CHI DETOX – Family Style

Jimmy Ehrhart, 15


Jessica Ehrhart, 12

Standing in front of a small group of Creative Health Institute guests with a Sharpie in hand and a smile on his face, Jimmy Ehrhart, 15, recorded numbers on a large pad of paper propped upon an easel.

“I feel great right now,” Jimmy told the other guests who were going through a 10-day detox with him. It was the beginning of Day 8 and relief had come for Jimmy and others who had experienced the typical uncomfortable symptoms people have when they withdraw from sugar, caffeine, high-protein and high-fat foods.  “I feel better than I have ever felt—honestly.”

The Camden, Michigan, teen was front-and-center for the morning and happy about the progress everybody was making  with the detox. Jimmy came to CHI with his younger sister, older brother, mother and grandfather. All of them wanted to make significant changes to their diets and health. They decided to go raw after reading books such as Victoria Boutenko’s Raw Family and watching videos including Thirty Days Raw.  Now that their detox at CHI is nearly complete, the family agrees visiting our nutritional education center in Hodunk, Michigan,  has been one of the the best things they’ve ever done together.

Jessica Ehrhart, 12, said she plans to spread the word about the great time she’s had with her family and new friends at  Creative Health Institute.

“I would like to see lots of families come here. I wish everyone in the world could do it because then everyone would just be healthy,” Jessica said. “Fast foods are gross!”

After seeing the videos and reading the books his mother exposed the family to in preparation of their detox, Jimmy still was a bit skeptical about how much a raw food diet could affect him. He was willing to give raw living foods a try because he had some health concerns and wanted to see what a difference the Ann Wigmore way of life could make. Jimmy said for several years he has suffered from asthma, allergies, trouble sleeping, snoring and being overweight.  It’s been tough for him to join the fun and games kids his age typically enjoy.

“I couldn’t play sports.  My friends, they all try to run around town and I have a hard time keeping up to them with the asthma, ” Jimmy said. “It is embarrassing to stay over a friend’s house because I snore so loud.”

Now Jimmy feels a new hope and expects he’ll be able to participate more fully in teenage activities he sees others enjoy.  His snoring stopped right away. He’s been sleeping well every night and his asthma hasn’t been bothering him at all.  He’s been exercising every day and says he feels hopeful that he’ll be able to keep up with his friends in basketball, football and baseball. He has always tried to participate in sports but due to his health issues he has spent most of his time on the bench.

Jimmy also had a problem with food allergies.  He said he especially seemed to be allergic to nuts, particularly cashews. At CHI he has found he can eat all different kinds of nuts without any allergic reaction. He said he believes it’s because he had been eating nuts that were not organic and all of the food at the center is organic.  He said he was really happy to learn that eating a raw food diet doesn’t mean a life-sentence of “boring salads.” He was especially impressed with a raw cashew-cheese-based blueberry cheesecake an intern made one night for a CHI guest who was celebrating her birthday during the detox.

Jessica said all along she was excited to come to the Creative Health Institute with her family. She said she knew she needed to make some changes in her life and she was ready to move forward.

“I would like to improve my asthma and coming here definitely helped it,” she said. “I was always on the couch. I couldn’t breathe so I always had to have an inhaler wherever I went. It is really horrible.”

Jessica hasn’t had to use her inhaler once during the 10-day detox.  On day eight she reported feeling better than she has felt in a very long time. She said she has “tons” of energy and now she can breath without wheezing — something she hasn’t been able to do since she was a small child.

One of Jessica’s favorite things about the 10-day detox at CHI has been the cooking lessons. Jessica helped make marinara sauce to serve at dinner one night and she said she was surprised by how simple and tasty it was. She also has enjoyed rebounding (jumping on a miniature trampoline) in the morning and sitting in the banya (our Russian-style sauna). She said she really wants to come back for the raw chef classes to learn how to make gourmet raw living foods.

Jimmy and Jessica’s mother, Kimberly Ehrhart, said she’s very happy her family came to CHI together to detox with raw living food. She’s eager for her next visit and suggesting to staff that she’d like to see a CHI reunion for guests in the summer.

“I would highly suggest the 10-day detox,” Kimberly said.  “It’s more than cleansing for your body and mind, and it’s more than just new relationships — it’s family.”

*********

For more information about our 10-Day Detox and other programs at the Creative Health Institute, click HERE or contact us by e-mail at info@creativehealthinstitute.com or by phone at 866-426-1213. Our relaxing rural setting is south of Battle Creek, between Detroit and Chicago. We look forward to seeing you soon!  Wishing everyone the best health ever…

Robert Morgan – Bobby

Health & Education Director

Fibromyalgia Raw Living Food Diet Tips

  • Avoid eating late in the evening.
  • Eat your evening meal not later than 6 p.m., and avoid eating anything else after that.
  • Avoid eating sweet fruit in the evening. Your evening meal should be composed of vegetables with either: avocado, olives, nuts or seeds. Eating fruit in the evening will disturb sleep, due to their (natural) sugar content.
  • Especially avoid eating acid fruits in the evening, such as oranges or pineapple. • Avoid eating fat during the day. This works for a lot of people.
  • The best time to eat fat is in the evening. During the day, prefer fruit and green vegetables for optimum digestion and energy.
  • Don’t feed your false appetite. We have to differentiate between hunger and appetite. Hunger is true physiological need, expressed by a strong desire for food. Appetite is false hunger, is very capricious, very demanding, and is never fully satisfied.
  • Exercise to create true hunger. Vigorous exercise is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. By exercising vigorously, we create true demand for food and prepare thus the ground for superior assimilation, upon which radiant health depends. 
  • Limit the quantity of fat in your diet. Many raw-foodists go overboard on raw fat. Avocados, oils, olives, nuts and seeds should be a small part of your diet, as they can be a major cause of fatigue and lack of energy I recommend limiting fat consumption to as little as 10% of your calories. In a 2000-calorie diet, this would mean only 22gm of fat (since 1gm of fat contains 9 calories) per day. To put it in perspective, half a medium avocado contains that amount. 
  • Eat only one type of fat per meal. Here are the different concentrated, fatty foods in the raw diet: Avocados, Oils (Olive, hemp, flax, etc.), Olives, Nuts (Almonds, pistachios, pecans, etc.), Seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, sesame, etc.)
  • These foods are all very satisfying, but also difficult to digest. That is why if you mix them with each other you will experience digestive difficulties and feeling tired. Eating only one type at a meal, is a good rule to follow. Have your salad plain or with a non fat dressing. 
  • Eat simple foods. The raw food diet is simple unprocessed, unadulterated, whole, in its natural state. Eating foods that are simply uncooked is a step in that direction. The next step is to start eating mostly whole foods, simple fruits and vegetables, It’s perfectly alright to enjoy some gourmet raw food cuisine once in a while, but try not to make a habit out of it. Instead, go in the direction of simplicity. You will find that you will enjoy your food much more, finally tasting the subtle but complex flavors of natural foods. • Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables doesn’t mean eating many types of food in one meal, and not even in one day. It means varying your food choices over the course of the seasons. By varying your diet, you will not only make sure you get a full spectrum of nutrients, but also will avoid the harmful effects of making one food the center of your diet, which could have a few downsides you are not even aware of. It is also quite natural to eat with the seasons. Why eat melons in the winter? Melons are a summer food. In the winter, we eat apples, oranges, carrots, etc. So vary your diet and eat mostly what’s in season, without making a religion out of it. 
  • Get support. It’s almost impossible to do this on your own. We need to be able to share our experiences with others. If you don’t know any other raw-foodist, found a support group or start your own potlucks. You will be surprised to know how many people are interested in the raw-food diet once you start your own potlucks. There are hundreds of people in most cities that are just waiting to meet other raw-foodists and share their experiences with them.
  • Avoid eating cold fruits and vegetables during the winter. Why freeze in the winter when you don’t have to? To avoid getting cold, submerge your fruits and vegetables in hot water for a few minutes before consuming them. And while we’re at it, drinking hot water is not forbidden on a raw-food diet. In fact, it will help you a lot to maintain your internal heat without resorting to cooked foods or stimulating hot baths and showers. 

Modalities Which Are Beneficial When Addressing Fibromyalgia

  1. Bowel cleanse with parasite cleanse
  2. Dental cleanup 
  3. Kidney Cleanse 
  4. Liver cleanse. 
  5. Rebounding 
  6. Meditation 
  7. Walk or jog 
  8. Tai Chi, Chi Gong,Yoga 
  9. Sweating is powerful way to cleanse your body from accumulated toxins. – Sauna – drink warm herbal tea with Cayenne pepper…

Fibromyalgia Herbal Remedies

  1. A combination of slippery elm, burdock, sheep sorrel and Turkish rhubarb was shown good results in improving fibromyalgia.
  2. Black walnut aid in removing parasites.
  3. Calendula taken orally in high doses has a positive effect in reversing symptoms of fibromyalgia.
  4. Cayenne, echinacea, goldenseal, astralagus, myrrh and chaparral boost the immune system and improve circulation. Combine them as a tea or tincture, It may be helpful to mix it with juice for better taste. 
  5. Dandelion reduces frequency and intensity of pain and strengthens the connective tissue. Take 1 tbsp. juice or 1 cup tea twice daily for four to six weeks.
  6. Devil’s claw root is a natural anti- inflammatory used to treat rheumatic disorders. Take one 400 mg devil’s claw root tablet daily. 
  7. Dong quai is good for fleeting muscle and joint pains, especially if they are worse in damp conditions. Take 1 capsule daily. For women only.
  8. Ginger Tea. Ginger is a good alternative to aspirin to relieve minor aches and pains. Steep 1 teaspoon of the grated root in 8 ounces of hot water for 10 minutes. Strain. Add honey for taste, if you like. Alternatively, take 1,000 to 2,000 milligrams of powdered ginger a day in capsule form with food.
  9. Garlic is useful for detoxification and to enhance immune system function. Take 5,000 mcg of standardized allicin three times daily. Kyolic, aged garlic is preferred. 
  10. Ginkgo biloba improves circulation and brain function. 
  11. Passion flower, valerian and hops teas have sedating and muscle- relaxant properties. 
  12. Licorice root acts in the body like cortisone, but without the harmful side-effects. 
  13. Milk thistle extract, artichoke, turmeric and dandelion supports liver function. 
  14. Skullcap and valerian root improve sleep. 
  15. Siberian ginseng is an energizing herb that can help resolve the fatigue associated with fibromyalgia. Choose a standardized extract containing 0.5 percent eleutheroside E and take 100 milligrams twice daily, one-half hour before breakfast and lunch. After two weeks, you can gradually increase the dosage as needed. After six weeks, take one week off, then take the herb for another six weeks.
  16. St. John’s wort is a natural antidepressant and influences the adrenal gland hormones to help relieve stress. St. John’s wort affects nerves and is effective for sharp, shooting nerve pains. It also has antiviral properties. (Caution: Do not take if you are taking conventional antidepressants.) Choose a standardized extract containing 0.3 percent hypericin and take 300 milligrams three times daily
  17. . Teas brewed from burdock root, dandelion, and red clover promote healing by cleansing the bloodstream and enhancing immune function. Combine or alternate these herbal teas, and drink 4 to 6 cups daily. 
  18. Pine-bark and grape-seed extracts are natural anti-inflammatories that help to ease pain. Take 50 milligrams of either two to three times daily. 
  19. Turmeric helps to reduce pain and inflammation. Take 400 to 500 milligrams three times daily.
  20. Willow bark has anti-inflammatory properties and works as a painkiller.

For my friend Sofree!

Love and blessings, Bobby

Food Combining – A Letter To A Friend

Dear Cha Cha,

I really hate to think that I have to worry about every morsel I put in my mouth, but there are some basic rules and I always try to adhere to, as best possible. I am not of the school that improperly combined raw food creates alcohol in the colon. I say eat raw, go to the bathroom 3 times a day and do enemas often, lol.

Good Combinations:

  1. Acid Fruits AND Sub-Acid Fruits.
  2. Sub-Acid Fruits AND Sweet Fruits.
  3. Starches AND Vegetables & Greens.
  4. Vegetables & Greens AND Proteins.

Bad Combinations:

  1. Try to not eat carbohydrate foods and acid foods at the same meal.
  2. Try to not eat a concentrated protein and a concentrated carbohydrate at the same meal.
  3. Never consume two concentrated proteins at the same meal.
  4. Do not consume fats with proteins.
  5. Do not eat acid fruits with proteins.
  6. Do not consume starches and sugars together.
  7. Eat but one concentrated starch at a meal.
  8. Do not consume melons with any other foods.
  9. Drink ALL juices alone.
  10. Fresh fruit should be eaten alone or on an empty stomach. It’s best to only combine fruits from their own category.
  11. Try to not have fats with fats. (Example – nuts with avocados)

( I DO NOT AGREE WITH ALL OF THESE) 

Some categories can be combined and still digest well while others you may want to avoid. I lean more to Matt Monarch’s  belief  that when we eat raw food dishes in moderation we do not have to deal with paying such close attention to strict food combining and examining every morsel we put in our mouths. I know I should not combine bananas with acid fruits like pineapple or oranges, but I just can’t resist, lol.

I find its usually the people who are not 100% raw who are caught up with food combining. Stay logical and stay 100% raw and let those who wish to focus on food combing do so. I will put our program, which is healing and delicious against anyone else’s in the world!

Keep in mind I am not saying throw out food combining, what I really am saying is I would rather have a little gas and be able to love what I am eating, lol.

Well you asked for it so here you go.

The table below shows some basic food categories, The basic rule is to eat from one category at a time.

 RAW Food Categories and
Approximate Digestion Times
 

FRUITS
Melons & Juices
(15 – 30 Min)
FRUITS
Acid
(1.5 – 2 Hrs)
FRUITS
Sub-Acid
(1 – 1.5 Hrs)
FRUITS
Sweet & Sweeteners
(30 – 45 Min)
Cantaloupe Apples, Sour Apples Agave Nectar
Honeydew Cranberries Apricots Bananas
Juices Grapefruit Berries Berries, Sweet
Watermelon Grapes, Sour Cherries Cherries, Sweet
Wheatgrass Juice Lemons Dates Grapes, Sweet
  Limes Figs, Fresh Honey, Raw
  Oranges Mangos Molasses
  Pineapple Nectarines Pears
  Plums, Sour Papaya Persimmon
  Pomegranite Peaches Yacon Syrup
  Strawberries Pears  
    Tomatoes  

 

Starches(2 – 3 Hrs)

Vegetables & Greens
(2 – 3Hrs)
High Protein(4+ Hrs)

Fats(3 – 4 Hrs)

Avocados Artichokes Blue-Green Algae Avocados
Beans Asparagus Dried Fruit Coconut Oil
Brown Rice Beets Legumes, Unsprouted Flaxseed Oil
Carrots Blue-Green Algae Mature Coconut Hemp Oil
Corn Broccoli Nuts, Raw Olive Oil
Grains, Sprouted Brussels Sprouts Olives Olives
Jicama Cabbage Seeds, Raw Safflower Oil
Legumes, Sprouted Cauliflower   Sesame Oil
Parsnip Celery   Sunflower Oil
Potatos Chives    
Squash, Winter Corn, Raw    
Sweet Potatos Cucumbers    
Turnip Eggplant    
Young Coconut Green Beans    
  Leafy Greens    
  Leeks    
  Okra    
  Onions    
  Peppers    
  Radishes    
  Sea vegetables    
  Squash, Summer    
  Zucchini    

Exceptions:

  • Lemons and Limes combine with Starches, Vegetables & Greens, Proteins, and Fats.
  • Avocados combine with Sub-Acid Fruit.
  • Cucumbers combine with Fats.
  • Tomatoes combine with Starches, Vegetables & Greens, and Fats.

Love you, Cha Cha…

P.S.

By the way I never take advise from anyone who is not 100% raw. They only know how bad they feel because they mix raw with cooked. Usually they cannot even begin to understand this amazing body we possess.

RAW FOREVER,

Chico

 

Really Rawsome Raw Chocolate Maca Macaroons

Creative Health Institute Raw Chocolate Macaroons

Ingredients

  • 3 cups raw dehydrated coconut – shredded
  • 1 cup cacao powder
  • 1/2 cup fresh coconut water
  • 1/2 cup agave nectar or date pate/water or yacon syrup.
  • 1/2 cup coconut butter
  • 1/4 cup Maca
  • 2 tbs raw vanilla – beans ground 
  • 1/4 tsp celtic sea salt

Directions – Combine all ingredients into a bowl, and mix thoroughly with your hands or a big wooden spoon. Roll into 1 inch balls, place on dehydrator sheet, dehydrate for 6-12 hours. 
Servings: 24

Raw Chocolate News… Cornell University Scientists Discovered Raw Cacao/Chocolate Powder Has Nearly Twice The Antioxidants Of Red Wine, And Up To Three Times The Antioxidants In Green Tea

Researchers, led by Chang Y. Lee, chairman of the Department of Food Science and Technology at Cornell  state “the reason that raw cacao/cocoa leads the other drinks is its high content of antioxidant compounds called phenolic phytochemicals, or flavonoids”.

Scientists have known for years that raw chocolate/cacao contains massive amounts of antioxidants, in fact there is no common food with a higher antioxidant rating. In fact recent research shows that the antioxidants found in raw cacao have unmatched stability and are easy to assimilate. Of all known foods, raw cacao is also the ONLY food which does NOT lose its Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC) over significant periods of time, making raw cacao/chocolate both the most POTENT and  STABLE source of antioxidants found in any natural food.

According to research cited in The New York Times,” fresh raw cocoa beans are super-rich in the type of flavonoid called flavanols which are very strong antioxidants. Cocoa/cacao beans contain 10,000 milligrams (10 grams) of flavanol antioxidants per 100 grams – or an amazing 10% antioxidant concentration level”!

Some of the most active substances in raw cacao/chocolate are:

  • Anandamide (a neurotransmitter known as “the bliss chemical”)
  • Arginine (nature’s aphrodisiac)
  • Dopamine (a neurotransmitter which bring about clarity)
  • Epicatechins (antioxidants)
  • Flavanols ( catechin,epicatechin, epigallocatechinMagnesium (for healthy heart function)
  • Histamine
  • Phenylethylamine (PEA) (controls the ability to focus attention and stay alert)
  • Polyphenols (antioxidants)
  • Salsolinol
  • Serotonin (anti-stress neurotransmitter)
  • Tryptophan (anti-depressant amino acid)

Tomorrow we will go over the vitamins and minerals found in the super food of super foods. Make everyday more than awesome, make it rawsome!

Blessings, Bobby

Raw Chocolates Amazing Substances… No Wonder We Love It

 Here is a partial list of some of the “rawmazing” active substances found in organic  raw chocolate

  • Anandamide (a neurotransmitter known as “the bliss chemical”)
  • Arginine (nature’s aphrodisiac)
  • Dopamine (a neurotransmitter)
  • Epicatechins (antioxidants)
  • Magnesium (for healthy heart function)
  • Serotonin (anti-stress neurotransmitter)
  • Phenylethylamine (PEA) (controls the ability to focus attention and stay alert)
  • Polyphenols (antioxidants)
  • Tryptophan (anti-depressant amino acid)

Raw Chocolate Can Make You Feel Happy And Put A Smile On Your Face.

Can Raw Chocolate Help You Be Happy And Put A Smile On Your Face? For centuries chocolate had been know as a  “comfort food”. Most of us have looked to chocolate to help us feel better when we are a little stressed, depressed, love lorned and maybe just having a bad day.

Scientist tell us the reason we find ourselves reaching for the chocolate  is that certain chemicals found raw cacao can affect parts of the brain which send out the “I Feel Happy Signals”. The main chemical which is responsible for the happy feeling is Phenylethylamine (PEA) which increases the activity of neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) in certain areas of the brain which control the ability to focus attention and stay alert. What’s really “rawmazing” is that we naturally experience elevated PEA levels when we are falling in love,  enjoying a movie, reading a good book, or are  focused on a project or task that we love doing. When PEA a levels are heightened we find ourselves losing  track of time and are  sometimes not consciously aware of what is happening in our personal universe. Raw Cacao contains and average of around  2% PEA (phenylethylamine). So, yes there is a good reason for all the smiling people who are eating raw chocolate.

Another set of chemicals found in raw chocolate which create “I Feel Happy Signals” is monoamine oxidase inhibitors… Wow that is just to big of a mouth full, so lets call them by their nickname “MAO inhibitors”.  Dr. Gabriel Cousens and Daivid Wolfe have studied the effects of the MAO inhibitors and  have shown that they allow the neurotransmitters such as anandamide (“The Bliss Chemical”) and dopamine to stay in the blood system longer and thus play and important role in facilitating anti-aging and rejuvenation of the bodies organs.

When we can increase the amount and time of the “the bliss chemicals in our blood system we feel more joy and  our ability to create and live at higher health levels cause our bodies to have a tendency to rejuvenate and we can actually turn back the hands of time.  So, be happy and eat raw chocolate to your hearts content! Well maybe not that much…

Blessings, Bobby

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