FAQ

Many people ask if raw food means raw meat. The answer is NO because you can get parasites and salmonella from eating raw meat.

Raw food is natural, living food, straight from the garden or farm. It consists of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts and seeds. It can be eaten in its most natural state, straight from the plant, or it can be prepared using simple techniques without cooking.

One technique for preparing raw food is to dehydrate it. It is important to keep the heat to a minimum when dehydrating, so that the enzymes and vitamins retain their integrity. When food is heated above 115 degrees F, the enzymes and vitamins in the food are broken down, thereby compromising the food’s optimal enrichment to our bodies.

When I think of raw food, I think of live, fresh fruits and vegetables with the enzymes working at their peak performance. These living enzymes allow the body to not have to work as hard to digest the food, therefore it can run more efficiently. Eating heavy, cooked food, causes sluggishness because it takes more work for the body to it break down.

God has provided everything we need, he planted every tree that was “good for food” (Genesis 2:9). “Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you.” (Genesis 1:29)

Contrary to popular belief, there is protein in plant foods! Large amounts of protein are found in sprouted beans, nuts, and seeds. Some of the other plant foods that protein can be found in are apricots, lettuce, beets, figs, and many, many more.

The body gets enough protein on a proper raw food diet, which consists of a wide variety of types and colors of plant foods. A proper raw food diet is perfect for the athlete. It keeps her body running as a fine oiled machine.

Animals such as horses and cows get their protein from hay, oats, and grasses. I would rather have first hand protein from plant sources, NOT recycled protein from meat sources. Wouldn’t you?

You can start by not beating yourself up. You don’t have to eat 100% raw to start seeing benefits of good health.

Start small by incorporating more organic fresh fruits and vegetables into your day and at least one more salad than you are eating now. Try adding a good supply of various nuts and seeds. They are great added to salads. A simple sugar free salad dressing can be made with some lemon or lime juice and olive oil. Try making smoothies from frozen fruit and almond milk.

Surround yourself with as much raw food information as possible. Search the internet for recipes, books and DVDs. Remember to have FUN! 🙂

You don’t have to buy everything at once.

The essentials are a good blender, and a food processor. As you advance into more recipes you may want a dehydrator and a juicer.

Of course, other tools in the kitchen like chopping boards, measuring cups/spoons and good knives are a must.

If your oven’s lowest temperature is 115 degrees fahrenheit or lower, yes. Otherwise, the high heat will kill the enzymes of the food and cook it. Therefore making it no longer raw.

Vegan is a plant-based diet excluding any animal products, no cheese, no meat, no eggs, no dairy, no honey. It’s a good place to start if you are ill or obese.

Not anymore than buying expensive meats and processed foods. I have found my grocery bill has been cut in half at times. Cost is often less expensive because you’re not paying for all the packaging and advertising of processed and cooked foods.

According to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, you should consume between five and 13 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. This is equivalent to about 2 1/2 to 6 1/2 cups daily, depending on the amount of calories you need to consume for your weight and level of activity.

There is a source that can boost your daily intake and help you “bridge the gap” with concentrated whole food-based nutrition from a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and grains.  If you want to know more, take a look at my Juice Plus website at www.dziegler.juiceplus.com