Health Archives - A Vegan Obsession

HOT TOPIC Vegan Dog Food - Can your dog THRIVE on a vegan diet? [+ GIVEAWAY COMPETITION]

May 1, 2013 by India Leigh

I’ve often wondered the ethics and viability of a vegan diet for dogs. I thought it was high time I looked into it for you. Is a vegan diet is not only viable but perhaps superior to a meat based, conventional pet food based diet? What is in ‘conventional’ pet food and can we trust it? Could I find enough evidence to say it is not only ok but better for Fido?

We are also giving away a 5 lb bag of dog food to one lucky reader!

Recent research papers from the University of Upsalla in Sweden and from UCD, both of them have demonstrated that modern dog has the enzyme composition that allows them to digest starch, but wolves do not! In other words modern dogs are the product of 10 to 14,000 years of evolution, living in human communities. The first one is published in Nature, and costs $32.00 to order online. Both of these papers put to bed the notion that dogs are wolves and, therefore carnivores. According to a report by PETA, companion dogs can do well on a vegetarian/vegan diets. Cats however need a vital component that is present in meat and a vegan diet is strongly advised against. I found an article online, written by Dr. Armaiti May (D.V. M., C.V.A). It claims VEGETARIAN DIETS CAN BE HEALTHY FOR DOGS. Dr May says that most pet foods contain slaughter house wastes and diseased and dying animals. Marked unfit for human consumption. Would you really want your precious pup to eat it? Some pet foods are even said to contain the remnants of un-housed dogs and cats that have been put to sleep from ‘rescue’ centres. If we are what we eat then surely, dogs are no exception? click here for full article.

According to Ibis World in the USA alone, the pet industry is worth over $30bn a year. I wonder at the downright dodgy practices that are being reported almost daily in our food products, can it be that the pet food industry has better morals and practices? I think probably not.

Also, it may be surprising to you that the Guinness Book of World Records say that a 37 year old dog called Bramble was a vegetarian.

I contacted David Middlesworth the founder of V-Dog, a US based vegan pet food whose product contains a list of super food ingredients company and asked him a few questions.

Can you recommend any home-made meals for dogs?
Basically our formula, which is a complete diet for dogs.  Or a favourite meal of one of your own dogs.  We do add things to the kibble such as nutritional yeast, table veggies, oatmeal in the AM, extra brown rice and quinoa in the PM. However,V-dog contains all of the essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals and 24% protein a dog needs to thrive.

It is important that humans have a high ratio of raw/uncooked foods to benefit from the nutrients and enzymes that are lost during cooking, is this the same for dogs?
No, dogs are not in the same category.

Are their any plant foods, which we find in our stores, a dog shouldn’t eat? Yes, onions, garlic, chocolate, peppers,grapes & raisins, macadamia nuts, hops, yeast and xylitol to name a few.

Why and how did you launch a vegan dog food - V-Dog?
We were attending an International Vegetarian Conference in Edinburg, Scotland in 2003, and Happy Dog was tabling there. I contacted them, and over the course of 18 months started selling their brand in the USA. We were never completely satisfied with it, and developed our own formula with our Ph.D professional pet nutritionist. We took out the allergens like wheat, corn, soy, and we have no GMO or gluten in our formula, but it is 24% protein.

taste tester Lefty sniffing out a V-Dog kibble

eager dog! the bowl travelled around the room in her efforts to lap up all the V-Dog.

I’d say her verdict was a big paws-up!

Now we want to hear from you!
What is your experience? Do you have a vegetarian dog? Do you think imposing your diet on your dog is best for them? Leave your thoughts/experiences in the comments box below and lets see what you have to say.

V-dog have kindly donated a 5 lb bag of kibble for 1 lucky reader. All you have to do is submit an entry in the box below and promise to come back and tell us how your dog liked it.

USA entrants only for this Giveaway. Sign up to my newsletter in the box on the right of this post to ensure you never miss out on great reviews, recipes and giveaways!

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What are your antioxidant levels? Protect yourself!

April 29, 2013 by India Leigh

I was at a New Living Expo in San Francisco this weekend. I saw this scanner that measures your bodies antioxidant levels. It was featured on Dr. Oz in his episode about the importance of antioxidants to protect your body from diseases like heart disease, cancer, ageing. It is also immune boosting. Read here

I was sitting next to a woman who asked the woman who was testing her, ‘what do I need to do to get into the top blue level?’. I was waiting for my results at the time. I got 64K! High Presence of antioxidants. I said to her….

‘Eat more greens. LOVE KALE. Eat more PLANTS. In the very least, Embrace Meatless Monday or better still adopt a low-fat vegan diet.
Be a non-smoker.
Don’t drink alcohol.
Walk lots, and zumba your bootie off as often as you can!’

Get some colour on your plate!

Be well

India Leigh xo

As Featured in the Sunday Telegraph Magazine - My Magazine Debut!

January 22, 2013 by India Leigh

Centre Spread!

As 2012 was nearing a close I was contacted by a journalist interested in my raw food diet. I was so excited!

She was curious if raw food had had any effect on my health. Understatement! I told her all about how I got my energy back, lost excess weight and felt sexy again, by juicing every day. Forget 5 a-day. I’m hitting the 8!

She sent a great photographer Dan Burn-Forti to snap me. I was keen to impress so I put together a selection of raw food dishes to show off for the shoot. Collard wraps with spicy cashew cheese. Kale chips (come on, what self respecting raw foodist would not ever be more than ten feet from a kale chip!). ALT Raw Bread Sandwich - Avocado. Lettuce. Tomato and a dollop of cashew mayo. Raw Indian spiced Coconut chips. And a whopping great big Raw Hazelnut Cacao tart. A live FEAST.

Christmas came and went and January arrived with the rush of magazines and their ‘healthier new you’ articles. Imagine my pride when I opened up the glossy supplement and saw the article. My mum held back the tears as she popped on her reading glasses and spotted her daughter in a well regarded Sunday supplement!
Though I did suffer the experience of a little journalistic ’embellishment’. I was spooning sweet and spicy butternut squash soup into my mouth as I read that apparently ‘I will never eat cooked food again’.
I hope my story managed to inspire some people, even if it is just opening their eyes to the awesome possibility of getting more nutritionally packed live food into their regular diet.

The front cover.

I think 2013 is going to be an even better year!

Be well,

India xx

How To Stay Healthy Whilst Travelling

November 1, 2012 by India Leigh

Upheaval is the buzz word, ringing like tinitus in my ear, right now. In three days I will be airlifted from cold and drizzle and transported to summer sun and long days, immersed in a culture I’ve yet to discover and surround by voices I do not (yet) comprehend. I always think it is a crazy (crazy in a good way) notion - travelling, it’s like visiting another planet. My excitement knows no end.

My spare bed is now quite unrecognisable. Strewn with ‘stuff for my trip’. Being a vegan, and a long time gypsy girl, I’ve gotten used to carrying a few essential food stuffs. Enough to keep me going until I find a natural food store, or buy supplies online. There is something about unpacking and having your favourite green tea, or snack to hand to settle you in. Also, having a zip baggie with a couple of days of breakfast in takes the pressure off shopping. It also helps to have some sense of normality when plonked in a vastly different environment.

Plane & travel essentials for staying healthy whilst travelling;

Airports are a radiation hazard, and the stress of travel, cabin pressure, recycled air dryer than the Sahara and jet lag can all take it’s toll. But there are things you can do to protect yourself and stay on top form so you can arrive feeling (relatively..it’s a long flight) fabulous. So, here is a list of tried and tested must haves for road trips and skyward journeys.

In my hand luggage I take

2 different probiotics to keep my digestion healthy
chlorella powder to minimise the effects of radiation
wheatgrass a good all-round powerhouse super food to supplement (or replace) airline food
1 x 10 ml (empty..fill it up on the plane as customs confiscate liquids) spritz bottle for spraying face regulary with water, to counter dehydrating effects of cabin air
travel pack digestive enzymes
soft spongy ear plugs
miso soup powder
On previous trips I’ve taken kale chips, homemade raw bread, homemade muffin or cake, but I’m am experimenting with eating very little on the trip. I am planning to sleep through most of it instead and mainly drink lots of water and green tea. I figured, leaving the UK in the evening, sleeping through most of the 15hr (eek!) flight and taking up on the day, Argentine time, when I touch down at 10am. That is the plan.

In my suitcase

zip baggy of breakfast (pea protein powder, green super food powder, acai powder, goji berries, flax meal)
kelp powder (to lesson effects of radiation)
1 pouch of baby food - fruit berries - to add to breakfast powder
1 pouch chicory coffee
1 box green tea (decaf)
1 zip baggy nooch (nutritional yeast powder)
1 packet of nori sheets (to make nori burritos)
4 single serving miso soup powder
2 raw energy bars
kale chips

Upon arrival at destination

I perform a saline nasil wash (salt in warm water - antibacterial…counteract the recycled cabin air)
take a 1/2 tsp reishi mushroom powder to boost my immunity
have a warm, comforting cup of tea

grab my camera, $ , shades, room keys, a keen sense of adventure, and go exploring. I’ll do a walkabout and suss out the area. Source some promising cafes I may want to frequent. Track down the natural food stores, and do some serious people watching.

Excited. EXCITED!!

Have you visited Argentina? Do you live there? Send me tips and ideas of places you think I have to visit in the city. Must do’s in Buenos Aires. I’ve noted a few vegan restaurants to try. What are your travel essentials? Leave a comment below and let us know.

Protein 101 - Your questions answered. And a ‘day in the life’ study revealed.

October 8, 2012 by India Leigh

It is almost the ‘grab it off the shelf’ stock-phrase used when addressing a vegan. Where do you get your protein?

Why? My guess is that the meat and dairy industry have been drumming the protein campaign into society for so long, Chinese whispers began the idea protein could only be sourced from animals and so vegans will keel over in the street from lack of it…or something. Of course, like many things people tell us, this is just not true. Scientists and environmentalists, The UN, are all now urging us to look to plant sources of protein.

Most of the time when anyone raises this question it is highlighting a real concern from someone who is toying with the idea of dropping meat, and need to be sure it is right for them.

I hope this post is going to dispel any myths, give you a start point to begin your transition, and lead you to the most delicious meals and a body who thanks you for it.

We are going to address;

what protein does,
where you can get it
the cost of plant-based protein vs. meat
what happens if you eat too much. I include a handy online calculator to determine if you are getting enough. I also reveal a ‘day in the life‘ and show you exactly what I ate in a day and the surprising results.

By the end of this article you will have all the information you need to know about protein, and where you can access extra info.

So firstly, lets find out…

What does protein do?
Proteins are made up of amino acids. Think of amino acids as the building blocks. There are 20 different amino acids that join together to make all types of protein. Some of these amino acids can’t be made by our bodies, so these are known as essential amino acids. It’s essential that our diet provide these.

Protein is necessary for the building and repair of body tissues.
It produces enzymes, hormones, and other substances the body uses.
It regulates body processes, such as water balancing, transporting nutrients, and
making muscles contract.
Protein keeps the body healthy by resisting diseases that are common to malnourished people.
Prevents one from becoming easily fatigued by producing stamina and energy

How much protein do you need a day?

This is calculated according to age, gender, body size, physical activity, and health status.

The math is -

1. Weight in pounds divided by 2.2 = weight in kg

2. Weight in kg x 0.8-1.8 gm/kg = protein gm.

Use a lower number if you are in good health and are sedentary (i.e., 0.8). Use a higher number (between 1 and 1.8) if you are under stress, are pregnant, are recovering from an illness, or if you are involved in consistent and intense weight or endurance training.

Example: 154 lb male who is a regular exerciser and lifts weights
154 lbs/2.2 = 70kg

70kg x 1.5 = 105 gm protein/day

Here is a simple online protein calculator Recommended Protein Intake Calculator

As a guide -

Recommendation for an adult male vegan - 56-70gms per day

Recommendation for an adult female vegan - 46-58gms per day

Increased protein needs during pregnancy and breast-feeding are usually met by the extra calories from eating more food.Our protein needs can change dramatically when we’re injured or sick. They may double in the short term. The body gets this extra supply mostly from muscle, and it may take a month or more to restore the nutrients used up in the body while it fights off an infection or recovers from injury.

Because infants and children are growing, they need more protein than adults in proportion to their body weight. Children on a varied, balanced diet usually get enough protein as long as they are getting enough calories. That’s an important consideration for vegan children.

Where can you get your protein?

protein source	serving size	protein in grams
Tempeh	1 cup	41
Tofu, firm	4 ounces	11
Soybeans, cooked	1 cup	29
Lentils, cooked	1 cup	18
beans	1 cup	14-16
Chickpeas, cooked	1 cup	12
Peas, cooked	1 cup	9
Veggie burger	1 patty	13
Bagel	1 med. (3 oz)	9
Quinoa, cooked	1 cup	9
peanut butter	2 Tbs	8
brown rice, cooked	1 cup	5
potato, cooked	1 med.(6 oz)	4
broccoli, cooked	1 cup	4
spinach, cooked	1 cup	5
almond milk	200 ml (glass)	1
goji berries	2 Tbsp	8
sunflower seeds	1/4 cup	6
chia	1 link	8
hemp seeds	1 cup	8
Almonds	1/4 cup	8
cashews	1/4 cup	5
mushrooms (portabella)	1 cup	2
corn pasta Amaranth avocado carob flour	1 cup 1 cup 1 cup 1 cup	8 9 3 5

USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 18, 2005 and manufacturers’ information.

Broccoli provides the greatest amount of protein per calorie in comparison to beef. Green vegetables are rich in protein and relatively low in calories. They contain lots of vitamins and minerals too. Along with lots of fibre. As you can see, filling up with mostly plant based protein, and legumes is better for weight loss/management and health.

Do I have to eat protein with every meal?

You don’t have to have protein at every meal. The myth of eating ‘protein with a grain’ is that - a myth. It is what you eat throughout a day that counts.
Take a look at yourself: Do you look good, feel good, maintain optimum weight, and have good muscle tone? Does your hair and nails grow quickly? Do your wounds heal well? Are you generally healthy, and recover quickly from illness? If so, then we must be getting enough protein!

The results of my snapshot of one day of meals..

I journaled a day of my meals to see my level of protein intake, for that day. It was just a regular day, nothing fancy to eat. I choose to analyse the day before I wrote this article so I didn’t have any influence on the results.

I used a really sII
I was quite surprised by the results!

Obviously, I ate way too much protein today. But tomorrow, I may eat less. Actually, I am following a kind of zig zag or fill/hold back pattern to my eating. Not consciously, but I may feel hungry one day and not so much the next, so I may just juice later in the morning, skip lunch and have dinner, but only if I don’t feel hungry. If I am hungry, I eat. If I eat too much one meal, I’ll just skip a meal to even it out. Obviously, if I have eaten more than sufficiently then I don’t need to pile in more. After all the body gets overloaded and stress and it just gives you wind and makes you feel bad. Consequences=discipline!

Obviously, getting your main protein sources from nuts and seeds would overload your fat intake, so be sensible. For weight loss and maintenance eat mainly vegetables/legumes and just a handful of nuts/seeds a day.

Cost comparrison of vegan protein vs. meat

A friend of mine was asking about the cost differential of plant-based protein and meat. I knew from experience that eating a plant based diet was cheaper, but I’d never done any official comparisons.
I sourced costings online and completed a few calculations. Here is the cost per 100g of organic meat and legumes. I choose to look at chicken, beef & chickpeas. The findings of protein content differs in the chicken depending on whether it was enclosed in a small space in a factory (10-20g of protein) or allowed to roam (20-40g).
100g chicken = 20g of protein. Cost=£1.20
100g beef = 26g of protein. Cost=£1.50
100g chickpeas = 9g protein Cost= 26p

Vegan. Not only better for your body then! Plant-based protein is so much cheaper.

I then got all geeky and found a food carbon footprint calculator to determine the kg of C02 produced per 1 lb of production per product. I set them all to a 1400miles transport.
chicken = 1.5kg emissions per pound in weight
beef = 7.kg emissions per pound in weight
chickpeas = 0.4g emissions per pound in weight

Now, I am sure you do not need any more convincing! Lets talk eating!

A few suggestions for some delcious protein-rich meals:

Breakfast

tempeh stir fry

buckwheat pancakes

over night gluten free oats

green smoothies

guacamole on corn tortilla

Lunch or entree/main

Smokey Black Bean Soup - FAT FREE

Mushroom Ceviche with Mole sauce

Spicy mushroom & cashew rice with onion raita

Portabello Cottage Pie

Spinach & Agushi Stew

any green salad

Dessert

no-bake Banoffie Pie

Fudgey Sinless Black Bean Brownies

Basically, get the protein grammage in your mind for your staples, be they; Amaranth, kale, spinach, avocado, tempeh (fermented so healthier than tofu), nuts, legumes, potatoes, rice, buckwheat,mushrooms, or whatever, then just do a quick sum in your head and approximate. No one wants to have to get the calculator out every time they eat, do they? One to two cups of beans or a protein packed superfood - quinoa or amaranth for example, a day, perhaps a small handful of nuts/seeds, and lots of greens should be about right.

from www.purelifenutrimedics.com

Remember, guidelines are based on your levels of activity, age, stress, etc so do use the calculator and adjust to your life situation. But rest assured, being vegetarian or vegan, if you are eating a wide variety of whole foods you are doing A ok.

Now I have actually calculated my intake I can 100% feel confident about my diet. So when anyone asks ‘are you getting enough protein?’, I can smile and say…YES!

What happens if you eat too much?

Some researchers say it excess protein is just taken away as waste, some say it negatively

impacts the liver and kidneys if you are consuming too much animal protein. Cited as

follows;

The high-protein diet of meat eaters robs their body of calcium, as cited by Dr. Neil Nedley,

MD, author of “Proof Positive (How to Reliably Combat Disease and Achieve Optimal Health

through Nutrition and Lifestyle).” He wrote that research

evidence has indicated that an

excessive diet of animal protein increases the risk of osteoporosis. “Study after study indicate

that eating meat can cause a loss of calcium from the body. Research done at the University

of Wisconsin illustrated particularly well the harmful effects of excess protein.”

Studies of Linkswiller and associates in 1981 involving three groups showed that the high

protein intake group lost calcium every day simply because of their high protein consumption.

The excessive protein was leeching calcium from their bones even though they were getting

plenty of calcium in their diet.

Dr. CM Weaver and Associates at Purdue University also cited in their study that humans

absorb as much or more of the calcium in plant products than they do from milk (sourced from animals). The group’s study also revealed that although milk has a high calcium content, 60

to 80 percent of it is not absorbed through the human intestine.

Stronger bones

Pitchford cited further reasons vegetarians have stronger bones and fewer calcium

deficiencies in general:

• The digestion of meat results in acids must be neutralized by calcium and other alkaline

minerals.

• Flesh protein contributes to a phosphorus/calcium ratio in Americans four times greater

than desirable.

SOURCES

Organic Authority

Livestrong

Low Carb Diets

Vegan Coach

Savvyvegetarian

USDA

Happy Cow
VRG

Nutrition Data

How to transition to a Vegan Plant-based Diet or just increase intake of vegetables and whole foods

October 1, 2012 by India Leigh

Many people ask me how hard it is to stop eating dairy and meat and how to replace, what has been for probably all of their lives until now, a majority factor of their diet. I don’t come across many who are not interested in eating a healthier, cleaner diet, and who wouldn’t like to reduce or cease their meat intake. I don’t think there is any one method for all. Some people are afraid of giving up cheese, some don’t know what to eat for breakfast if it isn’t the customary (in the West at least) milk drenched cereal or buttered toast. All worry about their protein intake.

There are 4 things I would say are the easiest to embrace when that moment strikes and you know you want to be healthier and turn to a plant-based diet.

1. Increase your intake of vegetables, especially green leafy veg and fruit. If you can, invest in a good quality juicer (about £100..will last you for years)and start every day with a green juice (kale, spinach, apple, ginger, turmeric, fresh beetroot, celery, cucumber, kiwi) That alone will make a HUGE difference to your health and energy levels.

2. Exercise. Even if it is just two 10 minute walks a day. It will help your digestion, hasten the detox and make you feel empowered.

3. Drink AT LEAST 8 large glasses of water a day. Be it straight from the tap (you can focus on the healthiest way to intake water at a later stage) or in herbal teas. If you don’t like plain water then fill up a jug and add lime juice, sliced cucumber, fresh strawberries etc to flavour your water.

4. Replace the dairy. Experiment with alternative milks and butters and cheese. I personally LOVE Kara coconut milk and find it very adaptable and versatile. Almond milk is delicious too as is quinoa milk. Make sure you buy unsweetened as you do not want to be adding extra sugar to your diet. Pure make a really great tasting sunflower spread. You can also do like the Mediterraneans and use olive oil in place of butter in many instances. How did I do it? This is exceptional to me and you will find your own way. The world of produced veggie cheese has come a long way. VEGUSTO and Daiya in the USAmake delicious cheeses. Melty. stringy. garlicky. strong. How ever you like yours. I challenge you not to like it.

Back in 1999 I turned vegetarian first and I began by using fake ‘meats’ in the meals I’d been used to in my diet. I really couldn’t tell the difference in taste or texture in spaghetti bolognese or shephards pie. Instead of bacon sandwiches, I ate tomato sauce sandwiches (try it…don’t knock it. you can even get fake ‘bacon’ bits and frying thinly sliced mushrooms or aubergines can replicate the smokey flavour too). I ate pasta with fresh basil & tomato sauce, and used soy cream to make dishes like carbonara and pea & garlic cream pasta. I made my own gravy from flour, tamari sauce and vegan stock cubes. Back then I got into stuffing all sorts of veggies with mushrooms, garlic, brown rice and breadcrumbs. And a plate of caramelised roasted vegetables were never far from hand. Soups are extremely quick and easy to make and really satisfying. With the addition of beans and mushrooms I was getting all the protein I needed. I didn’t feel like I was missing anything. In fact, I felt very pleased with myself. I saw navigating the supermarket labels to detect animal products as a detective investigation. I took to task with excitement the turning my old meals into plant based diners. By body was starting to show signs of thanking me too. My skin cleared up and I felt happier and more ‘me’. I moved on from those meals and began to drop the need to substitute. I found great Indian dishes and many Middle Eastern dishes were vegan anyway, with bold flavours to satiate me.

I purchased vegetarian and vegan cookbooks. Now, we are lucky there are so many online (including mine!). I contacted the VEGAN SOCIETY and the VEGETARIAN SOCIETY & (USA) VEGAN.ORG for help and guidance. For eating out I used the Happy Cow website which lists restaurants and health food shops all over the globe. Slowly, my body started to guide me to the foods that made me feel good and steered me clear of the foods that it didn’t seem to get on so well with. I discovered I was gluten intolerant. That is an easy one to flip to now as such high numbers of us are realising we exhibit better health when going gluten free, so our shops are filling up with gluten free breads, pastas, and everyday products. The whole thing of searching labels for ingredients really opened my eyes to the utter crap that manufacturers pad processed foods out with and what they add sugar too (to ensure consumers stay addicted to them).

One really good tip as well is to make lots of food ahead. Get yourself some good quality food containers and make big batches of soup, sauces, stews, one pots, curries. Work out what you need for the week and freeze/chill the rest. If you have a sweet tooth. Buy some agave (a low glycemic sugar alternative) or stevia/xylitol (natural healthy sugar) and use that in your tea before gradually weaning yourself off sugar (you will actually taste what you are drinking without it) and in your baking products. Make fruit bars with a base of dates and add, nuts, coconut, apple, cinnamon or ginger etc. in a blender and form into bars. They take minutes, last for ages, are cheaper and not filled with unnecessary ingredients.

Your body may take a few weeks or months (depending on how your diet was previously) to adjust. You may find yourself making more visits to the loo. Your skin may react as first as the toxins flush from your system. You may get a little windy (toot toot) as your digestion adapts. Take a dairy free probiotic pill daily (please no yogurt filled with sugar that claims to be probiotic and good for you!). The juicing and/or increased intake of fresh and uncooked foods (salads and fruit) will have all the enzymes you need still intact without cooking, that will help you to cleanse your body and improve your digestion. DRINK LOTS of water in between meals.

At the beginning I suggest taking a vegan multi-vitamin with B12, (I use this one) so you don’t need to have the worry of if you are getting enough nutrients (I can assure you if you eat a highly organic colourful, varied, non-processed diet not laden with vegan cheeses and too many nuts, you will be enjoying the best health). If you eat a portion of beans or pulses a day and have a green juice and lots of kale/spinach (a note, to help absorption of nutrients in spinach use a squeeze of lemon or high Vit C vegetable). Juicing is such fun and you can play with the ingredients and make your own concoctions. Once you get used to navigating and adapting your diet you can then take it further and focus on nutritional value. But for now, just eat a rainbow of mainly vegetables, some fruits (not too many high sugar fruits like melons or pineapple) and legumes you will thrive. In time you can add more and more raw meals, look at reducing grains. Basically, food is like religion, study it and then take what YOU feel is right for YOU. This will involve listening to your body and noticing how it feels on different foods.

Join a Vegan group in your area. www.meetup.com has lots of them. Search Facebook.com too for vegan groups.
Supermarkets keep lists of their vegan and gluten free products. They will be happy to provide you with a copy. You can VIEW them online too.

Ask for help. Write to me if you need information or support. [email protected] Go on my website or others and look for ideas. If you have a question about substitutes, again, search my site or use Google for the answers you need. This is a lifestyle choice and a change in habits. New habits take a month to develop. It feels good to be able to look animals and yourself in the eye. But, if you trip up then just get up and start again. I warn you, some friends, colleagues and family may get upset or even angry at your ‘behaviour’. Just know that some people react with anger at things they don’t yet understand. As you adopt the lifestyle more and more and experiment with foods your confidence will increase and you will be making awesome meals. Hopefully, in time they will get to see that living plant based is a delicious way to live. They will see it in your face and see how much happier you are. We lead by quiet and proven example.

You will feel better than I you ever have and develop a greater appreciation, not only for animals and your health but for the land and the things that foods that nourish you.

This is your beginning and there are so many new and wonderful foods for you to try and ways to get to and maintain YOUR optimum health. It’s all out there for you. I hope you know, if you have any questions I’d be happy to help.

Sign up for my newsletter, follow me on Twitter and get all my new recipes and future articles. Protein coming soon. In the ‘search’ bar you can look for delicious meal ideas. Try my 7 day meal plan. Search for articles on sugar, water, juicing, exercise etc.

Good luck! And know that you have choices and they are yours to make. Support is out there (or here) if you need it. Your decision to go plant-based may be over night or over several months. Eventually quality will overtake quantity. Your ongoing health and care of yourself and your environment is for life. Variety is key with your food and lifestyle. If not true for maintaining your zest and interest for life too.

Vitamin D3 Deficiency - facts and the answer how to avoid disease and stay healthy

August 21, 2012 by India Leigh

You are my sunshine. My vegan sunshine..you make me happy, etc…

If you didn’t already know, a true plant based, approved VITAMIN D3 source exists!

I interview the founder of VITASHINE and show you why vitamin D3 is crucial for health.

A recent bid to find a vegan source of Vitamin D3 led me to some surprising and worrying findings. My ‘hunch’ that Vitamin D3 deficiency, so prevelant in the UK, was a big contributory factor of some health issues that had been nagging me. I now believe, and I am not alone - 80% of population in Scotland are found to be highly deficient and a (1)Scottish GP, Dr Rhein, is calling it ‘unethical’ not to inform the public of the health risks associated with not getting enough daily sun. Scottish MPs are calling for countrywide screening. Jordan Lite (no pun intended) reports for the Scientific American (2) that 3/4 of the population the US are dangerously low in what is called ‘the sunshine vitamin’.

The question is…….Why don’t we ALL know about it?

In addition to that, whilst digging around, I also uncovered a worrying issue for vegans seeking to insure their own good health, and it appears that proper, legal food and supplement labelling is woefully lacking. Some companies are covering up their use of animal products and slapping a V on their products and stating they are vegan when they are not. Thankfully, my research led me to a product from a surprising source, with Vegan Society and Vegetarian Society UK approval. I interviewed one of the product founders. More on that in a bit.

It seems no longer contested, in all the recent studies (3) on the health benefits of Vitamin D3 (not really a vitamin as our body can make it from sunshine…more a hormone), that it is a MAJOR player in our health. Lack of sunshine goes far beyond us just feeling a little fed up. Deficiency has been linked to heart disease, rickets, bone softening, depression, stroke, MS and birth deficiencies, cancer, insomnia, acid reflux, IBS and colds and flu… to name but a few. It is estimated in the UK, by the end of the winter 65% of us are SERVERLY lacking in Vit D. Those with dark, highly pigmented skins (less sunshine can penetrate the skin) and Muslim women who cover most of their body with clothing are not the only ones affected. We stay indoors far more than previous generations, we cover up with sunscreen. Geographic factors play large part too with dreary winters or countries where summer often fails to live up to expectations.

The fact is we ALL need optimum levels of the stuff. Some foods are fortified with it but they are currently mostly animal derived. VEGANS have had a hard time of finding a true plant based source. Garden of Life stated on their website their product is vegan, whilst further reading finds their product is sourced from sheep (lanolin). Jack Norris, a registered dietician and blogger, found other companies also selling products with unsubstantiated claims.

Right now the situation with the food lablelling syteme for vegans is down to either TRUST or a company seeking scrutiny and creditation from the Vegan Society in the UK. America has no similar organisation to test VEGAN products (I’m not aware of laws in other countries that accredit either. I’d love to hear from you if you are aware of any). It makes me feel very appreciative of living in UK where the Vegan Society are located and companies are more likely to seek Society approval. Clearly, something needs to be done to make it compulsory for companies to have their products verified. Especially with the numbers of those choosing a vegan diet increasing, it leaves it open for unethical companies who want to get in on the upturn to grab a piece of the market.

Do vegans have to blindly trust or is there a Vit D3 product we can be sure of? Thankfully, the answer is..YES! VITASHINE D3

Once, I’d found the source I was very keen to speak to Vitashine to get their story. Mark Broughton agreed to answer some of my questions.

Mark, a former product developer for Boots and Holland & Barrett, became disillusioned with the mass market for seemingly unnecessary supplements a few years ago, and decided to go it alone to produce supplements that truly contribute to human health. He began with making Opti 3, a vegan Omega oil which he found to be superior to flax oil. Then a business associate highlighted the need for a vegan source of vitamin D3, which studies have suggested accumulates in the body as opposed to Vit D2 which depletes more rapidly, and it captured his interest. Six years previously Mark had agreed to a pact with his wife that he’d would go vegetarian if she’d quit smoking to boost their health. So he’d long been aware of the need for plant-based vitamins and supplements.

What followed was 2.5 years of research involving Stirling and Reading Scientific Services. Then lichen, a symbiotic (bacteria and yeast) organism was suggested to them by Plymouth School of Agriculture. After a further 18 months development, to remove toxic substances (don’t eat this from the forest floor, people) a sustainable, vegan product was born. Mushrooms, lanolin and lichen are in fact, chemically identical. However, lichen is rich is D3, and sustainable. Although it only grows at centimetres per year, the company sources it from China, Scandinavia and North American, according to the time of year. They would have to be harvesting over 500 kilos of the plant per month before stocks were depleted.

In summer 2012, admittedly not the best time of year, VITASHINE D3 came onto the market. It is currently sold widely in Europe and the USA. It is also set to be distributed to India in early 2013.

To me, Mark is clearly, along with his three partners, dedicated to supporting and improving health for all. If no animal needs to meet an abitore or suffer as a bi-product to health then he is passionate about finding the way. He told me the company have more animal friendly products in the pipeline too.

As we (vegans) grow in number, my hope is to see worldwide regulatory bodies who legally supervise the food and supplements on our shelves. Right now it seems faith in food labelling is waining. One good thing, where our food is concerned I guess, is that more and more we are choosing to cook from scratch so we have knowledge of what we are eating and cut out the unnecessary cheap fillers and additive. We can choose to get nutrients from healthy foods but we cannot do this with most supplements. I don’t have a chemistry lab knocking around in my garage, and chances are you don’t either. Lets hope the work of the vegan society can reach further and be taken up as industry standards.

You can purchase Vitashine D3 at most natural food stores in the UK and they are gradually placing their product to be more widely available. Google search and you will find it or you can order direct from their website. Vitashine

Twitter Vitashine
Facebook Vitashine

Please let me know if you found this article of interest! x

Source
(1)http://www.holyrood.com/articles/category/health/beyond-the-headlines-health/page/2/
(2)http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=vitamin-d-deficiency-united-states
(3)http://www.vitamindwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page_id=2289

Further (interesting!) reading:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17556697
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120425094310.htm
http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Vitamin-D-Deficiency.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_D
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120625152358.htm

6 Compelling Reasons to Quit Sugar - and HOW

July 24, 2012 by India Leigh

6 Reasons you MUST quit sugar & why you’ll be RELIEVED you did.

I went from a junk eating lazy ass to a brighter,

Processed Sugar – white, brown, granulated, icing, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, maltose, artificial sweeteners, sucrose. AVOID AVOID!

Sugar makes you fat – processed sugar is void of any vitamins, minerals, fibre or amino acids. It raises your blood sugar levels and deposits fat into your liver. It encourages bad bacteria to build in your gut and slows your digestion leaving you bloated and sluggish. Sugar highs can lead to overeating, as the ‘dip’ makes your blood sugar plunge thus triggering the body to seek more to alleviate the ‘dip’ symptoms.
Sugar is a bitch for your skin and it’s aging. It disrupts your hormones and encourages free radicals (responsible for disease, destruction of the DNA and aging).
Sugar makes you sick – processed white sugar is highly acidic. Studies have shown that a body with a low ph (high acidity) is the best environment in which cancer cells thrive. Sugar suppresses your immunity. It has a high glycemic index (the speed it enters your blood stream). GI Examples: White Sugar - 80 - High Fructose Corn Syrup 87 - Dextrose 100 - Maltodextrin 150! Coconut palm sugar 35 and stevia 0! The speed it enters your blood causes the liver to convert it to fat. This leads to insulin resistance which can give you heart disease and make you obese. It also increases inflammation in the body and can lead to osteoporosis. Sugar disrupts your hormones. All these factors can contribute to each other. How many you end up experiencing is like Russian Roulette! Always sick? Ditch the sugar!

Sugar makes you moody – In 2007 studies proved that the demon processed sugar is more addictive than cocaine! Do you trust your package food supplier to deliver good food?! Yeah right, check out how many products ADD needless sugar to their food. Look at the label, it is in ketchup, baked beans, bread, sauces, savoury ready-meals. Sugar gives a TEMPORARY high. It spikes your glucose levels and can cause hypoglycemia. Those peaks and troughs reek havoc on your brain and can bring on anxiety attacks, anger, depression. Sugar makes your levels of concentration akin to someone with ADD (heck, is SUGAR the cause of the huge rise in ADD? 100 years ago 4lbs of sugar were ingested by humans in a YEAR. Now it is 100 lbs! Linking it back to the sharp rise in diabetes, heart disease, cancer…yeah, and bad old depression!). Sugar diverts B vitamins and chromium (happy vitamins) to turn itself into energy. Your body needs stability. Think less ‘rollercoaster’ and get more ‘stroll in the park’!
Sugar is addictive – This is no shock? It is more addictive than cocaine. Don’t bury your head in the sand. We all know sugar ain’t no BFF!
Sugar dulls your life – fighting all those sugar highs, battling with obesity, disease, depression, bloating, fogging thinking. Who has energy left for living the life of their dreams?!

Convinced!?

Want a piece of the GOOD LIFE? If I can quit sugar (I had been known to wharf down 6 bars of chocolate/candy in one sitting in my dark and (thankfully) distant past)….so can you. And it’s a whole lot easier than you may think!!

I quit processed sugar over a decade ago. Do I miss it? Honestly?…No way! It has taken me a LONG time to rid my body of all the effects of the white demon grain (some of them show up years later). Think I’m exaggerating? Look at the health of most people in the Western world. It messed with my hormones, gave me candida, and knocked my body which is designed to run like a charm, out of kilter. Now, I am liberated and I’m getting YOUNGER!

I want to encourage you to begin your journey to vibrant health. My life and health has transformed in numerous ways. So will yours. It won’t happen over night. I can PROMISE you the journey will be worth it. You may hit a wall or two but you will feel better and better. It is an upward improvement. Your life will change for the better in ways you wouldn’t imagine and the JOURNEY is life affirming. Don’t believe me? Try it. It takes just over 30 days to take on a habit. Same time to drop one.

Take back your power. KICK THE HABIT!

HERES HOW YOU BEGIN – TIPS AND GUIDANCE

Read – The Mood Cure by ….. Julia Ross or Sugar-Blues by William Dufty and Lick The Sugar Habit- Nancy Apelton
When shopping, read the back of ALL food and drink labels. Substitute processed sugar for low GI alternatives. Look for Stevia, Xylitol, coconut palm sugar. These taste BETTER than sugar (more complex flavours) and are good in ALL baking and anywhere you used sugar in the past. Be wary of fruit juices or any sweet fruit that is not high in fibre as this will spike your blood sugar levels too. Berries and citrus fruits are ok for most people. My friends/family/customers/blog followers do not feel deprived or ever miss the ‘white’ crap. Clever marketing had us all believing in the past that sugar and processed white foods and flour where the only way. BS! Try my recipes and you’ll agree.
Drop the habit. Quit sugar, AND white flours and rice TOTALLY (they’ll supercharge your blood sugar and rugby tackle your willpower). Stay the course for over a month. If you then eat sugar you will notice how fake it tastes. Set daily/weekly goals. Studies prove it takes 28-30 days to break a habit. Use low GI substitutes and reduce the need for sugary foods. If you are comfort eating, consider talking to a supportive friend or counsellor.
Take charge of your own healing. If you suspect you have candida then Google it and take charge of your healing. Go to a nutritionist who understands the dangers of processed sugar and processed foods. Follow your instincts (or should I say, gut). After 30 days SUGAR FREE you will be in a good place to listen to your body. Your seratonin levels may be low. Consider supplementing trytophan or 5 HTP to build up your NATURAL happy. Again…read The Mood Cure.

Increase your DAILY intake of vegetables. BIG TIME. Think Green Smoothies and Green juices. Start the day with one and it sets you up on a healthy trajectory. My current morning smoothie – blend Spinach and always a squeeze of lemon (raw spinach needs vitamin C to stop it diverting absorption of Iron), celery, cucumber, avocado, flax or chia, carrot, apple or berries (organic is a must, berries are soft fruits that some farmers love to coat in nasty chemicals). Think a ‘touch’ of sweetness. Overtime you will find the smoothies and juices sweet enough without fruit. This will MASSIVELY boost your bodies alkalinity. A alkaline body is a healthy body. These drinks are CRAZY GOOD and they will reduce your sugar cravings!
Hydrate – drink the best source of water you can find. Distilled (with a dash of apple cider vinegar or a pinch of sea salt). Distilling removes ALL impurities and chemical nasties but minerals too..this is ok, as you will now be getting those from your whole foods, or guzzle alkaline; spring or filtered water. Do your research. Do what you feel is best for you. Even TAP water is better than being dehydrated.

Cut down on, or cut out totally (your best bet) CAFFEINE (it is a stimulant…you want to focus on levelling off your blood sugar). Drink herbal teas for comfort. Try these; tulsi, rooibos, mint (make your own fresh), nettle, ginger (slice fresh ginger root), chamomile…lots of others easily available. Avoid the fruit teas.
Be flexible – this is a journey…it probably won’t be a straight path to health. Find what is right for YOU. YOU are totally unique. Discover what makes you THRIVE. You will reap the rewards. You want to be fit and well ALL your life, right?
Exercise – flush those toxins from your body. Exercise will boost your natural endorphins. You won’t need sugar to give you any FALSE highs. Exercise will increase your weight loss/maintenance and even your mood. It will assist the liver and kidneys. You will get toned and you will LOOK and FEEL so much better you won’t need any more convincing.
Cut out ALCOHOL. Not only is it a poison it will break your WILL.
Take a probiotic DAILY. Your body will be supported and some say health begins with your digestion. Those lovely little friendly bacteria help you do the job. DO NOT take probiotics in sugared drinks or, as I have seen, in sugary sweets and chocolate bars. Body Ecology suggests drinking kefir or taking a probiotic if you should slip.
Add fermented foods to your diet. They balance out the sugar cravings and boost your health. I make my own water kefir and kombucha, nut ‘cheeses’ and coconut yogurt. Sauerkraut is available in most supermarkets. Google fermented foods you can make your own really cheaply. Give them a go.
Get out in the daylight EVERYDAY. Vitamin D is a precursor to many of your body functions and vitamin and mineral uptake, hormone regulation etc.
Ditch dairy..or at least reduce. Dairy causes blood sugar levels to spike. Many people are tolerant and studies have shown your body can get addicted to the ‘intollerance, allergy’ and the inflammation it causes because of your body kicking in to fight the trespass kicks in your adrenals and leads to adrenal fatigue. I know. You’ve got to watch your back!
Research. SURF the Web for blogs that encourage baking without processed sugar. BELIEVE ME there are thousands of them. Mine is one..www.aveganobsession.com Google - sugar free

Get a friend or partner to quit with you. If you are a parent, I promise you (if you keep it a secret) they won’t know the difference if you use the healthy substitutes in your baking. Cut down on the baking anyway, simple carbs and baked goods are not good for you. Try RAW DESSERTS. They are incredibly delicious!
Swill and rinse your mouth after eating fruits to greatly reduce the acid in your mouth and protect your teeth!

REAP THE REWARDS!

KNOW that is empowering, liberating and healthful and TOTALLY worth it. Take a day or two to study people who have spent years on a sugar laden diet. Look at the stats.

Follow your instincts. Deep down you know what is good for you.

Beautiful skin & healthy body - Why DRY SKIN BRUSHING works inside and out

June 28, 2012 by India Leigh

dry skin brushing is just as important for you daily routine as brushing your teeth. That goes for guys as well as girls! Young and Mature.

Here are 5 top tips for this vital health and beauty regime.

why? - CRUCIAL to your health is the elimination of toxins. Accumulation of toxins can lead to serious health problems - ranging from skin diseases (acne,rashes) to heart disease, cancer, diabetes and arthritis. The body excretes toxins via breath, skin (our largest organ, dumping an estimated 1/3 of toxins) via sweat, poo and urine. Toxins sit in the fat cells and make it more difficult to maintain a healthy weight.
how? - Dry skin brushing stimulates circulation which encourages the removal of excess fluid and the delivery of toxins to our skin, as well as our intestine and bladder. The kidneys and liver do a great job at removing toxins but stress, overeating, alcohol, processed foods & environmental pollution can really over-tax them, so they need all the help they can get.
benefits - Cellulite reduction. Anti-aging. Skin tonifying. Improved immune function. Improved blood circulation. Lymphatic drainage. Daily detox. Promotes long term health. Assists weight loss.
technique - It only takes about 5-10 minutes in the morning before you shower. Long strokes are used to increase blood circulation, this is why using a DRY verses a WET brush helps the brush to glide over the skin. Follow the picture guide below. Then shower as normal. 2 or 3 times a week boost the effect and EXFOLIATE in the shower. Top Tip - mix sugar (the only thing it’s good for!), lemon juice and coconut oil and rub over body, before lightly rinsing off.

from www.pimplepeople.wordpress.com

5 - which brush? - use a natural bristle brush or loofah. One with a LONG handle, to reach your back (unless you’ve a honey to do it for you!).

personal recommendation. I will always try it out before sharing it with you. In the last two months I’ve been dry brushing everyday. My skin is SOFTER than it has been in years. Even without the slathering on of delicious coconut oil, at the end of my shower. Of course eating natural foods, slurping plenty of water, exercising , breathing and reducing stress are all crucial too.

It is such a simple and cheap ALL ROUND health and beauty tool, for your daily regime. Kids need to be taught this! I wish I’d been shown how to do it when I learnt to brush my own hair.

DO IT! you will positively GLOW inside & out!!

Interesting low down on Live Blood Testing

June 7, 2012 by India Leigh

Hey loves. Following on from my recent blog posts about my changing eating habits and investigations to see just how good I can feel, by eating like an angel of virtue…I bring you the fascinating inner world of our veins, and analysis of my blood!

As you know, all this change has been quite intuitive. I’m a vegan right?! I don’t need to get healthier. WRONG. Vegans can be unhealthy too. I wasn’t chomping on ‘bad’ stuff, but I wasn’t maximising the good stuff either. I noticed I wasn’t having as much energy as normal and I was feeling blergh, far too often for my liking. So I set about changing it.

I am working on a comprehensive guide, for you to follow. But it seems to be taking some time so I wanted you to know I’m toiling hard to get you the research. It is empowering, let me tell you! So, I thought I’d tell you about the first thing I looked into on my current path. LIVE BLOOD ANALYSIS.

I think the fact that the human body needs to be in balance for health and well being, is not really refuted any longer. Homeostasis is required for us to be healthy. Acidity causes ill health. I had been suffering from a ‘hot’ feeling in my stomach. I guessed it was due to acidity. I was also feeling feverish. I think largely due to stress (a lot of travelling and also concern around my ‘life’s purpose’ (a biggie, I know). I also had to admit my diet was lacking in fresh and green vegetables and my craving for sweet foods was getting out of balance. When I embarked on this, self guided quest, I wanted to see if I could track my progress. To see if science could back up my intuitive theories.

I met Ruth Daber at a recent food fair, when my science-curious mind was drawn to her testing area, filled with glass slides and a powerful microscope. Ruth’s testing service is a result of many years of study with a well know American practitioner. Dr O.Young, who wrote The PH Miracle. Debate still rages whether his theories are ‘correct’. But it seemed obvious to me that blood should be observed whilst still living. When GP’s take blood samples the cells arrive at the labs devoid of life. Also, if doctors already knew all the answers then we’d all be healthy! New research should be evaluated and considered.

Ruth’s practice is a located on the South Coast of England. Nestled between the South Downs and the sea. When I arrived, I was given a run down to the theory of live blood testing, and then samples of my blood were taken from a small needle prick on my finger.

I admit to getting quite emotional when I saw on her PC, for the first time, my red blood cells slowly milling and floating around. Almost proud. Ruth spent sometime moving the microsope over the area of blood to get a good analysis of what she could see going on. The picture above shows the cells healthy, residing freely in their own space. Full and round. Gold star me! That wasn’t the only story though.

Some of the cells were sticking together and appearing ‘sunk’ or white in the centre. Ruth asked if I suffered from cold hands and feet. Indeed, I did! The white centre showed weakened cells.

Other irregular cells showed evidence of acid crystals, thought to be the cause of acids derived from sugars (I’d eaten way too much of my cake creations the night before).

Part of the testing is also a test of the blood that is taken and dotting onto a glass slide. The rings of blood in the dot are then evaluated against a chart of the human body, rather like Davinci’s Canon of Proportions drawing.

Dr Robert O.Young’s theory is that the dotting highlights possible problems, relating to recent, medium term and long term, issues the body may experience. It seems a bit woo woo (to me), but then again, listen to a physist for more than a minute and the whole Universe is a whorling mysterious ball of woo woo! Ruth asked if I had any problem in the past with lymphatics, allergies and hormones. That rocked me because the best I’d ever felt was when i was using my rebounder every day (proving to stimulate lymphatics), I’d stopped using it in the last year, and that is when I noticed my energy levels dipping. I have also had problems with menstruation so that made sense too. The research I am soon to share with you about hormones and adrenals has, amazingly, led to understand why my body was craving leafy greens and thirsting for juice (among other things). Also, cooking gluten free in the last two or so years, has qualified my notion that I am sensitive to gluten.

The conventional medical profession do like to refute anything ‘new’ and call it unsubstantiated, until it is proven and they relent. I can recall when reflexoloy was deemed voodoo and ineffective by doctors and now it is part of the UK NHS system. What I go on is personal evldence base. I’d started eating more raw foods, green salads and increasing my vegetable intake a few weeks before the live blood test. Since introducing juicing, twice daily, my skin is glowing more than ever and, apart from a couple of days when I had a very sad event in my life, my stomach has been rested, with no symptoms of poor digestion or acidity.

I’m continuing on the MORE RAW, HIGH GREENS, diet.

Ruth gave me information sheets to take home regarding diet. No real shocks there…pile up on leafy greens..eat vegan..lots of supergreens (wheatgrass) ect, sprouting, brassicas and avocados. LOVE all of those.

Foods that are highly acidic include;

cocoa,
bread,
alcohol,
processed foods
flour,
peanuts (nooo!)
dairy
meat
eggs
coffee & tea,
and fermented products (noooo!). I have not cut out the fermented products (I’m busy brewing up Kefir and Kombucha) and I ocassionally eat peanuts. I was shocked to see algae as being highly acidic when so many claims are made to its health giving properties (cleaning body of metals). As with everything, it is about finding what is best for YOU.

Here is a very simplified chart from www.livingpaleo.com.
More indepth charts and lots of information is available if you have a search on Google.

There is a program that helps to guide you through the acid detox. 4 steps - Starting with the transition reducing, and substuting acidic foods with mildy acidic foods and increasing your alkaline foods to 70=80% of your diet. The last step is maintenance. I’m currently somewhere inbetween ‘cleanse’ and ‘strictly alkaline’. As with all detox diets one can experience a healing ‘reaction’, where toxins are leaving the body and it is coming to balance. I’m feeling mildly tired now and again, occasionally fuzzy headed (but that was something I experienced before and a strange wiggly rash from my chin down my neck). I’ will update you on these as I go.

I’m excited to bring you the next chapter in my health optimisation. SOON. I have LOTS to share with you, so you can take control of your health too.

Overall, Ruth said I was doing ok but I suggested I alkalise my diet more to support my health. I’m all for stepping up my levels of health as the years pass rather than the ‘old school’ way of giving up and loosing their vitality because of an idea of aging. Balls to that!

Have you had a LIVE BLOOD ANALYSIS? What was your experience? If you can add any insights from you own experience please do share with us. The comments are much appreciated by the readers.

Ruth Daber is full of interesting information and gives you loads of time and explains everything. She even whipped up a raw avocado soup for me to enjoy before I left. I can’t guarantee she’ll supply soup everytime but she can be contacted www.live-blood-europe.com email: [email protected]

In my next post, I’ll be listing a short round up of suggested suppliments to assist the alkalising process.

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