Raw food living

Raw food diets are sweeping the nation as people are looking for ways to lose weight and become healthier. This lifestyle and food choices has definite advantages.

A raw food diet is a diet that is based on eating unprocessed and uncooked plant foods. This includes fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, sprouts, nuts, seeds, dried fruit and seaweed. Raw food advocates believe that heating food above 116 degrees Fahrenheit destroys the enzymes in food that help with digestion and absorption. A typical raw food diet consists of a 75% raw foods.

People who believe in the raw food way of life say the diet increases energy, improves the skin’s appearance and reduces your risk of heart disease. These food choices will also help you lose weight and produce better digestion.

This all natural diet is low in sodium and high in potassium, magnesium, fiber, folate and phytochemicals. All of these nutritional elements have been associated with lowering the risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

A raw food diet may take some time for your body to get used to. You may have side effects such as mild headaches, nausea and cravings. This will usually pass in a few days once your body detoxifies and gets rid of the chemicals and toxins associated with processed foods, soda and sugar.

The foods that you can eat on a raw food diet include organic whole foods such as, fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, legumes, dried fruit and unprocessed organic or natural foods. You can also include freshly juiced fruits and vegetables, young coconut milk and purified water.

You may need to buy some equipment to start raw food living. A dehydrator which blows air through food at a temperature of less than 116 degrees Fahrenheit will allow you to make dehydrated fruits and vegetables to enjoy whenever you want. Dehydrated food will last a much longer than fresh foods and retain some of the same nutrients.

You can benefit from a good blender or a food processor. This will save you a ton of time when it comes to chopping up fresh fruits and vegetables. A good juice extractor is a must for juicing your fruits and vegetables.

It is important to note that the raw food diet may not be appropriate for some people. Children should not be exclusively on the raw food diet because they require more proteins and other nutrients for their growing bodies. However, the fruits and vegetables they do eat will be better absorbed and processed by their body if they are eaten in a raw state. Individuals who are pregnant, nursing, have anemia or osteoporosis should consult with the physician about the amount of meat and dairy which should be included in their daily intake.

Raw food living does considerable time and energy to maintain. All foods are made from scratch. You may have trouble finding some of the ingredients found in a raw food diet. But if you are committed and have no underlying health problems, then raw food living may be right for you.