To most people the term “raw food diet” might seem a little extreme, if not far-fetched. That’s why I want to spend a little bit of time today explaining exactly what Raw Food is all about, and a few reasons why some people include more Raw Food in their diet.
(Oh, and just a little reminder that I’m not advocating a strict 100% raw food diet. I think we can all benefit from more raw food, but it might not be right for everyone right off the bat. Right batman? Right.)
(If you’re reading this via email click here to watch the quick introductory video.)
What Does The Raw Food Diet Consist Of?
The raw food diet consists mainly of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. These four main food groups are great because they are essentially the revitalizers and immune system builders of the body. Not to mention that anyone can benefit from more fruits vegetables in their diet.
Reasons Why Raw Food is “Raw”
The raw food diet further qualifies food that is raw by stating that it not be heated above 112 Fahrenheit. The reason being that food heated above 112 Fahrenheit loses some of its digestive enzymes. All foods have enzymes that help us digest and absorb nutrients properly. Without these enzymes, we use our own limited supply of enzymes to digest food.
Raw Food as a Creative Outlet
Okay, you might be thinking that eating a bunch of carrots and raisins is not going to keep your taste buds happy. Fortunately, raw food is full of opportunities for creative food prep.
- Raw food allows you to make wacky green smoothies that are full of essential nutrients that help you maintain your weight while building strong bones and muscles.
- Raw food is a great way to try new fruits and vegetables that you’ve never even heard of before. Fancy trying durian fruit, or venturing out into new green territory with kale, collards, swiss chard, or even dandelion greens?
- With raw food you have a chance to experiment with new food combinations and spices. You can load up your blender with produce, hit the blend button, and cross your fingers. Chances are it will turn out tasting great.
I hope this quick article gave you a little more insight into exactly what the raw food diet consists of.
I just wanted to add that there are also variations of the diet that include raw dairy products, eggs, and even raw meat. I don’t think any one diet has all the answers, and I encourage you to find what works for you.
{ 9 comments }
One nice thing about the raw food diet is that you're never short on enzymes, which are needed for good digestion. I'm with you, though…there is no one diet that works for everyone, we all make our decisions based on what works individually. But, knowledge is power so the more we know about different options the better! Thanks for the great article.
- Anna M
blog.nutri-health.com
Hi Anna!
Thanks for stopping by. I think enzymes are so overlooked sometimes. :) But then again, I think all of these sciencey things can get us to focus on the little details and forget the overarching themes of what we are meant to eat.
See you around!
Durian is THE BEST. ;)
Anyone who knows me will know I agree with you. ;) But there are plenty of others who can't stand the smell, so it's hard to say. :P
there is no one diet that works for everyone, we all make our decisions based on what works individually.
I'll back again for sure, thanks for great article :D
Great! Thank for information, I'm looking for it for a long time,
While raw food is as much a part of any good diet, the over all picture of eating healthy balanced dies goes a lot further.
While raw food is as much a part of any good diet, the over all picture of eating healthy balanced dies goes a lot further.
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