Simply Raw

A lady in a wheelchair, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, went to the Hippocrates Health Institute in Florida several years back. Today, she is 66 years old and running marathons! Dr. Brian Clement, director of the Institute, told her amazing story of healing during a conference in Geneva last Wednesday. On Thursday, he gave a workshop on more specific issues related to healthy living, with serious insights on how to understand the benefits of eating raw. As I was busy translating Brian’s talk into French for the audience, I was unable to take notes and relay the information here.

But thanks to my eldest daughter Celia Herrera, who joined me the night before and is a Communications student in Boston, here is a thorough summary of Brian’s Wednesday lecture. This will give you plenty of food for thought:

Good food = good fuel. Diets are good tools in helping to enrich our physical, emotional and spiritual lives.
Why raw foods heal diseases and prevent premature aging. Each plant possesses specific substances that will benefit your body, for more energy and longevity. Here’s what you get in raw foods:

• Hormones in raw plants allow your cells to speak to each other, so they aren’t confused!
• Oxygen in raw foods help to better digest proteins and minerals;
• Enzymes give your body higher energy and eliminate diseases;
• Antioxidants give you superior protection;
• Vitamins are essential for proper nutrition;
• Minerals and trace minerals are saturated in living foods;
• Protein is found in its most complete and absorbable form: it helps build your cells in an optimized way;
• Electrical charge increases the biological frequency of your cells.

Our world’s mistake Clement deplores the way our society deals with food. “We’re convinced we need animal proteins and dairy”, the doctor laments. But the latest research proves otherwise. “Any scientist today knows that when you take it away, people get better”. Milk, cheese and yogurt are the #1 cause for cancer! The problem, according to Dr. Clement, is that the way we were taught to eat had only one single purpose, that is to sell. Also, doctors keep prescribing pills to their patients, and we keep taking them! “We need to wake up”, shouts out Dr. Clement.

What you need to do:

At first, you will feel sick and weak: these are normal symptoms. After a while, you will feel like a child again!

How to start
1: WHY?

• Why aren’t animal foods good for me?
  Your body does not need saturated foods and protein (your own body produces it, it doesn’t need to get it from other animals!) Also, a human body cannot break down animal flesh in less than 2-3 days, and that process always leaves debris and damages.
• Why would my life be improved with exercise?
  It’s not all about food! It’s impossible to remain healthy without exercising as well.
• Why is spirituality also key?
  Without it, you would feel alone, not strong enough and incapable of doing everything you could do! Once you realize you have the universe on your side, nothing can stop you!

2: HOW? Transitioning from addiction to social-eating to living and nourishing foods

• You should make a change in your life slowly! It could take, for example, a year. Progressively, you eliminate the bad foods and replace them with better foods!
• How to prepare the foods so that they provide great pleasure?
  Although you’re determined to make changes, you’re surely addicted to your old lifestyle. The best thing to do: make raw food so that it looks, feels and tastes exactly like your old diet! For example, make a raw pizza or veggie burgers (see Recipes on this blog).
• How to embrace and maintain this lifestyle?
  You will  realize how rich and rewarding this lifestyle is. You’re looking for what’s best for yourself, what you like most. Set goals for yourself that you can achieve. Like this, you’ll develop self-respect.

3: WHY IT’S DIFFICULT

• It’s counter to popular culture! You might feel like an outsider in your social circle. Don’t judge your friends, and smile when they criticize what you eat.
• It’s counter to the international propaganda machine. Again, the industry is trying to sell us drugs, dairy, meat, etc. to make profit!
• It’s outside the peer-based understandings and acceptance. That’s why you have to be strong in a corrupted and negative world.

4: HOW TO DEAL WITH OBSTACLES
“But no one understands me….”: Overcoming problems with family and peer acceptance

• Have a plan to support your new lifestyle. Don’t force people to eat like you, don’t say anything negative. Just show them the example. If they wan’t to try it, great. If not, “c’est la vie”!
• Recognize your own comfort in sharing food with others. Show love through giving good foods. Tell others how raw food makes you happy.
• Remember: people can’t be converted unless they have a reason. But if you have young children, it’s your role to teach them how to eat healthy.

When facing all these obstacles, remember: the rewards are great!  “Let food be thy medicine”, said Hippocrates.
Thanks to Carole Dougoud for organizing the event, and thanks to Brian himself for this wonderful lecture.

For more inspiration, come to Simply Raw’s classes, more information here. You can also check out our recipes here.

Are you aware that our bodies are filled with light? And that the quantity and intensity of this light reveals our state of health?

I find this notion both appealing and fascinating. Hereafter you will find an extract of an article published in the magazine “Passion”, the well being ezine from Shazzie’s Detox Your World, on February 16. Written by Renata Ash, it reveals remarkable information on the presence of light in all living cells. I found it so profound that I chose to share it with all of you.

“Many years ago I attended a lecture by a then still pretty unknown German biophysicist, Prof Fritz Popp. I remember sitting on the edge of my seat, spellbound by the words of this remarkable man. In case you have not heard of Prof Popp, he and his team were the first ones to conclusively show that the living cell carries and emits light. This light, called biophotons, is the driving force of life. It is the catalyst for the approx 500,000 biochemical reactions that take place in a human cell every second and it is the medium through which cells communicate with one another. It has the quality of coherent light (like a laser) and although it is a ‘cold’ light, its intensity equals a heat source of approx 7000° Celsius!

When asked what happens to that light in someone with an illness, Prof Popp answered: “the light loses its coherence and consequently communication within and outside the cell ceases to function.” “So how can we change that?” was the next question. And his simple, yet profound answer filled the room: “We need to do everything to restore the light and bring it back into coherence“.

All the ancient texts and traditions speak of a luminous field that surrounds and permeates every living being. Trees and plants have it just like animals and humans. Prof Popp calls it the biophoton field, to most of us it may be better known as aura and chakras, and people who have trained their sixth sense are able to see this shimmering, undulating and constantly changing field of light, colour and energy surrounding all life forms. Our biophoton field is like a highly sophisticated computer that processes, stores and retrieves information that is then used to regulate our biological processes and determine the way we live and experience life. Our state of health and wellbeing and the power to bring ourselves back from dis-ease into health and harmony directly depend on the quality and amount of light we hold in our energy body. So doesn’t it make sense to increase the light we are carrying and transmitting?

One way to do this is to eat high energy (raw) food. We can absorb light energy through food as well as through our skin. The higher the level of light a substance emits, the greater is its vitality and the potential for the transfer of that light to the individual who ingests it. Therefore, the more light a food is able to store, the more nutritious it is. Naturally grown fresh vegetables and sun-ripened fruits are rich in light energy.

Spending time in nature is another wonderful way to increase our wellbeing and inner light. Not only can we absorb the powerful energy of the sun, but the pure light that is so abundantly present in nature calms our nerves, clears our vision and helps us feel more grounded, connected and energized.”

So here’s to light and the additional magic that raw foods bring to us!

Yes, this is clearly the theme for the month of January and the beginning of a New Year, even if February is starting tomorrow! As with every year, this is the perfect time to look back as well as plan ahead, make new resolutions to reach new objectives… and in the field of health and nutrition, the choice of resolutions is wide! For my part, if I were to recommend a single resolution to benefit you on all levels, it would be to consume fresh juices as often as possible. Even in the winter time, in fact especially in the winter, juices constitute a necessary and welcome input of nutrients which are immediately usable by the body, so why not get started?

Juices, Juices and yet more Juices!
Yes, this should be the ultimate goal for 2010! Adopt fresh juices this year, make it a daily habit and you’ll become addicted before you know it! (This is by all means a very positive addiction). Freshly extracted juices bring a great number of benefits to our body and contribute to improving our moods, resistance to infections and viruses as well as general well-being, because they are:

• full of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that are essential to our good health;
• low in calories and toxic content (opt for organic fruit and veggies);
• a fantastic source of nutrients which are immediately assimilated by the organism;
• very easy to digest, therefore a source of immediate energy;
• filling and satisfying, resulting in less hunger and cravings;
• and they are absolutely delicious, in a great variety of combinations!

Invest in a good quality juice extractor!
The best gift you can give yourself and your family for 2010 is a juice extractor that will allow you to prepare juices on a daily basis, or as often as feasible. Green juices, vegetable juices, fruit juices, mixed juices… which ever suit you and your loved ones, take advantage of these nectars that nature has provided, and fill yourself up with vitamins! There are many kinds of juicers on the market. If you already own a centrifugal juicer, use it until you become addicted! But as soon as you can, invest in a juice extractor which will not damage the cells of the food and will delay oxidation, while offering higher quality and yield. I personally own a VitaLeo, previously marketed under the Oscar brand, and I am thrilled because it offers a great price/quality ratio. As of this year, I now carry this juicer, along with the Champion, Green Star and Angel models. Contact me here to find our the price and sales conditions for direct postal delivery in Switzerland.

Incredible benefits, even in the winter
By consuming fresh juices, you will allow your body to rest while providing it with fuel of the highest quality! But first you need to let go of limiting beliefs such as the concept that extracting juices from fruit and vegetables is a waste of produce — it is the contrary, it really means bringing top performance to your body. Focus on seasonal products like citrus fruit, carrots and apples in the winter, but also irresistible tropical fruit, as well as winter vegetables such as kale, spinach, lamb’s lettuce and of course all manners of sprouts to bring the vital energy of chlorophyll during the cold season.

Some news of Simply Raw
2009 was a year full of developments with many raw food classes given to more than 60 enthusiastic participants, a growing raw community of people falling in love with raw food from Geneva to Lausanne, with a wider offering of products and services, including raw vegan gourmet meals featured occasionally. In 2010, classes will continue to build the momentum. A Simply Raw Shop will begin to take shape, with ingredients and machines already available to clients. One thing is for sure: eating raw will slowly become easier, more fun and more widely accessible! And I believe this manner of eating and living will begin to raise interest with the media. Undeniably so, raw foods are the way of the future. So stay tuned for upcoming new recipes, new books, and new tools to help and support you on your road to optimal health!

…to fully satisfy our taste buds. Yes, the time has come for me to talk once again about my friend France Droz and her unparalleled raw delights from Saveurs Crues, which are delicious and addictive, and make us want to come back for more. These raw dishes, freshly prepared the same day, are made of seasonal and organic foods supplied by the organic supermarket MagBio, and are thus the perfect illustration of delicious living foods for the benefit of our health and eating pleasure! All these raw dishes are free of dairy, animal protein, gluten or sugar, as well as all the refined and toxic nasties which have become part and parcel of the standard Western diet, thanks to the damaging influence of the food industry.

Raw meals at MagBio on Thursdays and Fridays at noon

Since the end of August, France (who is from Quebec but has settled here in Switzerland) is back at the MagBio ovens every Thursday and Friday at noon. Yes, they have ovens for baking bread… But rest assured, France makes no use of them, and no food item that crosses her skilled hands is exposed to heat which would have a damaging effect on precious nutrients. So we can take good care of our body cells, nourish them in depth all the while satisfying our demanding taste buds. France is extremely creative thanks to her culinary skills and she does not forget the need to please crowds and make new raw converts!

So come to MagBio, the organic supermarket in Romanel-sur-Lausanne, just north of Lausanne, on Thursdays or Fridays at noon. France offers a large choice of raw meals to enjoy there or take away. Think of all the other opportunities you have to eat healthily: France also offers home catering services, upon request. Be it for a meal between friends, a cocktail party, a fun snack, a sit-down dinner or buffet, or any kind of celebration, don’t miss this opportunity to please yourself and others whilst enhancing your health, or to impress close ones, friends or colleagues.

Evening Discovery: Learn and Taste

France and I are evolving at a similar rhythm on our raw food journey and we have adopted the same no-nonsense yet engaged approach which allows us to maintain an optimal balance. We are also available, together, to introduce this pure and healthy eating trend to a larger audience. In this combined offer, the conditions of which are to be discussed on a case by case basis, I give an in-depth presentation on the amazing health benefits of eating highly raw and explain easy ways to integrate this into our busy lives, while France brings my talk alive by offering various raw dishes to taste and enjoy — but be warned, tasting is most often than not adopting! We have designed a light version — a discovery cocktail from 5 to 7pm, or a more substantial buffet formula from 7 to 9pm. For more information, contact me here. Think of all your meetings, business get-togethers and other community gatherings to promote a new and original message, very natural and clearly very trendy! In 2009, the Western world is becoming green and organic, and is heading for major and profound value changes. Over-consumption and abuse will finally make way for nature-based balance and health.

News from Simply Raw

I have been very busy of late teaching raw food classes, all three levels, to a growing number of people who are curious and often passionate. This has literally driven me forward and filled me with great hope. By following your demand and input, however, I am late in accomplishing my other projects  (the website, on-line coaching, recipe e-books, etc.) but all of this will come. My apologies to those of you who are still waiting for the fruit crumble recipe which I promised this summer, but that too will come, I promise! I don’t want to publish a recipe without a picture, and I’ve been too busy preparing many dishes for my classes to make this crumble, but I will not forget it! It will come before all the fresh fruit have gone from the local markets!

Next classes

The second Simply Raw Level 3 class on dehydrating taking place this Saturday 26 September is once again full. The first one 10 days ago was a great success — great sharing in an intimate atmosphere with learning of many new useful skills! My next introductory class Simply Raw Level 1 to take place on October 3 is almost full. We are finally confirming the first ever introductory level class in English which will take place on November 14, 2009. A few seats are currently still available so don’t wait too long if you want to get started, as this is the only class in English to take place before next year. To sign up, please contact me here.

In Europe every year 100,000 children die of diseases caused by the environment. In Europe, 70% of cancers are linked to the environment: 30% to pollution and 40% to food. In Europe cases of cancer in children have been increasing by 1.1% yearly for 30 years. In France the number of cancers in males has increased by 93% in 25 years.

In a little French community, at the foot of the Cévennes Mountains, the mayor has decided to take a stand by making the school canteen organic. Here as everywhere, people are confronted with the anxiety of the dangers of industrial and agro-chemical pollution. It’s the start of a fight against a process that could become irreversible, a fight to stop our children from accusing us in the future.

Watch this video which is the preview to the French movie “Our children will accuse us”, and spread this message as widely as possible as it is high time to raise the public’s awareness of this gigantic health problem. One note of warning: the sound is barely audible during the first minute which is in English, the rest is in French with English subtitles. Do take a few minutes to watch this…

Needless to say I have been part of the millions of people who rejoiced and celebrated this week as the American people elected Barack Obama as the first black President of U.S. history. Many are saying this is not going to fix the world’s problems overnight, which stands to reason. But I personally believe it is a huge turning point in the right direction. And the fact that this admirable and inspiring man, with whom so many of us can relate, shows confidence and faith brings hope and inspiration to us all. The impact of such hope cannot be measured yet.

I would like to thank Jinjee Talifero here of The Garden Diet website for her daily inspirations which I find uplifting, moving and a true blessing. I knew that she supported Barack Obama, and today, I just thought I would share with you her latest contribution: “Obama’s mother and grandmother both passed away due to cancer, so I will be sending a green star juicer to the white house, with congratulations and best wishes for the health of its new residents. We want them to stay healthy and be around for a long time!”. What an interesting consideration! So much about our health comes down to the lifestyle we embrace. May the new residents of the White House find time to live healthily, as a family, and be true to themselves. If they did only that, they would show the world that efficient governance and human dignity are not incompatible!

President Elect Obama is certainly inspiring us all to approach the world around us with an open heart, to stop seeing it as an ugly, selfish and doomed place, but instead as a place of understanding, truth and hope. Leading the way by faith and example is the best way to make the world a better place.

Another thought from Jinjee: “It is not just new hope that has been reborn in the world, but also a new dignity, with the feeling that we are each an important part of making changes in our lives, our health, and our planet.” May this change begin today for all of you. Decide today to make a difference. Reach out to someone, or decide to connect within by sitting quietly and listening to yourself, for once, or go out for a walk to freshen up your ideas and fill your body with renewed oxygen, or make a fresh juice or smoothie to give yourself a nice kick of energy. Whatever you choose to do, do it for you! To be happy, relaxed and confident, make yourself happy, relaxed and confident… and the rest will follow.

With joy and hope to all!

Many of us play games with ourselves, not being totally honest about what we truly think, what we want, what we do, or why we do it. Is this human nature? It’s often due to a lack of self-awareness, because we never bother to take the time to listen to ourselves and our deepest needs with care and attention.

This lack of self honesty is manifest in many areas of life. Food, of course, is no exception. In fact when it comes to food, we probably fool ourselves more than in any other area (except relationships, perhaps!). How often are we totally comfortable with what we eat? And what we put in our mouth is something we should have total control over. Many of us are either totally unaware of what we eat, or don’t care (these two cases don’t apply to you otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this blog!), or we give in to local custom, peer pressure or plain laziness when it comes to food choices.

Often we convince ourselves that what we choose to eat is fine, or perfect. I’ve seen it so many times with the standard diet, excess animal fat or a constant intake of carbs: “I need it! It’s good for me! I’ve always eaten like this, why should I change? Changing may be a mistake! I can’t digest raw veggies! It’s too complicated! I’ve no time right now for this!”. We find all sorts of excuses. Some of these are limiting beliefs that hold us back from asking and answering the most important question of all: What should I eat to truly feel my best – today, tomorrow and the days after? Whatever the answer is (and be aware that this answer will change over time) — standard, vegetarian, vegan, raw, whatever — the importance is to be brave enough to try and find out what works best for YOU. We are all different, and we have different needs at different times in our lives. The answer may very well be different for each and every one of us.

Raw food works best for me. And I am just at the beginning of a journey which promises to be long and fulfilling. And raw food works best for many others too, if the incredible number of raw food blogs and testimonials of healing and rejuvenation is any indication. The word is spreading fast and let me tell you, this trend is truly uplifting. Raw food is healthy, fun and a wonderful eye opener because it helps us see more clearly within and without. It leads us to become more honest and authentic, because we naturally take better care of ourselves. And we can begin to stop fooling ourselves. As a result we feel at peace, more grounded and definitely whole. I can’t see a better and more profound way to celebrate life at its best! So take advantage of these wonderful summer months to indulge in raw. Your body, mind and spirit will thank you for it!

PS Happy Independence Day to all those across the Atlantic!

“Live today in the moment, and plan for tomorrow with joy.” Such were some of Brian Clement’s inspirational words spoken in Geneva last month during a conference about longevity.

Dr. Clement encourages people to take responsibility for their lives and their health. By making the right choices, be it food or otherwise, men and women can make great strides in their lives and reach levels of happiness and satisfaction never experienced before. Acknowledging that humanity today is sick, he said: “We are what we are because of what we believe”, pinpointing the incredible power of the thought, of the brain. This is particularly true with respect to aging. “We age because we lack imagination”, he added. In other words, it’s all in your mind. Which leads to the amazing conclusion that you have the power to change! With this in mind, Dr. Clement promotes the idea of active aging, which means to live long, happy and healthy lives, which human beings are programed to do for many many years.

“Attitude is everything”. So look forward. Don’t look back. Ever. Focus on today and tomorrow.

In Brian Clement’s book, the pillars of longevity are:
(1) Eliminate all forms of excess;
(2) Adopt a light and nourishing diet (ie organic vegan raw);
(3) Cultivate positive thinking (it’s all about attitude!);
(4) Exercize regularly both body and brain (use it or lose it).
I’m sure this will resonate with most of you. It sure resonates with me. So practice this and we shall meet again in the next century, perhaps!!

Brian Clement is not only a fascinating and extremely knowledgeable man, he has the rare ability of truly inspiring a large audience, and he walks his talk. I hear that he is over 60 years old, and whether or not this is true, I can tell you he looks barely 40, thanks to practicing his speech.

He also gave us his rundown of the Ten Essential Activities in Life:
(1) Imagination: set and achieve realistic and achievable goals, and celebrate success;
(2) Aspirations: cherish your insights which come from your heart;
(3) Truth within: listen to your inner voice of truth and confidence;
(4) Nature: entertain a healthy relationship with nature and its divine beauty;
(5) Interaction: don’t lose your ability to interact with nature, animal, human beings – with love;
(6) Visual arts: art is the basis of civilization;
(7) Dramatic art: watch inspiring movies such as “Forrest Gump” or “Life is Beautiful” (La vita è bella);
(8) Meditation: contemplation and/or prayer will teach you to focus;
(9) Body: practice Tai-Chi or Chi-Quong to learn to breathe and be in touch with yourself;
(10) Fulfillment: enjoy the passion and do what you love.

Think about this. I’ve nothing to add, it all speaks for itself. Just thank you to Carole Dougoud for inviting Brian Clement to Switzerland, and of course many thanks to Brian for his brilliant lecture.

This second post has taken a bit of time to come but as I am blogging from the Swiss Alps in the midst of snow it has been quite a feat to get connected! So back to raw foods 101. Lying at the core of the raw food rationale are enzymes. A little over a year ago I had no idea what enzymes were, except that naturopaths prescribed them systematically to me when I complained of feeling bloated or fatigued. So these were some kind of food supplement to be taken as tablets. Now I have learned of the importance of enzymes, which are precious little bodies found in the cells of every living plant and animal. Without boring you into the scientific definition, suffice to say that enzymes are essential to the body’s digestive system. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures above 118°F or 48°C so if the food is cooked, these natural enzymes are killed and our body must manufacture its own digestive enzymes to do the job.

Why is this a problem? Indeed, the human body is very apt at producing enzymes, at least young and healthy human bodies are (young adults have thirty times the enzymes of the elderly). But the truth is, producing enzymes takes a lot of energy which could be best used for cleansing, healing, building – or simply to release more energy to the body (and combat chronic fatigue). This is, in a nutshell, the basic essence of raw foods. Eating a high enzyme diet consisting of raw fruits and vegetables, sprouted seeds, nuts, grains and some seaweed will clearly increase your chance of achieving optimal health.

So where can you start? Well most people already eat raw foods to a certain degree: snacking on a piece of fresh fruit, having a salad meal are part of a healthy diet. But you can do so much more! For example, you can introduce almond milk, raw muesli or granola, a large variety of appetizing salads with sprouts, fresh vegetable and fruit juices or smoothies. You can also move to gourmet raw dishes to satisfy your need for substantial and tasty treats as these will sweep you off your feet! But this is for later… Whatever you do, you will quickly find out what works best for you. Just follow your instincts.

To finish off the year on an uplifting note, start right now by adding a fruit, a juice or a smoothie to your daily diet. Or here’s how you make almond milk (the easiest, cheapest and most delicious way to replace dairy milk).

Fresh Almond Milk

1. Soak 1 cup of almonds overnight;
2. Drain and rinse the almonds and place them in a blender with 3 cups of pure fresh water, 3 pitted Medjool dates (the large fleshy ones) and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional);
3. Blend thoroughly, then strain through a nut milk bag, a fine sieve or a strainer.The remaining pulp can be dried and ground into almond flour for later use.

You can use almond milk in a variety of delicious ways, in raw muesli or granola, with fruit, to make ice creams or other desserts, to make soups creamy, or simply to drink as is or with added flavouring such as chocolate. A winner for the entire family so start with this and enjoy!

A Flavour of What’s Coming

As of January, I will start to introduce to you a number of individuals who have set to make a difference in Switzerland – by opening a raw food restaurant, starting a raw food potluck and meeting group, or focusing on food and its effect on children’s learning abilities… If you know of anyone active in the raw food movement in this country, let me know! Before I close and wish you all a Happy and Vibrant Christmas celebration, do mark your agenda with a very exciting piece of news: Brian Clement (Director of the Hippocrates Health Institute in Florida and world renowned raw food and health expert) will be coming to Geneva on March 19, giving a lecture at the University of Geneva. More about this in the new year. Best Season’s Greetings to all and thank you for signing in!

What is raw food? One blog post alone won’t answer that question, but at least it will begin to address the issue. There are a great many health benefits to increasing the quantity of raw food in your diet – increased energy, better sleep, more focus and clarity of mind, less stress, weight loss, preventing or curing various diseases or symptoms, reversing ageing, to name but a few. And believe me, even if it does take some commitment, it can be done simply. And it is so much fun! If you are interested in learning more about it, sign up to this blog. I will post regularly and address various themes, provide you with easy recipes and try to inspire you to try this fantastic way of eating.

My plan is to set up a raw food website in the next few months in French language, in an attempt to fill the apparent lack of information on raw food in the French speaking world. I am located in Switzerland, and therefore will begin focusing on this market for networking purposes, but my website, with its various products and services, will target all French speakers. By signing up, you will be the first to know of latest developments.

Since I have been trained as a Raw Food Coach by Karen Knowler in the UK, half a dozen persons in Switzerland have manifested their passion for raw foods to me, and it’s only been a few months! Proof that this knowledge is spreading, and that the good word travels fast. This blog hopes to bring like-minded people together, share latest information and provide quick and easy tips and recipes to people who want to try raw food immediately.

I will essentially focus on food and how raw food can really make a difference in the way you feel. The quality of the food you eat clearly has a direct effect on how your body and mind work. It’s a simple principle: the purer the food, the higher the performance. But food is not the only element in a person’s journey. It is just one part of it, even if an important one. To feel healthy, fulfilled and radiant, you must nurture your body, spirit and soul. The good news is, raw food affects all three! And by combining raw food with regular exercise and a positive attitude to life, you will be reaching for the stars!

My own approach to raw food has been to choose raw whenever I have a choice of what I will eat (which is most of the time, frankly), put it on offer for my family, but I am flexible the rest of the time. Just remember this: raw food does not have to be a religion. It can be an additional health tool to help you feel great. The high raw diet has worked wonders for me, and turned me into a passionate spokesperson in just over one year. My energy levels have surged, and I feel stronger and fitter than ever. To me one of these benefits alone is incentive enough to make the right choice. “You are what you eat” has never meant to me as much as it does now. This is what I want to share with you. So stay tuned!