Beauty and Health

You may have been hearing about a new diet or a new way of eating. It’s called the Raw Food Diet. The raw food diet is basically what it sounds like. You eat a diet that consists of raw foods. This doesn’t include raw meats. I have had that question asked to me by family and friends. What it means is that you consume a diet of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. All of these foods are eaten in their nature form, which is raw. Yes, even nuts and seeds are raw. When nuts and seeds go through the roasting and/or flavoring process, they are heated and the heating process destroys healthy enzymes that are found in the nut.

So why would someone eat such a restrictive diet? First of all, we have to come to terms with what being restricted from a certain food means. Does it mean that you’re limited to a certain amount or does it mean that you can’t have a certain food all together? Some might ask why eliminate so many things from your diet that are good for you such as, dairy, meat for protein, and the grains group.

Everyone and anyone who’s thinking of making major changes in their diets should get as much information as they can. And upon taking on new changes in one’s diet, they should also pay close attention to what their body is saying and how it’s reacting to the new changes. Those who consume a raw food diet believe that dairy products are bad on the digestive system and the same goes for meat products. These products take a very long time to digest, and if not chewed properly, they can often be stored in the body as waste and never properly removed. When this happens, the body becomes toxic and disease becomes easier in attacking the body. And with our current diary and meat sources, they are so laden with chemicals and growth hormones, that they’re just not healthy for the body. As I said, upon taking on anything new, do your research.

There is a lot to be learned in regards to dairy, meats, and grain consumption. In regards to grains, the grains we are told to consume is found in cereals and processed breads. These cereals have been refined, milled, and refortified with vitamins and minerals. Have you ever noticed how just about everything that we’re told to eat is fortified with vitamins and minerals? If milk is so good why have vitamins been added to it? I believe that milk is good in its raw form. That means the milk has not been pasteurized. Pasteurization kills germs and parasites, but it also kills the good vitamins and minerals that are found naturally in the milk, and that’s why they have to be added back in. So why not just consume a more natural source that’s easier to digest and contains healthy enzymes?

Grains, have you noticed how on cereal boxes and whole wheat bread packages that they’ve also been fortified with vitamins and minerals? Well, if these things are naturally found in the grains, why do they have to be re-added? Have you ever really thought of these things or are you like most of the world? We’re being told what to eat, what to drink, where to live, how to act. Our lives are driven by marketing. If television says milk is good and beef is what’s for dinner, then we buy into in more ways than just one.

There really is such a vast amount of information on Raw Foods, but I am just hitting on the surface. I hope what I’ll say in the next few lines will be of help to you and have you thinking of your diets in a different light. The first thing that I really want you to think about is why you eat. I will often find myself eating when I’m not even hungry. I’ll sit with my family and eat because it’s “family time” and I don’t want to not be with my family. I’ll think, okay, I know I’ll be hungry later, so I’ll go ahead and just eat now, and I’ll often overeat. The other thing to think of is why do you eat the foods you eat? I try to buy healthy foods, but I find all that whole grain fiber rich food gives me gas, and who wants that?

Picture in your mind your local grocery store. Think of all the aisles and the products on them. Now, out of all of those products, how many are in their natural form? Not many at all. In my opinion, if food comes in a can, bottle, box, or bag, it’s been processed. In other words, it’s been torn apart and put back together. Think of all the products you purchase for your family. Think of all the different things your kids like. How many of them are fresh? Now, how many of them are actually healthy?

So how did I come about eating a raw food diet? I was actually at a local whole foods market with a friend and saw a book on the subject. I bought the book and went home that night and began reading it. It made so much sense to me. The next day, I as raving about the diet, but my family looked at me as if I were crazy. My husband said it sounded radical. I thought to myself, okay, I see what I have to do. I’ve got to sneak these foods in under the radar. So, I went to the store that day and purchased organic produce. I started out by just including more fruit into our diets. I cut out all sugars and artificial sweeteners. I would sweeten my family’s foods with honey. They never knew the difference. Gradually I would purchase an organic product that the kids loved and wouldn’t dare part with. I’d replaced things like ketchup with an organic brand. I’d keep their empty cereals boxes and put a similar organic cereal that was in it’s paper sleeve inside if the empty box. I did this for months. I would simply replace the foods with things familiar and just never say a word.

For myself, I started out with replacing my morning coffee with herbal tea and lemon. That was very hard to do, but I did manage to do it. Every now and then I treat myself to an organic cup of java. I am human and I still love my coffee. My breakfast would consist of fresh fruits. For a snack I’d consume dried fruit and nuts. I’d then have a salad for lunch and a green smoothie. For dinner, I would and still eat fish, a vegetable, and greens. I was able to stick with this for a month. I then found myself to be bored and tired of the same old foods. I wanted variety. I would make some gourmet raw foods, but with four kids, I really didn’t have time to grind this, chop that, and let things dehydrate. Did I mention that like any other diet the raw food diet takes a lot of commitment? I would also find myself with gas after eating an all fruit breakfast. And little by little, I found myself eating meat, dairy, and grains again.

But, I really loved the raw food way of eating. Things were so simple. I also had so much energy, and I wasn’t easily excitable. I also lost 10 pounds. I really loved the fact that I could comfortably fit into a few old outfits. My husband liked that too. While out at the whole foods store one day, I ran into a lady who said she’d tried the raw food diet too and it actually didn’t work for her. She would suffer with gas, bloating, and diarrhea. She said she also had great results from the diet and didn’t want to stop it, but at times, she seemed to feel worse than better. She went on the internet and searched until she came across a book that really answered her every question and helped her to know what she was doing wrong. One would think, how can you do wrong by eating raw foods. They’re nature’s foods, fruits and vegetables. Although the diet is great, if done wrong, it can be harmful to one’s health.

When I got back home, I went online and purchased the book. I have since returned to my better days of health and am now eating a raw food diet again. This book was very informative and helpful. I think it’s an excellent source for anyone who may be on the raw food diet presently or is thinking of starting the raw food diet.

To get more information about the raw food diet and learn how it can help you visit: http://www.therawfooddietsecrets.blogspot.com

Fallon Rivers

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fallon_Rivers

Popularity: 1% [?]