In my recent article on eating organic, I mentioned a product called Diatomaceous Earth, or DE.  It’s a natural AND safe product used to prevent and destroy pet infestations by home owners and farmers alike.  It kills all types of insects, including ticks, ants, and fleas.

Today, I want to talk a little more about DE and why it is the best natural pest preventer on the market.

What is Diatomaceous Earth?

Here it is magnified 7000 times

DE is nothing more than the tiny fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of microscopic algae.  This is then ground up into a very fine powder and sold as “Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth.”

There is also a pool/filter grade DE, but this is highly toxic to humans and pets and definitely NOT the DE I’m referring to in this article.

How Does It Work?

You’re probably wondering how in the world a bunch of old, dried-up algae can destroy ANYTHING!

It’s pretty simple, actually:

When Diatomaceous Earth comes into contact with certain insects – like a disgusting, blood-sucking tick, for instance – its super sharp edges tear through the bug’s exoskeleton.  All of the water is then absorbed by the DE and the bug dies of dehydration.

No chemicals necessary so it’s safe enough to use around your house, in your garden, and even ON your pets as a non-poisonous pest control.

COOL!

How Do You Use DE?

It’s super easy.

For home/garden use, just spread the Diatomaceous Earth anywhere around your premises, paying special attention to dark, damp areas.  An even easier method is to mix the DE with water and spray the mixture using your hose (just like you would with plant fertilizers).

For pets, just rub the powder directly into their fur.  You can even put the DE into a spray bottle mixed with water and apply it that way, if you wish.

You should begin applying DE around your home/on your pets BEFORE the pest you’re trying to prevent starts showing up.  For ticks, fleas, ants, etc. this usually means mid-to-late spring.

If you already have a flea infestation, DE can help you get rid of it.  I’ll be talking about that more in a soon-to-come article.

Can You Eat It?

While some people DO eat Diatomaceous Earth (I think it’s used to “clean the colon” or something), this is not a practice I recommend.  There is just no need to consume the fossilized bodies of prehistoric algae.

If you are eating a low fat, high fruit raw vegan diet, your colon is doing just fine.

WORD OF CAUTION: No matter what you want to use Diatomaceous Earth for, make sure to purchase FOOD GRADE.  As I said, the stuff used to clean swimming pools is highly toxic.

Ho Much Does It Cost?

2.5 lbs for $11.50!

The best part is that this stuff is incredibly cheap.  You can buy a 50 POUND BAG for less than $30!  I bought 25 lbs of DE last summer and I’ve barely made a dent in it.

Does It Really Work?

Yes, it really does work.  I’ve had two flea infestations in my house and DE cleared it right up for me without any need for an exterminator.

No, I’m not being paid buy anyone to say that.  I just really think DE is a great product.  It destroys pests, it prevents them from coming back, and it’s completely non-toxic!

To think I used to put those horrible, poisonous flea and tick control products on my little furry friends.

*sigh*

Anyway, go buy some Diatomaceous Earth!

Go raw, be fit, and stay pest-free,

Swayze

P.S. I don’t get paid if you order a bag of food grade DE, but I DO get paid if you order a copy of my recipe e-book!

“Low Fat, Fruit Filled, High Fun Raw Recipes”

Low Fat, Fruit Filled, High Fun Raw Recipes

One of the arguments for adopting a raw food diet is that raw foods contain enzymes that can aid in human digestion. The idea is that if we consume “living” foods with their enzymes intact, our bodies can actually utilize these enzymes in the digestion of the food.

This reasoning has just never sat right with me and here’s why:

Enzymes Are For the Plant, Not the Person

Raw foods contain enzymes that are necessary for proper development of the plant. For instance, an unripe banana contains enzymes that allow the starch in the fruit to convert to sugar, i.e. to ripen.

Once the process is complete, the enzymes are gone. So in order to actually consume these enzymes, you would have to consume unripe, acidic, nutritionally-underdeveloped food.

Kind of defeats the point of eating nutrionally-packed raw foods, eh?

And even if you did decide to consume unripe fruit, there is no reason to believe that the enzymes in the PLANT would be capable of functioning in YOUR digestive processes.

In short, these enzymes are important for the plant, not for us. Our bodies have their own enzymes that allow us to properly digest the foods we eat.

So Why Eat Raw Foods?

There are several reasons to eat a diet high in raw foods, the main one being that raw foods are nutritional powerhouses. The food has not been damaged via heat or processing and retains its nutritional integrity.

And, actually, for the enzymes!

As I mentioned, enzymes are very necessary in plant growth. By letting your food fully ripen before consumption, you will allow the enzymes present to work their magic, making the food much tastier and easy to digest…

So what do ya know, plant enzymes DO aid in human digestion after all!

Go raw and be fit,

Swayze

If you eat and enjoy lots of greens – and if you don’t, you really should – then you are going to love this little recipe.

This is a salad that I eat a lot of during the winter months when citrus fruits are at their best, but you can find all of the ingredients year round.

Sunshine Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 head of romaine lettuce
• 2 oranges, segmented
• 2 red grapefruits, segmented
• 1 ounce raw pistachios

Directions:
Chop all the ingredients and mix together.  Beautiful!

Enjoy!

Go raw and be fit,

Swayze

P.S. Are you having trouble getting your greens in on a raw food diet?  Then you should definitely check out Roger Haeske’s idiot-proof recipe system known as Savory Veggie Stews.  These raw “stews” are super hearty and delicious and the perfect end to a fruit-filled day.

Check out the recipe program at the link below:

Savory Veggie Stews

Check out this short video by performer/raw foodist Tonya Kay on transitioning to a raw food diet:

This was the first time I had heard of this approach and I think it’s excellent.

Basically, Tonya advocates making a list of all of your favorite cooked foods. Only purchase your favorite foods and replace all your non-favorites with raw foods.

Keep your favorite foods in your house at all times and eat them whenever you like.

By only eating your favorite foods and replacing the rest with healthy raw foods, you will already be eating a substantially better diet without having to impose strict dietary rules on yourself.

Overtime, your taste buds will naturally become accustomed to the simpler whole foods you are eating. You will no longer desire your old favorites without any willpower on your part at all.

And Tonya is just so adorable and fun to watch!

So watch the vid and be the best raw foodist you can be!

Go raw and be fit,

Swayze

P.S. I would also like to add that the best raw foods to start incorporating into your diet are sweet fruits.  They are satiating, delicious, and nutritionally the most appropriate foods for humans.  And if you eat enough of them, even your MOST favorite cooked food treats will have no appeal whatsoever.

And if you’re finding it difficult to eat enough sweet fruit mono-meal style (one fruit at a time), don’t fret!  Give these tasty, fruit filled recipes in my raw recipe book a try!

“Low Fat, Fruit Filled, High Fun Raw Recipes”

Simply follow the link below to find out more and purchase the book:

Low Fat, Fruit Filled, High Fun Raw Recipes

* What’s New: Meet Me in Michigan

* Feature Article: 4 Ways to Improve the Mainstream Raw Food Diet

Meet Me in Michigan

From Friday-Sunday, October 8-10, 2010, Dr. Douglas Graham (author of The 80/10/10 Diet) is going to be presenting five, 3-hour health lectures in Livonia, Michigan.

The schedule is:

• Friday Night – Fasting: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (6-9)
• Saturday AM – Basics and Basis of the 80/10/10 Lifestyle (9:30-12:30)
• Saturday PM – Nutrition and Energy (2-5)
• Sunday AM – Children’s Health (9:30-12:30)
• Sunday PM – Astonishing Case Studies (2-5)

But that’s not the best part.  The best part is that a “market place” will be open for lunch on Saturday and Sunday, with restaurant vendors offering low fat raw vegan food!  There will be fresh fruit offered throughout both days as well!

And guess who’s booked for the whole weekend?  That’s right, ME!

So if you would like to learn more about health and wellness from the undisputed fruit master AND fill up on tasty fresh fruit with yours truly, then make your way over to Michigan this fall!

You can find out more information on the individual lectures and purchase your tickets here:

http://www.livingyoganow.com/dg/index.html

If you order by August 31 you get a $100 discount on the entire event and if you order by July 31 you get a free gift at the door.

I sure hope to see you there!

Swayze

4 Ways to Improve the Mainstream Raw Food Diet

Last week, I reviewed an essay on evolution and the human diet and concluded with 4 main ways to improve the modern human diet:

1. Eliminate Salt Intake
2. Eliminate Grains and Replace with Fruits and Vegetables, with an emphasis on sweet fruit
3. Exercise Everyday
4. Limit Fat Intake

You can find the rest of the article here.

Unfortunately, modern Americans with their SAD diet are not the only ones guilty of ignoring the lifestyle points above. Many health conscious individuals and their so-called nutritious diets fail as well.

For instance, vegans are known for eating tons of grain-based meals coupled with staggering levels of salt and oil. And while many vegans don’t struggle with hyperadiposity, there is definitely no shortage of under-muscled veg-heads.

But what about RAW vegans? Well, it seems that there is much room for improvement amongst this special class of health hobbyists as well.

Salt

The average raw foodist eats too much salt, as well as other spices and condiments. Here’s a raw soup recipe I found while scouring the web:

• South River unpasteurized miso
• Tomato concentrate by Premier Research
• Hijiki
• Goji Berries
• Hemp Seeds
• Raw Honey
• Sea Salt (pink himalayan salt is a great option)
• Other seaweed (optional)
• Nutritional flakes (optional)
• Agaricus mushroom powder (optional)

Can this really be considered a recipe? It seems to be made up of flavorings, rather than actual nutritious food.

Grains Over Fruits and Vegetables

You would think that most raw foodists would naturally favor ripe fruits and veggies over difficult to digest grains.

Unfortunately this is not the case. Many cooked-made-raw recipes, like burgers, wraps, and pizzas, use sprouted grains.

Here’s an example of a raw pizza:

• 400g sprouted wheat (or sprouted buckwheat)
• 2 medium fresh tomatoes
• ½ a medium sized onion
• 6-8 sundried tomato halves (ideally pre-soaked)
• About 10 leaves of fresh basil
• Liberal shaking of Italian dried herbs mix
• 1 clove garlic
• ⅓ cup of olive oil

And while many mainstream raw foodists do eat good amounts of greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc., they put WAY too little emphasis on sweet fruit. Some even shun fruit completely!

For more on the problem with eating grains, check out my article here.

Exercise

I don’t know what it is, but mainstream raw food vegans seem to HATE to exercise…not including meditation and low-intensity yoga, of course.

Actually I DO know why: they don’t eat enough calories! It’s impossible to find the energy to work up a good sweat when you’re living on heavy fats and low-calorie veggies.

This is why it’s so common to see super skinny, yet still over-fat and under-muscled raw foodists.

Fat

Here’s the big one: raw foodists eat way too many avocados, nuts, seeds, and oils. They’re used in salads, soups, salsas, sauces, and even sweet desserts!

ESPECIALLY the desserts! Here are the ingredients for an almond cake recipe:

• 1 cup walnuts
• 2/3 cup almonds
• 1 cup pitted, packed medjool dates
• 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

And that doesn’t include the almond creme…

• 1 cup cashews
• 1/3 cup almond milk
• 1/3 cup melted coconut oil
• 3 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 1/2 -2 teaspoons pure almond extract
• 2 tablespoons chopped almonds

…or the whipped creme…

• 3/4 cup almond milk
• 1/2 cup cashews
• 1/2 cup walnuts
• 3 tablespoons cacao powder
• 3 tablespoons maple syrup
• 2 teaspoons carob powder
• Seeds of 1/2 vanilla bean
• Pinch celtic sea salt
• 2 tablespoons melted cacao butter
• 1 tablespoons coconut oil

…that go along with it.

Holy Cannoli!

No wonder so many raw foodists have issues with candida overgrowth.

Raw Rules for Everyone

So yea, unfortunately cooked food lovers are NOT the only ones guilty of dietary sin. But that’s okay, because you definitely don’t have to follow the trend:

1. Eliminate Salt Intake
2. Eliminate Grains and Replace with Fruits and Vegetables, with an emphasis on sweet fruit
3. Exercise Everyday
4. Limit Fat Intake

No matter what your current diet, you will see tremendous health gains by adopting the 4 guidelines above.

Go raw and be fit,

Swayze

P.S. You’ve probably also noticed how most raw recipe books out there follow this same unhealthy pattern: lots of salt and other spices and condiments, lots of fat, grains and low-calorie veggies over sweet fruits.

Not this one:

Low Fat, Fruit Filled, High Fun Raw Recipes

P.P.S. And yes, the unhealthy recipes I talked about in this post actually exist on popular raw food websites (I’m sure you’ve seen many just like them). I didn’t want to put anyone out by linking to the websites while bashing their recipes!