Benefits Of Eating Raw
We all know the importance of eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, but it's not just what you eat, how you eat it matters too. The method used to prepare your food can have a significant impact on how beneficial it is.
Back when humans first roamed the earth, all foods were consumed in their raw state. Cooking food changes its natural composition. This is one reason why adjusting to our ancestors concept of eating raw is thought to be beneficial.
So what is a raw food diet?
The raw food diet is a diet based on unprocessed and uncooked plant foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, sprouts, seeds, nuts, grains, beans, nuts, dried fruit, and seaweed. Pasteurized milk is replaced with raw or unpasteurized milk and processed fatty meats are no longer a part of the diet. At least 75% of a raw food diet incorporates food cooked below 116 degrees F. Once food is heated above 116 degrees it loses its nutritional value and valuable enzymes needed for digestion and absorption are destroyed.
The raw food diet is not for everyone and let's face it, it's hard to maintain eating only raw food. However, eating raw whenever you can, is very beneficial to your health. Transitioning from a regular diet to a raw food diet must be a slow and gentle process to avoid shocking the body.
Benefits:
- Raw food supplies more energy and supplies you with more enthusiasm for life.
- You can eat a higher quantity of food when it's raw.
- Raw food contains fewer trans and saturated fats than many cooked foods.
- Eating vegetables in their raw state will ensure you get all the vitamins they contain (cooking vegetables decreases their vitamin content.)
- Improved skin appearance. Vitamin rich raw fruits and vegetables directly benefit the skin.
- Weight Loss. A raw diet provides more fiber that improves digestion and reduces your appetite.
- Reduced risk of disease, in particular heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
- Anti-aging. Raw foods are hydrating to the body and oxygenate the cells slowing the aging process.