Happy Rebirth!

FruttiKrem wishes you a tremendously positive and sustaining New Year.
We hope you have enjoyed the Fruttikrem challenges and health information. You can check the sidebar to return to them by name, if you wish to re-verse yourself about Goji, Wheatgrass and many other healthy supplements.
We hope to add more information in the future, possibly as an ebook? More details if we decide to move in that direction.

May all your positive visions come true in blissful, and brightest, exalted light.
-FruttiKrem

Feel Good Challenge#10

For our last major Feel Good Challenge, you are going to allow your past self to embrace your future self. We are constantly growing masterpieces, learning more about ourselves each day. It becomes necessary for us to reflect on where we've been with a non-critical eye, while gleefully appreciating the progress we've made and know we will continue to make (with full intention *_^)
This exercise will allow you to begin the process of embracing the whole you.



You'll Need:

Old pictures, Awards, Certificates
Paper
Pen
Old Home movies


Action:

Take some time to remember yourself in the past, during your growth phases. Look through old photos. Watch old home movies. Review past awards and certifications. How did it make you feel to win them? How have you arrived at this moment? You've surely dedicated your time to challenging yourself for personal enrichment and expansion. Are you ready for the continued fruits of your success? Are you willing to continue to grow? Do you accept that life is much based upon change?

Now take a look at your future creatively.Where will you be? Allow yourself success. Accept the new you that is emerging. What are you creating within yourself for future expression? What seeds are now blooming in your garden of intentions in your future-now?

When you're ready, take some time to write down any insights you've gained from this experience. Making the connection from the past, to the now, to the future, can grant you an interesting look into your patterns and how you operate. This wisdom can assist you a great deal when you're looking to find ways to motivate yourself, and maintain positive perspective.


Please share your feedback about the challenge and talk with other challenge participants in the comments.

Feel Good Challenge #9

Oftentimes the things we are hoping to attract into our lives can't come in, because we haven't done the internal cleaning necessary to make room for the newness. Without even realizing it, we may be holding onto old gripes that we do not even remember clinging to. Those gripes can weigh us down and inhabit too much room in our creative unconscious, possibly attracting the very things we do not want to have in our lives any longer.
This makes periodic releasing an extremely beneficial practice. Called 'Holistic Releasing' by some, the act of releasing old gripes, negative perspectives and energies willingly, is kind of the reverse affirmational way of creating plenty of freed up sacred space to welcome the blessings that are surely waiting to fill your dimension.




You'll Need:

Paper
Pen




Action:


Time to release the regrets and resentments holding you back to improve health on all levels and make way for the glorious new, that matches your goals. Take a moment to assess the areas you would consider problem spots in your path. Are there reoccuring issues that are irking you, and causing you to doubt your ability to remove them? Is there a trait within yourself you find it difficult to strengthen or remove? What are the conflicts in your life that you can identify, and would wish to heal?
Write them down in a list. Take your time with this. It doesn't have to be done overnight.
When you are quite ready write them out by filling them in the blank of the following sentence, then read it aloud:
"I willingly release _______________________ from my path and perceived negative regard."

Allow yourself to feel the anger or negative emotion, and then let it go. Let it be what it is, knowing you've released it and it will become positive energy in its new state of freedom. You can keep your release list(s) to look back on when you wish to reflect on the progress you're making in embracing your life with the intention of feeling good.




Please share your feedback about the challenge and talk with other challenge participants in the comments.

Feel Good Challenge#8

There is nothing like gratitude when you find yourself in a grey place. Counting our blessings can do wonders for our spirits, by reminding us of the beauty in that is already in the world, and allowing us to step away from the pull of desires we may be dwelling on, or problems we are allowing to take over too much mental terrain in our minds.





You'll Need:

Pen
Paper
or a blank page book to create a Gratitude book for you and the whole family.




Action:
This challenge is easy and ongoing.
Start a list of of sentences going down the page with the following statement:
"I feel good because...".
As you fill out your list, end the statement with: "... and I am thankful".

You can also include pictures of things you are grateful for, and surround them with doodles of hearts, stars or other positive symbols. Create journal passages of gratitude examples, prayers, meditations and other things that support your gratitude practice.


Please share your feedback about the challenge and talk with other challenge participants in the comments.

Feel Good Challenge #7

When was the last time you looked in the mirror and wooed yourself lovingly?
We can often get caught up in the habit of being hyper critical of ourselves; picking and poking at our faces, and bodies with a frown, easily forgetting how to recognize our own beauty, perhaps even making the mistake of looking for approval of our beauty through others. Taking the time to do the opposite can have measurable effects on your self-esteem, especially because the good approval you'll be receiving will be coming from one of the most important sources: you.




You'll Need:

A blown up faceshot or full body picture of yourself
Collage cut-outs or stickers of positive symbols like suns, stars, hearts, flowers, butterflies and etc
Gluestick (if needed)


Action:

You're going to take a picture of yourself that is large enough to sustain decoration (or self-illustrated if you wish) and adorn it with symbols of beauty. You can even draw in symbols, and use color to enhance your beauty consciousness and have a bunch of fun with the expressive possibilities.

When you are quite satisfied with your adornment exercise, hang the picture up in a sacred place, or keep it in your journal to return to as a reminder and affirmation of your beauty and self-love.




Please share your feedback about the challenge and talk with other challenge participants in the comments.

Feel Good Challenge #6

Everything in existence finds natural harmony in its environment. We all resonate with certain vibrations, and when we surround ourselves with harmonious vibrations we are better for it.


Identifying your harmony tools (colors, and etc--- to use in color bath therapy and etc)


You'll Need:
Various pictures
Items like shells, acorns and other 'good luck' charms



Action:

Take some time to note your reactions to the colors of the rainbow.
Which colors are your favorites? Which do you have strong dislike for.
Which seem to bring you extra luck? Ask these questions of other symbols and items, and in doing so create a list of associations that are in harmony with you. Once the list is made to can begin the practice of collecting them into a special treasure box. When you are in need of the energies or a reminder that you have an at=oneness with other aspects of creation you can take them out to meditate with or carry with you. You can add to list and box at anytime.



Please share your feedback about the challenge and talk with other challenge participants in the comments.

Feel Good Challenge #5

Balancing our feminine and masculine sides is essential to our balance and ability to function within healthy relationships.
With this exercise you are going to engage in positive mythwriting for the inner man and woman. Spinning a positive fairytale with a happy ending can make all the difference in how you shape your perspectives of anything holding female and male traits.
Society has been working on mending the divide created between the female and male consciousness by misinterpreted notions of superiority and inferiority.



You'll need:

Your imagination
(opt'l) Pictures of very happy people (both male and female- all ages)
Paper
Crayons, pencil or pen (whichever you prefer)


Action:
Create a collage, illustration, text story or combination of these that includes a Female and Male overcoming an illusion of separation to find a beautiful union with one another. Remember that both of them should be whole within themselves, finding the addition of union between them to be a wonderful complement. The union of these beautiful opposites represents your inner realm female and male "sides". We usually unconsciously attract someone to 'act-out' our beliefs about relationships by taking on one of these sides. By rewriting the script, we invite positive and affirming relationship partners.

Once created either hang the collage, or read the text at least once a month. You can also blog your myth as well so others can benefit from the positive archetypes.

Please share your feedback about the challenge and talk with other challenge participants in the comments.

DIY Saving Seeds From Your Dishes For Other Uses

Squash is a fall and winter vegetable that has strong nutritional benefits. When preparing squash, however, don't toss the seeds. The seeds can be used for propagating new squash plants, or can be roasted or dehydrated for a healthy snack all winter long. Squash seeds are full of fiber and are also a fun project for kids to prepare and dry.
- Ehow.com

Read More

DIY Canning Butter

Caution should always be exercised with canning. The following video is offered as an inspiration of the many things you can do at home.

Pumpkins are a little known miracle food.

Pumpkin is not your average food. High in iron, full of vitamins, minerals anti-oxidants and even fiber, Pumpkin is one of the few vegetables allowed during the Atkins induction phase. Part of the squash family, Pumpkin seed can be used in any Winter squash recipe, being part of the same family as squash and cucumber. You can even roast it without opening it, on 350 degrees in your oven by poking holes in it to let the steam out. It will cook perfectly.

Pumpkin can keep for 6 months whole. Store them in a cool place (50-60 degrees) with newspaper beneath them when they aren't opened. Once opened though, you should use the pumpkin within a couple of days or so, as it can begin to decompose quickly. Once cooked it will usually keep for 4-5 days in the fridge. Dehydrated or canned, you can get a year or more out of pumpkin.

For seeds you can dry them on paper towels, oil them and salt/season them a bit if you prefer, and slow roast them at 250 degrees until the scent is right. This process is usually not more demanding then 45 minutes to an hour, when you stir them every 15 minutes for evenly dispersed roasting.
The Seeds can also be used to make milk, by soaking the seeds in 5 cups water and then blending the entire mixture until milky, adding agave or other desired flavoring touches as desired, then straining the pulp out. The pulp can be used a pate if desired, and the milk itself can be blended (like most non-dairy milks) with oil to make cream, or butter (butter comes with lots of blending).

Starting pumpkin seeds off (guesstimating 1 cup of pumpkin seeds and a 1/2 cup water) with less water will make a thicker cream instead of a milk if you do not wish to emulsify with oil. Adding 3-4 tbs of agar-agar to heated pumpkin milk until it dissolves will help you to make a hard cheese (though adding lemon juice, garlic powder, and onion powder to taste is recommended for cheesy flavor). Some raw foodists ferment the creamed versions of nut milks (without oil) of the milk as cheese over the course of 2-3 days in a lightly colored pan after simmering milk to rid of potentially harmful bacteria. It could work with seed milk.

A quicker way to roast pumpkin seeds




Pumpkin's color communicates its beta-carotene benefit right from first sight. It's full of
Vitamin A, Protein, Alpha and Beta Carotenes, antioxidant carotenoids, Zinc, copper, Manganese, Phosporous, Amino Acid L-Tryptophan, Vitamins C, K and E, iron as mentioned, fiber, minerals as mentioned, potassium, effective carbohydrates, and magnesium. In short, this vegetable is a powerhouse of goodness. The seeds, called Pepitas are abundant with minerals as well as what some say is an anti-inflammatory effect. It has also been said it can protect against prostate cancer and osteoporosis.



The heavier sizes are great for cooking (2 to 5 pounds is a good range- when they are too big they are not as suitable), while light sized pumpkins are drier with more open space in their middles.





This Fall, you can share some of those interesting facts with your social circle, as many have no idea pumpkin can be used for more than pie and seeds.

Some folks even make boats out of the giant ones ^_^













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DIY Comfrey Oil

In a society that must return to its creative DIY consciousness, online tutorials are a great solution for learning more about herbal remedies, indoor gardening and the like. From time to time we'll be bringing you interesting DIY projects that can help you build upon your skills to provide for your own needs from the bounty of nature and your revitalized imagination.

Enjoy the following tutorial that will teach us about making Comfrey oil.

In general, comfrey is considered as a medicinal plant with
anti-inflammatory, analgesic and tissue regenerating properties in
Germany. A clinical study shows its efficacy on acute ankle
sprains, pain and edema. [2] Topical application of comfrey shows
improvement of morning joint stiffness with good tolerability in
another trial. [3]
-http://www.zhion.com/herb/Comfrey.html




Learn to make oil from scratch here
and research how to make oils and butters with your juicer.


Also recommended:
Learn about Ancient Allergy Remedies here.

The efficiency of the Acai Berry

Called one of the most nutritious superfoods and powerful foods in the world by Dr. Perricone,
Acai has fast become the ingredients to look for in smoothies, and prepackaged drinks. A Brazilian import, the acai berry tastes like berries and chocolate, and bursts with high energy. The unsweetened pulp version of the fruit is the preferable form to purchase. You can find it in most natural food stores. The benefits of Acai are numerous. They include; combatting premature aging with antioxidants (Acai has 10 times more antioxidants than grapes), a near perfect amino acid complex with valuable minerals necessary for proper muscle regeneration and health, as well as the support of cardiovascular health and digestive balance with 'good' fats, phytosterols, and dietary fiber.



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Organic Candy

So close to Halloween, giving consideration to ecologically, socially responsible and even healthy candy is recommended. Fortunately Green and Natural Mom has discovered something that can make the organic-geared greenies very happy:Pure Fun Organic Candy.



I haven't tried it personally yet, but the website is sure loads of fun in a Willy Wonka-ish swirl of color and upbeat carnival worthy acoustics kind of way. Their candy colors are derived of natural origins such as:


* Annatto
* Turmeric

* Alfalfa
* Red Cabbage

* Red Beets
* Caramel



And their natural flavors range from:

* Goji Berry
* Lemon
* Lime
* Orange
* Tangerine
* Honey Lemon

* Raspberry
* Green Apple
* Watermelon
* Ginger
* Cinnamon
* Pomegranate

* Maple
* Licorice (and Anise)
* Root Beer
* Vanilla


*In addition to this they steer clear of creepy GMO's, gluten, casein, dairy, artificial flavors, dyes, pesticides, preservatives and FD&C colors.




In short, pure fun is candy that isn't poisonous.
Enjoy ^_^

The Value Of Sleep

Proper rest regulates weight, undoes depression, and keeps heart disease at bay. But if you're like most people, sleep is probably considered more of a luxury than a necessity. You may, like many others, sacrifice the time your body and mind need to replenish themselves, to get just a bit of extra work done here and there, but at what cost?

Lack of sleep can cause mood disturbances, increase pain, and even increase your risk of developing diabetes.A poll in 2007 conducted by the National Sleep Foundation found that 60 percent of American women get a sufficient night's rest only a few times per week or less, though 8 hours of sleep per night is essential for maximum health.

So how do we get back on track?
Better diet, and remodeling your habits are two surefire ways to re-acclimate your body and mind to operating on a full night of sleep. Habits take 21 days to become set into one's mind. Keeping this in mind, you can create a schedule for yourself that involves better management of time that strictly calls lights out at a non-negotiable time for at least a month to allow the pattern to establish itself in your nightly routine.

Set your alarm to go off an hour before your designated bedtime as a cue that you have an hour to get there.

Wind down during that hour after taking care of any last minute house duties, and/or hygienic rituals.

Your body begins to prepare itself for sleep well in advance of your awareness by producing the sleep chemical adenosine, while you're still awake. When you don't get enough sleep, the adenosine stays with you, keeping you drowsy. Some say this is a building of 'sleep debt'.
When the sun sets, your eyes take notice, and the body cues the pineal gland when it gets the signal from your eyes that light is dimming, at which point it secretes melatonin, to increase drowsiness.

Drowsiness can be overcome however, by a willful person intent on finishing up that last report for the following morning, or staying up to watch syndicated sitcoms to catch up on entertainment missed during the day. In cases where one finds themselves very undisciplined or plagued by thought to the extent that they can't relax into sleep, there are natural alternatives.
Natural sleep aids like Melatonin, or Valerian root can assist you in getting your required amount of sleep, as can the aroma-therapeutic benefits of Lavender, when sprayed upon a pillow, or added to a diffuser.



Source:
Natural health Magazine, June 2008

Feel Good Challenge #4

Compiling affirmations helps us to get back in touch with the part of us that dreams vividly, and has access to a neverending pool of hope: Our innerchild. Society has told us to stuff the child within down, and grow up, but how well does that really work for us? Creativity is natural.
It is time for everyone to come out of stifling the one gift that makes all of us unique. Our ability to express our view.








You'll Need:

Innerchild tools of your choice (clay, glue, paper, crayons, pen, stickers, glitter, etc)
Goodies for guilt-free munching (PBJ, Green Banana Smoothies, etc)



Action:

It's playtime. Allow yourself to create right now, without judgment. Color. Glue. Sculpt. Reconnect with the part of you that knows the value of wonder, and expression of perspective. Draw a picture of the tree in your front yard. Doodle and find symbols in your doodles for personal insight. If you find yourself drawing flowers, notice whether they are blooms or buds. What do they tell you about your own process. If you notice alot of stars in your art, consider that your subconscious may see much brightness ahead in your path. It may be your time to shine.

When you've finished your innerchild session, take some time to write down any insights you may have gained through the process.


Please share your feedback about the challenge and talk with other challenge participants in the comments.

The Mighty? Mangosteen

Mangosteen may not have survived America's first attempts to have the 18 foot high trees that grow in Africa, flourish in the states (the only tree that bloomed bore one fruit that died fairly quickly), but that doesn't stop industry from attempting to bring its benefits to US customers. Entire wild forests of the fruit can be found in Malaya, and the fruit is also found in the Caribbean and Central America.
There a decent number of skeptics however, who feel that something claimed to be so versatile and tasting as good as Mangosteen does, might not be very effective, despite reports that Mangosteen is anti-depressant, anti-leukemic, anti-microbial (fungus and bacteria), and also anti-viral.

Mangosteen is said to contain over 40 xanthones (biologically active plant phenols identified in select tropical plants) identified in the rind, which places the fruit in the category of one of the fruits with the highest xanthone content, according to Xango.com (a major distributor of the Mangosteen juice product). They claim also that only 6 xanthones have been studied in depth (fully ripe fruits are said to contain xanthones, gartanin, 8-desoxygartanin, and normangoston and a derivative of mangostin that is a central nervous system depressant, causing a blood pressure rise).

In eastern countries the rind is sliced and dried into a powder to overcome dysentery. It is also made into an ointment that is applied to eczema and other disorders of the skin. The decoction of the rind is taken to relieve diahrrea and cystitis, gleet, and gonorrhea applied as an astringent. Steeped in water overnight it is a remedy for chronic diahrrea in both adults and children.

In the Phillipines a decoction of the leaves and bark is used to treat thrush, diahrrea, dysentery, and disorders of the urinary tract. An infusion of the leaves with an unripe banana and a bit of benzoin is applied in Malay to the wound of circumcision. As a root decoction it's taken to regulate menstruation.

In the end it may be too early to tell if Mangosteen is the superfruit juice ingredient Xango claims it to be, but it is surely a gem in the world of folk medicine.


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Brown Short Grain Rice Hearts Your Hair

Hair is the fastest growing tissue. It utilizes your body's nutrients, making balance the key in taking in optimal nutrition. Hair requires a mix of complex carbohydrates, protein, minerals and vitamins in balanced portions. Overdoing it with any particular nutrient can throw off your hair's healthy balance. The primary building block of your hair, is protein. Complex carbohydrates and iron (a valuable mineral in this area of health) will help hair growth. B Complex vitamins, build good hair and skin, and Zinc, Folic acid are also helpful.



Why Brown Short-Grain Rice ?
A fantastic source of B vitamins and fiber, Brown Short Grain Rice provides the complex carbs your hair will need for healthy growth. Taken with protein during mealtime it is the perfect meal for your follicles. Good sources of ethical protein include Soy, and Beans.
It is considered ideal to start with proper complex carbs and protein as early in the day as possible when your hair follicles need the most energy. A cup of rice (steamed, blended or mixed with 2 more parts water then strained to make rice milk) with vegetables or fruits, can make for an ideal source of nutrition in the morning hours.

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Acerola: The Barbados Cherry

Eaten like grapes in the Caribbean by many who grow it at home, Acerola is a potent immune system booster that isn't as easy to obtain in the US as it is in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico, and the West Indies. With the prevention of heart disease as one of its benefits, Acerola is also reputed to be a powerful protection against cancer. This powerhouse fruit contains 32 times the amount of Vitamin C in orange juice (which is over 3000% as much), and the green fruits have twice as much the amount of Vitamin C as mature fruits.

One Acerola berry alone has more than 100 percent of the required daily amount of Vitamin C. Naturally, this has made Acerola a popular health supplement as well as cosmetic ingredient, due to its antioxidant activity. In addition to this, it keeps for months, though one should be wary when heating the berries for jams and other recipes, as the Vitamin C content is reduced through the heating process. The benefits of the seeds have not yet been studied.


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Survival 101

As economic collapse looms, we must begin to think of how we will sustain ourselves.
Some of Jack Needles suggestions include:

1. Plant a Garden

2. Plant Fruit trees( high fat fruits such as avocados and acorns are key)

3. Storable foods such as nuts (- incl. acorns), seeds, dried powders, and even canned foods (Grass can be digested by humans when juiced, but not as a solid)

4. Fishing Rods( for fishing)

5. Look into buying a goat, a hen, or cow for milk and/or eggs

5. Look into buying a wheatgrass juicer

6. PLENTY of multi vitamin/multi mineral supplements

7. Look into www.EFoodsDirect.com for storable foods also





You can enjoy more of Jack Needles informational videos on Youtube.
Keep your head up. A vital creative attitude is more important than ever now.

One essential item not mentioned is a dehydrator. Dehydrators offer a year or more of shelf life depending upon how they are packaged. Canned they are said to last twenty plus years.

Vegan Coconut Cake

Enjoy this treat with an easy tutorial that shows you what to do.