1. What is Raw, Living Food?

What is raw and living food?
Raw food is whole, with its enzymes intact in their pure form. Raw food has the enzymes that are necessary for your body to use in the digestion process and, therefore, extract the nutrition from the food.

What are some examples of living foods?
Fruits, vegetables, and herbs growing in the wild or in a garden in your back yard are the best examples. In addition, health food stores and supermarkets often have sprouts and baby greens that are still growing and provide nutrients that may be missing from your meals. In our classes, we teach our students how to grow sprouts and baby greens in their homes so they can eat fresh, raw foods at their convenience.

How long does a raw food remain living?
When any living food is picked, it is separated from its life source and its energy from the earth and its growing begins to slow. Within 24 to 48 hours after fresh produce is picked, all growth stops. This is when living food becomes mature raw food. As days go by, a raw food's powerful healing energies begin to diminish, which is visible as vivid colors become dull, skin wrinkles, or dark areas form. It's important to buy the freshest produce when we shop.

Why is it beneficial to eat raw foods versus cooked foods?
Cooked food has little healing energy. When I eat at a restaurant or travel where raw and living food is not available, I feel the difference within hours of eating cooked food– it leaves me feeling heavy and tired.

Nutritionally, living food provides the richest source of enzymes, oxygen, chlorophyll, vitamins, essential fatty acids, and fiber. It also contains the proper acid to alkaline minerals. 

Raw and living food is the best straight from your garden. Raw food from a store or market is second best, but this depends on when it was picked from its life source.

However, cooked foods or otherwise processed foods are what 95 percent of the general population eat 95 percent of the time. This food has no healing power at all, which is why so many doctors still do not believe that food can heal. The latest nutritional research clearly suggests this food contributes to many of our illnesses, chronic diseases and premature deaths. This is reason enough to begin today to substitute living and raw food for cooked food whenever possible.

How long does it typically take to notice benefits from eating raw foods?
Raw foods will increase your energy level right away. In a short period of time, you will find yourself thinking more clearly and with remarkable focus. Your weight will gradually normalize, and aches and pains you might have suffered with for years will gradually and steadily disappear.

What does my diet look like when I start eating raw and living foods?
In our classes, we suggest that each person sets a goal of eating at least 50 percent living food as part of their new lifestyle. While that may seem difficult, we can show you how to do this as you watch your body heal. We prepare wonderful foods that support the ideas we have studied in class that day. At the end of the class, each person is given the recipes and any necessary help to adapt the information into his or her life. My students enjoy the food and absolutely love the experience. Check out the testimonials in the classes section to read about students who have taken our classes.

It may take two weeks, two months, or two years to have 50 percent living food in your diet, depending on your motivation. Whatever length of time it takes doesn't matter - just do it. When I discovered the benefits of eating mostly living and raw food, I virtually changed my eating habits overnight. But many people transition gradually - either way, your body is benefitting and is healthier that it was before. The more you incorporate the raw lifestyle, the better you will feel.