Activating Nuts & Seeds

Nuts and seeds play a very important role in our diet. There are however varied opinions on how we should eat them. Although most people love roasted nuts, the roasting actually decreases their nutritional value, others would prefer theirs raw. Even raw nuts however can cause digestive issues hence why most health experts are suggesting that activating your nuts before consuming them is truly the best way. 

Activated nuts and seeds have been made bio-active by a very simple process of soaking in salted water for a period of time, draining them and then dehydrating them at a very low temperature in the dehydrator (or ivan with door open). Nuts and seeds contain what is called phytic acid which prevents them from sprouting prematurely and stores lots of important nutrients. According to research when humans consume phytic acid it reduces our body’s ability to absorb these nutrients. They also contain enzyme inhibitors which force the body to work over time to produce the enzymes necessary for digestion.

Soaking nuts and seeds begins the process of germination thus breaking down the phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors. This then makes the nutrients a lot more readily available. There is also research to suggest that soaking your nuts and seeds for long periods of time actually increases their nutritional value.

What you will need: 

• Hymalayan or celtic sea salt
• large bowls or dishes (glass if possible)
• filtered or spring water
• dehydrator or oven 

When soaking simply make sure that your nuts or seeds are covered by the water and leave them on a bench for the specified period of time (see below). If using an oven it must be on the lowest temperature possible. If using a dehydrator I believe around 40 is good if you can adjust the setting so to keep them "raw". You do not want to cook them, you simply want to dry them out. Its always best to do a heap at once because I appreciate this is a lengthy process. I fill every shelf in my dehydrator then store them in glass jars. If you store them with out dehydrating them they will go mouldy (I learnt this the hard way!)

Almonds
Soak: Salted water, overnight
Dehydrate: 15-24 hours. Until dry & crunchy

Cashews
Soak: Salted water, 3-6 hours. Keep an eye on them as they can go soft if left too long i the water
Dehydrate: 12-15 hours

Walnuts, Pecans, Hazlenuts
Soak: Salted water (1-2 teaspoons), overnight (or approximately 8 hours)
Dehydrate: 12-24 hours until dry and crunchy

Pepitas (pumpkin seeds) & Sunflower seeds
Soak: Salted water, overnight
Dehydrate: 12 -24 hours, 12 hours should be enough.

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COCONUT OIL

It's no secret that I LOVE coconut oil, and anyone that knows me will tell you that I use it for absolutely everything! Ive been using it for a few years now and I cant believe the changes it has made to my health.

I've researched the many health benefits and uses of coconut oil over the past couple of years, and it has become very clear that this oil is truly a gift from Mother Nature. It's unique combination of fatty acids can have profound positive effects on health. This includes fat loss, better brain function and various other amazing benefits. Coconut oil has been ridiculed in the past because it contains saturated fat. In fact, coconut oil is one of the richest sources of saturated fat you can get. However, coconut oil doesn’t contain your average run-of-the-mill saturated fats like you would find in cheese or steak. And the medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil are metabolised differently within our body than the long chains found in animal products. The medium chains in coconut oil go straight to the liver from the digestive tract, where they are used as a quick source energy or turned into ketone bodies, which have been shown to have therapeutic effects on the brain. Coconut oil has natural antimicrobial, antiviral and antibacterial properties which makes it great for such a variety of uses.

TOP 10 USES OF COCONUT OIL:

1. Moisturiser (Face & body)
2. Eye make-up remover
3. Nappy rash cream
4. massage oil
5. Hair conditioning /oil treatment
6. Lubricant
7. Increase energy levels
8. Oil Pulling [ http://fruitmumma.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/oil-pulling.html ]
9. Yeast infections
10. Cooking (coconut oil doesn’t form harmful by-products when heated like most other oils and animal fats. Use it to replace butter in recipes. Sauté, cook, bake, braise, and more using coconut oil as a healthier alternative)

As you could imagine I've used many different brands of coconut oil and I recently discovered Coconut Magic’s raw organic virgin coconut oil, and it definitely lives up to all of its claims. Coconut magic's oil is the purest on earth, its smooth like silk and smells and tastes divine. Find it here: http://www.fruitmumma.com.au/online-shop

TOP 10 HEALTH BENEFITS OF COCONUT OIL:

1. Improves digestive disorders
2. Increases energy (great for chronic fatigue)
3. Enhances Immune system (MCFA: Caprylic acid C8, Capric acid C10, Lauric acid C1, Myristic Acid C14)
4. Balances blood sugar
5. Antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial
6. Increases metabolism
7. Radiant skin (antioxidant)
8. Hormone balancing
9. Improves thyroid function
10. Sunscreen (Coconut oil has a natural SPF rating of around 4-8)

Start by taking 1-3 teaspoons per day to bring your body back into a healthy balance, you can put it in smoothies, cooking or just eat it straight off the spoon. YUM!

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GLASS OVER PLASTIC

PLEASE ALWAYS USE GLASS WATER BOTTLES

Most people these days know to avoid plastic water bottles etc that contain "BPA" (bisphenol-A) as it disrupts the function of the endocrine system causing hormonal imbalances & possible infertility problems. However just when you thought you'd learned everything there was to learn about how to avoid BPA, new research shows that there's more hormone-disrupting bisphenols around you than you probably thought.

In answer to consumers' demands to drop BPA from products, many manufacturers have simply switched to using a different—but equally toxic and perhaps even more toxic—chemical called bisphenol-S (BPS).

BPS is actually not only within the same range of toxicity of BPA, but is slower to degrade, and therefore will be more likely to remain a persistent toxin and environmental pollutant.[1] It has already been found to be present in the urine of 81% of those tested from the United States and seven Asian countries.[2]

And no stainless steel isn't any better!
One study on stainless steel water bottles found that:
-Iron, chromium and nickel were all found to leach into both alkaline and acidic foods and beverages, while none of the metals leached into distilled water.
-Leaching of iron, chromium and nickel was observed from both new and old utensils.
-Leaching of iron occurred in all foods.
-Leaching of nickel occurred in curd, fruit juice and pickle (more acid)
-Leaching of chromium occurred in milk, coffee, and tea (only slightly acid)

Whether it's for your everyday water or while you're juice fasting or for storing food it's glass all the way!

[1] Erica Danzl, Kazunari Sei, Satoshi Soda, Michihiko Ike, Masanori Fujita. Biodegradation of bisphenol A, bisphenol F and bisphenol S in seawater. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2009 Apr ;6(4):1472-84. Epub 2009 Apr 17. PMID: 19440529

[2] Chunyang Liao, Fang Liu, Husam Alomirah, Vu Duc Loi, Mustafa Ali Mohd, Hyo-Bang Moon, Haruhiko Nakata, Kurunthachalam Kannan. Bisphenol S in Urine from the United States and Seven Asian Countries: Occurrence and Human Exposures. Environ Sci Technol. 2012 May 23. Epub 2012 May 23. PMID: 22620267

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Additives in kids food

When it comes to "junk foods" given to children this is something that I am very passionate about and find it all extremely unnecessary, there are copious amounts of healthy (yummy) options out there that don't contain the carcinogenic and mind altering additives.  I understand that we need to let "kids be kids" and have fun etc however "everything in moderation" is not necessarily great advice especially with how the food industry is these days. Food like chicken nuggets [ http://foodmatters.tv/articles-1/whats-really-in-chicken-mcnuggets-scary ] , fairy bread and most "party" cake generally contain some pretty nasty chemicals, in the forms of artificial colours, flavours, flavour enhancers (including MSG), preservatives and even things like antifoaming agents and artificially synthesized industrial chemicals. I see the mentality of "its ok to eat it every now and then, as long as they are not eating it all the time" all too often and what a lot of parents don't realise is that these chemicals can be extremely damaging to the developing child and some are unable to be processed by such immature digestive systems and end up building up in the body over time. Even the smallest amounts can trigger many short term effects such as behavioural problems, learning difficulties, skin disorders, respiratory problems, the list goes on.  Of course different children will display different side effects and some will be worse than others. But I see many children in practice directly effected by this sort of thing and the majority of parents do not immediately link it to the food as its not always an immediate reaction. The long term effects are a bit more tricky but if you haven't already I would suggest you get thee book &/or smart phone app "The Chemical Maze" http://www.chemicalmaze.com. This will help you to understand where these chemicals are derived from (e.g. petroleum) and the damaging effects of they have on specific areas of the body. The other very worrying thing is that a lot of these foods are purposely scientifically designed to be addictive and I mean SERIOUSLY addictive, like a drug. My general rule is if it contains any numbers in the ingredients list then its not food and shouldn't be eaten or put on the skin. I know it is hard at a party as you usually have no idea who made it or where it came from so thats why I make a conscious effort to really educate those around me so that they can try to become aware of what is in our food and what effects it has on the body. So when they are making or buying processed food they can make more educated decisions in what they are going to use. Anyway a little off track there sorry girls but as you can tell Im very passionate about this sort of thing. Of course its the parents decision in the end and I'm not passing judgement on anyone I'm just trying to express the fact that sometimes "a little bit" still isn't ok… and a little bit and a little bit and a little bit more over time ends up being a lot and thats why we currently have such an unhealthy society riddled with cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

http://foodmatters.tv/articles-1/whats-really-in-chicken-mcnuggets-scary

Additives to Avoid

Colours

102, 104, 107, 110, 122, 123, 124, 127, 129, 132, 133, 142, 143, 151, 155, 160b (Annatto), 173, 174, 175

Preservatives  and examples of foods they are in.

Sorbates   
Cheese and cheese based products, dips, drinks.

200, 201, 202, 203

Benzoates    Soft drinks, cordials, medicine

210, 211, 212, 213, 216, 218

Sulphites      Dried fruits, cordials, juices and processed meats.

220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227,228

Nitrates         Cured & processed meats (ham, bacon, hotdogs). They are prohibited for use in food for infants ( under 12 months).  249, 250, 251, 252

Proprionates Bread and bakery products 280, 281, 282, 283

Artificial Flavours

All – they don’t have numbers

Flavour Enhancers – Flavoured chips, corn chips, pop corn, flavoured savoury biscuits, instant noodle sachets, vegetable spreads,

620-625         Glutames inc MSG

627                 Disodium Guanylate

631                 Disodium Inosinate

635                 Ribonucleotides

Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein (HVP)

Artificial Sweeteners

Aspartame 951

Fat

Hydrogenated or Trans Fats

Antioxidants – Often in oils and fats, baked goods, muesli and snack bars, biscuits and peanut butter.

310, 311, 312, 319, 320, 321, 385

Thickeners

407, 466          Vegetable Gums– Cakes, slices, muffins, smoothies

Anti-caking agents/ Emulsifiers

431, 433, 435, 436, 530, 553, 900, 914

Miscellaneous

943a, 950, 952, 954, 1201, 1520, 1521

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BREAKING A JUICE FAST:

While spending several days drinking only pure fresh juices, you will probably be starting to think about what it will be like to break the fast and go back to solid foods, a common realisation can be that it’s actually not so hard NOT eating after the first couple of days, however EATING is what can be really hard for some. Well CONSCIOUS eating that is!

Completing a fast/cleanse is a true achievement, and you should feel proud! After the cleanse you will generally feel very light, and very clear. The last thing anybody wants is to ruin the results by going back to our old habits, or by going from feeling really great, to feeling really sick in minutes simply by consuming foods that are too dense for your new digestive system.

If you are starting from a clean diet of lots of fruits and vegetables, it is relatively easy to come off a fast. However, its not so easy if you are starting from (and planning to return to) more acidic foods like animal flesh or dairy or bread. You will be OK but a good plan will mean the difference between maintaining your clean clear body, or having a BIG tummy ache. 

Length of: Juice fast              Smoothie diet                  Fresh fruit

                1-3 days                 1 day                          1 day

                4-8 days                 2 days                         1 days

                9-15 days               3 days          2 days

                16-24 days            4 days          2 days

                25-35 days            5 days          3 days

                Over 35 days           6 days                         4 days

I recommend after the fruit days that you then start with raw vegetables and fermented foods/drinks (kimchi, saurkreut, kombucha etc) then slowly transition into cooked food like soups etc (if thats what you are planning doing) or stay raw if thats your thing.

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OIL PULLING

After 7 solid months of oil pulling every morning I am confident to say that my teeth look & feel AMAZING & when I accidentally missed one day I didn't feel as refreshed & awake that morning! The only thing is I wish I had taken before & after photos of my teeth.

WHAT IS OIL PULLING

Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic ritual, and was introduced to the modern world in 1992 by Dr. F. Karach, MD. He claimed that oil pulling could cure a variety of illnesses ranging from heart disease and digestive troubles to hormonal disorders.

Oil pulling has a variety of benefits. So many, there is a book called 'Oil Pulling Therapy: Detoxifying and Healing the Body Through Oral Cleansing by naturopathic physician Bruce Fife.'

“The oil acts like a cleanser. When you put it in your mouth and work it around your teeth and gums it “pulls” out bacteria and other debris,” says Bruce Fife.

“As simple as it is, oil pulling has a very powerful detoxifying effect. Our mouths are the home to billions of bacteria, viruses, fungi and other parasites and their toxins. Candida and Streptococcus are common residents in our mouths. It is these types of germs and their toxic waste products that cause gum disease and tooth decay and contribute to many other health problems including arthritis and heart disease. Our immune system is constantly fighting these troublemakers. If our immune system becomes overloaded or burdened by excessive stress, poor diet, environmental toxins and such, these organisms can spread throughout the body causing secondary infections and chronic inflammation, leading to any number of health problems.”

HOW TO OIL PULL

Best done first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.

Place 1 tablespoon of organic, cold-pressed vegetable based oil (Sesame or coconut are best) into your mouth, and swish it around for 20-30 minutes before spitting it out (outside or in the toilet).

Never swallow the oil, as while you are "swishing" the oil is pulling toxins from your system and therefore will be full of chemicals and bacteria. Be sure to brush your teeth and rinse your mouth thoroughly afterwards. I brush my teeth with home made toothpaste (with the main ingredient being baking soda) afterward, but any fluoride free toothpaste should be ok, just check the ingredients.

The first few times you may experience a "gagging" feeling and it may seem a little difficult keeping the oil in your mouth, but start off with 10-15 minutes and work your way up to 30. If you persist, by the third day it will become easier.  Once you have finished the oil pull spit the oil either outside into the garden or into the toilet, avoid spitting it into the sink especially if using coconut oil as it will solidify in the pipes under the sink when its cold.

It is advised to change the type of oil you use every few weeks, I usually alternate between organic cold pressed sesame oil and organic cold pressed coconut oil about every four weeks.

THE BENEFITS OF OIL PULLING

• Whiter teeth
• Healthier gums
• Prevents bad breath
• Decrease PMS symptoms
• Hormone regulation 
• Improve sleep quality 

  Decreased headaches
• Clearer sinuses
• Clearer mind

• Clearer skin
• Alleviated allergies
• Increased energy

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