The Buzz

New Website - We've Moved

2011-01-11T18:49:00.003-05:00

This BLOG, Bee Green Foods - The BUZZ - with Kristen Taylor has moved.

We have packed our bags and relocated to a brand new Wordpress Website & Blog!

Don't worry, you can still catch all the Bee Green News and updates at

"the new place".

BeeGreenFoods.com

Babies and Boobies and Bellies... Oh My!

2011-01-04T14:07:00.007-05:00

Something came over me yesterday and I posted this photo to facebook announcing how I was "rocking my enlarging mommy-to-be breasts and baby bump". Within minutes the floodgates were open with messages, phone calls and texts with some of the sweetest love ever. I am thrilled that I went against my original plan of not sharing this with you all via the cyber world. We did our best to personally tell as many people as we could but things have been a little busy around here with the holidays and such.

I'm not sure how outspoken I'll be about this sweet journey online. It feels like such a scared space for my family to hold within and cherish... but then again we all know how I just blurt out whatever is on my mind. LOL. One thing I promise NOT to hold back on is the valuable birth wisdom I have to share with my community.

Both of my pregnancies have rekindled my deep desire to spread my beliefs on the sacredness of birthing women. I was an assistant for Vicki Taylor, a homebirth midwife in Pensacola, FL, before having my sweet BeeBoy. The child whose first birth I ever attended turns 13 this year! Needless to say, I have some birth history under my belt. I have been blessed with the opportunity to study with Ina May Gaskin (the mother of midwifery) on The Farm in Summertown, TN. I was also a doula for mothers that birthed in hospitals. These lessons have rippled through my life in such profound ways that it sometimes feels beyond belief to me.

Bee Green's web goddess will soon be working to separate the two blogs so my foodie followers won't get stuck reading about pregnancy and birth -- although I believe they go hand in hand together. I'm sure mommies-to-be won't mind reading about healthy recipes for their families. You know, it is actually through massage school and my work with midwives that I learned the importance of a healthy diet. Once you see a placenta fall apart from a junk food eating mommy, the impression will be forever burned in your mind's eye. I like to hold the vision of the bright, shiny, healthy placentas that a balanced diet creates. (This is why midwives closely monitor who they have "chosen" to take into their care.)

I will close for now with a huge hug going out to you all. Thank you for your love and support through this most ecstatic time in our life. I am blessed with this opportunity to once again be a vessel of new life... this time with a loving supportive partner that hung the moon and the stars. BeeBoy said it was the best Christmas present ever to be given the family we have always desired. He is sure to be an ahhh*mazing big brother. We are all three thrilled, thrilled, thrilled!!

Loving you...

Holiday Giveaway

2010-12-18T11:10:00.004-05:00

WIN A FREE PRINTED COPY OF MY RAW HOLIDAY RECIPE BOOK

Have you been busy HO-ing around? Ho Ho Ho-ing around, I mean. Silly, get your mind out of the gutter.

My guess is your Christmas shopping is almost done. Chances are you've put in a lot of mall and department store time, spent countless hours in traffic and well, perhaps... you've NOT been eating as well as you had hoped.

I'd like to give you a little boost of kitchen inspiration. These super simple holiday recipes will keep you eating in season without slaving for hours in the kitchen - regardless of your raw food skills level.

For a chance to win a free PRINTED version of my RAW HOLIDAY book, leave a comment below (here on this blog) telling us what you LOVE about Bee Green. Is it our blog? Our classes? Our rawkin potlucks? Our simple recipes? Our freebie giveaways? Our YouTube Channel? Is it BeeBoy's video? Come on, tell us... blow some holiday sunshine up my skirt.

We'll put your name in a hat and BeeBoy (my soon-to-be famous son) will draw the winner, with a drumroll of course!

DOUBLE YOUR CHANCES: Share this blog contest on your blog or facebook wall and we'll put your name in twice. (Make sure you tell us the source or provide the link)

*Remember: Comments MUST be on this blogsite - not on facebook or other links!

We'll announce the winner MONDAY, December 20, 2010.

RAW HOLIDAY - Warming Up the Season with Raw Food

2010-12-08T17:39:00.012-05:00

Check us out on YouTube for recipes and how-to videos!

BUY THIS BOOK NOW!! Click here.

I am tickled GREEN to announce that we have finally worked the kinks out of my NEW ebook! Thank you for all of your replies and enthusiasm about this project of mine. I had a blast pouring my heart into it.

I know you'll enjoy these festive holiday recipes while you are rocking around the Christmas tree. RAW HOLIDAY is packed with over 3 DOZEN ahhh*mazing recipes. Here's a sneak peek at some of my favorites:

Gingerbread Men

Candied Apples

Sweet Potato Souffle

Halloween Chocolates

Pumpkin Pie in a Cookie-Style Crust

Click here for a detailed list of festive recipes in this book!

Here's the professional blurb on it:
Kristen Taylor, living foods chef and author (beegreenfoods.com), has
created unbelievable raw food creations that are sure to warm up the
chilliest of seasons. In RAW HOLIDAY (Revised Edition) you'll find fantastic
new flavors that have a festive flare and are entirely raw and healthy.

RAW HOLIDAY is packed with over three-dozen amazing recipes with easy
to follow, step-by-step directions and full color photos -- plus
a description of kitchen tools and gadgets that will make your raw food
preparation easy.

This lifestyle & recipe book combines professional tips while written
for the “beginners mind”. It is sure to spice up your kitchen life
regardless of your level of raw food expertise.

Ravens-Way Wild Journeys

2010-11-29T21:52:00.009-05:00

Raven's Way Wild Journeys is a Nature School in PATAGONIA, AZ created by my honey love's dear friend, Vincent Pinto and his lovely wife, Claudia. This dynamic duo immediately won my heart (and my son's) when we met them on Thanksgiving.

Ravens are intelligent, adaptable, resourceful, playful, and powerful - the very qualities that we strive to embody in our RAVENS-WAY WILD JOURNEYS Adventures. The “Way of the Raven” is Wild, Mysterious, Joyful, and Free!
- from their websiteWild Men - Dan Desmond and Vincent Pinto

Vincent showing my son how to start a fire with sticks.

Their land is an incredible space that I was hoping to share with my Tucson Tribe. All through our tour of the stone age village and hands-on classrooms, my gears were turning as to how I could get all of my succulent friends to this groovy spot - juat an hour's drive away! To my delight, as we gathered for our Thanksgiving Feast and "broke the bread" (my raw onion bread, that is) Claudia and Vince told us about their open house THIS SUNDAY! I am thrilled to share this news with you...

GATES OPEN AT 9AM. Main pottery demos will be held between 11AM - 3PM. You won't want to miss this!

Join Raven's Way and Master Potter, Estabon, for a fun day of learning the ancient art of making Primitive Pottery. Includes: Advanced Pottery Techniques, Natural Firing, Tours of the Sanctuary/Nature Center/Stone-Age Village, Snacks and DISCOUNTS on upcoming classes!

Estabon's beautiful pottery will also be on sale. To check out his work, please visit www.NomadicPotter.com

I encourage you to visit the school's website for info on upcoming classes and events: www.RavensNatureSchool.com

Also, feel free to phone Vincent personally at 520-425-6425

We will email driving directions to anyone that RSVPs YES through our Succulent MeetUp Site . Carpooling is suggested to help with parking. MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. BOX 1330, PATAGONIA, ARIZONA 85624

Black Friday

2010-11-24T15:57:00.005-05:00

For as long as I can remember, I have vowed to never spend a dime on BLACK FRIDAY. I know you may be tired of hearing ME ramble on MY soap box about this year after year soooo this year I thought I'd share a letter from Annie Leonard. To learn more about her amazing work, please visit her website at www.storyofstuff.com

Tomorrow, in the United States, families and friends will gather around tables large and small to give Thanks together.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays (revisionist history aside). It is two full days during which many of us are liberated from work and school. It comes at a time when the days are getting shorter, trees have lost their leaves and we're pulling the sweaters out from the back of our overstuffed closets. It's the perfect time to cozy up and nest with friends and family. And, of course, remembering those who can't be with us.

Each Thanksgiving, I think of Marie Tellismond. Two years ago on Black Friday, Marie lost her 34 year-old son, Jdimytai Damour. Jimmy-as his friends called him-was trampled to death while trying to protect a pregnant woman from a stampede of bargain shoppers at a New York Walmart.

Now, I've never met Marie Tellismond, but as a fellow mother, I am pretty sure she would give anything to have a day with her son again. Losing, or even coming close to losing someone we love, makes us get our priorities straight really, really fast.

Most of us have a choice this Friday that Marie no longer has. We can chose to leave the warmth of our beds before dawn, to sit in our cars in a parking lot at some mall and to spend the day searching for low prices on products which we don't really need and often don't event want, but getting them is all part of the Black Friday Frenzy. Or we have a choice to stay put with loved ones, to play board games and eat leftovers and maybe even play a game of football together.

If we're going to figure out how to build an economy and society that is healthy for people and the planet, this Friday is a good place to start. Let's opt out of the frenzy this year.

Please help me spread the word this Thanksgiving week.
With Gratitude, Annie

Prickly Pear Fruit Leathers with Chia Crunchies

2010-11-12T14:36:00.003-05:00

Prickly Pear Fruit Leathers with Chia Crunchies

I was waiting to post this until I had my demo video ready (that my son and I did together) but this recipe seems to be in high demand. It was a huge hit at our last SUCCULENT RAW TUCSON POTLUCK. Soooo... here it is! Video coming soon.

Note: Almost any fruit juice will work in place of the prickly pear juice.

8 Pears, cored and sliced in half but not peeled
2 apples, cored and sliced in half but not peeled
1 banana, peeled and sliced in half
1/2 cup freshly juiced prickly pear
4 TBSP chia seeds
Dash of Mineral Salt

Buzz all ingredients in a high speed blender until soupy. Add chia seeds and let sit until they start to gel and thicken. Use more chia if mixture stays too soupy to be spreadable. Add more juice if it gets too thick.

Spread on Teflex liner sheets (about 4) and dehydrate until desired texture (chewiness), flipping once. Then, cut into desired shapes with knife or cookie cutter. Store in airtight container. Yum! Yum! Yum!

CHIA CRUNCH CHOCOLATES

2010-10-30T20:27:00.004-04:00

Halloween candy doesn't have to be so scary! We've been making healthy treats all week: Chia Crunch Chocolates, Candied Pecans, Spiced Pumpkin Seeds... Some even simpler options are a gift straight from Mother Nature herself. Teach little ones to in*joy juicy pomegranates, kumquats, pears and apples.

In our home, Trick-or-Treating is allowed and then we sit the commercial candy (aka TOTAL junk) on the front steps for the candy witch to swoop down on her broom and make the trade. Her offering is usually some small trinket that has been wished for.

CHIA CRUNCH CHOCOLATES

Ingredients:

1 cup raw cacao butter, melted

1 cup raw cacao powder

4 tablespoons chia seeds

½ teaspoon powdered vanilla beans

¼ cup agave, honey or maple syrup

dash of fine pink salt

Method:

After you have blended your melted cacao butter and powder until it is velvety smooth, you may add the remaining ingredients. I recommend adding the sweetener a little at a time and tasting it as you stir.

For a shiny, crisp chocolate that will remain firm at room temperature you'll want to take the extra time to temper your chocolate. (More details in my chocolate book that I pinky swear to have out very soon)

Pour into the molds of your choice. Transfer the chocolate filled molds to the freezer and wait a few hours for them to completely set.

IN*JOY!

Yields 3 dozen candies depending on size of mold.

SHORT REMINDER TO SHOP LOCAL

2010-10-29T13:20:00.004-04:00

It's that time of year again when most people will start spending a good bit more than usual for holiday gatherings, gift giving, family feasts, etc.

Did you know that when you shop at a locally owned business, 46 cents of every dollar stays in YOUR community? Compare that to the 12 cents of every dollars that remains when you spend that same dollar at a national chain.

For every two jobs national retailers bring to a community, THREE jobs are lost as a result of a business closing.

When you shop locally owned businesses, your money cycles repeatedly and creates UP TO 70% more tax revenue to YOUR community and state.

Each weekend as I shop the local farmers' markets, I meet the people that grow our food. I see the hands that sow the soil and taste the freshness of morning picked produce. It gives me a warm fuzzy.

Elaina is spreading the LOVE...

2010-10-01T16:28:00.003-04:00

Now Enrolling For:
Raw Food Chef Training
Level 1 Certification
October 20-24, 2010

I am so thrilled to present to you the grand opening of Elaina Love's Vitality Culinary Academy in Patagonia, Arizona. October marks the beginning for her most popular training, the Level I Raw Food Chef Certification Course, where you will learn hands-on foundational raw food chef skills, as well as her juiciest tips and trade secrets! By the way, downtown Patagonia (1 hour south of Tucson) is directly down the street from Raw Superfood Company VivaPura, and Dr. Gabriel Cousen's Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center and Raw Gourmet Cafe, where Elaina & her chef trainees will get to dine nightly!) So.....Please join in and stay tuned for further Chef and Educational trainings!!

Here's the scoop:

Level 1 Chef Training October 20-24th, 2010
This is food for life!
Low Glycemic
Your Family will LOVE these Recipes!
Secrets to weight-loss, detox and & nutrition

Includes

All Meals
Demos, Trainings & Lectures with Elaina Love and special guests
Hands on Demos (You prepare meals daily!)
Dinners at the Tree of Life Raw Gourmet Cafe
Low Glycemic Gourmet Recipes (low to no sugar)
Daily Fitness & Yoga
Q & A with Elaina
Special Guests: Chris Whitcoe (Certified in Gabriel Cousen's Masters Nutrition Program and CEO of VivaPura, a superfood company), Rachel Raw (JuiceFueling.com, PureJoyPlanet.com), Yosef Funke (Tree of Life) and more...
Ecstatic Dance
Raw Potluck
Movie Night: Raw for 30 days
FREE TUCSON AIRPORT SHUTTLE

$1250 INVESTMENT

Hotel & Air not included (Stage Stop Hotel 520.394.0211 $59/night) Duquesne B&B 520-394-2732, La Palomita 520-975-5319
(Call us directly if you'd rather share room expenses with a roommate! $35/nt)

To register, Click HERE!
Or call 520.394.0123

Make sure you tell her that this Buzzing Bee sent you ;)

Foraging for Wild Desert Edibles

2010-08-05T20:25:00.014-04:00

I am always amazed at the Tucson tidbits I learn while hanging out with Dan. It's never a planned thing either... it's more of a "hey, look at those, let's pull over" kind of thing.

Our most recent adventures included my introduction to IRONWOOD PEAS and MESQUITE PODS. And boy are they oh-so-yummy!

The ironwood pods can be eaten right out of the shell, just like peanuts.

Ironwood is one of the largest and longest-lived Sonoran Desert plants, reaching 45 feet in height and persisting as long as 1,500 years.

The mesquite is the opposite. You can chew it or suck it and then spit the seeds out.

Grinding festivals are popular out here. I plan to collect a lot this season- which shouldn't be too hard considering each tree can produce hundreds to thousands of pods each year! I can't wait to use it in my chocolates. It will also be nice to make pancakes with.

Read here to learn what the TUCSON GREEN TIMES says about this "Tree of Life'.

Raw Naked Progress

2010-07-30T22:31:00.006-04:00

I stopped by to check on my newest raw food trainees the other day at Naked Food and Fitness. It is always nice to see people putting their newly learned skills into action!

I was pleased to find Cheryl delightfully hacking her way into a young thai coconut with all of her fingers still in tact.

They are now serving FRESH (yes, cracked especially for you) coconut water. Learn the benefits of these beauties here.

Naked Food and Fitness will be using the water and the yummy flesh in many recipes that will soon be posted to their menu and offered as specials.

Cheryl had the right to flaunt her "perfect onion cracker spreading" technique with edges so straight I bowed in her raw honor.

They are dehydrating these crackers below 115 degrees for over 24 hours so you can imagine how yummy it smells in that rawkin' kitchen. Try some with Herbed Cashew Spread today! Mmmm...

I then tasted her version of a raw chocolate truffle recipe that I shared with her and O.M.G. she did a fabulous job - and then she rolled it in coconut. Shaaaa-zaaam!

We joked about calling them Naked Balls... and got a really good belly laugh over that one! What do you think they should call them? Email your suggestions.

These nutritionally dense little powerhouses are packed with raw cacao, spirulina and plenty more superfoods. If you've got a chocolate craving - or simply desire to up your bliss factor for the day - treat yourself to one of these!

I am thrilled with the quality ingredients that they are dedicated to using in this kitchen. From hemp seeds and coconut oil to raw cacao powder, no need to panic - it's organic!

Soon I'll be teaching them my raw taco technique that they'll be serving with cilantro lime salsa. We've also got plenty more tricks up our sleeve!

I hope to see you around...

6151 E Broadway Blvd (just off Wilmot)

520-747-1250

NAKED FOOD & FITNESS

2010-07-23T14:19:00.005-04:00

I've been a busy little consultant bee here in Tucson lately and I haven't been so fabulous about keeping up with my blog. You still love me, right? (batting eyelashes) So I'll make it up to you by sharing a little tidbit of info that I just couldn't keep to myself.

My most recent raw foods training has been happening at Naked Food & Fitness on Broadway. The owners, Sergio and Cheryl have created this quaint and cozy spot where you can work out with a personal trainer and/or dine in/carryout healthy and delicious food. They also welcome caterings and will take those extra steps to bedazzle your group.

Their yummi*licious menu is all set and ready to go but now they are adding my favorite foods of all time!! They have been busy learning how to crack coconuts, spread onion dough for crispy crackers and buzz soaked cashews into whipped creamy, dreamy goodness.

SOooo 0ther than telling you how fabulous they are, here's my main purpose for blogging to you today. They have these amazing cups for ten bucks that (for a limited time only) gets you a LIFETIME of 20% off any smoothie/drink order when you bring it back in to reuse it. They are BPA free with a secure screw on lid for when those accidental tips happen.

My son said (after playing with the reusable straw) that it was reusable and reSUCKable. How totally cute! Right now you can get them at the cafe BUT very soon they'll be for sale on the website so everyone - not just Tucson peeps - can show their NAKED PRIDE.

So if you are in the area, stop by and give them a big squeeze. I'll be popping in and out as they grow this raw menu that Tucson has been begging for. They'll also be stocking Gary Greenleaf's AMAZING SUPERFOODS by Indigenous Nutrition. Yes... they've got it going on, my friends.

Sweet Honey Bee Adventures

2010-05-25T13:41:00.007-04:00

Meet Magic, the raw kitty cat. She enjoys raw beef, avocado, cucumber, coconut and yes, even durian ice cream. Here you see her licking royal jelly off her daddy's (GARY GREENLEAF) fingers. Animals intuitively know what's good for them.

Did you know that only the queen bee eats the royal jelly - not the worker bees?

The queen lives almost 10 times longer than worker bees and grows to be 50% larger.

Long live the queen... thanks to her exclusive diet of royal jelly, a jewel of nutrition.

Sweet Honey Bee enjoying a favorite snack -- wild weeds!

When these dark purple blooms first burst open the bees are highly attracted to them.

It makes me wonder what kind of medicine they hold and how fabulous our tiny - but mighty - bee friends are!

It's such a great feeling knowing these hives are near my house. That's one of the reasons I love getting to know people that I buy/trade my food with. Most foodie folks have such integrity and share a wisdom that keeps me connected with Mother Earth... a nice vibration.

Gary has his own hives and supports other bee keepers in our area. His 4 nuc colonies are being built by a fellow organic beekeeper that builds everything from scratch. He'll soon be placing 2 of these hives in the last citrus grove in Tucson where the trees were planted in 1929. The other 2 are going on the east side of town in the mesquite forest.

Golden nuggets of Bee Pollen

If you want to feel as buzzy as a bee, this is the food for you!

It is often referred to as the "Food of the Gods". It is a highly nutritious energy booster.

I love the crunchy sweetness of these golden nuggets.

Bee*utiful Honey.

The most common of all bee products. Most homes have a jar of honey in the cupboard.

Honey has been used for many centuries for everything from healing wounds and treating infections to calming allergies and soothing sore throats.

Besides, it tastes delicious and is a fabulous alternative to processed sugars.

I am delighted to be offering a class with Gary next week,

The Raw Alchemy of Chocolate and Bee Products.

You'll have a chance to learn all about the amazing health benefits of bee products and sample them! It was a sweet treat hanging out with Gary for our day of Honey Bee Adventures.

I have two raw chocolate demos planned for this event and of course,

they'll be made with bee products! What could be sweeter?

Farmers' Market Fun

2010-04-25T17:04:00.012-04:00

It has become a habit to post my farmers' market daily finds. I love doing this because I always get fabulous recipes emailed to me when someone sees a favorite ingredient. So, for this reason alone I will keep on posting them. But also I hope it encourages everyone to EAT LOCAL and SUPPORT LOCAL FARMERS and better yet... PLANT YOUR OWN GARDEN!!

I have a pact with myself to get at least one new food each week. I learn so much from these farmers. Their earth stained hands are the tell-tale sign of their compassion, hard work and love for REAL food. Today I brought home radish pods. They are great for munching as is or add them (raw) to any salad for extra pizazz. They are spicy with crisp, mild heat.

BeeBoy seems to be catered to in the most precious of ways. Here is a lady chopping him some fresh oranges she grew. She even put them in a baggie and gave him a towel for his hands. Of course he tells everyone about his upcoming CHILDREN'S RECIPE BOOK.

We always bring home fresh herbs. Our favorite is mint for freshly squeezed lemonade and chunks of watermelon!!
The sprouting booth is by far my favorite - well, one of my most favorites. I'm totally hooked on the crunchy sunflower sprouts and radish sprouts but they all rawk! I have to get a great big bag because I eat them like candy and only half actually make it home.
Pea shoots are also nice for salads and nori rolls. They are softer and more tender than the sunflower sprouts.
Here I am on the beautiful stairs at St Philip's Farmers' Market. Art is everywhere and reminds me to smile... in case I ever forget.
Today was Solara's first trip to the Farmers' Market. We JUST HAD TO visit the gourmet dog treat stand, Poppi's favorite also. But she is still much too little for any samples. This great company is called Dogberry Hill. We'll be regulars for sure.

It's hard to say what I like best about the Farmers' Markets. The food is amazing, the people are so kind, the information is priceless and the adorable PETS are abundant. Today, Solara made a male friend. A blue healer mix around the same age. They licked each other a few times before they fell asleep from puppy exhaustion. Puppy piles are the cutest.

I'd love to hear about your Farmers' Market finds and how close to home your food is grown and what FABULOUS recipes you have!!

Nori Crackers

2010-04-12T14:34:00.006-04:00

I just HAD to share this with you. I was inspired by a delightful snack I tried yesterday at the St. Philip's Farmer's Market. Find Gary's tent there, INDIGENOUS SUPERFOODS, and ask him for the Nori Nachos... Chipotle rocks!!! Then buy as many as you can carry out because you WILL be addicted. Trust me. I must go back for more.

SOooo anyway... I decided to put my favorite cracker recipe (my onion ring batter that was waiting in the fridge) on a sheet of Nori and the results were most amazing! Try it with your favorite cracker recipe.

Spread the batter thinly across the nori sheet.

Make sure you spread the batter to the complete outer edges of the sheet so it doesn't crinkle up all weird - unless, of course, you like crinkle. Put these babies on mesh liners in the dehydrator, set at 110 degrees, for about 12 hours (depending on how moist your chosen recipe is).
After 12 or so hours, they should be partially dried out and not yet too crispy to cut. Take them out and slice them all the way through into whatever desired shape you love.

You can eat them now, as in. We certainly did. Or for a crisper cracker, return them to the dehydrate for 4 - 6 more hours. They taste fabulous and look totally cool, too! Take them outside and eat them in the sun.

Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center

2010-04-10T20:56:00.011-04:00

Dr. Gabriel Cousens

I recently did a pilgrimage over to The Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center in Patagonia, AZ. We'll call it TOL for short. It is an eco-educational-health-spiritual destination and community, offering a 100% organic, plant source only, live-food cuisine. They have many retreats, workshops, and programs. They also offer an amazing raw vegan lunch each day for on site guests and visitors.

Here's my photo blog about it...

Reminders of PEACE all around.

Stacy Stowers in the nursery loving on baby sprouts.

We learned that Sunflower Sprouts need a little weight to grow hardy and strong.

Me with my cleavage in the greenhouse with the more "mature" sprouts.

Okay so moving on from our sprout obsession, here's a little info about TOL. The man behind it, Dr. Sir Gabriel Cousens M.D., M.D.(H), D.D. He's the founder and director of The Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center, is a leading author, and world renowned spiritual teacher and expert in raw, living foods nutrition. He Blesses You with Peace, Love & Joy.

A Place for Healing

The Tree of Life offers you a place for healing and for experiencing the Culture of Life through some of the world’s most extensive health education and healthy lifestyle programs:

Fasting, Juice Fasting & Detoxification Retreats
Natural Cure for Diabetes Program
Conscious Eating Program
Live Food Preparation Course for Chefs & raw food enthusiasts
Organic, Vegan, Living Foods
Spa Vacations with Yoga, Meditation and Spa Treatments
Organic Gardening & Sprouting Training Course
Spiritual Retreats & Education on Kabbalah
Living Essene Way & Essene Minister Training
Healthy Lifestyle and Activities of Daily Living that Rejuvenate and Restore health and vitality
Health Retreats featuring our Whole Person Healing Program
Emotional Health with our 4-Day Zero Point Program
Mental Wellness program for Healing Brain and Nervous System

My chef son makes ROADKILL

2010-04-09T17:08:00.010-04:00

We have a raw food diva, Stacy Stowers, coming to stay with us soon and my son can hardly wait. One of the dishes she is famous for is her dessert STACY'S ROADKILL. Well... all it took was the name and my son JUST HAD TO get in the kitchen and make it. Here are his step by step photos. A super easy and fast recipe. THe hardest part is waiting for the bananas to freeze.

Spread plastic wrap out on a flat surface. Peel 2 very ripe bananas and put them on the plastic wrap. Fold the wrap over and smash away. (This was his favorite part)

Stacy says to smash it good so it looks like it got ran over by a big truck. She also remind the kiddos to look both ways before crossing the street.

Then, shape it into a big flat cookie.

Open the plastic wrap and sprinkle on cinnamon.

Throw on your walnuts and pretend like it is gravel. You'll want this gravel in every bite. Smash it into the bananas just like a big truck would have pounded it in.

My son added blood to the recipe. He used freshly pureed strawberries but goji berries would also work great!

The original recipe calls for cocao nibs and honey but we used what we had and made a syrup using cacao powder and raw honey.

Next, he transferred it to parchment paper and flattened it all out. Then we put it in the freezer for what seemed like an eternity - maybe an hour.

FINALLY, fresh out of the freezer. I think he checked on it 5,000 times.

Break it apart on the plate, serve immediately and enjoy.

This dish is very hard to share so I'd recommend making your

own portion to eat with your kids.

It has a fabulous banana spilt taste when you use strawberries.

As you can see in these photos - clothing is optional for making it =)

The Short but Sweet BUZZ on Bee Pollen

2010-04-08T14:29:00.011-04:00

The question of the day has been, "What bee pollen are YOU using???"

The answer... VivaPura's Jarrah Bee Pollen

I could tell you how sweet it is but I think a better testimony is that my 7 year old son eats it straight from the bag. It's crunchy and sweet and he calls it, "bee candy".

In response to bunches of emails and phone calls about my 'Over dosing my family with Bee Pollen' Facebook post (which was totally a joke but we were all thrilled with our increased energy - but that will be our last late night crunch-out on a school/work night). I decided to QUICKLY write a few interesting tidbits on the topic for those of you that may not know just how fabulous this little dusty crunchy yellow nugget REALLY IS.

Bee Pollen is at the top of my vibrational and inspirational superfoods list. I often wonder if Mother Nature intended the pun of bee pollen containing a great source of B-complex vitamins - which is super duper important when eating the Standard American Diet (SAD) or even when eating raw vegan. It also packs a punch with all 22 known amino acids and all 28 minerals found in the body.

Bee Pollen is a bee-utiful thing! It has been highly praised and shown to help people with: increasing energy and vitality very soon after taking, weight loss, improving sexual function, correcting digestion problems, enhancing the immune system, prevent cancer and many other diseases and... for you bee-uty seekers... SLOWS the aging process.

For all of you ladies that have asked about raising low blood pressure, as I am in the process of doing, there seems to be popular claim to bee pollen helping with that also. Oh gosh, and how can I not mention its combative powers over mental fatigue.

Who couldn't use more energy, zest and physical endurance? What a SWEET buzz.

I could go on and on about the perks of bringing bee pollen into your daily diet but I'm ready to join my lover at the pool and soak up some Vitamin D. I will say that all of this in addition to 14 beneficial fatty acids, 11 enzymes/coenzymes, an array of vitamins, and hormones - it's also low cal!

Official BEE Cheerleader

"Among raw foods enthusiasts, it is widely considered the very best bee pollen in the world." - Mike Adams, Natural News

I just recently visited VivaPura - more on that later - but I will say the energy and warmth will keep me coming back. They totally filled up my cup - and my water bottle!

An EPIC Event at Eden Hot Springs

2010-04-06T16:43:00.007-04:00

I have recently had the privilege of meeting a RAWKstar. A kick ass, gorgeous, friendly, kind hearted woman that just happens to be hosting an EPIC event in a few short weeks. Rebecca Astara has teamed up with Joy Light and Gabrielle Brick to bring you another epic adventure at Eden Hot Springs.

Join us for another Epic Adventure this Spring at Eden Hot Springs

April 28 ~ May 2, 2010

* Engage in workshops on Shamanic Nutrition, The Spring Water Revolution, Vibrant Health and Sacred Movement
* Enjoy a tour of Eden with Daniel Vitalis, the 6 geo-thermal hot spring pools and learn how to test spring water
* Participate in the "Abundant Earth Celebration" and seed your intentions
* Activate your body in daily movement classes including Yoga and West African dance
* Surrender to the flow with Dancing Freedom and Hooping playshops
* Celebrate with live music
* Soak and Play in 6 geo-thermal hot spring pools
* Delight in wholistic vegetarian cuisine (raw/vegan choices at every meal)
* Receive epic optional healing services
* Relax, Rejuvinate & Reinspire your whole being at Epic Eden Hot Springs

Facilitators:
Shamanic Nutrition & a tour of the Springs with Daniel Vitalis
Daily West African Dance & Yoga with Jade Beall
Wholistic Cuisine by Chef Melissa Mango
Sound Alchemy with Jahsah
Hooping Alchemy Playshop with KaRa Maria
Abundant Earth Celebration featuring YOU & The Epic Eden Tribe
Dancing Freedom with Ashley Klein
Live Concert with Scott Huckabay

Practitioners:
Colonics with Puma St. Angel
Aqua Massage Alchemy with Jahsah & KaRa
Craniosacral Therapy with KaRa
Massage & Sound Alchemy with Jahsah
Emotional Release Bodywork with Sean Lee Gardner
Transformational Empowerment with Anahata
Epic Eden Photography by Sean Stuchen

Hostesses:
Rebecca Astara, Joy Light & Gabrielle Brick

Epic Eden Sponsors:
Ultimate Super foods
SurThrival
ChocolaTree
Destination Bliss

Click FLYER for more information.

Blueberry Nice Cream

2010-04-02T01:15:00.003-04:00

Finally an ice cream that's nice to the tummy of those that can't *or choose not to* tolerate dairy. The best part about this creamy dreamy recipe is that it only takes minutes to whip up.

1 frozen banana

1 1/2 cups frozen blueberries

nut mylk - just enough to blend

Whiz all ingredients in the Vita*Mix using the plunger to keep pushing the cream into the blade.

This recipe is super simple and many other fruits can be substituted in place of the blueberries.

DREAMsicle

2010-02-21T13:04:00.005-05:00

One of my favorite treats as a kid was those bright orange creamy pushup pops my mom would let us buy when the ice cream truck came around. Now that those high sugar, dairy, and yuck additive days are over, here's how I get my fix. It's great as a smoothie or a frozen treat. More ideas will be in our upcoming book. =)

Ingredients

1 cup orange juice

1 frozen banana, cut in half

2 clementines, peeled

1/2 cup fresh pineapple, chunked (optional but FABULOUS)

4 dates, pitted and soaked in 1/4 cup OJ for 1/2 hour

soaking juice from dates

dash Vanilla extract or seeds scraped from 1/2 vanilla bean

Method

Buzz all ingredients in a high speed blender until creamy and frothy.

Serves 2, generously.

**I'm known for throwing a handful of kale in ALL of our smoothies. You cannot taste this green beauty but it will change the color for discerning kiddos.

Karma Tastes Delicious

2010-02-16T12:46:00.007-05:00

How do oranges fit in with our "good karma" adventures at this year's

Tucson Gem and Mineral Show ???

Okay, I know this post isn't necessarily about food as much as it is about the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show and the soul shaking vibe of people that are the true gems. But... hopefully my foodie followers will also enjoy this delicious entry that has a short food and karma tale intertwined.

As many of you know, I have hardly come up for air lately since my nose has been buried in getting my most recent book finished. This, however, was one major event I could not pass up.

People travel from all over the world for this show and that within itself was shiny enough to lure me in. The people were just as amazing as the gems and minerals. True jewels, I tell ya. The final days of the show happened to fall on Valentine's weekend and one of the vendors were very sweetly handing out Valentine's chocolates. It was the commercial kind that contained artificial goo -- such as vanillin, an artificial vanilla flavoring made from wood pulp.

My son's eyes got huge. He wanted one badly so he reached in, grabbed one and thanked the nice gentleman. I took in a deep breath, knowing his impulse issues and his food allergies, it was not a candy he could eat without physical and behavioral consequence.

"That was very nice manners you had," I said praising him. "It's not one that we can eat but you can keep it and trade it in at home for one that you CAN have."

This didn't go over very well. I'll save you the drama but within minutes of him stomping off and demanding that he deserves a sweet treat, an orange fell from the over crowded orange tree above.

"Ahhh... a sweet treat," he exclaimed putting the chocolate back in my hand. He was delighted and handled himself so well that the vendor gave him a tiny crystal in exchange for the chocolate that he couldn't eat.

The magic continued throughout the day as he met and communicated with more vendors. He had grown men down on the floor showing him photos of their caves and rainbow covered mountains. Many of them giving him a tiny trinket to take home.

He left grinning ear to ear and warmly said to me, "Mama, today I learned the meaning of karma."

Real Food Raw WORDS

2010-02-02T15:17:00.003-05:00

Well, the groundhog saw his shadow so it's 6 more weeks of this lovely winter weather. I write this as I sip my favorite soup packed with curly green kale. I'm glad to be cozy warm and indoors today.

Winter is a nice time to hibernate inside and do what I enjoy most: Playing with words and playing with food. I enjoy them both real and raw. I can definitely see beauty in perfectly polished pieces, both in the culinary and literary world, but there's a certain charm of raw and real.

Raw food has the gift of the natural vitamins and minerals that Mother Nature initially intended. It's the essence of food. Nothing has been cooked, baked or broiled away.

I also consider raw writing to be ESSENCE. Not overly censored or picked apart. Just real and raw. Rough drafts, letters written from the heart, a doodle pad filled with random thoughts...

CLICK HERE to read/see what warmed my heart today.

Tucson at a glance

2010-01-31T13:58:00.006-05:00

Yes, it appears I have fallen off the face of the earth. I'm pleased to actually announce the contrary. I have jumped in, feet first, much deeper into this sweet earth and everything else that matters most in my world.

Many of you know that our quick Tucson trip - originally made as a medical quest for my son - has turned out to be more of a resting spot for us right now. When doors open I find it hard to turn my back. We are currently involved in many healing therapies that have brought wonderful change. (MUCH more on that later alligator.)

So... while we are here, we are exploring as much of this land as we can. I am fascinated by the beauty of the desert that drew me in instantly. I wanted to share these photos with you. Everyone has been so kind keeping in touch with us and sending love and prayers.

I've had a few exciting projects going on during this time. My son and I have spent countless hours in the kitchen creating allergen friendly foods for KIDS! It's a slow-going project but one day I hope it will ease the allergen issue in many struggling kitchens. He's in charge of the illustrations so if you have kid art you'd like to donate for this project send it our way!!

kristen@beegreenfoods.com

OUR TRIBE

BEEBOY PICKING POMEGRANATES

OUR MAGICAL FAMILY

COCONUT LOVE

OUR BACKYARD

glutamates and neurological disorders

2009-12-06T11:51:00.004-05:00

As many of you know, my son has been having some neurological issues that has rocked our world. I have been devouring information that doctors, therapists, holistic practitioners, etc have suggested. We have been blessed with a fabulous medical team here in Tucson. Here is a video I came across that I have found to be a MUST KNOW for those that are not eating natural whole foods.

I will go into more detail about what connections I have discovered later. My son needs my attention now but this will get you started. We truly are what we eat... even in the health food world, glutamates are hidden. They are LEGALLY allowed by the FDA to be hidden if they aren't 99% pure glutamate.

Scientific research proves glutamates connection with major dis-eases and ailment, learning disorders, overt aggression, unprovoked rage, anti social behavior.

I highly suggest those struggling with these disorders check this video out pronto. It's lengthy but golden.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2384105525501310962#

I'm not at my computer and don't have a way to embed this but you can google::
EXCITOTOXINS: The taste that kills

Kaleidoscope Crackers

2009-11-18T12:25:00.002-05:00

Are you throwing your JUICE PULP away?

These savory crackers = a waste free kitchen

This is a good lesson in choosing the right juicer. Organic produce does not always come cheap so when you're selecting a juicer make sure it's one that really extracts the juice rather than flinging whole veggie parts into your pulp bag. (If you choose to use pulp bags for EZ cleanup, we suggest green bags that are environmentally friendly.)

Here's what I've recently done with juicy pulp that actually came out in whole pieces.

Kaleidoscope crackers

Ingredients:

1 cup golden flax, soaked overnight

1 cup walnuts, soaked at least 4 hours

1 medium onion

juice from 1 lemon juice

1/2 cup cilantro, minced

2 ribs celery, diced small

2 tablespoons Bragg's or Nama Shoyu (optional)

2 cups total pulp: I used carrots, red cabbage, kale

2 tablespoons fresh thyme

dash of salt (optional if using Bragg's or Nama Shoyu)

Buzz the walnuts and the onion separately in the food processor. Stir into flaw mixture - mixing well. Add remaining ingredients. Tasting as you go for appropriate seasoning since varying juice pulp will change flavors some. If you are using pulp from lemon please omit the lemon juice in this recipe.

Note: Lemon flavors intensify during dehydrating. Other than that and salt, what you taste as the dough is usually the flavor you'll get in your crackers - so make sure you like it! The wonderful part of this recipe is that ALL of these ingredients are flexible. You can add more or less.

Spread on Teflex liner sheets and dehydrate at 105 degrees for 12 - 18 hours. Flipping and scoring crackers halfway through this process.

love, love, love

Raw Holiday Recipe Book

2009-11-13T20:53:00.007-05:00

Flax Pumpkin Seed Crackers and Herbed Cashew Spread

Raw Parsnip Soup

Marinated Portabella Fillets with Raisin Pumpkin Seed Pesto

Sweet Potato Souffle with Chai Whipped Creme

Is your mouth watering yet? These are just a few of our favorite recipes from our RAW HOLIDAY eBOOK. We had a blast preparing this and have loved the juicy feedback we've gotten from it already.

This recipe and lifestyle book is extremely user friendly with step by step photos and instructions. It's nice for beginners with raw interest or those whom have mastered this lovely artful way of food prep.

Preview your copy by clicking this link.

Thanksgiving is only two weeks away. Have you gotten your copy yet? We'd love to hear which recipe you love the most!

Raw Juicy YUMMUS HUMMUS Recipe

2009-11-13T09:29:00.003-05:00

I posted this yummus hummus photo on facebook yesterday and my inbox filled up with requests for the recipe & sprouting technique. Ask and ye shall receive...

Sprouting technique:

It's important to buy your chick peas/garbonzo beans from a source with good rotation. If peas are really old they won't sprout. I mention this because it seems to be a common complaint among raw foodies. Chick peas sprout very easily.

Soak them overnight in 3x as much water. The next morning they should be plump and water filled - and at least twice the size. This will help activate the living enzyme tucked away inside. If they are not yet plump, rinse and soak again for about 6 - 8 more hours.

Once water is drained, leave them out to sprout for 2 - 3 days, rinsing 2x per day.

Rinse well before using. I like to use my homemade veggie wash to clean them.

Yummus Hummus

ingredients:

1.5 cups chick peas, sprouted

2 T tahini

2-3 T orange juice, fresh squeezed

1 clove garlic, chopped small

2 t Bragg's or Nama Shoyu (optional)

1 T olive oil

cayenne, paprika, ground cumin to taste

method:

Whiz all ingredients together in Vitamix until creamy dreamy consistency.

IN*joy with crisp raw veggies or spread on leafy greens as a dressing for a delight*FULL veggie wrap!

If you MUST eat from a box

2009-11-12T10:27:00.003-05:00

Stepping out of the box...

My precious grandmother always worries about how much time I spend in the kitchen and (bless her heart) is always offering tips to help cut my time. Unfortunately, her suggestions are usually pertaining to microwaves or boxed goods - or ummm... UNgoods. Both of which I avoid.

However, her last little gift was a boxed gluten-free cake mix with powdered icing and my son was delighted because of it's whimsical packaging. She had purchased it from a health food store and the ingredients weren't really healthy but not so bad unhealthy either. BeeBoy and I decided to give it a go.

We couldn't resist sprucing it up a bit. I thought I'd share these tips for those of you with "boxes" in your pantry.

First of all, raw vegan icing is a cinch to make and truly is just as fast as any powdered box mix that requires adding water, milk or butter. But a tip I have found to be true with boxed icing mixes, especially when using chocolate mixes is that avocados or coconut flesh can be substituted for the margarine. You'll be surprised at the richness & creamy dreaminess.

Also coconut water or almond milk can be added instead of cow milk.

As for the cake mix. I suggest using some form of fresh juice instead of the water it calls for. Orange juice and pineapple juice add a nice flavor and also help a gluten-free mix rise better.

I like to grind nuts down into a powder and stir into the batter so we get more nutrients that way.

If it's a sugar free mix, Grade B maple syrup is an excellent sweetener as is agave nectar and local honey.

Wet ground flax seeds may be used in place of eggs.

Once you use up those boxed UNgoods in your pantry I'd love for you to experiment with some of our raw cake & icing recipes. You may find that the box is for the birds!

The above "baby cake" got BeeBoy's squeal of approval!

~Much love~

Raw Holiday e-book is now available

2009-11-01T17:42:00.002-05:00

Drum roll please...

I have just birthed something really amazing! I am the blushing new mommy of my very first e-book! So... yes, I am wee bit proud. Can you tell?

I totally enjoyed pulling Chef Judd Faircloth out of his “cooked kitchen world” for his very first entirely raw Thanksgiving spread that Vintage Magazine asked us to do. Well that got the ball rolling and we've been on a raw food holiday kick ever since.

http://thevintagemag.com/index.htm

I think you'll like the final product of this unique experience that I've captured in a 40 page e-book– along with 2 dozen amazing recipes. Holiday Raw – Heat up with Raw Foods.

This lifestyle & recipe book is proof that there is heat in raw kitchens. *wink* Combining professional tips without forgetting the “beginners mind”, this book is sure to spice up your kitchen life regardless of your level of raw food expertise.

It's a fun approach to enjoying the holidays with fellowship and love in the kitchen! Click the above book cover or this link for more details: http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/raw-holiday---heat-up-with-raw-food/7860318

Hippie Popcorn

2009-10-18T11:32:00.006-04:00

One of my favorite children's book is finally out at the movies this weekend and everyone in my house is craving POPCORN! I thought I'd share a fun recipe that we're including in our upcoming kid snack series of ebooks. A friend shared this with me in the early Bee Green days and we've all loved it ever since!

Put your popcorn in a brown bag and pump a few sprays of Bragg's Liquid Aminos. Then dust in Kelp Granules and Nutritional Yeast Flakes. Close bag and give it a good shimmey shimmey shake! You may want to reapply if it's not coated to your likings.

Bragg's has 0 fat grams and contains the following 16 aminos: Alganine, Arganine, Asparatic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Glucine, Histidine, Isolucine, Lysine, Leucine, Methionine, Pheylalanine, Proline, Serine, Theronine, Tyrosine, Valine

Kelp Granules is an excellent source of iodine with 0 fat grams and contains 60 mg Potassium, 2% Vitamin A, 2% Vitamin C, 2% Magnesium, 25 Calcium, 2% Iron and 2269% Iodine.

Nutritional Yeast has only 1 gram of fat and 70 calories and 4% iron. 320 mg of Potassium, 8 g of protein, and are excellent sources of Thiamine, Niacin, Folate, Zinc, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin B12.

Smoked Salmon and Shaved Fennel Salmon by Franky G

2009-10-14T21:00:00.004-04:00

Smoked Salmon and Shaved Fennel Salad

This is a great dish for the chilly autumn months. A tasty addition would be sliced grapefruit.

This was graciously sent in by Chef Franky Giglio.

http://www.frankgiglio.com

Ingredients-

1 bulb fennel + fennel fronds

1 small red onion

1 lemon

2-3 oz cured salmon

olive oil

crystal salt

fresh black pepper

juniper berries

Procedure-

With a japanese mandoline, slice 1/2 a bulb of fennel, place in a mixing bowl with some torn fronds

Add 2-3T, thinly sliced red onion

Tear salmon into smaller pieces, add to bowl

Drizzle with olive oil

Add a splash of lemon juice

Season with crystal salt

add a pinch of fresh cracked black pepper + crushed juniper berries

Mix all ingredients well, served with a smile, enjoy!

introducing Chef Alice Savorelli

2009-10-14T10:28:00.004-04:00

I promised to introduce you to some mouthwatering folks! Here is a lovely recipe sent in by Alice Savorelli - yes "savor" as in savor this lovely dish

Crunchy barley salad with daikon sprouts

Makes 4-6 servings

Ingredients

For the salad

1 cup whole barley, hulled

3 cups filtered water

a pinch of whole sea salt

2 cm dried kombu seaweed

a good hadful of pumpkin seeds

1 cup daikon sprouts

fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)

For the dressing

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons sesame oil

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

juice of 1 lemon

a pinch of whole sea salt

1 teaspoon barley malt syrup

Cooking the barley

Wash the barley and soak it in the filtered water for about 8 hours. Place the barley and the water in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add the salt and the kombu, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook until most of the water has been absorbed, without stirring as you don’t want to alter the cooking process. The barley should get tender in about 45-50 minutes (if you are using a pressure cooker, cooking time will reduce to 25-30 minutes). Do not overcook as the barley should be al dente. Remove the kombu. Drain if necessary (there should be no water left in the saucepan), transfer into a tray or sald bowl and let cool, first at room temperature then in the fridge.

Dressing

Pour the olive oil, sesame oil, rice vinegar, lemon juice and malt syrup in a cup or jar and mix all ingredients together. Season with a pinch of salt.

Assembling the barley salad

Take the barley out from the fridge, add the pumpkin seeds and the daikon sprouts, sprinkle with the dressing and mix thoroughly. Garnish with some fresh basil leaves. Serve cold.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Alice Savorelli is a free-lance writer, as well as a veggie personal chef, menu planner and recipe developer. She is based in Italy and is the author of the green foodblog cotto e crudo (www.cottoecrudo.com/en). You can also find her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cottoecrudo.

Georgia Organics mentions me and my son -- FUN!

2009-10-12T20:37:00.003-04:00

Looky what someone just sent me. I was mentioned in here on the bottom of page 6 for bringing organics to Southwest Georgia. It even mentions BeeBoy! Feeling nice that we blazed a trail!

http://www.georgiaorganics.org/Files/GoNewsSpring08.pdf

adding some blog flavor

2009-10-12T16:50:00.007-04:00

Long time no post - worth the wait

Contrary to how it may appear, I have NOT completely fallen off the earth just yet! Lots of major changes happening for me right now. We have finally received a diagnosis for my child's health that has made a lot of sense of life as we have known it. This insight has brought big changes within my home and work life -- and GIANT leaps for smoother sailing days ahead as I pull together a shining star team of talented folk! It takes a village.

I am now officially a work at home mommy focusing primarily on his care. Thank goodness for my handy dandy laptop and freelance writing jobs that lend me freedom and flexibility. You can find my healthy heart*icles in The Albany Journal, Southwest Georgia Living Magazine, and Vintage Magazine -- as well as here on my website. There is also rumor of a Purely Delicious Magazine article coming up early next year! Woot Woot

My first ebook, co-authored by my lovely partner Judd Faircloth, will be available November 1st. It's an amazing little book of raw recipes and green living lifestyle ideas for the Holidays.

I also have a special feature story about Judd and I coming out in the November issue of Vintage. I think you'll in*JOY the charismatic kitchen love we spread while working together. We both have a life long passion as foodies and hope to help you spice up your kitchen life a notch.

We are about to launch a raw food delivery program that ships so get your taste buds ready, including my handmade raw chocolate truffles. MMMmmm... Please stay tuned to this website and facebook for upcoming details.

So what yummies am I going to offer you to make this all worth your wait? Well... I was thinking how ALWAYS in life I get what I need. No matter how gloomy or how out of reach it may seem, someone always comes up with the right person to talk to or the right number to call. I am blessed with angels that connect me to the world -- like a live sparkly current.

What a shame it would be to keep these angels to myself. I have decided to open my blog space for guest writers that have made an impression on me -- or inspired me in some way. After all, sharing is caring. I hope you in*JOY this new flavor I am adding to this blog site. Please feel free to share your ideas/recipe/love with me. I appreciate you!

Green Toddy = Strong Body

2009-09-29T08:30:00.003-04:00

GREEN Toddy for A Strong Body

water & flesh from a young thai coconut

4 leafy stalks of kale

1/2 pineapple

1 banana

1 oz E3Live

1 tablespoon chia seeds

Blend all ingredients in a high speed blender. Serve to those you love!

**This is so delicious that even my six year old son tries to lick his glass clean**

serves 2

Baby Steps to Heathy Living

2009-09-28T21:40:00.004-04:00

Everyone’s idea of eating healthy is different and so are each individual’s tastes and desires. Then when you consider different blood types, possible food allergies or intolerance, and blood sugar issues, you’ll plainly see that “one size fits all” does NOT apply to the diet.

Anyone looking to this website for nutritional guidance will, at the very least, agree that the Standard American Diet (SAD) is truly making our bodies SAD. I created this website a few years ago as a “transitional” meeting place for those to find resources, get recipes, maybe even to spark a little curiosity.

You won’t find hard core rigid rules here about being ONLY vegan or going 100% raw. What you will find here is gentle reminders, inspirations, and hopefully contagious humor that will inspire you to treat your body with care.

I’m a firm believer that anything you feel too rigid about or any strict diet that leaves you feeling deprived will not serve your goals for achieving vibrant health. I also know that some people prefer to move mountains over night and some like to shovel their way through slowly at their own pace. Both of these can work beautifully when balanced in harmony.

I am in no way here to tell you what I think will work best for you… only your body knows that! I am here to share my enthusiasm and offer suggestions of fresh new ways to liven up your food. I am here to inspire you, to motivate you and possibly rock your “kitchen” world a bit.

In this section you will learn ways to transform a few favorite comfort foods that may be lacking a little on the nutrition scale, or may even be putting some unwanted pounds on your bathroom scale. Of course it’s the scale, not your food.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy your read. Most importantly: enjoy your body as you read, be grateful for the health that you have. Be grateful for the resources we have today and KNOW that you can achieve vibrant health. It is yours to have!

I am pleased to announced that my chef buddy, Judd Faircloth, and I have a RAW HOLIDAY recipe & lifestyle book that will be available here online November 1st. Find me on facebook for any Q&As you may have. I'd be delighted to hear from you!

Circuses are no fun for animals ~ A lesson in gentle relations

2009-09-12T07:37:00.012-04:00

photos by Phat Teddy http://phatteddy.com

http://tonyakay.com

Circuses are no fun for animals -- A lesson in gentle relations

~Published in http://thealbanyjournal.com

I literally gasped aloud when I saw that first dreadful stack of blue and white “admit one child for free” coupons announcing the circus will soon be marching back into town. Of course this circus is the horrid kind with animals in chains and cages. This is just one of those things I don’t think I’ll ever understand -- ever.

Last year I pulled out my soap box. I shared all their dirty little secrets -- although not so secretive once the abuse/convictions hit public record . I even handed out the most precious “animal friendly” stickers. I posted undercover films that showed the true “behind the scenes” footage of the big top.

This year I immediately thought of my friend, Tonya Kay, and her heartwarming story of her personal and most compassionate time spent with elephants in Thailand.I knew if circus admirers could hear her story they’d never again “enjoy” animal “entertainment” that was forced by bullhooks, electric prods, and whips. In reality, circus animals spend most of their life out of the spotlight and in not-so-glamorous cages, often filthy and surrounded by their own excrements.

Perhaps we’ve gotten so far from our roots that we don’t even realize the disrespect and injustice required to make an animal perform unnatural acts under bright lights in front of large crowds of noisy people. Do parents really think this resonates peacefully within their children that observe?

Tonya Kay has touched and loved and bathed an elephant. She has seen them doing what elephants are supposed to do. The two realities are like night and day difference. What she experienced with animals in the wild completely clashes with the man driven confinement and abuse of the life of circus animals. So here her story goes…

Elephant-lover, Tonya Kay, is a professional performer that has wowed many crowds with her fire-spinning, knife-throwing, and whip-master skills. She firmly believes that circus’ are much livelier with human entertainers that willingly and delightfully perform.

In August of 2008, Kay volunteered at the Elephant Nature Park in Thailand. She says the experience has left her a changed woman.

“It was life changing. Perspective changing. Spirit changing. Soul changing. The elephants can't help it,” she exclaimed.

“Without even seeing them, you sense them. Six tons of isolated consciousness, breathing, focusing, feeling -- on the grandest scale of all. Elephants exert a gravitational pull they are so massive. Like little Earths on Earth. Even sleeping over 100 yards away, their presence comforts. A forced meditation for all that surround them. A lesson in patience just to contemplate them. A lesson in gentle relations. A lesson in finely directed intelligence.”

“To be near an elephant, these things are unavoidable. They change anyone who comes into close, compassionate contact with them. They change the world we walk on. Even children whom have never seen an elephant in real life, I am convinced, are affected by elephants living somewhere on this Earth. It is my goal to make sure this endangered species exists in this world,” she says passionately.

Kay says her most favorite part about the village’s countryside was night time.

“My room was a hut and it was made of bamboo. Surely volunteers like myself had built it no more than two years ago. I know because we volunteers were replacing fence constructed of the same bamboo as part of our work/stay program. The monsoon season, which we all surrendered sloppily into, really speeds up the life process. Things never dry out and the spider that considered my hut to be his -- and was probably right -- was larger than my outstretched hand and housed uncomfortably close no matter where in the room.” Kay recalls.

“My hut was the best. It stood on poles to slow the floor’s rot on the always-wet ground. It had two windows -- rather than the other rooms' one -- neither of which had screens or anything factory-made or expensive like that,” she continued.

“So it was me, arachno-dude, and within 50 feet just outside of my two windows; eleven elephants all night long,” she exclaims.

“What does an elephant do at night? They chomp big time on the corn stalks we cut in the fields for 5 hours a day -- face to the earth and back to the sky. They chomp three at a time for hours, sounding like boards snapping and bones cracking, but no -- they are vegetarian like me. Wait -- they are raw vegan like me. Elephants eat 300 pounds of raw vegan food every day,” she explains.

Kay continues, “Elephant calves play at night. They hug and tug one another. They practice gentle sparring. And sometimes they get startled by the unseen, like any baby would -- maybe a mouse runs behind their feet or something -- and they chirp like big birds, kind of squawking and causing a nervous commotion. Until the auntie blasts one resounding trumpet. And they shut up real quick like. When an elephant momma speaks …”

“You can't see elephants at night. I don't know how they do it, but the largest land mammal on earth really can just disappear -- kind of becomes invisible. Like a shadow -- no, a black hole,” Kay explains. “Any light that would be in the area of a night elephant is sucked in towards it with no hope of escaping. The elephant is what is dark and the only way you know an elephant is there is a kind of vibration in the air and a few gentle sounds. I listened to them all night long.”

Kay describes herself as an insomniac and says she is a very light sleeper. “While in Hollywood, I close my windows and turn on the fan and sometimes even wear ear plugs. But I didn’t wear earplugs in Thailand with the elephants. I didn't cover my ears with anything more than a mosquito net. Instead, the sounds of the elephants no matter what they were tasking lulled me into an in between world. They drop the grass on the ground, I fall to the ground. They sigh, I am exhaled as moisture into the air. They snore, one long, everlasting lung full of air and I believe I can hear the earth sleeping. Yes, even elephants sleep. I know they do.”

“Unless one was inclined to listen all night, one may never know. For only four hours every night, the sleeping sounds do inebriate. And I was alone, lulled and listening one night, I had to see it to prove it. So I wandered without flashlight as close as I could -- maybe ten feet away -- and I saw what I needed to see. Elephants really do lie down to sleep when they feel safe. And they snore an elephant's snore -- the sound of everything all is right in the world.” To learnmore about Tonya Kay and her time spent with thes eelephant beauties pleasevisither website at http://tonyakay.com

JUICY KIDS HAPPY HOUR M-F 3-5

2009-09-10T12:19:00.003-04:00

We simply adore Tonya Kay! http://tonyakay.com
Bike Blender photo by Jasper Johal http://jasperphoto.com

Brown bagging it -- for on the go “health conscious” families

2009-09-08T19:51:00.003-04:00

Brown bagging it -- for on the go “health conscious” families

It’s a cozy thought to send your child to school everyday with a homemade meal lovingly packed in their lunchbox. Sweet, yes. However, with today’s hectic mornings of single parents or both parents working, finding the time to get quality food in that Hannah Montana pouch may be your biggest obstacle.

Kitchen efficiency is my job and my passion. As I find myself back in my old café I am realizing once again that everything runs smoother when you are prepared. The stress is the same whether you are running out of carrots with the juice bar line to the door or scrambling to find the peanut butter as your child’s bus pulls up to the corner.

Stress is definitely one of those morning evils that can wreck the rest of your day but don’t throw in the towel -- or the brown bag -- just yet! The same ease of laying out the days clothes the night before can be achieved with school lunches.

Lately, I have discovered that a week’s worth of clothes and a week’s worth of lunches is even better. (Call me slow but I’m getting there.) There are so many shortcuts you can take to properly set yourself up for a easy breeze of a morning without compromising the quality or nutritive value in your child’s food.

My child loves to eat pancakes (from scratch) for breakfast. It’s so much fun to do this together on lazy weekend mornings but making that happen on a Monday is a joke. So we take advantage of our weekend time and make a huge batch of each. It’s the same mess to clean up and only takes about twenty minutes longer. I then layer them in freezer containers with wax paper between.

Another trick is making each meal count. Rather than regular white flour pancakes we use a flour that has more nutritive value and then I always pack it with even more protein power. Grinding healthy nuts such as walnuts or almonds in a food processor and storing them in the freezer makes a super fast way “beef” up any meal!

On your next school morning when the alarm doesn’t go off and minutes matter, try popping a frozen homemade walnut pancake with fresh chopped bananas on top -- drizzled with maple syrup -- and watch your child smile!

An easy breakfast leaves a bit more time in the kitchen for packing a lunch. I once heard Tony Robbins, an inspirational life coach, jokingly say, “Warning: Dates on the calendar are closer than they appear.” We all know when Monday is rolling around so why does it shock us each week?

A little bit of prep time before Monday hits is the key. Even if your kid is hooked on PBJs, you can still stir the peanut butter and the jelly in one big container and store it in the fridge. Grabbing one jar is easier than two.

For better health value, try sneaking in various nut butters instead of peanut butter such as almond or walnut. If you toast their sandwich bread (which please tell me by this point is not white flour) you can add even more goodness by spreading a thin layer of coconut oil before adding your PBJ mixture.

Many fruits are hearty and can be pre-washed and kept ready to go. Red grapes, bananas, apples, pears, oranges are Mother Nature’s way of blessing the lunch fairies. I adore food that comes grown in their own biodegradable packaging!

Kids like to dip. Spreads and salad dressing can be made up for the week ahead. Be careful of conventional bottled and packaged versions that may contain MSG and high sodium. It’s amazing how fast carrots and celery will disappear when they have something yummy to dip them in! It’s an added bonus when the dip is healthy itself, like hummus.

Last year I slaved in the kitchen but we ate very well. This year is a fresh new start with fresh new shortcuts and much less stress. At this rate, I’m hoping by college I’ll really have it down!

Sunday SunDAE

2009-08-23T19:56:00.005-04:00

Sunday SunDAE -- This was our Sunday Breakfast

Four quick and EZ recipes layered in bliss:

Bottom layer: Chocolate Crunch Bliss:
(makes a lot)

1 cup cacao powder
2 cups soaked oat groats (soaked in fresh OJ instead of water)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup Grade B Maple Syrup
1/2 cup local honey
2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whiz the oats in a food processor with the s-blade until a smoother texture is desired - not mush! Stir in remaining ingredients. It will be thick. Fill the bottom of a fancy schmancy glass.

Endless possibilities for this yummy recipe -- use as a pie crust or shape & dehydrate for cookies.

Next layer: Cashew Cream:
1 cup raw cashew -- soaked for four or more hours
3/4 cups water
6 Tbs local honey
juice of one small orange
scraped seeds from 1 vanilla bean

Next Layer: Marinated Berries
Coat berries with agave until shiny wet not soggy

Topping: Candied Oat Groats
2 cups soaked oat groats
2 tablespoons Grade B maple syrup
1 teaspoon cinnamon
dash sea salt - optional

Stir gently until all ingredients are evenly coated

Garnish with mint sprig

Queen Bee buzzing to Juicy Mama's Natural Foods Market

2009-07-21T15:27:00.005-04:00

Three moms on a mission bringing back

Albany’s hippest, hottest inspiration station!

Stop by and see what Beverly, Rose and Kristen

Have brewed up for you!

Bee Green’s favorite menu items are finding their

way back into the café!

(indoor/outdoor seating now with free wi-fi)

We will be offering different samples

each week until the new menu is out!

Stop by and let us hear what YOU think!

This week’s sampling:

Raw Tacos, Onion Crackers, and Cashew Cheese

Fresh ORGANIC PRODUCE Now in stock!!

Apples * Plums * Bananas

Blueberries * Raspberries * Strawberries

Beets * Juicing Carrots

Broccoli * Cucumbers * Celery

Collards * KALE

Tomatoes * Onions

Wheat GRASS Trays!!!

NOW IN STOCK:

“Resverotrol” as seen on Oprah with Dr. OZ

You don’t want to miss out on polyphenol flavonoids because they can:

· Improve your memory and concentration

· Boost the effectiveness of vitamin C in your antioxidant network

· Regulate nitric oxide – a potent free radical that regulates your blood flow

· Help promote your healthy heart

· Bolster your immune system

NEWEST ADDITION:

BULK BINS – Great Products at a Great Value!

Located at: 621 N. Westover, next to Tony’s Gym!

WWW.JuicyMamasFoods.com

Summer Hours:

Monday – Saturday

10 am – 2:30 pm

Dynamic healers coming to town: Michael Buck & Blakely Parent

2009-07-07T22:44:00.003-04:00

"Customarily recognized as a folk modality, the Art of Vedic Thai-Yoga Bodywork, also called Nuad Borarn, is producing results that parallel in sophistication the results being produced by ANY other medical modality including psychiatry and surgery" Michael Buck Founder/Director Vedic Conservatory.

Buck, a world renowned bodywork therapist with over ten thousand students in seven countrues is also a 2007 inductee into The World Massage Therapy Hall of Fame, says that some of his clients are referred to him by [medical professionals that feel as if these patients aren’t even aware of their bodily existence.

“Looking back at the history of massage you’ll see bodywork has always been a part of medicine,” explains Buck. “It wasn’t until the underworld got a hold of it and turned it into something sexual that it began to separate. It truly is a sacred medical art and medicine and massage are now coming back together as people realize – or remember --the healing potency of emotional release.”

“With over 2,700 negative and unresourceful human emotions that can get in the way of our awareness of who we are, Vedic Thai-Yoga bodywork uses technique and theory to clear issues that may be constricting',” explains Buck. “We are seeing issues disappear within moments.”

“When we’re congested it’s as if we’re locked. When the body is cleared it’s essentially a ‘returning home’ process that offers an expanded awareness of who we are, as if unlocking the body’s own vortex,” he says.

Buck travels the world teaching classes, offering private sessions, and certifying teachers of this powerful healing technique. Blakely Parent, a certified instructor of The Vedic Conservatory will be returning late August to Albany’s Kai Yoga Arts, this time with special guest Michael Buck. This dynamic duo will be offering a three day intensive workshop together that will be most unique to this region.

This class is recognized with national credentials for continuing education offering 24 units for massage therapists. The class is highly recommended also for yoga instructors as well as those simply desiring to share this ancient art with family and friends.

“Anyone regardless of profession or path is encouraged to attend this class so they may offer this healing art to their loved ones, children and partners,” says Parent. “My experience with this modality has renewed my practice as both a licensed massage therapist and certified yoga instructor. It has also sharpened my awareness for the natural healing power of the body. I have found it to be a way for the body to heal itself.”

“The body is so much more than physical parts. The client and the therapist can actually feel the energy moving during a session. It’s especially nice for those needing some body awareness,” Parent continues.

Beverly Burt, owner of Kai Yoga Arts says, “It’s such an honor to have these two healers here at my studio. I highly encourage everyone -- at the very least -- get a session while these two are in town. It’s like having someone do yoga to you. It’s the best ever – very relaxing and energizing!”

This three days course in Albany will be August 28 – 30 from 9am – 6pm each day. Participants are encouraged to reserve their spot as soon as possible. Kai Yoga is offering a discount as an early bird perk for those that sign up prior July 15th. For more information on this class please visit www.kaiyoga.net or call 888-2345

Vitamin D ~ Does the body good

2009-07-01T18:28:00.005-04:00

Got Milk?
Cow milk contains blood & pus!
HOLY COW!!!!

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“My personal experience,” Abell continues, “in testing thousands of samples for Vitamin D and treating hundreds of patients agrees with this and now I am seeing levels increase to ranges between 60 and 80 consistently, but only with these higher doses, and most patients starting levels are between10 and 30 to start with.”

“Other areas that Vitamin D has shown importance in include the immune system -- hugely important -- asthma, hypertension, bone health, fall prevention with the elderly, Multiple Sclerosis...the list goes on,” says Abell.

Common warning signs that Vitamin D may be lacking in your body may be: bone pain and/or soft bones, frequent bone fractures, bone deformities or growth retardation in children. Be aware if you have limited exposure to sunlight for any reason, whether it is geography, heavy use of sunscreens, or wearing protective clothing while outdoors.

Obesity is also associated with vitamin D deficiency. Since vitamin D is fat-soluble, it can be potentially less available to the body’s metabolism because it can be taken into fat cells and stored.

One study supports that production of vitamin D may also be reduced in obese individuals. When normal and obese subjects were exposed to the same amount of natural sunlight, obese subjects only produced 55% the amount of vitamin D as normal weight subjects.

Luckily Vitamin D can be obtained by proper food sources, proper sunlight and supplements.

Dr. Abell carries two different drops in his office. “One is a water soluble at 600 IU per drop that mixes in water. The other is 5000 IU per drop - 5 drops per day and the bottle should last 6 months. Two drops per day for a 50 pound child and the bottle should last a year!”

The highest ranking concentrated food sources of vitamin D include salmon, sardines, shrimp, cod, and eggs. Baked or broiled Sockeye salmon ranking in as packing the best punch with a whopping 739.37 IU of vitamin D per 4 ounces. Chinook salmon is another excellent source providing 411 IU per 4 ounces.

Sure the campaign says milk does the body good but it’s also one of the top five major food allergens. It’s not recommended for those with asthma or anyone that doesn’t want the extra mucous it will create in your body. Cow milk is best for cow babies just as nature intended it.

Summer is here and the temperature is rising. Baked Salmon in a sundress might be an excellent plan but don’t forget your supplemental drops to insure your body is getting exactly what it needs!

Swimsuit Season -- don't run for cover!

2009-06-10T11:25:00.004-04:00

“Find out who you are, then do it with purpose” ~ Dolly Parton

If the word swimsuit makes you want to press “fast forward” to cooler weather requiring clothes that yields more coverage, you may need to stop and get a body image boost. Learning to respect our body is one of the most challenging issues for ladies today. Perfectly airbrushed women are constantly flashing before us on television, poised on the cover of our coffee table magazines, and in fashion advertisements.

The problem is they’re telling us what’s hot is something that we’re not. Quite often the images women compare themselves to are those that have been inhumanly airbrushed, have added hair extensions for long locks, botoxed lips and surgically implanted breasts.

Perhaps this is why we hear our friends and ourselves say, “My hair is too thin, my lips aren’t puffy enough, and my breasts are too small.”

There is a culturally induced desire for a “perfect” body that has come before the respect, care, and love of the body we have. I am certainly not immune to the adverse impact of the media when it comes to body image but I have been fortunate to have some very strong women in my life that have shown me otherwise. Women that embrace their curves as feminine beauty are those I look to for inspiration.

Christiane Northrup, M.D., says, “We all have to retrain our eyes to see the beauty in a healthy woman with a healthy body composition. Most supermodels must be about 18 percent body fat or less.”

She goes on to say, “Articles in TV Guide and People magazine have documented that most media personalities have had or will have plastic surgery at some point in their careers. The models of perfection who beam into our global living rooms everyday set up a standard that is impossible for most to aspire to without resorting to measures such as surgery.”

I have friends that have put off wonderful beach trips to avoid being in swimsuits, know women who make love only with the lights off or dress behind closed doors. Some women will not allow their spouses to see them without makeup.

Life is simply too short to worry about the size of our thighs or a belly that shows life-giving stretch marks. It is time we accept our bodies unconditionally in this present moment and kick the media’s idea of sexy to the curb.

I once was feeling self conscious about a trip to the hot springs when my friend said, “Honey, I guarantee you he won’t look at you in that swimsuit and be thinking about the size of your thighs”.

AC/DC sings it best with the line “knocking me out with those American thighs.” I highly doubt he’s singing about perfectly toned muscular legs.

The fact is that we can stand in front of our mirrors all day and pick ourselves to the bone but rarely ever would anyone go out of their way to zone in on that part of our body in a negative way. We are our own worse critics.

Yes, ladies it’s true that a glimpse of the “perfect” woman may turn your man’s head for a moment but let’s see how he feels about the hours it takes to look this way. We can all walk out of a hair salon with beautiful bouncy hair with high volume but it takes them at least 45 minutes and every styling product known to man to achieve it. Do we want to invest time and money in this everyday? Doubtful.

Same with high heel shoes, they may make our legs appear longer and more slender but is an aching back worth the vanity? What works for an hour photo shoot may not work so well for an evening out on the town with real dancing and other real life festivities. A beautiful woman that’s cranky with tired feet may not shine as bright as the radiant chick that’s feeling comfortable in her own fashionable attire.

Coco Chanel once said, “Adornment is never anything except the reflection of the heart.” Perhaps we should find fashion that makes us feel good and sexy, allowing our natural light and vitality to shine.

Make a commitment today to respect your body as it is right now. Women who like themselves and have accepted themselves have such a contagious energy. They are irresistible and a blast to be around. Cosmo may disagree with me but I think a healthy confident woman exudes far more beauty and charisma.

Healthy Kids lose 126 pounds

2009-06-03T23:16:00.005-04:00

“Children and parents admitted to eating from drive-thru windows at least four times per week. Now that‘s a problem,” explained BJ Fletcher

Are you killing your kids?

Last Thursday evening , May 21, at The Merry Acres Event Center, Healthy Kidz graduated 13 children between the ages of 7 - 13 that had collectively lost 126 pounds within a 90 day program. BJ Fletcher, founder, ended the graduation ceremony with this startling statement, “The Heart and Lung Association says by the year 2015, one out of five families will bury their child. We are now in the time where we outlive our children.”

“These kids have really been in the public eye for this accomplishment,“ says Fletcher. “One of our participants, Rhett, age 9, did such an impressive interview with Fox 31 that we received almost forty phone calls the next day. He summed up in two minutes what doctors and nutritionists have been trying to express for years just by sharing his desire to not be overweight.”

Rhett had only had fifteen pounds to shed but wanted to be healthy so he could play football and be active and strong. He requested his parents enroll him in Healthy Kidz.

“Obesity can happen fast,” says Fletcher. “What the parents don’t realize is that 15 pounds can become a hundred very quickly when they are buying these kids fast foods and letting them drink 3 to 4 soft drinks per day.”

Upon enrollment Fletcher has each child give a pledge to avoid sodas for 90 days. On average, the children reported drinking three to four soft drinks a day prior to taking this pledge.

“The common problems reported by kids in our program were chicken nuggets, french fries and sodas. Children and parents admitted to eating from drive-thru windows at least four times per week. The food is fried and the drinks are filled with mounds of sugar. Four times a week -- now that‘s a serious problem,” exclaims Fletcher.

Corporations benefit greatly when they accomplish getting a young child hooked on their “food” products, they immediately win the business of the entire family. This marketing is clever and it’s targeted to young minds in the form of toys, playgrounds and more.

Television commercials can turn a grocery store trip into a nightmare. Have you ever noticed how there are no jingles about eating healthy fruits and vegetables? They certainly don’t come with Sponge Bob Square Pants ™ toys either. There is a huge connection with the almighty dollar and the obesity epidemic we face today. Companies are here to make money at your child’s expense.

“Fast Food joints are appealing to the parents because often their schedule is packed to the max. Kids are overloaded with activities and parents are floundering trying to fit it all into the day,” says Fletcher. “It’s a cycle that must be broken.”

The majority of the obesity issues at Healthy Kidz are reported to be from lifestyle choices. There are a couple of kids that Prednisone started putting on the pounds. One child is 410 pounds at age 13. With weight such as this, it makes you must wonder how they have the energy to run, play and be a kid.

“Parents must realize that they are responsible for their child’s health. We would not have this success without supportive parents. It’s been a learning experience for everyone involved. We joke and say, ‘If you don’t want to hear the truth, don’t call us.’ We’re not going to let the excuses slide by around here. We feel the kids are much more important than that,” says Fletcher.

“One of the biggest excuse was the cost of eating healthy. Well, I blew that out of the water. You’ve got to stop shopping at convenient stores and fast food places. Stop spending your grocery budget on these filler products that are making you sick -- potato chips, sodas, boxed desserts. You can buy a candy bar for $1.25 and a soda for $1.50. A case of water and a few packs of crystal light can bring your total drink cost to about $.40.
A box of 25 health bars is $10.”

Midway through the semester Fletcher welcomed a nutritionist to the team, Susan Nelson, M.ED, CPT. Together they taught the kids healthy alternatives to their favorite snacks.

“Nutrition is not what I do, it’s who I am. The lack of knowledge just boggles my brain. This information is everywhere. There are labels on everything and still people do not know how to properly take care of their body’s nutritional requirements,” explains Nelson.

“I often think back to my grandmother’s childhood, which today is like living on a different planet, it was totally different then. She was born in 1889. She actually didn’t go to school because she plowed a mule all day and picked cotton with her hands. She knew that hard work needed the proper fuel. She knew to eat fruits and vegetables and she taught my mother that,” says Nelson.

“Today, however, people are geared not to think. BJ [Fletcher] and I have this conversation all the time. They just drive thru and get it. The bag gets tossed in the backseat and it‘s called dinner. It’s sad because the kids don’t have a choice and they also learn that this is ‘food’,” says Nelson.

In today’s society, kids are raised eating far from the way mother nature intended. Farm to plate is rarely seen anymore and this so called “food” is loaded with preservatives, artificial colors and flavors, and worse.

Parents need to realize the umbrella of problems that come from obesity. In addition to physical struggles such as lack of energy, constipation, and acne, there are emotional issues that are very damaging. It effects the way they see the world.

“The hardest part has been being present to hear their emotional burdens of obesity. Bullying is an issue, not feeling comfortable in clothing, worrying if they’ll be made fun of or have enough energy to finish. It’s very sad because the kids aren‘t driving themselves to these fast food places nor are they filling up the grocery buggy,” says Nelson.

The group has recently added parenting classes to the program. “It’s a family issue. At our graduation program we asked these kids what they needed to make this work through the summer while away for vacation. They all said family support,” says Fletcher. “We had all the parents get up and dance with the kids and three minutes into the song everyone was smiling and laughing -- in just three minutes. A lot can happen if we’d just turn off the television for 30 minutes, take a walk outside or turn up the music and dance together.”

Nelson says, ”Mindful eating and movement are the most important aspects of any weight loss program. People must be aware of their food choices and the need to burn those calories.”

“The new American plate is recommended to be 2/3 fruits and vegetables,” says Nelson. “This is a 9 inch plate not a 12 inch plate like we’re used to. It has been suggested by the American Academy of Pediatrics, The National Cancer Research Center, The CDC, and so on, that if we do this one thing we can greatly reduce this obesity epidemic that is upon us today.”

An interesting note, out of 16,000 students enrolled in the Dougherty County School System, only 100 phone calls came through to inquire about the Healthy Kidz program. Out of those 100 calls, only 13 families signed up. Many that signed up were urged by their child’s pediatrician because of issue with pre-hypertension and pre-diabetes (type 2).

Candy, sugar and sodas are not just an issue at home. It is also quite often part of a daily offering within the school system. How did this type of food become associated as being “rewards” or “snacks”? It’s time to take a step back and really see what we are doing to our children. If medical issues such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes are not a wake up call, I shudder at the thought of what might be. It’s time to listen to what the American Heart and Lung Association are saying, “Are we killing our children?”

Last Chocolate Class in Albany for a while...

2009-05-14T12:10:00.002-04:00

Femme de Fatale, a garden friend

2009-05-13T16:57:00.002-04:00

I spent a good bit of time this mother’s day with my son in our organic garden, a lovely project shared by three local families. We were also joined by another mama and her two children. We laughed and both agreed as our kids ran around with the “good bug” identification chart, that even with our dirt smudged faces, pulling weeds and staking plants was definitely the most righteous way to celebrate our motherhood.

Garden time is like no other time on this earth. Intentionally, there is no clock in sight to measure or keep track of our time so the day becomes just one big experience where the structure just seems to fade away and something deep within takes over. We dig and we pull and sometimes our minds slip into a space that the ordinary daily “rat race” won’t allow.

My gardening partner on this special day has lost both her mother and grandmother. Many deep rooted memories can be triggered on occasions such as these and whether it‘s spoken or not, it can be felt. We talked a lot about her grandmother’s garden, back then it was all organic, and how they survived during the depression off of sweet potatoes alone.

It made me think about how women, as mothers, do so much for our children’s survival and well being.

We pulled some more weeds and flicked some interesting looking bugs and the conversation naturally shifted to insects and earth friendly pest control. We have forbidden the use of harmful chemicals to ensure safety for all in this garden we so dearly love.

We recently put up a parasitic wasp nest and also have bat houses on the way. We have learned so much about natural pesticides through this project. I’m thankful that my son is getting these lessons at age six rather than struggling later in life to learn the most basic necessity of all - growing his own food.

As we were discussing how our ladybug friends eat up to a 1000 aphids a day, my curiosity of the praying mantis popped up. They are so incredibly fascinating and have such voracious appetites. They will eat a variety of insects including aphids, grasshoppers, fruit flies, house flies, moths and crickets.

While on the subject of Mother’s Day, let me just say that is one serious mama right there. Yes, I’m aware that dining on the head of the daddy-to-be while copulating is a bit brutal but she does it to ensure proper fertilization.

Apparently, this femme de fatale protracts the entire sexual process as she chews her partner - which increases the chance of her eggs being fertilized. Oddly enough the male is able to continue even after he looses his head - literally!

The male doesn’t miss out entirely though. It appears that during this cannibalistic act, it may heighten the chances that his offspring will carry more of his genes.

Enjoying her partner as an afternoon snack is not required for successful reproduction but it is an added nutritive perk for this gutsy mama to be, after all she’ll have lots of babies to feed.

Depending on food intake, a female mantis is capable of laying up to 22 ootheca (a hard capsule-like casing with multiple eggs inside), as early as the day after mating. There can be anywhere between 30 and 300 eggs per ootheca. After laying the eggs she will only have about two weeks of life remaining.

Since praying mantises are quite large, some over 3 to 4 inches long, they are easy to spot and are loads of fun for children to watch. They are the only night predators that will feed on moths at night and are also the only ones fast enough to catch flies and mosquitoes.

Novice enthusiast and professional entomologist alike are fascinated by the praying mantis. If you’re a gardener ordering eggs for pest control, many recommend keeping a few mantises in an aquarium for children to observe it‘s lifecycle. However, after watching a very graphic documentary, I would strongly recommend keeping just one and letting it go for mating season.

Scientists say there’s no clear role in the male’s part of this ritual and whether he is compliant for unknown reasons in his own sacrificial death. Perhaps that’s a good discussion for this upcoming Father’s Day.

Chocolate Pamper Party

2009-05-08T14:27:00.005-04:00

Stop by and sample my Raw Chocolate tomorrow, May 9th

A COMFORT ZONE DAY SPA!

9AM- 1PM

229-435-1906

It makes a great gift for mom!

Free Groovy Gift Wrap!

Sold by the pound and half pound.

Cayenne for headaches

2009-05-06T12:44:00.008-04:00

Chef Franky G

Cayenne: Kicking up the heat for headaches

"If you master only one herb in your life, master cayenne pepper. It is more powerful than any other." ~Dr. Schulze

"In 35 years of practice, and working with the people and teaching, I have never on house calls lost one heart attack patient and the reason is, whenever I go in--if they are still breathing--I pour down them a cup of cayenne tea (a teaspoon of cayenne in a cup of hot water, and within minutes they are up and around)."

~Dr. Christopher

“Some like it hot so they turn up the heat till they fry,” the lyrics of this song run through my head every time I kick up the heat on some Cajun cuisine with cayenne pepper. From this point forward I have a feeling it will be the tune I whistle when I get a headache or migraine. Odd you may think but cayenne pepper is known for its healing properties and I just recently stumbled upon my own personal proof of this matter.

I had been suffering from an excruciating headache for almost two weeks and nothing was giving me that quick fix that I was so desperate for. I had gone days without eating solid food because the nausea and dizziness were overwhelming. I hardly slept but when I did I dreamt of having a headache.

I had decided to eat – no matter what. I made something quick as it was literally agonizing to stand in the kitchen. I was seasoning a delicious eggplant dish with red pepper flakes and with a slip of the wrist; a dash became a pile that was accidentally added. Starting over was out of the question so I stirred an endured a heat so intense that it brought on a wicked hallucination of Satan’s quarters.

The pain was also deep in my jaw so I was painfully aware of each bite. I noticed about halfway through, my jaw wasn’t hurting any longer and by the end of the meal, I was completely pain free. Even the pressure was gone.

I knew a few medicinal and nutritional facts about cayenne but would have never guessed it could cure a headache. I was already familiar with cayenne’s amazing power to stop bleeding in about 30 seconds from my midwifery days. I knew it increased the metabolism and also served well for detoxing.

Needless to say, it wasn’t long before I was pulling out books, researching on the computer, and calling my herbalist friends to discuss their experience with cayenne. Apparently, I was a bit behind the times with this information.

For centuries Cayenne pepper has been used medicinally to treat pain, inflammation, headaches, the circulatory system, digestive tract disorders, sore throat, and to boost immunity. It has been referred to as the most useful and valuable herb in the herb kingdom by many herbalists.

Capsaicin, the active ingredient in cayenne is who I have to thank for ending the pulsing and the throbbing. It brings relief by depleting Substance P, a neurotransmitter that helps transmit pain impulses. It may sound hard to believe, but studies show supporting evidence. In fact, over 3,000 scientific studies listed in the National Library of Medicine support the use of cayenne in preventing and reversing many health ailments.

Cayenne works in seconds and gets the blood moving faster than any herb known. The fact that it is such a great blood circulation stimulant makes it beneficial for many ailments. Our bodies need healthy blood flow to restore cells and to also carry away toxins and other waste material.

Before you go running to your spice rack for this miracle herb, you must know that cayenne peppers are measured by heat units (or "Scoville") that range from 0 to 300,000. What you have for cooking are usually around 5,000 heat units. Mexican habañeros have the best heat needed for medicinal purposes. They are between 250,000 and 300,000 heat units.

A tincture made from the hottest peppers is best. It is recommended that you refrain from taking it in capsule form as a good bit of the therapeutic value begins in the mouth. Also if you swallow a capsule, after the gelatin melts away you’ll have quite a bit of heat sitting in your tummy just waiting to be digested – without warning! Ouch!

Next time you feel a headache coming on; turn up the heat with cayenne. By the time you count to ten you'll wonder, whatever happened to the pain.

Not really a green foodie event but FUN, FUN!

2009-04-30T12:18:00.004-04:00

A night you don't want to miss...

Join me earlier this day for raw chocolate and then let's dance the night away!

Living the Blues Bash 2009

Dance the blues away May 16 with Southwest Georgia Living as they host their first Living the Blues Bash at Albany Museum of Art, featuring headliner Clarence “Big C” Cameron and local blues artists Mudhouse Blues Band.

Featured in Southwest Georgia Living’s March/April issue, Big C is a native of LaGrange, Ga., deeply rooted in gospel and Chicago-style electric blues. He honed his skills through the years as part of Athens-based Mr. Pitiful’s Blues Band and Kingfish, playing dozens of venues, including many in Athens and Atlanta.

A blues vocalist with a big presence in more ways than one, Big C is a songwriter extraordinaire, who grew up singing in the gospel choir at Wehadkee Baptist Church in LaGrange. He’s the type of enduring artist who will carry the blues torch for years to come, long after we’ve bid a fond farewell to old school performers like B.B. King, Magic Slim, Johnny Rawls, Buddy Guy and Bobby Rush.

If there was ever a voice sent straight from above, a natural, raw, God-given, make the hair stand up on the back of your neck kind of voice, it belongs to Clarence “Big C” Cameron. Today, back in Athens, having come straight off the streets of Memphis, where he played for the past seven years, Big C is preparing to bring his soulful sound to Southwest Georgia.

While blues music is inclusive of many styles, you’ll enjoy the upbeat, fun to dance to tunes of Big C and Mudhouse at this unprecedented Albany event. Backing up Big C and getting your blues blood flowing will be Mudhouse Blues Band, including Chris Cook on lead guitar; Shane Cannon, of the Kinchafoonee Cowboys, on harmonica; drummer Burt Sorrells; and Cliff Middlebrooks on bass. Cook, Cannon and Sorrells were members of the former local blues band Major Dig.
What’s better than blues and barbecue? Big C and the band will warm up Friday night, May 15, at Shugz BBQ on Philema Road, from 7-10 pm.

Success of past events such as the Full Blown Blues series makes the Albany Museum of Art the perfect venue for a night such as this. And, if we are lucky, we may be seeing more of the “Full Blown” series in months to come. Dress is casual, dancing shoes are required and the cash bar will be provided by Sunset Grill.

Doors open at 6:30 pm and the show begins at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $15 in advance and are available by phone or at Sunset Grill—Visa and MasterCard accepted. If space allows, a limited number of tickets will be available at the door for $20, cash only. For more information or to order tickets, call (229) 886-7995.

Visit www.myspace.com/gabigc to listen to a sample of the blues that Big C will be bringing to the area.

Swine Flu 411

2009-04-27T12:16:00.003-04:00

Here is a snippet of a Natural News article I read today. Interesting, and seems like pure common sense to me!

Is there any hard evidence of laboratory origins?

As of this moment, I have not personally seen any conclusive evidence of laboratory origins for this H1N1 swine flu. I am open to the possibility that new evidence may emerge in this direction, however, and I am suspicious of the genetic makeup of the virus as one possible indicator of its origins.

I am not a medical specialist in the area of infectious disease, but I have studied microbiology, genetics and a considerable amount of material on pandemics. What seems suspicious to me is the hybrid origin of the viral fragments found in H1N1 influenza. According to reports in the mainstream media (which has no reason to lie about this particular detail), this strain of influenza contains viral code fragments from:

• Human influenza

• Bird Flu from North America

• Swine flu from Europe

• Swine flu from Asia

This is rather astonishing to realize, because for this to have been a natural combination of viral fragments, it means an infected bird from North America would have had to infect pigs in Europe, then be re-infected by those some pigs with an unlikely cross-species mutation that allowed the bird to carry it again, then that bird would have had to fly to Asia and infected pigs there, and those Asian pigs then mutated the virus once again (while preserving the European swine and bird flu elements) to become human transmittable, and then a human would have had to catch that virus from the Asian pigs -- in Mexico! -- and spread it to others. (This isn't the only explanation of how it could have happened, but it is one scenario that gives you an idea of the complexity of such a thing happening).

Here's the full article: http://www.naturalnews.com/026141.html

Chocolate Pampering Party

2009-04-25T18:37:00.007-04:00

Indulge yourself...

A Unique Mother's Day Celebration

A Comfort Zone Day Spa

Saturday, May 9th - 9am - 1pm

Drop in to sample and learn the benefits of Raw Chocolate!

***

Luxurious Spa Packages for Mom

Sampler box of Kristen's Handmade Raw Chocolates with Spa Pedicure $50

Boxed Chocolates will be for sale in specialty gift shop for a limited time only:

May 7 - 21

Call for details 229-854-3863

Upside Down Tomato Plants

2009-04-22T20:09:00.005-04:00

Sunny Side Up

You’ve heard of turn that frown upside down but what about your tomatoes? Apparently, reversing each of these can lead to big smiles… or at least a look of bewilderment. We recently got cable for the first time in about seventeen years (yes, I’m serious) and apparently there’s a new product out that will grow tomatoes upside down. According to my son who first spotted the infomercial, we just “had to have one because it was the coolest”.

I was a little judgmental, especially after the Snuggly ™ commercial I saw with entire families at ballgames looking like total dorks wearing, um… clothes made from blankets. After not watching television for so many years, I must admit I felt like I had been shoved under a rock somewhere. I laughed and thought it’s no wonder we are in a recession with people buying products such as these but as an entrepreneur I secretly coveted the marketing power that made my son turn to a pile of consumer putty within sixty seconds.

I firmly told him no explaining that all those gimmicks were a waste of money and then paused as I seriously fantasized about throwing the tube out of the window. Then as my life would have it, we were visiting dear friends and as we approached their front door, I looked to my left and saw a tomato plant hanging in all of its glory -- upside down from a tree.

I rolled my eyes so hard they almost fell out of my head, trying to redirect my son’s attention in the opposite direction. To no avail he saw it and pointed in a way that would’ve made the best of bird dogs jealous. He bounced and exclaimed that these awkward looking contraptions were not all those words I had said they were.

Chatting inside while kids circled us, I brought up the tomato plant that stared at me through the window as if it were a huge white elephant begging to be mentioned.

“Okay so, what’s up with the whole tomato growing upside down thing?” I asked. “Did you actually buy it off of TV?”

My friend’s face lit up like a light bulb. You really must know her and her passion for life to even begin to imagine the excitement that immediately began oozing out of her. She is one of those people that make me feel sane when I tell her the quirky little things about my green life and obsessions.

She started waving her hands around and telling me about how she saw them and decided it would be a great recycling project. She then explained how her husband, who she is madly in love with, joined in on the project with big 5 gallon tubs from work. She explained how it had better air circulation and was harder for pesky rodents to get.

I asked about watering and it seems to be all the same. Tomatoes need lots of water in this South Georgia heat. You just simply pour it in the top of the bucket and gravity helps it get to the roots.

One big perk about this reversed method of growing is no more stakes! I recall times of getting way too intimate, down on the ground, wrapping and redirecting thick vines of heirloom tomatoes to keep them from drooping on the ground.

My friend says it’s also the perfect solution for a yard with poor growing conditions. “It takes time to tend to soil and some people just want to grow tomatoes without figuring their ground’s pH,” she explains.

The more she talked, the more I believed. I guess I respond better to this type of marketing because I left ready and willing to begin my own recycled upside down tomato garden.

As for the television, I guess it has somewhat earned its place in my home but with great censorship of course. However, one more infomercial with families dressed in blankets and I may consider hanging a tomato plant in its spot!

WE'RE GROWING LOVE

2009-04-21T12:56:00.008-04:00

We have been busy little bees traveling all over Georgia and Florida visiting organic farms with our eyes wide open! Taking notes, picking brains and bringing home all the green leafy goodness that will fit in our car!

We start breaking ground tomorrow and over the next few weeks we'll be sharing what we have learned about bat houses, worm castings, composting and all those crucial little lovlies that will make our garden grow so sweet and luscious!

We have three families involved in this local community garden. That means six kids between all of us. We are expecting LOADS of fun and hands on education not only for these youngsters but for us as well.

The best part about it is that my new partner for Bee Green's BRAND NEW sister company and I have decided to use this food we are growing for the food prepared in our business. How's that for love, love, love from start to finish! We'll have this town buzzing with good energy!

Oh and for those of you not within driving distance, shipping will soon be available!!

http://www.beegreenfoods.com/catering.html

RAW CHOCOLATE BANDITS

2009-04-19T21:42:00.008-04:00

They just couldn't help themselves!
Caught on film...

Waiting 30 minutes for chocolate to set can be very hard for little hands. Heck, it's hard for me also!

Yesterday, I added a few new items to my chocolate maca recipe that I so dearly love. I had a chef friend in town that minced figs smaller than I'd ever seen. It was the perfect addition. Their seeds gave it a nice crunch and sweetness.

I also switched out my agave for local honey. The combination of honey and figs gave this particular batch a nice chewy texture. The kids gave it a thumbs up... and so did we adults!

I'm looking forward to sharing these and much more tips about working with raw chocolate at my upcoming class here in Albany, GA May 2nd. Spots are filling fast -- reserve your seat today! Call 229-854-3863 or visit http://www.beegreenfoods.com/classes.html

Go GREEN - for real!

2009-04-17T08:52:00.015-04:00

Bringing home those organic goodies in a 100% organic REUSABLE cotton bag...
Ah, yeh -- you'll be smoking hot!
Those totting environment trashing plastic bags? NOT!!

Okay so I have rolled my eyes so hard, they will soon hit the floor... All these big businesses that are jumping up with their "go green" slogans to capitalize on EARTH DAY PROFITS while continuing to trash this planet and NOT give a hoot make me wanna stick my finger FAR down my throat. Ya hear?

If you're gonna flaunt it, back it up baby! If you're backing it up, let us hear from you and we'll help you FLAUNT IT! Visit http://www.southgeorgiagreen.com/ to find out how to love yo mama even more!

Strut your stuff in local co-ops or farmer's markets in this truly green friendly shirt
while helping a local ethical business grow even greenER!
Original artwork by local artist: http://www.cafepress.com/cindydavisart.377544769

Flouride Conspiracy

2009-04-15T14:12:00.003-04:00

WHEN IN DOUBT, SPIT IT OUT!!

Ever wonder why the fluoride in toothpaste comes with a warning but fluoridated tap water does not? The safety of fluoride consumption is a hot topic that’s under constant debate. In fact, one doctor refers to it as a scientific and medical mistake that is systemically poisoning the public, claiming it is backed by fraudulent research.

Of course there are two sides to this and experts have often locked horns over the controversial issue of mandatory water fluoridation. One doctor admits to being aware of the allegations of how ingested fluoride attacks the endocrine system and also creates disturbances far beyond that but says there is no proven scientific evidence. Another doctor says the evidence is plenty but the controlled media has been forced to paint a different picture for doctors that truly do care about their patients. Claiming that the power of persuasive marketing has taken over and many physicians simply have trusted what they were taught, not taking the time to seek the information available.

Fluoride (F-) is a chemical compound containing fluorine that is added to 66% of US tap water and is also often applied directly to teeth to prevent decay. Fluoride is very powerful and will kill bacteria on contact. This is why it’s so effective when brushed on teeth. Swallowing and ingesting fluoride is a whole other story though. To further this concern, fluoride used in toothpaste is a pharmaceutical grade. That which is used in many water supplies is reported to be from a more worrisome source.

While brushing those pearly whites tonight, take a gander at the back of your toothpaste tube and unless you are using fluoride free toothpaste, you’ll see fluoride listed as an active ingredient under drug facts. It also carries the warning that advises consumers to seek medical help or contact the poison control center if accidentally swallowed and also to keep out of the reach of children under the age of six. However, the only caution given with tap water with added fluoride is to refrain from giving it to infants until six months of age.

Part of the argument is that everyone has a right to choose their drug exposures and this certainly seems to fall under the category of mass medication. Many experts feel as if this is a violation of ethics. The other part of the problem looks at it as a violation of people’s health questioning the ingestion of a toxic chemical compound on a daily basis. There is no scientifically-valid evidence proving either safety or effectiveness of ingested fluoride.

Dr. Stanley Monteith, M.D., boldly says, “Figures don’t lie but liars do the figures.” He claims that fluoride is used in everything from insecticides to anti-depressant pharmaceuticals to the building of the atomic bomb.

“Fluoride is an excellent insecticide. You spray it on insects and they die because it interferes with their whole metabolic process. It’s also a great rat poison. It kills them dead,” says Dr. Monteith. He explains that DDT was safer and that many lectures about its safety began with the speaker eating a tablespoon of it. Is anyone willing to do that with fluoride?

He also explains how fluoride can drop your child’s IQ an estimated ten points and how rats that drank fluoride water had babies that were hyperactive. He says that it has also been linked to low sperm count and decreased sperm mobility in men.

Two women have recently spoken out about their painful stories. They were both diagnosed by an allergy specialist as having an intolerance to fluoride. They complained of swollen joints, arthritic pain and lethargy.

Dr. Monteith gives a long explanation with documentation on the history of fluoride and why he believes it was originally added to public water sources. He explains how many chemists lost their jobs and have been threatened if they expose the real facts. His theory is unnerving but backed by shocking evidence.

Many question the role Edward Bernays (nephew of Sigmund Freud) played in the promotion of water fluoridation. At that time he was definitely known as the best in the PR business for the masses. His most successful accomplishment was his marketing campaign that linked smoking with independence for women – a campaign that boosted cigarette sales and opened up an entire market for the American Tobacco Company.

Bernays learned well from his Uncle Freud’s findings and knew how to use people’s deepest fears or desires to make them want they did not need. It is also said that Bernays proudly bragged about the fact that Hitler's propaganda chief, Joseph Goebbels was one of his biggest fans. We’re all familiar with Hitler’s statement about telling a lie over and over again. The question is has this been the case with water fluoridation and if so, why?

The theories are out there swarming like mad. If you are in great doubt, you may decide to not only spit it out but throw it out. Fluoride free toothpaste is available and reverse osmosis water filters will help remove excess fluoride. Not all bottled water will be fluoride free. The only way to know for sure is to call the company directly.

If you find this information hard to swallow (pun intended) do some research on your own about the fluoride conspiracy.

Raw Chocolate Truffles Class

2009-04-14T20:53:00.008-04:00

Raw Chocolate Truffles Class with yours truly. Are you drooling yet? You should be. These truffles are packed with aphrodisiacs. Learn why they should be gobbled up by YOU and your loved ones.

I'll be demonstrating how to use raw chocolate with several different recipes. Learn how to make your own hand-rolled truffles and also how to use beautiful molds that will bedazzle your guests!

You'll also have an opportunity to buy these hard to find supplies at wholesale costs.

Seating will be limited so that I can insure personalized attention for everyone -- soooo reservations are required. You may reserve your seat by calling me at 229-854-3863.

SUPERfood Chocolate Fudge Cups

2009-04-13T08:47:00.009-04:00

I laughed and called them Chocolate Bunny Balls for Easter.

By popular request I am posting this recipe. I believe it has the power to change the world with it's ooey gooey goodness. It does not contain one single ingredient that is bad for you. To the contrary actually, it's a no pudgy fudge that's good for you -- ecstatically good for you.

I feed to it my son for breakfast and even slip a few in his lunchbox. It looks as if I'm sending indulgent forbidden goodies but I'm really growing him into a superkid. His friends munch out of dreadful processed sugars and artificial flavors made from wood pulp as he licks his fingers and grows stronger with a blissful smile.

SUPERfood Chocolate Fudge Cups with Candied Go-Go-Gogi Berries

3 cups raw walnuts

1/2 cup carob or cacao powder

2 cups shredded unsweetened coconut

3/4 cup agave nectar or raw local honey

1 tablespoon maca root powder

1 tablespoon chia seeds

Candied Go-Go-Gogi Berries

Coarsely grind berries in a coffee grinder with small amounts of carob/cacao powder. Just whizz it for a few seconds. If you desire a sweeter taste, remove from grinder and drizzle with agave/honey.

Directions:

Grind the walnuts into butter using the s-blade in a food processor.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the carob/cacao powder, shredded coconut, maca powder, chia and seeds. Mix well then stir in agave/honey and the ground walnuts. This should be very smooth and creamy.

Roll into small balls about 1-1/2" in diameter. Place in beautiful pastry papers and top with your choice of Candied Gogi Berries, Shredded Coconut or Chia Seeds.

For best results (if you can stand the anticipation) pop them in the freezer for 30 minutes before serving OR refrigerate overnight. IN-joy with a smile on your face, the big kind... from ear to ear! xo

raw chocolate with kids video

2009-04-12T17:27:00.007-04:00

Pardon me while I brag about my little bee boy becoming a RAWKstar in the YouTube world!

***

http://www.southgeorgiagreen.com/video/raw-chocolate-with-kids

Click here to watch a fun video of my son making raw chocolate with

Philip of www.LovingRaw.com.

***

This link will also take you to my latest project,

a networking page for South Georgia Greenies to unite and stay "in the know"!

The fun just keeps on keeping on...

Life Giving Sprouts

2009-04-12T17:10:00.004-04:00

Photos credits www.LovingRaw.com

It’s that time of year when many people are trying to eat lighter and be healthier. The days are longer with the warm sun shining overhead. Naturally, we are more active when the spring bug starts to bite. Typically the more active we are, the better we want to feed our bodies with food that is healthy and easy to digest.

Here’s a tip for the health conscious that are struggling to squeeze in your “five a day”. We’ve all heard that dynamite comes in small packages and the nutrient dense powerhouse of sprouts certainly falls into that category. Always thought of as a “health food”, they are now being called nature’s most beneficial food, proving themselves to have additional benefits – like curative abilities.

In a recent study, 1 oz. of broccoli sprouts had the same cancer-fighting power as over 1½ pounds of broccoli. Sprouts like alfalfa, broccoli, clover, radish, and soybeans contain concentrated amounts of plant compounds called phytochemicals that have disease fighting properties. Most phytochemicals have the antioxidant activity that protect our cells and reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer. They are also a wonderful source of vitamin C, beta-carotene, many B vitamins, and exogenous enzymes.

Sun loving chlorophyll is another bonus of sprouts. It is easy to imagine the vibrant energy filling their leaves just waiting to work their magic in your body knowing that plants soak up their energy directly from the sun, unlike humans and animals.

The best part about this perfect food is that it’s one of the easiest to grow and can be done anywhere year round with simple supplies. It can also be done very inexpensively and in your own home. There are many different methods of sprouting. You should consider your budget and time allowance for this new hobby. I am a huge fan of sprouting jars and I’m not referring to those expensive ones you can purchase in stores. A tried and tested method in my home is a wide-mouth jar -- important so I can reach my hand all the way in – covered with some type of non-toxic material that will allow proper air circulation, easy watering and drainage.

You can cover the top with cheese cloth and a rubber band but I prefer the mesh screens that can be found at craft stores. If you turn the jar upside down and trace the mouth, you can cut and secure in place with the ring that would normally hold the lid on. To me, these are the best homemade home sprouters that won’t take up hardly any room at all.

A living enzyme is activated when a grain, nut, or seed is sprouted. If you truly believe the old saying, “you are what you eat,” then add some life to your plate by sprinkling on a handful of these handy dandy little babies.

What you choose to start sprouting first should depend on your uses for them. For example, if you strictly want to increase the nutritive value of your daily sandwich or salad then sunflower or alfalfa seeds might be great beginning options. The uses for sprouts are endless, from breads to cereals to making your own nut milk. Some take two days and others take up to a week before sprouts are at full maturity.

Just a little FYI about setting up your kitchen for sprouting: your friends may say your kitchen looks like a science experiment with jars and bowls scattered about, but the rewards of eating life-giving food will far outlast the wise cracks.

Get your GREEN on for Earth Day

2009-04-08T15:13:00.009-04:00

WHAT'S IN YOUR FRIDGE???

Make your mama proud!

April 22 is Earth Day and everyone is gearing up to “go green” with fuel-efficient cars and low-flow shower heads. Bravo! Remember to pat yourself on the back as you screw in those compact fluorescent light bulbs, knowing that Mother Nature is smiling at your efforts as well.

However, don’t forget to share a bit of that green goodness with your body. The Albany Journal and The BuZz readers have been sending in their healthy fridge pictures and recipes. We’d love for you to also take a moment and snap a photo to share and take a part in our vision of a food page with delicious recipes inspired by our community.

There is power in numbers. Our carbon footprint will remain forever on our sweet planet so reduce the effects by asking a friend to join you as you stock your fridge with the environment in mind. Plant your own garden or support local farms, buy in bulk to reduce plastic and excess packaging, and see who can come up with the most creative reusable shopping bags… bolga baskets are my favorite choice!

A healthy fridge equals a healthy bod so be selective and have fun as your choices will rejuvenate your being and make yo mama proud… your earth mama, that is.

Send your healthy fridge pics and recipes to kristen@beegreenfoods.com.

Organic Gardening -- It's all in the dirt

2009-04-01T20:17:00.004-04:00

I have always wondered how my lifestyle could be so eco-friendly but my thumb be as green as downtown LA. I killed everything from houseplants to container tomatoes to rows and rows of the loveliest greens. It was heartbreaking.

I have since been let in on a little secret and now have learned that “it’s all in the dirt”. Someone put it to me as being very similar to that which is in our body (our fuel) revealing what is on the outside of our body and how it functions and grows. Now that was speaking my language.

It makes all the sense in the world, so now let’s apply it to Georgia soil. Here, our soil can be sandy or clay-based which along with other factors, will affect the pH -- whether it‘s too acidic or alkaline. There are home tests and also professionals that can determine your soil’s pH levels. These tests will also tell you how much calcium, organic matter, magnesium, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sodium , sulfur and trace minerals it contains.

Sandy soil will need your help so that it can be improved enough to retain water as where clay soil needs to be able to release water more efficiently.

Just like our bodies, soil needs the right pH balance or it will affect the availability of nutrients to the growing plants. Typically the best range is 6 to 7.5 however there are some acid loving plants like blueberries and azaleas.

Once your soil’s pH is balanced in perfect harmony, you’ll have some digging and mixing and turning over to do. Make sure you are digging as low as your plant roots are expected to reach so they’ll absorb all the goodness of your efforts.

As you turn over the earth, add in the correct ratio of humus (decomposed animal and plant matter) depending on whether your soil is sandy or clay-based.

Composting is a great way to use your own resources to enrich the integrity of the soil. The secret to good composting is thoughtful layers of organic materials, animal manures, and plain topsoil that has not been treated with pesticides. This will naturally attract our helpful worm friends that can do more for your garden than any store bought product ever could.

Healthy soil is an on going labor of love but a task well worth the energy you’ll extend. It’s hard to match the accomplished feeling of loading up your plate with nutrient rich, home grown veggies. So roll your sleeves up and get ready to get down and dirty!

Spay & Neuter Awareness Day

2009-03-30T22:07:00.002-04:00

Bees offer relief for pollen allergies

2009-03-24T23:05:00.001-04:00

Spring is here and our neighborhood roads are looking quite lovely all lined so beautifully with Dogwoods in full bloom. On those roads, however, are automobiles puttering along in yellow puff clouds of pollen. If you are one of millions of allergy sufferers reaching for yet another box of tissues with your glowing red nose and watery, itchy eyes, you may not feel like taking a deep breath and saying “yes” to spring!

Georgia allergy sufferers beware. A few days ago, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that this spring may be the worst on record for Georgia. This is the second-highest recorded pollen count since 1995 and studies show that several grasses have not even started producing pollen yet.
It is advised that those with severe allergies and asthma stay inside on the days when the pollen count is high to evade the problems this yellow fog can bring to your respiratory system. This is no fun at all considering pollen counts are usually the highest on the brightest, breezy days and lowest when it’s damp and well… gloomy.

The folks at Week’s Honey Farm in Omega, GA have a different buzz to share and it’s one that supports an old wives tale.

“We have customers that declare they get relief from seasonal allergies by taking one teaspoon in the morning and one teaspoon at night of our local wildflower honey,” says Sharon Weeks Crosby who works at the farm with her mother, husband and son.

This three generational family owned farm has been going strong now for fifty plus years and are supported by a long line of die-hard honey fans that stock up as soon as the pollen starts to blanket this region. Please note that it is recommended for best results that you begin this honey regimen a few months prior to pollen season.

“Our wildflower honey contains small amounts of the pollen that many are now suffering from,” says Crosby.

This regimen has been compared to “undergoing a whole series of allergy immunology injections” by Thomas Leo Ogren, author of Allergy Free Gardening and Safe Sex in the Garden.

Taking in small amounts of local pollen is thought to work like a homeopathic, by consuming small amounts on a consistent daily basis, the body tends to build up an immunity to it. It must be local honey or you’ll be ingesting a pollen from some other place and building up a resistance to it instead of what’s growing in your own backyard.

This is just one more reason to thank our little bee friends for all their hard work benefiting the welfare of our planet in so many ways. Albert Einstein once predicted if bees were to disappear, man would follow only a few years later. Let’s pray this theory is never put to the test!

Crosby says that it is relieving to see the bees flourishing right now. “The winter is when it’s the most critical and we did have the concern of dying bees then. Fortunately, the government has finally gotten the funding for research. This needs to be top priority.”

With bees being such an intricate part of our environment, it is unwise to not take note when they suddenly start disappearing and dying. It’s as if their little bodies and colonies should be thought of as our global barometer.

Weeks Honey Farm not only provides our area with quality local honey but they also crop pollinate for produce farmers in this region. You may find their honey in town at Bill’s Health Food and Vitamin Store, Juicy Mamas Natural Foods Market and Tommy Mc’s Produce. The farm also sells honey direct to the public. You may contact them at (229) 769-3293.

What's in YOUR makeup?

2009-03-21T06:36:00.000-04:00

How kissable are your lips?

The names cinnamon swirl, chocolate cherry fudge, and coca crème may have your mouth watering as you picture something sweet to treat your taste buds with. Don’t go running for the bon bons just yet. These are the creative names of lipstick colors and just wait until you see what you may actually be ingesting under the temptation of these ever so delicious names.

It’s interesting to note that so many lipstick colors have the names of food considering it is so generously applied and reapplied to our lips. Rough estimates have been made that we consume at least 4 lbs of lipstick in a lifetime. It’s safe to assume that anything on our lips could possibly be ingested. Think about all we do with these beautifully painted lips; eat, drink, lick them and give sweet kisses.

With that in mind, it’s time to look past the allure of tempting names and vibrant color and see what’s hiding on the ingredient list. If it’s filled with words that you can’t pronounce it may be best to avoid that particular product. The skin is our largest organ and absorbs what we lather on it. Whether it’s accidentally eating lipstick during the day or absorbing body lotion, it’s worth the time it takes to do some snooping around.

Some of the most morally offensive ingredients in many conventional makeup and body care products such as anti-aging creams may even be considered “natural”. (placentas and foreskins)There’s no tasteful way to discuss this but you’ll discover it on your own once you start reading product ingredients. I will say that it’s not very cinnamon swirly!

Moving on to chemicals… Many cosmetic companies today are tying on that pink ribbon and promising to contribute a portion of their sales to “the fight against breast cancer”. This could be considered a little hypocritical when their products contain chemicals that may actually increase the risk of developing cancer.

One of the two hottest topics right now is parabens (Alkyl Hydroxy Benzoate Preservatives) and whether we should avoid them or not. Parabens are chemical preservatives that have been identified as estrogenic and disruptive of normal hormone function. (Estrogenic chemicals mimic the function of the naturally occurring hormone estrogen, and exposure to external estrogens has been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer.)

The University of Reading in the United Kingdom in 2003 found that samples of breast cancer tissue contained parabens in 18 of 20 tumors. The study was very small but proves that more research is needed. Twelve studies have confirmed estrogen-like activity in laboratory rats injected with parabens. The results indicate a weak form of estrogen is present.

Parabens are lurking in nearly 1,300 products on the shelves today. They can be found in everything from shampoos to lotions to makeup. The leave on body products are the ones mostly being questioned.

The other red flag ingredients are phthalates. According to the Breast Cancer Action (BCA) group in San Francisco, “phthalates are known to cause a broad range of birth defects and lifelong reproductive impairments in laboratory animals that are exposed to these chemicals during pregnancy and after birth. Phthalates are also known to be hormone-mimicking chemicals, many of which disrupt normal hormonal processes, raising concern about their implications for increased breast cancer risk.”

There are many other ingredients that warrant concern due to their links to cancer, such as progesterone, formaldehyde and coal tar . One third of the products tested contain at least one ingredient that is known or suspected to be human carcinogens.

Here‘s what Purely Delicious magazine says about the average woman‘s morning routine, “Although you have successfully readied and beautified yourself for the day, you have also unknowingly contaminated yourself with over 126 cancer-causing agents, birth defect-causing petrochemicals, and toxic environmental pollutants.” Now that’s a mouthful!

Over the next week I will be scouting out natural and safe beauty care products that can be found locally in Albany. Mineral makeup seems to be highly recommended as a nice cosmetic alternative. I already have a make over scheduled and can’t wait to share my findings with you next week! Please share your thoughts with us! Email your natural beauty tips from local sources to kristen@eegreenfoods.com.

Pay it forward

2009-03-14T17:55:00.001-04:00

When the going gets tough, folks have to stick together. So next time you’re out and about, looking for somewhere to eat or needing to pick up a gift or a new pair of shoes, think locally. By supporting locally owned businesses, you can pay it forward, keeping money in the local economy and keeping local business owners in business.

Recent studies across the country show that, for every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $45 stays in the local economy, creating jobs and expanding the city’s tax base -- three times the amount generated by a national chain or franchise store. When you do the math, it isn’t hard to understand why it’s so important to keep those dollars in the local economy by shopping and eating at locally-owned business.

With the kickoff of this exciting “buy local” campaign, co-sponsored by The Albany Journal, Southwest Georgia Living and WALB News 10, Southwest Georgia joins a growing list of communities throughout the country that are adopting such programs to encourage local spending.

Business can be especially tough for independent local businesses, such as pharmacies, bookstores, restaurants, clothing retailers and hardware stores, all fighting for a piece of the pie.In addition to locally owned food and retail businesses, there are also all the locally owned service providers, such as plumbers, electricians, Web page designers and beauticians—the list goes on and on. They all need the support of the local consumer as well.

Also, a dollar spent at a locally owned business has a much bigger impact on a local economy than a dollar spent at a chain because local retailers buy more of their goods and services from other local businesses. That is where “pay it forward” really comes into play. If fellow local business owners support one another, while receiving strong support from consumers, everyone wins.

Local businesses employ an array of supporting services in their communities, such as architects, designers, cabinet shops, sign makers and construction contractors. Local businesses can use local accountants, insurance brokers, computer consultants, attorneys and advertising agencies to keep things running smoothly. In return, those hired by local businesses are more likely to return the favor by doing business with them. It’s back scratching in its highest form.

Stories of success with similar campaigns around the country evoke a vision of strong, close-knit and economically independent communities. This is an opportunity for Southwest Georgia to write its own success story. At a time of economic anxiety and uncertainty, when powerful entities like multinational corporations seem out of our control, a message of local economic self-reliance and community self-determination is deeply compelling.

Before developing shopping habits, consumers typically choose to do business where they perceive they will receive the best value for their time and money. And while finding that great suit on sale at a national chain may provide some instant gratification, in the long run it may cost more than you bargained for in terms of the value local businesses return to their communities.A marketplace of hundreds of small businesses helps to ensure more innovation and competition, and lower prices over the long term.

Local businesses choosing products and services based on what their local customers need and want, not a one-size-fits-all national sales plan, guarantees a more diverse range of product and service choices.In addition, local business owners and employees typically have a high level of expertise and a passion for the products they sell.

They also tend to have a greater interest in getting to know their customers, who are, after all, also their neighbors and friends.Local businesses create a sense of place for a community, but they can only survive if they are supported.

Local owners, who typically invest much of their life savings into their businesses, have a vested interest in the long-term economic health of a community. They are also essential to local charitable endeavors, and their owners frequently serve on local boards and support numerous causes, all in the name of building a better, stronger community for those who live there.At the end of the day, we’re all in this together.

Weather the storm by keeping your local business owners in business; it’s the only way to assure consumers will continue to have an array of local businesses from which to choose. In an increasingly homogenized world, communities that support and preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses are more likely to attract entrepreneurs and new investment, not to mention visitors who also are willing to spend their dollars in a local economy.

So remember, pay it forward. Buy local. Eat local. Be local.

Have a business? Get a poster if you have an independent business of your own, be sure to stop by one of the locations listed below to pick up a poster to display at your store! One good dollar turns into another, so Pay It Forward! Albany -- Flint Community Bank, Westover Lawn and Garden, Ford Town of Albany, Albany Lincoln-Mercury, , Tanner-Deen Nissan, Place on the Pointe, Who’s Who, A Room or Two, Tommy Mc’s Produce, Custom Interiors, Allen’s Jewelers, Ann Kelly's Garden Shop, Merle Norman, Pro 1 Sportswear; Leesburg – Shelby’s Market Place; Americus -- Lollipop Kids, The Maze, Minick Interiors; Thomasville -- Liam's Restaurant; Camilla -- Hagan's Nursery, 85 Broad; and all Turner’s Furniture locations.

'Tweet' your heart out

2009-03-10T21:30:00.001-04:00

I hardly know "Laura", a super cool, artsty-fartsy chick on the West Coast. I barely remember her from our high school days, some 17 years ago. I really can't recall any memories of her from back then, but I can tell you that she ate a veggie sandwich for lunch today. I can also tell you that the colors of the avocado she sliced open for that sandwich served as the inspiration for her afternoon art class.

We both have children that are the same ages and they love watching the same movies over and over again. We enjoy bouncing "mommy advice" questions off of each other. It's especially fun when other moms jump in and kick start the discussion. Laura is a great cyber friend. Apparently though, we feed our kids very differently, because last night at 6:52 Pacific time she posted that they enjoyed a "sweet treat of banana splits as a bedtime snack complete with sprinkles and chocolate syrup".

How do I know these things when my own schedule is too hectic to simply drive across town and share a cocktail with the girls? I can keep up with everyone in a moments glance at today's "News Feed" on Facebook, the Internet site that asks its users, "What are you doing?" As strange as this may sound, we all answer - some more honest than others depending on how transparent they wish to be -- with little bite-sized tidbits of our daily life.

A few days ago Laura asked if anyone had any knowledge about a Lexmark X7675 wireless printer. Within seconds she had several very informative responses. She made her decision and I got the low-down on this printer that will work regardless of where in the house you set up your laptop. I might also add that it was Facebook comments that sold me on my iPhone. I had never before seen a commercial or read any literature about it. I just heard everyone boasting about how awesome it was and I headed to our local AT&T store. I already knew everything the sales guy tried to tell me because of people that weren't even employed by the company.

So before those of you that do not share this latest crazed addiction go assuming that I'm stalking Laura along with 399 other "friends", I'd like to explain that Facebook, claiming to be the world's largest social network, has 175 million members. Admittedly, trying to explain the fascination with a site such as Facebook, Myspace and Twitter is challenging to say the least. Those that are social internet converts "get it" and each day stay digitally linked in with others that also enjoy this interconnectedness.

It's sort of like hanging out at the beauty shop and getting all the dirt and latest news. You get to see who married who and find out what kind of life they are living today. At times, there is drama stirred up among "Tweeters" (a name given to Twitter contributors). I have often compared it to a pint-sized, real life soap opera but for the most part it is all kept light and in good fun.

If you ask five different "Tweeters" or "Myspacers" what the allure to these sites are you‘ll most likely get five different answers. The reasons range from spouses being overseas to business networking and even dating. Many people keep up with old friends that have moved away and often find new friends with similar interests. Grandparents can go to their child's profile page and see pictures of their grandchildren and even get family updates.

The one common answer that I've heard is how addicting it is, claiming "once you get on it's hard to get off." The contagiousness of it all has been referred to as a "wildfire that transcended geography".

Cell phones now have built-in special features for these sites, making it possible to link in with your hubby while stuck in traffic. Perhaps the grocery store is on your way home and you need to know if there is enough OJ for breakfast. Wouldn't a phone call or text be faster? Yes, of course, but these days most folks directly log right in to their home page to leave a digital note.

Recent data shows that social networking sites have become more popular than e-mail. There is concern that the plugged-in world may interfere with real life friendships and quality time with loved ones. However, many users are showing the opposite and there's even a cute little name for it. A "Tweet-Up" is a gathering of people that met through Twitter and get together in the flesh not just cyber land.

In a rather hectic world where people rarely speak when passing on the street, these sites make it easy to pinpoint folks with the same interests. It's also about self expression, validation, and feeling heard among this patchwork quilt of friends.

Think smart and be safe. Use caution when approving friend requests. All of these sites offer privacy options that should be used if you plan to share personal information about yourself or especially your children. You must take the time to enable these settings as it does not come preset for your safety.

Gluten-Free Awareness

2009-03-07T06:04:00.000-05:00

“What food is to one man may be fierce poison to others.” -- Lucretius

Change your food, change your life. This may sound like an interesting statement deserving of one’s attention or it may sound like a bunch of hype. For those that suffer from gluten intolerance or sensitivity, this could be the best advice they ever choose to follow. It may be the only solution to curing the agonizing health roller coaster that has plagued many, unknowing of the cause, for years.

We Americans are known for our love of food and attachments to “certain” ways of eating. There is often much resistance when it is suggested to give up any little morsel of something we so dearly crave. This in part may explain why diet can often be the last thing evaluated when diagnosing illness today even though much research and knowledge of the human body proves that it should actually be considered first, as a core issue.

Gluten is a special type of protein that is commonly found in the grains barley, rye and wheat. It is often thought of in baking as the stretchy, elastic part that holds baked goods together like glue. There are plenty of other grains with high protein content that do not contain gluten. Use caution with oats! They must be grown in a certified “gluten-free” manner as crop rotation will contaminate this grain.

Food-manufacturers have stepped up to fill our “want it now” and “please comfort me” desires with an inexpensive, easy to grow crop – wheat. A nation demanding more convenience items is a nation consuming more “cheap filler” products than our bodies were ever designed to handle. Gluten can be found in everything from TV diners to canned soups to the coating on deli meat. It is used to thicken salad dressings, sauces and gravies. It is truly amazing at how it’s hidden in just about everything on the conventional market shelf today.

Unfortunately a large segment of the population cannot tolerate gluten. It is a systematic autoimmune disorder. These people are said to be gluten sensitive and will suffer from an immune system reaction if gluten is consumed. For over 50 years now, doctors have made the connection to gluten as the cause of celiac disease (CD). CD is an autoimmune disorder centered in the gastrointestinal system. An estimated 1 in 133 people are affected in the United States, as supported by research. For those that have a first-degree relative with CD, the odds are higher, 1 out of 22.

The numbers are even higher for those with gluten sensitivities; researchers now speculate a whopping 3 out of every 10 people in the United States. Such a large amount when considered the majority of food is made with gluten. It has often been questioned if this is coincidental with half of the population having a chronic disease and 30 percent of the population suffering from gluten sensitivity. Could it possibly have anything to do with the increase in wheat used in this country? Many are now saying it’s possible.

Having sensitivity to gluten is not the same thing as having an allergy. This is one huge misconception that leaves people feeling sick because they’ll continue eating the wrong food when an allergy test to gluten returns negative.

Food allergies are tested with an IgE test, which will help determine the culprits that will cause reactions that usually happen within ten minutes to an hour, sometimes faster.

Food Immune Reactivity (FIR) or food intolerance may often be referred to as a food allergy but it’s actually much more complicated and more difficult to diagnose as these symptoms may take anywhere from several hours to days to become apparent. With this the antibodies are different; antigliadin antibody (IgA), anti-tissue transglutaminase (ATTA), and anti-endomysial antibody (EMA).

These antibodies are not histamine triggers; rather creators of chronic inflammation in the body and can destroy the intestinal villi. This is when gluten sensitivity becomes celiac disease.

Dr. Melinda Greenfield of Albany Dermatology, says, “I suggest trying a gluten-free diet to all of my patients with any sign of inflammatory issues. I have seen symptoms disappear across the board in those that eliminate these grains from their diet.” Greenfield is a huge believer in the food connection with the body and has her entire family following a gluten-free, casein free diet.

An elimination diet while keeping a food journal is often recommended for a minimum of six weeks, testing to see if suspect symptoms clear. Dr. John Abell, a local internist, says, “An elimination diet is the gold standard if any certain food is suspected to be causing problems.” Dr. Abell has seen the impressive results with many of his patients here in Albany -- not just with gluten but many other food triggers as well.

In her book The Gluten Connection, Shari Lieberman, PhD, CNS, FACN, states that leaving grains out of the diet all together will not do any nutritional harm. She compares gluten sensitivity to a chameleon-like disease that can develop in many different, unsuspecting ways. She cautions the dangers of misdiagnosis.

Many skin disorders due to gluten sensitivity have been misdiagnosed because patients did not complain of gut problems. It was only about 40 years ago that the connection was made. Countless drugs and ointments have been prescribed where a gluten-free diet was needed.

Probably the most heartbreaking misdiagnosis of all has to do with the numerous neurological disorders in children. It is no way implied that gluten sensitivity is the culprit for these issues however; it can take on some of the same types of symptoms, as stated in the book The Gluten Connection. It can leave parents doing quite a bit of detective work on their own trying to cipher between conventional wisdom and what they actually see happening for themselves. As parents deal with the day to day basis of a doubting community or worse, those that simply think the child is a spoiled brat, the child goes without what it so desperately needs – understanding.

Inflammation is a huge factor in Autism, according to the writings of Kenneth Bock, MD and Cameron Stauth. In their book, Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies, it states, “I had seen emerging evidence that inflammatory free radical damage was an important cause of Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, cancer, and arthritis. Why not autism? Maybe free radical related inflammation contributed to it.”

He goes on to say, “…if I had known then what I know now… Now almost all doctors realize that inflammation is an extraordinarily important element of most critical, chronic diseases. For example, about half the people who die of heart attacks don’t have the classic heart disease risk factors, such as high cholesterol, but they do have arteries that are hard and thick with chronic inflammation.”

The Autism Research Institute (ARI) wanted to find out which remedies were most effective and sent out a questionnaire to over 23,700 parents. One of the most effective treatments reported was removing gluten and casein (the major protein found in cow’s milk) from the child’s diet. 65% of the parents reported their child got better.

Cow’s milk is known to stimulate the overproduction of mucous. It is the most common food factor, according to Dr. Kenneth’s Bock’s book, to trigger an asthma episode, wheat is second. These food factors not only trigger the episode but cause inflammation. “Even eating the wrong type of diet can contribute to inflammation … The conventional treatment of asthma, unfortunately, fails to place enough emphasis on food allergies and good nutrition.”

Food plays a huge role in the body and should be considered further than just our taste buds and convenience. Inherently we know this. It is to be compared to fueling up a vehicle with the gas that was intended verses trying to slip by on diesel. Each body is different and what works for one may simply trash another. Following a gluten-free diet today is easier than ever. It just takes some getting use to. Reading labels will seem very time consuming at first, but soon will feel like second nature. With all of the alternative products on the market today, no one should miss out on any flavor.

It’s important to be pro-active in your own health care. Using your body as a barometer is a great tool if you are having symptoms but please understand sometimes CD is completely symptom free. Explain your concerns to your doctor and ask for the RIGHT tests.

****

For more eye-opening articles such as this, pick up Vintage Magazine today! Go to www.thevintagemag.com for a listing of businesses that carry this free magazine!

Don't worry -- eat chocolate!

2009-03-02T17:38:00.001-05:00

Chocolate -- it’s amazing how such a soft word that gently rolls off the tongue when spoken can ignite some of the most decadent and intense thoughts. It is such a shame that for many, in a world of obesity and calorie counting, it has become a forbidden food. Women mostly are known for their love of this sweet treat and have reported uncontrollable cravings. Often they overindulge themselves and then suffer the wrath of great guilt afterwards with a pile of candy wrappers in the trash.

It is possibly an innate wisdom that sends women reaching for those decadent bon bons. Women are most likely craving chocolate during their menstrual cycles because of the drop in progesterone, which is mainly to blame for PMS mood swings. One of the highest natural sources of Magnesium is cacao. Boosting magnesium in one's diet is the best way to ease this drop in progesterone.

Chocolate was once prized and traded even as currency. Chocolate itself is not bad and certainly should not have that lingering guilt feeling attached to it. It is what has happened to chocolate over the years that is to blame; such as the over processing and the additives. There is an interesting history behind chocolate, one that is full of mystical and medicinal attributes. The earliest records link to the Mayans in 600 AD when they first discovered cocoa plantations in the Yucatan.

Before the 19th Century, some rather impressive discoveries had been made about this most interesting cacao pod and what to do with the beans encased in the white masking within. Mostly the beans were ground and chocolate was served entirely as a drink for the wealthy.

By the 1800’s CJ Van Houten, a Dutch chemist, actually squeezed out the cacao butter from the beans, making it a more soluble product. Then, Robert Lindt was the brains behind adding the butter back to the chocolate thus making it possible to set in bar form -- creating the velvety consistency that makes this chocolate goodness melt in your mouth. A product to be enjoyed in bliss not guilt!

Later came all the heating and rolling and refining. Then the dairy products, the artificial additives and refined sugar were added into the mix. This is where the guilt comes in… as with any pure and delicious food, the more the “factory” gets involved, the less of a food product it actually becomes.

If you choose dark chocolate and read labels carefully you need not harbor any guilt as long as you enjoy in moderation. In fact the chemical phenylethylamine (PEA) fond in chocolate is often referred to as the love molecule because of its mood enhancing effects. This is the joyful chemical our brain naturally produces in response to elevated emotions such as love and happiness.

History states that chocolate was one of the first cardiac medicines used. Today it is even said that moderate amounts of dark chocolate may reduce the risk of blood clots and platelet formation in the arteries that can lead to stroke -- similar to low-dose aspirin, according to a Mayo Clinic report.

“Dark chocolate, not milk or white, is high in antioxidants “flavanoids”. Consuming dark chocolate may reduce your blood pressure and may also lower your bad or “LDL” cholesterol,” says Steven Wolinsky, D.O., F.A.C.C. of Cardiology and Associates in Albany. “Dark chocolate has also been demonstrated in studies to show an improvement in vascular function which may translate into fewer heart attacks.”

The allure of chocolate is now firmly supported in health and happiness. Maybe this explains why chocoholics are some of the most pleasant people on the planet!

MSA Testing Explained -- free workshop

2009-02-20T14:30:00.001-05:00

Want to know more about what they are doing??

I stumbled upon this cozy place last week when my son was sick with the flu. I had run out of my fav homeopathic flu remedy and was in a bit of a pickle because it made such a difference in him.

As divine timing would have it... Debbie Peavey, owner of Live Naturally, called me to talk about various business topics and through this conversation I discovered she had my flu remedy! I rushed on over and fell in love with the place! It didn't hurt that she set my son up for a footbath and then made me a cup of Dr. Mercola's most recommended tea! I felt sooo taken care of -- role reversal for this mama!

I'll tell you all about this charming family owned store and services later. I'm featuring her in The Albany Journal next week in my A Healthy Albany section.

For now I want to spread the word about a FREE class she is hosting next Saturday, February 28th at her place on Ledo Road. 2:30 - 4:30 She'll have two guest speakers from out of town.

-Renee Dorminy from Natural Soultions will be discussing MSA testing. What it is and how it works.

-Jim Hawver with Breman Health Clinic will be discussing Standard Enzyme Vitamins.

I couldn't help myself but to join in the fun and offered my Raw Chocolate Truffles for sampling.

Call Live Naturally today at 229-888-2466 to reserve your spot. Seating is limited!

Easter Seals 15th Annual Chocolate Classic

2009-02-18T00:09:00.001-05:00

Last year Bee Green won "Most Original" with our

organic, gluten-free, brown rice

drum roll -- DEATH BY CHOCOLATE CAKE!!

Thursday, February 26th

7:00 in the evening

The Hilton Gardens Inn

Valentines day is over and done with but that does not mean you must put away the chocolates. To the contrary, Albany’s biggest chocolate fest is right around the corner! What could be more romantic than sipping champagne and feeding chocolates to the one you love?

It is already thought of as a feel good drug, it’s got that comforting allure about it. Add the feel good vibe you get when supporting charity and you’ve got Easter Seals 15th Annual Chocolate Classic.

Albany’s top chef, bakers and one raw foodist (guess who?) put their best dessert forward in attempt to bedazzle your taste buds and win your over for this people’s choice contest! The varieties are as different as the personalities of the loving hands that prepared these special treats for your enjoyment.

Rumor has it that Jason Hedricks of Doublegate Country Club is hand crafting a most exotic zebra cheesecake. I know my girl, Wendy, from Sweet Thangs Bakery will also throw down this year! There’s even some buzz about raw chocolate truffles, prepared by yours truly -- a most seductive introduction to chocolate as mother nature intended. Prepare to be seriously seduced by The Bee Green Team.

For more information about this most decadent event and fund raiser please contact Easter Seals of Southern Georgia at 229-439-7061. Make sure you stop by and say hi!

Superfoods Made Super Easy

2009-02-16T19:35:00.001-05:00

www.toddstonephoto.com

Kristen Taylor and Dan Jenkins adding a "superfood" twist

to this ole' favorite treat!

Top six super foods to put the pep back in your step!

(This article is featured in this month's Vintage Magazine with full color pictures and recipes. Visit www.thevintagemag.com to find out where you can get YOUR copy Free!)

To hear the word Superfood you may immediately envision a broccoli man with bulging biceps wearing a superhero cape jumping from building to building. As entertaining as this thought may be, superfoods are much simpler than this and judging by appearance alone can even be a bit, well… boring.

They are not super funky and they are not super difficult to bring into your daily diet. However, these tiny wonders are believed to hold the power to make big changes in your health and vitality. So even if you aren't so bedazzled as to wear your underwear on the outside and tie a cape around your shoulders, superfoods may actually help you feel vibrant enough to go looking for building tops to leap!

Superfoods are purported to fight the evil villains of heart disease, high cholesterol, cancer and a host of other diseases. High concentrations of vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, enzymes, and proteins are what makes them so potent. Yes, blueberries are good for us but Goji berries have twice the amount of antioxidants. Because they contain all eight essential amino acids, they have the added benefit of being a complete source of protein. They also have more beta carotene than carrots.

Goji Berries

Goji berries actually top the charts and have been referred to by David Wolfe, an author considered to be the world’s leading authority on raw-food nutrition, as possibly the most nutrient dense food on the planet. It is also the only food source known to stimulate growth hormone, making it highly sought after for it’s anti-aging properties.

It is said that a handful of goji berries in the morning will make you happy for the rest of the day. They are the size of raisins and have a slightly bitter taste that compares to the combination of a cranberry and a cherry. Typically, they are eaten dried. Their deep intense red color makes a beautiful accent to any dish whether it be a main course or a decadent dessert.

Chia Seeds

“Chi-chi-chi chia” is a marketing jingle that you can expect to be running through your head now for the rest of the day. If consumers had only known to feed those tiny black seeds to their children rather than grow a bushy, green dog with them!

Chia is a nutrient-dense seed that was prized more highly than gold by the Aztecs and with good reason. In addition to it’s high levels of nutrients and fiber content, it is the richest known vegetable source of Omega-3 fatty acids.

With nearly three times the amount of antioxidants of blueberries, more calcium than milk, and more iron than spinach, it’s hard to go wrong with this super seed. Chia is also a better source of protein than beans or soy!

Chia seeds have a nutty flavor and are easy to enjoy. No grinding is necessary as opposed to flax seeds. You can eat them straight out of the bag or sprinkle on top of salads, cereal or yogurt. They can conveniently be added to smoothies or anything else you desire to pack an extra nutritional punch.

Hemp Seeds

Hemp, hemp hooray! First let’s clear the air by saying hemp foods do not contain THC, the psychoactive substance in marijuana, meaning they are perfectly legal and cannot get you high.

Hempseed oil contains 54.4% linolenic acid (Omega-6), 18.3% linoleic acid (Omega-3), 2-5% gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and 1-2% stearidonic acid; and as such is one of only 4 oils to do so: hemp oil is also the most economical of the group.

Sixty-five percent of the protein content in hemp seed can actually be used by the body in the raw state unlike that in soybeans, which have to be cooked or sprouted to be edible.

As with the chia seed, hemp seeds are convenient and tasty. The flavor of hemp seeds will vary depending on the humidity of a particular growing season. Most often, you will find the flavor to be nutty just as with chia seeds, but with much more intense flavor.

Hemp seeds are nice additions for baked goods such as muffins or bread. They are easy to scatter on salads and blend well in smoothies. Unlike chia seeds, they must be refrigerated after opening.

Cacao

This is such a fun word to say aloud! Pronounced Kah-Cow, as in holy (kah) cow! A few nibbles on this stuff and Forrest Gump would‘ve been running non-stop with a big ‘ole smile on his face.

Chocolate in it’s unprocessed, whole form, is called raw cacao -- a nutrient-dense superfood. It provides a healthy dose of magnesium, iron, phosphorus, calcium, zinc and much more. Research shows that it has twice the antioxidants of red wine and green tea.

Treats made with pure, raw cacao are not to be confused with the partially hydrogenated, artificially flavored candies marketed as chocolate on today’s grocery shelves. Recent studies show that milk may actually interfere with the absorption of antioxidants from chocolate and may therefore negate potential health benefits that can be derived from eating moderate amounts of dark chocolate.

Vanessa Barg, Certified Holistic Health Counselor and raw chocolate connoisseur, owner of Gnosis Chocolates in New York City, highly recommends super foods to her clients. She makes it easy to indulge in health by adding several super foods to each of her gourmet, raw chocolate bars.

Gnosis’ best selling bar is SuperChoc. It contains the following healthy ingredients: Cacao beans, cacao butter, honey with royal jelly and propolis, agave nectar, goji berries, freeze-dried raspberries, bee pollen, mesquite, maca root powder, Siberian ginseng powder, ashwaghanda powder, gingko biloba powder, gotu kola powder, burdock root powder, açai powder, crystal manna flakes, vanilla bean, reishi mushroom extract, passionflower powder, rose hips, orange zest, and love.

Making your own chocolate is a cinch to do with all the candy molds and supplies available at craft stores these days. You can make a large quantity and store in the freezer for when the urge hits. If you’re not feeling that adventurous, toss a spoonful of cacao powder into your favorite smoothie.

Gone are the days of feeling guilty about eating chocolate. Choose raw cacao and consider it to be indulging in your health!

Coconuts

The water inside of a young thai coconut is much like the fountain of youth. David Wolfe actually compares it to human blood plasma. He supports that plasma makes up 55% of human blood. The remaining 45% of human blood consists of hemoglobin, which he says is essentially transformed plant blood (chlorophyll). David says when a drink is consumed containing 55% fresh coconut water and 45% fresh green-leaf juice, it’s like receiving an instant blood transfusion.

He’s referring to the water inside of a young coconut. These can be easily recognized in supermarkets and health food stores because they have already been shaved down to be smaller and easier to use. With a white, dome-like pointed top, these are available shrink-wrapped in plastic.

These pre-cut coconuts are easier to open, requiring the use of a good cleaver, because the bottoms have been cut flat to eliminate rolling around on the counter. The water should be strained out to separate any hard chips of shell that may have been dislodged while hacking into it. The young flesh-like meat may be spooned out and also enjoyed.

The silky, thin meat found in a young thai coconut is much different from that found in brown, hairy coconuts. These are mature and have a more fibrous meat and may not always have a fair amount of water on the inside. There is a distinctively different taste and is also harder to digest.

A quick an easy way to include the benefits of coconut in one’s daily diet is coconut oil, sometimes referred to as coconut butter. Coconut oil can be used for cooking at medium temperatures. It can be spread on waffles or toast and even stirred into grits.

There are tons of testimonies supporting coconut oil as a weight loss aid. Dr. Raymond Peat (a leading researcher in the field of hormones) refers back to the l940s, when farmers attempted to use cheap coconut oil for fattening their animals, but to the contrary they found that it made them lean and active instead.

E3Live TM (Algae)

Stop thinking fish bowl and think boundless energy! E3Live TM is 100% Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae (AFA for short) that is an all-organic wild-harvested aqua-botanical from Klamath Lake in Oregon.

It contains 64 easily absorbed vitamins, minerals and enzymes and is said to have more biologically known chlorophyll than any known food. Dr. Gabriel Cousens, Director, Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center, and Dr. Fred Bisci, a national renowned health lecturer, both consider E3Live TM to be nature’s most beneficial health food.

Some possible health benefits are increased endurance and stamina, increased mental focus, balanced blood sugar levels, and much more! It has been called “a true gift from nature”.

This form of AFA can be purchased as a frozen liquid or in capsules. It is as easy to include in a balanced diet as any other supplement or vitamin and makes a powerful green smoothie.

Superfoods made super easy!

It’s easy to get excited about the incredible and healing powers that natural foods contain. The issue is usually bringing them into the kitchen and making them be a successful part of everyday meals. All six of the super foods mentioned here are simple enough to be blended into smoothies but are also versatile enough so that they can be part of a beautiful and gourmet meal.

The easiest way to have them included in a daily diet is to stock up and store them in glass containers where they’ll be visible and within easy reach. Adding a tablespoon here and there to smoothies or a quick sprinkle on salads takes literally no extra effort if properly set up.
Vibrant health is contagious and once most people experience the results of super foods, they eventually desire more. Experiment with recipes but do not get overwhelmed. There’s a whole word of goodness just waiting to be explored.