Handy farming resources. Biointensive and Veganic principles.

Hi everyone!

Recently I have been brushing up on some growing techniques and principles. As much as I like allowing things to grow a little bit wild, I am now refining my focus towards strategies which will more effectively and reliably feed a family, as well as provide extra to market and profit from.
 
My vision fits somewhere between an intensive market garden scheme, and a more relaxed home veggie patch, combining elements from both to find a happy middle that is enjoyable, not too rigid, but also creates profit.

To that end I have explored John Jeavons bio-intensive method, which outwardly seems like a near perfect system, and it also happens to fit Veganic (Vegan+Organic) principles. I will not know for sure until I implement the design for myself, and follow through for a number of years to discover the full potential of this method.

You can watch the Grow Bio-intensive Guide on Youtube > HERE
This short series is a great beginning point to gain familiarity with the basic principles of Bio-intensive growing.

On the subject of Veganic principles; I happened upon a video featuring Will Bonsall, in which he shares knowledge and ideas surrounding Veganic farming, which I found to be very insightful, and also coincided with many of my own observations and theories developed over years of casual gardening.

You can watch Wills talk about Veganic principles on Youtube > HERE


All of this lead me to further consider my diet. Generally I am quite mindful about eating healthy, but there is always room for improvement, and it's so easy to slip out of good habits and fall into the trap of too often eating 'whatever' with little thought towards nutritional value.

To help myself out I made a document based on the 60/30/10 guide from the bio-intensive method and listed crops under each section, which is also useful to reference when planning meals.

I have only included gluten-free crops because I am coeliac, and prefer to avoid any contact with them. With the exception of those few crops, I tried to include the best examples I was able to find from various sources, undoubtedly there are many more, including perennial crops.

A side note regarding my diet; I am Vegan and Coeliac, but I prefer to avoid eating grains at all. I am not completely rigid on this point, I will eat some grains here and there, however I much prefer to gain my calories and nutrients from fresh water-rich fruits and vegetables, most nuts and seeds also agree with my rather sensitive digestive system.

I hope people find this interesting and useful, as always I cannot encourage you enough to grow as much food as possible, it is invaluable!

Happy growing everyone. c:

Meditation - artwork + app recommendations

Meditation (version one)

As you may guess from the title, I have started meditation practice again after many years of neglecting my poor brain.
My mood can sometimes be unstable, and I have collected anger from lots of different sources, and this was starting to take a toll on my everyday life.
Since starting daily meditation there have been major improvements in my thoughts, mood, and reactions. Even after just a short time of daily sessions, I find I can cope in difficult situations much better, and my anxiety has greatly reduced. c:

Maybe it goes without saying, but I do highly recommend meditation practice for everyone, no matter if you have obvious troubles or not, it will benefit anyone~

The concept of meditation is very simple, however the practice is quite challenging, and requires... practice~ The idea is to relax, stand/sit/lay comfortably, clear your mind, and focus on your breath, when thoughts arise you must gently push them aside and return your focus to your breathing.

There are some useful apps which can help guide you as you learn, here are three I have been using:

1. Oak Meditation - This is my go-to app, it is simple, easy to use, and totally free. I do a breathing exercise and a 20+ minute 'mindful' meditation each day. This app has some good features and a nice design. This would be my first choice regardless of your experience level.

2. Relax Meditation - This app has many features, but most are locked unless you buy a monthly or lifetime subscription. My favorite feature is creating a soundscape which you can meditate to. Relax has a lovely design, and plenty of features, this is a great app if you want to try some different sounds and guided meditation sessions.

3. Head Space - A standout app that has a fresh modern feel, the design is fantastic, complete with some really cool artwork and animations, and plenty of features. This one is at the higher end of the price range, but it may be worth the investment if it works for you. I completed the 10 day introduction to meditation, however the first two apps work great for me, so I opted not to pay for this one.

One other app which I have only tried briefly is 'Insight Timer', it has a huge amount of content, much of which is free. This app is somewhat more complicated, but worth a look if you want more variety.

My personal preference is something simple and straight to the point, which is why I think Oak works so well for me. There are plenty of other meditation apps to try, if you have any recommendations please don't hesitate to leave a comment with your experience.

Meditation (version 2)

Dumpster diving; something to consider - Save money, Reduce waste.

Haul 1: $90+ worth of avos (guacamole party!), grapes for days, and even olives!

Hi everyone!
Today I will discuss my recent experience with dumpster diving around Melbourne. I was both skeptical and apprehensive about diving at first; the idea made me nervous, and honestly I didn't think it would be worth while. Half a dozen dives later I can report that, while I do find it slightly nerve-wracking at times, I think the benefits far outweigh any potential problems you may encounter.
As you can see from the photos, there is LOTS of perfectly edible food going to waste; all this would be headed for landfill if we hadn't grabbed it, it's quite eye-opening to see just how much is thrown away. Contrary to what many may believe, stores do not only throw out food which is bad, often a product isn't selling, or there's just a few left, or a new delivery comes in, the shelf space is needed and stock is cleared out - straight into the bin. We have also seen boxes with one damaged item that spilled, so the entire box was thrown out.

Consider how much energy has gone into producing these products, growing, processing, packing, delivery, etc, just to wind up in the bin, all that energy wasted. We all know that food is not cheap, especially fruits and veggies, many people struggle to afford fresh produce and end up eating junk instead, food is our highest expense after rent, if we can cut it by half or more, we'll save a lot of money.

There is a lot of potential for dumpster diving, if you think it's something you might try, here are some things to consider:

- Be discreet and considerate - Don't be noisy and don't leave any mess behind
- Wear old clothes - Bins can be messy
- Some days bins are empty, some days too full - Learn the schedule for your area
- Use common sense and safety - Use caution in/around bins, wear appropriate clothing
- Take old bags or boxes to put food into - Don't rely on finding boxes to use
- Take a bottle of soapy water and fresh water to wash and rinse your hands
- Don't get greedy - Only take what you will actually use, leave the rest for other divers
- Share - If you find way more than you need, post it to your local DD group
- Diving during the day or during the night makes little difference
- Everything must be inspected, and thoroughly rinsed+washed - This takes time
- If someone confronts you, be polite and friendly, and leave promptly

Haul 2: Fruit, veg, even junk food.

The photos above, haul 1 & 2 are from two bins in one day; this involved driving to the bins, driving home, then processing everything, it's not much different than driving around to do your grocery shopping, just a bit more processing to do when you get home.
We only take food that is in really good condition to start with, once home we rinse everything, wash it in water with bicarb and vinegar, then do a final rinse, and we leave everything to dry on a towel.

My partner and I are Vegan and I'm coeliac, so that rules out heaps of what we find, once we saw a full box of frozen Hawaiian pizzas, which we shared to our local diving group. Don't even get me started on the bread, loaves upon loaves, many stores re-stock daily, you can imagine how much ends up in the bin.

Remember that diving is like a lucky dip, this can be good for a number of reasons, you might end up eating a greater variety of seasonal foods, and it encourages you to get creative in the kitchen to use what you've found, on the other hand you might not find exactly what you want.

Thus far we have not been confronted by anyone, but it can, and probably will happen eventually. We plan to simply state that we're just trying to save food from going to waste and ending up in landfill, then promptly be on our way. No harm done. I'm hoping that if we're ever confronted, it will be someone friendly with the same outlook on food waste.

Finally, here is a photo of last nights dinner, more than 50% is reclaimed food, and it was delicious!

Happy diving, or not, have a great week either way~

5 upcoming PC games I'm way looking forward to...

Hey everybody~ Time to talk about some games that could be truly amazing, I'm looking forward to trying these out! These will all be available on Steam, so if you like any, add them to your wish-list.
In no particular order, they are...

1. Ooblets
Looks like a casual Pokemon meets Animal crossing with Harvest moon elements type of game, sounds perfect to me. I really love the cute and quirky art style of Ooblets, that's something that always really stands out to me, and I'm psyched to see more and more developers experimenting with different styles. I'm super excited for this game :D

Ooblets trailer:

2. Mineko's Night Market
'A whimsical adventure/simulation game' set on a Japanese island overrun with cats, sounds too amazing to be real, but it's happening you guys. More beautiful art to be seen, and the promise of some unique and memorable adventures exploring the island and attending the weekly night market.

Mineko's Night Market Trailer:

3. Wytchwood
Play as the old (and adorable) witch of the woods in this beautiful crafting adventure game, collecting ingredients to brew spells in a land of fairytales and fables. Enjoy even more beautiful art and exploration as a witch with magic abilities. 2018 is shaping up to be the best year ever for cool games. :0...

Wytchwood Trailer:

4. Knights on Bikes
A HAND PAINTED ACTION ADVETURE GAME, 2 TOUGH GIRLS ON BIKES SOLVING MYSTERIES AND COLLECTING TREASURE. Amazing. Set on an English island in the 1980's, this game looks and sound incredible to me, and I cannot wait to play.

Knights on Bikes Trailer:

Lastly, but not leastly,
5. Tunic
Explore, discover ruins, fight ancient monsters, all as a little adorable fox, need I say more. Well I will also say that this game is visually beautiful, it has great atmosphere, maybe the only downside is the wait, this one isn't expected until 2019 :< but that's ok, because we will have quite a few others to play in the mean time. : )

Tunic Trailer:

There's actually 2 more games I have to add here, they're a bit different from the 5 above, but they look too good not to mention.
The first is called 'The Last Night', let me just say, cinematic pixel sci-fi thriller in a post-cyberpunk world. Yep.

The Last Night Trailer:

The second is 'Crossing Souls', a group of friends crossing between realms, fighting and solving puzzles. With more sweet pixel graphics, and based the year I was born (1986), you really can't go wrong.

Crossing Souls Trailer:

That's my list guys, drop a comment here with any upcoming games you feel are worthy of a top 5 list.

A couple of Raw Vegan playlists to binge on...

Hi guys~ Given my plan to reform my diet to be mostly raw, I have been browsing YouTube for some recipes, and I found a couple of channels with some good content (& decent hosts).

(Neto, The Raw Boy)

The first channel is The Raw Boy, hosted by Neto. The playlist is his 100 day raw vegan challenge, which shares some great ideas and recipes. I've found the videos to be really enthusiastic, genuine, and honest, with nothing over the top or off-putting.

Go ahead and check out >THE RAW BOY<

(Chris Kendall, The Raw Advantage)

The 2nd playlist is a compilation of recipes by raw vegan chef Chris Kendall. The channel is called The Raw Advantage and there are so many amazing recipes, ranging from super simple all the way through to ultra gourmet. The style is very energetic, and a bit zany, but still easy to watch.

Go ahead and check out >THE RAW ADVANTAGE<


I'll be aiming for a kind of hybrid diet which is mostly raw, with some gently cooked elements added sometimes for lunch &/or dinner, no more 100% cooked meals. I feel like this could be the way to achieve the best balance and maintain my health, I will post with updates as things progress.

That's it guys, enjoy!

Paint Tool SAI version 2

Hi again!
 
Over the years I've struggled to find the right drawing program, I've tried so many, but none of them suit me just right.
Yesterday I decided to give Paint Tool SAI another go, & I discovered that the version I have is missing lots of features, I have no idea why, and I was unable to find a solution.

Luckily whilst looking for answers I discovered that there's a version 2 of Paint Tool SAI. I've only had a quick look so far, but it seem to have all the features, and it's a bit more refined and polished.

I didn't find a version to buy, but I found a download here >>> PAINT TOOL SAI VER2

I'm optimistic about this one, let's see how it works out!

UPDATE: As it turns out newer versions of SAI don't come with all the settings, this baffles my mind, but hopefully it won't matter now that I have version2.

Another awesome (& totally free) drawing program which I really clicked with is FireAlpaca, grab it here >>> FIREALPACA

Enjoy drawing everyone~

Gluten-Free Vegan food porn!

It's fair to say that we are keen on food (to say the least). We make & eat lots of good stuff, even though, ideally, I should be fasting at the moment :0
...
Here is some of it, it's all made from scratch, Gluten-free & Vegan -
...

Christmas dinner 2015. Roast pumpkin, steamed cauliflower + cheezy cashew sauce, Caesar salad, Hassleback potatoes + gravy, Meaty baked jackfruit, Chickpea patties, steamed peas, & Miso broccoli salad, with a glass of sparkling grape juice on the side.

It was a damn good dinner. Caesar salad recipe from - ohsheglows.com

Fresh watermelon slushy.

Veggie Pho with Rice noodles & Tempeh.

Rice paper roll feast! Complete with various dipping sauces + MIB.

Burger, level 9000. Burger patty base is mashed chickpeas + Jackfruit.

Congee #1.

Congee #2.

Souvlaki-ish chickpea flour wrap. Recipe for the wrap is at - Happygut.ca

Hope that gives you all some inspiration to make something delicious!

If you are keen on Gluten-free Vegan food, feel free to join my Facebook group - Vegan Gluten-free Food Ideas :)

I'm back + Thoughts about natural living.

Hello!
I've been to Queensland, Thailand, & Malaysia, and now I'm living in a huge house deep in the suburbs (how depressing)... My travels we OK, good experiences I suppose, but traveling really isn't my deal.

My greatest aspiration is to live in a little house that I have built myself, grow my food, harvest rain water, plant trees, wash/sleep outside (if I so wish), collect/chop/store firewood, actively live quietly & simply. I would spend my time doing things that make me feel content; taking photos, drawing, painting, exploring, swimming, gardening, + whatever I feel like! No expectations or demands from other people, or society in general, just simple living.

This is the kind of house I would like to live in...

Something small, simple, natural, functional. I will NEVER understand why people want big, expensive, fake, crappy houses that don't even function properly (cold in winter/hot in summer).

I've been thinking that instead of aiming to build bigger houses, we build more houses, just big enough for 2 people to live comfortably, if those people choose to have a child, then they build another snug 2 person house on the same property, so once their kid needs more space, he/she begins shifting into the new house. Once that child is all grown up, if they choose to have a baby, they do the same, & so-on, & so on. This way the family stays together, but everyone has their own space & privacy.
So instead of those horrible housing estates, why not only build small, natural, north-facing houses that are passive solar, & self sustaining, & they should come with set amounts of land, with strips of greenery separating properties, & good amounts of dedicated natural habitat for wildlife. House sizes should be kept small, just enough for 2, with a maximum size limit, rather than a minimum.

Snug & comfy!

Natural & beautiful!

For some ideas about building small, check out TinyHouseSwoon, a blog dedicated to tiny houses. There are all kinds of incredible builds to check out, like the 'Aurora Cabin'...

Another great site is CabinPorn, you can find some inspiration from the beautiful photos on this blog...

 

Swoon~

'Back to Eden' documentary, watch for free! :D

'Back to Eden' is a fantastic documentary about growing food naturally, in accordance with nature :) Regardless of your religious standpoint, the knowledge shared in this film is invaluable! Proving that gardening can be easy, everyone can get growing!

Watch it for free > ***LINK***

The truth about money

 Let it be known that I loath the current state of the world, in particular 'first world countries'. Actions are fueled by greed, & many people value money above all things, even willing to destroy lives to have more of it.

Unfortunately I am no exception, I'm caught in this flawed, corrupt system, & I rely on money, however, I hate money, or at least the current monetary system.
There are no easy fixes to be had, & I certainly do not posses all the answers, but as can easily be seen from a bit of world observation, humanity is headed for big, big problems if we do not rethink our priorities, & begin living cooperatively rather than competitively.
Recently I was shown a documentary that really opened my eyes to how completely flawed our current system is, it's a documentary called 'Money as debt'.

This is something that affects everyone, & everything, & I urge everyone to watch it to gain a better understanding of the root cause of just about every problem we face today.

WATCH IT BELOW -

Part 1 -

Part 2 -

Part 3 -

What do you think...

Minecraft Mushroom Biome Seed :D

I had that powerful urge to Minecraft (you know the one), so I decided I'd create a new world & go with whatever I got. Well, I haven't explored the land too much yet, but I spawned right within sight of a mushroom biome, brimming with mooshrooms.

If you'd like to check it out for yourself here is the seed: 6486146545815249245

Why Vegan? -A summary-

I've wanted to make this post for a while, basically my aim is to make short summaries of the main reasons why I think being vegan is so damn important.

Animal rights: 

Selective breeding - Animals used within industry, whether it's meat, milk, eggs, wool, etc have all been selectively breed to best suit the purpose humans have imposed upon them. They are far removed from their original, natural form, & this often has crippling effects on their health.

Unnatural environment - Most 'industry animals' (dairy cows, pigs, meat & egg chickens, etc), spend their lives in small, uncomfortable surrounds, some to the point that they suffer endlessly, day in & day out. 'Free range' is not a solution, in many cases the animals only have slightly more room than in factory farms. Most animals suffer in filthy, cramped conditions, & exhibit all kinds of distressing behaviors, from attacking one another, to crying, & chewing on the metal bars of there confines.

Slaughter - If you believe in the idea of 'humane slaughter', then I would ask you to imagine your beloved family pet in the same situation as that which a cow, pig, or chicken must face, in that light does it still seem humane? Also consider that virtually all industry animals are only permitted to live a fraction of their natural lives, male chicks, & bobby calves are only babies when they are slaughtered.

Cruel practices - Within animal industries there are many standard practices that are extremely cruel, baby pigs have there teeth & tails cut off, with absolutely no pain relief. Young chickens have the ends of their beaks & toes removed (to stop fighting in crowded conditions), cows are branded with a red-hot iron, & often have large metal rings put in their noses. We do these horrible things to control & subdue these animals, so that we can keep them in unnatural situations.

Natural behavior denied - Virtually all industry animals are forced to live in a way which denies them their basic natural instincts, pigs love to explore, dig, take mud baths, plays, & build a nest when they are pregnant, no such behaviors are possible in the conditions most animals are raised in.

Dairy cows - The dairy industry baffles my mind. The basic cycle is -
We artificially impregnate cows, so that they will produce milk for their baby, when the baby is born, we tear it away from it's mother so that we can harvest the milk for ourselves, some of the babies will enter the dairy industry, but most are slaughtered just days, or weeks after birth, cold, hungry, & afraid without their mothers. The mother cows cry out for their babies for days, as we steal the milk intended for their offspring.
This cycle continues, on average, for 8 years, until the cows body is too depleted to produce high enough quantities of milk, at which point, after a life of service she is sent to slaughter.

A short life - Industry animals are only kept alive for a minimal amount of time. For meat animals, this is until they reach full size (this has been increased, & sped up via selective breeding, hormones, etc), for dairy cows, & egg chickens this is until their bodies tire, & their production drops, or stops. We look at these beings as objects, to be used, & disposed of as we see fit, furthermore we are taught to view industry animals differently from companion animals, this is not fair, & not a healthy mentality.

Animals deserve respect, & they have the right to live happily, & carry out their natural instincts. There is nothing natural about what we put these animals through, their lives are short & miserable, & we can help put a stop to it by simply choosing a vegan lifestyle.

Environmental impact:

We raise millions of animals every year, & it requires a massive amount of resources, including land, feed, fresh water, medications, etc. We clear vast habitats & eradicate native species to make room for domesticated animals, to grow their feed, & we dedicate tons of fresh water to raise them, if we redirected all these efforts & resources, no one in the world would be without food & water!
Animals must also be moved around a lot, to & from farms, then to the slaughterhouse, then onward to be processed, packaged, & yet again to reach the shop. Huge trucks are needed, moving is stressful for the animals, & very polluting. The huge quantities of blood, & offal from processing often ends up contaminating soil, nearby waterways, & the ocean.
Animals of course produce lots of waste themselves, including excrement, & gas, in such unnaturally high concentration it causes massive problems for the environment, it results in poor air quality, polluted soil & water, & many other serious problems.

Personal health:

Human beings gain nothing by eating animal products. This has been well documented for decades, & there are thousands of fit, healthy vegans that stand as testament to this fact.
Animals products are riddled with fats, cholesterol, harmful hormones, & dangerous proteins.
There is nothing provided by animal products that is not available in a healthier form from plant foods.
Fruits, vegetables, salad greens, & nuts are the ideal foods for our bodies, eating simple whole foods, & more fresh raw food (especially fruit) will result in a slimmer, healthier body, with a greatly reduced risk of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, etc.

A very simple way to know if a food is good for your body is if it is acid-forming when digested, or alkaline-forming when digested. The human body is alkaline (except the stomach when digesting certain foods), & alkaline-forming foods support us best.
*Alkaline-forming foods: all vegetables (except asparagus, which is mildly acid-forming), All fruit (except blueberries, & olives), all sprouts, & some nuts - almonds, chestnuts, coconuts, etc.
*Acid-forming foods: all dairy products (except butter, which is neutral), all animal products (except blood & bone), & all grains & grain products (except millet, which is mildly alkaline-forming)
Acid forming-foods must be neutralised by our body, this is achieved using alkaline minerals, primarily calcium & iron, which is sourced from our bones, blood, etc. This is why, contrary to what we are told, dairy is not good for our bones!

We are taught to eat those foods which can be most easily monopolised, & mass produced, because they achieve the greatest profits. Animal welfare, & human health are not priority, profit is. Most people simply do not know any better, & never understand why they become ill. I felt this way when I was diagnosed with multiple diseases at the age of 19, but as I learned, & adjusted my diet my health is improving :)

We all have the ability to help end animal suffering, reduce damage to the environment, & improve our health. Changing to a vegan lifestyle is a powerful start, knowledge is key, so read as much as you can, watch all the documentaries you can, also observe the world around you to help you make the right decisions. The truth can be tricky to find, but it is there.

Resources:

Two of the best documentaries I have seen, I highly recommend checking out both!

'Forks over knives' (watch trailer), &
'Peaceable kingdom: the journey home' (watch trailer).

Buy Peaceable Kingdom DVD  - HERE
Buy Forks over Knives DVD - HERE or HERE

Websites:
vegankit.com
lunchboxbunch.com
WorldVeganDay
veganonline.com.au
crueltyfreeshop.com.au
TheVeganZombie
squidmaster.net
ThugKitchen.com - (Warning! Coarse language)
VeganMenu
VeganCheatSheet

Handy tools - Garden sickle/scythe

We have a few scythes now, & they're really handy, if you're into veggie gardening I highly recommend them.

We bought ours >>> HERE <<<

They're affordable, & have lasted us really well so far, even after some rough treatment. :0
The 2 we use the most are the 'Narrow Serrated Sickle' & the 'Large Serrated Sickle'. The narrow sickle is great for harvesting, & the large sickle is really good for cutting plants back/light chop & drop, etc.

Narrow sickle.

Large sickle.

It's actually the same size...

These are great for general use around the veggie patch. :)
Take care when using them, they can leave you with quite a nasty cut.

Happy gardening~

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

8 years of knowledge = BIGGEST POST EVER 0_0...
...
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!
...
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!
...
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!
...
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.
...
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).
...
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.
...
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.
...
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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