The rah! rah! rah! on raw food
Raw food is still such a mystery to so many, so we thought this month we would answer some of the most common questions:
Q: Is raw food about carrot sticks and broccoli?
A: Not at all. Even though the four groups used for this lifestyle are raw fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, there are many options, which is what makes is so inspiring.
Anything you can think of cooked can become a raw version that tastes just as good, except raw food is super-nutritious and full of living enzymes.
Some raw food examples include pasta made with raw zucchini, which you can spiralize so they look just like regular noodles; ice cream made from frozen bananas; sushi made with parsnip rice; lemon cheesecake using cashews instead of cream cheese; and chocolate frosting with dates and cocoa.
Q: The raw food lifestyle looks complicated, with special equipment needed. Is this correct?
A: The reason I love raw food is because it is easy. My supper generally takes five to 10 minutes to create.
Our classes show you how to put really simple dishes together that only require five ingredients and take under five minutes to put together, which then leaves plenty of time to have fun!
Q: Can you cook some food or is it all cold?
A: Most raw dishes you make are, of course, cold, but you can use a dehydrator to warm foods to 108 F.
By only heating to this temperature, it is believed all nutrients and enzymes are still present. In the winter, I gently heat my soups and heat the bowls, too, for some warmth, as I do enjoy the warmth in my tummy.
Spices are another great way to give the feeling of warm food, like chilli or cayenne.
Q: From where do you get your protein?
A: Recent research is showing we do not need the levels of protein that have been suggested in the past.
Some of the healthiest people on our planet live on 10 grams of protein a day.
Of course, we are not suggesting that, but protein is certainly a hot topic and one that everyone should do their research on to find out what is right for our own individual body.
Believe it or not, all fruits and vegetables have some protein, but the main sources are from nuts, pumpkins seeds, hemp and spiralina — a green agae you can throw in your smoothie.
Q: Why would I want to incorporate more of this food into my diet?
A: When I first began this journey, I could not believe how great I felt.
No more tiredness. I needed less sleep, I had more mental clarity and enjoyed a 15-pound weight loss.
Others enjoy subsidence of health issues, relief of constipation, the need for fewer medications and clearer skin, to name a few.
So, knowing all this, why would you not start incorporating more raw food into your diet?
It is a no-brainer way to feel great.
What I truly promote is that this is not an all-or-nothing lifestyle.
It can be small changes made to your everyday diet.
Once you start feeling great, you will want more for sure.
I was sick of being sick and tired and this lifestyle has given me more energy than I often know what to do with.
Raw Deal, a monthly column on the benefits of a raw-food diet, is written by Julie Bayman, owner of Pure Cuisine ([email protected]) in downtown Kamloops.
