Category Archives: Community FAQ’s

GUIDE TO GOAT CHEESE AND SELECTING FRESH PRODUCE (August 26, 2010)

Q: Hi Natalia
I have just purchased your ebook The Rose Cleanse. My question to you is that I live in Boston and can not find raw goat cheese anywhere – AltaDena or any other brand. I have found raw cheddar at Whole Foods, and they also carry soft crumbled goat cheese. Any suggestions?
Thanks, Melissa

A: The Natalia Rose Institute Team receives many questions about raw goat cheese. Although this question is exclusively about availability, it’s a great opportunity to talk more about cheese. I know many are surprised when they read that Natalia does not promote a strict vegan lifestyle. She has addressed this from a planetary standpoint (agriculture is in many ways just as destructive as raising livestock), but lets talk about dairy in the body as well.

First, we eat goat and sheep dairy above cow dairy based on its ability to move through the body with speed. Remember, quick exit combinations and foods are our goal. Think about this from the standpoint of biological design: the giant protein molecules in cow milk are designed to grow a calf into a cow. The smaller molecules in goat and sheep cheese are for a smaller mammal, and will not stick in the body in the same way. And the presence of yeast-feeding lactose, which the human body has a very difficult time processing, is much less in goat and sheep milk.

Second, we choose raw over pasteurized because of the presence of raw enzymes that will help our body’s digestive process. Again, we are trying to keep things moving as quickly as possible, and we don’t want the cheese to sit for a long time digesting in the stomach and then intestines. Opt for raw goat and sheep cheese in the home and when available, and pasteurized when in a restaurant or when you’re in an area where you just can’t find it.

Third, we eat our cheese either with or directly following a big pile of raw water-containing vegetables. On a salad, rolled in a cabbage leaf, or as a component of a cooked entree following a large raw salad are when cheese is best consumed. I love to order a double side salad with goat cheese, steamed spinach, and marinara sauce on the side when we eat out at our favorite restaurant. I take bites with a little of each, covered with lemon juice, for a delicious meal out on the town.

I know that in many areas finding goat and sheep cheese that is both yummy and affordable is difficult. The link below is a resource I have used with great success to order our favorite raw goat cheddar by AltaDena.

http://www.healthwisefoods.com/shop/product_view.asp?StoreID=a5873c 6647a44549902ce64e9c752e24&id=127281&private_product=0

Many gourmet shops have a raw goat and sheep cheese selection. My lovely man-friend and I have delicious nights creating a cheese sampler and trying out different varieties following our giant salad. Farmer’s markets are the heroes of this adventure, as well. They often have an amazing selection of cheeses, and can talk to you about the process (some pasteurization is more “gentle”).

Each state has different laws regarding raw cheese. Here in NY the law is that cheese must be aged 60 days or over in order to be safely sold, so only the harder varieties are available. Pennsylvania, however, has no such constriction. A google search yields many smaller operations (like Dove Song Dairy) that are happy to ship the fresher soft cheeses within the continental US.

Here’s what to remember:

1. Cheese is not a healer. We eat it because it adds a delicious density and flavor to a meal, and will produce a beautiful contraction in the body. We can enjoy cheese with this lifestyle if it is goat or sheep cheese, preferably raw, and in the company of raw vegetables and properly combined. It adds the decadence and passion to meals that make this lifestyle not just sustainable, but heavenly!

2. Always do the best you can in your situation, and don’t obsess about the details. This should be a pleasurable process! Do your research, figure out what your state allows, and where to shop or order, but also give yourself the freedom to explore and try new ways of doing this. Take a long weekend drive to a new farmer’s market. Call a Pennsylvania dairy and develop a relationship with a smaller operation that will be educational and expanding. Have a ladies night where you sample a selection of cheeses, dark chocolates, and wine (everyone bring a new kind). This is your life, and regimentation is limiting and joyless.

3. The density of cheese is not going to be an issue for you if you’re living on raw vegetable juices, fresh garden salads, and piles of steamed and sauced vegetables. In fact, it gives many women the figure tightening they’ve been looking for. You do not have to give up your cheese and chocolate to get the health or weight results you’re looking for.

Q: Dear Ana,
How do I pick which produce is fresh? I have never eaten such a high quantity of fruits and vegetables, and I’m not always sure how to figure out which ones are ready to eat.
Sincerely, Rachel

A: Thank you for your question. This is one of my favorite parts of eating such a high percentage of raw fruits and veggies. I think picking your food is a joyful and exciting, even meditative, process. And you will find it is entirely based on instinct!

1. My first recommendation is to find someone in your area who is as passionate about this process as I am. Farmer’s markets are a great place to ask questions, Whole Foods encourages it, and there are many websites that can talk you through the process of selection. This learning process is like taking a wine tasting class. It becomes an obsession! Natalia and I drove to four different spots today to look for a specific sweet potato variety that was more juicy and water-containing and filled with flavor than the kind we had at home. We talked to the proprietors, and learned about many different varieties. Did you know that what Americans call yams are actually just another variety of sweet potato? And that they are in the Tuber family?

2. Once you have done your reading, or have a good guide, employ your senses. A tomato will show you easily when it is ready to take home by its color and texture, but you can’t see into a watermelon or feel by giving it a gentle squeeze. So what other sense can we employ? A watermelon is ripe when you can put it near your ear, drum on it, and hear a hollow thump that has reverberation. This is instinctual! If it’s at it’s full juiciness it will conduct sound more easily than if it is dense and under-ripe. Also, you will always know when something is overripe and about to spoil. Smelly, spotty, leaky, soft produce doesn’t feel right. Always trust yourself.

3. Use the process of trial and error. Eating an under-ripe banana will give you a dense and starchy meal that doesn’t move through the intestines with much speed. It will probably be a bit binding. Eat a nice brown-freckled banana in the height of its sweetness and you’ll have a massive bowel movement the next morning that will knock your socks off!

Avocados: gently push on the “belly button” on the top of the avo to feel it’s softness without ruining it for the next buyer. I buy 3 at a time, one very soft, one less soft, and one hard so that they’ll be ready in order as the week progresses.

Tip: under-ripe produce can be sped up overnight in a brown paper bag. Avocados can even be ripened in one day using this method!

Bananas: these should show no green, and be lightly freckled (but not completely brown) when consumed. The paper-bag ripening method is wonderful for these as well.

Berries: always check the bottom of the container as well as the top. A few greener or harder berries will ripen, but brown, mashed, or moldy is no-bueno.

Greens: for salads, of they’re in the store or at the stand you can assume they’ve reached maturity, and baby greens are delicious as well! Just avoid blackened or mushy edges.

Melons: push gently on the belly button to feel a slight softness, and then smell where you’ve pushed. It should be pungent and intense when ready for consumption. I enjoy mine just this side of rotten!

Onions: look for rotting and sprouting. Otherwise, you can assume they’re ripe enough to eat (as even the babies are delicious).

Peaches and nectarines: the easy squeeze test works best for these. Just be sure to check for bruising and missing stems.

Potatoes: should never be damp, and the eyes should never be sprouting even the slightest bit. Rotten pots are probably the worst smell on earth!

Squash: basically, you only need to worry about it rotting. If it’s available for sale it’s ready to eat (and will always be hard and mostly scentless).

Tomatoes: look for cracks and breaks in the tom, which often mean it has over-ripened or fallen (and will rot quickly). NEVER refrigerate tomatoes, and try to buy them close to the time of consumption. They should be firm, not hard.

Watermelons: hold it on your shoulder and gently drum on it with you knuckles. A surface sound means it’s dense and under-ripe, and deep belly drum sound means it’s juicy and ready.

 

DETOXIFICATION AND THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE (May 25, 2010)

Q: Marie writes, “I stopped taking the pill a little over a year ago, and started the Detox4Women meal plan. I have only gotten my period once since then. I’m a little worried. Why is this? And when will it return? My husband and I want to start trying to get pregnant.”

A: There are several parts to answering this question. First, I want to address oral contraceptives, as well as all hormone-based contraceptives (rings, shots, etc. I am keeping pharmaceutical brand names out of this). I do not wish to contradict medical advise, I am not a doctor. However, my experience with many many women dealing with the same issue is that after stopping a hormone-based contraceptive, the menstrual cycle can take a long time to return to normal. I have seen it take over two years. My own cycle took even longer to return to normal after stopping the pill, and this was even before I began to cleanse and work with Natalia. After only a few months, most medical professionals will recommend that you get back on some form of birth control to bring your period back. This decision is at your discretion, I only ask that you make an educated and informed decision. This is a fact: almost all of my clients who stop the pill while cleansing do not see a full return to normal menstruation for at least one year.

Secondly, I’d like to address what is really happening in our bodies when we menstruate. Yes, it’s the body preparing a womb for a potential fertilized egg as we’ve been taught. But there is a second component. Our bodies are storing toxins in menstrual fluids so that they will be kept away from our baby. The release of blood-like fluids every month is a powerful detox! The body stores the toxins so they cannot interfere with pregnancy, and then releases them when no egg is fertilized. Men should be so lucky! This is a detoxifying monthly function that is specific only to the female body, and is a great aid in mobilizing toxics we ingest and encounter through poor air quality, compromised water, etc. However, this is why periods have become such a trial for us. They are starting in younger and younger girls, lasting for up to eight days, smelling strongly, and are accompanied by intense emotions and cramping. This is the result of our toxic load! We can look forward to shorter, lighter, cleaner, and less emotional visits from Aunt Flo as our bodies become cleaner. It is sometimes said that a perfectly clean body will menstruate without a fluid release (read: no toxins were stored for removal). I’m not sure this is possible in the modern world, but it illustrates the profound change that comes with cellular cleansing.

The third issue in this question is the effect of the cleansing program itself on the female cycle. Just like every other system in our bodies, the reproductive system is profoundly effected by our toxic load. All of you out there who struggle with poly-cystic ovarian syndrome, PMDD, uteran fibroids, etc understand better than anyone. As we begin to awaken and release toxic matter, these systems will slowly start to reset, and regulate themselves without the influence of bacteria, carbonic gas, yeasts and fungus, environmental estrogens, and not to mention the influx of animal-sized doses of hormones that make up the biomass of conventional meats (and dairy). This is not an overnight process. But please rest assured, a clean body can perfectly regulate every system better than we could ever have dreamed. Patience, and progress. Keep moving forward knowing you are doing the absolute best thing for your reproductive system, and that all of the issues you experience will come out in the wash (literally!). You need to know that this detoxifying regime will never harm your body’s cycles, but will only help them to become perfectly regulated. You also must throw out any timeframe you have put upon your process. We have the stored toxins of our lifetime, combined with the damages of generations of accumulation on our lineage. I would never make a 6 month, yearlong, or even five year promise to you. Some of these things run dark and deep. Perseverance and trust are what you need now, not false timelines to keep you motivated with baseless information. You know this intuitively. Think about all that we have dome to this planet, reflected in our poor bodies. Could you fix the problem with a 10 day juice fast? Never. It’s time to set aside your panic and deadlines, and fall in love with the process. The promise I will make is this: If you are cleansing your body you are walking in the right direction and taking the only possible steps towards restoring your body to the vitality it deserves.

Natalia has said what I am about to say before, and please forgive me if I am not as delicate as I could be with these issues. I have deepest empathy for all of us. Reproductive issues are the result of a failing planet. We are a true reflection of the clogged and poisoned waterways, the smog, and the deforestation. We cannot escape the damages we continue to do to fragile ecosystems, and fragile reproductive systems. This is the mess we have made: many men and women have become so toxic that their bodies decline to produce viable offspring. Men have testicular cancer, prostate cancer, and erectile disfunction. Women have ovarian cysts, uterine tumors, and devastating monthly cycles. These are the facts, and the only right step we can now take is the start to clean up what we’ve done. We have all played a part in this destruction, and now we have a chance to be heroes to the generations to come. Keep this in mind as you’re cleansing. The female and male reproductive organs press directly against our over-worked, impacted, clogged colons and intestines. What more evidence do you need?

Last, I just want to give a nod to the importance of pre-conception cleansing. If you can give your son or daughter a clean nine-month home, clean breast milk, and superior DNA blueprints that come with this lifestyle of cellular cleansing, you are already winning parenting awards. There is no greater gift.

 

Favorite Detox 4 Women Meals (April 12, 2010)

Q: Helen asks, “Ana, please give me some well-combined evening meal suggestions. I feel like I just eat the same thing over and over and I’m getting bored. And also, is it okay to eat the same meal several nights in a row if I am really loving it? I want to stay on track and keep enjoying my meals.”

A: Thank you for your question. I want to address the second part first. The answer is yes, it is perfectly fine to have the same meals several times in a row, provided they are well-combined and working well with your body. Remember, the focus in this lifestyle is no longer on getting what we need from outside sources. Instead, we focus on the removal of obstruction so our bodies can perfectly regulate themselves and draw what they need from the sun, and the raw juices and salads we are flooding them with.

If you are having a meal that is water-rich (with plenty of raw veggies), is combined to exit quickly, and results in a massive bowel movement the next morning, you are doing no wrong. For example; a large raw salad with goat cheese followed by steamed broccoli with marinara sauce, and some 70% dark chocolate. These are all classified as “human food” with the exception of the dark chocolate, which is certainly okay nightly in moderation. The meal is well combined (raw and cooked neutral veggies with goat cheese, which is an animal protein), and contains enough raw to really move and pull some hydrated and awakened waste out with it.

If, however, your meal contains grain, or fruit, or nuts and seeds, you must be more careful. These can be tricky, and your bowel movement will give you the answer.  If you have a big raw salad followed by some cooked quinoa, and it passes cleanly, go ahead a second night. If instead you feel bloated and gassy, and have little or no movement the next day, it’s time for a change. Very few women can get away with eating a fruit dinner every night of the week, it is simply too awakening and  it will be yeast-feeding for the new detoxer. Nuts and seeds are quite dense, and although they can work well in the company of a heap of raw veggies, I’ve found that they can slow progress, and that not many people can eat just a few.

Two of my favorite salads:

Starch night:
1 box organic spring mix greens
Juice from 2 limes
stevia to taste
1 head chopped cilantro
1 diced avocado
1 ear raw corn (cut off the cob)
2 tblspns high-quality salsa

This makes the most delicious south-western Tex-Mex salad. And it’s so dense and satisfying (and perfect for summer).

Protein night:
1 box organic baby romaine
Juice from 1 lemon
stevia to taste
2 tblspns Diijon mustard
2 chopped baked beets
3 oz grated Alta Dena goat cheese
½ box grape tomatoes

The contrast between the sweet beets, tangy cheese, and spicy mustard is heavenly. By the way, every Sunday I slow-bake about 6 beets for the week while I putter around the house. They go in washed and unpeeled on a baking tray at 325 for about 2 hours. They pop them in the fridge and they’ll last several days.

Some dinner favorites:

Starch night:

Bake one acorn squash by halving it, scooping out the seeds, and placing it face down on a baking tray at 350 for about 30 minutes.
Turn both halves face up, and mix the squash with a small amount of butter, cinnamon, and stevia, until it is creamy. Serve right in the shell.

This is a wonderful chilly night comfort food. And kids love it as well…

Protein night:

Steam a broccoli/cauliflower mix by cooking them with about a half an inch of water in a covered pan. The water will run out right about the time the veggies are perfectly steamed (if not, simply drain the excess).

Add ¼ cup marinara sauce and about 3 oz grated Alta Dena cheese. Turn off the heat, but recover the pan.

Enjoy your big raw salad, and by the time you are ready for your cooked portion of the meal, the cheese will be nicely melted.

This is an easy way to satisfy those Italiano cravings for pasta, pizza, or anything else dripping with sauce and cheese. How decadent!

 

GUIDE TO BIRTH CONTROL, and Popcorn (March 22, 2010)

Q: Jennifer writes, “I know that IUDs are not ok, along with the pill.  I currently have an IUD, and am wondering what a good alternative method of birth control is.  Also, my husband is not into the raw food thing.  He’s eating healthier along with me, but I don’t expect it to go very far.  Do I need to protect myself against his toxins during sex?”

A: Birth Control is a hard issue. For myself, I choose not to put hormones into my body. They have interfered with my weight, skin, mood, and almost every aspect of my mental and physical health. But this is a very personal decision, and I can never make it for another person. If you choose to use oral contraceptives, IUDs, or Depo-Provera shot just please carefully understand what you are putting into your body.
If, like me, these options will not work for you there are several alternatives, and none of them are perfect.

Pull-Out Method

This is where a man disengages in intercourse right before he ejaculates.

Benefits: no harsh chemicals are involved, and if perfectly timed this can help prevent pregnancy.

Risks: pre-ejaculatory fluid does contain some sperm so there is a risk pf pregnancy. This method does not protect against STDs, and it interrupts a very powerful intimate moment.

Condoms

Benefits: a range of pregnancy and STD protection in the 90%s (depending on the brand, just carefully read the label) and orgasm can still be achieved during intercourse with no interruption. A clean/detoxing partner will also be protected from a more toxic partner’s ejaculation.

Risks: there is always a small percentage risk for both pregnancy and STDs, and latex, lubricant, and spermicide and act as irritants. And lets face it, it just doesn’t feel the same!

Rhythm Method

This is where a woman times her cycle by taking her temperature to determine when she is ovulating and can more easily become pregnant.

Benefits: when done perfectly, women can understand their body’s natural cycle to the point where they know which days are safe for intercourse, and which will result in pregnancy.

Risks: this method is very tricky to master on one’s own, despite numerous guide books and websites. And it is not effective in preventing the spread of STDs.

Lady-Comp

There is a cool new product for helping you to get in touch with your Month. I’ve been using it for some time now, and really liking the results. It’s called the Lady-Comp, and was actually recommended to me by a community member! It is a German engineered devise with a smart-chip that is programmed with over 20,000 cycles. It acts as an alarm clock, to take your base temperature before you start to move around and really wake up. It then gets to know your cycle, and is able to indicate green days (safe for sex without pregnancy), yellow days (it cannot be sure, proceed at your own risk) and red days (ovulation days). As it gets to know you there are only 4 red days a Month, and the manufacturers claim it is 99% effective if used correctly.

Risks: you will misuse or misread the lady-comp, and it also does not protect against STDs.

Benefits: It will adjust for time zone changes, altitude, ambient temperature, and really does get to know you quickly! It has a 15 year warranty, and can last on battery alone for up to 30 days. Also, it can be taken as carry-on on a plane (it’s quite small).

For me, the best way to go is a combination of my Lady-Comp (www.lady-comp.com for more info) and condoms for those red light days. But again, this is a personal decision for you and your partner that should be well researched and agreed upon. It is true that some clean eaters can be irritated by the fluids of less clean folks, but condoms can sometimes produce the same effect. It’s a matter of choosing the highest comfort level for you and your partner.

Q: Andy asks, “How does popcorn combine, and is it part of the Detox4Women program?”

A: Popcorn combines as a starch. I do not recommend it too often for women who have weight to loose, or who are already eating cleanly. It is not one of the foods listed in Detox4Women for several reasons, but there are plenty of other movie-going snacks that you can enjoy. And occasionally satisfying that popcorn hankering won’t get you into trouble if you do it right.

The issue with popcorn (and any other dry starchy snack like potato chips) is that it is yeast and fungus feeding so it will not allow a yeasted woman to progress as quickly as she’d like. It is also extremely constipating, and so not really a quick-exit food. If you would like to have it once in a while just make sure it is in company of a big raw salad. And a wonderful clean alternative is puffed kamut, which has a similar texture and crunch.

For the movies, my favorite thing to do is to stop at the grocery store on my way and sneak in my own snacks. I like to get crudités (like carrots, celery, and bell peppers) and guacamole for dipping (sometimes these are too crunchy for a quiet movie!). Or I will make cabbage leaf rollups with raw goat cheese and Dijon mustard. Olives and cherry tomatoes are also wonderful, especially during a pre-dinner movie.

These foods will pass through the body quickly and cleanly, as much more alkaline, high-vibration, water-rich options. And I find them to be much more satisfyingly crunchy and delicious!

 

Wine and Sprouted Grain Bread (March 8, 2010)

Q:  Carl writes, “I was wondering about combining wine with a meal. Is it possible to combine wine with a meal and if so are there any exceptions or groups of food that should be avoided when drinking wine?”

A: Wine is a “safe poison”, which means that while it is certainly acid forming, it is allowable in small quantities. We recognize that it is not health generating, but rather slightly health deteriorating, and use it wisely.

We can get away with wine consumption because it is not a concentrated substance that leaves undigested waste behind in the body, because we are doing everything else right, and because we consume it in such moderation. It is not an ideal substance, but it makes this way of living something that can remain social, pleasurable, and not feel too stringent (ultimately giving this diet its longevity). When the first half of the day is spent concentrating on pulling acidic toxic waste out be flooding it with alkalinity, a small amount of wine will never hinder progress.

Like all of the “safe poisons” that make this lifestyle livable (like dark chocolate or goat milk ice cream), wine is best consumed alone and following an alkaline water-rich meal. Have your big salad with goat cheese, followed by your steamed veggies and marinara sauce, and then join your spouse/roommate/best friend for a relaxing glass of cabernet sauvignon. Sipping your wine along with your dinner is okay, too, just make sure you start with that big raw salad. And both red and white are equally acceptable.

Typically, steering clear of combining large amounts of liquids with your meal is the best course of action. It aids your “quick exit” eating strategy by allowing your undiluted stomach acids and enzymes do their work on your properly combined meal to quickly shuttle things along. But a properly poured glass of wine is only about 4-6oz, and will not work against you.  The key is not to overindulge, and not to overindulge in too many “good poisons” at once. You wouldn’t want to follow dinner with a bottle of wine and a pile of chocolate.

Here’s the key: if the rest of your day is filled with delicious green juice and big raw salads, wine is not going to impede even the most advanced detoxer. It’s the processed flours, meats, and badly combined eating that will hold you back.

Q: Liz writes, “I would like to incorporate the Ezekiel bread in my daily diet, and I have a couple of questions about how to do so.

1.       Can I toast the Ezekiel bread?

2.       Can I spread the raw honey or almond butter on the toasted bread or un-toasted bread?

3.       And can I have bread at lunch after eating a large bowl of raw salad or is it better as a snack between meals?”

A: Thank you for your questions, Liz. Grains are wonderful transitional tools for beginning detoxers, children, and un-yeasted men. Proceed with caution if you are a woman who is dealing with the more finicky weights by eating grain very rarely, and only properly combined.

If you want to included the bread, feel that it’s right for where you are in your transition, and that you are able to eat it in moderation, here are some tips:

First, it is always better to eat sprouted grains in the company of water-rich alkaline veggies (like with or after a salad) to help escort it through the body. I make avocado, sprout, tomato and sea salt sandwiches for my boyfriend. And for children who can get away with less focus on combining principals, you can use the raw goat cheese or nut butters in a sandwich.

Toasting is fine, and a small amount of high quality butter is a nice topping. Adding honey is yummy for kids and gents, but really hard for a yeasty woman. Better to try stevia and cinnamon. And to be clear, goat cheese with bread is a miscombination that really only works for men and children and will have a harder time passing through the body. Nut butters will be an even slower exit.

Sprouted grain bread for women in general isn’t the best course of action, especially because most varieties include nuts and seeds and are in themselves improperly combined. Feel yourself out. If you can have a big salad and then eat only one piece once in a while you’re in good shape. If, instead, you go running for slices 3 and 4 several days in a row, you’ve got to set it aside. Instead, make personal pizzas using toasted thinly sliced eggplant, sauce, and cheese. Or use red pepper halves filled with sauce and cheese.  For something comforting and sweet try hot tea with lemon and stevia and a slice of ginger root, or make your (organic, local, free range) omlette sweet instead of savory by dusting it with nutmeg and stevia. And don’t forget Natalia’s cabbage leaf rollups for a great sandwich option! You can roll avocado and salsa, or goat cheese and mustard for a perfect lunch or snack option.

 

Butter, Cream, and Negative Fasting Experience (January 25, 2010)

Q: Rachelle writes, “Where do (organic) butter and cream belong?  Can I use a little butter on my sweet potato or a bit of cream in my tea or do I need to keep them in the flesh combo?”

A: We are able to include butter and heavy cream, which should certainly be used sparingly, because they do not contain large amounts of casein, the animal protein that sticks like glue in the intestines. Because butter is really a fat, and not a protein, it can be used with both starch and protein meals and can definitely be enjoyed on a baked sweet potato or yam.  Heavy cream should really be used with a protein meal except for the very beginning transitioner.  Add a small amount to your blended Cream of Broccoli Soup, or a tiny dollop in your Detox Hot Cocoa (made with hot water, stevia, and cocoa and carob powder). Use these fats in moderation for their flavor (like spices), not to add density to a meal.

Q: Rande writes, “I did a 5 day juice fast recently and did not lose any weight (and I definitely have at least 10-15 lbs that haven’t wanted to go anywhere). I had 2 gravity colonics and a solid bowel movement each day of the fast. I was drinking quite a lot of juice and did feel like I was hanging onto a lot of water. I was very frustrated after this and my diet was definitely not as good for a couple of months afterwards It has been weighing on me heavily as I feel like I’ve been working very hard and stuck at a plateau.”

A: Thank you for your question, Rande. Actually, a low weight loss fast often means you’re really getting somewhere! First, check the fast for hidden factors. Juices should be vegetable and not fruit-based, and adding “extras” like coconut water and salty veggie broth will keep your body holding.

If your juices are fresh and veggie-based, and you are supplementing them only with tea and water, the answer must be in you. And if you’ve really been working the diet, eating cleanly, keeping the body moving, and processing emotional situations well you may just be at the perfect place for your body for right now. Kudos (or rather, carrots) to you! You may also have hydrated a large amount of waste (picture a dried sponge that’s now filled with water) which hasn’t moved yet. It will, and you’ve done the work of starting it’s process up and out. It doesn’t mean that this is the farthest your body will contract, or that you’re at your detox end-point by any means. But it means that you’ve been doing really good work, and that your body wants to stay where it is size/weight-wise right now.

Believe me, I know how hard this can be to accept. We all battle with this at times. But detoxification means your body is releasing stored toxins from many places, not just fatty deposits. It knows best, and you can trust that as you continue the process it will continue to morph and change. The detox process is happening, and changing you dramatically, it just might not be apparent in the places you’re looking.  I’ve seen cellulite diminish before pant size, or hair grow in thicker and shinier before the scale budges. Or there might be nothing you can see, but instead something you can feel. I understand frustration, I promise. Hang in there, and your body will find its center.

 

Tofu, Fermented Foods, and Laxatives (January 8, 2010)

Q: Nora writes, “Is it okay to incorporate tofu and tempeh into the program during the detox or should I wait until after the 28 days to eat them?  Would it be okay to eat them raw? Also what is the status of fermented foods such as Kimchi and tempeh?”

A: A woman who is enjoying the benefits of the Detox 4 Women approach to eating can expect to be able to moderately add some “avoid” items back into her lifestyle. She will be able to eat more fruit again once her yeasts and fungal growth are under control, and to enjoy the occasional smaller nut or seed-based meal. But soy is never going to be an optimal part of the human diet, for men or for women. In fact, as Natalia reminds us, “soy is the most mucus forming plant on the planet.” We do not include soy-based foods under the title of “human food” because of this. I often tell clients that eating soy is akin to pouring wet cement into your 98.6 degree intestinal tract and waiting for it to harden (not exactly in line with our quick-exit approach to eating). And the mucus formed goes beyond the actual intestinal blockage; the lungs, sinuses, and lymph system are just the tip of the iceberg. If you’re looking for the density of a soy-based product try a raw cheese, an avocado, corn, squash, or a grain based dish (millet, quinoa, or buckwheat). Soy sauce (especially the Nama Shoyu raw brand) works in moderation because it is water-based and lacks density, and miso can also be used to flavor a dish without ill-effect.

For non-soy fermented foods such as kimchi, komcucha, and krauts, the rule is always freshness; anything aged, bottled, or store-bought mimics lactic acid in the body. Homemade or locally prepared freshly fermented foods are wonderfully pro-biotic (you want them 6 days post-preparation or less). So stay away from the brands you find in the stores, but enjoy the ones you make yourself or find prepared at your favorite raw restaurant.

Q: Nora also asks, “Is it okay to use an herbal laxative tea if I am not eliminating after each meal as I should?”

A: This is an important question. Let’s look at what we know. First, the waste that cannot be eliminated by the body on its own (like the petrified forest of chicken, soy, and milk glued and dehydrated in our over-laden intestinal tracts) must be hydrated and alkalinized in order to be mobilized. Our body’s natural peristalsis (intestinal contractions) have thus far been unable to do this. Stimulating these intestinal movements with a laxative like senna will not hydrate or alkalinize. So the poor Smooth Move drinker will have increased and painful movements that would have happened anyway, that will not do any more than the body itself can do on its own. And often laxative-stimulated bowel movements are extremely watery; so the hydration has been pushed along leaving the actual matter (which is now further dehydrated).

The second thing I really want emphasize is that the use of non-stimulant based laxatives, which use psyllium husk, should only be used with the coaching and expertise of a trained colon-hydrotherapist. Psyllium husk reportedly increases from five to twelve times its original mass. Think about what this means for the person who includes a tablespoon full in every morning smoothy. With no colonic this mass isn’t going anywhere; even what the body can move on it’s own is only a tiny part of what is left inside. Chronic pain and inflammation, a distended belly, and complete constipation are the result. Psyllium husk can be used for its toxin absorbing properties with the use of frequent colonics, but this is something I don’t even mess with myself. A dear friend, and colon-hydrotherapist, recently described a client who had taken one tablespoon of psyllium and poured colonic heaviness for an hour each day for three consecutive days before there was and end to the visible psyllium. It must be used with extreme caution, if at all.

And last, a lack of bowel movement is an indication of something happening in the body. Use it as the first clue, and start to collect all the pieces. Are you mis-combining too many meals? Is the detox process moving too quickly and awakening more than can be moved? This might be a time to add more safe and neutral cooked foods back into your diet. Or would a colonic aid the process? A frozen or sluggish bowel tells us about our process, and stimulation will mask these signs and create a false response in the body. Instead, listen to your colon’s alarm system, and start to figure out where a change needs to be made.

 

Raw Young Coconuts and Coconut Milk Products, and Eating Out (December 21, 2009)

Q: Jesse writes, “I love the white coconuts from Whole Foods to drink and to eat even in the winter. How do they combine? And can I drink the boxed coconut water and eat the coconut ice cream?”

A: Coconuts are delicious. It’s important to distinguish between mature coconuts and young coconuts when figuring out how to combine them. And packaged coconut products should be used very sparingly.

Raw young coconuts, that come with the green shell removed and look white and woody in the market or at the health food store are different from the smaller brown and hairy coconuts in the produce department. Raw young coconut meat combines as a starch, or with dried fruit and raw nuts and seeds. It is very versatile in recipes, adding an extra layer of flavor to Thai-inspired raw soups, or blended salads, for example. And it is wonderful eaten alone right out of the shell with just a spoon.

Raw young coconut water can be enjoyed anytime as a refreshing drink, but I’d like to add a couple words of caution. First, organic is important as the shell removal process in the non-organic coconuts uses harsh chemicals. Second, for those women and men still dealing with systemic yeast issues go easy on the coconut water. Although it shouldn’t be an issue, you will notice that drinking the water alone will sometimes awaken cravings or create bloating that lets you know your yeast is being fed (ever so slightly). This is certainly not the worst you can do, and raw young coconut water still works well with the Detox4Women approach, but proceed with caution and awareness. The bottled coconut water can be used sparingly in recipes with no issues, but remember that we’re trying to eat closer to nature and steer away from packages, fads, and gimmicks. Go for the real thing if you can.

Mature coconuts (the small, brown, hairy type) combine as a dried fruit, in the Nuts/Seeds/Dried Fruit category. Mature coconut is what is used as coconut flakes, in raw treats like rolled date bars, and in the coconut ice cream products. It is not ideal for a transitioning woman, but can be used sparingly (even after a starch-based dinner if the transitioner is new to the lifestyle and waits some time after the meal). Eat only a small quantity, and if the result is gas or bloating you have your answer; the dried fruits are not working yet because the yeasts are still too strong. I would have someone new to the lifestyle whose body has not become so picky about food combining try mature coconut (or as a great treat for kids!). Or someone so clean that he or she can enjoy some raw dried fruit on occasion with no negative effects. But always keep in mind that the products (like ice creams) have additives like guar gum and sometimes even grain flours so this should be enjoyed very seldom.

Q: Kim asks, “I’m always worried about eating out. I want to be social, but we don’t have any raw restaurants here. Any advice?”

A: It’s funny, but my favorite places to eat out are not raw restaurants at all, even though we have plenty here in New York. I find I can order off of almost any menu, as long as the waiter or waitress is patient (and I ask very sweetly). Here are my top three tips:

1.    The Sides.  Never ignore the side options on a menu! They have steamed broccoli rabe, sautéed spinach with garlic (just ask for butter, not oil), tossed side salads, and sweet potatoes on many menus. These can fill out your meal to make it satisfying and delicious.

2.    The Sauces. Diijon mustard, marinara sauce, BBQ sauce, and carrot-ginger dressing are great additions to add flavor to your order.

3.    The Purse. I always bring my arsenal of lemon, stevia, and dark chocolate to make sure I love my meal.

At an Italian restaurant you can order a double side salad with goat cheese if it’s available, and cover it with lemon and stevia. Follow with a steamed fish, or a spread of steamed veggie sides with marinara dipping sauce. At a steak house the same applies, and a small side of BBQ sauce will add to the meal (you can get away with the slight sugar content if it’s in the company of enough raw veggies and used sparingly). Houston’s in NYC makes an amazing steamed cauliflower plate if you just ask. Diners have double side salads, omelets, and often goat cheese as well. And they always have great sides, I’ve even found one with baked sweet potato fries (and avocado and salsa for the salad). Sushi is a breeze. I order a double salad with a seaweed salad to dump on top. I follow with sashimi and shaved radish (a garnish to other diners).

The trick is just to get your server on board by explaining that you want a giant salad followed by steamed veggies. And to read the menu carefully. Look at the ingredients included in the dishes to know what’s available in the kitchen. And you won’t be the difficult diner, I promise. Asking, “Can I please have two tossed salads followed by a side of steamed broccoli, a side of spinach, goat cheese, and a small bowl of marinara sauce?” Is very different from demanding that your steak be cooked to perfection. I look at it as doing my part to gently nudge dining establishments in the right direction!

 

GUIDE TO COLONICS, ENEMAS, AND DETOX TRAVEL (December 7, 2009)

Q: Angela writes, referring to Natalia’s blog of 10/5/09, “I just read your travel blog: ‘Rule #1: Have your key ingredients with you; don’t leave them to chance. My ‘traveling kitchen’ filled with frozen fresh-pressed juices, organic carrots, raw goat cheese, lemons, organic baby greens, stevia, and of course dark chocolate were all in tow. These went into a suitcase in the, uh, ‘bowel’ (aka cargo hold) of the plane.’

“My questions is, “How do you pack the frozen items and cold items to keep them fresh on a long flight? Also, when traveling overseas do you have issues with customs bringing in food checked in your suitcase?”

A: The wonderful thing about the altitude of the plane is that it keeps the cargo at pretty freezing temperatures! So frozen juices stay frozen in the belly of the plane. The best way to pack the frozen goods is to insulate the frozen juices with frozen blocks of raw goat cheese and bars of dark chocolate, as well as regular freezer packs. (Freeze the juices in flexible bottles – sorry but plastic works best here – leaving a little room at the top of the container for the expansion that occurs when freezing liquids.) Alta Dena raw cheddar-style goat cheese freezes very well, and also lasts in refrigeration for several weeks. It is a 60 day aged cheese, so it won’t mold or go bad for a long time (it will be fine to freeze and defrost and then eat even two weeks into your vacation provided it is kept cold). Place all items in a cooler bag with as many frozen juices as you desire for your your trip, and surround them with frozen cheese, chocolate, and freezer packs. Then place that into your suitcase, either as a stand alone “traveling kitchen/refrigerator), or right in there with your clothes if it all fits. I do both depending on the length of the trip and how much I need to take with me.

Many international airlines caution that fruit and vegetables cannot make the flight. Check the laws with a quick phone call before you pack your carrots, lemons, and greens when traveling internationally, but we’ve never had any trouble with juice or cheese leaving the US, only bringing it back into the states from 3rd world countries and islands. And, depending on the country, you can usually come up with some fresh greens and other veggies upon arrival. I also always do a mini- recon mission before I go. Ask your host or traveling companion about grocery availability, or use the concierge at your hotel as a resource. I love to look up local menus and plan fun evenings out with menus that I’ve already navigated beforehand. Almost any restaurant can come up with an extra large side salad, followed by steamed veggies and marinara sauce, steamed fish, or an omelet. Most importantly, it’s okay to eat outside the box a bit when you’re having a cultural experience. Don’t ever let social pressure sway your decisions, but if you’re dying to try the local seafood dish and can’t be sure of all the ingredients, just start with a large water-rich alkaline salad and enjoy! When you get home you’ll go right back to your clean eating, and no harm done.

Q: Katie writes, “I have just made my first appointment for a colonic, and I’m feeling nervous. What should I expect? And how does a colonic compare with using an at-home enema bag?”

A: I’m so glad you asked this question! I suspect most people feel nervous prior to their first colonic. I will describe my experience at my favorite gravity Woods method colon hydrotherapy center.

The reason most people are nervous is because they don’t really know what to expect – what’s actually going to happen. They suspect some clothing will be removed but don’t know how much and how they’ll be covered up…they don’t know what position they’ll be in or how long it’s going to take or if the therapist will remain with them or how their body will respond and so on and so on. They have their own idea of what it will be like but that may be far off the mark of what actually takes place based on how much they know. I cannot tell you how many people haven’t the faintest clue about the procedure but know they want to do it. The key is to know exactly what to expect which we will cover (or uncover) below:

Your due diligence: Finding the right Colon therapist for you:
I always tell nervous clients to get a feel for their hydro-therapist over the phone before they make the appointment. If someone is rushing you over the phone, or being brusque, imagine how they are going to make you feel when you’re, shall we say, a bit more vulnerable. Look out for an inviting “bedside manner.”

Most places will give you the following protocol; No eating 3 hours before, no drinking 1 hour before. I would add that in most cases I would get at least a week of morning juicing, raw salads before cooked meals, and proper food combining under your belt to get the most out of a colonic. If someone has a specific issue (such as extreme migraines) I would take a different approach.

Preparing for your colonic:
Upon arrival most establishments should ask you some basic questions, and will usually have you sign a waiver. You are then ushered in to the colonic room and left to undress from the waist down. Also, make sure to empty the bowels and the bladder in the bathroom before you lie down. Ideally, a natural bowel movement should always happen before a colonic. And a full bladder makes for an uncomfortable process.

I always start by lying down on the table curled on my left side, bare from the waste down. My hydrotherapist has provided a lap blanket for coverage. Above me is a large water tank, and below the table I can see the “release” tube where the waste empties.

The Process:
My therapist keeps me on my left side and gently inserts a lubricated speculum into my rectum. No pain or stretching here. She then attaches a small tube from the water tank, as well as the larger waste tube to the speculum. She unclips the closure on the water tube and the water begins to flow.

The water enters the body as my hydrotherapist pinches closed its exit through the larger tube. If the water cannot keep flowing out, it will gently lap up into the speculum instead. She does gentle pulses, and some longer holds throughout the process. When she releases her hold, large amounts of hydrated waste begin to exit the body. Gas bubbles and hard clay-like chunks are normal and common.

We start on my left side to release the older and more dehydrated waste from my sigmoid and descending colon (which runs down the left side of the abdomen). After about 15 minutes she gently turns me onto my back to start releasing waste in my transverse colon (running across the upper abdomen below the diaphragm). During this process I sometimes feel the minor cramping of passing a large amount of waste, just like when having a giant movement of my own. There is never more discomfort than this.

We chat about relationships, friends, work, etc. Sometimes an intense movement keeps me from answering her questions, but she understands. She gently massages my belly to keep waste moving and encourage natural intestinal peristalsis.

After about 40 minutes (although colonics are never strictly linear) my ascending colon and cecum release. This is characterized by a more emotional release than before (like a very large bowel movement), the heat of the waste leaving (I feel it heat up the speculum as it comes from such a deep place in the body), and a feeling of euphoria (this is why I show up, folks).

She then massages remaining water out of my colon, turns me back onto my left side, and removes the speculum. I sit on the toilet with my feet elevated to get rid of any remaining water and hydrated waste (without pushing!) while she cleans the speculum and leaves me to dress.

Afterward:
It’s a good idea to have a green juice or your favorite vegetable juice after a colonic. Water and juice should be the first things you consume post-colonic. Give those cleansed bowels a nice hydrating rinse, and then alkalinize newly exposed waste. Wait several hours before a solid meal, and then enjoy your favorite well combined meal – starting with raw foods prior to the cooked foods (particularly in this instance).

During my initial colonic treatments, newly awakened and mobilized waste would sometimes also awaken strange cravings. I am never surprised to hear from clients who are craving the junkiest of junk foods post-colonic. This is normal and will pass.

Also, during my transitional time I was not having normal bowel movements for days after a colonic. My hydrotherapist explained that this was because my body thought it was done for the week; it had passed about twelve days worth of matter and thought it was on vacation! As the bowel grows stronger, and the colon becomes more “snobby” about seated waste, daily movements will return.

 

Fasting, Fiber, and Warm Meals in a Cold Season (November 19, 2009)

Q: I see you did a 10 day juice cleanse. In addition to colonics and juice, do you do anything “extra” like fiber, supplements etc.?…

Thanks for any insight you can offer that will facilitate a good juice cleanse experience. -Sadie

A: A clean body can pull all of the nutrients it needs from fresh and raw veggies, fruits, and juices. The focus should always be on getting to this cleansed state; asking what are we removing rather than what are we adding to our bodies? So fiber and supplements are not needed as they cannot be fully absorbed by a clogged body and vitamins and minerals should come from a food source. Fiber, especially, will stimulate digestion during a time when you are trying to give your digestive system a rest by fasting.

The only aids we use to this lifestyle are yeast fighting agents, such as Candex and CandiGone, and probiotics, such as the ones by Ascended Health. But you can achieve amazing results without these, they are just part of our arsenal so to speak. Backing off of the sugars and starches is the best yeast fighting you can do, and regular hydration and properly combined quick-exit meals will be the best gift you can give your intestinal tract.

During a juice fast just focus on delicious veggie-based juices and making sure not to awaken more toxic waste then can be safely removed. A juice fast is a useful tool for those who have been into this lifestyle for a long time, and are looking for another level of cleansing. It should not be used as a “jump start” into this way of eating, or as a bandaid for overindulging. In fact, diving into a juice fast too early in the game will sometimes hinder progress, as the toxins it will awaken can freeze the bowel, creating an uncomfortable bloat and detox symptoms, and awaken cravings that will make it very difficult to stay on track. And I only juice fast when I have access to a great colon hydrotherapist to help with the waste removal process during the fast. Eating delicious water-rich well-combined meals, and fasting for breakfast and even lunch if you are ready is really the best tool!

Q: I live in Vermont, it is cold and there is not a lot of fresh local produce this time of year. Is there a way to adapt the diet to be more warming? -Maria

A: For staying warm in the winter, I make sure to have a hot bath every night, and to enjoy seasonal winter squash, which Vermont has in amazing variety this time of year. I have been loving my Kabocha squash, which I find to be the very sweetest of the winter squash. Start with your big raw salad, and follow with roasted squash with butter and sea salt, or a little stevia and nutmeg. I like to pan roast mine by cutting it in half, scooping out the seeds, and placing the halves face down on a baking tray like two turtle shells. Bake at 400 degrees until you can make a finger dent in the “shell” of the turtle. Then remove your squash and scoop it into a bowel, or simply eat it right out of the shell.

And Detox-friendly hot chocolate is a great desert; add one scoop 100% organic cocoa powder (like the Rapunzel brand) and one scoop carob powder to hot water, spice with cinnamon and nutmeg (or a pie spice blend), sweeten with stevia, and enjoy! Keep meals warm and satisfying on these winter evenings.

Also, far infrared saunas keep your core temperature higher for quite awhile after use. Finding a place to enjoy a sauna is not only a great way to keep warm, but also an amazing detoxifying assistant. They help your body to achieve the deepest level of sweats, allowing you to release toxins faster then traditional electric or rock saunas.

 

Adding Seeds Nuts and Grains Again, and Detox Symptoms (November 16, 2009)

Q: Christianne writes, “I have been following the Detox 4 Women approach to cleansing for four weeks. At what point do you recommend adding nuts, seeds, and grains back in to the diet?”

A: Let’s look at all the facts about nuts, seeds, and grains before we talk about the best way to incorporate them into the lifestyle.

First, we know that for women (and many men) the starches in grains other than millet, quinoa, and buckwheat are yeast and fungus feeding. And weight loss and true cleansing cannot take place while the yeasts are systemic (throughout the body and not just in the intestines).

We also know that in order to get our bodies clean and joy-filled we have to create conditions where waste can be quickly and easily alkalinized and moved out of the body. Nuts and seeds have a density that blocks or slows such movement.

I would never recommend adding these things back into the diet of a woman who still has significant weight to loose, or who is dealing with illness or extreme fatigue. Basically, if your body is not where you want it to be, why slow down the process?

If, however, you want a once in a while “cheat”, or feel that your body is lean and clean and humming, and you want to add a bit of variety, lets go over the hierarchy. For nuts and seeds, smaller is better. For example, choose sesame over almonds. In fact, a nice sesame tahini dressing over a properly combined salad can be a nice “off-the-wagon” treat.

For grains, we go in order of acidity and starchiness (read; glueyness) so your millet, quinoa, and buckwheat are best, followed by the cereal grains like spelt, kamut and amaranth. Then come the sprouted grains. But watch out for your combination rules with the sprouted grain breads, as many include nuts, seeds, and even soy. Women especially should hold off on the denser and more starchy grains that are lower on the hierarchy, like oatmeal and rice.

For someone who has been working the lifestyle for some time nuts and seeds, and grains, can be used intelligently in a body where the yeasts have less of a hold, on occasion, and properly combined. They should be eaten in the company of a big raw water-rich alkaline salad, and only at the end of the day. I say “in someone working this for some time” because they can also be used as a transitional tool for men and women with a large amount of weight to loose at the beginning of their journey. For someone who has already progressed quite far, they should not be regarded as a bridge to cleaner eating, but instead incorporated seldom and with care. Always notice what is happening in your body, as well. Are you holding weight? Having increased symptoms or cravings? Time to move back into the regime we know and love and treat yourself to a giant avocado salad and buttered yams.

Q: Stephanie writes, “I have been following your program for nearly 1 1/2 yrs. I have lost forty lbs and have recently started having hives, first in one place and then in another, for five days now. I’m assuming it’s a detox symptom. Can you give me any advice on how to help speed up the detox or get rid of the symptoms? They’re driving me crazy! Thanks heaps.”

A: Skin rashes tell us different things depending on where we are in the detoxification cycle, and also where we are in our lives. For a woman beginning her transition, skin issues point straight to yeasts and fungus issues. And even adding too much in the starchy grains and sweet fruits department can strengthen that yeast again, even for someone who’s been doing this a bit longer.

For a woman later in her cleansing, one of two things is happening. Even after a lengthy cleansing period, like your own, there is still quite a bit of toxic matter in the body. Layers upon layers upon layer of toxins, and byproducts like fungus and yeasts, bad bacteria, and carbonic gas. You are most likely doing so well that you’re hitting another layer of the deep stuff. At that point the move is to make sure that you’re able to remove everything you awaken; so keep the detox process nice and steady by making sure to include your cooked dinners, and use colon-hydrotherapy as your most powerful tool for waste removal.

And the last possible culprit is really the first place to look; possible environmental impact. Is there a new air-freshener testing facility in your neighborhood? And is you home and work life painful or especially stressful right now? Keep in mind that a harmful emotional situation can be just as toxic as unfit foods.

To recap; you’re dealing with powerful yeast, new deep layers of cleansing, or an environmental situation that needs to be addressed. Go through your checklist, and if the diet has been done well you haven’t fed yeast and fungus. If you’re getting regular colonics and not detoxing too quickly this new layer will be up and out and over with. And if there’s something in your life that needs attention it’s time to find the courage to look your best friend, or boss, or moldy shower right in the face.

 

Bloating During Detoxification and Combining Tomatos (October 6, 2009)

Q: I have been following the program to a tee for the past 3 days and have shed 3 pounds. However, I feel very bloated and my stomach feels very heavy. I do have regular bowel movements, but that does not seem to help. Any suggestions? -Yigal

A: I’m glad you asked, as this is very common. Here’s what is happening; We know that as unfit substances enter the body they are not completely passed through. They leave a residue which is baked into our poor intestinal walls at 98.6 degrees, pushed further and further into the soft and spongy tissue until these toxins enter the blood stream. So what happens when this tarry and dehydrated matter is flooded with water-rich alkaline foods and veggie juices? It is re-hydrated and reconstituted to a much larger size, which will feel bloated and weighty in the bowel. This is where colon hydrotherapy becomes such a powerful tool; as simple and easy as taking out the [overstuffed and smelly] trash. Another way to handle this situation is to back off the cleansing slightly by making sure to include a small amount of cooked food after your raw lunch and/or dinner. Taking a small step back will always yield an amazing movement.

Q: I had a quick question…should I treat tomatoes or a fruit or a vegetable?
If I treat them as a fruit I probably shouldn’t be eating them with starchy vegetables like sweet potatoes…and probably shouldn’t be eating them with my meals. I know they’re technically a fruit, but considering they’re so often used in salads and not as sweet as other fruits can I treat them as a vegetable?
Thanks so much! – Elaine

A: Food combining rules have a couple of quirks. Elaine is quite right, tomatoes can be combined as a neutral raw vegetable. I often enjoy them on a salad that includes both baked beets and raw goat cheese. You can absolutely get away with adding them to a protein meal, and to any salad, as well as combining them with only fruits. Avocado is another exception, and can be combined as a fruit, or as a starchy vegetable. You can follow a delicious avocado salad with a baked sweet potato with no repercussions.