What is Raw and Living Food?
Plant based food from the earth, in its natural state, uncooked or not heated above 112 degrees. This includes
sliced, diced, grated, chopped, blended, pureed, fermented (without heat) sun dried or dehydrated. This includes
raw nut butters, virgin olive oil, coconut oil, seaweeds (not roasted), raw honey, raw carob powder, and raw cacao.
Of course this is just a partial list. Canned or jarred fruits or juices are not raw, nor are roasted or salted nuts.
By now, almost everyone has heard of a raw or living food diet. However, when most people think of a raw food diet
they envision someone with strong will power, depriving themselves of "real" food and trying to fill up with endless
bowls salads and carrot sticks, with perhaps some twigs thrown in for extra crunch (just kidding).
Although the list of foods may seem limiting, you will be amazed by the number of combinations that you can use to
create an infinite number of creative, delicious, nutritious, recipes. The combinations are endless. Just look at the
number of "uncook" books that are out there.
Why incorporate more raw and living foods into your diet?
There are many reasons to incorporate more raw foods into your diet. For some a strict raw food diet may be used
to aid in healing or weight loss. For others it's an occasional, exciting culinary experience, or a way to eat high
quality foods and contribute to the health of the environment. And for some it is a lifestyle choice that involves the
mind, body, and spirit.
Whatever your reason, raw & living foods taste great (fresh & alive) and you can have a new and exciting culinary
experience that's healthy for you and interesting. The more you add to your diet, the better you will feel. You will
have a healthier body & mind, more energy, vitality and less weight and aliments.
The reason for this? When food is heated above 115 degrees many of the essential nutrients & enzymes are
destroyed. When you eat fresh and alive foods, you are eating nutrient dense foods which supply an abundant array
of vitamins, minerals and enzymes, as well as fiber, antioxidants, essential fatty acids, iron, calcium & protein.
With proper care and maintenance our bodies are designed to heal themselves.
A diet of raw foods has been attributed in helping to heal numerous diseases including: diabetes, fibromyalagia,
acne, migraines, asthma, body aches & pains, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, hypoglycemia, colitis &
diverticulitis, candida, arthritis, allergies, depression, anxiety, mood swings, heartburn, gas & bloating, skin
disease, obesity, menopausal symptoms, chronic fatigue, obesity, and cancers.
So....the more alive a food is, the more nutrient dense, and full of enzymes. Enzymes are what help your body digest
and when you eat nutrient dense foods, your body needs less food. Less food, more nutrients means your body
works less, therefore you have a healthier body with less weight and more energy.
Plant based food from the earth, in its natural state, uncooked or not heated above 112 degrees. This includes
sliced, diced, grated, chopped, blended, pureed, fermented (without heat) sun dried or dehydrated. This includes
raw nut butters, virgin olive oil, coconut oil, seaweeds (not roasted), raw honey, raw carob powder, and raw cacao.
Of course this is just a partial list. Canned or jarred fruits or juices are not raw, nor are roasted or salted nuts.
By now, almost everyone has heard of a raw or living food diet. However, when most people think of a raw food diet
they envision someone with strong will power, depriving themselves of "real" food and trying to fill up with endless
bowls salads and carrot sticks, with perhaps some twigs thrown in for extra crunch (just kidding).
Although the list of foods may seem limiting, you will be amazed by the number of combinations that you can use to
create an infinite number of creative, delicious, nutritious, recipes. The combinations are endless. Just look at the
number of "uncook" books that are out there.
Why incorporate more raw and living foods into your diet?
There are many reasons to incorporate more raw foods into your diet. For some a strict raw food diet may be used
to aid in healing or weight loss. For others it's an occasional, exciting culinary experience, or a way to eat high
quality foods and contribute to the health of the environment. And for some it is a lifestyle choice that involves the
mind, body, and spirit.
Whatever your reason, raw & living foods taste great (fresh & alive) and you can have a new and exciting culinary
experience that's healthy for you and interesting. The more you add to your diet, the better you will feel. You will
have a healthier body & mind, more energy, vitality and less weight and aliments.
The reason for this? When food is heated above 115 degrees many of the essential nutrients & enzymes are
destroyed. When you eat fresh and alive foods, you are eating nutrient dense foods which supply an abundant array
of vitamins, minerals and enzymes, as well as fiber, antioxidants, essential fatty acids, iron, calcium & protein.
With proper care and maintenance our bodies are designed to heal themselves.
A diet of raw foods has been attributed in helping to heal numerous diseases including: diabetes, fibromyalagia,
acne, migraines, asthma, body aches & pains, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, hypoglycemia, colitis &
diverticulitis, candida, arthritis, allergies, depression, anxiety, mood swings, heartburn, gas & bloating, skin
disease, obesity, menopausal symptoms, chronic fatigue, obesity, and cancers.
So....the more alive a food is, the more nutrient dense, and full of enzymes. Enzymes are what help your body digest
and when you eat nutrient dense foods, your body needs less food. Less food, more nutrients means your body
works less, therefore you have a healthier body with less weight and more energy.
The How
For many, the idea of adding raw foods to your diet is intimidating. A good way to start maybe by replacing refined
& processed foods like white flour & sugar, with a whole food. Then try adding a green smoothie for your
breakfast in place of a bagel or eggs.
Incorporating more raw foods into your diet is a process. Someone who may be experiencing health problems
may be willing to just jump right in and begin changing everything in their diet immediately. Other's may just want
to start out slowly, just tasting and experimenting; perhaps just substituting a raw dessert in place of their Ben &
Jerry's. And for others, just the experience of adding a new culinary treat to your diet may be what your looking
for.
You don't have to be 100% raw to gain the benefits of eating raw foods. The bottom line is the more raw & living
foods you incorporate into your diet, the better you will feel. By simply adding an extra salad a day, or smoothie,
you are taking a step in the right direction.
Whether your interest is health or culinary, adding more foods to your diet can be as simple as simple as grabbing
an apple as a snack instead of (cookie or chips) or as involved as spending some time in the kitchen and having
fun experimenting with a new meal to prepare for your friends & family.
There are numerous website & books information on the various theories & philosophies of a raw food diet. Below
are some links & book suggestions.
Turquoise Barn also offers a number of classes & workshops as well as well as occasional dinners where you
can get an idea and sampling of this amazing cuisine.
Check our rawfood classes for a schedule of classes and current raw events or contact us for more details.
For many, the idea of adding raw foods to your diet is intimidating. A good way to start maybe by replacing refined
& processed foods like white flour & sugar, with a whole food. Then try adding a green smoothie for your
breakfast in place of a bagel or eggs.
Incorporating more raw foods into your diet is a process. Someone who may be experiencing health problems
may be willing to just jump right in and begin changing everything in their diet immediately. Other's may just want
to start out slowly, just tasting and experimenting; perhaps just substituting a raw dessert in place of their Ben &
Jerry's. And for others, just the experience of adding a new culinary treat to your diet may be what your looking
for.
You don't have to be 100% raw to gain the benefits of eating raw foods. The bottom line is the more raw & living
foods you incorporate into your diet, the better you will feel. By simply adding an extra salad a day, or smoothie,
you are taking a step in the right direction.
Whether your interest is health or culinary, adding more foods to your diet can be as simple as simple as grabbing
an apple as a snack instead of (cookie or chips) or as involved as spending some time in the kitchen and having
fun experimenting with a new meal to prepare for your friends & family.
There are numerous website & books information on the various theories & philosophies of a raw food diet. Below
are some links & book suggestions.
Turquoise Barn also offers a number of classes & workshops as well as well as occasional dinners where you
can get an idea and sampling of this amazing cuisine.
Check our rawfood classes for a schedule of classes and current raw events or contact us for more details.
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