Chef Johan's Raw & Tasty

Posts Tagged ‘raw food weight loss’

Tossed Crunchy Sweet and Sour Salad

I made this delicious salad  for quick dinner last night and it was just too good no to share.

Ingredients

1/3 head nappa cabbage, thinly sliced
1 bunch watercress , stemmed
1 bunch spinach leaves, stemmed and sliced
8 ounces mung bean sprouts
3 ounces snow peas, cut into strips lenghwise
4 red Thai or serrano chillies, thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, pressed
4 tablespoons fresh lime juice
4 tablespoons nama shoyu
4 tablespoons organic sucanat, (may substitute with other sweetener)
4 tablespoons canola oil

Garnish
4 green onions, cut into strips
1 handful fresh mint, cut into strips
1 handful fresh basil, cut into strips
1/4 cup jungle peanuts or your favorite nut, chopped coarsely

Method

Combine the first 11 ingredients in a large bowl and toss until ingredients are evenly mixed. Sprinkle with the herbs and nuts to garnish.
Servings: 6
Source: Adapted from World Food Cafe

Ingredients

1 cup raw sunflower seeds

1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

1/4 tsp salt

1/3 celery stalk

1/8 medium onion

1/3 carrot

2 tbsp minced fresh parsley

seasonings as desired

Directions

Soak the sunflower seeds for at least 1 hour until soft.  In food processor combine onion, celery, and carrot, and chop until fine.  Add the soaked sunflower seed, salt,  parsley, and any desired seasonings.  Process till finely chopped (do not over-process or the end result will be a pate which makes a great dip).  Serve by itself,  stuffed into a tomato, bell pepper, mushroom, or rolled in a lettuce leaf.

Ingredients:
1 small head of cauliflower
1 turnip, small dice
1 carrot, small dice
1 tbs. garlic, minced
1 tbs. shallot, minced
2 dried apricots, diced
2 dates, diced
4 leaves dinosaur kale, chopped
2 tbs. pine nuts
2 tbs. olive oil
1 tbs. nama shoyu
1 tbs. tamarind, soaked at least 30 minutes in 3 tbs. water
2 tsp. cumin seed
2 tsp. corriander seed
1 tsp. fresh tumeric root
1 tbs. cilantro
1 tbs. mint
1 jalapeno, minced

Preparation:
To prepare the cauliflower, you want to break it down to the smallest piece you can — the best way we’ve found is to grab a large piece and start by snapping off the big stem and begin to “flake” the smaller pieces off by working around the head using your thumb to pull them apart. It’s a little tedious to be sure, but you really want small pieces here. Add them to a large mixing bowl.

Dice the carrot, turnip, dates and apricot into small 1/4″ pieces. Mince the jalapeno, shallot and garlic. Shred the kale into 1/4″ strips. Add all of these plus the pine nuts to the cauliflower mixture.

Add the olive oil and nama shoyu, stir to combine.

Push the soaked tamarind pulp through a fine mesh strainer over the bowl. Stir to combine.

Add the freshly ground cumin seed, coriander seed, grated turmeric root, black pepper, chopped mint and cilantro. Stir to combine.

Check for seasonings — it may need a pinch of sea salt to balance the tamarind.

At this point you could eat it as is — or you can dehydrate it for two hours at 105F to bring all of the flavors together. You may need two dehydrator shelves so it lays in a single layer.

These are wonderful to serve for an impressive meal. They are VERY easy to make, but look and taste much more gourmet.
Serves 6

Wraps
4 C organic corn (fresh or frozen, whichever is available to you)
1/3 C ground flax seeds
1/4 C ground sunflower seeds
1/4 C orange juice
1/4 C lime juice
1/2 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 tsp. sea salt

Preparation:

Place all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. Pour out to about 1/8″ thickness onto a non-stick dehydrator sheet and place in a dehydrator for 3 hours at 110 degrees. Carefully peel off wraps and flip onto mesh dehydrator screen and continue drying for one more hour. Cut into large squares and place veggie filling* in center. Roll up, top with favorite salsa or avocado sauce and enjoy.

*Our “recipe” for the filling is nothing more than a variety of favorite minced veggies (such as spinach, carrot, squash), a little onion and some seasonings.

Recipe provided by Purely Delicious Magazine

By Professor Ian Brighthope

Fat is probably the most misunderstood component of the human diet. The acquisition of scientific terminology as marketing jargon has certainly increased this misunderstanding. Most consumers are now aware of terms such as omega-3 and omega-6, and essential fatty acids, and know that there are such things as good fats and bad fats. Unfortunately this does not mean that people are making wiser food choices. 

A product endorsed by the heart foundation, for example, such are margarine, may be touted as being a source of omega-3, yet this product also contains trans fatty acids, which science has shown contribute to cardiovascular disease. This is a perfect example of a so-called ‘good fat’ turning renegade when subjected to industrialization and refinement.

A consensus is emerging among researchers that our bodies are designed to function using a whole food pre-agricultural diet high in long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are found in cold-water deep-sea fish such as salmon and tuna. Omega-3 fatty acids are also found in flax seeds, walnuts and dark green vegetables. The science that supports the use of omega-3 fats as health promoting agents also makes the important distinction: that the quality of these fats effects their function, as does the ratio to other fats in the diet such as omega-6 and the arachidonic acid derived from saturated fat.

Quality: the changing ratio of Omega-6 and Omega-3

Omega-6 and Omega-9 are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). PUFA’s are sometimes called essential fatty acids because they cannot be synthesized by the body and must be provided through the diet. Generally, our diets contain far too little omega-3 and an excess of omega-6 fat. Experts looking at the dietary ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids suggest that in early human history the ratio was about 1-4:1. Currently most Australians eat a dietary ratio that is around 20-50:1. The optimum ratio is most likely closer to the original ratio of 1-4:1. For most of us, this means not only increasing our omega-3 intake, but also greatly reducing the omega-6 fatty acids we consume.

We should also bear in mind that the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 in these foods has changed with the use of factory farming techniques and growth enhancement practices in agribusiness. Researchers at the Weston Price Foundation have observed that organic eggs from hens allowed to feed on insects and green plants can contain omega-6 and omega-3 in the beneficial ratio of 1:1, but commercial supermarket eggs can contain as much as nineteen times more omega-6 than omega-3.

Why You’ll Never See Obese Fish: Marine oil for weight control

When we significantly reduce the omega-6 fatty acids in the diet and increase the Omega-3’s from marine oils, the metabolic rate is increased. Marine oils also reduce the insulin response to oral glucose. This means that the body utilises the energy from carbohydrates more efficiently, without storing it as fat.

Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s): A safer aspirin

The increased omega-6/omega-3 ratio in our diet most likely contributes to an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease and inflammatory disorders. If we correct this ratio and increase our intake of high quality omega-3 inflammation is reduced, as is the incidence of cardiovascular disease. Omega 3 fatty acids modulate prostaglandin metabolism. Put simply: the omega-3 fatty acids available in deep sea coldwater fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and tuna have an anti-inflammatory action similar to aspirin. When aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) are used frequently to treat conditions such as arthritis, they can have serious long-term side effects. The omega-3’s in marine oil, on the other hand have an excellent safety profile. Scientists have also recently discovered a key anti-inflammatory fat in the human body, which they have named Resolvins. Resolvins are made from omega-3 fatty acids.

Fat: Brain food

Apart from water, the human brain is composed of 60% fat (lipid). Lipid is a general term for fatty biochemicals such as phospholipids, triglycerides, ceramides and free fatty acids. Unlike other body membranes, neurons (brain cells) contain a very high percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids. These are required for important functions such as signal transfer and data processing. The brain needs dietary fats (saturated and unsaturated) to function correctly. There is now very good evidence to link conditions such as ADHD, dyslexia, senile dementia, clinical depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia with a deficiency of long chain PUFA in modern diets. The best sources are from cold-water deep-sea fish.

Recommended Supplements for Specific Health Issues:

Cardiovascular health

• Take a high quality Omega 3 Supplement in Fish, Hemp or Flax form
• Regular intake of dark green unrefined extra virgin olive oil
• Supplements: Vitamin E. Coenzyme Q10.

Depression

• Take a high quality Omega 3 Supplement in Fish, Hemp or Flax form
• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is an essential cofactor for EFA metabolism as well as for the majority of pathways of amino acids, including decarboxylation pathways for dopamine, adrenaline and serotonin.
• SupplementS: Vitamin B12, Folate and SAMe (S-adenosyl-methionine).

Learning and behavioral disorders

• Take a high quality Omega 3 Supplement in Fish, Hemp or Flax form and Evening Primrose oil.
• Supplements: Vitamin E, Zinc, Magnesium. Choline and Vitamin B1 & B6.

Obesity

• Moderate insulin by consuming foods with a low glycemic response (Low GI).
• Increase consumption of fish with high omega-3 content (or supplement).
• Regular intake of Green tea or mate’ tea.
• Supplement Minerals: Calcium, Chromium, Iodine, Magnesium and Manganese.
• Herbs: Gymnema sylvestre (reduces appetite and craving for carbohydrates.)

These lettuce wraps have a hint of Mexican spiciness to them, hence the “burrito” simile. These wraps make a great entree for a meal or a raw food potluck.

Ingredients:

• 2 very ripe avocados
• 3 tomatoes, diced
• 1/2 jalapeno pepper, diced
• 2 tbsp yellow onion, diced
• 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• kernels from one ear raw corn
• 2 tsp fresh lime juice
• 6-8 large lettuce leaves

Preparation:

In a medium sized bowl, mash the avocado.

Add remaining ingredients and stir until well mixed.

Spread 2-3 tablespoons of this mixture onto lettuce leaves and wrap. Enjoy!

Over a period of months or years, our food is shaped by the sun, wind and precipitation.  Then as soon as we eat a meal, our intestines go about the arduous task of breaking it down so everything in it can be absorbed by our bodies. They sort out which components are allowed to stay and which aren’t.  This determines how we feel  later, as well as what we accomplish and even what we think.

Our intestines’ essential allies in this process are millions of bacteria that help break down our food. We can help our intestines if we occasionally give them something that has already undergone a degree of bacterial conversion: fermented food. Or better yet, food that still contains live fermentation bacteria, such as pickles. A word of caution however; pickled foods from a jar or can like gherkins or sauerkraut, are usually pasteurized and no longer contain fermentation bacteria.

Thankfully sauerkraut and pickles are easy to make! Slice an organic cucumber and toss into a bowl with half a head of thinly sliced Chinese cabbage (wombok). Sprinkle with salt and mix until vegetables are damp. Add a dash of vinegar, then cover the bowl with a dish and place something heavy on top to seal. Allow to sit at room temperature for a day, out of direct sunlight. Rinse the mixture if the pickled vegetables are too salty. Enjoy.

Source: www.odemagazine.com

Thanks to Chris H for this versatile summer salad which may be served alone, as a fresh salsa, or a great stuffing for lettuce wraps and vegetables.

Ingredients

1 c walnuts, chopped

2 c fresh corn kernels

1 jalapenos, seeded and thinly sliced

2 T lime juice (I used a whole lime)

2 T olive oil

Salt, pepper

1/4 c crumbled feta

6 vine ripened tomatoes, hollowed

Directions

Combine first 7 ingredients. Stuff into the hollowed out tomatoes. Sprinkle w/feta before serving.