Monday, March 24, 2014

Brussels Sprout Salad


Brussels Sprouts are packed with tons of antioxidants, minerals and vitamins. Here are some benefits from just 1/2 cup serving!
  • Contains 20 essential vitamins
  • Rich in glucosinolates, which help to kill cancer cells and eliminate potential carcinogens from the body
  • High in fiber - 2 grams per serving
  • Relatively high in protein - 2 grams, accounting for more than 25% of the calories
  • Rich in vitamin C, another anti-cancer agent
  • Contains Zea-xanthin, and important dietary carotenoid, which can help prevent retinal damage from UV rays
  • Rich in minerals such as copper, calcium, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus.
Boiling Brussels Sprouts for just 9-15 minutes decreases their total glucosinolate content by 18-59 percent! It also kills the life-giving enzymes. 

Most people have never tried RAW Brussels Sprouts - even if you don't like them cooked, try this salad! It is tasty - and great for you!

Brussels Sprout Salad

Maddy Miller

Serves 6-8

Brussels Sprout Salad
6 cups Brussels’ sprouts, cut bottoms off, shred sprouts
¼ tsp Celtic sea salt
3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
¼ cup olive oil
½ lemon, squeezed   
½ Tbsp black strap molasses
3 cloves garlic, crushed
2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 cup walnuts
¼ cup sunflower seeds
½ cup Vegenaise or more to taste 
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard or more to taste
1 cup raisins

Mix together in a bowl.

Friday, March 14, 2014

"I Used to be a Sugarholic..."

I Used to be a Sugarholic...
Libby Davis

A saying was given to me by friends who often saw me go to the end of a buffet line and get desserts (yes, plural) first. It went something like this:  "Eat dessert first, the world may end soon."

Libby DavisI've always had sugary foods/drinks. When I developed some digestion problems, I got off of the sodas after hearing the LORD tell me to stop carbonation.  I never indulged in diet stuff...I wanted the real deal.That was maybe 15 yrs ago.

Then I got hooked on sweet tea and lemonade. "Oh, that's okay, there's no carbonation in them."  And the message didn't come thru or was ignored about the foods; so I continued the pies, cookies, cakes and other desserts and foods. 

That was until the year I was introduced to  HA. It started with the teaching by Don and Jane.  I learned how much a gram of sugar equaled so I made my own sweet tea and lemonade and counted how many spoonfuls it took to make them 'good'!  That's when I started getting serious with juicing and stopped the tea and lemonade; but still the desserts were around.

Oh, and I stopped buying the sugary stuff for my home but said I'll only eat desserts when I go out (again, plural). I spent a wonderful vacation week at your home. It's true that I couldn't sleep late and had to prepare my own foods during this vacation; but what terrific reasons to get up early! The morning walks were pleasant times to get to know the other people as we looked at the "great outdoors". And the meals were always delightful and surprisingly good to look at and eat. 

The camaraderie around the  food preparation table in the kitchen was filled with laughter (great healing here too). 

So, after I spent that week with you I changed my lazy habits and followed your teachings by eating real live foods. I think it was the greens that finally did it for me, especially the  green smoothies. The craving for sugars disappeared as I included more greens in my day. When a craving would pop up at home (they didn't go away over night)  I'd take some BarleyMax and be 'sane' again. But when I went out and ate an 'old favorite' I found my immune system went down within an hour...sometimes in minutes. After being sick a couple of times I figured out the common error was sugar. Occasionally I'd remember how something tasted...see it...take a bite and relish it in my mouth... like a special treat...and struggle to swallow it. Within a year I was no longer tempted with false memories of taste or blinded by the looks or smells.

From this I learned that my body is smarter than my mind/memory. Although I found myself saying, "Yum, cheesecake!"  or   " That looks soooo good, flan is my number one favorite!" or "Smell that apple pie in the oven!"  They were all not what I remembered or what my mind told me they were but each proved to be disappointing as I evaluated them like every new food my mother used to put on my plate.

During that year I substituted sugar with natural sweeteners (mostly agave) but gradually stopped adding it for months at a time! Now I find desserts with healthy sweetners too sweet for me. I can take one bite and leave the rest. The same is true with dried fruits. One date or fig is sometimes too sweet for me.  I'm a new person and, oh, I threw that saying away!

Monday, November 18, 2013

Cholesterol Down 54 Points in 4 Months

Mark & Donna Tanzi
Mark’s testimony is a wonderful short term testimony showing how quickly your body responds to nutrient dense foods and juicing. Mark says; “I have been monitoring my cholesterol since 1980 as it crept higher each year. For the last five years my cholesterol has averaged 258. My wife and I decided to go to the Plant City, Florida Hallelujah Acres Lifestyle Center four months ago. We heard about the Orcutts from a very good friend of our in New York who had been to their Lifestyle Center. In just four months my cholesterol has dropped down 54 points to 204. I am looking forward to getting below 200.

I feel like the guy on the Dunkin Donut commercials who wakes up and says, 'Time to make the donuts.' I wake up and say, 'I have to juice the carrots.' So far, Donna and I have juiced 150 pounds of carrots, 15 pounds of celery, and 15 pounds of other greens such as spinach, lettuce, and collards. It’s fun to see the comments we get at the supermarket, such as; “Oh do you have horses? Or do you have rabbits? Speaking of animals, I am eating like a pig, but all healthy food so I am not gaining weight. I’ve lost 10 pounds so far. My wife, Donna, has been cooking and preparing up a storm in the kitchen (that is why I married her – LOL). She does keep asking where Team 1 from the Lifestyle Center is.

We have been inviting friends and family over to try the food. Everyone raves about the food and can’t believe it is raw or vegan. I feel great. Thank you so much for putting our feet on a healthier path.”

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Boost Your Immune System to Fight the Flu!

Vitamin CIt is a known fact that eating living, uncooked foods strengthens the immune system. It is also well-known that sugar suppresses the immune system. Following are some examples of immune-building foods that will help us remain healthy during the cold and flu season.
Vitamin C will help protect against germs and viral infections and by consuming these natural sources in their living state the body's immune system will be strengthened.





BlackcurrantStrawberryGuava
LemonOrangeKiwi Fruit
ClementineGrapefruitRaspberries
LycheeNectarinesPeaches
MangoesPeppersSpring Greens
Brussels SproutsBroccoliCurly Kale
GourdCauliflowerTomato
Green CabbagePotatoes 


As we age, our immune system's fighter response weakens, mostly due to poor diet and lifestyle choices. Vitamin E can be considered your offense against germs and viruses and consuming more of the following foods will produce more of the killer cells our immune system needs to fight off invaders.

Sunflower SeedsAlmondsOlives
SpinachPapayaSwiss Chard
Mustard GreensTurnips GreensCollard Greens
Blueberries
 
  
Beta CarotenoidThe Hallelujah Acres Lifestyle promotes a large consumption of carrot juice which is high in Beta Carotenoid which works behind the scenes to produce T-cells, a type of white blood cell known to guard the body against infection. They work to identify, directly attack and destroy infectious agents. The following foods will also provide high doses of Beta Carotenoid.



CarrotsApricotsAvocado
BlackberriesCantaloupeCherries
CranberriesSweet PotatoPumpkin
SpinachMangoBeets
Summer SquashAcorn SquashPeaches
NectarinesGrapes 


Bioflavenoids
You cannot act like an ostrich and hide your head in the sand, just hoping that you will remain healthy. You must do your part by consuming nutrients that build the body. Another powerful nutrient that will protect against environmental pollutants is bioflavonoids. Be sure to get plenty of these by consuming the following foods.


BlueberriesRaspberriesCranberries
Blackberries CherriesRed Grapes
BananasGrapefruitLemons
LimesOrangesApples
PearsPlumsPeaches
ApricotsBlack BeansKidney Beans
Fava BeansPinto BeansWalnuts
PecansPeppersTomatoes
EggplantCeleryArtichoke
Snap PeasOkraBroccoli
DillParsleyThyme
Capers
 
  
Omega 3In Genesis 1:29, God mentions the foods that we should consume to keep our bodies healthy. The following category of Omega 3 foods are our friendly fats which boost the activity of our white blood cells (killer cells). These healthy fats make our foods taste better and give our brain the omegas to function properly.



WalnutsFlaxseedsFlax Oil
Fish Oil (Pharmaceutical Grade)
 
 
The Hallelujah Acres Lifestyle promotes the consumption of a wide variety of the above-mentioned foods with the defined purpose of rebuilding and strengthening the immune system. Our website contains many recipes that include these nutritious ingredients. By adding more salads, green smoothies, fresh vegetable juices, fruit smoothies and other creative raw foods to your diet, you too will reap the benefits!

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Green Smoothies - For You and Your Kids!

Do you have trouble getting your kids to eat their vegetables? Or maybe you have trouble eating them yourselves! You know that they are good for you and that you should be eating them but you just can't stand them. You are not alone!

According to the CDC (2013), 37.7% of adults and 36.0% of adolescents report consuming fruit less than one time daily and 22.6% of adults and 37.7% of adolescents report consuming vegetables less than one time daily. The median intake of fruits is only 1.1 times per day for adults and 1.0 times per day for adolescents and the median intake of vegetables is only 1.6 times per day for adults and 1.3 times per day for adolescents.


There are only three states that have a 1.8 Daily Vegetable Intake or higher (with Oregon being in the lead at 1.9)! This is a sad state for America to be in! Our bodies are made to thrive on vegetables and most of America barely touches them!

Green Smoothies to the Rescue!


What is a Green Smoothie? A Green Smoothie is a blended beverage made by blending leafy greens with fruit and water or fruit juice. There are endless varieties of Green Smoothie recipes! And the best thing is that, when prepared properly, you don't even taste the greens!

Many parents will say to us, "But my kids won't eat greens - they don't like them!" We have seen a lot of success when the parents introduces the green smoothies as "Hulk Juice" or "Green Slime" or some other "cool" name that their kids would enjoy.

There are different levels of green smoothies. There are some that have hardly any fruit and mostly vegetables and there are others that are basically fruit smoothies with some greens added. Obviously, the more greens you consume the better, but most people who aren't used to eating greens don't enjoy the taste of chlorophyll yet. So it may be best for them to start with a more fruity smoothie and work towards a greener smoothie.

Victoria Boutenko (the pioneer of green smoothies) says on her website, "Based on my observation and feedback from other smoothie drinkers, most people naturally start to crave greener smoothies in several weeks. On the other hand, some people were trying to be too perfect too quick, and prepared "super-green" smoothies from the very beginning. Then they complained that the green smoothies tasted awful, quit, and never wanted to try them again."

So, would you like some recipes to try??? Here are just a few to get you started on your new Green Smoothie Adventure!

Basic Balance

Victoria Boutenko

1 mango
1 cup kale
1 cup water

Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth.

Green Smoothie Monster

Victoria Boutenko

4 leaves kale, stems removed
4 leaves chard, stems removed
½ bunch fresh parsley
1 leaf aloe vera
½ bunch dandelion greens
3 pears
1 banana
3 cups water

Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth. 

Berry Green Smoothie


3/4 cup water
3/4 cup orange juice
2 cups spinach
1 cup strawberries
1 cup blueberries
2 bananas

Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth.

Green Smoothie Pudding


This is not a "smoothie" but more of a pudding. The flavor is phenominal and your kids are sure to love it!

2 mangoes, peeled and pit removed
1/2 whole pineapple
2 or 3 collard greens (stem removed)

Blend in Vitamix to pudding consistency.

Sherry's Favorite Green Smoothie


2 cups apple juice
1/2 cucumber, peeled
1/2 banana
handful kale leaves (remove stems)
handful of spinach
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp vanilla extract
1-2 Tbsp agave nectar

Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth. Add ice for desired consistency.

Friday, September 27, 2013

The Colon - Our Sewer System

Ever have a backed up sewer? Not a pleasant task to clean that up. Our body has a sewer system and all sewer systems need maintenance. The condition of your colon has a lot to do with your health. The colon is the last organ in the digestive system.
 
Generally the colon is about six feet in length and two inches in diameter There are three parts to the colon (See Diagram Below); The Ascending colon, the transverse colon and the descending colon.

Normal Colon & Small Intestine - This is a picture of your large and small intestine in its “normal” state. The large and small intestines are usually about 23 to 26 feet long.
Diseased Colon - This very diseased, twisted, looped, broken and necrotic (death of tissue) type colon is obviously not the picture of health. Which colon do you want to reside in your body?

THE FUNCTION OF THE COLON

The function of the first half of the colon is to reduce the amount of matter by absorbing a part of the water and needed chemicals. This reduces the amount of material in the colon by more than half. The function of the last half of the colon is to transmit and dispose of the waste from the body.

Because the colon has so much waste to dispose of, under normal conditions, it must discharge its contents at least 2 to 3 times a day for health function. Another rule of thumb would be to dispose after each meal. Generally, a meal will leave the stomach and reach the lower part of the small intestine in four to five hours. When lunch is eaten, the vigorous action of the alimentary canal pushes the breakfast into the middle part of the colon. We promote walking after your meals (not a vigorous walk, but a gentle stroll) and this is to get the peristaltic waves pushing your matter to the lower colon for elimination. In a normally functioning colon all matter should be swept clean of the body in 24 hours. Any transit time longer than that would be considered constipation.

Our colons must be kept clean so there is no time for putrefaction to take place. If the colon is not clean the food residue that is kept in the colon over the 24 hour period, absorbs into the blood. As God would have it, He put in other elimination organs to try to do the work that the colon did not do. The liver, lungs, kidneys and skin must then try to eliminate this build up of waste material. This excess burden on these organs makes them overwork because they have to do their normal job and now have to take on extra tasks. This excess strain makes body parts wear out faster and greatly hinders the functions they have to perform. Constipation causes about two million doctor visits a year.

The Hallelujah Lifestyle promotes NO meat or animal products. When meat is a part of your diet the colon is loaded with undigested remnants of flesh foods which flood the system with poisons which will eventually start a disease process in the body. Before that happens we have many warning signs or symptoms:

Distended Stomach, Foul breathe, Gas, Coated tongue, Indigestion, Constant fatigue, Absent-mindedness, Headaches, Insomnia, Premature aging and Digestive issues can all indicate that your “Sewer System” needs attention. Following is an example of a “severe” case of improper colon function or lack of”

This patient was complaining of constipation, along with abdominal pain and shortness of breath. He had not had a bowel movement for one month. His abdomen was extremely distended and without bowel sounds. Part of his colon was removed – a normal colon measurement would be about two inches in diameter. As shown in the picture above, this man’s colon had expanded to a full man’s hand width. This colon was severely impacted, filled with mucus, parasites, fecal matter, hardened flesh foods and was severely dehydrated.

It is estimated that the average person will have 5 – 15 pounds (2 – 7 kilograms) of waste matter impacted on the colon wall, built up over years of eating heavy foods which require mucus secretion to protect the stomach and colon, resulting in an increase of toxins though parasites. Dirty colons attract “critters” to come clean up your mess!

What can we do to help prevent colon problems from occurring?
  • Water - Drink ½ of your body weight in ounces everyday – water is the hydrating mechanism to keep things flushed of toxins and clean – Think of your body parts as a sponge. A sponge that has moisture in it moves freely and works well but a dehydrated, parched sponge (or organ) cannot function properly as it has lost its elasticity and pliability. Test your hand skin – are you drinking enough water?
  • Fiber - Eat a high fiber diet – especially raw fruits and vegetables – the fiber will help to brush your colon clean. We promote a 85% raw food diet. Your anatomy is made up of live organisms with an amazing degree of resilience, elasticity and buoyancy and must be revitalized with living nutrients and elements. The roughage you eat will broom clean your colon.
  • Juicing – Juicing supplies the nutrients to the cellular level and although fiber-less helps to hydrate the body and helps to eliminate constipation
  • Manage Stress levels – Blood vessels constrict and blood fats increase when we are stressed. One of the biggest problems is that digestion stops! More nutrients are used up and less wastes is moved. Emotional disturbances interrupt your digestive system from working properly.
  • Fresh Air – A lack of fresh air and oxygen retards digestion
  • Exercise – Helps digestion and promotes intestinal activity and increases oxygen levels in the body
  • CHEW, CHEW, CHEW – Chewing your food and mixing it with your digestive juices in your mouth will provide your colon and body with the needed enzymes to break the food down better – thus less work for the colon to do. Undigested food can be very toxic to the body and perceived as foreign invaders making the immune system work harder.

What your BM should NOT look like
  • Taking digestive enzymes and Propbiotics especially when eating cooked food, can definitely aid in digesting your foods
  • A good fiber product (we use Fiber Cleanse) used in the beginning of your lifestyle change for about 2-3 months can help safely clean out your colon. Then switch to ground flax seed to maintain colon health. One or two tablespoons in water about 20 minutes prior to each meal will help put the needed fiber in your digestive system.
  • Avoid caffeine. Caffeine is a diuretic – which means it dehydrates your body and colon
Our colon resides in the core of our body and it has a very important function. It’s a cleansing organ and does have needs and requirements for proper functionality. The quality of the food you present to your digestive system will either rebuild your body or increase the degeneration of your body. Considering we only have one body to use while here on earth, we think it is very important to pay attention to the warning signs.

We need to look at the symptoms above as warnings; warnings to take better care of what we are putting into our temples. The Lord wants us to take care of our temples – let’s do everything we can do to have him reside in a healthy, clean environment that is functioning well. A lot of times people just do not associate their ills with their food intake. We go to the doctors wanting to know why we are sick and we want the quick fix. However, once we start taking accountability for our part in our sickness, we are closer to our healing.

Many times we can repair our sewage backup damage depending on the severity of the leak or ill running colon. We want to take care to prevent microbial development in our gut. If left unrecognized or untreated it can cause a serious health problem. If your toilet backed up into your home, just think of the health hazard that would create. Now, can you imagine your sewer system backing up into your body or bloodstream? We must take the time to understand how our body works so we can take measures to clean our internal sewer system.

The untouched subject – More than you want to know but SHOULD KNOW

No one wants to talk about their eliminations! It’s actually quite funny to watch people’s expressions when the subject is brought up. But here at the Plant City Hallelujah Acres Lifestyle Center we discuss at length (literally) just what kind bowel movements we should have. Hold onto your toilet paper – here we go:
  • You should be having 2-3 bowel movements a day – it is not normal to only have a BM once or twice a week
  • Length – The entire length of your BM should be approximately the size from your finger tips to your elbow (surprised huh?) Usually in 4” to 8” lengths
  • Your BM should have “C” and/or “S” curves in it. Think of it as a chocolate Dairy Queen swirl
  • It should not splatter like an explosion all over the toilet bowl. It should be solid in nature
  • It should not look like a rabbit or parakeet’s droppings – that would suggest constipation
  • It should not have a foul odor
  • Shoot for a floater! Sinking occurs when the body is acidic. Rapid sinking stools can indicate a person is not eating enough fiber
  • If you have trouble eliminating, try a foot stool. Being in this elevated position will allow the body to eliminate more naturally
  • It should be soft and a peanut butter consistency
  • It should be sausage size
  • No straining
  • The color of your BM should be a brown or golden brown. Usually dark colors indicate that your feces has been sitting in the colon too long However, if you are drinking carrot juice, your BM will take on a orange-brown color; beets would cause a red-brown color.
It is our wish and desire that you will take heed to this very important subject. Start eliminating properly and you will not believe how much healthier you will feel and be!
Go for the Blue Ribbon!!!

Sources:
Malkmus, Reverend George. The Hallelujah Diet. Shippensburg; Destiny Image Publishers Inc., 2006
Walker, Dr Norman W. Colon Health: The Key to a Vibrant Life. 1979.
Diseases & Disorders: 2nd Edition. Lippincott Williams& Wilkins, 2005

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Apple Crepes with Apple Walnut Filling and Cinnamon Maple Cream




This dessert may take a little more work to prepare, but it is SO WORTH IT! I don't know anyone who wouldn't love this dessert. The crepe shell is dehydrated and then stuffed with a flavorful apple walnut filling. It is then topped with a delicious maple cream that is to LIVE for! And to top it off, it is completely RAW!

For the Crepes: 

3 cups coconut meat
1½ cup chopped apple
½ to 1 cup filtered water
1 cup golden flaxseed, finely ground (about 1 ½ cup ground)
3 Tbsp agave nectar
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp sea salt

In a Vita-Mix or high-speed blender, blend the coconut meat with the apple, adding the water ¼ cup at a time as needed to make it smooth.  You may need to use the tamper (the large black baton-like thing that comes with your Vita-Mix) to push the apple and coconut into the blades.  The mixture should be thick, like custard.

Transfer the coconut mixture to a large mixing bowl and add the ground flax, agave, cinnamon, and salt.  Mix it very thoroughly with a spatula or large spoon.

Divide the batter between three 14-inch Teflex-lined dehydrator trays.  Using an offset spatula, spread to about 1/6- inch thick.  Dehydrate at 115ºF for 6 to 8 hours or overnight.  Flip them over and peel away the Teflex.  Continue dehydrating on the screens only for another hour or two, until the underside is just dry and the crepes are still pliable.

Slide the crepes onto a flat cutting surface.  Using a circle cutter (or you can trace around a small plate with a sharp knife), cut circles approximately 4 inches in diameter.

For the apple walnut filling:

4 cups cubed apple (skins on, about ¼-inch cubes), from about 4 apples
¾ cup coarsely chopped walnuts
¼ cup raisins
3 Tbsp maple syrup
3 Tbsp lemon juice (more or less depending on sweetness of apples)
½ tsp grated lemon zest
½ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp sea salt

Toss all the filling ingredients in a bowl.  Spread on a Teflex-lined dehydrator tray and dehydrate at 115ºF for 1 to 2 hours, just to soften the apples a bit.

For the maple cream:

½ cup cashews, soaked 2 hours or more
½ cup coconut meat
½ cup maple syrup
2 Tbsp coconut butter
¼ cup filtered water
2 tsp vanilla extract
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp sea salt

In a Vita-Mix or high-speed blender, blend all the maple cream ingredients thoroughly.  Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate if not using right away.

For the assembly:

Maple syrup
Fresh mint for garnish (optional)

Fill each of the crepes with the apple walnut filling and fold.  Serve with the maple cream, drizzle with maple syrup, and garnish with fresh mint, if desired.