TO BE A 100% RAW, OR NOT TO BE?

One of the most common questions I get is, "Do I need to go 100% raw?"

In my opinion, not necessarily! It depends on what you are trying to accomplish.

For those who are dealing with an illness or disease, it may be necessary to intervene with a strict protocol to detoxify the body on a cellular level... to reverse the condition and heal the body.

For the majority of us, incorporating 50-70% raw fruits and veggies into our diet is optimal for long-term success.

The problem with trying to attain a 100% raw diet as a percentage, is that it’s easy to lose sight of whether or not the diet is balanced. Living on cacao, dehydrated crackers, and raw desserts is technically 100% raw, but is that healthy? For me, it’s less about the percentages and more about keeping my diet balanced.

The foundation of my diet is primarily leafy greens, in the form of green juices, green smoothies and green salads. I try to eat high water-content fruits and veggies in place of dehydrated foods. I also make sure to get in sea vegetables and micro-algae like spirulina and chlorella.

My non-raw staples include steamed/backed root vegetables, gluten-free grains, legumes, eggs and goat/sheep yogurt, etc. (Yes, I'm not vegan!)

The idea of all or nothing, or that all cooked food is poison is simply a thing of the past! It is far more important to focus on getting high quality, organic whole foods.

It is equally important to be at peace with the lifestyle we have chosen. If we're always stressed out about not eating perfectly enough or in a constant state of guilt, we've missed the point! I often see people struggle with raw foods thinking they have to be perfect 100% of the time, trying to live up to some unrealistic ideal. But it's not about perfection, it's about enjoying a healthy and balanced lifestyle... which is absolutely possible on a high-raw diet.

So before you jump in 100%, make sure to first lay down a strong, healthy foundation for your diet. If you do choose to go a 100% raw, I admire your courage. Just keep in mind that the raw food lifestyle is all about creating a healthy and happy life. And definitely remember to keep it balanced!

REPOST (10/1/2009)

IN MY OWN WORDS

In the following video I wanted to share with you my thoughts on how beautiful and vibrant I find the raw food lifestyle to be.  

How could you NOT want to live in nature's sweet perfection?  If you ask me, a greasy dead pizza can NEVER taste as vibrant as the foods nature creates so abundantly and so masterfully!  

I hope my words inspire you to see just how beautiful living foods really are! ♥

WHAT IS SPA FUSION CUISINE?

Here's how SpaFusion cuisine differs from raw food cuisine...

Although the raw food lifestyle is by far the most natural approach to health, it’s not exactly low-fat. Raw food recipes typically call for various nuts and seeds, and often oil all in the same recipe. This can result in a very high-calorie meal.

High-calorie is not necessarily bad when consuming good quality natural fats, but it can make weight-loss more difficult for those of us who struggle with weight. So I wanted to create a program that focused on lighter meals.

The two-week SpaFusion Cleanse Program is a fusion of raw food cuisine and spa cuisine (light, fresh and simple), with a focus on food combining for lighter digestion!

Spa cuisine is traditionally a light, healthy cuisine using minimal ingredients and emphasizing specifically fresh ingredients. The cuisine highlights elegance and simplicity, so it seemed like a natural fit to raw foods!

The recipes I’ve put together use little or no oil, and most use only one fat ingredient (nut, seed, oil, avocado) per recipe to keep it light. You'll notice I use tropical fruits in many recipes. This is typical in spa cuisine, which is commonly served at spa resorts.

That's right, for two weeks you'll get to indulge in a refreshing spa-inspired cuisine! It's like having a mini-vacation right in your own kitchen! I can’t imagine a more exciting and delicious weight-loss program to slim down!

The recipes I’ve created are 100% raw, but the program itself is not exclusively 100% raw, unless you want it to be. This is your journey, feel free to leave some room for flexibility. To sign-up for the program see SpaFusion (REMIX).

GREEN SMOOTHIE OR GREEN JUICE?

It's the latest debate... which are you better off with, green smoothies or green juice? The way I see it, why not get best of both worlds? They are both absolutely wonderful and both play an important role in our diet.

If you ask me, green juices are great for quick nutrient absorption, whether it's first thing in the morning or as an aid to fasting and detoxification. Green smoothies are a great and convenient meal replacement, full of nutrients and hardy fiber.

In my own experience, I have found that incorporating both into my diet is most effective. I'll usually start my morning off with a low-glycemic green juice (see my Juice of Radiance recipe) followed by a green smoothie. This way I've hydrated and energized my body with a green juice, and then satiated my appetite with a green smoothie!

But I will say that my personal preference is definitely green juice! So much so, that I'll typically have another green juice later in the day... after my evening workout.

I love how refreshing and energizing green juice makes me feel, not to mention how hydrating it is for the skin. I would even go as far as to say that green juice is truly nature's fountain of youth and secret to a natural, radiant glow!

But again, both are wonderful and definitely worth incorporating into your diet! So play around to find your balance, and enjoy them both!

KEVIN GIANNI SAID IT BEST

"For those of you in the know, there is a split in camps when it comes to raw foods...

Some people take a superfood approach. Others a higher fruit approach. And, yes, others take a green approach.

The three camps bicker between each other from time to time, creating an interesting dynamic to say the least. I think all these camps are valuable.

The green camp can get us more grounded. The fruit camp will remind us to be simple and stay athletic. The superfood camp will give us potent foods and concoctions that can deliver nutrients fast.

We have to take a little from each camp and build our own structure for optimum health. I've taken green juice from the green camp. I've taken the athletics and need for calories from the fruit camp. I've taken marine phytoplankton, goji and medicinal herbs from the superfood camp.

They all have been tools to get me in shape or bring me back to center when I needed it. So consider the options. Play with them. It's up to you to be your own health advocate and decide what works for you!"

Live Awesome!
Kev

Kevin Gianni is a health advocate, author, interviewer, and film consultant. Kevin is the founder and host of The Renegade Health Show, one of the fastest growing internet health shows available. For more info visit RenegadeHealth.com/blog

SECRET TO FABULOUS RAW SAUCES

To create fabulously delicious raw sauces, dressings, and marinades use the following guidelines.

There are five basic flavor categories that each sauce, dressing or marinade should incorporate. In addition to the five basic favors, you'll also need to include a fat ingredient... for a total of six components. Here are some example ingredients for each flavor component.

SWEET - dates, raw honey, agave nectar
SALTY - sea salt, soy sauce, miso
SOUR - lemon, lime, tamarind
SPICY - hot peppers, garlic, ginger
BITTER - herbs/spices... basil, parsley, cumin
FAT - avocado, olive oil, coconut oil

This rule applies to all cuisines because flavor profiles are universal. Each flavor is influenced by the others, and they're all enhanced by the presence of a fat ingredient. Fats balance the flavors while providing depth and richness! Fats can also help tone down sour and spicy ingredients.

Aim to achieve a balanced infusion of all five flavors, rather than emphasizing any one particular flavor. Keep in mind that raw ingredients like garlic and onion, fresh herbs, and hot peppers are much stronger when their flavors haven't been cooked down. So a little goes a long way!

Here’s a tasty teriyaki marinade recipe great for any Asian veggie dish!

Orange Zest Teriyaki

Juice of 1 orange
¼ cup soy sauce
2 Tbsp raw honey
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tsp sesame oil
Pinch orange zest
Pinch grated ginger

In a small bowl add soy sauce and orange juice, and slowly stir in the honey until smooth. Mix in the remaining ingredients and whisk. Pour the sauce over a large bowl of your favorite veggies and set aside to marinade for 1-2 hours before serving!

In this recipe the six flavor components are as follows.

SWEET - raw honey
SALTY - soy sauce
SOUR - orange juice (acid)
SPICY - garlic, ginger
BITTER - orange zest
FAT - sesame oil

COINCIDENCE? I THINK NOT

Isn’t it peculiar, we are the only species in the history of our planet’s existence to have ever cooked food? No other species has ever done this.

In fact, if you’ve ever noticed at the zoo there are caution signs everywhere instructing us NOT to feed the animals. Well that’s because we know that feeding animals processed “human” food will make them sick!

But why are we eating it, and more importantly, why are we feeding our children the same foods that we know make other animals sick?

Could there be a link between our heavily cooked, processed diet and the epidemic of cancers, diabetes, heart disease, depression, arthritis, and obesity? And yes, we are the only species with an epidemic of chronic and degenerative disease.

Notice that even our domesticated animals, when fed processed foods, develop the same degenerative health conditions that we do.

But if we turn to nature for answers and observe animals in their natural habitat, we see that species in the wild hardly, if ever develop disease. And for good reason! Not only is their environment less polluted and toxic, but even more importantly they are eating a natural, uncooked diet. They are not destroying the nutritional integrity of their food with fire.

And if you recall from basic chemistry, heat alters compounds changing their molecular structure. Cooking food is no exception to the rule. Exposure to high heat denatures food and specifically the nutrients in food.

If you ask me, it's simply not natural to cook food! And it is absolutely no coincidence that so many people in our culture are chronically sick, unlike most species in the wild. Changing diet and lifestyle is key. Give up the fire!

"RAW FOODS" DEFINED

Raw food cuisine is a revolutionary culinary art focusing on healthy nutrition. This beautifying, gourmet cuisine nourishes the body, increases energy, aids in digestion, fights against disease, and slows the aging process... leaving you with a healthy radiant glow!

It is a healing, nutrient rich cuisine high in vitamins and minerals, enzymes, phytonutrients, anti-oxidants, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids.


Although there are variations of the raw food diet, including the use of raw meats, dairy and eggs, the cuisine is traditionally vegan (with the exception of occasional use of raw honey).

It focuses on the use of organic fruits and vegetables, leafy greens, fresh herbs, nuts and seeds, sprouts, mushrooms, seaweeds, fermented foods, and wild superfoods.

There are no refined sugars, white flour, gluten, trans-fats, or cholesterol... because remember, cholesterol does not exist in the plant kingdom! It is unprocessed, unrefined, and untreated with heat above 118 degrees Fahrenheit.

Why 118 degrees Fahrenheit? If you think about it, it makes perfect sense. In nature vegetation can't withstand sun's extremely high temperatures. Most plants cannot grow in desert climates where temperatures exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. And it just so happens that above 100 plus degrees nutrients and enzymes begin to break down.

Not to worry, just because you are no longer cooking food does not mean you’re stuck eating salads and carrot sticks. Raw foods is a gourmet cuisine that you can actually cater a five course wedding dinner with. Everything from orderves and appetizers, to the main course, to an entirely raw vegan wedding cake!

How is this possible, you ask? With a little imagination anything is possible! Avocados for instance can replace butter, eggs, and heavy cream. And if you think about it, avocados don’t have much of a flavor, but they have the right consistency for creamy textures. Whereas nuts and seeds, ground up to a powder, can replace flour in any recipe.

WHAT'S WITH THE BUZZ ON ENZYMES

Beyond the obvious nutritional benefits, there's an additional reason for incorporating more raw foods into your diet. It has to do with enzymes and what’s commonly referred to as enzymatic "life-force” in foods.

Enzymes are proteins that break down starches into simple sugars. When a fruit ripens, what's actually happening is the enzymes are “digesting” the starches and turning them into simple sugars… thus the fruit gets sweeter. This is why ripe fruit is best, the starches are practically pre-digested.

So when you are eating fresh, enzyme rich fruits and veggies, you actually end up using less of your body’s own digestive enzymes, which lightens up the load on digestion.

Enzymes are also believed to be the “life-force” in plant foods. And for this reason, raw foods are often referred to as “living” foods.

Let me explain. If we were to take an apple and plant its seeds into the earth, with proper moisture the seeds would grow an apple tree! However, if we were to bake the apple first and then plant the seeds into the earth, no matter how ideal the conditions may be, the seeds from this apple could never reproduce an apple tree.

This is because the enzymatic “life-force” has been destroyed by heat. There's no longer life potential in that apple or its seeds!

So we’re practically digesting nutrient-depleted "dead" material when eating foods that have had nutrients and enzymes cooked out of them. And of all nutrients, enzymes are the most heat sensitive as they begin to break down anywhere between 105 and 118 degrees Fahrenheit.

So it's clear to see why eating more organic, fresh foods is so beneficial for optimal health. Raw cuisine floods the body with essential nutrients and living enzymes.

Remember, eating a nutrient rich diet of whole natural foods is the only way to ensure lasting radiant health. When you nourish the body with a vibrant living cuisine, as nature intended, you become an expression of radiant health. Raw cuisine is in fact nature’s secret to youthful longevity.