Photo dump; bits & pieces from throughout the year...

 

 

 

It's all you, Addi! ♥ Rockin' the Soi Dog bandana + 'Voodle lord' Comic!

Regular visitors to this blog may already be familiar with my little cavoodle, Addi. She's the sweetest, most beautiful animal I've ever had the privilege of knowing, she's super soft, & fully awesome!

Among my world vegan day loot was a Soi Dog bandana, which I got for Addi. I was worried she might not like wearing it, but she's totally fine about it. She must know it's for a great cause. ;p


The Soi Dog Foundation are a not-for-profit orginisation committed to rescuing & caring for neglected/unwanted cats & dogs in Thailand, & other Asian countries. They educate locals, & spay animals to help reduce overpopulation.
Soi Dog are also dedicated to ending the dog meat trade, which is incredible cruel & barbaric!
Please visit the Soi Dog Foundation Website, & maybe consider making a donation to support their amazing work.
Thanks guys~


On a lighter note; this is how it is when I do the laundry -

I tip clean clothes onto the bed for folding later (when I feel like it), & Addi is on them within seconds. Every. Time. 'X)
Anyone got any funny/cute animal stories they care to share?... [: )

Wild colours around the garden (✪㉨✪)

Blueberry
Nasturtium
Avocado sapling
Purple flowers
Wacky foliage
Chard (aka. Silver beet)

Went out & got some stuff done in the veg patch today :)
I do love plants ♥...

Something a little different; comics :)

I've been meaning to to draw more short comics for about... 12 years, & today I did a couple. They were pretty fun.

#1 preview -

 This one is too big to view properly, see the full version HERE

#2 -

'Things Eli says'

He's usually funny by accident.

Enjoy!

Sketch dump; Pikachu + Self portraits.

Back on the Mac drawing some...

How I feel every day.

When you r e a l l y gotta go, & your belt gets jammed.

True story.

Skating ftw.

More to come, I'm feeling enthusiastic right now!

World Vegan Day loot : )

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Soi dog foundation key chain + bandana.
Mason jar mug w/ re-usable steel straw.
'Ban live export' bumper sticker.
Recycled tyre wallet from Wozwaste.
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You can see a full list of exhibitors from the day »>HERE«<
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I had THE BEST time! 
It was pretty crowded, especially during the lunch time rush, but it was amazing to see so many people involved in a vegan event. The atmosphere was busy, happy, & friendly, there was food, T shirts, shoes, toys, stickers, & everything in between, along with live music, cooking demonstrations, talks, raffles, plenty of petitions to sign, & more.
If you couldn't make it this year, definitely mark it on your calendar for next year. I'll be there for sure! :D

It's world vegan day! Enjoy some nature (ﾉ´ヮ´)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

(Cookie recipe coming soon)

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Nature~

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Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone ;)

Best Blueberry Smoothie.

This drink has generated a lot of interest, maybe people are keen on drinking cool coloured smoothies?... I'm not sure :p
Whatever the reason, here's the recipe so you can try it for yourself! :)

~Best blueberry smoothie recipe~

*This recipe requires a blender.

Ingredients:
- 2 cups cold Organic Soy milk (or choose your favorite vegan milk)
- 3 drops Pure vanilla essence
- 4 TBS Agave syrup
- 1.5 cup Organic Frozen blueberries
- 6 TBS chilled Cashew cream - To serve (recipe)
- 6-8 Organic Frozen blueberries - To serve

Optional extras - Blueberry/Chocolate syrup + Vegan chocolate flakes/chunks.

Method:
1. Add all ingredients, except the cashew cream & additional blueberries to the blender, & blend on high speed for 20-30 seconds until well combined & smooth. Add a little additional milk if too thick, & not blending well.
Sample the smoothie to check the sweetness, if you want it a bit sweeter, add a little more agave, & blend for an additional 10 seconds.
2. Transfer smoothie to drinking glasses, spoon on some chilled cashew cream, & place a few blueberries.
3. Drink the purple!

Adding the optional extras: Drizzle some lines of blueberry or chocolate syrup (or both!) into the drinking glasses just before serving. Pour in the smoothie, spoon on the cashew cream, place the blueberries, & sprinkle some chocolate flakes/chunks.

Makes 2 large smoothies.

Soy milk will give the creamiest result, but other vegan milks will be delicious too!
You can also try other sweeteners such as maple syrup, etc, if agave doesn't appeal to you.
Take care peeps! Please always check, & double check ingredients to be sure they are 100% suitable for you. Gotta hate that hidden gluten ]:V

+ optional extras = Best smoothie ever!
☆*･゜ﾟ･*\(^O^)/*･゜ﾟ･*☆

 

This is the blueberry syrup, & the chocolate I used.

I cut the chocolate into quarters, then blitzed it in the blender to make the flakes.

You can use any vegan chocolate & syrup you like ;)

Thank me later ;p
Enjoy.

The sweet & The savory; 2 cashew recipes. Cashew cream & Cashew cheese.

I discovered these 2 recipes just a couple of days ago, & they blew. my. mind.
BLEW MY MIND!
It'd been years since I'd had a rich creamy dessert, & I think most vegans have experienced disappointment with store bought vegan cheese... There are some decent options around, & new improved vegan products are being developed all the time, but I do love to be able to easily make it myself at home : )
Both of these recipes are quick & easy to make, gluten free & vegan, give them a go why not!
Note that both these recipes require a decent high speed blender, something like a Vitamix is ideal, but most blenders should achieve good results.


(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:・ﾟ✧ The Sweet: cashew cream recipe. *:・ﾟ✧

Ingredients:
- 1 cup raw unsalted Organic cashews - soaked for 1 hour
- 3/4-1 Cup Water
- 1-2 TBS Agave syrup
- 4 drops Pure Vanilla essence

Method:
1. Combine all ingredients in the blender, & blend on high speed until completely smooth (around 1 minute) Adjust the thickness using more or less water ;) *Remember it will thicken slightly in the fridge.
2. Transfer to a small bowl/storage container, cover & chill in the fridge.


This cream goes great on top of sweet drinks both hot & cold, or it's great to enjoy alongside fruit, pudding, etc, etc, etc.

Blending the cream + Enjoying with strawberry <3

(ﾉ °`▽°)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ The Savory: cashew cheese recipe. *:・ﾟ✧

Ingredients:
- 1 cup raw unsalted Organic Cashews - Soaked for 1 hour
- Juice from half a Lemon (in a pinch you can use OJ)
- 1 clove of Garlic - Coarsely chopped
- 1 Tbs Salt
- 2 Tbs Corn flour (any gluten free flour is fine)
- 2 cups Hot water

Method:
1. Combine all ingredients in the blender, & blend on high speed until completely smooth (around 1 minute)
2. Transfer the cheese mixture into a small saucepan, & cook over medium heat for a few minutes, or until it has thickened, & resembles melted cheese. Stir/whisk continuously as it cooks or the mix will stick to the bottom, & become lumpy.

The cheese mix will thicken as it cools, & it crisps up really well on top of baked dishes such as lasagne, pizza, enchiladas, etc.

Pouring the cheese mix + Cheesy zucchini pasta <3

There you go! Two of the best new recipes I have found in a while.
Both these recipes are amazing, & each adds a new dimension of awesome to whatever it's added to :)

ENJOY!

BOOM! A sweet creamy icy chocolate drink!

Had to have some more, so I got a better photo :p

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This was a simple dessert idea I had after discovering cashew cream, mine is based on this recipe.
It's really simple (almost lazy really), but it's friggen delicious!

! Creamy ice double-choc drink !

*This recipe requires a blender

Ingredients:
- 1.5 cups Chocolate soy milky (or any other favorite chocolate milk)
- 6 Ice cubes
- 4 TBS Cashew cream
- 1/4 cup Vegan chocolate (pick your favorite) - Chilled + grated, or blitzed in a blender.

Cashew cream -
*You need to make this ahead of time, as it needs to chill in the fridge or freezer.
In a high power blender combine;
1 cup organic raw unsalted cashews - Soaked for 1 hour
3/4 cup water
1-2 TBS raw Agave syrup
A few drops of pure Organic Vanilla essence

Blend all ingredients on high until completely smooth, adjust consistency as desired using more nuts or water. Cover, & chill in the fridge or freezer.

Method:
1. Grate or blitz in a blender the chilled chocolate into flakes/small chunks, put half into a small bowl, & set aside.
2. Add to the blender, half the chocolate flakes, the soy milky, & the ice, blend on high speed for 20-30 seconds until completely combined.
3. Divide the chocolate drink between 2 glasses, top with chilled cashew cream, & a pinch of the chocolate flakes.
4. Satisfaction ❤⃛ 

Serves 2 (or makes 1 big drink)

Until last night I hadn't had a rich dessert drink like this is many years, & it was extremely satisfying :D I could probably drink myself to death on this stuff!
Mix it up & try Vanilla soy milky (if you can find it >_>), or make up your own delicious vegan milk drink from scratch.

Chocolate soy milky; gluten-free, vegan, delicious!

Try not to drink too much :p
Enjoy!

Healthy lasagne recipe, with 'zucchini pasta'

This idea just planted itself in my mind the other day, & I couldn't get it out, so even though it was a bit warm for this kind of food yesterday, I went ahead & made it anyway!
I'm really happy with the result, it was completely delicious, & the simple home made vegan cheese is the best I've ever had! Cheese is based from this recipe.

Zucchini lasagne recipe!

Ingredients:
- 4-6 large Zucchinis - Rinsed with ends trimmed off, then cut across the middle, & finely sliced into wide strips
- Small bunch of Silver beet - Rinsed, drained, & roughly sliced
- Handful of fresh Parsley (optional) - Rinsed, drained & roughly chopped.

For the pasta sauce -
- 1 medium Onion - Finely diced
- 1 clove of Garlic - Very finely chopped (or lightly minced)
- 4 sticks of Celery - Half thin end lengthways, quarter thick ends, then finely slice all
- 4 medium Carrots - Cut thick sticks lengthways, then finely slice all
- 1 700ml bottle of Organic tomato pasta sauce
- 1 Can Organic whole roma tomatoes (chopped or crushed are also fine)
- 1/2 a Vegetable stock cube (I used these)
- Fresh ground Pepper - To taste
- 4 TBS of Mirin (optional)

For the Cheese -
*This cheese recipe requires a Blender (I used a Vitamix, any good blender will do)
- 3/4 cup Raw organic unsalted Cashews - Soaked for 30mins-2hours
- 2 cups of Hot water
- 1 TBS Salt
- 1 TBS fresh Lemon juice
- 1 clove of Garlic - Very finely chopped, or lightly minced
- 4 TBS Flour (Any gluten-free flour will do)

Method:
1. Put the cashews in a bowl of water, & set aside to soak.
2. Prepare the vegetables for the pasta sauce, then add all the pasta sauce ingredients into a large skillet, & cook for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Sauce is ready when it has reduced & thickened.
3. When the pasta sauce is almost done, drain the cashews, & add them to the blender, along with all the other cheese ingredients. Blend all ingredients on high speed for 1 minute until completely smooth.
4. Transfer the cheese sauce to a medium saucepan & cook over medium heat for approx 5 minutes, stir continuously until sauce thickens & resembles melted cheese, then remove from the heat.
5. Preheat the oven to 160°C (320ºF).
6. Prepare the zucchinis. Cut zucchinis in half across the middle, then finely slice them lengthways to create the zucchini 'pasta' strips. It's a good idea to alternate between cutting strips & assembling the dish, I prepped 2 zucchinis at a time.
7. In a medium baking dish lay down the first layer of zucchini strips covering the bottom of the dish, then spoon on just enough pasta sauce to lightly cover the zucchini. Repeat this process until you reach half way.
8. Roughly slice the silver beet, & spread it over the middle layer of pasta sauce, then use a large spoon to drizzle approx 1/3 of the cheese sauce over the silver beet. Then continue layering zucchini strips & pasta sauce until you reach the top.
9. When you reach the top layer, spoon over the rest of the pasta sauce, if adding fresh parsley, roughly chop it, & sprinkle over the top, then use a large spoon to distribute the cheese sauce, think of it as melted cheese, & blob it around as evenly as you can.
10. Bake at 160°C for 1 hour, or until zucchini is cooked.
Increase the heat to 200°C (392ºF) & bake for an extra 10 minutes to crisp the cheese (optional)
11. MUNCH!

Serves 4.

Lasagne is a bit of an involved meal to make, but it's not complicated, it just takes a bit of time. Allow 3 hours to complete this dish, most of that is cooking time, so don't be intimidated! :p
You can sub spinach for the silver beet, & either basil or oregano for the the parsley if you prefer, just stick to Italian flavors & you'll be fine :)
Please always double check ingredient lists, etc to be sure they are suitable for you.

Prepping the zucchini 'pasta'.

The waiting game...

The cheesy top.

In the words of Francis (Cooking with dog), Good luck in the kitchen! ; )

Helpful ideas to help manage IBS, ulcerative colitis and other gastrointestinal disorders.

8 years of knowledge = BIGGEST POST EVER 0_0...
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Since my month long fling with a vegan, mostly raw, mostly fruit diet, I concluded that there are several practices that I should work into my routine to (hopefully) lower/remove the risk of ulcerative colitis (UC) flare-ups.
These new habits are varied, so to keep things simple, I'm-a list it up!
Some of these I will have mentioned previously, some are already incorporated into my life, some are new, & some are things I've been meaning to do, etc.
The aim is to compile a comprehensive list based on all the things I've learned over the past 8 years from managing UC naturally, no prescription medication!
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1. No animal products to be consumed! - All animal products including meat, seafood, dairy, eggs, etc are bad for the human digestive system, & will only exacerbate UC! Think carefully about this one, because one day it might be too late, & you'll have an artificial poop bag instead of a colon, which must be frequently emptied, manually!
Living vegan is easier than ever, there are endless alternatives to animal products, & your colon will thank you for it!
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2. Try to be calm. - Excessive stress, or negative emotions of any kind are strongly linked with the digestive system, & should be avoided. Slow deep breaths, & thinking positive thoughts can help relieve a situation short term. For long term management of mental well-being it is highly recommended to include at least one relaxation practice daily; yoga, tai chi, meditation, etc are all good options. Also never eat if in a highly emotional/stressed state, your body is already under pressure, the last thing it needs is food to digest, this is a common, & damaging mistake!
If you have painful internalised issues (as many people with UC do) you need to learn to deal with them, & let them go, in this case outside assistance in the form of a counselor, or someone trustworthy to speak to may help.
Always remember that you are in control of yourself, let go of negative thoughts & feelings, & replace them with positive ones instead. Training yourself to be positive takes time & commitment, but it absolutely can be done!
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3. Minimise FAT, SALT, & SUGAR in your diet. - These foods are terrible for human health, they serve no purpose other than to bombard & confuse our taste buds. Cut down bit by bit if need be, but be very strict about quantities, the less the better! The only fat, sugar, & salt we need in our diet can be obtained from fresh, whole foods such as; fruits, avocados, nuts, celery, etc. All other sources including oil, granulated salt, refined sugars, etc should be kept to a minimum, or avoided all together.
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4. Adequate rest & sleep are essential. - Staying awake until 2am is out! Always get at least 8 hours sleep per night, it's beneficial to have a routine, it helps your body remain regular, & function more smoothly. Always rest if you feel tired, be careful not to mistake fatigue with hunger, eating for any reason other than genuine hunger is a bad mistake, & can easily overburden your body. When you sleep/rest your body is able to dedicate energies toward reparative functions (including healing damage to the colon, etc).
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5. Allow time between meals. - Your body works hard to digest most food, leaving adequate time between meals is extremely important; not only to allow food to digest effectively, but also to avoid overburdening the digestive system. Avoid frequent snacking, there's nothing wrong with being hungry! Giving your digestive system a short break is one of the best things you can do for it! Your digestive tract is part of you! Making it run constantly can wear it out, & may lead to dysfunction, resulting in problems such as UC.
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6. Raw meals. - Incorporate some simple raw meals into your diet. Salads, lettuce wraps, dips + crudites, raw pastas, green smoothies, etc, are all amazing sources of nutrients, don't underestimate fresh, raw food! Raw pastas & other interesting meal ideas can be made using a simple tool known as a spiralizer. (I recently bought a GEFU Spiralfix HERE)
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7. Fresh made juices. - Incorporate a fresh, home-made juice, either vegetable, or fruit into your daily routine. Juices are an invaluable source of nutrients in a form that is easily digested & absorbed by the body.
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8. Fruit for breakfast & Mono meals - Raw fruit for breakfast is undoubtedly the very best way to start the day, having a mono breakfast is even better! A mono meal is simply a meal consisting of one ingredient, eg. Bananas for breakfast. When you first wake up your body starts to flush out toxins etc, it is best to support the body in this task by eating a simple, light meal for breakfast. Mono meals provide the optimum situation for digestion & nutrient absorption because it is easiest for our bodies to digest one thing at a time, the less complicated a meal, the less complicated the digestive task, & vice versa.
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9. Reduce the amount of grain & grain products - Everybody loves grains, whether it's rice, pasta, bread, etc, we're all addicted to it, however, grains are much more difficult to digest than fruits & vegetables, & they should be eaten sparingly. Try to have at least one grain-free day per week.
Due to the increased difficulty in digestion, it is best to allow a longer period of time after eating a meal with grains, to allow your body to cope, & digest properly.
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10. Reduce/remove processed foods. - This is another thing we have become addicted to, anything in a packet that's quick, easy, & satisfying. There are many reasons to avoid processed foods, however, if you are going to have them from time to time, I cannot stress enough; always always always! read the ingredients list! If there are weird ingredients that you cannot identify, then ditch it, & choose a healthier option! In fact, reading labels is a great habit to get into, & an essential skill if you want to avoid nasties, & improve your health, but remember; fresh is always best!
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11. Drink filtered water, between meals. - It's a good idea to invest in a good quality, natural water filter to remove impurities from your drinking/cooking water. There are plenty of options available, & it's a great comfort to know that your not ingesting trace amounts of god-knows-what from old, dirty water pipes. We recently invested in a ceramic water filter, & it's fantastic.
It can be beneficial to avoid drinking when eating, your tummy enzymes need to work, & water can dilute them, making them less effective, potentially causing problems further down the digestive tract. Sipping a small amount of water is usually ok, especially when eating dry foods, such as dried fruit.
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12. Practice food combing. - Food combing is very simple! Eat foods which digest effectively together for optimum, clean digestion. Simply put, foods digest at different rates, in different enzymes, if you eat a combination of foods that require completely different situations for digestion, digestion will be impaired, or completely compromised, resulting in poorly digested, partially rotted food entering the intestines, which is a major cause of gastrointestinal distress, including UC. I have made some simple food combing charts which you can find HERE, for more info check out >>> colitis-crohns.com.
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13. Eat an alkaline diet! - Most food, when metabolised by the body, are either acid, or alkaline forming. The human body is naturally alkaline, & it is healthiest when this state is supported by eating alkaline-forming foods.
Alkaline-forming foods include; All vegetables, except asparagus, which is mildly acid-forming. All fruits, except certain nuts, blueberries, & olives. Some alkaline-forming nuts are almonds, chestnuts, & coconuts. All sprouts are alkaline-forming. Most seeds, especially sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, & pumpkin seeds (pepitas). Certain legumes including, soy beans, lima beans, peas, & snap beans are alkaline-forming.
Overall, at least 80% of the human diet should be alkaline-forming, this means that approximately 17 of the average 21 meals consumed weekly should be 100% alkaline-forming.
Acid-forming foods include; all animal products, except blood, bone, & butter. All grains, except millet are acid-forming, especially rye & wheat. Most legumes, especially lentils, peanuts, & most beans. About half of all nuts are acid-forming.
This is a big one, but simple charts can be found online to help guide you, however be sure they come from a reputable source!
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14. Chew thoroughly, never rush. - It's advice we've all heard, but it is extremely important for good digestion, always chew all food thoroughly. This not only helps to release nutrients from food more effectively, but also makes digestion easier for your stomach, & intestines, very important if you suffer from a condition like UC. Never rush when you eat, likewise, never eat if you are experiencing heightened emotions or stress, your body already has enough to cope with in these situations, adding an extra load (ie. digestion) is no good! Always be calm when eating, & take your time. I now make a habbit of putting my utensils down between mouthfuls to concentrate on chewing properly, & to avoid eating too quickly, & it has made a huge difference for me!
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15. Less is more! - This is true for most things in life, & especially true for food. Most of us eat far too much, far too frequently, putting our digestive tracts under constant stress. The solution is quite simple here, pay extra attention to your eating habits! Cut down your portion sizes a little, only eat when hungry, & avoid binge eating.
Meals need not be complicated either, in fact minimising the number of different ingredients in any one meal makes digestion a simpler, less taxing task. Remember that mono meals (a meal of 1 food, eg. bananas) are the most easily digested.
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16. Give your insides a break. - This is easily achieved by dedicating 2-5 days (in a row) every month or two to do a simple juice cleanse (or, clean out). Juices are packed with nutrients that are easy for you body to absorb, they also have little or no fiber, giving your digestive tract a much deserved rest. A juice cleanse can give you a boost in nutrients, help clean out your body, & rest your digestive organs. It goes without saying that you will need a good juicer, & some basic juice recipes, seek out someone with experience, there is plenty of information available, start small, & do some research before attempting a juice cleanse. I will absolutely be doing this, so expect a related post sometime in future.
Another major benefit after completely a juice cleanse is a renewed appreciation of food, if you complete a 5 day cleanse you may find that your sense of taste is enhanced, allowing you to better appreciate the natural flavors of food, which automatically results in your body wanting less processed foods including oil, sugar, & salt :D
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17. Eat gluten-free. - Whether you suffer from gluten intolerance, or celiac disease is not important, what is important is that gluten is extremely harsh on the human digestive system, many, if not most people do not cope with gluten well, but remain unaware. We become accustomed to functioning below our best, & carry on with life regardless. Removing gluten from your diet can have many benefits, including; reduced bloating, increased energy, smoother digestion, etc. Gluten is not necessary in our diet, & only hinders our health, supermarkets now offer a wide range of gluten-free alternatives (beware, some are quite unhealthy), & most gluten-free foods are clearly labeled. Even without these options it is easy to eat gluten free using fresh, whole foods.
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18. Fruit! - Fruits are perfect for humans! Ripe fruit requires very little digestion because the nutrients are readily available in a usable form, for example, instead of protein, which ordinarily needs to be broken down into amino acids by the body, fruit provides amino acids directly! This is also true for carbohydrates; in ripe fruit they are already broken down into the simple (healthy) sugars our bodies need to function, & so on. Juicy fruits provide the best pure, clean water that is essential for our bodies, & of course all fruits are packed with vitamins, minerals, & antioxidants. Forget all the complicated (often expensive) junk you can buy, & turn to fruit instead! It is perfect, & it is a super food, & the banana is king!
It's interesting to note that people on a high fruit diet may require as much as 60% less water, not only because most fruits have a high water content, but also because fruit is so healthy that it contains nothing that the body needs to 'flush', resulting in a reduced need for drinking.
For fruit combining info, check out these simple food combining charts :)

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19. Buy/grow organic. - The term 'organic' seems to have acquired a bit of negative stigma, but there's nothing negative about it! An organic product is simply something which is produced without the use of synthetic, toxic chemicals, that's it! Beware of products throwing this term around, & plastering it all over their labels, read the ingredients, & to be extra sure try to buy 'certified organic', this meas that the producer is checked & regulated.
Sometimes organic products are more expensive, however many times I have found the price to be the same. Good food leads to good health, it's worth the investment!
If you grow food at home, kudos! Remember to always look to nature for inspiration/advice, & avoid using synthetic, toxic products! In a healthy, balanced system, there should be absolutely no need for them anyway, they are a dangerous short cut.
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I am only an average person sharing my own personal experience.
Listed above are the most effective drug free means I have found to help deal with my Ulcerative colitis, & improve my overall health. It's a working progress, but after 8 years living with this condition, I can confidently say that things are improving! I have not used medication in many years, & I refuse to do so, it is counter productive, & more harmful than helpful.
I was at my worst (half dead to be honest) eating a standard western diet & using professionally prescribed medications. Now, after years of research, coupled with lots of trial & error, I feel that I am slowly regaining the health of my digestive system : )
I'm convinced that I can reach a level of great health, & avoid flare-ups all together by supporting my body via diet & lifestyle, it may mean some challenging adjustments, but it is absolutely worth it!
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I wish happiness & good health to everyone, there's nothing better : )
Have a rainbow!
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(image source)