Article and Photography by Asante George

This article is a modified excerpt from Living Our Bliss: An Introduction to Sun Food by Asante George

copyright Asante George. All Rights Reserved.

A sun food, raw vegan, or living food diet is a plant-based diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, herbs, superfoods, and sea vegetables eaten in their natural and raw state. Raw foods are not heated above 116 degrees Fahrenheit (F) to preserve vital nutrients, minerals, vitamins, enzymes, water, chlorophyll, oxygen and life force. Some experts feel that temperatures as low as 104 degrees F damage our food. Many living foodists prefer organic and locally grown produce due to its fresh vibrant flavor and the environmentally sound way it is cultivated and handled.

Increasing our living food intake or converting to a living food lifestyle leads to numerous health benefits including a more youthful appearance, weight loss, clearer skin, wrinkle reduction, stronger immunity,reversal of debilitating diseases, better digestion, lower blood pressure, disease prevention, and increased fertility to name just a few. However, the ramifications and results of maintaining a sun food lifestyle reach far beyond diet. A sun food diet is truly life transforming, while benefiting our entire global community and the planet we share. For example, the average piece of domestically grown produce travels 1500 miles to reach its destination. By buying locally grown produce, we reduce the amount of fossil fuel needed to transport our food. According to the United States Environmental protection Agency (EPA), in 2000 1,234 million pounds of agricultural chemicals were used in the U.S. Alone (this number represents active ingredients only). By choosing organic produce we support organic farmers who utilize sustainable alternatives to chemically based agriculture. And, by purchasing whole foods we cut down on our use of resources used for processing, packaging, and storing foods

University of Chicago researchers have found that converting to a fully plant-based diet from the standard American meat-based diet reduces our green house gas emissions by 1.49 metric tons of carbon dioxide per person per year. This step decreases our individual carbon footprint more effectively than switching from driving a sedan automobile to a super fuel efficient hybrid Prius which reduces green house gas emissions by 1.05 metric tons of carbon dioxide per person per year. Integrating more sun foods into our lives is a practical and effective way to live in better harmony with our bodies, the planet and each other.