We are all born with a big supply of natural enzymes in our bodies. Enzymes are small proteins that act as catalysts to break down the food in our system and get our digestion process going. Fruits and vegetables are bursting with enzymes, however, these enzymes are destroyed when the food is heated over 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

When cooked food is eaten, the enzymes currently in the body go to help digest the food, and this process takes energy and robs our body of vitality. Who hasn’t eaten too much at Thanksgiving then fallen into a stupor? Well, your body is literally exhausted from all the work it is doing! Our enzyme reserves are like a bank. The more unhealthy cooked foods that we consume the more enzymes we use. The good news is that we have the ability to create more natural enzymes! So, how do we make sure our body has the enzymes it needs and is operating at maximum capacity?

The solution is simple.

1) Add more fruits and leafy green vegetables to your diets.

2) Try to juice at least once a day. Please read my Juice Fast article for more information.

3) Eat more raw fruits and vegetables. This should be easy in the summer when we have an ample, fresh, tempting supply! To learn more about the benefits of …

There is a reason Eve ate the apple! Fruit is a food of the gods. Not only is fruit high in enzymes (see above article,) which aid in digestion, but fruit supplies our bodies with carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids and=2 0cancer-fighting tannins and flavonoids. Because it is made up mostly of water, fruit hydrates and helps the body cleanse, detox and eliminate. As an added bonus, fruit also helps us satisfy our taste for sweetness!

Fruit is one of the best things to have in the morning because not only does it provide you with vital nutrients to start your day, but it also goes through the body quickly and aids in detoxing the body. Children know this basic truth and flock to fruit not only for its sweet taste but also because their bodies need and crave it!

Add as much fruit to your diet as you can, however, buy locally grown food in season for environmental concerns and maximum nutrition. But, as a side note, it is not recommended that you mix fruits with carbohydrates or proteins because fruits ferment during digestion and inhibit the digestion of whatever else you are eating.

Strawberries and cherries are in season in June and blueberries, raspberries, apples and peaches begin to be harvested in July. Take advantage of all the abundance we have …

This must be the month that I am totally into sweets but, well, these cupcakes are healthy and sweetened with agave nectar! Come to my “Healthy Treats” Class on June 2nd and learn all about how to make these delicious cupcakes and other sugar-free vegan treats!

A few months ago, we served these to over 300 children (and adults) at the Green School Alliance Fair and at another private school in Manhattan and they were gobbled up! I promise you that treats do not have to be laden with sugar for kids to love them! These are so easy to make and absolutely delicious!
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For the cupcake:

2/3 cups spelt flour
3/4 cup coconut ground in processor
3 cups coconut unground
4 tsps bak ing powder
2 tsps baking soda
1 ½ cups agave nectar
1/2 cup sesame oil
1/2 cup olive oil
1 3/4 cup water
3 tbsps vanilla
1 1/2 tsp sea salt
2 tbsps apple cider vinegar

Combine the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet ingredients in another. Mix both together in a food processor until smooth. Grease the cupcake pans with olive oil cooking spray and pour mixture in. Bake for 30 minutes on 350 degrees.

For the delectable vanilla frosting:

¼ block of the firm Silken tofu (well drained!)
Hefty squirt of agave nectar
1 tbsp safflower oil
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 ½-2 cups Tofutti cream cheese (2 containers)

Mix …

Yes, that is a flower that you are eating! Believe it or not, the delicious Asparagus that you eat is actually a perennial garden plant and member of the lily family.

Asparagus has been considered a delicacy since ancient times. Originating in the Easter Mediterranean region, cultivated in ancient Egypt as well as Africa, and then made wildly popular in the 18th century by Louis XIV, asparagus has been prized as an epicurean delight and for its medicinal properties for almost 2000 years!

Asparagus is a nutrient-dense food that is extremely high in folic acid and also contains substantial levels of potassium, vitamins B1, 2, 6, vitamin A, C, & K, niacin and thiamin.

Folic acid or folate is responsible for protecting against birth defects, promoting healthy skin, protecting against parasites and food poisoning, and helping ward off anemia. Containing a wopping 263 mcg of folate per cup, asparagus is something that is very beneficial to add to your diet if you are thinking about getting pregnant or are in the early stages of pregnancy.

Asparagus is also a diuretic. Asparagus contains 288 mg of potassium per cup and is very low in sodium. Due to its mineral profile and the active amino acid asparagine, asparagus is a wonderful diuretic which helps reduce water retention due to PMS and high blood pressure.

Some experts also …

In Texas, we call Coke, Sprite and all other fizzy, canned sugary drinks “soft drinks.” Why we call them “soft drinks” when they can completely eat away at a penny or a tooth if left in a cup of it, I will never know! The bottom line is never, ever drink cokes, diet cokes or any other soft drinks. They are poison in a can. I am a former diet coke addict and used to drink literally 6 cans of diet coke a day and come from a family where my mother lived off Tab! But, have you ever looked at the label? If you can’t understand the majority of the ingredients you should not be putting it into your mouth!

The United States per capita consumption of soft drinks has risen to 49 gallons per year and the per capita sugar intake per person has risen to 149 pounds per person per year! Never have we seen such a record number of cases of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer and other degenerative diseases not only in adults but in children!

Not only does the sugar and calories in all this soda lead to weight gain but the sugar contained in these drinks erodes teeth. Additionally, the caffeine in these drinks contributes to sleep problems and also acts as a diuretic shepherding yet more beneficial nutrients …