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Hi, my name is Alisha, I live on the beautiful Central Coast on a piece of earth with a view of my newly planted fruit orchard and my two small dogs Cassie and Quigley. I have many interests that keep life exciting like my passion for jewelry design, motorcycling with my lady riders, archery, fabric and glass arts to name a few, AND being in the kitchen doing what I call “kitchen food-craft” (a little bit of this, a little bit of that, and voila, I’ve created something delicious that needs a recipe title!). My favorite place to be is in my kitchen!
Every story has a beginning and I want to start by sharing how I came to develop my web page and blog site about raw food. My journey with nutrition has taken many directions over the years as my family and friends will agree, but the common thread has always been a pursuit of happiness in regards to health and nutrition.
In 2004 I began a new career that involved the use of my hands. On some days waking up with a achy body, sore hands and tender joints was not how I wanted to start my work day. I took non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) daily and soon decided that this would not be a long-term solution for me. When auto immune disease was ruled out, I began researching anti-inflammatory alternatives which lead me to learn about the power of plant foods.
A plant-based lifestyle is rapidly becoming an alternate “Farmocology” platform to those that may have the kinds of health concerns that plague our society today. Conditions such as high blood sugar, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, extra pounds….are all lifestyle conditions that develop in our society because of the Standard American Diet, or what is known as “SAD” food choices. Yes, I admit that I’ve had my share of SAD foods….fast food, soda’s, sugar sugar sugar, too many carbs, high fat, low-fat, Atkins, too much meat, too much dairy, you name it….AND I am convinced that these are the culprits that led to my aches, pains and mid day fatigue when my food choices were typically SAD.
Presently, I’ve never felt better in my entire life and what’s interesting is that even though my calendar says it’s time for another birthday, I really think I’m getting younger as the years fly by! The most important change I’ve made is how I choose to nourish my body (and soul) with live foods. My diet consists of minimally processed whole foods, a delicious variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables, a green smoothie every morning, fresh juice combinations…even delicious raw desserts that can be eaten for breakfast! The vitamins and minerals I used to take with a glass of water each morning are abundantly available in the foods I eat. Eating this way has never been easier or more satisfying as now I eat as much as I want without ever giving a second thought to weight gain. The sayings, “You are what you eat”, “Let food be thy medicine,” ….simple and so true!
My academic background is in nutrition, most everything I was formally taught about nutritional science was based on the FDA Food Guide Pyramid with rigid percentages of protein, carbohydrates, and fats. When what you eat doesn’t include animal products like meat, eggs,dairy and cheese, it’s important to know that a plant-based diet also meets dietary guidelines and provides everything your body needs to meet those requirements. The USDA has announced that vegan and vegetarian lifestyles both meet protein and calcium RDAs. In a large study done by the American Dietetic Association, statistics showed that diabetes, heart disease, cholesterol, obesity and BMI (body mass index) were all reduced in plant based lifestyles. So put away that old thinking that you can only get complete protein from eating meat and calcium from dairy consumption!
As a graduate of a raw food culinary school, this training has broadened my knowledge in the science of plant-based nutrition and has provided me with endless possibilities on ways to prepare favorite comfort foods while retaining the nutrient value, taste, and the health benefits of raw vegan cuisine. It is my desire to share this information with my community by offering adult education classes, individual or group sessions, and seminars to those who thought living with pain and inflammation was normal. If you want to slow down the clock, feel energized, make a difference in your health, the lives of your family and loved ones, a small change in your eating habits can make a significant difference in how you look, feel and think. After you’ve read an article that I’ve posted, please feel free to reply, comment, or “like”, I’d love to hear from you. Try something new….revive with raw!
Alisha~
Bachelor Science (BS) Nutritional Science, Cal Poly State University; Certified Nutritionist (CN)- American Health Science University; Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH)- University of Vermont; Advanced Raw Food Nutrition Educator Certificate Raw Culinary Arts Associate Chef and Instructor Certificate, Benefits of Raw Food Nutrition Educator Certificate,.
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