You often hear those of us who promote a high raw, or raw diet, talk about the “glow”, referring to beautiful glowing skin. And, I believe that to be true. There is nothing quite like the abundance of fresh, live, hydrating plant foods to help bring out your beautiful glowing self! But like most things in life, not every method has the same exact results for every single person. For some people, the opposite happens. No one likes to talk about it because, how can that be? And as a result some people suffer for a long time before seeking help because they keep hearing “it’s detox”. But in private practice with my clients, I know that is not always the case.

Inflammation is often talked about in health circles these days, and with good reason. Inflammation and its contribution to illness should not be overlooked, because it sets the stage for a whole host of common illnesses. In fact, chronic inflammation plays a major role in the development of various neuro-degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinsons, MS and others. Not to mention diabetes and heart disease.

Natural aloe vera gel has some incredible potential health benefits. In a study done in the UK, researchers gave people with active ulcerative colitis, (inflammatory bowel disease), aloe vera gel to drink (raw gel, not processed commercial juice). After four weeks of drinking aloe vera gel in water twice per day, there was improvement and even remission in some people of ulcerative colitis, compared to those given plain water.

Cinnamon should definitely be included in the “superfood” category for many reasons. Did you know that cinnamon has super-antioxidant power, and is several hundred times more potent than any fruit or vegetable? Cinnamon contains: B-complex vitamins, as well as chromium, iron, zinc, and calcium, and in studies it has been shown to help prevent brain tissue damage that leads to Alzheimer’s. The Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease reported that cinnamaldehyde and epicatechin, both found in cinnamon, inhibit the clustering of a protein called tau, which forms lesions in the brain that lead to Alzheimer’s.

Apples – overall tonic and contain pectin, a fiber that’s good for the digestive tract, supports immunity. Research shows apple can lower Alzheimer’s risk. Apples contain vitamin C, copper, magnesium, potassium, iron, manganese, phosphorus, trace minerals. Apricot – rich in beta carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, B5, copper iron, potassium, fiber.

Artichokes –  contain folate, vitamin-C, vitamin K. Are also a rich source of minerals like copper, calcium, potassium, iron, manganese and phosphorus. Arugula – beta carotene, vitamin K, folate, vitamin C, B2, B5, iron, copper, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, zinc, magnesium, omega 3, omega 6. Asparagus – diuretic, laxative, pre-biotic and thus feeds the good bacteria in the gut, promotes heart health, vitamin C, beta carotene, folic acid, B1, B2, B3, fiber, anti-cancer, great for cleansing the kidneys.

Citrus Fruits are AMAZING for health and they are often ignored as some of the more exotic fruits seem to have taken center stage lately. Check out these 5 really important reasons to get citrus into your diet on a regular basis! 1. Rich in compounds called flavonoids, which have anti-cancer properties. Citrus flavonoids can inhibit the growth of cancer cells and prevent the spread of tumors.

Balanced body chemistry is extremely important in order to maintain health, which is one reason consuming a diet high in alkaline foods is important. Acidosis, or over-acidity in the body tissues is one of the primary factors underlying many diseases. Staying alkaline depends on the efficient functioning of our body’s three natural buffering systems, and so we want to do all that we can to support the proper functioning of those systems.

’ve been drinking hibiscus tea for years because it’s delicious and healthy! But now, there are even MORE reasons to enjoy this delicious flower tea. Hibiscus flowers contain a substance called Gossypin, a flavone that has been found to suppress inflammation and cancer. In fact, scientists have now found that gossypin has the ability to totally stop melanoma cells from growing.

Best nuts for men: Brazil Nuts, Pecans. Brazil nuts are packed with selenium, a mineral that can protect against prostate cancer. Just one nut contains more than a day’s worth, so you don’t need a lot! Pecans are also good for men’s health, because they are loaded with beta-sitosterol, which is a plant steroid that is also promotes prostate health.

I’ve been drinking quite a bit of turmeric tea and juice lately. Turmeric is often talked about these days, but few people truly know the amazing benefits of this inexpensive amazing spice. To date, over 5,000 medical studies have found over 600 potential health benefits of turmeric! It’s no wonder it has been used for over 6,000 years. The major benefits of turmeric come from a polyphenol known as curcumin.

Pineapples are one of the most versatile and nutrient rich fruits we can consume. Most of use stick to eating the sweet, fleshy, nutrient dense part of the pineapple. But did you know that most of the powerful enzyme Bromelain exists mostly in the core and that you can make an incredibly healing tea out of the skin and core combined? Bromelain is important because it helps to improve protein digestion, reduce inflammation and treat indigestion.

There are so many herbal teas available to us that can truly add amazing healing to our lives. Many people are hesitant to try new herbal teas, and limit themselves to the more common black, green or white teas, and their varieties like chai, earl grey, matcha and perhaps a few common herbal teas like chamomile and yerba mate. But there is a veritable medicine chest of teas available to us in nature, and I would love to share those with you!

Cleansing, Fasting, Detoxing, Parasite Removal, and Proper Bowel Function: How do they all relate, and why are so many people chronically constipated? If you are having fewer than 1 or 2 bowel movements daily, you are constipated. And it is toxicity, not lack of fiber, that is the primary cause of constipation. Most people assume, or have been told, that lack of fiber causes constipation.

In our Health Mastery Institute’s Health Coaching Certification Program, we spend more than two full courses on the liver, its functions, its importance to a lifetime of health, its disease process and its cleansing process. The liver is critically important for your overall quality of life. Every day we do things that are causing harm to our livers and in many cases we don’t realize it.

The foundation of any health or healing program begins with a full cleansing of the intestinal tract, because it experiences the most abuse on a daily basis, and it impacts every system in the body. The colon is the main channel of elimination in the body. The vast majority of elimination of toxic waste – including large amounts of E. coli bacteria and parasite larvae – occurs through the digestive tract. If that waste is un-eliminated or only partially eliminated, the effects on the body are profound.

There are many different areas of health we can focus on, but if we truly want to THRIVE, and not just survive, there are ten areas of focus which will bring your health into balance in a meaningful way. Having a healthy, disease-free body does not have to be difficult. We just need to spend some time understanding what is at the core of true health! These are the principles that are the CORE of our 8 Week Body Reset, and have proven to be incredibly powerful for many people. Try them and let me know how you feel!

A great addition to the raw food diet to consider is Tocotrienols or Rice Bran Solubles. Have you heard of them? Many people on a raw vegan plan add “tocos” to their list of nutritional support foods. A tocotrienol supplement is actually stabilized rice bran that has been pre-digested and separated from the insoluble fiber. There are at least 100 known antioxidants in tocotrienols including selenium, CoQ10, ALA and others.