Maui Chef Touts “Living Foods” as Healthiest

By Katie McMillan

Sprouted almonds, seed cheese, and Essene bread are not the most familiar items in the average Maui kitchen, but they happen to be some of the healthiest foods on the planet according to celebrity Maui chef and author Jeremy Safron.

Sunflower Sprouts (file image)

Living foods, as they are called, are believed to provide the body with a high level of nutrients, as their potent digestive enzymes are not destroyed through cooking.

Safron will be hosting a free workshop series at Whole Foods in Kahului titled Raw Elements: The Four Living Food Groups. The series will explore the health benefits of living foods as well as their preparation. Enjoy one or all of the classes and explore fun and yummy ways to increase health and a sense of well being through good nutrition.

Each workshop begins at 12pm and participants are asked to RSVP by emailing [email protected]. Descriptions of each workshop are as follows:

First Session: Fresh Food, June 11^th

Raw Food that is ready for use in its vibrant unadulterated form.  Examples of fresh foods are fruits, vegetables, fresh herbs and other harvested food. Fresh foods represent the element of water and is life giving.

Second Session: Sprouted Food, June 18^th

Any type of seed, nut, grain or bean that has been soaked in water, exposed to air and indirect sunlight, and, when rinsed daily, forms a new plant, beginning with a sprout.  Some examples are almond sprouts, buckwheat sprouts, sunflower sprouts and mung bean sprouts.   Sprouted foods represent the element of air and are regenerating and cleansing.

Third Session: Cultured Food, June 25^th

Cultured foods are any type of food that has a beneficial culture introduced into it (acidophilus, koji and bifidus, for example).  These cultures then grow and proliferate within the food.  Some examples are miso, amazake, seed cheeze, kimchee and tofu.  Cultured foods represent the element of fire and are energizing and transformational.

Session Four: Dried Food, July 2^nd

Dehydrated foods are those from which the water has been removed through gentle drying at low heat. Some examples are dried fruits, Essene bread and dried herbs.  Dehydrated foods represent the element of Earth and are very grounding and sustaining.

Jeremy Safron is a renowned expert in the creation of raw foods and dietary health. He is the author of numerous books including The Raw Truth, The Fasting Handbook, and The Raw Foods Resource Guide,

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