Water filtration is the method of purifying water using specially designed equipment, or chemicals to make it safe for consumption. Making water safe and healthy for drinking is a process that ensures that the final product is free of microorganisms that may cause illness.

Filtering water will get rid of all foreign impurities that might be in the water especially when it comes directly from the faucet. The chemicals as well as organisms found in water can be toxic and therefore must be removed. Similarly, the water that is used in swimming pools, aquariums, and many irrigation schemes should be filtered for safety.

The processes that are employed for water filtration vary considerably. However, the whole procedure is a mechanical activity that will separate the physical particles from water. The fine barriers that are used create a semi-permeable layer that sieves and screens the fluid as it passes through. Nevertheless, some of the solid granules can dissolve in water and this calls for the use of other methods of filtration. It should be noted that the physical impurities can never be completely removed. It is important to have a medium with a wide surface area that catches all sediment and only allows water to pass through.

There are a number of faucet filters that have been approved for home and commercial use. There are refrigerator filters, under-sink devices, shower filters and countertop filters among other types. These devices are efficient and reliable. The filters work in various ways, some use reverse osmosis, ultra violet system that uses radiation, and other recent high tech inventions that have been very helpful to the consumers. The process of water filtration is fast and convenient and there are many advantages to filtering water including saving money. This is because the average cost of bottled water is much higher than the cost of water filtration. The use of water filters prevents toxic substances such as chlorides and cysts from entering the body reducing the risk of falling ill often. The pathogens and other microorganisms such as Vibrio Cholerae that cause water borne infections are kept at bay.

Some of the domestic filters have solid permeable blocks that are made from carbon. The carbon element would selectively clear some of the toxic organisms like bacteria that are found in the drinking water. At the same time, the carbon block retains the natural PH of water and useful minerals that are required in healthy water. The water filters have been medically certified to reduce the chances of cancer of the colon, cancer of the bladder and cancer of the rectum. This is a side effect found in the byproduct of chlorine that is commonly used to treat water.

It is a personal health choice for one to filter water before drinking. The ultimate results of healthy consumption of water count more. It saves one from the trouble of having to seek medical attention for water borne diseases such as bilharzias and dysentery. It is wiser to avoid infection rather than seek treatment. Prevention is always better than cure.

We carry a full selection of water filters and shower filters. Come check us out today.

You don’t want your weight loss plan to flop before you have even seen positive results. Here are some things that can result in diet failure.

Statistically, more diets fail than succeed. However, if you train yourself to think of the process as a weight loss plan, rather than a diet, you are more likely to reach your desired goal. Before beginning the plan, educate yourself about the reasons why diets result in the desired weight level one year following the diet. There are several reasons, including both physical causes and psychological causes. A failed diet is bad for you in two areas. First, it is demoralizing to try very hard to succeed at something and fail. Second, yo-yo dieting results in increasing difficulty in getting the weight off each time.

Nutritionally unsound diets

If your weight loss plan is nutritionally unsound, it can leave you feeling hungry all the time, particularly if you are eating significantly fewer calories than you normally consume. It takes planning to provide fewer calories and avoid hunger pangs at the same time. By their very nature, diets place a lot of emphasis on food and you will be thinking more about food which exacerbates the feeling of hunger. Eliminating certain food groups from your diet is an example of a nutritionally unsound diet as is eating only one of two foods during the course of the diet.

Boring Diets

Diets which rely on only one food may sound like the pounds will melt away, but often, the dieter will last through only two or three meals of grapefruit or something similar that is touted as the latest ‘lose weight quickly’ fad. Instead, choose a weight loss plan that provides a variety of nutritious and filling foods and be sure to include some of your personal favorites as a treat. By reducing the size of portions and including healthy exercise, you can often take the pounds off gradually and never feel like you are bored or suffering from the results of monofoods during the course of the diet.

Unrealistic Expectations

If you prepare a weight loss plan that calls for losing lots of weight in a short period of time, you will almost certainly fail. The plans which show the best likelihood of success are those that use tested approaches to weight loss and set realistic intermediate goals. A weight control program that doesn’t allow adequate time to work is almost certain to cause discouragement, usually resulting in the dieter giving up in despair, well short of the desired weight loss goal.

Physical problems

Sometimes physical problems are the issue in weight gain, and even the best weight loss plan won’t result in dropping the pounds. However, if you review your diet plans with your physician prior to beginning the weight reduction program, he or she will be able to determine if there are any medical problems that should be addressed prior to altering eating habits. Certain diseases such as diabetes and thyroid problems can result in drastic and sometimes dangerous weight gains. By seeking medical attention, these issues are almost certain to be monitored and corrected through the use of medications, diet or exercise.

Make sure that your Weight Loss Plan is successful by gathering the best possible information about successful dieting. You can make use of the links at http://www.fastweightlossplantips.com.

Debt consolidation program presents many benefits and advantages to those who will obtain them for their multiple loans. The most important of this advantage is the merging of their old loans into a single new one.

With the many different kinds of debt consolidation companies offering various debt consolidation programs that are intended to eliminate debt, people realize that these modern times, they are presented with these many options to relieve them of their debt than when the situation was in the earlier days.

There are many means by which you can obtain free information and channel that will help in debt reduction. The Internet is one of the more common and even popular ways by which you can get sound debt relief advices and professional help on what steps to take on once you find yourself trapped in great debt.

And if you are able to carefully plan you’re every move towards debt relief, then it is possible that stress-free, debt-free days are just around the corner. It is so unlike in the early days when you are unable to pay your monthly installments, your only solution that you can think of is to declare bankruptcy. It seems people saddled with so much debt have very little option then. Now it is not the same anymore as even for those with huge and seemingly debilitating debt burden has debt consolidation program to count on.

Advantages of Debt Consolidation Program

A sound debt consolidation program offers you numerous financial advantages over bankruptcy. You must realize that even if your debt woes seem endless, declaring bankrupt will not be the right solution to your problem as it proves to be just a temporary answer.

You will find yourself having obligations to pay up certain types of debts such as state taxes even when you have declared bankruptcy. It is the exact opposite of debt consolidation program as with this type of program, you are able to enjoy permanent relief. More so, if you decide on getting debt consolidation, you are sure to be able to minimize all your debts to about 50 to 60 percent. Clearly this means an efficient debt consolidation program can help you cut all your debt on half.

Debt Consolidation Program and Your Lifestyle

Another important benefit of debt consolidation program is that it gives you the chance to continue living and enjoying the kind of lifestyle that you are used to; there is no need for you to make any major drastic changes in the way you live. The only change you have to contend with is the ability to easily pay back all your existing debts to your lenders in very light monthly payments.

If you are very carefully in choosing the right debt consolidation program for you, it will certainly create a stress-free atmosphere of good credit that you can enjoy, with all your lenders and associates happy for your actions and appreciating all your efforts to make better your financial situation.

The most important of getting a debt consolidation program to the elimination of debt which in turn allows you to enjoy full freedom from your lenders. How? You turn over all the debt responsibility to your debt consolidation company as the latter now deals with the creditors, performing the payment responsibility that you once were burdened with. With debt consolidation, you now have a stress free life, no more harassment on the phone and mails. With this type of loan, you can actually witness all your financial woes disappear away.

Our article here about debt consolidation loan, which is one of the more interesting financial topics around. For more articles on Debt Consolidation Program or Debt Consolidation, visit our website at http://www.homemortgageloan-refinance.com.

There is adequate evidence linking smoking to impotence or ED so sometimes something like smoking can really affect your sexual performance in the bedroom. New research has been adding to the evidence that smoking may be a major cause of erectile dysfunction. Both smoking and erectile dysfunction have often been associated with build up in the heart walls. This can cause many problems in the body including erectile dysfunction. Actually men who smoked more than one pack of cigarettes per day were at a 60% higher risk or developing erectile dysfunction in comparison to men that never smoked. 15% of the past and present smokers have experienced erectile dysfunction. Men who used to smoke or that currently smoke are about 30% more likely to suffer from impotence where as men that never smoked only had a 12% erection problems. There is indeed a link between impotence and smoking. Smoking can lead to a male eventually needing to be treated for erectile dysfunction and taking a drug such as Viagra.

Your doctor should be aware of anything that you are taking or doing while on Viagra, including smoking. Caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the function of many medications. Headaches and dizziness are a couple of the side effects that result from taking Viagra but often when men smoke too, the headaches and the dizziness can be much more painful and last longer. Look at it this way for a minute, if smoking can cause or at least contribute to erectile dysfunction and you are taking a medication to treat the erectile dysfunction, then why smoke?

Another side effect from taking Viagra is stomach upset but it is also proven that the ill effects of smoking can also affect the digestive system. This very well could be the cause of the erectile dysfunction. The bad news is that quitting will not stop any erectile dysfunction because once the damage is done it is too late but it can contribute to some improvement and also help the Viagra to work better. Since everybody is different it may improve or even may not improve.

It is always a great and healthy idea to quit smoking but quitting is always a better idea if you are taking a medication and your smoking is a very real cause of why your medication is not working. Obviously if you put forth the efforts to treat your erectile dysfunction and find out that it is not working properly or maybe even at all because of your smoking then it is likely time that you examine what is going on and make an educated decision.

Rodger Grossman

Acetyl-L-Carnitine advantages for memory booster vitamins for the brain

Acetyl-L-Carnitine is a power packed promoter for the overall health of a person in many ways. It can actually promote the brain health which has benefits too. For a good memory booster vitamin for the brain, Acetyl-L-Carnitine is essential. Brain nutrition is powerful and also a splendid responsibility. This is because, there have been evidences that a person is susceptible to diseases like Parkinson and Alzheimer and can also develop other aging diseases. This has a lot to do with what the person eats and which such supplements he takes or fails to take. So, if the person wants to have a healthy brain throughout his life, genetics play a vital role in this part. Further, it also depends on the person’s diet and lifestyle.

Caring

One has to care about his brain for Memory booster vitamins for the brain, and for the same, he can do everything possible to reduce his dietary intake that are harmful for his heath. Overall, one should avoid stress and this means the person need not go berserk whenever things go wrong. One should avoid smoke, toxic and alcohol. The person should cultivate a spiritual life and spend his life doing what he loves. One of the most exciting nutrients which exist for brain health is Acetyl-L-Carnitine. This is a special form of carnitine drug which helps a person to protect his brain cells, to energize them, and also to help them to have a longer life. It can also help the person to treat conditions like Alzheimer’s disease as per the research that has been conducted in humans.

Acetyl-L-Carnitine can slow aging of the brain in a person

One of the positive effects of Acetyl-L-Carnitine is that it is one of the vital nutrients for prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. Acetyl-L-Carnitine is the ultimate Memory booster vitamins for the brain. It is a special carnitine form which has the ability to optimize the functions of the brain, and it can cross into the brain more successfully than the regular carnitine. It can also enhance the brain cell function better than the normal carnitine. As a person ages, Acetyl-L-Carnitine level in the brain diminishes and for the optimal function of the brain, the Acetyl-L-Carnitine supplements is mandatory. This is quite true for people who are more than forty and through Acetyl-L-Carnitine, there can be improved health conditions of the brain.

What does Acetyl-L-Carnitine do to increase the Memory booster vitamins for the brain?

Acetyl-L-Carnitine can prevent the brain deterioration during the stress and can also help the aging brain to function in a proper way. This drug can help prevent the damage which can occur to the nerve cells when there is a total lack of oxygen in the brain. It is thus, no surprise that Acetyl-L-Carnitine is helpful for stroke victims and for the same, one has to take around 1500 mg of Acetyl-L-Carnitine per day.

Acetyl-L-Carnitine can actually act in lots of ways to prevent the brain cell deterioration which happens with age. Acetyl-L-Carnitine can act as a powerful antioxidant and can offer the brain with healing energy and increase levels of important messenger molecule which is called acetylcholine. This becomes deficient in the brain of the patients of Alzheimer’s disease. And this is one of the reasons why such people have poor memory functions.

Bryan Reese is a scientific researcher specializing in the fascinating area of memory enhancement has created the most effective scientific formula that positively affects a person

Acne is an annoying problem and it affects people at many levels. One of the worst consequences of having acne is the impact it can have on your self esteem and confidence which is obviously a big problem. Each day it seems new acne treatments are introduced and it can get very confusing to decide which ones really work or can work well for you in particular. Just because a friend tried one product over the counter does not mean that same one will work just as well for you.

Many acne sufferers are discovering the benefits that natural based acne treatment methods can have. Unfortunately the medications and harsh lotions and cleansers that many people use tend to have many adverse side effects that leave your skin irritated and dry including other negative health side effects. Here are some natural acne treatment tips to help you reduce your acne problem:

Tip 1: Look for gentle natural acne treatments

It is important to read the ingredients section on any over the counter or online based acne treatment you are looking to purchase. You want products that contain primarily natural ingredients like tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is a very effective anti bacterial agent and can be very effective at fighting acne. The internet can be a great place to find these kinds of products so do a search for ‘natural acne treatments’ and you are sure to find some very reputable and quality products that are worth purchasing even if you have to wait a few extra days for shipping.

Tip 2: Watch your diet

Diet can have an impact on hormone levels in your body which can then lead to more acne causing bacteria thus learning to optimize your diet to keep your hormone levels in check can help to control your acne condition. Taking part in a cleansing program can often be a good idea. Visit your local health food store for cleansing kits or do a search online as it is more convenient for ‘full body cleansing’ to find some good sources to get them and then follow the instructions to maximize the benefits.

Juice fasting can be another great way to cleanse however be warned that it will require a lot of discipline to follow through especially if you have never done it before since you will get lots of urges to want to eat your favorite foods. Start slow and go on a 24 to 48 hour juice fast. The ideal is to juice your own freshly squeezed fruits and vegetables instead of using store bought pre packaged juices.

Carrots contain many nutrients that are very good for the skin so consider drinking the juice of freshly squeezed carrots as much as you can. Also try to minimize your intake of processed foods as much as possible and go with the whole food alternatives ideally organic that are free of chemicals, pesticides and preservatives. Follow some of these natural acne treatment tips to help you get rid of acne fast.

Jonathon is a researcher and author. He is a regular contributor to a site on skin care products. Be sure to visit and learn about the best anti aging skin care products to help you look younger fast.

One of the main reasons people choose to have the treatment is because they are embarrassed to smile and this then creates a loss of confidence and self esteem.

A great smile can prove to be a precious asset, particularly when you first meet someone. However, people who have brown or yellow stained teeth are very aware of this inadequacy. One of the best treatment methods available to gain back that white perfect smile is teeth whitening. The basic method of teeth whitening is that it reverses the procedure of discoloration of teeth, bleaching them to disclose the white enamel again.

With so many options available customers can get puzzled on what works best and what is the most cost successful treatment but our clientele our the best advert and removing the day to day stains from their teeth mainly caused by nicotine, coffee, tea, red wine and sauces. The other big advantage of laser teeth whitening is the fact there is little pain caused by laser teeth whitening different some of the alternatives.

Characteristically the teeth are stained by everyday stains like coffee, tea, curry, blackcurrant and gravy to name a few but the good news is that many people act in response very positively to the treatment and the staining can be removed and whiten your teeth by as much as 6-8 shades. The time the teeth remain white will depend on how you preserve your overall dental care and stay away from some of the stuff that made the teeth stained in the first place.

Professional teeth whitening like laser teeth whitening or zoom teeth whitening has seen a big increase over the last three to four years and the industry has a tried and tested treatment that can help get rid of the staining from the enamel and bring your smile back to life. When a person reaches maturity most have already experienced one or more of the following teeth dulling problems.

When it comes to human beings also their noticeable appearance is very crucial for their position development in their career. This is why they ay a lot of attention and money on their personal grooming including their teeth.

One of the most visible aspects in the overall grooming of a person is the color and shape of their teeth. People who have a well coordinated and white set of teeth are more attractive than those who have yellowish-brown decayed set of teeth. Since the color of the teeth usually deteriorates with age, people resort to teeth whitening processes to maintain their good looks. The process that when applied to human teeth, removes any existing staining making the teeth porcelain white is known as teeth whitening process.

Coffees, teas, sodas or other dark liquids, Cigarettes, pipes, cigars or other types of tobacco products, Medications or illness are some of the things that contribute to teeth staining. It is safe to assume that most people have not been eating white foods and drinking water all of their life, consequently they most likely have stains on their teeth. Until most people see someone who has had a whitening process done by a teeth whitening professional, they don’t understand their teeth may be stained and blah looking. If you think your smile is not its best, you may want to look into having whiter teeth.

For the latest trends tips and advice for teeth whitening North London or teeth whitening Milton keynes

When people talk about depression, they usually mean a person who is feeling down and lethargic, and who has generally lost interest in life. Most people don’t realize that there are many different types of depression a person can be suffering from, with each type often showing different symptoms.

While this isn’t an exhaustive list, here is a quick overview of the most common forms of depression.

Mild/Minor Depression is the least severe form of depression. Usually the symptoms aren’t so severe that they have a major impact in the life of the sufferer, although the depression can still cause distress and disruption. Many people who are suffering from mild depression never seek treatment - they don’t believe the symptoms are severe enough.

Dysthymic Disorder is a long-term form of mild depression (lasting two or more years). Like mild depression, most sufferers never seek help as they don’t believe their symptoms are severe enough. Also like mild depression, the symptoms of dysthymic depression don’t usually have a huge impact on the sufferers day-to-day life. But when the long-term results from the depression are considered, the impact can be huge. People who suffer from dysthymic depression often can’t remember a time when they weren’t depressed.

Moderate Depression fits somewhere between mild depression and major depression. The symptoms of moderate depression are more severe and numerous than mild depression, and they begin to have an impact on the work, home and social life of the sufferer. While mild depression and dysthymic depression can go unnoticed by others, the symptoms of moderate depression are usually noticeable. If left untreated, people suffering from moderate depression can slip into major depression.

Major Depression (also known as clinical or unipolar depression) is what most people think of when they think of depression - the individual seems to have totally given up on life, and has a large number of obvious symptoms. It is unlikely that someone suffering from major depression could function normally in a work, social or home setting - their symptoms are too pronounced. Suicide can be a huge risk with major depression, and professional help needs to be sought to treat the depression.

Bipolar Depression (BPD) is sometimes known as manic-depression, and is characterized by the sufferer having large mood swings from very upbeat and energetic to extreme lows. Both periods normally last for several weeks at a time. Bipolar depression is usually categorized into a number of sub-categories. While there is no firm consensus on how many sub-categories there are, the four most common are Bipolar I Disorder, Bipolar I Disorder, Cyclothymic Disorder and Bipolar NOS.

People with bipolar I disorder have the most extreme mood swings. Their low moods can be classified as major depression, while in their positive moods they can engage in crazy, outrageous and even dangerous activities. During this ‘mania’ state they may even suffer from paranoia or hallucinations.

People with bipolar II disorder have much less extreme mania periods. Indeed, many bipolar II sufferers go untreated because people mistake their ‘mania’ phase for simply getting over their depression. People with bipolar II don’t suffer from paranoia or hallucinations.

Cyclothymic disorder is a milder but much more long-term version of bipolar disorder (usually lasting for two or more years). Like bipolar II the mania phases are relatively minor, but in addition their depressive phases aren’t so severe that they classify as major depression. If left untreated, cyclothymic depression can develop into bipolar II depression.

Finally, Bipolar NOS (Not Otherwise Specified) is a catch-all category for people who have some of the symptoms of bipolar, but those symptoms don’t allow the person to be neatly categorized in one of the three other categories. For example, the sufferer may have fast cycling between the manic and depressive states, or manic states without depressive states.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) that affects between 3% and 8% of women. Symptoms of depression appear around a week prior to menstruation, and disappear within a few days of menstruation beginning.

Postnatal (Postpartum) Depression can occur any time in the first 12 months after a baby is born. Some form of postnatal depression affects over 80% of new mothers, although most who are affected only have a very mild form of depression that usually passes naturally with rest and the support of family and friends. However around 15% of mothers get a more severe form of postnatal depression, and like major depression the sufferer needs treatment and support to overcome the illness.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression caused by the changing light levels throughout the year. The most common for of SAD is caused by the low-light levels of winter, but a much rarer form of the disorder is triggered by the high-light levels of summer.

As you can see, depression comes in many different forms - each type of depression has different triggers and symptoms associated with it, and each type of depression also responds better to different treatments. By being aware of the different forms depression can take, you can be much more prepared to help a friend of family member.

Jason Anderson is a long-time depression sufferer who finally decided to do something about it for himself and others. Grab a free copy of his report “The 11 Myths About Depression” by visiting http://www.masteryourdepression.com

This interview is an excerpt from Kevin Gianni’s Renegade Roundtable, which can be found at http://www.RenegadeRoundtable.com. In this excerpt, Nomi Shannon shares on understanding cleansing and the differences between detox symptoms and sickness.

Renegade Water Secrets with Nomi Shannon, raw food chef and author of The Raw Gourmet and a new book, Raw Food Celebrations.

Kevin: Today let’s just briefly start very, very quickly, because I know some people on this call have heard of who you are and know who you are, but very briefly just explain a little bit about your background, about the Hippocrates Institute and your book.

Nomi: Okey-doke, you already kind of talked a little bit about “The Raw Gourmet” which has been out for a few years. It’s considered the best first book to buy, it’s kind of like the raw food bible. I wanted it to be like that, I wasn’t sure, even when I was done, that it would be like that, but it turned out to be like that and I’m very, very happy. “The Raw Gourmet” in particular, is based on the program at Hippocrates Health Institute, which is a truly wonderful, wonderful place, it’s in West Palm Beach, Florida. It’s not an inexpensive program, there are others similar to it that are more budget. For example, Optimum Health Institute, in both San Diego and Texas, and a few other places, most of them are listed in the back of my book, where you can go for a three week all raw retreat.

And all of these programs follow the protocols, more or less, started by a lady by the name of Ann Wigmore. And she is the one who developed the use of wheat grass as a cleansing and healing product and also growing sprouts, soil grown sprouts, such as sunflower and buckwheat and the other kinds of sprouts that you are more familiar with like alfalfa.

I already was raw for probably a year or so, when through serendipity, and it would take an hour to even explain how it all came about, as a girl who was living in California wound up working in West Palm Beach Florida at Hippocrates Health Institute. It was a truly profound learning experience for me. I had absolutely no idea at all that I would ever wind up writing a book. It couldn’t have been further from my personal radar screen. But I learned so much there, not only the program itself, I did run the nine-week health educator course — I didn’t teach it, I ran it — and I was able to take everything that Hippocrates had to offer. I think the most enriching experience there was getting to know all the people that stayed. Everyone would come and most people would stay for three weeks. So it would go through a three-week cycle, three-week cycle, three-week cycle. It was a very interesting experience because you started to see trends.

I don’t remember if I mentioned it when we were in person, it was only a week ago Sunday Kevin, about how, on the fifth day, everybody would become all angry and hated their roommate and all that stuff. I don’t know if we talked about that, but that was the detox symptoms. So I learned a great deal there and I kept in touch with a lot of people.

And then when, in ‘95 I left there and moved back to California, I couldn’t find any books that had delicious food in them. They were all the real basic kind of energy soup. Ann Wigmore was just wonderful, but it’s a little hard to live on that day in and day out. So I decided to write one, and thus “The Raw Gourmet” was born. And then just about two weeks ago my new book came out and that’s called “Raw Food Celebrations.” It’s a very different book to “The Raw Gourmet.” I co-wrote it with my friend Sheryl Duruz, who at the time was running a very vibrant raw food business called rawpleasure.com.au, which is in Australia. That company still exists, but Sheryl and her husband Peers have moved to Canada. And we decided to co-write a book. And it’s wonderful recipes. Most of them are make ahead, but they’re more like, I would say party food, but I don’t want anybody to think, “Oh, I’m not going to get that because it’s really complex stuff.” Each thing is broken down into tiny little steps and most of the recipes are very make ahead. So, for example, I created a new lasagna, and yes it’s about eight other things that are served in that suggested meal, it’s a theme book, Thai, Italian, that kind of thing, bunch, cocktails. So in the Italian section there are all kinds of other things, a divine chocolate cheesecake and things like that. Or you could just go in and make lasagna for a wonderful weekend dinner or something like that. So that was a lot of fun because it was different. I guess I’ve talked to you about myself enough. I bore myself when I talk about myself too much.

Kevin: [laughs] Well let’s talk about these over 400 questions that we’ve gotten here. I think I want to start with cleansing because I think people think that they’re so uniquely different. And when you mentioned if someone goes through a three- week program, that on the fifth day everyone seems to have the detox symptoms, that seems to me that everyone is somewhat similar. Not completely similar, but somewhat similar. One of the biggest question that we got from this call is where do you start with cleansing, what do you do first?

Nomi: I think the most important thing with cleansing is to understand it. On the one hand we could talk about it for three hours and not be done and on the other hand it’s rather divinely simple. So I think the first thing you need to understand is that your body was created, and you can choose how it was created, if god plunked you down in the garden or if you evolved from one cell, it doesn’t matter to me. I mean, I think it’s a combination of everything. However, we are quite divine in that our body is made to be a self-healing and self-cleansing unit.

The thing is, we, in today’s times, live in a very complex–or eat, let’s just say–in a very complex way so that we’re barely giving it a chance to do this healing and cleansing. I wasn’t around at the beginning, but I think that in the beginning food wasn’t that easy to come by. So, we were hunter/gatherers; we often went hungry. And no one was thinking about, “I think I’m going to stop eating for awhile so that my body can rest and cleanse.”

Everything’s changed now. I mean, I’m bombarded with information. There are like these, like news magazine, talking about you know in 1970, you know everybody ate a quarter of a cup of high-fructose corn syrup and now everybody eats 60 pounds of it and that’s why we’re obese. And, I mean, this is a very big… I stumble over my words because it’s such a big subject.

But for more than 99% of human history, the major problem in life was food- deficiency. And you know caloric deficiency has been and continues to be one of the most pressing problems of human life in third world countries. But in this developed society, the opposite is true and we’re eating food with filler, artificial chemicals and really high calories and we’re eating constantly. The typical SAD diet, standard American diet, is non-stop food. I mean, we’ve barely digested the one meal of food and we’re on to the next. Well, the body can’t, in its infinite wisdom, do what it’s supposed to do when we’re giving ourselves so much food.

This is the breakdown of health. And, you know, very significant of what’s been going on the last whatever, 40 or 50 years with the 48 in longevity and health in the world. There’s a reason for that and all you have to do is go to the supermarket.

So now we’ve come up with this rather artificial notion called cleansing. And it’s, in many ways, just a cessation of overeating. And how to cleanse, there’s a gazillion ways to do it. I know some of the questions are, “How should I do it? How long will it take?” Very simply, if you don’t want to think about it a lot, just by eating a very high amount of raw food, your body will gradually, over time, cleanse because it’s counter-intuitive to think about this, but your body digests, assimilates and eliminates raw far more easily, once it gets used to it, than it does all the cooked, process food.

Now, when you first eat a salad… I remember trying to convince my dad many years ago to–I know what it was, I made a soup, it wasn’t even raw, I wasn’t raw yet but it was filled with vegetables, many, many, 20 or 30 different vegetables. And, he said, “I can’t eat that it gives me a stomach ache,” which was his way of saying it gave him diarrhea. And the reason it did is the man never ate anything that resembled a vegetable. And so he thought, it’s making me sick. But what it immediately started to do was cleanse, that’s what that diarrhea was.

And, so, when I say you need to understand cleansing, it’s because it’s so easy to think you’re sick when you alter your diet and start to eat more healthy. But it’s really your body is like, “Oh, wow, she’s letting me eat a salad. Good, I’m going to get rid of some of these toxins.” And it manifests as you know various symptoms.

Kevin: What’s the difference between detox symptoms and sickness?

Nomi: Yeah, well, sometimes they feel, well, they always almost feel identical. And that’s why it’s important to know what you’re getting yourself into. And sometimes it’s not always the smartest thing to jump right into it. Now, say you’re very ill. You know, say you just got a very dire diagnosis. Well, it will probably be a really good idea to go to one of the places, scrape up the money and go to one of the places and be guided and be immersed in the program. And allow yourself to go through this, and some of it will be a little uncomfortable.

Like the people at Hippocrates, a lot of it was irritability, headache, nausea, lightheadedness, sometimes diarrhea, gas, that kind of thing. And symptoms can be much more serious.

I was just speaking with a lady today who might be on a call tonight. We got cut off, we couldn’t finish, but we’re going to have a consultation next week. And she was mentioning a lot of things that sounded like detoxification, but they were going on for a long time for her. And she felt like she was sick; like her skin broke out. So, then she went to the doctor and the doctor gave her some medication for it. Well, you know it’s a little hard to be able to discern and it’s really good to have some good books and some good guidance so that you can tell, because if you interrupt the cleansing process, you’re kind of setting yourself back. And there are ways to sort of regulate or modulate. If you’re not terribly ill and so you can take your time, so that you don’t get to the point where you have to stay home from work, kind of thing.

To read the rest of this transcript as well as access The Renegade Roundtable experts just like Nomi Shannon please click here! Kevin Gianni is an internationally recognized health advocate, author & film consultant. He has helped thousands of people take control of their own health naturally. For more information visit raw food diets and holistic nutrition.

This interview is an excerpt from Kevin Gianni’s Renegade Roundtable, which can be found at http://www.RenegadeRoundtable.com. In this excerpt, Nomi Shannon shares on strategies and tips for starting a raw food lifestyle.

Renegade Water Secrets with Nomi Shannon, raw food chef and author of The Raw Gourmet and a new book, Raw Food Celebrations.

Kevin: Let’s talk about raw and let’s talk about percentages here, because there’s a few questions about percentages. What’s the difference between 70-90% raw and 100% raw?

Nomi: OK, yeah. There’s actually a big difference between 70, 80% and 100%. Not to say that…I am a very middle-of-the-road raw-food person. Because I really believe, I’ve seen people go all just gung-ho, all raw and three weeks later, for whatever reason, they feel like a failure. Whether they just jumped into it too fast or can’t handle the detoxification they think is there or whatever, really not good in the kitchen. So, they’re almost like a rubber band, they bounce back and in three weeks or six weeks or two months they’re back at whatever, McDonald’s.

I’d honestly rather see someone just have 50% raw for the rest of their life than be a 100% raw for three weeks because that is going to make a profound difference. Now, I personally decided that 50% was like the tipping point. But, honestly, if there are people out there and they’re eating 100% cooked food and they start eating 25% raw, that’s better than 0% raw. I do think though that, and I think we all understand the phrase the tipping point, now, I do think that tipping point where you truly notice a difference in your health is going to be at 50%. I really think it’s quite a rare person that’s 100% for a really long period of time. And that’s another thing, people beat themselves up. They go, “Oh, I was 100% for a year and then I ate a Rice Krispie and I felt like such a failure and so I stopped completely.” I mean, that is really undesirable thinking.

So, if you want to be raw and you were trying to decide on a percentage, it’s a really great idea for anyone who can to work their way up to 100% and stay at 100% for as long as they can. So, say three months, let’s say six months, because that’s going to give your maximum amount of sort of self-cleansing, especially if you include juicing, all right? And then settle somewhere where you’re comfortable and where you’re happy. It’s not like philosophy or like religion. It’s not like you’re converting and you have to buy the whole package and the way you celebrate this religion in order to be accepted, this is really just the food you‘re eating. And once you allow yourself to get over the hump, there’s even the question of people saying, “I hate the way greens taste.” Or, “I don’t like this or I don’t like that. Literally your palate changes.

Most of us who are eating the standard American diet are addicted to the stuff they put in the food. It just tastes delicious. It takes a while for your palate to get used to simple greens, simple salad, plain almonds, that kind of thing. So you have to give yourself the chance to do that. If you are never a 100%, so what. But it would be good to be a 100% in the beginning, work up to it for as long as you can, because that is the ultimate, wonderful thing to do for yourself. If you are ill, again, if there are people listening that have a serious illness, whether it’s obesity or blood pressure issues, or cholesterol issues or cancer, you would be very well advised to get yourself to a 100% level as soon as you can and stay there for as long as you can.

I personally know literally hundreds of people who feel that they’ve cured themselves of the incurable simply by eating raw food or taking wheat grass juice and that kind of thing.

Kevin: And you have seen it at Hippocrates.

Nomi: Yeah, that’s one of the beauties of working in a place like that. You see it over and over and over and over.

Kevin: I think that’s what makes what you say a little… it weighs it more than someone else who talks about this or that or this type of program or that type of program. Whereas you’ve been literally in the trenches seeing this happen, which is a lot different than reading the book and then talking about it.

Nomi: I’ve seen it happen a thousand different ways with a thousand different issues and I’ve experienced it myself. I wasn’t looking at it when I was there as anything but a really profound experience for myself. But looking back I realized I have engaged in a lot of conversation. This was a wonderful program, really, really. First of all, the food is delicious and they really, really show you how to make your food when you get home. And literally every person, as they were walking out the door, was going, “Oh my god, what am I going to do when I get home?” And I’m sitting there going, “Are you kidding? They’ve just shown you everything.” But some people are better in the kitchen than others. So I followed through with a lot of people.

And that is also where I learned what people want to know, and what then I based “The Raw Gourmet” on. I really knew what people wanted to know.

Kevin: Let’s talk about some of “The Raw Gourmet” tips and information that you give in that book, because there are a lot of questions about prep. Let’s start first with washing your vegetables. Let’s talk about it. Not only washing them, where do you store them, how do you store them to keep them fresh for the longest and what’s the best way to do that?

Nomi: Wow! I think there are a gazillion different ways to wash your veggies, there is no one right way. I used to use a product called Botanic Gold and I’m going to actually start to carry it. It’s now called Enviro One. It’s just made out of plant stuff, it’s like soap. You dilute it very highly to soak your veggies in or to brush your teeth with, or clean the house there are different dilutions. And I really loved it and I actually haven’t used it in a while and I miss it terribly. It’s hard to say, other than to say it’s a good idea to wash off your produce. You can’t wash everything off non-organic produce. But you just have to do the best you can with that.

Storing it, the big thing about storing it is don’t overbuy. Have a good refrigerator, if you have a 15 year old refrigerator you might want to start saving up for a new one, because the newer ones are more efficient. I go to many people’s houses and they often don’t utilize the drawers in their refrigerators well enough. But if you can’t fit it all in the refrigerator from one shopping then you’re buying more than you can eat before the food starts to go bad. It’s unrealistic to think you are only going to shop one time a week for all your produce. You need to go out at least twice a week.

To read the rest of this transcript as well as access The Renegade Roundtable experts just like Nomi Shannon please click here! Kevin Gianni is an internationally recognized health advocate, author & film consultant. He has helped thousands of people take control of their own health naturally. For more information visit raw food diets and holistic nutrition.