The Raw Food Diet is a pure vegetarian diet
consisting of mostly raw organic fruits, vegetables, nuts, and
seeds . Food is consumed in it’s natural whole state and not
heated above 118º F.
Why Raw Foods?
When you eat foods in their whole natural state
all the vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, essential fats,
phytonutrients, bioflavonoids, and plant hormones remain intact
and ready for assimilation by the body.
Doctors recommend at least 9 servings a day of
fruits and vegetables for optimum health; the raw food diet takes
it a step further by increasing the intake of the amazing health
promoting substances found in fresh produce.
Here are just a few of the healing substances
found in fresh produce and researchers are discovering new ones
all the time.
Bioflavanoids– naturally occurring plant compounds
that are: antioxidant, anti-mutagenic, anti-carcinogenic,
anti-aging, and promote structure and function in the circulatory
system..
Phytonutrients-concentrated in the skin of many
fruits and vegetables. Potent antioxidants that can neutralize
free radical damage. Free radicals are highly reactive chemical
substances that can lead to premature aging and disease.
Why Not Cook Your Food?
A variety of research has shown that cooking food
above 118 º F and above:
Destroys a good percentage of heat sensitive nutrients.
Destroys the nutritive value of fat, and cooked fat has been shown
to contain carcinogenic substances and free radicals.
Alters protein into substances that disrupt
cellular function and speed up the disease and aging process.
Creates the formation of acrylamide that has been
shown to cause cancer in animal tests and is toxic to the nervous
system of both humans and animals. Acrylamide is especialy present
in cooked starchy foods such as grains and potatos.
What Are the Benefits of the Raw Food Diet?
* Many people have found that on a mostly raw food
diet:
Their energy level increases and they have more
stamina
They naturally normalize to their ideal body
weight
Their skin becomes clearer and they often start to
look younger
Their mental alertness increases
They decrease their sleep needs by at least one
hour
Their digestion improves and they become “regular”
They get less colds and flus than the general
population
Many people have also seen improvements in chronic
health conditions such as asthma, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia,
lupus, and other autoimmune disorders. Even if you decide not to
eat a completely raw food diet you will notice positive
improvements just by adding more raw organic fruits and vegetables
in your diet.
*These statements are from anecdotal evidence and
have not been evaluated by the FDA. Before you embark on a new
diet regime please consult with your health care provider.
What Do You Eat?
Typically most people on the raw food diet eat
fresh organic fruits, fruit smoothies or vegetable juices for
breakfast. For lunch they might eat more fruit or a vegetable
dish. For dinner they might eat a large salad with a creamy nut or
seed based dressing or avocado. Once you learn how to prepare raw
foods you can make raw food dishes such as raw pizza, raw lasagna,
raw spaghetti, raw crackers, raw nut or seed pates, raw tacos,
blended raw soups . . . (etc.) With a little creativity and the
right kitchen tools the possibilities are endless. To get started
right away just start adding more fresh fruits and vegetables into
your routine. Add a smoothie or piece of fruit to your breakfast
and a large salad at lunch and dinner. Snack on fresh organic
fruit, vegetable sticks, low temperature dried fruits, or a
handful of raw organic nuts and seeds.
What Raw Items Can I Buy at my Local Health
Food Store?
Organic Produce: including all organic fruits,
vegetables, sprouts, and wheatgrass.
Raw items in the bulk department such as: organic
raw nuts and seeds, low temperature dehydrated fruits, and various
seaweeds and algae.
Thai or Mexican Young Coconuts. Also know as Green
or White Coconuts.
Raw nut and seed butters ( ex: :raw almond butter,
hemp seed butter, and tahini.)
Raw honey
Raw fermented cabbage sauerkraut
Prepared low temp. dehydrated raw food snacks such
as energy bars, crackers, chips, seasoned nuts and seeds, cookies,
brownies, and raw candies.
Some health food stores might even have prepared
raw foods in the deli or refrigerated section. Typically you will
find raw desserts, raw pizza, raw dips and pâtés, raw salad
dressings, and salads.
If your local health food store has a
juice/smoothie bar you can ask for a fresh raw vegetable or fruit
juice or a raw fruit smoothie. Fresh wheatgrass juice might also
be available.
If you local health food store does not carry
these items please feel free to request them.
