Beet Kvass – What is it and Why am I Drinking it?

Written by Max Goldberg on January 24, 2012. Follow Max on Twitter: @livingmaxwell.

Organic beet kvass isn’t exactly a household name, similar to a coconut water or even kombucha.

And I don’t believe that it will ever come close to having the same name recognition as these other two drinks.

Yet, its health benefits and utility may surpass them both.

A lacto-fermented beverage of Russian origin, beet kvass provides the body with beneficial bacteria and aids in digestion.

It is also touted as a blood purifier and an excellent way to cleanse the liver.

Unlike kombucha, which uses sugar in the fermentation process, the beet kvass from Hawthorne Valley uses no sugar at all. And because it is a raw drink, all of the vitamins and minerals remain intact.

While I tend to drink it straight, the other great thing about beet kvass is that it can be used as a base for soups, salad dressings or marinades. Read More »

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Organic Black Sesame Seeds – Something You’ll Always See in My Kitchen

Written by Max Goldberg on January 17, 2012. Follow Max on Twitter: @livingmaxwell.

When it comes to eating, I like clean and light food.

My body seems to reject heavy sauces, fried foods, and sautées, even if they are 100% organic.

I like simplicity in a meal and as a result, I tend to cook a decent amount for myself. Why?

Not only is cooking at home the most inexpensive way to eat organic but I can have exactly what I want.

Whenever I make quinoa, millet or a big salad, one of my favorite things to put on these dishes are black sesame seeds.

A rarity at organic restaurants, black sesame seeds can always be found in my kitchen for a few different reasons.

First, they are very rich in minerals such as magnesium, calcium, copper, and zinc. Getting these minerals into my diet is extremely important. Read More »

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Rawtella – A Great Organic Chocolate Spread

Written by Max Goldberg on December 16, 2011. Follow Max on Twitter: @livingmaxwell.

Bottles of Rawtella have been staring me in the face for months already. I see them all of over NYC but never took the plunge to try it until the other day.

Normally, I am incredibly curious about any new organic product, especially one that has chocolate in it and is raw. However, it must have been the product’s association with Nutella that gave me real pause.

Yes, I may be one of the few people in the country who hasn’t tried Nutella. Aside from the fact that it is not organic, Nutella doesn’t appeal to me in the least.

If I want chocolate, I am going to eat an organic chocolate bar, buy organic chocolate ice cream or put raw cacao into a smoothie in the morning.

Clearly, I am in the minority here with never having tasted Nutella. Read More »

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Fearless Makes a Truly Fantastic Organic Chocolate Bar

Written by Max Goldberg on November 29, 2011. Follow Max on Twitter: @livingmaxwell.


When I go to the organic trade shows twice a year, I see hundreds and hundreds of products.

Many of the products I am already familiar with but some are brand new. And in this category of brand new products, there are always a few that make a long-lasting impression.

Fearless Chocolate happens to be one of those organic products, which I encountered at the 2011 Expo West show in Anaheim, CA, and I vividly remember not being able to stop eating it.

While I favor raw chocolate over non-raw chocolate, because it tastes so much more light and healthy, the Fearless Chocolate Matcha Green Tea Peppermynt was something special.

The combination of green tea and peppermint, both of which I am a huge fan, was what made this chocolate bar so refreshing, compelling and unusual. Read More »

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My Recent Dinner at Gingersnap’s Organic in NYC

Written by Max Goldberg on November 21, 2011. Follow Max on Twitter: @livingmaxwell.

There’s a very welcome and new entrant to the raw food scene in New York City called Gingersnap’s Organic.

Founded by Jamie Graber, who previously worked at Juliano’s Planet Raw in Los Angeles and Live Live here in New York City, Gingersnap’s Organic is located in Manhattan’s East Village and serves organic, gluten-free, raw food.

During two recent visits to Gingersnap’s Organic, here were a few things that I ate. Read More »

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