sunshel

The Low-Down on Vegan Protein Powders

Wed, 30 May 2012 15:11:27 -0400

I’ve noticed that most people have no clue about the (healthier) plant-based alternatives to whey protein. Well here’s a list of them, along with brand recommendations.

We’ve used up all of the Sunwarrior powder at our house, so I’m thinking about trying hemp next time!

Have you tried any protein powders? What do you recommend?

I read that you use honey to wash your face, very interesting! What kind of skin care routine do you have?

Wed, 30 May 2012 14:58:36 -0400

Yes, I love using honey on my skin! Lately, I’ve been washing my face with water. I then dip a cotton swab in tea tree oil, rinse it (tea tree oil is very strong, must be diluted) and apply to any breakouts. Throughout the week, I’ll do a few honey masks. On the rest of my body, I use homemade shea body butter… It is seriously AWESOME.

PS. Glad you asked this question because I forgot to post the recipe for the shea butter!

you are so inspirational! I'm really trying to change my diet habits and you happen to be my ideal role model. your beautiful and clean on the inside and out. I was wondering what you thought about water fasting. or other liquid fasts

Mon, 28 May 2012 13:45:55 -0400

Thank you, that is so great to hear! I am definitely a fan of fasting, be it water or juice. Even intermittent fasting—one day a week—is great. Of course, I recommend fasting only if you’ve done extensive research and understand the process and consequences of a fast. This especially applies to water fasting. Also, you should do it when you’re not too busy and can spend time resting.

If you’re not ready for a fast, I suggest you try a raw food cleanse for a week or two!

What do you use for your teeth? That was an inspiring post!

Mon, 28 May 2012 11:44:27 -0400

Tooth Soap. It’s fluoride-free and made of natural ingredients. I am a HUGE fan!

Month on Raw Vegan

Mon, 28 May 2012 11:29:00 -0400

Well, I made it to 4 weeks without any cooked food and I’m definitely in it for the long-haul!

My Diet

Fruits and vegetables. Favorites: Grapes, watermelon, peaches, mango, bananas, strawberries, tomatoes, raw organic corn, avocado, sprouts, carrots, GREENS
NONE of the following: Sugar, salt, animal products, cooked food, grains (exception: corn), legumes, oils, gluten
Supplements: Probiotic, Vitamin C and B Complex

Documented Changes

Weight loss. I lost the most weight during the first two weeks. After that, the weight loss has slowed down significantly as I approach my body’s ideal weight.
Cravings disappeared completely. I’m at the point where I can put my face up to a dish that I previously loved, and feel no temptation whatsoever.
Detox. In the first week, I had problems sleeping as well as headaches and mild allergies. Because they subsided within a few days, I believe they were symptoms of detoxification.
Mood. My mood is definitely more stable now that my diet is clean. Prior to raw, I went through ups and downs every day… bouts of depression, etc. But both last summer and this past month, I’ve experienced a noticed improvement in my state of mind. I feel ‘happy’ most of the time, calm, rational, less worried… Which is probably a factor in my being able to sleep better.
Teeth. During the first couple of days, I had pretty bad tooth sensitivity. But I kept going, making sure to floss and brush (lightly!) with my tooth soap, and the sensitivity disappeared.

I think the best thing about being raw has been the elimination of cravings and a complete transformation of my tastebuds. On cooked vegan, I always felt like I had to practice some serious self-control to avoid unhealthier foods and watch my serving sizes. I was always at war with myself. But on raw, I don’t have this issue at all. The only foods that I truly want to eat are raw fruits and vegetables.

Also, you would think that being raw means that I have to constantly think about what I’m eating in order to avoid the ‘bad stuff’, but I actually think LESS about food. I eat because I need to, plain and simple. There’s no meal planning of any sort, just my favorite salad and a ton of fresh fruit available at all times.

As for social situations, no difficulties whatsoever. I still join friends and family at restaurants all the time. All I need is a small avocado for my salad and I’m good to go.

I say this all the time, so it must be important: People think that being raw, or even vegan, is ‘restrictive’… But food is fuel. I don’t know when it was decided that trying new foods was ‘living’, but it sure as hell sounds like a backwards idea to me. I feed my body what it needs so that I can live a full, healthy life.

Stay tuned, big updates from my life coming soon!

TIP: Shred your lettuce, using kitchen scissors, a knife or your...

Fri, 18 May 2012 18:56:14 -0400

TIP: Shred your lettuce, using kitchen scissors, a knife or your hands. Makes the salad easier to eat!

Ladies and Gentlemen… My cutting board

Fri, 18 May 2012 18:02:24 -0400

Ladies and Gentlemen…

My cutting board

I forgot to tell y’all about the awesome reusable straws...

Mon, 07 May 2012 16:58:00 -0400

I forgot to tell y’all about the awesome reusable straws that I bought a few months ago. They’re acrylic and dishwasher-safe.. not to mention they look cool.

Mine are from World Market, but you can also find them online. For some really cool reusable straws, check out Etsy.

I know I need to make changes in my diet... I have some extra body fat (I could loose about 10 lbs) and I have blemishes on my skin. I think going vegan and/or raw could help with these 2 problems. I already eat lots of fruits+veggies, but my veggies are usually cooked. And I eat cooked grains/breads which might be part of my problem. What will help most with the weight/skin problems? Going vegan or going raw? Any suggestions about where to start? ps I'm not a big fan smoothies :(

Mon, 07 May 2012 16:57:46 -0400

Well going raw would mean also going vegan (at least my idea of raw), but if I could recommend any changes to make right now it would definitely be to stop eating animal products.. especially dairy. You should see an improvement in your skin within a few weeks or even days.

I don’t know enough about your current diet—or about you!—to really get detailed, but you should start by just eating more raw fruits and vegetables. Salads, fruit, lettuce wraps, beans, etc. Also make sure you aren’t getting most of your calories from fat (oil, nuts, avo).. and most certainly try to avoid junk food.

It’s okay if you don’t like smoothies. Maybe instead of a smoothie, you can have fruit for breakfast! Then perhaps a salad for lunch. If you’re going to have cooked food, you should have it for dinner. Maybe some black beans and/or sweet potato with a side salad?

Just some ideas. If you need any more help, feel free to email me (shelbysalinas at me dot com)!

bananas? love or stay away from...?

Sun, 06 May 2012 19:20:13 -0400

LOVE!

THIS is what truly ripe bananas look like, brown spots...

Sun, 06 May 2012 18:36:50 -0400

THIS is what truly ripe bananas look like, brown spots everywhere!

Bright yellow or green = Unripe. Avoid.

(Click here if you’re confused)

After my last failed attempt at making a banana-mango-peach...

Sun, 06 May 2012 11:45:51 -0400

After my last failed attempt at making a banana-mango-peach smoothie, I tried again.. this time with sweet leaf lettuce and some spinach. Perfect!

Photo

Sat, 05 May 2012 19:21:53 -0400

bubbles3: Made the best green smoothie today! Inspired by...

Sat, 05 May 2012 07:52:00 -0400

bubbles3:

Made the best green smoothie today! Inspired by Sunshel <3 I was using cocoa, almond milk and chia seeds. With her help I now understand that FAT shouldn’t be mixed in anyway with fruit. (For digestion reasons.) I kind of new this already with the help of The Raw Food Detox Diet. However, I didn’t have the courage to switch it up until now. Instead, I have been increasing the amount of banana I add!

Green Smoothie:
2 frozen bananas
2 Handfuls of spinach
Handful of ice cubes
1/3 cup of water (may need more or less depending on your preference)

This will keep me full all morning and is STILL just as SMOOTH and DELICIOUS!! :)

YEA! :)

(This photo really does the green smoothie justice.. it looks gorgeous!)

Is your green smoothie too bitter?

Tue, 01 May 2012 12:01:21 -0400

Try adding lemon juice! This morning I made a smoothie with mango, peach, banana and some random greens that I got at the Farmers Market. It was disgusting, to say the least. My dad recommended adding lemon juice. I tried it and it actually took away some of the bitterness.

Next time, no mystery greens in my smoothie.

Tip: Add the green tops of strawberries to your smoothies instead of throwing them out. They too are...

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 19:27:19 -0400

Tip: Add the green tops of strawberries to your smoothies instead of throwing them out. They too are full of nutritional benefits!

A quick, easy salad dressing: Mash some avocado (I use half of a...

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 17:20:00 -0400

A quick, easy salad dressing: Mash some avocado (I use half of a small one) and add lemon juice and garlic. The lemon juice should give it the perfect consistency.

Unhealthy Spotlight: Borden Dutch Chocolate Milk I found this in...

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 17:00:22 -0400

Unhealthy Spotlight: Borden Dutch Chocolate Milk

I found this in the fridge today and after reading the back, I HAD to post.

This individual serving contains 440 calories, 16 g fat, 60 mg cholesterol, 360 mg sodium (what?!), and get this… 48 GRAMS OF SUGAR.

Now for the ingredient breakdown: Milk, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Sugar, Alkalized Cocoa, Nonfat Dry Milk, Corn Starch, Salt, Carrageenan, Artificial Flavor, Vitamin D3

I guess I was a little naive in thinking that chocolate milk was made of milk and chocolate..

What would you say to people who cannot financially afford a whole foods/raw/healthier diet but want to? I've spent over two years constantly scouring out deals and the cheapest farmers markets and still cannot afford it.

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 21:01:00 -0400

BANANAS! They’re ridiculously cheap and high in calories, so throw 3 bananas and some greens in a blender and you have a meal totaling 350+ calories. With produce, you also want to figure out what’s in season at the time. For example, strawberries in the winter can cost upwards of $8, whereas in the summer they’re only $3.

If you’re low on money, some other healthy foods include: Beans, Lentils, Brown Rice, Quinoa, Potatoes.

I know they aren’t raw, but I would suggest buying all the raw fruits and vegetables (greens, especially) that you can and then supplementing them with bulk foods as needed.

What are your views on brown rice?

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 19:56:48 -0400

While I’m not against brown rice, I’m beginning to think a grain-free diet is not a bad idea. This article explains it well.

That being said, brown rice is a great transition food when going SAD to vegetarian, vegetarian to vegan, and especially vegan to raw. I’ve enjoyed brown rice in the colder months when I crave warming foods and it’s perfect for anyone on a budget.

Soooo.. While I believe that a grain-free diet is probably ideal, I would never go so far as to say “Don’t eat brown rice!”… especially to someone who’s already making enormous changes to their diet. I, myself, will most likely still eat grains from time to time (organic corn, in particular).

If you’re going to focus on improving your health, your first priority should be to get rid of one or all of the following: Processed food, animal products (dairy especially!), gluten..refined carbohydrates, and sugar