By Wendy Rudell
I’m so excited to be able to contribute in this newsletter with José, ‘the wheatgrass man’, and La Huerta del Sol.  I’ve lived in Cabos for eight years wondering if this area would ever be able to sustain such a business and if there were ever going to be enough folks committed to their health to support this type of business.  I’m not just referring to wheatgrass but all the other wonderful sprouts that La Huerta del Sol is going to be bringing on line in the Cabo area.  The time is now, the folks are ready and I know he will be very successful and I, for one, will be a regular customer. 

I would like to talk a little bit about myself and why I think this business is so needed here.  I have been in the health field for most of my life and have certificates and licenses, all in natural healing and health related areas, that would cover a wall.  I spent five years working at a wheatgrass and sprout clinic in San Diego, where the main focus was on detoxification.  It was all RAW cuisine and of course daily wheatgrass juice shots with lots and lots of sprouts at meal times.  These foods that are so rich in nutrients and chlorophyll are a must on any cleansing diet.  The wheatgrass especially is a very powerful detoxifier and according to your level of toxicity you may or may not have a cleansing reaction.  Its always best to start with half an ounce to one ounce and go up from there as the body cleanses.  Also best to drink it on an empty stomach for maximum absorption and comfort.

Let me say a few more things about this “Mother of All Juices”, it helps restore a high energy level so when feeling fatigued you know what to do.  It is a powerhouse for the immune system and as a biofeedback specialist I see this body system as one of the most compromised in our culture.  Probably due to all the cooked food we eat along with the barrage of toxins coming at us from all directions.  By the way, we’re the only species that cooks its food, thus its DEAD, DEAD, DEAD.  Sprouts and grass juices on the other hand can combat this lifestyle and once again restore our depleted enzyme bank.  These foods actually aid digestion so, for those with digestion problems, take a shot of grass juice or make yourself a mixed sprout salad.  Both have an abundance of alkaline minerals, which help to support our bones and adrenals.  Chlorophyll has a deodorizing effect on the breath and body odors, along with helping to reduce high blood pressure and fight infections.  If you do have any infections bathe them in grass juice or use poultices on the area.   You can also apply a wet grass poultice on skin cancers or any tumor for that matter. I saw miracles at OHI (Optimum Health Institute), with people with cancer using wheatgrass juice for healing.  It was amazing. 

I could go on and on about all the benefits but I’ll be writing more in the next issue A Touch of Sun.  If you’re committed to your health and would like a free consultation with me feel free to call me at 624 144 0769 or my cell 624 1755298.  My office is in Spa Cielo so you could also call them at 105 2209 to book a free consult.

Stay Juicy and create the best health ever for yourselves! >>> back to top

Wendy Rudell  CTN, QLH  Author of “The Raw Transformation, Energizing Your Life with Living Foods”.

Wheatgrass has long been adopted by a growing population as a healthy, natural way to keep the body in shape, energized, and eliminating toxins. But what’s behind the concept of grass for health?
To some, the mere thought of even sipping a little wheatgrass is beyond comprehension let alone guzzling down a once or double ounce shot of it. Yet that’s exactly what more Americans are doing each morning. For many it routinely replaces the otherwise common yet non-nutritious favorites such as coffee or even soda—yes, one million Americans drink Coke daily for breakfast. Supporters of grass say that if you had to choose just one survival food, it should be grass.
While it may take some adjusting to, once you have an acquired taste for it, you’ll find that on days when you’re without wheatgrass,you miss it. Here are 10 top reasons for giving wheatgrass for health a shot.
1. Wheatgrass contains minimal calories (about 10-15) yet is packed with nutritious minerals (major and minor), it is high in calcium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, and potassium. It contains zinc and selenium and is a source for all B-vitamins.
2. Due to its broad spectrum of vitamins, wheatgrass was accepted by the American Medical Association as a natural vitamin food in 1939,according to Wheatgrass: Nature’s Finest Medicine, by Steve Meyerowitz.
3. The benefits of wheatgrass include helping to reduce toxins in the body and giving a fresh revitalized overall feeling. It also helps to keep things flowing so those suffering from constipation can find relief.
4. The chlorophyll acts as a healing agent to help mend ulcerated wounds, fight bacteria and infections. It also is thought to help purify the liver.
5. Wheatgrass has long been effective for treating skins conditions such as eczema or psoriasis.
6. The nutrient-rich source is a great way to add green leafy vegetables to your diet. Did you know that 15 pounds of wheatgrass is equivalent to 350 pounds of the choicest vegetables, according to Charles F.Schnabel. He was a former feed mill chemist who believed the young grass shoots had a higher nutritional value than vegetables.
7. Wheatgrass is high in water content. It also contains about 2 percent protein and 2 percent natural sugar. The protein portion contains a full range of amino acids, enzymes, and small polypeptides.
8. Wheatgrass energizes the body and boosts the mind.
9. Wheatgrass is commonly used and promoted as a way to help heal gums and stop tooth decay.
10. Wheatgrass is said to help slow down the graying process of hair! >>> back to top

From Live Fit Magazine (www.livefitmagazine.com) By Phoebe Chongchua

This Winter; Don’t Forget the Sprouts
The National Cancer institute and the National Institute of Health both recommend eating 5 fresh fruits and vegetables every day. A great way to help reach that goal is to include sprouts.
Sprouts are the only form of agriculture that can be locally grown and available in all four seasons. These "baby" vegetables are grown from seed to salad in only week. That makes them great food. In fact, one pound of alfalfa seed will yield 10-14 pounds of fresh mini-salad greens. Whether you are on top of a mountain or in a bunker with artificial light, you can still grow this fast, organic food.
Yes, it is fast food, but you won't be sacrificing any nutrition. Sunflower, and radish sprouts are all 4% Protein. Compare that to spinach - 3%, Romaine lettuce -1.5% and Iceberg lettuce- 0.8%, and milk -3.3%. These foods all have about 90% water. But meat and eggs are the protein foods for Americans. Meat is 19% and eggs are 13% protein (and 11% fat). But Soybean sprouts have 28% protein, and lentil and pea sprouts are 26%. Soybeans sprouts have twice the protein of eggs and only 1/10 fat the fat.
Grain and nut sprouts, such as wheat and sunflower, are rich in fats. While fats in flour and wheat germ have a reputation for going rancid quickly (stores should refrigerate them), fats in sprouts last for weeks. While sunflower oil is our finest source of omega 6, germination of the sunflower sprout micellizes the fatty acids into an easily digestible, water soluble form saving our body the trouble of breaking it down and simultaneously protecting us against the perils of rancidity. This is a great bonus for a sprout that is already popular for its crispness and nutty flavor.
Radish sprouts have 29 times more Vitamin C than milk (29mg vs 1mg) and 4 times the Vitamin A (391 IU vs 126). These spicy sprouts have 10 times more calcium than a potato (51mg vs 5mg) and contain more vitamin C than pineapple. If you examine what is happening during germination, it looks like a vitamin factory. While mature radishes contain 10 IU/100g of provitamin, the radish sprouts contain 391 IU, 39 times more! No wonder, sprout lovers say you can feel the vitamins!
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine researchers found substantial amounts of glucosinolates and isothiocyanates in broccoli sprouts which are very potent inducers of phase 2 enzymes that protect cells from going malignant.

Sprouts also contain an abundance of highly active antioxidants that prevent DNA destruction and protect us from the ongoing effects of aging. It wouldn't be inconceivable to find a fountain of youth here, after all, sprouts represent the miracle of birth. >>> back to top
By Steve Meyerowitz, Sproutman®

By G and C’s Kitchen

INGREDIENTS:
2 and ½  cups Sunflower Sprouts
1 and ½  cup Broccoli Sprouts
1/8 cup Radish Sprouts
2 firm organic tomatoes
1 handful organic mint leaves
1 handful organic basil leaves
¼ cup roasted almonds sliced
¼ cup sun-dried cranberries
¼ cup lemon juice
3 tablespoons warm water
¼ teaspoon fresh tarragon chopped
½ cup olive oil
Freshly ground salt and pepper

Rinse and dry sprouts and leaves. Place sprouts in salad bowl and fluff them with your hands before adding the rest of the ingredients. Julienne the mint and basil leaves using a sharp knife. Slice the leaves in a gentle manner to avoid darkening. Add the juliennes to the sprout mix. Skin the tomatoes cutting a small cross on the bottom of the tomatoes and placing them in boiling water for 15 seconds. Remove from boiling water and place in ice-cold water immediately. Pull the skin off and quarter the tomatoes. Remove the seeds and cut the tomatoes into eighths. Add cut tomatoes to sprouts.

Place the chopped tarragon in a small bowl with the lemon juice and warm water, add salt and pepper to taste, whisk in olive oil to emulsify the vinaigrette. Toss salad, top with sliced almonds and sun-dried cranberries, drizzle lemon/tarragon vinaigrette on top. Enjoy! >>> back to top

Wednesday, November 25 and Thursday, November 26, Fundacion Sarahuaro A.C. presents “First Annual Christmas Bazaar” at Club Campestre Beach Club in San José del Cabo from 10am until 7pm. A great selection of beautiful items available at very special prices. Find the perfect gifts for the season while lending a helping hand to Los Cabos’ underprivileged community. 20% of proceeds from this event will be used for the construction of new Sarahuaro facilities.  

Wednesday, November 25, International Day of No Violence Against Women,  at 9:30 am is a breakfast benefit, “A Day With Flowers, a Day Without Violence” for the women and children's shelter Refugio del Amor A.C., at Brennan's Restaurant in Cabo San Lucas. Cost is $250 pesos, call cell phone 624 147 5713 for more information and ticket locations.

Sunday, November 29 from 6 to 8 pm at RED on Paseo Los Cabos in San Jose, three-time Grammy award winner Keb' Mo', (Kevin Moore, who with his family is celebrating Thanksgiving in Cabo) will perform a small benefit for Liga Mac and Red Autismo. All donations will be evenly split between Liga Mac and Red Autismo. General admission tickets are $75 US and reserved seat tickets are $200 US per person. Sponsorships are available starting at $1500 US. Included in the ticket price is wine, beer, water, soda and appetizers. Only 135 tickets are available. Please contact events@ligamac.com for ticket reservations. 

December 1 is the date for the Sabor a Cabo Culinary Festival on Medano Beach in Cabo San Lucas with 21 restaurants and bars, and the popular Argentine band Los Enanitos Verdes (Little Green Dwarfs) playing to benefit the Red Cross and Bomberos (Fire Dept) in San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. Tickets are $1300 pesos each or about $100 USD and are on sale at Medano Beach restaurants and at Edith's Restaurant up above the beach.

December 8 from 6 - 9 pm it's the 3rd Annual Liga MAC Christmas Fiesta at Shoppes at Palmilla near San Jose del Cabo with wine, soft drinks, Christmas treats, carols by Liga MAC's youth choir, live music by Todd Clouser, a casual fashion show and raffle items from the local shops. Admission is an unwrapped toys for a child ages 1-12.

December 10 from 7 to 11 pm, it's the Los Cabos Humane Society's Fourth Annual Dressed to the K9's Holiday Event at Auberge Private Residences at the Esperanza Resort in Punta Ballena. This year's theme is Humphrey Dogart and Kitty Bergman in CATSABLANCA... Endless love at Lands End, the year's most romantic event. Tickets from $100 per person to $1500 US for VIP tables, call 144-0595 or e-mail ceresa@mexonline.com for more information. This has been a sold-out event each year, act fast.

December 11 and Saturday December 12 Questro Foundation's Education Fund Golf Tournament. Play the Puerto Los Cabos Golf Club Friday December 11 and the Cabo Real Gold Club Saturday December 12. Cost is $250 US per day, with $200 from each player going to Questro Foundation's Education Fund and $50 to tournament prizes, which include a Honda vehicle for a hole-in-one, resort packages, spa and dining certificates, and membership at Club San Lazaro. Tax-deductible receipts available. For more information, contact fundacion@fundacionquestro.org or call 143 0013 or cell phone 624 122 3626.

December 12  at 6:30 pm at Raíces y Brazos in San Jose del Cabo, join Urmas Kaldveer, Ph.D. of MioSah*for a Slide Presentation  fundraising event to support the continued monitoring of The Humpback Whales of the East Cape region. For the past 5 years Dr. Kaldveer has been in collaboration with Dr. Jorge Urban of the University of Baja California Sur at  La Paz in the photo identification of Humpback Whales in our area. Dr. Kaldveer was a member of The Mexican SPLASH** research team from 2004-2007. He will share photos, recent discoveries, personal stories and his reflections on the ancient relationship between whales and humans.  A $20.00 (or 250 peso) tax deductible donation is requested (one desert & coffee is included). Tel. 624 142 37 94 info@raicesybrazos.org and  www.raicesybrazos.org.
*The Mendocino Institute of Science & History, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation
**Structure of Populations, Level of Abundance and Status of The Humpbacks

December 13 from 4 to 8 pm it's the Arts Day Out Festival at Plaza Mijares in San Jose del Cabo! Free music workshops, youth band performances, craft and jewelry making, health workshops, interactive art design, organic food treats, yoga practice, dance performances, youth gymnasts, watercolor art show, and more . Free activities to all youth. Legendary modern jazz trumpeter and Grammy nominee Steven Bernstein will play with and Todd Clouser and Guadalajara's "Troker" rhythm section headlining the grandest Arts Day Out yet. Music students will join the band to close out the event at 8 p.m. Sponsored by the municipal culture office. >>> back to top

Farewell
Thank you for sharing these lines with us, we hope you found them of interest. We will continue to search for material of interest and benefit as we strive to provide you with bits of information to enrich your life while we continue to grow pesticide-free sprouts and wheatgrass in our green house to provide you with the freshest live food in the region.

A reminder that you can find our products at the San José Organic Market, the Palmilla Farmers Market, and Cynthia’s Organic Restaurant.

And remember the words of the late Adelle Davis: We are indeed much more than what we eat, but what we eat can, nevertheless, help us to be much more than what we are. >>> back to top