The Raw Food Solution with Paul Nison

Written by Boyd Martin


"Your food shall be your remedies, and your remedies shall be your food." -- Hippocrates

"Always take a good look at what you're about to eat. It's not so important to know what it is, but it's critical to know what it was." --Texas Bix Bender, "Cowboy Wisdom"

It seems a particularly Western idea that in order to attain a high level of health, it must be something we eat, drink or otherwise ingest. The search for a "magic pill," fueled by unrelenting pharmaceutical media campaigns, enforces this belief. "Here, take this for your headache, take these to lose that weight, and smear this stuff on your face for everlasting beauty," yellrepparttar pitch men--and we obey, opening our wallets and in many cases ignoring common sense in doing so.

Other cultures focus on such things as yoga, breath, mantras and karma. More archaic societies focused on spirits, gods, ancestor worship, and shamanistic blessings. Of course, these time-intensive alternatives would never do for our breakneck lifestyles where instant gratification is aim of most daily or weekly endeavors.

A fine compromise between these two divergent health strategies isrepparttar 114791 raw food lifestyle. This month we spoke with raw food advocate, Paul Nison, who was in town on yet another tour ofrepparttar 114792 country toutingrepparttar 114793 true health benefits of eating raw food.

"People are getting interested in it for several reasons,' observes Paul. "One reason is that they're sick and they hear that it will cure them. Another reason is it's a trend, or people think it's a trend. Hollywood's picking up on it, so people want to follow what's in trend. But it's not really a trend. It's a diet--it's a way of eating. People just want to feel better, and they want to avoid disease and illness. They see people who are doing this with such great results, and it makes so much sense, that they figure they're going to try it."

Paul was led inadvertently torepparttar 114794 raw food lifestyle at age 19 via a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis--one ofrepparttar 114795 most painful of intestinal disorders. "I got colitis flare-ups about six times per year," says Paul. "Every time I went torepparttar 114796 doctor, she told me to stay away from dairy foods until I felt better. Then she increasedrepparttar 114797 dosage of steroids she was giving me. When I felt better after a few weeks, she said it was okay to eat dairy foods again. After that I began to eliminate whateverrepparttar 114798 doctors told me was okay to eat. Eggs, meat, and sugar to name just a few. I told my doctor I felt better without these foods. She told me food had nothing to do with my condition. After hearing that from her, I knew I was onrepparttar 114799 right track."

As Paul continued to eliminate cooked foods from his diet, he also continued to researchrepparttar 114800 lifestyle, being greatly influenced by Dave Klein (Publisher/Editor of Living Nutrition magazine), and David Wolfe, who had books and radio programs circulating. Joining raw food support groups, and networking with other raw fooders, Paul ended up with a 100% raw diet. "Since going 100% raw, I have completely overcome ulcerative colitis. I feel better than ever and have become increasingly inspired about life. I quit my stressful job and began working as a raw food chef in a vegetarian restaurant. I organize raw-food potlucks every month. I have started a raw food support group, and I give lectures onrepparttar 114801 raw food lifestyle to help others that have gotten their wake-up call."

One misconception about adopting a raw food diet is that it is time-consuming, and complicated. Paul points out that it is really just a matter of doingrepparttar 114802 learning curve and being aware and alert to raw opportunities. "It'srepparttar 114803 quickest,repparttar 114804 easiest,repparttar 114805 cheapest, and hasrepparttar 114806 most variety of foods of any type of diet inrepparttar 114807 world. So any of those reasons alone would be positive reasons why to eat this way," enthuses Paul.

Transitioning Paul has written three books. His first, The Raw Life presents practical, easy and smart ways to incorporate raw foods into a cooked diet, and how to transition to 100% raw. He has interviewed dozens of long-time raw foodists, who divulge their strategies and ways of thinking about eating.

Medicinal Properties of Bitter Melon - Good for Diabetics

Written by Junji Takano


Bitter Melon isrepparttar English name of Momordica charantia, a climbing vine whose leaves and green fruits, although bitter, has been used to fight cancer, diabetes and many infectious diseases. It is also a powerful weapon against HIV/AIDS since some reports claim that bitter melon has substance Q. It is one ofrepparttar 114790 most favorite vegetables amongrepparttar 114791 Chinese andrepparttar 114792 most popular herbal tea as well.

The fruits and leaves of bitter melon are a good source of minerals and vitamins, such as iron, calcium, phosphorus and Vitamin B. However, it is not known how much nutritional contents can actually be absorbed byrepparttar 114793 body's digestive system ofrepparttar 114794 plant become some of these substances exist in unabsorbable form.

Does bitter melon have medicinal properties?

Yes. Books and articles about bitter melon states thatrepparttar 114795 extract fromrepparttar 114796 leaves or roots shrinks hemorrhoids. The juice fromrepparttar 114797 leaves is also good to prevent and lessen cough, for fever and against roundworms. Reportedly, it is also used to treat sterility in women and alleviate liver problems. Likewise, bitter melon has some antimicrobial activity and can help infected wounds.

However, none ofrepparttar 114798 medicinal uses of bitter melon has been proven scientifically, although they have not been disproved, either. It's just that it has not been studied enough.

Is it true that bitter melon tea and capsules are effective in lowering blood sugar of diabetics?

There is one case where it is proven that it can lower blood sugar levels from people suffering from Type 2 Diabetes. Results of these scientific studies that determinerepparttar 114799 effect of drinking of bitter melon extract on blood sugar level of Type 2 Diabetes have consistently shown that bitter melon lowers blood sugar level. The effect on blood sugar is due to momordicin, a substance that is also responsible for it's bitter taste.

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