Archive for May, 2009
Raw food diets are based on unprocessed and uncooked plant foods, preferably organic, such as a variety of fresh fruits and veggies, nuts, seeds, grains, dried fruit, fresh juices and purified water.
Why Uncooked Foods?
Basically a vegetarian diet, the raw food diet encourages eating and drinking ‘living’ foods. Living foods and juices contain the largest amount of fiber found in raw produce, fiber that can be destroyed in processing. Such foods are easily digested and tend to be lower in calories than the average diet.
Heating food above 116°F destroys enzymes in food that aid in digestion and in absorption of food, reducing its nutritional value.
Benefits of a Raw Food Diet
A diet of at least three quarters raw food offers numerous health benefits, such as increased energy, improved skin appearance, better digestion, weight loss and reduced risk of serious illnesses like heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
A raw food diet contains little or no saturated fats, is low in sodium, high in potassium, magnesium, and fiber.
Raw food diets are also awesome detox diets. Different combinations of raw foods and juices can be used for colon cleansing, liver cleansing, kidney cleansing and skin cleansing.
Raw Food Basics
Any fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, seeds, beans, nuts, legumes, young coconut milk – even seaweed – can be part of a raw food diet. Your choice of foods may depend on your reasons for dieting, for example:
- sprouted brown rice slows sugar absorption and improves the metabolism
- cabbage supports healthy cellular function; radish leaves act as an anti-oxidant,as does Shitake mushrooms
Eggs, which for years have gotten a bad rap for being unhealthy for your heart, can actually help prevent against coronary heart disease. Here’s how:
* Eggs are packed with choline and betaine, two nutrients related to Vitamin B that lower high levels of homocysteine. Too much homocysteine can cause inflammation (read: heart attack), as well as increase your chances of stroke, Alzheimer’s, dementia, and peripheral vascular disease.
* Eggs are full of healthy protein. A large egg provides about six grams of protein.
* Eggs contain riboflavin, a nutrient which gives you energy.
* Among the many vitamins and minerals packed into a single egg is Vitamin D, a vitamin that many people are deficient of (especially obese people or people with diabetes).
* Some eggs have high levels of omega-3 fatty acids which is gaining popularity as one of the most heart-friendly nutrients out there.
* Eggs are one of the most affordable forms of animal protein.
* Eggs fill you up and taste delicious! And since they’re only about 75 calories each, it can easily be made a part of a healthy low fat, low calorie meal.
If you do have high cholesterol, or are trying to cut the fat in your diet, then you can still get most of the protein and nutrients from eating the egg white alone. All of the fat is in the yolk.
So next time someone threatens your egg intake, you just tell them that the new research on eggs shows that an egg a day keeps the doctor away! Get this slogan on your wristband today with custom silicone wristbands.