Health Foods Are Exhausting

Kind of. All the energy you have to put in to watch what you eat! And research it! And buy it and prepare it and then eat it! And then I have to work to earn it so I can provide it!

Whew, I’m tired already!

I recently learned — shocking news to me— that due to poor soils and toxic conditions, our foods are not as packed with the vitamins and minerals necessary for healthy living. That means that it is recommend that you DO take a multivitamin every day! I grew up being told that vitamins just made “expensive urine” and were unnecessary. I guess things have changed.

During the summer, we grow our own foods, but in the winter we are at the mercy of the grocery stores. So I’ve started a vitamin regimen. Which leads me to something else I recently learned– more shocking news!— not all vitamins are good! Synthetic vitamins, those less expensive vitamins usually found in grocery and drug stores– are not readily absorbed by the body. It’s important to take WHOLE FOOD vitamins.

All this knowledge is exhausting me!

I got my whole-food vitamins from Swanson, just a day ago. Then J, a new visitor, told me about some vitamins from Garden of Life. So whole vitamins are available online, and for reasonable prices, I might add. I got the Swanson 90 tablets for $7 a bottle, and it was a buy one, get one free sale. So I think I did pretty good. And the vitamins are easier to take, too!

I got some Omega-3 fish oil capsules and flax seed lignin oil capsules, too. I also got some Acai Berry because it was on sale. I have no idea what it’s for, lol, except increased energy. Anyone got any tips on that?

More Experimentation with Raw Meal Drink

I hope this is not too boring for you. It’s not like I’m blogging about fabulous games on the xbox or reviewing spectacular films or books… raw meal drink is rather… well, boring, I guess.

But I WANT to drink this stuff; I WANT to be healthier. So far, I’ve tried mixing the raw meal powder with plain water, orange juice, strawberry smoothies, and stawberry-flavored milk. This time I tried it with grape juice.

Well…. it’s “OK.” That’s what I keep saying with all my experiments! The more I try various mixes, the more I realize that nothing is really going to taste good enough for me to desire drinking this stuff. I have to force myself to drink it.

The grape juice is, so far, the sweetest drink, and it hides the raw powder taste the best. However, a big glass of grape juice bothers my digestive system, so I may have to take small sips throughout the day. Or, just have one small glass of grape juice and another small glass of strawberry milk later in the day.

A few readers have asked if this raw meal drink is having any effects. Yes, after I drink it, I do feel a little energy boost. It’s not an energy drink, by any means. I think my body is so malnourished that I can literally feel the nutrients going in, lol! I also eat several handfuls of raw kale everyday, too (it’s SOOO good with balsamic vinegar dressing!). I am still not drinking the raw meal drink every day, like I should. According to the directions, you have to drink two full scoops (one scoop is about as large as three or four tablespoons) per day. Gosh, that’s a lot for me to endure. The only time I have ever had two full scoops in a day was the first day I got it, and today. But even drinking one scoop makes me feel better.

I don’t feel better EVERY day yet, only on the days that I do drink this. I’m pretty determined to douse my body with good stuff, so when this runs out, I’ll be getting more (even though it is very expensive). The label says that the drink helps to suppress your appetite (it’s a “meal replacement” supplement), but I haven’t found that. I have a weird metabolism, so I’m not surprised.

So that’s my latest review. I am not likely to experiment with drinks anymore, as I think I have used up all my ideas. I don’t foresee putting the powder in my coffee or tea.

First Taste of Raw Meal Drink Mix

YUK.

I’d mentioned that I was going to get some Garden of Life Raw Meal drink mix, to improve my poor health. The stuff came in the mail and I had my first real big glass of it today.

*gag*

Wow, this stuff is mean. MEAN.

The powder is the consistency of light chalk. You scoop two large scoops into 16 oz of water. And down the hatch (if you can).

I attempted to mix a small amount with orange juice, and it wasn’t terrible. Then I decided to try it straight. YUK YUK YUK! But I drank it. I held my breath and DOWN the HATCH. After drinking it, my body shuddered. This stuff isn’t cheap, either– $42 for the jug of powder that supposedly lasts for two weeks. I’d much rather spend my money on gadgets or cheap printing, sure! But I need to improve my health. I’ve reached “critical” now.

But I need to have a health boost like this. After 5 months of intense heavy labor during the renovation, my health tanked. I suffered through one of the worst humid summers in New York State history, ate poorly, got little sleep… it took its toll. I’m a wreck!

My hair is now starting to grow back (yay!), and my skin is starting to show signs of being fresh and clear again. But my energy level is very low. I’m hoping this Raw Meal thing does the trick.

Going to Try: Garden of Life Raw Meal

I saw a friend of mine drinking this weird-looking green-drink recently. She said it was “Raw Meal” from Garden of Life. I tasted it and —ICK— it tasted like grass pulp. But the stuff is terribly, terribly nutritious. So I ordered some. I’m waiting for it to come in the mail, and I’ll be giving a review and maybe some tips on how to improve the taste.

I need to improve my health. After having Child #4, my health deteriorated quickly. I was very anemic and lost that youthful oomph I’d always had. I have always worked very hard physical labor all my life, and never really ate well or took care of myself. Now that I am older, my body is showing signs of unhappiness with all my neglect and hard toil. And the extra weight I’d gained over the years hasn’t helped at all. I considered taking the best diet pills and vitamin supplements… and I do still try.. but I am horrible with taking pills.

So I’m looking to eat better. The Raw Meal will help. It has 100% of everything! I’d read that adding fruit or juice to the mix helps with the taste. I’ll be experimenting!

Health Benefits of Diatomaceous Earth

I knew that diatomaceous earth is very good for treating worms in animals. I had no idea it was good for human consumption, too! I have been looking for food grade DE and found some at Earth Works Health. This article just blows my mind!

Diatomaceous Earth is 84% Silicon Dioxide (Silica).

In 1939, the Nobel Prize winner for chemistry, Professor Adolf Butenant, proved that life can not exist without Silica. In the 2003 book “Water & Salt” Dr. Barbara Hendel states: “Silica it the most important trace mineral for human health!”

Silica plays an important role in many body functions and has a direct relationship to mineral absorption. The average human body holds approximately seven grams of silica, a quantity far exceeding the figures for other important minerals such as iron.

It is said that silica:

• Lowers high cholesterol
• Lowers high blood pressure
• Helps prevent osteoporosois
• Is an appetite supressant
• Helps slow the degenerative process of connective tissue
• Gets rid of worms

Hopefully that last benefit isn’t an issue with you, haha! I use DE for flea and tick treatment for the animals– the DE has tiny little sharp edges that pierce the exoskeletons of insects. That’s also why it’s good for work treatment for animals. My cat Milo had a severe, severe allergic reaction to that flea treatment, Revolution. He almost died, and his health is still poor. I am NEVER doing that to any of cats ever again. It’s all natural DE for them! And now, I guess for us, too! It sure can’t hurt. I have read that people used to eat it, long ago. I tend to be an anti-drug person. I hate medicines and I prefer more natural cures. I think I like the idea of DE as a supplement. I’m going to do more research into it, and perhaps try to squeeze it in the budget. Will something like www.homebudgetsoftware.net allow it– is there a category for DE expenses? lol.

One note, though– if you get DE, get ONLY the Food Grade stuff for internal use. There are various types of DE, some for outdoors use as a pesticide, another as a pool filter, and the food grade kind. NEVER ingest anything but the food grade kind.