Bob's Red Mill Muesli is one of the most popular store-bought brands of Muesli available. While it is a healthy, whole foods product, it is not a raw food. All almonds that are grown and harvested in the U.S.A. now have to be pasteurized - this includes the almonds in Bob's Red Mill muesli. Also, most store-bought rolled oats are steamed at about 220 degrees Fahrenheit to preserve flavor, so they are not truly raw. The same can likely be said for the whole grain wheat, rye, triticale and barley in this muesli. That being said, the date crumbles, raisins, sunflower seeds and walnuts in Bob's Red Mill muesli are likely raw.
Raw Muesli Recipe
Source: page 161 of "the Raw Food Detox Diet" by Natalia Rose.
1 cup raw pecans or walnuts
1 cup chopped dried apples
1 cup raisins or dried cranberries
1 cup raw sunflower seeds
1/2 cup chopped raw almonds
Pinch of ground cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg
To serve, toss the ingredients well and serve in place of nuts, or enjoy in a bowl with almond milk and maple syrup. Or serve atop your favorite bowl of raw oatmeal!
Not long ago I met a 97 year old man who appeared to be happy, healthy, and said he's even still driving his car. Out of curiosity, I asked him what his secret was. He smiled and told me "No secret, but I do eat oatmeal every day."
Oatmeal has been proven to help prevent heart disease and cancer (link). As a result I have been trying to eat more of it. Yet I'm also trying to eat more raw foods, or foods that have not been heated over 118 degrees (for benefits of eating raw foods, click here). Most store bought oats are steamed at about 220 degrees. As a result these oats are not truly raw. So I wanted to share some links for truly raw oats. That being said, traditional unflavored oats such as store bought, Quaker Oats are not an unhealthy option if you can't find truly raw oats.
The first company I found is Blue Mountain Organics. They are certified raw vegan and organic. They can be purchased HERE or HERE.
A company called Goldmine sells organic raw oats. Check their store HERE for availability.
The third brand I found for organic, raw rolled-oats is Natural Zing. They are "cold rolled" and therefore truly raw, and when in stock, can be purchased from their website HERE.
Lastly, I've found that some people eat "sproutable oat groats" by soaking them overnight and then blending either in a blender or a food processor in the morning.I called "Whole Foods" and they said they sell sproutable oat groats. "Legacy Valley" sproutable oat groats can be purchased on Amazon here: Link.
What is your favorite raw oatmeal? Thanks for reading! Pete
Many protein powders are full of processed sugar, soy and dairy products. This protein powder is completely raw, vegan and USDA certified organic, using sprouts as its main source of protein. It has a mild nutty flavor to it, and blends well with almond milk and fruit smoothies. It can be found at food stores such as Whole Foods or Fruitful Yield. Or check it out on Amazon here: Link
2) Sunwarrior Raw Vegan Protein Powder:
At 85% protein, SunWarrior Protein has the highest (non soy) raw whole grain sprouted vegan protein on the market.SunWarrior raw vegan protein powder combines sprouted endosperm and the bran from raw sprouted whole grain brown rice. To purchase on Amazon, Click Here. Non-Raw Options - There are many vegan protein powders that come from rice, soy, peas, hemp, etc. Any of these are healthy options as long as they come from organic sources. When Traveling - Try adding some tofu, uncooked oats or crushed flax seed to your smoothie for some extra protein!
I'm a huge fan of eating at least one salad every day (usually for lunch). While this may sound like a boring and monotonous routine, there are thousands of combination possibilities to add variety into your salads. Yet most of the salads I make for lunch are fairly simple. In fact, my daily salad usually consists of organic greens, an avocado, organic tomatoes, some hot peppers, carrots, broccoli and some raw salad dressing. I wanted to include a somewhat extensive ingredient list here to provide some shopping suggestions as well as salad ideas! Click here for more reasons to eat a salad every day!
Greens
Lettuce
Spinach
Herbs
kale
Veggies
Corn
Baby or sliced carrots
Cherry or sliced tomatoes
Red onion
Green pepper
Mushrooms
Cauliflower
Broccoli
Cucumbers
Note: Scroll down for a great daily smoothie recipe!
For many people, sacrificing a hot breakfast for a cold green smoothie can be difficult at first. However, for most people, the benefits of this sacrifice will pay off greatly. Of course results aren't guaranteed, but with so many servings of powerful fruits and veggies, a green smoothie is a great way to start your day!
While I like to avoid hard set "rules" in dieting in favor of an intuitive and balanced approach, I also believe that some things can generally be seen as healthy. One of these things is a green smoothie, which can be an energizing and delicious meal option to incorporate into your life. Again, this isn't necessarily a rigid daily rule to follow, but rather an understanding of the benefits that green smoothies can bring.
Dr. Brooke Goldner has had amazing success healing people of a variety of terrible and debilitating diseases. She healed from lupus on a high raw vegan diet, and recommends green smoothies as a staple to her program.
Dr. Josh Axe helped his mom heal from cancer in an amazing story, and he promotes starting every day with a kale green smoothie.
For my smoothies, I do not include canned or jarred ingredients, as they have almost always been pasteurized and therefore do not retain many of the living enzymes found in fresh produce. Frozen fruits, on the other hand, are generally still in their unprocessed original state.
Kevin Gianni was one of the more influential raw vegan pioneers around the years 2000-2010. He ended up eventually adding animal protein into his diet, yet he still recognizes the power of a green smoothie as a part of a balanced diet. Check out this amazing interview where Gianni continues to affirm the power of a green smoothie!
In the below interview, Arnold Kauffman interviews Elaine, who claims to have had more success with green smoothies than with traditional cancer treatments for her mouth cancer! Of course, this was her decision and I'm not prescribing anything on this blog. Yet I find her story to be very inspiring.
Brenda, the "Real Food Rebel," beat a terrifying infection of parasites and lyme disease that left her totally debilitated and even suicidal. In her own words, "When I was very sick and going through heavy lyme and parasite cleansing I often did a green smoothie fast for a day or two. I would eat as much smoothie as I wanted and it really helped to clear the body of die-off toxins. Go ahead and give it a try" (Link)!
Feel free to vary your smoothie to what works best for you. Here are some possible ingredients:
1/2 cup of fresh or frozen pineapples.
"Pineapple contains compounds that reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which are linked to cancer. One of these compounds is the enzyme bromelain, which may stimulate cell death in certain cancer cells and aid white blood cell function" (Link).
1/2 cup of frozen wild blueberries
"Blueberries are the King of antioxidant foods. Antioxidants protect your body from free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can damage your cells and contribute to aging and diseases, such as cancer" (LINK).
One Banana
Bananas are a rich source of potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, manganese and dietary fiber.
1 Cup of Carrots: Beta-carotene is said to aid in the treatment or prevention of the following health problems: Age-related macular degeneration, Arthritis, Asthma, Cataracts, Heartburn, Heart disease, High blood pressure, Parkinson's disease and Psoriasis (Link).
1/3 cup of Omega 3 Seeds (chia and/or flax)
- "Flaxseed is a rich source of healthy fat, antioxidants, and fiber. The seeds contain protein, lignans, and the essential fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid, also known as ALA or omega-3. The nutrients in flaxseed may help lower the risk of diabetes, cancer, and heart disease." (LINK)
- "Despite their small size, chia seeds are full of important nutrients. They are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, rich in antioxidants, and they provide fiber, iron, and calcium. Omega-3 fatty acids help raise HDL cholesterol, the “good” cholesterol that protects against heart attack and stroke" (Link)
4-6 cups of organic mixed greens (Kale is best)
Enough filtered water to create a smooth consistency.
