The raw food diet, already practised by many people in the far east, has recently won praise as the diet to help people obesity and other common issues.
The benefits are attributed to the higher levels of macronutrients, micronutrients and antioxidants in raw foods on one hand and the lower levels of preservatives, pesticides and other potentially harmful substances on the other hand.
Not everybody is well-suited for this diet though despite its many health benefits. Children, pregnant and nursing women as well as people with anaemia and at risk for osteoporosis must not adopt the food diet for safety and health reasons. A good alternative for them is to adopt the organic food diet, this will lessen the chance of exposure to pesticides and other chemical agents.
Food You Can Eat Under This Diet
Non risk groups however can look forward to easier weight loss and higher levels of nutrients.
In practice though this diet only needs about a third of the food to be uncooked. The other two thirds can be cooked but lightly only or steamed in order to preserve nutrient levels.
Prepare your food by chopping, blending and juicing adding few if any additives. If heat must be applied, only a dehydrator is used. This blows hot air into and through the food at controlled temperatures not exceeding 116 Fahrenheit.
The range of foods allowed include beans and legumes' dried and fresh fruits and vegetables and their freshly-made juices; grains and whole wheat products; nuts and seeds; seaweeds and mushrooms; milk from young coconuts and coconut meat itself; and purified water.
If you are not a strict vegetarian, you can add eggs, fish in the form of sushi and sashimi, milk and dairy products.
Points To Note
Benefits included in this diet are amongst higher levels of energy, improved digestion, easier weight loss, lower risk of chronic degenerative illnesses, and clearer skin, among others.
As stated earlier this diet may not be suitable for everyone and it is recommended that you consult your doctor for their opinion before you start on this diet.
These precautions also apply:
Limit your intake of the following, buckwheat, kidney beans and sprouted alfalfa as these contain toxic substances best avoided.
Eggs eaten raw may contain salmonella therefore it is better to cook them before consumption.
Raw meat can contain potentially fatal bacteria, parasites and viruses, milk may contain Mycobacteria bovis, the bacteria that causes non-pulmonary tuberculosis.
You need to expect some side effects though when you start on this diet and these might well include headaches and mild nausea.
So, before you plunge into the raw food diet, make sure that you know what it takes to succeed. And always be safe when eating the foods in the diet.
The benefits are attributed to the higher levels of macronutrients, micronutrients and antioxidants in raw foods on one hand and the lower levels of preservatives, pesticides and other potentially harmful substances on the other hand.
Not everybody is well-suited for this diet though despite its many health benefits. Children, pregnant and nursing women as well as people with anaemia and at risk for osteoporosis must not adopt the food diet for safety and health reasons. A good alternative for them is to adopt the organic food diet, this will lessen the chance of exposure to pesticides and other chemical agents.
Food You Can Eat Under This Diet
Non risk groups however can look forward to easier weight loss and higher levels of nutrients.
In practice though this diet only needs about a third of the food to be uncooked. The other two thirds can be cooked but lightly only or steamed in order to preserve nutrient levels.
Prepare your food by chopping, blending and juicing adding few if any additives. If heat must be applied, only a dehydrator is used. This blows hot air into and through the food at controlled temperatures not exceeding 116 Fahrenheit.
The range of foods allowed include beans and legumes' dried and fresh fruits and vegetables and their freshly-made juices; grains and whole wheat products; nuts and seeds; seaweeds and mushrooms; milk from young coconuts and coconut meat itself; and purified water.
If you are not a strict vegetarian, you can add eggs, fish in the form of sushi and sashimi, milk and dairy products.
Points To Note
Benefits included in this diet are amongst higher levels of energy, improved digestion, easier weight loss, lower risk of chronic degenerative illnesses, and clearer skin, among others.
As stated earlier this diet may not be suitable for everyone and it is recommended that you consult your doctor for their opinion before you start on this diet.
These precautions also apply:
Limit your intake of the following, buckwheat, kidney beans and sprouted alfalfa as these contain toxic substances best avoided.
Eggs eaten raw may contain salmonella therefore it is better to cook them before consumption.
Raw meat can contain potentially fatal bacteria, parasites and viruses, milk may contain Mycobacteria bovis, the bacteria that causes non-pulmonary tuberculosis.
You need to expect some side effects though when you start on this diet and these might well include headaches and mild nausea.
So, before you plunge into the raw food diet, make sure that you know what it takes to succeed. And always be safe when eating the foods in the diet.
About the Author:
Virginia Louise publishes a no charge organic food site to inform people about the benefits of eating raw, healthy food.. Free reprint available from: Do Not Be Afraid Of The Raw Food Diet.