Does Red Wine Protect the Cardiovascular System?

The 'French paradox' rears its ugly head again. The reasoning goes something like this: French people eat more saturated animal fat than any other affluent nation, and have the second-lowest rate of coronary heart disease (only after Japan, which has a much higher stroke rate than France). French people drink red wine. Therefore, red wine must be protecting them against the artery-clogging yogurt, beef and butter.

The latest study to fall into this myth was published in the AJCN recently (1). Investigators showed that 1/3 bottle of red wine per day for 21 days increased blood flow in forearm vessels of healthy volunteers, which they interpreted as "enhanced vascular endothelial function". The novel finding in this paper is that red wine consumption increases the migration of certain cells into blood vessels that are thought to maintain and repair the vessels. There were no control groups for comparison, neither abstainers nor a group drinking a different type of alcohol.

The investigators then went on to speculate that the various antioxidant polyphenols in red wine, such as the molecule resveratrol, could be involved. This could be true, but there's another possible mechanism here...

Ethanol-- plain old alcohol. You could drink a 40 oz bottle of malt liquor every night and it might do the same thing.

No matter what the source, alcohol consumption is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease out to about 3-4 drinks per day, after which the risk goes back up (2, 3)*. The association is not trivial-- up to a 62% lower risk associated with alcohol use. Controlled trials have shown that alcohol, regardless of the source, increases HDL cholesterol and reduces the tendency to clot (4).

Should we all start downing three drinks a day? Not so fast. Although alcohol does probably decrease heart attack risk, the effect on total mortality is equivocal. That's because it increases the risk of cancers and accidents. Alcohol is a drug, and my opinion is that like all drugs, overall it will not benefit the health of a person with an otherwise good diet and lifestyle. That being said, it's enjoyable, so I have no problem with drinking it in moderation. Just don't think you're doing it for your health.

So does red wine decrease the risk of having a heart attack? Probably, yes, just like malt liquor does. I do think it's interesting to speculate about why alcohol (probably) reduces heart attack risk. Could it be because it relaxes us? I'm going to ponder that over a glass of whiskey...


* The first study is really interesting. For once, I see no evidence of "healthy user bias". Rates of healthy behaviors were virtually identical across quintiles of alcohol intake. This gives me a higher degree of confidence in the results.

Forget the Fats? Cut Out the Carbs? Maybe...NOT!

Let’s say you need 2000 calories per day to maintain your weight (actual needs vary based on height, weight, muscle mass and physical activity—this is only an example!)  And suppose you ate 2000 calories each day, but, the calories all came from carbohydrate (“carbs”).  What would happen?

How about if you instead managed to take in 100% of your calories from fat—shall we say, for instance, 16-17 Tablespoons of oil or the equivalent?  I know, I know, it’s a gross concept.
But what would happen to your weight, assuming again that your body needed 2000 calories per day?

It’s kind of like that old, not funny riddle “Which weighs more, a pound of feathers or a pound of gold?” From a weight standpoint, your body couldn’t care less whether the calories come from carbs, fat or protein.  The foods you eat get digested, and those chemical bonds that make up carbohydrate, fat, protein and alcohol molecules get broken and energy is released.  And your body only cares that it is getting the energy it needs.  It is true, that per gram, protein, fat, carbs and alcohol each provide different amounts of energy. Fats provided the greatest energy, followed by alcohol, and finally by protein and carbohydrate which tie for the lowest calories per gram.

So should you be worried about taking in carbs? Or fats, for instance?  Not at all.  If the total intake matches your need, regardless of the source of those calories, you’re safe, from a weight standpoint.  (And in later posts I will address just how to find that balance.)

Now let me clarify a few points.  You certainly still need all three nutrients (alcohol excluded). You need adequate protein, fat and carbohydrate for your body to be healthy, in addition to vitamins and minerals to prevent disease. So I’m not suggesting you eat only carbs, for instance.  But tomorrow morning when you are contemplating eating some cereal or pancakes or a bagel, rest assured that it doesn’t go right to your hips (or butt, or waist). And having a modest intake of fat may also contribute to your eating pleasure and satisfaction.  And perhaps prevent you from feeling denied and deprived.

If you don’t believe me, try it out.  And keep in mind, it takes 3,500 surplus calories (beyond what your body needs for maintenance) to gain a single pound (or 3,500 calories less to lose it).

The only way to really trust is to experience it. So go ahead and step out of your comfort zone tomorrow.  And when you find that nothing bad happens, please post a comment on the blog and let me know! (By the way, the top photo is of my lunch on a trip to Provence, France.)

Day 208

Thoughts: Positive thinking is a mental attitude that admits into the mind thoughts, words and images that are conductive to growth, expansion and success. It is a mental attitude that expects good and favorable results. A positive mind anticipates happiness, joy, health and a successful outcome of every situation and action. Whatever the mind expects, it finds.

Not everyone accepts or believes in positive thinking. Some consider the subject as just nonsense, and others scoff at people who believe and accept it. Among the people who accept it, not many know how to use it effectively to get results. Yet, it seems that many are becoming attracted to this subject, as evidenced by the many books, lectures and courses about it. This is a subject that is gaining popularity.

It is quite common to hear people say: "Think positive!", to someone who feels down and worried. Most people do not take these words seriously, as they do not know what they really mean, or do not consider them as useful and effective. How many people do you know, who stop to think what the power of positive thinking means?

8 Practices that lead to Positive Thinking by Jinjee Talifero from The Garden Diet and what we practice on the 21 Day Cleanse.

1. A Good Start:

Start each day off with positive thinking, through a prayer of gratitude, meditation, journaling, or making a list of things your are thankful for.


2. Affirmations:

You don't have to do these now, but whenever you choose. It could be when you need to drum up some positive thoughts. Or it could be when you are feeling really happy and want to capture and expand this feeling in to more of your life!

…Make a list of positive affirmations, things you like about yourself, your immediate family members, and others you interact with regularly.

…Make a list of things affirming your faith in the Universe…I am loved, My greatest good along with the greatest good of all is always being met, everything works together for the good, there are not very many real emergencies, etc…

…Make a list of affirmations of things you love….I love life, I love people, I love my family, etc…

…Make a list of things you enjoy….I enjoy going out with a good friend, I enjoy walks in nature, I enjoy playing with my kids, etc….

…Make a list of things you want. Now make a list converting each of these things in to an affirmation, as though you already have it, or its already on its way.


These are all the types of things we think about, and by doing affirmations on paper, you are programming your brain to actually start thinking about things in a positive light.


3. Discipline:

"You can not afford the luxury of a negative thought". Since thoughts are habits, one negative one can snowball in to a totally negative mind-state. If you know the thoughts that set you off, you can banish them the moment they set in. I tell myself, I feel pretty good right now, and I deserve to keep feeling good, so I would rather not think that thought. Sometimes it doesn't go away right away, but I just don't give it any energy, and so it goes eventually.

You know the old Indian story about the Grandfather who tells his Grandson about a battle going on inside him between two wolves, one who is greedy, frightened, and angry, and one who is kind, peaceful, and loving. "Which one will win?" asks the Grandson. And his Grandfather answers: "The one I feed".


4. Prayer:

You can not be too negative when you are talking to the Creator of the Universes. It tends to bring out the best in us. And positive mind-states will come upon us sooner or later as a result of prayer.


5. Meditation:

Sitting or lying and focusing on our breathing for 5-15 minutes, or longer, we can just watch our thoughts and observe them without judging them. It is as though we are a third party outside of our mind, just noticing what is going on there.


6. Doing What We Love:

Doing what we love will make us happy, and when we're happy our thoughts are positive. If possible, make a career of the thing you love doing. Otherwise, spend an hour a day doing what you love, - ideally the first hour. You'll find yourself thinking more positively automatically.


7. Loving What We Do:

When we put our full attention and effort on something, we can't help but love it. So, whatever we find ourselves doing in life, do it without fear, and with all the caring we can muster. Positive thoughts will automatically follow.


8. Faith, The Final Frontier:

After practicing all kinds of things for positive thinking, I wound up realizing that my missing link was faith. I realized that I had stopped having faith. I don't know when it happened. I'm all for personal religious experience vs. church, but I guess one of the risks of being away from association with other religionists is that you can forget your faith. I was still praying. Still giving thanks. But I had purposely thrown myself in to matters of material living because I have a tendency to keep my head in the clouds otherwise.

For a while I was so worried about business it was starting to affect my health and sanity. One day during this long period of struggle and strife I suddenly realized that I was not having faith. The idea hit me like a ton of bricks. Wow, I can't believe that I forgot to have faith!

And suddenly my faith came pouring back in to me. Of course everything is going to be OK. Of course everything is happening in perfect divine order. And of course there is nothing to fear. I am taken care of, I am loved, I am receiving exactly the lessons I need, there is nothing I can't handle, I am part of the divine plan in which the greatest good of all beings is being taken in to consideration.

And by thinking these types of thoughts we activate something that makes it so.

I think that I had faith before, but not "living faith". "Faith" can be a noun, something that you possess. But "living faith" is active, a verb.

I am of no particular religious persuasion. But I am interested in all religions. I think that no matter what religious or spiritual practices we have, that we can all access faith. We can all believe in a higher power or our own higher power. This is faith. Knowing that it is not just us in control of our life. That we can ask for help, that we can receive help, that we are loved and cared for, that the Universe is on our side. And being open to this help, this love. And trusting it.

I think most people have had an experience of a benevolent "presence". Or they have had fleeting glimpses of some power outside of themselves helping and affecting their lives.

If not a "believer" in a higher power outside of ourselves, perhaps one could imagine a Unified Consciousness, in which all humans are joined as One. This Consciousness could be made of Love, and one could have faith in this greater Oneness of humanity.

Rev. Michael Beckwith has stated, "Reverence for the body temple as a vehicle of the Spirit that lives in, as, and through us is reflected through how we care for the body in terms of balanced nourishment from food....." - http://www.agapelive.com

Copyright The Garden Diet, 2010
Author: Jinjee Talifero
For more from this author see: http://www.TheGardenDiet.com

Challenges: “Endurance is one of the most difficult disciplines, but it is to the one who endures that the final victory comes.” - Buddha

Triumphs: Engage in group activities that further transformation.

What I Ate Today:

Breakfast: The juice of 2 grapefruits and 2 oranges.

Lunch: Grapes and a mango.

Dinner: Brazil nuts and sunflower seeds.

Dessert: A delicious sweet pear!

Snacks: Green and red grapes.

Exercise: A run and a dance in the morning and working, moving, all day on set of "Squidman".

157 days to go!!!

Introduction by www.successconsciousness.com/index_000009.htm
Visit: www.theearthdiet.org

Day 209

Thoughts: Neural pathways. We all have them. Whether you are aware of them or not, they are there. A neural pathway, or neural tract, connects one part of the nervous system, most notably the brain. Clusters of neurons can work together to create a memory, belief or a learned behavior. When neurons are connected in this way, they are referred to as a neural pathway. The brain continues to build new neural pathways throughout our whole lives, as long as we require our brains to perform new functions such as learning a new language or a new motor skill.

The human brain consists of some 10 billion interconnected nerve cells with innumerable extensions. This interlacing of nerve fibers and their junctions allows a nerve impulse to follow any of a virtually unlimited number of pathways. The effect is to give humans a seemingly infinite variety of responses to sensory input, which may depend upon experience, mood, or any of numerous other factors.

Creation of a "Comfort Food"

Patrick Glancy gives this example, Neural pathways are created when we experience life events. But, experience itself is not necessarily the issue, it is the unique perspective of the experience is. A child exposed to arguing parents may be just as troubled as the child who is neglected or abused. A neural pathway can be created that is a 'belief of self'. This is something that could make the child feel sad, alone, or 'less than' other people around them. While this pathway can be changed by other, more positive experiences, it often remains a part of this person's perception. Repetition of these experiences will reinforce the pathway.

For example, the same child has her eight year old birthday party. Both of her parents and her brother are there and happy. She feels a mixture of happy, joy, and love. These strong good feelings are a unique part of this experience, along with the ice cream. Her young mind creates a neural pathway that associates ice cream with a release of the neuropeptides that contain these positive emotions. Over the following years, the repetition of her birthdays, as well as friend's birthdays, reinforces this pathway. When she has ice cream, this neural pathway automatically responds with the release of the associated neuropeptides for the good feeling.

This example is about food. But, you can apply this model to any behavior or habit there is. Not every behavior has both a positive and negative motivator, though many do. Having both makes the behavior more difficult to 'break'. In some cases there is not an emotional component to a behavior. Like the previous example of locking your car door. This is sometimes seen in snacking, the reaching part of the smoking habit (when the smoker reaches for where they used to keep cigarettes without experiencing a craving to smoke) and habits like tongue thrusts, jaw clenching, and picking.

It is possible to re-programm your neural pathways as my great friend Jonathan Stone has experienced, "Ive had a realization in the past few days. It all started a month ago when I woke up with a sense of a no care attitude. I started to not worry about anything, money, relationships, career, I mean anything. I was care free. I had pure freedom. As my trainer said my brain had to create new neural pathways for me to come into this new perception of life. But by creating a no care attitude I then unconsciously created boredom. In quantum physics and in Buddhism they reason that everything is connected and one, and that all possible realities exist. As the universe is infinite, whatever thought we think of manifests with continual use of focus. So nothing is impossible for me. I know all that needs to be known as every possible reality exists. By continually focusing on a certain reality, I bring it into my own existence. So technically speaking for example... I'm already married to you, divorced, had kids, millionaire, famous actor, drug abuser whatever the human mind can imagine it already exists as a possible reality. I have accomplished everything as everything exists as a possible reality. The reason why we come back into this life is to forget what we already know (that we are unlimited and that we have unlimited knowledge and experiences) then start from scratch and find meaning in our lives. As Landmark says there is no meaning in life, we give it meaning. If you know everything, then there is no meaning as life would become boring. Its not about the destination, but the journey in self discovery.

Recently I have become bored with life as I know that every reality I ever wanted exists. The only challenges I have are the ones I give myself. Whatever I imagine like flying like superman to inventing unbelievable inventions all exist, I just need to hold my focus on it and it will come in line with my own reality. I now wish to forget everything again as it has become too easy and boring. I am still continuing with my projects as my life still needs focus, but nothing fears me. I am unlimited. Any knowledge I ever wanted exists, I just need to focus on it then I will know it. Universal consciousness is like a library or better yet the neural connections in the brain. If you want a particular knowledge or life experience, you just need to choose the right book or neural pathway. By realizing that I have everything I ever wanted, you come to a point that you don't need to learn anything or experience anything because you already have in the unlimited possibilities that exist. I now look forward to inspiring ones to open there minds to what awaits them. There are no more challenges as I have experienced every unlimited challenge in this universe. Next time if I decide to come back, I will have to give myself greater challenges and start over again by knowing nothing then learn over again that you don't need to learn as you already know everything as you are unlimited. Hopefully you understand my thinking. I am finally free and unlimited. Nothing is impossible as it already exists, I just need to bring it into my own reality. Have an AWESOME magical day today. With unlimited love. Your fellow universal earth child, the entity known as Jonathan Stone".

Jonathan and I modelling last year for a Valentines Campaign

Challenges: Allowing myself to stress. I know every time I stress it creates acidity in my body. Kora Webb the fitness coach and raw vegan chef on the 21 Day Cleanse says "Don't stress too much! Stress in one form or another is the cause of most dis-eases today! If you feel stressed take 10 deep breaths and focus on the solution rather than the problem! When you are feeling tired take a break, drink lots of water and grab an apple to give you some quick life force energy! Also, do not deprive or starve yourself because it will only make situations worse. Be disciplined and responsible for your own health. Remember, you have to be your best to serve your best! Never be too busy for yourself! You have to take care of yourself first to better take care of others! Yes! That means daily workouts and eating the healthiest foods for your body as often as possible!".

Triumphs: Jinjee the creator of the 21 Day Cleanse I am on wrote this today, "People of like consciousness naturally group together. Therefore if you want to improve your friendships or position in life, the swiftest route is to raise your own consciousness to the level you are seeking. Then you will find yourself surrounded by people of your consciousness, like metal filings to a magnet."

What I Ate Today:

Breakfast: The juice of 1 large grapefruit and 2 oranges.

Lunch: A massive salad - lettuce greens, kale, hemp seeds, olive oil, himalayan salt, cucumber, corriander (cilantro) and parsley!

Dinner: 1 avocado with walnuts. Mango. 2 nectarines.

Dessert: 1 nectarines.

Snacks: A grapefruit.

Recipe: Recipes will be included in the earth diet book that is released in Novemeber.

Exercise: A run in the morning, and a dance. Moving, walking, stretching while working on set of "Squidman"!

156 days to go!!!

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neural_pathway
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/sci/A0857003.html
http://www.glancyhypnosis.com/content/neural-pathways-and-behaviors

Day 210

Thoughts: The RAW experience.

I have been 100% raw now for 12 days. I am participating in the 21 Day Cleanse with The Garden Diet creators. Before being entirely raw I ate majority raw with cooked meals every now and then.

During the first week of this 3-week Cleanse I've eaten a lot "cleaner", "lighter", and healthier than usual. I've taken in a great variety of fresh, raw, organic nutrients. I have experienced a new level of raw foods; all fresh foods and no dehydrated foods or powdered "superfoods".

I have been cleansing my cells with fruits and their juices, nourishing my cells with vegetables and greens, while providing nuts, keeping me from detoxing too fast, and to give me the calories to do work-outs, work on film set for 12 hours and have lots of energy.

Working out during this cleanse has helped me to detox without discomfort, to tone muscles, and to further squeeze out toxins via the lymphatic system.

Things I'm learning from eating only raw foods:
- I don't need as much food as I think I do
- It is OK to skip a meal
- Fruits are the cleansers, greens are the builders
- There is no such thing as breakfast, lunch or dinner - just different periods of the day in which I eat
- It is OK to just eat fruit for a meal
- It is OK to just drink a smoothie for a meal
- A grapefruit and orange juice is my favourite way to start the day - healthy - fresh - alive and sweet!
- A salad a day keeps the cravings away
- My taste for salt diminishes after only a few days of reducing my salt intake
- Keeping a food journal like this blog helps make me conscious of how I really eat
- Becoming conscious of how I really eat is a powerful tool for change
- I have to love myself to health, beating up on my self never works
- Healthy thoughts are just as important to full health as well as the foods I eat
- Each food has it's own vibration and serves to perform something individual in my body
- Eating only raw isn't as challenging as I thought it would be!
- That there is so much more for me to learn!
- It is so simple, clean, no pots and pans and hot kitchens needed!
- Raw food is more exciting than it sounded at first! There are so many delicious recipes I have discovered and with the assistance of Jinjee from the Garden Diet!

Raw food is more exciting that it sounded to me at first! There are so many delicious and creative recipes :)

I even found myself contemplating the design of fruit - like an avocado. How it is perfectly formed around the seed. And I wonder exactly how it grows from seed into fruition. It didn't just happen overnight, the avocado is a perfect and it created itself over and over again until it became a full avocado ready for picking. Then I automatically have a great appreciation for the fruit that is about to provide me with existence.

A friend of mine Lauryn has also been raw for the past week and shares her experience, "Well, put it this way- I'm starting week 2!! I've certainly learned alot about my body this week and I can't believe the changes that I have felt and seen. And I've learned that raw Brussels sprouts in salads are a really bad idea:)

I started off less than enthusiastic :) I'd just come down with a killer flu and thought it may not be 'the right time'. Off course that was just my mind making excuses (like my juicer breaking last week, turns out, I didn't juice a thing this week) and I reasoned that lots of fruit and veggie's could only be better for me than the pastas etc I'd normally eat. End of day one I was GLARING at the tv for all the ads of foods I couldn't eat. At this point I was just eating veggies. 2nd day I was so sick I took the day off work and decided to just tough it out. However by lunchtime I was feeling unbelievable! Still a little sniffly but my god - I just felt... Bright? Is the only way I can really describe it. More alive than I can ever remember feeling. And it's stayed with me. For ages I'd thought I was a little depressed just because I had no energy no matter what I did. Since Wednesday, I've been bouncing out of bed at 6am!

My skin is completely clear and has a ridiculous glow that everyone keeps commenting on. I'm wearing barely any makeup. And my eyes are clear, perfect white. Not bloodshot, I've lost 3kg doing nothing! And have had to start running the last few days just to burn the energy off so I can sleep at night:) A- mazing:) I realized by Thursday when I'd actually forgotten my lunch and was raiding the fruit basket at work:) that I haven't really eaten any fruit in years. I eat a ton of veggies but no fruit. I was over raw veggies at this point so bought a lot of fruit. That's pretty much what I've eaten the rest of this week. Fruit for breakfast and lunch, raw veggies for tea. Absolutely amazing. I think I'm going to keep this for most of my diet and just have one cooked meal a day - if I feel like it. I just can't explain the energy. I feel like I'm a light that's just been turned on. Don't want to lose that feeling ever again:)"

Lauryn Cartwright - one week raw foods

Visit:
www.theearthdiet.org
www.thegardendiet.com

Challenges: How Can I Live More Lovingly? Allowing my self to be expressed rather than my ego. Remembering that my life is not about me. Putting the 'me' aside.

Triumphs: Detox Tip from Eek:

"My best detox tip is BREATHING, breathe, breathe, feel joy, gratitude and compassion to fulfill your cells. Feel the sensation and after that see what food your body craves! And let go of fear, feel free and let your choices come from a source of love." www.thegardendiet.com

What I Ate Today:

Breakfast: The juice of a big beautiful scrumptious grapefruit and orange! Some sesame seeds.

Lunch: 2 nectarines. A avocado with walnuts. Cherries mmm mmm.

Dinner: 2 avocados with walnuts. Yes was definitely craving the fats today :)

Loving the avocados!

Dessert: Cherries and strawberries!

Exercise: A gym workout doing weights, and then I played some racket ball, and walked back to my hotel. Working on set in the streets of Pittsburg - shooting exterior Squidman shots today ;)

155 days to go!!!

Photo from KC Confidental.

Day 203

Thoughts: Food has power. It can be used for good or bad, ugly or fat, unhealthy and healthy, love, hate, nutrition or malnutrition.

This article thanks to International Spiritual Experience!

The key to eating is to respect and bring thankfulness and light into your food. Some religions say prayers before they eat or say “grace”. Grace is an appropriate word because it acknowledges the idea that it is through grace that we survive through our connection with the life essence supporting us and the food that sustains our bodies. The process of prayer or meditation while eating is also an expression of a feeling of thankfulness and union with your meal. While eating, one should slowly chew, taste, smell, listen, and feel mindfully the essence of your food and body. Place your feet on the floor and clear your mind. Tune and sense all of this working as an integral system of nourishment.

You may also choose to restore your food’s light properties and change its vibration by blessing its ingredients or growing some of it on your own and visualize light going in it to nourish it. You could even talk to your plants! Even if you just put in herbs that you grew, this can bring vitality to your meal. Processed and overcooked meal or food that has been handled with disrespect or cruelty is what kills your food and can affect your body and health. You can counteract the potential detriments by blessing your ingredients, growing your food or saying grace and energizing with positive vibrations. The practice of this will in turn, benefit your overall wellbeing and raise your vibrational frequency.

Here is one example of a food blessing:

Divine most powerful (insert individual preference) I ask that you bless the Water/Food that I hold between my hands and heal me completely, mind, body, heart and spirit.

I ask that the water/food be enriched with every vitamin, mineral, herb or homeopathic remedy or healing vibration that I may need to fill my being with, in order to restore me back to 100% full health both mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.

I ask that this Water/Food be empowered with an energy so great and so magical that it clears my cluttered mind of all disruptive thoughts and clears my body of all negativity and illness, helping me also to cut ties with the past and release me from anything and anyone that is stopping me from moving forward and upward onto a more joyful, satisfying and healthy lifestyle.

May this water/food be the most divine, sacred and blessed Water/Food that has ever existed on this earth plane and may it have a miraculous influence on me and on my life in general. I ACCEPT that I am being healed on all levels and that I DESERVE that healing!

I am at one with the divine source that surrounds me and I am free to express myself in which ever way I choose.

May this healing received be an example to others so that they too can gain the faith that I have found within me and progress as I am progressing, and may I as your instrument of divine healing go onto perform miracle after miracle in your name.

I Humbly Thank You.

Or a simple one is to hold your hand or hands palm down over the food. Think to yourself or say aloud,

“I raise this food to my vibration. Every cell in my body is programmed to use this food for normal, healthful functioning.”

Repeat three times. If you are sensitive to energies, you will feel the energy field change. Take a minute to let the energies shift whether you feel them or not.

Another one- This food is Brahma (God). The one who is eating is Brahma. The act of
eating is also Brahma.

When I sit in presence with food, for example if I am eating nuts, I will eat the whole nut and experience the whole nut. Then I would eat less and absorb more. And I wouldn't be bloated. The first time I actually blessed/thanked/appreciated my food was a few weeks ago - I was so moved by food. My nectarine, I looked at it, and I present and saw it's beauty, it's essence, it's life for me. It had grown through wind, sun, rain for weeks for me to eat it - and the tree it came from has existed for years! And I thanked it. And it was the most delicious nectarine I have ever had!

From the book "The Prophet" it says 'Would that you could live on the fragrance of the earth, and like an air plant be sustained by the light. But since you must kill to eat, and rob the newly born of it’s mother’s milk to quench your thirst, let it be an act of worship. And let your board stand altar on which pure and the innocent of forest and plain are sacrificed for that which is purer and still more innocent in man.

When you kill a beast say to him in your heart,

“By the same power that slays you, I too am slain; and I too shall be consumed. For the law that delivered you into my hand shall deliver me into a mightier hand. Your blood and my blood is naught but the sap that feeds the tree of heaven.” And when you crush an apple with your teeth, say to it in your heart, “Your seeds shall live in my body, and the buds of your tomorrow shall blossom in my heart, and your fragrance shall be my breath, and together we shall rejoice through all the seasons.”

And in Autumn, when you gather the grapes of your vineyards for the winepress, say in your heart,

“I too am a vineyard, and my fruit shall be gathered for the winepress. And like the new wine I shall be kept in eternal vessels.”

And in winter, when you draw the wine, let there be in your heart a song for each cup. And let there be in the song a remembrance for autumn days, and for the vineyard, and for the winepress.'

Visit:
www.theearthdiet.org
www.thegardendiet.com/21days
www.internationalspiritualexperience.com

Challenges: Our Food Instincts....
1. The need for a High Volume of Food
2. The need for Sweet Food
3. The need for Colorful Food
4. The need to Eat Immediately
5. The need to Eat Exactly what we Desire
6. The need to be Nurtured by our Food

Our basic food instincts serve us well when we are eating a raw vegan diet, but with modern foods they play havoc on our health...
- From an article in the current issue of Pear Magazine Online, www.PearMagazine.com

Triumphs: Accepting Your Shadow by the creator of the 21 Day Cleanse I have taken on, Jinjee (The Garden Diet)

I do get stuck, stuck in negative thinking, stuck in my ego, stuck in addiction to negative emotions. But I'm conscious now when I'm doing this, and I accept my human-ness, and at the same time try not to indulge in these areas any longer than I must. Strangely, once you accept yourself, your shadow side, it is easier to move on, to move back in to the light.

1. Make a list of things you don't like about yourself, who you are, how you behave…

2. Then go back and beside each point, fine down something to love about each thing….

Shadow Side --- Acceptance
Overworking --- passionate about creating
Late nights --- hard worker
Overeating --- sensitive soul
etc...

What I Ate Today:

Breakfast: The juice of oranges and grapefruits! A sweet way to start the day!

Lunch: A beautiful colourful salad with lettuce greens, coriander, parsley, avocado, the juice of a lemon and hemp seeds!

Dinner: A long working schedule on "Squid-man" and an apple! I would usually eat more for dinner however I got home at 12:30 and went straight to bed - an apple was what my body required to sleep!

Dessert: No dessert.

Snacks: No snacks.

Recipe: Recipes to any of the meals you see in my blogs will be in the earth diet book being released in November this year or checkout www.thegardendiet.com

Exercise: Working on set for many hours, standing, walking, stretching, moving!

162 days to go!!!

Day 204

Thoughts: The Incredible Shrinking Fat Cell...

What Really Happens When Body Fat is Burned?

By Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCS

Earlier this week someone in our discussion forum wrote, "I haven't "LOST" any fat... I know EXACTLY where it went! I got a chuckle out of that because I "got" the joke, but truth is, most people really don't know how fat cells work, how the fat burning process takes place or where the fat goes when it's burned. It's actually quite a complex biochemical process, but I'll explain it as simply as possible, so by the end of this article, you'll be a "fat burning" expert!

When you "lose" body fat, the fat cell (also called an adipocyte) does not go anywhere or "move into the muscle cell to be burned. The fat cell itself, (unfortunately) stays right where it was - under the skin in your thighs, stomach, hips, arms, etc., and on top of the muscles - which is why you can't see muscle "definition" when your body fat is high.

Fat is stored inside the fat cell in the form of triaglycerol. The fat is not burned right there in the fat cell, it must be liberated from the fat cell through somewhat complex hormonal/enzymatic pathways. When stimulated to do so, the fat cell simply releases its contents (triaglycerol) into the bloodstream as free fatty acids (FFA's), and they are transported through the blood to the tissues where the energy is needed.

A typical young male adult stores about 60,000 to 100,000 calories of energy in body fat cells. What triggers the release of all these stored fatty acids from the fat cell? Simple: When your body needs energy because you're consuming fewer calories than you are burning (an energy deficit), then your body releases hormones and enzymes that signal your fat cells to release your fat reserves instead of keeping them in storage.

For stored fat to be liberated from the fat cell, hydrolysis (lipolysis or fat breakdown), splits the molecule of triaglycerol into glycerol and three fatty acids. An important enzyme called hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) is the catalyst for this reaction. The stored fat (energy) gets released into the bloodstream as FFA's and they are shuttled off to the muscles where the energy is needed. As blood flow increases to the active muscles, more FFA's are delivered to the muscles that need them.

An important enzyme called lipoprotein lipase (LPL), then helps the FFA's get inside the mitochondria of the muscle cell, where the FFA's can be burned for energy. If you've ever taken a biology class, then you've probably heard of the mitochondria. This is the "cellular powerhouse" where energy production takes place and this is where the FFA's go to be burned for energy.

When the FFA's are released from the fat cell, the fat cell shrinks and that's why you look leaner when you lose body fat - because the fat cell is now smaller. A small or "empty" fat cell is what you're after if you want the lean, defined look.

It was once believed that the number of fat cells could not increase after adulthood, only the size of the fat cells could increase (or decrease). We now know that fat cells can indeed increase both in size (hypertrophy) and in number (hyperplasia) and that they are more likely to increase in number at certain times and under certain circumstances, such as 1) during late childhood and early puberty, 2) During pregnancy, and 3) During adulthood when extreme amounts of weight are gained

Some people are genetically predisposed to have more fat cells than others and women have more fat cells than men. An infant usually has about 5 - 6 billion fat cells. This number increases during early childhood and puberty, and a healthy adult with normal body composition has about 25 to 30 billion fat cells. A typical overweight adult has around 75 billion fat cells. But in the case of severe obesity, this number can be as high as 250 to 300 billion!

The average size (weight) of an adult fat cell is about 0.6 micrograms, but they can vary in size from 0.2 micograms to 0.9 micrograms. An overweight person's fat cells can be up to three times larger than a person with ideal body composition.

Remember, body fat is basically just a reserve source of energy and fat cells are the like the storage tanks. Unlike a gas tank in your car which is fixed in size, however, fat cells can expand or shrink in size depending on how "filled" they are.

Picture a balloon that is not inflated: It's tiny when not filled with air - maybe the size of your thumb. When you blow it up with air, it can expand 10 or 12 times it's normal size, because it simply fills up. That's what happens to fat cells: They start as nearly empty fat storage "tanks" (when you are lean), and when energy intake exceeds your needs, your fat cells "fill up" and "stretch out" like balloons filling up with jelly (not a pretty picture, is it?)

So you don't actually "lose" fat cells, you "shrink" or "empty out" fat cells.

Take-home lessons:

1. Calories count!The signal that triggers your body to release adipose from fat cells is an energy deficit... you have to burn more than you eat.

2. Cut calories conservatively. Starving yourself may cause quick weightloss at first, but never works long term because it actually decreases the activity of fat burning enzymes that release fat from the cells. to avoid this "starvation mode" use exercise to BURN THE FAT, not very low calorie crash diets.

3. Get control of your weight now. If you are gaining weight, and especially if your weight is climbing upwards out of control, make a decision to STOP RIGHT NOW. Your fat cells might be multiplying, making it more difficult to burn fat in the future. NOW is the time!

4. If you've already lost weight, you must be forever diligent. Your fat cells are not gone, they have merely "shrunk" or "emptied out." Fitness is not a 12 week program, its a lifestyle. To stay lean you have to eat clean and stay active

5. Genetics are only a minor factor. You may not have control over how many fat cells you were born with, but you do control the major factors that determine how much fat you store: lifestyle, exercise, nutrition, mental attitude.

Genetics are not an excuse. The past is not an excuse. Your present condition is not an excuse. You can either make excuses or get results, but you can't do both.

So keep educating yourself about the science, read these newsletters, take action every day and go out there and make it happen!

This article from: www.2012unlimited.net/Shrinking_fat_cell.html and http://www.burnthefat.com/

Visit:
www.teearthdiet.org
www.thegardendiet.com

Challenges: Allowing myself to feel overwhelmed and think 'there is just so much to do'. A chaotic lifestyle. The Buddha says "Chaos is inherent in all compounded things. Strive on with diligence."

Triumphs: I am absolutely loving the 21 Day Cleanse with eating only raw foods! I am working 12 hours a day on a film set, have plenty of energy, a clear mind :)

What I Ate Today:

Breakfast: The juice of 4 grapefruits!

Lunch: A salad with mixed lettuce greens, the juice of a lemon, avocado, hemp seeds, corriander and parsley mmm mmm mmm!

Dinner: Another salad like lunch! 2 salads ... feeling the energy!

Snacks: A red apple.

Exercise: Working 12 hours on set of "Squid-Man"! Moving, shaking, stretching, walking, running! And I did a dance with my husband in the morning!

161 days to go!!!

Day 205

Thoughts: Why Positivity Can Be Learned

This article is by Jinjee the creator of The 21 Day Cleanse - eating only raw foods!

Wouldn't it be nice to always - or mostly - have positive thoughts?

We have to live inside our heads a large part of our waking life. Granted, when we are working, playing, exercising, or socializing in any way -- relating to family, friends, co-workers, etc...we are taken outside of ourselves, out of our heads, and our own mind-chatter is less present. And these activities are a great way to reduce our mind-chatter when we are feeling negative, and they can lead to a total turn-around too.

But when we are on our own we mostly live inside out heads. And often the inner life in there is not all pleasant. We spend a lot of time in anger, anxiety, strife, worry, fear, negativity, arguments, sadness, brooding, drama, etc…

Instead, we could be planning, dreaming, thinking creative thoughts, having realizations, insights, and breakthroughs, having thoughts of gratitude, enjoyment, fun. We could be experiencing the moment in awe, wonder, enthusiasm, excitement, and feeling waves of passion, ecstasy, and bliss. Yes, these are all valid ways of being, these are all attainable inner states.

Beautifying Your Inner Landscape

How do we attain such beautiful inner landscapes? Like outer landscapes, they can be cultivated. Some landscapes are born beautiful. Others need a little cultivation.

How Do We Cultivate a Positive Inner Terrain

How do we cultivate a positive inner terrain? Well, the first and last thing I'm going to tell you is that it comes down to "faith". But I'll tell you a lot of other things in between that can also help you to think positively, and that will also help to build your faith in life.

Positive Thinking is just a Habit

Positive Thinking is just a habit. It is not rocket science. It is not mumbo jumbo. It is not magic, spiritual, religious or anti-religious. It is simply a habit, that anyone can cultivate. We are all thinking all the time. It might as well be a positive experience!

The Inner Terrain of the Mind

We are all creatures of habit. Our brain is made up of synapses that are formed through our activities. The more we do something, the stronger the synapse becomes, allowing us to do it better, easier, more often, and with more enjoyment. This creates a habit. When we take conscious steps to break a habit, and we stop the actions, the synapses slowly dissolve and the habit is broken.

How to Cultivate New Habits

The doing of the habit, the action itself, is the strongest thing we can do in creating a new habit. Thinking about changing our habit, planning to change it, reading about how to change it -- these can all be helpful, but nowhere near as powerful to make real changes as actually doing the habit we want to start. (Or not doing the habit we want to quit).

This is a terrifically important thing to understand on a deep level. If you want to think positively, start thinking positive thoughts. Think one right now. "I am OK". (for instance)..

Journal Exercise - Developing A New Synapse

Fill in the blank with the best believable thing you can think about yourself: "I am __________".

Or, if you can't think something positive about yourself just yet, start with thinking something positive about someone else. "Jim is OK". "Mom is doing great". "Carrie is a wonderful friend". Now its your turn:

"______________ is ________________________________"

Now, you've established a new synapse in your brain's inner-talk landscape. You'll strengthen this synapse with repetition throughout the day of similar positive thoughts. You'll add many more soon.

I want you to write down as many positive thoughts as you can. Don't worry about whether or not they feel true to you just yet. If you write them now, at some point they will pop back in to your head as genuine positive thoughts.

Here are some of my positive thoughts that I seem to be able to dredge up even in the darkest times...

I am good
I am full of love
I want the best for all people
I love my children/ family
I am grateful for my health

Now, write down in your journal as many positive thoughts as you can…

Negative Thinking is Just a Habit

Negative thinking is just a habit! It is not who you are. It is not a reflection of any defect in you. It is simply a habit.

Our brain is a chemical factory manufacturing our emotions. When we feel a certain emotion a lot, our brain manufactures a lot of the chemical that communicates that emotion to your body. When that chemical floods your body and is picked up at receptor sites, a lot, then the body produces more receptors for that chemical. This creates a chemical addiction to that emotion.

To start out with in life, 90% of our receptor cells are joy receptors. We are coded for joy.

Like synapses, receptors increase with use, and dissolve with lack of use.

Habits take 21 days to create.

Therefore, during the 21 Day Cleanse, we are doing a different Happiness Exercise each day. Happiness and positive thinking are totally intertwined, almost synonymous.

For 21 days, come up with your own joy-enhancing program including positive thinking. Or follow mine below.

Here is my idea of a 21-day-positive-program:

My 21-Days to Positivity Program

For 21 Days…
- Do something you love each day.
- Make a list of positive thoughts each morning.
- Start the day doing the thing you love best for an hour.
- Exercise for an hour each day.
- Eat a big salad each day.
- Have some fruit each day.
- Have a green smoothie each day.
- Spend some time alone in thought, contemplation, meditation, or prayer each day.
- End each day with a list of things you are grateful for.

You can alter it for your lifestyle preferences, your unique personality, and your beliefs. Be creative.

Pitfalls to Positive Thoughts

Some things to watch out for…

Here are some long-term habits that can sabotage positive thinking:

- over-use of sarcasm or cynicism
We might think we're being witty, but the sarcastic or cynical attitude is addictive and can derail positive thinking. Some people are more cynical than others, and that might be your nature. I think you can find a balance in which you can be yourself and still enjoy your thought-life. A sense of humor is very helpful to this personality type.

- criticism of others
We might spend a lot of time thinking about the flaws of others. This can be highly habit forming, consuming many a life. Maybe this keeps our mind off our own problems. Often it is a way to avoid facing our own issues. It is however not conducive to positive thinking. Criticizing or blaming others keeps us stuck and keeps us from growing through actually facing our own issues.

- self-criticism
We can get really caught up in thinking about our own flaws, problems, and issues. Through our habit-forming brain and its synapses and our habit-forming body and its receptors for emotion-chemicals, we can turn this self-criticism in to a depressing habit. Start finding and creating the good in yourself!

- doubt
I think humans have a lot of faith naturally, in each other, in themselves, in this place we live in called reality, the world, or The Universe. Babies and small children have this kind of total faith. Bad experiences can cause us to start doubting ourselves and others. This is where faith becomes a necessity to keep us from this positivity-draining emotion of doubt.

- blame
A lot of us form the habit of blaming others. This is a nice way to avoid dealing with our own problems. But the mind-chatter of blaming covers up any possibility of positive thinking the same way pollution covers up the blue sky. Blaming also keeps us from growing. You can stagnate for years with this mechanism.

- guilt and shame
Feeling ashamed or guilty as a long-term habitual mind-set gets your energy so far down that positive thinking can be quite elusive. A little guilt or shame can be a good catalyst for change. But hanging on to an emotion like this as a long-term habit can't be very helpful. Lighten up on yourself. Let it go.

Copyright The Garden Diet, 2010
Author: Jinjee Talifero
For more from this author see: http://www.TheGardenDiet.com

Jinjee :)

Challenges: The enemy is at home.

Triumphs: It was Monday last week that I started the 21 Day Cleanse - and while I usually eat majority raw foods, it has been great to eat only raw foods. The recipes have been amazing, fulfilling, satisfying, delicious and filling too!

What I Ate Today:

Breakfast: The juice of 2 grapefruits and 2 oranges! Delicious!

Lunch: A pear and a salad with green lettuce and cucumber! A punnet of delicious blackberries!

Dinner: An apple and an avocado. Green and red grapes.

Exercise: Same as yesterday - working on set of "Squidman", walking, talking, moving, stretching!

160 days to go!!!

www.theearthdiet.org

Day 206

Thoughts: Water. Things you wanted to know about water but didn't know who to ask.

I was in the supermarket the other day and down the aisle with water - there were numerous bottles to choose from - brands - spring water - distilled - purified. So what water is the best to drink? And is fluoride in our water really a good thing?

If you're starting to feel a little self-conscious about carrying around bottled water, join the crowd.

While consumption of bottled water continues to grow globally, concerns about the environmental impact of drinking bottled water are also on the rise, with green-thinking restaurants across the country taking it off their menus and pro-tap water campaigns gaining steam.

Tap water, however, has its own set of problems. Those contemplating making the shift may harbor fears about contaminants--not to mention the recent reports of trace amounts of pharmaceuticals being found in the drinking supplies of at least 41 million Americans.

We live on a blue planet covered with over 75% water and yet, less than 1% of this water is actually suitable for drinking. One out of six people in the world has no dependable, safe drinking water.

Americans spent more money last year on bottled water than on ipods or movie tickets: $15 Billion. Thirty years ago, bottled water barely existed as a business in the United States. Bottled water is the food phenomenon of our times.

We pitch into landfills 38 billion water bottles a year -- in excess of $1 billion worth of plastic.

24% of the bottled water we buy is tap water repackaged by Coke and Pepsi.


SELECTED WATERS TO WATCH

Master Choice (NY)
Heterotrophic-plate-count bacteria over 500 cfu/ml in some bottles

Odwalla Geothermal Natural Spring Water (CA)
Fluoride level in excess of California and FDA standard for warm weather areas

Poland Spring (DC)
Heterotrophic-plate-count bacteria over 500 cfu/ml guideline in some bottles; 1996 excess chlorine recall

Private Selection Drinking & Purified Waters (CA)
Trihalomethane levels above California and industry standards

Publix Drinking Water (FL)
Trihalomethanes above industry standard

Safeway Drinking Water & Purified Water & Club Soda & Select Seltzer & Spring Water (all CA) Trihalomethanes above California and industry standards

Vittel Mineral Water (CA)
Arsenic in excess of California, World Health Organization, and European Union standards

Volvic Natural Spring Water (CA)
Arsenic in excess of California, World Health Organization, and European Union standards

Alhambra Mountain Spring Water (CA)
Heterotrophic-plate-count bacteria in some bottles over 500 colony forming units/milliliter (cfu/ml) guideline

Appollinaris (CA)
Arsenic above California warning level

Black Mountain Fluoridated Water (CA)
Heterotrophic-plate-count bacteria over 500 cfu/ml guideline in some bottles; fluoride levels exceed FDA and California standards for warm weather areas

Crystal Geyser Alpine Spring Water (CA)
Arsenic in excess of California warning level and World Health Organization and European Union standards

Lady Lee Drinking Water (CA)
Trihalomethanes in excess of California and industry standards

Lucky Seltzer Water (CA)
Trihalomethanes in excess of California standards (and over industry standards, which don’t apply to seltzer)

WATERS TESTING CLEAN

Deer Park (DC, NY)
No contaminants of concern found in four tests

Naya (CA, NY)
No contaminants of concern found in four tests

Rocky Mountain Drinking Water (CA)
No contaminants of concern found in two tests

San Pelligrino (CA)
No contaminants of concern found in two tests

Vons Drinking Water (CA)
No contaminants of concern found in two tests

Vons Natural Spring Water (CA)
No contaminants of concern found in two tests

NRDC (Natural Resource Defense Council) did a study that included testing of more than 1,000 bottles of 103 brands of bottled water. While most of the tested waters were found to be of high quality, some brands were contaminated: about one-third of the waters tested contained levels of contamination - including synthetic organic chemicals, bacteria, and arsenic - in at least one sample that exceeded allowable limits under either state or bottled water industry standards or guidelines.

A key NRDC finding is that bottled water regulations are inadequate to assure consumers of either purity or safety, although both the federal government and the states have bottled water safety programs. At the national level, the Food and Drug Administration is responsible for bottled water safety, but the FDA's rules completely exempt waters that are packaged and sold within the same state, which account for between 60 and 70 percent of all bottled water sold in the United States (roughly one out of five states don't regulate these waters either). The FDA also exempts carbonated water and seltzer, and fewer than half of the states require carbonated waters to meet their own bottled water standards.

Even when bottled waters are covered by the FDA's rules, they are subject to less rigorous testing and purity standards than those which apply to city tap water. For example, bottled water is required to be tested less frequently than city tap water for bacteria and chemical contaminants. In addition, bottled water rules allow for some contamination by E. coli or fecal coliform (which indicate possible contamination with fecal matter), contrary to tap water rules, which prohibit any confirmed contamination with these bacteria. Similarly, there are no requirements for bottled water to be disinfected or tested for parasites such as cryptosporidium or giardia, unlike the rules for big city tap water systems that use surface water sources. This leaves open the possibility that some bottled water may present a health threat to people with weakened immune systems, such as the frail elderly, some infants, transplant or cancer patients, or people with HIV/AIDS.

What are the different types of bottled water?
There are several different varieties of bottled water. The product may be labeled as bottled water, drinking water or any of the following terms. The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) product definitions for bottled water are:

Artesian Water / Artesian Well Water: Bottled water from a well that taps a confined aquifer (a water-bearing underground layer of rock or sand) in which the water level stands at some height above the top of the aquifer.

Drinking Water: Drinking water is another name for bottled water. Accordingly, drinking water is water that is sold for human consumption in sanitary containers and contains no added sweeteners or chemical additives (other than flavors, extracts or essences). It must be calorie-free and sugar-free. Flavors, extracts or essences may be added to drinking water, but they must comprise less than one-percent-by-weight of the final product or the product will be considered a soft drink. Drinking water may be sodium-free or contain very low amounts of sodium.

Mineral Water: Bottled water containing not less than 250 parts per million total dissolved solids may be labeled as mineral water. Mineral water is distinguished from other types of bottled water by its constant level and relative proportions of mineral and trace elements at the point of emergence from the source. No minerals can be added to this product.

Purified Water: Water that has been produced by distillation, deionization, reverse osmosis or other suitable processes and that meets the definition of purified water in the United States Pharmacopoeia may be labeled as purified bottled water. Other suitable product names for bottled water treated by one of the above processes may include "distilled water" if it is produced by distillation, "deionized water" if the water is produced by deionization, or "reverse osmosis water" if the process used is reverse osmosis. Alternatively "_____________ drinking water" can be used with the blank being filled in with one of the terms defined in this paragraph (e.g. "purified drinking water" or "distilled drinking water").

Sparkling Water: Water that after treatment and possible replacement with carbon dioxide contains the same amount of carbon dioxide that it had at emergence from the source. (An important note: soda water, seltzer water and tonic water are not considered bottled waters. They are regulated separately, may contain sugar and calories, and are considered soft drinks.)

Spring Water: Bottled water derived from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the surface of the earth. Spring water must be collected only at the spring or through a bore hole tapping the underground formation and the spring. Spring water collected with the use of an external force must be from the same underground stratum as the spring and must have all the physical properties, before treatment, and be of the same composition and quality as the water that flows naturally to the surface of the earth.

Well Water: Bottled water from a hole bored, drilled or otherwise constructed in the ground which taps the water of an aquifer.




What you didn't know about Fiji Water:
Fiji's military junta has been declared unconstitutional by the country's second highest court; in response, it has abolished the judiciary, banned unauthorized public gatherings, delayed elections until 2014, and clamped down on the media.

The slogan on Fiji Water's website -- "And remember this, we saved you a trip to Fiji" -- seems like a dark joke to those who are aware of the conditions there. Fiji Water is now America's leading imported water. The company has spent millions pushing its environmental credibility and charity work. But nowhere in Fiji Water's glossy marketing materials will you find reference to the typhoid outbreaks that plague Fijians because of the island's faulty water supplies, the corporate entities that Fiji Water has set up in tax havens like the Cayman Islands and Luxembourg, or the fact that its signature bottle is made from Chinese plastic in a diesel-fueled plant and hauled thousands of miles. And, of course, you won't find mention of the military junta for which Fiji Water is a major source of global recognition and legitimacy.

Koya Webb, model, vegan chef and health and wellness expert did a study on Spring Water, and found that Arrowhead Spring Water had the best pH balance! It is also the cheapest spring water.

Here are the down-sides of other types of water from The Garden Diet...

Distilled Water - has no trace minerals that spring water does. It will therefore strip your digestive system of everything, including good intestinal flora.

Structured Water - I'm skeptical of all water that is chemically restructured. Water is a gift of Mother Earth that does so many magical things in our bodies. Our limited scientific knowledge is a dangerous thing. My instinct is to stick with the
real natural thing!

Reverse Osmosis Water - This is just tap water, with chemicals and minerals supposedly evaporated out of it. That is why it is just pennies a gallon.

Tap Water - This has fluoride and chlorine added to it. These are chemicals that weaken the bones of the jaw, and that weaken the will-power. Tap water is also filled with pharmaceuticals that pass through people in to the water table, and can not be removed in treatment plants. Don't drink unless absolutely necessary. Boil first if you must drink it.

Do plastic bottles cause a taste in bottled water? Certain lower grade plastics such as HDPE (high-density polyethylene), which is used in the milk industry, can give a plastic taste to water. Many water bottlers have switched to high-grade, (and more expensive) PET (polyethylene terephthalate), which does not pass on any plastic taste to water.

Countries with the cleanest water: Finland has the cleanest water in the world, according to a study by the United Nations that included 122 countries. Finland received the top position with a quality index of 1.85. The country was followed in the top ten by Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Japan, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Sweden and France. At the bottom end, Belgium had the worst water quality, followed by Morocco, India, Jordan and Sudan. (I wonder where USA is on this list? Did they not participate in the test?)

Cities with the Cleanest Drinking Water in USA
St. Louis, Missouri:Des Moines, Iowa:as Vegas, Nevada:San Jose, California:Kansas City, Missouri.

The 70% Watery Human


The amount of water in the human body, averaging 70%, varies considerably and even from one part of the body to another area. A lean man may hold 70% of his weight in water, while a woman—because her larger proportion of water-poor fatty tissues—may be only 52% water. The lowering of the water's content in the blood is what triggers the hypothalamus, the brain's thirst center, to send out its familiar urgent demand for a drink of water.

Water Percentage in Various Body Parts

-Teeth 10%
-Plasma90%
-Lungs 80%
-Liver 71.5%
-Bones 13%
-Blood 90.7%
-Brain 80.5%
-Muscle 75%
-Cartilage 55%
-Lymph 94%
-Bile 86%
-Spleen 75.5%
-Red blood cells 68.7%
-Saliva 95.5%

Water is Important to Superb Health
People who ingest a sufficient amount of the right kinds of liquids (distilled water, fresh fruits and vegetables and their juices) have better body functioning and circulation overall, which are most important to Super Health and Long Life.
You have 15 billion powerful brain cells which are 74.5% water. We strongly believe the right kind of water in sufficient amounts helps improve your mind and brain power and makes you think better and more accurately!

We also think that the excessively nervous and/or mentally upset person is so obsessed with his own worries and "hang-ups" that he just forgets to drink sufficient pure water. Instead, he dopes himself with alcohol, tea, coffee and cola drinks which only complicate his nervous condition by introducing burning, toxic acid into his stomach with no food or water to dilute it. So on top of his nervousness and depression, he suffers from heartburn, sour acid stomach, gas, bloating, enervation and low energy. In place of sufficient pure water, he again dopes up on stimulants, coffee, soft drinks, cigarettes, aspirin, antacids, etc.
Remember that the nerves need the correct amount of water to function properly and smoothly. You can plainly see that it is possible to suffer from water starvation.

Should I get a water filter?
A carbon filter, like the ones found in Brita or Pur containers that fit in the fridge, removes lead, chlorine, and other impurities. Bottled water fanatics should be aware that many bottled brands actually get their water from the same places our taps do—local municipal supplies. This means investing in a simple filter is the definitely the way to go. Plus, with your handy filter, you can quit that nasty bottled-water habit. Clean and green? Gotta love that.

Water Flushes Toxins Out of the Body
One of the most important functions of water is to flush the toxins and salt from the body. Unfortunately, people the world over now consume large amounts of salt. The proper amount and right kind of water helps to keep cholesterol levels down. Water is a great flushing agent. The right kind of water is also Mother Nature's greatest beauty and health tonic! In our long careers as health and fitness advisors to Hollywood's famous stars of movies and TV, we have found that when we can persuade the stars to use the correct liquids they retain a more youthful face and figure longer than people who drink ordinary tap water. Pure water keeps the body's cells healthier and prevents dehydration. The face and neck remain more free of ageing lines and wrinkles, while the entire body retains its youthfulness longer!

Shocking Mutations & Death from Polluted Water Must Stop!
Deadly chemical pollution is not only mutating but killing millions of wildlife, fish, etc. worldwide. One USA example: Children in Minnesota discovered and caught frogs displaying horrible mutations, including eyes growing on their knees, four hind legs, etc. Scientists have now determined that unidentified toxic chemicals in the pond and ground water caused these terrible mutations!




Fluorine is a Deadly Poison
Millions upon millions of innocent people have been brainwashed by the aluminum companies to erroneously believe that adding sodium fluoride to our drinking water will reduce tooth decay in our children. Over 135 million Americans drink a daily dose of sodium fluoride in their water without thinking of it! Fluorine, the gangster of the chemical underworld, made the atomic bomb possible. The only scientific way to free the necessary quantities of fissionable Uranium 235, buried in the inert mass of its parent U-238, is to force uranium hexafluoride gas through many acres of porous barriers. The next part of the process gradually concentrates the elements, creating a deadly hazard from radiation. "Hex" is what they named this vicious stuff.

Many of these compounds enter the human body through our skin when we bathe or swim.

From Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 classic, “Dr. Strangelove, or how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb.”



Ripper: Mandrake?

Mandrake: Yes, Jack?

Ripper: Have you ever seen a Commie drink a glass of water?

Mandrake: Well, I can’t say I have.

Ripper: Vodka, that’s what they drink, isn’t it? Never water?

Mandrake: Well, I-I believe that’s what they drink, Jack, yes.

Ripper: On no account will a Commie ever drink water, and not without good reason.

Mandrake: Oh, eh, yes. I, uhm, can’t quite see what you’re getting at, Jack.

Ripper: Water, that’s what I’m getting at, water. Mandrake, water is the source of all life. Seven-tenths of this earth’s surface is water. Why, do you realize that seventy percent of you is water?

Mandrake: Uh, uh, Good Lord!

Ripper: And as human beings, you and I need fresh, pure water to replenish our precious bodily fluids.

Mandrake: Yes. (he begins to chuckle nervously)

Ripper: Are you beginning to understand?

Mandrake: Yes. (more laughter)

Ripper: Mandrake. Mandrake, have you never wondered why I drink only distilled water, or rain water, and only pure-grain alcohol?

Mandrake: Well, it did occur to me, Jack, yes.

Ripper: Have you ever heard of a thing called fluoridation. Fluoridation of water?

Mandrake: Uh? Yes, I-I have heard of that, Jack, yes. Yes.

Ripper: Well, do you know what it is?

Mandrake: No, no I don’t know what it is, no.

Ripper: Do you realize that fluoridation is the most monstrously conceived and dangerous Communist plot we have ever had to face?

It’s hard to imagine fluoride as a communist plot, but rather curious that most western European countries have abandoned the practice. Ask any American which option they would choose, fluoridated vs. non-fluoridated water - the vast majority will choose fluoridated water, why? The only answer is that because fluoride is good for your teeth.

Most Americans remain unexposed to recent studies disproving the effectiveness of fluoridation as a preventive measure against tooth decay. Fluoridation is not necessary.

From Paul Connett, PhD Professor of Chemistry St. Lawrence University:

“Most Western European countries are not fluoridated and have experienced the same decline in dental decay as the US (See data from World Health Organization in Appendix 1, and the time trends presented graphically at http://www.fluoridealert.org/who-dmft.htm ). “

From Ted H Spence, DDS, ND, PhD/DSc,MH:

“Some 61,000 cancer deaths in the US result from fluoridation each year. I repeat 61,000. (Burk and Yiamouyiannis) One study found that fluoride elevates cancer mortality 17% in 16 years in large cities. (from Gerald Judd, PhD) “You have been led to believe the fluorine makes teeth harder. The fact is, it actually makes teeth softer.” (George Meinig, a founder of the American Academy of Endodontics)”

“Fluoride [a toxic] does not stop rampant tooth decay. [Fluoride only hardens to outer surface of the enamel and may prevent calcium from being deposited when a tooth is re-mineralized.] Nutrition stops tooth decay. I have developed a nutritional supportive program which will totally stop tooth decay in less than two weeks… I have watched many children go from all 20 carious deciduous teeth, to 20 ebernated [hardened] teeth, which are non-painful and hard as rock. I have never seen fluoride do this [after 21 years of dentistry] and fluoride is not even a part of my caries prevention program.”

The main issue with fluoridation is that if there is no national health benefit from fluoridation, then it is tantamount to force-feeding. Why are citizens forced to consume something that is potentially hazardous to their health, and where the benefit is non-existent?

This is where people get the information that flouride is a good thing - from the fluoride inforamtion website:

They state: We Support Fluoride in our Community Water based on these Values

• It Promotes health for all community members even the disadvantaged and most vulnerable.
• Taking a community-wide and long-term approach to solving problems.
• Using our local and state tax dollars equitably and in a cost effective manner.
• Preventing disease.
• Making informed choices based on available evidence and its relevance to our community’s situation.
• Recognizing that public health measures have been of great benefit to the community, but that they need to meet a high standard of safety and efficacy and should not constitute an insurmountable burden to those who object to them for personal reasons.
• Understanding that any policy involves a balance between risk, cost, and benefit.
• Understanding that there can be no absolute certainty in public health matters, but that there are reasonable standards of evidence that most of our community can accept to use in making policy decisions.

Acid Rain
Acid rain is produced when nitrous oxide, sulphur dioxide, and carbon dioxide gas in the upper atmosphere react with water particles to produce nitric acid, sulphuric acid, and carbonic acid respectively. Unpolluted rainfall normally balanced alkaline of about 7.1 to 7.3, whilst acid rain has a pH that varies from 4.1 to 5.5.

Rainwater was naturally slightly alkaline because it contained a small amount of dissolved carbon dioxide gas. This forms a small amount of carbonic acid. Acid rain contains abnormally high levels of carbonic acid (from the excessive amounts of carbon dioxide released in the atmosphere from burning fossil fuel). Heavy metal aberrations found in our drinking water are directly causative or associative with dis-ease and ill health. A few examples are anemia, cardiac conditions, depression, digestive problems, high blood pressure, hormone imbalance, impairedgrowth, , insomnia, learning and behavioral problems, osteoporosis, chronic inflammation, and tumor proliferation.

Heavy metal toxins contribute to a variety of adverse health effects. There are more than 65 different heavy metals and toxic acidic compounds that impact human health.

Accumulation within the body can lead to a decline in the mental, cognitive, and physical health of the individual. Many of these pollutants are carcinogenic, teratogenic, reproductive acidic toxins, or neurological acidic toxins.

Why do we pay for water when it is a natural resource?
We are actually paying for the system of transport of the water from it's source to a convenient location.The upkeep of the water system is necessary for there is break downs because of wear,and maintenance is necessary.There is also the refining and filtering of the water to make it potable(drinkable).We also pay for the system of water leaving our homes in the way of sewage.

Is the water getting cleaner or dirtier?

References below

Visit:
www.theearthdiet.org

Challenges: The challenge is my own mind. "He is able who thinks he is able" - Buddha

Triumphs: "Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment" - Buddha. We absolutely could create cleaner water, if we chose to do so here now.

What I Ate Today:

Breakfast: The juice of 2 grapefruits and 2 oranges

Lunch: A salad from Kerry's garden - broccoli, lettuce, spinach with cucumber, avocado, carrots and hemp seeds. With strawberries.

Dinner: A delicious mango. A avocado with blended brazil nuts - awesome protein!

Dessert: 3 nectarines.

Snacks: The sweetest, coolest, tasty watermelon!

Exercise: Walking

159 days to go!!!

References:

www.thegardendiet.com
www.ehso.com/ehshome/DrWater/drinkingwater.php#Overview
www.divinecaroline.com/22355/88067-tap-water-truths-cities-cleanest/2
www.articlesofhealth.blogspot.com/2008/02/truth-about-water.html
www.evolutionhealth.com/bragg_H20.html
www.korawebb.com
http://www.forbes.com/2008/04/14/water-cities-drinking-forbeslife-cx_avd_0414health.html
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HXI/is_2003_March_6/ai_n25063921/
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/167957
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/117/features-message-in-a-bottle.html

Day 207

Thoughts: Salt.

Whats the deal with salt? Good, bad, healthy, unhealthy?

Yes salt is on The Earth Diet and I use it. It is naturally created on the Earth and can be a healthy addition to your diet.

Salt is essential for life -- you cannot live without it. However, most people simply don't realize that there are enormous differences between the standard, refined table and cooking salt most of you are accustomed to using and natural health-promoting salt.

These differences can have a major impact on your staying healthy.

If you want your body to function properly, you need holistic salt complete with all-natural elements. Today's common table salt has nothing in common with natural salt.

Your table salt is actually 97.5% sodium chloride and 2.5% chemicals such as moisture absorbents, and iodine. Dried at over 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, the excessive heat alters the natural chemical structure of the salt.

For every gram of sodium chloride that your body cannot get rid of, your body uses 23 times the amount of cell water to neutralize the salt. Eating common table salt causes excess fluid in your body tissue, which can contribute to:

* Unsightly cellulite
* Rheumatism, arthritis and gout
* Kidney and gall bladder stones

So Why Are Many People Still Using Table Salt?

Well over 90% of the world's salt is being used directly for industrial purposes that require pure sodium chloride. The remaining percentage is used for preserving processes and ends up on your kitchen table.

With the use of rigorous advertising, the salt industry is successful in convincing you there are actually health advantages to adding potentially toxic iodine and fluoride to salt. In addition, your table salt very often contains potentially dangerous preservatives. Calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, and aluminum hydroxide are often added to improve the ability of table salt to pour. Aluminum is a light alloy that deposits into your brain -- a potential cause of Alzheimer's disease.

The Typical Table And Cooking Salt In Your Grocery Store Has Been "Chemically Cleaned". What remains after typical salt is "chemically cleaned" is sodium chloride - an unnatural chemical form of salt that your body recognizes as something completely foreign. This form of salt is in almost every preserved product that you eat. Therefore, when you add more salt to your already salted food, your body receives more salt than it can dispose of.

Salt is a mineral that is composed primarily of sodium chloride. It is essential for animal life in small quantities, but is harmful to animals and plants in excess. Salt flavor is one of the basic tastes, making salt one of the oldest, most ubiquitous food seasonings. Salting is an important method of food preservation.

Sodium is one of the primary electrolytes in the body. All four cationic electrolytes (sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium) are available in unrefined salt, as are other vital minerals needed for optimal bodily function. Too much or too little salt in the diet can lead to muscle cramps, dizziness, or electrolyte disturbance, which can cause neurological problems, or be fatal. Higher salt intake is associated with higher rates of stroke and cardiovascular disease.

Many people are unaware that common table salt is actually full of many forms of chemicals and even sugar! Salt, while necessary for life as we know it, can be dangerous if taken in this chemical form.

Commonly sold table salt is composed of 97.5% sodium chloride and 2.5% chemicals like iodine and absorbents, and sugar. Common salt is also dried at more than 1,200° Fahrenheit, a process which zaps many of the natural chemical structures of naturally-occuring salt.

The table and cooking salt found in most homes, restaurants, and all processed foods, is empty of any nutritional value. It is lacking in the precious trace minerals that make salt good for us. After processing, salt is basically sodium chloride, an unnatural chemical type of salt that our body actually sees as a foreign toxic invader!

When we ingest this type of salt, our body cannot dispose of it in a natural, healthy way. This can lead to inflammation of the tissues, water retention and high blood pressure over time.

Furthermore, processed salt crystals are also energetically dead, as their crystals are completely isolated from one another. In order for our body to metabolize chemical table salt, it must waste tremendous amounts of energy to try to keep the body at its optimum fluid balance. This creates an unnecessary burdening of the elimination systems in the body. Water is also removed from other cells in the system in an attempt to neutralize the unnatural sodium chloride.

Get Salt as Nature Intended It - Pure Himalayan Crystal Salt



Himalayan salt is the purest salt is a marketing term for rock salt from Pakistan. A test shows they detected a total of 10 different minerals: sodium and chloride (98%) and other minerals. Himalayan crystal salt is far superior to traditional iodized salt which is extremely toxic. Himalayan salt is millions of years old. It is a pure form of salt, untouched by many of the toxins and pollutants that pervade other forms of ocean salt.

Known in the Himalayas as “white gold,” Himalayan Crystal Salt contains the same 84 natural minerals and elements found in the human body. This crystal form of salt has also been maturing over the past 250 million years under intense tectonic pressure, creating an environment of zero exposure to toxins and impurities.

What is more, this salt’s unique cellular structure allows it to store vibrational energy. Its minerals exist in a colloidal form, meaning that they are tiny enough for our cells to easily absorb them.

Salts to avoid:

Table salt
Table salt is refined salt, which contains about 97% to 99% sodium chloride. In France, 35% of sold table salt contains either sodium fluoride or.

The finely ground pure white salt that you commonly see in grocery stores and restaurants is highly refined and processed. As such, it contains chemical toxins, free radicals, and denatured nutrients that cause cell damage and malfunction. Artery problems are just one example of what can result. While refined table salt is definitely something you should avoid, this alone isn’t going to eliminate the risk factors of high blood pressure and heart disease.

Iodized salt
Iodised salt (also spelled iodized salt) is table salt mixed with a minute amount of various iodine-containing salts. The ingestion of iodide prevents iodine deficiency. Worldwide, iodine deficiency affects about two billion people and is the leading preventable cause of mental retardation.



Rock salt
Halite is the mineral form of sodium chloride, NaCl, commonly known as rock salt. Halite forms isometric crystals. The valuable elements found in rock salt are useless because your body cannot absorb it.

Kosher salt
Kosher salt usually referred to as kosher salt in the US, is a term that describes one of the most commonly used varieties of edible salt in commercial kitchens today. Nutritionally speaking, kosher salt is no different than table salt, although it does not provide iodine.

Kosher salt has a much larger grain size than some common table salt. Like common table salt, kosher salt consists of the chemical compound sodium chloride.

The purest salt is Himalayan salt and another great alternative is unrefined sea salt.

Unrefined Sea Salt
While avoiding refined table salt is a great idea, avoiding salt all together isn’t. We need salt to support immunity, proper cell pH balance, blood sugar regulation, stress tolerance, digestion, bone development, muscle health, allergy regulation, and electrolyte balance. Unrefined sea salt provides this support without the risks linked to refined table salt. It’s also a great source of more than 50 other minerals and trace elements that are essential for good health.

Sea salt is naturally gray in color and has larger granules than table salt. If you find sea salt that is pure white, it has most likely been bleached which is an indication that you should avoid it. An excellent brand of sea salt, which is also the brand I use, is Celtic Sea Salt. Celtic sea salt: Celtic Sea Salt is a brand of sea salt. Sea salt is obtained by the evaporation of seawater and is healthy as long as it is not processed. Unrefined ground sea salt would be the best alternative to commercial table salt.



People around the world now consume large amounts of salt. However, from centuries ago to the present day, there are still many countries that have never known what salt is, and whose people are still healthy and happy.

The Japanese are known to be the world's highest consumers of table salt (inorganic salt - sodium chloride). A Japanese farmer who lives to age 60 eats approximately 2 ounces of salt every day and filters up to 2,737.5 pounds or 1.36 tons of salt through his kidneys in his lifetime! This heavy salt intake hastens premature death!
Americans are not far behind the Japanese in the consumption of salt. Not only do Americans add plenty of salt to their foods, they also eat large amounts of ham, bacon, hot dogs, luncheon meats, corned beef, potato chips, salted nuts and many other foods with high concentrations of salt. No wonder heart disease is the No. 1 killer in America! Even people in their 30s and 40s suffer from high blood pressure, kidney trouble, arthritis and—the greatest of all killers—arteriosclerosis, the clogging of the arteries, veins and blood vessels!

Weight Loss Tip from Fitness Model and raw vegan chef Koya Webb: Salt makes you retain water in your cells. By decreasing your salt intake, you will loose water weight, and over a few days of cutting your salt intake in half you can loose about 5-10 lbs of water weight. The RDA (recommended daily allowance) of salt is 1 teaspoon. Put aside 1/4 or a 1/2 teaspoon of salt to use on your meals for today. You don't have to use it all, but don't use more. As a rule, don't eat anything with salt added already, like chips, crackers, or processed food. One bag of even raw crackers can contain more than the RDA.

Salt tip from Jinjee the creator of The Garden Diet and the 21 Day Cleanse I am on! "Your taste for salt is acquired, so it's reversible. To unlearn this salty savoring, decrease your use of salt gradually and your taste buds will adjust. Most people find that after a week of cutting salt, they no longer miss it. As you use less salt, your preference for it lessens, allowing you to enjoy the taste of food itself. Three grains of salt on a bite of food tastes about the same as six grains. You're just adding more of the same flavor, a really strong flavor to start with, so it really doesn't make much of a difference in taste!"

Challenges: Is health a challenge in your life? Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship - Buddha

Triumphs: I love taking hot baths with Epsom salts - great magnesium for the body and also draws out toxins.

What I Ate Today:

Breakfast: 2 nectarines. 1 orange. 1 grapefruit.

Lunch: 1 avocado with brazil nuts.

Dinner: A salad made from corriander (cilantro) and parsley as the base, with avocado, hemp seeds, lemon, and a little olive oil.

Dessert: A mango!

Snacks: 2 nectarines.

Exercise: A dance in the morning to my favourite music, a leg workout at the gym with weights and walking in the arvo :)

158 days to go!!!

References:

www.thegardendiet.com
www.theearthdiet.org
www.korawebb.com
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himalayan_salt
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iodised_salt
http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/himalayan-crystal-salt-benefits/
http://naturalbias.com/the-truth-about-salt/
http://products.mercola.com/himalayan-salt/