I've returned from a fabulous juice fast in Bali!

Hello healthy readers!

Well it’s been 2 weeks since I returned home from assisting to run the inspiring and fabulous juice fast in Bali, with the amazing Don and Tyler Tolman.

I feel motivated, clean and more than happy knowing that I have added to my fasting experiences and topped up my knowledge, expanded my consciousness, as well as making some beautiful connections with mostly Aussies that I will continue to cherish.

There were 28 ‘fasters’ in Bali that successfully completed a 7 day juice fast.  Well done to them!  It was amazing to see them ride the highs and lows of cleansing their temple.   Each day we were all involved in morning rituals that allowed us to begin the day in the best way possible.

Our morning rituals consisted of waking between 5am and 6am (on alternate days) joining together at the main room to do a coconut oil pull (to assist in drawing toxins out), hydrate with 1L of water and then make our way to the beach which was about a 10 minute walk where we would ideally be greeted by a perfect sunrise (shown to the right).  In the pavilion by the beach we would either do a yoga session with a visiting teacher or the 5 Tibetian Rites followed by various resistance exercises with Tyler.  On non-yoga days we would follow our exercises with a walk/run on the sand and a swim in the ocean.  I had such a thrill one morning body surfing some waves all the way in to shore.  It’s been too long!

Following our morning beach session participants were given around 1 hour to do an enema if they wished, gwasha their bodies (a fabulous mixture to cleanse the body and prepare it to absorb sun rays) and get in to the sun before our morning knowledge sessions focusing on one of the 7 principles of health.

We would start our morning knowledge sessions with an uplifting 5 minute dance session which would wake everyone up and inspire them to switch their brains on & get ready to learn!  This was definitely one of my favourite parts of the day!

If we were lucky enough we would get a ‘question and answer’ session with both Don and Tyler where we were allowed to leave any questions we liked in the question box & they would spend 15minutes answering as many as they could.  This really allowed the topics to expand!

In the afternoon we would head off on adventures ranging from white water rafting and massages in Ubud to whole food workshops with Chef Cynthia Louise!  This allowed us to observe ourselves putting the mornings session in to practice, in the real world.

I loved hearing both Tyler and Don share their passion, giving us all a greater understanding about ancient practices and what choices we can make to better our health in this life time.

I am so excited to be able to hopefully run some of my own juice fasts in Cairns in 2014.  It would be so wonderful to bring a community together to fast and learn in order to raise our consciousness and better our health so each and every day gets better and better!

Finally, I LOVE that when fasting it gives the body a chance to cleanse and recharge while re-programing things at a cellular level.   I often visualize these little guys (our cells) hard at work.  It’s simply amazing what they can achieve and how this positively impacts our mind!

Please leave a comment below or contact me via my email (janellecarolyn@gmail.com), my Facebook page (Seeds Of Health) or phone (0438 733 103) to let me know if you are one of those KEEN juice fasters for 2014?!  If you have a group that would like to fast together, outside of Cairns, I would be happy to travel.

Signing off with a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and an excited feeling inside of what possibilities lay ahead for 2014! 

Janelle J 

Preparation for a juice fast in Bali

It's nearing the end of the year…can you believe it?!!

I'm loving the hot weather in Cairns and the build up to Christmas holidays with family and friends.  I have to say I also LOVE the peaches that are in season at this time of year!  I simply love sitting still and enjoying the smell of a ripe organic peach before launching in for my first bite :)

In the lead up to Christmas remember that it doesn't need to be a time to stuff yourself silly on foods that make you feel bloated and yuck.  It can be a healthy, delicious and enjoyable time with loads of whole food treats and meals to share of greater nutrition value and flavour without the awful feeling post meal.  Please come in and see me for an appointment or ask if you are wanting help to ensure that you can enjoy your Christmas without the feeling of being bloated and hungover on sugar.    

I'm really excited that I have been invited to assist in facilitating a juice fast in Bali, with Tyler Tolman and Don Tolman, before the year is out.  Wow!  What an opportunity!  This father and son pair have a passion for whole foods and fasting with an emphasis on the 7 principles of health.  Don has spent many years researching different cultures and their practices surrounding health.  Both have the most amazing knowledge and brains.  A wealth of information!

I leave for Bali tomorrow and I have been working my body towards a juice fast over the last 3 days.  These initial steps of transitioning to raw allow the body to begin detoxing with lighter, cleaner foods before stepping in to the realm of just juice and water.   For the first 2 days I have eaten only raw foods (eg. raw zucchini pesto pasta, lots of fresh fruit (watermelon, peaches, pineapple), dairy free/sugar free smoothies, acai bowls, lightly steamed broccoli, kombucha, etc).  Today I have transitioned on to juices and will continue on that while taking a colon cleanse powder blend with bentonite clay in it, to assist in drawing toxins out.  It goes without saying that hydration is key also!  I always have 1L of water upon waking and ensure that my fluids are kept up during the day.  I am consuming an easy 3L plus per day at the moment.

I will stay on this juice cleanse prior to arriving in Bali as I am wanting to be at my best to assist in the facilitation of the juice fast (i.e. I don't want to be detoxing myself).  I am there to support others during their fasting experience and therefore want to be feeling on top of things by Saturday.  It is common to find the first 3 days of juice fasting the most challenging, hence why I have started on raw and transitioned to juice in the week leading up to the community juice fast in Bali, beginning on Saturday.

The group of people gathering together in Bali will be from all walks of life, with different health histories and different daily practices.  The detox symptoms of each and every one of them will be different.  If you are choosing to join us via the virtual online juice fast, please remember this and be kind to yourself.  We are all unique.

A supportive community makes a juice fast so much easier!  Come and join in the fun…here is the link to join the FREE 7 day juice fast in Bali, online...

http://www.onlinejuicefast.com/nov-fast 

Fasting gives the digestive system a break allowing it to rest and repair.  This regenerates the organs and gives the body an opportunity to cleanse.  With the emphasis on the 7 principles of health (hydration, air, exercise, whole foods, passions, relationships and sunshine) along with enemas the body is able to cleanse and repair.  A can't wait to support and share in this experience with others, over the next week!

I am looking at facilitating a juice fast in Cairns next year.  It is such a perfect location surrounded by delicious tropical produce.  If you are interested in joining the juice fast or have a great idea for a venue please reply below, comment on my Seeds Of Health Facebook page, email (janellecarolyn@gmail.com) or call me (0438 733 103).  

Tyler and Rachelle Tolman have hosted many online juice fasts this year allowing the online community to grow with 1700 members currently.  It is a place where you can ask questions and share your thoughts.  A perfect platform to fast from if you are unable to join us in person.  Good luck if you're choosing to join us on this amazing journey of fasting, which starts this Saturday!  

I'm really looking forward to assisting those who are joining us in Bali this Saturday!  I also look forward to sharing my experience on the other side :)

Janelle

Delicious easy cool summer treats

Here is a collection of cooling summer treats that are great to have prepared for the kids (or adults) for an after school snack or weekend treat.  They are all frozen so perfect for the weather that is heating up!

AVOCADO AND COCONUT POPSICLES 

- by Sarah Wilson "I quit sugar"

INGREDIENTS

1 ripe avocado

200ml coconut cream

Juice of 1 lime

3 tbsp coconut water

1 tbsp rice malt syrup or 100% pure maple syrup

1 tsp chia seeds (preferably white ones)

1/4 tsp salt

METHOD

Blend all ingredients together until smooth and place into ice block moulds or cups with paddlepop sticks sticking out and freeze for a minimum of 4 hours.

KIWI COATED IN RAW CHOCOLATE ON STICKS

This recipe is from the Show Food Chef (http://www.showfoodchef.com/2010/09/chocolate-kiwi-popsicles-simple.html) with a dairy free alternative using raw cacao chocolate (eg. Loving Earth) or an alternative recipe found here (http://wholefoodkids.blogspot.com.au/2010/05/fresh-kiwi-popsicles.html).   

INGREDIENTS (for either recipe)

Kiwi fruit

Coconut oil

Dark chocolate or Raw cacao chocolate (you can either buy some raw chocolate from Loving Earth or another brand or make your own raw chocolate).  If not, purchase a good quality organic fair trade dary chocolate and melt it.

Paddle pop sticks

Otherwise recipe 2:

8 Kiwi fruit

Honey

Sea salt

Ice block moulds

METHOD

I will leave you to follow the method from the websites given above as there are 2 alternatives, depending on which recipe you choose.

BANANA ICE CREAM

This is super easy and can be as plain or varied as you like.

INGREDIENTS

Frozen bananas (skins off) – as many as you like

Optional extras – cacao powder, cacao nibs, almond butter, coconut oil, berries, Spiralina, honey, etc.

Almond milk (optional if you would like to make a thick shake)

METHOD

Blend everything together in a blender and enjoy.  This ice cream is best served straight away and not frozen for eating at a later date as it tends to form icicles.  You can easily make a delicious chocolate thick shake by blending some almond milk with your frozen bananas, honey and cacao powder.  Delightful!

FROZEN GRAPES

As easy as freezing whole grapes and eating them straight out of the freezer!  You can even create grape kebabs out of them like the picture below.

Please share below or on my Facebook page (Seeds Of Health) any cool summer treats you enjoy!

Have fun creating!

Janelle

Fantastic hiking food for those trekkers amongst us...

Hello fellow hikers,

A friend and I recently completed a 4 day hike in Western Australia from Cape Leuwin to Gracetown - part of the Cape to Cape track, near Margaret River.  We needed to carry all our own water, food, clothes, tent, etc.  So therefore we had to be very conscious of weight.

I have done many multi day hikes over the years, with some of them being 13 days long, however my food choices have changed a lot since my first multi day hike back in 2006.  I really enjoy doing multi day hikes and each time I complete one I learn a little more.

This hike I decided to focus more on which whole foods I could take with me that were light, clean and nutrient dense.  Chia seeds became a major part of both breakfast and lunch, with the benefits of this seed outlined below.

These were my food choices on my most recent hike.  I had more than enough, however we did plan on a 5 day hike so I had extra tucker.

Breakfast - Home made muesli consisting of oats, rice bran, chia seeds, almonds, walnuts, coconut, goji berries, cacao nibs and chopped dried apricots (the brown ones without preservative 220 on them).  I had this soaked in either hot or cold water of a morning and a squeeze of honey could be added on top.  This was so incredibly filling it kept me going for hours as we hiked over sand, rocky cliffs, through forests and up hills.  I measured each daily amount out into zip lock bags to ensure I had enough for the week.

Lunch - Chia porridge consisting of chia seeds, coconut, pecans and chopped dates.  This is incredibly light prior to adding water so a fantastic hiking food.  This could be heated up with warm water when the weather is cold or otherwise cold water.  A squeeze of honey is optional.  I would like to add more flavour to this dish for my next hike (perhaps cacao and maca powder), however the energy gain from these little seeds is sensational!  

Dinner - I tend to favour dahl on long hikes as it's highly nutritious and light and so tasty with the right mix of spices.  I choose to use red lentils as they cook quickly and also absorb the flavours of spices well.  A great accompaniment is quinoa as it cooks faster than brown or white rice, therefore saving on gas or wood, and is more nutritious with a better balance of protein to carbohydrates.  This ratio helps to repair muscles after hiking all day.  Recently on my hike I also discovered another dish that is a winner – butter bean and sweet potato curry served with cous cous.  The butter beans can be pre cooked and then dehydrated or otherwise a can of organic butter beans placed in a vaccum sealed bag and eaten on the first night is fine.  Onions, garlic and fresh ginger are a great base for both of these dishes.  It can be pre cut and dehydrated, however if room allows it’s great to be able to cut the onions, garlic and ginger fresh and cook them in some coconut oil and let the aroma spread through the camp as everyone’s appetite grows after a long day of hiking.  A spice mix that I enjoy using is turmeric, cumin, mustard seeds, sea salt (plus onion, garlic and ginger above) and I’m sure there are a few others, which I’ve forgotten.  Be creative!

Snacks – Bliss balls (containing chia seeds) are fantastic as they are light, full of flavour and nutrient dense.  I tend to put a lot of cacao powder in mine to ensure a good energy source and a high amount of antioxidants.  I ended up going to Paleo café with friends prior to flying to WA so I picked up a lemon myrtle raw food bar and lemon and macadamia slice.  I also carried some wheatgrass powder with me and some activated almonds and extra dried apricots.  This was more than enough.  The wheatgrass powder I feel is essential as it gives the body an alkaline source, as it’s hard to get greens when out on the track.  Dehydrated bananas were another delicious and energy rich snack.  Next time bananas are cheap buy a heap and dehydrate them if you can.  Then vacuum seal them and they’ll store really well for long periods, ready for your next hike. 

Despite the number of superfood choices I would like to highlight the benefits of chia for multi day hikes.  This seed has the ability to absorb 9-12 times its weight in water.  This means that chia increases hydration in the body, leading to less fatigue and muscle cramping.  Chia also decreases recovery time and fatigue due to its high amount of omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidants.  Both of these reduce inflammation, which speeds up recovery.  Its high potassium and moisture retaining qualities helps protect against electrolyte loss which can lead to cramping.  The Tarahumara people of southwest Mexico would roast the seed and crush it before adding it to water to make a 'sports gel' which they would consume prior to long distance running.  Coates, W. (2012). Chia - The complete guide to the ultimate superfood.

I would love to hear your ideas or questions surrounding hiking foods.  It's a fantastic idea to learn from each other.  Please share your comments below, email me or post a comment on my Facebook page - Seeds Of Health.

Happy hiking!

Janelle

Feeling Grateful

Hi everyone,
I had the most amazing weekend last weekend.
I started my weekend off with a gorgeous early morning swim at Palm Cove with some friends.  I got there a little early and went for a walk along the beach and watched the sun rise.  As it was rising I did some Tibetian Rites (http://www.mkprojects.com/pf_TibetanRites.htm - this is just one site I have found, there are many) and then sat on the sand and took some deep breaths to enjoy where I was.  Post swim during our conversation a friend was wanting to find a new home for his herbs as he is moving into a unit so I was the lucky one who now has some gorgeous new herbs to take care of.

I was then planning on coming home and getting stuck into my list of things to do as I had a 'free' weekend and thought what a great opportunity to make some head way on my list of things to achieve.  It was such gorgeous weather though so I decided to abort that idea and lay in my hammock and decide what my weekend would look like.  This is a rare thing so to make sure I didn't waste it it also became a Facebook free weekend.  This allowed me to simply enjoy where I was at the time and not flick through the feed at random moments when I waiting for something, as I sometimes tend to do.

I then decided my first stop would be the market!  To find myself a delicious coconut, to complement the gorgeous weather!  My 30th birthday is coming up soon so I then felt that some new birthday togs were in order, as I am heading away on a 5 day hike near the beach in WA (I have a secret fettish for swimmers).  So off I trotted to explore my options....I came away with some that I love!  The rest of my weekend involved some beautiful walks in nature, hanging out with my partner, some therapeutic cleaning, chats with old friends that were enjoyed in the afternoon sun and not pushed for time and a fantastic sunset on Sunday evening shared with friends.

I went to a talk by Dr Peter Dingle a couple of months ago and following his talk decided to buy one of his books called The Gratitude Guide.  While I was away in Thailand doing my pranayama course I was noting down what I was grateful for at the end of each day.  It was an excellent exercise to ensure that was spending the majority of my thoughts on all the good that is in my life.  The more we focus on what we are grateful for the more we connect those neural pathways in our brain - enhancing the positive in our lives and bringing in more positive!  Try it.  Get yourself a gratitude diary and each night just before you go to sleep spend 5 minutes writing down all that you are grateful for, or at least 3 things.

I have a lot to be grateful for at the moment and am really excited about the next 3 weeks and beyond.  

• I am leaving tonight on a plane to Western Australia where I will be seeing my brother and little niece whom I haven't seen for 8months - my niece is the sweetest little person ever!  Come Monday morning I am going to begin my 5 day hike along the Margaret River coastline - the Cape to Cape walk.  I just loving getting out in to the wilderness and enjoying a life of simplicity.
• All of my family are coming to visit when I return and we are going to hire a house up north and spend a week hanging out.  My dad was 60 last year and we didn't really get to celebrate it and I'm 30 this year so it's a excuse to enjoy being together and build sandcastles with my little niece on the beach.
• I have just finished up working for someone else as a Naturopath so this will give me more time to focus on my own business.  An exciting leap of faith!  I can't wait to have time to put in to action my ideas!
• I received some raw chocolate blocks/base ingredients to create into chocolate from a friends company in the USA (http://yourdecadentwellness.com/chocolate/) which I simply can't wait to make!

I best be off and hop on my plane!!  Have a beautiful weekend and remember to focus on what you are grateful for each evening.

Check out this short TedTalk for some extra info on mindfulness and meditation and how it can create more happiness in your world (http://www.ted.com/talks/andy_puddicombe_all_it_takes_is_10_mindful_minutes.html)

Janelle.

Saunas

I have just arrived home from Koh Samui, Thailand after doing a 2 week pranayama yoga retreat. 

At the centre, Samahita, there was a herbal steam room available which I was able to use as often as I liked.  I did try & do exactly that as I knew the benefits were fantastic.  Since my last juice fast 2 months ago & leading up to leaving for Thailand I had been going weekly to a sauna in Palm Cove with a friend, so I enjoyed the fact that I could continue this.

Sweating is a mechanism to cool the body, however deep sweating where the core body temperature of a person is raised, allows many toxins like heavy metals to be excreted from the body.  It also helps to remove bacteria & dead skin cells keeping the skin working well & looking fresh & beautiful.   According to Dr Ben H Douglas, the nutrients & minerals from sweat & the pumping of blood around the skin help to maintain the collagen structure of the skin.

Our skin is our largest organ and therefore needs to be taken care of & not forgotten.  It behaves in a very similar way to the liver - detoxing and cleansing our body.  We cannot forget to remember to skin brush, exfoliate, gwasha (a mix of pure alcohol & bicarb soda which cleanses the pores and if followed by the application of coconut oil on the skin allows fantastic vitamin D absorption) & avoid nasty chemical laden moisturises.  Coconut oil is a fantastic moisturiser.

Not only do saunas remove toxins & heavy metals they also burn calories (as the process of sweating burns calories), aide in deeper sleep (when your body temperature is raised in the late evening it will fall just before bed assisting slumber), relieve stress (by relaxing the bodies muscles, improving circulation & stimulating the release of endorphins) & help to keep our largest organ (our skin) healthy & happy.

My sauna visits initially started out as a social catch up, however now that I have gained more knowledge about the benefits of them it has become something that I really look forward to & know that it is doing my body good.  

There are a couple of different types of saunas, be that a steam room or infra red sauna, however they all work on the same philosophy.  The one in the picture below was the herbal steam room I enjoyed in Thailand.  It had eucalyptus oil added to the steam creating greater cleansing of the respiratory system and offering antibacterial properties.  

If you live in the Cairns area, there is a sauna out at Palm Cove at the Novotel that is really cheap to go to & very accessible for regular visits if you don't mind the drive north.  Others are available in town however I'm not sure on their cleanliness. 

Fasting

Fasting can either mean a water or juice fast.  A rest from digesting, which allows our body to put energy into healing and repairing.

   

This is my 5th fast.  In the past I have done a two 3 day juice fasts, a 30 day adventure (starting with a 4 day colon cleanse, a salt flush and then 26 days on Pulse - ask if you would like to know more), along with a 9 day fast (4 days of juice fasting followed by 5 days of water) and I am now at the tail end of a 4 and a half day juice fast where I intend to enjoy green smoothies and fresh fruit for another day and a half, making 6 days altogether of juices, smoothies, fruit and water.  My digestive system is loving the rest and I am feeling more agile and have a much clearer mind.

I have learnt a lot on this particular fast & have really enjoyed playing with new juicing recipes.  It has been interesting doing it with another and making juice for both of us as I have had to plan ahead to make 5.5-6L of juice per day.  The support has been great, knowing that someone else is going through the same experience as you, no matter how different it is.  Also, sharing a dinner or juice together and not being tempted by the smells coming out of the kitchen.  I highly recommend having a buddy!

It is my first fast after learning so much about fasting from Tyler Tolman in Bali last September.  My first 3 day fasts were done a while ago and I wasn't aware of the importance of oil pulling, enemas, breathing, sunshine, Gwasha, exercise, etc while fasting.  I also didn't have as much knowledge as I do now about breaking a fast.  During this fast I have felt more at ease and confident with how to approach a juice fast while fitting it in around a normal working week.  If you are just starting out with fasting, be willing to explore it and play with recipes and be kind to yourself if things don't go to plan.  There's always another opportunity.  Each fast is a chance to learn something new and remember for the following fast.  We should all be doing at least one fast a year or if you choose to one a month to give the body a greater chance to heal and repair.  Some people fast one day a week on just juices or smoothies, which is excellent, however I would still recommend a longer fast each year.

Here's a glimpse into one of my days of fasting...Day 5.  I started my day with some coconut oil pulling, 1 litre of water (this should happen every morning whether you're on a juice fast or not), some yoga and then an enema.   I have been feeling amazing on juice and the enema just topped it off!  This morning, being Saturday, was a perfect time to do an enema as I didn't have to rush off anywhere.  After my enema I had a shower & used a cleansing ritual called Gwasha.  Gwasha is a specific mix of pure alcohol and aluminium free bi carb soda.  I learnt about this through Tyler Tolman and know that it cleanses the skin beautifully and should be followed by applying coconut oil all over the body and getting into the sun for a little while, to soak up some vitamin D.  So that is exactly what I did... while sipping on coconuts!

  

I would  liked to have been doing enemas every day on this fast but it didn't happen due to a very busy week.  Enemas are essential if you are needing a good cleanse and trying to rid something acute or chronic within the body.  

The things I have learnt this week are:

• I realised how beneficial it was to have a variety of high water content vegetables so that your juice goes further when making such a large quantities.  For example, watermelon, pineapple, coconut water, cucumbers, celery, etc.
• I have tended in the past to make my juice as needed (except for the 9 day fast with Tyler Tolman, as the juices were made for us).  However, I actually think making a larger quantity of a morning for breakfast and lunch, for 2 people, actually motivated me more and saved time with prep and cleaning up.  I just had to be organised.
• Coconut oil pulling is such a fantastic technique to draw toxins out of the body.  This is done daily & can be continued when your fast is finished.  It is also known to whiten teeth.  You simply place 1 tablespoon of coconut oil into your mouth upon waking and swish it around for 5-20mins.  It is important to adopt this as part of a fast to allow the toxins to exit your system that bit faster.  There is a wealth of information here http://www.oilpulling.com or a great book available called Oil Pulling Therapy by Bruce Fife.
• It has been excellent setting an intention each morning at the start of my yoga practice or during my breathing exercises while walking or sitting.  I would like to continue this.
• It is really important to listen to your body on the fast and rest when your body asks for it.  Even if it is just a 10min rest.  I found myself doing this when I got home from work some afternoons and feeling recharged from it.
• If you do feel like you just can't continue on juice because you are too hungry the first thing you should do is drink 1 litre of water and wait 20mins, the other option is to have an apple as apples assist in cleaning the colon.
• My body temperature dropped while fasting so it is important to plan fasting around the seasons or just remember a cardigan/jacket if working in air-conditioning.  Lucky I live in Cairns!  
• I have been able to develop a better relationship with food.  During periods of stress I tend to overeat, no matter how healthy the food is.  This fast has given me the ability to slow down and enjoy the smells and each ingredient and each mouthful of flavour (I tried to remember to do this with my juices).  My body performs a lot better on less.  
• Breaking a fast can often be tricky.  It is important to transition to smoothies and then to fruits and vegetables that have a high water content like watermelon, cucumber, tomatoes, pineapple, etc.  Raw salads with lemon juice and sea salt for flavouring, as well as home made vegetable soups.

I leave you with a gorgeous picture of the view from my back steps.

Please post a comment on the blog or Facebook if you have any questions/comments.

Happy juicing!
Janelle