Extraordinary Health Magazine, Volume 19

™
How
Green
Alkalize,
Detox,
Energize
with NEW
Perfect Food® RAW!
is YOUR
Mustache?
Go “On The Road”
to Greener Pastures
with Garden of Life
®
Sheryl Crow
at HOME in
Nashville
Volume 19 2013 1
In This Issue
As we head into fall with the kids returning to school,
fluctuating temperatures and green leaves changing
their color, oddly enough, this issue of Extraordinary
Health Magazine is focused on one color only—
green, green and more green—Green Superfood
supplements, that is!
With this change of season and the return to a
more hectic routine, it’s not uncommon to get run
down or to not take in the proper nutrients to stay
healthy. It’s also common knowledge that green
superfood supplements are a great way to get
your daily servings of veggies and other nutrients.
Garden of Life®’s Perfect Food® RAW is the #1 selling greens product
in the Natural Products Industry—and now we’ve expanded our greens line to
include three new formulas. Check out pages 24 through 29 for all the info on
Perfect Food RAW Wheat Grass Juice Powder, Perfect Food RAW Alkalizer &
Detoxifier and Perfect Food RAW Energizer. We’re so focused on greens that
even our magazine cover showcases actor Ingo Rademacher and his family
sporting their green mustaches after drinking their Perfect Food RAW smoothies
at their home in Hawaii. You can read about their island adventure on page 22.
And while we’re on the topic of healthy nutrition, you need to read about all
the amateur and professional athletes that are hooked on RAW Protein and RAW
Meal. From the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs’ defensive tackle Branden Albert on page
10 to vegan, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighters Brian and Kevin Mahecha on page 44,
you’ll find their stories—and others’ stories—inspirational. And don’t forget that
RAW Protein and RAW Meal are not just for athletes—they’re great for everyday
people like us! More on this topic about achieving PEAK Performance in everyday
life is found on page 45.
Here at Garden of Life, we are passionate about what goes into our products—
and what doesn’t. That’s why we’re introducing a new series column, “On The
Road.” In this issue, we take you on the road to our certified organic, familyoperated farm in Utah that grows our cereal grasses and provides the technology
behind our low-temperature drying process. Turn to page 32 for more on
Greener Pastures.
Speaking of farms, also in this issue on page 20, we visit with Grammy Awardwinner Sheryl Crow at her Nashville, Tennessee, farm to catch up on what’s new.
And we learned that one thing that is new is her latest album, Feels Like Home.
Just for Extraordinary Health readers, turn to the back cover for a free download
of her single, “Easy.”
So, with fall upon us and the holidays right around the corner, we at Garden of
Life and Extraordinary Health Magazine want to take this opportunity to wish you
and your loved ones the gift of extraordinary health!
Yours in health,
The Extraordinary Health Team
™
Marilyn Gemino
Editor
Julie Helm
Contributing Editor
Rhonda Price
Contributing Editor
Dawn Thorpe-Jarvis
Contributing Expert
David Johnson
Publishing Creative Director
Angela DiGloria
Publishing Art Director
Marlene Milord
Graphic Design Specialist
Tiffany Beasi
Graphic Designer
Kristie Romano
Contributing Creative Associate
Cover Photo Courtesy of
Ryan Foley
Extraordinary Health™ is
published by Garden of Life, LLC.
5500 Village Blvd., Suite 202
West Palm Beach, FL 33407
www.gardenoflife.com
©2013 Garden of Life, LLC. All
rights reserved. This magazine is not
intended to provide medical advice
on personal health conditions,
nor to replace recommendations
made by health professionals. The
opinions expressed by contributors
and sources quoted in articles are
not necessarily those of the editor
or publisher. Information appearing
in Extraordinary Health™ may not
be reproduced in whole or in part
without express permission of the
publisher.
™
volume 19 2013
Features
10 KC Chiefs’ Branden Albert
Powers Up with GoL
11 Ironman Inspiration—Thad
Beaty, Sugarland Guitarist
20 Sheryl Crow Is At Home
in Nashville
22 Ingo & Family on Their Island Adventure
53 Jessica Aguilar—MMA’s #1 Strawweight
HEALTHY YOU
8
14
24
34
45
Four Secrets Revealed with RAW Fit™
Digestion’s Dynamic Duo
Greens, Greens & More Greens!
It’s Greener Pastures on This Organic Farm
Peak Performance with RAW Protein & RAW Meal
Departments
4
40
50
52
Cool Picks
Tailgate Party!
Protein-Packed Smoothies
Hot Books & Apps
Cool picks
four
two
one
one
Nikki’s Coconut Butter
$12.99, 12 oz.
www.nikkiscoconutbutter.com
All we can say is, “Yum!” These coconut
butters are dairy free and gluten free,
and are made with organic coconut.
They’re great when spread over your
favorite fruit or cracker, mixed in recipes
or by the spoonful right out of the jar!
Available in five delish flavors—Chocolate
Hazelnut Brownie, Vanilla Cake Batter,
Midnight Mocha, Macadamia Nut Cookie
and Honey Pecan Pie—we’re sure you’ll
find one—or more—to please
your taste buds.
three
two
Rockin’ Green Classic Rock
Laundry Detergent
$15.95, 3.2 lbs.
www.rockingreensoap.com
three
If You Care Paper Baking Pans
®
$4.79, 4-pack
www.ifyoucare.com
With the holidays right around the corner,
Not only is the name cool, but once we looked into
these awesome baking pans are a
these laundry detergents, we also loved everything must-have. If You Care Paper Loaf, Cake or
about them. Rockin’ Green Laundry Detergent is an Pie Baking Pans are all natural and made
eco-friendly way to get your whole family’s clothes
from FSC-certified, unbleached, totally
clean. It works hard on dirt and stains while being chlorine-free, grease-proof paper—yet they
gentle to the environment. It contains no enzymes, have exceptional non-stick properties. They
phosphates, optical brighteners, SLS or parabens— are ideal for baking and are ready to use—
even the packaging is 100% recyclable. The “Classic
no greasing necessary. If You Care
Rock” detergent (for those with middle-of-the-road
offers a variety of environmentally
water—not soft or hard) is offered in four scents—
friendly kitchen and household items,
Bare Naked Babies, Lavender Mint Revival, Motley
so check them out!
Clean and Smashing Watermelons.
C’mon. How can you resist?
four
Endangered Species®
Organic Dark Chocolate
$3.89, 3 oz.
www.chocolatebar.com
Savor a pure chocolate moment—a deep
dark organic chocolate moment. Who
doesn’t love a piece of dark chocolate
along with the health benefits it contains?
Not only is Endangered Species Organic
Chocolate delicious, but we also love the
story and cause behind this sweet treat.
With each bar that is sold, Endangered
Species donates 10% of net profits to
environmental non-profits that are focused
on wildlife conservation and habitat
preservation. Available in four flavor
combinations, the fact that these bars are
USDA Certified Organic and Non-GMO Project
Verified makes this tasty treat even sweeter!
five
Juice Beauty® Simply Pure Chamomile Cleanser
$22.00, 6 oz.
www.juicebeauty.com
A collaboration with eco-celebrity Alicia Silverstone, these skin care products contain luscious, vegan, certified
organic ingredients and are power packed with antioxidants. The Simply Pure Chamomile Cleanser removes
impurities while arousing your senses with aromas of soothing chamomile essential oils. Organic aloe, passion fruit
and white tea will leave your skin soft and hydrated. Additional things we love about these products—they’re made
without parabens, petroleum, propylene or butylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfates, pesticides, phthalates, artificial
dyes or synthetic fragrances and are never tested on animals.
six
Allgood™ Provisions Organic Trail Mix
$15.30, 8 oz.
www.allgoodprovisions.com
Exactly what you need to keep going whether you’re on a hike, headed to the gym or just need a healthy snack
in between meals, Allgood Provisions Organic High Antioxidant Trail Mix is a tasty blend of organic fruits and nuts.
Allgood Provisions snacks are certified organic, vegan and non-GMO. But what we really love is that they are proud
members of the 1% For the Planet, contributing 1% of sales to environmental efforts around the world. Check out all
their yummy snacks today!
seven
Fruit.0 100% Fruit Pouches
$24.99, 10-pack (4.2 oz. each)
www.fruitpoint0.com
five
six
Their tag line says it all: “No Fuss. Just Fruit.” USDA Certified Organic
fruit and pulp with absolutely no sugar, sweeteners, colors, flavors or
preservatives added, these convenient pouches can be thrown in your gym
bag or purse and won’t break or spill. Available in two refreshing flavor
combinations—Mango, Pear, Pineapple OR Banana, Blueberry, Blackberry—
you can try them on their own or mix them in with your favorite protein
powder. The options are endless!
eight
Itzy Ritzy® Snack Happens Mini Reusable Bags
$12.99, 2-pack
www.itzyritzystore.com
Ideal for snacks, fruit, sandwiches and anything else that will fit, these
adorable little zippered bags can be used over and over again—and they’re
ideal for little hands. Measuring 7 x 3.5 inches, Itzy Ritzy mini bags are
machine washable and made with an FDA-approved, BPA-free waterproof
lining and have a 100% cotton fabric exterior. Not limited to just toting food
items, these bags are also great for carrying cell phones, keys, crayons,
toiletries, first aid kits. . . phew! You name it. Available in numerous fabric
choices, we just loved the fun Hoot style.
eight
YOLO Yoga
Yoga enthusiasts who have stretched their
asanas to the limit can now kick things up a
notch with Paddleboard Yoga. Garden of Life’s
partners at YOLO Board are in step with this
trend, which combines paddleboarding and
yoga to give the body a vigorous core workout.
In these photos, YOLO team member and yoga
instructor Kathryn McCann makes poses look
6
www.GardenofLife.com
easy, but newcomers to the sport say the extra
effort required to remain balanced on the
board is more tiring than a session at the gym.
Whether it’s Paddleboard Yoga, Stand Up
Paddleboarding or Racing, Garden of Life’s
partnership with YOLO Board is a match made
in heaven, as both companies support the
importance of leading an active, healthy lifestyle.
™™
t
r
a
a
t
t
4
Secrets
Revealed
e S
G p
To Lose Weight, Boost Energy,
m
Ju
Look and Feel Great!†
We’ve all experienced it before:
that first week of a new diet
where your body fights against
you. Your energy disappears. You
feel cranky. And the entire time
you cross your fingers that it’s
all going to be worth it as you
deny those constant crunchy,
chocolaty cravings.
While you are struggling
through this “adjustment”
period, the chemistry in your
body may actually be working
against you, stimulating those
cravings, reducing your muscle
performance and depleting your
energy reserves.
That’s why we created the RAW
FIT Jump Start Plan—to help
you hit the RESET BUTTON
and get off of this crazy roller
coaster called the dreaded “diet.”
The plan starts with RAW FIT.
WHAT IS RAW FIT™?
RAW Fit from Garden of Life® is
a USDA Certified Organic, RAW,
plant-based, vegan, high-protein
powder that is an easy way to
increase your protein intake. It has
a mild, slightly sweet flavor that
mixes great with your favorite
food or beverage. Containing
RAW, organic and clinically studied
ingredients, RAW Fit helps you
burn fat, maintain healthy blood
sugar, boost your energy, lose
weight and look great!†
For our complete RAW Fit Jump Start
Plan including meal plans, RAW Fit
recipes, exercises and more, visit
www.GardenofLife.com/rawfit.com
NON
GMO
VER
Project
IF IE D
no ngmoproject.org
Secret #1:
BURN FAT AND BUILD MUSCLE WITH
HIGH QUALITY PLANT-BASED PROTEIN†
PROTEIN = HiGH TEST. That’s why RAW FIT
starts with 28g of USDA Certified Organic
plant-based protein from 13 sprouted seeds
and grains, all sustainably farmed without
toxic residue.
Secret #2:
LOSE WEIGHT WITH CLINICALLY
STUDIED RAW SVETOL®†
RAW Fit is the only high-protein weight loss
supplement available with 400mg of RAW
Svetol®—a clinically researched green coffee
bean extract. One study produced the following
results: on average, the group taking Svetol®
lost 10.9 lbs. over the 60-day period, while the
placebo group lost only 5.4 lbs.†
Secret #3:
M
ANAGE STRESS CRAVINGS WITH
RAW ORGANIC ASHWAGANDHA†
When your body is under stress, it releases the
hormone cortisol, which, in turn, drives cravings
for more sugar. RAW Fit contains 300mg
of RAW Organic Ashwagandha to deliver
meaningful support in the fight against stress.†
WITH RAW CHROMIUM AND RAW
ORGANIC CINNAMON†
Burn Fat & Build Lean
Muscle with 28g RAW,
Plant-based Protein†
Lose Weight & Boost
Energy with RAW Svetol®†
Support Healthy
Metabolism & Blood
Sugar with RAW FoodCreated Chromium
and RAW Organic
Cinnamon†
Fight Carb Cravings
with RAW Organic
Ashwagandha†
Naturally Filling &
Satisfies Hunger with
Fiber from RAW
Organic Flaxseeds and
African Baobab Fruit†
GLYCEM
W
O
IC
HEALTHY BLOOD SUGAR
Secret #4: MAINTAIN
Here’s the Breakdown:
L
SECRETS TO RAW FIT SUCCESS
Chromium has an essential role in metabolizing
fats and carbohydrates. Cinnamon has long been
prized for its ability to support metabolism and
help maintain healthy blood sugar.†
Everything You Want
GMO
®
VER
Project
I FI E D
no ngmoproject.org
Nothing You Don’t
• No animal proteins which can include undesirable
added hormones such as rGBH, and be de-natured
by high heat treatment
• No toxic pesticides, herbicides, anitibiotics or
genetically modified ingredients
• No added sugars such as glucose, fructose, etc.
• No soy, gluten or dairy
Kansas City Chiefs’
Tackle Branden Albert Takes NFL Stress in Stride
By Rhonda Price
Prior to his sixth year with Kansas City, left tackle Branden Albert
experienced the most tumultuous offseason of his career. Trade
rumors swirled, contract offers from the Miami Dolphins stalled, and
any hopes of going to a bigger and better team were dashed when
the Chiefs designated him as their franchise player on March 5th.
Talks turned to whether the Chiefs would
offer Albert a lucrative long-term deal, but
in the end, he settled for a one-year contract
and made it clear he wasn’t entirely happy
with his fate. Through it all, he survived
the rocky, unpredictable developments by
rolling out his yoga mat and striving for
inner peace.
At 6’ 6” and 316 pounds,
Albert often hears he’s too big
to do yoga, a sentiment that’s
understandable, considering
that his imposing Tree pose
resembles a towering sequoia
rather than a graceful willow.
Nevertheless, he’s a serious
student who practices at
least twice a week with
an instructor, and has
been seen perfecting his
Downward Dog on hotel
rooftops when the team is
on the road.
“Yoga is great for stress
because it keeps me loose
and calm,” said Albert. “It’s also good
for improving flexibility. I haven’t had to deal with as
many injuries since I started with yoga a few years ago.”
Yoga isn’t the only thing the 28-year-old veteran does to stay
healthy and competitive in a league that unmercifully wears down
body parts. He admits that, as a rookie, he didn’t give much thought
to adopting healthy habits, but over the years, he gradually learned
what worked best for him. Simple things, such as figuring out how
much water he needed to drink or optimal times for eating meals,
have made a big difference on the field.
“I’ve realized things such as the importance of staying hydrated
and drinking lots of water,” he said. “When I wasn’t drinking enough
water, my muscles would get tight. I also tried a lot of different diets
before figuring out that I needed to eat 4 or 5 meals per day, watch
my carb intake and get enough protein.”
Albert makes sure he’s
never short on protein by
stocking up on Garden of
Life’s RAW Meal and
drinking it in a recovery
shake after workouts.
A regular customer at
The Smoothie Shop and
Supplements in Lees
Summit, Missouri, he also
likes Vitamin Code®
RAW ONE™ for Men
multivitamins, Minami
Nutrition® fish oil and
Wobenzym® N for everyday
aches and pains.
Nothing, however, can dull the
pain of the Chiefs’ dismal 2012 season
when they finished 2-14 and tied the Jacksonville
Jaguars for the worst record in the league. Before this
summer’s training camp, the Chiefs’ mantra could have mimicked
rapper Drake’s popular song, Started from the Bottom, since the only
way for the team to go is up. But none of this seems to bother Albert,
who finds solace in yoga by leaving negative thoughts in the past and
focusing mindfully on the present.
“I’m not your typical lineman,” he acknowledged. “I don’t take my
frustrations out by beating things up in the weight room. Health and
longevity are what’s important to me.”
Sugarland Guitarist Thad Beaty
Is an Ironman Inspiration
Thad Beaty learned the hard way that years of touring with a band
can lead to plenty of unhealthy lifestyle habits. As a guitarist for the
multi-platinum country group Sugarland, sold-out performances
meant constant traveling, late-night jam sessions, fast food and
exercising only when his fingers danced on guitar strings. Gradually,
life in the fast lane turned to life in the fat lane as he found himself
75 pounds overweight and saddled with high blood pressure and high
cholesterol. It wasn’t until his mother was diagnosed with colon cancer
in 2009 that he finally decided to take control of his health and make
drastic changes.
“Not long after Mom was diagnosed, we learned that our guitar
tech, Kevin Quigley, was battling cancer, also,” said Beaty. “We all
took a long, hard look at our lifestyle choices and made a commitment
to get healthy.”
With a little help from his vegan wife, Annie, he switched to a
gluten-free and vegan diet, and challenged friends and family to eat
healthier foods. His mother revamped dozens of recipes, transforming
her signature soul food into less artery-clogging versions. Every
Tuesday night, the entire clan gathered for dinner to try out new
dishes, often inviting friends and neighbors to enjoy sharing recipes
and great food.
“Food is important to everyone—from an emotional level to a
social level,” noted Beaty, who whittled away pounds while eating
wholesome favorites such as Avocado Orange Salad and gluten-free
muffins. “Everyone was impacted by my mother’s health scare in
some way, and my brother even went on to earn a degree in
holistic nutrition.”
In addition to getting his family on board with diet swaps, the
entire Sugarland band and crew embarked on a nutritional makeover
by installing a smoothie bar on their bus that was stocked with plenty
of Garden of Life’s RAW Meal and RAW Protein. Concocting his own
smoothie recipes and giving them colorful names such as Frog Swamp
By Rhonda Price
Breakfast, Beaty also took the protein and meal replacement
tubs to the band’s recording studio in Nashville, where they
mysteriously disappeared.
“We had a lot of different people recording there, and after a while,
we noticed that RAW Meal was always missing,” said Beaty, who
suspects that a certain keyboard player, who shall not be named, was
the culprit.
With his diet back on track, Beaty decided to train for triathlons.
As a beginner, scheduling hours of training in between work and
family obligations was often chaotic, but he pressed on and regained
his health by losing more than 70 pounds in 18 months. In November
2012, he achieved his goal by becoming an Ironman at Ironman
Arizona, and was stoked when his family and band members cheered
him on. Inspired by his Ironman training experience, he decided
to start Music that Moves, a foundation that encourages the music
industry to pursue healthier lives, while volunteering through
community service projects.
“We have the privilege to perform in cities across America,
and it’s our greatest reward to be able to give something back to
them, whether it’s serving at a local hospital or clearing land for a
community garden,” said Beaty. “We combine healthy activity with
positive social interactions, and we’re also creating lasting movements
by inviting our fans to participate.”
Currently training for the Ironman World Championship in
October, Beaty is a spokesman for Kona Inspired, a program that
provides seven slots for the Ironman World Championship to
deserving athletes with inspirational stories that are voted on by the
triathlon community.
“There are so many people defying incredible odds by competing,”
he said. “It’s humbling to think about what difficulties others are
facing. Most of us don’t realize that, by comparison, we have little to
complain about.”
By Jeffrey Brams
On the Road is a new series for
Extraordinary Health where we visit some of
our unique suppliers, including our dedicated organic farms.
On the Road gives you the “inside” scoop about the places our
whole food ingredients are grown, the people who grow them and the way of life these great folks embrace. We begin
this new series with a visit to LiquaDry. They’ve been our dedicated grower and dryer of our RAW Organic grass
juices for years, but I’d never visited them before and always wanted to. As the original city slicker (a true carbon copy
of Billy Crystal), I’d not spent much time on a real working farm and thought it sounded . . . fun.
Our office is in South Florida and, during the dog
days of summer, it’s generally around 90º F and 100
percent humidity. Two planes and seven hours later,
I landed in Salt Lake to a flat, 105º F with 0 percent
humidity. I suddenly understood what food feels like in
a dehydrator.
The farm is about 2.5 hours south and west of Salt
Lake. Along the way, I stopped for a run—to stretch
the legs after a long flight—along the Provo/Jordan
River trail. It’s 13 miles of wandering paved bike trails
hugging a shallow, chilly babbling river that has its
head in a gorgeous lake right by Robert Redford’s
Sundance resort. It felt great. Still sweaty and ready for
some shade and an herbal tea, I sat on the Sundance
property and thought, “If this is Utah, sign me up. I
just may call this home one day.”
Back on the road, just past the great Salt Lake, I saw the famous Brigham
Young University in my rearview mirror, and with it, the last outpost of what I call
civilization. Suddenly, I was alone with miles of flat highway ringed by rugged,
snow-capped mountains on the ever-distant horizon. My directions were clear—
pass the giant lavender farm, turn right at the smaller sheepherding ranch and
continue through a “dead valley” for about 30 miles. Turn left at the golf course . . .
golf course? (Yes—or so they called it that. I think I saw two flags and a tiny patch
of almost green grass.) Then stop for the night at the Day’s Inn. It’s the best hotel in
town. It’s also one of only two hotels for many “towns” around here.
I noticed there were only two streets, and both were busy with trucks. So, I
asked the girl at a local sandwich shop (the only open restaurant other than
McDonald’s at 8 p.m.) where I might go for a run in the morning. She suggested
the track at the local high school. “It’s open 24 hours a day,” she said. No locks
required around here.
It’s 5 a.m. on day two—the day I visit the farm. If you, like me, worry about
education in America, then a trip out to rural Utah would do you some good. There
may be only two stop signs and one traffic light in the whole county, but there’s a
full construction team at work building a new, first-rate high school with some of
the nicest sports facilities I’ve seen in quite a while. This was a good sign about the
quality of life around here.
After a quick shower, I head to the Rancher,
the only other hotel nearby, for breakfast. This is
where I will meet Elend and Olivia LeBaron, family
operators of our farm. I’m immediately struck by the
two of them. They are around the same age as my
wife and I, and they hold themselves with a certain
dignity that I don’t see that often. Immediately,
I realized that I’m not just meeting a supplier or
writing a story—I’m making friends.
Time passes quickly for us at the restaurant.
We’re talking about our kids. I have four, which
feels like a lot until I learn that they have 10. We’re
talking about travel, triumphs and failures we’ve
experienced. And Elend and I are relating a lot on
what we both hold most sacred in our lives—our
roles as husband and father. They are unpretentious
and straightforward. Conversation flows easily, until
we suddenly realized that it’s 10 a.m. and we’ve not
seen the first farm. But good news—the oat grass is
being harvested this morning. If we hurry, we can
see the combine at work.
On our way out to the fields, we stop to see the
house where Elend, Olivia and their family live.
Their home is quiet, considering how many people
live there—or maybe organized is a better word.
There’s plenty of activity, but it’s neither combative
nor disruptive. Two of his girls are busy reading
Anne of Green Gables. (One holds a book, while
the other uses a Kindle. Clearly, technology is a
way of life everywhere.) One daughter is done
with her babysitting stint and hands Mom back the
1½-year-old after a longer-than-expected breakfast.
And their ten-year-old boy is in the backyard
standing atop a 10-foot ladder, about to launch
himself onto a rope swing tied to a thick old tree
branch. Suddenly, I wish more than anything that
my nine- and seven-year-old boys were here to play
in this backyard with these kids.
That’s when I see him—their four year old son,
tow-headed, just like my four-year-old twins. He
wanders out, picks up his plastic sand bucket and
heads to the hen house to do his chores.
He’s barefoot, but determined. Clearly, he’s
done this many times before. He’s collecting
eggs. And I recall what Olivia said at breakfast.
On a farm, chores aren’t something you
manufacture to teach children responsibility.
They are a necessary part of life, and children
contribute to the home.
This way of life—family farming—it’s
endangered. Large corporate entities are
gobbling up the farmland and controlling
production. The average family farm grosses
roughly $47,000 annually and costs, on average,
$50,000 to operate. The median age in the
USA is 37, but the median age for a farmer is
55, indicating that young people are leaving the
profession, as well as the rural communities
where they grew up, in order to find new lines
of work. The family farm is dying.
We often think about what will be lost when
this way of life disappears. But rarely do we get
to see it firsthand. There is a healthy connection
between us as people and the land we care for.
There’s also a sense of meaning—real, intrinsic
value—that comes with a way of life that feeds
the country. I can see it in this family. I hear
it as Olivia describes her passion to bring real,
nutritious food to people.
I ask Elend and Olivia about their kids before
I leave. Will they move away to explore new
dreams, or will they follow in their parents’
footsteps? They say that, for the most part,
they think their kids will want to stay on a
farm, raising their families and farming food
for America.
For this family, it’s in their blood. And that
answer gives me a lot of hope as I head back
to Florida.
For more on the organic farm, see page 34.
Probiotics & Enzymes:
Digestion’s Dynamic Duo
by Dr. Joseph Brasco
Joseph D. Brasco, M.D., is a medical consultant with Garden of Life® and has extensive
expertise and experience in the areas of gastroenterology and internal medicine. Dr. Brasco
earned his Medical Doctorate at the Medical College of Wisconsin and completed his
residency at the University of Illinois, Chicago. Likewise, he is certified by the American
Board of Internal Medicine in both Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine. Dr. Brasco
currently practices at Huntsville Colon & GI Consultants, LLC, in Huntsville, Alabama.
Healthy digestion requires adequate amounts of probiotics and
enzymes, but we typically don’t get enough of either in our diet.
I’m a board-certified gastroenterologist, so—as you can probably
guess—I see a lot of people with digestive issues. There are many
factors that go into digestive health, but I’d like to discuss two
important elements to support healthy digestion: probiotics and
enzymes. Unfortunately, most people don’t get enough of either in
their diet.
Let’s start with probiotics.
Most of us already know how important probiotics are for
digestion and the absorption of nutrients—basically determining
how well-nourished we are. In short, probiotics promote the growth
of beneficial bacteria in the intestines, which greatly supports
healthy digestion. Probiotics also support healthy immunity,
absorption of minerals, synthesis of vitamins, production of B
vitamins and even of certain enzymes. Likewise, probiotics play a
key role in peristalsis—the process by which food and wastes move
through the digestive system.
When there are not enough probiotics, the result is often felt
negatively in the gut’s digestive process and in overall health—and
our modern diet and lifestyle diminish our probiotic supply. For
example, food processing, pollution, antibiotic overuse and more can
reduce the good bacteria in our guts. Once the good bacteria are
diminished, then the bad bacteria move right in.
The good news, however, is that consuming probiotics increases
the size of good intestinal bacteria colonies called microflora, thus
improving health and digestion. And know this: you need a diverse
population of probiotics, too, since each probiotic strain can offer
a different health benefit. Also, you need to have probiotics that
“arrive alive.” In other words, you don’t want probiotics to “die off.”
You want them alive, so that they can accomplish their work.
Now for enzymes. . .
There are three main types of enzymes: metabolic enzymes,
digestive enzymes and food enzymes. Metabolic enzymes are
instrumental in essential body functions; they keep the body
humming along.
Digestive enzymes are secreted by the salivary glands, stomach,
pancreas and the small intestine. They break down large food
molecules into smaller units that can be absorbed by the blood and
into cells, which is how the body gets nourished from the food we
eat. Digestive enzymes speed up the digestive process, and without
digestive enzymes, food molecules would break down far too slowly
to be absorbed.
Food enzymes are found naturally in raw, uncooked foods and
help digest those foods so their nutrients can be absorbed into the
bloodstream. Food enzymes also help digest food so that it can
be absorbed properly by the body. Food enzymes are destroyed,
however, when heated above temps of approximately 118º
Fahrenheit, which includes most, if not all, of the modern diet.
That’s why we usually lack enzymes from food—because we cook
them to death!
Without those enzymes, our digestive systems work harder to
digest food. In fact, cooked foods can take up to two or three times
longer to pass through the digestive system than raw foods do.
Eating enzyme-dead food also taxes your pancreas and other organs
from the wear and tear they undergo digesting mostly cooked foods.
Additionally, the more stress put on these organs, the less time they
have to rebuild cells and tissues or keep the immune system strong.
You require an array of enzymes, too, because different enzymes
are necessary for full digestion. That makes enzymes an essential
part of the digestive process, which, by the way, takes up more of
your body’s energy than you might think—about 80 percent.
The bottom line is that your digestive system is your body’s
source of growth, repair and energy, so feed it what it needs,
including probiotics and enzymes.
They’re digestion’s dynamic duo.
Every bodily cell, tissue and organ
depends on nutrient absorption and
assimilation of food through
healthy digestion. For me—and for the
patients I see—that means getting
enough probiotics and enzymes
to ensure proper digestion.
Dr. Joseph Brasco
Cultured dairy foods, such as
yogurt and kefir, are packed with
both probiotics and enzymes, while enzymes are found
naturally in raw, uncooked
foods. In fact, most raw foods contain the very enzymes your body needs to digest that food.
R
E
S
P
P
ARRIVE
ALIVE!
Y
O
T E N C
O M I
Garden of Life’s
PROBIOTICS Digestive Dynamic Duo: ENZYMES
RAW Probiotics and RAW Enzymes—The Next Generation of Digestive Health
RAW Probiotics are whole food probiotic formulas
providing 30+ powerful probiotic strains, along with
probiotic-created cofactors including vitamins, minerals,
enzymes, antioxidants and prebiotics. RAW means
uncooked, untreated, unadulterated—with no binders
or fillers and they are gluten free. RAW Probiotics are
“original probiotics,” inspired by the Father of Probiotics,
Elié Metchnikoff, providing probiotic strains found in
Bulgarian Yogurt and Eastern European Wild Kefir—as
recommended by Metchnikoff, based on his study of
Bulgarian longevity and the probiotic-rich cultured dairy
they consumed.
RAW Probiotics also feature the Arrive Alive™
Potency Promise. What you see on the label is what you
get in the bottle—temperature-controlled cold storage
and delivery from the moment the probiotics cultures are
harvested until you swallow your first capsule, ensuring
that your probiotics arrive alive!
RAW Enzymes are whole food, plant-based enzyme
formulas that deliver 22 powerful digestive enzymes with
unsurpassed enzymatic activity to help your body digest
the complete range of proteins, fats, carbs and fiber.
RAW Enzymes provides specific enzymes and supporting
nutrients necessary to meet digestive and overall health
needs.† RAW Enzymes are RAW, vegetarian, gluten free
and dairy free—with no binders and no fillers.
RAW Probiotics and RAW Enzymes—a powerful
digestive dynamic duo.
16
www.GardenofLife.com
Chia seed and flaxseed are very versatile. They taste great and are easy to include in many
recipes; you can sprinkle them on cereal, yogurt or salads, blend them into smoothies or add
them to healthy home baked goods.
So, start adding at least an ounce of USDA Certified Organic chia seed and one ounce of
flaxseed to your healthy diet—today!
Ounce per Ounce, 1 OUNCE
of Organic CHIA SEED Offers More
omega-3 fatty
acids than
salmon.
antioxidants
than
blueberries.
calcium than
milk.
magnesium
than broccoli.
iron than
spinach.
potassium than
bananas.
1 ounce
of Organic Golden
Flaxseed Offers:
•
omega-3 fatty acids—in a
healthy dose of 6,388mg
of total omega-3 fatty
acids, making it a topranking plant source of
omega-3s.
•
protein—a substantial
5 grams.
•
fiber—a whopping
8 grams.
•
magnesium—to the tune
of 114mg.
Gwen Marzano
Garden of Life Educator and Certified RAW Vegan Chef
Garden of Life is thrilled to have Gwen Marzano on board to share with you her knowledge of healthy
eating and good food choices. In keeping with Garden of Life’s mission of Empowering Extraordinary
Health®, be on the lookout for Gwen’s delicious recipes and healthy eating tips.
By Rhonda Price
When we last spoke to Sheryl Crow for a feature in
Extraordinary Health Magazine, it was 2011, and we met
her in New York, where she was busy signing copies of her
cookbook If it Makes You Healthy (St. Marten’s Press, 2011).
Back then, she was just settling into a more relaxed way of
life at her horse farm in Tennessee, a dramatic change from
her bustling West Coast schedule. Farm living clearly agrees
with the Grammy Award-winning star, who has 100 percent
“gone country” by putting her multi-million dollar estate
in Los Angeles up for sale and recently
releasing her first country
album through Warner
Music Nashville titled
Feels Like Home.
Recorded in Nashville
and produced by Justin
Niebank, each track
on the album was cowritten by Crow and other
songwriters, including Brad
Paisley. The lead single,
“Easy,” hit the airwaves in
March and received positive
reviews from critics who
applauded the song’s carefree
elements of country and
rock and roll. Crow describes
the single as her “staycation”
song, explaining that it is about
making your home feel like you’re getting
away instead of vacationing in faraway places. For a free
download of “Easy,” see details on the back cover of this
issue of Extraordinary Health Magazine.
Feels Like Home is Crow’s eighth studio album that
chronicles a special time in her life. We caught up with her
to chat about why life on the farm is so rewarding.
Extraordinary Health Magazine: Now that you’ve just
put your Los Angeles digs up for sale, is Nashville your
permanent home?
Sheryl Crow: It really is. I am so rarely in Los Angeles now
that it seems silly to keep a place there. I have been
here 7 1/2 years already and have really put down roots in
this community.
Extraordinary Health Magazine: Is this why the album is
titled Feels Like Home?
Sheryl Crow: That’s the main reason. I’m involved in the
community, my kids are growing up here and my studio and
my work are all here. Everything is here now!
Extraordinary Health Magazine:
How long did it take to collaborate on
this album with Brad Paisley and the
other songwriters?
Sheryl Crow: It really wasn’t that long—
maybe 6 or 7 months total, and we were
able to finish all of the recording in about
three weeks.
Extraordinary Health Magazine:
Aside from the fact that it’s your first
country album, is there anything else
different about this one?
Sheryl Crow: Yes; there are a few
things. I’m raising two kids now, and
that factors in during the recording
process. I usually work from noon to
about 5:30 every day. My studio is in
my barn, and is right above where
the horses’ stalls are located. It’s
the most wonderful thing to be able to walk up the driveway and be home!
Extraordinary Health Magazine: So, you don’t miss all
those hour-long commutes or traffic snarls on the
LA freeways?
Sheryl Crow: Not at all!
Extraordinary Health Magazine: What do you enjoy most
about living on your farm?
Sheryl Crow: It’s great for me and my kids. It’s always
been my objective to raise my kids in nature and to
encourage them to be outside instead of sitting in front of a
television screen. Being outdoors so much is very humbling,
peaceful and fun. I really enjoy riding the horses, and
we have several kinds, including Tennessee Walkers and
Quarter Horses.
Extraordinary Health Magazine: What’s the most
personal song on the album that describes your life?
Sheryl Crow: Brad Paisley was instrumental in persuading
me to do this album, so I wrote the first song, “Waterproof
Mascara,” with him. It’s my favorite song because it’s a
single-mom ballad that reflects what’s going on in my life.
I’m a single mom with two little boys, and a lot of women—
as well as men who were raised by single moms—can relate
to that. I’ve gotten a lot of positive responses from both
men and women about the song.
Extraordinary Health Magazine: What makes
you happy?
Sheryl Crow: A day off with my kids to do whatever
they want to do. We spend a lot of time outside or in the
swimming pool. We also try to do a lot of fun things when
we’re traveling or on tour.
Extraordinary Health Magazine: When you go on tour for
months, do you do anything to make sure you stay healthy
on the road?
Sheryl Crow: I really do the same things I do at home.
We eat as healthy as we can—with organic food as much
as possible. It can be challenging when you’re staying in
hotels, but it’s definitely possible to make good choices. I’m
not a big “routine” person, but I like to run and jog. And this
fall, we will probably take our bikes on the road with us and
do some riding when we can.
Extraordinary Health Magazine: With your breast cancer
scare in 2006 far behind you, how is your health now?
Sheryl Crow: My health is great! I’m extremely active with
the two kids, and we’re always on the go. I feel as strong
and as young as I’ve ever felt!
Extraordinary Health Magazine: Are there any causes
you are particularly passionate about?
Sheryl Crow: I’m very invested in environmental
issues as well as cancer-related causes. I support Stand
Up for Cancer and their research and also do some
work with St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. I also support
StopGlobalWarming.com, since I have an organic farm
and put in a lot of solar panels. My hope was to eventually
create a solar community, but, unfortunately, it doesn’t
make any sense economically anymore, as our government
offers practically nothing for converting to solar energy.
Don’t even get me started on this!
Extraordinary Health Magazine: That sounds frustrating,
so let’s switch gears and talk about any new or upcoming
projects you have in the works. Is there anything coming
up soon?
Sheryl Crow: Yes; I’m working on a Broadway musical
called Diner that Barry Levinson is directing. I wrote all the
music for it, so it’s very exciting!
Extraordinary Health Magazine: Is there anything
important you’ve learned that you’d like to share
with others?
Sheryl Crow: From my observations, life is a work in
progress. I’m constantly learning, evolving and trying
to become a better version of myself. I’ve had an
extraordinary life, and I love being where I’m at! I’ve been
on the road, met some wonderful people, had cancer and
adopted two kids. Since I’ve had cancer, my perceptions of
certain things have changed. Before cancer, I had a wacky
notion that I could control most of the things in my life.
Now that’s all gone out the window, and I’ve realized life is
about learning to let go. Life has been a series of amazing
phases, and I love what I’ve learned along the way.
By Rhonda Price
For more than 20 years, makeup artists powdered
and perfected actor Ingo Rademacher’s face while he
charmed audiences by playing a leading man on the
daytime drama General Hospital and appearing in
feature films such as Alex Cross. Nowhere was his
popularity more evident than when he competed on
ABC’s Dancing With the Stars last year, sporting
a fake spray tan for the first time in his life as
thousands of fans voted him into the semi-finals
round. Currenly taking a self-imposed break, he’s
traded in Hollywood for Hawaii, where he lives
with his family on Oahu’s North Shore. The lush,
picture postcard setting rivals any movie locale,
and makeup artists aren’t needed to highlight
his golden tan or the bright green mustaches his
family wears after drinking organic smoothie
concoctions every morning.
“I’ve neglected my health and fitness for
many years due to my career,” said Ingo, as
he dropped several smoothie ingredients into
a blender. “With acting, my schedule was
always different, and I could never get into
any sort of routine. Now that I’m at home,
I feel so much better because it’s easier to
concentrate on living a healthy lifestyle.”
With a laid-back schedule befitting
his island surroundings, Ingo the actor
has morphed into an accomplished
paddleboard racer, an entrepreneur,
and, most of all, an extremely content
family man. With his wife, Ehiku, and
two young sons Peanut and Pohaku,
the family could easily be a billboard
advertisement for wholesome living.
They tend a small vegetable garden
in the yard and reap a bountiful
Photography by Ryan Foley
supply of coconuts and avocados from their trees. The kids delight
in gathering eggs from several hens, which must surely be the mostpampered birds in Hawaii with a deluxe “resort style” chicken coop
that Ingo built for them.
“We got them when they were fuzzy baby chicks, and I felt they
needed a proper house,” he said, admitting he got carried away and
built the chickens their own bar, a porch and a deck to sunbathe on.
“We haven’t bought eggs for a year now, and the chickens eat all our
leftovers, so it’s cool.”
When the chickens venture out from their “Ritz-Carlton coop”,
they are sometimes treated to a few bites of Ehiku’s pancakes
that she makes with Vanilla Spiced Chai RAW Protein and RAW
Organics™ Super Omega 3 Organic Chia Seed. The family also likes
smoothies, and on this particular day, they are all happily mugging
for a photographer and showing off neon green glowing mustaches
after drinking their veggies with Garden of Life®’s #1 selling greens
drink, Perfect Food® RAW. Even baby Pohaku gets into the act,
laughing hysterically at the comical green faces.
“We love Garden of Life supplements!” Ehiku gushes.
“Every time we get a batch of vitamins, probiotics, protein, meal
replacements and food bars, I can’t wait to see what we can make
with them. But the best thing is knowing the kids will get all of the
greens, protein and vitamins they need first thing in the morning,
and we don’t have to worry about their nutrition for the rest of
the day.”
Ingo and Ehiku discovered Garden of Life supplements last
year when the company sponsored them as members of the YOLO
Stand Up Paddleboard race team. They compete in several races
each year, with Ingo excelling at downwind paddling. Lately, he has
challenged himself with long distance training to prepare for races
that can be more than 30 miles long.
“To race for that many miles is strenuous,” he said. “You have to
know how to conserve energy—and have the right board. I’m in the
process of developing a Hawaiian-style downwind board for rougher
water that will also help when paddling with wind chop.”
Ingo has overcome many difficulties while paddleboarding,
including sea sickness, cramps, an ominous tiger shark and a gigantic
whale. If it’s something that swims and has sharp teeth, he steers
clear of it, so he’s not on the menu. On most days when the entire
family paddleboards in the clear waters of Waimea Bay, they spot
an occasional manta ray or colorful schools of fish when Ingo takes
Peanut snorkeling. Passionate about the environment and outspoken
about Hawaii’s
non-GMO
movement,
he’s thrilled that his kids have
a healthy love and respect for
the ocean.
“I think the most
important way to keep
kids healthy and happy is
to let them play outdoors
and run around until
they get tired,” he said.
“Ehiku and I are indoors
a lot now because we’re
working on her new
sportswear line, so the
kids get bored and beg
us to go outside!”
Ehiku’s sportswear
company, Mahiku
Activewear, features
color-popping, islandinspired designs for women
who love water sports.
She recently launched the company with her business partner and
childhood friend, Mahea, and business is booming because she
believes they are breaking the “black pants mold.”
“I thought the business would start slowly with a few stores selling
our activewear,” said Ehiku. “But then we added an online store and
started getting so many orders that we were scrambling to fill them.
It’s a learning experience and definitely keeps us busy.”
Ingo chimes in that the business is good because it keeps them
in Hawaii. For others who want to experience a slice of Paradise,
he has a vacation rental and an Airstream trailer on the property
to host a steady stream of family and friends who come to visit. As
for himself, he’d rather stay home and design paddleboards, help
Peanut build a treehouse or put Pohaku on a baby zip line in the
yard. Asked what he’d do if a juicy acting role came his way, he
paused for a moment.
“If it’s not in Hawaii, it would need to be somewhere around
water,” he said firmly. “Lots and lots of water.”
Wheat Grass Juice Shots
BIG
THE
“
”
SHOTS
of the Juice Bar
Wheat grass juice shots provide powerfully concentrated nutrition, energy and
much more. It’s no wonder they’ve become the “big shots” of the juice bar.
For those who’ve experienced the energizing, exhilarating
potency of wheat grass juice shots, you know what it’s like to feel
the “rush” of its nutrients pulsing through your bloodstream to
spread their green goodness throughout your body—providing
potent nutrition and quick energy.
As you gulp it down, you know it’s giving you “off the charts”
nutrition, nearly instantaneous energy, building up your body’s
cellular health and inwardly cleansing your body.
Many wheat grass juice drinkers even prefer the “green shot”
to a morning cup of joe or to tea time. That’s how much energy
they get from this big shot! Wheat grass juice shot drinkers often
feel more invigorated, too, since the chlorophyll in the shots
builds blood cells, which, in turn, increases oxygenation to the
entire body.
Generally speaking, wheat grass shot lovers take a one-ounce
wheat grass shot once daily—usually on an empty stomach and
before meals. Some, however, take one-ounce shots three to four
times a day or even up their wheat grass shots to 2-ounce
to 4-ounce shots two or three times daily for more of those
green benefits.
Each shot is equivalent to the most nutritious leafy green
vegetables imaginable, but honed into a small amount of
concentrated juice made from young, tender shoots of wheat
plants, which are just like green, leafy veggies. It’s so
concentrated that some say that two wheat grass shots are
equivalent to nearly three pounds of vegetables in its vitamins,
minerals and live nutrient energy!
Wheat grass juice shots are also deep green in color due to the
nearly 70 percent chlorophyll content. Interestingly, chlorophyll’s
chemical makeup is similar to the oxygen-carrying part of the
blood’s hemoglobin, called heme, which carries oxygen from the
lungs to the other cells and tissues of the body.
If there’s any
downside to wheat
grass shots, it’s how
expensive they can be over
time. If you pay $1.50 per shot
daily at your favorite juice bar,
then you’ll spend $547.00 a
year. If your wheat grass shots
cost you $2.00 per shot, then
you’ll hand over $730.00 each
year. If you have more than one
shot a day, just multiply that
number by however many
shots you have each a day.
Unsurprisingly, much of what builds and sustains the
essential elements of blood is also found in foods packed with
chlorophyll, such as wheat grass and other greens. Research
points out that chlorophyll:
INTRODUCING
Perfect Food® RAW 100% Organic Young
Wheat Grass Juice Powder:
stimulates the synthesis of red blood cells, increasing
the quality and quantity of them.
supports healthy oxygen transportation in
the body.
boosts energy levels.
1 Serving = 13 Wheat Grass Shots
detoxifies the liver.
cleans the digestive tract, while supporting
the growth of beneficial bacteria (probiotics).
supports healthy wound healing.
can provide protection from toxic chemicals.
helps to support repair of damaged tissues.
is packed with powerful antioxidants that can fight
off free radicals.
can inhibit the growth of unfriendly bacteria.
If you love the powerful green goodness of wheat grass shots
straight from the juice bar or your own wheat grass garden,
then you’re going to love our new wheat grass juice powder
13 times more. That’s right. Our grower juices the equivalent
amount of wheat grass needed for 13 shots to juice one serving
of our Wheat Grass Juice Powder. Our grass is grown on
beautiful organic Utah fields for weeks, not in a plastic tray
indoors under fluorescent lights for several days.
It’s good to know that you have choices with wheat grass
juice shots—and we’re pleased to offer you the ultimate “big
shot” in wheat grass shots.
can help support already healthy blood sugar and
blood pressure levels.
Wheat grass juice also provides enzymes; protein—including
essential amino acids, which are those that must come from
one’s diet; beta-carotene; folic acid; vitamins C, E, K and B12;
other B vitamins; calcium; phosphorus; magnesium, iron, zinc
and potassium.
Additionally, wheat grass juice supports the growth of
Lactobacilli, the healthy bacteria which grows naturally in the
human digestive tract. Wheat grass juice is also teeming with
enzymes—that is, if it’s not overprocessed or overheated, which
can destroy most enzymes. That’s why it’s good to have it raw.
Perfect Food RAW Wheat Grass Juice—High
Potency, Instant Green Energy†
Our USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO, RAW
Wheat Grass Juice is one of the most nutritionally
dense greens on earth, power-packed with naturally
occurring nutrients including chlorophyll, betacarotene, vitamin C, B vitamins, amino acids,
magnesium, potassium, manganese and betaine.
Juicing our greens super-concentrates them. One
serving of Perfect Food RAW Wheat Grass Juice
instantly delivers as much natural wholesome green
food energy as 13 one-ounce wheat grass shots at a
juice bar.†
Perfect Food RAW Puts the GREEN in
Greens—More Chlorophyll in Every Serving
Our CERTIFIED ORGANIC Greens are sustainably
grown by our family farmers here in the USA. We
harvest before the grain buds (to prevent gluten from
forming) and then juice at the farm immediately after
harvest. Our juice is gently low-temperature dried and
powdered on site, locking in its nutritionally dense,
organic goodness. The end result is highly bioavailable
and many times more concentrated in nutrients,
including chlorophyll, than whole leaf grass powders,
putting the GREEN IN YOUR GREENS!†
It’s RAW, Vegan, Certified Organic, Dairy Free, Soy
Free, No Whole Grass Fillers, No Added Sugars, No
Artificial Flavors or Sweeteners and No Preservatives
Volume 18 2013 25
†
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
The Importance of Alkalizing and Detoxifying:
An Interview with Dr. Terry Willard
Extraordinary Health Magazine: Dr. Willard, we know
that you’re a leading clinical herbalist, so please
give us an overview of your practice as well as what
your focus has been recently.
Dr. Willard: I have practiced as a clinical herbalist
since 1975 in a very busy urban clinic—the Wild Rose
Wholistic Clinic in Calgary, Alberta. During this
timeframe, I have also run clinics in several other cities.
Even though I am in general practice as a senior
practitioner, I mostly concentrate on patients with
severe and critical health issues as well as specializing
in cleansing and detoxification. Besides using a wide
range of botanical medicines and natural food
supplements, I do research and use medicinal
mushrooms and flower essences.
Extraordinary Health Magazine: You’re also well versed in
the healing power of herbals. What is it about herbals that
makes them so beneficial for health?
Dr. Willard: Botanical medicine is well keyed into the
human system, as we’ve used them for several millennia.
Plant-based medicines are the basis, or starting point, of
over 50 percent of the modern pharmaceuticals used,
and worldwide, over 80 percent of humans still use herbal
medicines as part of their primary health care system.
Herbal remedies are good at initiating the natural processes
of the body to heal itself. Typically, herbals are gentler on
the human system, but have a profound effect on the body,
giving it energy.
Extraordinary Health Magazine: While we’re on the topic
of herbals, please speak to the benefits of small batch,
organic cultivation.
Dr. Willard: When it comes down to natural remedies,
small batch, organic cultivated is always the best way
to go. This assures high
quality, letting the farmers to
processors concentrate on
the details that we want our
medicines and foods to have.
By doing this, we can make
our foods our medicines and
vice versa.
Extraordinary Health
Magazine: Dr. Willard, you’ve
reviewed the ingredients of
Garden of Life’s Perfect Food®
Alkalizer & Detoxifier RAW
Organic Green Super Food.
Tell us how those primary
ingredients work to alkalize
and detoxify the body—and
why it’s important to have
a more alkaline vs. acidic
state in the body as well as
intentionally detoxifying
the body.
Dr. Terry Willard
Dr. Willard: It’s hard to adequately emphasize the
importance of alkalizing and detoxifying the body on a
regular basis. In my clinical practice, I can easily say that
many of the most critical healthcare issues are at least
partially caused from the body being too acidic and having
an accumulation of toxins. The best way to alkalize and
detoxify the body is slowly and on a regular basis—and it’s
important not to wait for dramatic health issues to start
this process. When in a devitalized state, the body cannot
eliminate as easily. I agree with what’s often been said: “An
ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Our busy, modern lifestyle has left many people in these
acidic states. Most of my patients have built up acidic
metabolites over the years—and this even includes people
that eat a pretty good organic diet.
There are many foods that can alkalize the body. One of
the best categories is leafy green vegetables. When you look
at the ingredients in Garden of Life’s Perfect Food Alkalizer
& Detoxifier RAW Organic Green Super Food, you might
find a few surprises. Some might feel that something as
acidic tasting as lemon would acidify the body, but it does
not. Organic, ripe lemon juice creates a reaction in the body
that leaves it more alkalized. Coconut water has long been
recognized internationally as one of the great alkalizers.
Even though some of the ingredients are classified in certain
categories, such as “Green juice blend” and “Antioxidant
blend,” it is useful to understand that many of these
ingredients play multiple roles, as they all detoxify
and alkalize.
In short, the detoxifying blend has botanicals that have
a long history of being used for cleansing as well as being
backed up with modern scientific studies. That’s why it’s
easy for me to say that this is a well-rounded product to
aid in the ongoing process of alkalizing and detoxifying the
body. It is great to see a raw food that can be both medicine
and food at the same time.
Extraordinary Health Magazine: Is there anything else
you think our readers should know about herbals, alkalizing
or detoxifying?
Dr. Willard: We are planning to implement Perfect Food
Alkalizer & Detoxifier RAW Organic Green Super Food into
our protocols at the clinic. It is in an easy-to-implement
format that my patients can embrace in their daily lifestyle
changes for a healthier body.
For over 35 years, Terry Willard, Cl. H.,
Ph.D., has studied the medicinal properties
of plants. He is recognized as one of North
America’s leading clinical herbalists and
appears regularly in print and electronic
media as an advocate of responsible herbal
use. He currently serves as President of the
Canadian Association of Herbal Practitioners,
a professional member of the American
Herbalist Guild, and in the Canadian Health
Food Association’s Hall of Fame.
Dr. Willard is the author of twelve books on
the subject of herbs, including the pivotal
Wild Rose Herbal Series—a series of three
textbooks written to educate herbalists. Two
of his books, Mind-Body Harmony and Flower
Essence: Emotional Alchemy and Spiritual
Evolution, have been particularly popular with
the general public.
An active practitioner and teacher, Dr. Willard
has a clinic in Calgary, Alberta. He is also
director of the Wild Rose College of Natural
Healing, which serves both classroom and
correspondence students around the world.
Additionally, he lectures on the main
lecture circuit to trade shows and
provides training sessions for the health
food industry.
You can follow Dr. Willard via
Twitter: @WillardTerry or
visit his blog at:
www.DrTerryWillard.com
Feeling BLUE?
It May Just Be Your Energy Drink.
Get Healthy GREEN ENERGY
Instead!
Many energy drinks on the market cause an energy crisis and other problems.
Lots of sugar. Lots of caffeine. That’s what you’ll find in most of those popular energy
drinks. It’s no wonder that the consumption of these energy drinks can lead to
jitters, nervousness, dehydration, irritability, high blood pressure, heart palpitations,
accelerated heart rates, acute mania, dizziness, gastrointestinal upset, insomnia,
difficulty concentrating, seizures and strokes!
The marketplace for “natural” energy drinks has exploded over the last few years.
In fact, according to the Nutrition Business Journal, Americans spend approximately
$41 billion dollars on functional foods annually and the vast majority of those sales
are for functional beverages—and energy drinks make up almost two-thirds of the
entire category.
The message to retailers, manufacturers and marketers is clear: we’re tired
of being tired!
In response, the market is dominated by sugary, caffeine-filled products such as
Red Bull®, Monster®, RockStar®, Pepsi’s Full Throttle®, and Coca Cola’s Amp® as
well as a variety of liquid “shots” such as 5-hour Energy (please see graphic to right).
Now for caffeine—from various sources.
Consumer Reports tested 27 popular energy drinks and found caffeine
amounts ranging from 6mg in a decaf shot to over 240mg, while the
journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence says caffeine content
in energy drinks ranges from about 50mg to 505mg per
can or bottle. Guarana, a plant from South America, can
have twice the caffeine of coffee beans. Additionally,
the caffeine added to fuel these drinks is primarily
synthesized— lab created.
You don’t need—or want—that much
sugar or caffeine in your energy drinks.
Instead, get healthy green energy with Perfect Food®
Energizer—RAW Organic Green Super Food. Among other
healthful energizers, it contains Guayaki® yerba maté, green
energy from organic grass juices, raw organic maca and amazing
fruit power.
Yerba maté contains caffeine as well, but is minimal when
compared to the other natural sources of caffeine such as coffee, tea
or guarana. Yerba maté is unique in that it contains an abundant array
It may surprise you to learn how much SUGAR is in these energy drinks.
Red Bull has 54
grams of sugar
per 16.8 fluid ounces.
Monster M-80 has 46
grams of sugar per
16 fluid ounces.
RockStar has 62
grams of sugar per 16
fluid ounces.
of bioactive compounds including polyphenols, xanthines, flavonoids,
saponins, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. And while yerba maté is
a powerful antioxidant, is packed with 24 naturally occurring vitamins
and minerals, and is one of nature’s most potent adaptogens, there’s
even more that sets yerba maté apart.
Yerba maté also has a high concentration of the two very powerful
xanthine alkaloids: theophylline and theobromine. Xanthines are
naturally found in almost all of our body tissues, and the alkaloids
derived from xanthines are probably best known for their use as
bronchodilators. They are, by nature, mild stimulators that promote
alertness and clarity.
Full Throttle has 59
grams of sugar per 16
fluid ounces.
Amp has 58 grams
of sugar per 16
fluid ounces.
Perfect Food Energizer also has fruit power, including pomegranate
fruit, a highly potent antioxidant, rich in quercetin, and energypromoting B vitamins and vitamin C. It also contains the African
baobab fruit, which is packed with antioxidants, vitamins A and C,
calcium and magnesium, which supports the production of energy on
the cellular level.
So, don’t let popular energy drinks wreak havoc on your health with
all their sugar, caffeine, and potential health hazards.
Choose the healthy GREEN ENERGY of Perfect Food
Energizer instead.
Caffeine is also part of the xanthine family, and its closely related
cousin, theophylline, is similar in its ability to promote energy and blood
flow. Theobromine is also related, but has some different effects. Found
in the bitter parts of cacao, theobromine is known as the “good stuff”
in dark chocolate associated with the feelings of ecstasy and love that
chocolate is reputed to promote.
You’ll also find energizing organic grass juices in Perfect Food
Energizer. Grass juices are nutritionally very dense, packed with
naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, enzymes and amino acids
that are essential support for metabolism and energy production.
These building blocks all fit together to help the body metabolize
proteins, carbohydrates and lipids and turn these fuel sources into
instant and long-burning energy.
In addition, grass juices are packed with chlorophyll, sometimes
described as the “blood of plants.” The chlorophyll molecule
structurally resembles the hemoglobin molecule found in human
blood. The main difference is hemoglobin contains iron and
chlorophyll contains magnesium. Both molecules, however,
provide a life-giving source of oxygen, which provides energy
to all cells and is needed for the organism to live. But let’s not
forget the Peruvian maca root in this green energizer. Maca root
has been traditionally used for generations to enhance energy
production and to support healthy hormones. Maca is a plant
growing in the high Andes mountains in central Peru and has
been cultivated for over 3,000 years.
We Use Hand-harvested and Shade-grown
Guayaki Brand Yerba Maté in Perfect Food Energizer.
We love these guys. In their own words,
let us share their vision with you:
Guayaki is working to make organic, fair-trade yerba
maté the mainstream energy source of choice, and
prove that a company can be profitable while operating
sustainably. We started in 1996 with a vision of protecting
and restoring the South American rainforests and
empowering the native forest people. We have
pioneered an innovative business model that
directly links our customers to our partner
farming communities in the South American
Atlantic Rainforests. Our partners sustainably
harvest organic yerba maté from rainforestgrown cultivations and reforestation projects,
generating a renewable income stream which
enables these communities to improve their
lives and restore their lands. Our restoration
projects are primarily based in the lush yerba
maté growing regions of Argentina, Paraguay
and Southern Brazil.
The Evolution of Health Food Stores:
They’re the Gatekeepers for Your Overall Health
Health food stores have evolved over the years, and now they are state-of-the-art health resources, offering a host of health
solutions—everything from foods to supplements, in-store dining and reading, to on-site health education and much more.
Do you need anything that’s related to
health? No problem. Your local health food
store has you covered.
In the past, health food stores were more
in their infancy, dotted only here and there
throughout the country and not nearly as
robust in their offerings as they are today.
There may have been randomized clusters of
health food and snacks and a smattering of a
few dietary supplements, but that scenario is
long gone with today’s health food store.
Nowadays when you walk into a health
food store, you find a much broader selection
of foods and supplements as well as an
unwavering commitment to bringing you
clean, organic, non-GMO products—unlike
what you’d find at large food and drug mass
merchandisers, at “regular” grocery stores or
drug stores.
The truth is that the people at your local
health food store—everyone from owners,
managers and staff—really do care about you
and your health, and it shows in everything
that they enthusiastically and knowledgeably
do and offer. They are known for their
fierce adherence to food and supplement
30
www.Garde-
quality standards, and they make it their
priority and responsibility to be educated on
everything from A to Z in their stores and
on a multitude of health topics, trends, food
nutrients, ingredients, supplements and,
well, you name it.
Those attributes alone should make
you want to run, not walk, to your nearest
health food store.
But wait. There’s more.
You can’t help but notice that health food
stores have also undergone atmospheric
transformations—store makeovers, if you
will. In general, you’ll find that health food
stores now have more square footage to
accommodate a wider selection of products.
Additionally, it’s not unusual to have the
convenience of a full-service deli and an instore café for getting healthy, fresh foods or
snacks to buy and take with you or to snack
or dine on during your shopping visit.
Likewise, health food stores often have
inviting ergonomic or plush sitting areas
near their book and other educational
sections so that you can comfortably peruse
the materials or just to sit down and take
inventory of what’s on their health-focused
learning shelves.
For more interactive on-the-spot learning,
many health food stores also incorporate
the expertise of on-site natural health
practitioners, including naturopaths,
homeopaths, nutritionists, dieticians and
others. They’re available during store hours
or at specified times so that customers can
get one-on-one attention to their questions
from the experts.
In short, when you visit your local health
food store, you and your needs come first.
You are the focus of their attention, their
care and their service. They are there to
offer you optimal health solutions—and
the ultimate in shopping experiences—no
matter what.
You’re the reason they keep
evolving—to better meet your
health needs. Join Garden of Life®
in supporting health food stores
nationwide—the gatekeepers for
your overall health.
Health Food Stores
They’ve Come a Long Way, Baby
As early as the 1920s and 1930s, health food stores began opening their
doors in the United States. Not only did the stores’ founders have a strong
passion for natural health, but they also offered products such as brewer’s
yeast and blackstrap molasses. Additionally, they sold healthy foods in
the lunchroom as well as baked goods sweetened with honey or maple
syrup. Each store often had its own stock of favorite items to offer—and
there wasn’t a huge inventory or overwhelming demand, for that matter.
Interestingly, one of the first health food store founders even made his own
coffee substitute from figs. Yes. . . figs.
During this same timeframe, some health food pioneers would also travel
door-to-door selling their powdered mineral drinks to the community,
while lecturing on the health benefits of vitamin and mineral supplements.
Likewise, natural foods and organic foods also became staples of the health
food store during this era. Again, there wasn’t as much product selection
or diversity as there is today, but the store personnel were wholeheartedly
committed to their customers’ health interests.
Even though these forefathers of health
food stores were knowledgeable
and they unwaveringly pursued
spreading the message of health to
all who would listen, health food
stores were not as popular as
they were about to become.
When the counterculture movement and ecological awareness “hit” in the
1960s and early 1970s—also known as the “hippie” movement—the health
food store became much more popular and more of them dotted the nation.
Nearly 30 years ago, health food stores were still rather rudimentary—at
least in their atmosphere and shopping experience—but they were starting
to gain more ground in the retail realm. Simply put, health food stores were
functional, but not fancy. For example, it was not unusual to see bulk barrels
and bins haphazardly lining the makeshift aisles or to see a smattering of
“this and that” that health food enthusiasts sought out.
And while health food stores had a lot to offer back then and were
representative of the times in which they existed, they are nothing like the
experience you encounter in today’s health food store. Today’s health food
store is typically bigger, brighter, better and bolder than its past versions.
Stepping into your local health food store is now commonplace
for nearly every consumer, and it’s easy to see why. They offer everything
you’d ever need concerning health. It really is a holistic shopping experience.
You can buy clean, healthy foods; stock up on your favorite supplements;
learn more about health topics; grab a healthy lunch or snack and much
more—all while experiencing a state-of-the-art store staffed with some of
the most knowledgeable and helpful people you’ll ever encounter.
Volume 19 2013 31
Letters from
the Troops
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Life.
Garden of
When the military calls, Garden of Life® responds! In recent months, we learned that
sometimes it’s not easy to get enough greens, especially when you’re stationed with the
U.S. Navy SeaBees battalion at Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan. In this rugged region
where sandstorms are the norm and temperatures hovering over 100 degrees make it tough
to grow anything, fresh greens are a rare treat. One of the Seabees, Steve McGregor, was
getting his daily intake of greens with Perfect Food® RAW, and it wasn’t long before all of his
were asking about the mystery smoothie in his shaker cup!
www.GardenofLife.com
32buddies
Garden of Life responded by shipping plenty of shaker cups and Perfect Food RAW for
all of the Seabees to use on convoys. We were proud to offer them our #1 selling greens
supplement—just as we’re proud of them for serving our country.
Their huge “Thank You” sign made us here at Garden of Life smile for days!
Greener Pastures
by Jeffrey Brams
Nuwivi. That’s what the Southern Paiute Indians called
“On a farm, chores are a way of life,” says Olivia LeBaron.
themselves. It means “the people.” Their history along the
She and her husband Elend own and operate Garden of
river banks of the Great Basin and in the arid Mojave Desert
Life’s organic grass farm in this valley. Elend explains that,
dates back to 1100 A.D. They
while growing up in his home, he
were farmers and true innovators
saw seasons with good weather
who learned to cultivate crops
and food that was plentiful. But
in a region getting less than
they were punctuated by times of
15 inches of rainfall annually
scarcity and hunger.
by developing complicated
Elend remembers one
irrigation canals along the
particularly bad season with little
banks of the Virgin, Santa Clara
food and no spare money. “Our
and Muddy Rivers, where they
oven broke. The repairman did
successfully farmed squash,
what he could, which wasn’t much.
melons, corn and especially
My parents had little to pay him
delicate winter wheat.
and couldn’t replace the stove, so
Almost 900 years later, a four-
it was devastating when he said it
year-old boy named Elend—the
was unfixable. I asked my mom to
middle child of 12—does his
give me a shot at fixing it—I was
chores on the family farm. He
maybe nine years old. I basically
gathers eggs from the henhouse,
rewired it, but it worked again.”
while dreaming of arrowhead
hunting. Two remnants are left
At 17, Elend left the farm for
Salt Lake City. The same bright,
behind by the original settlers of this area: plentiful Native
self-determined boy who rewired an oven now set out
American artifacts and pristine winter wheat growing sweet
as a young man to work on larger issues—cutting a new,
in season.
independent path for his future.
Enter Olivia—fresh faced, full of life and
Olivia and their first child moved with his brother to Oregon to start
the daughter of an appliance repairman
their business, and quickly discovered that Elend’s technology worked
from the Colorado plains. When she met
wonderfully, producing beautifully colored powders rich in living enzymes
Elend, Olivia knew she’d met her life partner.
and probiotics. Unfortunately, like many family ventures, they were
Shortly after they were married, Elend
undercapitalized and over managed and the business ultimately failed. But
bought into Olivia’s father’s repair business
Elend did not let the failure stop him. Having learned that the technology
and opened a franchise in the greater Salt
was scalable, he and Olivia decided to start again, focusing this time on a
Lake community. His natural intuition for
wider array of nutritional powders, primarily on grass juices.
electrical and mechanical engineering
That’s when Elend returned to his roots in South-Central Utah—this time as
quickly earned him a great
a husband and father—to build
reputation and financial
a life. Elend knew this region
success. In those early days,
of Utah; the valley was globally
they had money and time
known for its high-quality
to take vacations and to see
cereal grasses, including alfalfa
the world.
and wheat—fed to prize-
Tinkering in his spare
time, Elend developed
winning racehorses.
At one time, the alfalfa and
a unique technology for
wheat had been more pristinely
drying liquids into powder,
grown, but times had changed,
using a combination
and the marketplace changed,
of low-temperature air
too—and not for the better.
flowing through specially
The purely grown alfalfa and
designed windows and
wheat grasses of this region
light rather than heat
had been traded out for weed
drums, high-temperature
killer-doused Roundup® Ready
pressure spraying or freeze
alfalfa and wheat, which was
drying—the most commonly
fed to racehorses and to other
employed methods. His
low-temperature ambient
air drying had two unique
benefits—preserving the brightest, freshest
appearance, aroma and flavor of whatever
was juiced, while allowing enzymes and
probiotics resident in the food to stay alive,
adding to the nutritional value.
One of his brothers convinced him to
apply this technology to the unique blue
algae—popularly sold as a nutritional
supplement—harvested in Oregon. Elend,
animals. Certainly, seed that would genetically thrive when chemical
weed killers were applied, guaranteeing larger yields, would mean
lower, more stable pricing. That seemed good for the farmer and
the buyers, but nobody knew if it was good for animals.
But was it good for human nutrition? Elend and Oliva were
And just how does he know when the wheat’s
budding?
“See this part of the grass? (Elend points to a
section of the stalk about two inches off of the
ground.) This is where a joint will form in the grass.
unconvinced. They decided to grow certified organic crops and to
You have to look below the blades at the joint. If the
preserve their farmland as well as the surrounding environment—in
joint forms, then the grass is budding, and you’re too
keeping with millennia of growing traditions.
late. You have to harvest before that time. The window
Farming was in Elend’s blood—and close to Olivia’s heart.
Together, they’d reached a fork in the road. To produce certified
of time between ‘just right’ and ‘too late’ can be as
short as a day or two.”
Elend’s vigilant monitoring of
organic grass juice
powders, they had to
his fields is one of his secrets to
become farmers and
getting the best quality grass
grow the organic grass.
for juicing. His next secret is
But Elend knew this arid
to shorten the time between
land and the demands
harvest and juicing. The combine
this way of life—family
harvests the fields quickly—about
farming—would place
20 minutes for an entire field to
on their quickly
be threshed and loaded into the
growing family.
truck. The next hour is critical. It
takes less than 30 minutes to get
So, what made him
choose to follow the
the truck to the juicing room at
lifestyle he’d left at 17?
the farm.
Among all the lessons
his journey revealed,
he knew that, here, as
an organic farmer, he’d
be able to do what
mattered most to him.
That’s why Elend
doesn’t sell whole
leaf grasses but sells
only grass juice powders. “It’s just not what we do. We started
this business with our drying operation. When you juice, you
condense the nutrition—whatever you’re juicing—and you make it
better. That’s why my low-temperature dryers are so special. They
take the super-dense value of the juice and lock it in, without
destroying the life in it,” he emphasizes.
It’s not easy to lock in the nutrition. Time can
quickly turn into your enemy. Elend monitors every
field of every planting of every crop every day. To
get the best nutrition from his cereal grasses, he
harvests before the grain buds and before the gluten
forms. That means that his winter wheat is harvested,
generally, before it’s two feet tall—so he’s harvesting
short, thick, green blades of grass.
“I like to tinker—in the fields and in the lab. I
want to know that every crop I grow on my farm
is the best—the most nutritiously dense, the
best tasting, the highest chlorophyll content and
magnesium content—the healthiest grass juices
in the world. I test every single harvest of my
crops for these vital nutrients. That’s what gets
me going,” says Elend.
The freshly harvested grasses
are not even unloaded before
juicing. Elend’s engineered a
special chute that connects the
truck to the juicer.
As the grasses make
their way down,
they are sprayed
clean with purified,
ozonized water.
The juicing process
itself is fast. In fact,
the entire truck can
be juiced within a
couple of hours.
Elend’s farm exclusively supplies
Garden of Life’s organic cereal grass
juices, including organic winter
Then the juice is
filtered and on its
way into the dryers.
Production is
wheat, alfalfa, kamut, barley and
oat—all featured in Garden of Life’s
industry-leading Perfect Food® RAW
staged based on
nature—when it’s
time to harvest, it’s time.
Freshness is essential to the
entire process.
organic line of green drink powders.
As the popularity of Garden of Life’s greens products has grown
(currently the bestselling greens drink powder and bestselling
Elend never imagined that
chocolate-flavored greens drink powder in health food stores),
he’d find his purpose in life—his
so has Elend’s farming operation. Elend has learned to manage
greener pastures—back in rural
this growth by hiring and retaining great talent. He follows two
Utah on a family farm. But this is
where he is most at home—as a
guiding business principles: first, focus people on their core
man, as a husband and a father.
strengths where they can contribute the most and, second, treat
And this way of life is a legacy he
hopes his children will choose one
day, but he supports their journey
wherever it takes them.
NON
GMO
VER
Project
I FI E D
no ngmoproject.org
them like family. By caring about the culture of his farm, he’s
attracted key employees, including some who hail from
Harvard Business School, to his rural way of life.
Hot Ingredient
African
Baobab Fruit
It’s an Extraordinary Fruit from an Extraordinary Tree. It’s called the “tree
of life,” and it lives up to its name from its fruit’s life-giving nutrition.
The baobab (pronounced bey-oh-bab) tree, known scientifically as
Adansonia digitata, is an extraordinary African tree that can live for over a
thousand years and is among the largest trees of the world.
Amazingly, the African baobab tree can survive extended droughts by
storing up to 30,000 gallons of water in its sponge-like trunk, which can
measure up to 30 to 60 feet in diameter. That’s one reason why it’s called
“the tree of life.” Since its branches have the appearance of roots, it’s also
often called the “upside down tree.”
The baobab tree itself is nothing short of amazing, but its fruit is truly
spectacular—a virtual storehouse of vitamins and other nutrients. Maybe
that’s why it’s often considered the king of the super fruits.
Outwardly, the baobab fruit looks like a large velvety-green coconut, but
inside, its seeds are coated with a powder that tastes like a tangy, caramel
pear with grapefruit overtones and is packed with life-giving nutrients.
In short, the African baobab fruit offers an array of nutrients and health
benefits, including:
• the vitamins A, B1, B2, B3 and C.
• protein, which helps build and repair
muscle.
• all eight essential amino acids that
the body must obtain from the diet.
• an excellent source of soluble and
insoluble fiber to support digestive
health, a healthy weight and to
create a feeling of satiety as well
as delivering prebiotic activity to
support the growth of probiotics,
including Bifidobacteria.
• strong antioxidants—a 1,400 value
on the ORAC scale (per gram),
exceeding the ORAC values of many
other popular super fruits.
Altogether, organic African baobab fruit is one hot
ingredient which benefits health and hundreds of
hard-working individuals and their families.
The African Baobab
Fruit is Life Giving in
Other Ways
Not only does the
African baobab fruit have
life-giving nutrients, but
it also supports people’s
livelihoods. The farming of
the organic African baobab
fruit in our RAW Fit™ helps
to provide work for pay to
hundreds of tribal women
and families in Africa,
giving them a hand up to
a new life.
Jazzed
about a
New Juice
by Gwen Marzano, Garden of Life
Educator and Certified RAW, Vegan Chef
Most everyone who has juiced, including me, absolutely
loves the benefits. But mention using a juicer—of any leading
brand—and watch everyone cringe.
Generally, the juicing conversation will begin on a positive note. Enthusiasts will comment,
“I love the benefits of juicing. My body feels so energized, clean and refreshed!” Of course,
I wholeheartedly agree. However, there are other aspects of juicing that aren’t so jazzy. I
have heard it all, and am most likely guilty of saying some of the following statements myself,
including, “Juicing takes too long, and it’s a huge mess to clean up.” Or, “Juicing is expensive!”
I’ve also been known to say, “I feel like I’m wasting all that fiber.” Or, “Where do you hide that
heavy juicer?”
So, let me address this mixed-emotions topic by sharing with you a new juicing option to
get jazzed about—Perfect Food® RAW by Garden of Life®.
I am talking about all the benefits of juicing without any of the troublesome tasks required—
not to mention time, space and money savings. I love starting my day with a scoop of Perfect
Food RAW Chocolate flavor mixed into water. Better yet, if you’re a fan of chocolate milk, then
you can mix a scoop with almond milk and a little stevia. You’ll be surprised how close to the
real deal in taste this healthy drink is—and kids love it, too!
Garden of Life has taken the concept of juicing to the next level. We’re talking 34 nutrientsaturated organic veggies, sprouts and young grasses that are raw and juiced, then quickly
dried at less than 110 degrees into super powder form! The juices in Perfect Food RAW are
bursting with micronutrients, antioxidants, vitamins, trace minerals, chlorophyll and enzymes.
Your body loves taking your fresh concoction and turning it into energy and detoxification
processing, leaving you with better digestion and elimination.
How can you beat that?
Add to these facts that a ten-ounce canister has 30 servings. If I wanted to make 30
raw, organic super juice drinks with those same ingredients, I couldn’t find a refrigerator
big enough to hold it or a sword big enough to chop all of that!
If you want to spare yourself from staining your clothes with beet and carrot pulp that
you have to excavate out of your juice machine after making a juice, then try a simple,
easy and delicious flavor of Perfect Food RAW­—and get jazzed about juice!
Volume 19 2013 39
TAILGATE
PARTY!
Recipe Section Photography
by Brian Coughter
www.briancoughter.com
Show support for your favorite team
while still eating healthy.
Here are some foods to “take and make” at the tailgate
party and some to “make and take” for the ride there!
HEALTHY HAMBURGERS
Serves 8
Ingredients:
2 pounds organic, grassfed ground beef
sea salt (to taste)
ground pepper (to taste)
Herbamare® (to taste)
Directions:
Divide the ground beef into eight equal portions;
patty each portion. Preheat grill to medium-high
heat. Place hamburger patties on lightly oiled grill
grate and cook for 8-10 minutes on each side,
seasoning to taste. Remove from heat and serve
on gluten-free or sprouted, whole-grain buns. Add
favorite healthy hamburger toppings.
Recipe courtesy of a Garden of Life fan
LEMON PEPPER GRILLED CHICKEN BREASTS
Serves 6
Ingredients:
1
/2 cup lemon juice from freshly squeezed organic lemons
1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1
/3 cup organic mustard or brown mustard
a sprinkle of stevia, to taste
1 teaspoon of crushed black pepper
1
/2 teaspoon of sea salt
4 to 6 organic chicken breasts
Recipe courtesy of a Garden of Life fan
Directions:
Mix together all the ingredients—except for the chicken—in a
large mixing bowl (for the marinade). Lay the chicken
breasts in a pan and season with more pepper, if
desired. Pour the marinade mixture over the
chicken breasts and let marinate in the
refrigerator overnight or for several hours
during the day. Remove chicken breasts
from the marinade and put on the grill
when you’re ready to cook them.
Cook thoroughly and serve.
SPICY VEGAN BLACK BEAN CHILI
Makes 16 Cups
Ingredients:
30 ounces of organic, non-GMO black beans
1 quart of organic stewed tomatoes
1 quart of organic diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 quart of organic vegetable broth
1 medium onion, diced
2 Tablespoons organic chili powder
1 teaspoon of ground cumin
1
/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
Directions:
Drain the beans and place all ingredients in a large
soup pot and simmer for about two hours so that
the ingredients all blend together. Move to a
crockpot prior to serving.
Recipe courtesy of a Garden of Life fan
RAW MUHAMMARA DIP
Makes 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 Cups
Note: Easy to make ahead
and bring with you.
Ingredients:
3 red peppers
1 cup raw walnuts, soaked for 15 minutes prior to
using (this can be done ahead)
1 medium garlic clove, peeled and minced
2 Tablespoons nutritional yeast
3
/4 teaspoon high-quality sea salt
1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1
/2 teaspoon powdered stevia
1
/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1
/2 teaspoon cumin
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until
smooth. Adjust seasoning, as desired, and serve
with raw veggies such as celery, cucumbers and
carrot sticks.
Recipe courtesy of Kimberly Snyder, C.N.,
author of The Beauty Detox Foods
SPICY HOT APPLE CIDER
Serves 10-12
Recipe Section Photography
by Brian Coughter
www.briancoughter.com
Ingredients:
1 gallon organic apple cider
3 cups organic orange juice
1
/2 cup lemon juice
4 cinnamon sticks
12 cloves
1
/2 teaspoon nutmeg
Directions:
Mix all ingredients together
in a large saucepan or pot.
Boil for about one minute. Serve.
Recipe courtesy of a Garden of Life fan
Note: Easy to make ahead
and bring with you—and
don’t forget to pack the
healthy tortilla chips!
GUACAMOLE
Serves 4
Ingredients:
2 medium avocados, mashed
1
/2 purple onion, diced
1
/3 very ripe tomato, diced
1 Tablespoon lemon or lime juice
1 Tablespoon garlic chili-flavored
flaxseed oil (or plain)
1 Tablespoon mayonnaise
1
/4 teaspoon Herbamare® (or salt)
2 green onions, diced
Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Place
chopped green onion on top. Serve
immediately with sprouted and/or
flaxseed organic tortilla chips.
Recipe courtesy of Nicki Rubin
RAW PROTEIN PEANUT BUTTER
OATMEAL CHEWIES
POWER PACK SNACKS
Makes 24 cookie balls or squares
Ingredients:
1
/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1
/4 cup sunflower seeds
1
/2 cup raw oats
1
/2 cup shredded coconut flakes
1
/4 cup goji berries
1
/2 scoop Garden of Life RAW Fit™
1 Tablespoon Garden of Life
Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
3 Tablespoons water
3 pitted Medjool dates
Note: Easy to make
1 teaspoon cinnamon
ahead and bring
dash of salt
Ingredients:
Makes 24 Medium Chewies
3 cups rolled
old-fashioned oats
1 cup of organic brand
peanut butter
1
/2 cup vanilla almond
milk or regular milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1
/4 cup Garden of Life
Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
(can also substitute 1/4 cup butter,
if you prefer)
Note: You can
1 scoop or one packet of
Garden of Life RAW Protein Vanilla even use your grill
to make these
OR Original Flavor
yummy, healthy
1 Tablespoon stevia extract
chewies!
Directions:
In a large saucepan, mix the stevia extract, coconut
with you.
oil and almond milk. Bring to a full boil for one minute
Directions:
and stir the mixture constantly so it does not stick to
Place all ingredients except water and dates into a food
the pan. Remove from heat and add peanut butter
processor using the “S” blade. Process until well mixed, then
and vanilla, stirring until peanut butter is completely
add water and dates and pulse several times until mixture sticks melted. Stir in the oats and RAW Protein, and stir well
together. Roll into cookie balls or press mixture into a brownie
with a wooden spoon until combined. Quickly drop
pan and cut into squares. Store in refrigerator for up to 10 days or spoonfuls on sheets of wax or parchment paper and
in freezer for up to one month. Take out when ready to use.
cool completely. Enjoy!!
Recipe courtesy of Gwen Marzano, Garden of Life Educator and
Certified RAW, Vegan Chef
Recipe courtesy of Rhonda Price, Director of
Media and Public Relations at Garden of Life
Vegan Lifestyle
Spells Success
For Twin Jiu Jitsu Fighters
by Rhonda Price
Professional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighters Brian and Kevin Mahecha have racked
up thousands of frequent flyer miles and numerous awards during the past six
years. The 24-year-old twins from Davie, Florida, spend most of their time training,
competing or preparing food for a vegan lifestyle that they have thrived on since
birth, a fact that astonishes almost everyone who meets them.
“Most people have stories about when or why they decided to become
vegans,” said Brian as he prepared a huge tofu rice dish in his kitchen. “But Kevin
and I were both raised as vegetarians and have never had fish or meat. We have
to be careful because if something that isn’t vegan sneaks into our food, then we
tend to get really sick.”
The twins train and teach classes at American Top Team gyms in South
Florida and compete in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) trials all over the world,
including Europe, China, Japan, Brazil and the Middle East. Brian normally
competes as a featherweight at 154 pounds, while Kevin tackles the
lightweight division at 168 pounds. The brothers have been sparring with
each other as long as they can remember, except for a difficult time in 2006
when Brian was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in his shoulder. Surgeons
removed his infraspinatus rotator cuff muscle and part of his scapula, which
probably would have ended anyone else’s career. However, Brian chose not
to accept well-meaning advice to give up martial arts because he wasn’t
about to watch his brother from the sidelines.
“People had their doubts, but watching Kevin inspired me to recover,”
said Brian, who was competing in tournaments again just a year after
his surgery.
Brian’s cancer scare made the twins more aware of the importance of
leading a healthy lifestyle, a commitment that never wavers—even when
friends invite them out for beer and chicken wings. Both of them take
turns preparing vegan dishes for an entire week, and they supplement
their diet with Garden of Life® RAW Meal, RAW Protein, RAW Fit™ and
Vitamin Code® RAW B-12™.
“Our favorite is RAW Meal, and we have it
every day after workouts,” explained Brian.
“We like to switch to RAW Fit about a week before
a competition because it helps us cut weight. We also
really like RAW B-12 for energy boosts because we train
16 times a week and also teach classes, so there’s a lot
of exertion!”
The twins recently returned from the International
Brazil Jiu Jitsu Federation’s Summer Open in New York,
where both placed third in their weight divisions, and
Brian placed second in the brown belt open weight
finals. Ironically, it was the first time the brothers had
ever stood on a podium together to receive medals.
“It was kind of cool that we were finally on the
podium together,” said Brian. “We don’t know if that
will ever happen again, so it was nice.”
Achieve Peak Performance the Clean,
Lean, RAW, Plant-Based Way—
with RAW Protein and RAW Meal
What’s Shakin’ on the RAW Protein and RAW Meal Scene?
Plenty. RAW Protein and RAW Meal are the #1 selling brands for a reason! They’re
USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, RAW, vegan, gluten free, dairy-free
and soy free with no fillers, synthetic ingredients or anything else you don’t want but
everything you DO want to achieve PEAK PERFORMANCE.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a professional athlete, a
bodybuilder, Bob the Builder, a busy college student,
an on-the-go mom, a sports enthusiast, a business
professional, a weekend warrior, just entering your
golden years—or are at any other “place” in life
that calls for peak performance.
Why? Protein touts a level playing field. Everyone needs
protein—complete protein.
Protein’s one of the macronutrients our bodies can’t do
without. It supplies energy and structural components
necessary for growth—including the building of muscles,
new cells and tissues. Protein also increases stamina,
supports a healthy weight and immune system, and fuels
most of the biochemical activities of the body. Likewise,
enzymes, antibodies and hormones are made primarily
of protein.
The truth is that we need to have complete protein, and
people are flocking to supplemental protein to build lean
muscle, strength, endurance and muscle recovery; to
support a healthy weight; for balanced nutrition as well as
the convenience that supplemental protein offers—
including how you can take it with you anywhere,
and that it’s a cinch to mix and use.
In short, people just like you want to reach their peak
performance levels—whether that means at the office, in
school, at home with the kids or competing in your
favorite sport—and complete protein delivers.
RAW Protein and RAW Meal
Set the Bar for “CLEAN” Protein
When you see the word, “RAW” in RAW Protein and RAW
Meal, the first thing that should come to mind is CLEAN
because that’s what our RAW really means.
Did you know there are over 150 different synthetic
pesticides used when farming conventional plant-based
protein sources? But Garden of Life’s RAW Protein and
RAW Meal begin their lives on certified organic farmland
where farmers use best organic agricultural practices to
ensure that our sprouted grains, including the brown rice,
stay free from these chemical toxins.
Volume 19 2013 45
Once our farmers have prepared the organic certified fields
for planting, they ensure that the seed they start with is USDA
Organic Certified. In fact, Garden of Life requires that the
seed crop be fully certified and verified free of genetically
modified material.
That’s how RAW Protein and RAW Meal start off CLEAN.
But we know that it’s just as important how you finish.
And that’s why our USDA Certified Organic vegan plant
proteins, once harvested, are NEVER heat treated, denatured,
chemically altered or acid washed like most whey proteins
and other plant sources. Garden of Life’s RAW standard
means ingredients are produced and manufactured below
115° F to protect these precious living nutrients.
That’s our secret to producing protein supplements
teeming with live probiotics and enzymes.
Our commitment is to always offer the finest, purest, USDA
Organic and NON-GMO Verified products, with these
quality seals clearly visible on our labels, to give you
assurance with every purchase. RAW Protein and RAW Meal
are also free of gluten, soy, dairy and lactose, with
no artificial fillers, preservatives, artificial flavors
or sweeteners.
Now that’s clean.
RAW Protein for PEAK Performance
Not all plants are alike, and many are called “incomplete
proteins” because they have poor ratios of essential
amino acids, or very low amounts of certain essential
amino acids. But RAW Protein is different, offering
a complete plant-based protein important for all,
especially those on vegetarian or vegan diets. RAW
Protein’s Organic RAW Sprout Blend is comprised of 13
seeds, grains and legumes, featuring organic sprouted
brown rice. This protein source is very well utilized by
the human body. Containing 17 grams of undenatured
protein, fat soluble vitamins, protein-digesting enzymes
and live probiotics, RAW Protein is a complete protein.
And why do you need essential amino acids? They
cannot be made by the body and, therefore, must be
supplied in the diet. RAW Protein has an exceptional
amino acid profile, including all essential amino acids in
the right proportion, making it high biological value—
for PEAK performance.
RAW Meal for PEAK Performance
Garden of Life’s RAW Meal provides a naturally
satisfying and healthy RAW, USDA certified organic,
vegan meal all wrapped up in one delicious serving.
Loaded with 34 grams of high-quality protein from
13 organic sprouts, 9 to 16 grams of fiber
(depending on flavor) and 2 grams of
healthy omega-3s, RAW Meal
also provides 20 Vitamin Code®
vitamins and minerals—providing
100% Daily Value of 16 key
nutrients—plus live probiotics
and enzymes!
RAW Meal provides the nutrition
of a well-balanced, healthy meal in
one serving. RAW Meal contains 26
RAW, organic superfoods including
sprouts, seeds, greens and fruits plus
live probiotics and enzymes for healthy
digestion. RAW Meal is naturally filling,
satisfies hunger, provides energy and
supports healthy weight loss when used in
place of a meal as part of a balanced diet
plan. And talk about convenience—just mix it
up to have a healthy meal on the run.
Chris Wark, Personal Health Coach,
Dad and RAW Protein lover
How RAW Protein and RAW Meal
Dr. Fred Hartman, Oral
Surgeon, Dad, Triathlete
and RAW Meal enthusiast
Help You Attain
PEAK Performance:
Protein: RAW Protein and RAW Meal are RAW,
vegan, plant-based, USDA Certified
Organic protein formulas. A complete
source of protein from 13 RAW and
organic sprouts, RAW Protein gives you
everything you want—and more—in a
protein supplement. Containing 17 grams of
undenatured protein, RAW Protein is a
complete protein, including all the essential
amino acids in the right proportion. Likewise,
one serving of RAW Meal provides 34
grams of undenatured protein, including all
essential amino acids.
The protein source is the Organic
RAW Sprout Blend composed
of 13 seeds, grains and legumes,
featuring organic sprouted brown
rice. They are rich in energy,
vitamins, minerals, amino acids,
proteins as well as beneficial
enzymes and phytochemicals—
necessary for a germinating
plant to grow. Sprouting
increases plant enzyme
content, protein quality,
crude fiber content, essential
fatty acids, chelation of
minerals and vitamin content.
E
nergy: Let’s face it. You need energy to be a
PEAK Performer. RAW Protein helps build and repair
muscles, is a good either pre- or post-workout and
promotes protein synthesis, supplies fat-soluble
vitamins, protein-digestive enzymes and live
probiotics, plus much more. RAW Meal touts similar energysupporting benefits, while providing the nutrition of a
well-balanced meal or snack, and is packed with 20
Vitamin Code® whole food vitamins and minerals,
providing 100% Daily Value of 16 key nutrients.
Unlike many other vegetarian
protein sources, our Organic
Sprout Blend, featuring
whole grain brown rice, offers a
complete source of protein—
34g per serving—with a balanced
amino acid profile with a
high biological value—for
PEAK performance.
A
dvantages: Some of the RAW, Clean Advantages of
RAW Protein are that it provides 3.8g of branched chain
amino acids; is the highest-quality alternative to whey,
milk and soy protein; is easily digested; is suitable for vegetarians
and vegans; and is good for those with sensitivities to milk and other
proteins. RAW Meal has similar advantages and provides 60mg of
vitamin C; 348mg of calcium; 1,500IU of vitamin A; probiotics and
enzymes for healthy digestion, while offering an excellent source of
fiber—between 9g and 16g, depending on which flavor of RAW Meal.
Eric Dunkley, Active Duty Armor
Officer, Purple Heart Recipient,
Triathlete and RAW Meal lover
Photo by Kreutz Photography
Keeping It Clean:
RAW Protein and
RAW Meal are CLEAN
because they’re USDA
Certified Organic;
Non-GMO Project
Verified; Gluten Free;
Dairy Free; Soy Free;
with no Fillers or other
“dirty” elements.
Regina Jaquess
Professional Water Skier
Garden of Life is Proud of Its Sponsored
Athletes
Garden of Life-sponsored athletes compete at amateur and professional levels throughout the world.
You’ll find them climbing the highest mountains, competing in regional triathlons, punishing opponents in
a mixed martial-arts cage, paddleboarding in the ocean or driving the lane for a lay up. Some follow plantbased diets while others enjoy raw or omnivore lifestyles, but all of them have one thing in common—the
desire to achieve extraordinary health and to rise above the competition.
all,
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Cookie Dough Smoothie
This smoothie reminds me of raw cookie dough, but it is
vegan, raw, high protein, low sugar and packed with
nutrients. It doesn’t get better than that!
Serves: 1-2
1 scoop Garden of Life® RAW Fit™
1 scoop Garden of Life Perfect Food® RAW Chocolate
1 1/2 cup frozen organic banana chunks
2 cups unsweetened almond milk
8-10 drops SweetLeaf® Vanilla Cream Stevia
Preparation: Place all ingredients into blender. Blend until smooth.
Drink and savor the deliciousness of cookie dough without any guilt!
Recipe Courtesy of Gwen Marzano, Certified RAW Chef
and Garden of Life Educator
Beautifying Berry Smoothie
Serves: 1
1 organic frozen banana
1
/2 bag of organic frozen blueberries
1 handful of soaked organic goji
berries (soaked for 10-15 minutes)
16 ounces filtered water
1 scoop of RAW Meal
1 Tablespoon organic flaxseed oil
Stevia drops or powder to taste­—or
use your favorite natural sweetener
Preparation: Blend, and
enjoy each heavenly sip!
Recipe Courtesy of
Chloe Longobardo-Moreno,
Garden of Life Fan
Chocolate Toffee Smoothie
Vegan, low sugar, unbelievably delicious
and healthy!
Serves: 1-2
2 cups unsweetened chocolate
almond milk
1 1/2 cup frozen banana chunks
1 scoop Garden of Life® RAW Protein
Chocolate
1 scoop Garden of Life Perfect Food®
RAW Chocolate
8-10 drops of SweetLeaf®
liquid stevia, English
Toffee Flavor
Preparation: Put everything
into a blender. Blend until smooth.
Taste, and be amazed.
Recipe Courtesy of
Gwen Marzano,
Certified RAW Chef
and Garden of Life
Educator
Tropical Bliss Smoothie
Serves: 1
1 cup vanilla almond milk
1 organic banana
5-6 chunks of organic pineapple
1 scoop Garden of Life® RAW FIT™
1 teaspoon Garden of Life Extra Virgin
Coconut Oil
a few ice cubes, if you like it cold
Preparation: Blend it all up, and enjoy!
Recipe Courtesy of Rhonda Price,
Garden of Life Director of Public Relations
Hot Books & Apps—
What We’re Reading and Downloading
Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us
by Michael Moss
This is an awesome, investigative work that delves into just
how the United States has become the fattest nation in the
world. (When this book was published, the United States
was the fattest nation in the world; now it is the second
fattest. Either way, that’s a pretty sad statistic.) This book
will open your eyes to many things that even the healthconscious consumer does not know or understand. We think
this is a must-read for anyone interested in their health and
the health of their families.
YOGALOSOPHY: 28 Days to the Ultimate Mind-Body Makeover
by Mandy Ingber
In Yogalosophy, Ingber—one of the most sought-after
fitness and wellness advisors to the stars in Los Angeles—
offers up a unique 28-day plan to help readers achieve
healthier bodies and happier minds. Her daily combination
of yoga and other exercise movements are easy to follow and
explained effortlessly. Yogalosophy also includes a 28-day
meal plan offered in three options—Clean, Lean or Green.
Anyone wanting to strengthen the body—inside and out—
will love this book.
It’s All Good: Delicious, Easy Recipes That
Will Make You Look Good and Feel Great
by Gwyneth Paltrow and Julia Turshen
We love this book for many reasons, including its simplicity!
The recipes are for people who are passionate about real
food with unprocessed ingredients. There are vegan and
vegetarian options, as well as gluten free items—and all
not too complicated to make. The pictures in the book are
beautiful and make the reader excited to jump in and make
these recipes. We highly recommend this book!
ShopNoGMO (App Available at iPhone App Store)
by Jeffrey Smith
It should come as no surprise that we are using the
ShopNoGMO app which was designed to help consumers
avoid products with GMOs (Genetically Modified
Organisms) when shopping or dining out.
The ShopNoGMO app provides information
about the science behind genetic engineering,
the health risks of GMOs, and hundreds of
non-GMO brand names in 23 food categories.
RunKeeper (App Available at iPhone App Store and Google Play)
by FitnessKeeper, Inc.
Track your runs, walks, bike rides, hikes and more using
the GPS in your Android or iPhone. You can set goals, and
the app will coach you through your headset to keep you
motivated. You can even listen to your favorite music during
your workout. Track your fitness activities,
measure your performance and share with friends
by posting on Facebook, Twitter, or with other friends
on RunKeeper. A great app for tracking your workouts
and keeping you inspired!
Jessica “The JAG” Aguilar
is MMA’s #1 Strawweight
By Rhonda Price
Jessica Aguilar laughs when she recalls childhood memories
of her mother yelling at her and her two older brothers to stop
fighting. However, while most siblings fought over toys or the
television remote, she and her brothers wrapped towels around
their hands and boxed each other, usually breaking more
furniture than bones. All of the rough housing was great
practice for Jessica, who eventually traded in the towels for
boxing gloves, and recently became the #1 ranked Mixed
Martial Arts (MMA) Strawweight in the world, according
to the latest Unified Women’s MMA Rankings.
“I always wanted to be a professional athlete,” said
Jessica. “But I had no idea I’d be competing in MMA.
I didn’t know anything about it when I first started
in 2006 because there were very few females
competing at that time.”
Mixed Martial Arts combines techniques of various other fighting
systems, including Boxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Wrestling, Judo, Karate,
Kickboxing, Kung Fu, Tae Kwon Do and other disciplines. While the
sport has been primarily dominated by males, women’s MMA is
currently enjoying an explosion in popularity—thanks to
organizations such as Strikeforce, Bellator and the all-female
Invicta Fighting Championships that invite women to compete.
Jessica signed with Bellator Fighting Championships in 2010
and amassed a 15-4-0 record that has earned her a spot as the
#6 ranked, pound-for-pound female fighter in the world.
At 5’3 and 115 pounds, the petite, 32-year-old Mexican-born
competitor, who is known in fighting circles as “JAG,” is on a hot streak
with six straight wins in a row, and is busy gearing up for her next fight later
this year. Deceptively cheerful and smiling until she faces an opponent in the
cage or on the mat, she’s quick to point out that the sport has enabled her to
accomplish things she always wanted to.
“Competing in MMA is my passion, and it’s taken me all over the world,” said
Jessica, who has traveled to Japan, Canada, Russia and several other countries.
“Best of all, I have always wanted to be in a position where I could help
others, and MMA gives me a great platform to do that. As an ambassador for the
sport, I’m invited to work with a lot of kids and people in different
communities, in addition to working on causes that I believe in
and want to support.”
In addition to being one of the top-ranked fighters in the country,
Jessica’s MMA Awards include 2010 Female Fan Favorite of the
Year, 2011 Female Flyweight of the Year and 2012 Florida MMA
Female Fighter of the Year. She trains at American Top Team in
Coconut Creek, Florida, where she alternates CrossFit workouts
with strength and conditioning exercises and weight lifting. In the
last few years, she has paid more attention to her diet and prefers to eat
mostly vegan dishes. She also uses Garden of Life® supplements—whether she’s
at home or on the road.
“I’m lactose intolerant and have had a few digestive problems in the past, so I use
RAW Probiotics™,” she said. “And I’m always on the go, so I like the convenience
of putting RAW Protein into a shaker cup and taking it with me. It’s just a few of the
reasons I love having Garden of Life® as a sponsor!”
Battling the World of GMOs
Jeffrey M. Smith is the head of the Institute for Responsible Technology, or IRT (www.responsibletechnology.org). An internationally
acclaimed filmmaker and author, his first book, Seeds of Deception, made him the world’s foremost consumer advocate for non-GMO
choices—and by avoiding GMOs, you can actively force them out of our food supply. You can follow Jeffrey on Twitter@JeffreyMSmith for
updates or the IRT on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/responsibletechnology.
Extraordinary Health Magazine:
Jeffrey, please give us an update on
what’s been happening in the world of GMOs.
Jeffrey Smith: In the U.S., the anti-GMO movement has
reached new levels to create a tipping point of consumer
rejection. In fact, we’re approaching the most critical stage
in our anti-GMO movement that I’ve seen in my 17 years
working in this issue.
Our Institute for Responsible Technology
(IRT) has launched a
campaign to achieve the
“tipping point,” in which a
sufficient number of shoppers
in the U.S. avoid genetically
modified (GM) ingredients—
making GMOs a marketing
liability for food companies. A
consumer tipping point kicked
GMOs out of Europe 10+ years
ago, and pushed GM bovine
growth hormone (rbGH) out of
most American dairies. In both
cases, consumer concern about the
health impacts were the driving
force moving the market. Therefore,
IRT’s educational materials focus
primarily on why to avoid GMOs and how
(www.NonGMOShoppingGuide.com).
Since U.S. food companies don’t gain any advantage from using
GM ingredients, even a small dip in market share tells them it’s time to
replace GM ingredients. The U.S. food industry has reached the stage
we call “Awake and Scramble.” They wake up to the fact that antiGMO movement must be taken seriously and is gaining momentum;
then they realize if they don’t act immediately to secure a supply, their
competitors who do become non-GMO may gain more market share.
The next stage in the tipping point against GMOs starts this year.
We call it “The Battle for Market Share.” Some mainstream
conventional brands have already enrolled products in the Non-GMO
Project and are planning to announce that soon.
If the non-GMO products erode the market share
of the GMO-laden competitor, then
the tipping point will follow—a
full clean out of GMO direct
derivatives from the U.S. food
industry. That’s why IRT has a
massive campaign to win this
“battle for market share.”
Please visit our website at
www.ResponsibleTechnology.org to
participate in this world-changing
endeavor by making donations, to be
trained as speakers, to subscribe to our
newsletter and much more.
The best tool to learn about GMOs is the
movie Genetic Roulette—The Gamble of Our
Lives (www.GeneticRouletteMovie.com). Most
viewers change their diet immediately.
Extraordinary Health Magazine: Last November,
Californians voted on GMO labeling with
Proposition 37, and it was a close vote. What’s next
after Prop 37?
Jeffrey Smith: Although 93 percent of Americans polled favor
labeling of genetically engineered foods, the biotech industry spent
nearly $50 million in a massive disinformation campaign to confuse
and mislead California voters. In spite of this false advertising, we
nearly won. The efforts in California, however, have motivated groups
and organizations around the country to take up the labeling cause in
their states. The legislatures of Connecticut and Maine have passed
conditional labeling bills that will be enacted once a few other states
pass similar laws. Washington State has a critical labeling initiative
that will be voted on in the fall. This stands a better chance than
California’s for many reasons. More than two dozen other states have
introduced labeling bills this year and many are expected to again
take up these bills in the next session—making it clear that there’s
enormous pressure on the federal government to create a national
labeling standard.
If the FDA steps in to preempt state labeling laws, we don’t know if they will end
up producing a long-delayed, loophole-ridden regulation largely written by Monsanto.
The swing vote at that negotiation table, however, will be the food producers. If they
have already removed GMOs from their products as a result of the tipping point, their
objection to labeling requirements will probably disappear. The resulting federal
labeling laws will be stricter and more meaningful to consumers. Therefore, even
for the sake of labeling, a marketplace tipping point is critical.
Extraordinary Health Magazine: What else is not typically discussed
concerning GMOs?
Jeffrey Smith: Most GMOs are drenched with Roundup® herbicide. They’re
called Roundup Ready crops, engineered to withstand otherwise deadly doses of
Monsanto’s weed killer. New research now implicates Roundup as extremely toxic; it
may be responsible for the rise of numerous diseases in the United States. One study,
for example, linked Roundup’s active ingredient glyphosate with cancer, heart disease,
obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, autism, MS, aggression and depression,
among others. Tragically, Roundup is also sprayed directly on other food crops at the
end of the growing season to dry the plants before harvest. This results in very high
levels of Roundup residue in other foods we eat, not just the GMOs. These include
grains, fruits, and vegetables. To protect oneself and one’s family from the dangers of
Roundup, we urge people to buy organic products in these categories, as well as
going non-GMO generally.
Extraordinary Health Magazine: Any additional thoughts or comments?
Jeffrey Smith: Because of the unprecedented growth of our movement and the
coverage in the media about GMOs, we’ve reached the stage where more people are
ready to hear the information and act on it. I urge people to share what they learn.
Due to the incredible leverage of a tipping point, we can eliminate GMOs without
ever having to convince people who are resistant. We have more than enough people
wanting and appreciating this information.
IRT has produced articles, short and long videos, brochures and Facebook posts to
make it easy to spread the word. At this critical window, it’s more important to engage
in GMO education and activism than any time in the past. The food industry is sliding
towards the tipping point, and we need all hands on deck to assure that we get there.
Volume 18 2013 55
STEPS
FOR
SOS
Getting Healthy
While Helping Kids
It’s hot and humid here in Southeast Florida, but that isn’t stopping the
Garden of Life (GoL) Team from staying active and continuing to focus
on the company’s wellness initiative. One of the main aspects of the
Wellness Program is the team Walking Challenge.
The most recent challenge was for an eight-week period and involved
15 teams vying for bragging rights each week. Team Road Runners
was the overall leader and the occasional Beep! Beep! could be heard
around the office.
For this challenge, employees were given the option of keeping a
monetary incentive or donating the funds to the company’s global
charity—SOS Children’s Villages. “Our employees loved the idea
of getting healthy and helping the kids of SOS,” says Teresa Miller,
Senior Director of Human Resources and Wellness.
Over the course of eight weeks, GoL employees logged a total
of 60,254,779 steps. As a result of Steps for SOS, Garden of Life
will donate $2,475.00 to help the children in the SOS Village of
Pachacamac, Peru. Another very important part of the Wellness Initiative are
the company’s “Lunch and Learn” sessions. Each month, the
company caters a paid lunch program covering various health
and wellness topics. The most recent program focused on the
foundations of nutrition, reading labels and healthy snacks.
“The feedback was very positive,” stated Dawn Jarvis, Director
of Education, who conducted the session. One member of
the Marketing Team told Dawn that she was surprised and
delighted by all the information. She told Dawn, “Education is so
important to maintaining a healthy weight and eating right.”
That was music to Dawn’s ears and to everyone at Garden
of Life, where we truly believe in “Empowering Extraordinary
Health®”—for ourselves and for others, including SOS.
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Volume 15 2012 3