Raw Food As Medicine .V A ! photo of Moses ! X Done *see end line Paragraph 4 MN done

 RAW FOOD AS MEDICINE

   The Optimum Health Institute is using 'Holistic Program' for mental, emotional and physical health.       I remember sitting with my daughter Karen under a tree, during one of our several visits, eating Raw food, when a few small leaves from the tree above us fell and landed on our plates... We didn't even bother to remove them! (I can't remember if we ate the leaves or not...)  The Nutritional Program in        this place is based on organic raw, sprouted vegetables only. The most important "Healing Ingredient"  was the 'Wheat Grass Juice', made out of special Grass grown on the premises, which the Guests    'feed'  into Antique Juicers and drink  twice a day... There are daily (non-stop) classes and lectures     about health and healing, massages and Daily Enemas; which Karen and I made sure to avoid.

   Neither television, cell phones nor computers are allowed on the premises! ("If you want to get Cancer   from the Radiation of these Electronic Devices - do it in your own house!")  People are not supposed to talk about 'Negative Topics'; the word "Illness" should be replaced with "Health Opportunity".  During  the first three days, I picked at the Raw Veggies on my plate, with a Fake Enthusiasm... The "Meal" was consisted of a few Green Leaves, covered with raw mashed sprouts... The "Salad Dressing" was made  out of 'Water and Herbs'...There was no oil (not even Extra Virgin cold Pressed olive oil) or a pinch of salt! I didn't realized how much I craved salt, until the fourth day, when I was having a Massage named 'Salt Glow'.  I began (Frantically and Obsessively) licking the salt off my arms, ignoring the concerned and frightened looks from the Masseuse...

  The Pounds were melting away from my body, which so far, was the only thing I liked.  By the fourth day, I could no longer stand the 'Mush', so I ate one lettuce leaf for lunch and two Swiss Chard leaves for dinner... On the fifth day, we had the same Green Juice we received on our first day and decided to name  it "Green Pina Colada". Towards the afternoon, we were so hungry, we found ourselves missing the Mush and devoured the "Crackers" which were made out of Sun Dried Vegetables...

   I have to admit that the "Chef" really tried...  One day we were served "Spaghetti", made out of raw Zucchini, sliced thin (like noodles...) and "Meat Balls" made out of 'Mush', covered with tomato juice (Ketchup?) meant for the "Pizza "with its "Crust" made out of dry vegetable crackers covered with round, raw tomato slices (Salami? ) and raw onion slices (Fries?). One of the women with an Italian last name began to cry, after biting in to her "Pizza", most probably remembering the better meals of Real Pasta and Pizza, covered with Cheese, Salami and Olives; she used to eat at home. The green 'Wheat  Grass' which was considered to be the Most Important ingredient in this program, was another 'Torture' and the only way we were able to drink it, was by pouring Cinnamon on top, while pinching our nostrils. Now I gag when I smell Cinnamon which used to be one of my favorite spices.  I have to admit,  after hearing how 'Green Juice' could cure and eliminate any skin problem, I smeared some of it on a cut in my arm, as well as a tiny 'Mole' on my left leg. Was I shocked to discover, the following day, that both disappeared! Some people were 'snorting' this juice, in order to cure their sinus problems, others put it  in their ears and bathed their eyes in a glass (which could be purchased at the small gift shop) and others were pouring 'green juice', in their bath water... Talk about "GOING GREEN!"

   Among the recommendation for 'Healing Methods' was a 'Fast from Speaking', which was a very big challenge for a 'Talker like me'... ( For a whole day!)  But I did it! I never realized how much energy we put into talking and how busy the brain is when we have a conversations or an argument. Not speaking for a full day felt like going back to being a young child, who couldn't talk yet.  I noticed how 'Sharp'    my 'Hearing' became, when I was out doors, listening with amazement to the sounds of the tweeting  birds,  the barking dogs and mooing cows.  I was admiring the leaves of the flowers, feeling as if I was  going back in time, regressing to the young and innocent child I had once been, when I was able to      see Wonder and Joy in everything and everyone around her.  I  experienced my emotions beginning to move from Sadness to Joy, Tears to Laughter, Anger to Compassion and was reminded, how years    ago, my extremely sensitive three year old daughter Karen, asked me, "Does it hurt the Orange when   we Peel it?" I was deeply moved; wondering X how to 'Protect' such a 'Sensitive Child', from the all      the 'Unavoidable Pain' she is about to experience, through out her Life's Journey?" MN I was deeply moved, and questioned how I could protect such a sensitive child from the obvious pain she would unavoidably come to experience in her life's journey.

   The speakers reminded us that the Human Race has been slowly poisoning itself, with  the toxic foods  we put in our mouths and other chemicals, like soaps, we put on our skin, shampoo for our hair and breathing the fumes and other toxins in the air! I made up my mind that when I come home, I would continue to eat raw food until December 12th; my "Date" with the MRI Machine...I kept visualizing my Tumor 'shrinking away' and fantasized my doctor, looking at the result of my Test and 'Faints from surprise'; when he sees how the Tumor disappeared. I also imagined myself picking up the doctor from the floor, 'converting him' to Vegetarianism and saving the Human Race from horrible Illnesses which are caused by killing Innocent, helpless creatures and 'Eating Them'... I would also like to remind and explain the dangerous of 'Genetically Modified and Combining' wrong food... I  visualize myself becoming the 'Heroine of the Animal Kingdom', after saving poor cows, goats, pigs, lamb, ducks, chickens, turkeys and rabbits; from their death, as well the poor deer!

Bagel and coffee

Doughnut and tea

   On the last day we said a tearful goodbye to the Instructors and the new friends we made in this Place of Healing.  Some of them were staying longer, but my daughter Karen and I decided to go  home after only one week.  Karen missed her friends and and I felt guilty about "deserting" my husband and our dog Moses!  One result I was happy to leave behind me was the loss of seven pounds!  At home I was able to last on the Raw Veggie Diet... for three days only!  My resolve dissolved  the moment I smelled the fresh coffee my husband Al (whom I call 'Darling') was brewing in the kitchen. I could barely wait for the fresh sweet taste of the doughnuts (stuffed with jam) he bought, forgetting the promise I made myself, to avoid this kind of "Poisoning food' forever!" 

   Two days later a friend came to see me, bringing flowers and donuts... It didn't take long to put back  five of the seven pounds I was hoping were lost forever! I fear that I am hopelessly addicted to sweets.    I had also made up my mind not to eat 'Red Meat' ever again, after the Joy our beloved dog Moses, received me with... Our dog is a mix of Toy Poodle, Shiatsu and Maltese, his colors are black and white, which makes him look like a twelve pound 'Little Cow'.  He was so happy to see me at home that he was was actually crying, licking my legs and looking into my eyes with such longing, devotion and love,  it made ME cry... I understood what he was trying to say: "Where have you been Shira? How could you leave me for so long? I missed you so much! I was afraid you'll never come back!"  How could I ever eat anything which even remotely resemble our Moses?  I decided to become Vegetarian again...

With Love and Light,
Shira