Every year many Americans are faced with cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. What do a lot of these diseases have in common? The way we as a society chose to eat and treat our bodies. Now I don't want to start a major debate on factors like heredity, environmental issues and the like but we need to face facts that we have become a fast food, fast-paced society dealing with a lot of stress and bad eating habits and are paying less attention to a well balanced diet and the necessary exercise to stay fit. I am as guilty as the next person.

Eating raw vegetables as snacks instead of chips, nuts, pretzels, cheese and crackers and more, will not only help you lose weight but it will help you with digestion and will help your body maintain a more alkalized ph balance where disease can not live. As your body becomes more acidic the acid wastes build up in tissues and stored fat. If your body is in an alkaline state it is like heaven for normal cells and like hell for cancer cells. Cancer cells thrive and multiply when your body reaches a low enough PH level. Even eating slightly steamed or grilled veggies is better than fully cooked.

Cooking food destroys enzymes and many nutrients and so eating as many raw vegetables and fruits as possible is more healthy for you.  Here is a combination of raw treats mixed together in a salad that will make your mouth and body happy. Always buy organic products when you can. Pesticides and other chemicals only contribute to toxins in your body. You can prepare this salad and keep it in your refrigerator in an air tight container and have healthy snacks for several days. Or you can use it as part of a healthy menu for you and your family at dinner. Every ingredient in this salad is an alkalizing food. 

Vicki's Cabbage Salad
1 green pepper sliced thin
2 carrots sliced thin or shredded
1/2 head of cabbage sliced thin in 1 inch strips
1 cup chopped cauliflower
1/2 cup fresh raw peas (if frozen is your only choice let thaw naturally and add to salad)
1 orange
1 tangerine
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup raw non salted sunflower seeds

Squeeze the juice from the orange making sure there are no seeds in your juice. Pulp is fine. Mix raw veggies together in a mixing bowl and then add the fresh squeezed orange juice and one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and stir well. Add raisins and pieces of tangerine and stir again. Sprinkle with sunflower seeds.