The Raw Food Diet: How to Get Started
Hundreds of years ago, people only ate fresh produce. Yes, many people die at a younger age but most of them died due to infection – not of cancer, heart disease and diabetes which are the leading causes of death nowadays. Nearly all experts will agree that nutrition has a big role to play in the prevention of these life-threatening illnesses.
With the rise of the processed food industry, the number of people developing illnesses has dramatically increased. The thing is – heating, cooking and processing foods often lead to the breakup of healthy enzymes, vitamins and minerals that fresh foods contain. This is why many health experts are proposing incorporating raw foods in the regular diet. Some foods can be cooked at lower temperatures without losing their essential nutrients. But most of them, when heated at 105-118 degrees, lose their nutritional value.
There’s growing evidence, both anecdotal and scientific, suggesting that eating raw foods promote health and healing. Many people, who had stage 3 or 4 cancer, diabetes and other chronic illnesses, were able to restore their health after incorporating raw foods in their regular diet.
Tips to Get Started
Going raw doesn’t have to mean that we should completely let go of any cooked products. It is quite hard to drastically shift from the diet you’ve been used to into something that’s totally new. Whilst some people can manage to eat raw foods the whole day, majority don’t. So if you’re thinking about going raw, you have to take it one step at a time. Here are some tips to get started with the raw food diet:
Stock your pantry. By keeping raw produce at bay, you can ensure that you are eating fresh produce every day. To get started with the raw food diet, you want to go to the nearest local market to stock your pantry with all the fruits, vegetables and ingredients you want. Over time, you can build your own collection of nuts, seeds, grains and other healthier produce.
Get to know different herbs and spices. Raw food recipes are made more delicious if you will make use of various herbs and spices, including sauces and natural dressings. Stock your pantry with turmeric, sage, dried oregano, rosemary, parsley, anise, bay leaves, and all other herbs and spices you can find. These ‘secret’ ingredients can make your raw food recipes more appetising and healthier!
Prepare ahead of time. Have some yummy raw munchies nearby, such as raw granola, dried fruits and flax crackers so you would have something to reach when you feel hungry. Try making your own homemade kimchi, pickled cucumber or radish, and the like.
Start slowly. A good start would be to convert at least 51% of what you eat every day to raw foods. You can start with some fresh fruits and vegetable salad in the evening. Drink plenty of water as well.
Keep it balanced. The best raw food diet is one that is rich in carbohydrates, good fats and protein. The main sources of carbohydrates are fruits, vegetables and grains whilst the best sources of protein are germinated nuts and leafy vegetables. You can get good fats from olive oil, avocado and coconut butter, and other healthy oils.
Have you tried the raw food diet? Would you like to share one of your favourite raw food recipes? Feel free to post your comment below.
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