You may recall the ads milk, cheese and yogurt producers have been running that claim three servings a day (3 a Day) of dairy helps burn fat.

The dairy producers rely mainly on one study from a University of Tennesse researcher that apparently is suspect because he receives funding from the dairy industry. Well, if you receive funding from an industry that you are conducting research for, then yes, I would call that suspect!

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, which advocates a vegan diet and led by Neal Barnard MD, feels strongly enough about the fact this is largely a way to get people to eat more dairy (and feel good about it - in my opinion), that they have filed suit against dairy groups to stop using the ads.

There is more than just one study that concludes that eating dairy keeps you at the same weight or increases it, but also the dozens of side effects and links to health problems. Can these be discounted against just one study?

Read more about the suit at the Washington Post.

Peace, joy and health!

Mark
http://vegandiet.blogspot.com

Do I have to eat 100% raw?

It's a question I hear often and there is much debate on the subject.

Personally, it's the right decision for me. Here's the consideration. You see, my experience was when I was eating a mostly raw diet, I would eat a little cooked food and notice that I would then have cravings for more cooked food. But when I eat only raw, living foods, my cravings went away, energy increased, all pains were eliminated, clarity was profound, eyesight improved, slept better.... all major benefits in my experience. If I mistakenly eat cooked food, not only can I immediately taste the difference, I also don't feel my best. I've noted others with similar experiences after eating only raw foods.

Here's a great example... a quote from Gideon Graff, a raw foodist and co-owner of a raw foods center in Georgia:

"The biggest challenge was committing 100% to raw foods. Until you make that commitment, you allow yourself to eat this, eat that, and for people like me--a binge eater--every time I allowed myself to eat some cooked food, it always led to more cooked food and it was very hard to keep raw. Once you've cleaned up a little bit, you feel the damage of eating cooked food much more than you did before. It makes you feel bad. So, committing to 100 percent as really a good experience. "

You can experience great benefits from adding more raw and living foods into your diet, at any level.. and you'll get the most benefits by eating only raw foods. There is no comparison between some and 100%. Listen to your body, it will tell you when you're ready and only you can feel the difference. I challenge you to make the commitment.

For me, committing to 100% raw foods was a blessing and made it easier to experience the benefits of natural and abundant health.

All the best in your journey!

Mark

Appetizers are great, especially when they're delicious and raw! Here's a wonderful dish inspired by Living Nutrition Magazine... "Poppers".

Here's what you'll need:

1-1/2 cups of sun dried tomatoes (soaked)
1 cup of macadamia nuts
Basil (about 10 leaves)
2 zucchini
1 pint large cherry tomatoes

Here's how you make them:

First, soak the sun-dried tomatoes for about an hour. Drain and save the soak water. Process the macadamia nuts in a blender or a food processor. Then add the sun-dried tomatoes. You'll want a nice pate-like consistency. If it's too thick, add the soak water slowly. Lastly add the basil and finish processing.

Slice zucchini with a madolin or peeler into long, thin strips. Add the pate and roll up the zucchini slices. Scoop out the middle of the cherry tomatoes and fill them with pate. Arrange on a plate and garnish to your preference.

These were a real hit over the holidays with my family and friends. Great for veggies and meat eaters alike (you might even inspire a few friends).

Enjoy!

Mark
"The Raw Guy!"
Vegan Raw Diet

Here are pictures of the recipes in the previous post from the Thanksgiving feast I shared with friends this year. The dishes consisted of kale avocado salad, jicima potatoes and gravy, veggie stuffing, succulent cranberry sauce, fall acorn squash soup, pumpkin pudding and sweet! sweet potato pie. These recipes were all delicious, easy to make and enjoyed by everyone. They're great to make for all your holiday guests... they'll never know they're vegan and raw!

Create your mini album at ShowMyPics.com

Included are some additional pictures of the Thanksgiving meal at our local 'Raw Friday' restaurant prepared by Chef Moon at the Blue Nile Cafe in Tempe, Arizona. The meal was outstanding and included a spicy spinach and avocado soup, side salad with tangy dressing and a Thanksgiving Platter with a rosemary veggie loaf, walnut raisin and celery stuffing, sweet and tart cranberry sauce and mashed 'potatoes'. Delicious!

I'm very grateful for sharing this celebration with friends. One of the greatest gifts in life is the expression of gratitude. It not only feels good, but also brings joy and more of what you wish into your life. Try it and I'm sure you'll agree.

All the best for your health and happy Thanksgiving wishes!

Mark

Here's a brilliant example of what happens when you've been eating healthy, choosing a vegan raw lifestyle and then decide to eat 'normal', like most of America does.

Read more...

Just returned from my second raw roadtrip driving almost 2000 miles from Chicago back home to Arizona. This time I decided to start my journey at Cousin's Incredible Vitality one of the premier raw and vegan eateries in Chicago. After a nice visit with Chef Mehmet, I selected several burritos wrapped in collard greens along with a vanilla cheesecake to go.
All the dishes were delicious and the vanilla cheesecake was better than any cheesecake I've ever tasted! Chef Mehmet was welcoming and has made available some unique services to the health community in Chicago. He offers a wide range of classes and certifications including detox sessions, raw food how-to prep classes, associate raw chef certifications as well as yoga. You can regularly find an interesting event hosted there including authors, health practicioners, and for holiday gatherings. Cousin's also has an amazing raw food bar that's 'all you can eat' in addition to its abundant selection of menu items. Stop by to say hello to Chef Mehmet for an experience you'll remember and want to return to regularly.

These to-go meals were great for late afternoon dinners over the next few days while fruit and water kept me satiated in the mornings and evenings.

I found eating raw much easier than stopping and waiting for a S.A.D. meal (as I did many years ago) when I would then normally feel tired from the excess burden of processed foods on my digestive system. Now, I enjoyed abundant energy for the 12-14 hours a day driving and was grateful for the fresh and organic fruits I found at Whole Foods on my way out of town.

Next I stopped in St. Louis to meet a new friend for lunch at 'Eternity Vegetarian Deli'. The food and company were great and learned much. The deli is transitioning into mostly raw and living foods and now has a good mix of vegetarian, vegan and raw dishes. If you're in the area, stop by for a nice treat.

Going through Missouri you'll notice, just before the south end of the state, several factory outlet stores. Of particular interest to me were the wooden bowls... they're perfect to serve dishes at potlucks and get togethers and are great looking as well. I stopped at the Shepard Hills outlet shop and found some nice 'factory second' bowls at about half the retail price.

Just over two days after I started I was happy to be back in Arizona on my way home. Another great roadtrip with fun and healthy experiences!

To your best health,

Mark

Have you heard of the about documentary film Simply Raw or its companion, Raw For Life?

Simply Raw shows the dramatic effect that eating raw and living foods can have on our health. It highlights how by making simple healthy choices when it comes to our food that we can allow our bodies to heal.

Read more...