When evaluating and reviewing food dehydrators, the below product features and functionality should be considered and compared across different units and brands. One way to compare different brands of food dehydrators, that contain similar features, is to evaluate the food dehydrators on a price per square foot of drying area (total price divided by total drying area) while also considering the brand, reputation and product reviews of the dehydrator units that are being considered. You can evaluate different brands of food dehydrators, which have different product features, using the same price per square foot of total drying area and then personally decide if additional features are worth the extra cost per square foot. Total Drying or Dehydrating Area – How much space does the dehydrator have to dry food? The total dehydrating area is expressed in square feet and is calculated as follows: The product of a) the number of drying drays multiplied by the size of the drying trays (length by width in inches) divided by b) 144 square inches. As an example, if a dehydrator has 9 drying trays that are 15 inches by 15 inches each, then the total drying area equals 14.1 square feet (15 multiplied by 15 multiplied by 9 = 2,025, 2,025 divided by 144 equals 14.1). Obviously, the total dehydrating area determines how much food you can dry at one time. The total drying area should be adequate for the largest amount of food you will dry during a twenty-four hour period.

A Food Establishment application can be obtained at your local city or county health department. If you plan to manufacture foods and package for retail sale you may be required to obtain a food manufacturer’s license from your state regulatory agency. If you plan to distribute your product outside of your state lines a federal license may also have to be obtained. It is recommended that you submit a fully completed application and fees at least one month prior to your anticipated opening date. This gives the local authority the needed lead time to process it and schedule any needed pre-opening inspections. Again, make sure that you provide ALL information required on the application. Incomplete applications may delay your approval. Food permits are generally in effect for one year from the date of issue and are renewable each year thereafter when the appropriate fee is paid and as long as the establishment remains in compliance with applicable Health codes and regulations. Home preparation of food for public consumption is prohibited. All food that is to be consumed by the public, whether free or for purchase must be prepared at a permitted establishment that is inspected by a federal, state, or local Health Authority. Food Establishment Fee: Food establishment fees are variable depending on jurisdiction. Contact your local health authority to inquire about permitting fees.

Food preservation is one of the oldest technologies that humans use, and people will always disagree on which are the best methods of food preservation. In general people want safe, nutritious foods that are considered good quality, taking into account freshness, wholesomeness, nutritional value, aroma, color, texture and flavor. Generally, food is considered safe if there is no danger from naturally occurring toxins, pathogenic microorganisms, or other potentially harmful chemicals. Food that is sterile contains no bacteria; if it is not sterilized and sealed it does contain bacteria. Milk, for instance has bacteria naturally living in it and will spoil in two or three hours if left out at room temperature. However, by putting it in the refrigerator bacteria is slowed down to such an extent that it will stay fresh for a week or two, even though bacteria are still present. Food preservation involves treating and handling food to either greatly slows down or stops spoilage that caused or accelerated by micro-organisms. Preservation normally involves preventing the growth of fungi, bacteria and other micro-organisms, as well as the oxidation of fats which the cause rancidity. However, some methods of preservation actually use benign fungi, yeasts or bacteria to preserve food and add specific qualities, for example wines or cheeses.

Whole food supplements are currently a topic of worldwide interest. A profusion of evidence has recently come to light suggesting that ordinary synthetic multivitamin supplements may be hazardous to your health. Groan Bjelakovic, a respected scientist from the University of Copenhagen, headed up a massive meta-study that looked at the results of 67 placebo-controlled trials previously undertaken to determine the effects of vitamin and anti-oxidant supplements on longevity. In the end, the study combined observations of 232 000 test subjects. By using such a large population sample, a study can become much more powerful with regards to spotting large-scale trends and overcoming human bias. The results of the analysis, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, were nothing less than shocking. Looking at patients with diabetes, heart disease and lung cancer, as well as healthy, normal individuals, there was no apparent benefit to taking popular fractionated supplements like Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Selenium, or beta-Carotene. In fact, the results went in the opposite direction – there was an increased chance of death (16 percent) amongst Vitamin A users, a 7 percent higher death rate amongst beta-Carotene users, and a 4 percent mortality increase in Vitamin E users. Beta-Carotene and Retinol, promoted as anti-carcinogenic agents, may promote lung cancer. That’s right – pills marketed as helping you towards a longer, healthier life are in fact correlated with a speedier demise. This study used typical supplements on the market made from synthetic vitamins.

After completing the Raw Food Diet Experiment, I made a list of the pros I experienced during the raw food diet. If you are still on the fence about starting your own 30 day raw food diet experiment, this list may just be the nudge you need. I’ve sent it to a few of my friends and two have decided to go raw for 30 Days. If the list is helpful to you, please let me know by making a donation. It is appreciated and will ensure that I will be able to continue doing more experiments in the future – all of which I will post for your benefit Just about everyone I’ve met, who has gone on this diet, has lost weight. If you are trying to lose weight in a healthy way, then there is no healthier way than eating raw natural foods. I personally lost 15.8 lbs while on this diet and I wasn’t even trying. In fact, I was trying to eat more than I needed in order not to lose weight. If you are trying to lose a few pounds, then try the raw food diet. Not only will you lose the weight but you will feel great while doing it. There’s no need for pills, powders, fancy meal plans, set portions, or fees. That, plus zero cooking time! Just go to your local Whole Foods or Farmers’ Market and buy the produce.