My Blog

Where'd all the Sunshine Go?

02/17/2012 10:57:00

Hello GRM Family

I've just returned from Palm Coast, yes returned... You see I live and "work" from Maryland. (My other job is that of a home care administrator). Edna, my mother and her husband Roy, my step-father, live in Palm Coast. So when I update the website, or make Facebook changes, I do it all here from wintery, blustery Maryland. Chandrika and the rest of us talk via phone a couple dozen times a day (or more), to coordinate what we have there in City Market Place...

I'm particullarly excited about this past week because in addition to getting some well needed R&R, Mom and I attended an Orlando conference which exhibited lots of wonderful new and awesome products for the health food industry. We spent two days at the conference and came away with four bags of exciting reading material, samples, and a tons of ideas. Some of which will be rolled out in early April.

I don't want to speak too much about it now since everything is in the planning stages, but as a co-contributor, I want to thank you all for the support you give to GRM everyday. With every new customer that walks through our doors, we remain encouraged to move forward to make the store the best possible experience for our customers.

Thanks for six days of sunshine and Florida hospitality.

Challenges In The Raw

09/28/2011 13:40:00

We are only ten short days away from introducing our Rah Rah Raw 30 Day Challenge. I have decided to push myself a little further and embark on a ten day liquid only feast. For me this is a much needed aspect of discipline in order for me to stick to this lifestyle change. Its so exciting to know that we will touch so many lives by introducing to many of you foods and functions that you may have had no clue about. Something that everyone should know is that starting it is ok if you make a mistake. Just reflect upon the root of the problem, dust yourself off and keep on moving.
Very often newcomers feel that they must jump onto the raw wagon head first without listening to their body to understand their nutritional needs. My goal after the ten day liquid only feast is to maintain a ratio of 80/20. That means 80% raw/living vegan foods and 20% cooked vegan foods. The way that I plan to follow through to make this goal a success is to consume raw/living vegan breakfast, lunch and snacks and to have a cooked meal with my family for dinner. Have an amazing weekend!!!

Week in Review

09/18/2011 06:44:00

This week we added Rejuvilac to our raw diet. What is rejuvilac? A fermented beverage made from sprouted white wheat. It has between 9 and 13 strains of beneficial bacteria, amino acids, b vitamins and enzymes. Hardcore we drink it straight or add a squirt of lime or lemon, even a strawberry whirled with it in the blender is good. We make it for you with lime and agave so it tastes like a margarita, why we will even salt the glass! Good health never tasted so good! What does it do? It balances the flora in the colon. Health issues like Diabetes, Psoriasis, and even cancer are due to a toxic, unbalanced colon. Rejuvilac adds needed bacteria to a colon over populated with candida (a yeast fungus) and parasites. The bacteria eat the parasites and candida, making the colon flora balanced and healthy. The amino acids help to break down your protein and the enzymes are the catalyst to get the nutrition to your cells. This is why we drink Rejuvilac. Like it was water. In fact we use it as a water replacement when we are first trying to detox. We sell the white wheat berries at Ginger Root Market, and Chef Carol (that's me) will be happy to tell you how to make it, or pour you a glass.

Hippocrates said "let your food be your medicine and your medicine your food" We make awesome food/medicine at the Ginger Root Cafe'.

Write your post here.

Kick off to the Rah Rah Raw Club

09/09/2011 08:39:00

...and here we are, day 5 of Chandrika's and my pre-30 day raw challenge/kick off to the Rah Rah Raw club. Five days with nothing cooked. We can do this. If we can, so can whomever is reading this blog. You can do it. 30 days to better health. Wow. I have been 100% raw before, and each time I fall off the raw wagon I say, "I am never going to do this again". Well, I did it again, and now I am 5 days into our own personal 30 day raw challenge. Perhaps with the support of other Rah Rah Raw members I can stay raw or at least 80/20. This is what Rah Rah Raw is all about, support, and the guidance of folks who have been there and can extend a hand to help you get there too.

Rah Rah Raw Club begins October 4, @ 5:00. Every week we will meet, compare notes, learn how to transition from cooked to raw, how to make the 4 healing foods that we need to achieve optimum wellness. We will learn about equipment, and why organic is SO important and yes, friends, even proper colon care. We will learn how to be raw foodists, together. Yes, together. I may be a raw food chef, but every day I learn something new, and usually it is our customers who are my teacher. We all have something to learn from each other.

Day 5...we ate apple crisp Ice cream sundaes yesterday for lunch. All raw of course. I keep a cup in the kitchen so that when folks order a green smoothie, the few bits that are left in the blender don't get wasted. Food combinations are a little weird, but green is good. We added a TBS of raw organic coconut oil to the program. Needless to say, I had 4 (YES 4) bowel movements this morning before eating a nice bowl of kale salad for breakfast. Chandrika and I have to remind each other to eat. Once you are eating enough nutrition your body doesn't want as much food. It takes 10 times the amount of cooked food to assimilate the same nutrition of 1 serving of raw food. It didn't take very long for my body to say no to cooked food. 5 days into the program and I just don't want it. Since Monday I am down 5 lbs, which is probably water. I don't care if it was water, poop or anything else, I AM NOT CARRYING IT ANYMORE. It's 5 lbs to a lighter step, more energy and better health. RAH RAH RAW!!!!

Another use for Organic Apple Cider Vinegar

05/27/2011 11:32:00

Over this Memorial day weekend, I'll be making the long drive to Alabama to pick-up my dear friend Marti's pet dog, Pepe. Marti's current medical situation is not going to allow her to care for Pepe for the short-term, so this spoiled little fufu dog will be living with me and my brood here in Maryland. It's not exactly a good fit, but Pepe is like Marti's child, she would want a good home for him until she's well enough again to care for him. So until that time, he's stuck with us.

Knowing that Pepe is not accustomed to being around children (I have one FT and one PT), I stopped by my local pet store for an animal behavioralist referral to assist with the transition. While the clerk was putting together a list of names, I gazed around their lovely store and saw a product very familiar to me, but it was one that seemed out of place. It was Bragg's Organic Apple Cider Vinegar. I had to ask what application apple cider vinegar had for pets. LeAnne Olson, the store's buyer informed me that her dog suffered from constant ear yeast issues and that she was taking her dog to the vet every other month for treatment. She claims that since putting a tablespoon of Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar in her dog's water bowl, she's had no more pet visits for this problem. She also claims that its great for her dog's coat and skin. So I'm thinking, if Bragg's can do this for a dog, what great things it must be doing for me? I keep a bottle of Bragg's on my kitchen counter so I don't forget to add it to my water each morning. Both my sister and I use it to suppress heartburn symptoms. Another friend bathes in it to control her Mercer outbreaks, and I'm sure there are thousands more applications. Something to keep in mind is that if you choose to use apple cider vinegar, it's important to use the organic kind since the other non-organic brands add petroleum and other yucky stuff.

If you don't already know, Bragg's Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, along with other Bragg's products, is available at Ginger Root Market in 16oz and 32oz bottles. I'm interested in ways you use this product. Please share them with me and the GRM community.

Finally, I hope you all have a wonderful and safe Memorial Day Weekend. "Thank you" to all our vets, service men and women who've made our country safe and strong. God Bless America.

Needing an Energy Boost after a Hectic Month.

05/24/2011 20:02:00

Well it's been a while since I've written a post and so much has happened in my life since my last blog. I had minor surgery last week; witnessed my niece give birth to my Brother's first Grandson - Welcome Jeremiah Elliott Bernard; made multiple trips to John Hopkins Neuro ICU to visit a very sick friend (we are praying for you Martinette); hosted my son's 6th birthday party and did all the usual multi-tasking routines of being a wife, mother, friend, daughter, and business woman -- whew, how do we girls do it?

Today, both my Mother (Edna) and neighbor (Evie) encouraged me to juice wheatgrass to regain my strength after a hectic month that included surgery. I've had a Champion juicer sitting on my kitchen counter for the last few years. Mom gave it to me as a birthday gift about fifteen years ago. So for the first time ever, I'm going begin juicing. I'm looking forward to the benefits of wheatgrass nutrients. I've heard so many positive reports on what it's done for G.R. customers as well as the physical boost to the body. After all, I've got an active 46 y.o. husband and 6 year old son to keep up with. And I'm starting take the "I love my old girl" references personally... Coincidentally, Edna will be hosting an Introduction to Raw Foods class with Carol Brown at Ginger Root Market on June 7th (it's already filling-up.) Carol will be demonstrating how to sprout beans including wheat grass and offering lots more information on Raw Food Living. Here's a little about Carol who you'll be seeing much more of in the weeks and months to come...

Carol attended the Living Foods Institute in 2002 and soon became active in the living foods movement in Florida. She went on to further her education in Raw Food by studying with raw food visionaries such as Ken Rhola, David Wolfe, Matt Monarch, Gabriel Cousins, the Butenko family, Tonya Zavasta, Brian Clements and Brenda Cobb. She started the first raw food potluck in Flagler County, and soon became instrumental in the opening of the Almond Blossom Cafe' (now Almond Blossom Wellness).

Carol's classes are fun, informative and are in keeping with Ann Wigmore's tradition in philosophy and application of the raw living lifestyle.

Suzie came by the store today and asked....

03/28/2011 14:41:00

Hello Friends of Ginger Root (FOGR),

Thought I'd share with you an question that is likely on many people's minds. You see, Suzie came by the store today and asked "What is the difference between natural and organic?" Great question! Feeling put on the spot, the quickest response I could give to sum-up the misconception of these two often used health food industry terms is that an organic product can be natural, but a natural product is not necessarily organic. Well that was probably too simplistic of an answer (and it doesn't give a lot of information), so here's an online article on what organic foods is NOT... I hope this helps and keep bringing your questions.

Definition of Organic - The Whats, Wheres & Whos

A New Year a Better You

02/09/2011 11:19:00

Kim Hostetter and Co. came by and instructed a group of Ginger Root Customers on the benefits of cleansing and detoxing the body. No better way to get the year started right

even though we're more than six weeks into the new year. Better late than never I say. As you may know, some of you not, I'm writing from frigidly cold Maryland, but I'm with you all in spirit. The same goals and dreams for a better, healthier body I share with you all. Over the next year, I hope to inspire you (as well as myself) on making lifestyle changes that will lead to a healthier physical, mental, and spiritual body. My philosophy is to meet a person where they're at. We're all at different places in our "journey". Some of you have been living a life-long healthy lifestyle, for others, you may be trying to quit cigarettes or junk food and sweets, which is just as addictive. But what we share in common is a desire to Do Better. I hope this blog will be of interest and I welcome your feedback. Stay warm.