Raw Food Diet
We have all heard the term ‘we are what we eat’ and this is certainly a true statement as what we eat has an enormous impact to our overall health. Those people who are not concerned about the nutritional content of their foods are more likely to be the first to suffer from disease and ill-health.
Of course there are others who are very conscious of their eating habits. Some of these who are actively seeking healthy diet options choose to follow a ‘Raw Food Diet’.
There are many claims both for and against this diet. The raw foodism skeptics think it is unhealthy and can lead to under-nourishment. So let us look at what a raw food diet is.
Raw Food Diet Defined
Raw foodism is also referred to as ‘rawism’. A raw food diet is exactly what it says – its fundamental principle is that foods must be eaten raw. It is because followers believe that cooked and processed foods are not the kind of foods that the human body needs.
Contrary to what many believe, raw foodism is not a weight loss plan. It is more a lifestyle decision for anyone who believes that eating raw food will help them achieve their optimum level of physical and mental health. A raw food diet mainly consists of plant-based foods. There are raw foodists who prefer to be completely vegan, however there are also raw foodists who choose to eat raw eggs and unpasteurized milk.
Preparing Raw Food Meals
If you plan to make some changes to your diet and are thinking about becoming a raw foodist, then be prepared to spend a while preparing your meals. By its very nature most processed foods are automatically excluded and raw food dieters spend a lot of time peeling, slicing, blending and dehydrating their foods.
There are times when the food is heated but they see to it that the temperature does not go beyond 115 degrees Fahrenheit, so that the food is only warmed and not cooked. Raw foodists’ staple foods include fruit, sprouted seeds, whole grains, dried fruits, seaweed and nuts.
Benefits of a Raw Food Diet
Improved Energy
Being a raw foodist improves energy levels. Eating raw plant-based foods provides plenty of vitamins, minerals and enzymes that make it easier for your body to digest your foods. Proponents claim that eating cooked foods makes it harder for your body to obtain the needed amount of enzymes, so your body then has to produce those enzymes necessary for energy production and metabolism.
Weight Loss
Raw foodism will make it easier for you to achieve and maintain your ideal weight because you will no longer be eating foods that are highly processed. Turning your back on processed foods and fast foods allows your body to rid itself of unhealthy food cravings.
Additionally, your metabolism improves making it easier for you to lose weight.
Other benefits of a raw food diet include clearer healthy-looking skin and the reduced risk of lifestyle diseases.
If your diet is currently based on what is considered to be a normal modern diet, making the change to a raw food diet may not be easy. It will take a great deal of determination and will-power as you wean yourself off sugary treats and fried foods. Many foods that you take for granted will have to be avoided and others only eaten uncooked. Those who advocate the diet believe that this is a small price to pay for the lifetime health benefits a raw food diet provides.
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