The world of health food as well as diet and exercise is wrought with a wide range of fad diets and health remedies. One current trend making its way into the health and wellness spotlight, however, is the raw food diet, which in essence is no fad at all. A raw food diet relies on food as made by nature, which is healthier for the body, easier to digest, and more beneficial in terms of health and wellness.
What is Raw Food?
At its most basic premise, a raw food diet is a return to food in its natural state. The plan relies on foods that the human body was designed to eat – those made by nature naturally. Such plans limit the amount of cooking and preparation necessary for eating, which also limits preservatives and other processed food additives.
A raw food diet plan consists of a number of different foods and often brings individuals a greater variety in diet. Such a diet includes a combination of fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, sprouts, roots, fresh herbs, raw spices, and seaweed.
Other foods that are “processed” to some extent are permissible as long as the processing does not involve heating the food above 115 degrees. Additional foods that are considered a part of a raw food diet include cold pressed oils, olives, raw nut butters and milk, fermented foods, maple syrup, dried fruits and vegetables, foods cured in vinegar, and a few others.
Health Benefits of Raw Foods
As the body is programmed to eat foods in their natural states, raw foods are more beneficial to the body and offer a number of nutritional and health benefits. Such a diet plan also helps “reprogram” the body, making natural foods more attractive and satisfying.
Permanent weight loss and weight management, improved skin and hair, increased energy and stamina, mental clarity and focus, and emotional balance are all direct benefits of a raw food diet plan. Likewise, specific health conditions, including acne, allergies, arthritis, asthma, cancer, congestion, constipation, diabetes, herpes, infertility, menopause, obesity, thyroid problems, and ulcerative colitis, can be treated using such a plan.
Raw foods offer the maximum level of nutrition from food. As such, a raw food diet is considered one of the healthiest lifestyle changes.
