Through the use of what I call raw ‘live foods’, fruits and vegetables in their raw state have plenty. But in our Indian lifestyle we find cooked foods are more a part of our diets. Hence adding foods which are considered ‘live’ and rich in enzymes is a must. When you eat a cooked meal, the body relies on its own enzymes to breakdown the meal, that’s why most of us end up feeling tired and lethargic after a meal. Enzymes are the ‘glue’ that hold things together. They help all chemical reactions going on in the body. They help you walk, talk, breathe, and more importantly digest the food you eat. Here is a recipe that you could add to your meals on a daily basis, to create an abundant amount of enzymes.
Pressed salad (have 2-3 times p/w) – this salad is highly recommended for people who have eaten or still eat animal foods as it breaks down the saturated fat from animal food; also for people who are leading pressured lives, as it releases pressure. I use it for my chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia clients who have tender points of pain like in the shoulder [this area reflects the small intestine and it shows a tightness in the small intestine area] this salad makes them flexible. Also good source of B12 for vegetarians and vegans.
Ingredients Servings: 4
½ cup sliced cucumbers
½ cup sliced cabbage
½ cup red raddish (mooli)
¼ cup celery
¼ cup red onion
1 teaspoon salt
Tip: Green apples when in season make this salad nice and tangy
Method:
1. Mix all vegetables with sea salt in a large bowl, and gently press and massage with fingers (like you are making atta for rotis) into vegetables until they wilt
2. Place a plate on top of vegetables and press down with a heavy weight, I usually have a brick which I have kept handy wrapped in a clean cloth
3. Allow to stand with pressure on top for 45 minutes and let water release from the vegetables
4. Discard the water and rinse with fresh filter water and eat, as a side dish
5. I usually take different colours – always a green like celery, and also add a little chilly powder before eating (like a khimchi), and sometimes ground peanuts (just a dash)
Pressed salad will help assimilate your entire meal and give you that quick fermentation and good bacteria. You can even save some and have it the next day with another meal. I highly recommend this dish if you want to do a 3 day detox.
