. Rather than eating my largest meal at lunchtime, I’ve taken to the Rha approach. The light-to-heavy method actually is super effective because I’m not digesting a huge meal in the middle of the day. I’ll have my Liquid Pump for breakfast and lunch, and by 3 p.m. I’ll have a hearty salad followed by some protein and veggies for dinner later on. In addition, the Liquid Pump is perfect for eating healthily on-the-go—it redefines the notion of convenience food. Grab a bottle and you’ve just given your body more than a day’s worth of vital nutrients.

You can check out more of my blogs here!

Photo Credit: Untitled Blue

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Hi juicy friends!

This week I am honored to have a super special guest, my hubby Brian. He’s the Master of the House, the Pharaoh of Breville, the Vitamix Whisperer and he’s here to give you some special tips and tricks. Hope you enjoy and have a brilliant weekend tootsies….

Peace & family kitchen time, Kris

PS. We forgot to mention that we use purified water or coconut water or even almond milk to blend our smoothies. Lately we’ve been enjoying some almond butter in place of avocado in our blender disco. Oh my, it’s good. xo!

Hi Spiritual Marathon Runner!

This week’s Love List is all about the simple things that help me make a shitty day (canSer check-ups) a little easier. I bet lots of you know exactly what I mean. On Friday, I’ll be vlogging about the best tool I’ve found to cope with the fear. Until then I hope you enjoy my list! Share your tips/tricks if you’re moved to do so…

1. The flowers that Brian picked and placed in the car for our very long drive. Just when I thought he wasn’t romantic – bam!

2. Sports bras with no metal so I don’t have to strip down to nothing and wear a gown. Plus, ya ever notice how cold the CAT scan room is? Headlights galore!

3. Trash magazines. Who the heck can focus on a highbrow novel while [...]]]>

Hi Spiritual Marathon Runner!

This week’s Love List is all about the simple things that help me make a shitty day (canSer check-ups) a little easier. I bet lots of you know exactly what I mean. On Friday, I’ll be vlogging about the best tool I’ve found to cope with the fear. Until then I hope you enjoy my list! Share your tips/tricks if you’re moved to do so…

1. The flowers that Brian picked and placed in the car for our very long drive. Just when I thought he wasn’t romantic – bam!

2. Sports bras with no metal so I don’t have to strip down to nothing and wear a gown. Plus, ya ever notice how cold the CAT scan room is? Headlights galore!

3. Trash magazines. Who the heck can focus on a highbrow novel while sitting in the waiting room at the canSer hut? Not moi! Bring it J-Lo. Hola Snooki.

4. A nice hotel with a King size bed and really expensive movies. We make scan night in Boston date night – a fancy dinner and a room with style help take the edge off (bathtub included…ahhh Epsom salt and lavender).

5. Red Super Girl underwear with stars. Um, need I say more? I think not.

6. Bringing an extra green juice for after my scan. The shit they pump into me sucks, but the greens I pump into me when they’re done help move the garbage out.

7. My amazing oncologist who continues to help me cope with living with canSer. Seven years later, he’s still suggesting that I do nothing (meaning no conventional treatment). Many oncologists would have pushed drugs by now. No thanks. Make juice not war baby!

8. The fabulous (and more than likely gay) tech who suggested I take a few Ativan and listen to Streisand if I ever find myself in need of an MRI (they take longer). What a wonderful way to kill the time!

9. The post scan vacation Brian and I took with the whole Fassett clan in Cape Cod! My nieces and nephews ROCK.

Off for a run…
LOVE u…

Peace and nuclear medicine,
Kris

So this week I’m practicing what I preach. I’m on vacation and I’m not taking work with me, so no vlog-a-lish today. But oh-boy-oh-boy stay tuned for next week’s vlog, the most revealingly personal check-in from me in ages. Hint, hint…I just had my 7 year canSer scan 2 days ago and I can’t wait to share my technique for overcoming fear and staying in your body (when you want to escape and bust out like an outlaw!). Oh, and if you’re wondering, I’m doing great and my “beauty marks” a.k.a. tumors are still stable! Amen, aho, hell yeah, holy hip shake, ahhh…CanSer and I seem to be living peacefully together and for that I am deeply grateful and endlessly amazed. The little “c” really is my greatest teacher and though I sometimes wish I could give it back or get rid of it once and for all, it has blessed me with more than it has taken.

If you’ve been following me from [...]]]>
Hiya Soul Pals,

So this week I’m practicing what I preach. I’m on vacation and I’m not taking work with me, so no vlog-a-lish today. But oh-boy-oh-boy stay tuned for next week’s vlog, the most revealingly personal check-in from me in ages. Hint, hint…I just had my 7 year canSer scan 2 days ago and I can’t wait to share my technique for overcoming fear and staying in your body (when you want to escape and bust out like an outlaw!). Oh, and if you’re wondering, I’m doing great and my “beauty marks” a.k.a. tumors are still stable! Amen, aho, hell yeah, holy hip shake, ahhh…CanSer and I seem to be living peacefully together and for that I am deeply grateful and endlessly amazed. The little “c” really is my greatest teacher and though I sometimes wish I could give it back or get rid of it once and for all, it has blessed me with more than it has taken.

If you’ve been following me from the beginning when my film aired on TLC and my first book came out or when I was on Oprah…(wow that was cool!)…or if you’ve just joined the party – thank you for all the love, strength and support. I have received thousands of virtual hugs from an army of crazy sexy wellness warriors around the world, and ya know what? It feels really good. Feels like we’ve become a team of “Prevention is Hot” cheerleaders spreading the magic so our peeps can get and stay well. Oooh that’s SIZZLING! Ok, now go make a green juice my friend and I’ll see you next week with more health jewels.

Time for a swim…

Love you…

Peace & stability,
Kris

P.S. Instead of tuning out during this potentially stressful time, I’ve kept up my No TV for 30 Days pledge! More time to journal, less time with The Real Housewives.

Forgive me for getting an Outkast song going through your head (my Clean Team is composed of super hip (they’ll love that!) music lovers so I’m getting quite an education) but your very own “so fresh and so clean” New Year begins with not only a catchy little beat but three very important R’s.

These R’s will be the tools for absolutely amazing vitality as well as an immune boost. They are: Remove, Restore and Rejuvenate, and here’s the super simple breakdown.

1. Remove toxins by avoiding processed/packaged food with additives and artificial sweeteners, beauty care products with ingredients you can’t pronounce, finding food and non-food items that are organic like fruits and vegetables, clothing, bedding, makeup, and pet supplies, buy or make your own eco-friendly cleaning products, and also look at removing common allergens from your diet such as dairy, bread, pasta, sugar, white rice/sugar and red meat.

2. Restore healthy bacteria in the gut (by using natural and often really delicious plant and herbal antimicrobials like garlic, lemon, olive oil, oregano [...]]]>

Forgive me for getting an Outkast song going through your head (my Clean Team is composed of super hip (they’ll love that!) music lovers so I’m getting quite an education) but your very own “so fresh and so clean” New Year begins with not only a catchy little beat but three very important R’s.

These R’s will be the tools for absolutely amazing vitality as well as an immune boost. They are: Remove, Restore and Rejuvenate, and here’s the super simple breakdown.

1. Remove toxins by avoiding processed/packaged food with additives and artificial sweeteners, beauty care products with ingredients you can’t pronounce, finding food and non-food items that are organic like fruits and vegetables, clothing, bedding, makeup, and pet supplies, buy or make your own eco-friendly cleaning products, and also look at removing common allergens from your diet such as dairy, bread, pasta, sugar, white rice/sugar and red meat.

2. Restore healthy bacteria in the gut (by using natural and often really delicious plant and herbal antimicrobials like garlic, lemon, olive oil, oregano oil, thyme and cayenne pepper) to help your body out as it tirelessly works to move all those toxins that we accumulate just by living, working and playing in this world of ours.

3. Rejuvenate by making time to rest both your body and your mind, with things like meditation, yoga, gentle walking or stretching, being outside whenever possible even if it’s just to watch some clouds float by or the snow fall through trees, taking a bath, reading, some form of creative activity, sharing space with loved ones, or simply being still for a few minutes every so often throughout your day. . .

A final tip that addresses all three of the above R’s is this:

Love those greens! Fresh green juices are one of the best ways to fill your body with incredible nutrition, easy to digest energy, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and a pleasant sensation of fullness that will help with maintaing the right weight for your own body. Greens (and especially in fresh juiced form) even help to generate feelings of comfort and being loved. Love from yourself for taking such good care of your wonderful body, but also, that feeling of being satiated and nourished creates a state of happiness and clarity in your brain (and also to your overall moods) both of which are so important in these long cold winter months. Seasonal Affective Disorder runs rampant and threatens to drive us all under the covers with a pound of chocolate, and unless it’s some sugar-free raw chocolate, you might be pleasantly surprised when silky, sexy, slightly sweet green juices become your “comfort food” of choice and the scales begin to tip in a lighter direction as a welcome side effect.

If you don’t happen to have a neighborhood juice bar don’t worry, because you can make delicious green juices without even having a juicer. With any high speed blender, you can make a thick “soup” and then using a simple nut milk bag (about $7) or even with a DIY cheesecloth one, you can strain out the pulp and be left with a glass full of yummy green nutrition to power you up through what promises to be an amazing New Year!

These simple things are the sexiest (and easiest) tools ever for reaching optimal health and vitality. You’ll have more energy and more time to fully experience the things you love and to begin actively participating in your incredibly vibrant life.

Warmth and love. . .

Dr. Alejandro Junger

Michelle Sorensen & Family

I am a vegan mom to two daughters (aged 1 and 3). In addition I am self-employed as a therapist. I have another identity that is invisible to many people: I am a Type 1 diabetic with a couple of other autoimmune problems thrown into the mix. In the 11 years I have been diabetic, I have learned not to fight this disease but to live more peacefully with it.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which your body turns against itself and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells on your pancreas. It is often confused with the more common Type 2 diabetes, which can be managed with diet, exercise, or oral medications. Type 1 (previously known as juvenile diabetes) usually strikes children or young adults who seem otherwise healthy. Without synthetic insulin injected into the body, Type 1 diabetes would be a terminal disease.

I was diagnosed when I was about to turn 25. I was in the middle of graduate school and when I look [...]]]>

Michelle Sorensen & Family

I am a vegan mom to two daughters (aged 1 and 3). In addition I am self-employed as a therapist. I have another identity that is invisible to many people: I am a Type 1 diabetic with a couple of other autoimmune problems thrown into the mix. In the 11 years I have been diabetic, I have learned not to fight this disease but to live more peacefully with it.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which your body turns against itself and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells on your pancreas. It is often confused with the more common Type 2 diabetes, which can be managed with diet, exercise, or oral medications. Type 1 (previously known as juvenile diabetes) usually strikes children or young adults who seem otherwise healthy. Without synthetic insulin injected into the body, Type 1 diabetes would be a terminal disease.

I was diagnosed when I was about to turn 25. I was in the middle of graduate school and when I look back, I had been running on adrenaline for some time. The previous year I had been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease, which is an autoimmune problem with the thyroid gland. It never occurred to me that my body was warning me to slow down. I continued to take care of others and to juggle school, work and social commitments. I felt tired all the time, and sometimes would get weak and shaky. I was hungry and thirsty, no matter how much I ate or drank. And still I pushed myself to accomplish more. When I felt exhausted I thought I was being lazy. Finally, I ended up at the emergency room. My sugar was too high to register a reading on a glucometer. I was told they had never seen a sugar so high outside of someone in a coma and I was put on an insulin drip right away. I remember asking a resident the question that I had been pushing out of my mind for months: Am I a diabetic? Of course, the answer was obvious, but for a few weeks I honestly believed it would all turn out to be a mistake.

It surprised me what a juggling act diabetes management was. I spent my first year trying to be the perfect diabetic and I struggled with feelings of guilt and shame. I was convinced that somehow this was my fault and now I could never fix it. My days were filled with insulin injections and sugar checks… suffering from blood sugar lows that left me guzzling juice, shaking, sweating and confused or highs that made me dehydrated and fuzzy-headed. I could never take a day off from diabetes without substantial risk to my safety and well-being.

It became difficult to maintain the people-pleasing life I had lived for so long. I started to realize this was a problem at the first anniversary of my diagnosis, but it took me much longer to actually change my behavior. So my body kept saying NO. No, I will not let you destroy me. No, you deserve better than this. Since the first few diagnoses didn’t slow me down, my body sent out more signals. My digestive system began to crumble. The specialists stuck tubes down my throat and scanned me but had no answers. So I gave up on them and it took me another four years of feeling sick and fatigued before I discovered my path to health.

To heal I had to take responsibility for the fact that my health problems were my responsibility. I had to face up to the fears I buried deep down that something I did caused me, in the prime of my life, to develop all this disease. When I fell in love with my husband (6 years ago) he was able to help me see how little I nurtured myself. He made me feel happy and helped me to slow down. My body recognized its window of opportunity and increased my digestive distress, finally sending me to a naturopath. I discovered the food allergies related to my leaky gut (destroyed by stress and lack of nutrition) and quickly devoted myself to adopting an allergen free diet. During my twenties I did not take time to prepare the vegetables and fruit I had always eaten growing up. I consumed way more wheat and dairy than I had in my parents’ home. Now, with my body failing, I needed to spend more time on me.

When I discovered a wonderful raw food restaurant during my first pregnancy four years ago, I began to realize the importance of adding in even more plant-based foods (versus just cutting out the food I couldn’t tolerate), and had an ah-ha moment: food itself is truly medicine! Two years ago my husband and I started making green smoothies every morning and then craved plant-based foods all day. Last spring, I decided I did not enjoy meat anymore, and thought I may as well cut it out altogether for a trial period. The ACT cleanse was starting here on CSL and I decided to follow along. Everyone’s tips and ideas were so helpful. I started using the juicer that had been sitting in my cupboard, did a little dry brushing, got back to hot yoga, and shook the last few gastrointestinal symptoms I had! I completed my transition to veganism.

There is nothing more empowering than taking control of your health. I may still need my insulin pump and thyroid medication but I believe I have halted the autoimmune cyclone hitting my body and I will continue to eat a plant-based, vegan and gluten-free diet for the rest of my life! I know these changes could help many people… in fact, my husband’s asthma of 25 years vastly improved from eating a less rigid version of my diet at home. I hope someone reading this is helped a little on their own path to good health.

Michelle Sorensen is a clinical psychological associate in Ottawa, Ontario. She practices cognitive behavioral therapy, teaching her patients to change the way they feel physically and emotionally by changing the way they think.

When the colder months arrive, I think of two things: staying healthy and staying warm. There are many ways to accomplish both – with a raw vegan diet!

Let’s start with the immune system. If there’s a time to stay healthy and keep the immune system strong, it’s now. While people are congregating more indoors to stay warm, traveling more because of the holidays, as well as letting their diets slip with sugar-laden foods and alcohol from all of the parties and gatherings, it can become an easy breeding ground for illnesses like the flu. Apart from the obvious hand washing, getting plenty of rest, etc., there are a few tricks for helping to keep the immune [...]]]> It may seem more difficult to stick to Meatless Mondays during the holiday season, especially if you’re striving to add more raw foods to your diet, but we’ve got some tips to keep you on track. Kristen Suzanne is here to share her game plan for making this winter a delicious, healthy, and kind one!

When the colder months arrive, I think of two things: staying healthy and staying warm. There are many ways to accomplish both – with a raw vegan diet!

Let’s start with the immune system. If there’s a time to stay healthy and keep the immune system strong, it’s now. While people are congregating more indoors to stay warm, traveling more because of the holidays, as well as letting their diets slip with sugar-laden foods and alcohol from all of the parties and gatherings, it can become an easy breeding ground for illnesses like the flu. Apart from the obvious hand washing, getting plenty of rest, etc., there are a few tricks for helping to keep the immune system nice and healthy.

Go Organic!

In addition to being better for the environment, organic produce contains more nutrients than conventionally grown food and this is the time of year to make sure you’re getting just that. Some people spend extra money on medicine, doctor visits, and being sick. Not me… my health is my priority so I don’t mind spending extra money for organic food, which helps me stay healthy and avoid spending on those other things in the long run.

Get Extra Greens!

Greens help alkalize the body and they’re loaded with superior nutrition. The easy way to get extra greens in your diet is to drink fresh organic green juice and green smoothies during the holidays. I sometimes add a green powder to the mix for extra oompf! Getting your greens in liquid form helps give the digestive system a rest, which can be beneficial for healing and rejuvenating the body. Go Greens!

Stay Hydrated!

When I’m drinking plenty of green juices and green smoothies, and eating a High Raw (or all Raw) diet, then staying hydrated comes easily. However, it doesn’t hurt to keep the fluids coming. A great way I easily add more hydration to my daily diet is to start and end every day with a nice cup of warm water with a squeeze of fresh organic lemon in it. Always filtered tap water (through a high quality filter), and never in plastic bottles. (I carry my water on-the-go in a reusable glass bottle or aluminum sports bottle.)

Probiotics Are Great!

During the holiday seasons, when everybody finds themselves a little busier, possibly more stressed, and surrounded by hordes of sniffling, sneezing, busy, stressed people… I take precautions and take probiotics. This gives my digestive system plenty of friendly bacteria… helping me stay healthy.

Fermented Foods Rock!

Fermented foods such as raw (unpasteurized) sauerkraut and kim-chi (pronounced “kim chee”) are quite popular around the world. They’re a staple in my diet year round and I generally consume about a 1/4 cup per day, or at least every couple of days. Fermented foods are low in calories with plenty of fiber, and they’re filled with a rich supply of vitamins and minerals. Plus, they help build up and maintain friendly bacteria in the body. All of these benefits are important… especially around the holidays.

I make my own sauerkraut from organic cabbage that I get from the farmer’s market. It takes about a month (or longer if desired) to ferment in my stoneware fermentation pot, so I make plenty of this when cabbage is in season. Then, I store it in my refrigerator for the months to come. If you don’t want to make your own, you can purchase delicious raw, organic, unpasteurized sauerkraut online from Gold Mine Natural Foods or Rejuvenative Foods, and sometimes your local Whole Foods Market has it.

Want to stay warm during the colder months while eating a raw vegan diet? No problem!

Here are a few tips:

1. Warming Spices!

During the colder months, it’s a great time to start spicing up your life in the food department. Some easy ways to do that are with spices like ginger, garlic, horseradish, curry, and cayenne pepper. Add some to the next green juice, green smoothie, raw soup, or salad that you enjoy. See how it gets your circulation flowing. Yowza!

Another favorite trick of mine for warming up is with organic miso soup – yum! (There are soy-free varieties of miso, too. My favorite brand is South River Miso.) Miso soup isn’t Raw, but miso has living components that are excellent for digestion and healing. Every time I have a warm cup of miso soup, I feel the lovely warmth spread in me from head to toe, literally in minutes.

2. A Dehydrator Warms Wonderfully!

Dehydrators are a great kitchen appliance for warming up your Raw foods. Dehydrating takes a little planning, of course, because you’ll need to warm your food for a couple of hours to get a nice soft warmth without destroying nutrients. One of my favorite raw vegan meals to warm in my dehydrator is raw vegan lasagna – Mmmmm.

3. Whirl a Little Longer in Your Blender!

Your blender (especially a high-powered blender) can be used to warm up Raw foods such as soups, nut/seed milks, and can even be used to warm up smoothies a bit to take the chill off. All you have to do is blend the ingredients for longer than you normally do, paying attention not to let them get too warm. A good temperature test is using your finger. Make sure your blender is OFF(!), and dip your finger into the mixture periodically to check the temperature. If it’s not too hot for your finger, it still has its nutrients.

Get Your Booty Movin’!

Exercise is great for getting blood circulating and warming you from head to toe. I keep a rebounder near my desk and jump on it every few hours for about 10 minutes to warm my body. Stay toasty in the winter and burn calories – a win-win! Another great (and cheaper) option is to use a jump rope.

Dress Warmer!

Sounds obvious, but it’s true! Treat yourself to a pair of fluffy organic cotton (or hemp) socks and an extra sweater. Layer up with your clothes. We keep extra blankets around the house this time of year, too, so staying warm is nice and easy – without having to keep the thermostat too high and wasting energy.

Having energy to do what we want to do is easy to take for granted. I know I did, as I zipped through graduate school and into my first years of teaching. I worked hard–and stayed up late planning each lesson. But then I crashed. As a teacher it’s natural to feel wiped out, but having to spend the entire weekend on the couch was really depressing. I became concerned when I started to feel fatigue that was, well, debilitating. I missed out on fun things and lost friends because I was too drained. I felt like a magnet was pulling me to the ground, dragging down my limbs and making my mind into mush.

I had to do something. Browsing the medical section of the bookstore led me to a book on fibromyalgia. I read it cover to cover; it was somewhat helpful. It gave me the idea to see a rheumatologist, who ran a variety of tests. She found nothing specific, then wanted to put me on a [...]]]>

Having energy to do what we want to do is easy to take for granted. I know I did, as I zipped through graduate school and into my first years of teaching. I worked hard–and stayed up late planning each lesson. But then I crashed. As a teacher it’s natural to feel wiped out, but having to spend the entire weekend on the couch was really depressing. I became concerned when I started to feel fatigue that was, well, debilitating. I missed out on fun things and lost friends because I was too drained. I felt like a magnet was pulling me to the ground, dragging down my limbs and making my mind into mush.

I had to do something. Browsing the medical section of the bookstore led me to a book on fibromyalgia. I read it cover to cover; it was somewhat helpful. It gave me the idea to see a rheumatologist, who ran a variety of tests. She found nothing specific, then wanted to put me on a stimulant for the fatigue. I found this counter intuitive because I had just given up coffee after reading that it can cause fatigue.

Fortunately I had other resources to draw on. A few years back, I was given some B-12 shots from a naturopath, and I remembered getting quite a boost of energy from them. It seemed more natural than taking prescribed speed. Back in the naturopath’s office, with my sleeve rolled up for the shot, they stopped and wanted to evaluate me for a few more things instead of just treating the symptoms. They tested my blood and found I had the Epstein-Barr Virus (which the rheumatologist had not checked for), which can lie dormant in your body. This made sense since I had mononucleosis as a teenager. The antibodies indicated a current infection, as the virus can reactivate when the body is under a lot of stress.

Armed with supplements from the ND, but still seeking more vigor, I recalled a friend who had eaten a raw food diet for a while. She seemed to be able to conquer the world while eating uncooked goodies. I knew I always felt great after eating salads and drinking fresh juice, so why not try that? I was thinking a week or so would do the trick. Just to see how I reacted.

The first few weeks of my raw food diet, I was really tired, but no more so than I had been. I found if I kept up my weekly B-12 shots and daily juicing, I could get past the fatigue and keep going. Somehow my week of eating raw food turned into two weeks, then three, then months. I found myself having more and more energy. I felt so great that I didn’t want to come down! That summer, I spent plenty of time in the sun, charging my inner stash of vitamin D. I learned to make lots of different types of raw food–including lasagna, chili, and ice cream–so I wouldn’t get bored. I had a weekly shot of wheatgrass and even started jogging to expend my extra energy.

However, Epstein-Barr, like other illnesses, can return. That fall–just last year–I had a relapse from overworking and not taking care of myself like I should. I forgot to juice and drink wheatgrass. I poured any extra energy into my job, working 50 or more hours a week. I managed to keep going but slowly became even more tired than before I started eating raw. On my breaks from teaching I would lie under my desk barely able to move.

I ended up leaving my job and refocused. I joined My Crazy Sexy Life in May and did the ACT cleanse. I learned that I should really be drinking green juice daily. After watching the film Crazy Sexy Cancer, I read up on wheatgrass and sprouting and started my own mini-garden inside. I started to walk daily and spend a lot more time with my dogs and cats. I also began Craniosacral therapy, a method of teaching your body to self-heal, which is also very meditative and helps me quiet my busy mind.

Six months later, my Epstein-Barr blood test shows that I am well on the way to recovery. My body is not showing a current infection, just a past infection. I attribute this to slowing my life down and taking the time to heal. I still get tired at times but I’ve also learned to pace myself so I don’t burn out. I am flexible with myself so I can make plenty of room in my schedule for growing wheatgrass, dog walks, cat snuggles, making raw food, and just plain living.

Bitt is a 30 year old who lives in Seattle with her husband, 2 dogs, and 2 cats. She is a longtime animal activist and recently has become a health activist. She blogs at bittsblog.blogspot.com