Mindy aka AGELESS RAW BEAUTYtm
        Answers Your Questions Along with Offering ARWS Readers Monthly Recipes,
                                 Tips and Tidbits Related to Health and Longevity

                                                                       

What a lovely month it is!  May brings all the new blossoms and blooms and life flowers grow.  So it is, too, with us.  We are in a place/space to eat lighter and fresher for our climate and season.  Now is a good time to start an herb garden in your yard or on a window sill.  It doesn't take much space and you will have on-hand what you need.  My favorites are dill, cilantro, parsley, basil (i am growing a mix of 5 varieties – Italian, purple, lemon, lime and cinnamon from seeds) and mint.  Even if you have a small space it is possible to grow your own food.  I do it and find it is one of the most joyous experiences to see food grow from a seed into something you can consume.  When I cut fresh lettuces and herbs I am growing and make them into a delicious salad with a berry dressing, yummmmms the word!

                                                                                     Image via Google


In an earlier posting, there was a question asked by Victorian Cobweb that I would like to answer.  {By the way, please feel free to send in your questions to me and I will be happy to answer them in a future post.}  Her question was about incorporating enough calories/nutrients/proteins to keep healthy on solely a vegetarian diet?

My answer:  This is a loaded question, V.C., and a great one, nonetheless.  I will give you my astute answer and hope that it satisfies/satiates your craving for knowledge on this topic.  There are different schools of thought on the amount of calories we actually need to consume each day.  For an expectant mother (my congrats to Kelli on her “bundle of joy” that will be arriving later in the year and most importantly, may the baby be healthy and the love you will all share together have no bounds), you definitely do not want to skimp on nutrients or calories.  It is still important to eat the proper foods that have nutrients and not simply eat “calories” to fill yourself up that have no value (i.e. junk foods/fast food). 

Coming from my lifestyle as a raw vegan, the best foods to eat are fruits and vegetables.  I also eat some sea vegetables and on occasion small amounts of seeds or avocado and sprouts.  Everyone is at a different place in their life and I don't see everyone becoming a raw vegan overnight (but, let me tell you that would be PHENOMENAL because then the fast food restaurants would have to become salad bars to make a living or they would go broke!), but incorporating more fruits and vegetables in your life would be extremely beneficial to your health for the present and the future.  It is like your bank account, as you are accruing interest, so to when you eat properly, as your body will have a “reserve” later in life. 

As for how many calories you need, that could depend on your lifestyle (i.e. work, physical activity, metabolism, etc) and also as we add more years to our life, it seems that we do not need as many calories as before (we do still need the nutrients, though).  As young children, we are growing much more, so it makes sense that we need to feed our bodies the most, at that time. 

One issue that comes up in the raw vegan world, is that people are not eating enough quantity and get hungry and then tend to eat too much fat (much more than the Standard American Diet <S.A.D.>.  Since vegetables are rather low in calories, fruit is more calorically dense, especially bananas, mangos, figs, persimmons, durians (a tropical fruit that is actually quite fatty and some people dislike, not because of the taste, but it smells like dirty socks to some...I don't have a problem with it and love the taste...the flesh is white and creamy), cherimoyas and sapotes (tropical fruits, as well). 

It is very important to keep in mind proper food combining when it comes to your eating habits.  There is a simple and very important no-no, when it comes to food combining, never mix fruit with fat or starch.  Here is a explanation that will make it easier for you to understand why.  If you eat any fruit, it only takes 20 minutes to be digested, as it is a simple carbohydrate.  If you mix in fat, then it slows down your digestion, since fat takes much longer to process in the body and also it doesn't allow for the sugar to get into your bloodstream to be utilized. 

Herein lays the problem, when people have Candida, yeast infection, or diabetes.  It is not the sugar/fruit that is the issue, it is the fat.  Not only when it is consumed with fruit, but also fat in general.  If you would like to see your body improve and have any of the above ailments I mentioned, you would want to eliminate all fats (including animal foods, all dairy products, oils, fish, nuts, seeds, nut butters and any other packaged or prepared product you would want to make sure it has no fats in it) for at least a week and the chances are, you will see an improvement (I'm not a Doctor of any kind, but I play one on TV...ha! ha! I've always wanted to say that.  This comes from my own personal experience and also from the clients I've worked with). 

You really need to be diligent about this, especially if you go out to eat and ask to have your salad without dressing or to bring you a lemon or lime to squeeze on it.  If you “cheat,” or don't pay close attention to the ingredients in something you buy, you may say that you put my advice into practice and didn't get any results!  You will, if you eat only fruits and vegetables for at least a week (as much as needed to satiate you and remember the fruits have more calories and the vegetables, especially greens have more minerals).  Then once you notice improvement, you can add some fat like avocado or seeds in small amounts and only with your salad.  It is best to eat your sweet/sugary fruits by themselves.  The optimal way to eat your meal is to have some fruit, fruit salad or fruit smoothie first and then it only takes 20 minutes to digest and then you can have your salad with fat (avocado or seeds) in small amounts and there is no conflict in your body!

I hope this answered your question, V.C. and I know I have expounded on some other ideas, as well, and will continue to provide information on a monthly basis!

                                HEALTH TIP ~ MAY  2009:

Here are 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!  The foods that create homeostasis in your body are green leafy vegetables such as romaine lettuce, green leaf and red leaf lettuce, bok choy, parsley, cilantro, kale, collard greens, etc. 

If you eat these on a regular basis, it is best to rotate them as each leafy green has a different alkaloid (a natural toxin that some scientists believe is there to prevent us from eating the entire crop, so there will always be more for future generations) in their makeup and if you eat too much of the same thing and/or eat the same green every day you make have various symptoms of nausea, dry mouth or a bitter taste to the greens (especially from eating chard, collard, arugula and dandelion). 

You can also consume sea vegetables, like kelp (which comes in a powdered form) in place of salt, as it is high in alkalizing minerals like iron, calcium and magnesium.

I would like to end this post with one of my poems, again, taken from an upcoming book I will be self-publishing, entitled: “My Inspirations: Short and Sweet/Heart Notes”

“Be yourself to you, so others can see you as you truly are!  You are perfect. You are beautiful. You are a complete and whole soul-ful being.” Copyright 2009

STAY TUNED! Next month I will post some important information on why salt isn't good for you to ever consume.

Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in working with me in a one-on-one basis. 
My email is: mindy.goldis@gmail.com

See you in June!
Mindy aka Ageless Raw Beautytm

Upcoming Lectures & Classes with Mindy ~ June 2009

1. Free Lecture - Wednesday June 3rd, 6:30 - 8pm @ Ocean Beach People's Organic Food Market, 4765 Voltaire Street, SD 92107.
619 - 224 -1387.

Title: Raw Food Revisited
Wednesday June 3, 6:30pm - 8pm

Are you wondering about raw foods and not sure of the best/optimal approach? Join Mindy Goldis, a trained chef and teacher in natural foods and vegan for 20 years.  She will talk about the varied styles of raw food eating and explain what is hype and what is real.
Attendance is limited to 18; to RSVP please call 858-270-8752 or email: mindy.goldis@gmail.com

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2. A-DE-LITE-FUL SUMMER RAW FOOD CLASS with Chef Mindy

WHEN: Sunday June 28th 3pm-6pm at private home in Clairemont (San Diego)

COST : $40 advance payment due 3 days prior to the class

Sign up early, as class size is limited to 10 people.

Please email me, if you would like more information on this class. mindy.goldis@gmail.com

A Rendez-Vous with Style offers wardrobe styling & image consulting services for women of all ages and stages of life. 
~ Personal Styling
~ Fashion Styling
~ Wardrobe Styling
~ Image Consulting
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~ The Beautifully Styled Bride
~ Family Photo Styling
~ Intimate Group Classes & Seminars


All photos & ideas expressed on this blog are the sole ownership of A Rendez-Vous with Style unless otherwise stated. If you would like to use a photo, please email me first at kelli@arendezvouswithstyle.com