There is something about eating whole, fresh foods just as nature handed them to us. Bite into a juicy peach and you know exactly what I mean. Or a crunchy carrot. Or a spoon full of creamy avocado… The pure taste of the fruit or vegetable, fresh, fragrant and loaded with nutrition.
There is power in raw. And in a world where many people have gotten used to eating from a can, package or paper bag it is not hard to understand that some choose to go the other way: back to nature. To a diet that replenishes their vitamins and mineral levels, supercharges them with energy and cleans out years of built-up toxins: a Raw Food Diet.
It’s exactly what I did many years ago. And while I haven’t been a “raw foodist” for quite some time, I recognize the benefits of eating raw and like to incorporate some of the elements of this way of eating into my daily life. Which is why this article is dedicated to the raw food movement. Below you will find some raw food recipes from the website and my personal experience with raw food, but first a bit of background information.
What is a raw food diet?
The fundamental principle behind a raw food diet is that food in its natural state: whole, fresh and unprocessed is the most nutritious and wholesome for our bodies. A 100% raw food diet typically contains the following foods:
- Vegetables
- Fruits
- Soaked nuts and seeds
- Sprouted grains
- Raw, cold-processed healthy fats
- Superfoods
- Most raw foodists eat a vegan diet with no animal foods but some include raw eggs and dairy made from raw, unpasteurized milk.
Instead of cooking, de-hydrators are used to prepare things like crackers, raw cookies, “breads” etc. at a temperature below 118 degrees Fahrenheit (about 47 degrees Celcius)to keep the beneficial enzymes alive.
Fermentation is also used to make foods that contain good bacteria which support a healthy digestive system.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- A raw food diet is by nature high in vegetables and fruits which are, as you know, good for you.
- Fresh fruits and vegetables that have not been cooked contain the maximum amount of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and enzymes.
- Nuts, seeds and grains are soaked and sprouted which releases their full enzyme potential thereby making them more nutritious and easier to digest.
- The process of de-hydrating is used to prepare foods at a temperature below 118 degrees which keeps the beneficial enzymes alive.
- Fermented foods contain good bacteria that help maintain a strong and healthy digestive track.
- A raw food diet is naturally high in fiber
- Raw foods are extremely energizing, alkalizing and detoxifying
Cons:
- The kinds of foods eaten on a raw food diet are mostly “expansive” and cooling in nature. Some people feel cold and require more grounding and warming foods.
- This generally being a vegan diet certain essential nutrients that are found mostly in animal foods are missing or inadequate. Raw foodists might need to supplement their diet with B-12, vitamin D, calcium and omega 3 fatty acids.
- “Uncooked” vegetables, especially green leafy ones which are hugely popular in the raw food community can, in large quantities, be hard on your digestive system. Think bloating and explosive bowel movements :O. Some foods are more bioavailable when cooked, such as tomatoes.
- According to the traditional sciences of Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, cooked foods are more easily digestible and supportive of our digestive “fire” which is considered to be a key component of good health.
My personal experience:
When I was diagnosed with intestinal permeability (or “leaky gut” which is the more commonly used term that I have never been happy using as it brings to mind all kinds of nasty images..)I did a series of 100% raw food detox programs that lasted 40 days each. My Singapore kitchen turned into a lab overnight with a dehydrator, sprouting trays, blender and juicers, a kitchen herb garden and packages of exotic sounding superfoods. I read David Wolfe’s raw food bible “The Sunfood Diet” and many other books on raw foods, organized raw food “cook-outs” in my house and even contemplated on packaging and selling my super delicious de-hydrated coconut goji berry bars and flax seed crackers. I became a raw foodie enthusiast and a nightmare to friends who kindly tried to figure out what to feed me at dinner parties. I had my share of explosive “movements”, and a general feeling of being “high” on green smoothies but it cleaned me out good. Somewhere during the third round when I started looking rather bony, my energy levels were down and plates full of juicy steaks appeared in my dreams regularly I felt I had detoxed enough and it was time to ease up..
There are many people out there who thrive on a 100% raw food diet. Mind you there are even breatharians who happily live on fresh air alone. We are all unique in what our bodies require to be in optimum health. My raw food experience was amazing while it lasted. In hindsight it was not the best way to deal with a damaged gut, given the enormous amounts of fiber but it did teach me a whole lot about the power of fresh and raw foods, enzymes, juicing, making nuts and seeds more digestible, super foods and fermenting. I still love my green smoothies, raw cacao and making huge fresh salads and David Wolfe is still my hero but I recognize my body needs more than just raw.
For all of you reading this, there is power in eating raw, fresh, whole foods. Go see for yourself. Tune into your body, experiment, have fun and discover what works best for you.
May the (raw) power be with you! 😉
For those of you that want to delve deeper into this way of eating check out the following:
Raw food Superhero David Wolfe. You have got to see him live in action. He is a bouncing ball of energy, unstoppable and super inspiring. Check out his website: http://www.davidwolfe.com/
My favorite raw food places:
Singapore:
My friend, Sunita Vira, a certified Gourmet Raw Food Chef runs the Raw Food Centre in Singapore where she teaches the art of cooking raw and sells packaged items, desserts and catering services. For those of you lucky enough to live in Singapore, check out her website for more information: http://www.rawfoodcentre.com/.
For those of you not so lucky, check out her recipe contribution to this website: Watermelon Gazpacho.
California:
What are you grateful for today? This is the question asked when you place your order. Time to reflect, pause, count your blessings and eat/drink some powerful foods. A must.
Las Vegas:
Had this one around my corner for 4 years.. “Peace to all” style, juice & smoothie bar, lovely art, food and cooking classes. I highly recommend the Go Raw House Salad with house dressing. Yum!
Recipes:
Summer Salad with Raspberries (raw minus the mozzarella)
