Raw foods are full of color, life, and nutrients!  The more of them we put in our bodies, the less chance we have of developing disease and illness.  While it is not necessary to be 100% raw to be a healthy person, our health will increase exponentially with the addition of raw foods.

Many people ask, “What is the difference between digesting cooked vs. raw foods?”
This is very simple to explain.  When we eat living (or raw) food, all of the enzymes are present in that food to help it digest.  As that food becomes cooked above 120 degrees, the enzymes (and most nutrients) are no longer viable.  This means our enzyme reserves that are working busily to keep our systems running must switch gear and now begin working on digestive processes.  Your body will begin to age more quickly, develop various illnesses or diseases, and becomes more fatigued in general. 

How does a person transition from cooked food to a raw food lifestyle?  Here are some important keys to remember:
• Be gentle with yourself.  You do not need to throw out your streaks and cheese to be immediately replaced with kale and Swiss chard! Perhaps you can increase your raw food intake by making one meal per day raw.  Another good way to tackle this is to make half to three quarters of your plate at every meal raw.  Find an easy technique to increase the percentage of raw food you are eating.  As a result, your percentage of cooked food immediately decreases!

• Do not internalize negative messages.  Many people have a hard time at first and head to the drive-thru if they are not perfect with their new raw lifestyle.  You cannot beat yourself up!  Food should be eaten in a state of conscious relaxation, not a state of self-hatred or stress.  If you goof up, just dust yourself off and grab some fruit next time.  Life is full of messy choices and they do not make you a failure!  Give yourself loads of love, eat happily, and do the best you can.

• Become your own doctor/researcher.  This does not mean that you should never go to the doctor again, especially if you battle serious illness.  This just means to begin intuiting what your body is telling you.  Learn what your system likes and dislikes.  Read every book on health and raw food that you can get your hands on!  They will empower you so that you can make the best educated choices for yourself.

• Make recipes that taste good.  Don't try to live off of salad all day and all night.  Raw food can and does taste exciting and divine!  For great starter recipes that are simple and full of flavor, try The Healing Patch Cookbook, available at www.rawhealingpatch.com!

Good luck on your raw food journey, and may your days be full of health and magic!

Product

The Healing Patch Cookbook: A gentle transition from cooked to raw food, with a taste of joyful wit.
To order your book, go to www.rawhealingpatch.com.

Bio

Julie Cara Hoffenberg and Sarah Woodward, authors of The Healing Patch Cookbook, come from different backgrounds and have vastly different experiences, yet they all suit The Healing Patch perfectly! While Julie has seven years experience in health and nutrition that fuels her interest in The Healing Patch, Sarah is a survivor of ovarian cancer which fuels her continued interest in health.  Together they help people transition to a greater level of health and vitality through a gentle, loving approach to raw foods.

Websites:    
www.rawhealingpatch.com, www.youtube.com/rawhealingpatch, www.blogtalkradio.com/rawhealingpatch, www.twitter.com/rawhealingpatch, www.rawhealingpatch.blogspot.com,

E-mail: rawhealingpatch@gmail.com 
Phone: (805) 837-9018