Simply Raw

This second post has taken a bit of time to come but as I am blogging from the Swiss Alps in the midst of snow it has been quite a feat to get connected! So back to raw foods 101. Lying at the core of the raw food rationale are enzymes. A little over a year ago I had no idea what enzymes were, except that naturopaths prescribed them systematically to me when I complained of feeling bloated or fatigued. So these were some kind of food supplement to be taken as tablets. Now I have learned of the importance of enzymes, which are precious little bodies found in the cells of every living plant and animal. Without boring you into the scientific definition, suffice to say that enzymes are essential to the body’s digestive system. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures above 118°F or 48°C so if the food is cooked, these natural enzymes are killed and our body must manufacture its own digestive enzymes to do the job.

Why is this a problem? Indeed, the human body is very apt at producing enzymes, at least young and healthy human bodies are (young adults have thirty times the enzymes of the elderly). But the truth is, producing enzymes takes a lot of energy which could be best used for cleansing, healing, building – or simply to release more energy to the body (and combat chronic fatigue). This is, in a nutshell, the basic essence of raw foods. Eating a high enzyme diet consisting of raw fruits and vegetables, sprouted seeds, nuts, grains and some seaweed will clearly increase your chance of achieving optimal health.

So where can you start? Well most people already eat raw foods to a certain degree: snacking on a piece of fresh fruit, having a salad meal are part of a healthy diet. But you can do so much more! For example, you can introduce almond milk, raw muesli or granola, a large variety of appetizing salads with sprouts, fresh vegetable and fruit juices or smoothies. You can also move to gourmet raw dishes to satisfy your need for substantial and tasty treats as these will sweep you off your feet! But this is for later… Whatever you do, you will quickly find out what works best for you. Just follow your instincts.

To finish off the year on an uplifting note, start right now by adding a fruit, a juice or a smoothie to your daily diet. Or here’s how you make almond milk (the easiest, cheapest and most delicious way to replace dairy milk).

Fresh Almond Milk

1. Soak 1 cup of almonds overnight;
2. Drain and rinse the almonds and place them in a blender with 3 cups of pure fresh water, 3 pitted Medjool dates (the large fleshy ones) and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional);
3. Blend thoroughly, then strain through a nut milk bag, a fine sieve or a strainer.The remaining pulp can be dried and ground into almond flour for later use.

You can use almond milk in a variety of delicious ways, in raw muesli or granola, with fruit, to make ice creams or other desserts, to make soups creamy, or simply to drink as is or with added flavouring such as chocolate. A winner for the entire family so start with this and enjoy!

A Flavour of What’s Coming

As of January, I will start to introduce to you a number of individuals who have set to make a difference in Switzerland – by opening a raw food restaurant, starting a raw food potluck and meeting group, or focusing on food and its effect on children’s learning abilities… If you know of anyone active in the raw food movement in this country, let me know! Before I close and wish you all a Happy and Vibrant Christmas celebration, do mark your agenda with a very exciting piece of news: Brian Clement (Director of the Hippocrates Health Institute in Florida and world renowned raw food and health expert) will be coming to Geneva on March 19, giving a lecture at the University of Geneva. More about this in the new year. Best Season’s Greetings to all and thank you for signing in!

What is raw food? One blog post alone won’t answer that question, but at least it will begin to address the issue. There are a great many health benefits to increasing the quantity of raw food in your diet – increased energy, better sleep, more focus and clarity of mind, less stress, weight loss, preventing or curing various diseases or symptoms, reversing ageing, to name but a few. And believe me, even if it does take some commitment, it can be done simply. And it is so much fun! If you are interested in learning more about it, sign up to this blog. I will post regularly and address various themes, provide you with easy recipes and try to inspire you to try this fantastic way of eating.

My plan is to set up a raw food website in the next few months in French language, in an attempt to fill the apparent lack of information on raw food in the French speaking world. I am located in Switzerland, and therefore will begin focusing on this market for networking purposes, but my website, with its various products and services, will target all French speakers. By signing up, you will be the first to know of latest developments.

Since I have been trained as a Raw Food Coach by Karen Knowler in the UK, half a dozen persons in Switzerland have manifested their passion for raw foods to me, and it’s only been a few months! Proof that this knowledge is spreading, and that the good word travels fast. This blog hopes to bring like-minded people together, share latest information and provide quick and easy tips and recipes to people who want to try raw food immediately.

I will essentially focus on food and how raw food can really make a difference in the way you feel. The quality of the food you eat clearly has a direct effect on how your body and mind work. It’s a simple principle: the purer the food, the higher the performance. But food is not the only element in a person’s journey. It is just one part of it, even if an important one. To feel healthy, fulfilled and radiant, you must nurture your body, spirit and soul. The good news is, raw food affects all three! And by combining raw food with regular exercise and a positive attitude to life, you will be reaching for the stars!

My own approach to raw food has been to choose raw whenever I have a choice of what I will eat (which is most of the time, frankly), put it on offer for my family, but I am flexible the rest of the time. Just remember this: raw food does not have to be a religion. It can be an additional health tool to help you feel great. The high raw diet has worked wonders for me, and turned me into a passionate spokesperson in just over one year. My energy levels have surged, and I feel stronger and fitter than ever. To me one of these benefits alone is incentive enough to make the right choice. “You are what you eat” has never meant to me as much as it does now. This is what I want to share with you. So stay tuned!