Mindy aka Ageless Raw Beauty Answers Your Questions,
                     Offers Monthly Recipes, Tips and Tidbits Related to Health and Longevity

                                                                                               


I am thrilled to see those of you who have taken the time to comment to my blog post and I look forward to posting more information on a monthly basis.  I always have information to share and want to avail myself to you and offer my time, services and experiences.

Hi to The Antiques Diva: Thank you for the information about your friend and I checked out her website, briefly and see that she lives in the Netherlands.  Please let her know that if she does come to San Diego, I'd love to meet her. 
As for the collaboration with Kelli, we will be meeting again to discuss potential opportunities. Stay tuned!

Hi Mimi: Thanks for the great question about where to get iron from natural sources.  I agree with you 100% about not wanting to go back to eating meat.  It really isn't ever necessary!  Iron is so readily available and in abundance in a plant food-based lifestyle.  It is also important to note, that from a natural source, it is bio-available to the body (meaning the body can take it in and absorb it readily without having to deal with the otherwise ill effects of meat eating.)  I can get into the “gory” details of why animal foods are extremely deleterious for the body, at another point if the readers really want to know the truth.  Believe me, I will not hold back, if I am asked. 

To get back to your question, I can say for certain that I am absorbing the iron in my foods, as I have been tested (I sometimes donate blood for research purposes) and my levels are like that of the male population, topping out at almost 15!  That seems to be unheard of for most females and especially for one who is vegan and also raw!  So I know you want to know my secret, but it isn't really a secret!

Here are foods that have some of the highest levels of iron that I consume: Spinach, Parsley, Grapes, Kelp Powder, Whole Dulse (seaweed), Hemp Seeds, Quinoa (a grain, pronounced keen-wa and available in bulk - so you can try the amount you want, as is the dulse and kelp powder).  Other fruits are raisins, prunes, fresh apricots, peaches, all berries and lettuces.
I hope this helps you and the more volume you can eat of the greens listed above (especially spinach and parsley) and sprinkle some kelp and use dulse (please rinse first, as it is very salty) in your salads, soups and grain dishes, you will see your iron levels increase.  Please follow up on the blog or email me personally and let me know the great results you are having!

Hi Maegan: thanks for your comment. Raw food is yummy and fun to make and I look forward to teaching all the A Rendez-Vous with Style readers more in the near future.

Hi Victorian Cobweb: the question you asked about incorporating enough calories/nutrients to keep healthy, will be answered in a future post. Please stay tuned!

                                                HEALTH TIP ~ APRIL 2009:
Give yourself the freedom to explore what is available to you out there in the form of new foods (i.e. fruits, greens, vegetables, seaweeds). Try something new each day that you have never had before to add health to your life. The best wealth we can possibly have is our health, as without it, we aren't even good for ourselves, let alone for others (spouse, children, work, etc).

Stay tuned, as next month I will give some simple ways to incorporate more minerals in your life, as that is what will alkalize your body and keep you healthy for the long haul!

Thank you,
Mindy


I will end with a poem, I wrote from a book, I will be self-publishing called, “My Inspirations: Short & Sweet Heart Notes.”

                            You are never too old to learn or too young to learn why; 
                           And you are never too young to learn or too old to learn why.
                                                                    ~ Mindy Goldis