Raw is Better

One of the newest trends in diets is a raw food diet. There are many different reasons why people are switching to this type of diet as there are so many benefits in doing so. Some of the benefits include: increased energy, improved health and skin, no more colds and flu, preventing or reversing disease, clarity of mind and better memory, less sleep is needed, improving your overall health and weight loss. Some people may even follow a raw food diet for spiritual reasons. No matter what your reason for a raw food diet, raw is better for most people. I credit a mainly raw green diet as one of the most critical things that I feel I have done for improving my health and being cancer free.

If you are considering switching to a raw food diet, it would be helpful to understand what a raw food diet is and why it is so beneficial. Raw foods are uncooked and unprocessed plants, so, no, sushi doesn't count. Raw food diets are mainly composed of fresh fruits and vegetables. A raw food diet also includes sprouts, seeds, grains, beans, nuts and more.

One of the disadvantages of cooking food and therefore, an advantage of eating raw foods is that heat changes the fat, protein and carbohydrate composition of food and zaps out much of the beneficial energy that most effectively fuels our bodies. Raw foods are also called live or living foods. When food is cooked we take much of the life force out of it. It loses a lot of its nutritional value, taking away essential minerals and enzymes and destroying a lot of the vitamins.

Organs and tissues in the body need oxygen to function properly. Raw foods provide that needed oxygen. Many raw foods help the digestive system by powering up the enzymes needed to break down foods. Raw leafy vegetables also have chlorophyll which helps to cleanse the bloodstream.

Raw foods are not only great because they provide your body with natural nutrients that your body needs, but you can also eat nearly as much as you want without worrying about weight problems.

One reason some of us over eat is because cooked foods and processed foods aren't giving our bodies the nutrients, vitamins, minerals and other essentials that our body needs to function. Our body craves more food in order to get the nutrients we need. We keep eating to satisfy this need. Instead of gaining the nutrients we need, we gain weight.

In addition, the lack of eating proper nutrients can lead to malnutrition. Malnutrition is a road leading to chronic diseases. Choosing the right foods is one of the most critical elements in maintaining health.

If you just want to feel better and you don't have serious health conce
s, you might just want to experiment at first by incorporating some raw foods into your diet. You probably don't want to dive in with both feet or you might want to jump right out again. But once you start to see the benefits, you will hopefully want to start incorporating more. The goal could be to eat anywhere from 50% to 80% raw to attain your bodies' internal pH required to maintain good health and give your body the nutrients it needs. If you do not feel you are ready to add in raw foods, you can at least begin the transition by eating lightly steamed vegetables.

Also be aware that even though fruit is raw, it has a lot of sugar in it and sugar feeds cancer, so you want to limit the amount of fruit and obtain as much of your raw intake from vegetables to get the healthiest benefit. Start today and add at least one uncooked or lightly steamed vegetable, fruit or seed to each meal that you have throughout the day. It's much easier than trying to flip a switch and turning off a way of eating that you've probably been accustomed to all your life.