The raw food diet is rapidly becoming a popular health choice for many. High profile individuals and others have contributed to this seemingly good trend. This is evidence of the healthy alternative healthy foods provide.
Generally, this includes plant foods, vegetables and seaweed that are consumed in their natural state and do not undergo any kind of heat processing. The people who support this way of dieting say that heat is the enemy of uncooked food. This is because food nutrients do not survive high temperatures. This is bad for the overall quality of the food, and the ultimate purpose for eating this way in the first place. Temperatures above approximately 40 degrees Celsius are harmful to the enzymes. Therefore, anything above this temperature is cooked. Though for others any manipulation is cooking or processing.
Fruits can be eaten raw or blended to make juices or smoothies as a snack or as a health drink. Fruits contain vitamins and antioxidants which are great for the skin, hair and lead to an overall feeling of well being. Fruit dishes can also be made as a dessert to most meals. Herbs and spices contain anti oxidants which have innumerable benefits while adding flavor and taste to our meals
Some meats such as fish, eggs and fermented meat can be eaten raw or can undergo natural processes such as smoking. Meats that have undergone little or no processing are packed with nutrients such as omega 3 fatty acids which are responsible for overall cardiovascular health.Dairy products include non pasteurized and non homogenized yoghurt, cheese, and milk and contain calcium which leads to a strong teeth and bones.
The benefits of uncooked food are numerous. An uncooked food diet could help one lose weight and keep it off as it is low in calories and artificial poly saturated fats and oils. A constant diet of fresh fruits and vegetables could help clear one’s skin and keep certain skin ailments at bay, leading to health and glowing skin
There are various cultures in the world that have a organic and unprocessed food- based cuisine. It is also interesting to note that these societies have a longer life-span than meat loving, processed food based nations. The Japanese for example, have a diet based on fresh food, boiled food (if it must be cooked) and a lot of sea food. They have a penchant for raw fish eggs (sushi) tofu, and a lot of sea weeds which only have to be cleaned sometimes or at the very least boiled. The Eskimo people, as well as the Inuit people have been eating uncooked fish and meat for centuries to the point that some of these tribes are exclusive in their dietary choices.
There are many people all over the world who have a diet based on uncooked food. The people of Thailand for example have a rich source of fruits and vegetation due to their habitat and this translates to their diet. In Japan, it is a given that almost every meal will be healthy, and this is due in part to their reliance on seaweed, raw fish, and other plants.
In conclusion, it really is a matter of balance. The merits of eating organic, unprocessed foods are obvious; however we cannot ignore the potential dangers of relying solely on raw food.
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