The Raw Journal
Pets
We thought it was time that we showed our animal friends some love. We notice many of you leave reviews letting us know how our products help your dogs, cats, horses, even goldfish! So here are some of our top recommendations. Let us know what you find to be effective, and we will add it to this list as an ever-growing resource for caring for your superpets. For Dogs: Kelp PowderWith its high mineral content, particularly iodine, kelp is an excellent addition to any animal's diet. As recommended by Kathy G. Coconut OilMany dog owners report that their dogs love the taste of coconut oil, and it has the benefit of making their coats shinier and healthier. Also consider flax, hemp, olive and chia oils. AhiflowerKayleigh wrote in to say how helpful Ahiflower had been for her dog Hades. She said, "We’ve been using the capsules for about a month now, and we can physically see a reduction in his limp, he is able to go from laying down to standing much quicker and seems way more playful." Also consider Nuique as an omega oil supplement. Diatomaceous Earth Tara recommends this as an excellent natural dewormer. ChiaChia is great for both dogs and cats, just soak and add to their food. BarleygrassYulia says she mixes this with her dogs' food and they lick the plates clean! MSMMSM is mostly used for dogs and horses, for decreasing pain and inflammation, although cats can use it too. For Cats: Chlorella TabletsWith their slightly fishy taste, chlorella and spirulina tablets are great to add to your cat's dry food to increase nutrition. Aloe VeraSpike the cat was thought to be the world's oldest cat when he died aged 31. His owner put his longevity down to his daily dose of Aloe vera juice! For Horses: Hemp Protein Powder Margo C. bought this for her elderly horse, to add protein to his diet. General: SerraPet is an enzyme supplement specifically developed for animal consumption. PetFlora is a probiotic for your pets. Colloidal Silver SprayKathy G has this on standby for animals that are not so easy to treat. The best natural antibiotic for any kind of wound healing. Activated Charcoal can be used as an emergency remedy for accidental food poisoning. Turmeric Dr Doug English (BVSc) says, "As a Veterinarian, I have been using turmeric successfully for years with animals to control inflammation and pain, in itchy skin conditions like allergy, atopy, arthritis, infections, age degeneration and for various cancers. I have seen benefits in all animals in my care: dogs, horses, cattle, sheep, crocodiles, reptiles, chickens, ducks, cage birds, cats, alpacas, guinea pigs, and rabbits!" Check them all out on our Pets section here, and please do get in touch with your recommendations and testimonials.
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Vegan Sources of Essential Omega Fats
Omegas are a common area of concern, and it’s not just vegans and those following a plant-based diet who need to be mindful of getting sufficient healthy fats. Most of us are getting way too little omega-3 in our diets- fats that are associated with anti-inflammatory properties and that support our brains, hearts, joints, mood, immune system and even the gut microbiome. As well as too little omega-3, most people are getting far too much omega-6 in proportion, and this imbalance of fats can drive inflammation in the body, which we know is an important risk factor in many diseases. It’s important to acknowledge that omega-6 is still necessary though, and some omega-6s including omega-6 GLA have well-known benefits for women’s hormones and skin. The only two biologically “essential” fatty acids are omega-3 ALA and omega-6 LA. This doesn’t mean that the other omegas aren’t important, just that our bodies can make the other omegas from these “building blocks”. Not everybody does this efficiently though, and that’s where thinking about supplementation comes in. We can get omega-3 from foods like flax and chia but they need to be ground preferably used right away, or stored in an airtight container and not exposed to heat. Depending on your overall diet, and your genetics, the omega-3 found in these plant foods may not be sufficient to provide adequate long-chain omega-3s EPA and DHA. Plant-based supplements like Ahiflower provide omega-3 SDA, as well as ALA, which allows it to convert to EPA up to 4x more effectively than flax, and biosynthesise in key tissues like the brain and liver almost as much as a marine DHA source. Omega-3 ALA converts to EPA at around 5-6%, with better conversion in pre-menopausal women, those eating a plant-based diet and not supplementing with algae, whereas omega-3 SDA converts to EPA at 30-40%. Hemp contains omega-3 SDA at around 2%, though the highest known natural plant source of omega-3, Ahiflower, provides 8-10x more of this omega-3. Algal sources provide just the long chain omegas, and are typically more skewed towards DHA. Getting enough DHA is critical, but when we take it directly (as in fish or algae), we downregulate our body’s natural omega-3 metabolism pathway. Algal may be a wise choice to supplement during pregnancy, breastfeeding and in the case of traumatic brain injuries, but may be best accompanied with flax, chia or Ahiflower so that you get all the benefits of the entire family of omega-3. Guest blog by Camilla Brinkworth, Naturopath and co-founder of PhytoLove. Check out our top recommendations for vegan sources of EFAs here
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Best Sellers
We thought we would do a review of some of your favourite products this week. Which are our consistent best-sellers that customers can't get enough of? You're about to find out... 1. Shilajit. We currently have nearly 80 5-star reviews for our Shilajit, with many saying that it is the best they have ever tried. Shilajit is an amazing detoxifier, and an essential in today's polluted environment. Read the testimonials for yourself. 2. Activated Walnuts. All the Activated Nuts are popular, but Walnuts come out on top, closely followed by the Mixed Nuts. More delicious and nutritious than your average nut. 3. Cacao Powder. Out of all the Cacao products, the powder is the best-seller, probably because it's so easy to use, followed by the Cacao Butter. 4. Be The Change raw chocolate bar. Be The Change has been a best-seller since we first launched it in 2006, nearly 20 years ago. With Klamath Lake Algae and Reishi, it's more than just a chocolate bar. 5. Lion's Mane mushroom extract. All the mushrooms get a lot of love, but people seem most excited about Lion's Mane and its benefits for brain health. Lion's Mane contains a unique substance called NGF which helps grow neurons, and it has a palatable flavour. 6. Nori Sheets. Obviously we are biased, but we do believe that these are the best nori sheets on the planet. Certified organic and dolphin-friendly, they are robust, and a staple in the raw food pantry. 7. Organic Bee Pollen. Organic bee pollen is hard to find. Our is harvested fresh and then frozen until it is dried at low temperatures, to preserve all the valuable nutrients. 8. Shelled Hemp Seeds. Another staple of the raw food pantry, many hemp seeds on the market are rancid, with a slight bitter taste. Not ours! Ours are fresh and nutty. 9. MSM crystals. The number one supplement for joint repair, MSM is an essential for anyone recovering from accident or injury, anyone doing a lot of physical labour or exercise, and pretty much everyone over 40 who is feeling the creakiness set into their bones! 10. Maca. Kate loves Maca so much, she went all the way to the Peruvian Andes mountains to see where it was grown. The number one adaptogen for women. Are all ten already a part of your regular shop? Check them all out and more in our Best Sellers section.
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Spotlight on Bee Pollen
Our organic Bee Pollen is one of our best-selling products for good reason. Bee pollen is a flower product, which is gathered by the bees and collected from the hives by the bee-keepers. At Raw Living, we only work with bee-keepers who work with the utmost respect for the bees and their environment, and who are sustaining the traditions of generations of bee-keepers in preserving this most essential element of our biodiversity. Our Bee Pollen is from a remote region of the Carpathian mountains in Eastern Europe, free from any pollution. The type of bee bred is called the Apis Mellifera Carpatica, which is native to the region, and known for its gentle behaviour towards bee-keepers. Typically, bee-keepers will be responsible for over 200 bee colonies, but the bee-keepers of this region only have around 100 colonies each. All of this means that the bees receive the very highest quality care and attention, just as you would wish it! The other thing that makes our Bee Pollen special is the care with which it's transported. It's put into deep-freeze on collection, at a temperature of -18 deg C, and then transported within two weeks to the facility where it is dried at temperatures of less than 40 deg C. This process preserves all the natural enzymes, nutrients, and beautiful rich floral flavour. Bee Pollen is one of nature's rare perfect foods. It contains every single nutrient that the body needs to survive, and probably some that we are not even yet aware of. As well as being one of the best vegetarian sources of protein (around 35%), it is high in essential B-vitamins, and a good source of minerals. Bee Pollen is ideal for those days when you need to buzz around! It is very naturally energising. It's also ideal for keeping your nutrient levels up while fasting. It's a perfect superfood for kids, who love the sweet, honey-like taste. Add a spoonful to your breakfast, or just eat it off the spoon, it tastes that good. There are lots of Bee Pollen recipes in Kate's book Raw Magic. We don't recommend blending it up, but it's wonderful stirred into porridge, yoghurt, or even guacamole. Try adding it to a trail mix like our Hi-Trail for an extra boost when driving, or sprinkle it over a salad. We love the bees! And we are proud to work with bee-keepers who have such care for the bees. Our supplier says, "A good bee keeper can't do this activity without loving his darling bees. They talk about them with admiration, they care about them and they will not do anything to harm the bees, it's a symbiosis between those two parts: bee keeper and bees. I see all the time how they talk about them, how much they appreciate their work. If a pollen grain falls outside the bee hive they take it and they introduce it inside; they say that is a lot of work for one bee to gather a grain. The same for the honey, every drop must be used responsibly. For a responsible bee keeper, the bees are like their own children, they truly love their bees."
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Organic Activated Mixed Nuts - Great Taste Award Winner 2024
Our Activated Mixed Nuts have won a Great Taste Award 2024! The judges said, "These are generously-sized nuts, with a wonderful crunch.The soaking and dehydrating process has worked brilliantly, leaving great texture and bringing out the flavour." Try them for yourself: for snacking, or to add an extra crunch to a salad. Not only does the activation and dehydration process make them more delicious, it also makes all the wonderful nutrients extra bioavailable, and easier on the digestion. To celebrate we are putting them on Special Offer for all of August 2024! Reduced from £12.99 to £9.99 for the 200g bag. Get yours now.
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Kate Magic Interviewed in Mystic Mag
In the ever-evolving world of health and wellness, few figures stand as prominently as Kate Magic. A trailblazer in the raw food movement, Kate authored the UK’s first raw food recipe book, Eat Smart Eat Raw, in 2002, and followed it with the groundbreaking Raw Magic, the world’s first superfood recipe book, in 2008. Her journey is one of transformation, not just in diet, but in lifestyle and consciousness. Raising her three adult sons on a raw vegan diet while home educating them, Kate has dedicated her life to exploring and teaching the profound connections between food, self-love, and the universe’s boundless potential. Through her company, Raw Living, she has established the UK’s leading resource for raw foods and superfoods, empowering countless individuals to embrace a more vibrant, healthy way of life. Kate’s philosophy extends beyond nutrition. She believes that our time on Earth is a journey of self-discovery and love, urging us to step out of restrictive societal programming and into a mindset of abundance and possibility. In addition to her culinary and musical endeavors, Kate is a certified yoga teacher, functional nutritionist, and Reiki master. She has recently trained to be a QHHT practitioner, delving into past life regression to further aid in healing and personal transformation. Join Mystic Mag as we delve into the life and wisdom of Kate Magic, uncovering the secrets to living a life of joy, health, and limitless potential. Click here to read the full interview.
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Adaptogens by Adriana Ayales of Anima Mundi Herbals
This is an edited extract from the book Adaptogens by Adriana Ayales, founder of Anima Mundi Herbals. You can purchase the book here. "The term "adaptogen" was coined by Nikolai Lazarev in 1957, to refer to substances that increase a state of "unspecified resistance" against multiple stressors. In 1968, Dr Israel Brekhman refined Lazarev's work by expanding his definition of Adaptogens. He created these three qualifications: 1. Adaptogens are non-toxic. 2. Adaptogens produce a non-specific response in the body. 3. Adaptogens have a normalizing impact on the body. Wellness is a cosmology, an all-encompassing landscape that embodies the emotional, intellectual, physical, and spiritual worlds of existence. A true state of wellness is not merely dependent on the condition or mind-set a person currently inhabits. Our level of wellness is finely interwoven with the intimate relationship we have with our community, our environment, and ourselves. This multifaceted universe of health and healing is cyclical, a living organism in constant metamorphosis. The call for plant medicine in today's culture is a symbol of humanity returning to its source. A profound rebirth is in process, and the role of the plant kingdom is increasing in significance. An essential bridge is being rebuilt between humans and nature, allowing us to access the realm of our origin and the land of the luminous. Plant medicines aren't just here to provide nourishment, shelter and protection from pathologies - they're here for a much larger purpose, and that is to bring us back to the original consciousness that prevailed on earth for millenia. Herbalism is the medicine of belonging, a gateway through which we keep alive a very sacred aspect to our source." The book contains in-depth information on all the most widely-used adaptogens, including Ashwagandha, Cordyceps, Reishi, Schizandra and Shilajit. There is also a beautiful recipes section, including Tonics, Elixirs, Broths, and Body Oils. This gorgeous book is a must-have for the collection of everyone interested in healing plants! Shop the full Anima Mundi Herbals range here.
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Spotlight On Maca
Maca was one of the first products that we started selling, back in 2005. It has consistently remained in our top ten superfood best-sellers. So what's all the fuss about? Maca is a Peruvian root vegetable, similiar to a turnip. It only grows at high altitudes above 3500m; as such, it is a plant that can withstand great extremes of temperature and so is exceptionally hardy and resilient. When we consume maca, we are consuming that energy of being able to stay strong despite the ups and downs of external circumstances. Maca brings us the fortitude to make it to the top, no matter what! It is classed as an Adaptogen; adaptogens have become a bit of a buzzword, and there is a lot of confusion as to what exactly is an adaptogenic plant. Our Western minds are trained to think in a way that is symptom-based; we isolate specific imbalances in the body and treat them individually. By contrast, Traditional Chinese Medicine looks at the body as a whole, and particularly what is known as The Five Elements; that is the different energy systems in the body and how they are out of balance. Adaptogens work in this more general way; they restore homeostasis in the body, by getting to core imbalances, and thus specific symptoms are reduced, or cleared entirely. Maca is particularly popular among women because it is one of the the most effective natural hormone balancers. For women, balancing their hormonal needs among busy Western lifestyles is one of the top stressors, which is why so many women have come to rely on their daily intake of Maca. We recommend starting with one teaspoon, and working up gradually; a good maintenance dose is one tablespoon daily. As a source of natural plant sterols, it's also popular among athletes, yogis, and anyone doing a lot of physical labour, for the energy and stamina it provides, without over-stimulating the adrenals. There are a host of Maca recipes in Kate's books; with its malty flavour, it is a versatile ingredient in both sweet and savoury dishes. Enjoy it in your breakfast porridge, chia, or yoghurt; add it to a smoothie or mylk; goes great in raw chocolate recipes; and don't be scared to add it to a salad dressing or dip. Like all the Peruvian superfoods, Maca is truly a gift from the gods! With our stressful modern lifestyles, we consider Maca an essential element of maintaining the levels of calm, focussed energy that we need to keep our lives running. If it's not already part of your regular intake, check it out at the link below and find out for yourself why our Maca has over 50 5-star reviews. Raw Living Maca Powder, available in 250g, 1kg, 5kg and 20kg sizes.
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Travel Essentials
Here's our pick of the Raw Living Travel Essentials: Dr Bronners Hand Sanitiser - for public restrooms and long journeys with no washing facilities Medicine Flower Viroguard Spray - sanitising and aura-cleansing, a nice refresher on planes and trains Wunder Workshop Belly Blessing - a botanical tincture to aid travel tummy Living Libations Golden Tanning Oil - naturally protective with no nasties Nature's Greatest Secret Colloidal Silver Aloe Aftersun - soothing and calming for sore skin Power Immunity - homeopathic anti-viral, for protecting the immune system when you're far from home Ancient & Brave True Hydration - an electrolyte supplement to add to water, making it more hydrating and more delicious. Great for planes. Raw Living Chia Seeds - a number one travel food: easy to pack, easy to prepare when you're on the road, very nourishing and filling, and great for digestion Travel Snacks - we would pack a Be The Change, some Go Nuts! and a Four Sigmatic Reishi Sachet. What about you? Check out all these and more in our Travel Essentials collection.
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Current Global Cacao Market
You may have noticed the big increase in the price of cacao recently. In this podcast interview, Kate explains some of the history of cacao trading, and how the roots of African cacao in slavery are still having a negative impact today. Also how the coca market impacts the ability of producers to create a flourishing cacao trade. Listen on iTunes Listen on Spotify
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You Are My Magic! Dragon Herbs
We had to share this song by Ron Teeguarden, founder of Dragon Herbs! Here's what he had to say about it: "I have a particular urge this year to offer my heartfelt thanks directly to my clients and customers, who have supported my efforts spanning decades to spread the timeless wisdom and benevolence of tonic herbs to everyone. We at Dragon Herbs feel that we have played our unique part in spreading the word to millions of people, and that these people have benefited in countless ways. That is very gratifying for sure. I’m so grateful to you! My life has been rich in all ways, and for that I thank you more. Rich spiritually, rich in the joy of adventure, learning, creating, sharing, connecting, and I have been blessed with just the right amount of success in the physical plane.For no good reason, I feel compelled to send you a song I wrote many years ago, but I feel it relates today to how I feel about all of you as well. I have so many dear friends, and so many people that I love and who in turn have blessed me by joining me on this remarkable ride. My life has been a wild and amazing adventure, and surely I’ve had my troughs and peaks. This song is about that ride. And it expresses my feelings toward you. You are my magic!" Shop Dragon Herbs here.
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Spotlight On Ormus
Ormus is a very special substance, used by traditional cultures throughout the ages. Although naturally ocurring in high altitude areas such as the Himalayas and Peru's Sacred Valley, now health enthusiasts are rediscovering the benefits of this prized substance, and choosing to take it in supplemental form. We offer the Harmonic Innerprizes range, which is naturally occurring ormus deposits collected from a meteorite site in Arizona. We also offer Now Alchemy, which is alchemised in California, and the SuperTonic Herbs range add ormus to all their Chinese Tonic herbal formulas. It is claimed that Cleopatra bathed in Ormus, to maintain her youthful beauty. In the Old Testament Bible, it is described as Manna from heaven, and in India, Ormus or Muppu was used in many formulas, including bringing the transformational energy of Navapashanam to the common man over 7,000 years ago.In more recent times, it is David Hudson who has pioneered the research into this most magical of substances. Ormes is an acronym for Orbitally Rearranged Monatomic Elements, and in this form gold becomes small enough to enter into cell sites where it can repair DNA. Now Alchemy Ormus is suspended in an extract of Dead Sea minerals, which nourish the body in every way, making it a highly alkaline solution. We have been taking Etherium Gold regularly for nearly twenty years, and can testify to the inner peace and magnetised flow that it brings to our lives. If you're curious to learn more, you can check out Kate's two podcast interviews on the subject, here and here.
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Sal de Maras - Peruvian Maras Salt
We know we have many customers who are big salt fans! We already stock Sel De Guerande, a grey Celtic Salt from the World Heritage Site of Guerande in Western France, and Saltverk and Islensk Hollusta, geothermal sea salts from Iceland. Kate recently visited the Maras salt flats of the Sacred Valley in Peru, and we are delighted to add Maras salt to our range of high quality premium mineral salts. The Maras salt flats are some kind of miracle of nature, existing 3,200 km above sea level. They have been farmed for over 500 years, each pond being passed down from generation to generation. Traditional artisanal methods of panning salt are used. Maras salt is a beautiful salt, favoured by many gourmet chefs and restaurants. Not as dominating in flavour as Himalayan salt, not as soft and gentle as Icelandic salt, try adding a sprinkle of the magic of the Sacred Valley to your next meal! Buy Maras Salt here. See more pictures of the Maras salt flats here.
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