Ideal Bite

So you're the one I've been battling for coconut water at Whole Foods! Please stop emptying the shelf! :)

This daily bite was a little too vague- not all raw food is healthy! Raw (unpasterized) milk carries a higher risk of Salmonella, Shigella other illnesses with other dairy (cheese), & raw meats E. coli. Raw eggs- Salmonella. Sorry to burst your bite bubble...

I'm always wary of articles that lists the benefits of certain diets without giving any of the disadvantages. Shouldn't we consider how the cooking process makes some nutrients more readily available for absorption in some foods? Also, I believe that cooking aids the digestion of starch and protein, if I remember correctly. I'm not a nutritionist, but I'm leaning toward more of a balance on this one.

Ayurvedic practices recommend not eating cold food. It should be "cooked" somewhat so we don't waste our own bodies' energy in "heating up" the food. Raw doesn't always mean uncooked, but rather not cooked at high temperatures. Personally, I'm not ready or willing to give up meat at this point... and the idea of eating meat "undercooked" (outside of sushi and perhaps a delicious tartare every so often) is not entirely appealing. But bring on the veggies!

Anyone interested in trying out a raw food diet without going all cold turkey should check out "The Raw Food Detox Diet" by Natalia Rose, a renowned Manhatten-based nutritionist. She offers a lot of information on the benefits of eating raw, as well as the dangers of doing it the wrong way. She also outlines a transitional program that allows people of all dietary walks of life to ease into a raw food based diet by slowing incorporating different elements of it into your existing routine. It is a wonderfully written book and it has completely changed my life, I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a healthier lifestyle!

raw food doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing deal (unless you are some type of freaky extremist)... we often eat a 'raw' dinner, or have a raw day... especially in the summer, it's pretty easy and i think it's cleansing. and after the holidays, a couple of days of raw food are a welcome relief. so try it! (p.s. raw food = vegan food... no raw meat, milk, eggs... not that those are bad either. i live in france, home of raw milk cheese! ;)

I recently "discovered" fresh coconut water myself while on a trip to Trinidad. Imagine my surprise that the coconuts growing on the tree in my back yard really were good for more than looking festive and staining the patio. Now grabbing a coconut off the tree for a glass of water is a family event!

It's not very friendly to the environment to fly coconuts around. I think that you could find a local food to go raw with and save the planet as well as yourself. Hint: try blueberries or other local berry type things as they are prized for their antioxident qualities. Squash/pumpkin have a purpose too. Seasonal and local foods have qualities to help them survive in the same environment that you live. If your local environment includes coconut then enjoy!

I tend to agree that balance is the key, I have an emergency nutritional product called In-liven, which has 26 Living Wholefoods and the full spectrum of Lactobacillus bacteria. Great for re-balancing the intestinal tract and getting a big whack of enzymes and amino acids. Certified organic too :) www.loveorganicenergy.mionegoup.com Had a few galsses of wine last night and chocolate and crap food, I def needed it this morning before training!

Hey Jay Zimmerman, Sorry to burst your bubble, but true raw foodist are vegan. Try research, it looks like you know how.