Raw Foods and Tooth Enamel

dental, raw food dental, raw food teeth, raw food tooth, teeth, tooth, tooth enamel erosion

Today was kind of exciting…  I went to the dentist for the first time in literally 10 years!

Now, I’ve never had cavities and I take care of my teeth (no soft drinks, for instance).  But I was a little bit worried because I had started to notice some minor erosion on the sides of a couple teeth.

I generally got a clean bill of dental health — still no cavities.  In fact, even after 10 years without seeing a dentist I got to skip the cleaning/polishing!

What I did learn, however, is that food acidity can contribute to tooth enamel erosion.  What happens is the acidity softens the enamel.  Then when you brush your teeth, even with a soft toothbrush, the enamel can get brushed away in little microscopic amounts.  Similar to how, given time, rain can gradually erode away even a mountain.

I’ve definitely been eating a lot of acidic fruits.  Citrus fruits like grapefruit and oranges are some of my favorites.

This is not to scare you away from eating fruit!  On the contrary, fruit is in many ways the most ideal food nature has to offer.

And there are certainly worse things you can do to yourself.  Carbonated soft drinks like colas are 10 times more acidic than fruit juice.

5 Ways To Prevent Tooth Enamel Erosion By Acidic Foods

Based on my visit to the dentist today, here are some simple tips I’d like to share with you in the interest of prevention.  (And most apply whether you’re eating “raw foods” or not.) … read more »

“I don’t have a juicer. Can I use my blender?”

blender, carrot juice, fiber, juicer, juicing, orange juice

Martha, a 7 day raw food diet starter course participant, asks this question:

“I have a question about juicing. I don’t have one of those juicing machines. Can I use my blender then strain?”

Guess what, Martha?  I don’t have a juicer either!  And here’s why.

First, good juicers are somewhat expensive.  Cheap ones usually don’t last very long.  Some types even end up heating the juice from the friction — definitely not what a raw foodie wants.

Most importantly, juicers tend to separate the juice from the fiber.  (Guess that’s why they’re called juicers!)  Our goal is fresh, whole fruits and vegetables — that fiber is good for you and your digestive system.

There’s a lot you can do with a blender.  Peel an orange, remove the seeds, and put the whole thing in the blender for orange juice!  Or add an orange to your next smoothie.  It’ll have a bit more roughage than you’re used to for orange juice, but it’s very tasty and you’re getting everything that nature provides.

By now you’ve probably guessed what I’m going to say about straining your juices — please don’t do it!  Imagine you’re a cave woman or cave man from 100,000 years ago, before the modern miracles of juicers, refrigerated trucking, and Safeway.  You walk out of your comfy cave, go up to a fruit tree, pull one down, and eat it right there with little fanfare.  This is the ideal.  The biology of our bodies evolved to use such natural whole foods as fuel and nourishment.

Now if you absolutely cannot tolerate the fiber — if it means the difference between your getting fresh fruits and vegetables or not — then go ahead and strain.  But I don’t recommend this.  Whole foods were meant to be consumed as a complete package, ensuring you receive the natural balance of nutrients.

Of course there are some kinds of juice a blender won’t be able to make, like carrot juice.  But if you have a powerful blender, you can experiment with adding some liquid.  Chop a carrot into 1-inch or so sections, and add some liquid or a juicy fruit like an orange.  You may find a combination you like.

Finally, be sure to drink your juice as soon as possible after making it.  It starts to oxidize as soon as it’s exposed to air, which isn’t harmful but means the longer it goes unconsumed, the more nutritional benefit you’ll miss out on.

10 Ways To Save Money When Shopping For Raw Food

money, raw food diet budget, raw food diet cost, raw food diet shopping

Are you on the raw food diet AND on a budget?

If so, then I’ve got some ideas to help save you money.

But first, if you haven’t already, please read Is a Healthy Raw Food Diet Lifestyle Expensive? It’s really the first half of this article, and covers what I feel are some very important considerations for your health.

First, let’s cover a few of the more obvious options.  (Don’t worry, these don’t count against the 10 tips!)

• As more of your diet shifts to fresh, whole fruits and vegetables, you’ll save on unhealthy manufactured and processed foods.
• Chances are, if you’re having more raw foods at home, your eating out has decreased.  Eating out is a key pocketbook drain for many people.
• Here’s one I almost hesitate to mention.  Although I don’t recommend it, you could forgo organic produce.  Organic produce can be quite a bit pricier than non-organic counterparts.  The ONLY reason I mention this option is because I believe so strongly in the health benefits of raw foods that I’d rather you eat non-organic raw foods than none at all.  But if there’s ANY way you can choose organic, I strongly urge you to do so.  If choosing organic sounds costly to you, please consider reading this article again.

When you’re in the process of transitioning to raw foods, sometimes it may seem like your grocery bill is going up… but give the above points there’s a good chance you’re spending less money overall.

Now, if you want to cut back even more, here are the 10 tips: … read more »

2009 Italian Street Painting Festival

Today I went to the 2009 Italian Street Painting Festival.  It’s a little street fair where they block off a section of road and all kinds of artists come and do amazing chalk drawings on the pavement.  Some 60,000 people come to see the street art.

My son Rocky wanted to try his hand at the chalk art, so we got a 2 foot x 2 foot square in the kids section.  He drew a picture of me in a grassy field complete with a plug for my web site! 

The budding artist and me, as he contemplates his next stroke.

The final art, complete with website plug!  Doesn’t it look like me??

Me with coworker and featured artist Amber Long, standing on her work-in-progress of Billie Holiday.

More fine art.  There are nearly 200 of these squares and the sheer amount of art talent represented is mind-boggling.

Can’t wait to see this one when it’s finished!

Is a Healthy Raw Food Diet Lifestyle Expensive?

budget, health, raw food diet cost

Many people are concerned about the cost of maintaining a raw food diet.  Even if you’re not into raw foods, the following discussion pertains to health and healthy lifestyles in general, and I believe you will benefit from reading further.

I’d like to take a step back and ask a couple of questions.  First, is it a cost?  Second, is it expensive?

Healthy Eating: Is It a Cost?

Your health is an investment, not a cost.  In fact, it is arguably the single most important investment you can make in your life — more so than your home, your education, your career, or even your retirement account!

(With the possible exception of investing in your children, although your eating healthily sets a positive example of the life-long skill of loving and taking care of oneself, plus your being healthy and energetic is an indirect investment in them when you are more available and present for them.)

Take a moment to consider the importance of this investment … read more »

RAWvolution for Mother’s Day - Mom Reports Back

cafe gratitude, gourmet raw food, matt amsden, mom, raw food chef, raw food delivery, raw food restaurant, rawvolution, the box

As my Mom has recently gotten into the raw food diet, for this past Mother’s Day I decided to order her “The Box” from raw food chef Matt Amsden’s RAWvolution.com.

The Box is basically a package of gourmet raw foods delivered to your door.  It was $120 plus $30 for 2-day shipping to Arizona where my Mom lives.  (RAWvolution is located in the Los Angeles area.)  The package was large and hefty.  At first I thought $30 for shipping was a bit steep, but after hearing the description of the box it may actually be a bargain.  Definite “thud factor” there.

The box was insulated and included an ice pack to keep things cool.  The food arrived on schedule and survived the trip well — nothing was spoiled, spilled, or squashed during the 2-day journey.  I had ordered the May 11 menu, which included these items … read more »

Raw Food Diet Cravings - 8 Practical Tips for Dealing

food & mood journal, raw food diet cravings, transitioning to raw foods

Rachel, a participant in the Free 7 Day Raw Food Diet Starter Course, had this concern:

When I actually get myself to eat all raw for a couple of days, I feel great–lighter, more energetic. But, I crave fats (good fats like avocado) and protein/salty stuff…I usually let the cravings mess me up. I start with healthier stuff at first like some eggs, but soon I’m eating too much cooked and not enough raw.

Rachel - I hear you. You are not alone. The majority of raw foodies struggle with cravings at times.

Here are 8 practical tips you can start using now to deal with the cravings … read more »

Free Raw Food Diet Starter Course

raw food course, raw food starter

I’m super excited to announce my new free raw food diet starter course!

Go to FreeRawFoodDiet.com for a 7 day raw food diet “e-course” conveniently delivered right to your inbox each day.

• Includes meal plan, grocery list, and recipes
• No drastic changes, no giving up your favorite foods
• Start easy with just one raw meal per day
• 5 day starter meal plan — no guesswork, you’ll see exactly what to eat!
• Eat well & save time with tasty yet easy raw recipes
• No special equipment needed
• No hard-to-find specialty ingredients
• Handy tips and pointers for success
• Answers to your common questions
• Perfect whether you’re an absolute beginner or have tried the raw food diet before

Signing up is easy — just enter your email address.

Why am I doing this? Because I want you to start enjoying the benefits of raw foods as soon as possible! I’ve done my best to remove the roadblocks for you.

So head on over to FreeRawFoodDiet.com and get your first lesson right now — even if it’s 2 a.m.!

Father-in-law finally off blood pressure medication after over 7 years

gout, high blood pressure, hypertension, prescription drugs, seizure

Early last year, my father-in-law was admitted to ICU for a week after he had a seizure in the bathroom. They found blood pooling in his brain, and had to drain it to relieve pressure. He had been on regular blood pressure medication for over 7 years at that point.

Afterward I recommended changes to his diet. More fresh fruits and vegetables. No more meat (he also had mild symptoms of gout). Less white rice and salty additions like soy sauce. More whole foods. Etc.

Well, I am happy to report that as of this month, his blood pressure is completely normal and he has been off the meds for a whole month! He had been able to reduce the dosage gradually over the course of the past year. But now he is finally off medication completely. After having been on it for so many years!

Of course we had him see the doctor regularly. In the end, his doctor said, “Whatever you’re doing, keep it up!”

What a relief!

High blood pressure is such a nasty thing.

A touching cry for help

action river, prescription drugs, raw food diet blueprint, the china study

Yesterday I received a very touching message. I asked the author for and received permission to share the message.

I’m sure you will relate — as I did — because we’ve all been there (or are there now):

I started reading The China Study. I’m only on page 38, but thus far it’s pretty convincing. I have been thinking a lot about food/diet stuff. I’ve been thinking a lot for the last several months about my diet.

I’ve been so unhappy with it all. I hate the way I eat, the way I look, and the way I feel, and I have for a long time now. I really have felt like something’s gotta give. I have known that I need to change something, I just always thought I needed to stop eating cookies and pizza. Now I’m thinking it might be more than that.

Since you’ve already gone through all this, I was hoping you could help me. I don’t really know where to start or what to change first, and I know I shouldn’t do it all at once. Can you help me?

I don’t want to be like everyone else. I don’t want to feel like crap anymore. I don’t want to take prescription drugs anymore. Most of all, I don’t want to feel like a prisoner anymore. I have been enslaved by what I put in my mouth, and I need to take control of the situation. At this point, I have lost control, and I don’t like feeling that way. I want something better for myself, and I’m willing to open my mind now to things I may have previously shunned.

Can you/will you help me get started?

My reply: … read more »