nutrition facts

Eating raw foods is natural. Our bodies thrive on all that is fresh and vital. A raw food diet (or increasing the amount of raw food that you eat) is bound to bring a feeling of increased wellbeing.

Raw food diets are based on unprocessed and uncooked plant foods
preferably organic
such as a variety of fresh fruits and vegies
nuts
seeds
grains
dried fruit
fresh juices and purified water.

Why Raw Foods?

Basically a vegetarian diet
the raw food diet promotes eating and drinking ‘living’ foods. Living foods and juices contain the maximum amount of fibre found in raw produce
fibre that can be lost in processing. Such foods are easily metabolised and tend to be lower in calories than the average diet.

Heating food above 116ฐF destroys enzymes in food that aid in digestion and in absorption of food
diminishing its nutritional value.

Benefits of a Raw Food Diet

A diet of at least 75% raw food offers numerous health benefits
such as increased energy
improved skin appearance
better digestion
weight loss and reduced risk of serious illnesses like heart disease
diabetes and cancer.

A raw food diet contains little or no saturated fats
is low in sodium
high in potassium
magnesium
folate and fibre.
Raw food diets are also excellent detox diets. Different combinations of raw
living foods and juices can be used for colon cleansing
liver cleansing
kidney cleansing and skin cleansing.

The Basics of a Raw Food Diet

Any fresh fruits
vegetables
grains
seeds
beans
nuts
legumes
young coconut milk – even seaweed – can be menu items of a raw food diet. Your choice of foods may depend on your reasons for dieting
for example:

- sprouted brown rice slows glucose absorption and improves the metabolism

- cabbage supports healthy cellular function; radish leaves act as an anti-oxidant
as does Shitake mushroom

-carrots are a great source of vitamin A as well as encouraging healthy vision and a healthy cardio-vascular system

You can use a sprouter such as the Easy Green automatic sprouter to sprout seeds
grains
beans – even wheatgrass. Sprouts could be called a ‘super food’ – organic sprouts contain enormous levels of proteins
vitamins
minerals
trace minerals
chlorophyll pigments and enzymes
and are the ideal natural supplement.

Sprouts can be used in salads and soups
or can be juiced. Fresh juices are a great ready energy supply and a good quality juicer
such as the Kempo Greenpower juicer
produces living juices that are full of essential nutrients.
A great juicing recipe to complement a raw food diet is carrot juice with potato
fennel and apple. Simply juice 4 medium carrots
2
apples
1
small potato and 1 small stalk of fennel.
Fennel has been shown to reduce and control inflammation of arthritis
it evens mood fluctuation and depressive states and has the rare nutrient called manganese
plus zinc and vitamin B complex.
The nutritional value of grains and seeds is impressive. They contain most of the vitamins – particularly A
B
and E. They’re also fantastic natural sources of unsaturated fatty acids and lecithin
and an excellent source of proteins.

You can even use soy milk makers (such as SoyQuick) to make non-dairy drinks from different beans
rice
nuts
seeds and grains to have with breakfast. If you want something a little more substantial than soy milk you can make your tofu (or
of course
visit a good health food shop).

Essentially
the idea of a raw food diet is to eat unprocessed foods for at least 75% of the time. If the idea of raw food isn’t very appetising to you
you can warm the food a little as long as the food isn’t heated above 116ฐF.

Cautionary Note

As with any major change in diet
it’s wise idea to consult your doctor before beginning a special diet. This is especially true for children
pregnant women
anyone with anemia and anyone with a pre-existing medical condition.

Even natural foods can conflict with certain medications
so please ask your doctor or pharmacist if you’re taking any medication.

Because a raw food diet is detoxifying some people suffer a mild detox reaction including mild headaches
nausea and cravings. These symptoms may last for several days and you’ll get more enjoyment out of your raw food diet if you cut down on things like meat
sugar and caffeine a week or so before commencing the diet.

Last But Not Least…

A raw food diet is certainly a good way to improve your overall health and wellbeing. Like anything worthwhile it takes time
energy and commitment. Because many of the foods for this particular type of diet are made from scratch there is some preparation time involved. There are many great products on the market that can help you prepare your own living food and save you some time as well.

Combined with regular exercise
a raw food diet is also an excellent weight loss method. If you’ve been feeling ‘a little off’
or just need a pick-me-up and some extra energy
then a raw food diet is certainly a good way to go.