Archive for the ‘FAQs’ Category

Surviving the Cold in the Raw

Many have the understanding that it is super easy to maintain the raw food lifestyle during the warmer months, there are plenty of local fruits and veggies in season, you can grow your own, and try several new dishes too. But once the seasons start to change, the leaves start to fall, and the temperatures start to drop, we are often left with the dilemma of how to make this lifestyle work in the winter. When the average person thinks of what to eat during a snowy day, automatically hot soups and mugs of cocoa come to mind, and maybe some of the dishes that are automatically associated with the holidays, such as turkey or ham. How does a raw foodist compete with that? And further more, how do we have that feeling of warmth and satisfaction after a meal?

Karen Knowler, a raw food coach, says that from her personal experience and that of others, “it entirely depends on how new you are to raw foods. Eating raw in winter is a bit like training for a marathon — you can’t expect to run the whole way your first time out; your body has to adjust and it has to adjust incrementally over a period of time.” Take a moment to reflect on where you are in your holistic journey. Get in touch with your body and your reasons for transitioning into a raw food lifestyle. What is important to you?

The best way to approach this is to ease yourself into the winter months with your mind, body and spirit aligned. If you are very new or up to a couple years in (or somewhere in between) perhaps your goal isn’t so much that you are 100% raw but that you are making healthy decisions. Do what feels right. So if you have been raw all day and your body says “hey gorgeous, this raw food is amazingly awesome, but it is wicked cold outside, let’s have some vegetable soup tonight,” then we think you should make yourself the healthiest vegetable soup. Do what feels right. It is so important to work with your body here, to weed out temptations for bad food decisions (greasy foods, etc) and make each decision one that will provide the most benefit to your  body. It is also important to recognize cravings, where they come from, and what emotion you attach to them (you may even have to write down when cravings occur to recognize the pattern). Surviving the winter in the raw does require a bit of will power, but overall it requires a sense of self and a knowledge of your purpose in this journey.

Let’s say you’ve been raw for quite some time now. How do you survive the winter? Perhaps you are more focused on “I want to be 100% raw all the time,” or whatever your personal goal may be. How do you achieve this? Well, if you are a seasoned raw foodist, you should still listen to your body and get in touch with yourself and your needs. Over time (and this time period is different for everyone), your body will adjust so much to raw foods that you will find yourself not craving the psychological comforts of cooked foods. A lot of our attachments to warm cooked foods are both psychological and habitual, whereas overtime your body has developed these new, healthier eating habits and will respond to your lifestyle accordingly. Even still, when you have reached this stage in your journey, it is something that personally you will know as you walk your own path to wellness.

No matter what stage in your journey you are in, here are some practical tips we hope will be most helpful to you in your journey:

• Take your food out of the refrigerator ahead of time, so it can warm to room temperature.
• Freeze fruits and vegetables in the summer for use during the winter. You can then put these in smoothies or to make raw ice creams.
• If you don’t have a dehydrator yet and have been on the fence about whether or not to purchase one, now might be a good time to strongly consider it. We have an article here on what to look for in a dehydrator (along with other raw equipment). Dehydrators are great taking the “chill” off of your meals.
• Warm raw soups in your dehydrator or improvise using your stove, as long as it’s below 118F it’s still considered raw!
• If you feel you need to, eat heartier raw meals during the winter. Perhaps salads may not be as appealing to you when its snowing outside than when it’s sunny and warm. We will be providing some more hearty, easy raw food recipes in the days to come to get you started.

Really use this season as time to reflect upon yourself and observe your own patterns and habits. You’ll stay on path more if you are able to identify certain feelings and cravings up front. Identify them  and put them in their place. Do not beat yourself up if you happen to stumble, trip or fall. There is a great quote that says “when you stumble, make it part of the dance.” Remember how magnificent and radiant you are, and give yourself the pep talk you need to get through.

References
Winter in the Raw by Karen Knowler (click here to view article)
Karen Knowler, The Raw Food Coach publishes “Successfully Raw” – a free weekly eZine for raw food lovers everywhere. If you’re ready to look good, feel great and create a raw life you love get your FREE tips, tools and recipes now atwww.TheRawFoodCoach.com.

Winter Health Survival Guide http://www.rawbc.org/articles/winter.html

Eating Raw Foods in The Winter http://www.rawfoodswitch.com/tag/eating-raw-food-in-the-winter/

Raw Food Challenges

A few weeks back we asked the question “is it easy  to be on the raw food diet?” and we came up with a mixed answer of yes, no and maybe. It all depends on your own personal journey, so there is no one right way to answer that question. Everyone’s experience is different, but even with this there are still some similarities. As a raw food enthusiast, you will surely encounter some challenges and obstacles. We personally believe that obstacles are put in our path not to stop us, but so that we can figure out a way over, around, or through them. To help you in your raw food journey, we have listed some of the common challenges below and some suggestions on how to handle them:

Availability of Raw Food
Depending on your location, availability of raw foods may be limited. The variety of foods would sometimes also be restricted by season.Freshness of foods may be a problem if they are shipped in from faraway locations. A good way to deal with this problem is to eat produce that is locally grown and in-season.

As far as getting the freshest produce, we recommend going to the grocery store more often than when you were eating cooked foods. Many raw foodist go twice a week at the very least, purchasing only what they intend to use immediately, and then returning mid-week to stock up on supplies. This might require some preplanning of meals on your end, or you can also see our Raw Food Pantry & Fridge article for helpful suggestions.

Some local health/organic food stores might sell prepackaged raw items such as fruit/nut bars and flax crackers (which make great snacks). If you are looking for them but can’t seem to find them, it’s okay to contact your store and ask if they will carry them for you.

Commitment & Willpower
Sometimes it may seem like you are in the minority as a raw foodist. While there are several local and online communities for you to be a part of, you may be alone at work, at school, or when you are out engaged in social activities. It takes a great deal of commitment and will power when you are starting the raw food diet, but we can assure you that this gets easier with time.

As you are early in your journey, you may find temptation lurking around every corner (YIKES! Is that the vending machine out to get you?). No worries! Remember, it is important to have available ready-to-eat raw foods which you can munch as snacks, with little or no preparation. This can include raw carrots/celery with almond butter or raw hummus, nuts and seeds (get creative and make your own trail mix), or a piece of fruit.

So you have armed yourself to face the outside world, but what about your life on the home front? Make sure you clean your fridge and pantry, riding it of any foods that can trip you up (if you are not comfortable throwing out this food, donate it if it is nonperishable, or bring it into the office).

To keep yourself excited about raw foods, it’s so important to try new recipes and foods. With this in mind, going through the produce section can be like an adventure. “Oooo, what’s this vegetable/fruit? I’ve never tried this before. I wonder what I can do with it….” It’s a small investment and a fun experiment for your taste buds.

For social gatherings, it can be tough! If it is a potluck meal, be sure to bring your own raw dish (or a couple dishes). This is one way to guarantee that you won’t go hungry and to let others try a delicious raw meal or side dish. If you are meeting some friends later on in the evening, say to go to a movie or to go dancing, make sure you eat before hand, then you will be less likely to be tempted by french fries and other greasy foods. At the very least, you can stop somewhere and get a salad before you head out to meet your friends so you are not meeting up on an empty stomach. If there is no time to stop, bring snacks with you, or on that morning make an extra green smoothie and leave it in the fridge to take with you later that day. Raw foods in social settings is all about being prepared.

And on the rare occurance, if you do happen to slip up, don’t sweat it too much. Tomorrow is a brand new day. Think of raw foods as being about making individual healthy decisions on a daily basis rather than being able to claim how raw you were on a certain day.

To Cook Or Not To Cook
Some people find it easier to transition into raw foods slowly, and including some cooked foods in their diet (we have tips on which route will get you started best). We are okay with this, but we want you to remember, if you can’t pronounce it, you shouldn’t be eating it. The problem with a lot of food is that it has been processed! If you are going the route of including some cooked foods to help you in your journey, make sure you are reading those labels. If the ingredients printed on the box are so tiny and thin that you have to squint just to make it out, put it back. So again we have to stress,  if you can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it.

Getting Used to Raw
If you are making the transition from a diet which contains mainly cooked food towards one which is mostly raw, do so at your own pace. Be patient and give yourself time to adapt.

You should also be aware that, when you first embark on a diet with an increased amount of raw foods, you may experience some symptoms, commonly called detoxification reactions. These could include headaches, tiredness, nausea, etc. However, rest assured that these symptoms would slowly fade away as your body cleans itself out.

Generally, the more you eat raw foods and the longer you do it, the easier it gets. Your body and taste buds slowly adjust, and you will most likely love the light and energetic feeling which raw foods give you. We can assure you that you will feel way better after eating raw foods (no afternoon nap required) than you would ever feel after eating a cooked hamburger or loaded pizza.

One Step At A Time
If one is going fully or mainly raw, we feel it is important to keep things simple. Don’t get discouraged by recipes that you can’t make yet or ingredients you’re not presently familiar with. Many raw food enthusiasts start out with salads, but then as they gain knowledge and experience they start to expand to slaws, veggie pastas, smoothies, desserts, and so much more! The most valuable resource for you is also free (the internet). Use it and this website to search for simple recipes to get you started.

Raw foods diets come with many challenges and also many advantages and health benefits. At the end of the day, how raw to go, is very much a matter of personal choice. Only by trying it out for yourself will you be able to tell how much you like it, and how your body reacts to it. Listen to your body and then do what is right for you. We truly believe that you already have everything within you that you need to be successful. And as always, we are sending good vibes and radiant energy your way to help you in your raw food journey.

Resources
Eating a Raw Food Diet – Challenges and Tips http://www.all4naturalhealth.com/raw-foods-diet.html

So You Want To Do A Cleanse?

Let’s define the word “Cleanse”…

Well first, let’s talk about what cleansing is. Cleansing is the act or process of removing poison or the effects of poison from the body. The human body is naturally designed to detoxify itself, if given the appropriate tools to work with. Detoxing is sort of like the oil change you perform on your car every 3,000 miles, except it is for your body. Today’s world is so fast paced that often times we neglect to take care of ourselves or do all that we can to give our body what it needs to self cleanse.

Think of all of the harmful things our body comes into contact with: pollution, chemical household cleaning supplies, processed food, home/work related stress, electromagnetic fields, radiation, negative energy, airborne pathogens, and the list goes on. So it only makes sense to want to renew your mind, body, spirit and soul, by riding yourself of all the toxins that you come into contact with on a daily basis.

There are several ways to detox and cleanse, and we recommend that anyone who wants to do this should do their research. The only way to get the full benefit of a cleanse or detox regimen is to know what you are getting yourself into and prepare for the process. Everyone’s journey starts somewhere.  Here’s to your heath!

How do I do a cleanse that is right for me?

There are so many different paths to holistic wellness and multiple options for cleansing/detoxing. Your goal is to rid your body of toxic build up, to become one with the earth and the person you were meant to be, and to be a conductor of positive energy. Typing in “cleanse” and “detox” into a search engine will bring up multiple links. How do you know which cleanse is best for you? Well, everyone is different, but these pointers below should get you started.

• First figure out what you are looking for in a cleanse. Do you want to cleanse your entire body or just your colon, or your liver? Consulting with a holistic healer or nutritionist might help you to translate your symptoms into what may be “out of whack” in your body.
• After outlining your personal goals, you should also consider visiting your local library or book store and camping out in the health and wellness section with pen and notepad. There is literature on cleansing with raw foods that you need to dive into. It’s so important to write down what sticks out to you or what sounds like it would be a good fit for you. That is the universe giving you clues on how to get to the next step.
• When you are searching online, if something doesn’t seem right, whether it be a claim as to how much weight you will lose or the price of the cleanse, then trust your instinct and don’t get involved. The holistic industry is a fabulous place but there are a lot of people/companies selling false hope in a bottle to get your money.
• See if you can find others interested in cleansing and do it together. Some holistic practitioners offer group detox programs. Sometimes it can be therapeutic just to know that others close by you are going through what you are, and that you can share in each others experiences.
• Then, after narrowing down to the option that aligns with what you are trying to accomplish, go for it with all the positive energy and good vibes you have. Cleansing is a rewarding experience, but for it to be successful, you have to go fuel it with your motivation and determination. You can do it!

Before you cleanse, you should…

We strongly recommend doing your homework before starting any type of cleanse. So you are able to have a successful detox program, here are some things you should get into the habit of doing at least 1-2 weeks before you start (some of these tips are from a book called Super Cleanse: Detox Your Body For Long-Lasting Health and Beauty, by Adina Niemerow):

Is it Easy to be on the Raw Food Diet?

Hmmm….. define easy! Some people find adapting to raw foods to be easy and others find it to be more challenging. Ultimately it depends on you and how much time and energy you are willing to put into your transformation. The more you dedicate to figuring out the best way for you to go raw and how to stay on track, the better experience you will have (see our many resources and features to get you started with going raw).

One common misconception is that raw foods is easier in terms of time commitment than your regular standard diet. Overtime, raw foods will become easier, and even more natural in terms of what you select when grocery shopping or going out to eat. But, do not come into the raw food lifestyle with the impression that this is an easy way out. It’s not! Instead of going to a fast food restaurant and ordering a number 5, super size with fries, you’ll have to plan a delicious raw meal ahead of time or pre-pick a healthier place to eat. You’ll also have to rearrange your schedule a bit to allow for meal prep, picking new recipes to try, and grocery shopping for the freshest ingredients.

There is a learning curve involved, but most will tell you that the few extra minutes you have to work into your schedule are well worth the long term health and wellness benefits that follow. We hope to provide you with the necessary resources, answers to questions and networking communities to make your transition as smooth as possible.

Remember, the choices you make today will ultimately effect your tomorrow.

Choose health. Choose wellness. Choose to be raw.

What Are Raw Foods?

The simple answer:
Raw foods are foods that have not been cooked. They contain a high level of enzymes that are essential for digestion and a plethora of nutrients that are good for your body.

The detailed answer:
How frustrating is it to plug “Raw Foods” into Google and get a ton of links? Some websites don’t have the answer on their Frequently Asked Questions page and other sites only give you 2 or 3 sentences on the topic.  If you’re trying to transition into a raw food lifestyle, we want you to have the facts.

The best way to explain raw foods is if we asked you to hold out your hands. In one hand, we give you a cup full of roasted nuts, and in the other, we give you a cup full of raw nuts. Then, we ask you to go plant both the roasted and raw nuts seperately in the ground. Can you guess which one will sprout greens? The raw nuts of course, also considered a living food, and that leads us into unlocking the wonderful nutritional value and healing powers of raw food.

Raw foods are fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and herbs enjoyed in their natural state. Cooking them changes the molecular structure of the food. It is the general consensus of the raw food community that the point at which enzymes are destroyed is 116° F. Enzymes are energized protein molecules that accelerate the rate of chemical reactions, such as those involved in our metabolism and digestion. 116° F is the maximum threshold for enzyme activity in food.  Raw foods are also full of phytonutrients, which are nutrients derived from plant material that have been shown to be necessary for sustaining human life. Phytonutrients can help to prevent disease and maintain optimal health.

Raw foods have been linked to overall improved health, healing from illnesses, increased energy, and weight loss. There is also mental clarity, overall better focus, a natural glow and being more in-tuned with yourself  (just to name a few). The claims of the benefits of raw foods are many, so it is natural to wonder how eating raw foods can change your life and health.

The simplest raw food (such as fruits and veggies) needs no preparation whatsoever. Simply take bite of your favorite fruit or combine your favorite veggies into a salad and you are one step closer to your new raw lifestyle. Then there are the other elaborate raw dishes that may require additional equipment and ingredients that you might not buy on a regular basis. Some recipes may also require additional prep work such as sprouting or dehydrating. Don’t let that scare you. Start small, start here. We will offer the simple recipes to get you started, and then useful tips for taking your journey to the next level.

“When you eat high-quality raw food, you give your body the fuel it needs to heal and prevent disease.” -Angela Elliott, author of Alive in 5: Raw Gourmet Meals in Five Minutes.

Raw Food Myth: Where’s the Protein?

Comment: What? You’re eating only raw foods now? Well, what are you going to do about protein? You need meat for that. A raw vegan diet doesn’t have enough protein in it, especially if you are physically active and like to workout.

Response:Yes, protein is essential for the structure and function of every cell in our body. It plays an important role in the functioning of our organs and muscle tissues, along with enzyme production. Amino acids are the building blocks for proteins. It is a common misconception that you can only get proteins (or enough proteins to function) from animal products. In fact, plant proteins are more than compatible with our bodies and provide the essentials that our cells need to perform daily tasks.

The World Health Organization states that humans need about 5% of their daily calorie intake to come from protein. This constitutes a healthy diet. Actually, by being a raw food enthusiast, you have the option to get your daily dose of protein from a variety of sources. So no longer do you have to think “gee, I should make sure I have chicken tonight so I get my protein.” Now you have multiple ways to get your protein, from your breakfast smoothie to your afternoon snack. On average, fruits have roughly 5% of their calories from protein and vegetables (especially green leafy ones) have 20-50% of their calories from protein.

Here are some great plant based foods that are packed with the proteins your body needs to make things happen:

• Dark leafy greens such as kale and spinach (great in salads, in juices and green smoothies)
• Fruits such as peaches, avocados (great in smoothies), and raisins (consider making a raw trail mix)
• Nuts such as Brazil nuts, pecans, pistachios (good for snacking)

So go forth and get your protein in more creative ways than ever before! Take that!!!!!

Raw Food Myth: Calcium Supplements

Comment: What? You’re going raw? I only have one word for you “supplements.” How else are you going to get the nutrients you need to be healthy? I mean seriously, what about calcium?

Response: We all know that calcium should be a very important part of any diet. We have to take care of our bones and teeth. A common myth is that the only place to get calcium is from diary products, particularly milk. So let’s arm ourselves right now with some useful tidbits of information about calcium and raw foods. This way when someone asks, you’ll know exactly what to say.

Calcium is more than present in the raw food lifestyle. Here’s where you can get it:

• Nuts and seeds (sunflower seeds, Brazil nuts, pumpkin seeds and flax seeds to name a few)
• Fruits (oranges, limes, figs and berries)
• Veggies (such as kale, which is great in juices, dandelion greens, kelp, parsley, and watercress)

Looks like you could get a good dose of calcium by plugging some of these ingredients into a meal or delicious smoothie! Take that!!!