Welcome to the VIBRANT LIVING NEWSLETTER

Here in the northern hemisphere we are well into autumn and will be celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday in a few days time. I do hope you have much in your life to be thankful for, not the least excellent health.

This newsletter covers more information on food sensitivities that could be a major issue for some of you and a lesser irritant to others, but I feel it’s very important information for you to know about, particularly if you’re eating super healthy, but still have health issues or are experiencing strange symptoms that you can’t account for.

One last thing. After creating the RAW-FOODS-DIET-CENTER.COM website and newsletter nearly 10 years ago and enthusiastically guiding its journey together with you I am looking to turn the reins over to someone else who can inject their own personal style and energy while continuing to provide what I consider to be very important content for those seeking greater health. I am still a strong supporter of the power of raw foods, but quite frankly I’m spread a little too thin these days. Several years ago I purchased a homestead up north which requires much of my free time working to get the homestead into shape with many projects large and small to complete.

At any rate, to make a long story short, I’m interested in selling this well established website to someone who would like to carry on spreading the raw food message and helping other people. I can assure you it is a very fulfilling endeavor. If you or someone you know is interested please contact me through the website or reply to this newsletter. I’ll be happy to have a phone conversation with you to discuss details and answer any questions you may have.

Enjoy!

Salicylates and Your Health

Recently I have come across another one of Mother Nature’s built in defense systems for the plant world, salicylates. Salicylates are organic compounds within plants fruits, leaves, stems, and roots protecting them from disease, fungi, insects, and over consumption by animals/humans.

For most people this is not an issue as all plants contain some type of natural protection and eating a wide variety of plants keeps us from overdoing any one of these natural toxins. A healthy digestive system and liver is able to process these small amounts of plant toxins without any notice by us at all.

However, some people have a difficult time rendering these plant toxins inert and can suffer anything from mild to severe symptoms. Common symptoms from salicylates are itchy skin, body rashes, bloodshot eyes, joint pain, swollen glands, asthma, a weak and shaky feeling, rapid heart rate, swelling of body parts, neurological issues, poor sleep, headaches, nausea, depression, fatigue, and many more. Basically someone with a salicylate (or other food sensitivity) is living with chronic inflammation somewhere in the body to one degree or another.

Some people have a sensitivity to salicylates from childhood and others may go most of their life before having issues. It is a cumulative effect over your life time. They say your “bucket” has finally become full when you start reacting. Meaning you have finally accumulated more than your body can handle, whether due to aging and a less efficient liver, having an acid terrain, or perhaps by consuming copious amounts of foods containing salicylates, say on a raw food diet.

As you well know we consume amazing amounts of fruits and vegetables on the raw diet so over many years it may be possible to “fill our buckets”, particularly if we have other health issues or live near environmental pollution that may compromise digestion and/or good liver function.

Which Foods Contain Salicylates?

Here is a list of some foods that contain high levels of salicylates:

Apricot, Berries, Peach, dates, granny Smith apples, avocado, cantaloupe, guava, grapes, pineapple, grapefruit, almonds, pine nuts, macadamia nuts, coconut oil, olive oil, cucumber, broccoli, spinach, squash, mushrooms, zucchini, peppers, radish, peppermint tea, and almost all spices.

Medium amounts of salicylates can be found in leafy greens, parsley, bok choy, lettuces other than iceberg, which is low, nectarine, pear, lychee, watermelon, kiwi, plum, and Jonathan apples, coconut, brazil nuts, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and rose hip tea.

The internet abounds with many lists, most of which differ slightly from one another, but cross referencing does give one an idea of what’s what. When trying to “empty the bucket” one should partake only of the foods on the lowest end of the scale.

Other Sources of Salicylates

There are many personal hygiene products from essential oils and lotions to toothpaste and shampoo that contain salicylates, as well as common aspirin and over the counter anti-inflammatory drugs. Even those razors with an aloe strip in front of the blade can be a problem for those with highly sensitive systems.

People with bad sensitivities have to go almost without any salicylates at all to be able to reset their systems to the point where they can handle at least low intakes of this plant toxin. This can be a tall order for a raw fooder as you’ll see as you look over more complete lists of salicylate containing foods. If you consume some steamed veggies as I do then there are some veggies that have reduced levels made possible through the heating process, however this can vary for each individual.

Experts say approximately 5% of the population is salicylate sensitive, but I would not be surprised if it were much higher than that. Most people live with small ailments and symptoms whose cause can’t really be explained or nailed down in a solid way. Most of us don’t even really think about the small ailments that we put up with every day, until they become more serious and chronic. Perhaps some of these ailments are caused by salicylates sensitivity or other plant toxins and food sensitivities, like Oxalic Acid, Oxalic Acid Amines,Histamines, goitrogens , lectins, Benzoates, Caffeine, and Solanine to name a few.

If you would like to further research any of these I have two great books to recommend. First is The Food intolerance Handbook, by Sharla Race, which covers many different food sensitives.

The other, a really easy and very informative read by Joan Ablahani, Salicylate Intolerance and The Healthier I Ate, the Sicker I Got. Joan’s book covers salicylates, other food intolerances, and harmful food dyes.

It is my guess that this is probably not an issue, or at least a big issue for most of those reading this, but for those struggling to find answers to symptoms even as you eat an amazingly clean and healthy diet, this may be key for you in enjoying the fabulous health you are seeking.

Vegetable Juicing Recipes

vegetable juicing recipes

Lectin Update

Last year I wrote an article on Lectins in the September newsletter. At that time I had eliminated all lectins from my diet to see if there would be a noticeable effect when I reintroduced them.

You are probably already familiar with some Lectins. Nightshades like potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant are lectin containing foods; so is gluten and wheat germ agglutinin, another wheat protein, which can be highly destructive to the human body.

According to Dr Steven Gundry, “Lectins for the most part, with one important exception are large proteins found in plants, and they are a crucial weapon in the arsenal of strategies that plants use to defend themselves in their ongoing battle with animals.” Corn, legumes, squash, grains, and peanuts are all lectin containing foods.

For the most part they are new world foods that most of the world has only been consuming for 500 years or so. We have not had enough time for our bodies to build up a resistance to these foods so they can wreak havoc with our bodies.

Dr Gundry has had fabulous success in his clinics healing people from all types of diseases and disorders. Arthritis, age spots, allergies, cancer, dementia, diabetes, fibromyalgia, IBS, migraine headaches, heart disease, depression, Parkinson’s and obesity are a few of the maladies Dr Gundry has had success with.

Flash forward from last September and I have been eating some lectins over the last two months or so without issue. I introduced one at a time starting with chia seeds, then cilantro, and then some summer squash. I have not partaken of any tomatoes yet as I know when I overdo them I do get sore thumb joints. I may try a few before the season is out, we will see.

Bottom line is that I can enjoy at least a few lectins without issue and you probably can too. Dr Gundry’s book The Plant Paradox: The Hidden Dangers in "Healthy" Foods That Cause Disease and Weight Gain is a great read and full of all types of interesting information beyond that on lectins.

I'm always happy to receive new recipes at the site, but please send along a photo of the recipe and a paragraph or so telling about the recipe, i.e. nutritional value, why you like it, the story behind it, etc. Just do your best and I'll do the rest. Having a photo is really important so please make that happen. If for some reason it won't load send it by email and I'll add it on this end.

Cheers!

Although I believe strongly in a diet comprised mostly of fresh raw foods, I do supplement with super green powders, nuts, seeds, sea vegetables, and the occasional dried fruit. If you’re like me you’re always looking for a good deal on quality food whether it’s fresh from the farmers market or purchased online.The following resources may be helpful for you.

The Raw Food World, the Fresh Network, Vitacost, and sometimes Amazon can be a good source as well for good deals on green powders and such. The important thing to remember is that fresh is best and these products are supportive and should not be your mainstay. Enjoy!

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Continuously Updated Web Pages:

There are a number of new testimonies at the website which I hope you will read and pass on to others when you feel they would benefit. And please feel free to leave your own story if you feel moved to do so.

You need not be 100% raw to share a testimony; the fact is most people on the raw diet are not 100% anyway. Your story may inspire someone else, perhaps from the other side of the globe, to give the raw food diet a try.

Success stories.


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Please send me your health questions, they can be submitted anonymously if you prefer, and you may help someone else improve their health and quality life. Your questions.


Please contact me with other questions, feedback and comments here.

Be Well and Wonderful, Hugh

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https://www.raw-foods-diet-center.com

hugh@raw-foods-diet-center.com

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER

The contents of my website and my newsletter are gleaned from my experiences and observations, meant only for educational purposes and not intended to replace medical advice, consultations, or treatment of any kind. I recommend you see your professional health care provider if you suspect you have an illness or disease of any kind. I'm not medically trained, and I would never suggest or imply that I know what is best for someone else's body or overall health, ultimately each of us is the only one who knows what's best for us.