The Raw Food Experience — nutrition

Freeze Drying Can Meet Your Special Dietary Needs

Nowadays special dietary needs are more commonplace and freeze dryers are becoming an essential kitchen tool to meet those special needs. 

Food Allergies vs. Food Sensitivities 

Many people follow a modified diet as a result of allergies or food sensitivities. A food allergy is an immune system response, which occurs when your body reacts to a certain food (usually a protein) and creates antibodies to fight it. The most common food allergies include shellfish, nuts, fish, eggs, mustard, peanuts, and milk.

Different than an allergy, a food intolerance usually occurs when your digestive system reacts to a dish or specific ingredient. It's often a product of your body not having an enzyme needed to fully digest a food. Common types of food intolerance include gluten, dairy and soy. 

At present, there is no cure for food related allergies, so prevention means avoiding the offending foods.

Processed Foods - Are They Safe to Eat 

While packaged processed foods are labeled with a list of ingredients, it is often difficult for allergy sufferers and their families to put their confidence in these foods, especially when dealing with severe or potentially fatal reactions. The reality is, severe allergic reactions aren't predictable, so a mild reaction could be followed by a more severe reaction. 

Home Freeze-Dried Foods Are 100% Trustworthy

With a freeze dryer, you have the freedom to easily create a stock of your own favourite snacks and meals at home. You select the ingredients and can feel completely reassured that you are not consuming harmful additives that are used in conventionally processed foods to enhance the taste and colour of the food. 

A wonderful aspect of freeze-dried food, which is of great benefit to people with food sensitivities, is that it retains the original fresh taste, texture, aroma and nutrition for many years, so you can always have a pantry full of food that is both safe and good for you.

Having freeze-dried food means no more going hungry, worrying about what or where you'll eat. No matter where you are, whether that's on vacation or at school, nothing beats having full confidence in knowing what you're putting into your body. 

The Essentials of Freeze Drying - 3 How-To's

The convenience of freeze dried food is unparalleled. Enjoying fresh food weeks, months, or years later without compromising on nutrition, flavour, colour or texture is made possible using a freeze dryer. 

Before you get started, you'll want to know the essentials.  

How-to #1: Fruits and Veggies

Everybody will appreciate the convenience of being able to reach into their pantries and have a variety of delicious fruits and vegetables at their finger tips, especially in the dead of winter when fresh local fruits and vegetables are practically non-existent. Also, freeze drying your fruits and vegetables at home means you can buy in bulk and eliminate unnecessary waste, which translates into savings, a lot of savings. 

TIP: Blanching your veggies before freeze drying them will help bring them back to that perfect texture when rehydrated.

How-to #2: Dairy or dairy alternatives

Did you know you can turn yogurt, milk or even eggs into powder? You won't ever have to worry about having to make an emergency run to the grocery store. All of these staples will be neatly tucked away in your pantry, ready to be used. All you need to do is to add water to reconstitute. 

TIP: Freeze dried (n)ice cream is highly addictive with its crispy, airy texture! 

How-to #3: Meat or meat alternatives (soy, tempeh)

Meat can be freeze dried either cooked or in raw form, and can easily last up to 25 years if it's well packaged. That means it'll retain its same fresh taste, nutritional values and original look. Once you are ready to  use the freeze dried meat, simply re-hydrate using hot water (for cooked meat or soy products) or using cold water (for raw meat). 

TIP: Handle raw freeze dried meat as you would fresh raw meat 

Which food would you freeze dry?

Top 5 Reasons Why Home Freeze Dried Pet Food Is Better

We love our pets and it's no wonder, they bring us a lot of joy and provide us with companionship. That explains why Canadians are constantly in search of better ways to care for and pamper their furry friends.

Make pet nutrition a priority 

Most pet owners are looking for ways to keep their pets in tip top shape, which includes a healthy balanced diet and plenty of exercise. 

Unfortunately, commercially prepared dog and cat food often contain the same hormones, pesticides, and antibiotics found in store-bought prepared foods for humans. On top of that, the meat that goes into commercially prepared pet foods is often unfit for human consumption.    

A guaranteed way to gain control over your pet's diet is to prepare your own pet food at home, with ingredients from sources that you trust.

Freeze dried pet food is better

Many pet owners are using a freeze dryer to make their own pet food. There are numerous reasons why home freeze-dried pet food and snacks are better than store-bought; they're healthier, easier for your pet to digest, and tastier, plus you not only reduce your food waste at home, your pet has the benefit of better nutrition, improved health and higher energy levels. 

Top 5 reasons why you should make freeze dried pet food 

1. Freeze dried foods have a long shelf-life (up to 25 years), so you can prepare large batches and store the food without any worry that it'll spoil or that the nutrition will be compromised. 
2. Freeze-dried foods are free of additives and preservatives. You also have the ability to customize your pet food, while considering any allergies or sensitivities your pet may have. You can easily reduce your pet's exposure to the offending ingredients when you make the food at home.  
3. Most people are surprised to learn that freeze drying does not affect the flavour, colour or shape of their food, which means the food is recognizable and tastes as it should. 
4. Did you know that the freeze drying process does not use any heat, so the loss of any nutrition in the food is minimal. That means freeze-dried foods are just as healthy for your pet as the day on which they were preserved and all of those wonderful vitamins, antioxidants, and enzymes remain intact.
5. The time it takes to prepare your food for freeze drying is minimal, and the freeze drying process itself takes around 24 to 36 hours from start to finish for about 16 pounds of food. 

If you're curious to learn more about freeze drying, check out our freeze dryer introduction.

Make Camping & Hiking More Fun with Your Own Freeze Dried Food

Today's guest blogger is Wendy Busse, a registered dietitian who has helped hundreds of people lose weight and eat healthier. According to her, a major key to success is having nourishing meals that can be quickly and easily prepared at home, or just as readily on the go. The easiest way to do this is with your own home freeze dryer.

Summer is finally upon us and with that lots of great hiking and camping opportunities. In this video, Wendy shares with you how freeze-dried meals and snacks can make your camping trips and long hikes a lot easier.

With a home freeze dryer, Wendy tells us, she can pack most of the food her family needs for an entire trip in a big Rubbermaid container. But the biggest advantage, she says, is being able to make meals with very little prep time or dishes to wash. Now, who doesn't like the sound of that?

Comments? Suggestions? Let us know in the comment section below after you watch the video.

About the Author: Wendy Busse is a registered dietitian from Alberta, Canada with a passion for helping people embrace delicious dining through mindful meal planning and eating. She can be reached at www.wendybusse.com

Discover Freeze Drying For Healthy Meal & Snack Planning

Today's guest video blogger is Wendy Busse, a registered dietitian who has helped hundreds of people lose weight and eat healthier. According to her, a major key to success is having nourishing meals that can be quickly prepared at home. The easiest way to do this is with a home freeze dryer. 

In this video, Wendy explains why having her own freeze dryer has been such a blessing. Soups are one of the easiest meals to prepare with freeze dried ingredients. She's written a pamphlet Hearty Soups with your Freeze Dryer - that has tips on freeze drying 15 different foods that you can combine into a variety of nutritious, tasty soups. You can download the free handout from the link below this video.

Comments? Suggestions? Let us know in the comment section below.

Hearty Soups with Your Freeze Dryer - Download Your Free Guide »

About the Author: Wendy Busse is a registered dietitian from Alberta, Canada with a passion for helping people embrace delicious dining through mindful meal planning and eating. She can be reached at www.wendybusse.com

Adaptogens - Increase Your Resistance to Stress and Improve Your Health

We understand that a healthy diet is a critical component to good health and eating raw vegan is a lifestyle choice that supports a healthier and happier mind and body.   

What is Phytotherapy

The use of plants for treating ailments is certainly not a new concept, in fact, archaeological evidence suggests that we've been using plants for their healing properties since the Paleolithic period, which is around 60,000 years ago. Phytotherapy is the use of plants for herbal medicines. 

What Are Adaptogens

If you haven't heard of adaptogens, they're a class of healing plants that help  protect the body and increase your resistance to stressors. They help your body adapt to internal and external stress and support your adrenals, which are the glands that manage your body's response to stress. 

Effects of Prolonged Stress on Cortisol Levels

Most health-concerned people have heard of cortisol. It's the hormone released at times of stress and serves many important functions in your body, which is why having a healthy balance is essential to good health.

When you have elevated cortisol levels due to chronic stress, it puts your body into a fight or flight mode and this can be detrimental to your health. When in a state of constant stress or prolonged periods of stress, your adrenal glands will burn out and affect your body's ability to cope under stress. 

Elevated levels of cortisol in your body will result in high blood pressure, feeling anxious and irritable, low energy, weight gain and bone loss, as well as an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease. 

Fight Stress - Benefits of Adaptogens 

Adaptogenic herbs promote good health and overall well-being because they help you resist the effects of stress on your body, cope with anxiety and fatigue and reduce long-term cortisol levels. 

By supporting adrenal function, adaptogens don't target a specific ailment, rather they help the body resist the adverse effects of stress and help to normalize body imbalances. 

 Quick List of Adaptogenic Herbs 

Adaptogens come in different forms (powders, pills, liquids), so they can easily be incorporated into smoothies, juice, and dishes. Here are a few examples of adaptogenic herbs:  

• Asian Ginseng
• Holy Basil
• Milk Thistle
• Ashwagandha
• Rhodiola Rosea
• Ginseng Eleuthero
• Rosemary
• Reishi
• Aloe Vera
• Gotu Kola
• Astragalus
• Moringa Oleifera
• Schisandra
• Bacopa
• Licorice Root

Which Adaptogens Are The Best 

• If you're dealing with long-term stress: Ashwagandha helps your body better respond to long-term stress and related hormone imbalances. You'll also feel the benefits of renewed energy and a sharper mind. Rhodiola helps raise and lower the cortisol levels in your body as needed.
• Feeling anxious and stressed: Siberian ginseng and Holy Basil may help intervene in the body's fight or fight stress responses, and decrease fatigue. 
• Need a boost on your immunity: Reishi and ginseng have been found to strengthen the body's immune system.