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The main purpose of a raw food diet is to gain all the enzymes in foods that are usually taken out by denaturalization (removal of enzymes through cooking). Foods are the most healthful for people when they are uncooked, in their raw forms. Our bodies produce its own enzymes, but this is why it is important for us to try to consume as many enzymes as possible as well. If we are eating enzymes, our bodies do not have to work as hard to produce it. Enzymes are what help our body to digest foods and absorb nutrients therefore, overtime the lack of enzymes will bring up problems such as, nutrient deficiencies, weight gain, excessive aging, and digestive issues.

Many people choose to go on a raw food diet because vitamins and minerals are also lost in the process of cooking. Vitamin C and Folate, for example, are completely diminished when cooking foods. There are some foods that are actually better for you when cooked and they provide more nutrients such as, tomatoes. Cooked tomatoes are better than raw tomatoes. That's why it is important to see which kinds of food you can consume on a raw food diet. It is considered a raw food diet when someone is consuming 70% or more of raw foods in their diet.

 

What Can I Eat?

Raw food diets are extremely challenging and it is difficult to find out which foods you can eat. Finding out which foods you can have is half the battle, though. After you find out what you can eat, you have to deal with cooking the foods in processes of germinating, sprouting, dehydrating, and more. It can be very frustrating when first starting a raw food diet. This is why it is important to slowly transition. Do not start with the germinating and sprouting processes, maybe. A good way to start is by eating things that you already did in the past such as, salsa, guacamole, and nuts. The best way to receive your nutrients in a raw food diet is by soaking or sprouting your food. Here is a brief explanation of how to do each, but don't get discouraged if you can't do it. Do some more research online to figure out what you need to successfully prepare your raw foods.

 

-Germination- Start with buying dried, raw, and preferably organic seeds or nuts. Then you will place them in a glass container with room temperature water inside and then a cover over the top of the container. You will soak them for hours at a time (depending on the seed or nut). Most people will just soak their seeds or nuts overnight,because it is more convenient. The next day, you will rinse them off a few times.

 

-Sprouting- After you germinate, you will put the seeds or nuts in a different container. Leave them for the recommended time and a sprout will grow. You can store your sprouted seed in the refrigerator for about 5 days.

 

I have created a Raw Food Diet Plan to exemplify a day in the life of a raw food diet. It will show an example of what you could eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There are many helpful websites out there that can give you more ideas of what to eat on a raw food diet.

Breakfast: Raw-Food Smoothie (wheat grass juice, Goji Berries, etc.), and oatmeal.

Lunch: Fresh Fruit (apples, blueberries, grapes, raspberries, oranges, etc.),  coleslaw, and nuts (almonds, pecans, cashews, etc.)

Dinner: Spaghetti (Raw Food Diet Recipe)

It is important to start off small. Baby steps. It will be hard to just change your diet that fast. Diets are difficult and it takes time and dedication. 

Many times people are skeptical about dieting. That is okay. It is intelligent to research and learn about diets before going on one. People are always questioning how they get their nutrients from this diet. That is a great question. That is the problem with many diets. They never let the person eat enough food, and sometimes that can be a problem, because you are not getting your nutrients either. 

How Do I Get My Nutrients?

• Carbs - Carbs will come mostly from fruits, grains, and starches (carrots).
• Protein - Germinated nuts (almonds), seeds, grains, and leafy green vegetables.
• Fats - Nuts and Seeds, avocados, and coconut butter.

Hopefully this article was helpful for you. Remember it is very important to research about diets before going on. If you are looking to change your lifestyle, you always need to look into it first. Raw food diets are completely healthy and safe. You just need to make sure you are getting all your nutrients. A raw food diet consists of at least 70% of raw foods for your diet. When you achieve this diet, you will see amazing benefits such as, increased energy, clearer skin, and weight loss. Raw food diets can also prevent risks of diseases. Raw food diets are difficult and can be very discouraging at first. Just remember to start off slow and transition to your diet, rather than just change in one day.

About the Author

Katy Stephens Katy Stephens is a 19 year old college student who enjoys writing about health and wellness. She has a passion for graphic design and writing blogs.