Liz is co-teaching our Wonders of Raw Food Culinary Class on Wednesday, July 21!
One of our favorite Raw Food "un-cook" books!
Raw food diets have been getting a lot of attention lately, but many people still wonder, what is the purpose behind exploring raw foods as a dietary choice, and what are the health benefits?
When you eat a raw and living food diet, you are feeding your body and your cells the vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that cooking destroys. Eating these life-giving foods helps to alkalize the body, a key factor in building excellent health. When the body is in an alkaline state, it is able to absorb nutrients and expel toxins more efficiently. The SAD (Standard American Diet) of meat, bread, dairy products, processed/cooked foods, caffeine, and alcohol creates an acidic state in the body, which contributes to a variety of health problems.
Another important key to excellent health is proper digestion. The human body requires enzymes to digest food. Each whole, raw food contains naturally-occurring enzymes designed to help break down that particular food.
Sprouted (germinated) nuts, seeds, and grains are living foods. When nuts, seeds, or grains are soaked, enzyme inhibitors are removed, and germination can occur. Germinated foods are easier to digest because the availability of enzymes is increased, enhancing the life force and vitality in the food, and making all of the nutrients readily available and easier to assimilate.
Whole raw foods are also rich in phytonutrients, enzymes, and antioxidants. Research suggests that phytonutrients may help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, and type 2 diabetes. Phytonutrients may also help slow the aging process and enhance eyesight and brain function.
Our food choices have a cumulative effect on our body, and whether we are conscious of it or not, what we eat affects our mental and emotional health, just as much as our physical health. People who eat raw food invariably experience improved physical health and mental wellbeing, more energy, weight loss, detoxification, and a stronger immune system. I’ve personally witnessed people heal themselves of diabetes, migraines, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, ulcerative colitis, crohn’s disease, IBS, arthritis, allergies, candida, depression, and fibromyalgia.
Eating a raw diet is also good for the planet. You are avoiding packaged or processed foods, so you are not creating any waste or products to be disposed of in landfills. We hardly produce any trash in my home and the leftover food we don’t eat or “drink” goes directly into our compost bin. Those willing to eat organic will be doing even more to support our planet. Conventional produce is grown with pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers, and other chemicals that are toxic to the environment.
In addition, you’ll likely eat very little, if any, animal products, which have an incredible impact on the planet. A plant-based diet requires 300 gallons of water a day, while a meat filled diet requires over 4,000 gallons per day. Animal feces produced in factory farms is the largest source of airborne methane, which causes global warming. Meat eating also contributes to pollution in lakes and rivers due to run-off from factory farms, and an increase in fossil fuels used to raise animals for food.
The easiest way for someone to start incorporating more Raw Food is to begin gradually! Keep it simple by trying one or two new fruits or veggies every week. You’ll be surprised by the unbelievable amount of food choices. Raw Guru David Wolfe has stated that we could taste something new everyday for the rest of our lives and still not come close to trying 1% of what’s available to us on earth!
In addition, pick up a recipe book for beginners. One that focuses on dishes that can be made in just a few minutes; with the use of equipment you most likely already have in your kitchen.
