Friday, October 31, 2008

NICOLE RITCHIE AND HER PUMPKIN! (Happy Halloween everyone)



I came across a picture of Nicole Ritchie and her baby little Harlow Winter Kate Madden at a pumpkin patch, which I thought I'd share with you guys. Don't you think they both look so cute?


danasdirt.com

I don't celebrate Halloween anymore. I used to when I was studying in Kansas. I tried to when I came back home to Malaysia. I made a great looking skull and skeleton combo thing and hung it outside my apartment door. The problem was, when I came back, the thing disappeared. I made another one, and that too was gone by the time I came back from work. I thought it was some pesky kids, until I realised the old Chinese lady next door was freaked out by the skeleton. She not only removed it, she put joss sticks outside her door probably to ward off bad luck. She probably thought I was some black magic devotee or something. Ah well. I figured she won't understand, and so I didn't bother to explain, and just didn't do anything thereafter. It would have been a waste of my efforts.

Speaking of pumpkins, did you know you can eat them raw?

Yup! They don't taste so hot eaten raw right off the fruit, but in a great recipe, it's yummy.

Here's an exciting easy raw pumpkin soup recipe you might want to try.

Healthy, fast, delicious, yummo! And best of all, easy to clean up, because there's barely any dishes to clean up.

Chantel's Pumpkin Soup:

2 cups of raw, chopped pumpkin flesh
½ cup of bell pepper
2 small red onions
1 ½ cup of peanuts
1 ½ teaspoon of Chinese 5 spice
½ teaspoon of sea salt
1 tbsp. of coconut oil (olive oil works as well)
4 cups of warm water (but not boiling, as you don't want to kill the enzymes in the raw food.)

Put all of this into a food processor, blend until smooth. Garnish with pumpkin seeds.

http://www.citydirt.net/city_dirt/pumpkin_recipes_a_la_barbados.html

Enjoy.

Jasmin
"Eat Raw Food Today" facebook group

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

GOOD LOOKING HEALTHY RAW PEOPLE

Some people have asked me if eating more raw food will make a person look sickly because they don't eat certain "established" food like cooked rice, pasterised milk, bread, burger ... things we take for granted as our every day food? The answer is no, not eating these stuff won't make a person look and feel sickly. I mean, if it does, I'd probably not write about it.

In fact, eating more raw food, is good for you. The main basis of raw food is to eat food that does not have artificial chemicals inside, organic food (if possible) and eat food that does not have it's vitamins and enzymes destroyed by heat.

Anyways, here are some amazing photos of people on the raw food diet.

Before and after pictures
http://jinjee1.securesites.net/beforeandafterpictures/

Good looking healthy raw foodists
http://thegardendiet.com/goodlookingrawists/

Jasmin
"Eat Raw Food Today" facebook group

ps please forward this email to your friends and loved ones and share the loving information of healthy eating.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

MY NEW PHONE FONTS ARE SO TINY!



Despite the fact my eyesight is perfect, I have problems seeing some of the fonts on my new PDA phone. I think these types are phones are meant for 15 year olds, not really for a person like me. Still, I'm pumped. Like my dad, who is a Big Boy Toy fan, I love gadgets. This little puppy has WIFI, GPS, camera which will allow me to finally put up some photos on my blog, and so on.

I luv this puppy!


Speaking of eyesight, I found out some of the shops in Singapore are now selling organic dried Goji Berries (kei chi seeds or chinese wolfberries or medler seeds). That's so cool, cause now, I don't have to worry about pesticides and what-nots sticking to the fruit. Goji Berries, by the way, is really good for the eyesight. The Chinese for centuries have been using Goji Berries in slowly boiled soups, to not only enhance the flavor of the soups, but to also improve the eyesight, strengthen the immune system and so on. It's really one of the more powerful fruits we can eat.

I do use them in traditional, boiled soups, but I find it's more effective to eat sun dried Goji Berries raw. It's like eating sun dried raisins. All the goodness is still inside the berries since heat has not destroyed the fragile properties of the vitamins and enzymes. I sometimes just carry a small bag of the fruit in my pocket, in case I get hungry, while I'm out somewhere. If you google Goji Berries, you can find amazing facts and figures about how good Goji Berries are for us all.

Cheap, little tasty Goji Berries can be found in most chinese medicine shops or Asian stores around the world. Just walk in and ask if they have the kei chi fruit.

Yum!

Jasmin
"Eat Raw Food Today" facebook group

ps you gotta check out this Goji Berry blog http://www.gojiberriesblog.com/2006/08/15/dried-goji-berries/

Friday, October 24, 2008

NOTHING WRONG WITH MY EYES AFTER ALL

I was scared that my eyesight had deteriorated, so I decided to hop over to the old optician shop, the one I used to go to since I was 14 years old to check on my eyesight. Now, I have not step foot inside there for more than 10 years now, ever since I got the lasik eye surgery my mum had been bugging me to do forever.

But guess what? The lady there recognized me after all these years. Called me by name even. Boy, I was taken by surprised, let me tell you. This was one thing I didn't expect. I have not seen her for more than 10 years.

Amazing.

But then, I used to visit the shop very often as a schoolgirl.

I'd lose my glasses in some toilet; glasses hung on my shirt would have accidentally dropped into the toilet bowl as I bend to flush. Why did I not wear those ugly frames? Because I was vain that's why. Bad enough I had to go through the ugly duckling stage then, why add more ugly stuff to my looks like those thick, cheap, plastic frames.

And I would do silly stuff like accidentally sit on my glasses thus crushing the frame or I would be careless and my plastic lens would have tons of scratches.

Many a time, I would quietly use my lunch money to fix my glasses cause you know, my dad would have screamed bloody murder if he knew how careless I was with my glasses. I would choose cheap frames, and cheap plastic lenses cause I had to keep fixing my glasses, and I had not much money to speak of then.

Anyways, back to the lady who recognize me, I always tend to forget, even in a big, big city, there always a little corner somewhere, where neighbours can and do try to live like they are in an old charm, small town community. Something like the Cheers bar, where everybody knows your name.

Kinda nice really. Kinda scary as well.

But hey, even better news! My eyesight is still perfect. The optician said there was nothing wrong with my eyes, except I could be staring at the "puter" far too long. I know sooner and later I will need reading glasses, but until then, I'm going to continue drinking my raw carrot juice and anything delicious tasting raw beta carotene foods.

Jasmin
"Eat Raw Food Today" facebook grouphttp://eatrawfoodtoday.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

HELP! I MIGHT NEED TO WEAR GRANNY GLASSES

So anyways, I just realized I can't read the fine print on anything. Hubby says it's a sign that I'm getting old, but help, I'm only in my 30s. I thought long sightedness starts to manifest in our 50s. I'm not ready to break out those bifocals yet.

I need to start drinking more raw carrot juice. See if that helps!

Jasmin
"Eat Raw Food Today" facebook group

Monday, October 20, 2008

CHICKEN POX PARTIES

I heard about chicken pox parties years ago, back when I was still single, footloose and fancy free. Stuff like that never interest me. I had different parties to go to. But heck, now that I have 2 beautiful kids, even their poo becomes a topic of interest, parents reading this will know what I mean!

Lots of parents in Europe prefer to bring their children to a chicken pox party to infect their kids with chicken pox. They rather do that than to allow their kids to get a vaccine. The downside of a chicken pox party is other people, besides the kids can get infected, and apparently, the older you are, the more severe the reactions will be (good thing there is a pill that can prevent that if you and the doctor can solve the problem early).

Now, I don't want to be biased (as there are 2 sides of a coin), so I'm going to give you links to several different websites that have different opinions about chicken pox vaccines; why kids should have vaccines, why they should not and what is inside them.

I urge you guys who are not married to read this too, cause you will need to know these stuff when your kid pops out. Quicker than you know it, the paediatrician will start to whip out the syringe and you need to know your options. You may not have time or energy to check the info out at that time if you are still sleep deprived because baby decides he doesn't want to sleep at night, every single night!

Happy reading!

Parents try pox parties to avoid vaccinehttp://www.freep.com/article/20080919/FEATURES08/809190409/1033/FEATURES08

What is inside the chicken pox vaccinehttp://www.mothering.com/articles/growing_child/child_health/chickenpox_party_side2.html

Vaccinations can kill
http://www.vaccinetruth.org/page_221.htm

Chicken pox vaccines prevents death
http://www.drgreene.com/21_323.html

Chicken pox vaccines are good for you
http://chicken-pox.org/

Forum on chicken pox - worth reading to find out some details about how people coped with chicken pox http://babyfit.sparkpeople.com/archive_posts.asp?imboard=59&imParent=6575609

Jasmin
"Eat Raw Food Today" facebook group

ps don't take what you read on the internet as gospel truth. Please consult your doctor before you decide on the best chicken pox treatment.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN GET CHICKEN POX EVEN IF YOU WERE VACCINATED?

Just about a month ago, my local fruit seller told me there was quite a few kids in my neighbourhood down with chicken pox. Many of the parents have been dropping by his fruit stand to by raw coconut water. It seems the refreshing raw coconut water helps relieve the chicken pox symptoms, meaning it's believed to help reduce the "heatiness" of the body.
Now, I'm not a doctor, so I can't comment on the "heatiness" stuff (please see your doctor or your local herbalist for more information on this). I do know, it's no harm to drink coconut water. Lots of liquid is always good when someone is not feeling well. And coconut water is known to have anti bacteria and anti viral properties. It's pack full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants so you can't go wrong with raw coconut water.

But anyways, just about a week ago, my girlfriend emailed me that her eldest daughter is also down with chicken pox, and this despite having a chicken pox vaccine (she lives quite far away from me, by the way). If you don't know by now, chicken pox vaccines are offered for free in many countries so many kids do get vaccinated when they are toddlers. I was quite alarmed. Why despite the vaccine are people and kids in particular, getting sick? So I went into the internet, did a check, and yes, a few government health department websites around the world does state that despite vaccinations, one can get struck down by chicken pox, but the symptoms won't be so severe.

I'll write more about chicken pox later, but for now, please note that there are cooked coconut water and raw coconut water. Some coconuts (in the shell) are slowly "smoked" over a slow, smoldering heat to give the water a sweeter, thus yummier taste, but the problem is heat destroys vitamins and enzymes, so raw coconut water is the better way to go. Most people can't tell the difference between a raw coconut and a cooked coconut in the shell. So if you are buying coconut in the shell, ask the fruit sellers. I'm sure they will be more than happy to show you the difference.

Jasmin
"Eat Raw Food Today" facebook group

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

WHOOPS! FORGOT TO BRING ALONG MY BANANAS!


So anyways, after I jumped into the car, and drove off, I soon realized that I had forgotten to pack my stash of fruit. Luckily though, the fruit stalls were still open along the highway stops even though it was quite late, past dinner time.

Hubby bought a kilo of the juicy, rawlicious dukong fruit (called Longkong in Thailand) to eat in the car. I wish I can inform you on the nutritional value of the delicious dukong fruit, but unfortunately, I don't know much about it except it's yummy *slurp*

Anyhow, any fruit is better than chewing on some candy right?  When we are hungry, what do we reach out for? A convenient cookie from the jar? Granted, fruits take a little bit more effort. Generally raw food don't last as long as processed food, but that little bit more effort will mean a lot to your general health. Some people, to reduce the temptation, will go all out and try to remove offending food that tempt them. Me? I take the middle road. I will try to have some raw food first, and then, if I still want my old *no-no* favourites, I will. I believe, the more I try to avoid tempting food, the more I want them, dream about them, salivate and keep thinking about what I can't eat!

Cya.

Jasmin
"Eat Raw Food Today" facebook group

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

TRAVELING AND EATING HEALTHY FOOD


 
As soon as I send this message to you, I'll be jumping into my car and driving to Singapore.
 
I used to back pack all the time as a student, but halfway through my trips, I usually feel a little tired. I realised that I didn't have enough raw fruits and vegetables. Now, I always carry some fruit in my bag where ever I go. Try it! It's not really hard to get fruits while traveling. You need to have a small bottle of fruit detergent with you and access to clean water to wash your fruit. A fruit detergent, by the way, is a detergent that helps remove wax and pesticides from the produce you buy. You can easily get one of those all natural, bio degradable fruit washes from your local organic stores.
 
What's in my bag you ask? Bananas! Mother nature has come up with the perfect peel for the banana that makes it easy to bring along. 
 
Jasmin
"Eat Raw Food Today" facebook group
 

Sunday, October 12, 2008

EATING HUMAN FLESH AS FOOD: SOYLENT GREEN THE MOVIE

Ever wondered if humans need to eventually eat dead human flesh to survive in this world? In 1973, a very interesting movie called Soylent Green addressed that issue. The movie talks about how overpopulation caused severe depletion of resources on our beautiful planet Earth. As a result, much of the population had to eat processed food rations. One of the processed food was called Soylent Green.

Unfortunately, what the gigantic Soylent Corporation didn't tell the consumers was that the special Soylent Green product was made from human flesh. Instead, they told the public that the small green wafer was made from high-energy plankton.

The movie was set in the year 2022. That's not too far away people. And today, we see all sorts of things quite relevant to the basic message in the story.

There are not enough food in certain parts of the world while rich nations have too much food. I just cringe when I read about chicken farmers burying innocent chicks alive just to create an artificial demand for more chicken meat (if there's a large demand for chicken, but not enough chicken to buy, the price of chicken will go up)

People are poisoning the food in the name of profits. The latest melamine milk fiasco comes to mind. If you haven't read about my posts about this problem, you can access it at the bottom of this post.

Companies are putting in genetically modified food into our food system, despite the fact that the majority of us do not agree to eating genetically modified food. Scientists are now reporting that genetically modified crops like corn and soy beans are cropping up all over the world. So you think you are not eating these foods? Think again. The only way to avoid them is to unfortunately buy the more expensive certified organic produce that are not genetically modified or grow your own food from seeds that are not genetically modified. It's really not a good thing when we have to look at what we consume this way. It should actually be the other way around. We should have food that are not genetically modified available to us at all times, and not even question the origin. It's like milk. We should not even worry about having basic fresh milk (with no additives, no added DHA, no added vegetable fats, no added coloring, no added sugar, and so on) and not worry if there are dangerous chemicals inside.
Lots of food has cancer causing agents used to preserve the food, and we are still eating them. Look at your food labels. You should be worried if you can't pronounce what's inside your food.

It seems like there are times we don't know what we actually eating.

So what are we to do?

Go back to the basics. Buy organic if you can. Buy local produce if you can. Plant your own food if you can like sprouts which are easy, easy to do.

Jasmin
"Eat Raw Food Today" facebook group


ps if you are new to my posts, please read about how we can enrich depleted soil my making garbage enzymes
http://eatrawfoodtoday.blogspot.com/2008/09/using-garbage-to-clean-your-plates-yes.html
http://eatrawfoodtoday.blogspot.com/2008/09/more-on-garbage-enzyme.html
http://eatrawfoodtoday.blogspot.com/2008/10/garbage-enzyme-photos-recycling-your.html

pps read more about Soylent Green inside http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soylent_Green

ppps I previously written about the melamine milk problem here.
http://eatrawfoodtoday.blogspot.com/2008/09/dutch-lady-strawberry-flavoured-milk.html
http://eatrawfoodtoday.blogspot.com/2008/09/what-china-dairy-products-to-avoid.html
http://eatrawfoodtoday.blogspot.com/2008/09/does-your-biscuits-contain-melamine.html
http://eatrawfoodtoday.blogspot.com/2008/09/bright-side-of-melamine-disaster.html

Thursday, October 9, 2008

CHILD'S TOE GOT RIPPED OFF AFTER GETTING CAUGHT IN A MOVING ESCALATOR

On 20 Sept, a 4-year-old Japanese girl's Croc shoes got caught in a moving escalator at The Furniture Mall at Beach Road in Singapore. Her big toe got ripped off as her father tried to pull her out.

Now, Croc shoes are one of the most comfortable, but so darn ugly shoes we can ever put on our tired ol feet, and lots of kids wear them, imitation ones and the real deal. Problem is, a lot of Croc shoes have been getting caught in moving escalators, and this is happening all around the world. And a lot of victims are innocent children. Crocs and immitation Crocs are popular here in the tropics because it's comfortable, but do you know that Croc shoes were never meant to be used for everyday use? For boating, was the original use, says the Croc manufacturers.

You know, when I read about this, I feel very just so sad for the poor child. This is not the first escalator accident to happen, so irregardless of what my child wears, I carry him when we take the escalators, and I am careful so that my feet doesn't get caught in the escalators as well. A toddler or a child should not ride an escalator without the adult physically holding their hand, and helping them get on, go up or down and getting off safely. Also, make sure they stand in the center, and not at the sides of the escalators.

Please do be careful.

Regards,

Jasmin
"Eat Raw Food Today" facebook group

ps Don't let another accident happen. Inform your friends and family about this if they don't know about it already.

pps Read more about children, accidents and the Croc shoe at http://www.wisebread.com/more-children-hurt-in-crocs-related-accidents

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

ARE YOU EATING REAL FOOD OR SYNTHETIC, CHEMICAL LADEN STUFF?

Why do we buy expensive, synthetic vitamins when real vitamins stored in raw fruits, raw seeds and raw vegetables are all there, available to us?

Why do we prefer to eat cooked food which has all the vitamins and enzymes destroy rather than raw food which has all the vitamins and enzymes intact?

Why do we spend our money on sugar laden, chemical laden processed food that has added synthetic vitamins "to keep you healthy" rather than unprocessed, pure, uncomplicated good stuff direct from nature?

Jasmin
"Eat Raw Food Today" facebook group

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

ARE WE SABOTAGING OUR CHILDREN UNINTENTIONALLY?

My teenage and college years was nasty!

Those who know me know I love food. In fact, I spend a lot of money on food. During my early 20s, my friends and I love to go for expensive hotel buffets and just stuff ourselves silly. And we'd brag about how much could we eat, and see if we ate more than what we had paid for, for the buffet. I would wear loose clothing and when that didn't help, I would unbutton my top jeans button so I could stuff more food in my tummy during those binges. You know it's a really good meal if you get a comatose feeling when you flop onto your soft, silky, cool bed when you got home, eyes glazing over!

Those were the "obscene" days.

Prior to my 20s, I would forgo my mum's cooking at home. I would take the bus from school, drop into the neighbourhood restaurant for lunch and spend all my pocket money on things like 2 large bowls of noddles per meal. People who see me now can't believe me when I say that because I'm no longer the old fat, pimply kid with enormous ugly glasses.

I also had another problem. I loved to shop. I would buy whatever I wanted. If I thought a certain item was too expensive, I would go back and "think" about it. Dream about it. My hands would shake. I think it's was like a drug addiction. And then, I would go back and buy the item. I had lots of useless items. Those who have this secret problem would know what I mean.

So, by 25, I had no assets and my health was just in tatters.My parents did teach me the "value" of money and I did have a bank account, but really, at that rebellious age, did you listen to your parents when they tell you not to buy this and not to buy that?

I learned from my life lessons. I had people guide me. You know, today, people are so lucky. We have more information, more access to everything. Maybe if I had the same access then, I would have been a skinny, gorgeous looking millionaire by 20.

My friend, Carol Yip, author of “Smart Money User” and “Money Rules”, is giving a FREE Talk for parents of teenagers on the following topic: "Discover The 5 Most Dangerous Things That You May Be Doing For Your 15-19 Year-Olds Right Now (Apparently “For Their Own Good”), That Will Eventually Ruin Their Future Careers, As Well As Make All Of You Completely Broke, Faster Than You Think Possible!"

It's really something all parents should go for. You know, if my parents knew about money management as we know now, they would have taught me how to buy my first property at 18, but I had to find out from the experts only when I was 28. Heck, if they knew how, they themselves would have a string of assets when they were 18 as well.

Find out more info on this amazingly helpful talk, go to http://www.SenZe.com/career-money

Regards,

Jasmin
"Eat Raw Food Today" facebook group

ps Please pass this email to teens and parents of teens who you think may benefit from this.

Monday, October 6, 2008

HOW A FORMER PLAYBOY PLAYMATE TURNED A DEVASTATING EXPERIENCE INTO KNOWLEDGE GAIN

I was watching a very riveting rerun of The Oprah show about Jenny McCarthy, a former playboy playmate/actress/girlfriend of Jim Carrey. She was talking about her little son and how she found out about his autism problem. One of the very profound things she talked about was how she searched for knowledge on autism and got support by using Google as a tool. And through her continuous quest for knowledge, and a radical change of his diet, she has helped her son tremendously.

Isn't it amazing?

I know lots of people with health problems like cancer turning to the internet for answers as well.

However, why must we wait for some castratropic event to happen before we start to search for knowledge?

Why must we lose our jobs before we start to take an MBA course? Why not gain that MBA even before a threat of job security even looms in the horizon. Why do we spend so much money on toys for our children but don't teach them how to mend their clothes, don't teach them how to cook basic meals, don't spend money sending them for important classes that will teach them money responsibility, teach them how to make money in today's world, teach them accountability and so on (I'm not referring to tuition classes here my friends).

Our brain is like a muscle that need constant "exercise".

What's your recent "exercise"?

What's your knowledge gain?

Jasmin
"Eat Raw Food Today" facebook group

ps go to this link to view the transcript for Jenny Mccarthy's phenomenal episode on Oprah. http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/oprahshow/oprahshow1_ss_20070918

Friday, October 3, 2008

GARBAGE ENZYME PHOTOS (RECYCLING YOUR GARBAGE)

Dear Jasmin.

Here are some photos of the Garbage Enzyme process that we are trying out. We are just using all recycled materials namely milk bottles. We only started in the middle of September so will take some time yet. We have used orange and lemon skins, tea leaves and even vegetables or onion, garlic skins in the mix. I turn it upside down then open it for a few minutes each day. I used to stir it with a stick and then wash it but then a large army of ants came along and had a feast on the sugary stick. So I stopped using the stick and the ants went elsewhere for a free meal. It smells like oranges and lemons and I am using a mask before I open it. We used lemon skins from our lemon tree in the garden. We try to recycle as much as we can.

See ya,

Den o(~_0)o
Writing from Sydney






==========

Jasmin's Comments

The pictures are so cool. I have mine in round plastic containers, but I have not had the time to take pictures yet (need to get my butt off the chair and go get me some batteries). Check out Den's blog http://dentanarts.com, and drop him a note or be his friend in facebook! I'm sure he would love to know what people think of his crafts.

Jasmin
"Eat Raw Food Today" facebook group

ps if you have not read the previous eye-popping posts on what garbage enzymes can do for you, for example, zap your pimples away, clean your hair, clear dirt from your floor, improve your pet's health plus fertilize your plants then you must read about them here

http://eatrawfoodtoday.blogspot.com/2008/09/using-garbage-to-clean-your-plates-yes.html
http://eatrawfoodtoday.blogspot.com/2008/09/more-on-garbage-enzyme.html

Thursday, October 2, 2008

AS A CHILD, DID YOU HAVE RAW FRUITS FOR DESSERT?

I lived with my paternal grandparents for a few years when I was a young kid, and at that time, I always remembered having a piece of fruit after a meal. It could have been a sour orange dipped in a bit of salt to cut the sour taste, or a crunchy red apple, or a succulent juicy mango. Later, we moved to another city, and we no longer had any fresh raw fruits for dessert. Coincidentally, or not, that was the start of my health problems. Overweight, lots of pimples, extreme fatigue, extreme hunger even though I had a very large meal, excruciating gastric problems, inconsistent menstrual cycles and so on. My diet was awful. I didn't eat much of what my mum cooked for breakfast or lunch, and instead I would spend my pocket money on fast food and hawker food .... hardly any fresh, raw food whatsoever. I now know my diet was the cause of my problems as a teen and as a young adult.

Jasmin
"Eat Raw Food Today" facebook group

MY GRANDMA KNEW

Last night, over dinner, my husband's old schoolmate asked me about my giving talks on herbs. I was suddenly embarrassed and stammered some stupid answer about it.

Back home, I started wondering why I was embarrassed. Maybe it was a cultural attitude, I'm not sure. I do know I worry about appearing to be overbearing trying to stuff info into peoples' throat (tell me if I'm doing so and I will stop!).

I remembered me and my maternal grandma (Ah Ma) sitting on the grassy lawn at my house, and she educating me on all sorts of edible weeds sticking out between the blades of grasses. I was nine at that time, and Ah Ma didn't tell me she was dying slowly of 2nd hand smoke lung cancer, and she was trying to cramp all her knowledge of herbs into me before she had to pass away. At that time I just thought it was play pretend, you know, like the way we kids have picnics outside in the open air. My Ah Ma would pluck some leaves and flowers and asked me to chew on some of them, and she would explain what they were good for. Meanwhile, I would pretend my dolls and I were having cakes and cookies and tea. If I was just a bit older. If only I paid more attention. If only I knew what she was really trying to impart. I could have learned so much, much more from her.

Plant knowledge and healing are apparently in my genes. I had a great-great-grandfather was a healer who used herbs extensively. We call a guy like him a bomoh over in this neck of the woods. How cool is that! And my paternal grandma has the greenest, green thumb I know. She made me spend hours in the hot sun, carefully wrapping fruits in newspapers to prevent worms from getting to it, made me do lots of gardening, earning rough callouses on my hands and getting bitten by thousands of mozzies! (Oh man! What teenager like to do this, tell me, when they can spend fun time with their friends at the mall). My mum was a nurse. Our fridge was like the neighbourhood pharmacy. What a minute, it still is. We have stacks of pills and liquids of various colors and sizes inside the fridge and in cupboard drawers. We have people calling my mum at all sorts of hours consulting her when someone is sick. Mum made me read medical books like they were story books. No mum, they were not.

I really shouldn't be embarrassed.

This IS knowledge. And boy, if I don't share what I know, share the joy of plants and good health, I'm doing my Ah Ma, of all people, a great disservice.

I treat food with great respect. It wasn't that way when I was a teenager, which resulted in me being fat and saddled with a multitude of health problems (more about that later). Now, I treat my food like medicine. It heals me, keeps my "motor" in good condition. My body is my temple. It's the only one I have! So I better take good care of it.

And by sharing all these information, I hope you too will pass this knowledge to your friends, your family, your future generation.

Sharing love.

Jasmin
"Eat Raw Food Today" facebook group