Eating raw foods is natural. Our bodies thrive on everything that is fresh and vital. A raw food diet (or increasing the amount of raw food you eat) inevitably brings a feeling of increased well-being. Raw food diets are based on unprocessed and uncooked plant foods, preferably organic, such as a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains, dried fruits, fresh juices and purified water. Why raw food? Essentially a vegetarian diet, the raw food diet encourages eating and drinking live foods. Live foods and juices contain the maximum amount of fiber, which is found in raw products and can be lost during processing. Such foods are easily metabolized and tend to be lower in calories than the average diet. Heating food above 116°F destroys enzymes in food that help digest and absorb food, reducing its nutritional value. Benefits of a Raw Food Diet A diet that consists of at least 75% raw foods offers numerous health benefits, such as: B. more energy, improved skin appearance, better digestion, weight loss and a lower risk of serious diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. A raw food diet contains little or no saturated fat, is low in sodium, and is high in potassium, magnesium, folic acid and fiber. Raw food diets are also excellent as a detox diet. Various combinations of raw, live foods and juices can be used for colon cleansing, liver cleansing, kidney cleansing, and skin cleansing. The Basics of a Raw Food Diet Fresh fruits, vegetables,
grains, seeds, beans, nuts, legumes, young coconut milk and even seaweed can be on the menu of a raw food diet. Food choices may depend on your reasons for dieting, for example: – sprouted brown rice slows glucose absorption and improves metabolism – cabbage supports healthy cell function; Radish leaves act as an antioxidant, as do shitake mushrooms – carrots are a great source of vitamin A and promote healthy vision and cardiovascular system. You can use a germinator like the Easy Green Automatic Seedling to sprout seeds, grains, beans, and even wheatgrass. Sprouts could be described as a superfood. Organic sprouts contain enormous amounts of proteins, vitamins, minerals, trace elements, chlorophyll pigments and enzymes and are the ideal natural supplement. Sprouts can be used in salads and soups or juiced. Fresh juices are a great source of energy and a quality juicer, like the Kempo Greenpower Juicer, produces live juices that are full of essential nutrients. A great juicing recipe to complement a raw food diet is carrot juice with potatoes, fennel and apple. Simply squeeze 4 medium carrots, 2 apples, 1 small potato and 1 small stalk of fennel. Fennel has been shown to reduce and control inflammation in arthritis, balance mood swings and depressive states, and contain the rare nutrient manganese as well as zinc and vitamin B complex. The nutritional value of grains and seeds is impressive. They contain most vitamins, especially A, B and E. They are also fantastic natural sources of unsaturated fatty acids and lecithin and an excellent source of protein. You can even use soy milk makers (like SoyQuick) to make dairy-free drinks from various beans, rice, nuts, seeds, and grains that you can eat for breakfast. If you want something richer than soy milk, you can make your tofu (or visit a good health food store, of course). Essentially, the idea of a raw food diet is to eat unprocessed foods for at least 75% of the time. If the thought of raw food isn’t very appetizing to you, you can warm the food a little, as long as the food isn’t heated above 116°F. As with any major dietary change, it is advisable to consult your doctor before starting any specific diet. This is especially true for children, pregnant women, people with anemia and people with a previous illness. Natural foods can also conflict with certain medications, so please consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking medication. Because a raw food diet is detoxifying, some people experience a
Mild detoxification reaction with mild headaches, nausea and food cravings. These symptoms can last for several days, and you will enjoy your raw food diet more if you cut back on things like meat, sugar, and caffeine about a week before starting the diet. Last but not least, a raw food diet is certainly a great way to improve your overall health and well-being. Like anything worthwhile, it takes time, energy and commitment. Because many of the foods for this particular type of diet are made from scratch, some preparation time is required. There are many great products on the market that can help you make your own living food and save you some time too. Combined with regular exercise, a raw food diet is also an excellent method for weight loss. If you’re feeling a little under the weather or just need a pick-me-up and some extra energy, then a raw food diet is certainly a good way to go.
Filed under: Nutrition
Tagged with: living food, raw food diet detox., raw food recipes, raw food
Published by Healthy Lifestyle
