What is Saeng Shik?
The idea of Saeng Shik developed from small monk villages spread throughout the rural countryside of the Korean Peninsula. Isolated from the habits of modern life and guided by the simple lifestyles of the monks, the practice of eating a diet of locally grown plants, grains, vegetables, and fruits became the norm. Combined with the spiritual practices of the monks (prayer and meditation), these communities became known as places of healing, both spiritual and physical.
The monks follow a life of Saeng Shik by following these practices. They grow their own food, knowing that it is clean and without toxins. They eat it raw and fresh - food that is alive with nutrients. They do not overeat, and there is no obesity. The enjoyed a joyful life with minimal stress, taking time to witness the beautiful sights and sounds around them. They keep their bodies active through the work required to grow and harvest their own food, and they do so until the day they die.
As modern lifestyle spread and diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer grew, the monks that lived according to Saeng Shik remained as healthy as ever, with many villagers living long lives even past the age of 100. All of this was due to the power of Saeng Shik.
The Saeng Shik philosophy is the guiding force behind all of Freshfest Whole Foods products. When translated from its Korean origin, Saeng Shik literally means living food. Our philosophy teaches us that the best way to become a healthier person is by eating raw, whole foods that are untouched and “alive”. By consuming more “living foods”, we receive more benefits and life giving energy that leads to a happier, healthier life. Thanks to the advancement of technology, we can now apply the Saeng Shik lifestyle to a complete nutrition system brought to you by Freshfest Whole Foods that is easy, convenient and effective.
Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food. -Hippocrates
The core principals of Saeng Shik
1. Eat more grains, vegetable, and fruits in their natural, raw state
LIFE GIVES LIFE – EATING WHOLE FOODS
Raw plant-based foods are rich in life giving antioxidants, essential vitamins and minerals, enzymes, fiber and phytonutrients (many of which are lost when processed or cooked). The best way to receive these benefits is directly from the source, consuming them raw and living. This lets your body get life giving energy from nutrient dense foods rather than from strictly calories.
THE IMPORTANCE OF ENZYMES
55°C. That’s all it takes to destroy precious enzymes in living plant foods. When we cook our foods it destroys important digestive enzymes that our bodies need and also takes away many of the nutrients that are naturally present. By cutting these functional enzymes out, we put an increased strain on our digestive system that leaves us tired and energy drained. By eating more raw plants and vegetables, uncooked and unmodified, we can benefit from all the goodness that nature created for us to eat. Although there is nothing wrong with cooking our foods; eating raw, “living food” has much more to offer to our bodies. We need to eat more raw plant foods to provide our bodies with the best possible ingredients for building a healthier, more powerful body.
2. Eat by Design (Balance & Harmony)
Through the process of evolution, our bodies have developed to eat a wide variety of different foods. A closer look at our bodies shows that we are built to eat a certain balance of whole foods to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Any deviation from that balance (overeating, eating too much processed foods, eating too much meat, etc.) can relate to increasingly poor health and illnesses such as diabetes and malnutrition. We believe that in order to gain great health, it is vital to maintain a well balanced diet rich in nutrients and vitamins. But, how do you know what you need to eat to become healthy? The answer lies in how our bodies are designed.
One of the chief components of understanding Saeng Shik philosophy is through understanding how our bodies are designed. Like a well-oiled machine, our organs work together in harmony to maintain our health. The key to gaining a healthy life can be found through knowledge of our own design:
Eating the way your body is built
Your digestive system breaks down what you eat into nutrients that your body absorbs into your blood stream to feed your body in order to repair, rebuild, and get energy from. Your brain controls your blood flow and tells your body where to send your blood. That blood is pumped from your heart to your entire body to deliver those nutrients that your body needs. It only makes sense that the quality of food that you digest can determine the quality of your blood. Just like a car that is filled with inferior quality gasoline, years of eating fatty, high cholesterol, processed and chemically treated foods can deteriorate the quality of your blood and eventually the quality of your health. By eating wholesome, nutrient rich foods in its raw state, you can regain your youth and vitality. Your body is designed to take the best quality food available.
Humans have 32 teeth, including 20 molars, 8 incisors, and 4 canines. The molars are for grinding foods like grains, nuts and seeds; the incisors are for chopping foods such as vegetables and fruit; and the canine teeth are for tearing meat or fish. It makes sense, then, that we should eat our foods in a ratio that matches our oral design: we should eat our foods in a 5 (grains, nuts and seeds): 2 (fruits and vegetables): 1 (meat and fish).
The ratio of the enzymes from our body also shows what our ideal diet is. To put it simply, our saliva contains amylase, an enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates. The pancreas contains an enzyme that breaks down proteins, while bile breaks down fat. The ratio of these enzymes in our bodies is 6:2:2. When we eat, we should match this ratio, 6 (carbohydrates): 2 (protein): 2 (fat).
Through Saeng Shik, by understanding your bodies many designs, you can realize how easy it is to make the changes in your life that lead to health and happiness. By eating a complete diet filled with a balanced ratio of grains, fruits, and vegetables (in its raw and living form), you receive all the necessary tools that are life giving and vital. Freshfest Whole Foods’ complete line of raw meal replacements and supplements give you the ease and convenience to make the life changing choice of better health. Life gives Life.