  Mentally preparing myself for this autumn fast several day prior helped me to be physically ready. Yesterday, I also did some organizing. Not that things were overly messy...just left out boxes and bags from the last vending event (AfroPunk) near the end of August. That morning breeze was coming into the space, reminding me that summer was saying "I'm out, what's up Fall?" Lol. Once I get started, it's full speed ahead, so next my focus went on switch out summer pieces for my ole autumn faves...I love, love shopping in my own closet! I actually miss my warm, comfy sweaters and scarves...I was born in October on an Island in the Sun! Although, I have to admit to my adoration with 'Autumn in New York.' I also enjoyed the movie, with same name ;-)). I pulled out some forgotten African print fabric, my leopard print gloves, a favorite turquoise blue scarf, some bags which I cannot wait to use...I was sooo freaking excited to be digging up these treasure. I told myself that I was absolutely overjoyed and satisfied that the shopping and collecting of these treasures I'd done over the years has served me well. In the afternoon, the Mr. and I decided to spend quality time walking down fulton street from our place on rockaway avenue. He's not fasting this time as he's healing from a cycling accident a few weeks ago. We needed a few items and the day was very pretty. I got dressed in some of my 'old to new' autumn treasures. A vintage MOshood denim dress with a shiny electric blue mermaid skirt. We pick up two pounds of okra (an amazing, necessity for detox and snacking also) to add to dinner, ackees aka guineps, my anointing oil, some charcoal for the frank-n-myrrh incense and a large white candle for the temple. Oh, and I almost forgot...hubby and I shared a healthy, energizing sugar cane juice from our friend with the fruit van on Bedford ave and Herkimer. | Greetings Everyone! Today is day 2 of our fast. I'm feeling really focused, my energy level is on high (not in any extreme way). I trust that you feel prepared, focused and wonderful today also. I'm inspired and excited to share some of the highlights from my first day of my fast with you this morning. I encourage you broaden your palate, climb higher heights and enjoy today's blog post. Please feel free to share some of your detoxing experiences here as well. S/o to ALL of the amazing possibilities which lie ahead for each one of us. ~ Goddess Blessings “Everyone can perform magic, everyone can reach his goals, if he/she is able to think, if he/she is able to wait, if he/she is able to fast.” ― Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha Same as yesterday... today I'm starting my day with 16 ounces of water with fresh lime juice (mucous remover) and a dash of cayenne pepper (circulation). I added two handfuls of ackees (aka guineps) which I picked up yesterday. Also on the table is some euphoric frankincense oil which I use for anointing (anointing symbolizes the introduction of a sacramental or divine influence, a holy emanation, spirit, power-magic).   |
 This looks like the Edible Arrangements on Fulton street, close to Brooklyn and Kingston ave. |  Using coconut oil, olive oil and some toasted sesame oil, I added fresh garlic, cauliflower, broccoli, purple onions, turmeric, cayenne pepper and dried basil. This dish is not as cooked as it may appear. You want to maintain the crunch to your veggies, the warm food is also nice. And it was a tasty as I looks. I'm a creative cook...no recipe, just adding what I love as I go along. |
Health Benefits of Okra (Lady’s Finger)The mucilaginous content in okra sets it apart
from other vegetables for its extraordinary benefits.
Okra is also known as “lady’s finger” in some parts of Asia. And various other names in other parts of the world. The plant is cultivated in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions around the world.
Okra is an edible pea pod and although can be eaten raw, I’ve never acquired the raw taste. You can lightly blanch, steam or give it a quick stir-fry to reduce the “green” taste.
Use when it’s tender, as it gets very fibrous when it’s older. In the okra pods, the white soft seeds (edible) are arranged in 5 to 10 vertical columns, giving it the angled appearance on the outside.
Nutritional BenefitsOkra is very low in calories and dense with nutrients. It is high in fiber, vitamin A, C, and folate content.
It is also a good source of the B vitamins, vitamin K, calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, and traces of magnesium and manganese.
Okra is one of those few vegetables which have the highest content of phytonutrients and antioxidants such as beta-carotene, xanthin and lutein.
Health BenefitsOkra is one of the best medicinal vegetable although it is not everyone’s favorite. You may like to try it if you knew about its immense health benefits:
Anemia: Helps red blood cells production and prevent anemia.
Anti-Cancer: The high antioxidants in okra helps protect the immune system against harmful free radicals and prevent mutation of cells.
Asthma: The high antioxidants and vitamin C content make okra useful for reducing asthmatic attacks.
Bone Strength: Folate in okra builds strong bones and density, preventing osteoporosis.
Cholesterol: The soluble fiber helps to lower serum cholesterol, thus also reducing atherosclerosis and the risk of heart diseases.
Constipation: The rich fiber and mucilaginous (slimy) content in okra pods help increase bulk, bind to toxins and ensure easy bowel movements with its natural laxative properties. Regularly eating okra also reduces the risk of colon cancer.
Diabetes: It has insulin-like properties that help to reduce blood sugar level.
Gut flora: The fiber helps improve the population of beneficial bacteria in the gut.
Immune Booster: The high antioxidants and vitamin C content make okra a good immune booster food that reduce your catching the cough and cold.
Peptic Ulcers: The mucilaginous content provides a temporary coating to the digestive tract and stomach lining while healing the ulcers.
Pregnancy: The rich folate content in okra can help decrease the incidence of neural tube defects in babies.
Skin Health: With good bowel movements, skin health will improve. Helps reduce acne, psoriasis and other skin conditions.
Vision Health: Okra contains beta-carotenes (precursor of vitamin A), xanthin and lutein, all antioxidant properties that are helpful for vision health, preventing eye problems like cataract and glaucoma.
Consumption TipsChoose smaller-sized okra over the big ones. The feel should be crisp and firm to be sure they are tender and not overly fibrous. Avoid those which color does not look fresh and are soft.
As with most vegetables, okra may be subject to insecticide/pesticides. Buy organic if possible. If not, soak okra in water with apple cider vinegar and sea salt for about 10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
Cut off the tops and cut okra into smaller pieces of 2-3 inches if desired. Lightly blanch, steam or quickly stir-fry to reduce the mucilage and the “green taste”. It can be added into your salad, or dipped into your home-made chilli sauce, or eat it just on its own.
Okra cannot be juiced due to its very fibrous texture and mucilaginous (slimy) content.
CautionLike most vegetables, okra has a small amount of oxalic acid and does not generally bother. Avoid okra if you have a history of kidney stones.
from other vegetables for its extraordinary benefits.
Okra is also known as “lady’s finger” in some parts of Asia. And various other names in other parts of the world. The plant is cultivated in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions around the world.
Okra is an edible pea pod and although can be eaten raw, I’ve never acquired the raw taste. You can lightly blanch, steam or give it a quick stir-fry to reduce the “green” taste.
Use when it’s tender, as it gets very fibrous when it’s older. In the okra pods, the white soft seeds (edible) are arranged in 5 to 10 vertical columns, giving it the angled appearance on the outside.
Nutritional BenefitsOkra is very low in calories and dense with nutrients. It is high in fiber, vitamin A, C, and folate content.
It is also a good source of the B vitamins, vitamin K, calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, and traces of magnesium and manganese.
Okra is one of those few vegetables which have the highest content of phytonutrients and antioxidants such as beta-carotene, xanthin and lutein.
Health BenefitsOkra is one of the best medicinal vegetable although it is not everyone’s favorite. You may like to try it if you knew about its immense health benefits:
Anemia: Helps red blood cells production and prevent anemia.
Anti-Cancer: The high antioxidants in okra helps protect the immune system against harmful free radicals and prevent mutation of cells.
Asthma: The high antioxidants and vitamin C content make okra useful for reducing asthmatic attacks.
Bone Strength: Folate in okra builds strong bones and density, preventing osteoporosis.
Cholesterol: The soluble fiber helps to lower serum cholesterol, thus also reducing atherosclerosis and the risk of heart diseases.
Constipation: The rich fiber and mucilaginous (slimy) content in okra pods help increase bulk, bind to toxins and ensure easy bowel movements with its natural laxative properties. Regularly eating okra also reduces the risk of colon cancer.
Diabetes: It has insulin-like properties that help to reduce blood sugar level.
Gut flora: The fiber helps improve the population of beneficial bacteria in the gut.
Immune Booster: The high antioxidants and vitamin C content make okra a good immune booster food that reduce your catching the cough and cold.
Peptic Ulcers: The mucilaginous content provides a temporary coating to the digestive tract and stomach lining while healing the ulcers.
Pregnancy: The rich folate content in okra can help decrease the incidence of neural tube defects in babies.
Skin Health: With good bowel movements, skin health will improve. Helps reduce acne, psoriasis and other skin conditions.
Vision Health: Okra contains beta-carotenes (precursor of vitamin A), xanthin and lutein, all antioxidant properties that are helpful for vision health, preventing eye problems like cataract and glaucoma.
Consumption TipsChoose smaller-sized okra over the big ones. The feel should be crisp and firm to be sure they are tender and not overly fibrous. Avoid those which color does not look fresh and are soft.
As with most vegetables, okra may be subject to insecticide/pesticides. Buy organic if possible. If not, soak okra in water with apple cider vinegar and sea salt for about 10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
Cut off the tops and cut okra into smaller pieces of 2-3 inches if desired. Lightly blanch, steam or quickly stir-fry to reduce the mucilage and the “green taste”. It can be added into your salad, or dipped into your home-made chilli sauce, or eat it just on its own.
Okra cannot be juiced due to its very fibrous texture and mucilaginous (slimy) content.
CautionLike most vegetables, okra has a small amount of oxalic acid and does not generally bother. Avoid okra if you have a history of kidney stones.
If you've ever had the pleasure of drinking freshly extracted raw fruit or vegetable juices, you know the health value of doing so. Freshly extracted juices contain live enzymes and nutrients that are easily absorbed by the body for quick nourishment. But did you know that raw sugarcane juice is just as healthful as any other freshly pressed juice, and is in fact something of a Super Hero among plant foods?
Sugarcane is a tall grass with a stout, jointed and fibrous stalk that looks similar to bamboo. As a member of the grass family, its juice has a high potency equivalent to wheatgrass juice, only with less chlorophyll and more sugar content. However, counter to what you might think, sugarcane juice contains only about fifteen percent total sugar content, all of which is in a raw unrefined form. The rest of the juice consists of water brimming with an abundance of vitamins and minerals. Sugarcane is rich in calcium, chromium, cobalt, copper, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium and zinc. It also contains iron and vitamins A, C, B1, B2, B3, B5, and B6, plus a high concentration of phytonutrients (including chlorophyll), antioxidants, proteins, soluble fiber and numerous other health supportive compounds. Working synergistically, these nutrients provide a supremely health-promoting food which has been studied for its role in fighting cancer, stabilizing blood sugar levels in diabetics, assisting in weight loss, reducing fevers, clearing the kidneys, preventing tooth decay, and a host of other health benefits.
Sugarcane juice is consumed worldwide, and due to its known health benefits, it is a traditional food with a profound presence in the local cultures where it is grown (Brazil and India are the top two producers, though it is grown in over 100 countries). Sucking or chewing on an exposed end of the raw sugarcane is one way to consume the juice, although the juice can also be extracted in larger quantities for drinking, by feeding the large stalks through a slow moving roller pressing machine, similar to an old fashioned wringer washing machine. The locals drink it with a pinch of sea salt and lemon juice, for a natural high-energy drink whose value goes far beyond its sweet taste.
Sugarcane is a tall grass with a stout, jointed and fibrous stalk that looks similar to bamboo. As a member of the grass family, its juice has a high potency equivalent to wheatgrass juice, only with less chlorophyll and more sugar content. However, counter to what you might think, sugarcane juice contains only about fifteen percent total sugar content, all of which is in a raw unrefined form. The rest of the juice consists of water brimming with an abundance of vitamins and minerals. Sugarcane is rich in calcium, chromium, cobalt, copper, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium and zinc. It also contains iron and vitamins A, C, B1, B2, B3, B5, and B6, plus a high concentration of phytonutrients (including chlorophyll), antioxidants, proteins, soluble fiber and numerous other health supportive compounds. Working synergistically, these nutrients provide a supremely health-promoting food which has been studied for its role in fighting cancer, stabilizing blood sugar levels in diabetics, assisting in weight loss, reducing fevers, clearing the kidneys, preventing tooth decay, and a host of other health benefits.
Sugarcane juice is consumed worldwide, and due to its known health benefits, it is a traditional food with a profound presence in the local cultures where it is grown (Brazil and India are the top two producers, though it is grown in over 100 countries). Sucking or chewing on an exposed end of the raw sugarcane is one way to consume the juice, although the juice can also be extracted in larger quantities for drinking, by feeding the large stalks through a slow moving roller pressing machine, similar to an old fashioned wringer washing machine. The locals drink it with a pinch of sea salt and lemon juice, for a natural high-energy drink whose value goes far beyond its sweet taste.
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