This light, but satisfying Gazpacho soup is delicious!

What you’ll need:
(makes 1 serving, adjust if necessary)

• 2 tblsp extra virgin, cold pressed organic olive oil
• 2 large tomatoes
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/2 tblsp raw honey (optional)
• 2 tblsps lemon juice
• sea salt to taste
• fresh basil to taste
• 1/2 avocado (cubed)
• 1/2 red bell pepper (cubed)
• 2 stalks of celery (cubed)
• chopped parsley
• 1/4 yellow or red onion (chopped)

Make organic produce your first choice whenever possible.

How to make it:

First, blend the oil, lemon juice, sea salt, tomatoes, garlic and basil. Add small amount of water if necessary and blend until smooth.

Pour the soup into a bowl and add chopped vegetables.

Mix all ingredients and top with chopped parsely.

If you like a little spice, add a dash of cayenne pepper… wow!

This is a wonderful soup to start your evening meal, or make several servings for a full meal. Easy to make, satisfying and delicious!

Enjoy and all good things,

Mark
The Vegan Raw Diet

We all know that activity is essential to optimal health and weight right?

One of the more well rounded and effective exercise routines is rebounding. One of the main benefits is drainage of your lymph system which rids your body of toxins and waste build-up. Without activity, your body gets clogged up and is open to development of disease, illness and obesity. Rebounding is very effective in activating your lymph system.

Read my article on the benefits of rebounding for health and reviews of top rebounder equipment.

For your best health!

Mark

One of the things I’ve noticed since transitioning to a raw food diet is that the hunger ‘pangs’ I’d had in the past… stayed in the past .

Sure, I may feel like eating something, although I no longer have intense feelings of hunger. I can often eat some fruit throughout the day and a nice salad for dinner and feel satisfied. More importantly I feel full of energy, light on my feet, relaxed and grounded.

This is how our bodies work naturally… and why eating fresh, organic and raw foods is optimal for your health… and longevity.

One of the reasons those on the SAD diet (standard american diet) get hunger pains is in part the additives in processed foods (MSG for example) and in part because the normal American stretches their stomach far beyond their normal size. Emotions and stress play a factor as well.

Go raw and feel great!

All the best for your health,

Mark

Ok, so you want to find out more about becoming vegan. Maybe you want to lose weight, maybe you want more energy, maybe you’re just curious. Here are the top 10 reasons why I believe being vegan is the best diet for your health and life:

• Instant Conversation Starter – Everyone either has an opinion or is curious about vegetarians and vegans. Over 10 million American have now accepted a vegetarian diet and 20 million more are trying it out. You’ll never be stuck when striking up a conversation!
• Enjoy Delicious, Nutritious, Healthy and Pure Foods – Since becoming vegan almost 15 years ago, I’ve had the pleasure of tasting some of the most delicious variety of foods. Do a little research on the web and see how many vegan recipes are available. Since the vegan diet is growing in awareness, more resources (recipes, foods, information, restaurants) are becoming available making it easier to prepare awesome, delicious and healthy meals. Almost every animal based food has been altered in one way or another. From infected beef (on average, one cubic inch of inspected prime choice beef have 1,000 parasite larva in it), to hormones and other substances found in chicken and meats, to toxins in fish (recent reports from ABC’s PrimeTime Live revealed over two-thirds of tested fresh fish had toxic levels of PCB’s and 25% had toxic levels of mercury)… eating animal based food is dangerous to your health. Although there is genetically modified and pesticide residue produce on the market, if you buy fresh and organic, you are as close as you get to the healthiest food on earth.
• Have More Time – Preparing most plant-based dishes (also see above), especially raw, on average is faster and easier, leaving you more time to relax and enjoy your meals, family and friends. Growing up with a chef in the family, I saw my mother spending hours and hours preparing meat based dishes in her business. Since then I’ve watched family and friends sometimes spend days creating meals and feasts on holidays. After becoming vegan, on average I’ve spent no longer than 15-20 minutes preparing a meal… only longer on occasion. Even shopping is faster. The produce sections are usually next to the entrance in most grocery stores.. most of your foods are conveniently located in one area.
• Don’t Worry About Cholesterol – Plant-based foods have zero cholesterol. Eat all the plant-based foods you want and you’ll most likely see a drop in your cholesterol levels, never a gain.
• Don’t Worry About Your Weight – On average, vegans maintain healthy weight levels. Combined with activity, exercise and stress management, if you are vegan, the probability of you having a weight problem is low. If you’re currently overweight, becoming vegan is one of the healthiest and fastest ways to lose weight naturally and keep it off for life.
• Overcome Health Challenges – Your body is amazing. Given the opportunity, it can heal itself. That’s how it was designed. The vegan diet gives your body more energy, more tools to rid toxins and more nutrition to enhance your immune system and fight off viruses, germs and disease more efficiently. Nagging health problems often disappear, certain aches or pains seem to subside, and the chances of overcoming serious health challenges are excellent. Medical studies and research now report that most diseases are “diseases of the fork” and in one way or another largely linked to what we eat, in particular animal foods. You’d be surprised to know that every day in America 10 people die as a direct result of food poisoning after eating chicken, and 10,000 more get sick. Chicken is the most common source of food poisoning, more than any type of meat.
• Spend Less on Health Care – If you are healthier, as most vegans are, you will spend considerably less money on doctors visits, insurance, hospitals and medication as well as having more time to enjoy life (rather than being sick). Also, when’s the last time you heard about someone getting food poisoning from fruits or vegetables?
• Have More Energy – One of the most common side effects of a vegan diet is more energy. The answer to why is simple. Your body spends less time and resources digesting animal products (they are much less efficient to digest and assimilate into your system – most fruits and vegetables are easily digested) so you automatically have more energy. I remember when I used to eat meat that often after a meal, I would have an overwhelming desire to take a nap. This feeling isn’t uncommon, especially after reading a recent survey that reported 43% of Americans felt they were sleep deprived enough that it affected their day-to-day lives. With over 60% of Americans overweight or obese, there seems to be some evidence of a link.
• Feel Better – It’s common to hear from vegans that one of the main reasons they decided to stay with the vegan diet is because they just plain feel better. You are lighter on your feet, you’re more in tune with your body, you feel the effects of unhealthy or animal-based foods faster, and you have a more relaxed and peaceful composure.
• Live Longer – Studies show that on average, vegetarians (and vegans as well) live longer and have fewer diseases.
• No Disadvantages – That’s right, there are no disadvantages to eating a vegan diet that I’ve found! It’s hard to find someone that will defend eating meat as being healthier or more advantageous for you. Only positive benefits await you when you decide to be vegan!

There you have it, my Top 10 Reasons To Be Vegan. It’s clearly been one of the best decisions I’ve made and has changed my life significantly for the better. Feel free to contact me if I can help with any questions. I hope this has helped you in making an informed decision (or at least interesting reading )!

Peace.

If you live in the Phoenix metro area, you’re in for a tropical treat.

As we near the end of the citrus season here, other tropical fruits
are becoming available at local stores. I’m particular to organic
pineapple, and when I noticed it at my local Fry’s, I stocked up.
The brand is the same one carried by our now defunct local
co-op, so I feel comfortable with the choice.

Our local Safeway as well as Sunflower Market also have an
abundant selection of organic bananas and mango… all reasonably
priced.

Enjoy these tropical treats!

Mark

One of the wonderful aspects of our change of seasons is the variety of foods we can choose from.

And although in our consumer driven, commercial world where foods of all types are available most everywhere and at most times of the year, there is a great benefit in eating seasonally as well as locally.

Read more…

With all the parties during the holidays, there are many temptations and opportunities to get cooked.

I like to look at it a little differently.

Since this time of year is for celebration, giving and appreciation, I see it as an opportunity to grow stronger in your convictions and celebrate them… celebrate your path to awesome health through a vegan raw lifestyle.

By growing in your healthy relationship with yourself, you not only grow into better health, your relationships with others blossom as well.

And in addition to sharing gifts with friends and loved ones, what better time to give yourself a gift… the gift of awesome health (only you can do it).

Here are some ideas to thrive during the holidays:

• instead of attending a party, throw your own. Include raw and healthy alternatives to the normal heavy and fattening dishes.
• when attending dinner parties, bring your own dish. You can always eat your own dish if there are no healthy alternatives.
• if the topic of why you may not be eating something comes up, mention that this is what you feel like eating (the raw and healthy alternative).
• eat more fruit!
• focus on the social part of the events rather than the eating.
• take some time out for yourself and celebrate your life and raw journey.
• have plenty of fruit and salads handy to eat and share during the holidays.
• find raw potlucks or meetups in your area and visit with link-minded friends.
• eat a raw meal or snack before attending an event so you won’t be hungry. Gives you more time to visit.

Celebrate and enjoy the holidays, vegan and raw!

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you and yours!

Mark