{frequently asked questions}
What is “raw food”?
What’s the difference between “raw food”, “live food”, and “living food”?
Why eat raw and living foods?
Know your food: Eating close to the earth
What is “raw food”?
Raw Food. We hear the term a lot these days, but what does it mean? Raw food(s) is simply a plant-based diet of foods prepared mainly from seasonal, fresh, local, organic or pesticide-free produce with an emphasis on fruit, vegetables, seeds, nuts, and nutrient-dense, dark leafy greens, sea vegetables, superfood nutrition and whole food fats that haven’t been heated over 118°F, which is the critical temperature when most enzymes and vital nutrients are compromised.
What’s the difference between “raw food”, “live food” and “living food”?
More than likely you’ll also hear live food and living food to describe a raw food diet. Both terms are used interchangeably; however, “living food” is used to refer to foods that have been soaked, sprouted or cultured. These foods contain even greater amounts of vital nutrients and minerals than their heated counterparts.
Why eat raw and living foods?
When eating a raw plant-based diet, your body is able to cleanse itself of harmful pollutants and rebuild the immune system. The benefits include, to name a few:
- A body that’s slim, radiant and filled with energy
- Greater stamina and vitality
- Reduced cravings
- Better digestion, absorption and elimination
- Youthful, clearer and softer complexion
- Increased mental clarity and emotional well-being
- Weight loss
- Freedom from addictions to junk foods, salt, sugar, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, refined carbohydrates, and animal products
- Overall improved health
Know your food
Eating Close to the Earth
The food we eat is a multidimensional aspect of our lives. Food provides us with the energy that enables us to grow and prosper. Yet it can be, and frequently is, much, much more. Our food can be an experience in and of itself if we allow it to be.
The dishes we remember from childhood offer unmatched comfort. The act of preparing meals can be an art form of the highest caliber. And the nourishment we derive from this fare promotes wellness within us. But many of us, distracted by daily affairs, forget that the profound pleasures of eating go beyond simple sustenance. We eat foods that are convenient or we eat unconsciously, snacking on whatever happens to be on hand.
To understand the true value of food and the impact it can have on our lives, we should acknowledge and honor it by eating close to the earth. If you have ever shelled and eaten garden-grown peas or bitten into a sun-warmed apple freshly plucked from its tree, you likely understand that there is a marked difference between these foods and those that are processed and stacked on supermarket shelves.
Food recently picked contains more of its original life force and thus has a greater store of energy and nutrients. You can ensure you are eating close to the earth—and enjoying the many benefits of doing so—by shopping at a local farmers market and getting to know the individuals who grow your food. If you make the experience of shopping in this way enjoyable, you will be more apt to reject more convenient canned, packaged, and frozen foods in favor of the real delight you feel while browsing stalls of fresh foods nourished by the same soil you can find in your own backyard. You will soon learn what foods are in season in your area and how to prepare them.
As you savor the vivid flavors of juicy ripe fruits and the hearty crunch of unprocessed vegetables, you can also take pleasure in the fact that, by eating close to the earth, you are supporting farmers in your region, connecting with your local ecosystem, discouraging those who would waste precious fossil fuels by carting produce cross-country, and helping to preserve healthy culinary traditions that have existed for centuries.
Reprinted from DailyOM — Inspirational thoughts for a happy, healthy and fulfilling day. Register for free at www.dailyom.com
