I already reviewed the coconut peanut butter. If you’d like to read that in-depth review, click here.

And now on to my thoughts on raw honey…

It’s Raw!

You know I have a soft spot for raw foods and their healing benefits. This honey would be RAWsome in a smoothie, y’all – especially if you’re wanting added sweetness to hide the taste of kale!

From the site:

Tropical Traditions Organic Raw Honey comes from the frontier areas of Canada, and is only harvested during a 6-week period in the summer. Tropical Traditions is the exclusive source of this premium organic honey in the U.S. Most commercial honeys available on the market today come from bee farms, where the bees are controlled within a certain area and get their pollen from usually only one kind of flower. Many of the plants that produce these flowers (clover, orange blossom, etc.) are grown with pesticides and fertilizers as well. In addition, almost all honeys on the market are pasteurized in high heat and filtered, removing many of the beneficial nutrients and enzymes.

Tropical Traditions Organic Raw Honey has not been subjected to the heat of processing, only warmed enough to flow (same temperatures the honey would see inside the hive). We select only premium honey that is pure, smooth and creamy, with the consistency of soft margarine at harvest. It contains live yeast and enzymes, because it has not been processed. It also contains pollen because it has not been filtered—merely screened.

Fine textured crystals are characteristic of totally pure, unheated, unprocessed, raw honey. Properly crystallized honey has a fine, smooth texture. Crystallized honey preserves natural goodness and doesn’t drip. The more rapidly honey crystallizes the finer the texture will be. It will also turn harder over time as it crystallizes. Truly raw honeys do not deteriorate with age, but like fine wines, continue to age and develop into more complex tastes.

Some of you wondered why Tropical Traditions raw honey is solid – and not liquid/runny like you see in stores. I hope the above information helps you understand.

Fun Fact!

“Honey has been used since ancient times both as a food and as a medicine. Apiculture, the practice of beekeeping to produce honey, dates back to at least 700 BC. For many centuries, honey was regarded as sacred due to its wonderfully sweet properties as well as its rarity. It was used mainly in religious ceremonies to pay tribute to the gods, as well as to embalm the deceased. Honey was also used for a variety of medicinal and cosmetic purposes. For a long time in history, its use in cooking was reserved only for the wealthy since it was so expensive that only they could afford it.”—WH Foods

It’s (Certified) Organic!

I know for most of you, consuming (certified) organic foods is a priority. It’s not always easy to find certified organic products but when we do, it’s a blessing!

From the site:

In order for honey to be certified organic, the beehives must be placed in isolated areas miles from the dense population, industry, traffic congestion, and farm fields treated with chemicals and landfills. Second, a bee’s flying range is determined by their natural instinct which tells them to stay within their natural four mile range from the hive location. Finding area which can be certified organic is extremely difficult, which is why there are so few certified organic honeys on the market. Tropical Traditions sources its honey from hives in the wild frontier areas of Canada.

These regions are a rich source of wild vegetation that produce some of the finest honey in the world. The USDA and Canadian Organic Certification implies a rigorous set of standards and conditions that must be adhered to by both the producer (beekeeper) and the packager. All aspects of the honey production including the source of the nectar, forage area of the bees, management of the bees, extracting process, transportation, “lot” management, processing temperature, integrity (no co-mingling with non-organic honey), screening, and, packaging materials, are taken into account in the certification process.

17.6 oz. glass jar
Retail: $17.50

15 lb. pail
Retail: $160.00

Health Benefits

Raw honey is anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial and has been known to help:

• alleviate sore, raw throats
• coughing
• allergies
• heal wounds
• fight against free radicals
• lower cholesterol
• increase energy
• improve athletic performance
• boost the immune system
• and more!

“Phytonutrients found both in honey and propolis have been shown to posssess cancer-preventing and anti-tumor properties. These substances include caffeic acid methyl caffeate, phenylethyl caffeate, and phenylethyl dimethylcaffeate. Researchers have discovered that these substances prevent colon cancer in animals by shutting down activity of two enzymes, phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C and lipoxygenase. When raw honey is extensively processed and heated, the benefits of these phytonutrients are largely eliminated.”—WH Foods

Raw honey is also a wonderful natural beauty treatment. Smear some on your face and let the raw goodness seep into your pores.

Diabetics don’t have to fear raw honey either:

“Honey may promote better blood sugar control. Proper fueling of the liver is central to optimal glucose metabolism during sleep and exercise. Honey is the ideal liver fuel because it contains a nearly 1:1 ratio of fructose to glucose. Fructose "unlocks" the enzyme from the liver cell’s nucleus that is necessary for the incorporation of glucose into glycogen (the form in which sugar is stored in the liver and muscle cells). An adequate glycogen store in the liver is essential to supply the brain with fuel when we are sleeping and during prolonged exercise. When glycogen stores are insufficient, the brain triggers the release of stress hormones – adrenalin and cortisol – in order to convert muscle protein into glucose. Repeated metabolic stress from cortisol produced when less than optimal liver glycogen stores are available during sleep, leads over time, to impaired glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, diabetes, and increased risk for cardiovascular disease and obesity.”—WH Foods

Also, Whole Foods says: “Although our food ranking system did not qualify honey as a dense source of traditional nutrients, it did emerge as a source of vitamin B2, vitamin B6, iron and manganese.”

Pros

As you can see, Tropical Traditions honey is raw, certified organic, and is super high quality, so I know it’s not only chock-full of sweet deliciousness – every smidgen is bursting with health benefits and energy.

I personally love that the raw honey is solid. It’s fun to use and all you have to do to keep the raw enzymes intact and turn it into liquid, is simply put the amount you need in a small bowl and set that bowl in a bowl of warm water – or set that small (glass) bowl/cup near a low heat so it can liquefy.

Cons

It may be a little expensive, if you’re frugal or having to really watch your pennies. A  17.6 oz. glass jar retails for $17.50 so if you’re used to spending $3 – $5 for regular old honey at the grocery store, you might feel like the cost of this honey is a huge splurge for you; however, isn’t what we put into our bodies worth the extra cost?

And that is seriously the only con I can think of, folks!

Verdict/Grade

Raw Juice Girl gives this honey an A. I feel it deserves an A because it’s truly raw, it’s wild, it’s natural, it’s (certified) organic and cruelty-free. I also believe it deserves an A because the company does everything it can to ensure it is the quality product they say it is. And I didn’t add the + (a lot of times I give products an A+) because I feel that the cost may be an issue for some of you. Although I absolutely feel it’s a worthy investment and you are only going to use a small amount so it would last you a while, $17.50 plus shipping is a lot for some folks to shell out – and I realize that.

If you can rearrange your budget or can afford this at all, I absolutely feel it’s worthy every single penny. You have my word!

And be sure to check out the recipes I created using Tropical Traditions raw honey:

Chocolate Banana Avocado Pudding

(See full recipe with instructions and photos here .)

Happy Hemp Honey Holes

(See full recipe with instructions and photos here.)

Coconut PB Honey Overnight Oats

(See full recipe with instructions and photos here.)

Inside-Out Coconut Peanut Butter Cups

(See full recipe with instructions and photos here .)

And my recipe was also published on the Tropical Traditions website!!! <— I’m really excited about that, and very proud.

Search for tons of awesome recipes by clicking the banner:

Win a FREE jar HERE!!!

Referral Option

If you’d like to join the Tropical Traditions Healthy Buyer’s Club, visit www.healthybuyersclub.com/orderform.cfm

And enter Raw Juice Girl’s ID number: 4845073

By following these steps, you will receive a complimentary copy of the book Virgin Coconut Oil: How it has changed people’s lives and how it can change yours! by Brian and Marianita Shilhavy.

Your sponsor (that’d be me! ) will receive a coupon for a complimentary gift to redeem on their next order.

You may view the current complimentary gift being offered here: http://www.tropicaltraditions.com//referral_program.htm

Further instructions can be found here.

Thanks again to www.tropicaltraditions.com!

Have you tried Tropical Traditions raw honey? Did you love it? What did you think of the consistency? Was it sweeter or better than other honeys you’ve tried? Do you prefer the solid consistency or are you set in your ways when it comes to runny honey? Of course, I realize it isn’t vegan but to my vegan readers: Don’t you think this honey is a wonderful honey to use for those who are transitioning to veganism? Don’t you agree? Or, I know some vegans consume honey from time-to-time. If that’s you, would you give this raw honey a try? Chime in, folks! I LOVE reading your thoughts!

Oh, and just in case you didn’t hear the news: This site is in the midst of a redesign and things might get a little wonky for the next couple of days.

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

References:

WH Foods: Honey

If you’re just tuning in, be sure to check out my review of E3Live. And a huge thank you to the folks at www.E3Live.com for sponsoring this review (and upcoming contest)!!!

Note: E3Live sent me samples, but I have not been paid to write this review. The thoughts I share in this post are my honest opinions.

I decided to use E3Live on its own, without mixing things up with BrainOn. I wanted to listen to my body and be absolutely sure how I felt taking each product. So now that you’ve read my thoughts on E3Live, it’s time to learn about BrainOn….

From Klamath Lake

The blue-green algae found in BrainOn comes from a lake in Oregon.

“Upper Klamath Lake is free of adverse bacteria, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. The lake receives an average 300 days of sunlight per year which provides a perfect growing environment for the world’s richest strain of wild AFA blue-green algae, scientifically known as Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. The alkaline lake water provides more than 60 times the nutrients needed for the algae to grow to its full potential each year. Under the right conditions, AFA algae can reproduce every 20 minutes, which provides a plentiful abundance of this organic, high life-force, miracle super food.”– www.E3Live.com

Brain Power

It’s kind of crazy to think you can actually absorb brain power from a serving of blue-green algae each day, isn’t it? But when you think about it, you’ll realize that for decades people have been stuffing their faces with overcooked, sodium and chemical-filled foods that are lacking nutrition. When our body lacks the nutrients it’s crying out for, our brains lack as well.

We have to remember that our brains need to be nourished in order to work like we want them to. Want to remember where you put your keys? Your anniversary? Answers to a test you studied days or weeks for? Do you desire to have the mental clarity and focus you used to have? Tired of feeling foggy and forgetful? Feed your brain!

Learn why you can nourish your brain cells with BrainOn…

From the site:

“E3Live BrainOn® contains the active ingredient in wild-harvested AFA that both promotes mood balance and enhances focus. In fact, no other product competes with BrainON® in terms of promoting joyfulness and brain clarity benefits with no side effects. BrainON® improves health. It’s good for you!

PEA was found to be significantly lower in subjects with Attention Deficit Disorder. People taking BrainON® with Phenalmin report better attention at school and at work. BrainON is for anyone who wishes to balance mood and to increase concentration. One of our most beloved products, E3Live BrainOn® helps you to enjoyably function at a higher level.”

Wow.

Pretty cool, huh?!

Depression

My shipment of E3Live samples actually arrived while I was out of town at my 28-year-old cousin’s funeral. She was like a little sister to me. She lost her life on impact in a car accident. Not only that, she was one of 3 cousins I lost in just a matter of a couple of months. One of the other cousins I wasn’t close to, but one of them I was. I went to school with him and always felt closer to him than other relatives.

Words can’t express what a difficult, trying, stressful, devastating time it was to know that 3 young people (ages 28, 32, and 36) were no longer here on this beautiful earth – or in my family. No more cards, letters, hugs, or smiles.

Those of you who follow this blog regularly know that I’m all about inspiring, motivating, uplifting, and happy thoughts. So my intentions of sharing this with you is not to make you feel depressed, but to prove a point: Both BrainOn and E3Live’s Original Formula helped me tremendously through these hard times I’m telling you about. I know that I was able to find energy, strength, and mental clarity that would have been much harder to drudge up without chugging a shot of E3Live or BrainOn each day.

“I’ve had people who’ve been depressed for years and years, and literally, within a few days after receiving AFA their depression lifts.”

“A wonderful and unique blend for peak performance of body, mind, and spirit that should be included in any detoxification and rejuvenation program. I take it myself daily.” — Dr. Gabriel Cousens,Director of Tree of Life of Life Rejuvenation Center

I did suffer depression after such family tragedy. Yes, Raw Juice Girl was depressed. I couldn’t sleep, fell off the 100% raw food wagon, ate the wrong foods… I was a mess! But I was able to bounce back a lot quicker because of BrainOn.

I also took a short break from freelance assignments but was able to come back full force and write even more than before. I’m convinced it’s  mostly because of this company’s blue-green algae. Convinced.

What’s In BrainOn?

I know you’re wondering what exactly is in BrainOn to make it so fantabulous, right?

Nutritional information (from the site):

Supplement Facts: Protein <1g; Trans Fat 0g; Vitamin A 1890 IU 38% daily value; Vitamin K 34 mcg 43% daily value; Riboflavin 49 mcg 3% daily value; Vitamin B1 27 mcg 117% daily value.

Ingredients: Organic, fresh-frozen AFA (Aphanizomenon flos aquae) with BrainON®, a concentrated organic AFA extract of Phenylethylamine (PEA).

That’s some awesome nutrition for our brains!

Pros

I’d definitely agree with the brain enhancing, mood lifting powers of BrainOn. As I mentioned above, it helped me through some very troublesome times, and as you know, I’ve managed to continue writing with enthusiasm and mental clarity.

From the site:

• All the benefits of E3Live, plus:
• Increase focus and clarity
• Lift and brighten mood with the PEA, the “love molecule”
• Lower stress and enhance well-being
• Function at a higher level
• Shown to increase concentration

I do agree with this list provided on E3Live’s website because I felt the same benefits personally when I took the supplement.

Cons

As I mentioned in my E3Live review, the biggest two cons I can think of from purchasing BrainOn is cost and taste (for some of you). Those of you who follow me know that I can pretty much chug down anything without it phasing me because I’m used to drinking potent herbal tonics, strong herbal teas, and other natural remedies (like organic apple cider vinegar with Mother). But I realize not everyone is accustomed to the taste of green. I find E3Live and BrainOn actually taste mild, so you may not have a problem taking it straight up. If you do, simply add it to smoothies, juices, or other recipes to disguise the taste.

And about the cost… One of my readers mentioned finding a couple of friends to split the supplement and shipping cost with so you can enjoy this wonderful blue-green algae. I think that’s a great idea!

Other than those two issues, I honestly can’t imagine anything bad about enhancing your heath.

Tip: Preparing your daily dose for the upcoming week is quick and simple. I gave step-by-step instructions (with a photo) in my E3Live review.

Verdict/Grade

I know this is a costly supplement for a lot of people, but I can honestly tell you it is a worthwhile investment.  If there’s a way you can readjust your budget and put your health before other expenses, I’d definitely recommend spending your money on this product.

For the results I’ve personally experienced from using BrainOn, I absolutely give it an A+ because I definitely came through (and out of) depressing, trying times much better than I would have on my own, without E3Live and BrainOn.

Have you ever tried BrainOn? Do you wish you could? Well, you can! E3Live has generously offered to sponsor a contest, allowing one reader to win 3 bottles of E3Live and 2 bottles of BrainOn, + a shaker cup—over a $200.oo value!!!

Contest is launching tonight, Sunday, November 8th. Get ready!!

Visit www.E3Live.com to learn more about this super fantabulous blue-green algae.

And thank you again to the kind folks at E3Live for sponsoring this review and the upcoming contest!!

Looking in the Mirror

I’ve always tried to encourage you all to not feel like you have to give up on reaching your goals when you “mess up” on your journey to better health. Whether it’s missing a workout (or several) or giving in to your favorite junk food(s), I’ve told you to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get back in the game, right? Each new day is a fresh start, a clean slate, and you can start over, right? Right. Well, now it’s time for me to practice what I preach. Oh yeah, that’s the hard part! <Insert nervous laughter here>

On Again, Off Again

Here’s what happened: I was moseying right along, 100% raw, and loving every single moment of it–every raw nut, seed, veggie, fruit, smoothie, juice, sprout… I was at a place in my raw food journey where I wasn’t craving processed junk  (or even organic eggs or Greek yogurt–and those are two of my favorites!). I wasn’t feeling upset in any way that I wasn’t eating the same stuff those around me were gobbling up. I was at peace with my Raw Foodist lifestyle–and then it happened…. Tragedy after tragedy after tragedy hit my family (you can read all about it on my other blog).

Accepting and Loving

At first I was really, really upset with myself. Raw food is so important to me. Some of you have been telling me to stop being so hard on myself because I have eaten really healthfully for years now and have maintained a 100+ pound weight loss and a 75-100% Raw Food Lifestyle. And… you are right. Sometimes (okay, a lot of the time) I am too hard on myself.  Why? Because 1) I don’t want to gain back the weight I worked so hard to lose, 2) I don’t want to slide back down the unhealthy ladder, and 3) because I really am passionate about a 100% Raw Food Lifestyle and all it has to offer in terms of health, the environment, and sparing animals from being eaten.

Climbing Back On

I am taking your advice, though, and my own. It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve had to realize that I’m only human and I’m far from perfect. And sometimes in the midst of the storm, we end up comforting ourselves with food. Simple as that. It happens to the best of us. Why? I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I grew up in the South, where comfort food rules: creamy mashed potatoes, fried chicken, biscuits and gravy, macaroni and cheese, moist cakes, decadent pies… Shall I go on?

Enjoying the Journey

I’m focusing on trying to find a “normal place” in life after all the recent family tragedy and am not going to be too hard on myself, or even set a date, about the 100% Raw Food. Right now, I just need to be. And sometimes that’s enough….

Have you fallen off the wagon? It doesn’t have to be the Raw Food wagon. Whatever you’re trying to achieve, it can be very difficult to stay on the straight and narrow 100% of the time so you can reach your goals. We can do this. Yes, we can. How? By taking one day–and one step–at a time. Come on, I’ll hold your hand and we’ll travel this rocky path together.

Coming Soon

• more contests and reviews
• photos and details about a pioneer festival I recently attended (including getting to meet an Editor and an Editor-In-Chief) Eeek!
• and updates from the Amish farm

So…. be sure to subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life.

Photo Credit: Andreas Solberg

I’d like to take the time to send out a very warm thank you to Alex Ortner, Executive Producer for the film Raw for Thirty, who was so kind as to sponsor this contest so you’ll have an opportunity to win and watch these DVDs and start down your own (raw) journey to better health!

What You’ll Be Getting

The winner of this contest will receive the following DVDs. There are 3 DVDs total. The first is Simply Raw and the others come in a 2 disc set as part of Raw for Life: The Ultimate Encyclopedia Of The Raw Food Lifestyle. This is such an amazing set of DVDs!

On to the review…

Simply Raw

First, let me tell you: The information in the DVDs you’ll be winning in this contest is unbelievable. Talk about inspiring, motivational, heartfelt, sincere, educational…. The list just goes on and on!

The DVD, Simply Raw, is about reversing diabetes in just 30 days. How? By eating only Raw for Thirty days. The theory is that by consuming 100% raw foods, your body will find a harmonious balance and then your blood sugar will stabilize itself–at minimum improving significantly.

Simply Raw gives you a peek into the journey of six Americans who are battling diabetes. Some of them are also battling obesity. While staying at The Tree of Life in Arizona, under the supervision of Dr. Gabriel Cousens, the six individuals (with various diabetes levels and insulin problems) were carefully monitored and cared for.Looking into the lives of these people and watching their struggles, their honest attempts, and then more struggles as they tried to make it through the 30-day program just broke my heart. I’ve been obese morbidly obese. I know the pain. I know how discouraging it can be to wake up every morning with a heavy person weighing your life down and feeling like life is hopeless and like you can never, ever achieve the healthier, slimmer body you so desire.

I also used to be on diabetic medication because my blood sugar was atrocious. I related so much to the stories these people shared in this DVD. It was almost as if I were living my own morbid obesity and blood sugar problems all over again!

So, I absolutely believe in the power of raw foods and know from personal experience and my own journey that blood sugar can stabilize. I’ve lost over 100 pounds and am now eating 100% raw food–no more diabetic medication for me!

Let’s learn about the other 2 DVDs….

Raw for Life

Wow, let me just say that I’m so glad I had the opportunity to watch these two DVDs in the Raw for Life set. I love gleaning from the wisdom of anyone who has been on a path I’d like to travel. In these two DVDs, you’ll learn from 30 Experts including: David Wolfe, a Raw Food Expert, hear from Woody Harrelson (yes, actor Woody Harrelson!!) about his opinions of raw foods, and even Dr. Fred Bisci shares an incredible about of his wisdom and beliefs (he’s Matt Monarch’s inspiration, remember??).

There’s no way to cover everything in these 2 DVDs so I’ll just highlight some of what you’ll be watching below:

Disc 1:

• Starting Out on the Raw Food Diet
• Weight Loss
• Detox and Cleaning
• Raw for 30 trailer
• Wisdom of Eating Raw
• Photo Gallery

Disc 2:

• Nutrition
• Rejuvenation and Longevity
• Spiritual Aspects
• Recipes from Leading (Raw) Chefs (Not only do you get to see the recipes, you get to watch Raw Food Chefs prepare them!!)
• Photo Gallery

If you’ve been stuck in an unhealthy rut, whether it’s diabetes, obesity, blood pressure problems–or even if you’re thin but just want to feel healthier, be more fit, and have more energy you will probably never be the same after watching these 3 DVDs.

I also want to add that I simply ADORED the colorful graphics, photos, and music!

Contest Rules

You’re allowed FOUR entries for this contest:

1. Leave a comment sharing why you’d benefit from owning a copy of this Simply Raw and Raw for Life. (DO NOT just say “thanks for the contest” or something like that–I do not publish those type of comments because they seem like spam and aren’t fair to the other contestants who leave a thoughtful, genuine answer.)
2. Do you Twitter? Tweet about this contest and then leave a comment with your Twitter name.
3. Share this contest on your blog, linking back to this post. (The pingback will be counted as your third entry.) If you don’t see your pingback, just email me at healingwithjuices@gmail.com and let me know. It may have gone to spam for some reason.
4. Add Healing with Juices to your favorites on Technoratori. Comment the fourth–and last–time to let me know, with a link to your technoratori profile to show you added us.

Contest ends Sunday, April 19th, at 9 p.m. (Central Time) Get all your entries in and have fun trying to win!!

After this April 15th contest ends, you’ll be competing for raw nuts, goji berries, raw nut butters, and more–so don’t miss out on upcoming posts!

Be sure to subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life.

There were 15 comments this time. I used Random.org to randomly select a winner. The winner? Janet, comment #2!!

Here’s the comment she left:

2 Janet { 04.08.09 at 12:17 pm }

Thanks Michele! I’d love to win a copy. Sounds like a good guide for going raw.

A big thank you to everyone who participated. I’m thrilled that more and more people are wanting to study raw foods and the lifestyle and improve their health. And congratulations to Janet! May you find much inspiration, peace, and information from your copy of Raw Success. (I know you will!!)
Since this contest was sponsored 100% by Matt Monarch, he will be providing and shipping your copy to you, Janet. I’ll still be in touch with you to get your mailing address to relay to him.

Please check back, everyone. I’ll be publishing another contest on April 15th. This will be a gift combo and I have no doubt the prize will help inspire you to improve your health. After this April 15th contest, you’ll be competing for raw nuts, goji berries, raw nut butters, and more–so don’t miss out on upcoming posts!

Be sure to subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life.

Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates!

“I often dream about what it would be like to meet those Raw Pioneers who have passed on, for whom I have great admiration.”–Matt Monarch

The above quote is the first sentence Matt writes on the dedication page of Raw Success. When I first read that sentence, I immediately thought: what an honor to be able to glean from Matt’s Raw wisdom–while he’s still young and alive! (Matt dedicated Raw Success to Dr. Fred Bisci.)

Matt Monarch is so passionate about Raw Food and health. His enthusiasm is beyond infectious. I’m so blessed that he sent me a complimentary copy of his latest book, Raw Success–and even more blessed that he’s offered to sponsor a contest here at Healing with (Raw) Juices, so you’ll have an opportunity to win your very own copy!! How exciting is that?!

But more about Matt and this “Rawesome” book first….

Although Matt advises against going 100% Raw overnight, he did. He says he went “from burgers to celery” literally overnight. That’s a huge transformation of diet and lifestyle! Can you even imagine the roller coaster of emotional and physical change that brought on?

In Raw Success, Matt walks you through the Raw Food transition, inspiring you every step of the way. It’s such an encouragement to read the words of someone who is where you aspire to be, who has lived EIGHT years eating 100% raw foods only. That’s an amazing accomplishment!

Matt emphasizes living a balanced Raw Lifestyle and not relying heavily on any one fruit, veggie, nut, or seed. Getting colonics is something Matt highly recommends in this book. He says if you’re going to be embarking on a Raw Journey, then you need to continually cleanse your colon because your body will be releasing so many toxins from all those years of cooked and processed foods.

Matt also advises drinking fresh, raw juices every single day so your body will absolutely be getting all the nutrition it possibly can. As I’m always telling you: fresh, raw juices pack a powerful punch! And, get this: Matt’s favorite raw juice is carrot-spinach. Eeek! Mine is, too. I have something in common with Matt Monarch!

I was going to “pester” Matt to do an interview with us, but he’s been so kind and gracious, I decided to direct you to a recent interview he shared at Raw People: In-Depth Interview with Matt Monarch. Enjoy!

Now, on to the contest…

I love how Lori, over at Green Gigs, has chosen to run her current contest. (Go enter her contest!) She’s a great gal offering a great prize!

You’re allowed FOUR entries for this contest:

1. Leave a comment sharing why you’d benefit from owning a copy of Raw Success.
2. Visit Matt’s website and leave a second comment about something you read on his site that resonated with your soul. (Make it original. Don’t copy someone else’s thoughts.)
3. Share this contest on your blog, linking back to this post. (The pingback will be counted as your third entry.) If you don’t see your pingback, just email me at healingwithjuices@gmail.com and let me know. It may have gone to spam for some reason.
4. Add Healing with Juices to your favorites on Technoratori. Comment the fourth–and last–time to let me know, with a link to your technoratori profile to show you added us.

You have until Saturday, April 10th, at 12:00 Midnight (Central Time) to get all your entries in. I’ll be using Random.org once again to randomly select the winner. Nope, you don’t have to have a blog to enter. You can still enter three other ways. That’s it. Easy as pie–raw pie, that is! And… let the contest begin! Good luck!

Oh, and there’ll be LOTS more contests in the NEAR FUTURE!! Coming up next:  awesome DVDs and healthy RAW FOODS (!!!)–so don’t miss out on upcoming posts! Be sure to subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life.

Michele L. Tune

Raw Foodists

Ever wondered what a Raw Foodist’s life is like? What they eat? How they prepare it? How they’re able to get enough nutrition? If you’re curious about the raw food lifestyle, or if you’ve been considering going raw yourself–even for a few weeks or months, just to cleanse your body–Raw People is definitely worth checking out!

About RawPeople.com

RawPeople.com is a website focusing on the raw food lifestyle. They emphasize that eating raw is not a diet, but a way of life. There, you’ll find articles such as Raw Reality: A Snapshot of a Weekend in the Life of a Raw Foodist. In this article, Katy Joy Freeman (Author of Raw Abroad and Raw Chef), allows us a sneak peek of what it’s like to live a healthy, raw lifestyle.

Check out the Raw People logo below. Isn’t it beautiful?!

To give you an idea of what you might find should you visit Raw People, here’s a list of articles already on the site. They’re also diligently adding new topics.

• Animal Rights ( 1 Article )
• Contest ( 1 Article )
• Detox ( 4 Articles )
• Health & Beauty ( 5 Articles )
• Juicing ( 2 Articles )
• RawKids ( 6 Articles )
• Raw People ( 5 Articles )
• Raw Teens ( 1 Article )
• Remedies ( 2 Articles )
• Vitamin ( 2 Articles )
• Water ( 7 Articles )
  
• Weight Loss ( 3 Articles )
  

See, there is a lot of great information available, and new articles are published daily!

I’m a Raw People!!

In January, I was welcomed to the team at Raw People. I’m truly honored to be a part of this amazing site. There aren’t enough fantabulous words to describe working with this wonderful team of health-minded people. They are extremely kind, and are such a blessing in my life! I count it a major blessing to be involved in this healthful, raw project. I have eaten 100% raw for a few months at a time during my health journey. I’ve also juice fasted extensively, which most of you know. So, to be on this Raw Lifestyle team and have the opportunity to share what I’ve learned in my own studies and from my own experiences, as well as glean from the knowledge of the other team members, is just awe-inspiring to me…

So, what do I do on this team? I am a contributing writer and have written on a few different topics: juice fasting, (of course!), raw beauty, raw remedies, and am branching out into other topics to be published soon, like organic gardening and weight loss. You can see everything I’ve written for Raw People so far by visiting my list of articles.

The Community

Come and be a part of the Raw People Community. Learn and grow and share with us!

Raw Tweets

You can also follow Raw People on Twitter! Just foll0w @RawPeople to find out when the latest raw articles are published, news about the raw recipe contest, and more!

Raw Radio

Yes, Raw Radio is coming soon!!!

And… an Awesome Contest!

Have an original, raw recipe you’d like to share? Enter it in Raw People’s Recipe Contest to win an amazing prize!

Don’t miss out on upcoming posts! Be sure to subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life.

Have you ever thought of going raw? Have you ever even heard of a “Raw Foodist”? Do you know anyone who eats only raw foods, or mostly raw foods? Perhaps you’ve already visited RawPeople.com. What are your thoughts about the site and/or eating raw? What’s on your mind? Please share!

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