Divine HealthIn pursuit of healthy living.

Yesterday we brought the spa home by giving ourselves a French Pedicure. Today let’s add to that experience with some delicious cucumber water! Everytime I go to the spa I love the water they have in the relaxation rooms. Usually there is a citrus and a cucumber water. One day it hit me that there’s no reason I can’t have this at home. Now it’s my favorite way to enjoy water in the summer. If you don’t like cucumbers you could do the same thing with oranges, lemons and limes or any combination of them. Strawberries would be good too.

This is a really great way to get your daily intake of water if you don’t normally like to drink it.

Step 1: Slice a cucumber, you’ll want about 5-7 slices for every liter of water

Slice the cucumber

Step 2: Add cucumber and filtered water to a pitcher

I like the ease of a Brita Filter System

Step 3: Refigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 24. The longer you leave the cucumbers the stronger the water will be. You want to remove them after 24 hours because they will start to desinigrate.

Tasty!

Step 4: Sit back, relax and pretend you are at the spa while you enjoy a glass of delicious cucumber water!

I bet you’ve said those words to yourself at least once in your lifetime. Or maybe something like “I’m really ugly” or “I feel frumpy today”. I think most women are familiar with these self defeating phrases we constantly repeat in our heads. Why are we so hard on ourselves? Is it because we are constantly bombarded with images of models and actresses that are a size zero at most?  I have to give props to companies like Dove for trying to change that. But I really think the change should begin at home. We have to start getting real with ourselves and put some belief in the power of positive thinking. I’m sure you have all heard of “The Secret” and while I agree with its ideals I’m not saying that’s what you need to do. You know, think you will lose weight and suddenly you will. No, I don’t think that will work. What I mean is you have to stop the negative thoughts and replace them with more loving thoughts. We work hard and do our best to take care of our families, friends, homes and before we know it we don’t have any time for ourselves. This is the reality for most women today. Here’s the good news though, you deserve a pat on the back! Maybe you don’t have time to chop veggies for a healthy lunch but I bet that’s because you are taking care of a child, making a difference in the world or otherwise doing more than should have ever been expected of you. Give yourself a break. Maybe you aren’t a size 0 or even a size 10 for that matter but you are still a good person. Let’s make a pact and agree to drop all of the fad diets? No, actually, let’s drop ALL diets! Okay? Instead, let’s focus on healthy living and doing good things for our bodies. Maybe it will work better to start small. It can be as simple as replacing that afternoon soda with a green tea. The tea has antioxidants and other nutrients that are good for you but still enough caffeine to give you a little boost. I’m sure you know that soda actually depletes nutrients in your body. If you want to include your family maybe you can start with dinner. Replace white pasta, bread, rice, etc. with whole wheat or multi grain. It might taste a little funny at first but trust me; eventually you will love it and wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. Let’s stop worrying about how much we weigh and focus on our accomplishments. If you replace a few bad foods with healthy nutritious foods give yourself a high five! Celebrate the small successes, forget the setbacks and keep moving forward. Negative energy feeds bad moods, stress and a life that is less than you deserve.

I’m going focus this blog on healthy living. I plan on posting about food, work, relationships, exercise and lots of other topics that will help us live healthier lives together.

Please share how you talk yourself out of negative thoughts in the comments.

My favorite vegan cookbook author and blogger, Happy Herbivore promotes cooking without salt or fat. When I was on the 30 day whole food challenge we had a few chats about using water to sauté ingredients. I thought she was crazy and couldn’t believe it would actually work, let alone taste good. I was delighted to find out she was right! There’s a reason she’s the cookbook author, not me. If you ever want to chat with her just like her facebook fan page or follow her on twitter, she’ll post when she is going into the chat room. It’s always a lot of fun!

Here is my favorite recipe sautéing with water. I’m not big on measuring so all quantities may be adjusted and it will turn out great, I promise!

Triple bean and lentil chili

2 medium tomatoes or 1 can diced tomatoes

1 small can tomato sauce plus 1 can or about 2 cups water

1 can each kidney, pinto and great northern white beans

1/3 cup each red and green lentils

1/3 cup each red, green and yellow bell peppers, chopped

½ cup white or yellow onion, chopped

1 jalapeno

5 garlic cloves

Chili powder, cayenne, cumin, paprika, salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Put enough water in a large sauté or frying pan to cover about ¼” and bring it up to a simmer. Add the bell peppers, onion and jalapeno, sauté for about 5 minutes or until almost tender. Add the garlic and sauté for about 1 minute more. Add all of the ingredients to a crock pot or slow cooker and cook on low for about 8 hours or high for 4 hours. You can add chopped green onion to the top if desired.  

This chili isn’t as heavy as a meat based chili and would actually be good in summer or winter.

Have you ever sautéed in water? Are you as skeptical as I was? Try it out and let me know how it goes!

Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer was an informative book. Rather than review it I am going to give you excerpts and one quote from the book that I found to be very powerful.

“I’m not radical. In almost every way, I’m a middle-of-the-road person. I don’t have any piercings. No weird haircut. I don’t do drugs. Politically, I’m liberal on some issues and conservative on others. But see, factory farming is a middle-of-the-road issue – something most reasonable people would agree on if they had access to the truth.” … “If I misuse a corporation’s logo, I could potentially be put in jail; if a corporation abuses a billion birds, the law will protect not the birds, but the corporation’s right to do what it wants. That is what it looks like when you deny animals rights. It’s crazy that the idea of animal rights seems crazy to anyone. We live in a world in which it’s conventional to treat an animal like a hunk of wood and extreme to treat an animal like an animal.” Animal activist “C” in her own words.

From 1935 to 1995, the average weight of “broilers” increased by 65%, while their time-to-market dropped 60% and their feed requirements dropped 57%. To gain a sense of the radicalness of this change, imagine human children growing to be three hundred pounds in ten years, while eating only granola bars and Flintstones vitamins. These birds genetics have been altered in a way that has removed their ability to pro-create and they would be so ill that they need a constant flow of antibiotics to stay alive. Not a single turkey you can buy in a supermarket could walk normally, much less jump or fly. They can’t even have sex. Not the antibiotic free, or organic, or free-range, or anything. They all have the same foolish genetics, and their bodies won’t allow for it anymore. What the industry figured out – and this was a real revolution – is that you don’t need healthy animals to make a profit. Sick animals are more profitable. The animals have paid the price for our desire to have everything available at all times for very little money. If consumers don’t want to pay the farmer to do it right, they shouldn’t eat meat. It’s possible you can’t afford to care, but it’s certain you can’t afford not to care.

Pathogen-infested, feces-splattered chicken can technically be fresh, cage-free, and free-range, and sold in the supermarket legally (the feces does not have to rinsed off first). You’ve seen those commercials with the silly chickens that are plumped with “salt water” right? Well, the truth of the matter is that current laws allow companies chicken to include up to 11% of water soaked up during processing. The problem is the water itself. You see, those who know what’s in that water call it “fecal soup”. That means your chicken is 11% fecal soup.

According to a story published in Consumer Reports, 83% of all chicken meat (including organic and antibiotic-free brands) is infected with either campylobacter or salmonella at the time of purchase. Not too surprising when you consider 11% of the chicken was soaked in feces infected water.

The Union of Concerned Scientists calculated that 24.6 million pounds of antibiotics are given to chickens, pigs and other farmed animals every year. That only accounts for medicine given before they get sick.

If you are intrigued, disgusted, interested or otherwise just want to learn more pick up a copy of the book. I found it to be very informative. If you’ve already read the book please let me know what you thought in the comments.

Photo courtesy of Happy Herbivore

Here’s the lowdown in case you don’t want to read Happy Herbivore’s blog. Starting on May 1^st I will not eat any processed food. If it has more than 1 ingredient it’s probably not going in my body. No added fat, salt or sugars either. I started eliminating processed food a long time ago but boy am I shocked to learn how many things I still cook with and consume that are processed. I think I will learn a lot about food which has been my favorite subject lately so that’s great. The challenge allows for meat and dairy but I won’t be eating any meat (I doubt I’ll ever eat meat again). As of now, eggs and cheese are the only dairy I eat so if don’t miss them too much then maybe I won’t be eating dairy anymore either. We’ll see.

The good news is that I have a vita-mix I can make peanut butter and almond milk in, both using only the raw nuts. As well as lots of other great whole foods that can be mixed up in wonderful ways in that incredible machine.

I am participating in my first sprint triathlon next weekend (5/2/2010) so I may have to cheat a little. My body might not like to be tested with a new diet while pushing it in other physical ways at the same time.

When I think about this challenge I wonder how I’ll deal with eating out and working events. Will I be able to find something to eat? Will I be tempted to cheat in those situations? It will take a lot of discipline but I know I can do this. I am most curious to find out how different I will feel. I wonder if I will loose weight? I will probably do a blog post or two along the way and I will definitely give you a review when it is over. In the mean time, I would love to hear from you. If you have ever done a challenge like this please share your secrets to success.

Cheers to better health!

A few people have recently asked me how my veganism is going so I want to clear that issue up. I have not gone vegan yet. I gave up meat about two months ago. That was the first step in this journey. My plan was to give up meat for a seven day trial period and after that I was going to re-evaluate. On the eighth day I didn’t want meat and decided I would wait to eat it until I felt “obligated” in some way. I figured it would be at a party, out to dinner or in some situation like that. As time passed I continued doing research into eating meat. I’ve been learning about how it impacts our body, planet and the animals themselves. The more I read the less I wanted to eat meat. I used to be happily in denial but I am finding greater happiness in being aware. Those situations eventually started to arise and I decided I would not let something like a meal tasting with clients or dinner with friends force me to eat something I couldn’t agree with.

A really inspiring vegan and cookbook author says that it’s typically easier to give up dairy before meat. Too bad I read that after I gave up meat. The meat was easy for me but I think the dairy will be a little more challenging. I’ve been having a great time finding new recipes that are meatless but many of them use either cheese or eggs (I already use soymilk and almond milk so that’s not an issue). I’m going to start trying a few vegan substitutes soon to see how things taste. I think I might do another seven day trial with the veganism and go from there. I’ll keep you posted.

In the meantime, I have a few more thoughts about the last two months of a meat free life. I have found that surrounding myself with other vegans and vegetarians is really helpful. They provide insight, ideas, support and a sense of family. It has been really amazing and it makes me feel good about the choices I am making. However, I don’t want to push anyone else away in the process. I still love my meat eating friends and family just as much as I did before! I don’t judge them or think anything negative for that matter. I share my thoughts, feelings and bits of information here, on facebook and twitter only in hopes of raising awareness. I am not trying to change the world or even the people around me. But if I can help people have a better understanding of everything involving meat then I feel good. If you are educated and continue to eat meat then so be it.

My final thoughts are about my husband. He has faced some food/health issues over the last year that we haven’t been able to figure out. I don’t really want to get into details…but I do want to share that going meatless has made him feel much better. He is still eating a little bit of meat here and there but not very much. I am happier than any words could ever describe that I can cook a healthy, tasty meal and my husband loves it and doesn’t feel sick afterwards. It’s the most rewarding feeling after dealing with his sickness over the last year. I realize that many men are major meat lovers and they would never give up meat for a day, let alone for good. I understand that and don’t think much of it. I guess I am lucky in that my husband was never a big eater in general and didn’t love meat in the way most men do. Please don’t hate on me for this or think I am forcing this on him. I am seriously thankful every day that he does not want meat and he feels better not eating it. It is what it is.

If you read all of that thanks and cheers to loving life!

I’ve heard that saying many times and I have even found myself saying it more than once. Today, I say it with a heavy heart and motivation to take action.

In 2006, I went on a boat tour in Waianae, Oahu with a couple of friends to see the local spinner dolphins. The particular tour we chose did not allow people get in the water with the dolphins because they are eco friendly and don’t believe humans should intrude on the space of these animals. Sailing along next to a pod of dolphins was enough to feed my soul and I didn’t feel the need to be in the water with them. It was really fun watching them jump and swim along and they truly looked happy. While we were out there, we did see a few other tours letting people get into the water.  In all honestly, it seemed pointless because the dolphins would just swim in a different direction anyway.

Spinner Dolphin in Waianae, Oahu

In 2007, my husband and I took a trip to Tulum, Riviera Maya, Mexico. We heard XelHa was a natural aquarium and Eco Park that would be a fun place to visit. We talked to our hotel concierge and she told us all about the Dolphin Experience and we were instantly sold. This time I did have the urge to be in the water with the dolphins. Upon arrival, we were given a quick safety briefing about what to do and not to do while in the water with the dolphins. Before we knew it, we were standing on a step 3 feet deep in the water with dolphins all around us. It was quite magical and overwhelming at the same time. They were peaceful, mindful and seemed to enjoy our touch. It felt like the experience of a lifetime that one wished would never end. The last part of our time with the dolphins was the highlight.  When instructed, I swam to the middle of the tank and stretched my legs out behind with my arms in front and before I knew it two dolphins came from behind and pushed me up by my feet out of the water for about 20 feet. It was exhilarating and probably the most incredible feeling I’ve ever had in water or with animals. I had a true understanding why dolphin trainers love their job because swimming and interacting with these animals is incredible. You get a sense for how intelligent they are.

Enjoying time with a dolphin at XelHa

Two dolphins pushed me by my feet up and out of the water!

In 2009, I read an article about Pro Surfer Dave Rastovich, actress Hayden Panettiere  and a few others paddling on their surfboards into a cove in Taiji, Japan in an effort to stop the inhumane killing of dolphins. It was really interesting and I looked forward to learning more about this.

Now it’s 2010 and I finally watched The Cove which won an Oscar for best documentary. This film made me think if only I knew then…I wouldn’t have visited XelHa and certainly wouldn’t have swam with the dolphins. Even though it was an incredible experience, it deeply saddens me that I contributed to the nasty practice of dolphin captivity and killing. The film shows dolphin trainers selecting the ones they would like to purchase and they pay quite a bit, as much as $150,000 per dolphin. The rest of them are herded in to a small cove where they are slaughtered. The Japanese government allows this practice and defends it saying the dolphins do not suffer. You should watch the film and decide for yourself.  I’m pretty sure the sounds and images will convince you. If the inhumane act of killing these intelligent animals doesn’t bother you then let’s examine the health concern. The Japanese often sell the dolphin meat under the cover of other names such as tuna, whale and other fish. The interesting thing is that the general Japanese population is being fooled and they have no idea they are eating this mercury laden meat. The mercury levels in dolphin meat is believed to be at least ten times the levels considered safe. Some of the dolphin meat tested in the film had 5,000 times more mercury than is allowed under Japanese law! You can learn more about mercury poisoning in the book Diagnosis: Mercury. I don’t think anyone should be subject to eating this toxic meat.

The Cove brought me to tears and has inspired me to do more about this awful situation. “You are either an activist or an inactivist” was a statement in the film that resonated with me. I’ve heard several people refer to activists as radical, fanatical, extreme and many other connotations. What about being inactive though? Shouldn’t that be negative? If you say someone is inactive physically we know that their health will likely deteriorate or an inactive employee might get fired. Why then, is it okay to be inactive about things you care about? For me, it is not okay and I plan to take action and become more active in supporting the things I care about: animal welfare and food. Who’s with me?

Viva! is an international animal rights organization. I found this film on their website and wanted you to see the piglets running around and playing. I think it’s a great demonstration of the behavior I discussed in my previous post about Daisy. The film was based in the UK but it is a well known fact that similar practices and factory farms also exist in the US. If you watch to the end you might think twice about the pork you are buying at the local grocery store.

If this short film is not enough to turn you off of pork all together then maybe you’ll consider buying it from farmers who raise their pigs humanely and without antibiotics or corn based diets. You can visit the Eat Well Guide and put in search criteria to find stores, farmers markets and even restaurants and other options to buy local, sustainable, organic, grass finished meats as well as fresh flowers, fruits and vegetables.

I think I might try out some “fakin” or whatever they call fake bacon….and I’ll report back the results.

I love everything about food; cooking, smelling, looking at and especially eating it. Over the last two to three years I started getting serious about cooking. Every weekend I plan the upcoming week’s menu and go shopping for everything I’ll need. I try to find recipes that have fresh ingredients in common like parsley or cilantro so that I can use the entire bunch before it goes bad. I’ve been working on cooking “light” and trying to get healthier. I use whole wheat, whole grains, brown rice and try not to use too much processed food. Recently I’ve started learning more about factory farms (more on that to come) and corn*, oh that evil corn! I have been trying to change our weekly menu not to include these and other unhealthy items.

My awareness of eating animals began in high school and at times was more on a conscience level than others. I’ve seen a few PETA videos that really disturbed me. However, it was never enough to make me give up meat completely. I find it interesting how I watch those videos and it does make me want to give up meat for a short while but then I forget about it and move on with my life. I really don’t think I am alone in this thought process. I believe there are a lot of people out there who are affected by the things they see and hear when it comes to animal welfare but they still don’t feel inclined to make any changes. Is that because of the love of the taste and maybe even an addiction to the meat? Is it because we think eliminating meat and figuring out what’s for dinner would be too challenging? Maybe it’s the common misconception that we won’t get enough protein if we eliminate meat? I’m sure there are lots of reasons and I know mine are included in a few of the above. I have reduced my meat consumption over the last few years  as has my husband. I’m thankful for that because it would be challenging to have differing meal desires. I still feel like we could probably eat even less meat so I’m trying to figure out how to do that.

Part of my journey is giving up one thing at a time or doing trials on eliminating certain foods. I read on Go Veg  that they recommend pledging to go 30 days without meat. That time period is probably based on evidence that it would only take 30 days to change your life style and you wouldn’t go back to eating it again (that’s a total and complete assumption on my part). I decided that was too difficult and I am only going to do it for 7 days. I’ll be honest, I know this probably won’t have a life changing impact on me but it is a small step in the right direction. If I try it for 30 days I think I’ll probably fail, especially if I’m out to dinner or at a party. However, for 7 days it will be easier to remain strong and I know I can succeed. I may not feel a major impact on my body but I hope it’s enough to know whether eating meat makes me feel any different or not. It will also give me the opportunity to try some new recipes. I’ll post my successes and failures after the week is over. Until then, wish me luck.

*Corn is evil, you ask? I’m not talking about corn on the cob as you might imagine. I’m talking about what factories and food manufacturers DO with the corn they grow and how it gets into almost everything in an unhealthy manner. I’ll do a whole post on corn in the future. In the meantime if you want to read more right now I suggest reading about high fructose corn syrup here and be sure to read the comments below the article, there is a lot of great insight there.