Though the effectiveness of the living foods diet has not been scientifically demonstrated, for those who are interested in trying it Rejuvelac and "Energy Soup" have both received wide acclaim as body-strengthening recipes. As they are simple to prepare, they may be worth a try.
Rejuvelac
To make Rejuvelac, wheat berries (wheat seeds) are soaked in water to create a live culture. Rejuvelac helps digestion and promotes a healthy stomach and intestines. The drink is rich in vitamins A and E and is effective in improving the body's condition, relieving exhaustion, and strengthening resistance to disease. Regular use is helpful in the treatment of skin diseases and chronic illnesses.
Method
1. Wash the wheat berries, stirring by hand and discarding any which float. Soak in water for six to eight hours. Drain and place the wheat berries in a jar. Cover the jar's mouth with gauze and put in a dark place to allow the contents to germinate.
2. Three to four times a day, add water, then drain. After a day or two, when the sprouts are about 2 millimeters long, rinse them with cold water.
3. Add about three times as much cold water as there are wheat berries and soak for 18 to 24 hours. After the soaking, this water can be drunk. Water may be added to the wheat berries one more time. The sprouts that remain after the water is poured off make an excellent organic fertilizer.
Energy Soup
Energy Soup is a nutritious soup made from vegetables, fruit, mixed nuts, natural lecithin, brewer's yeast, wheat berries and seaweed added to a base of fruit juice and Rejuvelac.
Lai Chiu-nan feels that Energy Soup provides the most complete nutrition of the soups in the living foods diet. Not only does it help those who are ill regain their strength and improve their body's condition, it also is helpful in the treatment of chronic illnesses such as duodenal ulcers, skin allergies, cancer and stroke. It contains plentiful fiber which stimulates the bowels and prevents constipation.
Ingredients
Fruit: Watermelon, papaya and apples (a total of 3 cups)
Vegetables: Sweet potato greens or black nightshade (1 cup)
Sprouts: Preferably alfalfa (1 cup)
Nuts: Almonds or walnuts (1 tablespoon)
Seaweed: Kelp or laver (1/2 tablespoon)
Base: Sugarcane juice (2 cups) and Rejuvelac (1 cup)
Other: Yeast (1/2 tablespoon, optional)
Method
1. Soak the nuts until soft, then crush them. Place them and the watermelon in a blender and turn them into juice. If too dry, add some sugarcane juice.
2. First blend the harder fruits then add the green vegetables and other ingredients. Add the sprouts last. Mix in the blender very briefly, then serve.
(source: Make a Healthier Choice and the Health Foods Research and Counseling Center)
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Energy soup, made from fresh fruits and vegetables and Rejuvelac, should be drunk fresh, not left standing about. (photo by Pu Hua-chih)