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. Living Foods, which are easy to digest and rich in nutrients, combat this deficiency.
• 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: when the body isn't using all its energy to digest food, it can turn to other tasks, such as releasing stored toxins and healing, thus balancing body, mind, and spirit.

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.

There are two categories of enzymes:

1. Metabolic enzymes which are present in every cell, tissue, and organ in the body and act as biochemical catalysts in the moment to moment functioning of living cells.
2. Digestive enzymes: Intrinsic digestive enzymes are those that the body manufactures and secretes to break down food. Extrinsic digestive enzymes, also called food enzymes are present in every raw food in sufficient quantities to digest that particular food which makes digestion easier on the body. This is helpful for anyone who has digestive challenges.

We also know that:

• Life can't exist without enzymes.
  
• Enzymes are needed for every chemical reaction that takes place in the body.
  
• Enzymes are catalysts.
  
• Enzymes are connected to every working organ in our body and run our life's processes.
  
• Enzymes are needed by vitamins and minerals to accomplish their delivery within the body.
  
• Enzymes are required by all food for digestion.
  
• Enzymes are destroyed by cooking and processing foods.
  
• Enzymes can prevent partially digested proteins from putrefying, carbohydrates from fermenting, and fats from turning rancid within your system.

We also know that parasites, fungus, and bacteria are composed of proteins and that viruses are covered in a protein film. Studies have been done to see the effects on the body of food enzymes, specifically protease which is an enzyme that digests proteins. (Important: Most food allergies are allergies to the protein in a food!). When taken on an empty stomach, proteases are absorbed and carried into the blood stream where they are able to seek out viruses that have been "tagged" by the immune system for elimination from the body.

They assist the immune system in breaking down and removing the virus from the system. Studies also show protease removes waste in our blood which essentially cleans our blood. This is a good thing!! Clean blood means a clean body and dirty blood means a toxic body!

Enzymes also help in another way. In our fast paced society, we don't always take the time to relax while we eat a meal. This results in partially chewed food which may be too large for our bodies to break down efficiently before it putrifies, causing a host of digestive issues which may lead to immune problems. Enzymes can speed up the process by jumpstarting our digestive tracts which, in turn, increases our metabolism to sufficiently digest our food.

Living and raw foods also have enormously higher nutrient values than the foods that have been cooked.

To put it simply, enzymes are important because they assist in the digestion and absorption of food. If you eat food that is enzyme-less (and all cooked food is enzymeless), your body will not get maximum utilization of the food. This can create a body that is overfed and undernourished. (Can you guess why over 75% of Americans are overweight?)  In addition, your white blood cell count increases after eating a meal of only cooked foods.  This means your body reacts to the meal of enzyme-less food the way it responds to a virus or infection.

Does the acidic pH of the stomach destroy enzymes?

Viktorus Kulvinskas, one of the world's foremost and most experienced active researchers into enzyme nutrition, has information showing that stomach acid merely deactivates food enzymes. The enzymes are then reactivated in the more alkaline small intestine.

Cooked protein foods require large secretions of stomach acid which is actually rather difficult for many people especially if their diet consists mainly of cooked foods. Their bodies have to pump out a lot of hydrochloric acid; if they don’t, food will not be properly broken down and nutrients will not be properly absorbed. Many people who eat many raw and living foods eat experience more balanced amount of hydrochloric acid which frees up their body to have more energy and a lighter disposition.

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, r aw, 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. 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.

What do raw/living foodists eat?

Raw and Living Foodist eat all fruits, vegetables, sprouts, nuts, seeds, grains, sea vegetables, and other organic/natural foods that have not been processed. In some instances, there are special ways to prepare the foods (example: most raw and living foodists soak/sprout nuts, seeds and grains before consuming them). For some delicious recipes, see our recipe section!

How can you tell if something is a raw/living food?

Most foods that have not been processed in any way, shape or form are raw and living foods (until cooked). Processed foods (canned, bottled or prepackaged) are most often adulterated, (changed from their original state) by heating, additives, preservatives, colorings, salt, and sugar. Don't think this is all for your benefit; the benefactor is the manufacturer's profit margin, NOT YOU. Try to purchase foods that are in their natural state.

What do raw and living foodists drink?

Water (purified water - never tap water), Freshly made juices (made with your own juicer - and consumed immediately), coconut milk (from a young coconut), are some of the liquids living and raw foodists drink. Most all drinks purchased at the store have been processed (Including: soda, bottled juices, coffee, alcohol, and most others) and are not included in a living / raw foodist diet.

Are certain raw foods better than others?

Yes. I believe one should focus on eating the majority of fresh fruits and vegetables. All other raw foods (such as nuts, seeds, etc) should be minimized. Fresher foods are always best. Ones that you grow yourself, or purchased at a farmers market, are much fresher than foods purchased in the grocery or health food store.

Where do raw and living foodist get their protein?

The WHO (World Health Organization) says humans need about 5% of their daily calories to come from protein to be healthy. The USDA puts this figure at 6.5%. On average, fruits have about 5% of their calories from protein. Vegetables have from 20-50% of their calories from protein. Sprouted seeds, beans, and grains contain from 10-25% of their calories from protein. So, if you are eating any variety of living plant foods, you may be getting more than adequate protein.  Everyone is different, however, so it often takes experimentation to find out your optimal levels.