Marathon is this month
Well here I am… I started training in June and it’s now October. My marathon is 2 weeks away and I am psyched! I can run farther and faster than I ever thought I would. My abs are getting rock hard as are my arms. My legs are getting super strong and I can climb hills like never before! I love my body and I love what running does for it!
Here are some things I have learned in the last 4 1/2 months:
1. 
Chia seeds are super fuel for this body. I soak 1/2 cup in about 2 cups water overnight and eat a big fat heaping Tablespoon or more before a run. No added flavors or ingredients, just chia, and I don’t feel it in my belly while running but feel super charged and energized.
2. Bee pollen
is a great fuel while running. After about an hour of running I need a little fuel. I other than choose the gel shots and power bars as they are full of stuff I don’t want in my body. So I keep a baggie full of bee pollen in my back pocket and just pour myself a mouthful. I can keep going and feel awesome.
3. 
Loading on proteins and carbs within 30 minutes of finishing an hour or longer run is crucial for recovery. I’m so happy I figured this out through trial and error and reading the running mags. I don’t eat what they recommend though which is usually bagels and cream cheese or something equally “gooey for the gut”. Instead, here is what I make: A green smoothie w Warrior Food protein Powder. Recipe: 1 banana, 1 piece of fruit such as handful of strawberries (w stems), or nectarine or blueberries, etc. 2 heaping Tbs. Warrior Food Hemp protein Powder, 1 scoop of L-glutamine (for ATP synthesis and muscle rebuilding), a huge handful or 2 of kale, spinach, sprouts or parsley, water to blend, and sometimes some extra green powder like Vitamineral Green or Spirulina and some stevia for my sweet tooth. I like the soy lecithin powder for creaminess and brain function too.
4. So I drink that slowly over the course of an hour after running but start drinking it right when I get home or finish running.
5. 
Big green salads still rock! I like how light I feel when I eat a salad with avocado, tomatoes, sauerkraut, sprouts, seasoned sunflower seeds (see my book for recipes), drizzle some pumpkin seed oil and sometimes throw some cooked beans in for extra fiber, carbs and protein. I never eat more than 3 fats in a salad or it’s sleepy time for me. I usually limit it to 2. Olives and olive oil are the same fat so that’s good. Avocado is its own fat as are seeds (i count seeds as 1 category even if I use more than 1 kind of seed). I also love to top it with soaked sun dried tomatoes and some capers (not raw but oh so yummy!)
6. Dinner I try to be done eating by 6 or 7 at the latest so I can wake up energized and refreshed. No snacking at night if I can help it, because that just adds extra work for my body overnight.
7. I do find that I am much hungrier than before and am happy I get to eat more without gaining weight. In fact I’ve lost about 7 or 8 pounds and have really trimmed down. Nice bonus. One thing I have been enjoying is Clif Builder Bars. They are definitely not raw, but are organic and I feel good when I eat them. I also like Lydia’s raw buckwheat-cacao bars for fuel and protein.
I now know that running will always be a part of my life and I am going to continue to sign up for marathons and 1/2 marathons. The next one is the Big Sur Marathon in April and Avenue of the Giants 1/2 marathon sometime next spring. Before I know it a year will have gone by and I’ll have logged hundreds of miles!!!!
I have run farther than I ever thought I could and now think running 12 miles is an easy cake walk. Incredible!
I’m running in Mt. Shasta this week where it is colder and higher altitudes so we’ll see how that goes.
I’ll be back after the marathon to let you know how fabulously it went!
1 comment October 7, 2009
elainalove
Getting into the best shape of my life
Running 12 miles in the redwoods
I feel soooo good. I am running 3-4x a week and cross training on the other days. I now have muscular abs again which I haven’t had in a really long time. In fact all of my muscles have decided to join the party. The reason I am writing this is because I want to inspire you to sign up for some kind of event and train for it. You will be amazed at how motivated you can become when you are running for a cause (for me it’s leukemia) and with other people who are counting on you to be there. I have made some great friends, look and feel better than ever and my mood is much more steady and balanced. I am running 12 miles tomorrow and 18 miles next Saturday. I am not even worried anymore about weather I can do it or not, because with a little bee pollen in my back pocket, I can run anywhere!
Since a lot of you reading this know that I eat a high raw, vegan diet, here are some of the things I have been finding to work quite well:
Chia seeds
Chia are super high in EFAs and have an ability to give endurance to long distance runners.
• Super-Energizing Power…For Greater Endurance and “Go Power”! Due to its unique blend of Protein, Essential Fats, Fiber, Complex Carbohydrates, and Antioxidants, chia is unrivalled among seeds and grains for providing energy to your body.
• Improves Cardiovascular Health…super high levels of heart-healthy EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids)…chia’s oil contains the highest-known percentage of omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid, a whopping 62%–64%!
• Stabilizes Blood Sugar…Reduces blood sugar swings…and supports conditions of hypoglycemia and diabetes.
• Reduces Cravings for Sweets and Junk Foods—high soluble fiber content releases natural, unrefined carbohydrate energy slowly into the bloodstream.
• Improves Mental Focus and Concentration. Chia’s balanced essential fatty acids can signficantly boost your brain power…and brighten your mood.
• High-Quality Protein—Chia contains 20% or more protein…a higher percentage protein than found in other grains, such as wheat, corn, rice, or oats.
• Builds Lean Muscle Mass…Plus it’s useful for weight loss and weight maintenance. Chia is suitable for all lifestyles and dietary regimens, including low-carb diets and vegetarian diets.
• Gluten-Free. Unlike grain-source proteins, chia seed protein contains no gluten. You can eat chia without worrying about gluten if you are sensitive to it…or about developing gluten sensitivity. Chia is an ideal food for individuals with gluten sensitivity, carbohydrate intolerance, hypoglycemia, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, or anyone who wants to avoid common gluten-containing grains like corn, barley, and wheat.
• An Ideal Food for nearly everyone, including individuals with food allergies, food sensitivities, or food and chemical hypersensitivity. One study found no evidence of allergic response to chia, even in individuals with peanut and tree nut allergies.
• Super-Hydration and Electrolyte Balance. Chia’s soluble fiber (hydrophilic colloids) massively retains water…keeps you well-hydrated and maintains your electrolyte balance.
• Supports Healthy Elimination and Detoxification—healthy oils and fiber contribute to greater regularity and comfort…beneficial effects not to be underestimated!
• Uniquely Balanced. Chia offers an amazingly balanced ratios of macronutrients…better balanced than most grains, seeds, and many other foods.
I soak 1/4 cup chia seeds in 3/4 cups water and either blend them into some almond or sesame milk with 2 Tbs. Warrior Food protein powder (see PureJoyPlanet.com), and some stevia or honey or perhaps a banana. I like to add about 1 Tbs. Spirulina or Vitamineral Green. This is my post run smoothie. I eat a pretty low glycemic (sweets) diet, so instead of a lot of fruit which bloats me and makes me burp, I add the stevia. Lately I’ve been adding aloe vera gel (the inner part of about 1/3 of a big leaf) and blending that in too. It gets frothy and fills out the smoothie nicely.
Bee Pollen-
bee pollen
This is an amazing food. It’s got 18 amino acids and is very high in protein. Here is a little excerpt to give you more info:
Bee Pollen is often referred to as nature’s perfect food because it contains a rich supply of vitamins, minerals, trace elements, enzymes, and amino acids. In addition, it contains flavonoids such as rutin and quercitin.
Bee pollen contains 35% protein, 55% carbohydrates, 2% fatty acids, and 3% minerals and vitamins. Consequently, it has been noted to have a high concentration of vitamins A, C, D, and E, and it is extraordinary rich in the B-complex vitamins. However, bee pollen’s composition may vary depending on plant sources and geographic region.
First, bee pollen consists of antioxidant compounds such as vitamins C and E, beta carotene, and flavonoids, which makes it a free radical fighter. Antioxidants are compounds that help protect the body from cellular damage caused by free radicals.
The body needs antioxidants because with every breath you take (among others) you generate free radicals, which are highly reactive substances that can attack and damage cells, contributing to premature aging and disease if left unchecked.
I take bee pollen by the Tablespoon. Maybe once or twice a week, but not all the time, just when I think about it. I do eat it on my long Saturday runs. About every hour I pour a mouthful and rinse it down with water. I gotta tell ya, I feel awesome when I do it. My energy is high and I finish my run strong and feeling fine!
Greens-
Fresh Mesclun Mix
I love kale, parsley, basil, Romaine, arugula, spring mix, fresh herbs and butter lettuce. I eat a big green salad once or twice a day. Sometimes I’ll eat one for breakfast with mashed avocado and sauerkraut as a dressing. Other times with 1 Tbs. pumpkins seed oil or hemp seed oil or olive oil. I add cucumbers, red bell peppers (green are not ripe), tomatoes and dum ta dum….Freeze dried peas which I buy from www.justtomatoes.com
Sea Vegetables-
I love dulse, nori, sea palm, hijiki, and arame. I add it to salads almost daily (usually just one of the above). Sea Veg are filled with minerals and are so good for us. My inner voice is usually quick to speak up and remind me if I forget to add one of these jewels to my salad, it sound something like (“dulse!” or “Nori”…I just hear the voice in my head and I know what I need to do).
Water-
I realize this is something I do daily anyways, but I feel it is such a big part of the way I feel, it needs to be mentioned. I have a water Ionizer/Alkalizer from Ion Ways called the Athena. It makes the water more alkaline and it also ionizes it which microclusters the water making it more absorbable by the cells therefore more hydrating. We all know that when we are alkaline and hydrated we have more energy, feel good and don’t get sick. In fact, I checked my urine Ph today and it was really alkaline…major blue on the test strip. No wonder I’ve been feeling so good and haven’t gotten sick since Goddess knows when 
If you want to check out the system for yourself, go to www.Ionways.com/purejoyplanet
Other things I have found really help me during my training are good running shoes, a great coach (comes with the Team in Training fund raising package), good attitude, a white running hat and good moral support of friends and family.
I’ve been getting up early every morning now to stay on a rhythm, which means my alarm goes off at 5:20 am most mornings. When I’m not running, I get up early (in the dark) and go to a 6 am yoga class. I’m in bed by 10pm and most of the time I stop all eating by 6 or 7 pm. These are all great ways to add to my overall health and well being and I know that my liver and body thank me for being so kind to them, and so will yours!
I’m doing a gallbladder flush over the next 5 days, so look for my blog results soon.
1 comment September 5, 2009
elainalove
Eating seasonally for optimum health
Our bodies move in cycles. Not only to the cycles of the moon in each month like the tides, but by the seasons as well. In the winter we crave and actually need completely different foods than we do in the summer. Nature knows best. Think about what grows year round. In the winter we have the hard winter squashes and winter greens, more root vegetables, nuts, grains and overall, heavier, heartier and denser foods. In the spring and summer green foods begin shooting above ground. All the light cucumbers, watermelon, zucchini, spring onions and tender lettuces are abundant. Why is this? Because our bodies need those foods at that time. If you were to eat buckwheat, pumpkin and kale all summer, your body would think it was in a winter climate and would use those foods to warm you up. The last thing you want on a 100 degree day right? So in the summer the watermelon and cucumbers for example give us the cooling action we need. They also serve as a diuretic to clean out our kidneys. Summer is a perfect time for cleansing because the body wants to shed it’s winter weight and any toxins it’s built up all year. Listen to you mother! (nature that is), and eat the foods the grow locally (within 50-75 miles) and choose fresh picked, organic foods. These choices will affect you even more than body temperatures. Did you know that if you were to eat say- strawberries year round that you could indeed develop an allergy to them? Why? because the body needs a break from the same foods every day. Why do you think so many people are allergic to wheat, corn, eggs and dairy? Could it be because they eat them everyday, even several times a day and the body gets overloaded creating a leakage in the gut that flows into the blood, then the blood thinks this food is a foreign invader and creates an attack on it. Hmmmm something to think about next time you want to buy blueberries from New Zealand (unless you live there).
There is also the environmental impact of buying foods that don’t grow locally. All the airplanes, trucks, and ships that are burning oil and creating pollution to bring you your pineapple from Hawaii. What about the waste of all the boxes and plastic as well? Every dollar we spend is a vote. Vote for local, fresh and organic. And speaking of local and support, what about our wonderful farmers? Sure you can go to Whole Foods or where ever and buy produce grown by local farms, but if you go to the farmers markets, you are directly putting that money into the farmers pocket with no middle man. These men and women work so hard to bring us food to sustain us (especially raw foodists- right?) so taking a little extra time to go to your weekly farmers market can make a difference in the lives of those who are really feeding us.
So with summer here, now, drink your cooling green juice (see recipe below), watermelon juice, fresh green salads with plenty of juicy tomatoes, red bell peppers (never green!), and cucumbers. Try to avoid heavy nuts, dried fruits, grains and foods that will zap your energy. Instead, hydrate, rejuvenate and follow natures cues!
Cooling Green Juice Recipe
- 1 large cucumber with skin
- 1 bunch of celery (about 12 stalks)
- 1 head of Romaine lettuce
- 1 lemon
Run all the greens and lemon through a Green Star Jucier. Enjoy as a cool refreshing drink before lunch or dinner as a way to alkalize and cool your body and supress your appetite.
1 comment July 12, 2009
elainalove
Tags: eating seasonally, farmers market, organic, Raw Foods, summer foods, winter foods
raw food as running fuel
Okay, so I did the run this morning. I ate a good sized salad at Cafe Gratitude last night around 8:30 pm (a little later than desired) which had kale, kraut, seaweed and a wee bit of cooked quinoa added. I got up this morning and drank 1 1/2 cups coconut water with 1 banana blended and 1 tablespoon of Sun Warrior Protein.
I felt way better today than last week. We ran about the same amount of miles, 6.5. I felt pretty good on that food fuel until the last mile or so, then began to feel tired. My muscles felt good, everything seemed to be working great. Very little knee pain, no other pain, but just got drained of energy torwards the end. I think the diet still needs a little tweaking as I was burping up banana for a while, but most likely because I only ate it 1 hour before the run and should have done 2 hours.
Drank the L Glutamine when I got back with another 2 Tbs. Sun Warrior Protein, 1 Tbs. vitamineral Green with 1 banana, frozen strawberries and blueberries and water. That’s been holding me over and it’s 2:30pm now so good choice on the food fuel.
3 comments July 4, 2009
elainalove
Tags: marathon training, protein powder, Raw Foods, running, vegan
Super foods for super bodies
I’ve been training for a marathon for almost a month now. My body is getting stronger and more muscular by the day (cool!), and I am actually starting to eat less! I think it’s because I’m really putting thought into what goes in as it will show up at the workout tomorrow with me. On days that I have eaten too late at night or too many fats (Hello avocados, olives, pumpkin seed oil and almonds) my legs feel like lead and my breathing is labored from the start (maybe it’s time for another liver flush).
So now, I am focusing on getting more protein in my diet. Since I don’t eat animal flesh, that means finding alternative, raw, vegan sources that aren’t filled with soy which makes my stomach hurt and makes my body acidic (more on alkaline/acid balance later). I just discovered this great raw, vegan protein powder called Sun Warrior Protein. I have taken it twice so far and have to say that yesterday I felt super satisfied all day after my morning smoothie which contained the powder. I didn’t even eat dinner (unless 10 olives and 1/2 a tub of freeze dried peas counts) and I had a great amount of energy.
I’m running my long run tomorrow since it’s Saturday. I’ll run with the Team In Training group and will run probably between 5 and 7 miles depending on how I feel. Last week after 7 miles (not 6 as originally thought) my kneecaps felt like someone had taken a hammer to them. It was hard for me to walk without pain until Wednesday. So this week I’m going to watch it and not amp up my miles too fast since I have until October 18th to be ready. I’m going to get up early and drink that Sun Warrior, to see how I feel. Last week was a complete disaster with the food thing; I was so proud of myself for making these goji-chia-almond bars, and I thought “This is light, this is good, this has energy”, well my poor running partner, Glenda, all she heard was “oooh my stomach hurts, burp, burp”….Ahhh never again, that thing stayed with me for hours! This week is a new experiment, keep your fingers crossed for me that all goes well. I’ll just add a banana and some coconut water to the blender with 2 Tbs. of the powder and hopefully that will be a good amount.
I just found out about a product called L-Glutamine, according to Mens’ total fitness, it’s the most abundant amino acid found in the muscle and plasma. It is also a primary nitrogen donor, meaning that it moves the nitrogen around in the body to where it is needed. Maintaining a positive nitrogen balance is absolutely necessary for muscle building. When glutamine stores are depleted, people may experience decreases in strength, stamina, and recovery. Here’s more of the story if you are interested: http://www.mens-total-fitness.com/L-glutamine.htm lI’m not sure if it’s going to work for me as they say the jury is still out on how effective the supplement is, but the only food sources of it are meat, eggs , dairy and beans. Now I’ll eat a bean now and again, but not enough to replenish my supply I’m guessing. It says to take it after I work out, so I’ll take that tomorrow after my run and see how I feel on Sunday.
This is a pretty fun experiement! I love being my own experiment. It’s the only way to really know if something works. Try it out then journal the results. I’ve found that keeping a food diary and noticing how I feel after eating has really helped me pinpoint some energy sappers. For instance for lunch I had a green salad with corn (starch), buckwheat crackers (starch and fat), avocado (fat), pumpkin seed oil (fat), and I feel a little sleepy now…too many fats and starches for this clean running body. I think next time, even though I know this already and even though I don’t always want to listen, I’ll limit the intake to 1 starch or protein (nuts), and 1 or 2 fats and I’ll feel much lighter.
Going dancing tonight…taking lessons at a blues club in SOMA (south of Market). I’m supposed to be resting today before my run, but it’s so hard to pass up a good invite. I’ll take it easy and try to get to bed early!
Here is a recipe for all you athletes:
Elaina Loves’
SuperFood Chocolate Clusters
6 oz. Virgin coconut oil
1/4 cup cacao butter (1.25 oz. by weight)
3/4 cup agave nectar
2 Tbs honey
2 tsp. vanilla extract (use cherry, almond, maple, cinnamon, etc.)
1/4 tsp. Himalayan salt crystals
1/16 tsp. cayenne pepper
Blend until smooth
————————————-
1 cup raw cacao powder
1/2 cup raw cacao nibs
1/2 cup goji berries
2 cup coconut chips or fine shredded
1 cup brazil nuts, chopped well
1/4 cup Spirulina powder
1/2 cup raisins (not chopped)
1/2 cup chopped Inca berries (chopped fine)
1 1/2 Tbs. Maca powder
1. Mix coconut oil, agave, vanilla, salt and cayenne together in a blender until smooth.
2. Pour into a bowl and hand mix in the cacao powder and spirulina until well mixed.
3. Add the remainder of ingredients and stir well.
4. Spoon globules of batter onto an excellent drying sheet or wax paper using a level Tablespoon. Freeze until set, then put in a sealable container and refrigerate.
Makes 45 clusters
Add comment July 4, 2009
elainalove
My Spiritual journey because my son has leukemia
When Dominic was diagnosed with ALL leukemia in January 2009, my world fell apart momentarily. I had so many things run through my head. The first was blame. I wanted to blame his father who I have been divorced from for 9 years. We are amicable but I never agreed with his food choices or what he fed Dominic. I wanted to make him to blame for my son having leukemia. I went into the holier than though mode of “I’ve done everything right, breast fed, organic foods, love, etc. etc. It must be his father’s fault.” I thought maybe it was all of those vaccines that I was always against Dominic getting. The blame went on and on. I wanted to take my son and run. Run for the nearest healing center like Hippocrates Health Institute in Florida or OHI in San Diego. I thought, “I’m a raw foodist, my son can’t get chemotherapy, that is just unacceptable.” I cried, I moaned, I screamed until my head ached, I hand wrenched, I called all of the leaders in the raw foods movement I could think of to ask them what to do. I called my ex husband and pleaded with him to let me take Dominic to Hippocrates Health Institute. To his credit, Dominic’s father stayed very calm. He listened, but did not make any rash decisions or flip out on me. I continued to pursue any angle I could as far as Chinese medicine, putting Dominic on raw foods at home and taking all the sugar out of his diet. It totally didn’t work with the food changes. Dom would call me and say, “I think I’ll just stay at Dad’s a little longer.” That’s when I knew that it was time to surrender to the flow of what is. I had a talk with Dominic and asked him what he wanted to do. After all he is 14 and becoming a young man. He said he was scared and that he wanted to be in the least amount of pain possible but that he also wanted to do what was easy. I talked about it with him on numerous occasions, and we talked about what chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant would entail. He had been through a lot of chemo already at that point so understood how sick he could be from it. In the end, he decided that he wanted to take the hospital route and get the bone marrow transplant. I actually breathed a sigh of relief because it felt like such an internal struggle for me. I wanted to do the right thing by my son, I wanted to heal him naturally with a clean and green raw food diet, I wanted to sequester him and get him healed. But it hurt so bad to not have the power or ability to make that happen. I was the lone wolf. Everyone else; his father, his grandparents, aunts, uncles and of course all of the doctors were sure that chemo was the solution. So I let go of my resistance, breathed a big, heavy sigh and agreed that I would be on board because it was Domininc’s choice and ultimately his decision. His message was loud and clear. He wanted to be a regular kid, to get through this thing and then go on with his life. He didn’t want to be a raw foodist and feel limited by diet choices. So now, as we await his bone marrow transplant coming up on June 29th, Dom weighs in at 5′3″ and 88 pounds. He eats as much as he can to gain weight but doesn’t usually have an appetite. He enjoys raw foods that I prepare for him, mostly fruit, and eats everything under the sun that he can stomach. When he is in hospital, he enjoys a diet of gatorade to the max and lots of white flour and sugary foods. What’s a mother to do? Just love, just love!!!!!
We had a discussion just the other day about what awaits him in through this journey of 2 months in isolation in the hospital with chemo, radiation and transplant. He knows it is something he must go through to become the man he is to be. He is taking this on as a spiritual journey in which he will emerge triumphant. He is very pleased that his father and I have become friends again through all of this and has decided he is living “The Best Life Ever!” He doesn’t want anyone to feel sorry for him or even feel sad, he knows it is in the divine plan and that all is well. As for me, I am right there with him and will be there to love him through it all.
I fully support Dominic and all of his choices as I will for the rest of his life. He will continue throughout his life to make choices that feel best to him, not to me. And he may make some mistakes along the way, but I trust that his guidance is strong and that The God Power will show him the way. Whenever I think of the path that I would choose vs. the path that Dom chose, I am reminded of a poem by Kahlil Gibran, a famous prophet from the 1920’s.
And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, Speak to us of Children.
And he said:
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and the daughters of life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but they are not from you,
and though they are with you they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies, but not their souls.
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, net even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
for life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrow may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.
To Donate to the marathon I am running to heal Leukemia, click here: Running for Dom
Add comment June 27, 2009
elainalove
Tags: chemo, children, Kahlil Gibran, kids, leukemia, Raw Foods, spiritual parenting
Demonstrations on Utube
I was so honored that Master Ching Hai TV wanted to do a piece on me. I watched this and I was so touched by their efforts and love for me that I cried.
Here, I discuss Alkaline foods
Raw Pizza
Add comment June 24, 2009
elainalove
Tags: alkaline foods, Raw Foods, raw pizza
Running a marathon on raw, living foods
I have been eating a mainly raw, vegan diet for the past 12 years. It has been extremely beneficial for my over all health and well being. Although I am a yoga junkie and have done some occasional hiking, biking and running during this time, I have never attempted to do anything too demanding on the bod.
So, now that I have entered my 4th decade it is time to get in the best shape of my life, get serious about my fitness level and train for a marathon. I have joined Team in training to train for the Women’s Nike Marathon on October 18th, 2009. It’s been a couple weeks now and I’m up to 40 and 50 minute runs. It feels really great. I love eating raw foods and running. I’m experimenting with what foods are the best and what gives me the most endurance and keeps my body feeling good and light (sometimes the legs feel like lead).
So stay posted for my raw running blogs as well as others and I’ll let you know what this woman over forty finds to be the best fuel for a 26.2 mile run.
I am raising funds to find a cure for leukemia because my 14 year old son was diagnosed with it at the beginning of the year. He is doing chemotherapy and having a bone marrow transplant beginning next week. So this is a subject near and dear to my heart. I would love your help in raising $2500 or more. If you would love to donate to my marathon, please go to: Running for Dominic
full of alkaline minerals and electrolytes
1 comment June 24, 2009
elainalove
Passionate about Raw Foods
I have been following a raw foods lifestyle for that past 11 years. A lot of people ask me, “What does that mean?”, and here is what I answer:
“I eat 80% or more raw, organic, vegan foods. This includes fruits, vegetables, sprouted nuts, seeds, grains, quinoa and buckwheat (no grains containing gluten such as wheat, oats, barley, rye, spelt and kamut), I use natural body products, I eat super-foods, take super supplements and practice positive thinking and law of attraction, use only the best Ionized, alkaline, filtered water, am environmentally conscious making as small a footprint on the planet as I can at this time in my life. I am interested in evolving my consciousness towards one of pure joy, love and peace towards myself and all other beings (human or not). This is not everyone’s definition of a raw vegan lifestyle, just mine.
Another question people want to know is: “Why?” and my best answer is: “Because when I eat a raw, enzyme rich, alkaline, juicy diet, I feel good! My skin is clear, my eyes are sparkly, my mood is more even, my thoughts clearer, my outlook on life more positive, my willingness to change more open, and a host of many other things including getting to hang out with some of the most alive, fun, conscious-thought-provoking, juicy humans on the planet.
Alright, now following this line of thought, the next question would be “What do you eat when you don’t eat raw?” And my answer is: “Whatever makes me feel good. I practice non-dogmatism, and I like to consider myself a flexatarian. That being said, I abstain from eating anything with eyes, and stick to mostly organic foods when indulging in cooked foods. Things I enjoy are beans, hummus, corn tortillas, goat cheese (not vegan), steamed quinoa, gluten free cookies, coconut bliss ice cream, baked corn chips, and an occasional trip to my favorite organic Ethiopian restaurant in Berkeley. In my quest to be of the highest integrity I practice (ongoingly) non-judgement. Everyone is doing their best, and I am not here to tell others what to do or eat for that matter. I am interested in helping people who want to make a change in their life for the better, and I make myself available to teach and exchange information with those who are seeking it.
The next question I hear is “How do I get started?” Well, as a dear friend and colleague Rob Miller says…”Put the raw foods in your mouth.” Just start by adding more fruits and vegetables in their raw state to your meals, then try some of my recipes from my website and recipe book. www.PureJoyPlanet.com. Before long, you’ll be feeling good, have more energy and time to spend in the kitchen since you won’t be as tired or need to sleep as much. Educate yourself as much as possible. Don’t just take my word for it, go out and find information on raw foods. You can also visit www.Youtube.com and google Elaina Love to see some of my raw food demonstrations and talks on raw foods by others as well.
Here’s to your health, well being and making this a Pure Joy Planet.
A lot
1 comment July 27, 2008
elainalove
Tags: Add new tag, alkaline diet, Raw Foods, vegan
