Raw Multivitamin

I was in Whole Check Foods on Sunday, buying the normal assortment of herbal coffees, organic fruits and veggies, and nuts and seeds. I thought I was just about done shopping, or hoping anyway, when I had to walk by the supplement section to check out. Right in the front of the aisle was a new display. Upon closer inspection, I soon discovered I had found what I had been looking for: A Raw Multivitamin

Yes, you read that correctly. This multivitamin has be minimally processes, and all of the raw components have been left intact. This is awesome. You may have read one of my other posts that we were using the whole foods vitamin, which is also a very good vitamin. But as always, you progress and advance is what ever you are doing. In this case, taking multivitamins, we have gone from the GNC multivitamins, to the whole food multivitamins, now to the raw multivitamins.

As it has only been 3 days, and if you are fairly healthy in the first place, taking a multivitamin should not have some immediate impact, like say, a jolt of caffeine. It is a gradual process, and just helps the underlying systems in the body. So, while I wish I could tell you I have so much energy, I can’t. But, this is because I already have energy, each and every day, based on my choices.

But I would recommend if you are going to be on a raw diet, or at least make your diet as raw as you can, to take a look at this raw multivitamin and see of it is something you are going to want to take.

Sprouting is the process where you are bringing something to life. God created these nuts, seeds, and berries with some pretty interesting characteristics. They all need just the right conditions to start to sprout and grow into what they are. Without these conditions, they just stay dormant. And, the one main item they need is water.

The water helps break down the outer protective layer of the seeds. Once this is broken down, it can then begin to sprout. So, why do most raw food nutritionists say you need to sprout everything? There are 2 reasons:

1. Once the seed begins to sprout, the nutritional value skyrockets compared to the regular raw form. This means they are even better for you.
2. The other reason is your stomach and intestines (and probably your family) will appreciate this. If you eat some of this stuff completely raw, then your body begins to break it down, thus causing gas to be produced in our bodies. And, we all know where the gas ends up going

This is why you must soak beans before you cook them The soaking of them will help the beans start spouting and release the gases in them. Ever notice the white bubbles in the water?

Same goes for some of the nuts. If you have whole nuts, like sunflower seeds, almonds, pumpkin seeds, pine nuts, and even oat groats or buckwheat groats, these must be sprouted. when you soak them in filtered water, you will begin to see air bubbles coming out of these seeds, and eventually the top of the water will be filled with bubbles.

You are bringing the seeds back to life before eating them. It takes a new meaning to eating live foods, huh?

Once they are sprouted, then you can use them in recipes. Or, what we do sometimes, is sprout the almonds, then dehydrate them. If you have not had almonds like this, they are the best tasting almonds I have ever had.

So, with sprouting taking 24 hours, you can see this is not a fast process. So, you must plan out your meals. This ensures you always have something to eat or snack on. We always have raw granola, buckwheat crispies, almond milk, and you can always have a smoothie. There is frozen fruit in our freezer at all times.

So, yes, sprouting is a big deal. It increases the nutritional value of the foods you are eating, and it decreases the gas you might be having from eating these foods.

Well, we have finally gotten around to setting up the newsletter. It takes a lot of work to maintain one of these, hence the reason we have not done it just yet.

But, I received an email from Carol, and she urged us to get one going. So, with that in mind, it is born.

Our newsletter will provide recipes, tips, maybe even the unfortunate failures, and even information about trying to raise 2 young boys on a raw diet. Or, as much of a raw diet as possible.

The one thing we go by in life is the fact life, or the trip, is not about the destination. It is about the journey itself. It is about learning as you go. We will provide some of this information in our newsletter.

If you want to be part of our raw food family, the sign up for the newsletter on the right side of the site over there.

I am not a Doctor, but I will play one on this blog. There is a severe obesity epidemic in our country today, and actually in the world as well. Although, I still believe the USA leads in the number of fat people per capita. You really don’t need to look around too long to see what I am talking about. It seems everyone has a gut hanging over their pants. The interesting thing is I think you can solve it by getting rid of one ingredient: High Fructose Corn Syrup.

This is one of the most deadly ingredients around. And, if you look carefully at the list of ingredients of whatever you are buying, there is a good chance it contains this sugar substitute. So, what exactly is this?

It is sugar from corn. Some of the more popular names are: High fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, fructose, dextrine, and dextrose. The main reason manufacturers began to use this instead of real sugar from beet juice or sugar cane is cost. It is amazing how we as a nation will sacrifice any sort of health in the name of cost. We cut every corner imaginable just to save a few pennies here and there.

So, what is wrong with high fructose corn syrup?

First, let’s look at what is right. God made fruits and certain plants to provide us with the sugar we need. And, in these certain items, there is a special ratio of the fructose to glucose. Take sugar for example. The regular sugar you buy is a 50/50 split. That means the molecular structure of sucrose has 50% glucose, and 50% fructose. Same thing with fruits in nature. Plus, the fruit has one more benefit to it. It has fiber, which helps slow down some of the absorption of the sugars.

Now take corn syrup. This is manufactured to have 80% fructose, and 20% glucose. This is bad. There are studies that show a direct relationship between too much fructose and deterioration of vital organs in our bodies. And, for some reason, the FDA still allows something like this to be manufactured and added to everything.

OK, here is my solution: BAN HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP!

Corn should be used for what it was made for: To feed cattle, to eat raw, to boil and eat, or to make popcorn. Not for gas and not for sugar. Plain and simple. It really baffles me at the ignorance of people that decide these laws.

Of course, if you went with a raw food diet, you would have no choice but to lose weight and feel better. On the raw diet, you use sweeteners like raw agave nectar, honey, and maple syrup. Even if you still use sugar, you can get the raw cane sugar (brown, not white). That would be the real answer, but since I know there are still plenty of people who do not want to go that extreme, just don’t buy anything with high fructose corn syrup in it.

There, done! Now we have a slim society.

They say to try to get as many different colors  of foods in your diet. There are special properties from each one of these fruits or vegetables that give it the color. So, I got to thinking as I was walking around the produce section the other day:

Are there any other fruits and vegetables that have the magenta color like the beet?

I could not think of any off the top of my head. Plus, I never did like cooked beets, so I was really searching hard in that produce section for anything else. I just could not find anything. So, I bought the beets.

Once I had them home, I had no idea what to really do with them. I honestly could not imaging slicing them up and chowing down on some raw beet slices. When all else fails for raw stuff, I turn to juicing.

If you are not into juicing, or are just getting started, then you should know there are some staples for juices. Just like SAD staples are flour, milk, and eggs, and most raw food diets have staples like agave nectar, honey, and raw nuts, juicers should have carrots, celery, and apples around.

So, first I gathered all of my ingredients:

Carrot Beet Juice Ingredients

Since this was my first time juicing a beet, I juiced the beet first just so I could taste this to see how it was. And, yes, I juiced the beet, the stem, and all of the leaves. And, I was surprised at how good it really was.

I still added all the rest of the ingredients above, and this was one of the best juices I have ever had.

Beet and Carrot Juice

The color in this juice is beautiful. And the taste is even better. I made so much, I bottled up some in one of my recycled bottles and took it to work with me. The one thing you need to know about this is it will leave your lips very red. So, be sure to have a napkin around.

Bottled Raw Beet Juice

I’ll post later about all of the health benefits of beet juice. But for not, juice away and enjoy!

One of the things I love about the raw food recipes is the simplicity of them. They are usually just a few ingredients, take a few minutes to prepare, and are ready to serve right away. This is a quick recipe that can be used for desserts or even breakfasts. It is always best if you have some fresh blueberries on hand. If not, you could substitute any other fruit or berry.

First, slice some bananas and place them in the bowl:

Sliced Bananas In A Bowl

Next, add your blueberries to the top. There really is not limit, so load it up.

Blueberries and Bananas In A Bowl

Lastly, add the cream to the top. Here is how to make the cream:

• 1/2 Cup of soaked Pine Nuts
• 1 Tablespoon of maple syrup (technically not raw, but you can add raw agave nectar)
• Filtered water

Add these ingredients into a blender and mix. You can add as much water as you want to get the consistency of a cream. Then, pour this over the top of the blue berries and bananas.

Blueberries And Cream

Raw Blueberry Crumb Pie Recipe

Here is a recipe I came across the other day, and after putting a raw spin on it, I came up with this. It works with just about any raw nut you have and any fruit you want to make into a pie. It is normally best to use the fruits that are in season where you live. I would also recommend using a fruit which is very juicy. This will more mimic the original blueberry pies we used to eat when younger. I like to call this my Raw Blueberry Crumb Pie Recipe.

Ingredients:

Crust:

• 1 cup of raw pumpkin seeds
• 1 cup of raw pecans (you can substitute any other raw nut for this one)
• Dash of Sea Salt
• Couple table spoons of oil (olive will give it an olive taste, so if this is a concern, then go with canola oil)
• About 1/2 cup of dates

Process the first 4 ingredients into crumbs. Then add the dates and process them until they are in fine pieces like the crumbs. Place this into the bottom of a pie pan and press down to make the crust.

Blueberry Sauce:

• 1 Cup of blueberries
• 1/2 cup of dates
• 1/2 cup of purified water

Combine all of these ingredients into a blender and process until smooth. then, pour this sauce over the top of the crust in the pie pan.

Topping:

• 1 cup of fresh blueberries

Add the blue berries to the top of the sauce. Now, serve.

Raw Blueberry Crumb Pie

Organic Salsa And Chips

With Labor Day just around the corner, I know how fast a nice healthy diet can down the tank. And, trying to stay raw at a family function is one of those things like seeing a unicorn. It just most likely will not happen. But, if you get a chance to bring something, here is a recipe for organic salsa I put together the other day. I just got this recipe published on another site, so you will need to head over there to check it out.

I recommend serving this with organic blue corn tortilla chips. But, regular white tortilla chips will work also. Just keep everything organic.

Here is the link to the recipe: Organic Salsa and Chips

Now is the time for corn to be in season. It is getting to where it is almost .10 per ear in the stores. Plus, it is coming as part of our Angel Food Ministries packages. So, I wanted to find something I could make with this corn, and still keep it raw. This has led me to this video on making corn chips. Enjoy!

You can see more of his videos here