Well there are more and more raw cafes and restaurants coming out like dafedils do in spring. They use the power of dehydrating to attract attention towards the beauty of their dishes and the intensity of the taste. Of course there is nothing wrong with de-hydrating food, eating raw foods can include dried foods that are de-hydrated as long as they are at a temperature below 41 degrees centigrade. So as we know for NOW! There are several methods that can be used to de-hydrate fruits, sprouts and vegetables, however I can't help but question certain techniques even though they are “officially” accepted by raw foodists.

For example, electric ovens and dehydrators, while maintaining a temperature below 41 degrees may alter the molecular make up of food. Using electricity, even at low temperatures changes the atmospheric charge surrounding us, and microwaves and electric ovens gives undesirable effects to our digestion and assimilation of food. There really isn't much more to say I am sure you get my drift.. however there are a lot of ways de-hydrating, i.e. the sun.

The sun is the ultimate de-hydrator, since it can be used harmoniously with the environment and does not create any electro-magnetic disturbance. The sun and the air in our environment are readily available to dry our foods. While the sun is the ultimate natural dryer, you don't need a sunny day to dry your food. The basic premise of drying is that warm air must move around the food to be dried. Herbs can be suspended from the ceiling, or put in a mesh bag and hung outside. Apple and pear slices can be strung through the middle and suspended between two poles. Since airflow is what is needed to dry, if you are drying outside, please bring in your items at night so they won't be affected by dew. A simple available de-hydrator tray is a window screen! You can place this over a pile of rocks, and voila! You have your own natural de-hydrator!! Sometimes this may take more time, yet if our goal is to create a harmonious body-mind-spirit connection, let us take the time.

Of course, in the real world, we don't need to totally deny the use of technology in our daily life, but using too much electricity may prevent a smooth contact with the natural world.

By TTS Cofounder Botanical Chef Omid Jaffari