Ani's Raw Food Kitchen

Decades of Change: The History of Organic Farming

Fifteen years ago, you may have had a hard time finding an organic tomato in your local supermarket. Due to recent farming
advances and public awareness, however, consumers can find a host of organic products in supermarket shelves and in the
produce section of grocery stores across America. How did we come to the point we’re at today and when did buying produce
become so complicated.

In truth, it’s the type of farming in which farmers use artificial pesticides, herbicides and other conventional farming
techniques that is really historically new to us. Before 1940, much of the produce grown and eaten in American homes was
totally organic and was often picked no further than one’s own backyard.

The use of chemical additives and even farm implements we see today gradually found its way into farming in the first half
of the Twentieth Century. In 1950, there were three million tractors in the US, up from 600 tractors in 1910. At about
the same time, proponents of organic farming techniques began to practice their trade, beginning in Central Europe and India
around 1920.

Organic farming methods began to reach consumer awareness, beginning in the 1950s and, in the following two decades, there
was an increasing concern about the environmental effects of farming techniques using chemical pesticides and herbicides.
This was when food-purchasing cooperatives and specialized organic food producers came to the forefront among some consumers.

In the 1970s and 1980s, regulators recognized a growing need for some way to provide organic certification to those farmers
who followed specific growing rules and who used approved growing techniques. It wasn’t, however, until the 1990s that the
formal or governmental certification of organic foods became available in the US and in several countries throughout the
world.

In the last two decades, the availability of organic foods on the market grew dramatically and, at one point, the surge of
growth of the organic food market exceeded twenty percent per year. In fact, the sales of organic baby food increased by
almost twenty-two percent in 2006 alone.

In the last five to seven years, multinational food companies have jumped on the organic food bandwagon and have increased
their research and development of foods that could be certified organic. This has led to an increase in the availability
of processed organic foods and in the lowering of the cost of these types of products.

In today’s time, organic foods continue to be more expensive than their conventional counterparts, in part due to the fact
that organic farmers must meet stricter quality guidelines. This is a labor intensive process that drives up the costs of
the product.

To meet consumer demand, supermarkets strictly devoted to providing organic foods, such as the Whole Foods Market and
Waitrose (in the UK), have gone into business and are providing quality organic foods to consumers. In order to provide
organic foods to a larger population, Wal-Mart announced its plans to increase the availability of organic foods to its
customers and at a lower cost than the supermarkets.

It appears that, almost as soon as the big farmers began putting synthetic pesticides and herbicides on their crops, a
backlash developed and a group of dedicated farmers and consumers worked—and continue to work—toward improving the
availability and quality of organic foods for those food consumers who can’t grow an organic produce garden in their
own backyard.

Cruelty Free Cosmetics

Many people don’t realize that the brand name cosmetics they use on a daily basis, like lipstick, mascara and even deodorants, are tested on animals before they are released on the market. If you’re wondering why that’s a big deal, you’re in for a shock.

Animal abuse
Lab animals like rabbits and mice are routinely used by brand-name companies to find out whether the ingredients they plan to use are poisonous, can cause blindness, can cause chemical burns or a long list of other torturous results. These ingredients are force fed to the lab animals or force-dripped onto their skin and eyes. The test results are often not conclusive predictors for the effects of the ingredients on humans, but many companies still use them.

Alternatives to animal testing
Testing for product safety is important. But the methods used for animal testing date back to the 1920s. And today there are newer and more accurate tests available that don’t require the use of live animals. For example, thanks to computer modeling programs, virtual human organs can be digitally created and tested, yielding results that are much more statically accurate than with animal testing.

How to find cruelty free cosmetics
Although there are no laws in the U.S. that prohibit companies from testing on living animals, fortunately, people are becoming much more aware of these abusive practices. Concerned consumers are demanding cruelty free products and a growing number of manufacturers are listening.

A coalition of 9 animal protection agencies from around the world have created a voluntary standard for products that are ‘not tested on animals’. There is a growing list of cosmetics companies that have chosen to adhere to these standards. You can find the list at http://www.idausa.org/facts/crueltyfree.html or http://www.leapingbunny.org/indexcus.php. It includes such well-known natural cosmetics companies as Arbonne, Aubrey Organics, Beauty without Cruelty, Christine Valmy, Green Girl Basics, Kiss My Face and Mary Kay and many more. When you make the decision to buy from companies that make cruelty free cosmetics, you are giving your support to a more compassionate planet.

Cooked foods on a raw diet

Does moving to a raw foods diet mean never eating hot food again? No, it doesn’t. Sometimes you want something hot. Hot food has always signified comfort for many of us. And on a cold, rainy day, carrot sticks or wheatgrass juice probably won’t cut it for most of us.

Most raw food, like our bodies, is very perishable. When raw foods are exposed to temperatures above 118 degrees, they start to rapidly break down, just as our bodies would if we had a fever that high. One of the constituents of foods which can break down are enzymes. Enzymes help us digest our food. Enzymes are proteins though, and they have a very specific 3-dimensional structure in space. Once they are heated much above 118 degrees, this structure can change.

Once enzymes are exposed to heat, they are no longer able to provide the function for which they were designed. Cooked foods contribute to chronic illness, because their enzyme content is damaged and thus requires us to make our own enzymes to process the food. The digestion of cooked food uses valuable metabolic enzymes in order to help digest your food. Digestion of cooked food demands much more energy than the digestion of raw food. In general, raw food is so much more easily digested that it passes through the digestive tract in 1/2 to 1/3 of the time it takes for cooked food.

Eating enzyme-dead foods places a burden on your pancreas and other organs and overworks them, which eventually exhausts these organs. Many people gradually impair their pancreas and progressively lose the ability to digest their food after a lifetime of ingesting processed foods.

But you certainly can steam and blanch foods if you want your food at least warm. Use a food thermometer and cook them no higher than 118 degrees Fahrenheit. Up to this temperature, you won’t be doing too much damage to the enzymes in food.

Detoxification is one of the most recommended health practices nowadays. The aim of this special health method is to cleanse the body from all the toxins that pollute our body. This will ensure that we will have a clean and healthy system and will improve the performance of our organs and immune system. Some might argue that this is a difficult thing to practice, however that is not really accurate. If we change our perspective and break down the steps for detoxification, we will find that it is actually pretty easy.

The first step that we have to do is to prepare ourselves for detoxification. Now, we might think that why should a preparation needs to be done? This is because most of the successful plans or activities we have done underwent preparations. It is important that we are prepared for every undertaking, and detoxification is no different. Also, it is not only the body that needs to be prepared for this. Mental preparedness is also very important because our mind plays a very important role in our bodily functions. One very helpful activity to prepare us is to do yoga exercises. Yoga is able to calm the mind, and is also able to physically prepare us.

The second step is the detoxification proper itself. During the detoxification itself, food intake will be limited to juice and oil. Sample oils will be olive oil, flax seeds, primrose and vegetables that are pureed and juiced. These vegetables include cucumbers, celery, parsley, kale, wheat, barley and spinach. All these must be blended and must be consumed about 3 times for a period of twenty-four hours. A type of soup is also good to take during this period. This soup is made of green vegetables and lots of garlic.

The last step is what most people call ”the exit”. One would sometimes think that after the detoxification, it would end there, but not really. In this step, the gradual removal from the pureed vegetables diet is necessary. Sometimes this takes a period of three days, but it could actually be shortened if you want.

All of these are necessary steps to ensure that detoxification will be successful. All the toxins and wastes in our body will be flushed away. Still, it has to be noted that detoxification works differently for different people. Also, each and every one of us has different styles and that is okay. If you have found the formula that is right for you then it is Well and good.

Christmas Food

Christmas is a time when we think of family get-togethers and abundance. It is memory lane for most of us, enjoying friends, memorable times and good comfort, traditional foods. But the weeks after the holidays are usually weight gains, health problems from too many sweets and food.

Today white sugar, white flour, dairy products, trans and saturated fats, refined cars and excess calories are on the “no-no” list … and with the holiday times it feels as if the cakes, cookies and candies will become obsolete. And we begin to feel deprived and panic stricken. After all, it is a long-time tradition.

One answer is to make some raw food desserts and take them to get-togethers and family meals. Use nuts, dried fruits, and avocadoes instead of white flour and white sugar. They have a lot of flavor, looks and are good for you. Oh yes … and they are easy to put together. Jenny Cornbleet has a book out called “Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or 2 People”. In it there are desserts – cakes, cookies, fruit crisps, pies, tarts, puddings, mousses, shakes, and ice cream recipes all raw – for holidays and all meals. Guess what? They taste better than their sugar laden counterparts.

One recipe is for a “Flourless Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Sauce” which calls for 1 ½ cups raw walnuts, dash of salt, 8 pitted medjool dates, ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa or carob powder, ½ tsp vanilla extract, and 2 tsp water. For the raspberry sauce you use 1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries (thaw and drain if frozen) with ¼ cup pitted medjooy dates, soaked for 30 minutes and drained. Place the walnuts and salt in a food processor with the S blade and process until finely ground. Add dates, cocoa powder, and vanilla … process until mixture becomes sticky. Add water and process briefly. Transfer to a serving plate and form a 5 inch round cake. Place the raspberries and dates in a blender and mix until smooth, pouring over the cake just before serving.

You do not have to give up all your comfort foods, just find a healthier recipe for it. You will find the dessert to be much tastier. But should you choose to nibble on a few old foods, do so in moderation, do not go overboard, and remember to wait and let your stomach digest properly before the next meal.

Celebrities and the Raw Food Diet Craze

Demi Moore is prone to making a buzz in Hollywood. Her work in the Charlie’s Angels “Full Throttle” movie in 2003 revealed a very svelte looking 40 year old who looked every bit as good as her twenty-something counterparts.

The secret to her toned body? This well known Hollywood actress adheres to the raw food diet and it shows!

Demi Moore is not the only one who believes in this diet. Other well known followers of the raw food diet include Woody Harrelson, Sting and Donna Karan.

Recent scientific studies have brought to light the fact that many of the cooked and processed foods that are such a large part of our diets are full of toxins. They are all full of cancer causing substances.

The raw food diet preaches the virtues of eating food that is as organic and fresh as it possibly can be. The raw food diet is very nutrient dense and free of harmful toxins. The raw food diet will make for a person who looks younger, full of life and has glowing skin. All in all you will be a healthier more vibrant human being. And you don’t have to be rich and famous like Demi Moore to do it!

Be aware however that adjusting to the raw food diet can take time. You would be better off to introduce raw foods into your diet gradually as opposed to doing it all at once.

There are different versions of the raw food diet. In general a raw food diet is vegetarian in nature. You will need to bid farewell to meat, dairy products and breads. You will no longer eat foods that have been cooked above 118 degrees.

For many people, the safety of raw foods is an issue. Some “raw foodists” advocate the consumption of raw meats. Beyond sushi, I recommend you do not develop a practice of eating raw meats. All types of raw foods contain microorganisms if not handled appropriately can lead to diseases such as salmonella.

What do I eat on a raw food diet?

You will eat a variety of fruits and vegetables. The emphasis is on variety so you will not get bored. You will also eat plenty of beans, nuts/ seeds and dried fruits. These simple foods need to be balanced out for complete nutrition.

Here is a basic raw food recipe to try to get you started. This soup is very healthy. It is nutrient dense. It is also mineralizing and alkanizing.

Healing Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:

1 cucumber (English preferably)
1 young coconut water
1/2 bell pepper
1/2 avocado
2 celery ribs
3 green onions
2 large chard leaves (or 4 small is fine too)
Juice from 1 lime
Small combination of herbs (suggestions include cilantro, mint and rosemary)
Small portion of Dulse seaweed (this is optional)

In a blend combine the coconut water, 1/2 cucumber, avocado, celery, chard leaves, one green onion, lime juice, cayenne pepper and seaweed. Blend on high. Next add the bell pepper, the rest of the cucumber, two remaining green onions, and the herbs. Pulse until herbs are chopped up. Garnish the healing soup with avocado, tomato, green onion, fresh herbs and bell pepper.

Now enjoy!

Benefits of the Canine Organic Raw Food Diet

Just like people can benefit from the use of raw food in their diet, it is also necessary for dogs as well. In fact, there are several specific benefits that can be derived from using an organic raw food diet with your pet. Here are just a few examples:

1. Canine organic raw food does not contain fillers. This means when your pet consumes the food, every last morsel is providing something your dog needs to be healthy and happy. Because many forms of organic raw food for dogs includes bone, the result is canines on the diet get plenty of calcium, which can help to minimize the chances for having hip and joint problems.

2. Organic raw food for canines helps to promote a smooth and healthy coat. This is important for shorthaired breeds as well as dogs with long hair. The coat helps to protect the skin of the animal from a number of pests and other issues. A healthy coat means your dog is less susceptible to such issues as rashes or other skin disease.

3. The ingredients in raw food for canines are natural and environmental friendly. They also make sure your pet can consume the ingredients without any digestion problems. In the case of bones, the material is so finely ground that there is no chance of anything sticking in the throat of your pet, or splintering and causing any one of several health issues.

4. Dogs like the taste. People who sometimes go out of their minds trying to find a nutritious food that their pets will actually eat often have great success with canine organic raw foods. This means a lot more harmony around the home for all family members.

Of course, it is true that canine organic raw foods are not always right for every dog. This is particularly true if the pet is currently dealing with specific health issues. Some of the natural bacteria contained in raw food may not be good for your dog at present. It is always a good idea to talk with your veterinarian before making any sudden changes in the pet’s diet, as this can sometimes make a situation worse.

But for dogs that are currently in good general health and not being treated for a specific health condition, the introduction of a canine organic raw food diet may be just the ticket. Consider looking into the option today. It just might provide you and your beloved pet with a few more years to enjoy each other’s company.

Can you feed your children raw food

Every mother wants the best for her child. You want your child to look healthy, grow proportionately, feel energized and have a great immune system. So, why do most parents in America feed their children junk food by the time they start eating table food? Why do most restaurants serve French fries or macaroni and cheese for side orders and not steamed broccoli? It is really a sad situation to watch young children who are obese. Even schools offer peanut butter and jelly or ice cream for lunch.

To ensure that your child is eating correctly you must feed them plenty of fruits and vegetables. But the trick is to make it delicious and fun. For instance, for breakfast, arrange a platter of fruit, oranges, grapefruit, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, they will love it! Make faces out of the fruit. Have them drink only water and no sugar 100% fruit juice that you juice yourself. Get them used to eating vegetables that are uncooked. Whenever they get hungry, offer small baby carrots, or celery, they will grow to love the taste just the way it is. You can introduce a new vegetable each week and learn how to hide it into your food. For instance, chop up Portobello mushrooms in a chopper and add it to your pasta sauce and watch them gobble it up, barely noticing the mushrooms. Make blanched broccoli (plain) and eat that for dinner. If they see you eating healthy, they will learn early on to eat that way. Do not let them eat packaged foods, such as macaroni and cheese, or fried chicken fingers, or anything fried for that matter. Make sure that they eat vegetables at every meal and be careful when you go out to eat.

Offer natural desserts that you have made at home, such as homemade sorbet, or fruit smoothie, or peach cobbler pie (all natural). Stay away from cakes, cookies, etc that have preservatives and other unnatural flavorings. Make it yourself and offer it occasionally. You will find that they watch you and what you eat and if you incorporate a much healthier menu, so will they.

The best part of raising your children to learn to love fruits and vegetables is that you will notice that they will turn down junk food when you are not around. At that point you will know that you have done your part in raising healthy adults.

What You Should Know About Bones and Raw Food

You may have seen the acronym “BARF” used in connection with dog food. No, it does not refer to what your pet does when the food is upsetting to the stomach. Actually, BARF is short for “bones and raw food”, a nutritional approach to making sure your beloved pet is happy and healthy.

The idea of using bones and raw food to feed pets is not a new one. For centuries, people have fed their dogs using fruits and vegetables that were beginning to spoil. It is also not unusual for dog owners to give their dogs raw meat and bones that are left over from carcasses after a hunt. In this sense the use of raw foods as a source of nutrition for pets has been around for a long time.

What is new is the concept of combining bones and raw food into a daily diet plan that is intentional and balanced to meet the nutritional needs of today’s dogs. There are several advantages to this approach that you should be familiar with:

1. Raw food for dogs can include elements that are a little different from the raw food diets used by humans. Along with plenty of fruits and vegetables, canine style BARF may also include raw meat, ground up bones, eggs, and even yogurt. In all cases, the ingredients are not cooked, and are therefore consumed in a natural state.

2. Using a BARF approach to nutrition means being creative. After all, it is more complicated than setting a processed food in front of your dog. But at the same time, it carries the advantage of knowing exactly what your dog is consuming. That can be a comforting factor.

3. The BARF approach allows you to adjust the content of the daily diet based on your dog’s needs. For example, if your vet recommends that your dog needs more calcium, you simple increase the use of raw food that has more calcium. Your dog still gets to enjoy the tastes that he or she has come to enjoy, and you can rest easy knowing your dog is getting the right balance of nutrients to take care of the latest health issue.

There are some drawbacks to a BARF approach that should be mentioned. First, unless you are good at nutrition in general, you may have difficulty creating the right balance between raw foods to provide your pet with optimum nutrient intake. If that is the case, your dog will probably be better off with a processed food product that is nutritionally balanced.

Second, the bacteria in raw foods may not be good for your pet if the dog is currently suffering with certain ailments. For this reason, always consult your vet before making a change to a bones and raw food diet. Even when you make the change, make sure to note any negative changes in your dog’s demeanor or habits. This could indicate there is a hidden health issue or a nutrient deficiency that needs to be addressed.

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Benefits of juice

Eating raw foods is a way to give your body some of the nutrition it desperately needs. Many of us are at least slightly overweight, and even the morbidly obese are starving for essential proteins and amino acids. All the processed, cooked foods we eat give us only a small percentage of what we need. Consequently, we eat and eat and yet we’re still not nourished. Psychologists try to tell us we’re eating to make up for an emptiness in our souls. Wrong! Our bodies our empty and trying to tell us so.

Eating raw foods is good for us on so many levels. It’s satisfying to eat them. They take more time to chew and swallow, so we don’t eat as fast. And we’re getting so much more in the way of nutrition by consuming fruits, vegetables, nuts and sprouts.

It can take time to prepare raw foods, however. Which is why a juicer is an important addition to your kitchen once your start to be serious about raw foods. A good juicer can process an entire apple – seeds, stems, peel, pulp and all – and turn all that into a healthy, nutritious juice.

Buying apple juice is NOT the same thing!!! Don’t even look at apple juices or even ciders in the grocery store. Put that $2 or $3 aside and save up for a juicer. Buy bags of apples, orange, bananas, carrots and make your own juices to get everything from the fruit that you’d get by eating it raw. Now you’re getting juice that’s as fresh as the fruit or vegetable you made it from. No preservatives, no processing that strips most of the energy from the fruit. And think of all the delicious combinations you can make with the many tropical fruits that are available now in most grocery stores. You can customize your fruits and add non-typical ingredients like pumpkin to an orange juice. Now that’s a powerhouse of a juice!