Category Archives: Travel

How to Travel in Health, Vibrancy, and Gratitude

Baby Coconut Tree



Traveling within the country

I always plan in advance when I am going to be away from home for several hours and when traveling for a longer period of time. I bring snacks like veggies, fruit, nuts, etc. when away from home or traveling. When on a road trip or camping, I bring a cooler full of fresh food and veggie juice I make just beforehand. I also bring a green food powder, like Billy’s Infinity Greens, so that when the veggie juice runs out I have an easy dose of energy and nutrients – just add water. When traveling by airplane, I also always bring my own snacks. The food at airports should be avoided at all costs. Never get stuck there hungry and unprepared. Also, I find out ahead of time where natural foods markets and sometimes where raw and vegan restaurants are at every destination. Always plan to nourish yourself with healthy, fresh food where ever you are! You’ll find yourself more energized, relaxed, and content.

Traveling Internationally

Traveling from a place of gratitude and abundance is so essential for having an enjoyable, expansive experience, and for being a gift to the places and people you are around wherever go you (rather than being a burden or bringing negativity). Be at peace with and have no expectations of having access to the same types of foods that you have at home. For instance in South and especially Central America, there are very few vegetables available. There are veggies like carrots, zucchini, cucumber, cabbage, and onion in many local markets, but for the most part they are imported from Mexico. If you are used to receiving your veggies organic and fresh from the garden or farm, like I am, it is best to see these foods as blessings and infuse them with blessings, as they are not fresh, pretty, or organic. In most countries, there is no Organic Certification and in fact the same meaning of the word ‘organic’ does not exist. There is a plethora of fresh tropical fruit: Papaya, Watermelon, Pineapple, Banana, and Plantain. Most of the fruit is not organic either. There is the potential that some fruit from very small orchards could be, but there just is no way of knowing.

Tip: Most nourishing, highest quality food to eat while in a tropical place: wild coconuts right from the tree.

Bring along what you can

I brought along Billy’s Infinity Greens, as I always do when I travel. I also brought Raw Organic Royal Jelly Powder. For solid food, I brought seeds and nuts. Dried fruit, like Goji Berries, are also great. Any food that is not immediately perishable, and is simple and full of nutrients is ideal. Jed and I only brought very small backpacks with us, so I had a minimal amount of space for food. I fairly quickly went through my solid food, as  adjusted to the smaller amount of food that was available. By the time I ran out, my body adjusted to the smaller amount of food, and the coconut and fruit became more satisfying.

Know food names in the language of the country you are visiting

This is essential for receiving what you want and avoiding what you don’t want.

Blessing the Food

I am someone who would much rather fast than eat low quality food. I would prefer to live on water rather than eat non-organic food. But, while traveling, it just was not possible to do a long-term fast without have a nourishing structure to be part of. I also am not a proponent of long-term water fasting. Therefore, I had to surrender to the fact that I was going to be eating non-organic food and rather than focus on that fact, I focused on being grateful for that food. I have a practice of saying a prayer of gratitude for food before I eat it. When the quality is questionable, I also add a blessing to the food by placing my hands over it or just by speaking silent words to infuse it with love, health, and increase its vibrational energy.

Eating Raw while traveling

Eating raw while traveling in the US, or other countries where fresh, organic food is available is the easiest thing in the world! We are SO blessed! Here’s what I do: for the most part, except from time to time when there a tantalizing raw restaurant nearby or I feel a desire for more complex flavor, I eat as simply as possible. I do not require “meals” and really no preparation. I primarily mono-eat, or eat one type of food at time, for ease of digestion, assimilation of nutrients, for the pure joy of simplicity and of taste of pure foods just as they have been gifted to us. This makes traveling so free, easy, and delightful. All you have to do is bring organic veggies, fruit, nuts, seeds, sprouts, (and dehydrated snacks if you wish) with you. Fresh fruits and veggies that are easy to travel with are: all fruits, avocado, sprouts, cucumber, sugar snap peas, carrots, celery, etc. I also shamelessly stuff handfuls of mixed greens and lettuces in my mouth. If I am traveling in a car or have access to a car, I also am always visiting the local natural foods markets, or even check for raw food restaurants if I am near an area that I suspect could have one.

While traveling internationally, especially to third world countries, it can be very challenging to eat raw, especially if food quality is essential to you. Eating raw in certain areas of the world, like South America, Asia, and Africa can also create health challenges due to bad water for washing the veggies.

Find a trusted source of food

In Ecuador, I researched and guided myself to places where the food came from an organic garden, as much as I possibly could. There are a few inns and resorts throughout the country that do have their own organic gardens where much of their produce comes from. I did not eat anywhere but three trusted places the entire time we were there, and yet I still managed to pick up unwanted friends – parasites and bacteria.

Deciding whether to travel raw or not

I have been eating purely 100% raw vegan organic food for nearly two years now and even just eating one meal of cooked food would be a huge shock to my body. I felt that trying my absolute best to minimize risk of food contamination while maintaining my diet for the sake of my body, my beliefs, and my consciousness outweighed the perceived ‘safety’ of eating cooked foods with or without unhealthy refined oils, refined salt and seasonings. etc. HOWEVER, if you do not eat raw, or eat a percentage of raw, I do suggest that you avoid eating uncooked vegetables. Only eat fruit that has a thick peel-able skin. Do not drink anything made with ice. (Sometimes you can watch them make smooties, which is the best option for me – especially when I saw the cook dumping spoonfuls of white sugar into it!) Fresh Juice without ice or water is okay. And of course, only drink bottled water directly out of the bottle or that you have seen come from a sealed bottle.

You don’t have to eat only raw to travel healthily

Prepare several cooked meals ahead of time and pack them in glass containers or BPA-free plastic storage containers. Prepare items are good to eat cold. Bring plenty of your favorite healthy snacks with you. Stop at natural food markets, instead of eating out, if possible.

Being Different

Living in the United States and especially California is a very unique experience. There really aren’t any other places in the world that are remotely similar, in a vast number of ways. One such way is food. From my experience traveling through most of our beautiful country, California is the capitol of conscious eating and especially Living Foods. I have felt so embraced, included, and (almost :) ‘normal’ in California. I had the exact opposite experience while traveling in Belize and Ecuador. There was absolutely no comprehension what was eating ‘organic’, ‘vegan’, or ‘raw’ meant, and why one would do that. Some people treated me as an alien out of curiosity, but primarily as alien for being completely crazy, strange, and silly! I always do my absolute best to be in total respect and honor of people and their culture. Therefore, I was in full respect of any feelings around my way of living. My personal tendency is that I do not like attention. I try to be under the radar as much as possible. However, since eating is something that we all do regularly, and I either had to ask for what I needed (since I was entirely reliant on other people for food most of the time), or I was eating around other people and they were curious about me. Oh my, this was quite a learning and practice of awareness, surrender, and patience for me. I do not like attention, and yet I received around the clock attention. I prefer not to defend my choices around food or my way of being in general conversation, and yet I was asked what I was eating and why I eat that way for nearly every meal of every day. Phew . . . that was truly a challenge for me . . . and really positive growth.

Surrender

Surrender to what is, AND ask gracefully and respectfully for what you need if it is available and reasonable. Keep it simple. In Belize, I started out by just asking for veggie sticks, of whatever they had. It ended being carrots, zucchini, and cucumber, eventually. It took about a week (from the same people) to receive what I intended. At first I did not understand, I believed that I was asking for the simplest thing in the world. When it truth, it was more complicated for them than to make the cooked Belizean dishes that were on the menu. Most vegetables, and there are only a small few, are imported into Belize. Truly, vegetables are not a part of the Belizean diet. I stopped asking for vegetables after I understood this and discovered that these foods were imported, despite what I had been told at first. Fruits are grown in Belize, especially Papaya, which is native to Belize, but most Belizean to do not eat much fruit either. I only saw tourists eating fruit. Fruit (Papaya, Pineapple, Watermelon, Banana, occasional Mango, and very green, bitter oranges) are the fruits that are primarily available. Markets, street carts, and most restaurants will have these fruits available. It is ‘normal’ to order a fruit plate. I also happened to be staying on an island for two weeks, so I primarily subsisted on coconuts directly from the trees, and fruit. Both were relatively easy obtain without causing too much of a scene.

In Ecuador, vegetables are much more widely available. Ecuador is vastly more developed than Belize is. However, it still is the case that apart from corn, root vegetables, and legumes, vegetables (especially green ones) are only a small part of the standard diet. There are a variety of vegetables available at markets, and there are a few more places that you can stay that have their own gardens.

Keep bugs at bay

When traveling nationally, take Immune Illume, Digest The Best, and an essential oil based insect repellant with you. When traveling internationally, take the aforementioned products and a product like Miracle Mineral Solution or Adya Clear with you for purifying water and as a very potent way to ensure that no microbes or parasites are able to flourish inside your body. Miracle Mineral Solution is a very intense product, so use with care.

Easy intestinal parasite remedy

I began trying this remedy while in Ecuador, because if there was one thing I could get fairly easily it was Papaya. I did not have all of the products I mentioned above, so this was my best option. A gentle and easy option for parasites. I have not heard that it will work for bacteria, though. One-quarter of a Papaya seed consists of a highly digestible protein, which can be used to eliminate parasites. The seeds are soft enough to chew; yet they are spicy (horseradish-like). You might try blending them with juice or water & raw organic honey. Try at least twenty seeds per day for about five days.

Other acute intestinal bug remedies and cleansing assistance

(All of which I have utilized since leaving South America)

  • Colon Hydrotherapy, Home Enema, Colosan, or other all-natural, herbal, non-stimulant based laxative
  • Garlic (if you prefer to do without the odor of fresh garlic, Kyolic is a good product)
  • Miracle Mineral Solution
  • Probiotics

My most important tip

Be grateful for what is, what you have, where you are, and who you are with. Feel abundant and blessed no matter what the circumstance. You are always and will always be provided for. Right here right now is always a time to live in Love.


Click here to see photos of our incredible travel journey.

Eating for Beauty and Health: My first RAW TRAVEL Report: TROPICAL ISLANDS

Photo Credit: KhayaL

Photo Credit: KhayaL

At home I am used to eating a great abundance of Organic vegetables all of the time – in the form of juices, salads, just out of the ground. When I first arrived in on the island in Belize, I was trying to get my hands on as many fresh veggies as I could. After I few days, the vegetables stopped feeling good and right in my body. Even though I was told they were organically grown, I researched with locals and found that they likely were not pesticide free. (‘Organic’ and especially organic certification are non-existent terms here, and pesticides are nearly ubiquitous.) Also, because many of the vegetables do not grow here in Belize they felt wrong in my body while staying on a tropical island!

I never eat tropical fruit at home, even though some grow locally during the spring and summer. Why? Because after several years, even though I have healed myself from many conditions, I still consider myself in the process of healing from a lifetime of damage resulting in Insulin Resistance, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, and Hypothyroidism. In order to heal these particular conditions, I was eating a very low glycemic diet with no fruit or sweeteners. I gradually moved to a low glycemic diet, then a low to moderate glycemic diet, which is where I have leveled out and what feels good to my body. I still do not use sweeteners at all except for my beloved unrefined Stevia. I do not eat fruits sweeter than apples and I do not eat dried fruits.

Here, far away from home, it took what felt like a huge amount of surrender to trust that eating what was available, plentiful, and grew naturally right here was the best way to serve my body! There was a time where I almost developed a fear of very sweet fruits (dates, bananas, etc.) because of the damage refined sweet foods had done to my body. Well, after I had my first plate or two of beautiful local fruits – Papaya, Banana, and Pineapple – I felt wonderful! I eat intuitively, based on what I feel I need and what feels good physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually – during and after I eat it. Now that I have been here for nearly two weeks and my body has adapted, I have been eating tropical fruits several times a day and that is what feels best to my spirit and body here in this tropical land.

I have a spiritual philosophy on food and nature. I believe that everything is nature was created to be the perfect nourishing, healing, loving gift to all beings. I have loved experiencing this even more fully and apparently as I have begun traveling to new parts of the world. The foods that feel nourishing, balancing, and happy in my body and spirit wherever I am are foods that grow right around me! The food that has been my greatest savior and joy here, and the food that grows wild, entirely without human intervention in total abundance . . . is the divine Coconut!

Surprisingly, few locals drink the coconut water or eat the fresh meat here. There are a few dishes, including the Caribbean variety (such as coconut curry shrimp) or the American variety (such as coconut pancakes or smoothies) that use coconut shreds and canned coconut milk. With locals and travelers alike, carrying a coconut in my arms, drinking the coconut water, and eating the meat has drawn lots of attention – both out of curiosity and oddity. Opening the coconut first to get to the water and then to meat takes some effort! My husband Jed has gallantly, generously, and most lovingly been getting the coconuts for me and uses a machete to quickly open them for water and then for meat, just like a local expert.

An aside – I have always relished the amazing water and meat of the coconut, but do not eat fresh coconuts very often in California because importing them from Thailand takes a toll on the environment and the nutritional value of the coconut. Also, there are few sources for Organic young coconuts in California, unless you live in the vicinity of coconut palms and can get them directly from the tree. There are two resources online that I found – but you have to order in bulk. The sites are: www.genefitnutrition.com and www.rawguru.com Also, you can find these organic young coconuts at Erewhon in Los Angeles. TAKE NOTE: The Young Thai Coconuts you find at your local health food store or Asian Market are NOT organic. (Easily identified – they are white and dome-shaped, not like the older coconuts while have a stringy, brown husk.) ALL of these are dipped in a preservative and pesticide, usually Formaldehyde – ick! Also, never drink the coconut water in boxes and especially aluminum cans! It is not organic and has little nutrient value, if any, left and you’ll be drinking aluminum when you drink it from the cans. You can taste the aluminum very strongly. The only fresh, organic bottled version of coconut water is made by Body Ecology and can be found in the freezer section of your health food store.

Traveling here was a challenge at first. I have become so accustomed to being the one in charge of what I eat and having such an endless abundance of food options! Being in the tropics with very little food options and receiving food from others rather than preparing it myself has been a process of progressing openness, flexibility, and surrender. My surrender to the food and the blessings that are here has allowed even greater joy and gratitude.

My Picks for Essential Beauty and Body Care While Traveling

Photo Credit: Kuzeytac

Photo Credit: Kuzeytac

Jed and I are on a four-month travel adventure with only small backpacks with us. The most challenging thing for me in planning for our time away was choosing and narrowing down which items to bring for beauty and body care. I poured over my products for two weeks, eliminating, adding, organizing, and deciding what I would need and what would fit in my quart size bag. Yes, this is based on being limited to a quart size bag of items for a several month-long period. Quite an undertaking for me!
Here’s what I have with me:

Facial Moisturizer, Cleanser, and Toner:
100ml Best Skin Ever

Extra Facial Cleanser to help remove excess sunscreen:
Black Velvet

I have been using this on days where I was playing in the sun all day and needed multiple applications of sunscreen and had some buildup.

Sunscreen:
ISUN Antioxidant Sun Butter
Complete Organic and Natural Sunblock with Transparent Zinc

Works beautifully, smells great, goes on like a body butter or cream moisturizer, no white zinc oxide layer – yay! Please note that you will need a stronger sunscreen if you are going to be out in tropical sunshine all day long. I have been trying one from Loving Naturals. The Loving Naturals product works okay. The consistency is very runny and liquidy, which is not ideal.

Oral Care:

Yogi Tooth Serum

Neem Enamelizer Liquid Tooth Polish

Healthy Gum Drops

TruthTooth Powder Polish for extra stain and plaque removal

Hair Care:
Shampoo: I love Morrocco Method Shampoos, but I generally need a larger quantity of it than a lathering shampoo to get my long, curly hair shiny and clean, so I brought the best all-over-body wash ever, Seabuckthorn Shampoo & Body Wash. A little goes a very long way.
Conditioner:
Chi Instant Hair Conditioner

Body Cleanser:
I could not fit a large amount of the Seabuckthorn Shampoo & Body Wash in my bag, so I also brought a wonderful Bar Soap along so I did not have to fit it in the quart size bag.

Deodorant:
Poetic Pits

One of my favorite products EVER!

Insect Repellant:
My own blend of the best essential oils in the world. We hope to add a beautiful array of pure essential oils to the site soon. Let me know if you are excited about this, and your interest will make it sooner rather than later.

Lips:
Cape Chamomile Vanilla Lavender Lover Lips

Body Moisturizer:
I would have loved to bring any of our butters, creams, lotions, or oils, but sadly I did not have room in the quart size bag, so I brought something solid, raw organic Cacao Butter. As wonderful as it works and smells, I really do regret not bring something more generously spreadable. The solid bar just hasn’t been enough to coat my body in yumminess like I usually love to do.

Internal Remedies:
For Immunity and Digestion – total lifesavers already. Not yet on our site! If you would like to have these available, do let me know. If there are enough people interested, I will add them to the store for sure!

Food:
Billy’s Infinity Greens
Some days I don’t know what I would have done without it!

Also Beneficial:
Spirulina and Chlorella Tablets
Sprouted & Dehydrated Nuts and Seeds, when fresh food and a refrigerator is not an option

What I did not bring, but wish I had with me:

Photo-Enzyme Serum
DNA UV Protection & Damage Repair with Phytoplankton & SOD Enzymes

Everybody Loves the Sunshine
Nourishment for sun-soaking and sun-soaked skin

Wishing you a beautiful adventure (whether traveling or at home)!