Entries by Taz

So it has now been a year since we tried to go completely raw. I found that did not work for me. However, Akom on the other hand has been sailing along quite nicely. We have found some pretty yummy recipes which I will post later.

However, the reason I have not posted in quite some time is because of our new business venture Namaste Holistics. So my goal with the company is to help people find the balance between their busy lives and health.

So if you have ever wondered

• how you could increase energy,
  
• why one diet has worked for your best friend and not you,
  
• how to stop your sugar cravings
  
• how to cook delicious quick healthy meals in your busy schedule
  

or any number of other health related questions, then I encourage to come visit us at namasteholistics.com

Currently the house smells YUMMY. We have Onion Bread in the dehydrator. The recipe is adapted from the one found on Gone Raw

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Dehydrating: 24 hours

3 large yellow onions
1 cup unsoaked flax seeds (golden, brown or a combo)
1 cup unsoaked raw sunflower seeds
1/4 cup Nama Shoyu
1/4 cup filtered water
1/4 cup first cold pressed olive oil


1. Peel and half the onions. Using the slicing disc of your food processor slice onions.
2. Place onions in large bowl
3. Using the S blade of the food processor grind the flax & sunflower seeds. Grind to desired coarseness. (We left ours half ground and half whole to add to the texture)
4. Mix onions, flax & sunflower seed mixture and rest of ingredients until thoroughly combined.
5. Spread mix thinly over a Teflex sheet and repeat until all of mixture is used.
6. Dehydrate at 105°F for 8 hours.
7. Flip and cut into 9 equal pieces for bread size pieces or smaller for cracker size pieces.
8. Return to dehydrator for 16 hours.

*Tip - If you don't have a teflex sheet for every tray in your dehydrator don't worry. I use saran wrap. Works like a charm.

I finally made raw granola (based on kandace recipe on gone raw ) two days ago and Akom really likes it. Here is the recipe:

Sprouting: 1 day
Soaking: 1 hour
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Dehydrating: 16 hours

1 cup oat groats (these must be sprouted which turns into about 1 3/4 cups)
1 cup medjool dates (soaked for at least 1 hour in 1 cup water)
1 diced apple
1/4 cup dried coconut flakes
1/4 cup unsoaked sunflower seeds
1/2 cup unsoaked almonds
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. vanilla powder (use more if you are using extract)

Note: soaking the sunflower seeds and almonds do make them easier to digest

1) Blend dates, soak water, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and vanilla powder
2) Mix date mixture with all other ingredients
3) Spread on teflex sheet
4) Dehydrate at 115 degrees for 16 hours (or desired crispiness)
5) Enjoy!

Akom has been snacking on this since I made it. Today he had it as a meal with unsweetened kefir. I on the other hand am very used to store bought granola - so really crunchy. I think because of the apples it doesn't become crunchy like that, so I have not had this as cereal.

I found that raw oat groats are hard to find. I bought them from Sprout People. A little expensive but I think the quality is worth it.

My weight - 124 pounds.

Today I had cereal in the morning, nothing for lunch and pasta at the birtday party.

Interestingly enough, there were cookies and brownies and a lot of other things with sugar in it - where in the past I would not be able to help myself. I actually did not want to eat it. I did not want brownies. SHOCKER!!

I did feel a little heavy after the pasta but not uncofortable. Just a good satiated feeling. I do have an internal feeling of eating for vegetarian meals, raw fruits and veggies, and cutting out the meat, coffee, desserts. I think this is a good change.

This is also the first time in our relationship where Akom and I have been on a similar page when it comes to eating.

My weight - 124 pounds.

I just couldn't do it. I couldn't not eat. So I had an orange yesterday for dinner.

Today I started with a glass of orange juice and had oranges all day after that. No adverse affects. I have actually gone to the bathroom more in the last two days than the last 3 days on the cleanse.

Feeling good with solid food.

My Weight - 123.5 pounds - 6 pounds less than day one and holding steady
Akom's weight - 133.5 - 4 pounds less than day one and holding steady

So today was the first day for me to break the fast. I bought 12 oranges, thinking that would hold me over till tomorrow. 12 oranges cost me $11 and they are not even organic!!!

3 oranges gave me 10oz, I think I will have to run out and get some more oranges.

So I drank the orange juice at 8:00am. It is now 10am and I am hungry again. However, as soon as I drank the orange juice, my stomach started to gurgle and I had to go to the bathroom. Success!!!!

Why did I end the fast early? Well I think there were several reasons. One was, I couldn't find why 10 days was chosen as the number of days to do the fast, nor could I find a rationale behind the measurements of 2T + 2T + 8oz of water, or the 32oz of saltwater. Second, my body did not want to eliminate on its own and any sort of help ended up in diarrhea. I was willing to deal with that for 1 or 2 days, but for 3.5 was too much for me. Third, I had reached a taste change with the lemonade. I actually no longer enjoyed drinking it and was starting to dread it. It made my mouth dry and sticky. Finally, my tongue had returned to its pink color. Also yesterday, I felt very weak. Today as well. If I just sit in my chair, then it is not a problem. But if I exert myself I get dizzy and my heart starts to race as if I just did a 30 min cardio workout. I know that I may be out of shape, but this is a new one for me, and not one that I am comfortable with.

I don't feel like a quitter. I truly feel that I did the cleanse to the extent that it was good for my body. People may think that I am making excuses and so be it. I didn't do this to impress people. I did it start eating on a "clean slate."

Akom is still going through with it, but I think only till Saturday. I think he would have stopped with me today, if it was easy for him to make fresh squeezed orange juice at work, which it's not.

My Weight - 123.5 pounds - 6 pounds less than day one
Akom's weight - 133.5 - 4 pounds less than day one

So yesterday I told Akom that I was going to go off the master cleanse today. I think he was a little disappointed.

Going off the cleanse, has nothing to do with food. I actually do not have any cravings for food. I am just worried about me health. I have had diarrhea for the last 3 days with it only getting worse each day. However, this morning there was a change for the better. So, since that is the case, I am going to stick with it for the remainder of the time.

I know I said this another one of my posts, I am simply amazed that my hypoglycemic tendencies have gone away. I am not dizzy or lightheaded when I don't eat. I am just hungry. Very interesting. However, unlike Akom I do have strong hunger after 12 hours of not eating, ie in the morning.

Still strong and energetic. With the exception of the diarhea which is showing signs of improving, no adverse symptoms.

So I had the tea this morning and it made things swing the other way and worse. I am going to take myself off the cleanse starting tomorrow.

My Weight - 124.5 pounds - 5 pounds less than day one but 1/2 pound more than yesterday
Akom's weight - ?

So the laxative tea yesterday didn't do anything.

This morning I woke up very bloated. I took the Smooth Move tea this morning instead of the SennaLax, which has not taken effect yet either.

I am also supposed to get my period sometime today or tomorrow. No PMS symptoms though. None. No cravings, no mood swings, no back pain, not tired. Interesting. Coincidence?

So far the day has been uneventful regarding the Master Cleanse. Energetic and no food cravings.

Yeah...the tea definitely does not agree with me....

My Weight - 124 pounds - 5.5 pounds less than day one.
Akom's weight - 136.5 - 1 pound less than day one.

So today was the first day Akom is taking the bus to work. The significance of this is that I now have to drive him to the bus stop 3.6 miles away and that he has to leave the house at a certain time or he will miss the bus. Unlike when he was taking the train, he doesn't have a choice and really needs to focus on getting up and getting all the things he wants to get done before 6:45am. Yes, there is another bus in case we miss it.

Personally, I think this is better. It is cheaper in so many ways. The bus costs $218 per month - 7.6 miles of driving/day so gas (if this all the driving this car gets) every 7 weeks - Estimated total: $230.50. The train on the other hand was - $207/month, 50 miles of driving/day so $100/month in gas, $65 parking/month, $42 in tolls/month - Total: $414. I think I'll be OK with the dropping him off and picking him up for a direct savings of $184 x12 = $2208/year.

My Weight - 126 pounds - 3.5 pounds less than day one.
Akom's weight - 138.5 - 1 pound more than day one.

So far my craving for food has not come back. I am hungry but that's it.

Also as other people who have done the cleanse have indicated, there is no weakness or lack of energy. I am also amazed because, I usually get hypoglycemic when I'm hungry and don't eat. That has not occurred. I can function till I am able to drink some more lemonade. We have increased our consumption to 7 glasses a day and have decreased the amount of maple syrup to 1.5 TBS. It was actually getting too sweet.

I did not take the tea last night or this morning, and I have not had to go to the bathroom either. I will give it today, and maybe start on it slowly tonight again.

So far with the exception of the physical detoxification symptoms the first two days, I feel good.

By the way, if you are interested in reading a side by side comparison of how the both of are reacting to this cleanse, please feel free to visit ourMaster Cleanse page.

My Weight - 127 pounds - 1.5 pounds less than yesterday.
Akom's weight - 139 - 1.5 pounds more than yesterday.

Interesting.....

It is the middle of the day. Yesterday, I went to bed at 5:00pm. I was so tired. I thought I was only going to take a nap and then Akom woke me up at 10pm for my tea!

So the tea is having a bad effect on me. On the directions it says to stop taking it if diarrhea or loose stool develops. Well, suffice it to say, I am going to stop taking the tea. The Master Cleanse, also says to stop taking the laxative if that occurs.

I have had to go to the bathroom 4 times today, and that is not including the two times I went during the night. Not pleasant experiences. I have also vomited twice. However, as unappetizing as all of that sounds, I do feel better. The tongue swollen feeling I had yesterday is gone.

By the way, if you are interested in reading a side by side comparison of how the both of are reacting to this cleanse, please feel free to visit ourMaster Cleanse page.

So the big day has arrived. Today is the first day of the master cleanse.

Let me back up and say that yesterday for dinner I had a spicy salmon hand roll and an oshiko roll. Healthy right.....

I don't think my body liked the spicy salmon.

Anyway, so this morning I weighed myself - 129.5 pounds - let see if I lose any of that. I think I will, because whenever I go to India, and I eat only vegetarian food I lose weight in shorter periods of time.

I got up and made myself a salt water flush. 32oz of saltwater. The salt water itself was not bad, except I just can't drink 32 oz. So I had 12 oz. of salt water and a cup of laxative tea.

Then at 9:30am I had my first glass of lemonade and I have had 4 of my 6 glasses so far. Six 8oz of lemonade...that is all I am having for the next 10 days.....Me who barely drinks 8oz of water in one day.

So needless to say I have been going to the bathroom quite a bit. I have gone to the bathroom to eliminate 3 times today - which is less than I was expecting. And of there are other sumptoms such as dryness of the mouth.

Over the weekend, we made granola and Akom decided that he wanted...Rye & Wheat Flour? I don't know what he was attempting to do but he sprouted some rye and wheat and then dehydrated them. I am a very visual eater....and trust me, they are visually appalling. I think he may have done something wrong. This is why I don't like raisins...those poor plump grapes come out all wrinkly. Anyway, I think he will try this again, and this time I intend to do a before and after picture.

Also, for all you people who are interested in sprouting, we have found that The Sprout People have the widest selection of sproutable grains, nuts, and leafy greens. We just ordered from them so we don't know the quality of their product yet. Once we do, I'll be sure to post it up. They are a little expensive than other places, but it is very convenient to find anything you want to sprout in one place. If their quality is top notch then I will be willing to pay the extra price.

Yes, I have been a little behind on my posts, and sincere apologies to the people actually reading this.

Akom just turned 30 on Sunday! Yeah! So it was for the most part a raw eating frenzy.

His mother made Rawvioli, salads, a spiced ginger carrot cake, salmon pate, and a cheesecake - which I think is a misnomer. The cheesecake was more like a frozen banana torte.

I don't have recipes for those, but of the items that were made by her, I did enjoy the rawvioli. The outside "dough" was made of turnips. The marinara sauce was also very good. I was not very fond of the other dishes.

I made pancakes - which was supposed to be a 3 day process - but turned into 1.5 days, probably because the house is so dry that the pancakes dried faster than the estimated time.

The pancakes were a modified version of what can be found in Rhio's book Hooked on Raw. Those were a HUGE hit.

So here is what I recommend doing when making these.

This weekend was spent cooking. We made Pate, used in Zuchini rollups, a "cheese" cake and walnut burgers.

Having gained quite a bit of experience in raw cooking, I was prepared for the worst and hoped for the best. I read each recipe carefully so I could plan. Cheesecake needed 20 hours of prep time, pate needed overnight soaking and then dehydrating, and the walnut burgers needed just a short soak and a short dehydrate.

First the cheesecake.

We went and bought a springform cake pan. This I think made things easier. I found the recipe online, http://www.rawguru.com/recipe36.html, which for some reason required a 10 hour waiting period. Having made "cheese" from nuts in the past, I thought that there would be some separation of the whey and the nut mixture, but there was nothing, except a waste of 10 hours. I am going to make this cheescake again without the wait.

Overall, the cheesecake came out quite well. It is not difficult to make, just very time consuming - but so is regular cooked cheesecake. The crust is very delicious and can be used as a base for many other things such as tarts.

My only issues with this recipe were: