Raw Food explained
What is Raw Food?
Raw Food is plant or animal food that has not been heated above 115 degrees Fahrenheit. When food is heated above this temperature, the enzymes in the food are destroyed or denatured and are therefore unable to provide the same nutritional value.
Enzymes are living biochemical factors that activate and carry out all the biological processes in the body such as digestion, nerve impulses, detoxification processes, functioning of RNA/DNA, repair and healing of the body, and even the functioning of the mind. There are natural enzymes in raw food which enable the enzymes secreted by the digestive system to be used for the processes of detoxification, repair and overall healing instead of just digestion.
Why Eat Raw?
There are people in the remotest parts of Pakistan, Russia and India who completely live off raw food with the inclusion of a little rice every now and then and are also vegetarians. It has been found that in these societies there was no trace of heart problems, diabetes, hypertension and cancer.
Because raw food is in its’ natural state the body is able to take maximum nutritional benefit from it. Raw fruits and vegetables are rich in water content 70 – 90%, because the body is 70% water it needs foods which are rich in water content.
When you eat cooked foods the body recognises it as poison (as the Swiss physician Dr Paul Kautchakoff in 1930 pointed out) and an immune response occurs. This is because of an increase in the amount and activity of leukocytes (white blood cells) occurs when undigested cooked food passes the gut wall. Whilst raw food contains the enzymes needed to digest it, cooked food does not. Heavily processed foods fared worst of all, showing a dramatic increase in white blood cell activity, identical to a food poisoning response (but without the bacterium). This, however, does not happen when raw foods are consumed therefore the body is stronger and more able to deal with infection.
A raw food diet leads to weight loss for those who need to lose weight but without the feelings of hunger and fatigue that usually accompany most diets. It can lead to an improvement in your skin and increased energy levels.
Many junk foods and processed foods are highly acidic which puts stress on the body therefore encouraging weight gain and poor immunity. A raw food diet high in vegetables, however, is mainly alkaline which allows for clear thinking and a stronger immune system.
So what kind of things can you eat?
Raw fresh
fruits and
vegetables; Legumes and beans that have not been cooked or canned / processed;
raw nuts and seeds and
nut butters; Dried fruit and vegetables; Whole unprocessed grains; Whole grain rice; Sprouts; Seaweed; Fresh fruit and vegetable juices; Raw Oils; Fresh herbs and spices, including salt, Fermented raw foods and sauces such as soy; Raw nut milk and coconut milk.
All the foods which you eat should be organic as the vitamin, mineral and enzyme count can be up to 50% higher in organic produce.
Sprouts
Sprouts are a staple food on a raw food diet as they are a concentrated natural source of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, trace elements, amino acids and protein. Sprouts are very easy to grow in your own home and it means that you can prepare as much as you need which in turn means less waste. It's also cheap and environmentally friendly, a handful of seeds will turn into fresh, nutritious snacks within days.
All nuts should be soaked for at least a few hours before eating in order to activate the enzymes within them. The other most common things that you will sprout on a raw food diet are:
Alfalfa; Buckwheat; Chickpeas; Lentils; Mung Beans; Oat Groats; Quinoa; Sunflower Seeds and Wheat Grain.
Try Sproutapouch for an easy, convenient way to start sprouting, try broccoli or red cabbage.
To sprout at home you will need:
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A container - You can use either a glass jar (good for sprouts that don't need a lot of light as the middle ones can be overlooked). A tray (at least 2 inches high and make sure the drainage holes are larger the seeds). A bag (perfect for sprouts that don't need light as it cannot break and takes up little space).
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Air: as any small plant, sprouts need air to breathe, without it they will succumb to mould and rot more easily. Don’t put them in sealed containers and make sure that they get enough.
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Warmth: Optimum temperatures vary but 70 to 75 f is a good start. Too hot and they’ll wilt, lose vitality and die. Colder temperatures will slow growth and are good for storage, but don’t freeze them.
How to do it:
Soak organic seeds for 8 hours or overnight in lots of water, some larger seeds may need longer. Add a liquid feed to the water for extra nutrition.
Rinse sprouts well at least every 12 hours. Trays need careful spraying in the beginning as it washes away mould causing fungi, but try not to move sprouts around as they root. Once they’re fixed immerse them in water for at least half a minute. Swishing them about, (and especially inverting them,) helps to remove seed hulls.
Drain your sprouts well, standing water is a good way to encourage rot. Leave trays on an angle for a minute or so, or briefly put them on some tissue to wick the water away (don’t leave them on it or they may dry out.)
Harvest sprouts carefully by gently pulling ripe ones out from the rest. This allows less developed ones to continue growing so you get several harvests of perfect sprouts.
Store them in a plastic bag in a cool dark place, such as a fridge, and rinse them every 3 days or so. Most sprouts will keep at least a week like this and often longer.
Kitchen Equipment that you will need:
The two main essentials of a raw food diet are a juicer and a heavy duty blender.
A dehydrator which uses a low temperature and a fan to dry food can also be used as it will allow you to warm foods on a cold day; make your own raw cookies, crackers and burgers; prepare seasoned nuts and seeds for snacks and make dried fruit slices.
Storage containers with tight-fitting lids for safe storage of unprocessed foods.
How do I start a Raw Food Diet?
The best way to start on the journey towards a raw food diet is to start slowly. Perhaps start with a raw breakfast every day and slowly build up the amount of raw food that you are eating with every meal.
Books that can help you on your journey are:
Eat Smart Eat Raw, Kate Wood