Raw Food can be used to improve health. There are a variety of foods to choose from including nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, seaweed, sprouts and beans. You are probably eating raw food every day without thinking about it. It may just be a piece of fruit at breakfast or lunch. Maybe its a salad or hors d’oeuvres at a party.
Food that is raw is essentially food that has not been cooked above 116 to 118 degrees. Food that has been cooked at higher temperatures looses its vitamins and natural enzymes. The food is actually chemically altered. This lack of vitamins in our food does affect our health. The vitamin loss to cooking can be as much as 50 percent. We need supplements because even when eating healthy foods, we do not get the vitamins from them that we would if we did not cook them out of the food.
The natural enzymes present in food helps our bodies properly digest and use the vitamins and minerals in our food. The way food is grown now the full amount of vitamins and minerals are not available, especially with the pesticides used. This is why organically grown foods are usually recommended. Cooking food above the recommended temperatures removes the enzymes 100 percent.
Something that is recommended for a healthy diet is lots of fiber. Eating food raw provides plenty of it. The reason a high fiber diet is recommended is because of better digestion and elimination. When food is cooked its fiber content is diminished. Fiber is thought to also help prevent certain common illnesses. Since it cleans the intestinal system, more of foods nutrients can be absorbed and utilized in your body.
As a diet it is superb for weight loss. It is a whole foods diet rich in grains, vegetables, fruits and beans. You may wish to go through a cleansing of the body first. In this way once the cleansing is done you will have less cravings for cooked, over processed, sugary foods. With this higher functioning digestive system and whole foods your metabolism also increases. You are actually able to eat quite a bit of food and still lose weight when eating food in its natural state.
Food that is raw leaves you feeling more energized. This is partly due to the fact that it can be digested significantly faster than cooked food. Many times after eating a meal that has been cooked you feel a little tired. Your body does not have to work as hard or as long to digest its food when it is raw. It is also in the intestinal track less time.
Overall a raw food diet offers many benefits. It can help you lose weight. It can help prevent certain diseases and help build your immune system. Your digestion improves and you get more from your food. The vitamins, minerals and enzymes are all available to you as they should be. The diet does not have to be all or nothing. Consider just increasing your intake of raw food. Ideally you would eat 100 percent but 50 to 75 percent will show a significant health improvement.
We’ve got the exclusive low down on raw food diets for greater health now in our comprehensive raw foods overview.