Learn more about this incredible plant with its magnitude of healing properties and scientifically proven nutritional benefits

Aloe Vera has been valued for thousands of years for its remarkable healing and regenerative properties. Archaeologists have found pictures of the plant on ancient Egyptian temple walls dating back to 4000 BC, and both queens Cleopatra and Nefertiti used it in their beauty regimes. For centuries, it has been used across Asia, Africa and the Americas; for example, the Fountain of Youth, with its legendary powers of rejuvenation, was sited amongst Aloe plants. Aloe grows extensively in hotter climates, and has earned many names as testament to its potency: wand of heaven, wonder plant, heaven's blessing, plant of life, harmonic remedy, and elixir of longevity, are just a few. There are more than two hundred varieties of Aloe, many of which can be seen in the Princess of Wales Conservatory at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Only a few have medicinal properties - Aloe Vera (Barbadensis Miller), being the most effective. It is a common household plant, even in the UK, and contrary to appearance it is not a cactus, but part of the lily family, along with onions and garlic (which is also a natural antibiotic). So, when you drink the Aloe gel, you are actually drinking a vegetable juice.

Until recently, Aloe was little heard of in Europe because it does not travel well. As soon as the leaf is cut, oxidation occurs, and the power of the healing agents it contains are greatly reduced. Anyone attempting to import the gel into the country was disappointed as the weakened Aloe failed to live up to its reputation. In 1978, Forever Living were the first to patent a stabilisation process which ensures that what you get in the bottle is essentially identical to what you get when you cut open a leaf, and so for the first time people in the West could appreciate its full potency.

What makes it so powerful?

For a start, the gel contains 75 nutrients, and over 200 active ingredients - and that's just the ones that we know about. But it is the synergy of these constituents that is most important - as all of the elements combine together, the resulting whole is greater than the sum of the individual parts.

Aloe has adaptogenic properties; that is, the body takes what it needs from the plant, benefiting the area that needs it most.

Aloe is effective in so many different areas because it works on the epithelial tissues, which form our skin, gut lining, bronchial tubes, and genital tract.

It is a rich source of vitamins, particularly A, C, and E, and one of the few plant sources of B12, which is particularly important for vegans and vegetarians. It also contains more than twenty of the minerals needed on a daily basis, such as magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, chromium, calcium, sodium, and potassium. It contains twenty amino acids, including seven of the eight essential amino acids.

The essential fatty acids in Aloe are beneficial not only nutritionally (the only dietary sources are fish and some seeds), but also as anti-inflammatory agents. These are plant sterols, natural steroids with no detrimental side effects.

It is high is enzymes, which are vital for every function of the body to occur, and yet are destroyed even at low heat, so lacking in a usual diet where most food is cooked before it is consumed.

Aloe contains a substance called lignin, which is renowned for its penetrative abilities. Aloe is not just working on the surface of the skin, like most skin creams, but reaches right down through to the layers where it is renewed.

It contains saponins, natural cleansers that are anti-microbial, and effective in the treatment of bacteria, viruses, and yeast and fungal infections.

Aloe contains six natural antiseptics, so is effective in treating infection.

Mucopolysaccharides present in the gel are sugars that are found in every cell of our bodies.

Aloe is one of the highest natural sources of these essential building blocks, which the body manufactures only during childhood.

Aloe contains anthraquinones, which are natural painkillers.

Who are Forever Living?

Forever Living is the world's biggest Aloe vera producer, growing over 80% of the world's commercially grown Aloe vera. The company controls the process exclusively from growing the plants right through to the retailing, so they can ensure the highest quality at every stage. The plants are grown in the USA, and harvested by hand. Within hours of harvesting, they are stabilized using a unique process patented by the company, thus oxidation is prevented, and the Aloe will keep for several years in sealed containers. The products are not sold in high street stores, but only through direct marketing, because with a product of such high quality, you need service to match, and this is best achieved by selling it on a more personal basis.

In 1997, Forever Living was the only brand of Aloe sold in this country that met with the IASC standards (the International Aloe Science Council); since then, the market has boomed, and there are now many Aloe products on the wholefood store shelves. It is essential when purchasing Aloe that you get top quality, or it will not be effective. Although Aloe is probably the most popular ingredient in toiletries, according to research done in 1994, most brands contain less than 2% aloe (at least 25% is needed for the product to have any real benefits). In all of Forever Living's Aloe range, 100% stabilised Aloe vera gel is the principal ingredient. Unfortunately, much of the labelling on Aloe vera sold in this country is misleading. If it says 100% Aloe vera gel on the bottle, this just means that the Aloe itself is 100% pure - the bottle can still contain 95% water! The Aloe industry is almost entirely unregulated, and even the IASC seal of approval is only a guarantee on the Aloe content, not on the end product. Forever Living test the quality of the gel every day to make sure it is up to standard, carry Kosher and Islamic marks of approval, and none of the products are tested on animals. What's more, every product sold by Forever Living comes with a 60 day money back guarantee. If, at the end of that period, you are not satisfied with the results, you can have a full refund. We have tried every brand of Aloe vera gel on the market and are convinced this brand is by far and away the best!

Recommended dosage: start off with one tablespoon a day, either first thing in the morning or last thing at night. If you don't like the taste you can mix it with fruit juice. You may experience a healing crisis, such as a skin flare-up or an unsettled gut. Once your system has adjusted, up the amount to a level you feel comfortable with. Two to four tablespoons a day is the suggested maintenance dose. You cannot overdose on our aloe vera; cancer patients and Aids sufferers have been known to benefit from 8-16 oz doses daily.

Originally, Ayurveda defined seven body types. These, referred to as doshas, were Vata, Pitta, Kapha, Sama, Vata-Kapha, Vata-Pitta, and Pitta-Kapha. The first three types occur in their pure form very rarely and so seldom is it that anyone is primarily influenced by one dosha alone. Most Ayurveda reference the following three doshas:

The vata dosha combines the elements ether and air. It is considered the most powerful dosha because it controls very basic body processes such as cell division, the heart, breathing, discharge of waste, and the mind. Vata can be aggravated by, for example, fear, grief, staying up late at night, eating dry fruit, or eating before the previous meal is digested. People with vata as their main dosha are thought to be especially susceptible to skin and neurological conditions, rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, anxiety, and insomnia.

The pitta dosha represents the elements fire and water. Pitta controls hormones and the digestive system. A person with a pitta imbalance may experience negative emotions such as anger and may have physical symptoms such as heartburn within 2 or 3 hours of eating. Pitta is upset by, for example, eating spicy or sour food, fatigue, or spending too much time in the sun. People with a predominantly pitta constitution are thought to be susceptible to hypertension, heart disease, infectious diseases, and digestive conditions such as Crohn's disease.

The kapha dosha combines the elements water and earth. Kapha helps to maintain strength and immunity and to control growth. An imbalance of the kapha dosha may cause nausea immediately after eating. Kapha is aggravated by, for example, greed, sleeping during the daytime, eating too many sweet foods, eating after one is full, and eating and drinking foods and beverages with too much salt and water (especially in the springtime). Those with a predominant kapha dosha are thought to be vulnerable to diabetes, cancer, obesity, and respiratory illnesses such as asthma.

The key to maintaining physical and mental health is in keeping these elements and doshas in harmonic balance through proper diet, herbs and life style, otherwise early aging and various diseases can manifest. These three doshas can even be traced back to the very beginning of creation as representing the three Gods in Vedic wisdom Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma. One or more of these doshas or elements will predominate in every individual living entity creating seven possible body types. By knowing which type you are by symptoms, the proper diet and herbal treatment can be established for you.

• Eliminating impurities. A process called panchakarma is intended to cleanse the body by eliminating ama. Ama is described as an undigested food that sticks to tissues, interferes with normal functioning of the body, and leads to disease. Panchakarma focuses on eliminating ama through the digestive tract and the respiratory system. Enemas, massage, medical oils administered in a nasal spray, and other methods may be used.
• Reducing symptoms. The practitioner may suggest various options, including physical exercises, stretching, breathing exercises, meditation, massage, lying in the sun, and changing the diet. The patient may take certain herbs -- often with honey, to make them easier to digest. Sometimes diets are restricted to certain foods. Very small amounts of metal and mineral preparations, such as gold or iron, also may be given.
• Increasing resistance to disease. The practitioner may combine several herbs, proteins, minerals, and vitamins in tonics to improve digestion and increase appetite and immunity. These tonics are based on formulas from ancient texts.
• Reducing worry and increasing harmony. Ayurvedic medicine emphasizes mental nurturing and spiritual healing. Practitioners may recommend avoiding situations that cause worry and using techniques that promote release of negative emotions.
• Cold Water Extracted. It extracts and concentrates the medicinal properties of the herbs. Removing all the fibers and unnecessary parts to make the herb as pure as possible. Making just a little bit go a very long way, allowing ¼-1 teaspoon more than enough.

Click here to view the fact sheet

Photo shows Jesus Loves You to Gojiness,
from Raw Magic, made entirely in the Thermomix

The Thermomix is a revolutionary kitchen tool, and that's why it is so perfect for raw food cuisine, the revolutionary way of eating. With the Thermomix, making healthy, nutritious, fresh meals has never been easier. Whatever you want to do in terms of raw food cuisine, the Thermomix does it triumphantly. Smoothies, milks, salads, soups, ice cream, chocolate, cakes, nut butters, all in minutes.

The Thermomix's main unique selling point is that, as well as being a food processor and blender in one, it also heats food at the same time. You may be wondering what value this has for raw-fooders, well, the exciting feature for us here is that the machine carefully regulates the  temperature to the chosen degree, and there is a setting for 37 deg C. This takes the guesswork out of heating foods, and means we can always warm foods without worrying about destroying the enzymes. I believe in cooler climates such as that of the UK, eating warm food is very important. The Thermomix makes it easier than ever before to make warm soups and sauce.

In performance, it is similar to using a Vitamix. It has a range of settings, from 1-10, with an additional turbo setting. But because the food sits in a bowl rather than a jug, I find it much easier to use the lower settings on a Thermomix. In the Vitamix jug, bits of food easily get stuck in the bottom of the blades, and it's hard to chop food evenly without leaving a few large lumps. The Thermomix does it all evenly, and you can also add foods in at different stages to get different textures in the same dish. What's more, the Thermomix is incredibly fast. The boys have been using it to chop vegetables like tomatoes, carrots, avocados, olives, and peppers, and they are finding that it takes about 5 or 6 seconds to get the consistency they require. Blending takes a little longer, but you are still looking at around 30 seconds.

As for the motor, Thermomix representative Janie tells me, "Power and efficiency are determined by the combined design of the motor, bowl and blade. A good analogy would be if you had a fast Ferrari engine and square wheels the car would operate inefficiently! The Thermomix motor, bowl and blade are designed beautifully to give perfect controllable results (that's German engineering for you) - most importantly, because Thermomix gives you efficiency at both slow and high blade speeds, you have less oxidation of the ingredients and more retention of colour, flavour and nutrients. Higher blade speeds often overheat and degrade the food, but this is easily avoided with a Thermomix because the grinding/blending is so efficient."

Another immensely helpful feature of the Thermomix is that it weighs all your ingredients for you. This saves you weighing ingredients out separately, and then transferring them to your mixer. It might sound like a small detail, but when you're making recipes it's little things like this that turn food prep from a chore into a pleasure. Because of these kind of time-saving features, and its super fast chopping speed, the Thermomix can halve your time in the kitchen, leaving more time for having fun!

The boys are loving using it, and it is certainly a great tool for kids as its precision removes a lot of the guesswork from food prep. I can trust them to use it and get great results with the minimum of intervention from me. Plus, I think being boys, they love the amount of buttons to press and knobs to turn! When I was introduced to the machine, I said to Janie, "It's every woman's dream!" and she turned to me and said, "Oh but it's every man's dream as well!" It's like the Formula One of food processors, and any man who loves his gadgets and gizmos is going to want one of these in his kitchen.

Janie also told me that a team of 120 engineers and designers worked on the most recent model, and it's totally believable when you consider the level of detail that has gone into creating it. I love that, with eco-efficiency, it turns itself off if you leave it on stand-by for 15 minutes. I love that the spatula (which also doubles up as an effective tamper) has a lip on it which means that when you stand it on a surface, the blade of the spatula doesn't come in contact with the work surface, so leaving no dirty marks to wipe up.

So far I've had fantastic results with virtually every dish I've experimented with. Essentially, if you own one of these you have no need for another blender, grinder, food processor, kitchen scales, or porringer. I obviously haven't tested out its abilities to cook food as well, but I understand it's brilliant for preparing different kinds of meals at the same time. This makes it a real winner for a family where mum is trying to cater for the different needs and tastes of all the members of the household. She can make a raw dish for herself and then easily transform it into a cooked meal for others, and using the steamer basket, can even cook meat or fish completely separately at the same time.

There are so many thoughtful features on this machine, I am sure there must be some I have forgotten to mention. Like how easy it is to clean! Because it has a wide base, it is very easy to rinse out. My seven year-old son used it the other day and I asked him to wash it afterwards. He grumbled, but I told him it was very easy and to try his best. He cleaned it completely, and had to agree with me that yes, it was easy enough even for him! The blades come out if you need to give it a really thorough clean, and the seal on the lid is easily removable to ensure food doesn't get trapped round there.

Of course, for all this magnificence, it doesn't come cheap, but the company do offer several different finance options. And if you're as excited about it as I am, you could always consider becoming a rep. The Thermomix is already very popular across Europe, particularly in Germany, Spain, and Italy, it's only a matter of time before it catches on in the same way here.

I must say, not having had it that long, I'm not much of an expert on how to get the best results out of the machine, so I'll save proper recipes and usage tips for another time. The main reason you may not be familiar with it already, is that the Thermomix is not sold in shops or online. To purchase one you need to contact UK Thermomix and they will put you in touch with one of their local Thermomix demonstrators. After playing with mine for a short while, I can totally understand why. You really do need someone familiar with the machine to talk you through all its uses. I am not an official Thermomix representative! If you choose to buy one, I do not receive any commission on sales. This review is based entirely on my enthusiasm for the machine, and my desire for you to get the most fulfilment possible from your raw food preparation.

I will definitely be writing more on the Thermomix as I become more acquainted with it. For now,  please direct all further enquiries to http://UKthermomix.com or call  01344 622 344. If you are not in the UK, you can still contact UK Thermomix and they will put you in touch with your nearest Thermomix representative, or of course you can simply browse the Internet to find one.

Note: this article was originally written and published in 2010. I am still using my Thermomix on a daily basis and am just as happy with it.

Imagine you could buy antioxidant capsules more powerful and fast-acting than anything currently on the market.  Imagine that you bought them in a bottle that magically replenished itself so that for the rest of your life, you could take as many capsules as you liked and never finish the bottle.  Imagine that these antioxidants not only reduced inflammation but also helped you relax, gave pain relief and helped normalise biological markers such as cortisol cycles and pH.  Sound good?  It’s not a fairytale – except it’s not a bottle of pills, it’s the earth’s natural electromagnetic field. When you are electrically connected to the earth’s field, either by simply being barefoot on the earth or if you’re indoors, using a piece of grounding kit, you are getting all of the benefits I just mentioned.

Humans used to do what we were designed to do ie run around barefoot, automatically connected electrically to the earth.  Modern humans usually wear shoes these days, mostly rubber-soled shoes that electrically insulate us and cut us off from the beneficial earth connection.  We also live in insulated houses with carpets and drive around in cars with rubber tyres.  For many of us, the only time we’re grounded is if we go on holiday to the beach and walk barefoot on the sand or get in the water.

This is particularly disastrous for our health and well-being when you factor in all of the harmful EMFs being aimed at us by the gadgets and electrical equipment that surrounds us.  Being grounded protects us from these.

The longer we spend grounded, connected to the earth’s negative electrons, the better.  It’s not usually practical to spend all day barefoot outdoors for most of us, so we have to use special grounding kit to get the benefits while being indoors.  It’s possible to get all kinds of kit that we can use in different situations; wristbands (see pic) and mouse mats for when we’re working at the computer or just sitting indoors, and even car seat grounding kits.  One of the best things is to get an electrically earthed bed sheet simply because that automatically means you are earthed for 7 or 8 hours out of every 24.

The effects are cumulative; the longer you ground yourself, the more benefits you see.  I have been using a bed sheet at night for the last two years and more recently, a wrist band while I’m working at my computer.  My verdict?  I wouldn’t be without them.  The sheet means I sleep better and it has helped my aches and pains to recede.  It’s hard to explain the difference I feel; it’s like I can breathe and relax properly on the sheet whereas without it, I feel stifled somehow.  The first sheet I got was an older design and it developed a problem and was no longer grounding me properly – and I noticed!  I knew it had stopped working, so I sent it off to be tested and sure enough, it was found to be faulty.  The replacement has been problem-free and I love it, it goes everywhere with me.  On wash days, I have to turn it around pretty fast because I hate to spend a night without it, but thankfully you can put them in the tumbler on medium heat and they’re durable enough to withstand that.  One tip when washing the sheet – stick to detergents with a wool wash mark.  Anything else may be too harsh and could damage the silver threads.

The personal grounding kit is great too.  Again, I used to have an old design of wristband that didn’t work so well.  It was made a like one of those expandable wristbands that some watches have, with articulated metal links.  It broke after a couple of months, and the lead was too short.  The one I have now is great, made simply of strong stretchy stuff that is comfortable and durable.  The difference I notice with the wrist band is that my mind stays clearer and I can keep my focus longer when working on the computer.  I also get less stressy, so it benefits those around me too.

Raw Magic in Goa 2013 was a great success. How could it not be? A paradise location, amazing food, gorgeous people, and an overflowing of information and inspiration from Kate.

These courses work on so many levels. On the most basic level, you are getting a raw chef training that you can use in the kitchen at home to prepare the most fabulous food for yourself and your loved ones. Or you could use that training to help you set up as a raw caterer, making food on a commercial scale. You are also getting the full download as to why raw foods works, how to make the diet sustainable, and how to deal with the common issues that arise when transitioning your diet. Again, you can choose to just apply this information personally, to quantum leap your own raw development, or you may choose to use it to start coaching others in the raw lifestyle. On top of this, there is the spiritual layer to what Kate does, and this is where the true magic lies. Changing your diet is about so much more than having more energy and feeling happier in your body. It opens you up to a whole new level of vibrancy in yourself and in your life, a way of being which is helping you access your true potential and really shine your light in the world. On the course, not only does Kate explain all this, but you get a chance to experience it and truly be it. Surrounded by so many like-minded people, absorbing high vibrational information, eating the best food on the planet, all in a supportive, beautiful environment, allows you to access the best of who you are and bring that to the fore.

Participants leave not only armed with a mass of empowering and liberating information, but with a new sense of possibility and excitement about themselves on every level, and how to make the desired changes in their diet, their lifestyle, and in the world.

Raw Magic in Goa will be happening again in Jan 2014. If you can't wait that long, there's courses happening in Copenhagen in March, South of France in May, Reykjavik in June and Bath in July. Full details on Kate's Magic Bubble and booking on Raw Living.

Raw Living are looking for interns to assist Kate & Chris in spreading the Raw Magic.

Ideally you will

• be able to commit to a minimum of one month
• be able to find suitable accommodation in Brighton, and if applicable, the other cities Kate is visiting during your internship
• be able to support yourself for the duration, and pay for flights and other travel expenses where necessary
• have a working knowledge of Photoshop, Excel, Gmail, Google Drive, and Wordpress.
• be comfortable using social networking tools

If this sounds like something that would be perfect for you, please email melissa@rawliving.co.uk, telling us a little bit about yourself, and the dates you are available. If you are interested in travelling, it would help if you can check Kate's diary first so you can see if her travel arrangements during that time suit you.

Please note, this is an unpaid position. You will gain invaluable experience, not only in raw foods, but in event management and entrepreneurial skills. You will gain free entry to all the events that Kate is running during your internship, and trade discounts on all your Raw Living shopping during the period. Meals are not included, but let's just say, where there's Kate, there's usually Cake.

Inspiral are currently on a mission to get kale chips, as Inspiral's founder Dom, says, "out of the health food stores and into the high streets." To do this they need to raise money for a very fancy bit of equipment which means they can produce the kale chips on an industrial scale and get them out across the nation. They also want to get them into 100% compostable packaging.

Click on the link below to listen to a quick 10 minute interview with Dom and find out more about Inspiral, the kale chips, their plans for the future, and how you can be a part of that.

Audio Interview with Dom of Inspiral

You can read more about the project on their website here.