Herbs & Toxins; Natural Hygiene Notes; On Variety and Sufficiency (WAS: What is enough of a bitter green? Does the body store nutrients?)

July 5, 2007

Hi Belinda,

Doesn't it feel just wonderful when we humans connect and communicate

successfully! I do so enjoy such experiences!

I no longer buy those lettuce mixes for just the reason you share ... some

of the greens are just too bitter for me. So I mix my own, usually I use 1-3

greens in a given salad.

Regarding herbs, ALL herbs are toxic to humans. The toxins elicit the

so-called " medicinal " response from our body. But the range of toxicity

varies widely. At one end of the continuum, celery leaves and cilantro

contain small amounts of mild toxins. Basil is considerably stronger, and

the very bitter greens strongest of all.

Just a note connecting this conversation back to " Natural Hygiene " , for

those who may be interested. A true, blue natural hygienist would say that

what is toxic in any quantity is toxic in every quantity. And in a literal

sense, this is correct. But I must admit that upon occasion, I do enjoy some

cilantro, or some mint, or another mild herb. In terms of choice-making, I

always view these as condiments ... not really as foods, and certainly not

as medicines of any kind. As time goes by, I find myself drawn to such

greens less and less frequently. For example, right this moment, I cannot

remember the last time I ate cilantro or mint. I DO remember the last time I

tasted some basil ... my partner, Laurel made her own variant of pesto, and

I tried a tiny bit. This did not go very well at all for me! My tongue, my

whole mouth said something to the effect of, " I don't THINK so!!! " Still,

since she made it ...

This seems to lead nicely into a comment about variety in our diet. We have

all been trained to associate foods and eating with almost all events ...

social, business, etc. And we have been trained to perceive and pursue food

as an important source of pleasure in our lives: food must be " interesting " ,

" exciting " , " stimulating " , that sort of thing. And we have been taught that

simpler foods taste " bland " , boring, etc.

I have learned to shift my perception about all of this. First, I now

perceive food and eating primarily in association with self-care, not

pleasure. There are many, many other sources for pleasure. Second, I've

learned to distinguish pleasure, which is fleeting, from joy, which is

sustaining and genuinely uplifting. I now seek and create much more joy in

my life than I did for many years ... and I find that doing so requires much

less effort. Genuine joy has a self-maintaining, self-sustaining quality, as

does genuine health.

Whenever I choose to eat genuinely healthful food, I rejoice in my knowing

that I am acting from genuine self-love, taking the best care of myself that

I know how to do. I feel no sense of " giving up " something. In contrast,

whenever, upon occasion, I eat even the smallest quantity of something that

is not genuinely healthful food, I feel a deep sense of sadness, for I know

that I have done otherwise, substituting pleasure in place of joy,

stimulation in place of well-being.

For me, as time goes by, these distinctions become clearer and stronger, and

I find myself not looking back at all, other than to rejoice in how far I've

come or to find examples to share with others. And I realize that much lies

before me, as is so for everyone.

Best to all,

Elchanan

_____

rawfood [rawfood ] On Behalf Of

Belinda

Thursday, July 05, 2007 11:50 AM

rawfood

[Raw Food] Re: What is " enough " of a bitter green? Does the body

store nutrients? (WAS: What is " a generous portion of greens? ...)

I understand this. (believe it or not)

It was like when I was first pregnant (and did not know it) that I saw a

co-worker eating and apple, and I just really wanted one. Not just eat one

just to be eating it. But really, really wanted one. I went to the store

for lunch and got me some apples. I enjoyed them like never before. It was

the strangest thing at the time. I continued to do that a lot through out

my pregnancy. AND I never desired weird stuff or weird combinations of

food. (like pickles and ice cream)

And about bitter greens. I remember several years ago when I was studying

medicinal herbs and such. I read that the more bitter of herbs were the

most toxic and should be used sparingly and with knowledge. The thought was

(and I agree) that if the plant taste bitter, it would keep us and animals

from consuming it or consuming too much of it.

So you eat bitter greens when it just feels right. Makes sense to me. I

don't know if I even desire bitter greens. Sometimes I buy the bagged spring

mix or baby greens. And often there is something in there that I don't much

like. It always has a strange taste, way different from the other greens.

One day I am going to separate the leaves and figure out which one that it

is. Maybe it is a bitter green.

Belinda

July 5, 2007

Elchanan wrote:

" I tried a tiny bit. This did not go very well at all for me! My tongue, my

whole mouth said something to the effect of, " I don't THINK so!!! " Still,

since she made it ... "

(holding sides).....ROTFLMAO!!!!

I have this visual of Elchanan shaking his head and shaking his finger as he

says " I don't THINK so!!! " ......LOL

I do enjoy the injection of humor.........silly me.

Jeannie

your time is the most cherished gift of all, tomorrow is promised to no one.

Elchanan <Elchanan

rawfood

Thursday, July 5, 2007 3:36:23 PM

[Raw Food] Herbs & Toxins; Natural Hygiene Notes; On Variety and

Sufficiency (WAS: What is " enough " of a bitter green? Does the body store

nutrients?)