It's 2013, the Mayan calendar has ended, we've stepped through the portal into the dawning of what many consider to be a new age of spiritual evolution within our individual and collective consciousness. Whatever your belief happens to be in regards to this period in history, there is no doubt, "the times they are a changin" (as Bob Dylan once so timelessly stated). With the increase of technology its almost as if the world as we know it has become smaller and more interconnected. We can find out almost instantly what is happening thousands of miles away. The choices we make in our daily lives, what we choose to purchase and consume, have a profound impact on people all the way across the globe in ways many of us have yet to even realize. While some people remain asleep many of us are awakening to this fact and are wanting to make better, healthier choices that will only serve to benefit both ourselves and the entire planet! Choices spanning from which companies we purchase goods from, to the foods we eat to the amount of plastic we dispose of and the number of hours we clock in the car have deep environmental footprints these days. The very climate of our planet is shifting, right along with our spiritual climate. As we become more aware of our level of interconnectedness we are given the opportunity to turn the tables. We can individually and collectively have a negative impact on the planet, its true, but there is a powerful opportunity in this. Our daily choices both big and small can also have a profoundly POSITIVE impact on others and the very planet we call home.

In today's age conscious decision making is extremely important, as is introspection. This relates to both thought AND action. If people were to slow down, be present, and consciously think about what action they'd like to take, or what thought or emotion they'd like to embrace in a given situation, we'd have a world that would look quite different. We have the ability as human beings to pause and reflect, instead of being reactionary; moving through life from a place of animalistic instinct or programing from our past. Today is the age of infinite choice! We have more choices than ever right now which can seem overwhelming at times but it is also a huge blessing. If we can stay present enough to listen to our inner guidance, stay in our heart space, and make the right choices we can change the world!

So how does all of this relate to the food, specifically the raw food diet? While food isn't the end all be all as far as aiding our individual and planetary evolution, it does play a huge role. Proper nutrition and care for the body aides us in reaching optimal levels of health and joy within our own lives. A healthy body is energetic, enthusiastic, able to do so much more than a body whose health is failing or compromised. A healthy body also supports a healthy mind, emotional state, and spiritual state. When the body is well it is much easier to have more even mindedness, treat others with more care and compassion, and generally be in a better mood. The relationship between our physical health and how we feel has a vast impact on how we relate to the world around us. And while food in and of itself can't create health or destroy it, it plays a major role. We owe it to ourselves right now more than ever to become the healthiest versions of ourselves. The world needs more truly healthy superfood superheroes! How does one become a superfood superhero you might ask? By making food choices that fully support our health and vitality, eating the best, the freshest, and the most nutrient dense foods on the planet! There is nothing like raw food when it comes to an optimal diet strategy.

Beyond our own health, much is also at stake these days on a global scale in relation to food. Our conventional food system has become more and more corrupt as time goes on. With issues like GMO's, pesticide and herbicide contamination, and factory farming the deep health, planetary and karmic repercussions of our food choices become blatantly obvious. The solution to many of these problems? Well, the number one thing you can do at this point is to always buy organic food. The regulations in place for organic certification will protect you and the environment from chemicals used in modern agriculture. Keep in mind that many smaller farms and producers may in fact be following organic standards but might not have the financial means to pay for the actual certification through USDA. This brings us to our next point: know your food source! Whether this means developing relationships with your local farmers or the buyer ordering food for your favorite store, don't be afraid to ask about the sources of your food. Buying local food is important but we feel that buying organic is even more so. For instance if a cacao farm in Ecuador is producing sustainable, organic, rain-forest preserving, heirloom cacao that provides income for native communities we feel this is a positive thing to support despite the fact that South America is so far away. There are many amazing superfoods ranging from Ecuadorian cacao, to Peruvian maca or Mongolian goji berries that can be used for their medicinal benefits as well as their high levels of valuable nutrients we may not be getting enough of from foods typically found in our mainstream markets.

Can we take the concept of organic and go one step further? The answer is yes! Growing your own food, even if its just something like sprouts and micro-greens, is a great way to do 3 important things: save money, develop an energetic connection with your food, and know for a fact exactly whats in it. We need to reclaim our power as individuals and learn how to grow an abundance of food again! This will become increasingly important in the new age and its an awesome way to peacefully take a stand against some of the negativity going on within our modern food production industry. While it may not be possible for everyone right at this very moment to grow an entire garden or start a farm, there are always ways to grow at least SOME of your own food. Start a sprout farm in your kitchen! Buy flower pots and grow your own kale and fresh herbs on your balcony or window seal. You can be as low tech or high tech as you want. Glass mason jars with mesh screen tops and a dish rack work great for sprouts, as do applianced like Fresh Life's home sprouting machine. If you're really motivated you could seek out a community garden space or connect with a friend or family member who does have outdoor space for food production. For use of their space you can bless them with fresh, organic produce! 

In summary, an abundance of fresh, whole, raw produce and superfoods will give us a plethora of antioxidants, phyto-nutrients, dense mineral and vitamin supplies and a host of life-supporting enzymes and structured water to keep our cells humming away in an optimal state of health. Beyond the issue of organic vs. convention food, a diet of mainly plant based foods also has less of an environmental footprint as the resources it takes to grow and harvest fruit, veggies, nuts, seeds, grains and legums amount to fair less than those used to raise animals for their meat and bi-products. 

Here are just a few RawGuru approved choices for yummy, optimally healthful foods to support the forward evolution of your own unique, beautiful being as well as that of the living, breathing planet, and all life forms that call it home!

*Greens (fresh salads, green soups, green smoothies, green juices) - eat a diet high in chlorophyll and you will be flooding your blood with oxygen and minerals for optimal health. Greens are also highly detoxifying and are absolutely vital in todays day an age, which unfortunately, can be quite toxic. 

*Sprouts  - living, sprouted foods of all kinds! This includes green sprouts like clover, alfalfa, or sunflower as well as sprouted nuts, seeds, and grains. Sprouted foods have more enzymes and easier to digest proteins, fats, and are full of life force!

*Fresh, ripe, seasonal fruit - seasonal fruit will taste the best, have the most nutrient density, and will support your bodies immune system and various functions intrinsically with the change of seasons

*Anything you've grown yourself (best!) or farm direct (2nd best!)

*Cultured Foods - get those healthy probiotic bacteria into your body every single day! After-all, we have trillions of probiotic bacteria living in our colon alone making up 80% of our immune system. 

*Sea Vegetables - the mineral content of our soils may be at record lows in some areas of the world, however, our oceans are awash with minerals which can be taken in through sea vegetables. Make sure to only purchase from trusted companies that do thorough testing for contaminants such as mercury and other heavy metals. 

*Cacao  - yes it is one of the highest food sources of minerals like magnesium, zinc and copper on the planet, but the main reason we recommend cacao is because it opens up that heart chakra and makes you feel amazing! That blissful, enlightened cacao experience should definitely be enjoyed as we ascend into the new age!

*Medicinal Mushrooms - Chaga, maitake, cordyceps, lion's mane, reishi, etc. These offer us some of the most powerful immune support around and can even aid our bodies in staving off cellular disease that may result from toxicity or things like exposure to GMO's and industrial chemicals or radiation.

*Hemp and Chia Seeds - high levels of ultra nourishing omega 3 fatty acids, complete protein (all 9 essential amino acids!) and a host of minerals to boot. Hemp and chia can be used in a plethora of recipes (many available on RawGuru.com) or eaten plain and we recommend you do so on a daily basis.

*Green and Blue Green Algae  - high levels of detoxifying chlorophyll, heavy metal binding capabilities, and every nutrient known to support human life, you should definitely be reaping the benefits of regular algae consumption whether its klamath algae, E3 Live, Spirulina or Chlorella at least several times per week. We like to sprinkle them on salads and soups, and include them in elixir tea-based recipes! 

*Coconut Oil  - cold pressed and unrefined - the is a raw food staple for both internal use and for beauty care. Coconut oil is high in medium chain triglycerides which our livers find very easy to break down and assimilate. It nourishes the thyroid and helps balance microbial/fungal conditions within the body. It also makes a wonderful, pure, raw, and non-toxic skin moisturizer!

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Few things taste as wholesale and nourishing as freshly ground sesame tahini. Raw Tahini, with its earthy, rich flavor and creamy consistency, has been used in cuisine spanning the Middle East, Asia, India and Mediterranean regions all the way over to the West. It's flavor is robust and complex and combines equally well with both sweet and savory ingredients making it very versatile as well!

Tahini in its most basic form is a simple paste made of ground sesame seeds. Traditionally this butter is made with roasted seeds, but these days it can also be found raw. Raw tahini, while a bit more mild in flavor, is a great way to go as it contains more key nutrients such as B-complex vitamins niacin, folic acid, thiamin, pyridoxine, and riboflavin, as well as minerals magnesium, iron, manganese, zinc, selenium and most notably calcium. Tahini is a great vegan, plant based source of calcium and just 35 grams of it (roughly 2 tbs) will supply you with nearly 35% of your recommended daily allowance! This is huge especially if you are vegan or limit your intake of dairy and are looking for ways to increase this crucial mineral. You may have also heard of phenolic antioxidants and their powerful free radical scavenging abilities. Sesame seeds also contain these valuable compounds, specifically sesamol and sesaminol, which help protect our cells from the ravaging and aging effects of free radical damage. Sesame tahini can be looked at as a nutritive, building and grounding food rich in protein. Our bones and muscles can equally benefit from consumption of tahini on a regular basis. Good levels of nourishing omega 9 fatty acids, proteins, and blood building minerals make it a great food for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers as well. Young children also take a liking to fresh sesame seed butter, especially when mixed with a something sweet like honey or sliced fruit.

Tahini can be used when you need a quick vegan milk substitute. Simply blend with water, a pinch of salt, and an optional sweetener of your choice. This quick milk makes a great base for smoothies or can be used over cereal or even as a base for raw soups. Tahini makes a great substitute for peanut butter in sandwiches, and also tastes absolutely delicious mixed with dates, mulberries, and cacao in bliss ball recipes which are another great option for kids. Mix your ingredients in a food processor, form into balls and roll in shredded coconut.  Or if you're impatient simply dip your fresh dates and mulberries right in the tahini jar and enjoy that way! As a savory option try making a thick tahini dressing (recipe included below) to enjoy over a bed of greens and fresh slices of tomato, cucumber, sprouts and whatever else you love in your salad bowl. We recommend including fresh kimchi or sauerkraut if you like cultured veggies as these go very well with tahini dressing. Sea vegetables of all kinds also taste great with this combo such as dulse or soaked sea spaghetti. By using a dressing with a base of raw sesame tahini you up your calcium intake substantially especially if you include some dark greens like kale, collards, or bok choy.

High quality raw tahini can be hard to find in the super market. Many lack a smooth consistency and can also be very bitter making them unpalatable. Dastony tahini has been making it down to a science and it shows. Their butter is incredibly smooth and silky with absolutely no bitterness. Much of this has to do with the quality of raw sesame seeds that are used, and also the fact that they are stone ground with temperatures kept below 100 degrees F. The natural sesame oil will separate a bit, so give it a thorough stir after opening. If you like your tahini butter a bit thicker simply drain away a touch of the oil before stirring and this will give you more of a paste consistency.

Gone are the days when tahini was only found in ethnic recipes or the Earth-mamas kitchen. It is a highly versatile nut butter that definitely deserves a place in your cabinet and in your tummy.

Instant Tahini Dressing For One:

2-3 tbs Dastony brand sesame tahini
1 tbs lemon juice (or orange if you prefer a bit of sweetness)
1 pinch Himalayan salt
1 small chunk ginger and 1 small clove garlic pressed
1 tsp dulse flakes
1/2 tbs coconut vinegar or apple cider vinegar
Water to desired consistency

Order dastony tahini at RawGuru!

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 It's likely that if you're already living a healthy lifestyle or are eating an "alternative" style diet such as high raw, you've at least considered the health of your bones. You may have even asked yourself (or been asked by friends and family) whether it's possible to get enough calcium on a raw food or vegan diet. There is definitely a lot of information out there these days, and with that comes many different opinions. What many people don't realize is that consuming the required levels of bone building minerals such as calcium is important, it is really just a fraction of the puzzle. We also need to look at how many of those minerals we are actually absorbing into our bones and what we may be doing that could be causing a leaching of minerals from our already existing bone tissue. Since our skeletal system acts as the very framework for our entire body, these are valuable questions. The health and strength of our bones (all 200+ of them) is of paramount importance!

 
More to the picture than just calcium: The role of other nutrients such as Vitamin D, silicon and magnesium
 
Our bodies are highly integrated machines that can't simply rely on one or two things to function. It is an absolutely complicated yet brilliantly orchestrated system of interconnectedness. Everything working together towards one simple goal: survival. That being said, simply focusing on calcium and not other important factors when it comes to our bones would be like seriously ignoring a huge piece of the puzzle.
 
One nutrient that has gotten a lot of press time lately is Vitamin D, a vitamin that is absolutely necessary for the absorption of calcium. It is found in animal sourced foods such as eggs, fish and dairy (especially grass fed) and even in some plants such as wild mushrooms. It appears to be harder to get enough of this vitamin from dietary sources on a vegan diet. However there is hope as the best way of getting an abundance of Vitamin D has never been from diet alone. In fact our skin is the best Vitamin D manufacturing machine around and as long as we're getting proper unfiltered sunlight on our skin (at least 15 minutes a day for adults is recommended by the American Dietetics Association) we will not likely become deficient in this vitamin. The form of Vitamin D synthesized within our skin is Vitamin D3, while the form synthesized by plants is D2. If you find that you're not able to get enough sun exposure for adequate Vitamin D production there are several supplement companies such as Garden of Life and MegaFood producing quality Vitamin D supplements. Be aware that these supplements are not vegan however, as they are derived from sheep lanolin. Vitamin D is also extremely important for our immune systems and hormone regulation.
 
Silicon is another important piece to the bone puzzle especially for those of us wanting to eat a primarily plant based diet. Silicon is a crystalline mineral found abundantly in the plant kingdom that has the ability to transform itself into calcium within the body. This compound is already found within our body; in our blood vessels, bones, cartilage, muscles, lymphatic system, nails, teeth, tendons and more, and helps our connective tissue stay elastic yet resilient. It is considered to be one of the top beauty minerals as it helps create strong and lustrous hair, skin, and nails. While silicon can in fact be found in numerous plant sources (it is the most abundant element on Earth next to oxygen) it only appears in high concentrations in several select foods such as nettles, horsetail, mature grasses, radishes, cucumbers (leave the skin in tact if possible), oats , burdock root, young greens, and hemp leaf. Nettles in particular, while a bit intimidating due to their prickly sting, are actually a tender, mild flavored and tasty green that can easily be wild harvested. Just make sure to wear gloves while handling and use them in a blended soup, green smoothie, or salad dressing as the blending process will neutralize their sting. You can also find nettle leaf as well as horsetail in their dried form; they can be used to make a robust and earthy flavored tea served hot or cold.
 
Magnesium is a very important mineral when it comes to strong bones and is considered to be one of the top macro-nutrients needed within our bodies; 3 others being calcium, sodium and potassium. It is a co-factor that acts to regulate more than 300 biochemical reactions and processes occurring within the body, driven by certain enzymes. it is intricately linked to our cells ability to produce energy and is also a building block for the structures within our body, both big and small. It also plays an important role in keeping our nerves and muscles relaxed and our blood circulating in a fluid and unrestricted manner. That being said, about 60-65 % of this mineral is found in our bones, making it a crucial bone strengthener. Amazingly it is part of our bones integrated crystaline "scaffolding" structure, bound together with phosphorus and calcium. Our bones also store magnesium in their outer coating, to utilize in times of poor dietary intake. You can eat all the calcium in the world, but without it's counter-part magnesium it will be of little use to our bones. Luckily magnesium is found abundantly in the plant kingdom. Think all kinds of green leafy veggies and raw chocolate (raw cacao) !
 
What does pH have to do with it?
 
One of the main issues with the vast majority of people's modern diet of processed foods is that their bodies become very acidic eating this way. While our bodies can put up with a fair amount of abuse and bounce back, one thing that remains quite delicately balanced is the pH of our blood. Our blood has to maintain a narrow and slightly alkaline pH of 7.35 to 7.45 in order for us to continue on, so as we acidify ourselves the body is forced to pull together resources to remedy it. These resources are actually the precious alkaline minerals from our bones, the main one being, you guessed it, calcium! Pasteurized dairy is an extremely acidifying food and is therefore not the ideal choice when it comes to building strong bones. The calcium sources we should be looking for our ones rich in alkaline minerals, primarily those found in green leafy vegetables. If you want big strong bones like an ox then eat greens, greens, and more greens! Also lets not forget the importance of deep breathing which oxygenates our tissues while alkalinizing and cleansing our blood.
 
Fantastic alkaline food sources for bone building minerals:
 
brown and black sesame seeds and raw sesame tahini , collards, swiss chard, romaine lettuce, kale, micro greens, green sprouts such as sunflower, broccoli, clover, alfalfa, etc., bok choy, cabbage (both raw and cultured in kimchi and sauerkraut) sea vegetables such as kombu, kelp , sea lettuce, and nori , micro algae such as spirulina, chlorella and E3 Live , raw cacao , wildcrafted herbs such as horsetail and nettle leaf
 
Food based supplements:
 
Greener Grasses, Vitamineral Green , Pure Synergy , *Bone Renewal
 
*Bone Renewal is a fantastic "new" supplement by one of the best food-source-only supplement companies on the planet.: The Synergy Company.  If you've ever experience their Pure Synergy you'll know why we say this! If you're concerned about getting enough bone building nutrients, or are already in a state of deficiency, this is the perfect booster to take for restoration, healing, and also prevention. They use only the BEST bone building ingredients sourced from the land and sea.

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Once in while a new raw product will tip toe along nearly slipping under my radar without notice. Such was about to be the situation with Lulu's Love Truffles , my newest chocolatey obsession. Being as that I'm not a huge choclopath or chocalomaniac,  when Lulu's newest creation entered into the world around the 4th of July I was definitely intrigued, maybe even excited, but not ecstatic. No, the ecstasy was experienced a bit later, the moment I took a bite of these so-delicious-it-should-be-illegal chocolate truffles! I thinks it's safe to say that if ever there were perfection in chocolate form, it would be right here with Lulu's Love Truffles!

These cute heart shaped truffles are the mergence of 2 of the most epic chocolate creations that the raw food industry has to offer: Lulu's Handcrafted Chocolate (of course), and Rawmio Stone Ground Chocolate Hazelnut Butter . Holy cacao this is a love affair that will surely last till the end of time! Whoever had the idea to combine a melt in your mouth shell of creamy, perfectly textured, rich but not too sweet raw chocolate with a dense, almost fudge-like filling of Rawmio hazelnut butter needs to win a prize! I love how with each bite you get a little hint of Fleur de Sel sea salt to really bring out the flavors of cacao and hazelnut, while also helping to balance out the sweetness of the chocolate. I also love the fact that the only sweetener used is coconut sugar which is very low glycemic. These truffles actually have a glycemic index of only 35 making it a potentially safe treat for those with blood sugar sensitivities as well. Being that it is July and hotter than heck out there, my heart shaped truffles actually melted together in their pretty gold foil wrapper while in transit and combined to make what looked exactly like a lumpy, bumpy candy bar (Babe Ruth style). The situation was quickly remedied by a short trip to the freezer. Not even the power of the mid-summer sun will inhibit the divine deliciousness of these truffles!

Now that you're mouth is watering for this delectable treat, I'd love to highlight just a few key nutritional elements of these truffles as well! Both Lulu's chocolate and Rawmio are kept very cool in their processing steps. Even during the tempering and melting process, Lulu's never exceeds the barely warm temperature of 113 degrees. When Theobroma cacao is eaten in it's raw state like this you get to enjoy all of it's powerful constituents such as Phenylethylamine (PEA) also known as the "love chemical", and Anadamide or the "bliss chemical". No wonder I'm in such a great mood! Also contained within cacao are high levels of trace minerals such as magnesium for healthy, strong bones and yogic-like flexibility. Did you know that cacao butter , when in its raw unprocessed form, actually helps keep the skin supple and hydrated from the inside out? The healthy essential fatty acids within it help our skin lock in water molecules for the ultimate plumping effect. 

Also worth noting is the packaging of this product. It is 100% recycled material and the print is soy and veggie ink. Even the foil can be thrown into your compost bin as it is a material called "Natureflex" that will breakdown right along with your mango peels and kale stems. Fairly traded, certified organic ingredients, environmentally friendly packaging, and a company based on the premise of spreading euphoric, raw, unadulterated love and bliss to their customers.....who wouldn't want to take a bite out of that?

In short, if Lulu's love truffles aren't up for this years Best of Raw awards in the Chocolate category then I won't know what the world is coming to. Whatever you do don't make the same mistake I did and only order 1! My recommendation is to get at least 5 or 6 of these decadent little morsels and store them in your freezer for a cool treat, perfect for these hot summer days we've been experiencing lately. The texture of the chocolate is almost like that of a dip cone from the ice cream parlor! Remarkable. I would love to see Lulu's do a butterscotch version with their Maca Love bar and perhaps Rawmio silk or crunch as the filling. Oh yes, now the gears are turning! Brace yourself and prepare to be completely floored by the utter yumminess of this new enticing chocolate treat!

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Have you ever felt a little whacked out from too much raw chocolate? Maybe a bit jittery or over stimulated? While raw cacao can shoot some people to the moon on it’s own, many times it has more to do with the combination of ingredients than the actual cacao itself. Leave out the high glycemic sweeteners and throw in some other wholesome ingredients and you may just end up with a chocolate treat that is both blissfully delicious but will leave you feeling amazing after chowing down too! It is here that Rawmio's Raw, Stone Ground Gourmet Chocolate Barks enter the picture. There is a lot going on with these chocolate barks in all departments: ingredients, flavor, texture, everything! Holy yum this stuff is amazing!
 
Rawmio Chocolate Bark comes in 4 heavenly variations: Sprouted Hazelnut and Fig , Superfood , Trail Mix and Sprouted Cereal . All flavors are raw and certified organic. Another commonality between all 4 flavors is their perfect combination of textures and flavors whether that's crunchiness, gooeyness, creaminess, melt-in-your-mouth-chocolatey-goodness, bitter, salt, and sweet. The truly raw organic cacao nibs are lightly sweetened ever so delicately and lend a powerful fresh cacao flavor and crunch. In the Sprouted Hazelnut and Fig flavor the drizzle of Rawtella silk melts away between crunchy cacao nibs into creamy oblivion. The fresh dried black mission figs are chewy and soft and have a honey-like flavor that pairs so well with the chocolate and hazelnuts. Also, because cacao is so rich in magnesium and figs in calcium this is a great bone building treat. High levels of pure raw cacao combined with sprouted hazelnuts gives you plenty of antioxidants, minerals, and healthy fats and protein. Within the Superfood flavor you will find a plethora of medicinal mushrooms such as chaga, cordyceps, and reishi as well as red clover, maca , chewy delicious mulberries and nourishing chia seeds. Wowee, all of this potent medicine in a base of tasty raw chocolate? How did we ever get this lucky! It would seem that the creative geniuses behind Rawmio know the best part of trail mix is the chocolate, and so it was that the Trail Mix Chocolate Bark was born. Submerged throughout the stone ground chocolate you will find a host of various nuts, seeds and dried fruits such as pumpkin seeds, almonds, mulberries and goji berries. The Sprouted Cereal Bark is especially fun because the light and crispy sprouted seeds strongly mimic a crispy puffed rice effect, which seems like it may be challenging to achieve in a raw chocolate medium. Until now. No refined grains, sugars or dairy additives, just pure stone ground cacao , natural coconut sugar and organic sprouted buckwheat and quinoa! Simplicity at it's finest.
 
This is highly nutritious chocolate! The primary sweetener used is raw coconut sugar which has a low glycemic index and is actually less processed than many other "raw" sweeteners such as agave nectar. Rawmio chocolate bark is almost more of a meal packed into a piece of chocolate rather than just a dessert. And if you enjoy the Superfood flavor you're also getting a dose of potent gland nourishing, immune system boosting, and longevity enhancing medicinals as well. These barks make the ultimate treat for a long road trips or outdoor activities when you need something totally tasty that will provide prolonged energy and nourishment. This product would make an amazing gift for a friend, a great party or potluck treat, or even a midday pick me up instead of coffee. A little bite goes a long way and leaves that chocolate loving sweet tooth perfectly satisfied. Also, it is made fresh with human love from start to finish and that can most certainly be felt with each richly satisfying bite. Try some today while there's plenty in stock!

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