Perhaps you’ve heard of the terms ‘raw food,’ ‘raw life,’ or ‘raw food,’ and are intrigued and curious about what these terms denote. What is raw food? What is raw food and the raw food diet? Understanding these terms is really quite simple. This article will answer these questions and explain why people eat raw food and how to do it. You may be surprised why people follow this lifestyle, and you may come to the conclusion that they are the sensible ones!
raw food (Definition): Food that has not been processed, cooked, or heated to more than 115 degrees Fahrenheit or 46 degrees Celsius.
The purpose of this is to ensure that foods contain their optimal nutrient and enzyme content (cooking above 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius) destroys most nutrients and enzymes in food). It refers particularly to natural, healthy and plant-based foods. It excludes all the over-processed, overcooked, nutrient-deficient, and preservative-laden foods that are so prevalent today.
Food consumed:
This diet consists of fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, dried fruits and berries, sprouts, juices, crackers and dehydrated breads, and avocado.
May also include gourmet foods such as dips and spreads, date and nut brownies, desserts and sweets, dips, cocoa (healthy chocolate), coconut smoothies, nutrient-dense “soups,” zucchini/carrot “paste” , plus an endless variety of other gourmet foods that can be made to fit this healthy lifestyle.
related terminology (Definitions):
Raw Foodism: refers to the lifestyle and action of eating a raw food diet, as well as the belief that raw food will help heal and nourish a person’s mind, body, and soul.
Live Food: synonymous with ‘raw food’ – this phrase also refers to any food that is not cooked or processed (ie eaten in its natural, unadulterated state).
raw life: synonymous with ‘raw food’ and ‘raw food diet’ – is the lifestyle of a person who consumes only natural, plant-based, nutrient-dense foods.
raw vegan diet: This term refers not only to the consumption of raw and unprocessed foods, but also to the exclusion of all animal products, including meat, dairy, eggs, and honey. (Note that the raw food diet is generally vegan anyway, unless a person consumes raw meat and eggs, which is very rare.)
Why People Eat Raw Food (Benefits):
People adopt this diet to benefit from its optimal nutrient and enzyme content. They nourish and feed their bodies with a wealth of minerals, proteins, vitamins and other important nutrients for a healthy body and often see profound healing as a result.
Raw food is well known for its health benefits and incredible healing abilities. People adopt this lifestyle to clear up their skin problems (acne, psoriasis, eczema, etc.), to have more energy, to treat their depression, to lose weight (a very common reason), to detoxify their sick body, to prevent, treat, or reverse chronic disease (such as diabetes, cancer, obesity, or chronic pain), for longevity, for addiction recovery, for beauty, or to develop a positive outlook on life (i.e., an enthusiasm for life!).
How to go raw:
Overnight or gradually: A person can adopt the vegan raw food diet in one of two ways: overnight or gradually. Both ways are perfectly fine, but some people get discouraged from adopting this lifestyle right away, so they prefer to take gradual steps to slowly transition into this lifestyle. They can do this in a matter of weeks, months, or years depending on their health or mental strength!
percentage: One can choose to eat 100%, 90%, 75% or 50% raw… it depends on each individual how much raw food they choose to consume on this diet. Some may start at 50% and then transition to 75%. If they are satisfied with how much their health has improved from eating this percentage of raw foods, then they may choose to make the decision to go from 95% to 100% raw!
Test: You can also ‘try’ this lifestyle for a few weeks or months to see if it is suitable or compatible with your needs or way of life. Keep in mind that it is often the hardest at first, but after a while it will get easier.
This is surely a healthy lifestyle and it will do wonders for your skin, hair, nails, waistline, energy levels and happiness. It’s no wonder so many people are ditching their unhealthy, overly processed and overcooked diets and replacing them with this super healthy way of living!