The Benefits of Eating Coconuts

Are you confused about whether eating coconuts are healthy or not? Thankfully in the past couple of years the correct information has been seeping out there to the general public about this amazingly nutritious food. It's unknown where exactly the coconut palm originated from, but classified as a seed, this gift from nature is used widely for food, drink, medicine, cosmetics, shading other crops, and producing earth friendly products like mats and utensils. In sanskrit it is known as kalpa vriksha, which means "the tree which provides all the necessities of life."

Widely known as a saturated fat most assume it's unhealthy, but not all fats are deemed bad. They contain lauric acid which is present in mother's breast milk. The lauric acid is a medium chain fatty acid which requires less energy and enzymes to digest, therefore providing more energy quickly to the body. The oil that is pressed from the coconut is actually known to lower cholesterol levels and cultures that consume coconuts on a regular basis have frequently lower levels than people living in the U.S.

Coconut water is another gem that this food offers. Forget the so called sports energy drinks loaded with refined sugar and artificial flavors. Coconut water is one of the most highest and natural sources of electrolytes, important for your cells and maintaining voltages across the cell membranes. After a strenuous workout your source of electrolytes depletes through your sweat, losing potassium and sodium. Many of the popular sports drinks have sodium chloride or potassium chloride added to them along with loads of sugar to make it taste good. Not coconut water, it's a natural source of sodium, magnesium, and contains fifteen times more potassium than a banana. It's also naturally sterile from the fibers in the husk that filter it through and is especially helpful to recharge the body after a grueling workout. Surprisingly enough the water is identical to human blood plasma making it a universal donor. Mixing the water with a fresh green juice or an algae like chlorella or spirulina can make us feel like we've had an instant blood transfusion.

You can find the water from companies such as Vita Coco in your local health food store. The water is flash pasteurized to give it a longer shelf life. Not truly raw, but still very beneficial and sometimes more cost effective. The Thai coconuts which are pictured above can be found at your local Asian market or health food store. Speculation has recently surfaced about how they are shipped and whether they are treated with pesticides or formaldehyde. For you die hard raw purists or true organics, you're in luck because now you can order organic Thai coconuts online from Alex Malinsky of Raw Guru.

So, after hearing all of this splendid information on why you should incorporate this incredible food into your diet, I'm sure you're wondering how to pick one out at the store. The easiest ones to consume are the young Thai coconuts which are white and pointy with a cylindrical shape. The outer shell has been shaved off and you will find it wrapped in clear plastic. Look at the the tip and underneath of the coconut to make sure there isn't any mold growing. The best way to consume it is in a delicious drink by scooping the meat out and blending with the water, half of a vanilla bean scraped, agave nectar to taste, and a pinch of sea salt. Truly divine and delicious to the palate. Watch my video here on how to open one up.

Besides eating it another way to use it is to put a small amount on the ends of your hair for a natural shine or on your face as a moisturizer. Another great tip is after sunbathing, rub a small amount on your body to help retain the tan and provide a shining glow to your skin. And lastly for those of you that have had a late night on the town with friends, it's also great for hangovers. Drink a glass before bed and when you wake up in the morning to help you recover. Who would have imagined all of these fascinating uses and remedies coconuts can be used for. Hooray for coconuts!

Do you have a favorite way to eat coconuts?

5 Detoxifying Foods

Partaking in a cleanse or detox program for each seasonal change is a fantastic way to keep your body healthy and functioning at maximum efficiency. Just like we clean and organize our house after a long cold winter, we should do the same for our precious bodies. Clearing away the junk that has accumulated allows us to free up our energy and have a balanced state of well being. There are a number of ways one can cleanse such as fasting, juice feasting, herbal cleanses, and colon hydrotherapy. I've listed 5 common and familiar foods you can start to incorporate into your daily diet until you're ready to try a program that works for you.

Leafy greens - alkalizes the body and helps to cleanse. The number one food group you should consume raw on a regular basis. Collards, kale, baby spinach, watercress, arugula, swiss chard, dandelion, and cabbage to name a few. Fresh green juices, smoothies, and salads are an easy way to get your daily dose.

Garlic - used medicinally for everything from cleansing the liver to containing anti-bacterial properties to support a healthy immune system. Worried about scaring away family and friends because of the smell? Try Kyolic's Odorless Aged Garlic Extract. It's also certified organic and vegetarian.

Lemons - alkalizes the body and contains Vitamin C, essential for ridding toxins. You can make a tasty lemonade with filtered water, fresh squeezed lemon juice, a pinch of sea salt, and touch of agave nectar to sweeten. Add ice for a refreshing drink and sip throughout the day. The sea salt helps to quench your thirst and the agave nectar allows for you to have a touch of sweetness without the refined white sugar.

Sprouts - anti-cancer fighting and full of enzymes which are vital for everyday functions such as walking, talking, and breathing. You know it's good for you but you're not too keen on the taste you say? Try disguising the flavor by blending a small amount in smoothies or adding to salads and lettuce wraps.

Fruit - a great cleanser for the body. Watermelon, cucumber, and pineapple help to rehydrate and cool the body down. So, the next time it's a scorcher out, opt for the fresh fruit instead of the refined sugar drinks. Your body will be sure to thank you.

What is the best way for you to cleanse your body? Do you have any favorite supplements or techniques that aide you in doing so?

Herbal Walks and Wild Edibles

Philadelphia is an amazing city with plenty of resources for eating fresh locally grown foods, but how about so fresh that you can literally pick the food yourself straight from the ground. Every week a man by the name of El Ha Gahn, herbalist, naturalist, healer, nutritionist, and ecotourism specialist teaches these workshops held throughout the area.

For those of you unfamiliar with the benefits of wild edibles, they are more nutritious than any greens you will ever find at your grocery store. Wild edibles are undomesticated and therefore extremely vital and full of vitamins and minerals . Someone new to eating them may be turned off by the strong acrid taste and that is why I suggest at first to try eating them by blending it into a fruit smoothie or modestly mixing into a salad. Eating them raw without heating allows us to get the maximum health benefits out of the wild edibles. Due to the tough cellulose fiber of greens, the blender is an ideal way to consume them because it acts as our teeth and masticates them to a small enough consistency that we can actually absorb the nutrients.

Many of you with gardens probably have a few of these so called weeds already growing in your backyard. The most common ones you've likely heard of are dandelion, nettles, lamb's quarters, and purslane. Others include burdock, mustard greens, and chickweed to name a few.

Dandelions contain inulin, which can help to lower blood sugar levels in diabetics. They are especially good this time of year because of their cleansing properties for the liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, and stomach. They are pungent so if making a salad you can add a fat like an avocado to cut the bitterness. Nettles are usually known as stinging nettles because if not picked carefully they can literally sting you and leave your skin feeling irritated. Nettles have been known to increase circulation and are very high in protein. It's also known to purify the blood and act as an anti-inflammatory. Purslane tastes great in salads and has been used as a natural remedy internally for things like inflammation and constipation and externally for insect bites, eczema, and sunburn. It has more Omega-3 fatty acids than any other leafy green and the stems and leaves are chock full of vitamins and minerals.

If this has sparked an interest in you and you're wondering how to learn about which wild edibles are safe to eat in your area, you can learn more about El Ha Gahn and his upcoming seminars and workshops by visiting his website. He also teaches classes on reflexology, arthritis prevention, healing plants, colon cleansing, keeping your children healthy, and many more. I can't wait to take one of his workshops and learn about the medicine cabinet growing in my own backyard.

For more information: Herbal Walks, Philadelphia, P.a.

Photo credit: Morgana

Have you ever been on an herbal walk and if so, how did you like it, what did you learn?

Where To Find Raw Food Meals To Go?

Raw foods are uncooked and unprocessed foods under 115 degrees. They consist of fresh fruits, veggies, leafy greens, herbs, sea veggies, sprouts, nuts, seeds, and super foods. One of the most important reasons why raw foodies (people that eat at least 50% raw food) do not cook their food is that vital enzymes, minerals, and nutrients are lost in the process. By continually consuming too many processed cooked foods it starts to take a toll on our bodies and can become extremely taxing to ones energy, digestive system, and overall health.

Eating fresh raw and organically grown food has the ability to provide you with glowing skin, boundless energy, a clear mind, natural weight release, and can serve as illness prevention. In fact, many people claim to have healed themselves from a number of ailments and diseases such as diabetes, depression, IBS, and even cancer!

Many people think this way of eating sounds good in theory but have no idea where or how to start, let alone where to even purchase raw food. Don't limit yourself to thinking it's just carrot and celery sticks with lots of restrictions. It's quite the opposite indeed and thanks to a local company based out of Bridgeport, PA called Awesome Foods, chances are you can purchase their food to go at one of the many locations in the Philadelphia area. They will also ship to your home or business anywhere in the United States.

Awesome Foods makes mock dishes resembling your favorite cooked food ones like pizza, burritos, sandwiches, chips, breads, crackers, pates, and yes even dessert. Owners Bruce & Marsha Weinstein started the company back in 2005 with the goal to provide raw healthy carb foods. As taken from their website, "We were inspired to make foods that were really healthy for people and tasted awesome. Thus, the idea for Awesome Foods was born."

5 Tips Essential to Eating More Raw Foods

Whenever someone decides to make any changes in their diet they come face to face with a lot of important questions and concerns. Most importantly they want to know how to succeed with eating more raw foods. I've complied a quick list below of 5 steps that are essential in order to do so. This way you can get started immediately instead of feeling confused and lost.


Step 1 Get the Right Equipment

It doesn't have to be top of line but something decent from a good department store will do. Having a good blender and food processor is key to getting started. My personal favorites are the Vita-Mix blender (or my affiliate Vita-Mix link) and the Cuisinart food processor. A dehydrator is not necessary at this point, for right now lets keep it simple.

Step 2 Educate yourself

Purchasing a few books that cover the educational and food preparation aspects will help you tremendously. A few of my favorites are Sunfood Diet Success System, Rawvolution, and Green For Life.


Step 3 Get Involved

Take a couple of food prep classes locally. Attend meetups or potlucks regularly for support and encouragement. It can be very lonesome if you don't have anyone to share your experiences with and joining a social group will help you feel supported and able to stay on track. Join a few online forums or social media sites like Give It To Me Raw or Facebook. Plenty of people are ready to connect with you and share tips and ideas to help you stay motivated.


Step 4 Know how to make the food


Eating out at fancy raw restaurants and grabbing to go foods can be fun and oh so tasty, but what happens when you find yourself in an area that doesn't offer these kinds of luxuries? Look, when I first started out I had no prior culinary skills. My idea of cooking a healthy meal was grabbing a box of rice and stir frying veggies together. Preparing raw foods can definitely be a beautiful art form in itself, but it's not necessary. With all of the equipment out there it's nearly impossible to not be able to whip something together fast and that tastes great too. That's why it's so important to get the equipment as mentioned above. I'm not expecting you to make 5 star dishes but you can start by learning how to make smoothies, super food smoothies, pates or dips, gourmet salads, and decadent desserts that are satisfying to the palate. Two of my favorite sites for free recipes are GoneRaw and Raw Freedom Community.



Step 5 Go easy on yourself!

So many people really beat themselves up if they eat even one piece of cooked food. Although I choose not to eat any cooked foods in my diet, I also wouldn't have unrealistic expectations on you. Maybe you're not looking to eat 100% raw or aren't at the point of feeling ready to go head first all at once, but rather ease into it slowly which is what I highly recommend. Just starting out with smoothies, especially green smoothies is an easy way to do so. It's all about adding more rather than taking away. This way you don't feel deprived or like you're on a diet.


Being healthy should be fun and enjoyable in my opinion. For me it's a lifestyle change and with any changes they take time. I remember reading it takes 21 days to form a new habit. So whether you move into a new home or change up your eating program it's going to take time to feel second nature.

Remember, it's all about making better choices. So even if you still find yourself eating cooked foods from time to time, substitute the butter with non dairy spread or eat a steamed sweet potato instead of a white potato. Stir fry or steam your veggies instead of microwaving or boiling, you get the picture. If you feel like you've fallen off the wagon, just dust yourself off and get back on again. Grab a journal and record what you eat and review it daily as a constant reminder of how much better you are eating prior to your old habits. Be sure to write down the reasons clearly of why you're doing what you are and what your goals are. This way you can glance at them each day and know that you are making progress towards achieving those goals. Be sure to give yourself credit and celebrate your small victories towards becoming healthy and happy. Take a moment to reflect and truly enjoy the new journey you are on!

Let me know what your thoughts are. Do you have any tips to add? What is or was essential to getting started for you? Post it below and join the discussion. :)