RAW LIFESTYLE 30 DAY CHALLENGE

July 31, 2009 - Toronto, ON - I have been on the raw diet lifestyle for almost a week now, but starting tomorrow, I will be documenting on this blog a sort of Raw Diary. This will include whats on the plate for each meal of the day, temptations, experiences, and more knowledge I learn along the way.


I would like to take this opportunity to encourage you to take the challenge and post comments or even your raw food diary here to help others and encourage others to take it on!

Generally a raw food diet takes approximately 2 weeks to kick into your system fully to get all the benefits of it and get the toxins out of your body. (Of course this all depends on how your lifestyle is now, everyone is different). So, by taking a 30 day challenge, hopefully you will noticeably see and feel the difference!

So to get you fully started, i am sharing some of my favourite links for recipe ideas to get you started planning your meals!

The Raw Chef - Russell James (At the right top hand corner, there is a FREE PDF of his Ebook)
We Like it Raw - Raw Food Goodness - Recipes
From Sad to Raw - Recipes
Gone Raw - Sharing raw recipes and advice
Living & Raw Foods - A little confusing at first, but very informative and lotsa recipes too!
Wellsphere - Health Knowledge made personal
Raw Epicurean - It's a Lifestyle


Hopefully this gets you a good start! Good Luck!

Staples in your Fridge, Counter & Pantry you need

July 31, 2009 - Toronto, ON - So you've started doing your research, and you want to get started right now. Below you will find a list of things you will need in order to start a proper healthy raw diet:



Equipment:

* Glass Bowls (for germinating & sprouting)
* Blender (This is your new best friend)
* Juicer (not needed, but helps for a lot of recipes)
* Dehydrator (not needed, but helps for a lot of recipes) Don't buy any of them unless it's the Excalibur
* Spiralizer (not needed, but helps for a lot of recipes) ... it's also a lot of fun!
* Sharp knives
* Cutting Board

GROCERY LIST:

Dried Fruit, Legumes and Nuts:
* Raw Cashews
* Raw Almonds
* Raw Sunflower Seeds
* Raw Macadamia Nuts
* Raw Pine Nuts
* Raw Flax Seeds
* Dates
* Raisins
* Dried Lentils
* Dried Chickpeas

Miscellaneous:
* COLD PRESSED Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
* Raw Agave Nectar
* Raw Coconut Oil & Shredded unsweetened coconut
* Raw Cocoa
* Raw Almond Butter

Spices & Condiments:
* Raw Honey
* Himalayan Salt
* Sun Dried Tomatoes
* Cayenne Pepper
* Cinnamon
* Ground Cumin

Frozen Section:
* Frozen Organic Fruit
* Manna Bread (YES YOU CAN HAVE "Bread"!)

Fish/Meat Section:
* Proscuitto (Cured Pork)

Fresh Produce: (if it's organic, even better!)
* Avocados
* Bananas
* Kale
* Bell Peppers
* Onions
* Garlic
* Tomatoes
* Lettuce & Spring Mix
* Spinach
* Lemons & Limes
* Oranges
* Apples
* Berries
* Mangos
* Zucchini
* Celery
* Fresh herbs such as: Parsley, Basil, Cilantro
* Jalapeno Peppers
* Ginger root


This should be a good start! good luck and keep checking back for more info and recipes to come!

Interesting facts of a Raw & Healthy Lifestyle

July 31, 2009 - Toronto, ON - I know most of us these days don't have time to read tons of books to gain knowledge. We now rely on Google, Wiki, Blogs and Television to educate us, or simply by learning from others.


I have seen two documentaries lately about a Raw & Healthy lifestyle that have given me a lot of insight on the whole concept. From being able to reverse effects of Diabetes, Cancer and other illnesses that usually we rely on drugs to cure or to regulate. Both of the documentaries show alternative ways that WORK.

Please take some of this with a grain of salt, because obviously, being a documentary it can become Bias at times. Here are the two links if you are interested in learning more:

FOOD MATTERS

SIMPLY RAW: REVERSING DIABETES IN 30 DAYS

A New Inspiration Everyone Can Benefit from

July 31, 2009 - Toronto, ON - For the past week now, I have taken on the challenge of living a RAW lifestyle. That's right. Raw vegetables, fruits, seeds and nuts. Nothing is cooked, organic is preferred and devoted research and time is required.



Luckily for all you curious Raw enthusiasts, I have done about a years worth of research and I have some great tips, starters, recipes and staples you'll need to get you started. First off, in this post I would like to fill all of you in on just SOME of the good stuff your body and mind will get out of this new lifestyle:

What is a Raw Food Diet?

The raw food diet is a diet based on unprocessed and uncooked plant foods, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, sprouts, seeds, nuts, grains, beans, nuts, dried fruit, and seaweed.

Heating food above 116 degrees F is believed to destroy enzymes in food that can assist in the digestion and absorption of food. Cooking is also thought to diminish the nutritional value and "life force" of food.



What are the Benefits of a Raw Food Diet?

* Increased energy
* Improved skin appearance
* Better digestion
* Weight loss
* Reduced risk of heart disease

The raw food diet contains fewer trans fats and saturated fat than the typical Western diet. It is also low in sodium and high in potassium, magnesium, folate, fiber and health-promoting plant chemicals called phytochemicals.

These properties are associated with a reduced risk of diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.



What are the Techniques Used in this Diet?

Specific cooking techniques make foods more digestible and add variety to the diet, including:

* Sprouting seeds, grains, and beans
* Juicing fruit and vegetables
* Soaking nuts and dried fruit
* Blending
* Dehydrating food


Does “Raw Food” Mean Eating Only Salad?

Not at all! There are dozens of variations on a raw food diet – and if it seems like raw foodists eat a lot of salad and uncomplicated raw veggies, that’s mostly to do with convenience. Raw cooking can be time-consuming – from slow, low-temperature dehydration to preparation of gourmet main courses and desserts.

Some raw food diets depend on the simplicity of raw fruits, nuts and vegetables, but most include complex meals of nuts and seeds, plenty of avocado and healthy oils, smoothies, raw cereal, sprouts, juicing and more.



More to come! - Look forward to some starter recipes, staples in the kitchen, websites, blogs and videos to watch!