Detoxing

She is 50 years old, five grown children aged 30, 25, 24, 22 and 17 and she is ready to make a change that I definitely admire. Today was supposed to be the third and last day of my Mom's thorough 3-day detox after which she can start to eat solids (vegan of course) but she announced to me yesterday that she would like to continue till Saturday. She says she feels so light, that she feels like she is gliding above the ground and she loves what the detox is doing for her . Since she's been at my house for a little over a week, she's been faring well with our raw/vegan lifestyle. I look at her and one would think she has lived a pampered life but that couldn't be more far from the truth, yet she has the determined spirit to do whatever is good for her. Tomorrow, we do the first week record progress and I am happy to know how much weight (toxins) have been washed out of her body.

Last night we had family over and Rick made a delicious, 3-hour preparation, vegan paneer masala (an Indian dish) and the scent would have driven anyone crazy but my Mom didn't budge and even when Rick asked her to taste the sauce she refused. She reminds me of me, lol, when i decide to do something, I don't back down because it usually starts an endless cycle of self-disappointment. I am very proud of her. As you can tell from the picture above, she is looking fabulous and I can tell she is shrinking, lol. She understands that it is not about losing weight but being healthy, truly healthy, weight loss is a by-product, a bonus and it feels just great!

There are somethings that when you do in life can completely change all other aspects of your life. When you do something you thought was previously impossible, you start to have such confidence in yourself and you know in your heart of hearts that you are stronger than you thought you were and that there is absolutely nothing that you can't do once you decide to do it. I hope we can all make that change as this new year comes along. Let this day be the beginning of the best years of your life. Decide today to accept the challenge and do something great for your health. The government and FDA don't care and love you as much as you love yourself. Treat yourself like the precious person you are and feed yourself the best foods there is; go back to the basics and feed life into your life, Go green!

My Double-decker raw pie

This is the best pie I have made yet. My mom was amazed that I made it in less than 10 minutes. Raw pies and deserts are the easiest foods to prepare and to eat this guilty-free nutritious-deliciousness is just heaven (aunt Cathy we are so making this one in MA). You could fool your SAD friends and family with this. OOOOOOOOOOoooooh so YummmmmmmY! lol

Goodbye for now and tata.

~B~

My Five Reasons

A few weeks ago, ok I guess its months now Bernice challenged me to write about Sugar after I gave her a long lecture on why not to eat it. I guess lecturing is easy actually writing it down so it does not sound like a moan has been proving pretty hard for me. There are hundreds of reasons why sugar is bad for you and I could go on about it all day but I thought if someone really wants to change thier life then five should be enough to stimmulate the process of change. Ok so here it goes:

Sugar is a drug. It is one of the most addictive substances out there. You may not realise it but just a small ammount has you craving for more. Just like alcohol and tobacco your body craves the rush it gets from sugar. If you regularly eat sweet stuff and this includes lots of fruit (yes excessive fruit sugar also has its downside) you are probably an addict. Just try not eating anything sweet at all for two days and see how your body react. Just like with drugs alot of people get the shakes, feeling slightly weak, nausea, fatigue etc. I know I am an addict. I often say just this once or I don't eat that much sugar and before I know it every meal I eat has some thing a little sweet in it or after it.

More people die from sugar related deaseases every year than anything else. I studied diabetes in University and my proffessor likened being sick with diabetes to having HIV. Ok you cannot spread diabetes through bodily fluids but the outcome is very similar. Chances are you will die from a diabetes related deasease. My Grandfather died from diabetes related illnesses (stroke + cancer). My greatgrandmother also died from diabetes related illnesses and for about 15 years before she died she was blind and had both legs amputated due to diabetes. It will wear you down mentally and physically and eventually weaken your immune system to other diseas. Sugar related illnesses include diabetes, ulcers, strokes, heart attack, yeast infections, high cholesterol. Why would you want to have any of those?

Parasites in your body thrive on sugar. What happens to your teeth when you eat too much sugar also happens inside your body, the only difference is that you usually cannot see past your throat so you often don't even know what is happenening. The way your teeth rot is the same way your insides rot. Parasites need sugar and the acid produced from the digestion of sugar to live. These organisms in turn produce more acid and secrete hormones which mimic the bodies sugar craving hormones. So sometimes it is not you craving sugar, it is the stuff living inside you. Have you ever noticed that people who eat alot of green and hardly any sugar do not get ill very often? This is because, even if they come in contact with them, parasites cannot survive inside the hosts body as there is is nothing feeding them. So especially with it being colder this time of year why not avoid getting sick with the flu 3-4 times by simply cutting out sugar and eating more green foods.

Sugar is like a thief in the night. It robs your body of calcium and magnesium. An important companent of teeth and bones. To digest sugar you need calcium and magnesium. Most refined sugar however has been stripped of these minerals during processing. When its time for digestion your body goes looking somewhere else for these minerals to help it out. The most common place to get this from is your bones and teeth. If you are not replacing all this lost calcium and magnesium by eating plenty of green leafy vegetables your bones will eventually become brittle and oesteporosis sets in.

Finally I know the dangers of the overconsumtion of sugar and I am doing my best to provide a good example for my son. I don't want to preach one thing to him and do another. I try to lead by example which isn't always easy but I do sleep better at night knowing that he is growing dense strong bones rather than hollow brittle ones. It will be more difficult saying no to him once he knows the taste of sweetness. So far no he does not know what refined sugar tastes like. We tend to have a piece of fruit in the morning but our other two meals are packed full of green leafy vegetables, pulses and some root vegetables. His favourite meals are Okra (full of calcium) and seaweed rice soup. I would rather he had these two in his meal plan every day than having a cookie once a week.

Cutting out sugar alone is just one part of the process in reclaiming your health. But it is a pretty big part and I promise you will notice the difference.

I hope this has made you curious to find out more.

For more information on why not to eat sugar read:

The PH Miracle: Balance Your Diet, Reclaim Your Health By Robert O. Young

http://www.healingcancernaturally.com/sugar-health-effects-risks.html

Or just google the dangers of sugar.

Alexa

Dare to be a Daniel

Sing it!

"Dare to be a Daniel;
Dare to stand alone;
Dare to have a purpose clear;
Dare to make it known."

Do you remember that refrain? I do. I decided to be a Daniel, to stand alone from the pack, to have a clear purpose of what I want and where I'm going and I--as my friend Anze would say--obnoxiously make my purpose known whenever I can. I am not afraid of change because change is constant and beautiful, change is a challenge I welcome because it pushes me to be better than I was the day before. Are you a Daniel? can you set yourself apart?, do you want to claim your birthright of living a healthful, dis-ease-free life? Are you letting those around you know what you want, are you seeking the help you need and the support from those who can give you? DARE TO BE A DANIEL...STArT. NOW. did you notice the hints on this line?

Super Carrot Juice, freshly made.

I am super proud of my mom. She has accepted not only the changes in diet but she is now doing my thorough three-day cleanse. My aunt also joined my mom and I have been juicing carrots for two days straight. It is fun and fulfilling to help others and watch their eyes sparkle when they do the things they thought they could never attempt. My daughter said to me "Mummy, you are changing people's lives" and that statement alone made my entire year of 2009. You have not been a blessing until you've touched other people's lives; I learned that from the greatest woman I know--my mother, someday you will read or watch the story of her life. I can't wait to do a second weighing and record her amazing progress. Yesterday, for the first time, my mother didn't use her asthma spray at all! The excitement in her voice was contagious and I silently thanked God. We have been given everything we need to be healthy; fruits, vegetables and nuts.
Ever wonder why the squirrel is so active and full of energy? I bet it is because he is on his natural diet. The only reason we are sick or become sick is because we stray away from the basics of fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts and prescription medications just mask the symptoms and we think we are cured or healed but the moment you stop taking them, your symptoms reemerge...medications worsen the conditions of the body, it stops the body from healing naturally and forces it to instead use up energy to clean out the new toxins which we think are miracle cures.
Rick, and my little angel, Nina, making some carrot soup for my mom.

A gallon of fresh carrot juice made with lots of love

Have you ever seen such a beautiful color? carrots, well, organic carrots have such a rich orange color. The carrot gets its characteristic and bright orange colour from β-carotene, which is metabolised into vitamin A in humans when bile salts are present in the intestines.[3] Massive over consumption of carrots can cause carotenosis, a benign condition in which the skin turns orange. Carrots are also rich in dietary fibre, antioxidants, and minerals.

Lack of Vitamin A can cause poor vision, including night vision, and vision can be restored by adding Vitamin A back into the diet.


Nutritional Value of carrots per 1009 or 3.5oz

Carbohydrates 9 g
Sugars 5 g
Dietary fibre 3 g
Fat 0.2 g
Protein 1 g
Vitamin A equiv. 835 μg (93%)
- beta-carotene 8285 μg (77%)
Thiamine (Vit. B1) 0.04 mg (3%)
Riboflavin (Vit. B2) 0.05 mg (3%)
Niacin (Vit. B3) 1.2 mg (8%)
Vitamin B6 0.1 mg (8%)
Vitamin C 7 mg (12%)
Calcium 33 mg (3%)
Iron 0.66 mg (5%)
Magnesium 18 mg (5%
Phosphorus 35 mg (5%)
Potassium 240 mg (5%)
Sodium 2.4 mg (0%)
Info from wikipedia

25 pound bag of organic carrots

GO GREEN!

The King of Vegetables

Is it any surprise that broccoli is the king of the vegetables? It is high in Vitamin A, C and K and high in dietary fiber. It is a cruciferous vegetable that belongs to the cabbage family as with arugula, cauliflower, collards, bok choy, kale, mustard greens, radishes, turnips, watercress, rutabaga, and brussels sprouts.

Broccoli contains certain chemicals that may reduce the risk of colorectal or other cancers.
It is also rich in carotenoids, calcium and folate.

Broccoli also contains several compounds called isothiocyanates, including sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol (I3C), which have been touted as possible anti-cancer agents in recent years. Studies have shown these substances may act as anti-oxidants and may boost detoxifying enzymes in the body.

I am not sure about you but I love, love broccoli. I figured it is great for me, so I just eat it. There are other things we do in life even when we know they are detrimental to our health, things that may have us end up in anguish and pain and yet we still knowingly do them. The human mind is fascinating, it is like a computer program and whatever you ask it to do it will do. It doesn't know the difference between fantasy and reality.

It is your personal file cabinet, it is your duty to clean up the mess every once in a while. So if you have filed in your mind that you hate broccoli, it is time you started to change that program and replace it with a new file that says you love it and that it is good for you. It is as easy as that. The moment you start to have control over your mind, what goes in and what goes out, you will have a very peaceful and fulfilled life. Try this and you will see.

There are several methods to prepare broccoli but my two favorite ways are raw and lightly steamed. Here are some broccoli recipes for you to enjoy:

Yummy Broccoli Salad

1 bunch broccoli
1/4 cup Apple Cider vinegar
1 tsp ground mustard
2 garlic clove, pressed or minced
1/2 tsp paprika (optional)

Chop or break broccoli pieces into bite sizes. Lightly steam (not boil) for a few minutes (you can tell when it starts to look bright green). Whisk the rest of the ingredients in a bowl and mix with broccoli. Enjoy!!!!

Nutritious Broccoli Smoothie

1 Carrot, chopped
3 Florets of Broccoli
2 Handfuls of Spinach
1 Apple, chopped
2 Oranges, peeled and desseded if desired
1 cup of Orange Juice
1 tbsp lemon juice (optional)

Blend all till smooth and enjoy.

Avocado Mango Broccoli Salad

2 ripe Avocados
2 ripe Mangoes
2 cups Broccoli, chopped
1/2 cup red onion, chopped
1/4 cup raisins or currants, soaked for 30 minutes and rinsed.
Salt and Pepper to taste


To your health!

~B~

Let Your Food Be Your Medicine...

"Let your food be your medicine and medicine be your food"

If we all lived by this rule, there would be less of us with life threatening diseases. Above is a photo of one side of my kitchen cabinet. Overtime, I have bought a variety of nuts and seeds and spices. Variety keeps you from getting bored and falling off the healthy wagon and we don't want that do we? There are many spices that are very healing and we will discuss a few of them here and now--you may have some already and don't know what they are good for:

Allspice: This tropical herb has a complex aroma and is useful for indigestion.

Cardamom: An expensive spice, cardamom can be a mild stimulant.

Cinnamon: This common, tasty spice has potent antimicrobial action and can settle an upset stomach.

Cloves: Cloves have proven pain-relieving and antiseptic properties.

Garlic: Deservedly called Russian penicillin, this pungent bulb in useful in preventing our major killers - heart disease and cancer.

Ginger: The world's best nausea preventative, ginger is also useful in treating arthritis.

Red pepper: This native American spice works on pain by three different mechanisms.

Sesame: The seeds of this plant are a great source of antioxidants and other therapeutic chemicals.

Turmeric: This yellow spice shows great promise in treating arthritis and diabetes.

I especially love cayenne pepper here is a link to find out more about the healing properties of cayenne: http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/cayenne.htm

http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/cayenne.htm

Apples and Almonnaise dip

Bragg Health Vinaigrette Dressing

Ingredients:
½ cup organic Apple Cider Vinegar
1/3 cup olive oil
½-1 tsp Bragg Liquid Aminos
1-2 tsps raw honey or Agave
1-2 cloves crushed garlic
Seasonings to taste - salt, pepper,

Blend all together and enjoy.

Greatness is born in the moment of Decision: Decide to exercise

This morning we went out jogging and Nina was very supportive of her grandma, it was beautiful to watch them. It was a bit chilly but we didn't let the weather deter us, just grabbed some sweaters and off we went. Exercise is the best thing you can do for your body first thing in the morning because it gets your metabolism going, gets you energized and sustains you staying on a healthier path all day because you feel great after exercising. So, don't push it off, find a partner so you can push each other, that usually works.

Mom and I out for a morning jog: Photo by Nina Lakota


I have quite a number of people I am working with right now and they are all excited. I guess seeing that my mom just came from Cameroon and jumped into the FYR detox makes them get off their butts and do something. I am glad she is an inspiration and glad that they are taking the steps to having a healthier life. Next year's blog will have many FYR success stories. I hope you will be a part of it.

On the 1st day of December...

Yesterday, we went out grocery shopping, healthy grocery shopping. We went to the farmer's market and got all out organic fresh fruits and vegetables. My mother is very excited and understand a lot of what it entails to be healthy. She already used to juice carrots back home and says she could live on it all day. She loves fruits and veggies and foods back home are not packed with hormones and antibiotics like they are here in the US. Back home, food is prepared from scratch with fresh veggies and spices so seeing all the pre-packaged food in the stores is as weired as seeing someone drinking milk directly from a cow's utter, lol.

Today morning started off great. We took record of her height, weight, arms, bust and everything we are going to be monitoring. It feels great taking care of my mother, it is exhilarating! I can't wait. She had a smoothie this morning for breakfast and lots of fruits. Later this evening we are going to be juicing some carrots, fennel and ginger. She loved my Beet-the-carrot-ap juice. We are going to be taking long strolls and walks as part of her exercise routine and it also gives us time to catch up and share stories. Nina is on board with this project and very excited about it as well. I took my mother's weight and told her by American standards she is close to skinny because the average overweight person here starts at 190-200 pounds and my mom is way under that size. The plan is to detoxify through the FYR plan and in doing so become healthier and go down to her healthy weight.

I made these hazelnut cookies and they turned out to be really good. I thought they'd last me a few days but they were gone by the next day.

Hazelnut Cookies:

1/2 cup coconut butter/oil

2 tbsp raw cacao powder

1 tbsp carob powder

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 Tbsp unsweetened dried coconut shreds

2 Tbsp agave nectar

3 Tbsp hazelnut

Blend to crunchy consistency and freeze for about five minutes....YUMMY!

~B~

Mama's Here!

I have not seen my mother in six years, so you bet it was an unforgettable reunion. I will never forget the moment at the airport when she wrapped her hands around me and held me for about 10 minutes while just praying, singing and praising God for that moment in time. I love this woman, she is unstoppable and has a strength like no other. I was looking at her face the other day, you know wondering where she hid all her wrinkles. 50 years old and looking like my older sister.

Before she came we had decided that whatever medications she was taking for her Asthma would have to be discarded by the time she returns in 4 months. I had to make my younger sister promise that she will go with my plan for my mother when she's living with her for a while. The plan is no dairy and absolutely no flesh food. My mom, Diana, says she will do what I plan out for her because she wants to lose some extra weight and lose the medications. I believe that she can overcome anything. I can't wait to record her progress.

The first day we all went out walking and soaked in some vitamin D. I know it's going to be a little hard for her but she knows it's something she has to do. I am very happy she is so open minded, it will make my job very easy. So, yesterday she tried her first green smoothie. I made it extra sweet:

Mom's Welcome into the green smoothie world:

1/2 head of green lettuce

3 ripe bananas

2 tsp coconut oil

1 cup of water.

She will get the hand of it, lol, I feel a little bad for her, she doesn't know what she's gotten herself into *evil laughter* She'll be fine. So we are taking before pictures, weight and all the whole nine yards. I am super excited to watch her get healthier....

Nina and Grandma Ara.....


To Make You beautiful Again...

(a poem I wrote a while ago before my mom came)

I can't remember how you smell
and it scares me
I can't remember how it feels to be in your arms
and it taunts me
When I hear your voice all weak and lost
my fragile heart bleeds just a little bit more
Time, time, time, time can be a cruel master
he has stretched you
and robbed you
hurt you and ridiculed you
oh, the things you've been through mama
the things you've seen
the ordeals you've endured
you've always been that pillar of strength for everyone
now it's time to take care of you
let me take care of you
brush your hair and make you soup
Embrace me, embrace me Mama
stain me with the scent of you
hug me till I'm out of breath
let me love you and make you beautiful again--
place a dozen lilies on the crown of your head
let me love you, your heart and even your bones too.

Copyright © 2009 Bernice Angoh

* I am so happy I have the chance to do all these things now and more..."