A 100% raw food diet is not for everyone, understandably, but incorporating more raw foods into your diet will definitely boost your health.
So what are the benefits of going more raw? In a nutshell, here are a few of the main reasons:
1. More live enymes and nutrients=more energy!!--Preparing food below 118 degrees preserves the essential vitamins and nutrients needed to facilitate proper digestion. It actually takes your body only about a half to one-third as much effort to digest raw food in comparison to cooked food. Anything prepared over 118 degrees destroys the vitamins and nutrients. You won't feel bogged down and lazy after eating a raw meal; in fact, you will find yourself more renewed and energized!
2. Lowers the risk of disease. Raw food is alkalizing to the body, and often provides antioxidants that help to combat disease and illnesses. On the other hand, cooked food can be acidic, resulting in the production of free radicals and carcinogens within the body, which increases your risk of developing diseases such as cancer or heart disease.
3. You Will Tend to Eat Less: Since raw foods are so nutrient-dense and satisfying, you will usually find that you need to eat less to feel satiated and full. People often lose weight when they convert to a more raw food-based diet.
4. No artificial fillers or preservatives: Since raw food is not processed, you will not find any high fructose corn syrup, sucralose, hydrogenation, trans fats, or funky ingredients you cannot pronounce. You actually know what you're putting into your body!
Although there are some pretty fancy and mouth-watering raw food recipes out there, you can definitely keep it simple and still derive the benefits of raw food. Here are just a few suggestions:
--Cut up raw veggie sticks and keep them in a bag in the fridge for a snack.
--Make a simple fruit salad--cut up a few varieties of fruit, toss them in a bowl, and voila! You've got yourself a healthy, light, sweet treat.
--Make a green salad--you can throw all sorts of veggies in it for a nutrient-packed meal.
--Smoothies--You can get very creative with this--toss in some fruits and veggies, raw protein or superfood powders, coconut water, etc. There are literally thousands of smoothies you can concoct.
Questions? Comments? Post 'em here!
Have fun making your life more RAWsome :)
