Slave Food...

Peace!

Today was quite an interesting day...

I got a phone call this morning from the extended fam saying they were heading into Detroit and asked if I wanted to come. Of course! With me leaving to go back home in just a few days this would be my last chance to experience my (only) favorite place here in Michigan.

So she comes through, scoops the Seed and I up and long story short, the task at hand come to find out was to swing through the Eastern Market to purchase some.....

........wait for it.......:

Chitlins.

Yes!!! *retch*

Oh My Gawd it was like walking into a morgue. Hog maw, pig heads, pigs feet, and every other unidentifiable body part scooped out of the deceased was all out for display and it was PACKED full of people (mainly older folk) trying to squeeze through the crowds and place their order.

To me it didn't reek too much in there. I guess because it was such a big building and it was very open, and plus I'm used to the smell of death (sadly). Had I been pregnant I would not have made it through the door.

However, tucked all the way in the corner of this one particular section of the market was a very cozy and quaint health food store. I was elated! I hung out there for a bit while the fam made their purchases. I bought some aloe vera gel (woot!), coconut water to drink on the way home and some coconut oil for my hair.

Unfortunately I did have to ride an hour and a half in the car with like 10 lbs of chitlins in the trunk (in an SUV so the funk just flowed freely throughout). 0_o

What is it about slave food that our people hold on to?

I mean these folks were excited to get their hands on these chitlins. Who wants to spend 3 hours out of their day cleaning fecal matter out of their food? I just cannot fathom that.

Is it that they believe they are paying homage to their ancestors who didn't have a choice in what they ate? Or is it that they have yet to have been liberated? I mean, the people around here are seriously about 25 years behind. You would think the elections might have unlocked some 'freedom' within these folks but obviously not. Must've been the wrong key.

They still talk about who has good hair/bad hair or what parent gave their child his light 'skin-did' complexion on a daily basis. The concept of 'Asiatic', 'Original Man/Woman', or 'Supreme Being' has not permeated any town north of Detroit. It's a damn shame. We're still battling amongst ourselves after all this time.

I wanted locs done before I left and I asked this girl if she knew how to start them and she looked at me completely puzzled.

......locs.....?

......................dreadlocks?........'oh!!!!! no.......sorry.'

Of course I'm asking a chick who is rocking a wig on top of a wig (word is bond) so I should've anticipated her answer but who doesn't know locs?

But I digress.

I never grew up with slave food, nor anything that could be constituted as 'soul food' neither. It's a heart attack on a plate. I don't know what's so good about it.

Watch people indulge in this type of food and how their body reacts shortly thereafter. It's like that scene in Sugar Hill when Roemello and Raynathan's father took that very last hit. A slightly dramatic analogy but shit, this slave food is just a slower method with the same end result.

Break free from the shackles of oppression and let that mentality (and awful eating) go!!

Supplements-yes, no?

Peace Fam,

Today I wanted to briefly touch on Supplements and see how they fit into your daily routine.

Some Raw Food Purists will be the first to cry out, 'omg THAT'S NOT RAW!' but let's be honest, a lot of raw foodies drink hot tea (me included!-I'm not waiting all day to let the sun do it), coffee, and burn Equality (weed). I know quite a few. No matter how hard you try, nothing is ever 100% raw, unless you have your own organic garden growing in your backyard and live entirely off the Earth without any need to go to your local grocers.

Keeping it real, I hate raw food purists. They're like Bible Thumpers with a menu in their hands instead. There is no one right way to do Raw. They want you to be like them, but you don't share the same body so how can that be justified? You have to do you and listen to your body. Not these retards who don't remain dogmatic for very long; they will always fall and fall hard. Boy is that fun to watch (LOL).

The supplements I currently take are: Vitamin B complex (tastes retched), Sunny Green's 'Total Greens' (which is a blend of Organic Kelp, Wheat Grass, Barley Grass, Alfalfa leaf, Chlorella, Spirulina and vitamin/minerals), and Vitamin E (doing a natural healing experiment on myself). And technically speaking, any powders (purple corn woooot!) can be considered supplements as well since they are adding on to what you already consume.

I do intend on switching my source of B Vitamin in the very near future with bee pollen; that pill turns my pee a fluorescent yellow and I can imagine going to do a pre-hire drug test and the whole building shut down once they take a look in that sample cup. =^_^=

So what's your view on supplements, and if you do use them, which ones?

Christmas and Jeebus

Fa la la la la la la la lot of crap.

In my 'old' age (or age of awareness I guess), I've gotten out of the habit of celebrating Christmas. I mean, let's use Dec 25th to celebrate my birthday even though in all actuality it was 6 months ago. That's what the 85ers are doing.

Christmas has never been about Christ and his 'birth' for some time now. If it was, then why do people become so agitated during the Holiday season and trample over innocent store workers because of discounts? With the way our economy is now, the shit that has been on sale since Black Friday still is, maybe even more than it was a month ago.

People like to pull out the 'Baby Jesus in the Manger' card when it gets heavy but there are no thoughts of Jesus when that credit card is being swiped. I'm not stressing myself out to buy an assload of gifts specifically for this day when it could have been bought the day before or day after and still hold the same meaning: at the end of the day it's something new to play with (or flaunt) and there's nothing more or less to it.

When I have a Toys R Us toy catalog flapping in my face (every morning!) at 8 am (while still resting!!) with little red circles, stars and check marks all over it from my then 5 year old daughter, I knew it was getting out of hand. I stopped getting into the Xmas swing of things 3 years ago but only put up half a front for my daughter since she was already accustomed to it.

But my lil' Moon is wise beyond her years so I was able to break it down to her. She's cool with not celebrating this season anymore at home, but if the rest of her 85 family wants to spoil her and buy a pink Nintendo DS then go right ahead. That's $129 I get to keep in my pocket for a little bit longer. Everyday is a holiday in our home.

For your viewing pleasure, I have included a YouTube video going into this post further and in more exact detail. Peace!!!

Aloe Vera Juice!!!

That's about as creative as it's gonna get. lol

Peace Fam!!!

A lonnnnnnnnnnggggggggg 24 hrs later I have the info in which I know you crave. =^_~=

Aloe Vera Juice!

When I was living in Florida a daily ritual of mine was to take a shot of Aloe Vera juice both first thing in the morning and right before bed. It's an acquired taste, that's for sure but the way I look at it, it's more beneficial than those shots I took of Bacardi 151 in my hey day, right?

Ok, so why is Aloe Vera Juice so good for you?

• Improves circulation
• Regulates blood glucose levels
• Promotes healing of bones and joints
• Strengthens the immune system
• Defends the body against bacteria
• Heals ulcers
• Detoxifies your body
  
• Cleanses the colon
• Improves/eliminates constipation
• Aids in weight loss

The recommended dosage is only 2-4 oz. a day. If you suffer from Crohn's Disease, colitis, appendicitis, or are dealing with any other type of intestinal issues, please consult your holistic physician.

I've even seen some sites where they do not advise using aloe vera juice while menstruating, yet with other sites, it's recommended. I can say for the few months I did take it to the head, I had no problems, even while nursing. Just listen to your body.

I do not remember the brand that I purchased, but it was in an opaque bottle and needed to be refigerated. Again, like with the coconut water, I do not purchase anything that is in an aluminum can or isn't 100% natural.

In other news, I have been reunited with my smoothie/blender cup. I feel so at peace. I was so lost without my smoothies. lol

This song is dedicated to my blender/smoothie cup. I love you...

Smoothie!? (or lack thereof)

Peace!

I've been without any smoothies for 2 days.

Before you even ask why, I'll tell you. =^_^=

I left my blender/smoothie cup at someone's house and am completely snowed in. (ok it's more like a foot of snow, but that's more than enough for me at this moment).

If I'm lucky I will be reunited with it tomorrow but that's entirely too long to go without my smoothies. Everytime I open the fridge I have these coconuts, pomegranate juice, greens, and such just staring at me waiting to be used. And unfortunately I'm not in a creative enough mood to do something else with them other than eat or drink them as is. Just salads, simple fruit and more salads.

16 days left and I'm out of here.

But I was going over my most recent Twitters and I found a smoothie recipe I posted that I never dropped here so....this is for Eternal Earth and her cipher of Earths to try out and let me know what you think. I think this one I ended up having as a 'nightcap' of sorts and it was off the glass:

• Lemon juice
• Watermelon
• Banana
• Oj
• Honey

It's got that tang almost like a pink lemonade or something....mmmmm

Now I want one.

=(

I'm going to live vicariously through whoever drinks and enjoys this.

Tomorrow: Why Aloe Vera Juice is....just so beneficial! (I'll come up with a more creative title by then).

Peace!

Theme Salad: Mardi Gras!

Peace!

Something random reminded me that I had a picture on file on SoulVegFolk of a salad I used to make during the summer that was so good I ate it three days in a row. My 'Mardi Gras' salad.

Why Mardi Gras?

No reason in particular.

I like to take it to the next level with my salads by creating color themes. In this case it was Green, 'Gold', and Purple. This will ensure that I'm incorporating the variety I need in my daily routine. I've also made an 'Irie' and 'Italian Stallion' salad focusing on red/green/yellow and red/white/green respectively.

So what's in the Mardi Gras salad?

From what I remember:

• Spinach
• Dandelion greens
• Green leaf lettuce
• Cucumber
  
• Green and yellow bell peppers
• Red cabbage
• Red onion (about as purple as I'm going to get)
• Grapes (didn't think of it at the time but would pair well)
• Dulse flakes
• Agave/Dijon dressing with regular dijon mustard, olive oil for consistency, sea salt, cracked black pepper, and agave for sweetness.
  

There you go!

Get the babies involved too; maybe they have a favorite colorful character on tv that you could emulate and morph into their favorite salad.

I think that'll be on the menu for this upcoming weekend. Try it and let me know what you think!

Peace!

My Kitchen Must-haves

Peace!

I don't know why I haven't posted something like this earlier but it hit me while I was in the grocery store about a half hour ago. I want to drop a list to show y'all the staples I have in my fridge or fruit bowl at all times (or I will go crazy). I'll also show you what I would normally have, but do not have access to at this time. *frown*

• Lemons
• Cucumbers
• Red Cabbage
• Carrots
  
• Limes
• Clementines/tangerines/oranges
• Apples (mainly for my Seed)
• Spinach, green leaf lettuce, shredded lettuce, romaine
  
• Cilantro, parsley, dill
• Sprouts (alfalfa)
• O.N.E. Coconut Water or a young thai coconut
• Bananas
• (Emergency vegan salad dressing for when I'm too lazy to make my own) =^_^=
• Red, white, and/or sweet onion
• Garlic cloves (fresh)
• Bell peppers
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Honey or agave (I likes mah honaayyy)
• Cinnamon
• Purple corn powder
• Pineapple
• Broccoli
• Green Tea or Yogi Teas (try their Detox kind...really really good for you)
• Avocado
• Sea Salt, cracked black pepper and Mrs. Dash
  

Now what I can't wait to get my hands back on and 'DO WORK' with like Big Black says is:

• Mango
  
• Papaya
• Red grapes (I love Sam's Club's grapes..mm mm mm)
• Frozen fruit like Mamey, Guayabana, Morada, and Guava (Goya brand)
  
• Coconut butter (need to place another order)

At some point in the near future I will be experimenting with cacao, MSM, E3 Live, and all that good stuff.

I think that's about it...but I know for a fact that list will be expanding soon. I'll have a bigger family to feed. *grin*

Hmmm...I haven't dropped any tunes in a while; I'm going to dedicate this one to all of the Queens and Earths that read this blog. Peace and Thank you for your support and friendship.

Why Dill is so ill (great!)

Peace Fam,

I haven't dropped any Science in a bit and I want to briefly talk about one of my favorite herbs: dill!!

When I first starting using dill it was to marinate my salmon many years ago (yeah my Citrus Herb Salmon was the real deal), but since those days are long gone I don't eat a salad without a handful of minced dill in there. I just can't live without it.

Here are some reasons why you should start incorporating dill into your daily routine:

• The components in dill oil neutralize the effects of cigarette, charcoal, and trash incinerator smoke.
• Dill seeds are highly effective in curing bad breath.
  
• The essential oil in dill also helps aid in digestion by activating secretion of bile and other digestive juices.
  
• Helps with hiccups.
• Relieves insomnia.
  
• Cures diarrhea symptoms.
• Great for improving lactation in nursing mothers.
• Dill can help improve and maintain menstrual cycles.
• It is also anti congestive and anti histaminic and will help with allergy issues and congestion.
• It's a diuretic.
  
• Enhances the libido (hello!)
• Excellent source of Calcium.

Whodathunkit? Some of these I wasn't even aware about until doing some research. All the more reasons why Dill is so bad ass. (LOL)

I've been craving a salad since midnight and I think I'm gonna make good on that craving now.

For an extra green and nutritious salad boost, mince up some flat leaf parsley, throw it in and hook it up!!

Peace!

Motherhood-Not for the Weak

Peace.

I spent all day yesterday trying to flush out my baby's sensitive system and catching baby vomit. He wasn't keeping anything down, not even my milk. (Thanks Grandma Bumpkin!). It really ticks me off that they can feed him whatever they like (against my wishes) and not even care that I have to go through this process for about 2 days until things are right and exact again.

She called yesterday wanting to pick him up and that was not going to happen. Your unsupervised visitation rights have been revoked!

I had some Pedialyte on reserve but was really trying to alleviate his issues as naturally as possible. We started off giving him some room temperature lemon water (per the suggestion of my amazing hubby to be heehee) which he didn't entirely keep down but got some in. Then I made a smoothie for myself of:

• Coconut water and meat (I found some coconuts @ Meijer's the other day!!!!)
• OJ
• Banana
• Spinach
• Cinnamon
• Purple Corn Powder

Very simple.

I blended up a juice for him of sorts...not all of the ingredients (mainly b/c there was too much OJ and coconut water), and some banana.

He spit it up a few times but I continued to feed it to him in small sips for a span of an hour or two. Then he started to keep it down. Yay!

Later in the afternoon he had 2 bowel movements so we're now back to our regularly scheduled program.

Phew...you see what I have to deal with!???

Oooh and he slept like Rip Van Winkle last night. I couldn't wake him up if I wanted to so that was a relief to me, even though I went to bed late he was still knocked out.

So after that is said and done...I did enjoy a bangin' salad last night.

• Shredded lettuce
• Spinach
• Red cabbage
• Red onion
• Dill
• Parsley
• Sesame Ginger dressing (not raw, but vegan and bangin'!)

And I ate a clementine.

I would've made another smoothie last night but I was wiped out. So I just downed a large amount of water (about a liter maybe?).

For today I'm going to soak some goji berries for about an hour until they plump up and throw them in the blender with some blueberries, strawberries, turnip greens, and maybe some honey or dates.

Peace!

Country Folk

(I can't resist)

Peace Fam,

One of the reasons why I am so glad to get out of Michigan and head back home is that I have to deal with these country folk far more than I would like to. None of my family are from the country nor do they practice anywhere close to a similar lifestyle.

So last night, my almost 9 month old goes to spend time with his paternal grandparents. I provided some baby food and that mesh feeder thinking they would put some apples in there, or an orange...

Someone had the ingenious idea of sharing some fried catfish with him.

....

First of all, my Seed is Vegan. Second, even if he wasn't, you don't give fish to a baby. FRIED???!!!! He is not a country boy: he does not and will not suck on the bone of anything that has a face.

C'mon, look at him:



He doesn't want that foolishness!!!


Anyway, the Green Smoothie thing is still in effect. I wasn't really in the mood for much creation though, but I will definitely tomorrow.

Yum yum yum

Peace!!!!

I'm feelin' so good right now. That's all I can really say. LOL

So today I began my Green Smoothie Feast. Surprisingly today I haven't been that hungry so on the menu for will just be two smoothies and a salad. Since the keyword in this challenge is Green, I opted to supplement my meals with salad instead of fruit.

I made a Cucumber Melon smoothie today that tastes really clean and fresh. I think I added too much lime juice; which turned out to be a good thing because I got to use more of my honey =^_^=

Cucumber Melon:

• Equal parts cucumber, watermelon and cantalope
• Flat leaf parsley
• Fresh squeezed lime juice (to taste, but I added half a lime to my 14 oz serving)
• Honey, agave or sweetner of choice (optional)

You know cucumbers are a really good food to help flush toxins. You could use lemon too if you want, I already had a lime out waiting for me. *grin*

Yesterday I did my grocery run and got a lot of good stuff at the 'ghetto' Krogers. I'm tellin' you I don't know what's so ghetto about it, I think it's the nicest one in town. But of course in true Ravynn fashion, I forgot my coconut water.

• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Watermelon, cantalope and honeydew (pre cut)
  
• Turnip greens
• Lemons
• Avocados
• Lara bars
• Flat leaf (aka Italian) parsley
• Radicchio
• Pomegranate juice
• Shredded lettuce
• Shredded red cabbage
• Veggie stirfry mix (aka pre chopped veggies)
• Red onion
• Craisins

That's a pretty heavy grocery list right?

This will be my first time using turnip greens in a smoothie. I tried kale a few times and found it very fibrous. But I will be saving up for my Blendtec after my move to NY because I'll be making smoothies for a lot of people in my household. If it can shred an iPhone, it can shred some serious greens.

Tonight's smoothie will most likely have strawberry, OJ, watermelon, banana, and turnip greens. No stems (I hate those).

Until tomorrow, Peace!!!!

Green Smoothie Feast

Peace!

The past couple of days I've really been banging out some crazy delicious smoothies. Last night I had one (drool) that consisted of watermelon, banana, orange juice, lemon and a lil' bit of honey (tryin' to use it up before I leave Michigan-imagine me trying to get past airport security with that). The smoothie I made that morning was kiwi, orange juice (i'll touch on that in a second), pineapple and spinach. What?? Yesterday was fantastic.

Ok so Saturday night I made a grocery run to pick up a couple of things and we went to two stores. The first store's produce department was MIA by about 2/3. It was the most desolate and depressed thing I had ever seen. The only thing I could buy (that I needed anyway) was organic spinach (you know the ones in the plastic containers? $1.79), bananas, and orange juice. It was the only thing they had in that entire store that I could've used as a base in my smoothies. No Bolthouse Farms or anything. *SmH*

What I was really looking for was a bit more variety of fruits (or just any of them rather) to get creative with. In the second store I was able to get a mini watermelon, kiwi, and pineapple. Now this was the store that's right by me which never disappoints but I don't know-maybe they were expecting a shipment or something that had not yet arrived.

And yet in both stores the meat dept was fully stocked.

Anyway, since I'm on such a smoothie kick, I figure it's time to up the ante for about 2 weeks and end this year with a Green Smoothie Feast. My goal is to consume 2-3 green smoothies a day and supplement with the occasional salad or simple fruit if needed. I would love to give you a list of ingredients I'm looking to buy, but I have to cross my fingers first to make sure they even have anything in stock at all. *frown*

Tomorrow I will post my grocery list and a recipe for a cucumber smoothie that will serve as a good cleanser for your body first thing in the morning.

Peace!

Smoothie Recipe

Peace!

I just wanted to post a quick smoothie recipe for y'all. I'm in the midst of packing and getting ready for my move to NY in less than a month so I'm being pulled in 10 different directions at once. Pure Craziness I tell ya'.

This smoothie I'm actually sippin' on now:

• Freshly squeezed lime juice
• Orange juice
• Coconut Butter
• Banana
• Big handful of flat leaf parsley (if using curly use less remember it's stronger in taste!)
• Honey, Agave or sweetner of choice

Sooooooo goooooooood. I would've used pineapple too but I didn't feel like cutting it up.

Enjoy!

Cravings

Peace!

You know you're progressing on your raw food journey when you begin to crave fresh foods.

For instance, since yesterday I've been craving a salad with sprouts and avocado. I made good on that (which I'm actually eating now) by mixing some alfalfa sprouts, avocado, fresh sweet corn, dill, broccoli florets, lemon juice, Ms. Dash and a sprinkle of sea salt in a bowl and calling it a day.

I know to the 85ers looking at what I'm diggin' into right now they would not be able to comprehend nor would they even try to. Cause to be honest, it's not visually very appetizing. But it's fresh, delicious, and alkaline so I could care less. No bubble guts for me!!! =^_^=

The only thing that I still crave on occasion that is not raw is Papa John's Veggie pizza with no cheese, no olives, extra sauce and pineapples. I haven't gotten past that yet; in due time I'm stop salivating over it. =D

So I realized that I don't really post what I'm eating on a daily basis. Initially that was the premise of this blog but once again the science takes over and I just have to share it with you all.

Ravynn's Rundown 12-4-08:

Lara bar
Apple
Pomegranate Plunge (from Tropical Smoothie)
Sprout and Avo salad
Green Tea
Water

Note to self: drinking a frozen ass smoothie in 20 degree weather is probably not a good idea when you're out running errands all day. I was very very cold.

Here's my music drop for y'all-it's played in a continuous loop in my head since this morning. Pharrell and the Yessirs's remix of 'Take it Off (Dim the Lights)'. It's ill!!!! I sent this to my hubby to be and it's stuck in his head now too (love you!). LOL



Peace!!

All about Sprouts

Peace!!!

Today I want to touch on the topic of sprouts.

I remember before I went raw and I would get a veggie wrap or sandwich somewhere they always had sprouts in there and I hated them. Looking back, I don't even know why. (I'm telling you, once you go raw your whole palette changes. Now I love them!)

This is an amazing food; alkaline and nutrient dense as well as rich in vitamin and protein.

Eating sprouts in your daily routine can increase your bone density thus preventing osteoporosis (especially if you're already eating alkaline), and will help alleviate both PMS symptoms and hot flashes for those going through menopause.

Remember too, that sprouts are abundant in oxygen. You can't lose with sprouts!

So everyone is already familiar with alfalfa sprouts and mung bean sprouts. But you can change it up with onion, red clover, broccoli, wheatgrass, cilantro, sunflower, etc.

I wish I could touch on the topic of how to sprout but I have not tried that yet. In due time I will most likely get one of those sprouters that will do it for me, but I hear that sprouting at home ol' skool style with the jars and such are pretty easy.

Check out Sproutliving.com for all the wondeful amazing looking sprouts I've ever seen and they also have sprout powder and edible blossoms. (yes, I know!)

Here's a video that Philip McCluskey did last year on his sprout salad and I'm so jealous. I'm going to one up him and enjoy my Big Daddy Sprout Salad in Central Park so haha take that! (the pic up at the top is a close up of his beautiful dish).

Grocery Shoppin'

Peace Fam,

Decided to drop some late night love to y'all before I call it a night. I've kinda been all over the place mentally recently; been caught up in the rapture like Anita Baker so to speak but...it's all good! I'm happy it's Love and it inspires me more to bring some knowledge to you.

=)


Ok so today I hit up the grocery store to pick up a few things (what I really wanted to get, I actually forgot-water).

Off the top of my head my purchase was as follows:

• Bolthouse Farms carrot juice (I love using this in smoothies)
• Strawberries
• Fresh corn on the cob (an occasional thing)
• Avocado
• O.N.E. Coconut water and Acai juice
• Clementines
• Lara bars
• Bananas
• Alfalfa sprouts (containers on sale .79 each!!!)
• Blueberries

Yeah...I bought all that and didn't even get my damn water. lol

Funny thing is, the grocery store I went to (Kroger's), was referred to as the 'ghetto Krogers', and yet they had a lil' health section where I was able to find some other goodies-but on my side of town they don't have it. What's up with that?

Tomorrow I'm going to drop a post on Sprouts and how beneficial they are in your dietary routine. I'm not big on mung bean sprouts like I was when I was vegan and threw them in my stir fry, but those alfalfa sprouts are on point!

Ahhh, so I used my last fresh coconut the other day and was fiendin' for another one. Sadly I can't get them anywhere closer than Detroit so I settled for a store bought version. I do not buy canned coconut water, or the kind that is not refigerated. My personal preference is the ones in the cardboard looking containers b/c they seem to have the best quality. No preservatives, all natural and are really good.

Before I drop my song of the day I will give you a quick smoothie recipe to try so you can flex some creativity and experiment on your own.

• Coconut water
• Carrot juice
• Banana
• Strawberry
• Purple Corn powder (i use no more than one spoonful)
• Honey

Tomorrow I'm goin with the Acai, blueberry and strawberry.



Peace!

Food for Thought

Today is marked as a National Day of Mourning, and has been since 1970. (Did you know that?) If I didn't mourn with them, I'd be betraying my lineage. That's not gonna happen.

Food for thought.


Peace...

Science: Alkaline vs Acidic Foods

I had posted this on one of my old blogs back in the summer and just remembered that I had it on my SoulVegFolk profile. So thank you Divine for reminding me about this. *smile*

Class is now in session.

Today we're going to discuss pH balance and how it relates to not only your food, but it's effect on your body.

As we know from middle school science class, the pH balance is what determines how much acid or alkaline a living thing contains. On a scale of 14 with 7 obviously being Neutral, the lower the number the more acidic it is, and vice versa.

With that said the foods and it's corresponding pH balance that we consume also dictates our level of well being. And to break it down even further Brothas and Sistas, every single cell that makes up the human body is alkaline. In order for good health and optimum performance we must maintain this level of alkalinity!!!

Foods such as soda, refined sugars, MEAT (uhhduhh), coffee, alcohol, sweetners (including processed honey but excluding agave ), canned fruit, fruit juices, dairy, and processed foods are all acidic and when ingested throws us completely off balance. The more acidity we absorb and the longer we allow this to happen dis-ease and discomfort are imminent. High blood pressure, diabetes, gallstones, kidney disease, cancer, obesity, stress are just a few things that occur when our bodies become acidic. This is unacceptable!

More food for thought: when our pH balance is off our bodies compensate and try to restore its alkalinity by pulling calcium, potassium, and magnesium from our bones. Thus putting you at risk for Osteoporosis! Drinking milk and eating dairy to 'prevent' this is the same as grabbing a shovel and digging that grave just a little bit deeper.

Have you ever run into a Vegetarian or even Vegan that eats a lot of soy and refined processed foods yet are still overweight?? Acidity is to blame.

To be honest I never even heard of this until recently. I would just go to the store and buy whatever, but it makes sense. It's not 'extreme', questionable european medicinal theory, or Hollywood trend-it's simple science.

I've taken the liberty of listing below some Alkaline Foods to focus on. Unforunately depending on who's scientific list you read some of these items may flip flop between acidic and alkaline but for the most part these are the ones that seem consistent. You'll also notice there are hardly any Hybrid Foods on this list. Boh!

Fruits:

Apples, bananas (small variety), berries (except cranberry), cantaloupe, cherries, currants, figs, seeded grapes, papayas, mangoes, limes, seeded melons, peaches, pears, plums, seeded raisins, soft jelly coconuts, soursops, and passionfruit.

Vegetables:

Callaloo (aka Amaranth Greens), Avocados, asparagus, bell peppers, cucumbers, dandelion greens, lettuce (except iceburg) mushrooms (except shiitake), okra, sea veggies (nori, etc), raw spinach, tomato, string beans, onions, turnip greens, tomatillo, celery, and parsley.

Herbs:

Basil, bay leaf, cilantro, dill, marjoram, oregano, sweet basil, tarragon, and thyme.

Spices:

Achiote, cayenne, cumin, coriander, onion powder, and sage.

Nuts:

Almonds

All herbal teas (except Chamomile)

My plan, and I hope you'll consider this to, is to purchase a pH kit to see where I am on the spectrum. Future post on that soon. Now that I know this and have blessed all of you with the same info, I am fully dedicated to living High Alkaline!!!!

Mentally Drained-Day Who Knows

Ok I'm getting tired numbering these Days.

Day=X from now on.

Peace Fam, I really don't have a topic to discuss today. Not sure why either. I'm so mentally exhausted.

Sigh...the past couple of days have just been draining. Any bit of stress to a Gemini mind is like working double overtime on a never ending project that was due the day before. Today I didn't even eat that much. Just didn't feel like it. I did throw together a quick smoothie (mainly for the baby).

Tonight I'm just going to zone and meditate once the Seed goes to bed with some green tea and some R&B tunes. I didn't even watch Jeopardy tonight! Sigh.

Tomorrow I may try to get creative and make a spinach/parsley pesto to put over some carrot and cucumber 'pasta'. Let's see how that turns out. *wink* Peace.

Key Lime Smoothie-Day Fourteen

Sweet Georgia Brown...

I'm in the midst of trying to type this blog and enjoy this amazing Green Smoothie (and share of course with the Seed) but it's proving to be a lil' more difficult than I imagined. I just can't put this drink down!

Ok so today was my first time using Key Limes (and real coconut for that matter) in a recipe. I had seen all the videos YouTube had to offer on how to open a young Thai coconut but I was really trying not to lose a finger. So my weapon of choice for this round was a brand new hammer. I shaved down the top as much as I could and banged the...whatever you call it....fork end thingy into the coconut to crack it open. A tad messy but I got it open. *grin*

The coconut water was so sweet...so pure....

Of course some fam happened to be over and talkin' that 'ilk, yuck' shit again. I was like woman take a damn sip!!!! She took a sip.....SILENCE. Yeah exactly, that's what I thought.

Ok so anyway, I scooped the coconut meat out (and jelly like is the only way I can describe it), and threw that and some other ingredients into the blender:

Key Lime Coconut Green Smoothie

• water and meat of one young coconut
• banana
• 2 pitted dates
• handful of spinach
• juice of 2 key limes
• big spoonful of coconut butter
• splash of water
  

I would've used honey (or even agave if I had it) but since babies cannot have honey until 1 or 2 years of age I just threw in the dates (which this is my first time having as well).

Seriously, the coconut water and meat pales in comparison to just relying on the coconut butter in these recipes. It just feels so smooth, so...full of flavor. I wish I had purchased more than 2 coconuts.

Ok that's my post.

Since I haven't dropped any music down in a while, here's a nice one to enjoy.

I'm going to close my eyes (and sip slowly so I don't miss my mouth lol) and kick back.

Enjoy!

Detroit-Day Thirteen?

I have no idea what day it is already. *grin*

Ok I just got back from Detroit not too long ago and I'm totally psyched about what I got from Joe Randazzo's.

• Key limes
• Thai coconut
• Dates
• Pine Nuts
• (local) honey
• Dill
• Cucumber
• Parsley
• Spinach
• Carrots
• Mushrooms

I didn't go all out granted I just hit the grocery store a couple of days ago. But I'm still excited to get some coconut and key limes. Let's see what creative vibes flow through me.

Woot!

Busy-Days Eleven and Twelve

*argh*

This will be a quick post, just to touch base and keep you all in the loop (although there's not much of a loop at this particular moment). =^_^=

I've started to paint again (yes yes I am considered a bit of an 'arteeest' *grin*). It's been about 6 months since I've drawn anything and probably a year since I last painted. Feels good, feels good. I'll be starting up an art blog I dunno, in the very near future.

Hmm let's see. My now 8 month old has just cut his first two teeth so his need for attention has skyrocketed. He's even hatin' on my painting by trying to climb on me if I'm laying down and bangin' his shoe into my elbow (he's so salty! lol). That's my Pisces baby though. *smooch*

Tomorrow I'm off to Detroit once again for the day. Anytime I can get to Detroit I keep my fingers crossed that we stop by Joe Randazzo's, which is like my favorite spot to go in the whole state of Michigan. A big ass indoor market with cheap ass produce. It'd be my Utopia if it were Organic, but I haven't found much of that in this state to begin with *pout*. Nevertheless, it's still a spot where I do some major spending. Go Joe's!


Had a fantastic smoothie today with a mixture of Mango Lemonade (Bolthouse Farms...it's like crack I tell ya), banana, strawberry, and coconut butter. My Sun tried to jack it from me as always. You know, one thing I don't understand about that boy; well, he has a milk allergy but people like to feed him things when I'm not around. Last it was pizza dough (that surprise! had milk in it). He hasn't been able to keep down his baby food, but can drink my green juices, smoothies and lil' baby puffy snacks with no problem. He actually ate stuffing today with no problem (not that I'm bragging about that. Damn sure couldn't eat the mashed potatoes *frown*). I also put some fruit or whatever in a Munchkin Food Mesh Feeder and he will dehydrate the hell out of it. But he just cannot keep down Organic baby food. Maybe the allergen is still in his system. (hmmmmmm)

Note to self: Keep hard headed family members away from Seed. Especially with the Holidays rolling around.

*grimace*

Blood Glucose Pt II-Days Nine and Ten

*Singing*

I can see clearly now the rain is gone....(I'm rockin' my spectacles!).

(although the rain has transformed into flurries) booooooo!!!

Peace people!!

Ok as promised, I have some information on foods that will help control blood glucose levels.

Due to the economy sucking so bad, I opted to keep this list as simple as possible (ie no fancy supplements or expensive foods).

The Glycemic Index

It's important to reference the Glycemic Index (GI) because this is what I've based my general information off of. The keyword here is 'general' because everyone is different and there are many variables (activity level, age, insulin level, etc) that must be accounted for too.

The Glycemic Index in each food is scored on how your body's sugar level reacts to it. The scale is 0-100. Foods higher on the GI enter your bloodstream quickly and cause your pancreas to pump out insulin in order to assist with digestion. This causes your sugar levels to skyrocket. Not Good. Of course foods that are lower on the scale take longer to enter your bloodstream and digest.

A majority of refined and processed foods will screw you over in the long run.

Medium/High Glycemic Foods:

• Cereals (corn flakes, rice krispies, etc)
• Potato Chips
• Potatoes
• Parsnips ('wtf is a parsnip?' haha)
• Dates
• Rice cakes
• Doughnuts
• Waffles
• Ice cream
• Soda
• White breads and baked goods
  
• Rice
• Mangoes (nooooooooooo)
  
• Pineapples (double nooooooooo)
• Popcorn

Low Glycemic Foods [to Embrace]:

• Beans
• Tomatoes
• Zucchini
• Spinach
• Peppers
• Broccoli
• Cucumber
• Eggplant
• Green Beans
• Lettuce (all varieties)
• Peanuts
• Carrots
• Yam
  
• Sweet Potatoes
• Cherries
• Grapefruit
• Apples
• Oranges
• Multi-Grain Bread
• Soymilk

Ok so you get the idea. It's not all the foods I found, but this should give you a foundation on where to begin. Keep in mind too, that exercise and drinking a lot of water (putting it in Kool-Aid or Tang does not count) will help to keep your body in balance. I know it's cold but hit up the mall for some window shopping or see how many laps you can walk around the old people gettin' their strut on early in the morning before the stores open. (lol)

Peace!!!

Parsley-Day Eight

Peace to all my Righteous Readers!! Today I've keep it real Green. I wasn't in the mood for a lot of cutting, chopping, and washing today so this morning I made a Smoothie and the rest of the day I've been drinking a lot of water and Bolthouse Farms 'Green Goodness' juice (although it's thick like a smoothie as well). And you know I wasn't going to enjoy myself if I didn't share so of course, like always, my Sun had his fill of it too. Funny thing is, I can't pour him a separate serving of the same stuff into his sippy cup. Nope, he thinks he's grown and will only drink it out of my glass. lol Hey, but he's healthy so no complaining here. =^_^=

Today I'm going to briefly touch on Parsley.

Don't sleep on it! It does so much more than just serve as a garnish!!

Parsley is extremely high in Vitamin K; just two tablespoons of this herb contains 153% of your recommended daily dosage. (Without this vitamin, our blood would not clot. It can also help maintain strong bones in the elderly)

If there are any Queens looking to, or are already pregnant, this is a very crucial herb to incorporate into your daily meals (in addition to your pre-natal vitamins) since it is an excellent source of Iron, Folate, Vitamin A as well as Vitamin C.

Get creative with Parsley.

I've always chopped various herbs and threw them into my salads, but you can throw them in smoothies (I personally like the tropical themed smoothies with a small handful of parsley), salad dressings, Pestos, or a sprouted Tabouli.

And just to note, the flat leaf Italian parsley is milder in taste than the curly variety so that may suit your tastes better.

Try some, and let me know what you think!! Peace.

Unprepared-Day Seven

Initially I thought today was going to be a chill day; get laundry done, go back home and chill until about 6pm and then jet off to serve as 'support' for a semi quasi-relative's youth concert.

WRONG.

I was completely unaware of the schedule the person driving me around town had on her hands and I was gone from noon until 9pm. And the fact that 1. I was left at the laundromat damn near 2 hours longer than I needed to be and 2. she was running so late that I couldn't even go home and change I had to do so at her place. So nothing was prepared ahead of time-hell I didn't even eat breakfast (I'm more of a brunch kind of chica). What was I doing before I left the house? Knocked the hell out while my son took a his mid-morning nap. (!!)

So sadly today's Raw level was not high at all. I won't front; I felt like crap. Very sluggish, anxious, not wanting to even be there. Seriously I had to force myself to show on the outside (to those who weren't paying too much attention) that I was enjoying myself when I was really cussing out the MC under my breath for talking too damn much. =0_0=

Sigh...

So, today is over and I'm ready to bounce back full blast tomorrow. I will probably green smoothie it out all day to cleanse and get on my A game. Pshh, I couldn't even get my glasses today.

rawr.

Blood Glucose Pt I-Day Six

Peace!

Right now I'm in the process of researching some foods that will help regulate blood glucose levels per the request of a family member. It'll take a lil' longer than normal to expedite since I'm still sans glasses but they should be in tomorrow (whoooo!). After I compile the list, I will post it here for y'all to absorb and share if necessary. =)

I was informed recently by this family member that due to the high levels of stress at work that she has been subjected to (sheit get another job!), her blood glucose levels had skyrocketed, and like all great Doctors in America, what do they choose to do? Rx a stronger medication. Gotta love modern medicine!!!!

Of course after much protesting from me aka bitching and moaning about how that's a bunch of bullshit I was asked to do some research. Coo'....just follow through with it is all I ask. But I can kinda see where this is going because it's not the first time I've provided information and it's never been heeded to. But I guess as long as this information registers with at least one person, it'll be worth it. So check back by the end of the weekend for that Knowledge! =^_^=

Today has been a very very busy day. I'm not a fan of doing errands that take alllllll daaaayyyy looonnng. Especially if they're not my errands at that. I suffer from anxiety so there are times where I am just ready to get home or at least spend a few minutes alone breathing in some fresh air in order to maintain my cool. Oooh and were some of the people urking my nerves today!!! I brought my smoothie with me today (another purple concoction) and someone actually asked me, "what is that today, dingleberry smoothie?"

.....like do you even know what a dingleberry is?


*frown*

To be honest, sometimes I'd prefer to not even reveal my raw foodist lifestyle to people because of the sheer level of stupidity and ignorance they emanate. For truly inquisitive folks, I am always available to build or do research for you but for those who feel above me or view me as Elitist...I'm not the one stuck on stupid. You feel me? =)

And (yay!) I'll be placing an order back at ShopOrganic.com for most likely some Maca Extreme. Got a 15% coupon in my email today. You know a sista loves some coupons!!! lol


Peace!!!

Brooklyn-Day Five

Peace!!!

I couldn't wait to drop this post today...This morning I finally got to use the ingredients I received yesterday. Whoooo!!! It was worth the wait, that joint was so good. It tasted like a Creamsicle but ridiculously purple.

• One spoonful of Purple Corn Powder
• One spoonful of Coconut Butter
• One banana
• Half of one mango (a whole one is fine too)
• Water
  
• Bolthouse Farms Clementine Juice

That yielded about 14 oz or so in my one serving blender. For more, adjust the measurements however you like. In actuality you probably don't need the water; I added it first (not that much maybe 2 oz) and on a whim I added about 4 oz of Clementine Juice last (hey it was on sale and you know Bolthouse Farms juices aint cheap).

Anyways, I'm really contemplating purchasing something this week-maybe bee pollen or Maca...or whatever. Haven't decided yet. After I peep out the health food store here in town I'll make my decision.

Ok so topic of discussin for today is Brooklyn (aka Medina). I was really game to move there a few months ago but I was having difficulty finding a place from 1200 miles away in Florida. Who couldn't love Brooklyn? lol I mean c'mon-there are an abundance of diverse veg*ns and even raw foodists in the area and it's nice to be able to have that network available to you where you're not judged as being an elitist. Plus I feel it's time to receive the knowledge of Self, and have my seeds do the same. I'm not feelin' the idea of them walkin around like drones 'deaf dumb and blind'...and it seems no one else is trying to prevent that from happening to them (cause they obviously don't know any better). Mama can't rock like that.

So next is just getting there-when, and how. Soon my friends, soon.

To end this entry I was readin' a blog by my ace C'BS Alife Allah called Black To Nature and I guess it stuck in my head long enough for me to put a spin on Soul II Soul's 'Back to Life' joint...heehee so that's my joint of the day:

Silent-Day Four

Today I haven't been bangin' much music like the past few days...I've really been enjoying the silence. No roommates, no family all in my business; just the Seed and I (even though he makes his fair share of noise lol)

I'm happy to announce my shipment came in (yay!). I purchased some Artisana Coconut Butter (raw and organic) as well as raw purple corn powder. By the time it arrived I wasn't in smoothie mood, but it's definitely on standby for tomorrow.

Tonight I'm going to infuse some goji berries in my green tea which will serve as my nightcap (heh). I kept it real simple on the food tip with honeydew melon, an apple, lots of water, walnuts, and a quick salad. Hopefully soon if I can find the time I'd like to experiment and really get creative like my girl Blaq Berry. Love ya Chica!!

Lately, I've been thinking about getting the hell out of here. Like, as soon as possible. Michigan may be cool for some, but it's just not my style at all. Not only am I certain I am the only raw foodist here in town (which can have it's advantages), but there are few places I can go to get the goods I need. There's one health food store in town that I hope to get to later this week, but not a lot of organic foods for me to choose from. Who wants to pay a minimum of $10 for shipping everytime I place an order online? Psshh not I.

The folks here are another thing-culinary wise it's almost 'back woods country'; hot water cornbread, smothered chicken, tacos (don't see a lot of other latinos in town and I find that ironic), kool-aid (3 cups of sugar style)...I'm a City Slicker so that type of food never has been my forte. Not even my fam cooks that way. People will inquire about my food while I'm sitting down minding my own business eating my longans and when I respond the first thing they say is 'ewww'....and yet these are the same people that eat chitlins.
Exactly.

Chillin' (literally)-Days Two and Three

Peace...

Right now I'm still on my Wu-Tang vibe so I'm blastin' Gza as I crank this blog out.

*Head nodding*

Ok yesterday was pretty boring. The weather change up here in Michigan really did a number on my sinuses so I was down for the count. I kept it very simple with some green tea (to ease my headache), pepitas, and a green smoothie.

Today I finally got my grocery shopping done. Whooo! My fridge is busting full of raw foodie goodness. Greens, reds, oranges, yellows, purples is the best way I can describe what I bought. I should be good for about a week and a half. =D

I've been spoiled enjoying such nice weather last week and now it's friggin' cold again. I've read on quite a few forums that many raw foodists incorporate a lot of warm or even hot foods back into their diets to get them through the winter. Of course anything up to 118 degrees Fahrenheit (although that temp seems to vary) is still considered 'raw' but my goal is to keep my food as live as possible.

Tomorrow I hope to have a more detailed entry. I'm expecting a package of more raw food goodies so...to be continued.

Focused-Day One

Today is going to be a hectic day so I'm going to get this entry done while I still have a bit of spare time on my hands. =0_0=

I'm heading off to Detroit this afternoon and not sure when I'll be back so to prevent any temptation I've prepped some raw eats for my lil' trip. I have a salad waiting for me with spinach, green leaf lettuce, dulse, cubanelle peppers, cucumber, carrots, and a dressing I'm going to prepare in a few hours made of lime, orange, garlic, and honey (yes I consume raw honey!)

Right now the Seed and I are sipping on a smoothie with blueberries, mango, strawberries, and banana. When I get back tonight I'm going to end my day with a green smoothie. For snacks I've packed some walnuts, pepitas, goji berries and raisins. I think that will be more than enough.

So today marks Day One and I'm pretty mellow. The past few mornings I have been waking up all phlegmy (yuck) and I'm sure that will increase in the upcoming weeks.

While I'm on this journey I'm going to be focusing a lot on trying to improve my eyesight naturally. My Foods of Focus will be as follows:

• Blueberries
• Goji Berries
• Walnuts
• Spinach
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Almonds
• Flax Seeds
• Bilberries (if I can find them)
• Carrots

I'm going to allow 6 months to pass before I hope to see a significant difference (pardon the pun heh).

I'm vibin' right now to some Neo-Soul on last.fm and I just have to share this joint by Me'Shell NdegéOcello called 'Elliptical'. It's pretty tight.




And if you're wondering, I didn't get to do any of the stuff I wanted to yesterday. Sigh...I'll make due until tomorrow.


Chao for now!

Got my Game Face On...

I decided to push back my initial start date just one day because there are a few things I wanted to have done first before I begin my 100 day challenge. The first is grocery shopping; there are a couple key things that I am without and don't want to rely on substituting with something that isn't completely raw. The second is I would like to have my blood pressure taken so I can compare my changes more accurately. And lastly I realized it's my most recent ex's birthday today and I'd like to have my own day and not 'share' it with anyone else, especially with someone that I want to punch in the face (lol). =^_^=

This past weekend, I had been suffering some headaches and when I sat down that little blood pressure station thingamabob at Sam's Club on Monday, it rang in at 147/93. No way!!! That's too damn high for my liking. And I know what is to blame; the vegan junk I consumed, the soda, and not having any smoothies in my diet. I hadn't had a smoothie since I left Florida which was 2 months ago. It's not that I didn't want them, I just didn't have a blender. The big clunky one I had before is still in Florida and I'm not paying an arm and a leg just to have it shipped and it not even crush ice.

So after I sent myself into frenzy mode, I ran over to Walmart and picked up an adorable one serving blender from Hamilton Beach to hold me until I can get my Blendtec. The first thing I did when I got home was whip up a green smoothie and about 10 minutes after I was done, my headache disappeared and never came back. I've had a smoothie every day since then. Even brought a green smoothie to keep me company while I waited in line to vote.

On an even happier note, yesterday I received my shipment in from Shop Organic. I placed a small order of Goji Berries, Pepitas (pumpkin seeds) and Dulse. The gojis were so delicious (my first time eating them) and I decided to soak some overnight to throw in a smoothie for breakfast. They were so good!! Strawberry, goji and mango smoothie this morning was on point. Of course my son called dibs on my smoothie too so we split it.

So tomorrow I will be here with my game face on, and sharing with you my trials and tribulations of this process., as well as what I'm eating.

*Cheers!*

Picking Up Where I Left Off...

The premise of this blog is to better document my day to day life rather than use it to primarily drop science on raw foods and natural healing. Not that on occasion I may have to deviate from my regularly scheduled programming, but I'm choosing to lead by example this go round.

I've decided to pick up where I left off; I had strayed away from living Raw back to Vegan for about 2 months. I moved, completely fell out of my element, and off the wagon. Prior to that though, I had been high raw to 100% for 3 months. With some soul searching and transitioning, I feel that I'M ready to keep going on my journey for a minimum of 100 days. Of course I have no intention to end there, but I'd like to share with you my re-transformation as it happens.

So Midnight, November 8th marks Day One, and I'd like to note for the record I can't see a damn thing. My last pair of contacts have decided to rip within a few days of each other and my glasses won't be coming in for a while (anywhere from a week to three...yeah sux right?). I'm all up in my screen right now (lol) and hopefully with the right foods I can improve my vision in the next few months.

My left eye's Rx is -6.00 and my right is -5.50 (dayum! Yeah I know, thanks Mom for the crappy eyesight).

=0_0=

To Be Continued...