This egg thing is getting to me, I know it's still in my body... in my system. I need to cleanse my body and get rid of it completely I need to FAST! It's gross! I'm so angry with myself... it makes me sick so think I ate those biscuits.

Sickened to my stomach!
So ummmmm today I bought some biscuits.. craving.. Even though I had some of these yesterday from Dads house, they said 'Dairy free' but I was still interested to read the ingredients.. and there is EGG in them! So frickin pissed off and sickened, I feel dirty... unclean, it's so gross! I nearly cried. Lesson learned though ALWAYS READ THE INGREDIENTS!

Tonight for dinner I had lettuce, mushroom, toffuti 'better than cream cheese', avocado and cherry tomatoes.

I was talking to the woman from the health food shop today and she told me she tried being Vegan but she wasn't organised enough for it and now she isn't even a vegetarian. She said I should be taking B12 supplements as it is the only thing I can't get from anything else but meat. I can get an injection or take it orally everyday. I think it's time I got those blood tests to see how I'm going with my health. I mean I eat alot of mushroom and avocado but I don't think that will be enough.

Tonight I had some warm rice milk with Molasses. According to 'Skinny Bitch' Molasses is a good source of magnesium. Today I had sore muscles in my legs possibly from how much I've been working lately and she said I might be Low in magnesium.

Melrose Blue Label Molasses

Blackstrap molasses is a thick dark syrup left after the extraction of sugar from sugar cane. The roots of the sugar cane run a long way into the soil, and have received a broad spectrum of minerals and trace elements. Molasses has a bitter-sweet flavour, and is a popular health food due to its high levels of iron, manganese, copper, potassium and magnesium.

What are the benefits of molasses?

The most important benefit of molasses is its high mineral content. Most sweeteners are white because they’ve been stripped of all their natural goodness. Melrose Molasses is dark in colour because it contains the concentrated goodness of sugar cane. One tablespoon of Melrose Molasses contains 20% of the daily recommended daily intake for calcium, 22.5% of the daily recommended daily intake for magnesium and almost 40% of the recommended daily intake for iron.

Constituents:

Molasses. Energy per serving (15g): 176.9kJ

Fruit Salad breakfast. 

Subway for lunch - Avocado + lettuce + tomato + cucumber + capsicum + onion + carrot (subway bowl and i added some champignons)

Dinner - Asian Salad

A delicious Asian salad with crunchy noodles and lime, chilli and coriander dressing. Then I added some avocado, mushrooms and fake chicken.

My dinner d'light
Tonight Brendon made pasta for dinner, so I did too.. Just a little bit differently (e.g no bacon or cream)
I had Buckwheat pasta which I boiled, then drained. Then I cooked some chopped mushrooms in the saucepan with some Olive oil. There I added the pasta, chopped cherry tomatoes, champignons, mixed brans and Toffuti Cream cheese. Once it was all mixed through I topped it with my favourtie AVOCADO!

I forgot to mention... It tasted GREAT! wow Veganism has given me a better appreciation for good food!

On another note... At the shops today Brendon was checking out meat at leonards and I couldn't look at it. I felt sick! And I use to enjoy the taste of steak and now the thought of that and all other meat makes me feel sick. Also drinking milk and eating eggs seems like the strangest thing to me now...

Over the weekend Brendon and I went and stayed at his Mums place. For dinner the first night she made 'Proscitto' a mix of Puff pastry with sliced veggies usually served with Fetta. However an individual one was made especially for me completely vegan with avocado. It was delish! Can't believe I forgot to take a photo!
For lunch the next day we went to a railway and I got a chicken salad minus the chicken! It was so goood, I especially loved the cabbage, hard noodles and chopped nuts.
Dinner that night everyone had had steak and I had fakes sausages with raw mushroom and some of 2 salads that had been prepared, both were amazing. Breakky today I had a fruit salad and avocado and fake chicken for lunch. Fake chicken is really good, I think it's my new favourite!

Tonight I am making my own little mix of Tofu (cooking it myself), fake chicken, avocado, mushrooms, champignons, cheery tomatoes and mixed beans.
I'll let you know how it goes ;)

A little different pancakes.

I was hanging for dinner and there wasn't much except some ingredients left over from my anzac biscuits so I made some pancakes. 

They were made with Wheat flour, egg replacer, vanilla essence, brown sugar, organic oats, water.

They were yummy and reasonably healthy!

INULIN

It may look like "insulin," but that isn't a typo in the title. In fact, inulin is a carbohydrate – a long-chain sugar – that is used to store energy in the roots of certain plants, like starch stores the energy in potatoes.

Unlike starch and most other carbs, however, inulin isn't broken down in the digestive tract, which means it has only a small impact on blood sugar - and very few calories. Inulin also improves the health of the colon by feeding healthy bifidobacteria in the intestine, helps with mineral absorption, and may even combat cancer.

Other benefits of Inulin: Calcium, Magnesium, Immune Function and Cancer

Although research on inulin continues, there is evidence that inulin:

• improves calcium and magnesium absorption
• reduces the risk of colon cancer
• supports immunity 

'EVERY FIBER AND CELL'
So the other day Brendon said he wanted some Anzac biscuits.. So today I decided to make some.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (150g) plain flour
• 1 cup (90g) rolled oats
• 1 cup (85g) Ward McKenzie desiccated coconut
• 3/4 cup (155g) brown sugar
• 125g butter
• 2 tbs golden syrup
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 160°C. Line two baking trays with non-stick baking paper. Sift the flour into a large bowl. Stir in the oats, coconut and brown sugar.
2. Put the butter, golden syrup and 2 tbs water in a small saucepan. Stir over a medium heat until melted. Stir in the bicarbonate of soda.
3. Pour the butter mixture into the flour mixture and stir until combined.
4. Roll level tablespoons of mixture into balls. Place on the trays, about 5cm apart.
5. Press with a fork to flatten slightly. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
6. Set aside on the trays for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack so it cools completely.

That's all well and good except I used Vegan margarine instead of butter, but I remembered something my aunt had told me that tasted amazing, I have icing sugar and my aunt once mixed it with Philadelphia and it tasted AMAZING! As Philadelphia is off limits for me I decided to make some for Brendon's biscuits. And on mine I mixed icing sugar with margarine. But it took every fiber and cell of my Vegan being to not even taste that Philly mix. Because I knew if I did I would never forgive myself and I'm proud that I didn't!

The icing tasted good but the biscuits taste gross :( too much bicarb soda I think.

I have to words for you 'FUNKY FOREST

Forest Fasts

3 Day Silent Fasting Retreats incorporating Yoga, Meditation, Massage and Forest communion Forest Fasts were created to give people an opportunity to connect with nature and themselves in silence, and to encourage rejuvenation through fasting and the healing arts in a non-sectarian nurturing, yet disciplined, sanctuary. Fasting is an ancient practice for the purification of the body, mind and spirit that has been used for thousands of years in many cultures. It is, in fact, the oldest therapeutic method known. Virtually every religious and healing tradition recommends fasting for health and/or spiritual advantages. All the great founders of religion, Buddha, Christ, Mohammed and Lao-Tzu, attained their greatest spiritual experiences after practicing fasting, detachment from desire and meditation. Health benefits from fasting are many. During a fast, the eliminative and cleansing capacity of the the eliminative organs - lungs, liver, kidneys, bowels and skin - is greatly increased and masses of accumulated toxins are released. Fasting exerts a normalising, stabilising and rejuvenating effect on all the vital physiological, nervous and mental functions. The nervous system is rejuvenated; mental powers are improved; glandular chemistry and hormonal secretions are stimulated. Reasons for Fasting • To overcome emotional attachments to food. • To cure physical and mental stagnancy, which manifests as poor appetite, digestive disorders, flatulence, constipation, apathy, fatigue, mental depression, and many other chronic ailments. • For purification of the body before a change of diet to better one's health. • As a seasonal cleansing : the foods eaten during summer and winter are more extreme. Some people find it beneficial to fast soon after the end of these seasons to make the transition smoother into the more moderate seasons of spring and autumn. • For spiritual reasons: To strengthen one's spiritual practice, prayer or meditation • To enhance one's mental awareness, sleep and dreams.

FYI

The Health Advantages of the Vegan Diet

There are many health advantages to be gained from following a vegan diet. Studies have shown that when compared with omnivores:

1. Vegans tend, on average, to be slimmer and are less likely to suffer from obesity and obesity-related illnesses.
2. Vegans are less likely to suffer from: osteoporosis, gallstones, diverticular disease, arteriosclerosis, non-insulin dependent diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke and certain cancers e.g. colon cancer.
3. Pregnant vegan women have a reduced risk of developing toxemia in pregnancy.
4. Vegan children are less likely to develop allergies.
5. Vegans usually have lower blood pressure and lower blood cholesterol levels.
6. The breast milk of vegan mothers contains smaller amounts of contaminants such as pesticides, antibiotics and hormones. These chemicals are a potential hazard to the newborn baby whose brain and endocrine glands are still developing after it is born.

Breakfast post work out -
Quick Oats + Rice Milk + Vanilla Essence (Sugar is in essence oops) + Little bit of Wheat Germ
YUMMY :)

A reminder for who of those who have forgotten.

Oats
Oatmeal and oat bran are significant sources of dietary fiber. This fiber contains a mixture of about half soluble and half insoluble fibers. One component of the soluble fibre found in oats is beta-glucans, a soluble fiber which has proven effective in lowering blood cholesterol. Here's how it works. Soluble fiber breaks down as it passes through the digestive tract, forming a gel that traps some substances related to cholesterol, such as cholesterol-rich bile acids. This entrapment reduces the absorption of cholesterol into the bloodstream. The bad cholesterol, LDL, is trapped without lowering good cholesterol (HDL). 

Blood Sugars

Eating oats can spread the rise in blood sugars over a longer time period. Control of blood glucose and insulin levels is essential in preventing many of the complications associated with diabetes. Oat beta-glucan slows the rise in blood glucose levels following a meal and delays its decline to pre-meal levels. Here's how it works. As the beta-glucan in the soluble fiber of oats is digested, it forms a gel, which causes the viscosity of the contents of the stomach and small intestine to be increased. This in turn slows down digestion and prolongs the absorption of carbohydrates into the bloodstream. This means dramatic changes in blood sugar levels are avoided. Other sources of soluble fiber are grains, fresh fuit and vegetables.

Bowel Function

Oats have a high fiber content. Fiber is necessary in keeping bowel movements regular. Oats are high in both soluble and insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water. It is spongy and absorbs many times its own weight of liquid. It makes stools heavier and speeds their passage through the gut, relieving constipation.

Weight Control

As the soluble fiber of oats is digested, it forms a gel, which causes the viscosity of the contents of the stomach and small intestine to be increased. The gel delays stomach emptying making you feel full longer which helps with weight loss. New research suggests that children between ages 2-18 years old who have a constant intake of oatmeal lowered their risk of obesity. The research found that the children who ate oatmeal were 50% less likely to become overweight, when compared to those children that did not eat it.

Athletic Performance

Oats, like other cereal grains, are valued primarily as a source of carbohydrates which provide calories for energy needs. Oats have been shown in scientific studies to favorably alter metabolism and enhance performance when ingested 45 minutes to 1 hour before exercise of moderate intensity. This website's author swears by them!

General Health and Longevity

Oats have a higher concentration of well-balanced protein than other cereals. Oats contain phytochemicals (plant chemicals) which have been associated with protection from chronic disease such as cancer. They contain a good balance of essential fatty acids, which have been linked with longevity and general good health, and also have one of the best amino acid profiles of any grain. Amino acids are essential proteins that help facilitate optimum functioning of the body. Oats are a good source of essential vitamins such as thiamin, folic acid, biotin, pantothenic acid and vitamin E. They also contain zinc, selenium, copper, iron, manganese and magnesium. Oat beta glucan also appears to help speed up response to infection, which may result in faster healing. According to a new study, it was discovered that beta glucan can enhance the ability of certain human immune cells to navigate to the site of a bacterial infection, resulting in faster healing. So don't delay and start eating more oats today!

Oats Nutritional value per 100 grams
Energy	390 kcal / 1630 kJ
Carbohydrate	66 g
Dietary fiber total	11 g
- Beta glucan	5 g
- Insoluble	6 g
Total fat	6 g
- Saturated	1.217 g
- Monounsaturated	2.178 g
- Polyunsaturated	2.535 g
- Cholesterol	0 g
Protein	17 g
Minerals
Calcium	54 mg
Iron	4.72 mg
Magnesium	177 mg
Phosphorous	523 mg
Potassium	429 mg
Sodium	2 mg
Zinc	3.97 mg
Copper	0.626 mg
Manganese	4.916 mg
Vitamins
Vitamin C	0 mg
Thiamin (B1)	0.763 mg
Riboflavin (B2)	0.139 mg
Niacin	0.961 mg
Pantothenic acid	1.349 mg
Vitamin B-6	0.119 mg
Total folate	56 mcg
Vitamin B-12	0 mcg
Vitamin A	0 IU
Retinol	0 mcg
Amino Acids
Tryptophan	0.234 g
Threonine	0.575 g
Isoleucine	0.694 g
Leucine	1.284 g
Lysine	0.701 g
Methionine	0.312 g
Cystine	0.408 g
Phenylalanine	0.985 g
Tyrosine	0.573 g
Valine	0.937 g
Arginine	1.192 g
Histidine	0.405 g
Alanine	0.881 g
Aspartic acid	1.448 g
Glutamic acid	3.712 g
Glycine	0.841 g
Proline	0.934 g
Serine	0.750 g

Time to become a SKINNY BITCH. In other words time for some exercise. Over the course of 2008 and 2009 I had lost about ten kilos which then lead to about 15kilos and even at one point 18kilos but now I'm back at that Ten. I did the early stages of weight loss by getting up everyday at 5.30am and going for a jog around my neighbourhood for about an hour then coming home showering and getting ready for school. However in time my neighbourhood proved to not be 'safe' enough, but as I have just moved to Forest Lake I think it much safer and I'm living on a street that is uphill and goes around in an oval, so inevitably I'll be running up hill, then down hill, then uphill and so on. As this is my first day and the first time I have gone for a jog in a VERY LONG time I imagine it is going to be difficulty. But with great difficulty comes great weight loss and I am determined. Just I won't get getting up at 5.30 am because I don't get to bed till late and I'd rather go when my house mates are at work where they can't see me and my knock knee'd odd running style.

Tonight I am reading 'Digestion and Nutrition' and as always I will not be selfish and share some interesting things I learn.


So this part in about Simple and Complex Carbohydrates worded a little more scientifically.

Mono- and

disaccharides are found in fruits, sugarcane, sugar beets, honey,

molasses, and milk. Starches are found in grains, legumes, and

root vegetables. Glycogen is present in all animals, although

the primary source is beef. Polysaccarides in food take longer

to digest and absorb than simple sugars or dissacharides. This

longer time provides a steady supply of monosaccharides for

absorption and metabolism. Simpler sugars provide a spike in

absorbed sugars, which may lead to increased fat production.

Finally I understand what is meant by 'Empty Calories'

YOUR HEALTH: EMPTY CALORIES

sometimes foods are described as having empty calories. this

means that the item is made mostly of sugar, probably sucrose,

and not much of anything else. When carbohydrates are ingested

along with proteins, lipids, vitamins, and minerals, they form part

of a balanced diet that fills our nutritional needs.

These fatty acids contribute as much to the clogging of
arteries as saturated fats. Trans fats are most frequently found
in prepared foods, such as cakes, cookies, pies, and breads.
They also found in prepared meats and hard margarine.

So I won't be eating any cakes, cookies, pies, bread, meat (that's a given) and margarine.!

Connections

The body takes food and breaks it down into the nutrients it

can use, both major and minor. The major nutrients include

carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids. Vitamins and minerals are

types of minor nutrients.

Nutrients serve as building blocks for larger chemicals and the

energy that fuels all of the body’s processes, from cell repair

to muscle contraction.

So tonight I made a salad and took a photo of it. But it DIDN'T save. So angry cuz it looked amazing.
It was made of; Lettuce, Avocado, pan fried Tomato and mushrooms. Tasted amazing as well. Today  purchased a Detox magazine with some amazing recipes I can't wait to try. When I get money of course.

As my interest in nutrition grows i've decided to do some reading from Ebooks, one particularly I read last night was called 'Weight loss nutrition secrets revealed'. Since it was PDF I couldn't copy and paste so I took some photos of interesting parts.

The book had some interesting view points namely that the whole calorie concept is poorly researched and a crap method that has a counter act effect.

Also one very important point it made that 'Skinny Bitch' also went into detail about is how BAD sugar is for you. In summary the books main point is that Lipids (fats) mixed with BAD Carbohydrates causes Fat Storage. So Sugar being at the top of the list of bad carbohydrates has made me think more.. It is a simple Carbohydrate that has been stripped of all it's nutrients. So basically it is there just to taste good but screw our bodies over. And Sugar is in literally EVERYTHING, well everything processed that is. So I'm thinking I really need to cut out processed foods, not just because of the sugar content but because I also can't be sure what ingredients are in there. I can't always research everything ingredients on the net before I eat it so perhaps I just don't eat it. For example there is a 'Sweet William' dairy free chocolate that advertises 'No added sugar' (as it is sweet enough) however this chocolate has an ingredient in it called 'MALTITOL' which I had never heard of.. So I researched it and the horrifying news is. 

What is Maltitol?

Maltitol is a sugar alcohol, an ingredient commonly used in low-carb or “sugar-free” products such as candy and nutrition bars. It is used so much because of its similarity to sugar in terms of taste, mouth feel, and interaction with other ingredients. Products which use maltitol and other sugar alcohols as sweeteners can be called “sugar free.” Although claims are often made that maltitol has little impact on blood sugar, this turns out not to be the case.

Maltitol Has Carbs

Maltitol is a carbohydrate. Although our bodies do not absorb all the calories in maltitol, this substance does provide us with 2 to 3 calories per gram, compared to the 4 calories per gram of sugar. (For what its worth, I have noticed that the claim of 2 calories per gram usually comes from literature provided by the manufacturer or the low calorie food industry whereas other analyses tend to be closer to 3 calories.) Since maltitol is a carbohydrate, and since it provides calories, you would expect it to impact blood glucose. You would be correct.

Maltitol Has a Relatively High Glycemic Index

In particular, maltitol syrup has a glycemic index of 52, which approaches that of table sugar at 60. The powdered form has a glycemic index of 36, which is still higher than most other sugar alcohols and all artificial sweeteners.

Maltitol can Cause Intestinal Discomfort

Usually this takes the form of intestinal gas and cramping, but some people may find themselves with diarrhea. If you decide to eat products with maltitol, you’d be wise to start with a small amount and judge the reaction -- as well whether you’ll be in a crowded room a few hours later.

Anyhoo, enough of that of course there will be a few exceptions such as Sanitarium Veggie D'lights, Sanitarium soy milk, Sorbet and so on but not more other stuff! I'll be making it myself.. Just to be safe.
Well that is enough for tonight except I might add for dinner I had a sandwich with Sanitarium Veggie D'light
'Bacon Style Rashers", Avocado, Tomato, Lettuce with some Mushrooms and Champignons (button mushrooms).

Vegemite
Today I had some toast with 'Vegemite' on it.. Which made me a little curious. What is Vegemite and is it good for you. So as usual I did some online research and the find was a pleasant one. :)

Vegemite (online source)

Firstly, the question I get asked most about vegemite is "What is the damn stuff?". Vegemite was originally an extract of yeast used in the brewing process. This yeast extract was then blended with celery, onions and salt to make a thick dark paste which, to many people, is quite delicious. These days, while the yeast extract component has remained, the celery and onions have been replaced by malt and vegetable extracts. However, most people will agree that it is just as delicious as the first batches released in 1923.
Why should you eat vegemite? Because, despite the huge salt content, its quite healthy for you. A piece of bread with vegemite lightly spread over it can give you almost a quater of your daily niacin requirement. Lots of body parts can benefit from the unique mix of vitamins found in vegemite and here is a quick summary:
The Cells
The billions of cells in your body each need thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, folacin, and vitamin B6 every day to keep healthy. Vegemite includes all of these and will often provide a good percentage of your daily requirement from one slice of bread with vegemite spread thinly over it.
The Nerves
The nerve cells in the body need large amounts of thiamin and vitamns B1 and B6. Where can you get such a large amount of B group vitamins? From the richest known source of Vitamin B in the world, Vegemite!
The Skin
Skin requires many different vitamins to stay healthy. The ones you can find in vegemite include riboflavin, niacin, biotin, and vitamin B6. The body can get as much as a third of your daily riboflavin intake from one slice of vegemite!
The Eyes
The riboflavin in vegemite will help to keep your eyes nice and bright and sparkling.
The Digestive Process
Thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin are all vitamins needed for digestion and vegemite contains all of these vitamins in the one convenient paste! 

I'll be having Vegemite instead of Jam now, especially since Jam is full of Sugar - A really bad simple carbohydrate. Next step on organicism.. Cut out as much SUGAR as possible.

Preshafruit

Imagine a juice that tasted like fresh fruit - a Granny Smith like Granny Smith, Pink Lady like Pink Lady!

The reason why that fresh juice taste is so elusive is because virtually all juices currently available have been heat pasteurised. When you heat juices, no matter how gently, you change the taste, colour, smell and nutrient retention. Not anymore, Preashafruit juices are just fruit in a bottle, they are bursting with just picked fresh fruit flavour.

Preshafruit® juices are pressurised cold using High Pressure Processing (HPP)* to give a just picked fruit taste, maximum vitamin retention and an extended fridge life.

Conventional heat pasteurising, even if "flashed", diminishes the fresh taste and nutrients found in juices including vitamins, minerals and digestive enzymes. HPP delivers an anti-oxidant value 2X or more, compared to more traditional pasteurising techniques.

Preshafruit® juices contain 100% Australian fruit. Each 350ml bottle of apple juice is made from the juice of 4 apples and our Valencia juice is made from 3 oranges delivering over 200% of the daily Recommended Dietary Intake (RDI) for Vitamin C.

Preshafruit® juices contain no juice concentrates, preservatives, colours or flavours and are NEVER heated. Blind taste testing has shown that you won't find a better tasting, healthier product.

I'm fasting today so no pictures of food ideas to post.
However I am keen to try mango sorbet and more Tofu as well as other sanitarium fake meats.
I just wanted to say that I have been VEGAN FOR ONE MONTH!!!! YEWWW!
And going strong.. the thought of eating that shit actually makes me a little sick.
In the words of skinny bitch I wish to only put 'Pure, beautiful and healthy' foods into my body.

Tonight I tried a Sanitarium Veggie D'light Sausage..

Guess what... they tasted like normal SAUSAGES YUM YUM.
Here's some piccys.

Quinoa malt and toasted Rye / Flaxseed, Sunflower and sourdough Rye

Brendons dinner - grosss

Today I have discovered the wonders of SORBET. With only 74 calories per serving and only 10 servings per litre that's only 740 calories in one whole carton.

Weis Lemon Sorbet 

'The Riverland and Queensland regions produce the most lemons in Australia, so naturally we source the lemon juice used in our refreshing Lemon Sorbet from areas like these.

The tangy lemon juice creates a true palate-cleansing effect.  And the zesty flavour in our Lemon Sorbet is thanks to dash of real lemon oil.   

Citrus fruits like lemons are the revolutionaries of the food world because, in the cooking process, they activate change. Their versatility also plays an integral role; the skin, seeds, juice, flesh, blossoms and leaves all contribute to the chemistry of food.

Lemons play a major role as flavour enhancers and when combined in a Sorbet are perfect between courses to balance out the richness of some foods or as a refreshing, uplifting dessert on its own'

Detox day 3; weight lost 2kg.

I've been reading about Detox's in 'Skinny Bitch' and I've decided for the next 5 days I'm going to go on a Liquid detox. This means I can only have; Juices, Tea, Water, Smoothies and any other liquid drink that is healthy and non dairy. Here are some snippets of what 'Skinny Bitch' had to say about detox's.

Fasting - willfully abstaining from food. For more than five thousand years, fasting has been used as a healthy method of weight loss. It is also a powerful tool for cleaning, flushing, detoxifying , and maintaining the body, and healing illnesses, both minor and major. When we don't eat, all of our body's energy goes toward cleaning house.

Fasts can last anywhere from twenty-four hours to ten day or more. It's all up to you how light, clean, and healthy you want to get. The longer the better, but even just one day one time a month is beneficial.

After two to three days of fasting, the body goes into autolysis, and actually starts digesting it's own cells. With its wisdom, the body selectively decomposes the tissues and cells that are diseased, damaged, old, dead or in excess (fat). The body is literally digesting and expelling poisons, toxins, and bad cells that were already there - and it feels crappy. But this is actually a good thing because the body is finally able to tackle some problems that were lurking within,

During a fast, digestive enzymes are relieved from their usual role, and instead act to cleanse and rejuvenate the body. This rejuvenation process includes the production of new cells. And when more cells are being produced than are dying, the aging process is actually being reversed. This phenomenon occurs during juice or water fasts. Eventually, you'll notice sharpers sense of smell, sight, sound, and taste. You'll feel lighter physically, mentally, and emotionally.

So I finally got my copy of 'skinny bitch' and now I am re-reading and highlighting important things. OH AND BTW my boyfriend Mr Carnivore of the year who even ate steak on good friday is VERY KEEN to read 'Skinny Bastard' he was so eager he couldn't wait to get it from the store on monday.. he had to download it Saturday night. He read the first few pages.. smiled at me and said 'I could read this' but he promises me he could never be Vegan. However he is considering cutting out red meat from his diet and saving it for rare or special occasions. This makes me very happy! Of course I love him no matter what he eats but it still feels good to know his health may be in better check! I'm even going to try and see if I can find a milk substitute he'll like since he hates 'soy' and 'rice' milk. ANYWAYS back onto topic.. This is one thing I just read on 'Skinny bitch' I had to share!

'Like it or not our kidneys, colon and liver are ill-equipped to process animal flesh. Compared to carnivores, our intestines are very long, so food that doesn't get adequately processed becomes clogged in our intestines. Animals quickly pass food through their digestive systems, but we have food rotting, decomposing, and fermenting in our intestinal tracts and colons.'

Disgusting don't you think? Imagine that, because our bodies are designed to digest meat it takes longer and rots, decomposes and ferments in our bodies!

Pumpkin seed (Iron, Omega 3, Zinc) toast + avocado (Potassium) + mushrooms.

After todays Gelatin incident I've decided to post a list of ingredients that 'Skinny Bitch' has told not to eat!

• Alanine or amino acids - The building blocks of protein in all animals and plant. Make sure they are plant derived.
• Albumen/albumin -  Found in eggs, milk, muscles, blood, and many vegetable tissues and fluids.
• Ambergris - From whale intestines.
• Aminosuccinate Acid, Aspartic Acid - Can be animal or plant source.
• Arachidyl Proprianate - A wax that can be from animal fat.
• Artificial colour, FD&C Food colour - Derived frm coal tar. Can contain trace amounts of arsenic.
• Beta Carotene, Provitamin A - A pigment found in many animal tissues and in all plants.
• Bone Meal - Crushed or ground animal bones.
• Butylated  Hhydroxyanisole  (BHA) - Can cause Cancer, birth defects, and infertility.
• Carmine, cochineal - Red pigment from the crushed female cochineal insect.
• Casein -  Milk protein found in dairy products, as well as 'non dairy' creamers and soy cheese.
• Cysteine - An animo acid found in urine and horsehair.
• Duodenum Substances - From the digestive tracts of cows and pigs.
• Fatty Acids - Caprylic, lauric, myristic oleic, palmitic, stearic.
• Fish Live oil - Used in vitamins, supplements, and milk fortified with vitamin D.
• Gelatin, gel - Protein obtained by boiling skin, tendons, ligaments and or bones with water.
• Glycerin, glycerol - Normally uses animal fat.
• Isinglass - A form of gelatin prepared from the internal membranes of fish bladders.
• Lactic acid - Found in blood and muscle tissue. Also in sour milk, beer and other products made from bacterial fermentation.
• Lactose - Milk sugar from milk of mammals.
• Lard - Fat from hog abdomens.
• Lipase - Enzyme from the stomach and tongue glands of calves, baby goats, and lambs.
• Lipoids, lipids - Fat found in animals and plants.
• Marine oil - From fish or marine animals.
• Methionine - Protein usually found in egg albumen and casein.
• Mono (glyceroides) - From animal fat.
• Monosodium glutamate - Flavor enhancer blamed for reproductive, nervous system and brain disorders.
• Myristal, ether sulfate - Organic acid in most animal and vegetable fats. 
• Natural sources - Can mean animal or vegetable sources.
• Nitrales - Potentially deadly, carcinogenic preservatives.
• Nucleic acids - In the nucleus of all living cells.
• Oleic acids - Obtained from various animal and vegetable fats and oils.
• Olestra - A fat substitute.
• Panthenol - Can come from animal.
• Pepsin - In hog's stomachs. A clotting agent.
• Polysorbates - Derivatives of fatty acids.
• Potassium bisulfite, sulfur dioxide - Used as antioxidant in cheese, processed meats.
• Potassium bromate - Can cause cancer and kidney and nervous system disorders.
• Rapeseed oil - Emulsifier found in dairy products and processed meats. Can cause cancer, heart disease and vision loss.
• Rennet, rennin - Enzyme found in calves stomachs.
• Saccharine - Artificial sweetener.
• Stearic acid - Fat from cows and sheep and from dogs and cats euthanized in animal shelters.
• Tallow - Rendered beef fat.
• Urea - Excreted from urine and other bodily fluids. (Found in pretzels)
• Vitamin A/ B-12 - Can come from animal products or bacteria cultures.
• Whey - A derivative of milk.
• Transfatty acids
• Caffeine

Since my own copy of 'Skinny Bitch' with the definitions of what these foods are can't be collected till tomorrow I can't explain what they are.. But just know they are 'bad' trust 'Skinny Bitch' I do!

Minties = boiled bones, skins and tendons of animals

:( 
So my boyfriend and I are watching Dvd's today since it is a public holiday and there is nothing else to do. Also my money didn't come through (stupid public holiday) however, whilst at the video store my boyfriend purchased some confectionary consisting of Malteasers, Eminems and Fantales (choc-dairy=nono) and Minties... hmn.. I read the ingredients... there was that concerned me and I remember 'skinny bitch' telling me not to eat... The first being Gelatin/Gelatine.. My boyfriend suggested it was just jelly used in lollies, not animal.. but not 'great' for you. And the next was hydrogenated vegatable oils. Before being naughty and having a Mintie I decided to look up what these two things were.

Gelatin: Gelatin or gelatine (used to make Jell-o and other desserts) is made from the boiled bones, skins and tendons of animals.
Hydrogentated Vegetable oils: Hydrogenation is a high tech process. Vegetable seeds are cleaned and bleached to remove all colour, taste, smells and impurities. The liquid vegetable oil is then heated to high temperatures and a catalyst (commonly nickel, but could be palladium, platinum or rhodium) is added. 


Um GROSS, not only will I never eat Minties again, I am sickened by the fact that I have eaten them in my lifetime. Lesson learned from this.. If you don't know what the ingredient is DO NOT EAT IT. You could be eating gross animal products without even knowing it.

Mushy 
Since I've been eating a lot of mushroom lately I decided to do a little online research into their health benefits. They aren't a 'Superfood' and don't have a rich colour like most veggies that are really good for you. But this is what I found on www.organicfacts.net Which is actually quite interesting.


The health benefits of mushroom include relief from high cholesterol levels, breast cancer, prostrate cancer, and diabetes. It also helps in weight loss, increasing immunity.

Almost all of us are familiar with mushrooms and their miraculous and magical powers. Particularly those who have read or heard a lot of fairy-tales such as Alice in Wonderland, Three Bears and a Baby etc. or those who have been playing the Super Mario Brothers.

You have seen mushrooms making somebody big or playing shields against the dreaded monsters. Actually, these are just symbolic representations of the actual health benefits of mushrooms. Believe me! They can really make you big and protect you against diseases and infections, as they are full of proteins, vitamins and minerals, amino acids, anti biotic and anti oxidants. Mushrooms are edible fungi bearing a common scientific name “Agaricus”, having different names for different species. They are essentially Saprophytes, the organisms (plants without chlorophyll) which thrive by extracting nutrients from the dead and decaying plant and animal matters. They vary greatly in their color, texture, shape and properties.

The health benefits of mushroom include the following:

• Cholesterol Levels: Mushrooms themselves provide you with lean proteins as they have zero cholesterol, fats and very low carbohydrates. The fiber and certain enzymes in them also help lower cholesterol level. Moreover, the high lean protein content in mushrooms helps burn cholesterol when they are digested.
• Breast Cancer & Prostrate Cancer: Mushrooms are very effective in preventing cancer of breast and prostrate due to presence of Beta-Glucans and conjugated Linoleic Acid having anti carcinogenic effects. Out of these two, linoleic acid is particularly helpful in suppressing effects of estrogen. This estrogen is the prime reason for breast cancerin women after menopause. The Beta-Glucans, on the other hand, inhibit growth of cancerous cells in cases of prostrate cancer. Selenium in mushrooms is very effective in inhibiting cancerous cells.
• Diabetes: Mushrooms can be an ideal low energy diet for diabetics. They have no fats, no cholesterol, very low carbohydrates, high proteins, vitamins and minerals, a lot of water and fiber. Moreover, they contain natural insulin and enzymes which help breaking down of sugar or starch of the food. Again, they are known to contain certain compounds which help proper functioning of liver, pancreas and the other endocrinal glands, thereby promoting formation of insulin and its proper flow. Diabetics often suffer from infections, particularly in their limbs, which tend to continue for long. The natural antibiotics in mushrooms can help protect them from this dreaded situation too.
• Immunity: Ergothioneine, a powerful anti oxidant present in mushrooms is very effective in giving protection from free radicals as well as boosting up immunity. Mushrooms contain natural antibiotics (similar to penicillin, which itself is extracted from mushrooms) which inhibit microbial and other fungal infections. They also help heal ulcers and ulcerous wounds and protect them from infections. A good combination of vitamins A, B-Complex and C, found in mushrooms also strengthens immune system.
• Weight Loss: Would you believe me if I say that a totally lean protein diet is ideal for losing fat and building muscle mass? Perhaps no! But it is true. A lot of fats are burnt to digest (break-down) proteins in the food, more so when the protein is accompanied by a very low carbohydrate, zero fats and cholesterol and a good amount of fiber. This is exactly what mushrooms offer.
• Other Benefits: Mushrooms are the only vegetable and the second known source (after cod liver oil) to contain vitamin-D in edible form. They are rich in calcium (good for bones), iron (benefits in anemia), potassium (very good for lowering blood pressure),copper (anti bacterial) and selenium (very good for health of bones, teeth, nails, hair and as an anti oxidant). The best source of selenium is animal proteins. So, mushrooms can be the best choice for vegetarians to obtain selenium.

Wow, okay so mushrooms sound like superfood to me!