Don’t Want to Cook? Juice It!
By Raye Speirs

Unless cooking is a hobby or one of your favorite pastimes, it can become a real chore if you must prepare three meals a day, week after week. And if you are health conscious, the fast food industry does not cater to your needs. One option for a break in cooking is to juice your food.

Something to note is that it’s important to consider the quality of the food that you consume, whether juiced or not. Due to the amount of environmental and nutritional pollution in today’s world, a good diet becomes not only desirable but a “must” if you wish to enjoy a disease-free, healthy life and maintain a positive, functional mind and body. Pollution is often the result of chemical fertilizers and sprays used to eradicate insects and diseases on plants. More chemicals are added to preserve the food from farm to market. In the case of meat, the pollution is already in the food animals eat. This toxicity becomes compounded when they are fed or injected with hormones to increase their weight and to retain fluids to make the meat stay “juicy” by the time it reaches the dinner plate. Additionally, many animals are also injected with antibiotics because disease is so prevalent among them. All of this toxic pollution ends up eaten by the general public, which for the most part, has not yet discovered the health-preserving benefits of eating organic. The result is a population which suffers from more diseases at a younger age. Some of this suffering also takes the form of fear, worry, frustration, panic attacks and negative states of mind as the toxins in their food affect them on every level. Eating organic truly is worth it.

In addition to considering organic produce, it’s important to use fresh ingredients, especially when juicing. Juicing fruits and vegetables is one of the best ways to obtain their vital nutrients in their raw state. Preparation time is short and there are no pots and pans to clean up. The occasional spills or burn-ups experienced in cooking are eliminated. Some people have a need to crunch or chew food which will not be satisfied by a drink. A snack food such as crackers or rice cakes, nuts, or a piece of raw vegetable can satisfy this urge.

A whole field of study exists on the effect of enzymes on the human body. The information on enzymes is still evolving, but it is clear that cooking destroys most enzymes, and this can take its toll on our health. In the human body, enzymes transform nutrition into a usable, digestible state. With some foods, there is a question as to whether or not they should be juiced raw. Broccoli, asparagus and cauliflower are in this group. It is believed that they should be steamed or blanched (dipping vegetables in boiling water for one or two minutes) before juicing. It is highly likely that this would reduce or eliminate the enzymes naturally found in them. One way to get around this – at least in the case of broccoli – is to use broccoli sprouts, which have even more nutrition than the original vegetable and are more easily juiced.

Breakfast is the ideal juice time, as the waking body can benefit from easily digested fruits. Though it may not be as sweet, even fruit that is not quite ripe for eating can be juiced. Honey or stevia (a natural, herbal sugar substitute) may be added. In addition to fruit juice, many powders or liquids can be added for more nutrition. If you don’t have time to eat breakfast, juicing provides a convenient way for you to take breakfast with you. Although it is preferable to consume the drink immediately after preparation, it can be kept for one or two days in the refrigerator.

Juicing can be tailored for specific needs. There are drinks for energy, weight loss, relaxation, rehabilitation, for digestion, endurance and even for just socializing. None of these need to contain fats, unless you wish to add an Omega 3 supplement or other fine oil. I’m of the opinion that the American diet is too focused on protein and that it is not necessary to include protein in every meal. Unless someone is doing a lot of heavy weight lifting or hard physical work, it is best to leave protein out of juice drinks. If nothing else, it gives your digestive system a break.

As with any other project, it is necessary to have the right tools for the job. A blender can handle soft foods but better equipment is needed for processing carrots, cabbage or beets. There are a number of juicing machines on the market today which can facilitate the juicing of hard vegetables. Be sure to compare the strength of the motor when shopping around. A stronger motor will not only make it easier to push the vegetables through, but will also last longer.

There are many reference books out there which include recipes and supplement ideas to help transform juice into powerful nutrient-rich drinks. Add what your body needs into your juice preparation. If you want to make use of the therapeutic qualities of herbs, you may need to make them into a tea before adding to a drink. This can be done ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator.

Some Simple Juicing Rules

Keep the lid on when first mixing. If the contents aren’t mixing, add a little liquid. Start at low speed, increasing incrementally. If using seeds, it is recommended you grind them first. Dried fruit does not blend well; cut it into small pieces. A few drops of apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar can give extra flavor to vegetables. Other flavor enhancers for vegetables include raw garlic, onion, a pinch of cayenne, dill, etc. If using dry seaweed, soak it ahead of time (at least one hour). Add ice cubes after contents have been blended. Even when using organic produce, wash all items well.

Some Tasty Recipes
The following juice recipes are for one serving. When preparing for more people, double the ingredients for two, triple for three, etc.

Combine - 1 apple, peeled and pitted - 1 orange, peeled - Dried cranberries - Honey, if needed	Suggested additions - Mint leaves - Yogurt - Rice milk
Combine - 2-3 ripe tomatoes - 1/4 red pepper - 1 or 2 stalks of celery, chopped - Watercress - 4-5 slices cucumber	Suggested additions - Kelp powder - Vegetable powder
Combine - 3-4 raw beets, peeled - 2-3 apples, peeled & pitted - Pieces of hijiki seaweed, soaked	Suggested additions - Pinch of clove powder - Pinch of fennel - Pinch of cinnamon
Combine - 1/2 cucumber - 1/2 green pepper - 1 avocado - Juice of 1 lemon - 1/2 tsp garlic powder	Suggested additions - Bits of ginger - Dill - Slices of yellow squash

Notes

1. For all “Suggested additions” use a small amount and test for taste, then add more as desired.
2. Soy milk, rice milk, or yogurt can be added to any drink.
3. Extracts of flavorings may also be used. 

A “liquid diet” is a temporary bridge for our nutritional needs. Indeed, we need bulk in our food intake. However, our health need not be compromised if we take a break from cooking. Juice drinks can contain our basic requirements and more. The ingredients which can be used are limited only by one’s creativity.

Be imaginative. Your drinks may even contain powers which don’t come in packages!

References
Dworkin, Stan and Floss. Blend It Splendid, Emmaus, Pa., Rodale Press, Inc., 1976 Null, Gary and Shelly. The Joy of Juicing, Gary Null and Associates, 1991 Nusz, Frieda. The Natural Foods Blender Cookbook, New Canaan, Ct., Keats Publishing, Inc., 1972 Walker, N.W., D.Sci. Raw Vegetable Juices, New York, Jove Publications, Inc. (Harcourt Brace Jovanich), 1977

Raye Speirs became interested in nutrition and diet during the 70's while taking Yoga training. Her interest in health and wellness led her to purchase a health food store which she operated for a few years. For the past thirty years she has continued to study and research the developments which have taken place in that industry and is currently working toward certification as a Nutritional Consultant.

Book Review: The Hidden Messages in Water By Dr. Masaru Emoto

It’s old news that the human body is comprised mostly of water. And it’s common knowledge that much of the water in the world today – including the tap water many people drink on a daily basis – is polluted, tainted, and toxic. Numerous health studies have suggested that drinking purified water – and lots of it – has an incredibly beneficial effect on the body. But never before has there been a collection of pictures, theory and research that ties water, health, vibration and the universe together in one small, easy-to-read, amazingly illustrated book. At least, not until now.

“Over the centuries, humankind has constantly robbed from the earth, and left it ever more polluted – the history of which is recorded by water. Now, water is beginning to speak to us. Through water crystals, it is telling us what we need to know.” (Page 152)

Dr. Masaru Emoto’s small book (with only 157 pages, one-third of which are pictures) is an astonishing voyage into the world of water and its ties to our bodies, minds, and spirits. At the core of his work is the understanding that the entire universe is in a state of vibration. That is, everything in the universe – from the stars to the shoes on your feet – generates its own unique vibratory frequency. Because vibrations create sound, they can be measured by water, a “master listener” (pg. 43). Using this theoretical structure, Dr. Emoto exposed different kinds of water (e.g., tap, filtered, spring) to different sounds, words, and images, and then photographed the crystals that resulted when each water sample was frozen. The results are quite amazing: Purified or spring water presented with beautiful music and kind words created the most delicate, lovely, and shapely crystals; harsh music, words, and images resulted in deformed, distorted or otherwise imperfect crystals. Perhaps even more enlightening, if not disturbing, was the fact that tap and polluted water produced malformed, misshapen crystals regardless of the words, pictures or music directed at it. Distilling this information into practical use, Dr. Emoto’s message indicates that purifying the water within us – from which we are made – is the way to achieve health and happiness.

“If we fill our lives with love and gratitude for all, this consciousness will become a wonderful power that will spread throughout the world. And this is what water crystals are trying to tell us.” (Page 146)

Considering that our bodies are made up mostly of water, and that water “learns” from and responds to its environment, it becomes (pardon the obvious pun) crystal clear that we need to concern ourselves not only with what we drink, but what thoughts we entertain, what images and sounds we surround ourselves with, and the degree to which we pursue pure health. Dr. Emoto’s work strongly suggests that encouraging a life of positive emotions – especially love and gratitude – is what is necessary to not only transform the water within us, but the world outside.

I encourage you to explore this engaging and fascinating little book and its powerful message. The evocative coupling of information with the photographs of the water crystals will astound you, and the impression it makes will likely stay with you for a lifetime.

Dr. Masaru Emoto was born in Japan and is a graduate of the Yokohama Municipal University and the Open International University as a Doctor of Alternative Medicine. His photographs were first featured in his self-published books Messages from Water 1 and 2. The Hidden Messages in Water was first published in Japan, with over 400,000 copies sold internationally.

Ryan N. Harrison, MA is a Holistic Health Educator/Consultant with a private practice (http://www.BeWholeBeWell.com).

Spontaneous Healing
An Interview with GCNM Student Michele Monticciolo

Ryan: Michele, thank you for being willing to share your experience with others. I'm certain many of our readers will appreciate your story. Why don’t we first start with how you found GCNM and why you chose it to meet your educational pursuits?

Michele: After a personal journey through extreme illness that included two serious diseases, I thought I had learned a bit about the process of healing. I began writing a book on healing, balance, and wellness.  A friend suggested that I needed credentials behind my name to give me credibility as an author. When I searched online for “holistic online schools”, GCNM popped up. Then a funny thing began to happen – as I read about the content of the modules and considered the possibility of being a Holistic Health Practitioner, I realized I was being called to do this. This wasn’t just for a credential behind my name, but instead a means of reaching people at a very individual level and assisting them with healing. I believe seeking credentials for the book was what led me to GCNM. You know, serendipity in action, as this was the calling all along.

Ryan: Sounds like Life was determined to steer you toward holistic health studies! GCNM offers three programs: Master Herbalist (MH), Nutritional Consultant (NC), and Holistic Health Practitioner (HHP). Which program(s) are you in?

Michele: I’m doing all three, but am trying to finish the NC course first as I’ve been asked to teach a Nutrition class at the Metaphysical center.

Ryan: Completing all three programs sounds like a great way to really round out your education. Holistic health is a world unto itself with powerful applicability to today’s modern lifestyle. I’m interested in how your studies with GCNM have affected your life…?

Michele: Have you ever heard the phrase “you can’t un-ring the bell”? The more I learn, the more fascinated I am. I could not have made a better choice than GCNM in a million years. It is a fabulous school with a wealth of knowledge. I am supported and encouraged, as well as challenged and stimulated. I find I’m looking at everything around me and seeing the inner workings of it all.  I see dis-eases can be healed, see wellness and health as a norm rather than a stroke of luck, and see my role in this process. I can’t even eat a vegetable without recognizing it has vibration and energy! This is an important next step for me in recognizing my true involvement in the world around me, and acknowledging I am part of this web – knowing it is my responsibility to think globally but act locally.

Ryan: I've heard about an amazing healing experience you had recently. Can you share a bit more about it here, and  maybe touch on what you think makes such "spontaneous healing" possible?

Michele: During my bout with Cushing’s Syndrome in 2001 (caused by oral steroids for asthma for 12 years), they discovered a Phyllodes tumor/Fibroadenoma in my right breast. It grew rapidly; it began the size of a pea and within 9 months was as large as a quarter or half-dollar. I had all the tests: ultrasound, mammogram, and needle aspiration biopsy. They revealed it was benign, but required monitoring because it had the possibility of either becoming malignant, or growing a malignancy attached to it. I continued to have it checked every 1-2 years. I had a great deal of fear attached to this. Additionally, it hurt cyclically and would cause my entire breast to ache.

During one of my classes at the Metaphysical Center I had the privilege of watching What the Bleep Do We Know!?. Part of the film featured the water crystal experiments of Dr. Masaru Emoto [author of The Hidden Messages in Water] and this part of the movie was fascinating to me. Knowing the powerful energies behind certain words, I began to write the word “love” over the spot where my tumor was, and also projected acceptance and love towards it. Because it was a Phyllodes tumor, I even nicknamed it “Phyl.” I expected nothing from this ritual except that I would remove and conquer my own fears, and thus not manifest anything dangerous with regards to Phyl. In other words: “whatever will be, will be, but don’t let my fears muck up the works!”

One night my puppy was playing on my stomach and jumped right where Phyl was. It hurt badly. I felt the area and Phyl seemed to have grown! The next morning my partner and I went to see my doctor ASAP. He examined Phyl and said that yes, he seemed to have grown. Both a mammogram and ultrasound were scheduled for the next day.

A very strange thing happened at the ultrasound: the tech was palpating the tumor with her hand and could feel Phyl, but as she ran the wand over him, nothing appeared on the screen. Considering I had previous ultrasounds during which he had indeed “shown up,” she found this very strange. She even changed wands twice just to be sure it wasn’t an equipment issue. Still, nothing showed up. I then went for the mammogram right afterwards. We went home to await the results, but I had a strange feeling come over me as I left; somehow, I just knew something special was happening.

Three days later, I received a call from my doctor, who doesn’t normally call me at home. “The result is good news, Michele,” he said. “But you didn’t somehow have the tumor out since I last saw you 4 days ago, did you?” Of course, I said no. “Well, the radiology report says your mammogram and ultrasound are fine. In fact, the radiologist says the tumor appears to have been removed, and subsequent breast tissue shows no signs of tumor.” I was floored. I said, “But you felt it…I felt it…even the ultrasound gal felt it when the wand wouldn’t pick it up, so how can this be?” He replied, “It didn’t show on ultrasound either? Is the tumor still there at all?”  Well, I hadn’t even thought to check!

I felt along the area where Phyl had been and to my utter amazement discovered that he was half his original size – still there, but seemingly shrinking. This still didn’t explain how it showed nothing on both tests, since it was still physically present, albeit smaller, but this was amazing either way. My doctor said he wanted to see me and talk with me about it first-hand.

Over the weekend, I really contemplated on the results. Why was it halfway gone from my body and all the way gone on these tests? The possibility occurred to me that Phyl was there because I expected him to be. Having been exposed to this idea while watching What The Bleep…, the concept began to grow on me. Phyl was shrinking, but still not gone from my body, even though he was gone on expensive medical test equipment which detects tumors every day. This got me thinking that maybe I was the problem here. That day I resolved it was ok to let him go; he had served whatever purpose he’d needed to, and now it was time to say goodbye. I focused my energies on a reality where Phyl was no more.

Monday came, and I went to see my doctor, who wanted to examine my breast again. One week after my mammogram and ultrasound, lying on my doctor’s table that day we found Phyl The Tumor was truly gone. He had been with me for 5 years, and was gone in a week. I was speechless. It was true, I had experienced healing…and I am forever changed.

Ryan: That’s quite an amazing story – a testament to the power of positivity, love, and the healing abilities of the body, mind, and spirit. Thank you for sharing it with us so openly. What’s the greatest thing you’ve learned from this experience?

Michele: I learned a powerful lesson about fear and the power of emotions. Fear can be extremely damaging, but love and acceptance are healing. What do I believe happened, really? I believe Phyl was long gone but I didn’t know it because of my misconception about his existence. I believe the power of acceptance and love can heal anything. And I believe the puppy jumped on that area so I could go get the tests, find out Phyl was gone all along, and change my mind about my reality – perhaps to share this story with all of you. I know that may seem “out there” for some and that’s ok. However you believe my healing happened is fine. What matters to me is that we can and do heal, and I am living proof.  I have both radiology reports and I am planning on framing them on my wall, for when I have my practice set up. It is proof to others that healing is real, is natural and normal, and that wellness can be expected!

Ryan: I want to congratulate you on such a successful education: You are learning just as much from life experience as from your books! What are your future plans as far as holistic health is concerned?

Michele: Lately I have all kinds of daydreams about what happens after I graduate! I’m so excited! I plan to see as many clients as I can. I’d like to give presentations and workshops, and to finish my book, of course. I can imagine my book will now be done a bit differently than when I started it! I might even one day like to be involved with a school like GCNM, as people gravitate toward holistic health and more schools emerge. The times are a-changin’, and I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of it.

I also want to continue my own journey to wholeness and wellness. I have to work on myself before I can truly be of help to others! The more I grow, the more I am able to give. I love this adaptation of a familiar quote: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the one I can, and the wisdom to know it’s me!” I feel empowered by the knowledge I’m gaining, and try to make choices from this knowledge base. With every day that goes by, I feel more whole, and it’s a darn good feeling, I tell you! I want my future clients to know this wonderful feeling and keep it in them as much as possible. How the world will change when we do!

To sum up how I feel about being involved in the Holistic Health movement, let me quote the great Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, [the first woman to graduate from medical school, 1849] my “mentor” of sorts: “It is not easy to be a pioneer – but oh, it is fascinating! I would not trade one moment, even the worst moment, for all the riches in the world.“ That says it all for me.

[You can learn more about the Global College of Natural Medicine by logging on at http://www.GCNM.com, where you will find details on the school, its programs, tuition, and contact information.]

Motivational Tips
The “ABCDE” Method of Prioritization
By Alex Cleanthous 

In this fast-paced world we constantly have more and more demands placed on our time. And it seems the closer we get to our goals, the more and more things we have to get done each day.  With only so many hours in the day it is impossible to get everything done. Naturally, we want to get the little things out of the way first so that we feel like we’re achieving something.

The problem is that the tasks that can be quickly completed are not the things which will improve our lives. Generally, the more difficult tasks (the tasks we keep putting off until we get all of the little tasks out of the way) may take a full day, a week or even a month to complete.

When I first started my own business I remember having a to-do list similar to the list below:

Check mail Pay phone bill Call John re: property Read Selling for Dummies Get haircut Get car serviced, etc.

My to-do list was usually much longer than this, but it gives you an idea of the tasks listed. Now, in my mind, I thought that getting all the "easy" tasks completed meant that I was+ achieving something. It felt good to get things done! Unfortunately, even though I was getting things done every day, the list kept growing…and I wasn’t actually achieving anything. I was just really busy.

I was driving in my car one day listening to audio education course when I heard about the ABCDE method of prioritization (a time management technique). I instantly understood the power of this technique, implemented it immediately and have tried my best to follow it every single day of my life. THIS TECHNIQUE LITERALLY CHANGED MY LIFE.

Here is how it works: Select your most valuable task and work on that task until it is completed. And then work on the next most valuable task. The way that you determine your highest priority at any moment is to think about the potential consequences of doing or not doing a particular task. A task that is important is something that can have major consequences if it is done or not done.

With the ABCDE method you make a list of everything that you have to do before you begin. You then go through the list carefully and put one of these letters next to each item on the list:

A – Very important. This is something that you must do, something that has SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES for either doing it or not doing it.

B – Something that you should do but that is not as important as an A item. There are consequences associated with doing it or not doing it but they are only MILD CONSEQUENCES that may not last for very long.

C – Something that would be nice to do but for which there are NO CONSEQUENCES at all for your career or your success.

D – An item that you delegate or outsource to someone else who can do it pretty much as well as you can. Delegate everything possible to free up enough time for you to concentrate on your A activities.

E – Eliminate. These are items that are of such low priority that you could eliminate them completely and it would make no difference at all. Sometimes the disciplined act of eliminating low value tasks can simplify your life and free up enough time for you to accomplish those tasks that have the greatest possible consequences for you.

The rule is that you should never do a B item when there is an A item left undone. You should never do a C item when there is a B item left undone, etc. You must be very disciplined about this.

Once you have applied the ABCDE formula to your list, go back over the list and organize your A tasks by priority. For example, put an A1 next to your most important task, an A2 next to your second most important task, and so forth. Then begin immediately on your A1 task and discipline yourself to stay at it until it is finished.

Using this formula alone will double your productivity. When I heard this the first time, I re-sorted my list and focused on the most important task until it was complete – reading the book Selling for Dummies. And you know what? It was the one of the hardest things I had to do, because it felt like I wasn’t getting anything done. The funny thing was that I achieved more in my life as a result of focusing on that one task than anything else I have ever done. Why? Because the most important things we keep holding off are the very things which will make the difference between success and failure (and are usually the most difficult and “scariest” tasks of all).

I urge you to start using this formula every day for at least one month and let the results speak for themselves.

From http://www.SelfGrowth.com; Alex Cleanthous makes it easy to achieve success in your personal, professional and business life. For a free mini-course on “The 5 Essential Steps To Achieving Anything You Want” visit http://www.thesuccessblog.com

 

Global Health Newsletter brought to you
 by the Global College of Natural Medicine
and  Global Institute For Alternative Medicine