Raw 101

What is Raw?!

Eating “Raw” is the practice of consuming foods in an uncooked state so that the body can retain the most nutrients in order to nourish itself.  Raw foods were very popular for thousands of years and were replaced by highly processed fatty foods in the last few decades and now Raw Foods are making a comeback in many areas of the Country.  Some believe that following a Raw Lifestyle can be the main factor in curing disease such as cancer, diabetes, and other nourishment related illnesses as well as living a healthy positive and balanced life.

                         

                       

The Premise

The main idea behind eating Raw foods is that foods naturally contain enzymes, which are proteins to help the body with digestion.  When a food is cooked, (Many believe the threshold is above degrees 104F) most if not all of the enzymes are lost.  Therefore when the body tries to digest these substances it must work very hard and use more resources from other processes of the body, such as the immune system, in order to digest this “food”.  Consuming foods Raw, in the form they were created, will put ones body back into an all-star state and improve their overall health.  Not to mention they will feel great and have a peaking immune system!

More to It

Eating Raw is each person’s own but many who follow the Raw Lifestyle are also vegetarian.   Personally I am not technically a vegetarian but I find it difficult to find the time or place in my diet to fit meats.  Most realize they just do not need all that meat once they start filling themselves with delicious, crunchy, sweet fruits and vegetables.  It is also recommended to avoid dairy overall.  “Dairy is one of the most mucus forming foods we can consume – mucus is the body’s way to protect itself from unwanted toxins.  One of the elements in cow’s milk is casein, a major ingredient in one of the strongest wood glues on the market!  ………..and THIS is meant to make us ‘healthy’?!  The surface of the digestive tract that is designed to absorb the nutrients from the food we eat becomes covered with a mucoid plaque (film) that protects our blood from toxins that would make us severely sick if absorbed.  Unfortunately this same film doesn’t allow us to absorb any nutrients.   Over the years the mucoid plaque gets thicker and harder and we become under-nourished.  Some people do not want to eliminate dairy all together and for those who fall into this category, exchanging cow’s dairy for raw goat dairy is a healthier choice as goat’s milk is easier to digest and doesn’t have the same make-up as cow’s dairy – the make-up that makes us toxic.”  Almond milk is a personal favorite of mine and a delicious alternative to dairy milk.    Another practice that some Raw Foodists follow is the separation of meals that contain fruits and vegetables.  Meaning they do not eat both fruits and vegetables at the same meal.   Most fruits are broken down to an alkaline ph.  Vegetables break down to form acids. When fruits and vegetables meet in the stomach, they neutralize and digestion is slowed. The same is true with starches and meats as well as grains and dairy.  A lot of digestive problems as well as acid reflux have been linked to a improper acid-alkaline balance in the body.  Sticking with fresh uncooked food that comes from the ground is the best way to nourish the body and mind, no doubt.  These are all things to keep in mind when one is planning their diet.

Specifics

Most people cannot start out at a 100% Raw Lifestyle, being it is just a too drastic of a change.  Usually it is best to start low and work up.  Many choose to start at 50% Raw because it takes substantial lifestyle change but is still manageable to a regular person.  I am personally an all or nothing kind of guy and started out at about 90-95% Raw but I knew I would not succeed unless I made a drastic change and started seeing instant results.  When starting out it is many times difficult to stick to Raw foods and a lot of people will get cravings.  If one craves cooked food, they should let themself cheat a little and have a small sumtin sumtin as a treat to a job well done so far and to keep sane.  It is better to eat a small amount of cooked food then to try and hold until one breaks and splurges or even drops the diet completely.  One should know their limits and what is needed in order to reach their goal.  I love bread and pita so I have always kept a small amount of cooked grains in my diet.  For some the transition may just be starting to incorporate more Raw foods into the diet.  Others might wake up one morning and decide to never eat a cooked food again.  Whatever route someone chooses to take they need make sure they do not burn out before having had the chance to feel the power of Raw natural foods on the Raw natural body.

Detox

The first few days of 100% or mostly Raw might be tuff.  At this point the body is expelling many of the toxins it has built up for years from pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and many other chemicals.  One will become more physically aware.  Sensations will be stronger, the goods feel great and bads will feel worse.  They will become mentally clearer.  Many people claim this was their main reason for changing to Raw, the sheer clarity of the mind after doing so.  The brain will feel as if it can function better and is released from a sort of toxic daze.  One will become quicker to thoughts and more agile mentally.   There are a ton of benefits but also a few side effects tied with the detox, which can include physical cramps, pain in the joints, loss of energy, nausea, headaches and much more for the first few days.  I had red itching bumps that formed and faded away within a few days.  These side effects are the body releasing toxins which it has collected for years and years.  After the initial stage of the detox one will start having large boosts of energy.  Many have experienced a positive mood change after 2 or 3 days of eating Raw.  A lot of this depends on ones age and previous diet as well as their current physical health.  After 2-3 days a person will probably have shed a couple pounds.  A lot of weight can be lost simply from the cleansing of the digestive track.  I lost 4 pounds in my first 3 days of detox, none of which was water weight.  Eating Raw will cause a person to continue leaning up, losing fat, and expelling unwanted substances from the body.  Anyone who gives it a try will not be sorry.