Heal Yourself 101

We are a society that is massively overfed yet so severely undernourished. We’ve read this, we feel this and we know this in our hearts, but very few people do anything about it. Each generation seems to be heavier and unhealthier than the last. Why?

We are not dense (more on that later) yet somehow the vital knowledge we need to change our health, our bodies, and ultimately our future seems to elude us. The internet and bookstores are inundated with every kind of diet book that claims to absolutely get you in the best health and give you the best body money can buy, and I have a shelf full of them. We will try the most bizarre and unsafe diets and credulously hang on to their unrealistic promises. We are not using our common sense, our gut instinct, or our spidey senses which usually tell us the truth. Deep down we know what foods are bad for us, so why do we unconsciously stuff ourselves with the wrong foods? Sometimes the wrong foods can even be foods we deem healthy! Is the battle hopeless or is there a way of eating that can heal us and give us an awesome body?

Markus Rothkranz is the author of several books one of which is Heal Yourself 101. In this book, he takes your hand and gently guides you through his fabulous easy-to-read Raw Food program that will change your life like it’s transformed his. I use the word program but it’s actually a way of life.

Markus was not always the healthy hotty he is now. He had numerous health problems: heart disease, liver disease, lung disease and he was hemorrhaging. How did he get this sick? By eating the all-American diet. Even when he tried several healthier eating plans like being a vegan, he was still sick!! It wasn’t until he simplified his life even further to the very basics: air, sunshine, water, exercise, vegetables, and fruits did he discover a radiant way of living. A Raw Food Diet!!

Heal Yourself 101 is an inspiring and illuminating book that will open your eyes to a better way of eating, living, feeling, and experiencing the world via a raw vegan diet. You will learn that there is a definite connection between your health, your body, and the foods you eat. I’ve read several raw vegan books but this one really resonated with me. The saying “When the student is ready the teacher will appear” is so profound.

The book is filled with a generous amount of information about foods, herbs, whole food supplements, and appliances that will get you on your way to a better body and ultimately regain your health. Did you know that dandelions are very good for us? They are deemed a superfood and natural medicine. They are a great source of Vit A and E which prevent free radical damage. It’s used as a cancer treatment, a liver stimulant and tonic, to lower cholesterol, to cleanse the blood, to improve circulation and the list goes on. Every part of the dandelion is useful and edible. I put a few leaves in my smoothie and I cannot taste them. I find and pick dandelions from a wild field so I know they have not been sprayed with chemicals. Who would have thought dandelions would be part of my menu?

As many of you know I’ve been a vegan for over 20 years and I’ve always thought I was eating the best I could. But I’ve also been ill for over 5 years. I had to give up my wonderful job in a very busy hospital laboratory (which I loved) because I was too ill to work. It never occurred to me that my own vegan diet was contributing greatly to my situation.

Becoming a raw vegan does not have to be difficult but it can be challenging. We will crave our favorite foods because we are addicted to them. Foods like meat, dairy, and cooked foods are very acidic. Your body responds by creating mucous and fat to protect your body. This mucus will be in every organ including your brain. This is why there may be days when you struggle to focus, to remember, to think clearly.

The food we eat is used to build new cells in our bodies. If we eat junk food, processed food, and high-fat, high-sugar foods our new cells will be inferior and they are not going to function optimally. The right information will not get to your cells. This point alone should make us stop and ponder before we gorge on garbage.

When going raw, Markus says to keep it simple and this is what I have done. He encourages the lemon cleanse and juicing to get started. So, I did 6 days of the lemon cleanse and then 6 days of juicing. How did I feel? Well, I was detoxing so during my first few days I had awful headaches and I was slightly nauseated. My lungs filled with mucus, my tongue had a  fuzzy coating and my skin broke out. This is normal and to be expected. Everyone will detox differently. Be grateful the garbage is coming out of you. I also drink a lot of blended meals which are smoothies. You fill your blender with half greens and half fruit. I also throw in chia seeds or hemp seeds as well. They are very easy to make and quick to whip up.

We are also strongly encouraged to do enemas and colonics to get out the old stuff that is peacefully putrefying against our colon wall. This is equally as important as your diet. This old crude has to come out if you want the best health. I try to do an enema several times a week, but it can be done daily.

I have been doing this program for just over a month now and I do feel better. Most day’s I’m about 80 – 90 % raw vegan, and some days 100%. I have lost 12 lbs and I’m down one pant size. I have more energy and I’m actually enjoying the process. Now I try to test out a new fruit or veggie every week so I have more variety in my diet. I’ve become conscious of what I eat and I know the longer I stay raw the better my health and body will be. In the past, I suffered from heartburn and I had difficulty breathing on a cooked vegan diet. This all went away when I ate raw. Wow, I was overjoyed to experience this relief. I have a long way to go to get healthy but I’m definitely on my way.

Yes, I’ve cheated and ate something cooked but I did not feel so good that evening or the next day. I warmed up some canned tomato soup one night and for the next several days I had moderately poofy bags under my eyes. I was shocked at how quickly food can alter your appearance. I’m now aware of the effect foods have on the body. I can assure you I will never eat that soup again. We really are what we eat, so why not eat something that will make you beautiful?

Go online and find some raw vegan recipes and start experimenting. Markus has several YouTube videos showing you how to make various dishes. Eating a raw vegan diet lives up to its promise to help you look and feel your best. One look at Markus should have us running to our local farmer’s market to buy organic produce. We really can look fabulous at any age. You are never too old to change. To echo the words of Markus, “people cannot be lectured, they can only be inspired to make changes in their life and their diet. It’s time to be healthy, alive, and beautiful again”. The bottom line, we are responsible for our own health so we have to educate ourselves about the food we put into our bodies. If you are considering a raw diet I would highly recommend this book. What are you willing to do to get healthy!!

Disclaimer: I received Heal Yourself 101 for review only. The opinions expressed here are my own, yours may differ.