Bueller’s Kitchen

I’m back!! I was in New York for a week and it was just beautiful! I will have to make this a 2 part post because there is so much I want to write about. Here I am in Sheep’s meadow in Central Park. The weather was gorgeous.

Let me back up a bit though. Last week I came down with a cold. I came home one night and it came on rather suddenly. My nose started itching and I began sneezing non-stop. You know that kind when you are about to be hit with a wallop of a cold. I remember reading an article about natural hygiene and that the best way to treat a cold was to drink warm water with lemon juice, go straight to bed and not to eat anything. So that’s just what I did. I woke up in the middle of the night and did the same. I also did the same when I awoke in the morning. Always 2 lemons squeezed in warm water. When I woke up I felt fine and I made a green smoothie and went to work. I was all excited I felt better but by the time I got to work I was sneezing again. I was pretty exhausted too. I remember the article I read and posted about before about orange juice with lemon and went straight to Jamba juice and got the largest orange juice they had and squeezed two lemons in it. I drank it all down within a half an hour. I had some big meetings that I had to go to so I had to be at work so I slept on my couch in between them. I was so tired. I drank the rest of my green smoothie for lunch as I really didn’t feel like eating much. Then right after my afternoon meeting I went home. For dinner I made my Shamrock Soup with asparagus (which is super alkalizing). I think it had enough garlic to kill a vampire. I had also stopped at the store for some supplements (OptiZinc, Golden-seal, Echinacea, Elderberry, Lemon-balm, Dandelion, Astragalus, Host Defense, Liver Cleanse).

I was on a mission. I am 2 months away from my goal of 1 year of wellness (no colds, no flu, no antibiotics, etc.). How could I not make it!! You see normally I knew exactly where this would be headed. For me, a cold turns into a sinus infection which means antibiotics which means yeast infection which means candida which means almost 1 year of anti-candida diet out the window. I also had a super important event in New York and was getting on a plane in 2 days. I couldn’t risk a sinus infection and not be able to fly. I could not get sick. I had to be on that plane. I had to make 1 year of wellness. I was thinking and reflecting why I had even come down with something because based on my diet and theory of alkalinity I should not be coming down with anything even if I’m exposed to it. This I realized was due to some dietary laziness on my part. I had been eating a lot of raw food bars that were high in sugar even though it was only from agave and dates it’s still bad for me. I had stopped juicing and for the past 2 weeks I really hadn’t been eating my greens. I was eating a lot of Chana Marsala (chick pea stew) from Cru and chick peas are very acidic. I knew I was slacking but I didn’t change it. So that’s what you get, a cold!!

Also, I had been eating a lot of fat in my diet and according to Frederic Patenaude that is equally as bad if not worse than sugar for candida. I have been studying this a lot lately and have changed my diet slightly to include more fruit and less fat. It’s working so far and I’m feeling great. My diet was close to 50-60% fat (from avocados, coconut, nuts, etc.) whereas it should ideally be 15-25%. The sesame/ginger dressing I used for my cabbage salad in Santa Cruz I’m sure lead to my downfall because it has 14 g of fat per 2 tablespoons. It also has honey it. Fat AND Sugar is a super big no no! Also, the coconut bliss ice cream that I was in love with had 14 g of fat per 1/2 cup. I was eating fat without even knowing it. I was also totally addicted to Leaf’s Oraweo Pudding which also has 14 g of fat. 14 seems to be the magic number. That’s a lot of fat when you add it all up and a lot of sugar. You can read more about his theory here. I’m now beginning to understand better how this all works. Just being raw is not enough. You really have to understand the science and nutrition behind everything which I have always made my focus. It’s easy to see why some people end up being so unhealthy even though they are raw vegans. That’s why it’s so important to me to be studying this in detail and really understand how it all works.

So, I digress. I came home and drank my soup and went to bed. I drank more lemon juice and water in the middle of the night. I find I often wake up around 2 which is when the body is dumping acids and is most acidic so it’s a great time to drink some lemon juice water. The next morning I drank more lemon water and made a green smoothie. I then dragged my body out the door and went to Dr. Watson to get a Vitamin C IV. They pump 4,000 mg straight into your vein and it’s a life saver. I did this again the day before my trip and once when I got back. Then I went back to bed. I must have slept all day. I ate an arugula salad for lunch with yellow peppers (which have 4 times the amount of vitamin C than an orange) and asparagus which is super alkalizing as well as high in protein. I went back to sleep until dinner and then had more soup and salad. I did this the next day too and would you believe it by the end of the second day I was all better. No cold. No sneezing. No nothing. I got on the plane on Saturday good to go. I was still tired but I felt fine.

Just to make sure I didn’t come down with something on the flight I kept up with my very strict flying routine which consists of the following:

Afrin 12 hour nose spray to keep the sinuses clear.

Mucinex to thin out any remaining mucus.

Zyrtec D for my allergies.

4 lemons sliced in a plastic baggy (this is for before and during the flight - they can take your water but they can’t take your lemons!!) When I get through security I take out my empty water canteen and squeeze half of my lemons in there and buy water to fill it up. I drink that down. This is to alkalize my body before I get on the plane. I buy more water and save the rest of the lemons for the middle of my flight.

I also take ph Ion’s Alkalizing Green Capsules. I take 5 of these when I get on the plane and 5 when I get off with a huge thing of water. I also add AlkaLife ph Booster Drops to all my liquids.

Sometimes I don’t take anything to eat. On this flight it was a morning flight so I was pretty full of green smoothie but I took some fruit and some flax crackers in case I got hungry. Sometimes I like to take celery sticks with almond butter and raisins, or flax crackers with guacamole, a pre-made salad, fresh fruit, etc). Anthony (Raw Model), Dawn and I were discussing at dinner one night in New York what would happen if you freeze your green smoothie and bring it with you? Would you be able to get it through security? I mean, it’s not a liquid? I might have to try that. I’d love to see the look on the security guards face after trying to explain to them what it is.

I also bring with me lavender sanitizing hand wipes. I love those. The aromatherapy alone is worth it.

So that’s about it. More on my fabulous NY trip later, my lunch with Kris Carr, my dinner at Pure Food and Wine, etc…. I missed everyone and am glad to be back and blogging!!

Be well!!

I’ll leave with this quote I read on Crazy Sexy Life today:

“The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward.”

-Amelia Earhart

I’m back and will have a long catch up post this weekend. In the meantime I came across the video while researching phthalates. I have been hearing and reading a lot about these chemicals that are used in perfumes, dies, plastics, etc. and can severely affect reproductive development. I have been checking all my products and trying to make sure that I at least am not using perfumes or products with them but it is hard to understand what is listed and what all the ingredients mean. I have also thrown out all my plastic whether they say it’s safe or not and have replaced everything with stainless steal and bamboo. I will continue researching this and I will post what I find. In the meantime watch this:

Happy Monday everyone! Here are some new photos for my shop from my trip to Santa Cruz this weekend:

My friend Sarah made the best salad I’ve had in a while and I wanted to share the recipe:

Sarah’s Santa Cruz Salad

Shredded red cabbage and normal cabbage, shredded carrots, green onions, bell pepper, cilantro, ginger, diced apples (or you can shred but I like the crunch), walnuts, and 1 cup buckwheat sobu noodles (cook them and then run cold water through them so they are cold). Put 1 cup of noodles in the bowl and then put the mixed salad on top. For dressing we used Bragg’s Sesame Ginger dressing (this has honey in it, so I’m not really supposed to be having it but since I was traveling I just used what was there). Sarah mixed it with Peanut Butter to create a richer dressing. It was delish!!

For today’s Monday Menu:

Breakfast: Rasberries and Armaranth cereal with almond milk

Snack: Tea and a green food chia bar (it has 21 g of sugar which is too much but I ate it)

Lunch: Stir fried vegetables over brown rice (I was out of salad mixings and in a rush)

Snack: I made a green smoothie this morning and brought it with me.

Exercise: Horseback riding - coconut water for replenishment

Dinner: Cucumber Watercress Soup, Kale Salad

Snack: Banana Smoothie

I will be posting my findings later this week on Candida and the fat/sugar ratio based on an article I read that was really interesting.

Be well!

(Photo: Bueller Designs, all rights reserved)

Happy 4th of July everyone! I’m going to see my best friend from college for the weekend and couldn’t be more excited. I haven’t seen in her in years since we went to our old roommates wedding in Greece.

I hope you all have a safe and fun holiday! Here is a recipe for raw vegan ice cream that kids and adults will love:

This is from Recipe Zaar:
2 cups raw cashews, soaked in filtered water for 4 hours (or more)
2 cups young coconut meat (optional but makes it creamier)
1 cup water, as needed
agave nectar to taste
1/4 cup coconut butter or expeller pressed coconut oil
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
1/2 vanilla bean, seeds of (or double your vanilla extract)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Put in blender then once mixed put the liquid in the refrigerator for 4 hours or more so it can age. This makes for better ice cream.

Then put mixture in ice cream maker. You can use chocolate Almond milk and cocoa to make chocolate ice cream or add fruit of your choice for flavor. Banana is particularly good.

Also if you pour the chocolate ones in popsicle containers and put them in the freezer they taste just like fudge bars.

A very interesting video interview with the author of Anticancer by Dr. David Servan-Schreiber or buy it from Amazon UK now.

The first is from The New York Times and is called THE 11 BEST FOODS YOU AREN’T EATING (although in my case I am eating them so take that NY Times!):

The other is a study done called BROCCOLI NUDGES GENES TO FIGHT PROSTATE CANCER (one of what will hopefully be many on diet and disease) on the benefits of veggies:

I love all of Moon Light Sally’s knit re-purposed items. Check out her shop! Here are some of my faves:

I was having a bummer of a day today when I got the most wonderful email from a reader named Michelle. She reversed her cervical dysplasia and was inspired to do so by reading my blog. I was very touched and honored by her generosity of spirit and gratitude. I had a smile from ear to ear and felt positively ecstatic to hear of her success. It was so needed too. I’m am overjoyed for her and couldn’t be happier that she has chosen to share her story and to tell others about her experience. I look forward to hearing many more success stories. Let’s keep the daisy chain growing! Spread the information to all your girlfriends. One person can make a difference! Here is her story:

How I reversed CIN 3 Cervical Dysplasia
By Michelle

(photo: all rights reserved/ Bueller Desgins)

Although I wasn’t diagnosed with CIN 3 cervical dysplasia until March of this year, my story begins in August of 2007. My boyfriend, Michael, was going to see the world renowned healer, John of God, in Abadiania, Brazil. Taken from the website, John of God is “arguably the most powerful medium alive today and is possibly the best-known healer of the past 2000 years. It is estimated that he has treated, either directly or indirectly, in the order of 15 million people during the past 40 years. João is a humble man who is very clear about one thing: he is not the healer - God is. “

Michael asked me if I wanted him to take my photo with him to show to John of God. If John of God saw my photo and put an “X” on it, this meant I needed to agree to go to Brazil for healing. So Michael showed my picture and when he told me that it got an “X”, I was a little surprised. Although I had some minor ailments, I didn’t know of anything that warranted a visit to Brazil. But I put it on my list of things to do for the year.

In November, I decided I was going to India for the month of December and possibly longer. Before I left, I went ahead and had my annual appointment with the gynecologist. Then I took off to spend time at the Oneness University in India and after being in India for a month, I was guided to return home.

Once I touched US soil I was eager to hear my voicemails. However, one of them was from my obgyn saying that my pap came back showing abnormalities in my cervix and I needed to come back in for a colposcopy (a biopsy of the cervix). Well, this had happened to me a couple years ago so I knew it wasn’t too big of a deal because my dysplasia corrected itself, but why was it happening again so soon? Did this mean something? How severe might it be this time?

Also upon my return from India, I became ill from various India-related things and I decided to take some additional time off of work. Michael and I planned to take a month-long trip to S. America and at the end of the trip, we would visit John of God.

Before I left, in early February, I had my colposcopy done and figured I would get the news along the trip. While my latest diagnosis was returned to me in only 2 days, it was already 3 weeks and we were on our way to Brazil and I still hadn’t heard anything. The second day we were in Abadiania my obgyn left me a message with the news that I was diagnosed with CIN 3 cervical dsyplasia and wanted to perform the LEEP surgery when I came home. She said that because of the severity, there could already be cancerous cells existing but they wouldn’t know until the LEEP was performed. Only after the first LEEP would they be able to determine if it was a sufficient treatment.

At 28, I was very concerned with the possibility of dealing with cervical cancer. However, I recognized that the timing in all this was impeccable. Now I knew exactly why my picture got an “X” six months earlier and why I was in Brazil at this exact time. I had two non-physical surgeries in Brazil and before leaving, John of God re-assured me that my next test result would be better. This gave me a lot of faith to move forward positively because I felt that higher powers were already involved.

I came across Bueller’s blog early into my research once back in the US and was so excited to have this wealth of information to help me along my healing journey. While reading the blog I knew that I would want to follow some of the steps for reversing the diagnosis for dysplasia, however I did not believe that I had candida so I only skimmed through that information. While I was still on the website, Michael came into the room with a book called “The Body Ecology Diet.” I decided to start reading the book which of course discussed candida and helped me realize all the symptoms of candida that I did actually have! So I got going.

While already primarily a vegetarian (with the exception of eating fish) and a healthy eater, I studied more about my health and began new diet habits. Although I began following a strict diet, I soon lessened some of the restrictions I was putting on myself because I found that it was creating extra stress. So I took what I thought was important to me and altered my habits accordingly (less sugar, no alcohol, organic veggies, keeping an acid/alkaline balance, proper food combining, increased anti-oxidants etc.).

I consulted with a holistic nurse practitioner and decided to use Vitanica (Herbal A and C suppositories and VagPack) as well as some additional vitamins that Bueller also took (including beta carotene, zinc, multi vitamins, Vitamin E). Most importantly this NP advised me to get off birth control pills immediately. While bcp doesn’t necessarily cause cervical dysplasia, it can make it worse. From now on, I plan to take a break from bcp at least once a year for 2-3 months. I also visited an acupuncturist weekly and took some Chinese herbs for increased energy and immunity throughout my healing.

During my healing time, I received and gave a lot of deeksha (energy healing work I’m involved in), worked with the energies from John of God closely and took herbs received from there three times per day. I prayed and used several manifestation techniques throughout my journey. I took long, hot baths with candles and music frequently and tried to connect deeply to my body and how my body and soul are connected. I think you can take any approach you want or feel comfortable with, but your body needs to feel your love as you try to heal.

Last week my obgyn took two biopsies and warned that some inflammation appeared, meaning there was still some dysplasia but they couldn’t tell what grade. I was very disappointed to hear such news, but equally as thrilled to hear 3 days later that in fact everything had healed and there was absolutely no trace of any dsyplasia left in my system!

Looking back, I don’t think the timing of everything was coincidental. I believe it all had a purpose in my healing and my learning and I only view it all as a blessing. I learned about my body, my health and felt support from the universe and those close to me strengthen and carry me throughout the process, increasing my faith and love for everything and everyone around me.

I want to thank Bueller for having this blog and inviting me to share my story. Hopefully this will start a chain reaction and I’m so excited and proud to be part of such a helpful chain, spreading the good word and agreeing that yes, we can be the ambassadors of our own health and damn it feels good to do it!

Be the change…..