Author: The Food Yogi

Natural Cure for Hay Fever

Natural Cure for Hay Fever

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I remember the day well. It was around Christmas time in 1988 and my brother had a severe case of hay fever. His eyes were puffy and he could not stop sneezing. There was nothing I could do to help and he felt helpless. Nothing prescribed by the doctor was working either. He then turned to an old herbal remedy book and found a paragraph suggesting that scotch thistle, also known as scots thistle or cotton thistle could help alleviate hay fever symptoms. He decided to give it a try.

We just happened to be in the countryside near cow pastures and the weed was growing everywhere. He cut 4 flowers of the spiky bush and added it to a pot of boiling water. He let the herb steep and cool down and then drank the entire pot. Nothing happened at first, but then within an hour or so his sneezing slowed down and his eyes cleared. By the next day, not only had this tea cured all symptoms, but his hay fever never returned!

Based on this experience and some other friends of ours that tried the same, I became convinced that scotch thistle most certainly can help cure hay fever. The weed is typically ignored by most people as useless, but it has a long history of natural medicine and even modern pharmacology as a plant containing a chemical that can stimulate the heart.

Scotch thistle is indigenous to almost all of Europe, with the exception of the far north, the plant was introduced to North America. In anthroposophical medicine, it is used as a cardiac stimulant (Reference: PDR for Herbal Medicines, 2nd ed., p.678).

Scotch thistle (Onopordum) is also used in Cordiodoron Tablets

Give this remedy a try and let me know how it goes.

 

Vegan Mint Cacao Crackles

Vegan Mint Cacao Crackles

This was a childhood favourite of mine, known back then as “Chocolate Crackles” and was nothing more than puffed rice mixed with chocolate sauce. Usually, the puffed rice was just the standard coco pops filled with sugar. This recipe calls for plain cacao-flavoured puffed rice.

I decided to make a healthier version of this Australian classic, adding a hint of peppermint as well to set it off as a nice after-dinner snack for adults. My Mint Cacao Crackles are a terrific party snack for kids as well.

It only takes about 5 minutes to make them and this is how you do it.

Chocolate Mix

In a food processor:

  • 6 fresh soft dates
  • 4 Prunes
  • 3 heaped Tbsp smooth organic peanut butter
  • 2 large Tbsp organic coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup raw almonds
  • 2 heaped Tbsp raw cacao powder
  • 3 drop pure peppermint essence

Blend until smooth and set aside.

Puffed Coating

In a separate bowl add:

  • 1 cup cacao puffed rice
  • 1/2 cup dried coconut

Mix together

Method

Roll the chocolate mix into balls and then roll them into the puffed rice mix, squeezing the balls with your hands to make sure the puffed rice sticks. Set them on a tray in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Say a prayer and enjoy!

The Food Yoga Standard

The Food Yoga Standard

Since I released my book, FOOD YOGA – Nourishing Body, Mind & Soul I have seen that other people are using the term food yogi or food yoga to promote their healthy lifestyle or cooking courses. However, there is a standard for what constitutes a food yogi. As a long time practitioner of bhakti yoga (32 years), director of the world’s largest vegan food relief and author of FOOD YOGA – Nourishing Body, Mind & Soul I carry the responsibility for the definition of food yoga and a food yogi. I want to make that clear here.

FoodYogi-LOGOWhat Food Yoga is

ART: An individual’s creative expression of love and devotion using food as the medium;

SCIENCE: An appreciation for the beauty and interconnectedness of all things, coupled with an unceasing awareness of the Energetic Source from which all things emanate. A food yogi considers the physical laws of good food combining as well as the most subtle laws of intention while preparing the meal.

Food Yoga is a completely new approach to holistic living. Until now, philosophies on healthy living and nutrition have focused on the mechanics of health and happiness, exclusively focusing on the body alone. In doing so, these philosophies have promoted practices and diets that in one way or another have alienated vast numbers of people. As a result, despite volumes of literature and research there is no consensus on what diet or mode of living is best. What they have all failed to identify is one underlying truth that connects us all and from which all health systems can be reconciled and/or elevated to their ultimate stature. That truth is: our constitutional nature is spirit and we are all spiritually equal. Any healthy living program therefore needs to address the “nutritional” needs of the body, mind and spirit.

What a Food Yogi Is

  • RAWStrawberryCheesecakeFY-STEP7A responsible human that serves, consumes, and behaves in ways that respect all of creation and help maintain the delicate balance of nature.
  • A person that is respectful of their own body, which they treat as a blessing or a “temple of God.”
  • A person who lives their entire life in full awareness of their interdependence and interconnectedness of all things.
  • A person who practices the culture of spiritual hospitality—a culture that is based on the principle of sama darshana or spiritual equality.
  • A person who fully embraces a socially responsible and environmentally respectful lifestyle, including their choice of food, clothing, cosmetics, cleaning materials and habitat. All are chosen carefully so that the least amount of harm is inflicted upon the environment and other living things.
  • A person that adheres to the principle of ahimsa (non-violence) in words, deeds and thoughts.

Food Yoga is Not

  • A religion or a philosophy exclusively tied to a religious doctrine
  • The monopoly of the Vaisnava tradition
  • Vegetarianism devoid of spiritual significance or connected with an atheistic doctrine
  • Veganism devoid of spiritual significance or connected with an atheistic doctrine
  • A plant-based raw vegan diet devoid of spiritual significance or connected with an atheistic doctrine

A Food Yogi Only Uses

  • Fresh fruits, vegetable, beans, pulses, nuts, seeds and grains in preparing meals
  • Non-commercial dairy, if (AND ONLY) it has been offered by a family-owned and protected-cow that is never killed and whose calf is never separated
  • As much local and organically-grown produce as available

A Food Yogi Does Not Use

  • Meat, fish, or eggs
  • Commercially produced dairy of any kind
  • Onion or garlic
  • Any products that contain animal-derived ingredients
  • Any products that were tested on animals
How to Make a Fancy Raw Vegan Cheesecake

How to Make a Fancy Raw Vegan Cheesecake

We all like to try something different and for those of you that have never ventured into raw cuisine, this is a nice place to start. This recipe is easy to make, so easy that you only need a decent food processor and a spring form pan. In fact, you don’t even need that, a regular glass pie baking tray will work too. There are a number of variations on this recipe, but this is the most basic. Keep in mind that this recipe uses coconut oil to help it set, however, this will only work best in cooler climates. To make this cheesecake set and cut nicely in warmer climates, you can adjust this recipe to add either 1/3 cup of cacao butter or a thickening agent like carrageenan (Irish moss) which is available in raw form or a powder in larger health food stores. Enjoy!

Ingredients

Easy Raw Vegan Cheesecake

  • 2 cups walnuts
  • 1 cup fresh dates
  • ½ cup dried coconut flakes
  • ¼ cup ginger, grated
  • 1 tsp cardamon powder
  • 2 cups cashews (soaked for 6 hours and drained)
  • 2 x whole lemons (remove skin and seeds)
  • ¾ cup agave syrup
  • ¾ cup coconut oil
  •  ¼ cup of cacao butter (if in a warmer climate) or 2 tsp. carrageenan powder
  • 1 x banana
  • ½ tsp. vanilla essence
  • 1 punnet strawberries
  • 1 tsp size piece of raw beetroot
  • 2 tsp. coconut syrup or honey
  • Superfood Concentrate (Univera Xtra)

Method

Make everything with a food processor.

Base:

  • 2 cups of Walnuts
  • 1 cup fresh dates (or as many as needed to create biscuit crumb texture)
  • 1/2 grated coconut flakes
  • 1/4 cup grated ginger
  • 1 tsp. Cardamom powder (optional)

Process until it looks like biscuit crumbs. Press into 20 cm spring form pan .

Step 1: Process dry ingredients for base

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Step 2: Mix just enough to make breadcrumb texture

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Step 3: Press into a springform pan or pie baking tray

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Step 4: Press carefully so it is even all around. Set aside.

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Filling:

Add 2 cups of soaked cashews, 2 whole lemons (remove skin and seeds), agave syrup, coconut oil, cacao butter, beetroot, banana, and Vanilla essence into a blender.

Process or blend until smooth. Pour into the base. Set in fridge for 2 hours.

Step 5: Add all ingredients for “cheese” filling

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Step 6: Process until completely smooth. About 5 minutes. Set aside in fridge for at least 1 hour

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Topping:

  • Sliced strawberries, mango or passionfruit
  • Coconut or agave syrup
  • Coconut oil
  • Superfood concentrate like Univera Xtra

Drizzle a sweet syrup, like coconut syrup, agave nectar or honey over the top. Decorate the top with sliced strawberry or some other fruit.

Step 7: Process fresh strawberries with coconut oil and sweetener

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Step 8: Add some superfood concentrate like Univera Xtra for extra nutrition

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Step 9: Pour on cheesecakeRAWStrawberryCheesecakeFY-STEP8

Again set this aside in the fridge and serve when it has firmed up.

Enjoy the holidays!

– Paul, the food yogi

12 day Nepal Adventure with the Food Yogi April 3 – 14

12 day Nepal Adventure with the Food Yogi April 3 – 14

Join us for this exclusive trek in Nepal in 2015

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Highlights include:

  • Incredible Himalayan trekking in the Annapurnas
  • Whitewater rafting on the Trishuli River w/ overnight camping
  • Exploring the amazing UNESCO architectural wonders of the Kathmandu Valley
  • Boating on Lake Phewa
  • Vegan BBQ and kirtan in the Himalayas
  • Yoga/meditation sessions
  • Seminars on Food Yoga and connecting with the 5 elements
  • Reiki healing for humans and animals
  • Aromatherapy basics

Cost Includes

  • Airport pickup & drop services
  • Hotel in Kathmandu and Pokhara (3 star category by Nepalese standard) in twin sharing room on bed and breakfast basis
  • Insurance, meals and accommodation and other expenses of trekking crew (guide and porters)
  • All your meals (Vegan)
  • Simple tea-house lodge accommodation with 3 meals daily during the trek
  • Necessary trek permit and national park fee
  • Farewell dinner with cultural programs
  • Transportation by tourist bus Kathmandu
  • Pokhara – Kathmandu and Pokhara-Nayapul-Pokhara
  • Himalayan white water rafting for 1 night 2 days
  • Boat ride in Phewa lake Pokhara

BOOK NOW!!! https://foodyogi.org/food-yoga-trek-himalayas/

Food Yogi Schedule for December

Food Yogi Schedule for December

I will be attending the following events and giving workshops the next week. If you would like to attend, here are the links to register:

Dec 4 – Energise your life

Energise Your Life – Renee Poindexter (Social Entrepreneur and Life Coach) 6 – 8.30 Bethesda, MD

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REGISTER


Dec 5 – Numerology Workshop

Numerology workshop 6.45 – 9pm Buddha B Yoga Studio in DC

Students will learn about the mystical quality of numbers and how they impact every aspect of our lives. Numerology is the study of numbers and the occult manner in which they reflect certain aptitudes and character tendencies. The sum of the numbers in your birth date and the value derived from the letters in your name provide an insight into your personality and karma. Your unique set of numbers combine to show a great deal about your character, purpose in life, what motivates you, and where your talents lie. Numerology can also be used to determine the best time for major moves and activities in life, like when to invest, when to marry, when to travel, when to change jobs, when to consolidate and stabilize, or when to expand or relocate. Students of this workshop will go away with a clear understanding of the nature of each of the numbers and how to interpret them, as well as basic knowledge of yantras and their use. FIRST 10 to sign up get a FREE copy of my book, The 5 Noble Truths.

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REGISTER

Dec 6 – Fundraising Dinner for FFL

Fundraising Dinner  7 – 9 pm Arlington, VA at Aman’s house (Contact Aman)


Dec 7 – Raw Vegan Desserts

Food Yoga Raw Vegan Desserts workshop 3-6 pm Art of Living Centre in DC

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REGISTER


Dec 10

Fundraising Dinner 7 – 9pm Laurel, MD at Hakim’s home

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The stain on the vegan diet – b12 deficiency. The Solution May Surprise You.

The stain on the vegan diet – b12 deficiency. The Solution May Surprise You.

Bullshit! Yes, actually that’s it. Well, that and cow shit, usually referred to as cow dung. You see, despite the obvious merit of choosing to be a vegan, which essentially means avoiding all foods, clothing and products that are the result of animal suffering; and extending that ideal to advocating that all animals should live independently (including cows and bulls); the vegan ideology does not honestly address the lack of B12 in the diet. And so to live the vegan ideology you absolutely have to take B12 supplements and obviously, that is not natural and certainly not the way God and nature intended human life to be.

I mean, seriously, how silly is it to think that humanity has to take supplements in order to justify a more humane way to live? But that is exactly what well-meaning vegans all over the world do, at least those that live in the city. But sadly, very few have the guts to admit that something is terribly wrong with that notion.

What is B12?

Vitamin B12 also called cobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin with a key role in the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system, and in the formation of blood. It is one of the eight B vitamins. It is normally involved in the metabolism of every cell of the human body, especially affecting DNA synthesis and regulation, but also fatty acid synthesis (especially odd chain fatty acids) and energy production. Neither fungi, plants nor animals are capable of producing vitamin B12. Only bacteria and archaea have the enzymes required for its biosynthesis.

How do I know if I’m Deficient?

Vitamin B12 deficiency can potentially cause severe and irreversible damage, especially to the brain and nervous system. At levels only slightly lower than normal, a range of symptoms such as fatigue, depression, and poor memory may be experienced. Vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause symptoms of mania and psychosis.

To be fair, however, most cases of B12 deficiency have nothing to do with diet. Rather, sometimes individuals lose their ability to absorb the vitamin and become deficient no matter what sort of diet they follow.

The human physiology of vitamin B12 is complex and, therefore, is prone to mishaps leading to vitamin B12 deficiency. Protein-bound vitamin B12 must be released from these proteins by the action of digestive proteases in both the stomach and small intestine. Gastric acid releases the vitamin from food particles, so people with weak stomach acids are prone to B12 deficiency. Therefore antacid and acid-blocking medications (especially proton-pump inhibitors) may inhibit the absorption of B12.

In the non-industrialized world, where bacterial contamination commonly brought traces of B12 to foods, B12 deficiency is largely prevented. However, modern hygiene has eliminated this source, just as indoor living has largely eliminated sunlight, nature’s source of vitamin D.

However, owing to the extremely efficient enterohepatic circulation of B12, the liver can actually store several years’ worth of vitamin B12; therefore, nutritional deficiency of this vitamin is rare in most healthy adults. The level changes of B12 in the body depend on how much is secreted and how much is absorbed. B12 deficiency may take a year to show up if initial stores are low and genetic factors unfavorable, or it may not appear for decades. In infants, B12 deficiency can appear much more quickly.

Absorption of vitamin B12 thus requires 4 key factors:

  1. Healthy Stomach;
  2. Healthy Exocrine pancreas;
  3. Intact Gastric intrinsic factor (glycoprotein);
  4. Healthy small bowel.

Problems with any one of these organs make vitamin B12 deficiency highly likely.

How much do I need?

The total amount of vitamin B12 stored in the body is about 2–5 mg in adults. Around 50% of this is stored in the liver. Approximately 0.1% of this is lost per day by secretions into the gut, as not all these secretions are reabsorbed.

What is the Vegan Solution?

So how to solve this vegan dilemma? Well, it all starts with a load of bull dung or cow dung. You see, B12 is actually made from bacteria that live in soil and is plentiful wherever farm animals live. Animals like cows eat grass, thus picking up bacteria that then create B12 vitamins inside their stomachs. B12 is found naturally in manure-fertilized soil and synthesized via bacteria that are present in the intestines of animals. However, animals themselves are not capable of synthesizing the vitamin, only the B12 bacteria contain the enzymes capable of breaking it down. This means, that in order for humans to acquire an adequate amount of B12 they must either obtain it from animal sources, fortified foods, or multi-vitamins? When someone kills a cow this B12 is present in the meat and thus a carnivorous human does not usually have B12 deficiency. If someone takes dairy products they can also get remnants of B12, but a vegan misses out completely unless they too live around farm animals and play and work in the same soils where the B12 bacteria exist.

Diane Vukovic (www.PlenteousVeg.com) points out:

So, how is it that vegetarian animals like cows and sheep can make their own B12 but humans cannot?  One reason is that many vegetarian animals (like cows and sheep) have stomachs with four chambers.  The first chamber, called the rumen, is rich in bacteria, which can make B12.  Other animals also have stomachs that are shaped differently and allow more bacterial fermentation.

Another reason that vegetarian animals aren’t B12 deficient is that they often consume soil along with their food.  Soil often contains cobalt, which is necessary for making B12 in the intestines.  As Dr. Justine Butler points out, many primates have been known to eat dirt to naturally treat/combat nutrient deficiencies.  When moved to a zoo and fed a sterile diet, many primates develop B12 deficiencies.

What about Fortified Foods?

Foods fortified with B12 are also sources of the vitamin, but they cannot be regarded as true food sources of B12 since the vitamin is added in supplement form from commercial bacterial production sources such as cyanocobalamin.

As Mike Adams, the Health Ranger points out in his article: Cyanocobalamin is a low-grade, low-quality and slightly toxic (cyanide) form of vitamin B-12 that’s used by all the cheap vitamin manufacturers because it is easy to crystallize and is not sensitive to air-oxidation. It is also up to 100 times cheaper than the higher quality methylcobalamin. What these manufacturers don’t tell you is that this form of vitamin B12 is bound to a toxic, poisonous cyanide molecule that must then be removed from your body by your liver and that even less of it is absorbed by your body.

This form is not perfectly synonymous with the naturally occurring form of methyl-B12 (methylcobalamin), and which is pre-methylated, meaning it’s ready for our biochemistry to put to immediate use. Cyanocobalamin has also been contraindicated in early Leber’s disease, which is hereditary optic nerve atrophy and can also cause severe and swift optic atrophy.

However, even taking high-quality vitamin B-12 (methylcobalamin) as an oral dose is largely a waste of money because as much as 99% of what you swallow is not even absorbed!

Adams suggests, “a vitamin B-12 skin patch is now available on the market that delivers methylcobalamin through the skin, using a small medical-grade patch placed behind the ear. Each patch delivers 1000 mcg of methylcobalamin (1,666% DV) in a steady release over a 1-2 day period, after which the patch may be removed and discarded.” However, like oral doses, they cost money and certainly, this is not the way nature intended us to get our source of B12.

 Is Cow Manure the Answer?

A summary of the results of a study by Dr. A. Mozafar[1] in Switzerland, reported in the November issue of New Century Nutrition by T. Collin Campbell, Ph.D., and Jeff Gates, D.H.Sc. found that Soils enriched with organic fertilizer (cow manure) resulted in a several-fold increase in the soil’s B12 content, as compared to soils worked with conventional inorganic or chemical fertilizers.

That means, if we choose to live naturally, the way nature and God intended, playing and working in soils where farm animals live then B12 is practically everywhere, and in fact, we can even breathe it in, it is so plentiful! But most vegans will declare that all animals are to be independent, even cows and bulls; that animals should never be used by humans for any labor, etc. The problem with those kinds of sweeping statements is that they completely ignore history. You see, from the beginning of time, man and beast have had a symbiotic relationship. The problem today is that this natural and respectful symbiotic relationship has been lost and now most of humanity exploits animals. If however, we respect and love and serve animals, as they do us, then a healthy symbiosis can ensue.

Animals should never be slaughtered for their meat, except in cases of survival where there are no other options for food. But in a world where food is plentiful, this is not the case. In fact, the world has the capacity to feed double the current population; “the problem is not food shortage, but inequitable distribution,” declared the United Nations.

Getting back to cow dung, yes, the miracle and magic of cow dung. You see, bull dung and cow dung are loaded with the B12 bacteria. So if we use this natural and most powerful manure to fertilize our fruits and vegetable and actually play with the soil they inhabit, we will get more than enough B12 inside our bodies. In fact, Indian villagers literally play with cow dung, forming them into “cow patties” that are then used for cooking or taking advantage of the anti-bacterial properties of cow dung by mixing it with clay and covering the walls and floors of their houses, as a means to purify the area and also keep the house cool in the hot summer. In fact, cow dung has proven to be the best natural soil for our gardens. See these informative videos…

 

A village woman has mixed cow dung with mud and spreads it on her floor.
Making cow patties

A cow eats grass and produces milk for her loved ones. A bull eats grass and has the muscle and power to till a field. Both of them excrete loads of B12 fertilizer that man can then use to make the best organically grown, non-GMO fruits, vegetables, and grains. They serve us and we serve them by keeping them happy and healthy. That is how God and nature intended it. But for some vegans, such practices would mean acknowledging the reality that living around farm animals is essential for good health and that is hard to do if you don’t acknowledge the natural symbiosis of man and farm animals. We need them just as much as they need us.

So that is my big problem with the “hard-core” vegan idealogy, and so I choose not to be that kind of vegan but believe that in order for me to live a healthy and natural life, I have to accept that farm animals must be part of my livelihood and the most natural and non-violent way to do that is to either live on a farm with protected farm animals, which I currently do with my wife in the Andes Mountains at Juliana’s Animal Sanctuary or regularly visit an animal sanctuary to obtain cow manure as a fertilizer to grow your own fruits and vegetables enriched with vitamin B-12.

I am a “vegan,” but not in the fanatical and impractical sense, but more so in adhering to the essential truth of the ideology, namely, non-violence and respect for all animals.

Living with animals is perfectly in line with the ahimsa principles of veganism. But if you’re close-minded, you won’t bring yourself to accept such a possibility and propose that all animals should be running wild. So my feeling is that veganism in the strictest use of the term is flawed and cow dung is the stain on the “white sheet” of this otherwise pure and caring ideology.

Getting B12 the Natural way while also improving your golf swing

 

Ahimsa dairy

Sadly, the so-called “ahimsa dairy” standards being promoted today are not as sattvic (pure) as they make out. To read more on the so-called “ahimsa dairy” see: Is Ahimsa Dairy Really Non-Violent? 

Because of the controversy surrounding the dairy industry my charity, Food for Life Global does NOT support food distribution containing any animal ingredients, including milk and ghee.

Even in India, the “land of the cow,” gross abuse of cows is taking place and commercial milk is now a contaminated cocktail containing detergent, hydrogen peroxide, urea, and contaminated water.

To read more on the so-called “ahimsa dairy” see: Is Ahimsa Dairy Really Non-Violent?

Other sources of B12

Certain makers of kombucha cultured tea, list vitamin B12 as naturally present in their product and one brand purports to contain 20% of the daily value of B12 in a single bottle, making kombucha a potential “high” food source of B12. Because kombucha is produced by a symbiosis between yeast and bacteria, the possibility that kombucha contains B12 does not contradict current knowledge, but no scientific studies have yet been published confirming the fact, nor whether the B12 in kombucha is the biologically active B12.

Although these non-animal products may have some b12, according to the vast majority of research in this field, the ONLY reliable source of b12 is dirt and that is why we have to live closer to nature.

Studies that support the need for b12 far outweigh those that say we don’t need it, including those from PCRM.

We are better off when we live closer to nature, and that means living with farm animals like cows. That does not mean you have to drink their milk. The artificial separation of humans and cows is what I believe is a big flaw in any diet or lifestyle ideology, but particularly noticeable in the vegan diet.

I believe it is time to redefine what it means to be a “vegan” and retire the old fanatical, ideologically inconsistent and unhealthy definition of veganism.

B12 Information

Resources on the link between B12 and cow manure

Also read: Antidepressant Microbes In Soil: How Dirt Makes You Happy

[1] Enrichment of some B-vitamins in plants with application of organic fertilizers. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF00007957

Food Yogi on the Healthy You TV show

Food Yogi on the Healthy You TV show

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Valerie Samuell, host of Healthy You TV, with the Food Yogi, Paul Rodney Turner

April 9, 2014, VA — International director of Food for Life Global and food yogi, Paul Rodney Turner made a special guest appearance on the Healthy You TV show alongside host Valerie Samuell.

Turner shared spiritual wisdom he had learned as a monk while making spicy potato parathas, mango/goji chutney and a raw vegan peppermint, chocolate chip ice cream!

“Food is the great uniter and the more we can appreciate this lovely gift of Mother Nature, by eating as much food as we can in its natural state, the more we will feel this close connection to nature. However, it is always important to consider time, place and circumstance when deciding on the right diet,” he explains.

“What is right for you, may not be right for me. In other words, we have to first think about our body constitution. Whereas I may have a good percentage of the “fire” element in my body, you may not, and so more “fire” foods would serve you well. Moreover, we also have to consider the time of day and time of year.

“My approach to diet is simple, but it does require a bit of contemplation. My teacher told me that spiritual life begins with the tongue, so I believe that rather than allow the tongue to control what we eat, we need to master the tongue and allow our body to decide what food is right for us. This requires becoming more aware of the five basic elements that make up everything we experience in this world: earth, water, fire, are, and ether and how they express themselves through different foods, personality types, activities, and even music, etc. Doing so will help us to become more aware of their presence in our body. Once we are, choosing the right combination of foods that are just right for our particular constitution, time and place becomes much easier. I am trying to simplify what the great Ayurvedic and Alchemist have taught for centuries and incorporate these basic principles into a modern lifestyle.

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“Today I am making potato paratha’s, so here we have the grounding energy of wheat and potato, coupled with the fire energy of chillies in the mango chutney, and because we are still just getting over a chilly winter, but love ice cream, I am making a non-dairy ice cream so that we won’t have issues with mucus build up.”

Turner also talked about his work with Food for Life and how the focus of the charity is not feeding the hungry, but rather uniting the world through pure food. “With that approach, we directly address the cause of world hunger — disunity.”

The full show is currently in production and will air on FPA Channel 10 in June as a 30 minute episode of Healthy You (Formerly: Healthy Food Happy You) and a full version broadcasted on Youtube.

The food yogi is holding Food Yoga retreats around the world, with two scheduled this year in Colombia June 20-26 and another 6 day retreat in Brazil in September at the fabulous Gour Vrindavan Eco Retreat (below).

To book appearances or private consultations, visit the FOOD YOGI SITE

President of Uruguay welcomes Food for Life

President of Uruguay welcomes Food for Life

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Voted the best president in the world, President of Uruguay, Jose “Pepe” Mujica agreed to allow Food for Life Global director, Paul Rodney Turner (Priyavrata das) to cook him a vegan lunch (prasadam) and then discuss setting up a Food for Life project in Montevideo.

“FFLG Coordinator for Colombia, Juliana Castaneda (Jagannath Priya) and I arrived at the Presidential house at 8am. The kitchen staff were waiting for my directions. We were also joined by a local ISKCON devotee, Lavanga Manjari. The three of us made a sweet potato, spinach curry with bbq tomatoes, lemon rice, samosas, mango chutney, chapatis, lentil soup, avocado salad, and a mango/coconut milk lassi made by Juliana that he was absolutely thrilled by. We finished off the meal with the most incredible peppermint vegan ice cream choc-top pie! Yes, that was what you have to do when you cook for a president!

“According to the house staff, this was the first time anyone has prepared a vegetarian, what to speak of a vegan lunch in the president’s house. They were all so excited and the head chef was furiously taking notes on all my recipes.

Everything went like clockwork. By 12 noon all the preparations were complete. I was told that the lunch would be served at 12, but actually it was not served until 12.40. I put together a sampling of all the things we made and had all the cooks come together with me and did an offering meditation over the food to bless it with nice energy. The local staff watched on and were really impressed.

“We then dined with the president, his secretary, the minister of social development, Mr. Daniel Olesker and our friend and famous sports reporter, Pepe Mansilla, who will be the new president of FFL Global Uruguay. We are so thrilled to have such a qualified man to lead the new project. Our lunch meeting went for 2 hours and included a 10 minute video of Food for Life’s work around the world. Jagannath Priya was absolutely on fire today talking to the president and making him smile and laugh. I was so proud of how she and Pepe represented Food for Life Global to the president, who only speaks Spanish.

In fact, our meeting would not have been possible without the tenacity and devotion of Pepe Mansilla He had been working on this desire of mine for many months and finally on the day before we are to leave Uruguay, he made it all happen. He is a gentleman and we are so excited to have him as a new member of the FFL Global team.

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“The president was extremely impressed and praised our work throughout the meeting. He said to me: “Many people need education about the way they eat.” And he told me bluntly, “Welcome, the doors are fully open here for Food for Life.” The Minister of Social Development told us, he wants Food for Life to improve on what the government has been working on for years with improving the quality of meals to children.

“We finished our meeting with the president signing autographs for all of us with a smile and some words of wisdom. I told the president that he is one of the few, if not the only president alive today that has integrity. It seems that all of the presidents of the world have sold out to corporate interests. “I wish there were more of you,” I told him. He replied, wow all those president must be really bad if you want more of me.

“President Mujica is an extremely humble and endearing man. We felt very welcome and encouraged by the presidents enthusiasm to serve his people. Juliana noted that at one time during our conversation the president was talking about his tomato sauce recipe,  and then said, “Tomatoes are so expensive,” indicating to her that he is actually aware of such trivial things. Most presidents are oblivious to the struggles of budgeting for meals, etc, but the president is aware and expressed his empathy for the challenges of his countrymen. “For me it just validated my respect for this wonderful man,” said Juliana. “He actually sells his own tomatoes in the market place. He is such a down-to-earth man.”

“President Mujica was particularly excited to learn that Food for Life likes to support  the local economy by purchasing food and grains from local sources. “This is important. We need to support our small farmers. They are good people but not always good in business. So it is important for the government to support their efforts. I like Food for Life’s attitude on this.”

FULL AMBUM at: http://on.fb.me/1jGfF1E

For more details on this meeting, visit my blog

Food Yogi in Hong Kong

Food Yogi in Hong Kong

Paul Rodney Turner has been entertaining the local Chinese with his food yoga wisdom and raw food artistry.  More than 20 students came to learn the basics of food yoga and taste some wonderful vegan dishes, including lemon white chocolate cheesecake, peppermint ice cream, fresh grape lemonade, kale/mango salad, rice paper wraps, and Quinoa.

[fbalbum url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.517297784990580.1073741828.221955344524827&type=1]

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