Raw Feelings...why don't people go raw?

I am going to be very bold in this article and I might evoke some raw feelings in you as a reader. On more than one occasion I have been accused of trying to make others into "rawfoodies". I sometimes even catch glimpses of the "rolling eyes" from family and friends (lovingly of course). Let me take a stand share it exactly how I see it and why I feel "called" to be an emphatic, passionate educator on this topic. Isn't it obvious that whole, living foods heal - that FOOD is medicine? I think most people either agree or intuitively know this. So, now let's flip it over - as much as food can heal and repair, it also holds the power to destroy and distort. So, here is my take on this! When it comes to health many keep having the same kinds of experiences over and over again. Our body is amazing at balancing things...so the downward spiral of health appears slow and goes unnoticed. Due to this People may blame genetics and hereditary predispositions. Perhaps it may be the inability to rid the excessive weight, the daily pain and discomfort, a re-ocurring cold or flu, fatigue or an "hereditary" chronic disease. I often hear the comment "my whole family is like this". In my view, the root of all these concerns is ALWAYS related to "food" even if they are genetically predisposed to certain health ailments. You food is the cause of your ailment! Mankind is dying of all sorts of dis-eases! We have to get our minds around why this is happening... why diabetes and cancer and heart disease and arthritis and depression is killing us. If food is our greatest healer and our greatest poison, then why aren't you more people transitioning to a whole, raw diet? Well, they are! I can't tell you how much I believe we are in the midst of a much needed and required raw food revolution. It is gaining much popularity and speed. Just google "raw food" - 25,500 hits and growing! For those that resist or are lethargic to a raw food transitioning, I suspect there are many "blocks" and "barriers" that need to be addressed. They either can't, won't or don't want to change. Sometimes people actually believe that their diet is "good" or "right" and they don't need to change...their health concern has nothing to do with their diet.. Some "enjoy" their cooked and processed foods, when in reality, this "enjoyment" is only an addiction. Did you know that processed foods (basically anything processed in a box, can or bag) are full of excitotoxins (food additives such as MSG, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, aspartame, etc.) that actually increase our cravings, appetite and desire to consumer thus making us more vulnerable. Some, simply don't understand! The truth is that when it comes to our health (or any other thing for that matter) the same kinds of experiences don’t keep happening to us - we keep having the same experience based upon our understanding, beliefs and lifestyle. It isn't happening "to us" - we are creating it. Perhaps there is great value to be had in experiencing a discomfort over and over until we are one day we are ready to make different experiences. I would like to think this is the case when a person comes for a health consultation or a health and healing workshop. But, psychologically, most of us don’t like to be proven wrong and, in all honesty we really don't want to give up those cultural and habitual "emotional comfort" foods. For example, you may have heard about all the incredible benefits of RAW, whole, living food yet you continue to cook. You may know about the chemicals and negative affects of consuming processed dairy and meat, yet, you still have these items in your daily diet. Truth is, though, as you continue to eat the chemicalized, irradiated, cooked and processed food, you will create and experience worsening symptoms and discomforts over and over. To add to our burden, we are bombarded every day with untruths via media, commercials, advertising and even "clinic studies" that have been funded by "groups" and convince us that all is good. It is not! Yes, I believe that the greatest gift I can offer any client, friend or family member is the education about living, whole lifestyle. When someone truly understands the incredible power of nature (and God's gifts in nature), then those old beliefs and understandings can slowly be dismantled. There is a great shift happening in our understanding that food is NUTRITION and "becoming a rawfoodie" is the most powerful thing you can do for your health, your families health and your daily living. So, now that I have gone on this passionate rampage, I must emphatically state that I am not suggesting that people make a 100% change over night..it is a journey that should begin with an "open-minded" attitude and a willingness to make small changes. The beauty of the raw, living food lifestyle is that the baby steps you take actually kick-start a transformational process that has you craving and creating more and more and more. I have seen this happen over and over again. Come, walk this Raw Natural Path with me!? Consider a Natural Health and Nutritional Consultation with Nature's Elements. Available for long distance clients too! PS READERS: this article is conveys my passion behind the new website "The Raw Natural Path" being launched very soon!

What is stevia? The WHOLY Herbs departement of Nature's Elements will be selling exotic and hard to find plants this summer to our local customers. One plant we are sharing is Stevia. Stevia is shrub native to Paraguay, used for over 1500 years by the native Guarani Indians. A herb with an abundance of positive effects. The whole leaf contains numerous phytonutrients and trace minerals and is much sweeter than sugar with out negative effects. It can sweeten any drink with no calories, no carbohydrates, no tooth decay and is diabetic safe. Stevia nourishes the pancreas and does not raise blood glucose levels, making it not only safe for diabetics but also beneficial. Since there are no calories or carbohydrates, stevia is an excellent weight loss aid. It does not contains the negative side effects reported with the use of artificial sweeteners including aspartame. Adding stevia to your diet on a regular basis, it has also been reported that it can help minimize hunger sensations, cravings for sweets or fatty foods, aide in digestion, decrease hypertension without effecting normal blood pressure, stabilize blood glucose levels, shorten recovery time from cold and flu and aide in addictions to tobacco and alcohol. When used in toothpaste or mouthwash, cavities and gum disease is reduced due to its antibacterial properties.