There are no specific raw foods which are unhealthy, but some foods if eaten in excess can be stressful to the digestive system. Having too much of the higher-fat raw foods such as nuts, seeds and avocados in your diet can be stressful to your system, especially for people who have been raw for years so their system is not used to all the heavier food anymore. Also, avoid eating too high a percentage of fruit or any one type of vegetable in your diet for a long period of time.

The presence of bacteria in raw food often worries pet owners and vets. They assume these bacteria will make pets sick. However, dogs, being scavengers, have evolved to eat and thrive on bacteria laden food, requiring them for immune system maturity. Wild dogs eat the gut contents of their prey, and the feces of many different animals. They eat soil, contaminated meat, buried bones, infected meat and so on. These are all a source of microbes and any toxins they might produce.

Yes. You should avoid eating to the point where your stomach feels distended, over-stuffed or uncomfortable. This is a habit many people develop from childhood when their parents tell them they have to eat everything on their plates. It puts unnecessary strain on the stomach and digestive system to expand so it can accommodate more food each you eat a meal. This can also make your belly look larger, as you stomach will stop contracting if it is used to very large meals.

Cooking is not recommended. Cooking destroys the enzymes and some nutrients in raw food defeating the purpose of feeding a raw diet. The Chicken and Chicken & Beef Varieties have finely ground bone in them which is easily digestible in it's raw form but cooked bone is difficult to digest and may pose health risks. Microwaving to defrost is also not recommended due to the uneven nature of microwave heating. Some of the food gets cooked when defrosting in the microwave.

Raw and Living Foods are foods that contain enzymes. In general, the act of heating food over 116 degrees F destroys enzymes in food. All cooked food is devoid of enzymes. Living and raw foods also have enormously higher nutrient values than the foods that have been cooked

Of course the obvious answer is your local health food store. They will be more likely to have raw nuts, seeds and grains than a regular grocery store, but you still have to watch out because even in a health food store they carry many roasted nuts. Read the labels carefully! Also, taste or smell them to check for staleness or rancidity. Let your health food store manager know if you want fresher products. Another good place to look is in ethnic food markets.

Two complete 6-week programs in March/April and July/August training series offering all 3 Advanced Training Classes in one session. (by popular demand) Raw Empowerment Workshops presented by Living Light Institute Associate Chef and Instructor graduates in your area.

This battle has been going on forever between raw food devotees and those who believe that a balance between the two food groups is necessary. I love the incorporation of more raw foods/veggies, nuts, seeds, etc. due to the high amount of fiber, vitamins and minerals these foods normally contain. There is no doubt that we are consuming diets that are too processed — white breads and pastas, rice and deserts — that are void of most nutritional benefits.

To get started you can get away with just a blender and some knives. As you want to make more complex recipes and pates you will want to get a food processor. Food processors are invaluable for chopping and grinding seeds and nuts, shredding vegetables, making sauces and pates. To get started you can just get an attachment for most blender bases so you can use it as a food processor, these are generally around $20.

Pre-packed raw foods are entering the market in a big way. However, for the most part, they are inappropriate food stuffs. Here's just some of the problems with them: Usually, they are ground food - which is not species appropriate - both dogs and cats need whole raw meaty bones and/or carcasses

In accordance with its mission, OHSU is continually seeking ways to create a healthier environment. In recent years we’ve added healthier food choices in our cafeterias and sought to create a more sustainable environment through our recycling efforts and “green” building practices, to name a few examples.

MSN Health & Fitness does not provide medical or any other health care advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Living and raw foods both contain enzymes. In living foods, however, the enzyme content is much higher. Raw, unsprouted nuts contain enzymes in a "dormant" state. To activate the enzymes contained in almonds for example, all you need to do is soak them in water for 12-24 hours. This makes the almond alive and sproutable, the enzymes become active and are then considered living.

Raw and living food diets include fruits, vegetables, sprouts, nuts, seeds, grains, and sea vegetables. Food is eaten whole or processed by juicing or dehydrating, but never at temperatures over 116 degrees F. This preserves their enzymes and nutrient values. Most raw foodists soak/sprout nuts, seeds and grains before consuming them. For more information about a raw food diet and some excellent links for resources see our raw foods page .

It depends on how you define raw. The term raw is not regulated and we do not wish to mislead any consumer following a strict raw eating plan. With over 20 years of producing nut butters, our professional suggestion for any strict raw food eater is this: Purchase a high quality food mill or food processor and conduct your own grinding trials to monitor the temperature of the finished product.