I’m not here to persuade or argue with you. I’m here to help you to make the choice that is best for you. I offer experience and knowledge. I offer a perspective.

You must choose. Whatever you are doing right now with respect to your health is a choice. In other words, you have already chosen. And you get to choose again and again. And again.

Every decision is a choice.

In response to a reader, I wrote Lose Weight with Raw Foods. While I was addressing a specific reader question, this article is far more than just about weight loss. It presents an approach for making choices that supports you in adding more raw foods to your daily meals, which will result in more normal weight.

In this article, I suggest two approaches to healthier eating: (1) fewer refined foods and (2) more raw foods. I like to keep it simple. Sometimes people get overwhelmed with the idea of eating raw foods, thinking it must be a total commitment in order to be effective. Many raw foodists promote this idea, often because they themselves have chosen a 100% raw food diet.

Truly, it does not need to be a 100% commitment to be effective. In fact, that is extremely difficult for a variety of reasons. One slip and you’ve failed. That’s no fun! Check out Eating Raw: Must it be 100%? for encouragement to make a choice to eat MORE raw foods. Such a choice moves you in the direction of greater health.

You might make the initial choice to eat more raw foods for any number of rational reasons. When you have the direct experience of eating raw foods for a while, you continue to choose, but usually for different reasons than the ones that prompted the journey.

Most individuals turn to raw foods initially because of a health challenge, especially a health condition that has not been corrected with popular, traditional methods. Information has become more readily available thanks to the Internet (Thank you, Internet!). Not everything you read on the internet is accurate, but with a discerning eye you can find what you need.

Some people who have been eating primarily processed foods get discouraged when they consume raw foods, especially if they make a dramatic shift. Certainly it’s possible that Eating Raw Food Can Activate Detoxification, but the process can be moderated (see article). If you have such a reaction, it is proof that your body is toxic and is benefiting from the cleanse.

After your body is cleansed, you will feel lighter, more energetic, and more conscious. You will have greater mental clarity and enjoy your work and play more. You will be more creative, motivated, and relaxed. Feeling lighter will also translate to the scale if your current weight is not ideal.

Please don’t take my word for it. It’s your choice.

The Skinny on Your Skin

Your whole body is covered with it. On average for an adult, it covers about 3000 square inches and weighs about 6 pounds.

It grows as you grow. It contracts as you get slim. It regenerates and repairs itself after most injuries to it.

Your skin is an important organ for releasing toxins from the body, through what many people prefer not to talk about — sweat. The skin also absorbs substances directly — topical remedies, environmental toxins, components of the water you soak in.

Your skin protects vital organs, aids in regulating body temperature, and gives you information through touch or sensations.

People spend thousands of dollars on skin preparations  to make their skin look a certain way, for example, younger or more radiant. Many of these products introduce chemicals into the body. Healthy facial products are also available for sale.

Raw Foods on Your Skin

Many health food advocates know the value of placing certain organic raw or living foods directly on the skin. Avocado, coconut oil, raw honey, aloe vera, raw apple cider vinegar, are among the popular favorites.

Cucumber slices soothe the eyes when you close your eyes, lie down, and put slices on your eyes. Raw honey soothes burns and heals abrasions. Raw apple cider vinegar acts as an astringent and fast facial cleanser.

We use a lot of aloe vera, directly from the plant leaf. We cut pieces for smoothies, raw soups, and salad dressings and then rub the rest on our faces. Topical application of aloe vera takes the discomfort and discoloration from a bruise.

Eating Raw Foods for Your Skin

When you start to eat raw foods after a long time of eating highly processed foods, you can have a healing reaction that shows on your skin. Acne, rashes, or other conditions can show that you are releasing toxins. When all your other releasing organs are working at maximum capacity, this is minor or non existent.

When your body is finished with its cleansing, though, you will see changes in the texture, tone, and vitality of your skin. Your skin will radiate. It will be well worth the discomfort (which you may not even experience).

Organic, living, raw foods provide you with the vitamins, enzymes, minerals, and amino acids your body needs for your skin. Raw foods are filled with water, so that you add moisture to your skin, from the inside out.

When your systems and organs are fed the nutrition they need to function properly, your skin advertises your health. When you get your nutrients and moisture from foods like leafy greens and apples and sprouts, you will know the real meaning of phrases like "inner beauty" and "inner glow."

When your body and skin are getting their nutrition with organic, raw, living foods, you’ll look and feel your best, naturally. Show the world your health with the glow of your skin!

Inflammation is a NATURAL response of the body to protect itself (and its parts) against harmful stimuli. The inflammation is like a cushion or protective shield that allows the impacted part of the body to heal.

BUT — and this is a BIG BUT — when the body contains too much inflammation over long periods of time, many different symptoms and dysfunctions can occur. As with many dynamics in life, a good thing is a good thing in the proper amount. Too much is no longer a good thing.

On David Wolfe’s pod cast, he talks about the foods that are most likely to increase the inflammation in your body: for example, foods you’re allergic to and foods high in protein.

Just as important to know are foods that are anti-inflammatory, for example, sulfur-containing foods, aloe vera, whole fresh noni.

But, don’t take my word for it. Please listen to his podcast directly, as he says more. In only THREE minutes he gives enough information to help you to change the amount of inflammation in your body just by adjusting your food intake.

Transition Gradually

For someone new to exploring a raw food lifestyle, just “adding more raw foods” is a great strategy. Later you can decide percentage, but “more” will make a difference in your life, especially if you add “more” on a regular basis.

And speaking of more … the more nutrients you consume, the less food you need. Raw organic plant foods have more nutrients than cooked foods.

It is not necessary to eat 100% raw to benefit from raw foods. Often a little shift will be easier to maintain. For example, if you are eating cooked jams/jelly with sugar, change to whole berries without any added sweetener. If you use sugar in your coffee or tea, substitute stevia.

Organically grown plant foods taste better than those treated with pesticides, so avoid conventionally grown fruits and vegetables. Instead of regular packaged crackers, look for raw, organic flax seed crackers. Simple adjustments like these are easier to make than strict rules that make you feel like a failure when you can’t or don’t follow the rules.

Drink the best water available to you and you will have less of a craving for bottled juices or soda or milk. Want a little flavoring in your water? Add some fresh lemon or cayenne pepper or cinnamon. If you want a sweet drink, select some of your favorite fruits, prepare for eating, put in blender with some water, blend and enjoy.

Honor Your Preferences

Your own habits and preferences are important. If you like the idea of a raw food eating style, honor your preferences, take your time, and transition slowly.

As you are discovering the proper percentage for you, ask yourself this question repeatedly: how does this taste to me? As you regularly have more raw foods in your meals, your tastes will change. Likely you will find that raw foods become more delicious and cooked foods become less delicious. Or perhaps, you will find that everything you choose is tasty and perfect for you.

Remember: if after one bite the food does not taste good, stop eating! If it tastes good at first and you continue to eat and it begins to not taste good, stop eating! Let your feelings and taste guide you.

Meal times are often social times for most people. You may find that by deciding to eat raw foods at home and cooked foods when you are with friends or on a business trip that you find the right balance for you.

Find Your Way

Experiment. Read. Ask questions. Find your own way. Be gentle with yourself. Enjoy the process. Keep a positive attitude. When you decide that your own well being is the priority, you will find the right balance or percentage.

What is the best percentage of raw for you? The one you can maintain!

David Wolfe has prepared several videos to introduce you to his Longevity Now Program. The introductory videos, of course, are free. If you access any of these videos from the respective link, you’ll also have access to the others.

Food and Money

I’ve seen how powerfully a change in food choices can change a person’s outlook on life. With a new perspective, all aspects of life change.

Some people are focused so strongly on not having enough money, which, of course, attracts more of not enough money. When trapped in negative thinking, it’s often a good idea to change the subject to another one.

Some people also have some rather negative relationships with food. "I can’t eat this." Or, "I shouldn’t eat that." Again, changing the subject to something more pleasant can be helpful.

Better yet, create ways to think and speak about positive aspects of food and money.

Both money and food are subjects you’re likely to be faced with every day — in fact, many times a day. When you find ways to think and speak positively about each, you experience a more satisfying relationship with both.

As I said in My Raw Food Story, I found enormous inspiration in studying about raw food cuisine when I chose to make a change in my food consumption. In fact, I had been a rather healthy eater before my illness, and didn’t attribute my illness to food choices. But the focus on eating healthy, living, raw, and interesting meals gave me a positive focus and direction.

David Wolfe’s perspective is very powerful, and based on far more research than my own. I encourage you to watch Foods that Attract Money.

Changing Habits Requires Discipline

The easiest thing to do today is what you did yesterday. Habits simplify life. However, when the actions that form the habits are destruction, you owe it to yourself to change the habits. This requires discipline.

Discipline involves consistent action that strengthens or empowers you. How will YOU stay healthy, stand strong, and still have fun along the way? Discipline creates freedom when you approach it to the proper mindset.

David Wolfe says, "Health is simple; illness is complex." Absolutely.

You can reach all your health and financial goals and achieve maximum healthy longevity without forcing yourself to do anything you don’t want to do!

Make positive choices.

Check out David’s Discipline Video.

Longevity Now Program

These videos introduce you to the Longevity Now Program that teaches you step-by-step how to achieve stunning longevity, beauty, vitality, and prosperity… all through tiny, effortless, fun-filled steps.

The videos are free, with valuable information. They lead you to the Program with a price tag. It’s a reasonable price, IF you listen to and apply the principles and techniques. You will change not only your food, but your health, and your prosperity.

It’s your choice. I encourage you to at least watch the videos.

This blog is all about making choices joyfully. I’ll share with you as much as I can from my heart. David Wolfe is one of the person’s I am genuinely delighted to introduce you to.

Flax: A Powerhouse of Nutrients in a Little Seed

High in antioxidants, flax seeds are idea for folks with many adverse health conditions associated with free-radicals, including high blood pressure, inflammation, blood sugar disruptions, etc. For general health for generally healthy people, these seeds are also important. This humble seed is appropriately called a superfood.

Flax seeds are a complete protein with the added value of healthy fat. Flax seeds contain alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3 oil), soluble and insoluble fiber, including the special fiber, lignans. Proportion of omega-3 and omega-6 is key to health.

Regular flax seed consumption aids in soothing or reversing many compromised health conditions and adds to a greater sense of well-being. Flax is a regular part of my own daily food consumption.

However, taking a spoonful of whole flax seeds can give you a tummy ache and very little nutrient value. To be of maximum use to the body, you need to be attentive to using them in a form that the body can assimilate.

The Forms of Flax

We generally think of flax as available in three forms: whole, ground/meal, oil.

Whole flax seeds do not require refrigeration, but ground flax seeds need to be frozen or can be refrigerated for short periods. Flax seed oil is quite unstable and requires refrigeration. I store whole flax in a glass container in a cupboard away from heat.

Whole flax loves water and drinks it rather quickly. This happens inside or outside your body. If you feel bloated from eating whole flax seed, you can do one of several things:

• Soak the whole seeds in water first (this produces a gelatinous mess which you might not like), or
• Chew them very well to reduce this internal swelling somewhat, or
• Grind the flax into meal and soak before using.

Flax meal (or ground flax) is very unstable. If you purchase flax meal, be certain to check the label. I expect that manufacturers of ground flax add stabilizers. And if they do not, the meal will likely be rancid.

Here’s what I do: I grind my own flax. I have done this in all my grinding or blending equipment and find that it works, each with a slightly different texture. Occasionally I am tempted to purchase a flax seed grinder, but then I reason with myself that I have enough equipment! I grind enough for a week or two and freeze it. It is ok refrigerated for up to two days.

When I grind flax seed, I don’t over-grind, as I find it pleasant if the texture is a little uneven, some coarse and some fine. I use my high speed blender because I can get exactly the texture I want quickly. However, if I didn’t have a high speed blender, I’d simply use a regular blender or food chopper. (See my earlier article on Raw Food Equipment.)

Flax seed oil is also highly unstable. At one time, I purchased flax seed oil. When I did, I always made sure to purchase from the refrigerated section and checked the dates on the label. I get plenty of flax seed oil in my daily consumption of flax. When I want this type of oil in a bottle, I use something else, like hemp seed oil.

Selecting Flax

I usually purchase my flax at one of my local health food stores in a package, certified organic. I pass up the bulk bins as these are rarely certified organic and I have no way of knowing how long they’ve been in the bin or if the clean out the bins.

I also buy online if I’m placing an order for other items either at RawFood.com or NaturalZing.com. Both these outstanding web sites have whole flax and various raw food flax products. Visit either site and search for "flax."

Golden Vs Brown flax. My understanding from reading someone who was involved in the original project of producing golden flax, that there is no difference in nutritional value between these two varieties. There is a slight difference in taste (golden flax is milder). For my taste, I much prefer the darker variety and now purchase only that.

Flax Can be Added to Many Recipes

Flax adds a slight nutty flavor to foods. I add it to raw soups, salads, salad dressings, and smoothies. In most cases, I soak it at least ten minutes in liquid before adding it to other ingredients.

Whole flax seeds, soaked first in water for several hours to activate the gelatinous quality that acts as "glue," make an awesome cracker for the raw foodist who does not consume bread. Recipes are included in most raw food cuisine books.

My morning smoothie starts with ground flax seed, soaked overnight in a little water. To that I add whatever else I want. I’ll include some recipes in future articles.

I eat 1/8 to 1/4 cup of ground flax seed a day. It is important to start small and increase to that amount if you want to take that much.