subject: Raw Only? [print this page] A diet is considered a raw food diet if it consists of at least 75% raw, uncooked fruits, vegetables, sprouts, etc. Raw and living foods are believed to contain essential food enzymes (living foods contain a higher enzyme content than cooked foods). The cooking process (i.e., heating foods above 116F) is thought to destroy food enzymes.
People who follow the raw diet use particular techniques to prepare foods. These include sprouting seeds, grains and beans; soaking nuts and dried fruits; and juicing fruits and vegetables. The only cooking that is allowed is via a dehydrator.
These include sprouting seeds, grains and beans; soaking nuts and dried out fruits; and juicing fruits and vegetables. Really the only cooking that is allowed is via a dehydrator.
This device blows hot air through the food but never gets to a temperature higher than 116F.Do you have to follow the regimen that strictly? Of course not. But it's certainly worth it to include some of these techniques and ideas into your diet.
Many of the bigger grocery stores now offer packaged vegetables or fruits that make it easier to pack them and take them to work.
We're a nation of convenience, and much of the resistance to healthier eating is that it does generally take a little more effort and time to buy and slice fruits and vegetables.
If you have the time, do buy organic and slice them yourself. But if you're in a hurry, and nowhere near a natural food store, then don't beat yourself up or sabotage your efforts because you can't do this 100% all the time. That's not realistic.
Anything from the fruit and vegetable aisle is going to be better for you than a potato chip, or worse yet, a french fry!
