Raw Living

I have been struggling for months to make the decision to begin eating raw.  Beginning today, I am joining my son-in-law in making a permanent decision to go raw.  We've done it as a family for a short time, but began cooking our food again shortly after that experience.

Funny that the more I study the lifestyles and eating habits of ancient Yasharal, I am discovering that not only was meat not a part of their normal and daily diet, even after being allowed to eat Tahur/clean meat, they usually restricted flesh to slaughtered offerings and certain feasts.

In addition, most of their cooked food was limited to grains, which they ate as bread.  Their other option for eating grains, and even legumes was eating them soaked, but raw.

So, as I read about my ancestors I am trying to understand why they ate they way they did.  What I am finding out is that they had great wisdom, and knowledge about nutrition.  Contrary to popular belief, the children of YHUH were not some nomadic savages that were filthy and dirty and didn't know how to take care of themselves.  Remember it was a young Yasharalyt man that showed the pharaoh how to survive famine.

These people understood the importance of eating their fruits and veggies, nuts and legumes raw or soaked.  Many of their foods were left to ferment so that they could take advantage of the probiotics found in abundance in fermented foods.  They understood that in order to obtain the maximum amount of healthy enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients in their food, it had to be eaten raw, soaked, or fermented.  They understood that cooking, even just a simple sauté would zap all these food nutrients from their food.  It wasn't that they had no way of cooking, or a lack of facilities to cook as we do, they were just wiser than we are and more connected with the earth and the bounty of nutrition it provided them.

Over thousands of years, we've become sicker and sicker.  Even with all the "knowledge" we claim to have.  We are dying at younger ages despite the inventions.  Our food is less healthy, even when we cut back on processed foods, we still cook our natural foods to death.  Literally killing all the nutritional value the foods possess.

Eating raw, in the scheme of things, just makes sense. If cooking destroys the vital and essential nutrients that we need to stay healthy, we should understand that eating our food raw does the exact opposite.  Eating at least 80% raw can provide you with more energy and mental focus, and less of all those ailments that eating cooked foods can cause.  But most importantly, eating at lease 80% raw will provide a way for you to feed your body and give it what it needs to thrive, not just survive.  It will add longevity, especially when compared with moderate exercise and sound sleep.  

*please note that the comments in this post are not to be intended as medical advice! as I am not a medical professional.  All comments are made based on my own study, research, and life experience.  If you need medical advice, please seek a licensed medical professional.

Balance

Walking in this Turah truth means not being able to eat a great many foods.  It means having to forego foods that we might enjoy, or even foods that the doctors and nutritionist proclaim to be healthy or even needed.

I've been told by some that they still continue to eat unclean because their bodies become ill and afflicted when they eat according to the Turah.  Some state that since all food is hybrid it doesn't matter.  Some even say all food has been made clean through the death of Yahusha.

It is amazing to me that people still do not understand that the blood of Yahusha did not wash away the Turah, but made it complete.  The witness of the letter to the Abarym made this quite clear, in that it explains that His purpose was to become the one and only acceptable slaughtered offering.  The mediator of blood between mankind and YHUH.

So what does this mean for those who want to be obedient to YHUH? It means that we must follow HIS Turah.

Speaking with my sisters a few days ago, it became quite clear that as we continue in disobedience the way we live will continue to take us further away from the perfection YHUH created us to live in.  Understanding that, that perfect state of perfection will not be possible until He returns to us, we still have an obligation to "press toward the mark" of That True High Calling!  This means that we have to look to YHUH to lead and guide us as close as we can get to the place He calls us to be while living in this sin sick world.

When YHUH created the earth, He created all that lives and breathes.  Yet He was very specific about what we were allowed to eat.  However we sinned against Him.  We turned our backs on Him, and
were thus thrust out of that perfect state of being.  The things He created for us to eat became harder for us to grow.  This was the punishment He placed on mankind. (B'Rashyth 3:17-18). And as man continued to become more and more wicked, the punishment was death.  (B'Rashyth 6:6-7).  This purging of constant defilement changed altogether the condition of the world we lived in.  So YHUH made provision.  When He told Nuach to take seven pairs of the clean (Tahur) animals, He was making provision.  Not just for His slaughterings, but as nourishment for His children.  Thus the way we ate was also changed.  But we need to be mindful, that this was not part of YHUH's perfect plan for how we should eat.  This was the punishment of our being disobedient.

Many look at this account and say this is when YHUH said we could eat anything.  (B'Rashyth 9:3). But we need to understand that YHUH was not saying we could eat everything.  I look at the word live in this verse, and understand clearly that YHUH was making separation.  Those things that are Tahur bring life.  Those things that are Tama bring death.  Nuach understood this quite well, which is why he didn't need an instruction manual in order to know which beasts were clean and which ones
were unclean. As the Word states, he was the only being YHUH found worthy to save. (B'Rashyth 6:8) However it is obvious that his descendants did not, as YHUH had to eventually spell out for us just what His words meant.  (U'Yaqra 11). And still, we could not get it right, as He had to continue giving instruction... (U'yaqra 3:17, 19:19, 23-25, vs. 26; Bmadbar 11; Dabarym 14, 20:19-20, 22:9-11)

During the years that I've  been studying how we are supposed to eat according to the way YHUH initially gave us to eat, I've stumbled and I've made many mistakes.  But I kept pressing.  The reason I kept pressing and continue to press is because I do not want to end up as they did in Bmadbar 11.  I want to do what is right and pleasing to Abynu YHUH.

When YHUH said "I have given you every plant that yields seed...and every tree whose fruit yields seed...to you it is for food". He was giving us a perfect diet.  Through sin, greed, and selfishness, we
have polluted and defiled the earth, as well as our own bodies.  How can we expect YHUH to dwell in us, if we are defiled?  We are defiled in how we act, how we speak, how we dress, how we study, how we believe, and yes, in how we eat.

So to those naysayers who believe we cannot eat B'Rashyth 1:28-29 while in captivity and remain healthy, you are wrong.  How we eat, what we eat helps rid our body of plague, parasites, and disease.  It isn't so much as the eating as it is the obedience.  When we obey YHUH, even in something so seemingly innocent as diet, we please Him.  And THIS is truly the answer to how we find delight in our own selves and our own lives.  Delight yourself in YHUH and He will give you the desires of your heart, wisdom says.  It's not that we obey to get what we want.  We obey to give Him what He asks, because we love Him, and want to be found pleasing to Him.  So when we delight in Him, we find that our desire changes from worldly wants to qadush wants.

Here's a list of foods that can help make your plate complete and well balanced, and your eating line up with B'Rashyth 1:28-29:

PROTEIN:
Amaranth.  Rich in lysine, cysteine, methionine, Vit. C, Iron, calcium
Farro/emmer. Rich in fiber, niacin, magnesium, zinc
Spelt.  Rich in fiber, magnesium, zinc, iron
Buckwheat.  This complete protein is rich in magnesium, zinc and B vitamins
Kamut. This complete protein is rich in Vit. B, Vit. E, phosporus, magnesium, zinc, complex carbs
Quinoa. This complete protein is rich in phosporus, B vitamins, Iron, Calcium, potassium
Barley. Rich in fiber, B vitamins, iron, copper, manganese, selenium
Teff. Rich in high quality carbs, calcium, thiamin, iron

Use these in place of rice and potatoes when cooking.

Other sources of protein include almonds, spinach, figs, avocado, hemp seeds, kale, sprouts, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, asparagus, peas

IRON:
Spinach, kale, collards, turnip greens, apricots, figs, black strap molasses, legumes...

VITAMIN C:
essential to iron absorption can be readily found in collards, kale, spinach, turnip greens, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, red bell pepper, pomelo, key limes, and mandarins

CALCIUM:
Believed by many to be found only in meat, is found abundantly in collards, spinach, turnip greens, okra, almonds, and sesame seeds

OMEGAS:
Hemp seed, chia seed, flax seed, walnuts, winter squash, leafy greens, cabbage, berries, mango, olives.  For added flavor to foods, cooking with cloves, marjoram, and oregano also gives a slight boost to the omegas.  For healthier cooking with oils high in the omegas use hemp seed oil, flax seed oil, coconut oil, and pure extra virgin olive oil when cooking.

Bottom line, the ONLY nutrient we cannot get eating the way we are supposed to seems to be Vitamin B12.  The reason being, is because B12 is found only in soil.  The reason why B12 is found in meat, is because when animals eat, they eat the dirt right along with the grasses because no one is out cleaning their grasses before they eat them.  We overly wash our grasses because too many contaminants are found in the soil.  This is what has depleted our ability to naturally absorb Vitamin B12.  It's not because YHUH took it away or gave us a new source, it's because WE have destroyed it.  Because of this, I take a B12 supplement that is derived from... You guessed it... The chemicals found in dirt.  I chuckle....  To get an adequate amount of vitamin D, the kind found only in the sun, I try to be out in the sun 15 to 30 minutes per day between 10am and 2pm, the time of day when the sun is ripe for our bodies to absorb it.  If I am unable to do this on a regular basis, I supplement with a D3 liquid that is derived from lanolin.  And I am healthy.  Now if I could just get this exercise thing down...  Hmmm

With that said, I encourage you to be courageous.  Think and live outside the box...pray and ask YHUH to give you UNCOMMON sense.  Because all things common, are not of Him.

Dabarym 12:8 do not do as we are doing here today, each one whatever is right in his own eyes. 9 because you have not yet entered the rest and the inheritance YHUH your Alahym is giving you.

Alykham Shalum

Tamar

Why Diets Don't Work

For years I've been wanting to lose weight.  I've tried many diets, I've even tried certain "fasts".  I've even tried a cleanse.  I did not lose weight on either one.    Well let me correct that.  I lost weight, but gained it right back.

Diets tend to have a cycle.  You start your diet.  Which basically means you restrict yourself from certain things.  You choose low fat, low carbs, low calories, etc.  so you restrict yourself from food that is high in these categories.  Which is WRONG.  Your body needs all of these things.  So restricting yourself of these things usually leads to......cravings.

"There is no single explanation for food cravings, and explanations range from low serotonin levels affecting the brain centers for appetite to production of endorphins as a result of consuming fats and carbohydrates. Foods with high levels of sugar-glucose, such as chocolate, are more frequently craved than foods with lower sugar glucose, such as broccoli because when glucose interacts with opioid system in the brain an addictive  triggering effect occurs. The consumer of the glucose feels the urge to consume more glucose, much like an alcoholic, because the brain has become conditioned to release "feel good hormones" every time glucose is present. There is evidence that addiction and food craving activate some of the same brain areas. Specifically, when smokers look at pictures of people smoking it activates the same areas of the brain as when obese people look at pictures of food." Wiki-food

What this says, is that when you restrict your body of the things its used to, your brain tells you that you need these things, so your body begins to desire these things.  Once you begin to crave something, with little to no will power, you soon give in. And once you give in, it's hard to go back to leaving those foods alone.

After awhile though, guilt kicks in.  Or you start looking in the mirror.  Or your clothes don't fit.  This is when you start making plans to diet again.  Thus the cycle repeats itself.

So now that you understand the cycle of dieting, as well as the reason they don't work, Let me share with you something that may help you lose weight and keep it off.

OBEDIENCE!

That's right obedience.  The reason why we gain weight, get sick, have faulty digestive systems, contact death threatening diseases, is all due to disobedience.

Dbrym/deut. 28:21 YHUH will make the pestilence stick to you until he has consumed you off the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 22 YHUH will strike you with wasting disease and with fever, inflammation and fiery heat, and with drought and with blight and with mildew. They shall pursue you until you perish.

See this was written thousands of years ago.  However, when most people go to scripture they tend to overlook these verses, erroneously believing that they don't apply to them.  But these diseases aren't just the punishment of Yasharal.  These are diseases and pestilences that afflicted Matsarym, and Babal as well.  So what did Yasharal have in common with these nations?  Chata, sin.  

When YHUH put mankind/adam in the garden, He made everything in perfection.  Including the list of things we were supposed to eat.  Believe it or not, everything created was not supposed to be food. There's a diet going around called the paleo diet, and many people are consuming the things allowed in this diet, believing them to be the foods of the ancient Yasharalyt.  But many of these foods were forbidden to Yasharal, and are foods they would have only eaten when they forgot the Turah, or when they were just blatantly disobedient to Turah.

Many of these foods taste good.  And like Yasharal of old, after years and years in captivity, we too long for and crave the foods of our enslavement.

The ONLY way to set things right is to repent and turn away from idolatry of food! and return to obedience to the Turah YHUH gave regarding what we really should consider food.  And I can tell you, most of what you find in the grocery store is not it.

But what does this have to do with losing weight you might be asking.  So let me tell you.  Once you begin to eat, I mean truly eat the things YHUH would have considered food for His chosen people, you will begin to see a change in yourself immediately.  You become more energized.  Your brain functions more coherently.  And yes, you lose weight.

You lose weight because you no longer are eating additives and preservatives and processed sugars and processed starches and manmade hybrids and genetically modified organisms.  

This is a huge restriction, because it literally means almost every "food" known to man.  

I feel you thinking, well what can I eat then?  Many will argue that eating this strictly means you cannot eat anything.  Some say well all food is a hybrid.  And pretty much they are correct.  All food is cultivated. But there are some foods that hybridized because of natural occurrences, and there are some foods that are hybridized because of man's interference.  These are the foods YHUH said we could not eat in Uyaqra 19:19 and Dbrym 22:9-11.

I remember reading Bamadbar chapter 11.  It says they lusted after the meat of Matsarym...  Buy the time you get to the end of the chapter you discover that all those who lusted were struck with plague, and died because of that lust.

This is what is going on with us today.  YHUH said we show our love for Him through our obedience.  Too many justify their disobedience because we are in "Babal."  Well guess what, we are here because we deserve to be.  And until we truly change we will remain in "Babal", because there is currently no where in the world you can go and escape Babal.  Why? Because Babal is spiritual.  Living in the US is not physically Babal.  We were brought here because of spiritual disobedience.  And we remain here for the same reasons.  Those seeking to escape will find themselves in Babal no matter where they go, because the same sins and enslavement they live with here exists all over the world.

What we fail to realize is that YHUH doesn't say pack up and change location because that's going to change your life.  No! He says obey Him.  Observe to do His command.  Be circumcised in the flesh and the inner man.  Then you will begin to see change occurring in your life.  Because YHUH is just and when we return to Him, He will heal.  Husha 6:1

This requires will, discipline, and a heart to obey.  You have to stop looking at the situation as giving up, and look at it as rewarding.  YHUH says we must learn to delight in Him.  When we find His Turah a delight, we begin to look at every aspect of our lives in a different light.  You begin to truly hunger and thirst for righteousness, rather than than the ways of man.

I had to tell myself, look at that fried chicken, that strawberry pop tart, that mocha almond fudge ice cream, that feta cheese as a ticking bomb.  I had to tell myself that putting those things in my body was like walking around like a suicide bomber, ready to explode.  I had to make a decision as to whether or not food would be my adversary and whether or not I would give in to the temptations, or if I would resist them.

I understood, that just like with everything else I am called to do, I had to understand that YHUH was calling me to life, and I had to make the decision to live or die.  He doesn't make that decision for us. He chooses us...yet we in turn have to turn around and decide whether or not we are going to choose Him.

The moment I made the choice to become obedient to eating according B'Rashyth 1:28-29 was the moment my life changed drastically.  Gone was the asthma, and the allergies, and the anemia, and frequent colds, etc.  though I recently discovered that I have an auto immune disease, it's been attacking my body since before I knew YHUH.  I've managed to escape many of the symptoms because for the past several years, I've been researching and eliminating all the GMOs man made hybrids, and non foods from my diet.  And yes, this resulted in significant weight loss.

Now, I am not saying eat Tahur/clean just to lose weight.  That's not obedience, that's self service.  However, once you become obedient, expect YHUH to heal you.

I pray these words bring encouragement in a world so full of strife, and that the barakuth of Dbrym 28:1-14 be yours.

Alykham Shalum,

Tamar

What Are You Eating

What are you eating?

There's a lot of "tell all" movies about the food industry and how they are making money hand over fist "poisoning" citizens all over the world with its "food."

I recently made the following comment regarding one of the newest documentaries...  "Fed Up."

"The problem is that most people don't really care about what they eat.  It's one thing to say or even believe I want to do better...  But a lot of people's reality is they are too lazy to really put in the effort.  Buying fresh healthy food that you have to spend time preparing and then cooking is too much for today's society.  Everything is about quick and easy.  Had people not wanted everything in five seconds the fake food industry wouldn't be as wealthy as it is.. And the government wouldn't own farms because everyone would be growing their own food...  Restaurants wouldn't be chains because folks would be cooking their own food and children nor adults would be obese because sedentary life styles would not exist..."

I want to add, the biggest problem we have with our health, is that the world has gotten as far away as possible from the commands of YHUH.  Uyaqra 19:19, Dbrym 22:9-11, Brashyth 1:29-30 give very detailed information of just what YHUH intended for us to eat.  And yes I know that after the punishment of the flood, meat was given (Uyaqra 11).  However what many fail to realize is that it was not until AFTER YHUH saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth and that EVERY inclination of the thoughts of his inner man was only evil continuously that He decided to cause the rain to fall to punish mankind for its wickedness... Brashyth 6:5-7... And it was not until after this punishment of death that man was allowed to eat meat. Brashyth 9:3. I also find it odd that there was already a division of the clean and unclean animals and man knew the difference Brashyth 6:21, 7:2,8.

Many look at Brashyth 9:3 and say "we can eat whatever we want."  If that were the case, YHUHwouldn't   have given the instructions in Uyaqra 11 regarding the clean and unclean....  As well as telling the people to make a distinction between the two... Uyaqra 11:47

When we look at Dbrym 28:15-68 it should be of no surprise that our children suffer from heart disease and cancer and skin disease and sickness.  It should be no surprise that immunizations from fatal diseases have been developed, or that new diseases crop up every year.

I am not writing these words for those that do not follow the Turah of YHUH.  There is no chastisement for the people that do not belong to Him.  For those who do not believe in Him their father is of this world.  However, if you follow YHUH and guard to do ALL that He commands, these words are for you.

It is time to stop making excuses and justifying what you eat.  When we give in to our flesh, we are denying the power of the one we "say" we believe in.  When we grumble and complain, we are truly saying we either don't care, don't believe, or want to stay in Babal.   YHUH hears your grumbling..  The ancients grumbled and complained about YHUH's provision.. And they were dealt with accordingly.  Bmadbar 11

My aysh complains about how much money I sound on fresh seasonally local produce and how much time I spend researching farming practices..  He was totally shocked when I went to the store to purchase provision for him and he saw how much money nonfood really costs.  I call it nonfood because YHUH did not make unclean substances food for us.  Man did that.  YHUH created the pig, but He said it was not food for us.  The same goes with all other unclean substances.

You can complain all you want about the cost or the time or the availability....  This does not negate the fact that there is Turah about food.  Is the meat you're eating the result of two different animals mated together?  He did not say an animal that wasn't able to procreate.. He said two kinds mated together.  Is the meat your purchasing from the store meat that has been hunted, presented to YHUH and the blood covered I dirt?  Are you eating halal and kosher?  If so, do you realize that those are foods that have been offered to pagan deities?

Sure the Turah of clean and unclean food is difficult to say the least to follow, in a world that doesn't hold to the Turah of YHUH in any way.  But we are called to be qadush, that is separated to YHUH because He is qadush.  We are called to come out of Babal spiritually, even if not physically.  Once you read, you must do all you can to follow.  We are held accountable, and how much money you make, how difficult it is to acquire, etc. is not acceptable excuses.

When we anah (humble) ourselves, pray, seek YHUH, and turn from evil, He is righteous and will answer... Dbry HaYamym Byth 7:14.  Humbling ones self means to be lowly submissive.  Our biggest problem is, is that not many of us are WILLING to do this.

If you want to talk eating clean, or just want info about how I go about buying and eating clean local produce, please do not hesitate to contact me.  Send an email to shepherdess7@gmail.com.

My prayer is that we become willing to obey YHUh in ALL things, not just the things we find the easiest to do.

May your kneading bowl be Baruk.

Alykham Shalum

Tamar

How Many Times Per Day Should We Eat???

We all like to snack.  In fact, our bodies are not designed to go long periods of time without food, especially if we are active.  This is what causes that feeling of hunger in between meals. 

Most dieticians tell their clients to eat three meals with two snacks in between.  But what usually happens when a person does this, is they tend to over eat during those three larger meals, because their “snacks” are insignificant, and they go too long without fuel.  This causes them to feel hungrier than what they should. Usually, those snacks are also not very healthy, and are laden with sugar and salt, and are overly processed.

At least six “meals” per day, (and sometimes seven depending on your schedule) is really what is needed to give the body enough fuel to make it through the day and keep the metabolism going.  Every meal should be eaten, after drinking at least one glass of water or tea.  This helps to create a fuller stomach, so that the tendency to overeat does not occur. 

Six to seven meals?  Yes.  Sounds like a lot, but it isn’t.  It might require more preparation, but eating less, more times per day, actually fuels your body, increases your metabolism, and helps you to think and function better.

So, how do you do it? 

I for one, am not big on breakfast foods.  In fact, for most people eating a tahur diet there isn’t much besides ancient grain pancakes and waffles and muffins, fruit, or porridge, that would probably be considered normal breakfast foods. 

What I actually like to do, is have dinner for breakfast.  Yes, dinner.   I save portions of my dinner meal, and eat that for breakfast.  Breakfast and Dinner for me are the most well rounded meals of the day.  What I mean by this, is that these are the meals where I am guaranteed to eat a well-balanced portion from the food groups that will give me the most nutrients.  So I have a healthy portion of vegetables, usually leafy greens.  I also have the appropriate sized amount of grains, and then beans or lentils or some other vegetable as my protein source. 

So, what about those six to seven meals you’re probably asking…  well here goes…

1)      Breakfast:  A combination word which literally means to break the fast, is the meal eaten in the morning, after waking, and is the first meal of the day.  (Eaten first thing in the morning, usually within the first thirty minutes to an hour upon waking to maximize the benefits of getting your metabolism kick started)

2)      Snack:  A small share or portion of food or drink or a light meal, especially one eaten between regular meals.  (If breakfast occurs between the hours of 5 to 7, you should be ready for your first snack of the day around 9 or 9:30)

3)      Lunch: A light midday meal  (should be eaten around 11:30 or 12, but no later than 1)

4)      Snack: A small share or portion of food or drink or a light meal, especially one eaten between regular meals.  (this midday snack should be eaten around 3pm.   Right before going home to prepare dinner)

5)      Dinner: What many consider the main meal of the day, supposed to be eaten around midday  (this meal should be eaten between 5 and 6, but no later than 7pm)

6)      Supper:  an evening meal, typically a light or informal one.  (this very light meal should be eaten no later than 9pm, as you are usually preparing for bed, and should not lay down until for at least thirty minutes after eating)

7)      Snack:  A small share or portion of food or drink or a light meal, especially one eaten between regular meals.  (this is a very late night snack, and should be very light, or just simply water or tea without sugar, and eaten two to three hours after supper but at least thirty minutes before going to bed)

As you can see it is quite possible, with careful planning, to eat seven times per day.  And the way to make this easiest, is to plan your meals ahead of time.  

Looking at the above definitions, with the exception of Breakfast and Dinner, all these meals are light meals.   Your snacks should be very simple, such as a serving of fruit or vegetables, or a glass of water or sugarless tea.  I’ve discovered popped sorghum, and it is delicious.  Because of all the crazy stuff going on with corn, popped corn is the absolute last thing I would eat as a snack.  Your lunch should also be simple fair.  A smaller serving of the types of food you would have for dinner.  So if you are eating a huge salad during lunch, believing that you are eating healthy, chances are, you meal is too heavy, and probably not well balanced.  Dinner should be a healthy meal, full of nutrition.  Look at the vegan plate attached to see what a well-balanced dinner plate should look like.  I try to make enough dinner for enough left-overs, to make appropriate sized meals for breakfast and maybe lunch the next day.  Supper is not dinner and should not consist of the same portions as dinner. Instead, Supper should be a light meal.  Just a bit heavier than a snack, but less than lunch.  For me, the perfect supper is a muffin and some fruit, or hummus and a piece of flat bread and a glass of tea, or an 8oz smoothie.  If I am staying up late, I will snack on something light, and have a glass of water.  This usually causes me to get up later for a trip to the bathroom…  Smile

So, there you have it.  Eat more times, but less food, to stay fit and healthy, and keep your metabolism revved up…  

Pray you found this helpful… 

Shalum.   

Vitamin D and B12 and Veganism

Was just sitting here thinking about the misconception that the only way to get natural vitamin D other than the sun is by eating meat.  I shake my head at this, because the reason why the animals are rich in many vitamins, including D is because of the plants they eat.  WHAT?!?!  I know that's what you said, because it's what I said when I first found out.  Yes, animals get their vitamin D by eating plants that have bacteria on them from the soil that produces vitamin D.  The bacteria gets absorbed into their digestive system and then their bodies absorb it making them seemingly rich in vitamin D.  And guess what, it's the same for B12.

Now, since most animals on farms and factories these days are fed feed made with all sorts of substances, what are the chances that these animals are getting their vitamins naturally?  How about slim to none!  You can bet, they are getting them artificially, the same way your doctor tries to get you to take yours.  Through their synthetic supplements.

 So here's what I have to tell you.  Lichen and shiitake mushrooms contain vitamin D, but if you really want a good source of D3 it's found in lanolin.   But that's not vegan you say... Well the truth of the matter it really is the purest way to receive vitamin D3 without the sun, and what is considered a vegetarian way to receive it, simply purchase the drops in olive oil... And  nutritional yeast contains B12.  Since most people wont eat enough lichen or shiitake mushroom (I don't like either) there are some plant, read lichen, based vitamin D3 supplements available.  Just make sure you read the labels because many contain additives that while vegan, aren't necessarily Tahur.  And the nutritional yeast is easy.  A tablespoon per day is all you need, and it's delicious, imparting a cheese like flavor to your food.    I mix it in my stir fries, on salads, etc.  I purchase Braggs nutritional yeast, but I know Red Star makes a B12 nutritional yeast you purchase in bulk.  If you're stuck on supplements, and want to make sure you're getting enough B12 there are vegan options that are based on the mineral found in specific types of soil.

There you have it!  It is very possible to be 100% vegan and still eat  Tahur.  Anyone who tells you different, is lying.

Carnivore to Herbivore: Making the transition to veganism

A vegan lifestyle is filled with variety and countless choices of delicious food. It only excludes the use of animal products. In terms of diet this means no meat, fish, dairy, eggs, honey or other animal derived ingredients. This challenge is not about being environmentally vegan, as our ancestors wore clothing made from the skins of animals, as evidenced when YHUH gave the first man and his ashah clothing made from animal skin. (Brashyt 3:21).  However, it is healthier for your body not to use cosmetics, personal care, or household products that contain animal ingredients, as these things are readily absorbed into the body, via the skin. So you can keep your leather purses, belts and shoes.

The many benefits of becoming vegan, other saving the lives of many animals and being much more environmentally friendly, is that it truly is the lifestyle choice to make.  A well balanced plant based diet is the healthiest of all, is suitable for all ages and can significantly lower health risks, such as heart disease, strokes, cancer, diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol.

 "... vegan diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases, and are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life-cycle including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and adolescence and athletes."  The American Dietetic Association, July 2009

So, for those of you who are not vegan, and are starting to make this self deserving change in your life, here are a few easy steps to taking your diet from being a carnivore to being an herbivore .

 Dispelling the myth that veganism is difficult

Vegan meal are easy to make, and can be as familiar and as simple as a pot of spaghetti or as exotic as falafel and hummus.

What I find odd, is that most people, whether vegans or meat-eaters, typically use a limited variety of recipes; the average family eats only eight or nine different dinners repeatedly.  So, the idea of switching from a meat based, to a non-meat based diet can be as simple as switching your meat for another protein source, or thinking outside the box and exploring with new, fun ideas and recipes!

The First step, would be to think of a few simple vegan meals that you already enjoy, such as stir fry or vegetable soup.

Next, think of a few recipes that you prepare regularly that can easily be adapted to a vegan menu. For example, a favorite stew can be made by eliminating the meat and adding great northern beans. Most any soup, stew, or casseroles can be made into a vegan dish with just a few changes.

If you are still at a loss as to what to cook, check out some vegan cookbooks from the library or purchase a few from the bargain section at your local book store, and experiment with the recipes until you find a few recipes that are delicious and easy to make.

After that, coming up with vegan options for breakfast, lunch and dinner is easy.

 

Making the switch to a vegan diet doesn't mean buying a lot of special vegan products, as the staples of your vegan pantry should be whole, unprocessed plant foods that are readily obtainable at your local supermarket or wholefood store. 

ELIMINATE JUNK FOOD!

This will be hard for many people.  Because for so many, eating junk food, eating on the go, making quick, non-nutritious meals is all they know.  Their taste buds crave the salt, sugar, and the fat. 

Vegans and omnivores alike often eat lots of junk food, white flour, and too much sugar and salt. My family made this mistake early on in our change to veganism.  But, through a ton of research, and with a depth of commitment to being healthier, most of us have changed.  After all, we only get one body and this lifetime to make it right, and get healthy. Consuming whole, natural plant foods and avoiding processed foods are the answers to achieving a long, healthy life.

For Your Health

 

Vegans have a lower risk of colon and bowel cancers, and some studies suggest a link between plant-based diets and reduced instances of Alzheimer’s disease. Going vegan also offers significant improvements to quality of life. “In our research studies, we see changes almost instantly,” says Neal D. Barnard, MD. “Within the first day or two, digestion improves. After a few weeks, blood pressure and cholesterol are noticeably improved, and if a person has diabetes, it is usually dramatically better too.”

Meal Ideas

 Breakfast:  Cereal or spelt granola with nut milk and fresh fruit | Fresh fruit salad and almond milk yoghurt | Fruit smoothie | Vegan pancakes with maple syrup

 Lunch and Dinner:  Bean soup with matsah | Vegetable Frittata | bean burger | Hearty salads using lentils or beans, quinoa, or pasta | veggie sandwich or wrap or a variety of salads, hummus, roasted vegetables, falafel|

Snack:  Fresh fruit | raw vegetable sticks dipped in hummus, or guacamole | raw almonds or other nuts | pumpkin seeds (pepitas) or other seeds | dates, other dried fruit | Green smoothie

Breads and sweets:  Gluten free, or ancient grain Blueberry muffins | Pumpkin and Walnut muffins | Raspberry & White Chocolate muffins |  | vegan chocolate or caramel

 

 

 

DID YOU KNOW THIS ABOUT CARROTS?

Before I relay the following information, let me start off by saying that I DO NOT EAT CARROTS!  The modern carrot is too far removed from its original wild ancestor for me to consider it a viable nutrient source.

The wild ancestors of the carrot are likely to have come from Iran and Afghanistan, which remain the centre of diversity of Daucus carota, the wild carrot.

Selective breeding over the centuries of a naturally occurring subspecies of the wild carrot, Daucus carota subsp. sativus, to reduce bitterness, increase sweetness and minimise the woody core, has produced the familiar garden vegetable.

The modern carrot originated in Afghanistan about 1100 years ago. Carrots were originally purple with a thin root, then a mutant occurred which removed the purple pigmentation resulting on a new race of yellow carrots.

The stabilised and domesticated orange carrot does date from the sixteenth century Netherlands.
Throughout the Classical Period and the Middle Ages writers constantly confused carrots and parsnips. This may seem odd given that the average carrot is about six inches long and bright orange while a parsnip is off white and can grow 3 feet, but this distinction was much less obvious before early modern plant breeders got to work.

The orange carrot is a product of the 16th and 17th centuries probably in the Low Countries. Its original colour varied between dirty white and pinkish purple.

Most carrot cultivars are about 88% water, 7% sugar, 1% protein, 1% fibre, 1% ash, and 0.2% fat. Free sugars in carrot include sucrose, glucose, xylose and fructose.

The variety of carrot found in north India is rare everywhere except in Central Asia and other contiguous regions, and is now growing in popularity in larger cosmopolitan cities in South India. The north Indian carrot is pink-red comparable to plum or raspberry or deep red apple in colour (without a touch of yellow or blue) while most other carrot varieties in the world vary from orange to yellow in colour.

Eastern carrots were domesticated in Central Asia, probably in modern-day Iran and Afghanistan in the 10th century, or possibly earlier. Specimens of the eastern carrot that survive to the present day are commonly purple or yellow, and often have branched roots. The purple colour common in these carrots comes from anthocyanin pigments.

The western carrot emerged in the Netherlands in the 17th century.

Certain cultivars of carrots have been bred to be used at the "baby" stage. One such cultivar is 'Amsterdam Forcing'. This process was developed at Beechnut Farms, bought by Zellwin Farms.
However these are not baby cut carrots, which are regular carrots cut down to size.

2006, nearly three-quarters of the fresh baby-cut carrots produced in the United States came from Bakersfield, California. Bolthouse Farms and Grimmway Farms are the world's two largest growers, processors, and shippers of baby-cut carrots.The Green Giant company, which resells carrots from Bolthouse Farms, markets their product as "baby-cut carrots".  Bolthouse Farms is owned by Campbell soup company.

To reduce microbial contamination, cocktail carrots may be treated with chlorine.Those that are will be subsequently rinsed with potable water to remove the excess chlorine before being packaged.

UNVEILING OUR NEW PRODUCT LINE

Integrity, Substance, Honesty & Modesty,

Are the essence of timeless beauty.

 

UNVEILING OUR NEW PRODUCT LINE

 

Introducing the Hadasah Product Line at Beautifully Natural.  Based off our study in Woman of Substance, we are introducing a line of products that take us back to the ancient paths of bathing and skin care.  We sincerely hope that you will come to enjoy your journey back to the days when our foremothers cared for their skin and bodies in a special and unique way.  Their desire for purification often over ruled their desire for beauty and sometimes vice versa.  The Hadasah product line offered through Beautifully Natural allows you to have the best of both worlds.  Drawing on bathing and purification practices from far away Yasharal (Israel), we have purchased ingredients from as far away as the Dead Sea in Yardan (Jordan) and blended them for your benefit. 

 

Remember, 10% of all annual sales of these products will go toward a special grant/donation to help the daughters of YHUH start or grow their own home-based business. 

Hadasah's Oil of Mar blends Mar (Myrrh) with Extra Virgin Olive Oil to help the body maintain healthy skin, prevent skin aging, and sooth chapped or cracked skin

Hadasah's Oil of Shaman (Sweet fragrances) from ancient times is blended with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and is suitable for both young and mature skin. This Oil can be used as part of a healthy skin care regimen to help improve skin structure and texture as they encourage the growth of new skin cells for healthier skin.

Purchase the The Oil of Mar and Oil of Shaman together for a combination of amazing skin regeneration properties. Used together (the Oil of Mar for six months, followed by the Oil of Shaman for six months, these oils help to improve skin tone, condition, and health. The Combination of these oils, spices, and resins also bring balance to skin & reduce excess dryness or oiliness.

Hadasah’s Coconut Milk Bath is loaded with beneficial fats, nutrients and minerals. Coconut milk has a natural ability to calm and hydrate irritated skin and aids in replacing moisture to dehydrated skin. Combined with Tapioca Starch, Baking Soda . This milk bath calms, soothes, and softens tired, dry skin.

Hadasah’s Dead Sea Mud Mask is 100% pure, has been naturally purified and contains a high level of natural antibiotics that help detoxify, exfoliate, and rejuvenate skin. Use of Dead Sea mud increases the natural balance of ‎minerals and moisture that is vital to healthy skin, and is often used to relieve symptoms of psoriasis and eczema anywhere on the body.   Our Dead Sea Mud Mask can be used on the face as well as the body for facial masques, body wraps, and hydration body masques.  

Our Dead Sea Mud Mask has high concentrations of Magnesium, ‎Potassium, Calcium, Bromide, and Sulfates. It also includes ‎elements of Lithium, Strontium, Iodine, Selenium, Chromium, and Zinc. These penetrating minerals combine in a very unique combination, to deep cleanse, purify, and restore your skin from the outside in. 

Our Dead Sea Mud Mask helps skin to repair itself from the everyday effects of the sun, pollutants in the air, ‎while it works to rejuvenate and increase blood circulation.

We have added pineapple extract to our pure Dead Sea Mud, which is effective in exfoliating dead cells on the surface of the skin, providing invigorating cleansing properties as well as hydrolyze proteins, acts as a lytic agent, and conditions the skin.

http://youtu.be/pHA_wb9fChg

WHAT'S IN YOUR SUGAR???

Did you know that the highest  GM food crops are Corn, Soybeans, Canola, Cottonseed, Sugar Beets, Hawaiian Papaya (most) and a small amount of Zucchini and Yellow Squash?  And that many others are hybrid crops (in this case hybridized by man and not nature)?  Did you know that the majority of the sugar in your foods, as well as your “sugars” are either GMO or hybrid or produced in non-vegan methods?  Did you know that if a non-organic product made in North American lists “sugar” as an ingredient (and NOT pure cane sugar), then it is almost certainly a combination of sugar from both sugar cane and GM sugar beets?  Did you k now that the bone char used to process most sugar is from cows injected with GM bovine growth hormone? And that this sugar will not contain labels stating No rBGH, rBST, or artificial hormones?  Did you know that date sugar  is a type of sugar made from dried dates?  But that again, in the US, we have to be super careful, because many dates available in the US are man-made hybrids, especially medjools?

SUGAR was first cultivated in India 2500 years ago and called karkara in Sanskrit.  Sugar derives from Arabic form of word sakkara and appeared in the 13th century in England. The recorded history of cane sugar began when a member of Alexander's army mentioned in 325 BC. Sugar remained expensive until Haiti, in the west indies in 1493. Despite setbacks, its cultivation spread throughout the islands and cane sugar became and still is a main source of sweetness.

Half of the white table sugar manufactured in the United States is cane sugar and the other half is beet sugar. Beet sugar accounts for about 40% of the world's sugar, and the United States is the third largest producer. Sugar beets, which naturally contain 16 to 18 percent sucrose, flourish in temperate climates where the soil is rich and the growing season is about five months long. Thirteen U.S. states currently grow sugar beets. Sugarcane, which contains 12 to 14 percent sucrose, is a tropical grass and is grown in four U.S. states: Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Texas. Both cane sugar and beet sugar are considered to be among the "purest" foods available because they are 99.9 percent sucrose.

The primary distinction between cane sugar and beet sugar, other than being derived from different plants, is the processing method. Unlike beet sugar, cane sugar processing typically takes place at two locations, the sugar mill and the refinery. During the final purification process, cane sugar is filtered through activated carbon (charcoal) which may be of animal (cow or pig), vegetable, or mineral origin. This step is unnecessary for beet sugar and therefore is never done.

In the United States, genetically modified sugar beets, engineered for resistance to glyphosate, a herbicide marketed as Roundup, was developed by Monsanto as a genetically modified crop. Glyphosate-resistant sugar beets contain a biosynthetic gene that protects it from the effects of glyphosate when it is applied to the crop as a means to control weeds. In 2005, the US Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) deregulated glyphosate-resistant sugar beets after it conducted an environmental assessment and determined glyphosate-resistant sugar beets were highly unlikely to become a plant pest. Sugar from glyphosate-resistant sugar beets has been approved for human and animal consumption in multiple countries, but commercial production of biotech beets has been approved only in the United States and Canada. Studies have concluded the sugar from glyphosate-resistant sugar beets has the same nutritional value as sugar from conventional sugar beets (not genetically modified or non-GMO).

Glyphosate-resistant sugar beets play an important role in the United States' sugar industry. The United States imports 30% of its sugar from other countries, while the remaining 70% is extracted from domestically grown sugar beets and sugarcane. Of the domestically grown sugar crops, over half of the extracted sugar is derived from sugar beets, and the rest from sugarcane. After deregulation in 2005, glyphosate-resistant sugar beets were extensively adopted in the United States. About 95% of sugar beet acres in the US were planted with glyphosate-resistant seed in 2011

Over half of the cane refineries in the United States use bone char (charcoal made from animal bones) as their activated carbon source. The bone char used in this filtering process is so far removed from its animal source that cane sugar processed in this method is deemed kosher pareve, which, according to Jewish dietary laws, means that it contains no meat or milk in any form as an ingredient. A number of vegans disagree with this perspective.

Consumers cannot discern any differences between beet sugar and cane sugar in taste, appearance, and use. Beet sugar is frequently not labeled as such -- the packaging may just list "sugar." Cane sugar is more often labeled specifically, but not always. For consumers wishing to differentiate, the issue has become convoluted. Many vegans prefer to avoid white table sugar altogether rather than chance using a product that was filtered through bone char.

Brown sugar consists of sugar crystals (cane sugar or beet sugar) combined with molasses for taste and color. Confectioner's sugar (also known as "powdered sugar") is white table sugar that has been pulverized into a very fine powder and sifted.

Some vegans replace white table sugar with unbleached cane sugar or dehydrated and granulated cane juice, both of which are available in natural food stores. Most of these products can replace white sugar measure for measure for general use (such as on cereal or in beverages) and in recipes. These products are typically darker in color than white table sugar -- ranging from light amber to rich brown -- due to their naturally higher molasses content. This can sometimes alter the flavor of recipes and may also affect the color of the finished product.

Unbleached cane sugar is considered by some to be more healthful than white table sugar. Although it may contain minimal trace nutrients, one would have to eat massive quantities of this sugar in order to obtain any reasonable nutritive value. And, of course, there are numerous drawbacks associated with the overconsumption of sugar including tooth decay and obesity.

 Beyond the bone char concerns and health-related issues, there are many factors to consider when purchasing sugar and products that contain it. The vast majority of sugarcane is not organically grown, and most sugar plantations employ environmentally unsound agricultural methods, such as heavy insecticide and pesticide use and crop burning, which negatively impact soil, air, water, and the health of the workers. Sugarcane production is labor and energy intensive and utilizes large amounts of fossil fuels in processing, filtration, packaging, and transport. Plantation owners typically pay meager wages and provide no benefits while workers are forced to endure brutal, substandard conditions.

There are many reasons why vegans avoid white table sugar, why some purchase only organically-grown unbleached sugar, and why still others eschew sugar products altogether. A prudent approach may be to reduce our use of all types of sugar, including sugary processed foods, and to train our taste buds to more fully appreciate the natural sweetness of fresh and dried fruits, grain sweeteners, and other whole foods.

Some vegans opt to forego sugar all together and purchase optional sweeteners, such as maple sugar, granular fruit sweetener, and date sugar, or to use natural liquid sweeteners such as pure maple syrup, agave syrup, malt syrup, brown rice syrup, and mixed fruit juice concentrates.

But, there may be more than meets the eye about these products.

Brown rice syrup is expected to have a glycemic index higher than table sugar, as it is composed of glucose, maltose and maltotriose.  Glucose has a glycemic index of 100. It quickly passes through the stomach into the small intestine where it is absorbed into the bloodstream.  Maltose, which has a higher glycemic index of 105, is digested and absorbed as blood glucose even faster.  The more complex trisaccharide, maltotrios , has a glycemic index in the high-60s about the same as whole, cooked brown rice.  The exact glycemic index for brown rice syrup appears to be unknown. 

Brown rice is a hybrid rice product. http://www.livingfoodsinstitute.com/resources_articles_3.php Hybrid rice is any genealogy of rice produced by crossbreeding different kinds of rice. As with other types of hybrids, hybrid rice typically displays heterosis (or hybrid vigor) such that when it is grown under the same conditions as comparable high-yielding inbred rice varieties it can produce up to 30% more rice. High-yield crops, like hybrid rice, are one of the most important tools for combating world food crises.  The earliest high-yield rice was cultivated by Henry 'Hank' Beachell in 1966, but it was not until the 1974 that the first hybrid rice varieties were released in China.

In crop breeding, although the use of heterosis in first-generation seeds (or F1) is well known, its application in rice was limited because of the self-pollination character of that crop. In 1974, Chinese scientists successfully transferred the male sterility gene from wild rice to create the cytoplasmic genetic male-sterile (CMS) line and hybrid combination. The first generation of hybrid rice varieties were three-line hybrids and produced yields that were about 15 to 20 percent greater than those of improved or high-yielding varieties of the same growth duration.

In addition, brown rice, as well as white rice, has high levels of arsenic.  Though the FDA has stated that the levels won’t kill you “today”..  one should still be cautious of consuming too many rice products.

http://commonhealth.wbur.org/2013/09/fdas-reassurance-on-arsenic-in-rice-not-so-reassuring

http://www.minnpost.com/earth-journal/2013/09/arsenic-rice-new-fda-test-results-are-confirmation-not-rebuttal

Many Maple syrup brands are artificial, so make sure you are purchasing true maple syrup.

http://kblog.lunchboxbunch.com/2009/12/maple-grade-b-syrup-a-b-cs-of-it.html

Agave nectar is not natural.. My personal opinion is that it should be avoided.

http://www.foodrenegade.com/agave-nectar-good-or-bad/

Watch out for fake stevia as well as truvia

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/246006-stevia-banned-but-fake-truvia-is-a-ok

My suggestion would be to try vegan cane sugar that is grown and processed ethically.

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/blog/whole-story/vegan-cane-sugar

Coconut sugar may also be a better choice.  I don’t really like the flavor…  However, to produce coconut sugar from the sap of the tree, means that the coconuts themselves aren’t able to be produced from that same tree.  This results in a shortage of coconuts for the meat, the milk and the oil.  This being the case, coconut sugar is not really a sustainable sweetener.

 

Natural Home Fragrance

ancient olive oil lamp

I’ve been beating my head against the wall for months trying to find a solution to scented candles and such to create fragrance in my home.. I think I’ve come up with some very viable solutions.

 

I've tried them all, and by far, the one I am most intrigued with is the olive oil lamp.....  Makes me feel as if I am back in the ancient lands bringing light to my tents with Sharah, Rabaqah, and Marym.

Solution #1- Simmer Pots

Instructions: Fill a small saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Add the ingredients from your favorite recipe, continue to boil for a few minutes, then turn the heat down to simmer. Add water as needed, usually every 30 minutes or so.  This helps to humidify the air.  Great for the winter.

If you have a radiator or even a gas fireplace, you can put pans of water and spices on top of the radiators.  You can also try adding a table spoon or two of white vinegar to the pot, along with essential oils like tea tree, lavender, lemongrass, rosemary, or eucalyptus to sanitize the air.  Or just use essential oils if you don’t want to use fruits and spices.

To simmer essential oils, add a few drops to a pot of boiling water. They are very concentrated so a little goes a long way. Use one essential oil by itself or blend them to create a unique scent!

 Solution #2 – Homemade Aroma Melts

Instead of using artificial aroma melts that contain harmful chemicals and fake fragrances, mix a few drops of Essential Oils or Extracts with two tablespoons of coconut oil or melted candelilla wax onto your aroma melts burner.  You can use water, but it evaporates quicker.  Use an unscented natural wax tea light candle made from soy or candelilla wax.

 Solution #3 -  Homemade Reed Diffuser

 Using safflower or sweet almond oil as your base, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil blends to a small necked jar.  Pour the mixture into your receptacle and place one end of the reeds or skewers into the solution, allowing it to saturate the reeds. Then take them out, and place the opposite ends into the bottle, rotating the ends in the scent solution about once a week.  Using rubbing alcohol and water also works, but evaporates quicker.   Make sure you are using bamboo or flax reeds as they absorb the oil and fragrance better than most other reeds.

 

For oil, use 30% essential oil to 70% base oil. You can experiment with the percentages to see what works best for you.

 For alcohol and water you will want to add approximately 12 drops of essential oils with 1/4 cup of water then add a tablespoon of alcohol to help bind the oils to the water.

 Solution #4 – Scented Homemade Olive Oil Candles. 

Our ancestors used olive oil for lighting for centuries.  We’ve grown out of the use of them for lighting with the advent of electricity.  However, these homemade olive oil candles are relatively simple to make, and adding essential oils to the oil, or even steeping fresh herbs in the oil make for a very pleasant aroma to your home.  Just as they did our ancestor’s many years ago. 

 Here’s the how to link: http://www.littlehouseliving.com/olive-oil-candles.html

 

The best place for purchasing essential oils that are crafted with integrity is Mountain Rose Herbs:  http://www.mountainroseherbs.com

 

A few recipes for simmer pots:

Vanilla Citrus

A few drops vanilla extract

Key lime or mandarin peels

 Flowers and Spice

1 cup dried lavender or rose petals or calendula which is my favorite

1 tsp anise
1 Tablespoon nutmeg
1 Tablespoon whole cloves
1 Cinnamon stick

 Spice Cake

1 cinnamon stick

1 TBS nutmeg
Few Drops vanilla extract
1 Tsp star anise