Cherished and adored in India, a basil patch is common outside the doorways of many homes. It is used in morning prayers to insure personal health, spiritual purity and family well-being. Strings of beads made from the plants stems are used in meditation to give clarity and protection. For three thousand years, Holy Basil has been considered one of India's most powerful herbs. Everything associated with the plant is Holy, including the water given to it and the soil in which it grows. All are part of the great blessings of life.

So often we now find that ancient wisdom proves out 100% in the modern laboratory. It is now medically proven that the antioxidants in basil provide powerful anti-cancer protection. Basil also contains flavonoids that help shield cell structure from radiation damage. So if you have a friend or family member who is in the middle of cancer treatment, they are  going to want to load up on Holy Basil.

Keep it Raw. This plant hates the cooking process. Cooking changes it's chemical properties and  turns the leaves brown. We at Diet For Living Center grow big tubs of it. We nip the sweet tender top leaves off for fresh salad greens. The bigger leaves make yummy fresh Raw Vegan Pesto.

Many greens hate the middle of the summer, but Holy Basil enjoys the heat and sun. Its soooo easy to grow. You don't need to be a big time farmer to enjoy the monster benefits of this super food. Just grab a few plants from your 'Trader Joe's' for $2.99, or from your farmers market. Set them in decorative pots on the patio or window sill. Bam, your ready to go.

Your going to get so excited you will want to make your own fresh raw vegan pesto. Here is our recipe.

OUR HOLY RAW VEGAN PESTO

½ cup raw pine nuts soaked over nite

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

3 cloves fresh garlic

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

A hearty handful of fresh basil leaves

a pinch of sea salt

In a small table top processor, add the garlic, lemon, salt and olive oil. Pulse until the garlic, lemon, salt, and oil are one. Drain your pine nuts and add to the processor. Pulse again until the whole mixture is creamy. With kitchen shears, cut up your basil leaves and add slowly. You may need to add a bit more olive oil to keep it going. When everything is thick and green you have got it. Store in a glass jar in the fridge. It also stores well in the freezer if you can't eat it all right away.

The best to your health!

dietforlivingcenter.com

education that changes lives!

Our Center UpDates!

Next Raw Food MeetUp is Sunday, June 30th at 5:00 PM. Click here for more info. We love when you join us.

There has been so much interest in our Raw Food Chef/Holistic Health Coach training that we are working on making a Web Class available for the new year. Hurray! We will let you know when its ready.

It is estimated that one in three adults will contract cancer in their lifetime. We don't have a moment to waste!

Tip the odds in your favor! Focus on specific fruits and vegetables found to reduce cancer risk and or it's recurrence. As well, avoid those foods that have been found to promote cancer.

The American Cancer Society details the evidence of lycopene and lutein in cancer prevention. These important antioxidants come packed naturally in the super potent avocado.

Avocados are a super cancer fighting food. With the highest concentration of the antioxidant lycopene and the carotenoid lutein of all the commonly eaten fruits, this food is a favorite.

I want to share with you my favorite gelato recipe made with avocado. It's a perfect food for the warmer months with a great balance of tart and sweet.

OUR FAVORITE RAW GELATO                                                

½ ripe avocado

one kiwi peeled

1 and 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

½ cup raw coconut milk

1 tablespoon raw agave

Cut up one ripe kiwi ahead of time and freeze in an ice cube tray, making kiwi ice cubes.

Place ripe avocado, lime juice, raw coconut milk(I get ours in the frozen food department of our local Asian grocery store), kiwi ice cubes and agave in your high speed blender. Blend on lowest speed, then gradually increase the speed until smooth and rich, like a pudding.

Yum! Makes two servings.                            

If you are excited about this recipe, and you would love to teach others to make delicious and healthy Raw Foods, check-out our next 'Raw Food Chef/Holistic Health Coach Program' at Diet For Living Center starting July 12th, 2013 . This Raw Food Intensive teaches you everything you need to know to make a lucrative living in this exciting field!

More and more, Americans are seeking honest answers to their mounting health problems from poor diet choices. Using vibrant Raw Living foods as regenerative medicine for healing has earned a high degree of respect as testimonials speak to the undeniable benefits of cleansing the body with a Raw Food Diet.

At Diet For Living Center we believe 'Now' is the time to be a Raw Food Chef/Holistic Health Coach! The years ahead promise higher than average growth in the exciting and lucrative field. Our program positions graduates to make an immense, direct impact by offering innovative alternative solutions to the growing need for diet change.

WHAT'S NEW IN OUR CERTIFIED RAW FOOD CHEF TRAINING:

Join us in making divine and fabulous 'Raw Chocolate Truffles' dipped in raw chocolate. A true gourmet art and so yummy they make the angels smile! A possible stand alone business or you can add it to your own dream business creation when you graduate.

WHAT'S NEW IN OUR CERTIFIED HOLISTIC HEALTH COACH TRAINING:

We make it so easy for you to get started! You will receive our new 'Four Step Wellness Package'. With it and the skills learned in class you will have everything you need to set up your business after graduation and begin making a profit right away.

Check out everything we offer on our Certified Raw Food Chef/Holistic Health Coach web page:

http://dietforlivingcenter.com/raw-food-chef-program.html

We feel there is an enormous career advantage in multiple streams of income. We have worked hard to provide an program that helps you find those streams to help you grow with the future of health and healing.

We are now enrolling students for the July 12, 2013 program. Sign up now as classes fill up quickly or contact us for more information at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 505.243.1157 .

The Best To Your Health!                                    

dietforlivingcenter.com

vegan/gluten-free/raw

The word 'toxin' has it's roots in the Greek word 'toxicon', which means poison. Toxins are any substance of a chemical or organic nature foreign to the human body which may eventually cause disease or harm.

Modern environmental toxins have a list a mile long: tap water, solvents, food additives, dyes, drugs, household chemicals, personal care products...and now GMO's, built into the DNA of our foods.

The National Cancer Institute has a booklet called "Cancer and the Environment". It estimates that as many as two thirds of all cancer cases are linked to our modern environment.

What can we do??? First off we add plenty of cleansing foods to our diet and drink cleansing raw juices that flush the system. We love wheatgrass juice, one of the most potent cleansing foods on the planet.

Raw Miso is a super food when it comes to cleansing the body of toxins.

Here's a fabulous Raw salad dressing recipe one of our ABQ RawFood Meet-up members brought to our last PotLuck. Your going to want to whip this up and put it on everything. It's so killer yummy!!!

ORGANIC GINGER MISO DRESSING

½ C South River White Miso

1/3 C raw agave nectar

1/3 C Bragg's' Cider Vinegar

1/3 C organic sesame oil

¼ C fresh lemon juice

                                                1 ¼ C chopped ginger

Blend all ingredients in a VitaMix or high speed blender until smooth and creamy.

If you''re making diet change, get support! Everyone needs friends to help keep them on track. Join us for our PotLuck here in Albuquerque with our ABQ RawFood MeetUp group. Our next PotLuck is May 5, 2013 at 5 PM.

As well you may want to get together with folks to support the labeling of foods that contain GMOs so that we can all live in a safer world. There is a forum here in ABQ on Tuesday March 26 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at the Center for Spiritual Living at 2801 Louisiana Blvd NE in favor of labeling foods that contain GMOs.

As always, the best to your health.

dietforlivingcenter.com

vegan/gluten-free/raw

Everyone I talk to says that they feel so relieved February is over. It was a white knuckle month, when your moods and emotions are hanging on by a thread waiting for the first signs of spring. I know I took a big deep breath on the first of March. Time to stoke the low body flame of winter.

The color green offers promise for the future of dreams and plans. The color green symbolizes life, nature, fresh beginnings. On the color wheel, green is considered a cool color, calming and soothing, depicting balance and harmony.

This time of year we like to plant trays of tasty baby lettuce micro greens. The bright green color brightens our lives as well as provides us with sweet raw salad greens. The fresh life force of these little guys renews our hopes for the future.

Lettuce is not a lover of heat, so now is the best time to get started. Its fast growing and easy and we love that! We have great results with 'Lettuce Leaf Salad Bowl Blend' from Botanical Interests. We buy the larger envelope for $3.49. You can pick up the seeds up at the Co-op or Whole Foods. Here's how to do it:

RECIPE:

One 20x10 in. black plastic growing tray.

Rich organic fertile soil. (we make our own, but garden stores have it)

One large packet of lettuce leaf seeds

Fill the black plastic container ¾ full of soil. Sprinkle your seeds over the top of the soil. Sprinkle soil over the seeds till gently covered. Water well with a watering can. Keep the bed moist.

During the germination process your seeds do not need light. But when they pop their little heads up out of the soil you will need to transfer them to a spot with light. Find a place where your greens can get plenty of light, such as a window sill, porch ledge or balcony, but avoid direct sun. If you have a simple grow light you're good to go. This may take a bit of experimenting depending on your climate. Growing raw micro greens makes a great project for kids! Or use as a table centerpiece. Have fun with with your Raw foods!

If you want to know more about making and growing Raw food, join us for our next 'Perfect Raw Cleanse Workshop', Saturday, April 20th, at 10:00 am at Diet For Living Center. Find out more and register at this link.