5 Reasons to try a raw food diet

Courtesy of Kristen

When people first encounter the concept of a raw diet they often become overwhelmed in with pictures of endless, tasteless salads. Sure, it sounds great for health, but really, what is one going to EAT? A raw food diet is probably not exactly equivalent to the movies that are playing in your head. In fact, here are five reasons why a raw diet would be a beneficial and enjoyable experiment, even for you!

1. Raw food helps to trim and revitalize your body. Vegetables and fruit, nuts and seeds eaten raw, especially during the hot summer months of summer, are the absolute best items you can give your body. They are hydrating and provide mountains of nutrition contained in many fewer calories. Imagine having more energy, eating less. It really can and does happen for many people when they try out a raw diet.
 

2. Raw food helps to ease the burden during digestion. Raw fruits and vegetables contain enzymes that aid in digestion of your food. Did you ever wonder why dinner often begins with a salad? The salad is there to prepare your body for the meal to come (as well as to add much needed nutrition). It aids in digesting the food you eat during the rest of the meal.

When preparing raw food nuts and seeds are usually soaked due to the fact that they contain digestive inhibitors. In the larger scheme of things these inhibitors are meant to protect the nut after it falls from the tree, providing the opportunity for it to grow at a later time. What the inhibitors mean to us is tougher digestion. Soaking walnuts, for example, over night will release these digestive inhibitors, making the nuts easier to assimilate and less difficult on our digestive system.
 

3. Raw food contributes to the well-being of your spirit. Better nutrition and a lighter disposition tend to help people see things in an entirely new light. First, when so much nutrition comes through your food your body chemistry is suddenly beginning to repair itself, and your mood and attitude start to seem somehow “on.” Second, the direct energy that the raw food is providing contributes to the well-being of your body and tends to shine outward. The law of attraction tells us that we attract that which we are thinking and feeling on a consistent basis. Raw food of course, is not the answer to your every issue but it certainly could be a start!
 

4. Raw food is delicious! People are most often amazed when they see a raw food meal done well. Its presentation, its taste and the way it makes them feel afterward are all quite a treat. Many associations that people often make with a particular food are actually related much more to the way the food is prepared rather than the base ingredients. For example, a spaghetti made with raw tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, zucchini noodles and all the proper herbs and spices, dehydrated to just the right temperature is just as satisfying as eating the actual pasta. The best part is that the full, bloated feeling that normally comes with a big plate of pasta is thankfully absent. Many who have tried chili from Shakti Life Kitchen will also agree that it certainly does not have to be made with meat or beans to be delicious and satisfying!
 

5. Who doesn’t want guilt free dessert? Ahhh, yes. The guilt-free dessert. It’s many people’s favorite part of eating a raw food diet. There is no refined sugar or high fat content when you are considering a raw food dessert. Yet, made properly, the taste is indistinguishable from the high fat content, sugar laden desserts. It’s the way nature meant for us to enjoy dessert. There are ice creams and pies, cakes and many other kinds of delectable treats to enjoy, all without feeling like you have committed a mortal sin!

Attempting a raw food diet takes a bit of preparation but it is really quite easy to get started. It is recommended that you get some ideas whether from a cookbook, a raw food group, or even eating at a raw food restaurant. Here in the Jacksonville area we have two raw food restaurants (that are also organic!), the Shakti Life Kitchen in Atlantic Beach and the Present Moment Café in St. Augustine. Jacksonville also has its very own raw food meetup group called JaxRaw. They offer potlucks, classes, support and friendship to their fellow raw food enthusiasts.

Natural health is a journey where the ultimate destination leads to a healthy mind, body and spirit. The search for what we should put into our bodies is an important one. It is also important to note that every person is different and each body requires different types of nourishment to function at its highest level. It is often more simplistic and easier on a spirit to encourage good preferences rather than strict habits. Raw food is an excellent preference to add to the list. Why not take some time to try it and see if it will make your list of preferences?