Autumn Bounty for our Smoothie

I feel the end of summer and autumn is breathing it's cold breath across the landscape, the nights are closing in and the chill in the air is noticeable in the evening, I just love this time of year. Apparently summer showed it's face briefly, stamped its feet and then stormed off to the pub, got in a fight and stayed indoors with a fat lip and a chronic hangover!!

We've just returned from Southern Spain and a few important weeks with the family. The transition from 40C in Spain to a damp 15C back in the UK has took a few days to get used too. My golden tan is already the colour of two week old leftover noodles.

It would easy to feel a little down but I was excited to return home because I knew our fine countries hedgerows and woodlands would be full of wild, free and massively nutritious food. 

This year I've left a large portion of our veggie garden go fallow to rest he soil. Apart from a few runner beans and the stragglers of last seasons Kale the garden has been taken over with chickweed and dandelions. This is a bonus because I class them as superfood and instead of my cultivated greens these two beauties go into our green smoothies. The more I crop them the quicker they grow back, I couldn't be happier with the situation, although it'll take some serious digging to get it back to the veggie garden we normally have. I'm a traditional gardener's nightmare but I know next year we will have a revitalised soil and our crops will be improved. Another plus is that we have even more wildlife in our garden. Everywhere I step froglets bounce away from my size 10 feet. Our Slow Worms and thriving, they've taken over our three compost bins for the last 15 years but they're welcome to them, they're a star addition to our little ecosystem.

We also have all our berries coming ripe, Strawberries, Raspberries and Blueberries at their sweetest. We don't have massive crops but everyday we have a good handful to have either in our smoothie of with some dairy free yogurt. Add a few raisins, a sliced banana and some sliced apple topped with a spoonful of orange blossom honey that I bring back from Spain for the ultimate late summer dessert.

Upon our return from Spain we called in to see some good friends Vicki and Mel and plunder their huge garden and especially their crop of wild plums that are perfectly ripe and a great addition to our morning smoothies. After a fifteen minutes tree shaking session and collecting of the fallen fruit we had a least 10-15lb of fruit. None will go to waste in the next few days. I know my mother will make her legendary jam which will see us through the winter with a great topping for our morning toast and porridge. We had a great evening catching up with 'old' friends, Vicki, Mel, Slim, PA and Ian. We sampled Mel's amazing homemade wine stocks and shared stories, we all have a lot of colourful history together. Mel's a talented man, I'll have to start making my own vino with some help and guidance from my buddy. Thanks guys we had a great evening, much appreciated.

Nutritionally plums are very low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium and high in Fiber, Vitamin A, K and a great source of Vitamin C. You also have a good dose of Calcium, Phosphorus and Potassium and even Omega 6 fatty acids. All you have to do is get out there and collect them and maybe shake a few trees.

The UK countryside this year is producing a bumper crop of apples, pears, damsons. The blackberries are also just becoming ripe and so are my seasonal favourite the fantastic Elderberry. Watch this space as I'll be out and about harvesting. For the last few days this is the makeup of our morning green smoothie.

25-30 wild plums

Handful of Blueberries from our garden

A few Raspberries and Strawberries from the garden

30-40 Dandelion leaves from garden

Handful of Chickweed for the garden

Half a bag of Spinach

1 stick of celery from garden

1 Banana

1 unwaxed Lemon with skin

1 chunk of Ginger with skin

1/4 Cantaloupe Melon

1tbsp Wheatgrass powder

1tbsp Spirulina

1tbsp Bee Pollen

1tbsp Flaxseed

It's a great time of the year, don't be put off by the changing weather get out there and get your free nutrition harvest that will feed you through the winter if you're smart. Any excess just store in the freezer. Obviously you need a little prepping, de-stoning plums, washing and removing any bugs that have come along for the ride. When you need some fresh fruits for your smoothies just chip off a lump and away you go.

One last but very important thought. If you do go and take advantage to the wild bounty in your local countryside, please don't be greedy. Only take what you know you'll use. The wildlife at this time of year need this harvest to fatten up for the long winter. In fact I always make sure my garden has a supply of windfall apples and pears for the migrating thrushes and blackbirds. Below is a a photo of one of the beautiful migrant Fieldfares they visit us from Scandinavia every year when the winter really bites. We always makes sure they have a fresh food supply and well as unfrozen water at Cafe Hodges.

The Manna of Life

 WHEATGRASS

It's like nature is trying to tell us something!

extract from my forthcoming book 'SAVE YOURSELF'

WHEATGRASS Triticum AestivumIn

Wheatgrass is a complete food with no toxic levels, everyone should make it part of their daily diet. Wheatgrass has 98 out of the 102 vital vitamins, mineral, amino acids and enzymes the human body need for perfect health. That’s a big punch for humble grass; no other plant can compete for nutrition.

Wheatgrass Nutrients 

Vitamins 

Minerals 

Enzymes 

Amino Acids 

Antioxidants 

Vitamins in Wheatgrass 

Biotin 

Carbates 

Choline 

Folic Acid 

Niacin 

Pantothenic Acid 

Pyroxidine 

Riboflavin 

Thiamine 

Vitamin A 

Vitamin B1 

Vitamin B2 

Vitamin B3 

Vitamin B5 

Vitamin B6 

Vitamin B12 

Vitamin C 

Vitamin E 

Vitamin K 

Minerals in Wheatgrass 

Calcium 

Cobalt 

Copper 

Iodine 

Iron 

Magnesium 

Manganese 

Phosphorus 

Potassium 

Selenium 

Sodium 

Sulfur 

Zinc 

70+ other known trace minerals 

Benefits of Wheatgrass from its Enzymes

Wheatgrass contains approximately thirty enzymes vital for healthy body and especially the digestive system. They also help purify blood, help burn body fat which increases energy and tackle any colon problems. All the enzymes in wheatgrass are retained because they are taken raw and uncooked. Heating food will automatically destroy live enzymes.

Amino Acids in Wheatgrass 

Alanine 

Amide 

Arginine 

Aspartic Acid 

Cystine 8 

Glutamic Acid 

Glycine 

Histidine 

Isoleucine 

Leucine 

Lysine 

Methionine 

Phenylalanine 

Proline 

Purines 

Senne 

Threonine 

Tryptophan 

Tyrosine 

Valine 

Antioxidants and Protection from Free Radical Damage

The high concentration of beta-carotene in Wheatgrass is a powerful antioxidant, protecting cells from free radicals to damage. Damage caused by cell Oxidation can lead to heart disease, cancer, diabetes, inflammation of organs and an overall lowering of the immune system making us susceptible to viruses.

Antioxidants in Wheatgrass help: 

Elimination of toxins 

Skin cell repair 

Blood purification 

Gum health 

Improve memory 

Help control allergies by histamine control 

Helps remove fat deposits in the vascular system which can help reduce varicose veins. 

Reduces Arthritis and Rheumatism 

Increasing energy level and helps eliminate fatigue 

Helps restore fertility and libido 

Additional Benefits of Wheatgrass Powder

Wheatgrass is especially helpful in balancing gut bacteria which aids digestion and absorption of nutrients. If your gut bacteria and Ph is out of balance the whole immune system is stressed and opens to disease and infection. Wheatgrass will readdress the Ph to the correct alkaline balance.

When wheatgrass has helped re-establish a healthy gut environment, harmful bacteria and even disease will have problems establishing themselves and will eventually die off and be expelled through the colon. 

Wheatgrass is well known for its blood restoration qualities helping produce red blood cells and white corpuscles. It also lowers blood pressure by dilating the blood pathways.By stimulating the thyroid glands and speeding up the metabolism wheatgrass can aid in maintaining body weight and can help overcome obesity related problems. 

Because the blood is restored the liver and colon can work effectively and mop up and expel toxins from the body. The improved function will help in a number of blood and digestive ailments such as constipation, anemia, ulcers, piles, diarrhea and acid reflux. 

Because of the reduced inflammation in the body more serious diseases can be prevented and even reversed. Wheatgrass has been very effective in treating blood disorders such as Leukaemia. Many cancer patients have used wheatgrass to combat nausea and other such side effect from mainstream cancer therapies. 

Wheatgrass is also well known and a vitality restorative. This makes perfect sense because when the blood is clean and toxin free it shows itself externally with glowing skin, white eyes and hair restoration. Many claim the hair pigment returns to greying hair. 

I've personally treated a degenerative eye disease called Pinguecula which is caused by UV radiation damage from the sun. The white of the eye becomes raised and red. It’s extremely uncomfortable and feels like I have sand in my eye. I've spent a great deal of time with my right eye glued to a powerful camera and lens photographing birds around the World. Undoubtedly this has caused the damage but after being diagnosed by my MD and optician I was told that the condition is very hard to treat and will degenerate as I aged. I decided to try fresh wheatgrass juice and powdered concentrate. I was already taking 1 desert spoon daily in my smoothies but decided to up the dosage. For 2 weeks I drank 4-5 pints of water with 1 desert spoon of wheatgrass powder. I also freshly juiced three trays of fresh grass a week. As well as drinking the juice I also administered several drops to my eye. Within 48hrs I felt and saw an impressive improvement. My symptoms decreased by at least 80%. With a week of treatment it had completely cleared up. I finished my 2nd week of my protocol and then went to see my MD. When I asked him to examine my eye he was very shocked. He couldn't detect any damage at all. In amazement he asked me what I had done and I explain my treatment protocol. He now recommends wheatgrass to some of his patients with eye problems. Now if I ever have tired eyes either from a long day and exhaustion or from the rigour of being out in all weathers the first thing I reach for is my wheatgrass powder. Not only does it work better than any cup of coffee and with no side effects such as a caffeine crash but I can actually see the whites of my eyes brighten within 10 minutes of consumption. 

Wheatgrass is a true restorative elixir. With all these benefits from wheatgrass juice or powder the end result is a slowing down of the aging process. Your blood will be cleaner, free from toxins making your immune system stronger which leads to less illness and disease. 

Your skin, hair, nails, eyes and gums will be stronger and healthier looking. The metabolism stabilises and you burn fat more efficiently. Who wouldn't want these benefits? Some users claim that when powder or juice is massaged into the hair while showering it helps restore pigment to greying hair. Personally I haven't tried this method but it makes perfect sense. Copper supplementation is sold as a grey hair restorative and wheatgrass contains copper. 

When the powder is mixed with a little water and made into a paste is can help with numerous skin issues including, rashes, athlete’s foot, burns, sunburn, insect bites and acne. 

For prevention or reversal of disease wheatgrass cannot be ignored. I would advise that everyone include wheatgrass juice or powder in their daily diet. It easy to grow from seed for fresh juice (you will need a hand auger juicer; high speed electric juicers will not do the job). Alternatively wheatgrass powder is highly concentrated and obtainable from almost all health food shop on the high street or alternatively the internet. It’s relatively inexpensive when compared to health care costs and is great for all the family. I wish I had have discovered it when I was a child and studying martial arts, it’s a great training supplement.

For more science and info please click on the photo below

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Living Like You Mean It : A Plant Based Diet v Disease - A Personal Story"T...

Living Like You Mean It : A Plant Based Diet v Disease - A Personal Story
"T...: A Plant Based Diet v Disease - A Personal Story "The Chinese Do Not Draw Any Distinction Between Food And Medicine" Lin Yu...

A Plant Based Diet v Disease - A Personal Story

"The Chinese Do Not Draw Any Distinction Between Food And Medicine"

Lin Yutang (1895-1976) writing in 'The Importance of Living'

Six years ago my health was deteriorating fast. At one point I seriously thought I had either stomach or bowel cancer. Thankfully after the appropriate testing this was not the case, however it was a big wake up call.

When I hit 37-38yrs old I found myself in an unfamiliar position of being financially stable, great house and girlfriend and my business at the time was more or less running itself and paying me well. What more could I ask for.

The trouble was not only had I put on considerable weight my digestive system and colon was in a state of collapse and the prognosis didn't look good. My quality of life was put on hold for well over a year while the doctors tested me and gave me handfuls of medication which gave me more problems than they solved. The discomfort I had 24/7 was unbearable, I had to sleep sat up in bed. On top of all that I had become addicted to the painkiller codeine. I also had terrible migraines which I later found out is a side effect of taking codeine which ironically was recommended by my doctor for my headaches!!! 

Eventually through desperation and complete lack of faith in my doctors I took the responsibility of my health into my own hands. I started researching my problems and very soon discovered that maybe my predominantly meat and dairy based diet might be responsible for my poor condition. Also I'd done my fair share of partying through the years, all the excesses, I won't give specifics, I'll leave that to your imagination. But it was time to hang up my Blue Suede Shoes and Rock n' Roll lifestyle before it killed me. 

As a man of extremes it was all or nothing, I know no other way. I'd embarked on the most important and enlightening journey of my life. Little did I realise how powerful its effect would be. It's brought me to writing this very blog, my business and my relationship with myself, the people and the World around me and it's all been 100% positive.

I decided that what I needed was a complete detox and so I stopped eating all animal produce, meat, fish and dairy. I also stopped eating wheat when I found out that approximately 70% of the population has a gluten intolerance and most don't even realise it.

I started making a nutrient rich green smoothie every morning. At first it was a struggle I have to admit but I figured I owed it to myself and I couldn't carry on they way things had been. To my surprise within a week I was waking up clear headed and with no pain, no stomach cramps and sorry to be graphic but no blood in my toilet. I'd even started to really enjoy my green smoothies, constantly thinking of new vegetables & fruits to add to the mix. I also started to grow my own wheatgrass and juiced it everyday. 

Within 3 weeks I had lost 40lbs and I never felt hungry. All my ailments were a distant, scarey memory. Since my move to a plant-based diet in 2009 I haven't had so much as a cold apart from one week in Spain earlier this year when I spent a week in bed with a fever which everybody around me seemed to have had also.

I'm now 47yrs old and I've never felt so alive and healthy. You are what you eat and if the body is denied the nutrients (fuel) it needs cell by cell we start to die. Several of my family and friends have had serious ailments such as high blood pressure, diabetes Type 2, lupus and heart disease. After seeing how I regained my health they all jumped on board to a lesser or greater degree and no surprise have had incredible results, I've seen it with my own eyes time and time again.

My family and I take wheatgrass as a dietary supplement everyday, either powdered concentrate or freshly juiced. It's a big commitment to grow your own especially when the powdered concentrate is so convenient to use. But either way the benefits are worth the effort.

As regard the claims that wheatgrass cures cancer all I can add is, if I had this terrible diagnosis it's one of the first things I'd turn to. It helps detox the liver and boosts the immune system. Out of 102 vital vitamins and minerals the body needs everyday to function at a base level, a couple of shots of wheatgrass can provide 98 of them. It's one of the highest nutrient densities of any plant on the planet. The most effective treatment would be colon irrigation with 2-5oz daily. This would ensure the the powerful nutrients and enzymes were easily transported into the system through the thin colon wall and into the blood without being destroyed via the stomach acid. 

This level of nutrients I try to get inside me everyday to keep myself strong and resilient to disease. I don't mean by the method described above but through my diet. Ask yourself when was the last day you had all your natural quoter of nutrients? Probably never would be the most honest answer. If that's the case is it any wonder that most of us suffer with some form of ill health. 

Chlorophyll is one molecule different to Hemoglobin. Plant blood (chlorophyll) has at its centre a molecule of Magnesium whereas Hemoglobin (blood) has an iron molecule. This makes wheatgrass that's packed with chlorophyll an incredible blood purifier and restorative agent. It literally rebuilds your blood.

After coming back from a year long trip through Southeast Asia chasing bugs, beasts and butterflies I started to get some discomfort in my right eye. I did a little research and then went to see my optician and doctor and they confirmed what I had already surmised. I was suffering from a degenerative condition called Pinguecula which is basically mutating cells of the eye caused by UV damage from the sun. Well I'm a wildlife photographer and had just spent a year looking into the skies through a long lens chasing birds. My optician and MD told me that there was no cure and as I aged the condition would get worse and eventually I'd go blind in my right eye because of the the damaged cells growing across my eyeball. On top of all that it was a real discomfort. It felt like I had grit in my eye all the time that I couldn't get rid of. A real pain in the gluteus maximus. I was told that expensive surgery was an option but it only  had a 50/50 chance of success and even then my condition would most likely return.

This was not an option for me at all. I've had perfect 20/20 vision all my life and I use my sight for my profession. Again I dove headlong into days of research on the biological makeup of the eyes. To cut a longer story short (this post is already too long) I came to the conclusion that I was going to run an experiment on myself. For one month I treated my eye with 5 drops of freshly juiced wheatgrass via a eyedropper pipette. Much to the astonishment of the experts my condition more or less disappeared. Very occasionally my eye flares up a little after a long day with my cameras in the sun or several days sat with my laptop writing. When this happens I go straight for the wheatgrass juice and within minutes the inflammation and irritation disappears, problem solved.

Obviously mine is just one case but I believe more research is needed into the restorative effects on the human body of high concentrations of clean nutrients. I see the reason this hasn't been done, it's money. Who's going to invest into a long and very expensive research study that could eventually prove 100% that the population can grow it's own medicine and prevent, cure and even reverse disease. How does Big Pharma patent that?

The big secret that Big Pharma won't tell us is that we can grow our own medicine and there is no reason for the multi faceted range of disease it our society. Sure if I need heart surgery or a hip replacement I'm ready for the incredible advancements medical science has made in the last 100yrs. Put me under the knife I'm ready to go. Saying that though I truly believe the modern society has an epidemic of diet related disease. We're getting more obese every year because we are feeding ourselves low nutrient, processed food and therefore we are always hungry and suffering from malnutrition. When the body need nutrients the brain sends the message 'FEED ME' and we shove pizza and diet coke down our necks thinking it will nourish us! This kind of toxic diet full of chemicals and nutritionally dead food is killing us cell by cell and making trillions for the food and pharmaceutical industries which by the way are hand in hand in the deception.

This info is not new to science, our grandparents knew this. My great grandmother used to drink all her vegetable water left over from cooking. She lived a healthy, long life and passed away at 92yrs after a fall. She had no toxic processed food just home grown veg and a little organic meat (it was all organic back then) when she could afford it as it was a real luxury. Long before the farmers were forced by law to be customers of the likes of Monsanto.

It sounds good to me, my old granny knew a thing or two. What have we got to lose apart from our health, and that's all we have really.

Cheers I'm off for my wheatgrass. Until next time Mooooooo!

Please check out our books at click for more information about 

Healthy Living and Nutrition versus Disease.

John Hodges 

VIDDAPublishing

Another World at the end of our Garden

It's been a week or two since I've had a moment's time for myself to sit and write for this blog, sorry to anyone who's been waiting.

As I write this entry looking out of the window at the drizzle and grey skies, waiting for summer to return it gives a me chance to tell you about an evening last week in my garden in Redditch at the end of a long hot day.

I'd spent the previous ten days working without break on the business, writing and producing books, building websites and studying just about everything I can lay my hands on to help us succeed in our new venture. I'd barely seen the sky or any form of wildlife and I was starting to twitch.

On the afternoon of June 23rd my brain finally froze. The words I was writing started to look like the illegible nonsense of a drunk fish. I gazed out into the garden and saw that the sun was still shining and our wildlife was busy feeding their young. 

I grabbed my camera and left my overheated laptop which recently has become a fifth limb and headed for our vegetable patch and a nest box that was originally put up for the Bluetits but was now occupied by a colony of Tree Bumblebee Bombus hypnorum. I'm captivated for the next hour by the complex web of life before my eyes at the end of our garden.

We often overlook the humble Bumblebee. We all see them buzzing around, landing on flowers rather clumsily. They look like they shouldn't be able to fly at all, their bodies look out of proportion compared to their small wings. Don't be fooled the 24 UK species are all strong fliers and hardy little beasts that have a fascinating life cycle.  

Bumblebees are social insects governed by the all powerful Queen. She rises out of her isolated winter hibernation when the first heat of spring seeps into the earth she is cocooned in. She's survived solely on her fat stores from last summer and now she spends the first few days stocking up, feeding on the nectar of spring flowers to regain her strength and energy for the months ahead. She's the nest builder, egg layer and creator of the complex social hive. She is the engine of her genetic line and she has no time to waste.

After regaining her strength the Queen will then look for a suitable home for her nest. Long grass, holes in trees or buildings. Loft spaces are often a favourite place and of course unused nest boxes. This year we have two boxes occupied by the bees, one at the base of our Eucalyptus tree and one overlooking our vegetable patch.

After selecting a location she then sets about collecting pollen so that she can construct a mound of pollen and wax that she secretes from her body to lay her eggs into. She also creates honey pots that she has in front of the mound, filled with nectar so that while she's incubating the eggs she doesn't have to leave to gather food. She'll sit on her eggs using heat caused by the vibration of her abdomen for approximately 7-10 days, sipping from her honey pots for nourishment. When the grub like larvae eventually hatch they're fed by the Queen who delivers fresh nectar from nearby flowers. It takes about two weeks for the grubs to put on enough weight to start the process of the pupa stage of their life. When the grubs are ready they spin a silk cocoon in which they will develop into the adult form.

The first brood born in early summer are all females and their sole job is to look after the nest. Some clean and some are on guard duty while the rest can be seen bumbling around our gardens collecting pollen and nectar from the flowering plants. The majority of the food will be taken back to the nest to feed the other workers and the next generation. At this stage the Queen stays in the heart of the colony, giving out pheromone instruction and laying eggs. 

As late summer marches in, with notably shorter days the Queen starts producing males and new Queens. The males leave and become solitary, they spend their time feeding and watching football (I'm joking). The young queens shortly after leave the nest to seek out the new males and go about the mating game to ensure the future of the bloodline. Very similar to our Royals except they don't have live TV coverage at every stage, unless Attenborough shows up!

You might have seen the mating of the Bumbles. It tends to be a rather ungentlemanly affair with several horny bees chasing down and fighting over the royal lady. Most males never get to mate, only the fittest and maybe the most charming (we'll never know) get the sire the lady.

Once the Queens have mated their job is to consume as much energy rich nectar and pollen as they can to build up their fat stores. They have a long cold winter of subterranean hibernation to get through.

As the days grow shorter the old nest with the old Queen will come to its natural end. She's done her job and the sands of time catch up with her. Only her impregnated daughters will survive to see the spring and pass on her genetic heritage. So the cycle of life will begin again with a faint buzzing and a dance among the spring flowers. 

If there is a moral to this story and I suppose there is, it is don't go through life with your eyes closed. Amazing lives and worlds exist all around us. Sure it's fun to travel and explore the natural World in far off lands and see exotic beasts that you've seen on TV. But equally beautiful are the lives taking place all around us. It's often the small things that are the most complex and fascinating and you barely have to put on your shoes to see them. The next sunny day go out into your garden or sit on a windowsill with the window open and before long you'll hear the familiar buzzing of a bumblebee. You don't need to know it's species just know that it's part of a greater web of life that's feeding, mating, living and dying all around you and it'll be happening whether you're there to observe it or not. It's a shame to miss though, don't you think?

NEW RELEASES July 2015

We have two new releases due the 1st week of July 2015.

The MEDICINE on your PLATE - Crushing CANCER

GREEN up your HOME

Both titles will be available for FREE download for 3 days upon release.

Also due for imminent release GREEN up your PERIOD - Spanish translation.