The Raw Vegan Network e-newsletter
November 2005
Editor: Vickie Fisher, owner Raw Vegan Network
Welcome to the Raw Vegan Network e-newsletter. This newsletter is for informational purposes only. It is not intended for diagnosing, prescribing or healing.
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In this issue:
-Network Happenings
-Questions and Comments
-Did You Know?
-Health Tip: Healthy Colon-Healthy You
-Recommended Reading and websites
-Featured Network Member: Leslee Creighton, Yellow Springs, OH
-Favorite Recipes: Fab Foliage Salad, Carrot Dressing
-Products: Juicers, distillers, dehydrators, raw recipe e-book, supplements
Please email us with your feedback about the articles and recipes, and what you would like to see in up coming issues.
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NETWORK HAPPENINGS
-We provide online raw food certifications for those who wish to expand their portfolio of expertise enabling them to serve others in there locale that wish to experience the health benefits of living a raw food lifestyle. For information: www.therawvegannetwork.com
-We also provide free contact services for people desiring help in there local area for raw food services. For information: www.therawvegannetwork.com
**Check out the “member’s events” page at www.therawvegannetwork.com/events.htm. It has the latest on what members are doing, such as raw food classes, retreats, raw food delivery, etc
**Update on Hurricane Katrina Victim and Raw Vegan Network member Ed Rhinehart, Louisiana chefedccp@gmail.com
Vickie,
Well we survived another one; Rita was almost as bad in our location. I don't know what South Louisiana did to upset God but he is showing who is boss. My most devastating loss was my garden. I kept the organic dirt very loose to yield a better and cleaner product. So therefore it washed away because I had it set up for the rain water to irrigate. Then while we were gone the weeds took over. I am excited to start fresh in a couple weeks but all my seedlings died during the commotion. So the bottom line is if anyone has starter fall veg. and herbs for sale please send them my way.
If they have not packaged them for mail before I have found easy ways to do so. The hardest thing in this crazy deal is the non existence of normalcy. It has been very stressful having to lay off employees who have lost so much and day to day business is so intense due to communication and transportation issues.
Thank you so much for all your support.
Chef Ed
**Raw Vegan Network member in Israel Yaffa Randelman and husband Zvi pioneer a drug/alcohol rehab center in the Jerusalem area. http://www.beit-hayeshua.org
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QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS
Question: What are some of the topics you covered in past issues of your newsletters & how can I get copies? –Askew
Answer: To receive copies just send an email to info@therawvegannetwork.com and specify which issue(s) you would like.
***For complete list of back issues with subjects, recipes and network members see back issues section further on in this newsletter.
Comments from the October newsletter
Thank you so much for another wonderful news letter—Georgie-MA
Enjoyed the article about Kristi Lees! Best, Jinjee-CA
Thanks, and your articles just ROCK! Love, Erica-OR
Thanks Vickie! This is wonderful! Les-MA
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DID YOU KNOW?
The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) is one of one of the world's largest studies investigating the relationship between the disease and what people eat. The study has confirmed many previous studies showing that some food can increase the risks of cancer while others can have a protective effect on the human body.
The study, which is looking at the diets of more than 500,000 people from nine European countries, has confirmed once again that eating fruit and vegetables can ward off the disease, in particular colon and rectal cancer.
APPROVAL STATUS OF BIOTECH CORN HYBRIDS
(National Crown Growers Association www.ncga.com/trade/main/index.html)
**The European Commission has published a list of 26 genetically modified (GM) products which have been legally on the EU market since before the new legislative framework for authorizing GM food and feed had entered into effect. These so-called “existing products” were either approved under former EU legislation, or did not require approval at the time that they were put on the market. They have been added to a specific section of the Community register of genetically modified food and feed in order to clarify exactly which GM products are legally permitted to be sold in the EU and to have full information on these products-
**Over 60 percent of all U.S. grown corn is fed to U.S. raised livestock.
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HEALTH TIP
Healthy Colon-Healthy You
Vickie Fisher
Owner Raw Vegan Network
At the turn of the twentieth century, the United States ranked 13th from the top for good health, but by the beginning of the twenty first century, the US ranked 79th in poor health out of 79 nations surveyed. What happened to change this? With billions of dollars spent on the best medical facilities and modern technologies and the best variety of foods to chose from, why are most Americans so unhealthy and out of shape. It is reported that over 30% of Americans are obese, and that number is rising. We are a nation of overweight people because we have to eat twice as much in order to assimilate any good nutrients. With all our knowledge, we are slowly killing ourselves. Today we suffer from diseases and illnesses that never plagued mankind before.
The colon is at the root of these problems. Sadly, most people have less-than-healthy colons. The average American may be carrying as much as 10-25 pounds of dried fecal matter in his/her colon. According to USA Today, John Wayne had 40 pounds of impacted fecal matter in his colon when he died. When the colon is impacted with sugars, hamburgers, french fries, white flour as a paste, table salt, animal products, and a host of processed, chemically laden foods, how can the body assimilate any good nutrients.
Bowel management has been an undiscussed topic, with an assumption that the bowel will take care of itself. There is a belief that anything purchased from a supermarket or prepared in our kitchen will be received with gratitude by our gastrointestinal system. Unfortunately, the selections of improper foods and preparation methods have lead to bowl problems. Researchers have shown that regular use of refined carbohydrates and lack of dietary fiber increases the transmit time of bowel wastes and stimulates the production of putrefactive bacteria in the bowel, which have been linked to bowel diseases, cancer and chronic diseases throughout the body. A telltale sign of a toxic colon is the “classic potbelly”. It is impossible to have a flat abdomen when you are carrying around many pounds of fecal matter, not to mention the gas, bloating and heavy feeling that accompanies colon problems.
A person with a healthy colon should have two to three bowel movements per day, shortly after each meal eaten. Elimination should be complete, fast and easy. Elimination once every few days, sitting there for half-an-hour straining is not normal and could be a sign of serious trouble happening. Elimination should be removed from the body within 16 to 24 hours or toxic buildup begins. Once toxic buildup occurs, there is an invitation for parasite infestation and the occurrence of degenerative diseases. Amazingly, the average bowel transmit time in America is 96 hours!!
You may be thinking: I don’t live in the US, so I’m not affected. WRONG! Most European nations are following close behind the US in being unhealthy. The Royal Academy of Physicians of Great Britain claims that 90% of all disease and discomfort is directly or indirectly related to an unclean colon due to impacted fecal matter. The Academy identified 36 different poisonous substances that form in the large intestine. These toxins are absorbed by the bloodstream, resulting in the body’s inability to metabolize food properly or to provide vital energy for living. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that ½ of all the world’s cancers occur among people living in industrialized nations (containing only 1/5 of the world’s population). ***source: Sandra Steingraber, “Living Downstream”).
You can achieve good bowel habits as you add raw food, good water, exercise and if needed additional fiber (such as flax seed or psyllium). The colon, like every other organ in the body, needs good quality food the body can utilize such as live fruit and vegetables. For better digestion, chew your food well. Eat to live, don’t live to eat!
The following short story should sum up the importance of a clean colon.
The Most Important Organ
Author Unknown
One day the body organs got together and decided to have a board meeting. Here’s what went on behind closed doors.
There was intense discussion to determine WHO WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE BODY.
THE BRAIN was the first to speak. “Without me, nothing would be accomplished.”
Then the HEART spoke up. “Without me pumping blood to your brain, you could not function.”
The ARMS laughed, “You’re both wrong. Without me to put food in your mouth, nothing would work.”
The STOMACH said, “Without me, your food would not digest.”
The LUNGS bellowed back, “Without us, you could not breathe.”
The EYES blinked, “Without me, you could not see.”
The KIDNEYS snorted, “Without me, you could not detoxify and eliminate.”
Then the COLON meekly spoke up. “I am important. You need me to eliminate all the garbage from your systems.”
Everyone laughed and made fun of him. “How can you be as important as we are? You’re a smelly old sewer.”
The poor colon-his feelings were hurt! He turned away and thought, “I’ll show them. HE SHUT DOWN!
Then he sat back and watched what happened.
The BRAIN stupefied.
The HEART’s beat was weak and irregular.
The ARMS were weak and couldn’t move.
The LUNGS gave in to shallow breathing.
The EYES became clouded.
The KIDNEYS quit.
The COLON looked around and decided it was time to call another meeting.
It wasn’t too lively this time, but everyone was in total agreement,
THE COLON WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT ORGAN!
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RECOMMENDED READING AND WEBSITES
Colon Health Dr. Norman W. Walker, Norwalk Pres.
Dr. Jensen’s Guide to Better Bowel Care Dr. Bernard Jensen, Avery
Food Revolution How Your Diet Can Help Save Your Life and Our World John Robbins
Notthecookingshow.com – the magic of raw foods cuisine in Australia.
Alivefoods.com – “to bring out the best in you” with Paul Benhaim
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FEATURED NETWORK MEMBER
Leslee Creighton
Yellow Springs, Ohio
Raw Bio Journey
My journey began ten years ago in my local library as I searched for literature that would help me to understand why, at such a young age, I was not feeling well. At the time I was active and relatively healthy but felt uncomfortable in my own skin and so began the quest for better health. I came upon literature that focused on the importance of consuming whole organic foods for the majority of ones diet. I began to make gradual changes, swapping my Doritos for celery sticks and my Diet Coke for freshly made carrot juice and began to feel healthier by the day. I began to really see for myself how different life could be if I placed importance on finding pure, whole foods to fuel my body.
Consequently, for the last ten years, I have researched many aspects of nutritional health. As I began to feel healthier, I began to make better, more conscious choices about what I was including in my diet. For me this meant a gradual transition to a strict vegan diet meaning no dairy, meat, or processed foods and instead turning towards whole grains, fruits vegetables, legumes, and nuts for the most part. After feeling great physical strength and mental clarity through my vegan-whole foods diet, I began to experiment with various, more refined approaches to healthy eating. It was while familiarizing myself with these various approaches that I eventually was led to discover the raw foods movement and philosophy.
Initially, I became focused and extensively researched the macrobiotic philosophy and diet, finding benefits and relevant wisdom in the philosophy’s focus on balance in diet and in life in general as well as the focus and reinforcement of the importance of including whole, unrefined foods in ones diet. While researching macrobiotics I came upon the book Fit for Life. At that time, I was very focused on increasing my intake of high water content foods and proper food combining. Over the years I maintained high consumption of raw foods in my diet, all the while not knowing of the raw/living foods movement or philosophy. It was during this time of exploration, of self-discovery, of experimentation that I came upon powerful information and testimonials citing the benefits of raw/living foods in ones diet to improve the health and longevity of life.
After stumbling upon the information regarding raw foods, I immersed myself in the literature, the testimonials, and the research of the benefits of eating raw vegan foods. I became fascinated and immediately began following a high raw foods lifestyle. I gained great health benefits including clear skin and boundless energy. I have been living a high raw lifestyle on and off since becoming a vegan and find that I eat a higher percentage of raw foods in the summer months when the weather is warm and the produce is fresh and can be obtained through local sources. While I have not been 100% raw for those 10 years, I have placed consistent importance on including a variety of raw foods in my diet at anytime.
I have been through many ups and downs in my pursuit to find the right combination of healthy living elements to enrich my life. I believe that everyone has different needs, needs that should be measured by how one feels physically, mentally, and emotionally. I have found that place that allows me to be in tune with all aspects to live the best life that I can and at this point, I am committed and believe in the incorporation and emphasis on raw/living foods to maintain the health and longevity that I'm hoping will last for a long lifetime. I am looking forward to putting my recent raw certifications as well as my further knowledge of holistic health and nutrition to good use by sharing my story with others and by helping them to find the right combination of holistic health practices to live their lives to the fullest.
Leslee graduated from the Ekaya Institute in November 2005 and is currently offering her raw/vegan consultation services via phone, email or through face-to-face appointments. If interested please contact her at: lesleecreighton@hotmail.com
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FAVORITE RECIPES
**Are you enjoying the recipes from the Raw Vegan Network members? In future newsletters we would like to feature readers’ favorite recipes too. If you, the reader have a favorite recipe to share, please email your recipe to info@therawvegannetwork.com .
Fab Foliage Salad!!
Leslee Creighton
Yellows Springs, OH
In a large serving salad bowl combine:
3 Cups of baby spinach
3 Cups of mesclun
(a mixture of many varieties of greens)
1 Head of green or red leaf lettuce
1 Handful of dill sliced fine
1 Handful of parsley sliced fine
1 Small bunch of spinach sliced fine
1 Beet shredded
2 Carrots shredded
1 English cucumber
3 Green onions
3/4 Cup walnuts
3/4 Cup raisins
Add desired amount of Carrot Dressing, toss and serve to friends and family! Enjoy!
2 Cups of fresh carrot juice
1 Cup of cold pressed extra virgin olive oil
1 Clove of garlic
Fresh squeezed juice of half a lemon
Salt to taste
Combine all ingredients in a blender to liquefy and serve!
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PRODUCTS
-The Raw Vegan Network is offering juicers, distillers and dehydrators for sale. Products are available at www.therawvegannetwork.com/productindex.htm .
-Need help getting started with incorporating healthy raw food choices into your diet and maintaining the raw vegan lifestyle? Put together an entire holiday feast or a light meal. Mostly Raw Recipes by Vickie Fisher (owner of The Raw Vegan Network) is available at www.therawvegannetwork.com/productindex.htm
- In today's environment, even if you are eating all organic fresh raw fruits and vegetables you may not be receiving all the nutrients you need for optimum health. If you are not a raw vegan, then you definitely need to supplement your diet. That is why we decided to add a line of all natural health products that we believe are the best health supplements available on the market. These are available at www.myaimstore.com/pathway2health .
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FEEDBACK
-If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email us at info@therawvegannetwork.com and we will include them in our questions and comments section. Please email us with your feedback about the articles and recipes, and what you would like to see in up coming issues.
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