A raw food diet is said to
give increased energy and well-being
The Benefits of Switching to
Raw Food Recipes
by Clint Jhonson
Consuming raw foods is natural. Our bodies
respond very well to all that is fresh and vital and thrive when
consuming these types of food. By increasing the amount of raw food
that you eat you are actually opting for a feeling of increased well
being. When you switch to a raw food diet, the raw food recipes are
based on uncooked or unprocessed plant foods, preferably organic.
These plant foods include a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables,
nuts, seeds, grains, dried fruit, fresh juices and purified water.
The reason why you should switch to raw food
recipes is because it is basically a vegetarian diet that promotes
eating and drinking living foods. By consuming living foods and
juices, you benefit from the maximum amount of fiber that can be
found in a raw product. This fiber can be lost when the food is
either processed or cooked. Raw foods are metabolized easier and are
not as high in calories as the products consumed when following an
average diet. The basic principle of a raw food diet is heating the
foods up to 1160 F or about 460 C. The reason why you should not
heat them at higher temperatures is found in the enzymes that are
destroyed when subjected to such temperatures. The enzymes help food
digestion and food absorption and they also give the nutritional
value of foods. Therefore it is in our best interests to keep them
intact. In the opposite situation, we actually force our bodies to
an increased amount of work and we also contribute to the
diminishing of the nutritional value of our food.
Subsequently, the benefits of raw food recipes
are numerous. If you have a diet consistent of at least 75% raw
foods you will receive health benefits such as increased energy,
improved skin appearance, better digestion, weight loss or weight
gain (depending on what your body needs). Other benefits include
reducing the risks of serious illnesses like heart diseases, cancer,
diabetes and more.
Raw food recipes are based on components that
contain little or no saturated fats. Also, they are low in sodium,
but high on magnesium, potassium and fiber. You can also use raw
food recipes as detoxification solutions. If you appeal to different
combinations of raw, living foods and juices you may find that they
are useful for colon cleansing, liver cleansing, kidney cleansing
and skin cleansing.
The reasons why you should appeal to a raw
food diet may vary. Depending on these reasons, you can choose what
to consume in order to improve that aspect of your health you are
particularly interested in. For instance, sprouted brown rice helps
slow glucose absorption and improve the metabolism; cabbage supports
cellular function while radish leaves act as an anti-oxidant;
carrots, a great source of vitamin A, are well-known to encourage
healthy eyesight, but they also support a reliable cardio-vascular
system.
Some people enjoy eating cakes and sweets. If
you switch to a raw food diet, you shouldn't think that you have to
stop eating desserts. In a raw food diet you can use raw honey as a
sweetener. Raw honey contains traces of propolis, a substance used
by bees to seal the hive and protect it from harmful microorganisms.
Other substances found in raw honey, called phytonutrients, help
prevent colon cancer and can also help heal internal ulcers.
If you consume honey regularly, it is known to
be beneficial for the general well-being and it also helps
digestion. Amazing as it sounds, raw honey has been shown to improve
athletic performance, a secret that was discovered by ancient
Olympians. This happens because it helps maintain balanced levels of
blood sugar, which in turn helps at keeping energy levels
consistent. In addition, it helps muscle recovery. Other amazing
properties of raw honey include the support it gives to the immune
system in warding off colds and flu. It is a healthy substitute for
sugar that can even help reduce the cholesterol levels. Include it
in your raw food recipes and you will get the best for your body and
mind.
About the author: The benefits of raw foods
are far greater in numbers than those of processed foods. If you
include
raw honey in
your
raw food recipes,
you will find that you can also eat healthier sweets. Raw foods
offer you everything you could wish for in matters of delicious meal
choices.
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