The Living and Raw Foods F.A.Q. (Frequently Asked Questions)

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The Living and Raw Foods F.A.Q. (Frequently Asked Questions)

 

The Living and Raw Foods discussed in this web site includes all plant based

(vegetarian/vegan) foods.

*What are Living and Raw Foods?*

Raw and Living Foods are foods that contain enzymes. In general, the act of

heating food over 116 degrees F destroys enzymes in food. (Enzymes start to

degrade in as little as 106 degrees F). All cooked food is devoid of

enzymes, furthermore cooking food changes the molecular structure of the

food and renders it toxic. Living and raw foods also have enormously higher

nutrient values than the foods that have been cooked.

 

*What are Enzymes?*

Enzymes assist in the digestion of foods. They are known to be the

" Life-Force " and or " energy " of food.

 

From the dictionary:

*Noun*: Any of the various complex organic substances, as pepsin originating

from* living cells* and capable of producing certain chemical changes

in *organic

substances* by catalytic action, as in digestion.

 

*Why are Enzymes Important?*

Enzymes are important because they assist in the digestion and absorption of

food. If you eat food that is enzyme-less, your body will not get maximum

utilization of the food. This causes toxicity in the body. (Can you guess

why over 75% of Americans are overweight?)

 

*Doesn't the acidic ph of the stomach destoy enzymes?*

Viktorus Kulvinskas, one of the world's foremost and most experienced active

researchers into enzyme nutrition has information showing then stomach acid

merely deactivates food enzymes. The enzymes are then reactivated in the

more alkaline small intestine. Many people who eat all raw foods, sense a

world of healthful difference in our energy, digestion and connectedness

with nature by eating enzyme-rich living foods. When we stopped eating

cooked protein foods which require large secretions of stomach acid (which

is not healthful for several reasons) our stomach doesn't produce much

stomach acid. Many people who eat raw foods eat a low protein diet and are

free from the stomach acid secretions and have much more energy and a

lighter disposition.

 

*Is there a difference between living foods and raw foods?*

Living and Raw foods both contain enzymes. In living foods, the enzyme

content is much higher. Raw, unsprouted nuts contain enzymes in a " dormant "

state. To activate the enzymes contained in almonds, for example, soak them

in water for as just 24 hours. Once the almonds begin to sprout, the enzymes

become " active " and are then considered living. In the context of this web

site,

the terms are used loosely.

 

*Why eat only Organic Foods?*

When juicing or eating foods, it is very important to choose to consume only

organically grown produce. " Conventional " or " industrial " produce are grown

with pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers, and other chemicals that

are toxic and/or harmful to your body. Organic foods are grown without the

use of these harmful substances, taste better, and are more nutritious.

 

*Will rinsing wash off the pesticide from industrially grown produce?*

Rinsing with cool water will remove some surface pesticide residue, but not

the pesticide that was absorbed into the produce as it was grown. Some of

the most severely tainted types of produce are strawberries and bell

peppers. Some of the least tainted: carrots and avocados.

 

*Is this a " new " fad diet or something?*

Not at all! Consider the following: during the vast majority of our

existence on this planet, what choices did we have for food? What COULD we

have eaten during the first 10-50,000 years (or more) before we discovered

fire, tools and implements to kill animals? The original diet of

homo-sapiens MUST have consisted primarily of vegetables, fruits, and nuts!

What other choices did we have? Clearly, a raw, plant based diet is the main

food staple throughout the vast majority of the history of Humankind! Before

Humans started killing and eating dead animal carcass, we ate fruits,

leaves, nuts, berries, etc...

 

*Is this just another vegetarian or vegan diet?*

Yes and NO! This is the ULTIMATE vegetarian/vegan diet. It should be the

goal of all vegetarians, vegans and *SAD* - [standard American Diet] eaters

to eat raw. The benefits are out of this world! Once you embrace an all-raw

and living food diet, you are more living, have more energy, better health,

think more clearly, and become more in tune with your body! This type of

diet even gives you a " competitive edge " over people that eat life-less

food.

 

*What is the difference between a raw/living foods diet and a vegetarian

one?

*Vegetarians and vegans believe in only eating a plant based diet.

Living and Raw Foodists believe in eating only an* UNCOOKED*, *UNHEATED*, *

UNPROCESSED* and *ORGANIC* plant based diet.

 

*What is a Living Foodist or Raw Foodist?

*A person who eats 75% or more living/raw food.. The more, the better.

Optimally one should eat 100% raw and living foods if it feels right for

them.

 

*Is a 100% living and raw food diet best?*

That depends on the person. I believe life should not be about 100% raw

food, but about 100% health. You can be " unhealthy " and eat 100% raw food,

if you are not eating the correct raw foods. In addition, the stress that

can be caused by " screwing up " or " falling off the wagon " can be worse than

eating a high percentage raw food diet, with " better " cooked alternatives. I

personally eat 99.999% raw foods.

 

*Is there just one type of living/raw foodist?*

There are many subcategories of living/raw foodists. Some include:

 

- Fruitarian - People who consume mostly fruits.

- Sproutarian - People who consume mostly sprouts.

- Juicearian - People who consume mostly fresh juice.

 

*Why would someone want to eat a raw and living foods diet?*

There are many reasons why people eat a raw and living foods diet.

 

1. Health: Persons embracing this type of diet invariably experience

improvements in their general physical and mental status, including more

energy, better health, more energy <smile>, weight loss, detoxification, and

a sturdier immune system that better resists and recovers from just about

any kind of disease... and the list goes on...

2. Energy efficiency: Since you no longer have to cook, you don't

waste electricity, and save the environment.

3. Since you eat organic agriculture, you help to save the planet.

Most become more in-tune with their body; many report definite spiritual

improvements.

4. No animal products are used, so the animals appreciate it.

 

*What do raw/living foodists eat?

*Raw and Living Foodist eat all fruits, vegetables, sprouts, nuts, seeds,

grains, sea vegetables, and other organic/natural foods that have not been

processed. In some instances, there are special ways to prepare the foods

(example: most raw and living foodists soak/sprout nuts, seeds and grains

before consuming them). For some delicious recipes, see our recipe

section!<http://www.living-foods.com/recipes/>

 

*How can you tell if something is a raw/living food?*

Most foods that have not been processed in any way, shape or form are raw

and living foods (until cooked). Processed foods (canned, bottled or

prepackaged) are most often adulterated, (changed from their original state)

by heating, additives, preservatives, colorings, salt, and sugar. Don't

think this is all for your benefit; the benefactor is the manufacturer's

profit margin, NOT YOU. Try to purchase foods that are in their natural

state.

 

*What do raw and living foodists drink?*

Water (purified water - never tap water), Freshly made juices (made with

your own juicer - and consumed immediately), coconut milk (from a young

coconut), are some of the liquids living and raw foodists drink. Most all

drinks purchased at the store have been processed (Including: soda, bottled

juices, coffee, alcohol, and most others) and are not included in a living /

raw foodist diet.

 

*Do raw and living foodists drink tea?*

Some living and raw foodists will drink SUN TEA, which is tea brewed by the

power of the Sun. Teas that contain boiling water are not considered raw.

Many teas that are purchased in the store may have been processed at

temperatures above 118 degrees. The best way is to grow your own herbs and

dry them at a low temperature, and use them for sun teas.

 

*Are certain raw foods better than others?*

Yes. I believe one should focus on eating the majority of fresh fruits and

vegetables. All other raw foods (such as nuts, seeds, etc) should be

minimized. Fresher foods are always best. Ones that you grow yourself, or

purchased at a farmers market, are much fresher than foods purchased in the

grocery or health food store.

 

*Where do raw and living foodist get their protein?*

The WHO (World Health Organization) says humans need about 5% of their daily

calories to come from protein to be healthy. The USDA puts this figure at

6.5%. On average, fruits have about 5% of their calories from protein.

Vegetables have from 20-50% of their calories from protein. Sprouted seeds,

beans, and grains contain from 10-25% of their calories from protein. So if

you are eating any variety of living plant foods, you are getting more than

adequate protein. Numerous scientific studies have shown the daily need for

protein to be about 25-35 grams per day. So if you ate 2,000 calories per

day, and ate raw plant foods that had an average of 10% of their calories

from protein, you would get 200 calories worth of protein, or 50 grams. This

is more than adequate to support optimal well-being. Other studies have

shown that heat treating a protein (such as with cooking) makes about half

of it unusable to the human body. So raw plant food protein is even a better

source than cooked plant foods or animal foods. There is still a huge,

foolish, misguided idea that plant protein is not " complete " . This is based

on studies done on rats in the 1940's. This false conclusion was drawn

before we discovered the bodies protein recycling mechanism and its ability

to " complete " any amino acid mix from our bodies amino acid pool, no matter

what the amino acid composition of a meal consumed. This false idea is still

perpetuated by the meat and dairy industries, in an attempt to influence

people to continue consuming their truly health destroying products.

 

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