Living Foods

Ann Wigmore (1909-1994) developed the Living Foods Lifestyle® to overcome disease and improve the quality of life. After 30 years of research she believed that there were two main causes of disease: deficiency and toxemia.

• Deficiency means that our bodies are undernourished because we cannot get the nutrients we need from the foods we eat.
• Toxemia is a term used to describe poisons that are stored in the body. These toxins are formed from eating processed, and pesticide-tainted foods, from environmental pollution, as well as through destructive emotions and stress.

The Living Foods Lifestyle® also addresses the problem of toxemia because it is a wonderful detoxifying diet.  While not for everyone, it can be very useful for people needing to make a change quickly.  I usually recommend it for shorter durations of time from several weeks to several months to help you achieve your wellness goals.

Just as we are more than our physical bodies, the Living Foods Lifestyle® incorporates more than just food. Mindfulness, conscious chewing, stress reduction, colon care, and exercise are also important components.

What are Living and Raw Foods?

Raw and Living Foods are foods that contain enzymes. Enzymes are destroyed when food is heated over 116 degrees F, and enzymes are important because they are the “life energy” of the plant.

Is there a difference between living foods and raw foods?

Living and Raw foods both contain enzymes. In living foods, the enzyme content is much higher because of the sprouting process. For example, raw, unsprouted almonds contain enzymes in a "dormant" state. It is easy to activate the enzymes contained in almonds by soaking them in water overnight. The almonds will “plump up” and will not be as crunchy which means the enzymes have become "active" and are then considered living.

What is the difference between a raw/living foods diet and a vegetarian one?

Vegetarians obtain their protein from plant and some animal sources and vegans obtain their protein from plant sources only. Both eat cooked food.

Living and raw foodists eat only an uncooked, unheated, unprocessed, and generally organic plant based diet. Many, many people, myself included, incorporate raw and living foods into their diets. You don’t have to be a 100% raw foodist to experience greater health through some simple dietary changes.

Is a 100% living and raw food diet best?

I do not believe there is one diet that is optimum for all people. I believe there are some general rules that are universal such as we all need healthy carbohydrates, healthy fats, and healthy proteins and that it is best to limit or eliminate processed foods. Life should be about health and if eating 100% raw works for you and you are healthy in the long term, then that’s fine.  Many people can do quite well on a living foods diet for up to 5 years, sometimes longer.  Many people can not tolerate it longer than 3-4 weeks. 

What’s important is that you find the foods that give you the level of health you seek. Sometimes eating raw/living foods for a short period of time can assist you in cleansing your body which may help eliminate health challenges.

To learn how to incorporate raw and living foods into your diet, contact me for a consultation.