Rawism...

Roar!!! Or Raw? No I am not talking about lions but raw food. Raw foodism (or rawism) is the practice of consuming uncooked, unprocessed, and often organic foods as a large percentage of the diet. Raw food is becoming increasingly popular amongst mainstream foodies, with an increase in options around specialty supermarkets cafes and deli’s as its popularity grows.

The idea behind raw food is simply to return to food in its natural state-the way it was originally consumed. Raw food is also ‘alive’ food with more enzymes and undamaged nutrients. Nutrient dense, whole food is calorie for calorie more filling as your body is getting all the vitamins and minerals it craves. You often find you get full quicker and eat less.

Raw food benefits can be as simple as increased energy or as dramatic as healing long standing ailments. Doing some research I found most people noted the benefits listed below after switching to a raw food diet.

• Permanent weight-loss & maintenance.  As mentioned previously raw food is often and always healthy nutrient dense food, a reduction in processing aids weight loss by reducing burden on detox organs, increased nutrients, decreased cravings and stabilizing blood sugar levels. Also raw food isn’t loaded with all the bad fats, simple crap carbs and altered food that is common in most peoples diets.
• Beautiful skin and hair-again due to more nutrients to support these tissue structures
• Increased energy, stamina, mental clarity and focus-clean eating like ‘rawism’ gives the body time to build its energy. The body isn’t bogged down breaking down and detoxing highly processed foods loaded with artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. When we take the burden off digestion by feeding it easily digested, enzyme rich foods, the body can use that energy elsewhere.
• Lots of people mention emotional balance and spiritual connection. I guess until you really eat this way you can experience this it’s hard to explain without sounding a bit ‘hippie’ but there is some truth in this. But I am a bit ‘hippie’ so my thoughts are, when I have eaten like this, you take the energy and chi from the live food and feed your body, this then becomes you. When I eat clean I feel balanced and nourished. Not only does organic food have more nutrients but it also has less of an environmental impact, which I is really important and makes me feel good about eating well.
• Healing of ailments from minor to life-threatening – such as acne, allergies, arthritis, asthma, congestion, constipation, diabetes, herpes, infertility, menopausal symptoms, obesity, thyroid problems, and ulcerative colitis

 

So my first attempt to make something delicious that holds together using only raw ingredients.

Lindsay’s super delicious health blast balls-or whatever you want to call them.

No dairy, no wheat, no sugar, no garbage!

So this is what I went with, all organic ingredients (Makes about 25)

• Dried dates (500gm) could use fresh and reduce water
• Chia seeds ( 4-5 tbsps)
• Coconut oil (1-2 tbsps)
• Desiccated coconut (half a cup)
• Cashews (half a cup)
• Oats (1-2 tbsps)
• Cinnamon (decent sprinkle and then sprinkle again never too much)
• Vanilla essence (capful)
• Water (use as needed to bind)
• Cocoa –to coat them in the end-

That was a bit of a guess-I made them without writing it down but those measurements are close to what I used….I think!?

1.       Put dates in a food processor with a little boiling water. Leave in the water to soften

2.       Process a few times, then add cashews, coconut oil process

3.       Add dry ingredients, oats, chia, coconut, cinnamon, vanilla essence,

4.       Process again-key is to keep mixture sticky as you want it to hold when you roll them

5.       To dry, add more coconut oil, to wet add more chia and oats.

6.       Roll teaspoon size heaps into balls then coat in cocoa

7.       Put in the fridge to chill and harden

 

So why are these healthy? Well…

Preservative, color and artificial flavor free

No dairy, wheat, egg, artificial sugar-great for allergy sufferers

• Dates are high in potassium which is good to balance fluid levels, fiber for healthy digestion, and high in anti-oxidants
• Chia seeds are high in fiber, calcium, magnesium-so not only filling but fabulous for energy levels. They also contain antioxidants and essential fatty acids.
• Coconut oil and flesh, is loaded with good fats! Which are great for hair skin and nail and  healthy blood cholesterol. Coconut is high in lauric acid which has numerous health properties
• Cinnamon-has so many wonderful health properties, to briefly name a few-blood sugar regulation, anti-inflammatory, lowers cholesterol,  anti-bacterial,  improves memory and concentration and is high in iron, fiber and calcium. Making it great for women.
• Oats-rich in beta-glucan, lower cholesterol and the fiber content keep your regular.
• Cocoa-one of nature’s super food, loaded with vitamin and minerasl to pack a punch and also a great flavor, the bitterness helps balance the sweetness of the dates. Natural cocoa has high levels of epicatechin. One study by Prof Norman K. Hollenberg from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, US was published in the International Journal of Medical Sciences.  Hollenberg spent years studying the effects of cocoa-drinking on the Kuna people in Panama. He suggests that epicatechin, a flavanol found in high levels in natural cocoa, should be classed as a vitamin and is as important as penicillin and anaesthesia in terms of its potential to impact public health. It has huge positive impact on heart disease, stroke, diabetes mellitus, and cancer.

 

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