Going Raw: A Guide to Raw Foods Diets
Since the discovery of fire countless ages ago, mankind has embarked on a quest to find ever more ways to cook, heat, process, and preserve foodstuffs. But has the pursuit of dietary convenience gone too far? Is it possible that one solution to the current obesity health epidemic would be to incorporate more "raw" and unprocessed foods into our diet? Read on to find out...
The other day, a friend was asking me about different types of healthy food options. Knowing that I eat a lot of raw meals, she wanted to know how difficult it would be for her to incorporate raw foods into her diet, and if food preparation would take up too much of her time. She was also curious about the popularity of raw diets and why people would choose to "go" raw.
The first thing to know about a raw food diet is that it is "vegan." This means that no animal foods or dairy products are used or consumed in the finished meal. Most raw recipes contain legumes, nuts, vegetables, fruits, purified water and spices. Keep in mind that if you have nut or other food allergies, there are still plenty of raw dishes for you to eat. We'll go over recipes and resources a little later in this article.
The second interesting tidbit to know about a raw diet is that it is full of enzymes that aid your body's digestive and circulatory systems. As you know, enzymes are an essential part of the normal digestive process. Naturally present in raw fruits and vegetables, enzymes break down proteins, fats and carbohydrates in preparation for absorption. The average American diet consists of food in which the enzyme content has been "cooked" out, thus making the food we eat enzyme-deficient. Studies have also found that when we hit about 30 to 35 years of age, a definite decline in enzyme production occurs in the stomach, pancreas and small intestines. Research also shows that enzymes are important in promoting circulatory health through the removal of metabolic waste, aid in tissue repair and defend the body from autoimmune issues and other chronic diseases.
As you can see, a raw food diet is extremely beneficial for your body. But, you may be wondering how raw foods taste. For some, eating raw foods may present a slight challenge, as the taste of raw food tends to be more flavorful and “vibrant” than traditional American cuisine. What you may not know is that many dishes from Middle Eastern and Asian cuisines are considered raw, so you have probably eaten raw dishes already at your favorite restaurants.
If you really want to go raw, however, I’ve found that the best place to get raw is definitely at home. This may mean that you need to invest in a few appliances such as a food processor, a blender and a food dehydrator, but you will find that many dishes can be made just as well without these items. To help get into eating raw food, I’ve included the following resources that I use personally and consider to be the best.
* The Raw Gourmet, by Nomi Shannon. This comprehensive book has raw food recipes, meal plans, preparation guides and more. I highly recommend you get a copy of this book for the basics and the tasty recipes. Ms. Shannon also has a fantastic website, Raw Gourmet, that provides additional information and a 7-part course on living raw.
* Living Foods is an online community dedicated to the education and support of people who want to reap the benefits of eating raw foods. There are articles, chats recipes, FAQs – pretty much all the information a novice needs to adopt a raw food diets, as well as support for the “seasoned” raw eater.
* RAW – the Uncook Book, by Juliano w/Erika Lenkert. Juliano is by far the best gourmet chef on the raw foods scene. If you appreciate fine dining and want to know how to do it in a raw way, then this is the book you want to pick up. I especially love his meatless “meatloaf,” snack breads and dips. Juliano also has a fantastic website, Planet Raw, where you can learn about his restaurant, buy organic food, healthy products and more.
Discovering the benefits of eating raw food will come from experience. Try different recipes and find out what works for you. Though eating raw all the time is my personal goal, it’s something that I am working up to, having been raised with a more traditional diet of cooked and processed foods. My advice to you is the same I give to myself – explore, experiment, have fun and enjoy.
http://www.lifescript.com/www/HealthResources/HealthyLiving/GoingRaw/index.asp
