Turning Points to Health

The turning point in my life was when I purchased a Vitamix Total Nutrition Centre in 1994.  I had wanted a high powered blender for some time, as I inherently knew that I needed to include more raw food into my diet.  I could see the advantage of blending a whole pile of fruit, leaves, etc and just chugging it down.  At that stage I was 40 years old and suffering from various maladies.  These ranged from horrible PMS that lasted at least 2 weeks of every month, drinking too much alcohol and popping sleeping pills every night.  I was a mess.

I purchased my Vitamix from my daughter’s friend’s mother, Colleen Thornhill.  Meeting Colleen and her husband Mike, and purchasing the Vitamix changed my life almost immediately.

I became a vegetarian within two weeks of purchasing the machine and increased my raw intake by at least 70%. I blended smoothies every morning for myself and the rest of the family.  I took a flask of the stuff to work and basically just had fruit all day.  Supper was a big salad.  I lost weight, strangely enough, even though I was already very slim.  I dropped from 50kgs to around 44kgs, and kept this low weight for about 3 years – slowly stabilising and creeping back up to around 47kgs, which is my current weight.

For the next three years I still drank alcohol, but less so and still took sleeping pills, sadly, but I felt much better all round and I no longer experienced PMS, which was a huge relief.

In 1997 we left South Africa, and this was another turning point in my life.  My husband and I both gave up alcohol.  Two years later we moved to Saudi Arabia, and it was there that I decided to give up sleeping pills.  This was exceedingly difficult, but since I was not working, it seemed like the right time. Within 6 months I was able to sleep without any chemical aid.

A year later we moved to Dubai.  Here I increased my raw intake to around 95-100%, exercised every day on my rebounder (a gift from Colleen and Mike) and felt like I had evolved into the me I was meant to be.

At this point I purchased a distiller and a dehydrator. I wanted to be sure the water I was drinking was as clean and pure as possible. The dehydrator was to add other textures and flavours into the raw diet.  Dried fruit is my passion! I eat far too much of it.

I am now 56, and incredibly happy and well.  I have amazing energy and never get depressed, even if things do go wrong!

I highly recommend to anyone embarking on a ‘health crusade’ to seriously consider going ‘raw’.  Somehow raw food vitalises the body.  Every cell seems nourished, content and happy. If all the parts of the whole are well, it stands to reason that the whole being will be well too.    The easy way to do it is with a blender, particularly initially.  It is so easy to blend and chug.  Purchasing a juicer is also a good idea, but I have not yet done so.  I tend to only juice oranges and have a cheap little juicer for this purpose.

I also highly recommend exercising on a rebounder (or mini trampoline).  I bounce/aeorobicise on my trampoline every morning for 30 minutes to very upbeat, trendy music.  It is a great way to start the day and excellent for encouraging elimination, and of course keeping fit and trim.  The other benefit I have noticed is that I now have really good balance.

 

 

 

Fascinating Facts about Sugar

The average annual consumption of sugar in 1920 was about 4,5kg per person which, would equate to about 3 teaspoons (not heaped) of sugar per day. Currently the average consumption is said to be about 68kg per annum which equates to about 45 teaspoons of suger per day.

Before food was available in packets, tins and bottles we would have to consume unprocessed produce or process it ourselves by for example cooking it. It takes nearly 5 metres of sugar cane to produce a single unheaped teaspoon of sugar so can you imagine a human being chewing on 225 metres of sugar cane a day! To establish more reality about this, a 340 ml can of Coke has the sugar content of 84 metres of sugar cane. When we look at sugar from this perspective is its ludicrous to imaging that some people consume 2 litres of coke per day which is equal to over 100 teaspoons of sugar that requires about 500 metres of sugar cane.

Refined white sugar contains zero nutrients and it a fallacy that sugar gives you energy, that is why adverts making this claim were banned. Have you considered how much sugar you consume in a day? It is worthwhile to tab it up. You might be shocked into reducing your sugar intake.

When you are counting your sugar intake remember to count not only the actual teaspoons of sugar, but the canned drinks, candy bars , biscuits, sweets and cakes,hot drinks such as hot chocolate and sugar coated cereals. Without getting into too much detail try and figure about approximately how many metres of sugar cane you consume per day. Remember a candy  bar has about 7 teaspoons of sugar and 4 biscuits has about 3 teaspoons of sugar.

Let us know how you get on!

TEENAGERS AND RAW

Do you think of “Raw Food” as just salads and fruit?

Serna Kramer, a raw food specialist holds amazing  Raw Food Experience workshops regularly. Teenagers are just one of her specialties.

Where you will taste delicious Chocolate Smoothies, Pâtés, Burgers, Salty Snacks & Sweat Treats, Fresh Juices & Yummy Guilt-free Chocolate Desserts

All made from raw, nutritious ingredients that will make your skin glow, your blood flow and your health grow!

• Learn how you can eat delicious food and still lose weight.
• Learn how changing to a healthier lifestyle that will improve your Looks, your Moods and your Grades!
• Why it’s important to include more Raw foods and what Different Foods can do for You!

The Teenage workshop includes

• Introduction to a Healthier Lifestyle
• Lots of Information and Taste Sensations & Lunch

R250 per Teenager

Parent & Teenager : R450

Teenager & Sibling R450

Parent & Teenager & Sibling: R625

To find out more about Serna’s Raw Food Experiences contact Serna on 082 579 0440 or email serna@telkomsa.net