Largest Managed Care Organization in US Recommends a Plant-Based VEGAN diet!

"Tastiest Raw Vegan Pizza I Ever Made" photo by Judy Pokras

According to wikipedia, Kaiser Permanente is the largest managed care organization in the United States, with 8.9 million health plan members, 167,300 employees, 14,600 physicians, 37 medical centers, and 611 medical offices. Founded in 1945 by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser, it's comprised of three groups of entities: the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and its regional operating subsidiaries; Kaiser Foundation Hospitals; and the autonomous regional Permanente Medical Groups. Wikipedia also says: "In its most recently reported year, the non-profit Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals entities reported a combined $1.6 billion in net income on $47.9 billion in operating revenues."

So when the medical journal of a large organization/business like Kaiser Permanente comes out with an article recommending that people switch to a plant-based diet, this is BIG news. Especially in a country and culture dominated by fast-food, processed food and meals made from animal parts and secretions. Although some people who avoid food made from animals do so for purely ethical reasons (admirably opposing cruelty to animals and not wanting to cannibalize their fellow creatures), the fact is, a plant-based diet is just plain better for health.

Here's a quote from the article, "Nutritional Update for Physicians: Plant-Based Diets,"
in the Spring 2013 issue of The Permanente Journal, a peer-reviewed journal of medical science, social science in medicine, and medical humanities:

Healthy eating may be best achieved with a plant-based diet, which we define as a regimen that encourages whole, plant-based foods and discourages meats, daily products, and eggs as well as all refined and processed foods.

We applaud Permanente for publishing the article, written by Philip J Tuso, MD; Mohamed H Ismail, MD; Benjamin P Ha, MD; Carole Bartolotto, MA, RD.

And as always, we encourage entrepreneurs to open more restaurants and food businesses with only plant-based food on their menus. As we wrote here. Because, if you are a vegan (let alone a raw vegan), you know how nearly impossible it is to find anything remotely interesting to eat in the vast majority of restaurants. And unless you are lucky enough to live in a large city, if you want to go out to eat, you will be out of luck.

It's best to eat fruits and vegetables in season, as well as locally grown and organic!

Blueberries in "Eyeball Soup" recipe from The Little Book of Raw Vegan Holiday Recipes.

Photo styled and shot by A.C. McCall

Kitchen Daily has a slide show of some fruits and vegetables that it's best to eat in season. It's important to make sure they're organically grown. Locally grown is also optimal, because long distance shipping uses too much energy, and because local produce is much fresher -- and fresh produce provides more nutrients.

Here are the notes I took from the slide show, which I wish had come with a chart:

• Morel mushrooms: spring
• Truffles: summer or winter (Gee, how many people can afford to buy truffles? And how many people find them in local markets? I've never ever had one, and I create and write about recipes!)
• Oyster mushrooms and Chanterelle mushrooms: autumn
• Asparagus: spring
• Tomatoes: Organic only, and refer to this map for local seasons in the U.S.: http://www.tomatofest.com/tomato-growing-zone-map.html
• Green Beans: May through October
• Strawberries (eat organic only): spring and early summer
• Blueberries (eat organic or wild-grown only): summer
• Oranges: November through June
• Meyer lemons (buy organic if you're using the zest/skin): November through April
• Cherries (eat organic only): May through August

Here's a link to the slide show, which has pretty photos: http://www.kitchendaily.com/read/what-you-should-never-eat-out-season

Calling All Raw Vegan Entrepreneurs!

Photo of NYC banana stand from YouTube video posted byjwagzzchrono

I've never watched the TV show "Arrested Development." Well, maybe once for a few minutes, but I couldn't get into it. But there is something I just learned about the show that I love! Apparently the show features a frozen banana stand. And to promote the comeback of the show, the producers mounted an actual frozen banana stand in NYC, and the line of people waiting to buy frozen bananas was mega-long.

Why do I love this? Because it tells me some raw vegan entrepreneur ought to take this idea and run with it! The one on the TV show has frozen bananas covered in chocolate, which we know is not raw vegan chocolate. A raw vegan entrepreneur could launch a similar biz with frozen bananas dipped in chocolate made from a mixture of raw cacao powder, raw cacao butter, stevia, and any variations she or he wants to offer. Maybe dipped in chopped really-raw (unpasteurized) almonds, maybe cinnamon mixed into the chocolate, or even cayenne.

Study finds that smoke gets into ALL hotel rooms, even smoke-free ones

Image by Daquella manera (Daniel Lobo)

So next time you're staying in a hotel, keep in mind that only 100% smoke-free hotels will be really smoke-free: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/13/smoke-free-hotel-rooms/2156013/

Eight Mother's Day Gift Ideas

What could be sweeter than a Mother's Day gift that promotes health and well-being while being nifty and loving?

Here are some gift ideas we've hand-picked just for you and your wonderful mother:

Bee Yummy Raw and Organic Skin Food nourishes your skin with at least 27 minerals, 22 amino acids, 105 live enzymes and co-enzymes, hormones, antioxidants, bioflavanoids and pigments. Just minutes after you apply it, your skin will absorb as many as 80 nutrients contained in Honey, more than 96 nutrients in Bee Pollen, plus hormones, enzymes, antioxidants, and anti-bacterial elements in Propolis and Royal Jelly. In addition, the St. Johns Wort and Propolis in Bee Yummy are known for their anti-inflammatory and astringent properties and will speed up the healing of wounds, burns, sunburns and bruises. Customers say this cream has been very helpful for psoriasis, eczema, rosacea, poison ivy and other conditions.

And best of all, Bee Yummy contains only the purest ingredients. There are no chemicals here!

The Kindle Paperwhite is the world's most advanced e-reader, with higher resolution, higher contrast touchscreen, a built-in light and an 8-week battery life.

It makes an awesome gift which is actually a helpful piece of kitchen equipment because you can look up a recipe right in your Kindle as you're food shopping to know what ingredients to buy, or even find a recipe that uses a certain ingredient you come across and want to use.

A Kindle user named Joan writes us:

"I never go out without my Kindle.  If I’m on the bus or EL or in a line or whatever, I read from whatever I’m reading. I’m on the bus a lot, so it really makes it pleasant – the Kindle I have is so light that even if I don’t have a seat I can just hold it with one hand and turn the pages with my thumb while holding the strap with the other hand.

"Since I got this in September I have watched a LOT less TV.  I love that I can quickly change the font size depending on the available light or other conditions.  On a bumpy bus ride I make the font very large and at home with a good reading lamp and proper glasses it can be small.

"I just love having it with me all the time! I never feel bored anywhere! And being quite a type A this is very good for me when waiting for anything."

Here are some features of the Kindle Paperwhite:

Patented built-in light evenly illuminates the screen to provide the perfect reading experience in all lighting conditions Paperwhite has 62% more pixels for unsurpassed resolution 25% better contrast for sharp, dark text Even in bright sunlight, Paperwhite delivers clear, crisp text and images with no glare New hand-tuned fonts - 6 font styles, 8 adjustable sizes 8-week battery life, even with the light on Holds up to 1,100 books - take your library wherever you go Built-in Wi-Fi lets you download books in under 60 seconds New Time to Read feature uses your reading speed to let you know when you'll finish your chapter Massive book selection. Lowest prices. Over a million titles less than $9.99 180,000 Kindle-exclusive titles that you won't find anywhere else, including books by best-selling authors such as Kurt Vonnegut Supports children's books and includes new parental controls  Kindle Owners' Lending Library - with Amazon Prime, Kindle owners can choose from more than 270,000 books to borrow for free with no due dates, including over 100 current and former New York Times best sellers

E-3 Live is an organic and wild-grown aquabotanical with 65+ vitamins, minerals, amino acids, EFAs, and is a rich source of chlorophyll. It is 100% Aphanizomenon flos-aquae blue-green algae (AFA for short) that is an all-organic wild-harvested aqua-botanical considered by renowned health authorities to be nature's most beneficial superfood. E3Live AFA is a non-GMO heirloom variety. 

E3Live is the frozen/liquid form of the AFA which is superior to all other forms of AFA. E3Live is the only company to offer AFA in this fresh frozen form.

Physiologically, E3Live helps restore overall body/mind balance in numerous ways. Its field of action simultaneously includes the immune, endocrine, nervous, gastro-intestinal and cardio-vascular systems.

Nutritionally, E3Live provides more than 65 vitamins, minerals, amino acids & essential fatty acids and is a rich source of chlorophyll. It is the most nutrient dense food known to mankind.

Simply Divine skin care sampler. Luscious health and beauty products free from synthetic additives and 100% chemical free. The sampler contains:

Amazing Face 1/4 oz.
Black Velvet Foaming Facial Cleanser 1/2 oz.
Body Butter 1/4 oz
Body Cream 1/4 oz.
Creme de Rose 1/4 oz.
Crystal Ally Deodorant Spray 1 oz.
Feet Treat 1/4 oz.
Gypsy Rose Tea 1/2 oz.
Honey, I shrunk the pores1/4 oz.
How Now Brown Cacao Chocolate Butter 1/4 oz.
Keeping Abreast of It 1/4 oz.
Melon Medley
Outer Body Experience 1/2 oz.
Pack Your Bags They're Leaving 1/4 oz.
Peel Me A Papaya 1/4 oz.
Rose du Jour
Skincredible 1/4 oz.
Information Sheet

Ani's Raw Food Asia. 

Raw Chef Ani Phyo draws upon her Korean heritage and world travels in this wonderful book of raw vegan recipes she has adapted from traditional recipes from a host of Asian Countries, including Korea, Japan, China, Thailand, Vietnam, The Phillippines, India and more. With this book in her kitchen, your mother will have a wonderful mashup: she can feel like she's traveling through Asia and still enjoy the delights of raw vegan cuisine. Makes a nifty gift for any mom who loves raw food and/or Asian food.

Cuisinart ICE-30BC Pure Indulgence 2-Quart Automatic Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet, and Ice Cream Maker

Make your own raw vegan ice cream with this Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet and Ice Cream Maker. Once you have blended the batter, it will turn into ice cream in about 20 minutes!

The Champion Juicer is a real workhorse. It makes juice, nut butters, and even soft serve ice cream from frozen fruits like berries and bananas. Easy to clean, too. It's an essential piece of equipment in a raw food kitchen.

Simply Raw: Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days, is a documentary film about how switching to raw vegan food for just 30 days will reverse Type II diabetes. Simply Raw reveals, with startling clarity, that diet can reverse Type II diabetes and change the quality of people’s lives. The film captures the human drama and struggle of six courageous individuals making a quantum leap of faith from a traditional junk food diet to a raw vegan diet and shows revealing moments of nurturing, compassion, and human spirit. It is a film about a life changing journey on a simply raw diet and how nature is the original medicine.

Additional wisdom in the film is provided by physicians Joel Fuhrman and Gabriel Cousens, filmmaker and activist Morgan Spurlock, actor Woody Harrelson, motivational speaker Anthony Robbins, Rev. Michael Beckwith, David Wolfe, Fred Bisci and Gary Null.