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.

What are your plans for the site?

The site is constantly evolving and growing. It is like it has a life of its own. At the start we were providing a lot of information about climate issues and relevant articles that were out in the media that people may not have heard. Then when Amanda was diagnosed the site took on more of a health slant.

However, today the site is becoming a portal for all things vegan. It is connecting people, other sites and businesses together to help spread the message to a wider audience. We want people to see that there is a wide range of resources out there, and that we don’t have to feel alone. It feels really good to be connected and to hear people say that they have found helpful information through Vegan Era’s beautiful contributors.

You recently ran some billboards encouraging people to become vegan. Why did you decide to do it and what has the response been like?

We did indeed. It had been a vision that we have had for about a year. 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. You only have to look at the past two years and the massive devastation that has crippled our planet. From the earthquakes in Haiti, Chile and New Zealand, to the Tsunamis in Japan and Thailand –  the world is at a critical point. We must turn our backs to killing and nourish a compassionate lifestyle. Through this, our whole beings will change and we will become more loving, and peaceful. When we make this change, the vibration of the planet will change and you will see a calmer environment; we will have Heaven on Earth.

The response has actually been great. We couldn’t believe it. We purposefully have put the billboard in places that are more known for cattle-raising. I actually thought we would have got more complaints, but all of the responses have been beautiful and supportive.

What are your favourite vegan foods?

Oh my, there are soooo many… Amanda is quite the chef and makes up some amazing dishes. Right now, we are loving our  camp fires. So we are having roasted potatoes, pumpkin, corn and beetroot with a dahl. Nothing comes close to a meal cooked over a fire.  Everything tastes so much better.

Some other vegan foods I love….umm, well, I struggle to say no to mum’s vegan chocolate slice and my sister’s vegan Anzac biscuits. My family rock, they always make me food when we catch up for coffee’s. Though I must admit, I take our little staffy girl with us and she ends up getting most of the yummies.

If someone was considering veganism, what advice would you give them?

I will use the old favourtie Nike slogan – ‘Just Do It’. You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain. I must admit that when I started I didn’t tell anyone for about a month because I wasn’t sure how they would react. It is a personal choice and I didn’t want to hear anything negative. I wanted to do it for me and sometimes when you make this choice people can try and bring you down with silly things like how do you get your iron, protein and B12. When you adopt the diet, do your research and I will give you a 100% money back guarantee that you will have zero issues with your iron, protein and B12. Actually you will probably find that you have more!

What are your hopes for the future?

I pray that our planet will live in Peace and Harmony with Mother Nature and our beautiful Animal Friends. I pray that there will be no more killing, and we have Heaven on Earth. It might be a big dream, but why sell yourself short. Why not wish for the best for all of Humanity, for all our Animal Friends and our beautiful trees and lakes?

Join Vegan Era on Facebook and Twitter. Check out the Vegan Era blog here.

by Jess Ainscough

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.

Ensure that you have a minimum of seven different coloured fruits and vegetables each day. Supplement with high CAROTENOID containing superfruits such as GAC, SEABUCKTHORN, GOJI, CILI FRUIT. I recommend the blend called G3 juice which is scientifically proven to be bioavailable to the body and to elevate the carotenoid score. FOOD BASED CAROTENOIDS are found in fruits and vegetables containing the red, yellow, orange and dark green pigments. Carotenoids may protect against prostate cancer, macular degeneration, lung cancer and breast cancer by supporting the immune system and promoting proper cell to cell communication.

The GAC fruit contains a high percentage of lipids which makes the carotenoids more bioavailable. It is known as the Fruit from Heaven in Vietnam where it is credited with longevity and many health benefits. Synthetic supplementation with betacarotene has proved to be potentially harmful and of no benefit. It may even reduce the level of natural carotenoids in the bloodstream.
Cholesterol lowering medications may reduce absorption of carotenoids. (www.whfoods.com)

NATURE HEALS

It is time to return to natural foods for detoxification and longer, healthier lives. FRUIT AND GREEN SMOOTHIES blended in a base of water or fresh juice, with added sprouts, acai berry powder, wheatgrass or barley grass powder and spirulina and dulse flakes are a natural way to provide basic antioxidant cover and concentrated phytonutrients to protect the cells. Seaweed alginates bind heavy metals. Chlorophyll from the green smoothies neutralizes toxins in the gut. A high – raw diet , consisting of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, raw juices, smoothies, fresh leafy greens, sprouts, nuts and seeds can be integrated into any dietary plan with boundless benefits for health.

GUT DETOXIFICATION

• Foods – Soluble fibre from fruit and vegetables plus flax seed, slippery elm and psyllium provide food prebiotics for gut flora and prevent the action of the harmful enzyme called betaglucuronidase which deconjugates toxins and hormones and reactivates them.
• Spices such as cumin, red and black pepper, ginger, fennel, aniseed, coriander and cardamom stimulate bile secretion for fat digestion, pancreatic and intestinal enzymes and reduced food transit time (Platel and Srinivasan Indian journal of Medical Research, May 2004). Reduce meat and saturated fats such as eggs and eliminate dairy products. Increase greens and fruit as mentioned.
• Support digestive enzyme function with vegetarian high potency digestive enzymes
• Probiotics and prebiotics have specific functions – select yours with your health practitioner.
• At least three times each year, ask your health practitioner to prescribe a herbal antimicrobial, antiparasitic and antifungal formula to remove dysbiotic organisms.
• Repair the gut lining with a safe formula containing glutamine, colostrums (note: not vegan), chlorella and spirulina and aloe vera.
• Maintain on probiotics, rotating as needed under supervision.
• Laxatives and enemas are not recommended.

LIVER DETOXIFICATION SUPPORT

There are two main pathways of liver detoxification, namely – Phase 1 (cytochrome P450) which makes the toxins more toxic as an intermediate metabolite in the process and Phase 2 conjugation enzymes which produce a water soluble toxin for excretion.

FOODS

• Cruciferous vegetables, including kale, mustard greens, watercress, radishes, rocket and broccoli sprouts contain sulphoraphane and indole 3 carbinol which stimulate phase 2 liver detoxification to mop up free radicals produces as a result of phase 1 detoxification.
• Sesame seed (sesamin), curcumin (tumeric), garlic, onions and rosemary support phase 2 detox enzymes. Sesame seed (sesamin) also produces enterolactone in the gut which may protect against reproductive cancers and prostate cancer.
• Green tea stimulates phase 1 and is antioxidant, antiiflammatory and anti-cancer.
• Nasturtiums
• Beetroot
• Ginger
• Note that grapefruit juice (Naringenin) slows phase 1 and is contraindicated with certain medications that may build up in the system.
• Iodine in the form of kelp if deficient
• Pomegranates
• Pure water and raw vegetable juices containing the above with the addition of dandelion leaves (homegrown, organic).
• Acupuncture – stimulation of acupuncture points of the liver, stomach, spleen and kidneys
• Herbs – Schisandra, rosemary, St Mary’s thistle.
• Herb teas – Rooibos, dandelion, green tea, lemon in hot water

LYMPHATIC DETOXIFICATION

• Dry brush massage
• Far infrared saunas reduce the body’s chemical burden through sweating
• Lymphatic drainage massage
• Exercise – rebounding, Hypervibe whole body vibration exercise

MATRIX DETOXIFICATION

Under the supervision of a Health Professional trained in homotoxicology, homotoxciological remedies detoxify the Extracellular Matrix, the space between the cells where toxins accumulate.

MIND AND SPIRIT DETOXIFICATION

Meditation, gratitude, qigong, tai chi, yoga help connect body and soul to make detoxification an integrated process of awareness and health.

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. Here are five of my favorites:

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).

Are raw foods, superfoods, superherbs and spring water only for some types of people? Vegetarians for example.
Everyone can benefit from raw foods, superfoods, superherbs, and spring water including vegetarians, vegans, omnivores, and carnivores. As a point of reference, due to the danger of consuming animal products created by poor quality control, antibiotics, growth hormones, animal diseases such as Mad Cow, Hoof and Mouth, Blue Tongue, chicken cancers, etc, as well as greed, animal products are becoming less and less reliable sources of protein or any nutrition at all. Raw foods, superfoods, superherbs, and living spring water represent clean, safe, controllable resources for the food choices of the future.

Are these foods and herbs suitable for children?
Yes. Raw plant foods, superfoods, and superherbs are suitable for children. Certainly they are more appropriate for children than pesticide-sprayed canned baby foods, soy formulas, candy, breakfast cereals, factory-farmed meat, fish, and chicken products, and other heavily processed food items sold via marketing campaigns to parents and children. Consider the simplicity of a child eating an avocado, lettuce, an apple, blueberries, almonds, pumpkin seeds, etc. Children stand to benefit greatly from the addition of raw, organic plant foods, fresh juices, superfoods, superherbs (i.e. immune modulating medicinal mushrooms such as reishi, chaga, maitake, agaricus, shiitake, etc.) in their diet.

Who is it suitable for and for whom absolutely not?
I recommend 80% raw and organic plant foods in one’s diet, because this approach is relatively easy to attain for most people over a period of several years. This is, in fact, good enough for everyone to experience excellent improvements in their health. Those with sensitivity to fiber (cellulose found in vegetables) due to metabolism or a history of Crone’s disease need to make appropriate adjustments with the types of raw foods they are eating. All of us should be careful with ingesting too much sugar (fruit).

All of us can find benefits in drinking fresh celery juice. Raw berries are great for nearly every type of metabolism. Raw chocolate is wonderful for celebration, yet inappropriate for those with chocolate allergies or neurotic behaviors and addictions. Superherbs such as medicinal mushrooms (i.e. reishi, chaga, maitake, agaricus, shiitake, lion’s mane, cordyceps, etc.) are great for immune system nutrition.  Living spring water is excellent for folks looking to expand consciousness.

The point is: there is something in raw food, superfoods, superherbs, and living spring water for everyone. Especially in the beginning, eating 80-100% raw food is inappropriate for some people due to many reasons, including: being excessively thin, having very poor mineralization (poor teeth and bones), being too alkaline, and other extreme “vata” (Ayurvedic thin, nervous body type) conditions.

Is it easy or difficult to make? What do you have to take in consideration?
Start consuming superfoods such as cacao, maca, goji berry, marine phytoplankton, etc in a super smoothie every day. Simply replace heavily processed protein powders with real foods — superfoods! Take superherbs as deep nourishment and medicine. Drink fresh vegetable juice (celery based) whenever possible. Reduce cooked foods to one item per meal. Eat that meal with an organic salad.
Take raw, uncooking classes and/or read raw recipe books and find out how to make lasagnas, pizzas, breads, sauces, pates, desserts, and all kinds of other treats without cooking and without side effects.

Have fun with your food again. Discover natural highs. Go organic. End GMOs (Genetically modified organisms or Frankenfoods).
Avoid factory farmed animal products immediately — that means avoiding just about all animal products on the market today.
As fast as you can, slow down fast fooding. Fast food is completely toxic to a consciousness of abundance.

Is it easy to maintain, keep going?
Any of the superfoods and superherbs can be added into anyone’s diet. Simply discover the ones you like and stick with them. Get out a blender and make entirely new types of shakes, smoothies, and beverages out of superfoods. Make all kinds of teas with the herbs. Better yet, take your superherb tea and blend it with superfoods. Throw some raw berries in there and everybody is happy. Interestingly, superfoods and superherbs meet and exceed all our protein requirements, our vitamin and mineral requirements, glyconutrient (essential polysaccharide sugar) requirements, essential fatty acid requirements, immune system requirements, and so much more!

Superfoods can be (and should be) consumed raw because 150 years of research has now demonstrated that living, raw food is superior in vitamin content, enzymes, co-enzymes, usable protein, usable minerals, glyconutrients, and many other elements of nutrition. Additionally, raw food is natural. Raw is how Nature provides us with food.

Can you integrate it in a more traditional cooking way of life or do you have to go all the way?
By eating raw foods, one learns how to cook better. For example, one learns how to sprout beans first, then cook them, providing even more nutrition. Also, one learns the importance of eating salads with cooked foods. Another factor that raw foods teach us is simplicity. One learns how to eat simply and graciously. Cooking with raw coconut oil (which is resistant to rancidity and oxidation) can radically transform one’s favorite dishes. Raw coconut oil is even better to cook with than olive oil.

How can you make the transition the most easy? What disadvantages can you come across?
I have found the best way for people to eat raw food, superfoods, and superherbs is to add them to their diet without feeling like they are being deprived. I especially advocate fresh vegetable juices and superfood smoothies daily. Once people see how good they feel, then they naturally want to explore deeper.
Remember: the law of attraction is constantly at work. We can attract health and healthy foods into our life. My goal is to eat “the best food ever” — so I attract this all the time into my life. You can too. This is the power of a decision.

Is there any advantage in going raw for one day a week or does it do nothing?
Any amount of organic raw food helps! Any amount of superfoods and superherbs is better than none.
What we eat helps to guide our path. Eating determines what level of health our body will experience. Every bite of food put into the body should add to our strength, spirituality, and beauty. Each meal becomes part of who we are at the deepest level. A day of eating raw foods or a week or two of a raw-foods detox can do wonders for everyone. Consuming tonic superherbs does wonders to restore our immune system to a state of optimum vitality and health.

What about raw chocolate? Some more explanation?
People always ask me what I eat. Raw, organic cacao beans (raw chocolate nuts) are a wonderful part of my diet. Cacao is the superfood of the future. Cacao beans are truly the food of the gods; the best food ever! What is cacao? Cacao is the seed (nut) of a fruit of an Amazonian tree that was brought to Central America during or before the time of the Olmecs. Cacao beans were so revered by the Mayans, Toltecs, Mixtecs, and Aztecs that they used them as money!

The raw cacao bean is one of nature’s most fantastic superfoods due to its mineral content (magnesium, iron, chromium, phosphorus, manganese, zinc, and copper) as well as due to its wide array of unique and varied properties including an extraordinary content of: antioxidants, PEA, anandamide, and soluble fiber. Research has conclusively demonstrated that people who eat chocolate live longer and are less likely to experience a heart attack.

Since many of the special properties of cacao are destroyed or lost by cooking, refining, and processing, we feel that planet Earth’s favorite food is still unknown to most of us. Now we get to reconnect with the power of real, original, natural, dark, raw chocolate (no sugar, no additives). You can read more about the world’s greatest food in my book, Naked Chocolate.

Article reprinted with the permission of ECOLUXE magazine. Conscious Living—Luxurious Style.

There’s a lot of controversy surrounding the topic of raising children without meat or animal byproducts in their diet. Opponents of veganism will argue that vegan kids won’t get the vitamins and minerals that they need or that the diet is overdoing it at best and fanatic at worst.

The truth is, however, that feeding your child a vegan diet has a range of positive effects not only on their bodies, but other humans as well as the environment as a whole.

Vegan Kids Maintain a Healthier Weight

The rate of childhood diabetes is an ever-increasing epidemic. The Center for Disease Control estimates that about 13,000 children are diagnosed with this chronic disease annually. This is largely due in part to the excessively high instances of childhood obesity, with about 33% of children being overweight and half of them considered obese. Studies have shown that body mass index is directly related to the intake of meat. Thus, vegans are less likely to be overweight than those who regularly include meat in their diet.

Being overweight or obese contributes to a number of health problems and chronic diseases, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, increased likelihood of heart attacks, clogged arteries, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal problems – the list is endless. Starting your children off with a well-rounded vegan diet is setting them up to live longer, healthier lives.

Vegan Kids Contribute to a Greener Earth

One of the most disturbing side effects of meat eating is the damage done to the environment. In the scramble to “go green” before our Earth is irreparably destroyed, diet is often left out of the equation. However, it is one of the easiest things to change that would create the biggest impact.

The hidden killer of the environment is the agricultural sector. Meat and livestock production account for almost 20% of the world’s greenhouse gases – that’s more than transport! As a vegan, your child won’t be a part of this toxic equation.

Vegan Children and Reduced Consumption of Water

Though 70% to 75% of the Earth is covered in water, and up to 60% of our own bodies are made of this liquid substance, we are having a serious water crisis. Up to one billion people aren’t afforded the luxury of clean water – that’s one in six people.

What does veganism have to do with water consumption? A lot. Meat eaters who enjoy fine dining at a California steakhouse or eat hamburgers regularly are probably unaware that their dinner requires 5,400 gallons of water. For the same amount of water, your vegan child can eat 41 pounds of bread or 150 servings of pasta. Raising a vegan child equates to utilizing this precious resource in a more conscious way.

Enough Food for Everyone

World hunger is another huge problem that we are facing as a global community. However, it’s not for lack of food that there are so many people going without – it’s that the food is being kept out of people’s mouths. The majority of the world’s soybean supply, along with an obscene quantity of grains, is being fed to fatten up animals being raised for food. According to a study done by Cornell University, in the US alone, the grain used to feed livestock could feed 800 million people. Vegan children aren’t contributing to the world hunger crisis.

Vegan Kids Enjoy Spiritual Benefits

Killing is denounced by practically every major and minor world religion. However, the meat eaters of the United States are responsible for the death of almost 10 billion animals every year. The saddest part? This only accounts for about 15% of the animals that are murdered annually around the world. No matter what type of religion, spiritual path, or moral principles you practice, eliminating needless murder from your life and your children’s lives will only improve your spiritual fitness. Children beginning life without ingesting animal products is a great first step to leading a spiritually balanced life.

Jasmine Stephenson is a guest blogger for An Apple a Day and a writer on earning your online nursing degree for the Guide to Health Education.

Photo courtesy of Robert Whitehead

Growing up, I used to love the smell of freshly washed towels. Whenever the breeze would blow as they hung on the line to dry, I’d get a waft of fragrance that somehow made me think of all things lovely: a warm bath on a cold winter night or coming home after being away on vacation.

What I didn’t know back then is that comforting, fresh smell was actually nasty, toxic chemicals… chloroform, ethyl acetate and limonene (among many others)… dressed up as flowers, luring me in, to believe that I was as close to a lavender field as I could get without actually being in one.

Besides the carcinogenics, I also recently found out (thanks to www.thevegandecision.com) there’s another great reason to stop buying and using fabric softeners: animal tallow, or animal fat, if you will. Common, every day fabric softeners are a recipe made from dead animals and toxic chemicals, not a lavender field or bowl of fresh lemons in sight.

So what does this mean for the planet and our own health? These chemicals are detrimental to marine life, as they enter our waterways (whatever we put in a washing machine, toilet, dishwasher ends up in the environment). But once the towels and clothes are dry, how harmful can these chemicals be to our health? Extremely. Anything worn close to, or applied to the skin ends up in the blood stream.

Here’s an excerpt from Natural News:

Most fabric softener products—dryer sheets, for example—are positioned as being at least somewhat earth friendly thanks to a claim in the ingredients list that reads “biodegradable fabric softeners.” Unfortunately, the second ingredient in fabric softeners is “fragrance,” and the fragrance chemicals are so highly toxic that they cause cancer in humans and are extremely destructive to aquatic ecosystems downstream. Merely drying your clothes with common dryer sheets, then washing them the next time you do laundry unleashes a chemical tidal wave of toxicity that is shockingly harmful to (you and) the environment.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (US), here’s a list of what you can expect to find:

ALPHA-TERPINEOL Causes CNS (central nervous system) disorders… “highly irritating to mucous membranes” …”Aspiration into the lungs can produce pneumonitis or even fatal edema.” Can also cause “excitement, ataxia (loss of muscular coordination), hypothermia, CNS and respiratory depression, and headache.” “Prevent repeated or prolonged skin contact.

BENZYL ACETATE Carconigenic (linked to pancreatic cancer). “From vapors: irritating to eyes and respiratory passages, exciting cough.” “In mice: hyperanemia of the lungs.” “Can be absorbed through the skin causing systemic effects.” “Do not flush to sewer.”

BENZYL ALCOHOL Causes CNS disorders … “irritating to the upper respiratory tract” …”headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drop in blood pressure, CNS depression, and death in severe cases due to respiratory failure.”

CAMPHOR Causes CNS disorders. On EPA’s Hazardous Waste list. Symptoms: “local irritant and CNS stimulant” …”readily absorbed through body tissues” …”irritation of eyes, nose, and throat” …”dizziness, confusion, nausea, twitching muscles and convulsions”. “Avoid inhalation of vapors.”

CHLOROFORM Neurotoxic. Anesthetic. Carcinogenic. on EPA’s Hazardous Waste list. “Avoid contact with eyes, skin, clothing. Do not breathe vapors …Inhalation of vapors may cause headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, irritation of respiratory tract and loss of consciousness.” “Inhalation can be fatal.” “Chronic effects of overexposure may include kidney and/or liver damage.” “Medical conditions generally aggravated by exposure: kidney disorders, liver disorders, heart disorders, skin disorders.” “Conditions to avoid: Heat…” Listed on California’s Proposition 65.

ETHYL ACETATE Narcotic. On EPA’s Hazardous Waste list. “…Irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract” …”may cause headache and narcosis (stupor)” …”may cause anemia with leukocytosis and damage to liver and kidneys”. “Wash thoroughly after handling.”

LIMONENE Carcinogenic. “Prevent its contact with skin or eyes because it is an irritant and sensitizer.” “Always wash thoroughly after using this material and before eating, drinking …applying cosmetics. Do not inhale limonene vapor.”

LINALOOL Narcotic. Causes CNS disorders. …”respiratory disturbances” …”Attracts bees.” “In animal tests: ataxic gait, reduced spontaneous motor activity and depression …depressed heart activity …development of respiratory disturbances leading to death.”

PENTANE “Danger – Harmful if inhaled …Avoid breathing vapor.” “Inhalation of vapors may cause headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, irritation of respiratory tract and loss of consciousness. Repeated inhalation of vapors may cause CNS depression. Contact can cause eye irritation. Prolonged exposure may cause dermatitis (skin rash).”

Relevant Facts:

• CNS = Central Nervous System, your brain and spine.
• CNS disorders include: Alzheimer’s Disease, Attention Deficit Disorder, Dementia, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, Seizures, Strokes, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
• CNS exposure symptoms include: aphasia, blurred vision, disorientation, dizziness, headaches, hunger, memory loss, numbness in face, pain in neck and spine.

I’d never really given much thought to the healing properties of herbs and spices, until recently. Now the herb and spice aisle at my local organic grocer is one of my favourite places.

I received an email yesterday from Dr Steven Joyal’s publicist, who, besides promoting his new book, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Diabetes, also explained how the doctor is a big advocate of the significant health boosting properties of common herbs and spices. I wanted to know more, so had a quick chat to the doc…

SD: How did you come to be an advocate of adding spices to the diet in order to achieve good health?
SJ: The scientific data in support of spices like curcumin, ginger, rosemary, cumin, and cinnamon is strong.

SD: How are spices best consumed for maximum impact?
SJ: Fresh or dried, spices have a wealth of health benefits. Scientific research suggests that spices/herbs like marjoram, thyme, and rosemary may help reduce the formation of cancer-causing substances called heterocyclic amines in grilled or broiled foods.

SD: Have we come full circle, understanding perhaps what our ancestors did, that spices have profound health-boosting properties?
SJ: Before the pharmaceutical companies found disease profitable, ancient traditions like Ayurvedic medicine understood the value of herbs and spices in helping to maintain optimal health.

SD: How can spices help someone with diabetes?
SJ: Cinnamon and cumin are two spices with interesting anti-diabetic properties. Scientific data suggests that these two spices can help support healthy blood sugar levels and reduce the oxidant damage from diabetes. Efficacious doses are about two teaspoons daily.

SD: What are your must-have spices for your rack and why?
SJ: Ginger (anti-inflammatory), cumin (support healthy blood sugar levels, anti-oxidant), cinnamon (anti-oxidant, supports healthy blood sugar levels), turmeric (curcumin) {anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant), rosemary (anti-oxidant, anti-cancer) are all great spices and herbs for supporting optimal health.

SD: Turmeric is often a spice touted for its amazing healing properties. What is it about turmeric that has such a big impact on the body?
SJ: Turmeric’s “secret” is curcumin, and this interesting ingredient has anti-cancer properties, antioxidant properties, and anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, several experimental studies, as well as human clinical studies, show benefit for curcumin in Alzheimer’s disease, a devastating neurological illness!