Raw Foods 101!

In this very special introductory page, you’ll learn the basics of raw (uncooked, fresh, and therefore full of life!) foods. You’ll learn to identify exactly what is and isn’t considered a raw food, what might be confused as being raw food, the reasons many people are adopting their lives to this new diet, as well as some of the science behind it all.

WHAT IS RAW, LIVING FOOD?
Raw food consists of just carrot and celery sticks, as well as large salads, right? NO! There’s sooooo much more to raw foods than the dreaded “diet” foods that many have forced themselves to consume in their quest for a healthier body. Does it still sound boring? Well, it’s far from boring! If you haven’t done so already, check out Wendi’s before and after pictures. She has consumed 100% raw foods since December 2006, and never felt that she was missing out on anything. You can create the most delicious gourmet meals that rival (and almost always surpass) those of cooked foods. You’ll want to check out the recipes section of our blog to see what we are talking about. We’ve consumed raw versions of things like lasagna, apple pie, soup, and even crackers!

Here’s an incomplete list of what many raw foodists consume. There are far too many edible plants, fruits, nuts, and seeds to list here. In order for these foods to remain raw, they must never be heated above 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius).
  

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WHAT ISN’T RAW FOOD?
Well, first of all cooked foods are not raw. Any food that has been heated above 108-115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius) will be dead. If you heat the seed of a plant or tree, the seed will never be able to germinate and produce a living plant or tree. However, you can hold onto a seed for many years and if it has never been heated above 108-115 degrees Fahrenheit, it may still sprout and produce a plant or tree! Here’s a list of some foods that are not raw:
 

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WHAT IS SOMETIMES CONFUSED AS RAW FOOD?
Many people are unclear about whether, or not, certain items are raw. The following items are not raw, unless specifically labeled as such (and even then, it’s best to check to make certain):
 

Many raw foodists consume some of the items listed here, especially during their transitional phases of going raw. If used in small quantities, they should not hinder the health benefits of a raw food diet.

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WHY PEOPLE ARE ADOPTING THIS LIFESTYLE
There are numerous reasons why a raw food lifestyle is being adopted by people all over the world. One of the biggest reasons is for improved health and longevity. Think about this: no other animal on earth cooks its food. Humans are the only animals (other than those we feed) that develop so many diseases. The molecular structure of foods change when they are heated. Cooked foods act like a foreign substance (or poison) in our bodies. When cooked foods are ingested, our body increases its white blood counts since it sees the food as a foreign, unhealthy substance that needs to be fought. It’s amazing how much harm cooking our foods can do to our bodies, without us realizing it.

There is a famous study that was done called Pottenger's Cats. In the ten-year study, cats were separated into those who were fed cooked meat and those who were fed raw meat. The cats consuming raw meat were in better health, while the ones consuming the cooked diet suffered from congenital problems including birth defects and deformities after several generations. The study is interesting and worth researching if you’ve never heard about it.

Some people consume only raw foods for environmental reasons. Did you know that raising animals for food generates more greenhouse gases than all the cars and trucks in the entire world combined? Consuming packaged foods contributes to waste (in the creation and disposal of the packages), and cooking foods uses up resources.

Most people who stick with consuming all (or very high) raw diets do so because of how it makes them feel. Why would you want to consume cooked foods when you can eat delicious raw meals that offer health and energy? You may not believe that claim right now, but once you consume raw foods for 30 days, or more, you’ll notice a huge difference in what uncooked foods can do for you!

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THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT ALL
You’ll hear many theories about why raw foods are better than cooked ones. For as many reasons there are to consume raw foods, however, there are an equal number of reasons to consume cooked ones. Who’s to know what’s right or wrong for anyone else? We at Pure Jeevan are not scientists. We may be capable of researching what scientists have studied about raw foods, but in the end we are left to figure out what’s right for ourselves.

A Raw Foods 101 page wouldn’t be complete without at least mentioning some of the main theories behind the superiority of eating an all raw food diet. Probably the most talked about theory in the raw food world is the one about enzymes. It is believed by many that enzymes (proteins that assist with chemical reactions) are destroyed when raw foods are heated above a certain temperature (108-115 degrees Fahrenheit), thus requiring the human body to use its own enzymes to break down cooked foods. It is believed by many that the human body doesn’t waste its own enzymes if the enzymes in a food are present when the food is consumed.

A second theory seems to be based on a scientific study done by Dr. Paul Kautchakoff where he stated that the major cause of leukocytosis (an immune response where white blood cells increase up to 300%) was consuming cooked foods. He found that eating raw foods did not cause any elevation whatsoever in the white blood cell count. Furthermore, he stated that processed food consumption caused severe leukocytosis.

Again, it’s confusing to know what is true and what isn’t, when one study always seems to contradict another. That’s why Wendi decided to test if for herself. She had eaten a cooked vegan diet for many years and continued to experience weight gain and ill health, even when eliminating wheat and sugar. However, once she consumed a raw vegan diet her years of ill health vanished along with the unwanted weight. Eating a raw, vegan diet obviously worked for her. Then Jim tried it and experienced equally positive results. People all over the world are claiming similar things: “Raw Foods Healed Me!” The only way you’ll know if it can work for you is obvious—you need to give it an honest attempt to see for yourself! Be your own scientist and find out if what we are saying is true, or not. Prove us wrong and then let us know about it, because we truly believe that raw foods are the natural way to eat and can bring great health benefits to anyone eating a raw food diet. If, however, you try this way of eating and it works for you, as well, please let us let us know that, too!

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I WANT TO DO THIS! WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?
Great! You are about to embark on the most exciting adventure of your life. Your fist step it to really know that you want to do this. Figure out if you want to jump right into it and go raw overnight, whether you want to slowly transition to 100% raw, or perhaps you don’t want to become 100% raw. Your goal is very important, so make sure you fully know what it is. Once you have your goal set, all you need to do is take necessary steps to reach it!

Here’s your check list of some ways to proceed:

1. Write your goal down. Be certain it is very clear what you want.

2. Sign up for Pure Jeevan’s Newsletter to continually receive inspiration in meeting your goal.

3. Check out our Recipes and select a few that you’d like to try.

4. Shop for the ingredients and slowly walk through the produce section of the grocery store. Are there certain fruits or vegetables that look good to you? If so, go ahead and purchase some of them! Follow your intuition and you may find the path to a healthier body a very easy one to follow.

5. Plan out your meals. If you are planning on eating a lot of raw meals, you may want to pick up a raw recipe book. In our Blog we review different recipe books, so you’ll have an easier time finding a book that will work for your needs. (We also keep a large listing of raw food recipe books on our site, through an Amazon.com affiliation.)

6. Decide what you’ll do if you planned on eating a raw meal but you find yourself away from home and unprepared when hunger strikes.

7. Read, read, read as much as you can, every day, about raw, living foods. The more you read, the more you’ll stay inspired and the more you’ll learn.

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WHAT DO RAW FOODISTS EAT?
A raw foodist’s diet is as varied as those of people consuming cooked foods! We are all unique and have different nutritional needs. There is no exact diet that will work for every single person on this planet. We’re not saying that consuming raw foods won’t work for everyone, however. We’re saying that the kinds of raw foods, the percentages of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds will be different for everyone.

Many raw foodists consume only fruits for breakfast, salads for lunch, and heavier nut-based meals for dinner. Others may consume only fruits all day long, while others may enjoy nourishing their bodies with green smoothies. Give yourself the freedom to follow what feels good for you.

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TOOLS OF GOING RAW
Some tools are absolutely necessary in the kitchen of a raw foodist, while others are quite nice, but not required. Here’s a list of what you’ll definitely need, followed by items that would be nice to acquire if you would like to make some of the more complex recipes available.

  NOTE: Check our "Raw Books and Equipment Page" 
  for links to recommended products! 

Absolutely Necessary:

1. Good knife for cutting and chopping

2. A good cutting surface (chopping board/block, sturdy counter top)

3. Vegetable peeler

4. Large bowl to mix ingredients and from which you can also eat your salads

5. Refrigerator if you can’t shop for fresh produce every day

Nice to Have:

1. Food processor (an inexpensive one will work, but the more powerful ones will give you better textures)

2. Blender (it’s the same with the food processors—an inexpensive one will work, but the more powerful ones will give you better textures)

3. Chef knives (a few good quality knives really makes things easier when chopping and preparing raw meals)

4. A good chopping board or block will aid you in your chopping. We prefer wooden surfaces, since the plastic ones allow too much sliding and chance for getting cut. Plus, using wood (or bamboo, which is lovely) feels more natural than using plastic.

Extra Nice to Have:

1. Juicer (one that not only juices, but also homogenizes)

2. A dehydrator

3. Personal raw foods chef (we sure think this would be extra nice to have!)

Again, check our books and equipment page for more.

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WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU GO RAW
Changing your diet to one of mostly raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds can be a drastic change for your body if you have been eating the Standard American Diet (SAD) most of your life. Many people experience detoxification (detox) symptoms (bloating, gas, headaches, nausea, change in bowel movements, blemishes, mood swings, etc.). The less healthy your diet has been, the more likely it is that you’ll experience at least some sort of detox symptom. However, the slower you transition to the raw food lifestyle, the less severe your detox will be on your body.

Other than the physical changes that take place when your diet changes, you may also experience other issues. These can include feelings of isolation (especially if no one around you is eating the same way), problems with how to handle social situations where others are consuming cooked foods, concerns from friends and family who feel that you are being extreme in your diet choices, etc. Please know that you are not alone on this path to a healthier way of living. There are numerous places on the Web where raw foodists meet and support each other. Pure Jeevan is dedicated to supporting you on this path if it’s one you have chosen for yourself. We’re here for you and we’ll consistently be sharing with you through our Blog and Newsletter other places to visit for further support.

Now that we’ve covered some of the more negative experiences you may encounter while changing to a raw, living foods diet, let’s cover the positive experiences, too!

1. You will feel more energetic while eating a raw, living foods diet

2. Your skin will become smooth and have a radiant glow to it

3. Your body will effortlessly release any excess weight

4. Others will be inspired by your increased health

5. You’ll feel connected in a much deeper way to your body, mind, spirit, and emotions

6. You will feel much more focused and motivated in your daily activities

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BUT WHAT ABOUT…
Pure raw foods are the healthiest for our bodies, of course. Pure foods are those that you can find in nature before they have been tampered with by humans. If you think about it, it makes sense that we should eat what we can pick and collect in nature. Processing our foods and blending different ingredients together probably isn’t the best diet for our bodies.

However, you may have nutritional questions about consuming only raw, vegan foods. Here are some of the common questions asked of (and by) raw foodists:

"What about protein?"

We’ve all been drilled about the need to include protein in our diets so much that it feels wrong to not consume high protein foods. However, our need for protein is actually a lot less than we’ve been led to believe. In a study conducted by by Cornell University, Oxford University, and the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine over the course of twenty years, it was found that too much protein actually leads to cancer and disease. The smaller percentage of protein a group of people ingested, the less their rates of cancers and diseases were.

Did you know that all fruits and vegetables contain protein? Doesn’t it make sense, when you think about it, that the foods we can easily obtain on our own (fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds) would contain the variety of nutrients our bodies require? Think about some of the largest vegetarian animals in the world. Do you think gorillas don’t get enough protein? They are not only healthy, but extremely strong. Who would win in a fight between a vegetarian gorilla and the strongest meat-eating human on the earth?
  

Who Would Win?
the raw food-eating vegetarian	the strongest meat-eating human

"What about B12?"

This may actually be a concern for some individuals. B12 used to be present in our vegetables because it was present in the soil. However, our methods of farming have eradicated it from the soil and we can no longer rely on farmed produce for our supply of B12. Many vegans never experience a problem with B12 deficiency, however there are those who need supplementation. This doesn’t mean there is something wrong with consuming a raw, vegan diet. If man hadn’t interfered with the soil, we would never have experienced problems. Perhaps the more the planet fills with vegetarians, we will make certain to take the necessary steps to replenish the earth with the correct balance of nutrients it once held. Until then, if you are concerned about a low level of B12, see a professional who can test your level. Wendi has been a vegetarian since birth and has experienced mild B12 deficiency symptoms most of her adult life. Her levels were low when she was tested and she has since supplemented her diet with sublingual tablets once in a while.

"What about calcium?"

Oh, this is one of those big propaganda scare tactics—drink milk and eat dairy or else your bones will be weak and you’ll get osteoporosis. Search the Net for the facts on calcium and you’ll be amazed at what you find. First of all, cows get their calcium from the greens they consume. Second, it’s not natural to consume milk from an animal. Humans are the only animals who consume milk after infancy and also the only animals who regularly take milk from a completely different species of animal! Think about it—milk is for babies and should come from their mothers. How strange that we take milk that is meant for calves and kids (baby goats) to drink. And finally, calcium that comes from dairy products is not efficiently absorbed by the human body. Your requirement for calcium can be fulfilled by consuming a wide variety of green plants and even sesame seeds and figs!

 

Q: Ever wonder where cows get all that calcium? (Hint: What completely surrounds this cow?)

A:  That's right... GREENS!!!

More questions?
If you are new to learning about a vegetarian diet you probably have a lot of questions. We are more than happy to answer your questions and then share them with others. Please email us at any time with your questions or concerns and we’ll do our best to help you. Our email address is WendiDee@purejeevan.com.

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IMPORTANT
If you aren’t ready to give up cooked foods, then don’t do it. Maybe you just want to try adding some uncooked foods to your diet to see if you begin to notice a difference. If that feels more comfortable for you, then why not give it a try? What do you have to lose? If you don’t like the uncooked foods (we highly doubt this if you are trying any of the Recipes), simply stop eating them. You lose nothing in this approach. However, you stand to gain a lot (and we're not talking about weight here)! You see, once you start consuming those life-filled foods, they tend to “wake up” the cells within your body. On a deeper level you will realize that the raw, life-filled foods are healing you from the inside, out! The longer you eat them, the more you will want them! We promise that to be true for everyone! We have found this to be the most amazing part of adding raw, life-filled foods to our diets! Maybe you won’t like the same uncooked foods as others (even those eating cooked foods have different tastes from each other). Everyone has his or her preference for tastes, aromas, textures. But, we’re certain you’ll find the ones that your body desires and your whole world will change—you’ll be vibrating from the inside out and others will notice it, too! If you want to feel more vibrantly alive, cooked foods won’t do it for you. Life comes from life!

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