I love hearing about other people’s journeys to veganism. From their first a-ha moment to details of their day-to-day experiences of better health and spiritual awakenings, living life free of animal meat and by-products.
If the media reports are right, veganism is on the rise, with new blogs, food products and clothing popping up every day. There’s definitely change in the air, and it feels good to know lives are being spared and that kindness and consciousness is taking over.
While we still have a long way to go, there are so many inspiring people out there spreading the message. David Rafter and Amanda Rootsey are two shining examples of veganism in action, having transitioned to the lifestyle about three years ago. Founders of VeganEra.com, the Australian couple are also spreading the message offline via roadside billboards and merchandise that spreads the vegan message.
“Time is starting to become very critical in terms of our environment and the world is showing us that the way we are leading our lives is definitely not in harmony. We have to do something to change,” David says.
I asked him to share their inspiring story…
When did you become vegan?
I began the loving journey about three years ago when I was around 26. For me, it was a transition, initially I went vegetarian then after a couple of months I dropped dairy and soon realised that I had become a vegan!
Why did you decide to become vegan?
Upon reflection, it was a process. When I was 25 I had lead a bit of a party lifestyle and enjoyed the night-lights. I got really sick of how bad I was feeling all the time. So I dropped everything, I remember the point in which I said to myself that I would no longer go out, I would no longer drink and that it was time to drop meat from my diet.
Honestly, at that exact moment I could feel a massive shift take place in my life. It was the conscious decision to stop killing and lean on the side of compassion that I felt a very big lift in my soul.
At this time I was living on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland (Australia), and I had decided to start getting healthier. I was running and surfing, really enjoying being with nature. I had just finished a run through the national park, where I leant on a tree and I could feel the energy of the Earth coming through it. I couldn’t believe it. I was in total shock as I could feel the lungs of the Earth inhale and exhale. At that moment I knew that we were all connected. From the souls of the animals right through to the limbs of this tree. At that moment, I knew that this was my path.
My life has definitely changed; my soul feels so amazing and so light. It is like a massive weight has been lifted and I feel closer to Heaven. When you feel this feeling, there is no turning back – you just want to continue feeling it. I actually get covered in goose bumps talking about it.
Actually, coinciding with this, my father told me to go out and work on his dairy farm for the day. Believe me, I was kicking and screaming the whole way. When I did get there, my worst fears were realised. I could not believe how much pain and suffering existed. Dead calves in the middle of the paddock, their mothers standing over them, screaming in pain. If the calves were alive, they were locked in pens so small that they could barely stand. The pain and suffering in the cries of the mothers was terrifying. I couldn’t bare it any longer – I had to lock myself in the house, turn up the TV and try to block it all out. Clearly when I got back I said in no uncertain terms that I would never return to that place ever again.
Also, my brother had been vegetarian for about 10 years, and had been buggin’ me for ages to drop meat. At the time he was living in America, and I Skyped him and told him the change I had experienced. He was so excited for me. He then sent me a documentary that I watched via you tube in which it showed the whole process of how the meat gets on to your plate. At the end I was in tears, I felt so much sorrow that we could do this to our beautiful animal friends. If it wasn’t sealed in concrete before then, it was now.
How has your life changed since?
My life has definitely changed; my soul feels so amazing and so light. It is like a massive weight has been lifted and I feel closer to Heaven. When you feel this feeling, there is no turning back – you just want to continue feeling it. I actually get covered in goose bumps talking about it. The feeling is indescribable, you feel like you are floating on a cloud the whole day and you want to share that with the world.
Can you tell me about Vegan Era and why you decided to start it?
Vegan Era started in 2009 and has been going strong ever since. Along with my partner Amanda and of course our little staffy girl Trudi, we felt the need to spread this feeling to the world.
Initially we found a lot of information about how much damage the livestock industry has done to our planet. We just couldn’t believe that this information was not out there. We felt a very strong need to create a place where people could come and learn more about the choices they make and the impact their diet can have on reversing climate change.
Then in 2010, Amanda was diagnosed with cancer. In the beginning Amanda was determined not to go down the conventional path as we had done lots of research into the harsh impact chemo has on our bodies. So we did a lot of research on how diets can help heal the body. Again, we couldn’t believe how much information was hidden from us. We came across a great book called The China Study, and from that moment on we wanted to share the health benefits of a Vegan diet.
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I was diagnosed with cancer in 2008. And then again in 2009. After weighing up my options and doing a lot of research I decided to put all my faith in my body and employ so-called “radical” natural therapies to heal myself. This meant lots and lots of juicing, a clean plant-based whole food diet, meditation and numerous daily coffee enemas. Yes, coffee enemas. Coffee that goes up your butt.
Once upon a time I wouldn’t even do a number two with my boyfriend in the house. These days, we talk about enemas at the dinner table. As a health and wellness blogger, I love that I have created a safe online space where people can share their bodily concerns with me. But the achievement I am most proud of is that it seems I’ve made conversations about enemas a little less taboo. Questions about rear-end irrigation constantly appear in my comment feeds from people desperate for more information about how to clean out their colons. It seems I’ve started a movement. Sorry, I couldn’t resist. No more toilet puns, I promise.
So why are coffee enemas such a big deal? Why is it that I often say that regular DIY enemas will change your life? Because they offer a helping hand to your poor, over-worked liver! Your liver is easily the hardest working organ in your body. All day long it is busy sifting through everything your body consumes (this includes through your mouth, your nose and your skin). Your liver decides what is good enough to stay in your body and what is toxic and needs to be eliminated. This is no easy feat when you consider the amount of toxins that we consume on a daily basis. There are the cosmetics, chemicalised foods, cleaning products and petrol fumes – just to name a few. This is where enemas come in and work their magic. Coffee enemas help to stimulate the liver and increase bile production to excrete toxins more rapidly. They literally flush it out. They have the amazing ability to rescue people from all kinds of ailments including headaches, hangovers, colds and flu and yes, even cancer. At the end of World War I coffee enemas were employed as effective pain relief for wounded soldiers. Panadol shmanadol.
Coffee enemas help to stimulate the liver and increase bile production to excrete toxins more rapidly. They literally flush it out. They have the amazing ability to rescue people from all kinds of ailments including headaches, hangovers, colds and flu and yes, even cancer.
If you’ve read this far into the post, you must be intrigued by how to actually do a coffee enema, right? Don’t be shy. It is nowhere near as uncomfortable or gross as it may seem. To get things started, you will need to buy an enema kit (search online or ask at your local pharmacy or health store) and some organic ground coffee. Make it fair trade also, just to be nice. Then, once you’ve worked up the courage to give it a crack (I know, broke the promise), follow these instructions:
• Boil enough coffee for two enemas just in case you can’t hold the first one and want to try again. For two enemas, bring one litre of water to the boil in a pot on the stove. Once boiling, remove from the stove and add six tablespoons of coffee. Boil for three minutes, then reduce to simmer for another 15 minutes. Remove from the stove and strain the coffee. Add eight ounces of coffee to your bucket and top it up with 16 ounces of purified water. Once you get used to this amount you can bump it up to 24 ounces of water to make the solution 32 ounces in total.
• Lay a yoga mat or towels on your bathroom floor (for padding).
• Release the clasp and let the liquid run through the tube and drip a bit into the sink. This will remove any air bubbles. Hang or sit the enema bucket on a chair – it needs to be higher than you so that gravity can do its thing. Not too high though or the liquid will go in too fast and you won’t be able to hold it.
• Lie on your right side with your legs pulled up towards your chest. Lube up the end of the tube with a bit of coconut oil and insert about two inches into your bottom.
• Let the solution flow all the way in and tighten the clamp before removing it. Then lie back and relax for 10 to 15 minutes.
See, easy. Contrary to popular belief, regular coffee enemas will not cause your bowel to rupture or your bowel movements to become impaired. I have been doing at least three every day for over a year now and my bowels are still fine and dandy. Enemas can become addictive though. My mum has joined me on the enema bandwagon and now she can’t go a day without her upside down coffee break. They have even helped her get through the horridness of detoxing from her regular coffee habit. Bottoms up!
Jess Ainscough is a writer, blogger, holistic health coach and the founder of The Wellness Warrior. When she’s away from her computer Jess can be found juicing, meditating, practicing yoga or in the bathroom.
Connect with Jess:
Coaching: www.jessicaainscough.com
Blog: thewellnesswarrior.blogspot.com
Twitter: @JessAinscough
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thewellnesswarrior
I’m blessed to be able to share the work of Dr Marilyn Golden, an amazing healer, raw foodist and friend who is a wealth of knowledge and wisdom. Dr Golden, who wrote the following article about how to detoxify safely, has helped many of her patients achieve incredible results. Visit her website at www.marilyngolden.com.au to find out more.
Why detox?
Pollutants pervade our world. Toxins are increasingly common in our modern environment. These include heavy metals such as mercury in amalgam fillings and as an adjuvant in some vaccines, aluminium in antiperspirants and baking powder, arsenic in preserved woods used in playgrounds and even as a border in vegetable patches, cadmium in cigarette smoke, lead in paints and car batteries, food additives such as colourants and preservatives, drugs, medication, pollutants in our water supply and the air we breathe.
The World Health Organisation estimates that 2.4 million people die each year from air pollution. Indoor pollution stems from photocopiers, carpets, cleaning materials, glues, paints and furnishings. Australia tops the per capita greenhouse gas emissions in the developed world (SMH 2004).
Physical phenomena such as electromagnetic radiation and ionising radiation are invisible toxins. Electronic products dumped in landfills contain dangerous chemicals and heavy metals that can leach into the groundwater. According to Choice magazine, many unsafe pesticides passed by the Australian food authorities for use in our foods are banned in Europe. An article in the Sydney Morning Herald on 21st September 2009, written by Kelly Burke, stated that Endosulfan, one of the world’s most toxic crop sprays, is permitted for horticultural control of mites and insects in Australia, whereas Endosulfan is banned in more than 50 countries, including 27 countries of the European Union and in New Zealand since January 2009. Endosulfan has been linked to breast cancer and birth defects. It has long-term effects as it persists in the body and disrupts the endocrine system. It is but one of the many chemicals used in the agricultural industry.
According to the Environmental Working Group, people who consume the 12 most pesticide-contaminated foods, ingest 10 pesticides each day.
Research on the use of multiple pesticides and chemicals acting cumulatively and synergistically in the body is difficult to perform and long-term effects may only become apparent after many years. Multiple long-term exposure to low doses of toxins makes detection in humans difficult and may be a contributing cause to chronic illness in many forms. A frightening scenario was the discovery of two and three-headed fish in the Noosa River in 2009 which was thought to be as a result of the use of Endosulfan in the area. Some toxins such as DDT and Lindane have such a long half-life, that their presence in the soil may persist up to 30 years.
In 2009 in China, the chemical Melamine was found as a contaminant in infant milk powders, causing renal failure and many deaths. There have been concerns that it may have infiltrated vegetables and other crops through pesticides and fertilizers containing the chemical. Sciencebase is a website listing the types of processed food contaminated by melamine found in many other countries outside of China.
Mining and industry wastes pollute agricultural areas, pervading the food we eat at the end of the production chain. Our homes and workplaces generate toxic by-products from paints, glues, building materials, moulds, solvents and adhesives. A study performed by the CSIRO in 2000 showed that new homes generated high amounts of volatile toxins, including formaldehyde for more than a year after construction.
Bisphenol A is a component of plastics including plastic bottles and it is a known endocrine disruptor. Concern has been expressed by the FDA on the effect of Bisphenol A on infant brain development and on early puberty. It may also be implicated in the development of obesity.
Endogenous toxicity arises within our own bodies, generated by hostile bacteria, parasites, yeasts and their by-products in our digestive tracts as well as residues of drugs, food chemicals and free radicals from infection, inflammation, alcohol and medication. In those who are nutrient deficient or who have genetic enzyme deficiencies, toxins accumulate and these individuals are more susceptible to certain illnesses. Toxins can bind to enzymes to inhibit their capacity to detoxify.
Chronic stress may impair digestion and detoxification. Hormonal imbalance or impaired function of liver detoxification enzymes contribute to endogenous toxicity.
HOW DO TOXINS AFFECT OUR HEALTH?
Toxins may cause free radical damage, disrupt the endocrine system, paralyse detoxification enzymes in the body, accumulate in tissues and organs to compromise function, damage the nervous system, mitochondria and DNA and suppress immunity.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF TOXICITY?
• Symptoms may be nonspecific and persistent.
• Low energy
• Low mood, anxiety and depression
• Poor concentration, memory problems, headaches
• Frequent infections
• Joint pain, muscle aches
• Allergies
• Weight gain
• Digestive symptoms – diarrhoea, constipation, bloating
• Autoimmune disease
• Chemical and environmental sensitivity
• Infertility and reproductive disorders
WHAT CAN WE DO?
• Limit your toxic load through reducing household and personal use of toxic chemicals.
• Enjoy indoor plants that absorb pollutants – The Areca palm, Bostern ferns, Chrysanthemums, Dwarf Date palms, Striped Dracena
• Filter your water
• Greatly reduce or abstain from alcohol, cigarettes and recreational drugs.
• Practice some form of stress relief and happiness time
• Detoxify under supervision from an experienced health practitioner
• Select your food carefully.
According to the Environmental Working Group, people who consume the 12 most pesticide-contaminated foods, ingest 10 pesticides each day. The list of foods containing higher concentrations of chemicals and pesticides from ewg.org:
• Peaches
• Apples
• Capsicum
• Celery
• Nectarine
• Strawberries
• Cherries
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Grapes
• Carrots
• Pears
As many pesticides do not wash off with rinses, these fruits and vegetables should be organic wherever possible or peeled. It is uncertain whether vegetable rinses remove all pesticide residues.
GROW YOUR OWN
Sprouts and greens are very simple and easy to grow at home, in pots or in sprouters. Examples are kale, parsley, silverbeet, rocket, lettuce and wheatgrass. Sprouts with high detoxification capacity include broccoli sprouts, mustard seed and cress. Sprouts and greens may be used in smoothies or salads. They are powerful packages of antioxidants, proteins and protective phytochemicals such as sulphoraphane which upregulates the genes which code for glutathione detoxification in the cells and in the liver.
DETOXIFICATION BEGINS AT THE CELL
Protect your cells at all times. Support cell nutrition.
Antioxidant support is essential throughout life. We are bombarded with an estimated10,000 hits of free radical assault to our cells and DNA on a daily basis. Free radicals damage our cell membranes and our DNA leading to disease.
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When celebrities look to a nutritionist for ultimate health advice that will not only give them a toned, slim physique but also radiant, glowing skin, they look to Kimberly Snyder (pictured below). The yoga instructor and clinical nutritionist spends her time between her homes in New York and LA — when she’s not working on set, whipping up organic green smoothies for the likes of Drew Barrymore and Owen Wilson.
I met Kimberly a couple of years ago and was amazed at how present, vibrant and happy she was — a portrait of perfect health thanks to her raw vegan diet, yoga and spiritual practice. Since then, the sought-after wellness expert has been busy working with her high profile clients to help them achieve great health. She has also been working on her book, The Beauty Detox Solution, which is due to hit the shelves this Wednesday (March 30) — it’s an invaluable resource, packed with the very knowledge she passes onto her celebrity clients.
Kimberly is a joy to know and is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to achieving true health and beauty. I asked if she could have a quick chat with me in the lead up to her star-studded book launch…
It has been a few years since we met in LA. What have you been up to since then?
I’ve been pretty busy! For the past few years, my focus has shifted to all things related to my nutritional philosophy and work. I’ve been working and traveling with celebrity actors worldwide, creating customized dietary programs for them, and making specialized meals for quite a few of them on a regular basis. I now have an apartment in LA as well as New York, and well, it’s been an exciting ride!
I know you’ve been working tirelessly on your new book, among your many projects. What’s it all about and why did you decide to write it?
My first book, The Beauty Detox Solution, is launching on March 29th! There’s so much confusing information out there, and being beautiful and reaching your perfect weight isn’t about micromanaging, or complex and confusing calculations that revolve around carbs and calories. My plan is simple, proven, and allows inner beauty to radiate from the inside out. My motivation in writing my plan out was to share the information with women and people everywhere that had helped me and my clients so much.
You’re a nutritionist to the stars now. Can you chat a little bit about how you got started?
Word of my program spread through LA and New York, and I was put in touch with a celebrity to work with. Then it grew to a few and then more and more… the inner circle of Hollywood is extremely tight and small. I didn’t plan to work for the “stars”, but I guess it’s my karma!
Are there any star secrets you’re allowed to reveal?
I respect all my clients’ confidentiality. But I will say that the principals that I explain in my program are the same ones I explain to everyone, celebrity or busy mom alike.
What is your definition of beauty?
My philosophy is that beauty and health are synonymous. Healthy skin is beautiful skin. A healthy body is a beautiful body. And no matter how many products we slather on, or diets we follow, true beauty must begin from within.
What pitfalls do you think some people fall into when it comes to trying to maintain and preserve the idealized Western idea of beauty?
There’s so many myths out there and confusing information. The most alarming and common thing I see is that people don’t even realize that the foods they think are healthy are actually aging them at an accelerated rate. I bet if I looked in someone’s fridge, and they had foods like organic yogurt and free range chicken, they would think they were doing pretty good. But when you see their skin, you can see those acidic foods show up on their faces in the form of wrinkles, lines, and dull and sagging skin. It is a vicious cycle. What good is it to be a size 4 or a size 2 if you look 10 years older than you really are?
How can a healthy diet, spiritual practice and positive thoughts help to achieve natural beauty?
Our minds and bodies are intrinsically connected, and therefore loving and peaceful vibrations emanate out of someone’s being in an inexplicable radiance. Mediation is in my opinion, the highest form of union with the infinite, which creates an inner and outer beauty in a way nothing else can.
Who are, in your opinion, some of the most beautiful people and why?
People that have the following characteristics: kindness, cleanliness — externally, in their diet and in their speech and thoughts, compassionate and thoughtful eyes, a genuine smile, a natural, not-overdone style and confidence.
What’s next for you?
Over the next few weeks I’m focusing on all things book launch-related, including a huge launch party hosted by some of my celebrity clients. At the end of this month I head to New Orleans for a few months to work as the nutritionist on a major film. And there are many other exciting projects in the works!
To get your own copy of The Beauty Detox Solution, click here.
For the complete interview with Kimberly, and some of her beauty-fying recipes, sign up for updates at the soon-to-launch EcoBeautyEditor.com
My Journey from Illness to Health and How I Got There
A lot can happen in a year. With the good can come the bad, with the bad also come blessings. About year ago today, I was extremely unwell. I couldn’t get out of bed due to bouts of chronic fatigue and low blood pressure that made me so lightheaded I’d almost topple over every time I tried to stand up. My weight plummeted to a bony 47 kilos. My hair was lifeless, my skin sallow.
It came as a shock to everyone who knew me – I was one of the most healthy people they knew. My diet was spectacularly healthy, to the point of obsession. I walked regularly, I thought positively, I was all about self-growth. So how could someone so healthy become so sick? For those who don’t understand the vegan way of life, for them, it naturally came down to my diet. I could instinctively hear people’s thoughts (or sometimes they’d say it): “being vegan has made you sick”. If I were on the outside looking in at my skeletal frame, I would have put my money on an eating disorder. Something obviously was wrong.
But as any healthy vegan will tell you, it’s just not possible to get sick from some of the most nutritious food on earth. I had to dig deeper, much deeper, to find the root of the illness that had stopped me in my tracks. I stopped blogging, I couldn’t work. My diligence and constant drive for creating new projects had to cease. My body was shouting at me, “no more, I’m going to make you stop and take check of your life, examine what it is you’ve not dealt with”.
My wise and straight-shooting Reiki Master, Patti Penn, asked a simple question that lead me to the life-changing tool that brought me back, some months later, to better health than ever. She asked me, in no uncertain terms, “What’s eating away at you Shannon? What haven’t you dealt with?”. Having studied through all the Reiki levels to Master, I was stunned to think there could be anything left that I hadn’t sent healing energy to… old stuff that I had sub-consciously swept under the carpet, believing it would be much safer kept there. But what I did know, without a doubt, was that I couldn’t heal others, unless I first healed myself.
“Go tap on it,” Patti advised. And so I did. Then, as if the universe was listening, I received an email just a few days later from someone who had experienced transformation using Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), or tapping. There was going to be a free, 10-day, online event focused purely on EFT, with practical workshops you could “tap along to”. For the next 10 days, I tapped until I was bruised, and what I uncovered was miraculous (I later heard that 100,000 people had tapped along too).
While I was already familiar with EFT thanks to Patti, who had guided me through routines many times before, I’d not used the technique to dig deep enough – into the caverns that housed all the emotional stuff that had impacted me throughout my life. As I tapped away, my sub-conscious mind took over, telling me in no uncertain terms what was eating me, the stuff that had contributed to years of feeling self-conscious and unsure. While it wasn’t major stuff, perhaps in many people’s eyes, it was related to events that had impacted me deeply enough to cause emotional scarring. I purged so many negative emotions and false beliefs about myself during those 10 days, and for some time after, that a whole new world opened up to me. I felt light, I was gradually regaining my health, my thoughts had even changed, my mind was quieter. A year on from my first fainting episode, I’m healthier than I could have ever imagined.
I was stunned to think there could be anything left that I hadn’t sent healing energy to… old stuff that I had sub-consciously swept under the carpet, believing it would be much safer kept there. But what I did know, without a doubt, was that I couldn’t heal others, unless I first healed myself.
So many people, from Deepak Chopra to Jack Canfield (see video below), recommend this life-changing technique not only because it works, but also because of its simplicity. It’s a modern form of acupuncture, if you will, that stimulates the meridian points to help you release old, limiting patterns that manifest in dis-ease and other negative experiences. As one website states: EFT is a powerful method based on the discovery that emotional trauma contributes greatly to disease. Scientific studies have shown that EFT is able to rapidly reduce the emotional impact of memories and incidents that trigger emotional distress. Once the distress is reduced or removed, the body can often rebalance itself, and accelerate healing.
While I have been wanting to write this blog post for a while, in the hope my experience might inspire others enough to find their own healing path, it hasn’t felt quite right, until now. Yesterday I received an email telling me the Tapping World Summit 2011 is due to start on February 21. If you have even half an hour available each day during the 10 day free online workshop, you may just open your world to incredible healing, and a life free of dis-ease and issues caused from past events or long-held negative beliefs.
Click here to hear Dr Bruce Lipton, author of many books, including bestseller Biology of Belief, explain the workings and life-changing benefits that can be achieved through this simple, yet powerful technique.
You can also sign up for a free tapping workbook here, or check out the film The Tapping Solution, which was put together by Nick, Alex and Jessica Ortner, the same people behind the Tapping World Summit.
Besides the Summit, and if you’re lucky enough to live in or near Los Angeles, I highly recommend my Reiki Master Patti Penn, who has recently opened a healing centre, Pause in Joy, where she teaches Reiki and EFT.
I’ve often thought about why we deem some plants “weeds” and others fit for planting or eating. As I’ve delved into raw food nutrition (I’m studying through The BodyMind Institute) I’ve been amazed at how readily I’d dismissed some of the most healing herbs on the planet as little more than mower clippings.
Now some of the most common weeds take pride of place in my kitchen, ready for use in herbal teas, poultices, raw food recipes, natural beauty preparations and more. Weeds are particularly nutritious because they have had to make it on their own … withstand nature’s elements to remain strong and vibrant. It takes a lot of energy for them to simply live – energy that we directly benefit from when we eat these incredible herbs.
Here are my favourite four:
DANDELION (parts used: leaf and root)
Dandelions are those plants with the fluffy “flower” that, as kids, we likely made a wish or two with. It’s a wonderfully nutritious herb that has been used by ancient cultures, including Chinese and Ayurvedic healers. The leaves are a natural diuretic and are great for relieving the bloated feeling that can come with PMS. The root of the dandelion is a good liver tonic and is brimming with antioxidants such as vitamins A and C.
BURDOCK (parts used: roots)
Known as a blood purifier, and as the most effective herb for treating chronic skin problems. It has been known to ease such conditions as eczema, acne, psoriasis, boils, herpes and syphilitic sores, styes, carbuncles and cankers. It contains polyacetylenes – natural killers of fungi and bacteria. Burdock also expels toxins and promotes urine flow and perspiration (the Chinese use it to calm).
NETTLE (parts used: leaves)
Nettle tea has been widely used to combat intestinal weakness, diarrhea and malnutrition. It also acts as a diuretic and is said to be good for treating kidney weakness and bladder infections. Nettles can help rid the body of excessive fluid, be used topically to treat eczema and rashes, as well as soothe arthritic and rheumatic conditions. It’s also great for bone density.
RED CLOVER (parts used: flowers and leaves)
Red Clover, an anti-cancer herb, is great to use powdered (sprinkle it on salads) and it can also be used as a tea. It’s also a source of nutrients including calcium, chromium, potassium, thiamine, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus and vitamin C.
Find out more – books that include some valuable information on common edible weeds:
• Herbal Medicine, The Natural Way to Get Well and Stay Well
• The A to Z Guide to Healing Herbal Remedies
• Heinerman’s Encyclopedia of Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs
There are certainly weeds out there that aren’t edible, and those that aren’t are generally very bitter to taste. If you’re keen to go grazing, be sure to take a wildcrafting workshop first or know without a doubt what you’re looking for. Some herbs may look similar, but can be poisonous.
What makes a goji berry more nutritionally potent that an apple? Why is chocolate a certified love potion? Nutritionist David Wolfe shares some of the most life-supporting foods on the planet…
What are the best five superfoods and their benefits?
I have selected 20 of the world’s best superfoods and described their history and benefits in my book: Superfoods: The Food and Medicine of the Future
Goji Berry
A complete protein source, #1 in the carotene Zeaxanthin (orange-red pigment that supports healthy eyes), sesquiterpenes that increase the natural production of human growth hormone, rich in beta-carotene and liver cleansing betaine, one of the highest antioxidants sources known, #1 in Chinese medicine, delicious.
Cacao (raw chocolate)
#1 antioxidant food in the world, #1 magnesium/chromium/iron/manganese, rich in tryptophan, serotonin, and the bliss chemical anandamide, loaded with PEA (love chemicals), low in caffeine, high in theobromine (heart support), known to extend life.
Maca
This super-root from the Andes is known to contain 20 trace minerals, 17 amino acids, hormone pre-cursors, thyroid supporting compounds, and some essential fatty acids. Maca increases vigor in all ages and acts as an aphrodisiac when the endocrine system is topped up with maca nutrients.
Bee Pollen (not vegan)
This superfood is composed of 22 amino acids with higher amounts of the 8 essential amino acids than most high protein foods. Bee pollen is rich in B-complex, vitamin C, D, E, lecithin, cysteine, RNA, DNA, good calcium, magnesium, beta carotene, and selenium. Bee pollen reduces the production of histamine and lowers the allergic response. Bee pollen improves beauty as it helps clear acne and reverses aging and wrinkling. Athletes take it to increase strength, endurance, energy and speed; quicker recovery from exercise; return heart rate to normal; and to improves endurance for repeat exertion.
Camu Berry
The camu berry is an excellent source of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, the amino acids serine, valine and leucine, as well as small amounts of the vitamins thiamine, riboflavin and niacin. Traditionally, camu has been used to support the immune system, maintain excellent eyesight, ward off viral infections, support strong collagen, tendons, and ligaments and decrease inflammation.
What are the best five superherbs and their benefits?
I am writing a book on herbalism at the moment. Here are some of my current favorites. These favorites shift slightly with the seasons and my location, nevertheless, they are fantastic superherbs.
Reishi Mushroom (spirit mushroom)
A tremendous shen (heart and aura) building herb known to the Chinese for 5,000 years. It’s immune modulating and is a great liver support herb, a heart tonifying herb (great for high blood pressure), and an adaptogenic. Reishi is one of the great providers for well-being on Earth. Reishi is found in forests all over the world.
Asparagus Root
The root of common asparagus is considered one of the greatest superherbs in Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine. It nourishes the kidneys and lungs. It nourishes the sympathetic nervous system and builds bodily fluids. Asparagus root is a tonic, adrenal rejuvenator, anti-ulcerous and anti-inflammatory. The root of asparagus is also used in the treatment of nervous disorders, dyspepsia, diarrhea, dysentery, tumours, hyperdipsia, neuropathy and liver disease. This plant is reported to have immuno-modulating and antihepatotoxic and activities.
Chaga Mushroom
Perhaps the most powerful anti-cancer herb in the world. Chaga is the highest antioxidant food/herb substance in the temperate regions of the world. Its extraordinary concentration of non-polar polysaccharides as well as betulinic acid have been cited as the major source of its immune modulating activities. Chaga has anti-inflammatory properties. Chaga tea is my favorite tea of all time.
Pau D’Arco (Lapacho)
This delicious tree bark from the Amazon and jungles of Central America contains powerful anti-fungal compounds. Pau d’Arco effectively fights fungal infections such as candida as well as cancer. This bark reduces fevers, assists in healing ulcers and is also used for venereal and rheumatic disorders. It is especially useful for fungal and viral skin disorders — especially eczema and herpes. Lapacho multiplies the body’s production of red blood cells. Pau d’Arco tea is often combined with an anti-viral superherb Una da Gato (Cat’s Claw).
Ho Shou Wu (Fo-Ti)
This prepared root nourishes and tonifies the kidneys, liver, and the blood. It is a hair restoring tonic (fights baldness). This root builds and replenishes kidney, adrenal, and sexual energy as well as increases fertility. This longevity tonic contains antioxidants that help produce the super enzyme SOD (super-oxide dismutase).
