It also marks the beginning of the summer vacation season and outdoor parties, picnics, and barbecues. I love backyard barbecues but I don’t love all the heavy food, so I have a few tricks up my sleeve to keep me from eating things I might regret:

1. Have a smoothie before you go, like a Creamy Mint-Melon Cocktail. This curbs your appetite and gives you a nutrition boost to control your cravings.
2. Bring a fresh, raw dish, like a fantastic kale salad, and fill your plate at least halfway with it. Then just sample the other foods.
3. Share a dessert that is healthful, “Naked,” and so ridiculously good that everyone will be clamoring to try it, like my Double Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Here are some Naked recipes that are always a hit.  And remember — if you choose to go ahead and have a burger or potato salad or pie, enjoy it thoroughly and the next day recoup with some juices (like Diana’s Favorite Green Juice on page 38 of Get Naked Fast!) and smoothies and join my next Naked Challenge detox June 9 – 18.

Zucchini Hummus

A light and lemony twist on a favorite dip. Featured on page 67 of my book Get Naked Fast! Stripping Away the Foods That Weigh You Down, a guide to getting healthy and balanced. This hummus is great as a dip or in a wrap. (For another great hummus recipe, see my NEW Sprouted Hummus Wrap recipe in The Naked Zone.

Ingredients
2 cups zucchini, diced (about 2 zucchinis)
3/4 cup tahini
1/2 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1/4 cup olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
2 teaspoons cumin powder

Directions  In food processor fitted with the s-blade, process all ingredients until smooth. Store in airtight container in refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Coconut-Lime Mojito

So refreshing! Blend this up for a delicious (and hydrating) party drink. Watch the video “The Daily Juice: Mojitos” to see how it’s made.

Ingredients
Water from 1 coconut (1 cup)
Juice of 1 lime
10–20 mint leaves
Agave to taste (start with 1 teaspoon)
1 cup of ice cubes

Directions  Blend until smooth and ice is chopped. Garnish with a mint leaf.

Seaweed Wrap With Ponzu Sauce

This finger food will definitely get people talking. Seaweed makes a light, mineral-rich, and delicious wrap for fresh vegetables, and the ponzu sauce is divine. To see how to make it, watch this video on my YouTube channel: “The Daily Juice: Seaweed Wrap.”

Marinated Kale Salad

This recipe (on my website www.dianastobo.com) features super-nutritious kale sprinkled with avocado, peppers, cucumber, and a simple homemade dressing. It’s super tasty. If you’re a member of my membership website The Naked Zone, log in to see more fantastic salad recipes like Citrus Sprout Salad, Creamy Kale Slaw, and Honey Lemon Kale.

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

You will be the hit of the party if you bring these cookies. Many people say this is their absolute favorite recipe of all my recipes. They are full of protein, omega 3s, fiber, and FLAVOR! Recipe available in my membership website The Naked Zone).

Pecan Pie Treats

These treats are so easy, anyone can make them. For the recipe, see page 104 of my book Get Naked Fast! Or just take a fresh Medjool date, cut an opening, remove the pit (if necessary), and place a raw pecan half inside. Make as many as you need, place them on a nice serving plate, and watch them disappear. Easy peasy!

To learn more about who I am and how I can help you become your healthiest, most beautiful/handsome self, go to Meet Diana: My Story.

So I am a fan of Mother’s Day. It’s a day for you to take a step back and be taken care of by your loved ones. It’s also a day for you to allow yourself to some relaxation and special treatment.

I have 3 ways for you to treat yourself this Mother’s Day. I hope you’ll slow down long enough to try them. You deserve it!

1 ~ Take a bath

Give yourself some tender loving care by soaking in a bath. Nurture your skin and nurture yourself. Some of my favorite kinds of baths are:

Essential oils smell fantastic and moisturize your skin, leaving it silky smooth. Lavendar, camomile, and sweet marjoram are relaxing oils. Sandalwood is good for quieting the mind. Peppermint can be energizing.

Salt bath helps to stimulate the body’s healing energies by pulling toxins out from the skin. 
Use sea salt, Epsom salt, or a bath salt that you like and soak for at least 20 minutes.

Seaweed bath is great to help stimulate lymph drainage, reduce cellulite, rid your 
body of toxins, balance body chemistry, reduce tension, and beautify skin texture. For best results, dry 
brush your skin before the bath. Watch the video “Sea Kelp Mineral Therapy Bath” on YouTube to see how to take a seaweed bath.

Clay bath is another wonderfully detoxifying bath. I use Vitality Herbs & Clay Sacred Clay and add about 1/4 cup 
to my bath water. You can also make a paste out of it and rub it on your skin or feet, use it for a facial, and you 
can even add it to liquid and drink it.

Tip: if you order some Sacred Clay, enter “Diana Stobo” in the Coupon Code or Comments box for a free sample 
of Black Beauty bath clay.

2 ~ Enjoy a chocolaty treat

We now know that chocolate is good for you — yay! As long as it’s high-quality dark chocolate, go ahead and enjoy it. One of my favorites is raw cacao. You can use it to make a delicious chocolate dip that’s wonderful with bananas, strawberries, or whatever you like. The recipe is Chocolate Fondue. In this demonstration video on my YouTube channel I show you how to make “Chocolate-Covered Strawberries.”

Another great chocolate treat is this dairy-free milkshake from my book Naked Bliss. It’s fantastic plus it’s a good source of protein, potassium, and antioxidants!

Chocolate-Covered Banana Shake

Ingredients
1.5 cups Coconut Bliss Dark Chocolate coconut-milk ice cream
1 cup almond milk (or nut or seed milk of choice)
1 frozen banana

Directions
Blend all ingredients in blender on high until smooth and creamy.

Another favorite chocolaty treat is my Double Chocolate Chip Cookies. They are ridiculously good and rich in protein, fiber, and omega 3s.

3 ~ Get outside

I am a big supporter of getting out and smelling the roses. Walking barefoot in the sand and dancing in the rain. Being in nature has so much to offer, everyone knows it, we talk about it all the time, but the benefits are far greater than we can imagine.

Negative ions are found in nature. Negative ions are odorless, tasteless, and invisible molecules that we inhale in abundance in certain environments. Think mountains, waterfalls, and beaches. Once they reach our bloodstream, negative ions are believed to produce biochemical reactions that increase levels of the mood chemical serotonin, helping to alleviate depression, relieve stress, and boost our daytime energy.

All I’m suggesting is that, at minimum, you move your body in nature at least for a little bit today. Take a hike, take a walk, or just go out in your yard and put your bare feet in the grass.

Maybe that Earthy vibration will nourish you and add some liveliness to your days.

Great health — the ultimate treat

Give yourself the greatest gift of all: your health. Join me for a 10-day detox program starting this Sunday, May 12 called The Naked Challenge. We’ll feast on smoothies, juices, greens, and soups; we’ll talk every day; and we’ll discover so much about ourselves. It is truly a life-changing experience.

This woman thanked her with this lovely letter.

I’m sitting here at the kitchen bar, post-workout, sipping on my Easy Almond Date Milkshake watching Doug sip his portion while making a salad of kale, orange, walnuts and chicken. Almonds sit soaking on the counter. Doug has a grocery list of one thing for today: Coconut Bliss ice cream. What have you done to us?! 

I have to say, when we arrived in Barrego I was feeling something less than sexy having hit the 6-month mark of my marriage, free from the threat of a small wedding dress in public. Just think– honeymoon, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and Valentines Day– no wonder. Anyway, back-to-back nights of Mexican food in Barrego sent me over my limit and as soon as Doug and I arrived back in Napa I was on the raw food bandwagon. Conveniently, I had a raw food cookbook at the studio and tons of free time with my unemployment and all. We hit the ground running (Doug had no choice, I was making the meals) and within a week I started feeling back on track… then a suspicious package arrived.

You have completely outdone yourselves with that box of goodies! I have read Diana Stobo’s cookbook front to back, been cruising websites and have started making my way through the recipes. Lucky for my mom, she is getting Diana’s cookbook for Mother’s Day (she has no idea what she is in for). The first batch of almond milk is underway as the almonds soak today and will get strained tonight. I have my handy pitcher ready when it comes.

Thank you for the wonderful box and the inspiration to make a big change in our lives! We are both better for it, that’s for sure. And did I mention that “Wilson” bowls are now a staple of our diet? Next up will be a dehydrator and swiping Laura’s top-secret cookie recipe to go with my Coconut Bliss.

The gift of health is the most loving and exceptionable present one can receive. Thank you so much for sharing this touching message, it really made my day.

Whats is in Season for Spring?

Apricots
Artichokes
Asparagus
Barbados Cherries
Belgian Endive
Bitter Melon
Broccoli
Butter Lettuce
Cactus
Chayote Squash
Cherimoya
Chives
Collard Greens
Corn
Fava Beans
Fennel
Fiddlehead Ferns
Green Beans
Honeydew
Jackfruit
Limes
Lychee
Mango
Manoa Lettuce
Morel Mushrooms
Mustard Greens
Oranges
Pea Pods
Peas
Pineapple
Purple Asparagus
Radicchio
Ramps
Red Leaf Lettuce
Rhubarb
Snow Peas
Sorrel
Spinach
Spring Baby Lettuce
Strawberries
Swiss Chard
Vidalia Onions
Watercress
White Asparagus

Support a local farmer who is part of the regional economy.

Have access to fresh, local food that has been grown without the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.

Support farms that are growing food sustainably.

Get more in touch with seasonality of produce and to make a connection to food and the land.

Have access to a variety of vegetables that they may not be able to find in the neighborhood stores.

I love the variety of produce my local CSA provides. It is like a little surprise each month. I have also been extremely pleased with Specialty Produce‘s farmer market bags. Their bags contain produce from sustainable california farms that they have developed close and long standing relationships with. They specifically support farms that grow responsibly and are environmentally aware.

So today, as we celebrate our beautiful Earth, go out and join your local CSA. Nothing is better than fresh and healthy produce grown locally and responsibly. It’s good for your body and good for the planet, what more could you ask for?

In health and love,

I am currently on day 8. I have not had sugar, coffee, booze, or bread in 8 days! I am feeling amazing and strong. My clothes are fitting better, I have an astounding amount of amount of energy, and my skin is clear and smooth. All the while, I am never hungry. I use the Nutripro every other day to maintain an ample supply of fresh juice and keep my fridge stocked with fruits and veggies. Instead of dwelling on what I can’t have, I relish in what I can. I bought some super ripe mangoes, heirloom tomatoes, and some fancy-shmacny chamomile tea. I am not wasting money going out to eat, instead I am filling my home with whole foods that make me feel good.

The biggest benefit I have seen so far is NO PMS! I usually experience the stereotypical PMS symptoms; cramps, headaches, fatigue, demon possession. In the past, I have seen an acupuncturist for this, it was that bad. This month has actually come without any incident. Those near and dear to me can now thank cleansing, for I am a new and far less grumpy little lady.

Now this is life changing stuff. My new sunny attitude is enough to make a convert out of me.

I can’t think of a better topic or better reason to make sweet, sweet love! In fact my heart is all a flutter. Let’s talk about sex, baby!

• When women make love, they produce more estrogen, which makes hair shiny and skin smooth. Estrogen also lowers cortisol, which reduces abdominal fat. Skinny, shiny, and smooth! Sign me up!
• Gentle, relaxed lovemaking reduces your chances of suffering dermatitis, skin rashes and blemishes. The sweat produced cleanses the pores and makes your skin glow. Sweat also allows toxins to leave your body. Good clean fun.
• Lovemaking burns up the calories you piled on during that romantic dinner. You can burn upwards towards 150 calories per half hour of intimacy. I like those numbers.
• Sex is one of the safest sports you can take up. It stretches and tones every muscle in the body. It’s more enjoyable than swimming twenty laps, and you don’t need special running shoes. Or clothes for that matter!
• Sex is an instant cure for mild depression. It releases endorphins into the bloodstream, producing a sense of euphoria and leaving you with a feeling of well-being.
• The more sex you have, the more you will be offered. The sexually active body gives off greater quantities of chemicals called pheromones. These subtle sex perfumes drive the opposite sex crazy, making little sex magnets!
• Sex is the safest tranquillizer in the world. It can lower your stress and in affect lower your blood pressure.  It is far more effective than Valium. A tranquillizer and an anti-depressant! Who’s feeling good?
• Kissing each day will keep the dentist away. Kissing encourages saliva to wash food from the teeth and lowers the level of the acid that causes decay, preventing plaque build-up. 9 out of 10 dentists endorse this statement (wink).
• Sex actually relieves headaches by releasing a hormone called oxytocin which boosts the body’s natural painkiller, endorphins. A lovemaking session can release the tension that restricts blood vessels in the brain and can even relieve PMS symptoms!

• A lot of lovemaking can unblock a stuffy nose. Sex is a national antihistamine. It can help combat asthma and hay fever. Put that in your medicine cabinet!

The benefits of true sweet intimacy are unparallel. This list could have gone on and on. Sex allows us a universal connection to someone we love deeply. It is a precious act that rewards us with health and love.

Diana

With more than 100 different functions, the liver has the ability to re-grow and regenerate itself up to 75%.  

The liver is similar to vegetation in that it regrows when it is cut, and it is associated with the color green and trees in Chinese medicine.

Vitamin D is stored and synthesized in the liver. So the liver, like vegetation, shares a similar photosynthesis function.   

The liver is associated with the eyes — the eyes process light. The liver and the eyes are open and receptive in the spring months of the Lunar cycle.  

When our liver is clogged, even vitamin D supplements and sunshine cannot be absorbed. The light of the sun and vitamin D help us to thrive.    

The gallbladder is like the Earth, the soil that gathers stones. Stones make it impossible to filter toxins and stop the flow of bile, which is the engine oil for the digestive system.   

How do you know your liver is imbalanced?

Physically:
Poor digestion
sluggishness
constipation
herpes
migraines
headaches
conjunctivitis
tiredness upon awakening are among some of the common signs.

Emotionally:

anger
impatience
crying spells and depression are also telltale signs of stagnant liver energy.

A healthy liver naturally guides us toward creativity and rebirth.

When our rejuvenating system is blocked and heavy, our creative impulses are hampered and turn into anger or depression. The liver and gallbladder carry our emotional and spiritual growth, so when the liver is disrupted, an emotional roller coaster may occur.

What causes disruption in the liver and gall bladder?

Dairy
Wheat
Sugar
Meat
Caffeine
Alcohol
Drugs
Overeating
Anything processed

What do the liver and gallbladder need to heal and function properly?

green vegetable foods
green juices
wheatgrass
fresh sprouts
All living foods that are filled with sunlight and oxygen

The liver and gallbladder love the lightness of laughter and smiles, projects, dreams, and vision. Stress, tension, and heavy, stagnant emotions and moods are damaging to their upward-seeking tree nature. So yes, you got the hint:

What better time to cleanse than now?  

Whether you do a liver cleanse, a juice cleanse, an herbal cleanse, or a raw-food cleanse, this is the time to create youth and renewal in your life. Just like springtime, our bodies are ready to be lightened up. It is a great time to be in nature and uplift your spirits, mind, and body.    

Open your eyes and let them sparkle in the glow of the sun.

NOW is the best time to rejuvenate your liver and turn your soil.

Begin today.

Something happened to me several years ago- I woke up.
And that changed me forever.
It changed everything I knew to be true.
It changed my reality, or what I thought was reality.
I was living a dream.

Dreams are beautiful, and they are something to aspire to create.
But when life’s dreams do not resonate with your truth, and only the truth of others perceptions of truth, then they fail to bring you happiness.

Photo: Caribbean Love by Egil21 on diviantART

External desires, money, entertainment, success, and power are mere bandaids for true happiness
Internal desires, LOVE, truth, peace and joy are stronger foundations for true

grace and a fulfilling life.

Balancing the two desires while staying true to your self is a motivation worth striving toward.

My dreams have been shattered, leaving me “hopeless” in a sense. It’s a temporary status to be sure, but is the place in which I reside at this moment.
Money won’t cure it, success won’t cure it, only innocent LOVE will cure it.

But, first I must understand the meaning of LOVE.
And certainly innocent love, in it’s most untainted state.
That is what I strive to learn.
How to be a better Lover, friend, intimate partner, while honoring both myself and the other.

Reflection and discovery are vital.
But integration, growth, and change are key.

My intention is to be the best that I can be.
Patience and perseverance are my motto.

So this is it. I am finally doing it. I am going to detox my body and it is going to be amazing. I have been waiting for this opportunity. Waiting? I don’t know why. This is something I lay in bed and think about. How can I take control of my health? How can I feel better about myself, both outside and in?  I am a 33 year old single mom with a million of excuses. I’m too busy. It’s too expensive. I didn’t know where to start.

But then it happened.

Today is my first day of detox but I actually set up the Bella Nutripro last night. I have owned juicers before and my biggest hang-up was the waste and the mess. I encountered neither last night. The machine is quiet, easy to put together, and all my pulp came out dry. I still have so much more produce to juice, but my containers filled so fast. I know I yielded far more juice than my previous juicer. My fridge is well stocked and pretty impressive looking.

Exciting stuff! So today at work, I have packed Diana’s greenjuice, watermelon juice, a huge salad, and lots of water. I feel good, optimistic, and excited.

Stay tuned folks. This is the start of something beautiful.

Truly yours,

The Sooz