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What do David Bowie and Demi Moore have in common? No, it's not that they're both famous for their white weddings. Both are avid fans of the raw food diet—and they're not the only ones. Many people today are emptying their pantries of boxed and bagged foods, and filling them with vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs and other raw treats.
Interested in learning more? A new book, Rawlicious: Delicious Raw Recipes for Radiant Health, written by authors and raw food chefs Peter and Beryn Daniel (pictured at right), offers practical guidance for how to get started, including tips for transition, how to stock your kitchen and a variety of inventive recipes.
The Daniels list these among the benefits they’ve experienced from a raw food diet:
• A feeling of lightness and clarity
• An increased sense of calmness
• Improving of chronic conditions
• Less recovery time needed after exercise and increased stamina and strength
• Healthy weight loss
• Less sleep required because the body is no longer detoxifying all night long
Maybe you're wondering: Does raw food always have to be served cold? The answer is no. According to the Daniels, food that has not been heated above 116.6 degrees is still considered raw because above that temperature is when "the enzymes, minerals, vitamins and phytonutrients in the food begin to denature." They advise the finger test: "As long as you can put your finger in the pot without being scorched, you're still good to go."
Even if you don't think going completely raw is for you, it's worth considering adding some raw additions to your diet. Get started with this simple recipe from Rawlicious.
Red Bell Pepper & Tomato Soup
Serves 3-4
5 tomatoes
2 red bell peppers
¼ red onion
1 handful fresh basil leaves
1 handful cashews
2 tablespoons olive oil
Himalayan rock salt to taste
1 small handful goji berries
½ cup warm water
Cayenne pepper to spice it up (optional)
Blend everything together. Add more water to achieve desired thickness. Pour into soup bowls and enjoy!
How simple is that? Let me know how it goes. Happy blending!
Recipe from Rawlicious: Delicious Raw Recipes for Radiant Health by Peter and Beryn Daniel, published by North Atlantic Books, copyright © 2011 by Peter and Beryn Daniel. Reprinted by permission of publisher.
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