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I love a good massage. Ever since I got into the high tech industry, I’ve had a couple of knots in my back that ache and throb after working all day. For a while I had health insurance that covered weekly massages and my company had an amazing massage therapist who visited the office regularly. She was so good that I would be dizzy after every session. My back wouldn’t ache at all for days.

The MIGUN massage bed is not as good as that massage therapist. But it is better than every other massage therapist I have ever gone to. And I’ve been to some good ones.

All across the country, MIGUN stores are popping up, offering use of their beds absolutely free. All you have to do is sit through a 30-minute orientation, one time, and you can come back every day, forever, for free. In this orientation, they will tell you all about how the bed uses far infrared light, heated jade stones, acupressure, and simulated accupuncture, to cure a multitude of ailments. Even the FDA has approved their statements that the bed can relieve a host of conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, sciatica, and back pain.

I’ve gone every day they are open (6 days a week in Asheville) for the past 3 weeks. I’ll be honest; the bed hasn’t fixed my back. In fact, my back aches right now as I’m typing this. I’m willing to give it a chance to work though. Afterall, it has taken me over 10 years of software development to build up these tense back muscles. And if nothing else, it really is one hell of a massage, especially for the price.

Robots are going to put us all out of work one day.

If you’ve spent any time reading my blog, you probably noticed that I’m a bit of a health fanatic. I love learning about new ways of healthy living and healthy eating. It’s been something of a hobby for me for the past few years.

About a year ago, I was reading a health food book and started feeling overwhelmed by all the information I was taking in. It was all fascinating. I was learning so much that I wanted to apply to my diet. But how would I possibly remember it all for long enough to benefit from it?

And so, foodscout.org was born.

I started to create a database for all the foods I was reading about along with their nutritional value and the health benefits they provide. It was becoming so handy that friends would often ask me for advice and information from my food database.

It finally occurred to me to put this information out on the internet and share it with the world. I hope it helps you on your path to better health!

Check it out at http://www.foodscout.org.

I have not been involved with Republican politics for very long, so take this report for what it’s worth.

When I first started meeting Republicans in this area, Ron Paul was regarded as something of an absurd anomaly. If they didn’t come right out and laugh at him or insult him, it was only because they knew there were Ron Paul supporters in the room and they were trying to be polite.

In the last couple of weeks, that attitude has changed somewhat. It still seems to be a widely held opinion that Ron Paul’s foreign policy is either “crazy” or “scary”. But now, when people say Ron Paul’s name (which they do surprisingly often) they follow it up with, “there are a lot of things I like about Ron Paul.” Or “He really seems to understand our economic problems.” Or, even more interestingly (and I’ve heard this sentiment multiple times), “I may even have to vote for Ron Paul.”

I’m not trying to suggest that the whole GOP is singing Ron Paul’s praises. It isn’t. But his message is starting to get through. Progress is being made. And in a race where most Republicans dislike all of their options and can’t settle on a candidate, there may just be hope for Ron Paul after all.

When I was more involved with animal activism and outreach, the issue of lobster tanks in restaurants and grocery stores would periodically come up. Some activists took particular offense to the idea of consumers picking out a lobster while it is alive, and then eating it. I could never understand why this was a greater crime than choosing from a whole slew of dead animal parts that had been slaughtered out of site.

This New York Times article asks this same question, albeit in a much more gruesome way. In this case, a chef slaughtered a chicken on British television. Another chef performed cruel factory farm practices on animals in order to educate viewers about the true cost of cheap meat and eggs.

Some people are outraged about these chefs’ participation in the killing or torturing of animals. But is this really worse than the chefs who participate indirectly by purchasing meat and dressing it up as culinary artwork and shielding their customers from the cold reality of what they are eating?

I believe that the more people who know about and are reminded of where meat comes from, the fewer of them will participate. At the very least, more of them will insist on supporting only those farms that at least give animals a quality natural life before their much-too-early deaths. This alone would decrease meat consumption, because it would be more expensive and less convenient.

Perhaps those who oppose this more open approach to animal slaughter are afraid that people will see this cruelty first-hand and will still not care. For those of us who have shown friends the horror of factory farming only to see them continue to support it, we know this is a real possibility. I have faith that enough people are genuinely compassionate toward all animals that society would shift in the animals’ favor if people could no longer escape the reality of what they are eating.

Repetitive strain injury, and other computer-related physical stress, is a growing problem in today’s high-tech world. Many of us spend long, uninterrupted hours sitting and staring at computers. For some, the strain continues after work as well, as more and more people become addicted to surfing the web and checking email. This can result in back and shoulder pain, wrist pain, headaches, eye strain, and a general waste of time and energy.

AntiRSI is a great little program that forces computer users to take regular breaks. It’s been around for well over 2 years, but for internet addicts like me, it’s ground-breaking news. Since I started using it a week ago, it has transformed the way I use my computer.

Every 50 minutes, the program begins an 8 minute break. A 13 second “micro pause” comes a few times per hour. This reminds me to get up, stretch, rest my eyes (which can dry out from extended computer use), and take a mental break. An unexpected consequence has been that I am now more aware of the passage of time while I am online. Knowing that a break is coming motivates me to efficiently finish up my current tasks, rather than check email or aimlessly surf the web.

Just like anything else, the program will only work if you are willing to work with it. You can continuously “postpone” your 8 minute break indefinitely, and nothing will stop you from shutting down AntiRSI entirely. For those of you who genuinely want to guard against computer-related stress, or who just want to be more aware of the time you spend online, AntiRSI is a great tool.

AntiRSI is designed to work with Macs only. For windows users, try WorkRave.

Planting a vegetable garden has been high on my list of things to do since I moved into my new Asheville home this past July. Many convenient excuses have prevented me from getting started on this health-giving, money-saving, highly satisfying project. Today is the day when I put it off no longer.

I spent this weekend reading about gardening, trying to find out the “right” way to go about it. There is a ton of information out there and it can be prohibitively overwhelming. The best advice I found was to just get started. Don’t worry about doing everything perfect on your first garden. If you worry about all the nuances, you’ll never plant anything.

The first step is to pick a good spot. A garden needs to get 6-10 hours of sunlight each day, so avoid areas that are shaded by trees or buildings. A garden should be in a relatively flat area that won’t collect sitting water. Also, avoid areas next to trees that will compete for soil nutrients. My garden location isn’t ideal, but it’s definitely the best area my yard has to offer. I chose a 20’X 15′ area in the middle of the backyard, a little too close to a small tree, but it should get pretty solid sunlight when spring hits.

The second step is to kill the existing grass and weeds. The most common way to do this is to cover the area with opaque plastic for at least a month. The weeds may appear to be dead after a short time, but it is important to keep the area covered in order to kill the roots. The longer the plastic is left on, the fewer weeds that will survive. I do plan to replace the hodge-podge of junk with some 2X4s or bricks to hold down the plastic, but I don’t have any on hand and I didn’t want to use that as another excuse to procrastinate.

Now that I have the garden started, I can continue reading and learning about the next steps. How do I prepare the soil? When do I plant? Which vegetables should be planted when? Any advice for this novice gardener is very much appreciated.

Cafe Indigo isn’t easy to find, tucked away in the back of a business park, but it is definitely worth going out of the way for. The menu offers fairly standard items, such as eggless egg salad, lentil soup, veggie burger, and faux meat wraps, as well as a nice selection of baked goods and desserts, but the flavor and texture make this some of the best vegan comfort food I’ve ever had.

Cafe Indigo eggless egg salad

The restaurant is owned by two carnivores who became inspired by their vegan children to create delicious vegan food. The fact that they still remember what non-vegan food tastes like, is probably what has allowed them to recreate these old favorites so successfully.

Much like the people in New Hampshire, the restaurant owner, who was also our server, was incredibly welcoming and helpful. She catered to my gluten allergy needs by bringing me a menu with the gluten-free options labeled. She assisted my less adventurous omnivore friend by making suggestions about what she might be comfortable eating.

Cafe Indigo blueberry cheesecake

After talking me into ordering the best vegan cheesecake in the entire known universe, she brought my lunch companions a complementary mini-slice to try as well, which they happily devoured. The owners apparently spent 3 weeks experimenting with taste and texture to get this blueberry cheesecake just right – and they did.

Anyone planning a trip to New Hampshire should definitely make an effort to stop into Cafe Indigo.

See also my vegan restaurant tour.

I’m leaving for New Hampshire tomorrow, as part of Operation Live Free or Die, to help win the first presidential primary for Ron Paul. Staying healthy while traveling for 9 days is a challenge under any circumstances. A vegan health nut staying healthy in the midst of republicans and libertarians is near impossible. I’ve only ever done this successfully for a couple of days, but I’m convinced it can be done longer term with a little preparation.

I will need to bring snacks and supplements that require no preparation, pack up small, and can make it through airport security. Here is what I have come up with for my trip.

Raw energy bars: I made these myself and dumped in whatever I had around that looked nourishing. They contain sprouted buckwheat, sprouted quinoa, apple, pear, ground flax seeds, barley grass powder, and a hint of vanilla. I also made a second batch with shredded coconut, cacao (raw chocolate) powder, and maca powder, for some extra energy in the morning. These taste absolutely horrible, by the way, but I can eat just about anything if I know it’s good for me.

Manna bread: This sprouted grain bread is very nutritious and very dense. I can break off a chunk for a satisfying snack.

Greens+ Chocolate Energy Bars: I am very addicted to these and have never been able to stop myself from eating them when I buy more than one. I bought 9 for my trip and will attempt to limit myself to 1 bar per day. It will be an interesting experiment. I know it’s really just another candy bar, but it’s very healthy as candy bars go: no sugar, no gluten, high fiber, high protein, and alkaline.

Also included in my travel stash are some supplements: Probiotics, MSM, B12 tablets, and noni pills, to keep my immune system working at full capacity. I’m also bringing along some digestive enzymes for those times when I have to eat some less than ideal food.

Some extra good news is that I will be staying with another vegan Ron Paul supporter, which is amazing luck, and there will be plenty of good produce and snacks in town. But I won’t be able to eat the same healthy meals I normally make at home, like my daily green smoothies, and I’m sure to be stuck without many food options at some point during my trip. I am hopeful that this nutrient-packed foods will keep me healthy and energized on the Ron Paul 2008 campaign trail.

Just like every year for the past several, this has been my healthiest year ever. Having some very simple recipes and basic ingredients on hand has been the key to maintaining a clean diet and avoiding junk food binges and restaurant outings. Below are the simple meals that have made up a large part of my diet throughout 2007. Generally speaking, I try to eat at least 2 mostly raw meals per day. I’ve posted my favorite breakfast recipes in a separate post.

“Meal Salad”
The idea of the meal salad is to take whatever vegetables are in the fridge (I never use leafy greens) and mix up a little dressing to make it more filling and appetizing. I usually use these vegetables:
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 tomato, chopped
1 cucumber, chopped
1 avocado, peeled and cubed
1 stalk celery, chopped
¼ onion, chopped
sprouts or shredded zucchini
5 black olives, chopped small

My typical salad dressing:
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 Tbsp flax oil or olive oil
1 Tbsp Bragg liquid aminos
1 Tbsp nutritional yeast flakes
½ lemon, juiced
a little bit of black tahini

Cucumber Seaweed Salad
This is based on a recipe from Living on Live Foods by Alissa Cohen. (Pictured above.)

½ package of wakame or arame seaweed, rehydrated
1 cucumber, sliced thin
¼ onion, chopped
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 Tbsp Bragg liquid aminos

Mix all ingredients together. Best when you let it sit for 30 minutes.

Cooked Quinoa Salad
1 cup quinoa
2 cups water
¼ onion, chopped
1 tomato, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
sea salt or herbamare to taste

Mix the quinoa and water in a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer, add onions, cover, and cook for 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix in the rest of the ingredients.

Garlic Manna Bread
Manna bread is a very dense and nutritious sprouted grain bread made by Nature’s Path. It is cooked at low temperatures but it isn’t raw. If your local health food store carries it, you can find it in the freezer section.

1/2 loaf Manna bread, sliced
1-2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 Tbsp olive oil

Mix garlic and olive oil together. Spread on Manna bread slices.

Breakfast has always been my favorite meal of the day. When I was a kid, I delighted making pancakes or french toast with my family. When I became vegan, I was thrilled to find vegan versions of my favorite breakfast foods. Just because I’m a gluten-intolerant health nut with a focus on raw food, doesn’t change my emotional need to have exciting breakfasts. It certainly doesn’t change the fact that a filling, healthy breakfast is the best way to start the day. Listed below are the recipes that I eat on a regular basis.

Green Smoothies
If I don’t eat a green smoothie for breakfast, I will usually eat one for lunch or dinner instead. I believe they are an ideal meal for just about everyone and can go a long long way in counteracting any other junk food that finds its way into your diet.

1/2 head of any leafy greens
2-4 pieces of fruit

Blend in a high power blender or cut the greens and fruit into small pieces and blend in a standard blender. It’s best to eat a variety of greens if eating them every day.

Porridge
This is my favorite weekend breakfast treat. I usually have this at least once each weekend.

2 cups sprouted buckwheat or soaked oat groats (soaked overnight)
1 apple
1 pear
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 vanilla bean or 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 banana, sliced

Mix all ingredients, except for the banana, in a food processor until well mixed and remove from food processor. Mix in sliced bananas. Pour in fresh almond milk for an added treat.

Cooked Amaranth
This is a good breakfast to make on work days (or it was when I worked a “real” job) because you can set a timer get ready for work while its cooking. Just don’t forget to mix in the fruit about half way through.

1 cup amaranth
2-1/2 cup water
1 banana, berries, or other fruit
2 Tbsp flax seed oil

Mix amaranth and water in a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer, cover, and cook for 25 minutes. Mix in fruit about 10 minutes before the amaranth is done cooking. Remove from heat and mix in flax seed oil.

Green Gorilla Smoothie
The name was stolen from a similar smoothie for sale at Green Life Grocery here in Asheville. I don’t have any measurements on this. Every smoothie is like the kitchen experiments my sister and I used to throw together, except these actually taste good. No two are ever alike. All of these ingredients are not necessary, but these are the most common ones I use.

Almond Milk and/or young coconut water and meat
2 or 3 heaping spoonfuls of spirulina powder
a spoonful of barley grass juice powder
a spoonful of cacao powder or nibs
a spoonful of maca powder
2 bananas
pineapple
shredded coconut

Blend well. Make sure the powders aren’t stuck to the sides.