can also have vegetable juice as long as it’s freshpressed (and not pasteurized or
packaged). It’s advisable to read about fasting before starting, and never fast if
you’re pregnant.
Should I Eat My Food Raw or Cooked?
Proponents of the raw food movement claim that cooking food drains it of its
vitamins and minerals, but people have cooked their food for generations
without suffering from nutritionally related diseases.
Cooking food at very high temperatures destroys vitamins, but it also makes
the minerals more readily available. For this reason, I’m a firm believer that you
can have your food any way you like it—raw or cooked— just as long as it isn’t
overly cooked or charred.
However, there are some precautions you should take. If you eat raw fish, it
must be placed in the freezer for two weeks to kill any parasites. Shellfish should
be cooked, especially for the elderly and those with immune deficiencies, such
as cancer and HIV. Consumption of raw shellfish can lead to infections such as
hepatitis A, which can be deadly in the immunosuppressed.