Day 1 of the 21 Day Raw Food Challenge

Dear Challengers!
Don't forget to join the group on facebook so that you can add to discussions and get awesome recipes and tips! Today is day 1 and meal 1!!

I don't feel deprived...I feel relieved.

Raw foods are what my body wants and needs when I truly listen to it! I'm sure you and your body will feel the same.
Take it one meal at a time...and eat as much raw food as you like! Stop dwelling on calories, protein, carbs, and fat. Focus on filling your tummy till you feel satisfied and happy! Raw foods are high in nutrients, water, fiber and energy...which are all the keys to making you feel satisfied! Enjoy each juicy crunchy creamy bite and share your experience with others!

You deserve to look and feel your best.
No one ever said making a change was easy. But with the support of new friends, old friends and family we can all revolutionize food, emotions, love, passion, and our energy levels not just as individuals BUT as a nation!

Thank you for all of your support, loyalty and love...not just today but always.

Rawkn Yogini~
Don't hesitate to e-mail me if you need support...we all do! afk6@unh.edu

Roughing it to better your health!

~FIBER~

I promised you all that I would talk more about this component that is found in all plant based foods. Fiber cannot be digested by the human body, yet its benefits can save your life.

WHY eat Fiber!?

Fiber comes in two forms Soluble and Insoluble but both are EQUALLY important.

Soluble fiber dissolves easily in water whereas Insoluble fiber remains suspended when mixed with water.

Roles and Benefits of Fiber:

*Fiber slows down gastric emptying: The fiber swells in your stomach, takes up space, and keeps you fuller longer this is especially helpful for losing weight.

*Fiber speeds up colon transit time: prevents constipation by bulking up your stool and helps paristalsis or contraction of the colon to push stool through till it exits ;-).

*Fiber helps to eliminate toxins in the colon and even helps prevent colon cancer: by scraping against the colon wall it binds to toxins and helps move them out.



To chew or not to chew that is the question!

Why wouldn't I want Fiber?

**If you already have a compromised colon with conditions such as diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, crohns, etc. You may need to heal your colon with a low fiber diet before you can slowly incorporate fiber into your diet.**

Fiber may help eliminate toxins but it also eliminates some vitamins and minerals. You may be venturing into a "juice feast" like me (aka NO FIBER) I am doing this so that my body can easily and quickly absorb vitamins and minerals and nutrients without losing any. Without fiber digestion is much easier for my body and it can take a break. Juice and Smoothies and whole fruits and vegetables are all good.

Generally it is good to have a mix of it all...



I hope this helped you all! Eat your fruits and veggies!

Rawkn Yogini~

The RAW HOLIDAY season!

Yehaaa!
That was the phrase I sang out every time I took a walk with my Grammie this weekend who desperately need some motivation to move after a tramatic weekend of receiving over 7 pints of lost blood. She was rushed to the hospital with bleeding to later determine that the cause was a disease called Diverticulitis. Diverticulitis is an inflammation caused by compacted hard fecal material getting impacted into herniations along the colon-WOW sounds painful. This is a disease which is normally caused by a diet LOW in FIBER. A very common disease the nurse told her nonchalantly as if because many people had it, it wasn't a danger to your health. That got me thinking! FIBER is a huge component in the diet of raw foodies-in the form of fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, dried fruit-Yep the whole diet=Fiber. Now look at a SAD typical diet. pancakes with syrup, white bread with mayo and cheese and meat for lunch, and steak for dinner with a roll and some cooked skinless mashed potatoes=virtually no fiber! We gave her some education on this. But while she is healing she is eating a diet LOW in fiber called a Low residue diet so that she can heal! After that it is recommended to increase your fiber intake gradually. I will talk about Fiber and the benefits of fiber later today...Time for class!

Be back soon,
Rawkn Yogini~