An update is  looooong overdo. Forgive me. Life has been befittingly busy thus I’ve lacked the sufficient time to blog! But alas, I have returned to acquaint you with intriguing facts!

First ~ I am still Paleo and I’m going strong! Though I have included some grains and dairy (such as Greek Goat’s Milk Yogurt, Whole Cow’s Milk, Soft Goat Cheese – Kamut, Sourdough, Rice and Sprouted Breads) their staying power remains unknown as they are still being tested.

However, what provoked their inclusion was simply the fact that I’m not entirely 100% supportive for the concept of eating the way we did 50,000 years ago. If we, as humans, have not evolved since.. that’s fine. But the contradiction here is that our food has evolved. All of it. Despite our following suit, should we not still incur the ability to process and utilize such foods?

When we think of the human body, we think “adaptable”. Whether the body goes through an evolutionary change or simple environmental adaptation… there is no denying that the body is a remarkable vessel whose abilities are both miraculous and boundless.

Second ~ I have introduced 100% natural Vitamin D3 from VitalChoice, made entirely from lanolin in a base of certified sustainable wild salmon oil. Each pill contains 2,000 IU of Vitamin D3… so 1 a day is sufficient. So far – So good!! No adverse reactions… only positive vibes

Lastly ~ I have traded in the Warrior Diet lifestyle for that of Brad Pilon‘s Eat Stop Eat. Don’t get me wrong… It’s not that I don’t like Ori Hofmekler (the author of The Warrior Diet). It is simply that, personally, it wasn’t working well for me. The diet actually provoked me to overeat. The fasting all day, every day, until 4pm.. set off my limbic hunger signals the minute I ate.

———–

What is Limbic Hunger?

The name ‘limbic’ comes from the limbic system, the part of the brain that connects primitive drives, emotion, and memory. For primitive humans, gorging when food was available and abundant was only natural.

Humans evolved in an environment in which meals were likely a once per day event, because it took hours, sometimes days to hunt the wild game, then hours to prepare it. The kill was consumed in a single sitting because there were no methods available for storing the food. Several hours after the meal, bacterial growth on the uneaten portion of the meat could make the food sickening or inedible, sometimes even lethal.

For many, you cannot eat just one potato chip because of limbic hunger. Eating one chip sends signals to our brains that we should eat as much as possible while the food is available. This leads to more eating, connecting in a vicious circle that doesn’t stop until the bag of chips is empty. The primitive instinct takes control of behavior, ignoring higher thinking and preferences. Limbic hunger in the ‘land of plenty’ causes one to eat too often and eat too much.

Limbic hunger is impulsive and stealthy. You decide to eat just one donut. A few minutes or a few hours later, in the middle of the second or third donut, you remember your decision to eat only one. You chose to stop at one, but something let you reach out for the other donuts. That is limbic hunger over-riding your willpower.

Quoted – Dr. Bert Herring of Fast-5

———–

Now that that’s cleared up. I can explain further…

The limbic hunger lead to over-eating which triggered my eating disorder. I have been battling an emotional war with food my entire life… eating too much then not eating at all. Believe me, over-eating and becoming literally enraged with yourself for it – is not going to help the situation whatsoever.

I was so upset with myself… that I was taking it out on everyone around me. Work was becoming a trying barrage of stress. I was nearing my breaking point. I hated me and therefore hated everyone and everything regarding life as we know it. To add salt to an unhealed wound – The only thing that was providing me with some form of mental stimulus, a smidgen of joy, was MORE FOOD. It’s a terrible, vicious cycle.

Pretty dramatic, I know. But… C’est la vie.

Ergo – I had to call the stops.

How does Eat Stop Eat differ from The Warrior Diet?

Well, first off. Both lifestyles are based on Intermittent Fasting. Wherein one would schedule periods of eating coinciding with periods of abstinence.

Now – how these two differ from one another is the way with which the Intermittent Fasting (IF) is scheduled.

The Warrior Diet‘s IF outline is based on an undereating phase and an overeating phase. There are 24 hours in a day…. The Undereating phase occurs for the first 20 hours. The overeating phase kicks in for the remaining 4.

During the overeating phase, one is to eat as much as they want from as many textures and flavours.. until one becomes more thirsty than hungry.

From personal experience… hunger and thirst are very veeeeeeeery easily confused for one another. Therefore this method of “overeating” doesn’t seem very relevant.

Eat Stop Eat‘s IF outline is based on fasting for an entire 24 hours, two times a week. For the remainder of the week (non-fasting days) one is to eat normally, whenever true hunger strikes.

Click To Enlarge View

The basis behind the idea is flexibility. You can choose what 1-2 days a week to fast on. You can literally schedule your “diet” around your life! As opposed to the other way around.

This is what makes it so easy to stick to!!

From the above example you can see how flexible it is. It doesn’t matter when you wake up, when you stop eating, whether the fasting days are back to back or completely spread apart – it makes no nevermind!

You simply eat as much as your body requires in a day and note the time you finished at. From that time to the same time the next day, you abstain from eating. You can time it so that every single day you are eating, even though you are fasting for 24 hours in between.

Here is an example: Say you stop eating at 4pm. You will fast from 4pm now til 4pm tomorrow. This means you will eat tomorrow, even though it’s the day you fast. Make sense?

It really IS that easy… and it works.

Eating this way cuts down your weekly calories by a LOT… especially if when you break the “Fast” you eat as you would normally – had you eaten all day. Do NOT gorge and stuff your face to make up for the lack of food you’ve had all day. This will completely backfire on you.

Well folks, that’s that for my update! I will be following Eat Stop Eat for the next month or two and will try my hardest to update!!

Until then… Love, Peace & Chicken Grease!

So lately I’ve been doing really well. Diet is good, fitness is good. ALL IS GOOD!!!

One thing I would like to discuss is supplementation with Vitamin D3. As much as I don’t believe in or support the use of synthetic pills to fill the “gaps” in our diets – This is different.

Vitamin D doesn’t come from the diet, albeit wild atlantic salmon contains 500-600 IU’s… this still falls short for those of us residing in the northern hemisphere. Our main source for such an important vitamin comes only from that great, big, beautifully blinding ball of fire in the sky – the Sun.

Why is it so important? Well, because Vitamin D is actually utilized in the human body as a hormone. This hormone regulates the functioning of every living cell inside of us. So needless to say, without the sun – we’d all be dead.

Those of us who are unlucky enough to live quite a distance from the equator will suffer more diseases/illnesses than those living closer.

African American men residing in the Northern Hemisphere suffer from Prostate cancer – more-so than their Caucasian counterparts. Why is this? It all has to do with skin pigmentation and ancestry.

African American men are more closely linked to the “motherland” than that of Caucasian’s, this can be attributed to the migration of some of our ancestors into the northern hemisphere. In these migrations, caucasians found themselves in colder, sun-less climates. Their skin went through a process of adaptation in order to ensure survival of the species. What happened? Their skin lost pigment.

By lessening the pigment, the sun and Vitamin D would be more easily absorbed in the least amount of time/sun exposure. This is why us white folk burn so god damn easily!!!!

I live in the great white north – Canada. My ancestors came from Norway, Denmark, Germany. I am naturally ivory skinned and I don’t tan very dark. As a child, I was plagued with influenza every-single-winter. Of course, my diet back then was partly to blame – however, the extreme deficiency of Vitamin D would have reasonably been the main culprit.

How to tell if you’re low on Vitamin D? Easy – If you squint on a cloudy/semi-cloudy day, you’re very low. If you can go on about your day in bright sunlight without squinting – you’re good to go!!

So what do us Igloo-living-vampires do to restore Vitamin D levels, especially if we didn’t get enough during summer? (our summer was **** this year!!!) Supplement!

Now, the best and most natural form of Vitamin D is Cholecalciferol – Otherwise known as Vitamin D3.

This source of D comes from the most unexpected but natural place – Lanolin. Lanolin is the excretion of fat/oils from Sheep Skin into the wool. It is then usually roll-pressed out of the wool and… surprisingly… is most commonly used in moisturizers, hand creams and chapsticks!

I am going to, personally, test out Vitamin D3 supplementation during this winter season. I am excited to post the results!!

Most “experts” recommend 1,000 – 2,000 IU’s of Vitamin D3, daily. For serious illnesses/diseases – 5,000 – 10,000 IU’s.

Some great resources and more information:

Cancer Cure

Vitamin D Cure

Vitamin D2

The Vitamin D Cure Website

Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms

What’s a Vitamin D Deficiency

Best Recommended Supplement

Day 63 Menu:

Breakfast: N/A

Snack: N/A

Lunch: N/A

Snack: N/A

Dinner: 3 Course Meal:

- 3 Figs

————

- Mixed Salad w/ blueberries, strawberries, peaches, avocado, grass-fed goat’s milk Feta, fresh Dill and Orange Juice

————

- JK Gourmet Grain-Free Granola w/Whole Milk

- a small glass of whole milk.

Snack: N/A

——————————————

Nutritional Analysis:

——————————————

Physical and Emotional Changes:

1. Nothing to report.

——————————————

Physical Activity:

Morning: Eddie Baran’s Body Sculpting Bodyweight Exercises for Women, 15 minutes.

Afternoon: Raced around at work, 6 1/2 hours.

Evening: Heavy lifting at end of shift at work.

What have I done, you ask? What was so unbelievably horrid that required this action?

I responded to other, curious, individuals questions regarding a paleolithic and warrior diet lifestyle.

*I’ll let that percolate for a moment*

Yep, that’s all.

Oh, but wait!! THERE’S MORE!!

Due to my mere existence while consuming meat… the two owners of the site, Freelea and Durianrider (Harley),  as well as other numerous cultists, found it necessary to bash and insult me and my chosen experimental path. Without any regard to my feelings, whatsoever.

In my defense, I posted a response asking for them to please respect my decision and refrain from the juvenile behavior. As well, I posted a blog stating I would abstain from further participation in hopes to keep the peace on the forum, for everyone. See Below:

“As most of you have noticed.. I’ve been receiving a lot of unnecessary and quite childish flak from some individuals on this site. Which is, quite honestly, very disappointing.

In my first blog post explaining my diet experimentation, I stated that I would refrain from speaking too much on the forums, for this very reason.

It is truly unfortunate that so many feel the need to treat others this way. And why? Who knows? Perhaps due to feeling panicked by the fact that I may be onto something, which threatens their very belief system? Or – perhaps just a simple case of the failure to comprehend and fully appreciate my reasoning… a general lack of understanding.

Either way, no matter how you toss the dice… what is so, is so.

So to forgo anymore juvenile responses, I am going to continue on in my quest for health without the participation on the forums. I simply haven’t the tolerance for such closed-mindedness… it leads to my frustration and I’m sure, causes those on the other side of the spectrum frustration, as well.

I may return once I receive my test results. So I hope to speak to all of you, then!

I miss you, all!

Feel free to stop in my blog every now and then to say “Boo”

http://sassifer.wordpress.com/

Peace, love, and good health to all!!!!!
~ Casandra“

And the posts that took place, you ask? Well, here they are…

Quote from Paleo and Crossfit Thread on 30BAD:

(The original poster was asking about a paleo diet and how it compares to 80/10/10)

Jeff : “Contact Cassandra who is currently doing a paleo experiment. Check out her blog at…
http://sassifer.wordpress.com/who-is-sassifer/ “

———

Me: “hehe thanks Jeff

Yes i’m doing a paleo-experiment. One that looks like it’s going to take me into the winter months.. if I’m to prove/disprove my theory on eating seasonally.

So far I’ve had a very mixed response from the experiment. Mostly due to consuming foods in a more processed and unnatural state. But when I stick to whole fruits, veggies and simply-cooked meats.. all’s well.

By the way… the whole “a vegan who eats meat will die” or.. “a vegan who eats meat will have serious stomach problems” is a crock of you know what

———

Freeleas Response:

Responses in bold are quotes of my post.

Responses unbolded are her.

“Undereating on carbs from sweet fruit Cassandra is the exact reason why u are eating meat.
“a vegan who eats meat will have serious stomach problems”

- Give it time Cassandra.
-How long were u vegan before eating animals again?”

*this is where I responded to her and asked that she cease harping on me about not eating enough carbs and insinuating that I’m eating meat/cooked food because of this. I also told her that I was vegan for 10 years before eating meat – somehow I lost this post in my frenzy to copy and paste!!*

———

Her Second Post:

Responses in bold are quotes of my post.

Responses unbolded are her.

“Hey Cass, Thanks for getting back to me

The reason I’m ‘harping’ on about it is simple…because its a recipe that actually works but many don’t give it a proper chance or do it correctly (although there are many peeps here thriving on this lifestyle prescription)

“Hun, I was consuming 2000+ calories in fresh fruit every single day. I was eating so much… that I threw up from eating TOO MUCH.“

- This is very unusual, how long were u attempting to do this before u threw up?- Feel free to email me so we don’t take up this thread

“I’ve been on 80/10/10 for 3 months and the results already, are astounding! I am in such awe at the improvements in my physical appearance, digestion, skin texture, mental clarity, and especially energy levels! WOW!! I am in love with this lifestyle and I have absolutely no comprehension how anyone can live their lives consuming anything that isn’t a fresh, whole, food
….I’ve always had a deep passion for nature, animals” (this is from my profile page which hasn’t been updated in 5 months, on the site)

- This is a great testimonial from your profile page Cassandra Thanks

If we learn about human physiology we will see that every cell in the human body runs on glucose ( & the brain exclusively glucose) fruit is the preferred fuel, if we are not getting sufficient amounts of calories from fruit then we will start to look to other sources for our fuel…like cooked carbs & dead animals. Is this healthy? No. Is this sustainable ? No.

“Everyone who goes to “cooked food” or “eats meat”… can not always, indefinitely, be chalked up to “they weren’t eating enough fruit”

- I Disagree & have seen it MANY times before as I have witnessed it in friends, family & clients, they always are undereating on carbs prior to the consumption of non-foods.

Of course what u eat is your choice but to think u would receive any other advice on a low fat raw VEGAN website is a little naive. I must remind you that this is a vegan website & we do not support discussions on the consumption of dead animals.

I only wish to see u succeed Casandra & when I witness any individual partaking in something destructive to their health I care & speak up…its sort of my job too!. Eating meat can have serious health & karmic implications, especially if u have been raw & vegan for a period of time beforehand.

In health & happines
Lovefree

——–

My Direct Response:

Responses in bold are quotes of her post.

Responses unbolded are me.

Responses in bolded italic grey is her quoting me.

“Hey Cass, Thanks for getting back to me

Anytime…

The reason I’m ‘harping’ on about it is simple…because its a recipe that actually works but many don’t give it a proper chance or do it correctly (although there are many peeps here thriving on this lifestyle prescription)

I realize that the under consumption of fruit calories has caused many to stray from the 811 lifestyle. Yes. I am not, nor have I ever, denied or argued such a fact.

However – What I am trying (and seem to be failing) to express to you is that I was NOT under consuming. I was NOT lacking in fruit sugars. I was consuming more than an adequate amount. But what has instigated my change in diet is purely for the facet of learning. My passion in life is health, nutrition, and the good of all man-kind. The 811 lifestyle was one of my educational tests, on myself. I did this for about 4 months. Now… I’m onto the next thing. I am trying everything possible, leaving NO STONE unturned in my quest for ultimate health and existence. The ascertainment of such knowledge can only be done by means of trial and error, first-hand experience, whatever you may call it.

Who would I be to sing the praises of one concept without testing another? Nothing more than an uneducated, bumbling, hypocrite.

To read a book written by a self proclaimed expert… and believe said literature speaks nothing but the god’s truth is incredibly closed-minded, in my eyes, and should always be avoided. Instead, one should allow themselves to experiment and explore… with no negative apprehensions. To allow oneself to be free in exploration and expression is to embrace all life.

“Hun, I was consuming 2000+ calories in fresh fruit every single day. I was eating so much… that I threw up from eating TOO MUCH.”
- This is very unusual, how long were u attempting to do this before u threw up?- Feel free to email me so we don’t take up this thread

There’s no need to email. If you wish to discuss anything further after this post then yes.. we can do so. But I don’t feel a need as this will be all I have to say regarding this topic.

It happened on only two occasions… but I felt extremely nauseated on several others.

“I’ve been on 80/10/10 for 3 months and the results already, are astounding! I am in such awe at the improvements in my physical appearance, digestion, skin texture, mental clarity, and especially energy levels! WOW!! I am in love with this lifestyle and I have absolutely no comprehension how anyone can live their lives consuming anything that isn’t a fresh, whole, food
….I’ve always had a deep passion for nature, animals”
- This is a great testimonial from your profile page Cassandra Thanks

It is. Your welcome.

If we learn about human physiology we will see that every cell in the human body runs on glucose ( & the brain exclusively glucose) fruit is the preferred fuel, if we are not getting sufficient amounts of calories from fruit then we will start to look to other sources for our fuel…like cooked carbs & dead animals. Is this healthy? No. Is this sustainable ? No.

Oh Free… there are far too many variables and scientific mumble-jumble that go along with such claims… we need to take into account grass-fed, wild-run animals – which YES.. absolutely, are sustainable. As well as how nature designed “seasons” for specific foods, etc… I go into much more detail regarding this on my blog, if you are interested I can link you.

Ofcourse what u eat is your choice but to think u would receive any other advice on a low fat raw VEGAN website is a little naive. I must remind you that this is a vegan website & we do not support discussions on the consumption of dead animals.

Yes, it is my choice.
Yes, this is a vegan website. Might I remind you that I never instigated any conversations regarding the consumption of meat… this, in fact, was started on other thread by yourself.

Quote:
“Cassandra I see on another thread u are eating cooked meat?? Just another reason to get enough fruit calories. We rarely do experiments unless we are hungry.”

As well as the original poster of this thread.

I only wish to see u succeed Casandra & when I witness any individual partaking in something destructive to their health I care & speak up…its sort of my job too!. Eating meat can have serious health & karmic implications, especially if u have been raw & vegan for a period of time beforehand.

Free. I greatly appreciate your concern for my health. You are a wonderful, warm, loving and caring person… of which the world needs more of. However, you need not worry for me. Should my health deteriorate I will not hesitate to return to 811, as has been my plan from day 1.”

——-

What was the response from this? Well, 45 minutes later… while in the middle of responding to another curious person’s questions regarding my diet (see picture # 2)… I found out.

Answer = Banning

Now this provokes the question, honestly… why would this happen?

For me, the answer can be summed up into one word: Threat.

Yes, those on 30BAD are threatened by my experimentation because I’ve had such success with it so far. Contrary to popular belief, eating meat and eating once a day has caused amazing changes in my health and life.

As well… despite their best efforts to keep their “followers” following, many curious and open-minded individuals have contacted me requesting more information regarding my experiment. Not only that, but a handful have even begun to test some aspects out for themselves. (please refer to pictures #2 and 3)

This, in turn, conveys to them the concept that maybe, just maybe, their way is wrong. Perhaps, by some unforeseen happenstance, their lifestyles could NOT be the only way. Quite possibly, they haven’t got all the answers.

The sheer conceptualization of such blasphemy is far too scary for one to accept, let alone speak of!!

What does a religious leader of a cult do to those which tempt the followers to stray? Get rid of the temptation.

It is extremely deplorable of them to go to such lavish lengths. But, what can you do?

All I can do is express my story in the hopes that others do not fall into the same trap as I.

To be perfectly honest, this isn’t the first subject that has ruffled invisible feathers. Just recently a friend of mine poured his heart and soul into an extremely well-written post (more like article) pertaining to marijuana, it’s use, history and how it effects the human body. Not once did he advocate it’s use, but rather attempted to educate others.

What happened to him? He received a warning from “big brother” and “big sister”, as well, his entire post alongside others’ wonderful responses… were deleted. When confronted, the “moderators” coughed up the excuse of: “we do not support the use of drugs”.

Not only that, but prior to this occurrence… Harley himself was banned from a fellow site “Give It To Me Raw” for his outlandish and disrespectful methods of speaking to others. I stuck up for the guy, giving him the benefit of the doubt… as I know his heart is always in the right place. However, through my own personal experience with such quick-to-dismiss behavior… I now concur with everyone else regarding his poor social skills.

It is truly heartbreaking to see a handful of spoiled blueberries ruin it for the bushel.

Oh well. At least I’m not alone: http://www.giveittomeraw.com/forum/topics/i-just-found-out-i-was-banned

My only advice coming out of this is: Should you be on the lookout for a raw-vegan forum that is comprised of a respectful and open-minded atmosphere, consisting of mature individuals possessing commonsensical mentalities who support freedom of speech… all in the name of health, I strongly suggest you keep searching - 30 Bananas A Day is not the site for you.

But I come to you with an update. I’ve just completed a 24hr fast. One of two that I will be partaking in each and every week, alongside a warrior diet eating plan.

It’s the best of both Intermittent Fasting worlds!

So what are my results from the first fast? Excellent!!! I wasn’t hungry all-day-long! Only in the last hour did my stomach grumble and ache. Not only that, but I was flying high on constant energy. Not once did I feel tired and sluggish. I am truly amazed at how effortless this was for me. Truly.

What did I eat to break my fast? Well, my usual delicious salad of course! With two figs on the side (mmmm sweet nectar of the gods) and a bit of some pot-roast that I slow-cooked for 8 hours, made from grass-fed beef. With a delicious sweet gravy made by reducing the cooking liquids.

It was delicious and very filling. I found I got fuller – faster – on less food. The salad was enough for me, but I couldn’t NOT have some roast after waiting 8 hours for it… I honestly didn’t expect to be so easily satiated!

I’m really enjoying this lifestyle so far.

By Ori Hofmekler

Question: Ori, How do you recommend low glycemic carbs and then talk about the short window of opportunity. Won’t the rate of digestion of a SLOW carb be too long? Research points to a 2 hour window (it is only 4 hours if you are eating plenty of carbs during the 4 hours). Also, research recommends 80-120g of carbs per Kilo of body weight per 1-2 hours (frequency depends on the amount of glycogen used). IF someone weighs 100 kilo, wouldn’t it be hard to eat 80-120 g of complex carbs in one sitting? Finally, have you considered the revised Glycemic Load ratings, the effect of exercise on GLUT4, the very anti-catabolic effects of insulin, the 200% improved insulin sensitivity after workouts, the very different effects of whole proteins versus peptide bonded di and tri peptides proteins.

Answer: With all due respect to your stats, they’re meaningless in real life. The information you get from muscle magazines is typically inadequate. If you get it from Pub Med – notice that many of the studies are sponsored by commercial sport nutrition companies to make you purchase a cheap protein powder (80% sugar or simple starch mixed with degraded soy or whey isolate + artificial flavoring, etc.). The truth is that there is no conclusive evidence as to how much carbs are needed per muscle mass after exercise. There is however evidence that insulin (not carbs) is the influencing factor in whether an anabolic action will occur or not. It is also a well known fact that when insulin is over-spiked – such as with over 10g of sugar intake per serving, it will instantly lead to a certain degree of insulin resistance. I’m aware and I’ve written articles on the benefits of exercise on improving insulin sensitivity. Nevertheless, there is evidence that even one meal with excessive carbs can jeopardize the insulin stabilizing benefits you get from exercise. Consuming too many carbs after exercise is a recipe for insulin resistance and fat gain, particularly in the belly.

This is exactly what happened to a famous muscle magazine editor who admitted to me over the phone that after using a commercial recovery meal product (loaded with simple carbs) after exercise, he noticed an accumulation of stubborn fat in the belly which he could not remove. I suggested that he drop this product and instead incorporate a low glycemic recovery. As a result, he noticed an immediate leaning down effect in the belly area. That’s why we’ve created our protein products in this way – all natural and low glycemic – so that people can use them before and after exercise – and always benefit with no side effects. As for the sources of my science, they are all documented in the back of my books. None of my references are from muscle or fitness magazines.

Metabolic processes involve a huge complex of events on the cellular level and the systemic level, integrated with each other and regulated by different control mechanisms which are also influenced by environmental factors, including nutrition and exercise. Unfortunately, much of this information, acquired from muscle and fitness magazines, is written by people who have no background in biology and a very limited knowledge of nutrition. For these magazines the industry comes first, i.e. advertisements come first and the truth . . . who cares? We provide you with real factual information via our weight loss memberships. I expect that the dedicated individual will be curious enough to read the original information and the science references before questioning the technicalities.

—————————————-

Do you want to learn more about Ori Hofmekler’s Tenacious Fat Solution kit to help get rid of your stubborn belly fat without having to under-eat?

The Tenacious Fat Solution Kit will help you remove hidden obstacles to weight loss.

Our products have no sugar added (which is groundbreaking), they are made with all natural products, they are low carb, and they taste amazingly delicious!

Claim back your body!

By Ori Hofmekler

The last few decades mark an increasing interest in the correlation between food enzymes and health. Researchers found an interesting association between the body’s enzyme pool and the aging process – which means, the older one gets, the fewer enzymes the body will have and the more vulnerable to disease one becomes. I have addressed this important topic in The Warrior Diet book. I have covered the importance of ingesting live enzyme-dense foods (including naturally fermented foods) under the title Enzyme Loading. Nonetheless, I am quite concerned with the emotional impact of this topic on health consumers. Those who read articles, such as the one published recently at Weston A. Price may reach the conclusion that unless raw, sprouted or fermented, all foods are not viable. If this is true, even raw nuts and seeds may not be good enough in this respect. There is a growing crowd of people who currently follow the so-called “raw food diet” based on the premise that eating raw food only (including of course vegetables, fruits, legume sprouts, sprouted grains, raw dairy and even raw meat and marine food) is the only way to grant maximum nourishment. Since I’ve already addressed this topic in The Warrior Diet book, let me just note here that the raw food diet misleads people to believe that all cooked foods are inferior to all raw foods. The truth is that in many cases, such as with cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage) and nightshades (tomatoes, eggplants), the cooked versions of the above are more digestible and by far more nutritive than the raw version. The active phytonutrients in broccoli and tomatoes (indoles and lycopene, respectively) can be released and absorbed hundreds of times more efficiently in the cooked version.

As for enzymes, certainly enzyme loading from raw, sprouted or fermented foods is highly beneficial but let’s put things in proportion.

First, plant enzymes are not digestive enzymes. They work on a different pH than the body’s digestive enzymes and therefore cannot support digestion directly.

Second, while some enzymes inhibitors may be harmful (premature sprouts or uncooked legumes), other enzyme inhibitors can be highly beneficial, such as some protease inhibitors (phytates) or aromatase inhibitors which have been found to be potentially anti-cancerous. The notion that nuts and seeds must be sprouted before ingestion is preposterous. Raw nuts and seeds are perfectly fine to nourish the human body whether in a sprouted form or not. There are no harmful inhibitors in mature nuts and seeds and any rancidity or inadequacy in these foods can be instantly detected via smell or taste.

Third, eating raw meat may seem “Paleolithic and healthy” but nowadays it can be detrimental. Besides hosting pathological bacterium, meat is a host substrate for harmful viruses, most notable of which is the toxoplasma virus that has shown to cause serious neuro damaging effects on animals and potentially on humans. Eating raw meat today does not make sense, to say the least.

Fourth, note that the article at Weston A. Price was written by two ladies to promote the sales of their cooking book.

In conclusion, raw, sprouted and fermented foods are great but it doesn’t make sense to commit to eating these foods only. You can certainly benefit from eating cooked foods as well with a big bonus of pleasing your palate with a larger variety of meals.

—————————————-

Do you want to learn more about Ori Hofmekler’s Tenacious Fat Solution kit to help get rid of your stubborn belly fat without having to under-eat?

The Tenacious Fat Solution Kit will help you remove hidden obstacles to weight loss.

Our products have no sugar added (which is groundbreaking), they are made with all natural products, they are low carb, and they taste amazingly delicious!

Claim back your body!

Will salt in small amounts still toxify our bodies the way it would in larger amounts? Does the amount even matter? Or is it simply the act of introducing the mineral to the body that proves toxic?

I recently came across a wonderful article written by a good friend of mine, Debbie Took. Wherein she asks and answers these very questions.

Salt Debate 1

Salt Debate 2

Another good site:

Sodium and Salt Eating

The basic arguement is that sodium is required by the human body… sodium which can be found in hundreds of natural plant foods around the world. However, it’s the sodium chloride from the oceans and rocks that is toxic to our systems. Causing ailments from dehydration and fluid retention/weight gain to osteoperosis and stomach cancer.

Sodium and Potassium are electrolytes which work hand-in-hand to keep the body’s fluid systems on an even kilter. If one mineral becomes unbalanced due to the overabundance of the other – the entire body can become askew. It’s just as delicate and crucial a balance as our PH levels.

Salt can, will, and HAS killed hundreds of thousands of people. Yes. Salt KILLS. Be it sea or table.. any source of sodium chloride proves toxic when introduced to the human body.

Baby Death

Baby Dies from Saline

Forced Salt

Salt Murder

Salt and Depresison

Salt Kills

Salt Kills More Than Vehicle Collisions

Salt Water

Don’t Drink The Water

It makes one wonder: If the ancient chinese ninjas used the consumption of salt water to commit suicide, why on EARTH would somebody purposefully dehydrate that very water in order to extract the salt in pure form… and consume it?

What would drive such a frivilous and dumbfounding act? Who instigated the blasphemous concept?

Who, what and why caused the introduction of a toxic substance into the human diet?

A quote:

Agriculture and salt
Archaeologists believe that salt eating developed as humans learned how to keep animals and grow crops in the years after 10,000 BC. As the proportion of meat in their diet fell, people had to find salt for themselves and for their domesticated animals.

Preserving food
Salt has another crucial property that made it important for the development of human society. By 2000 BC, people knew that adding salt to food stopped it going off. Salt was used to preserve meat, fish and vegetables, and to create delicacies such as salted olives, which added variety to the diet.

History of Salt

A Quote:

Salt’s ability to preserve food was a foundation of civilization. It eliminated the dependence on the seasonal availability of food and it allowed travel over long distances.

There we have it. The consumption of salt goes against every aspect of nature.

Why? Well, let’s make a list.. because we all know I love lists

1. Salt means one can consume a food long after the season has ended. – This is both unhealthy and unnatural. Nature provides food when food should be consumed. The way our body’s have been designed to consume them.
   
2. Salt preserves what would naturally never be preserved - Meat rots. It in no way was naturally designed to be preserved, aside from freezing.
   
3. Salt makes inedible foods, edible - Foods such as olives are bitter and disgusting to our taste buds, but once salted become a food we can very easily over-consume. If we were supposed to consume them, they would naturally have an appealing flavour.
   
4. Salt was introduced to our diets only 10,000 years ago - We functioned just fine without it for 90,000 years. Heck, even made it through an ice-age!
   

So, next time you sit down to a meal and go to grab that trusty salt shaker… ask yourself this one question:

“Is This Natural? Are We Designed For This?”

Remember:

Simply because you can eat it… doesn’t mean you should.

24oz is the size of Steaks I received with my meat order from Grass Roots Beef. And what a BEAUTIFUL cut it is…. wow.

The huge hunk of flesh is going to be my dinner tonight (will post pics later) well, at least the last course of my meal!

My plans for the gym tonight failed as I ended up working over-time at work… running around all day, carrying bottles, stocking shelves, up and down stairs, cleaning, etc…. it’s hard work! Not to mention I’m sore as hell from yesterday’s Crazy 8 Crossfit. Holy moses are my calves ever tender!

Rest days are just as important as active days. I need to learn to accept this as a good thing.

By the way, does anybody else feel the cool fall weather moving in? Yep… FALL IS HERE! Perhaps not “officially”.. but who gives a —- what the weatherman says. I know what I feel out there!

Day 42 Menu:

Breakfast: N/A

Snack: N/A

Lunch: 2 Figs

Snack: 6 Lychee Nuts

Dinner: 3 Course Meal:

- Mixed Salad w/ blueberries, , raspberries, avocado, grass-fed goat’s milk Feta, fresh Basil and Orange Juice

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- 1/2 cup Zucchini, sauteed in Ghee

- 1/4 sweet onion, sauteed in Ghee

- 1/4 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese

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- 12 oz Steak with Tzatziki Sauce (homemade)

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- 1Tbsp of Coconut Butter

Snack: N/A

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Nutritional Analysis:

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Physical and Emotional Changes:

1. Nothing to report.

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Physical Activity:

Morning: Biked to work, 15 minutes.

Afternoon: Crazy racy day at work, 8.5 hours.

Evening: Biked home, uphill, from work to home, 15 minutes.

Grass Roots Beef is a 100% Grass-Fed, Organic and Antibiotic-Free, Galloway Beef farm based in Durham, ON, Canada.

Mary was the wonderful woman who placed and delivered my order. Which cost about $224 for 40lbs of beef! I received 15lbs of Burger, 5lbs of Stewing Beef, 4 Roasts, a handful of beautiful Steak Cuts and some Soup Bones.

Everything is wrapped up beautifully in butcher paper and labeled.

This meat is going to last me forever! Well, alright… perhaps 3 weeks to be more realistic. But STILL! This on top of all of the wild caught fish and Turkey/Bison Burgers I still have in the freezer… I’m set for quite a while! The only groceries I’ll have to do is eggs, milk, coconut oil, ghee, and fruits and veggies. Beautiful! I’ll have at least $200 extra bucks each pay until this runs out. Can we say… Hello ING Direct?!

This brings me one step closer to my trip to Denmark and Norway this Christmas. Oh how I’d love to see the splendor of my heritage…

Anyways. I’m rambling. I’ve had a long… tiring day.

Onto my food log…

Day 42 Menu:

Breakfast: N/A

Snack: N/A

Lunch: 1 LARABAR – Cherry Pie (post-workout)

Snack: N/A

Dinner: 3 Course Meal:

- Mixed Salad w/ blueberries, , raspberries, avocado, grass-fed goat’s milk Feta, fresh Basil and Orange Juice

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- 4 Mark’s Nearly Famous Mild Sausages

- Tzatziki Sauce (homemade)

- 3 slices of Raw Cheddar Cheese

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- 1Tbsp of Coconut Butter

- a small glass of whole milk

Snack: N/A

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Nutritional Analysis:

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Physical and Emotional Changes:

1. Nothing to report.

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Physical Activity:

Morning: Crazy 8 Crossfit – I managed to do only 2 circuits of this. 3 was asking for a hospital visit.

Oh well. I’m here today, armed and ready with a great food log, workout log and some interesting findings

Interesting Findings:

1. Ori Hofmekler on Radio – Great live discussions with modern-genius, as well as some great back-logged shows.
2. Whole Milk LOVES ME. And I love it back! Yep, I’m happy with dairy in my diet. No adverse affects. No mucous, no upset tummy, no nada! So far, so yummmmy
3. Great info on Protein Powders
4. Some general info on the Warrior Diet and Dairy
5. A KICK-A S S Crossfit Body-weight Workout…. WOW!
6. Hypothesis on Why We Get Fat

Day 41 Menu:

Breakfast: N/A

Snack: 1 Apple

Lunch: 1 Fig

Snack: 1 Pears

Dinner: 3 Course Meal:

- Mixed Salad w/ blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, avocado, grass-fed goat’s milk Feta, fresh Basil and Orange Juice

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- 2 Plain Turkey Patties, BBQ’d

- Tzatziki Sauce (homemade)

- 2 slices of Raw Cheddar Cheese

- 1 Egg, fried in Ghee

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- Coconut Bread w/Coconut Butter

- a small glass of whole milk.

Snack: N/A

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Nutritional Analysis:

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Physical and Emotional Changes:

1. Nothing to report.

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Physical Activity:

Morning: Biked to work, 15 minutes.

Afternoon: Biked uphill from work to home. 20 minutes.

Evening: Crazy 8 Crossfit