THANK GOD FOR JUICE BARS!

My cup of guava juice on the left
and hubby's cup of star fruit juice
(also called Carambola) on the right

Weekends can be such a drag because I don't have the time to prepare fresh raw food or make raw food for my family.

Juicing the Star Fruit at the Mid Valley food court

Don't get me wrong. I'm not 100% raw, in case your wondering. My family and I are about, hmmm, 70% raw. You see, I'm Chinese, and I thoroughly believe in the healing powers of Chinese food, like the Chinese herbal soups and stuff like that. As I look at it, it has taken the Chinese a couple of thousands of years to document the effectiveness of the food they have access to. And there are documents and documents of why they are god, when they are good, how they are good, ways to consume them and so on.

All sorts of cut fruits for sale

Anyways, I digress.

So, today (Sunday) was like just one of those days when we had to stay out of the house for almost the entire day. Good thing there's juice bars everywhere in KL (we call Kuala Lumpur, my city KL). I counted at least 4 juice bars in Mid Valley Megamall and at The Gardens (building next to it). Lots of restaurants offer fresh raw fruit juice and smoothies as well.

Aren't I lucky?

Jasmin
Come join "Eat Raw Food Today" facebook group

ps read below about the health and nutritional benefits of both Guava and Star Fruit. You'd be surprised that kidney patients can not eat Star Fruit. Some of you Malaysian and Singaporean readers may remember a story in the news in April 2008 about this Malaysian man who died in China after consuming Star Fruit. At that time, I though maybe it was because there were too much pesticides in the fruit or something. But no. Apparently, Star Fruits have a neurotoxin that can not be filtered out by people who have kidney disease. Read more about it here http://www.petertan.com/blog/2008/04/22/star-fruit-can-be-toxic-for-kidney-patients-the-star-april-22-2008/

Health & Nutrition Benefits of Eating Guava

• Guava is a very good source of vitamins, fibers as well as minerals.
• Being rich in Vitamin C; guava is effective in treating male infertility caused by sperm clumping, adhesion and other abnormalities.
• Guava has been associated with healing of wounds, when applied externally.
• Guava has general haemostatic properties and can be used for treating bleeding nose, gums and minor internal hemorrhaging.
• Guava helps cure dysentery, by inhibiting microbial growth and removing extra mucus from the intestines.
• Guava helps the body in combating free radicals produced during metabolism and aids in preventing age-related chronic diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, cataract and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Guava is one of the richest sources of dietary fiber and thus, is good for those suffering from constipation.
• Guava strengthens and tones up the digestive system and even disinfects the same.
• Guava, having high content of roughage, no cholesterol & less digestible carbohydrates, is good for those trying to lose weight.
• Guavas can improve the texture of skin and help avoid skin problems. For the purpose, you can either eat it raw or make wash your skin with a decoction of its immature fruits and leaves.
• Juice of raw and immature guavas or decoction of guava-leaves is known to bring relief in cough and cold.
• Researches have shown that guava is pretty effective in preventing cancer and even heart diseases in people.
• The presence of complex carbohydrates and dietary fibers in guava makes it effective in lowering cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
• The presence of Vitamin C and other phytonutrients, such as caretenoids, isoffavonoids and polyphenols, in guava has led to it being an effective antioxidant.

Guava has been found to be beneficial for people suffering from the following ailments:

• Acidosis
• Asthma
• Bacterial Infections
• Catarrh
• Congestion of the Lungs
• Convulsions
• Epilepsy
• High Blood Pressure
• Obesity
• Oral Ulcers
• Poor Circulation
• Prolonged Menstruation
• Scurvy
• Swollen Gums
• Toothache

Extracted from http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/benefits-of-guava-1612.html

Health and nutritional benefits of eating Star Fruit:

Besides the known benefits of its vitamin and mineral composition such as skin health, nerve functions, healthy bones, digestion, blood oxygenation, cancer prevention, star fruits are also known to effective in hormone regulation, specifically in the thyroid gland as well as helping to regulate appetite and sleeping, making it becoming a growing member in the diets of families with small children. It is also a popular home remedy in treating fevers, headaches, and even curing hangovers.

Its "sweet and sour" flavor make it a tasty choice for natural juice enthusiasts, which surprisingly enough, can also be used to remove iron and paint stains, and also acts as an effective solution for cleaning metals. The star fruit's skin is rich in tannin, which regulates the intestine, and can be used to treat diarrhea and dysentery. The leaves and roots, if ground up in a mortar and pestle, boiled, and then extracted, can be used help alleviate symptoms of childhood diseases such as measles and chickenpox.

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Tips to reduce blood pressure

• Cucumbers help reduce my mum's high blood pressure
• Lower blood pressure by keeping things in the right place!
  
• Jicama reduces blood pressure
  
• Cats love lemongrass, dogs hate it
  
• Yummy honey dew melon
  

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Extracted from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1496109/health_benefits_of_star_fruit.html