• You can't STAND the smell of any kind of Fast Food no matter how delicious it's supposed to be and you can detect who has just eaten a greasy burger by noticing the odor of Fast Food Ooze coming out of that person's skin
• ...your idea of junk food is celery dipped in tahini, agave, cinnamon and cocoa powder....or the best part of your day is when you get to turn on your juicer
• when the guys in the produce department know your name
• You know that a "9" on the sticker on the fruit/veggie (example: 94031) means the produce is organic.
• Your cravings have gone from chocolate chip cookies to a banana wrapped in romaine leafs!
• when you're packing for a trip and the 1st thing you think of is your juicer.
• when your friends use organic produce to bribe you into doing things for them
• When you're buying fruit and the cashier looks at you puzzled and then asks, "You ate all that fruit you bought yesterday?!"
• ...you start using words that are not in the English dictionary...like RAWESOME.
• you walk into a natural foods store and can barley find something to eat
• you make SEXY sounds while eating a mango....

Source: Nature's First Law Forum

Enjoy... to your best health!

Mark

If your looking for answers about the raw food diet and lifestyle, I'm excited to share a new resource that's now available.

Mark Perlmutter, the producer of "Raw For 30 Days" has put together an A-Z encyclopedia of Raw Food including living and raw food experts, celebrities, chefs, doctors that are changing the way people approach health and wellness today.

Read more...

A 15 year study following approximately 30,000 postmenopausal women found that by substituting vegetable for animal protein (effectively removing or reducting meat and dairy consumption from their diet), their risks of coronary heart disease and cancer dropped 30%.

This shows a direct relation to the benefits of increasing consumption of vegetables and removing red meat and dairy, essentially a vegan diet.

Read more at:
Associations of dietary protein with disease and mortality- PubMed

I'm often asked... where do you buy healthy, organic, vegan food?

That's a good question, because many people aren't familiar with the growing number of stores, both online and off that offer a large selection.

Here are a few of my favorites (and some recommendations from friends):

Wild Oats - www.WildOats.com
Stores in most cities throughout US. Not everything is organic or vegan, but they carry an excellent selection. Has better vegan baked goods selection than most others.

Whole Foods - www.WholeFoods.com
Stores in most cities throughout the US. Not everything is organic or vegan, but they carry an excellent selection.

Trader Joes - www.TraderJoes.com
Stores in many cities, expanding quickly. Need to look closely at labels, not all products are healthy, but they carry many healthy brand lines and low prices.

Natures First Law - RawFood.com
Large selection of raw/living foods, beauty, supplements, books, videos, events and appliances. Run by well known raw food advocate, author and speaker David Wolfe. Has low price guarantee. Staff is mostly raw.

NaturalZing - NaturalZing.com
Offers large selection of raw, vegan and organic foods, cooking supplies, personal care, and supplements. Staff is mostly raw.

Oraganic - Oraganic.com
Large selection of organic foods and sweets, vegan, raw foods, health and beauty, food bars and home and garden. Well priced, excellent customer service.

VeganEssentials - VeganEssentials.com
Large selection of vegan foods, snacks, clothes, personal care, accessories, supplements and more.

Vegan Store - VeganStore.com
Top rated veggie store with large selection of foods, clothes, personal care, gifts, accessories, pet and related products.

Many towns now have local co-ops, buying groups, farms or clubs that purchase organic foods in bulk for their members. Check your local natural or health magazines, newspapers or local organizations to find one near you or visit: Find A CSA Near You

Let me know if you have others to add, along with your experiences.

To your best health!

Mark
vegandiet.blogspot.com

According to new research, breastfed babies typically won't have to be deceived into eating fruits and veggies like recent popular cookbooks encourage. Instead, if their mom regularly eats fruits and vegetables, the baby will acquire a taste for healthy foods.
Read more...

Several times this past week I have been attacked for making suggestions and encouraging the raw food diet. One in particular was from a 'fitness professional' that lashed out at my so called criticism and promptly removed my comments from her blog.

What was my crime?

Read more...

Much debate normally surrounds children and eating a raw food diet.

In my research and experience, children thrive. They rarely, if ever, get sick, they have more energy, they have more control of their minds and bodies and in turn are much more well behaved, and overall are happier.

In today's world of processed foods and junk food marketing aimed at children, it's a bit foreign to a child that isn't used to eating a raw food diet to eat that way. The best way I've found is to be a great example. Children, especially younger ones, look for direction and like to mimic their parents. If you're eating a raw diet, they'll slowly try what you are eating and want to learn more. Over time and trying different foods, they'll start integrating more raw foods into their diet, as long as the foods are available and they have a consistent example... you!

Here are two videos of children explaining their experience on a raw diet. Inspiring! Enjoy.

To your best health!

Mark