Perhaps you landed on this page and want to know more about detoxing,  please feel free to visit my recent post, Time for the Big “D” as in Detox. I have posted a few of my recipes and food recommendations for while you are on a cleanse. You have to choose your food selections carefully while doing any cleanse. Please keep in mind that you will want to make sure that you are getting the recommended amount of fiber (25-30 grams for women) and drinking plenty of water (a little more than half of your body weight). Normally you should be drinking half of your body weight in ounces; however, during a cleanse it’s best to increase the amount of water an additional 10-15 ounces.

If you weigh 150 lbs., you will want to drink at least 60 oz. of water. Water and fiber helps to move toxins of out of your body. The more water you drink, the more you will use the restroom, which will remove more toxins. Fiber helps to trap toxins in your colon and prepares it for removal.

The recipes below are some that I use while doing the cleanse; however, it’s not limited to this list. Please feel free to improvise and include your own options. When you are cleansing it’s best to use organic fruits and vegetables and free range meat without being treated with hormones or antibiotics. The idea is to remove toxins, hence you do not want to eat foods that have pesticides and chemicals on them.

Breakfast: Steel Cut oatmeal or Oatmeal with Flaxseed, Fruit (blueberries, grapefruit, grapes, apples, oranges)
Omega-3 Eggs scrambled accompanied with a whole grain, ei; with Ezekiel bread toasted (or any Sprouted or 100% whole grain bread, muffins, bagel, etc.)
Homemade breakfast parfait: see snack below (great for breakfast or mid day snack)

Snacks: Parfaits with granola, fruit, nuts, trial mix, and yogurt or kefir (both contain beneficial probiotics which supports gut health)

(I sometimes prefer to fast for breakfast during cleanse, to give  my organs a break).

Soup: Lunch or Dinner
Cabbage has many amazing health effects that are beneficial for not only promoting regularity, it is also loaded with rich in Nutrients. I recommend that you make enough Chicken Cabbage Soup to last for a few days. I often have this soup as a meal a couple of times a day. You can learn more about the benefits of cabbage by going to the link:

About Cabbage Chicken Cabbage Soup: (may add additional vegetables: ei: cauliflower, green beans-vegetables that have fiber)

2 Cartons or 8 cups of Organic Free Range Chicken Broth
1-2 organic chicken breasts cut in small pieces
1 head of Green Cabbage cut into squares (1”)
½ onion chopped
2-3 cloves of garlic (3 small or 2 large)
Dash of cayenne pepper (depending on your hot spice tolerance)
2 tbsp Extra virgin Coconut oil (optional)
Dash of Pepper to taste

Directions: Place chicken breast in with the chicken broth, garlic, pepper, pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer approx 10-15 minutes or until chicken is cooked and no longer pink in middle. Remove scum from top if any. Add cabbage, onions, extra virgin coconut oil. Let it simmer on low for 7-10 minutes (or until cabbage is desired texture). While vegetables simmer, shred or cut up chicken breasts. Put chicken pieces back into the soup and let it simmer additional 5 minutes. Add a pinch of Celtic Sea Salt if needed to taste.

I had an opportunity to try Jordan Rubin’s Chicken Cleansing Soup while at one of his health conferences and have made it several times. This big pot will last you a good 3-4 days!  I literally can eat it it for two meals a day.

Salad: Lunch or Dinner
You can have a salad at lunch and at dinner. Just make sure that you are getting a lot of fiber during the cleansing. Fiber is important during the cleansing process. If I have a salad in the evening, I like to accompany it with a piece of fish right on the salad or on the side.

Mixed Greens or Romaine, use any variety of vegetables: red, yellow, orange peppers, cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, celery, red onions, alfa-alfa sprouts, ½ size avocado sliced. (Can add a wild caught fish to salad for protein at dinner) (Salmon, Mahi-Mahi, Snapper, Tuna, Mackerel)

Home made Salad Dressing: (make enough for a couple of days)
1/3 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
4 Tbsp Lemon Juice
Herbs (oregano or a blend of Italian herbs)
Dash of ground pepper
Celtic Sea Salt
*You can add low sodium soy sauce if you desire)
Mix all ingredients and use shaker to shake well or just make sure to stir real well.

Cabbage Chicken Soup (my mother’s recipe)

1 whole green cabbage
1 chicken breast
1 bunch of cilantro
4 stalks of green onions
1 to 1 1/2 whole lime

Boil chicken breast let cool and then shred or cut in small thin slices
Cut cabbage in quarters and finely cut each quarter
Cut up cilantro & onions finely
1/4 tsp of Celtic sea salt
dash of pepper
dash of soy sauce to taste

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine cabbage, chicken, cilantro, onions, salt and pepper, soy sauce. Squeeze lime juice over the salad mix and toss really well before serving.

Dinner: Fish

Baked Wild Fish (Mahi-Mahi, Snapper, Salmon)

Marinade Recipe for Fish: (for 4 pieces)
4 tbsp Coconut oil (melted)
1/2 tsp lemon juice
2 tbsp Fish Sauce (Anchovy sauce from Asian store, Woodman’s, Asian markets)
1 tsp of Chili red crushed pepper (only for those who like spicy food)
This marinade is also delicious on chicken.

Stir well and pour over fish, let marinade 5-10 minutes. Bake at 375F for 25-30 minutes (depending on thickness of fish). Increase ingredients for additional pieces of fish. Serve with brown rice, salad, green beans or any green type vegetable.

What you should not consume during cleansing:

*Caffeine (coffee, tea, soda)
Some people feel like they can not give up the coffee-I would then reduce the amount and buy organic coffee beans or grounds.
*Alcohol
*sweets (sugar, cookies)

I hope you enjoy the recipes and wish you a successful detoxing experience! You are on your way to being healthier! Please leave a comment and let me know how you are doing and if you have tried any of the recipes.

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It’s that time of the year…January 2^nd, my annual winter detox. Time to say goodbye to all the holiday bake goods that my daughter so generously made. Last year I started the cleansing ritual a little later (January 12th) due to waiting for some others to get their products and join me. I normally detox on January 2nd so that I can still enjoy the holiday goods on the first of the year. I don’t believe we should be in bondage to be healthy and starting a day later is not going to throw my new year’s goals off as shared in my recent interview in “Extraordinary Health Magazine on  page 38.  You can also get the Extraordinary Health free at a local health store.

My health journey began when my youngest son was three years old. I share my quest for health on a former post and we are going on 9 years of healthy living. I can say as a result, our family’s health has improved dramatically. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’m not anti-medicine or anti-doctors. God has given us “good” doctors and medical advancement when health circumstance requires medical intervention; however, majority of today’s health related issues are preventable simply by choosing healthier habits. By that I don’t mean going from diet to diet. The word diet means, “way of life.”

Think of your body as a house…and most of us do some sort of major clean whether we Spring Clean or Fall Clean; nevertheless, sometimes it’s just time to clean house! It’s time to put things in the right place, disinfect, and throw out garbage and all the things that are cluttering our space. Imagine how good it feels to have your home fresh, cleaned, and decluttered! That’s exactly what it’s like to detox your body!

A part of my health journey has been to do an organ cleanse. I started a research on cleansing about six years ago and my first detox was a grueling 30 days. I have to say, it felt like a year, but at the end of the detox, I felt the best that I had ever felt health-wise. My mind was clear, my energy level was revived and I felt rejuvenated. It’s hard to explain the exhilaration that came from this cleansing experience afterward.

A year later, I came across a detox that would last for only 10 days-The Perfect Cleanse and it was just as effective. 10 days was nothing compared to the 30 day detox! I’ve been doing this cleanse every year since and sometimes three-four times a year depending on what I felt my body needed.

Several people have been asking me about this 10 day detox that I do and rather than answering each email or comment on social media pages, I’ve decided to share it in this post for those who are interested in detoxing.

Why should we detox? Because most diets today are far from natural and the standard American diet consists of processed foods, sugary drinks, hydrogenated fats, fast food, high carbs and a lot of junk which are  all contributing to various illness and disease that are preventable.

One way to live healthier is to cleanse your colon from harmful toxins that have built up in your system. Did you know that over 60 different health related illness is a result of a toxic or unhealthy digestive tract? Toxins enter our body through the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water that we drink. Please read The Role of Toxins for additional information.

The Perfect Cleanse consists of three products that are taken around meal time and before bed: 30 minutes before dinner and 30 minutes after dinner, and right before bed. While you are sleeping your body is at work to detox. See how Perfect Cleanse works.

Have you flown an airplane lately? Do you recall watching flight attendants giving a demonstration on how to use the oxygen mask in case of an emergency? I’ve ignored them many times, but one day I thought I better tune in! They consistently instruct passengers to first put the oxygen mask on themselves and then help the person next to them. WOW…now there’s a revelation right there! Why do they instruct us to do that? Because if your child is next to you and there is need to put the oxygen mask on, and you don’t but focus on your child first…you may not get the oxygen you need; hence may not make it to  help your child in this time of crises.

Beauty comes from the inside-out, not just spiritually and emotionally, but physically as well. We have all heard, “You are what you eat”. What we eat, shows up outwardly in various ways. There are simple things that we can do to improve the quality of our health as well as be proactive in preventative care and regular detox is just one way to improve your health from the inside out.

I believe as mothers and women who run the house, our family suffer when we suffer and are not living our healthiest and happiest life. Let 2010 be the year that we put on our own oxygen mask first so that we can be of help to those around us—our loved ones.

“May Your Spirit, Your Soul, and Your Body be made complete…” ~1 Thess. 5:23

Some recommended posts for the Spirit & Soul (spiritual and emotional cleanse):

Fast From Wrong Thinking Series
Be Renewed

If you are in the Chicago area, I would love for you to join me at the Well Being Expo in January, (along with an amazing line up of speakers)!

Disclosure: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands or products that are mentioned above.

The information above  is for educational purpose only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any illnesses or symptoms. Please consult your physician prior to making any health changes.

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Medical mistakes account for 100,000 deaths a year. I read this a couple of years ago and was astounded by such statistics. For the first time I heard it revealed on television by America’s favorite doctor; Dr. Oz on Oprah.

We need doctors and good doctors are a gift, saving lives every day. However, there are certain cases where we need to be our own health advocate. Too many people take the doctor’s diagnosis as a final word without any second opinions or doing their own research.

My health journey began 8 years ago when my youngest son was having asthma symptoms, an illness that runs in my family. Asthma affects 14 million children a year.

After a couple of trips to the Emergency Room, our pediatrician suggested that he received a drug that could help with preventing asthma. While I was grateful for the option, after reading a list of more than 10 different side effects, I was not at peace with having him rely on drugs if there were some things that I could do naturally to prevent these asthma triggers.

I’m in awe of constant medical advances, but I believe that certain illnesses can be reduced by preventative care. I began researching ways to prevent asthma from triggering. I spent quite a bit of time online researching and learning about asthma as well as found natural health books that were helpful. I discovered that there are certain things that can trigger asthma and some things that can help with prevention.

Immediately, I removed the things that were potential triggers of asthma (ei: household chemicals, dust), and added things that would help prevent asthma attacks. For ei; something as simple as increasing water helps to improve the airways.

Diet choices are a large factor in preventing a lot of common ailments. Thank God for alternative options. Being your own health advocate may not only save your life from medical mistakes, but can also prevent you from having to rely on drugs with harmful side effects. My son is living healthier and happier; he has not had an asthma attack or a visit to the Emergency Room in years!

Please Note: I do not recommend ignoring medical treatment. That is not what this message is about; it’s about options and what you feel is best for your situation. As I always recommend, please consult with your physician or health expert before making any changes to your health.

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Do you know what’s in our makeup? Women love cosmetics; blush, bronzers, lipstick, and eye shadows in an array of colors. But, are all cosmetics created equal and are there health concerns that we should be aware of? I’m always amazed at the amount of money that is spent in this industry alone; a multi-billion dollar business that markets to women and teen girls constantly promoting the newest lines. I won’t deny the fact that I love makeup and it’s like eye candy when I walk through the cosmetic department at a department store.

Over the years, I have become more aware of the dangers of some of ingredients that are in certain cosmetics that has caused a great concern. I have since replaced all of my products for those that are more natural and healthier for the skin.
While it’s difficult to avoid everything that is a health risk, we can do a great deal to minimize our exposure in our day to day lives.

We are exposed to toxins everyday just from breathing, so I understand that we just can’t get away from chemicals and toxins, etc. My goal is to educate women to look for ways to reduce as much exposure to chemicals as possible. The more pro-active we are in caring for our health, the more we can decrease the risks of various disease and cancers.

When it comes to makeup, there are several chemicals that we need to stay away from, but the three primary ingredients that we should look to avoid are:

• Parabens, preservatives that have been linked to cancer
• Phthalates, found in ¾ of beauty products (birth defects, reproductive problems, and more)
• Talc known to cause cancer in animals

I have discovered a very resourceful website called The Cosmetics Database and it’s been beneficial in helping me to keep up with the cosmetic industry, especially now that I have a teenage daughter who loves to wear makeup. I am even more cautious about what goes on her face and skin.

There is a recent concern that certain chemicals in makeup alter teen girls hormones. I would encourage mothers with teenage daughters who experimenting with makeup and skin to read this article: Teen Girls’ Body Burden of Hormone-Altering Cosmetics Chemicals.

You can find products that rate between 0-10 (0= low hazard, 10= high hazardous). You would be surprised by some of the multi-million dollar products that rate in the 9-10 categories for harmful chemicals.

Click to see if your make up is listed in the health hazard rating: Makeup
You can also select any of the categories above to find out whether the products you are using are low hazard to high hazard.

The latest marketing campaign seems to be promoting natural makeup. I see all sorts of makeup in the cosmetics isle at retails stores claiming to be “natural”. Beware of the ads that claims that beauty in the bottle or jar has is natural.

Find out what’s in your makeup here.

If you see any of the ingredients listed and the health hazards associated with it, I would encourage you to take the necessary steps to replace it with something that not only enhances your beauty already, but will help you to live healthier and happier in the long run.

**Check for hundreds of makeup and skincare products in The Cosmetics Database that are in the low hazard zone.

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Like many women when I had my first child I took a serious look into what I was eating, drinking, and what I was putting on my skin. I started paying attention to ingredients in everything and I wanted to know what was this methyl ester of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (Methylparaben) was. But, seriously? Why was I putting this on my skin with my own history of cancer and cancer in my family. Why was I taking unnecessary risks with chemicals (such as parabens) linked to such a horrible disease as breast cancer? Even natural food stores’ bath and body care products have funny chemicals in them. So, what’s a girl to do? I created my own business!

The SALUS® concept for custom bath and body care is revolved around unscented, natural and organic products that are customized by the true expert… you! Many people have skin allergies, cannot wear scents in their work environment, or simply do not want a product’s scent to conflict with their perfume. Others live for fragrance and for those folks we carry over 300 fragrances, essential oils and blends.

Since creating SALUS® I have truly led a happier and healthier lifestyle in so many ways. First and foremost, our family is able to spend every day together! We’ve lived the corporate life before; where my husband was gone from the time the children woke till the time they went to bed… no thanks! Owning our own business is definitely a challenge, but it has been an incredible blessing to build a successful business from scratch, and live the family life that we wanted.

Through our research in developing SALUS® we discovered that natural products really are amazing for your skin! There’s a reason why big name brands use buzz words like “Shea Butter” on their labels. Though their products are far from being natural, people see “Shea Butter” and flock. I didn’t want to just use buzz words though. I wanted SALUS® to be truly great products that people would feel good about using on their skin. Then, if they choose to do so, add their favorite scent to design their perfect product!

Some of my favorite bath and body care products for living happier and healthier are our Organic Artisan Soaps, made with organic vegetable oils and essential oils; our Moisture Fizz™ Bath Bombs – a fun, fizzy and natural alternative to bubble bath; any of our creams and lotions for taking care of winter dryness; and our Muscle Relief Gel™ which is the natural and organic alternative to Biofreeze®!

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And, because I believe in our products so strongly, I invite you to try our products today with a special promo code for 20% just for Healthy Beauty Secret readers – good through the end of March! Visit SALUS® and use Coupon Code: HBS20

I want to say thank you to Duong, who is such a beautiful person. I am so happy to have met you through Twitter. Thank you for inviting me to share my story for living a healthier and happier life!

Elissa Klaver is the Founder & Owner of SALUS®, custom natural and organic, bath & body care. She is happily married to Jerell Klaver and have four children, the newest addition to the Klavers is just months old!

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When Duong asked me to guest post “How do you live healthier and happier with your fitness? Since not everyone shares the same excitement as I do about working out, I wanted to share my story of how I found how fun fitness can be and how I have incorporated it into my life. It’s taken me an eternity to get here it seems but I’m finally on board and I’m not leaving!

Last Spring, a friend mentioned to me Ten Minute Trainer (http://www.exercise2day.com) and the infomercial that she had seen. She was in awe of how fast the workouts could be and the results of the folks who had used it had. I checked it out online and decided to give it a try; it came with a 30 day money back guarantee so it was worth a try. I used it for a few weeks and saw how it could help me but at that time, my heart wasn’t into it. It seemed like I always found an excuse. I put it away until last fall. Within the first 3 weeks, I lost a total of 7.5 pounds. That was an awesome feeling! I had actually accomplished something and I wanted more.

After using Ten Minute Trainer, I then purchased Turbo Jam (http://www.exercise2day.com). What a great workout that was. It was completely different than what I had before and I must admit, is my favorite! Every time I put that DVD in, push play and start moving, I end up out of breath with a smile on my face. No need to worry though, I maximize my workouts that my heart rate is up and that I can still breathe…lol! What fun I have.

I got hooked on the exercise and I decided to help folks who were looking for help and motivation. It’s when I decided to be an online fitness coach. By becoming a coach, I must set an example for those that I work with. I keep myself in line and make sure that I too, log my workouts into WOWY (Work Out With You)(http://www.exercise2day.com), a virtual gym, and meet up with friends. My own coach, my online friends and my job as a coach have helped me maintain my loss, even with illness this winter. I am so thankful for having their support!

I think some of the best advice that I can give folks is to find something you enjoy. It can be walking, weight lifting, taking a class somewhere, etc. You have to want to do this. It has to come from within. I can’t make you but I can help you!!

Laura Kelly-Pifer, aka Coach Laura. I am an Independent Beachbody Coach. She is married and has 2 girls. Laura loves make up and fashion and anything fun. She enjoys meeting new people. You can learn more about Coach Laura by following her blog at http://www.exercise2dayinfo.blogspot.com

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So what is a raw foods diet? In its simplest form, it’s a diet consisting of raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, and grains. Many raw foodists also eat “superfoods” including various seaweeds and algaes, green powders, sprouts, maca, raw cacao, and others.

Some raw foodists choose to eat some cooked foods that may or may not include meat and eggs. Others include raw dairy products. Deciding how much raw food to eat and whether or not to eat a strictly vegan diet is a very personal choice. Many raw foodists start slowly and continually perfect their diet to meet their personal needs. The raw food diet focuses on raw foods because cooking kills the enzymes foods contain and changes the chemical composition of the food.

Every chemical reaction in our body is stimulated by or requires an enzyme. You can’t think a thought, squint in the bright sunlight, or chew a delicious apple without the help of enzymes. Enzymes are also essential to digesting the food we eat. Cooked foods contain no enzymes and therefore cause the body to “donate” enzymes to the digestive process. The enzymes the body donates to digestion could have otherwise been used for other body functions such as the regeneration of healthy cells. Our body’s pool of enzymes slowly diminishes when we eat large amounts of “dead” foods containing no enzymes. Enzyme depletion is often blamed for common signs of aging such as fatigue, skin problems, arthritis, etc.

Cooking also changes a food’s chemical composition in ways that can actually harm the body. A great example of this is that cooked proteins often contain rancid fats (which are toxic to the body) and are in a form that takes an exceptionally long time to digest. Raw proteins, on the other hand, are very easily absorbed and digested by the body and require much less energy to be processed. Eating raw foods containing living enzymes is vital for delaying the aging process and for helping our bodies heal themselves. Live foods give life to the body. It’s just that simple.

If the thought of giving up your current dietary habits seems overwhelming, don’t worry! Transitioning to a raw foods lifestyle can be done very gradually in a variety of ways. Some people choose to start by identifying the foods they want to eliminate from their diet and then selecting one food to avoid each week. I encourage my clients to substitute one healthy food for every unhealthy food they eliminate.

In my Living Foods Life Coaching Program, I use a set of worksheets to help my clients examine their current diet and form a strong plan for transitioning to raw foods at a steady, comfortable rate. One of the simplest means of adding more raw foods to the diet is to add a fresh, organic salad to every meal. After slowly eliminating unhealthy foods from the diet, some people then choose to substitute one raw meal per day for a week or month. For example, raw foodists may start by having raw breakfasts for a few weeks, then adding raw snacks, then raw or partially raw lunches, and ultimately raw or partially raw dinners. This gradual transition not only allows people to transition their emotional eating habits gradually, but also causes the body’s detoxification process to be more gradual.

When a person transitions to a raw food diet and stops putting foods into their body that are filled with toxins, their body begins cleansing itself and eliminating toxins. The cleansing process, often called “detoxification” or “detox”, is a sure sign the body is starting to achieve higher levels of health. As the toxins are eliminated, some people may experience symptoms that could include headaches, a runny nose, excess mucous, rashes, achiness, diarrhea, light-headedness, lowered body temperature with a feeling of being cold, pimples, fatigue, moodiness, food cravings, and others.

Don’t be discouraged by that list of symptoms! The key is to remember that your body is ridding itself of harmful pollutants that have negatively affected your health. Detoxification is a beautiful thing that should be celebrated!

You can help the detox process along by drinking plenty of purified water, getting more rest, transitioning more slowly, using enemas or colon hydrotherapy, and other methods. I also recommend finding others who eat a raw food diet to help guide you and answer questions. One great resource for finding raw food support groups near you is Meetup.com.

Many people are concerned that the raw foods lifestyle requires expensive equipment, but that is not true. You can go raw with nothing more than a knife, and even that’s optional! You can make most raw food recipes using a standard blender, food processor, or juicer, but those appliances are not a necessity. You can still eat a wide variety of wonderful foods and get the complete nutrition you need without having expensive equipment. If you have concerns about getting enough nutrition from eating a variety of raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes, please put your mind at rest. The truth is that a raw food diet usually provides greater nutrition than the SAD. The combination of many colors of raw fruits and veggies, raw nuts, seeds, legumes and grains provides an abundance of healthy protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.
This is, of course, a very brief summary of the raw and living foods lifestyle. I encourage you to Contact Me if you have any questions or would like additional information. I can also be found at Good Works Wellness Research, LLC; my blog, Rawvolutionary Healing; and Twitter, via RawHealer. I am excited to announce that I will launch a 30-day coaching program in April that will provide 30 days of personalized coaching and instruction on the Living Foods Lifestyle. Please visit www.goodworkswellness.com/rawfoods.html for more information and to put your name on the waiting list. I look forward to hearing from you.

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My name is Pamela Reilly. I’m a Naturopath and Living Foods Life Coach who lives in Indianapolis. I want to warmly thank Duong for allowing me to participate in the 21 Days to Living Healthier and Happier adventure!

My journey to natural health started when I was diagnosed at the age of two (42 years ago) with diabetes. As I grew, I heavily researched health and wellness, poring over medical journals and reading research reports. Not finding the answers I needed, I changed my research focus to natural healing remedies such as nutrition and herbalism.

As the years progressed, my health steadily declined in spite of doing everything my mainstream doctors told me to do. I began experiencing debilitating fatigue in my late twenties and was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. My thyroid gland then completely died, I had severe neurological symptoms that caused me to be incorrectly diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis three times, my blood pressure skyrocketed.

I had frequent chest pains, my speech became slurred, I frequently gained and lost large amounts of weight, I had extreme clinical depression with thoughts of suicide, I developed numerous environmental allergies and allergies to more than twelve different foods, and had a host of other health issues. I was a mess! Mainstream medical professionals did everything they could, but nothing helped.

By early 2001, at the “young” age of 36, I was on sixteen different prescription medications and was almost completely bedridden. I became a widow in November of that year, which only added to my emotional and physical challenges. As a single mom with two young children who desperately needed my strength, I was desperate to find answers to my health problems.

Knowing that my healing came directly from God, I continued researching natural remedies. I also received multiple certifications to further equip me to help others, and began studying to become a Naturopathic Doctor. My health conditions gradually improved as I made positive lifestyle changes, but I still had bouts of extreme fatigue that interfered with daily living. I praise God that by mid-2007 I was off all medications except for insulin and a natural thyroid hormone replacement.

In late 2005, I heard about a biblical “diet plan” that included nothing but raw fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. I didn’t think anyone in their right mind could eat such a diet! God, however, knew better. From then on, every time I turned around I was presented with new information about raw foods and their effect on health. I researched the raw foods or “living foods” lifestyle and decided to give it a try. I began experimenting with varying degrees of eating raw in 2006.

I wasn’t yet ready to make a full transition and hadn’t prepared myself emotionally or spiritually, so my entry into the raw food lifestyle came very slowly and with frequent returns to unhealthy foods. Old habits die hard! When I finally decided to go 100% raw, by the grace of God, I experienced truly miraculous healing in many different body systems. My husband joined me in eating raw foods in early 2009 and has already experienced improved health.

To date, the healing I’ve experienced includes: a reduction in daily insulin intake from 70 units per day down to around 12; total regeneration of my thyroid gland and elimination of hormone supplementation; a constant blood pressure of 90/70; Adhesive Capsulitis (“frozen shoulder”) in both shoulders spontaneously healed; my resting heart rate dropped 25 beats per minute without adding additional exercise; tendon damage I’d been told was “permanent” healed; I only need about six hours of sleep to feel rested; I have no PMS or negative menstrual symptoms; and I have a mental clarity and joy that truly exceeds all understanding.

As I began researching the raw foods lifestyle, I read testimony after testimony of raw foodists who were spontaneously healed of cancer, AIDS, Multiple Sclerosis, Diabetes, chronic migraines, arthritis, heart conditions, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglycerides, Diabetic Retinopathy, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and a host of other diseases.
Learn more about Pamela Reilly, Naturopath & Living Foods Life Coach, CNHP, CPH
Good Works Wellness Research, LLC

http://www.goodworkswellness.com
http://rawvolutionaryhealing.blogspot.com
Other Guest Post by Pamela Reilly: What is Raw Foods

Please Note: Blog is for educational purpose only. Consult a physician for your condition.

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For those who dare to spend a little more time, this soup is by Jordan & Nicki Rubin from the book: Perfect Weight America. I have had this soup before and it is absolutely delicious. It’s well worth the preparation for those of you who dare to try it.

This soup can be eaten for all meals the first day or for a couple of meals through out the 10 days. Cut recipe in half if desired if you are doing this alone.

1 Whole Chicken (free-range, pastured or organic)
1 Tbsp, raw apple cider Vinegar
3-4 qts of filtered water
4 medium size onions coarsely chopped
8 carrots peeled, coarsely chopped
2-4 zucchinis coarsely chopped
4 Tblsp of extra virgin coconut oil
½ c frozen green peas
4 inches grated ginger
¼- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
6 celery stalks, coarsely chopped
1 lb green beans
1 bunch parsely
5 garlic cloves
2-4 Tblsp Celtic-Sea Salt

Directions:

If using whole chicken: make sure to remove gizzards, and fat glands from cavity.
Place chicken or chicken pieces in large stainless steel pot with water, vinegar, garlic, ginger, salt, cayenne pepper, extra virgin Olive Oil, and all vegetables (except parsley). Let stand for 10 minutes before heating. Bring to a boil, remove the scum that rises to the top. Cover and cook for 8-12 hours. The longer you cook the Stock the more cleansing it will be. 15 mins before finishing the stock, add parsley.(this imparts additional mineral ions to the broth)

Remove from heat, take out chicken. After it cools, remove chicken meat from carcass, discarding bones. Drop meat back into the soup.

Recipe by Jordan & Nicki Rubin (Perfect Weight America Book, p. 132)
Jordan Rubin is one of the world’s leading natural health and holistic experts, dubbed as The Health Evangelist. I have tried several of Jordan’s recipes from his books and have enjoyed every single one. I believe this specific recipe was prepared for our group at a Weekend of Wellness Conference that I attended. I was honored for the opportunity to worked for Jordan as a Weekend of Wellness Consultant promoting the Perfect Weight America book tour last year.

Related Posts:
Detox: Ten Day Perfect Cleanse
Detox: Cleanse Food Recommendations
What to Expect While you are on a Cleanse

Live healthier & Happier,

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