| Overview |
| What is Raw and Living Food? Imagine biting into a fresh, ripe, crispy, organic apple, slurping its juices and as you chew, savoring each flavor – that’s what Raw Food is about – simple, pure, energizing, sensual and unadulterated raw. The Raw Food Lifestyle often named “live foods”, “living cuisine”, “sunfood cuisine” is a diet comprised of naturally grown wild or organically and sustainably raised fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and occasionally sprouted grains. Raw Foodists do not consume animal products of any kind with the exception of honey and bee pollen. It excludes any foods with chemical and processed or pasteurized ingredients. Raw foods may be sliced, chopped, diced, blended and dehydrated, but the integrity of the nutrients and enzymes remain intact because the food is not heated above 118 degrees. While many people use the terminology of Raw and Living interchangeably, there is a distinct difference. Living Food refers to food that is still alive and growing i.e. sprouts such as alfalfa or sunflower seed or fermented foods such as sauerkraut, which is enzymatically alive. Only uncooked and unprocessed foods can provide us with the full spectrum of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, oxygen, fiber and other nutrients our bodies need for optimal health. Why? It’s all about Enzymes. Dr. Edward Howell states in his book Enzyme Nutrition: “Life could not exist without enzymes. Enzymes convert the food we eat into chemical structures that can pass through the membranes of the cells lining the digestive tract and into the blood stream. Food must be digested so that it can ultimately pass through cell membranes. Enzymes also aid in converting the prepared foods into new muscle, flesh, bone, nerves and glands. Working with the liver, they help store excess food for future energy and building needs. They also assist in kidneys, lungs, liver, skin and colon in their important eliminative tasks. Perhaps it would be easier to write about what enzymes don’t do, for they are involved in almost every aspect of life.” Scientists are now convinced that each of us is born with a certain amount of enzymes in our body. The supply is supposed to last a lifetime. However, the faster you use up the enzyme supply (lots is needed for digestion) the shorter your life. Thereby, the best way to rebuild our enzyme reserves is to eat raw and living foods. Dr. Gabriel Cousens, author of several books on raw foods, explains, “As our enzyme pool diminishes with age, our ability to perform the tasks that keep the body healthy also diminishes. Aging happens when enzymes decrease in concentration in the body.” Thereby Dr. Cousens along with Dr. Howell and raw food teacher,Dr. Ann Wigmore believe “that enzyme preservation is a secret to longevity”. Benefits Eating foods that is alive keeps you feeling ALIVE. Mind A greater sense of peace. Ridding yourself of an “unhealthy relationship” with food Body Effortlessly shedding pounds of unwanted physical weight Overall improved health shows itself including: Glistening skin Clear and glowing eyes (My eyesight slightly improved within only 4 months.) Glossy hair Endless energy It makes you feel FANTASTIC inside and out. No more scrubbing greasy pots and pans. (Can you imagine what it did to your intestines) Spirit It keeps you grounded, closer to the earth. And ethically, you are reducing the taxing burden of our environment. “FRESH ORGANICS = HEALTHY PEOPLE + HEALTHY PLANET” Any Phyo, Raw Food Chef and author |
