When changing to a raw food diet, it is seldom if ever a haphazard undertaking. You probably are sick or you have been sick. Seldom does a person decide to undertake a juice or raw food diet out of the clear blue sky.

Juice, to be effective, must be made fresh and taken in that condition without any intervening delay .... you make it and you drink it immediately. This is to prevent loss of nutrients and vitamins due to oxidation.

Another important consideration in the taking of juices is to 'take enough.' The point is, if you are going to go to the trouble and expense of a juice regimen, then make sure it will be effective and successful .... which can only be accomplished by taking enough of the juices.

When eating a meal consisting of both raw and cooked foods, it is best to eat the raw foods first so that the enzymes from the raw food will be available to help in digesting the cooked foods.

If you are in pain or distress, it is advisable to skip a meal.

When eating a meal composed of both juicy foods and dried or concentrated foods, eat the juicy foods before the dried or concentrated ones.

Eat foods at a medium temperature, neither hot nor cold.

Only eat when hungry.

Do not overindulge in food or drink.

The middle of the road or moderation in all things is the course to pursue.

Changing to a raw food diet, there are two kinds of foods — natural foods and processed foods. Avoid processed foods and eat only the natural foods which are all those foods as nature made them, without having anything added or taken away .... except an inedible covering that nature often provides, such as a banana peel or the hard shell of a nut.

However, there are many 'coats' that you can eat with pleasure, such as the outer skin of a persimmon and the shiny coat of an eggplant. When eating mangoes, I find some of the skins are edible while others are a bit strong. I always eat the skin of the cucumber if it hasn't been waxed. I often eat the orange rind, if I'm sure the orange hasn't been dyed, but I always eat the inner white skin.

Avoid any so-called 'food' that contains a chemical additive. These chemical additives are used as preservatives, stabilizers, coloring agents, extenders, thickeners and for a host of other deleterious tricks, stunts, gimmicks and processes .... which all add money to the processor's bank account and take years off your life. Take my advice and keep your money. Let the processors eat the additives and shorten their own lives .... turn about is fair play.

Adam Brookover

Copyrighted material; do not reprint without permission.

 

View all articles by Adam Brookover