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Wow, just the word “sauerkraut” can discourage someone who’s never even tried the stuff. Having said that, it certainly is an acquired taste, much like haggis, but the benefits far outweigh an avoidance of this fermented gem.

Sauerkraut is a natural immune system booster packed with vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals (beneficial plant substances) which are enhanced during the fermentation process (a unique smell, to be sure, if you’ve never experienced it) to help you fight seasonal colds and flu.

It is also a digestive aid, protecting the balance between the good and the nasty bacteria in your intestines with its naturally occurring component, Lactobacilli plantarum, a very healthful strain of bacteria that helps inhibit pathogenic organisms such as E.coli, salmonella, and Candida from taking hold.

L. plantarum helps create the antioxidants glutathione and superoxide dismutase, which go on to scavenge free radicals throughout your system and transforms hard-to-digest lactose to the more easily digested lactic acid.

So, hold your nose and dive in once or twice a month (or more, if you can). Get creative and go looking for different ways to serve sauerkraut to your family. And let us know how you introduced it to your family without tying them to the diningroom chairs!

RAW foods — just the sound of the words “raw food” makes us think of down-to-earth, real, honest-to-goodness, tree-hugging, good-for-us fruits, nuts, and vegetables. What a gift from Mother Nature, so let’s not spoil her gift by literally cooking the life out of it!

Raw foods contain enzymes, the necessary ingredient that helps digest the piece of raw food you’ve just eaten. The cooking process destroys these enzymes, making your digestive process work harder than it has to.

You may also have heard the term “living” food which refers to food that is still in the growing stage, such as sprouts. Living food is thought to have considerably more enzymes than mere raw food. So your best bet is to eat a little of both.

Over and above the digestive benefits, most raw and living foods have an enormously high fibre content which means you eat less and stay fuller longer. Raw foods have more flavor so there is no need to add salt or sugar to them. Raw foods require very little preparation, which makes them quick to consume, very portable, and there’s little to no clean up afterward. You might think of them as Mother Nature’s fast foods.

Raw foods are typically lower in calories than prepared foods, and keep you feeling satisfied until the next meal. This means a diet that contains at least one day per week of raw food only helps you lose weight without even trying.

Eating raw foods is eco-friendly as their “packaging” is biodegradable, if not consumable!

Eating raw foods can mean less trips to the doctor, saving you money on your health care costs.

So go ahead! Take the plunge and go raw once a week and see if you don’t feel better!