Recently I have seen some raw or health related websites and raw books that talk about keeping your products in plastic containers or foils (indirectly), if they don't say it at least there are pictures of raw food being kept in plastics etc. So I did a very brief research and found out some horrible stuff about plastic products and foils. However before we get into that, and incase you the reader aren't familiar, the best way to store your raw vegetables and fruits is not at all, in other words, buy them fresh and use them immediately. However, there are many items that can't be used right away such as oils, spirulina, salba, and various nuts and seeds. The ideal storage container is amber glass. Amber glass protects the contents from light, which can rapidly modify the active ingredients in foods.

Keep your oils nuts and seeds in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. If you do not have amber glass containers available, glass containers are the next best thing. While steel canisters may seem to be a good choice, they can lead to oxidation of food, just as steel knives contribute to oxidation of fruits and vegetables.

Plastic containers are definitely not recommended. It has recently been proven that styrene and vinyl chloride, which have been used in plastic containers, can break down and small quantities of these chemicals can be transferred into the stored food no matter what type of food it is. Even more disturbing is the new evidence that phthalates, which are used to make plastics more pliable, can break down and be absorbed by pregnant women, which can have adverse effects on unborn baby boys, contributing to their feminization.

Aluminum foil can alter the taste of some foods which are acidic such as lemons and tomatoes, and is therefore not recommended as a storage option.

Reducing exposure to these potentially harmful containers should be a priority.

Use proper storage techniques for yourself, and for our world,

By TTS Cofounder Botanical Chef Omid Jaffari