Raw Vitamins

The Language of Raw Food

Before embarking on the raw food journey, it might be wise to explore some of the lingo associated with it. Here is a short list of some terms you may encounter:

Raw foodists or Rawists: those who thrive on the live energy of raw foods

Living Food Diet or the Raw Food Diet: a diet made up of organic, natural plant foods

Natural Hygiene: is a science of health and its advocates are called “natural hygienists”—most of whom follow a raw foods diet

Fruitarianism: is the practice of a diet that excludes everything but fruit, seeds, and certain vegetables.

Raw veganism: is the practice of a diet that disallows consumption of all animal products but allows for uncooked fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds and sprouted grains and legumes in the diet

Raw vegetarianism: is the practice of a diet that excludes all animal flesh, including poultry, game, fish, shellfish or crustaceans; vegetarianism allows for uncooked fruit, vegetables, sprouts, nuts, seeds, grains, legumes, dairy, eggs and honey in the diet

Sproutarianism: allows for mainly sprouted seeds in the diet

Dehydration: is the process of heating foods at a maximum temperature of 100-120 degrees. This supposedly preserves digestive enzymes and increases the life of the food.

Living foods: foods which still have live enzymes circulating in them

Raw food: food that is grown and eaten in its uncooked form

Enzymes: catalyzed proteins that break down food so that the organism can absorb it; raw foodists say that raw foods are packed with enzymes

Enzyme inhibitors: present in seeds and nuts, these can interfere with the body’s enzyme production. Sprouting the seeds/nuts is said to reduce enzyme inhibitors.

Sprouting: involves soaking seeds, nuts or beans for several hours until the food begins to develop a tail-like protrusion on one end

The following recipes not only are on the more “semi raw” side of food preparation, but they also will keep your kitchen (and you) cool for these last days of summer. What a deal! High nutrition your body craves and needs in a form your body can assimilate, all while keeping your cool and testing out this raw food thing.

There are thoughts on the raw lifestyle that cut both ways. While most see some benefits in eating raw foods (especially vegetables and fruits), they may stop short of buying in 100 percent to the raw movement and what raw foodists believe.Here are some quotes, however, from those who advocate the raw food lifestyle.

Fiber of Life
Fiber is the indigestible remnants of plant cells found in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and beans. As they work their way through the digestive tract, they increase the elimination of waste matter in the large intestine and give you an urge to have a bowel movement. Eating fiber can turn the [...]

Starting a Running Program
Behind the inquisitive stares and shaking heads, I can tell the bystanders are really just curious about the allure of running. Why would someone wake up at the crack of dawn to race several miles? Why would they train outside on a windy, rainy day when the couch and a [...]

Trans Fat Free and Healthy?
The war against trans fats has been an ongoing battle that reached a peak in recent years. In 2003 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decided that trans fats should be listed on food labels. A year later, mounting scientific data led an FDA advisory committee to publicly [...]

The fact is that many of us underestimate our caloric intake and over estimate the amount of exercise we are getting. Then we can’t understand why we aren’t losing more weight.

When we approach a wellness routine to protect ourselves from the impending cold and flu season, we need to address all fronts – even the tiniest ones, like our cells. For some, the phrase “The whole is the sum of its parts” may be a reminder that caring for the health of your cells, and the DNA inside them, is a great contribution for your whole body.

Many people intuitively know that when they find the magic word organic labeled on the package or signage, that means it’s something better for them to eat. Raw vitamins are even better and more natural for you.

The Colon and Digestive Disease Center of Huntsville, Alabama. “Super green foods are a wonderful way for people who aren’t consuming 5 or 6 servings a day to get those nutrients. They are good for all the reasons vegetables are good for you.”