More people at Smith Mountain Lake and all over the country are discovering Raw Recipes and the benefits of eating raw food. Eating your food raw (unprocessed and not heated above 115 degrees) helps your body to expel toxins slowly without using harsher methods sometimes needed to get rid of accumulated poisons. Raw foods are also chock full of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and other nutrients which are ordinarily lost or damaged in the heat of cooking.
Warmer weather seems to give our bodies vigor and renewed energy and is also an excellent time to begin the process of detoxing. Spring is a great time to start incorporating raw foods because there is more produce available and you can even begin growing your own.
To help rid your body of accumulated toxins you need to give it as long of a rest as possible from foods such as hormone-laden meats, processed dairy, refined sugars, chemical additives, and anything else that has been processed. Raw foods are not only loaded with nutrition but also fiber which helps to carry toxic matter out of the body as waste.
There are hundreds of items on the checklist as to why we should eat more raw food, but for now, here are just a few ideas for some tasty and very healthy foods you can try this spring to aid your body in becoming healthier.
1. Raw Hummus Dip
3/4 cup raw sesame seed butter (some call it tahini)
2 tbsp organic cold-pressed olive oil
1/2 fresh sliced zucchini
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 clove fresh minced garlic
½ tsp organic black pepper
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
Directions:
Put all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Place in a glass bowl with a few sunflower seeds and your favorite shredded greens sprinkled on top and serve with a platter of raw vegetables for dipping.
2. Banana Carob Shake
1 and 1/2 cups cashews (optional – soak 5 hours to soften)
6 large raw dried dates
4 tbsp raw carob powder
3 large frozen bananas
1/2 cup coconut water
3 tbsp raw honey
Half-tray ice cubes (distilled, well, or spring water)
Directions: Blend cashews and dates until smooth. Then add in carob powder, honey, and coconut water and blend until creamy. Finally add in bananas and ice cubes one at a time until you have a frozen, creamy treat.
3. Raw Tomato Soup
½ bag/box raw organic spinach
2 fresh tomatoes
½ raw cucumber
¼ cup distilled water
1 avocado (peeled and halved)
1 clove fresh garlic
2 tbsp Braggs liquid aminos (raw soy sauce)
½ tsp sea salt
½ tsp pepper
dash chili powder
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp cold pressed olive oil
Directions: Blend all ingredients until smooth then warm (using a baking thermometer) to not above 110 degrees. Serve warm.
