1) Why raw food?
2) What is raw food?
3) B12
4) Calcium
5) Can body builders get enough protein from raw food?
6) Should I always soak nuts?
7) What size food processor do you recommend?
8) Do I have to eat 100% raw?
9) What can I eat in a restaurant?
10) How do you open a young coconut?
11) What about coffee?
12) What is nutritional yeast?
1)Why Raw Food?
Raymond Francis wrote “Never Be Sick Again” and “Never Be Fat Again.” He is a chemist who went to MIT and has this really simplistic theory on why people get sick or fat... He says, basically, that ALL sickness and ALL problems with the body are the result of a malfunctioning cell (or many cells, obviously!).
He goes on to say that there are two reasons for a cell to malfunction: not getting enough of what it needs, or getting too much of what it doesn’t need. He recommends not eating anything out of a box or that is packaged -- because these things most likely have a bunch of stuff we don’t need and not enough of what we do need.
And that’s the cool thing about going raw. It gives you all the things your body needs, and it doesn’t add to the preservatives, animal protein, sugar, salt and all the other toxins it doesn’t need. If your body isn’t forced to use its energy to focus on digesting and ridding it of food that it doesn’t need, your body’s limited resources (more energy with raw food!) can be used to heal it and to prevent unwanted disease.
If you’re already doing other things well (exercise, sunlight, good attitute, laughter, etc.), then raw food may just be the only missing link!
-Eva Rawposa
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
2) What is Raw Food?
Raw food includes uncooked fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and sprouted grains. Depending on who you ask, raw food can be lightly heated up to anywhere from 104 to 118 degrees and still be considered raw.
Because of the ability to lightly heat, raw foodists can enjoy healthful crackers, pizza crusts, breads, cookies, chips, softened and marinated veggies, fruit leathers, and more!
Raw food is E-A-S-Y once you know the tricks and get past the learning curve. That’s why I’m here sharing information! And for that matter, there are lots of raw food teachers out there these days, so I hope that if you’re looking -- you can find the tools and the help you need to add raw food in no matter your location or budget.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
3) How can a raw foodist get enough B-12?
Here is the best article I have found regarding B-12 for raw foodists.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
4) How can a raw foodist get enough calcium?
A Common Misconception about Milk and Calcium
One of the wonderful, but sometimes confusing, things about the human body is that it is more complicated than it is made to seem. For example, if you read the label or see the advertisements, an unsuspecting person might assume that their body would obtain 25% of the calcium it needs by drinking a cup of milk.
Milk, like many other “foods” has other aspects (beyond what is written on the neat little label) that actually inhibit the successful absorption of the body. This means, milk is essentially worthless for those who are drinking it for strong, healthy bones! Crazy, I know. This is a surprise for many people, and it is hidden by the dairy industry.
In order to use the calcium we ingest, we must also ingest similar amounts of magnesium. Magnesium and calcium are a great pair -- have them together and your body is much more able to use the calcium. There is very little magnesium in milk.
Green, Leafy Vegetables: Nature’s #1 Source for Calcium
Green, Leafy Vegetables contain lots of both calcium and magnesium. Because calcium needs magnesium to work with it, this is a wonderful food made by nature to give us strong bones. Green smoothies are a great way to get your greens in easily and regularly.
Other raw sources of calcium
Here they are, in approximate order of highest to lowest amounts of calcium per ounce: Sesame seeds or sesame tahini, flax seeds, broccoli, almonds, seaweed, figs, mung beans, tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, chickpeas, macadamia nuts, prunes, raisins, sunflower seeds.
Calcium’s Friends: Magnesium and Vitamin D
The best source for Vitamin D is FREE! It’s the sun. Enjoying one hour per day in the sun, without sunscreen, gives the human body as much Vitamin D as it needs. Magnesium can be found in green, leafy vegetables, as well as bananas, avocados, beans, nuts and seeds. By making sure to eat enough magnesium and enjoy sunlight during the day, the calcium we eat can be utilized much more effectively to produce or maintain strong, healthy bones.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
5) Can body builders get enough protein from raw food?
Protein is on the minds of so many, it seems!
I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that raw food is great for building strong bodies. The bad news is that it is less great at building huge bodies. Here is more info for you:
1/ Negative for raw:
Think of all the hormones injected in animals today. They are primed to get big quickly so they can be more profitable to those involved in the meat industry. Now think of steroids... other hormones that create quick growth. The effects of meat and steroids are similar, which is convenient for a body builder looking for legal but quick results.
2/ Positive for raw:
Eating raw foods that are easily assimilated actually creates a more efficient body that rids itself of waste and excess. This is great for creating that ripped look (even without body makeup ;-)).
3/ Tip:
Go nuts! Eating more nuts and other high-fat, high-protein food should help tip the scales in the body builder’s favor. Walnuts in particular are great for this. (I answer a question I got about soaking nuts next week, and I have a great tip to share!)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
6) Should I always soak nuts?
This is a great question that I received after the blueberry pie recipe. In recipes like pie, cookies, parmesan, etc. where the texture is not a liquid, you definitely want to keep the nuts dry. Otherwise, you could really end up with a strange texture!
Nevertheless, I prefer to add a step and soak them, then dehydrate. It’s your choice whether you want to take the time. I’ll share how and why I do that, and you make the decision if it makes sense for you too!
Which Nuts
I soak almonds, walnuts, pecans, and sunflower seeds.
Soaking Time
I first soak them in water that more than covers the nuts for about 8 hours (overnight). I rinse them well, then soak for another 8 hours if I have the time. If I still have more time, I repeat this one last time, but with the nuts in the fridge.
Dehydrating
I keep the temperature at 115 degrees Fahrenheit, and I remove the nuts after about 8-12 hours or when they are completely dry.
Why
Soaking removes enzyme inhibitors and brings the nuts to life. It also brings the FLAVOR to life! The flavor of nuts that have been soaked and dehydrated is AMAZING -- sweet without a trace of bitterness, fresh, and just overall much more vibrant. You can feel the vibrance with easier digestion, as well.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
7) What size food processor do you recommend?
This is definitely a personal choice.
If you will mostly be making food for yourself, I would recommend a 7-cup or thereabouts. The reason is that you can much more easily split a recipe in half and keep the food fresh.
If you are making food for 3 or more people, at least a 10-cup or even a 14-cup would be great. More people means your leftovers won’t be around for long if you have them!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
8) Do I have to eat 100% raw?
Of course not!
I truly believe that if a person is not ready to make the switch, the stress and negativity that comes from such a lack of control and desire, can be WORSE than the food being left behind. If this is you, eat ONLY as much raw food as you ENJOY eating. Indulge in the fun recipes and what most appeals to you. In fact, don’t even keep reading the answer! ;)
If you’re still reading my thoughts on this, and you think you are “there” but haven’t yet made the jump to 100%, I FULLY recommend 100% raw. This is when the real magic happens. You see, when you put ONLY rocket fuel into a rocket, it thrives!
Raw food is to humans, as rocket fuel is to rockets. In terms of the nutrients, antioxidents, easy digestion, ETC, raw food is the best fuel for the vast majority of human bodies.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
9) What can I eat in a restaurant?
This can really vary, so I’m just going to share some of my own experiences.
Since going raw, I have found that the food I make at home, in both flavor and vibrance, is generally superior to the food found in restaurants. Much more than before, I invite friends over, hold dinner parties, bring goodies with me to share, etc. I also like to meet with friends at a coffee shop but drink either herbal tea or water.
There are still moments when it makes sense to eat in a restaurant. In those cases, I usually bring along a small glass spice jar filled with a nice dressing and maybe a little baggie with some candied pecans, an avocado, or something else that can be added to almost any salad.
If I did not contact the restaurant in advance, I prefer to keep it easy and order a “garden salad with no meat or cheese.” Alternatively, there are so many raw food restaurants cropping up! AND, many restaurants will surprise you with something great if you give them advance notice.
There have also been times when I have chosen to ask for a plate and silverware for my own meal. I have never had a problem with this. I do it only when they can’t accommodate me with a nice meal or even a simple salad. I’ve also eaten in advance on some occasions.
In terms of the social side of eating out... we attract a certain response depending on our own attitude. If we don’t make a big deal of our lifestyle choices, others usually won’t either. I go to restaurants with friends for the fun and good company. It’s not to pick at their food choices, or for them at mine!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
How do you open a young coconut?
I had an ice cream class recently that went really well. We made gelato, butter pecan with a caramel sauce drizzled over it, and the easiest ice cream ever. One of the recipes called for young coconut meat, and most of the people in the restaurant looked really concerned.
The thing is, it’s really easy once you know what you’re doing, you just have to know what to do. Then it’s nothing, no big deal, just new information. So, I got my cleaver and a sharp chef’s knife and then I went to work. It was so easy. I did it a lot like in the video at the top of this page.
Now, seriously, don’t be shy. You can do this. Just be careful, and keep your fingers away from the blade.
You’ll have to try the coconut dream! I’ve received DOZENS of comments and emails about it. So you get your cleaver, and 1-2-3 it’s done.
By the way, another tip for you... Do NOT use a cheap chef’s knife. Either use a good one or use a cleaver. You WILL bend a cheap chef’s knife if you try to whack a coconut with it!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
11) What about coffee?
This question actually came from a client at one of the dinner party classes last week. And really, I hear it all the time.
When you take a strong stimulant of any kind, it activates the “fight or flight” response by the body and stimulates the adrenal glands. Done regularly, the adrenals become burdened and taxed, so overworked that they have a difficult time performing for regular tasks.
So when do we need the adrenal glands to work well? All the time of course, but especially in times of stress.
Additionally, coffee is a diuretic, which means that it dehydrates you. Considering that the body is made of so much water, and needs to be well hydrated to work well, that is not a good thing!
So, what does this mean for a coffee drinker who keeps hearing that coffee is healthy?! Coffee is just a part of the big picture. It’s not the end of the world if you are drinking it, but it’s something to keep in mind as needed on your journey.
I’ll tell you... After working at 3 coffee shops, including a 5-year stint at Starbucks (read: lots of sources of free and unlimited coffee...), I understand. I know that it must be toxic, because of the very harsh de-tox (almost went to the ER!!) I went through. But, for me, I’m glad to be off of it.
For my own (very healthy and vibrant) mother and others, it just isn’t the right time to do any more than cut down to a small amount. Your life, your decision. I’m just sharing what I can with you!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
12) What is nutritional yeast?
|
