Hello Week 4!! Is that you? We were so excited to enter this week as at the end of it, we could say that we made it 4 complete weeks of just eating raw fruits and vegetables. This week we focused on, Genesis 1:9, And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food." God has given us so much to have for food and to enjoy what He has created for us from the Earth. We have become so reliant on packaged foods and the convenience of packaged goods, that we often look over the fresh fruits and vegetables. They are here for our food and they are here most importantly for our healing.
I wanted to try some new dishes this week to keep our journey a little more interesting. I decided to make raw vegan sushi rolls. These turned out super delicious and I will share the recipe below. This week's menu looked like this:
8 am : Morning fruit bowl (Bananas, kiwi, grapes, blueberries, strawberries, grapefruit)
11 am: Snack (Apple)
1 pm: Lunch (Tomato medallions topped with Avocado)
4 pm: Snack (Papaya)
6 pm: Dinner (Raw Sushi Rolls)
Dessert (Stuffed Dates with Raw Coconut Butter)
Raw Sushi Rolls:
Get desired amount of Nori Sushi sheets
Pulse 1 head of raw cauliflower in a food processor or high speed blender until it looks like cauliflower rice.
Chop up a mix of favorite vegetables (I used sliced carrots, tomatoes, avocado, and cucumber)
Lay desired nori sheets on sushi mat or lay on a flat surface.
Add raw cauliflower rice.
Add sliced vegetables.
Roll sushi rolls very tightly.
Place in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Slice and serve with vegan oil free dressing or vegan oil free dip.
This recipe turned out so delicious, I made it three times this week. I had so much cauliflower rice that I had to make it again. We also enjoyed Raw zucchini noodles with raw tomato sauce for dinner. We added onions and peppers for a spicy kick. I was so glad we tried some different options this week for dinner and it made it very exciting.
My blood pressure this week was very low at home reading at 88/70. I haven't been to the doctor since giving birth to our daughter in December of 2021, so I made an effort to go and see my primary care physician this week for a physical. As I rushed out of the house for the appointment, upon getting there, my blood pressure reading was 124/64. I was very happy with that, and so was the doctor. The doctor also noticed that my blood oxygen reading was at 100%. She was blown away as she stated that they don't see 100% too often and it is a direct reflection of the way we are eating. The more oxygen rich foods you eat, like fruits and vegetables, the more oxygen will be in your blood stream.
Why is this important? The oxygen saturation is a measurement of how much oxygen your blood is carrying. A normal pulse oximeter reading for oxygen saturation level is between 95% and 100%. My reading of 100% speaks for itself. The more oxygen rich foods you eat, the more oxygen in your blood stream. The more oxygen in your bloodstream translates into an increased and optimal state of healing. Your organs are getting more oxygen and blood flow, so you will have more energy, you will have less chronic disease, and your body is in a state of healing. Oxygen helps red blood cells replace cells that have been worn out and even boosts our immune system. Adding more raw fruits and vegetables to our daily eating helps our bodies heal as our bodies need more oxygen. By God's Grace, I was told I did not have to be seen again until next year. The proof is in the eating.
God is truly amazing and this journey has taught us so much. God's food is definitely greater than man's food. My fasting blood sugar stayed around 79 this week. This is amazing as contrary to popular belief, eating fruits does not elevate your blood sugar as the sugar in fruits is readily absorbed and metabolized by the digestive system. It is not disruptive to our bodies and does not increase our blood sugar levels. So enjoy a fruit bowl or two. I have learned to have fruits in the mornings on an empty stomach and not eat anything, fruits or vegetables after 8 pm. Eating after 8 pm can affect blood sugar levels and your rate of metabolism as the body's digestive system slows down. Following not eating after 8 pm, my husband's blood sugar has consistently stayed under 100 in the mornings. His blood pressure has also been reading very low and we had to adjust his medication again. He is now at a third of his usual dosage. The goal is to taper his dosage off and eliminate the medication. (Note: I am a pharmacist with the knowledge to do this. Please consult with a pharmacist or doctor before adjusting your medications.) This is amazing news and progress as my husband has been on high blood pressure medication for over a decade, This is a clear reflection of his current diet and shows that what we eat truly affects the way we feel, and even the need for medications. I am so proud of my husband as taking this journey has been the biggest leap of faith and discipline in his life. And I can say this for the both of us. It is single-handedly the biggest test of faith and discipline. What a way to start the new year!! To God be the Glory!!
With another busy week, I did not get to exercise as I wanted to, besides my exercise outside with the children. But I
did end the week another 4 pounds down for a total of 21 pounds down in 4 weeks. Whohoo!!!!! I was so excited. My husband came in at 7 pounds down for a total of 42 pounds down in 4 weeks. Just wow!!!! What an amazing experience this has been overall. The mental clarity is unreal. I am sharper, I can write faster, I able to keep up with the kids during the day as I am lighter on my feet. I am no longer tired at the end of the day as we put the children to bed. I stay up and write, and even do some much needed housework. I am able to spend more time with my husband, and even do more for myself with this newfound energy and time. We are truly thankful to God and will likely incorporate this way of eating into our daly lives so much more as we continue. We plan on adding in nuts, seeds, and sprouted goods next week. So the excitement of this week is already spilling over into Week 5.
Stay tuned as we continue our health journey. Check out Week 4 recap video below.
