John Wooden 7 point creed...

1. Be true to yourself.
2. Make each day your masterpiece.
3. Help others.
4. Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible.
5. Make friendship a fine art.
6. Build a shelter against a rainy day.
7. Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.

When life start's exceeding the speed limit, or I seem to be focused on "worldly" tangibles, this is what I resort back to. These 7 points can assist in keeping both feet glued to the ground and a clear vision of true importance. Living a life in balance helps in giving an overall sense of inner peace. Have a safe weekend!

A food that deserves its own post...

At my daily trip to the supermarket today the female cashier said to me, "I thought avocado was high in fat, you buy one everyday and your not"? That was enough to inspire a new post, and I think that most people feel this way about avocado, so let's take a few minutes and clear things up. I do in fact eat an avocado everyday, actually today this will be my second ( one mexican and one from Florida). Avocado's actually are high in fat, but its the right balance of poly and monounsaturated fats, both extremely healthy. The avocado is a fruit, higher in potassium than banana's, with the highest protein content of any fruit, and plenty of lutein which is crucial for eye ( retina ) health. This food puts up a good fight against oral, prostate and breast cancer, lowers your "bad" cholesterol, and is preventative against heart disease and stroke. The abundance of vitamin E the avocado gives makes it a anti aging weapon, crucial for clear and smooth skin, and good for overall vitality and well being. So here's a few ways I incorporate avocado into my day. I'm actually a huge fan of Papaya and Avocado Salad. A delicious combination of exotic fruits, while complimenting each other when it comes down to digestion. The papaya contains an enzyme called papain, which easily breaks down the proteins in the avocado and helps your body to get them where the body wants. I will also slice avocado onto a salad, which gives the salad a nice creamy consistency, and the fat in avocado help the body utilize antioxidants from other salad foods ( tomato, carrots and greens ). Or, I simply cut an avocado in half, grab a spoon and go to work. A good snack if I'm on the run and need some fats and protein to get me where I need to be. Ask any true Raw foodie or Vegan, and they will tell you the avocado is the most nourishing and beautifying food the earth supplies us with. Enjoy!

Summer grazing...

I hope everyone had a good weekend, staying as hydrated as possible. I actually got to check out Caravan of Dreams, a Raw / Vegan restaurant in the heart of the East Village. Definitely a chill little spot, decent menu comparable to any place similiar, and your typical earthy, peaceful and laid back staff that you would expect at a restaurant serving such foods.
I'm going to hit two topics today that I feel hold hands. The first being my morning eating routine which I call raw fruit grazing, or many people call "only fruit until noon". I'm a believer in taking it easy on your digestive system in the morning, to have sustainable energy through out your day. If the first thing your putting down is a heavier foods ( oatmeal, eggs, bacon, etc), right away your calling on your digestive system to rip through a food mass which slows you down, draining energy important places ( your brain ). In addition, I stay away from dried, cooked and canned fruits, which have essentially been robbed of most vital nutrients through processing.
Now the sister of fruit grazing is seasonal eating, which is restoring for your body and our environment. Eating according to season supplies your body with nutrients needed to face a new environment, keeps your body balanced and works your immune system into peak shape. Our ancestors only ate according to seasons, which our bodies do recognize and fully appreciate. For example, summer foods tend to be lighter and fresh. Melons, berries of all sort, citrus, kiwi, mango, papaya, or colorful fruit salads is optimal summer morning eating. In addition, lots of raw greens, tomatoes and avocado are in abundance the summer months, and incorporated into my daily routine. As I finish up here, I'm also finishing up a bowl mixed with blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries. Enjoy this ( low humidity) summer day!

First things first...

Now just for the record, I'm not a doctor or nutritionist. My knowledge of foods comes from my own research, reading and experiences. I'm not here to diagnose or heal any one, although I do believe in "God's Pharmacy" and holistic healing methods rather than conventional American health care. Please consult with your physician before introducing new foods or exercise regimen's.
I only thought it made sense to start my blog off with the first thing I do in the morning upon waking ( besides the obvious). I wash, cut and squeeze the juice of 2 fresh lemons into a small glass, dilute it slightly with purified room temp water, and down it goes. Besides being high in vitamin C , the B vitamins, calcium and magnesium, room temp lemon water on an empty stomach also acts as a blood purifier and immediately puts the PH of your body alkaline. Lemon water cleanses your stomach of any undigested food and helps with elimination and constipation as well. Lemon is also known as a liver cleanser, and acts as a beauty food that gives your skin a clear and healthy glow.
As some of you know, I'm also a huge fan of fine loose leaf green tea's. Now green tea alone supplies some powerful anti aging antioxidants to your body ( don't worry green tea will eventually get it's own post ). But it's said that citrus fruits, especially lemon, helps with the absorption of the catechins in green tea. So it only makes sense that my morning lemon water is followed up with green tea, delivering any free radicals roaming around the 1-2 punch.
I've heard many health fanatics say that if you don't generally live a healthy lifestyle but your looking for one routine that gives to your body, it would be fresh squeezed lemon and water on an empty stomach in the morning. Drink up!