Rapid weight loss, increased energy, feeling 20 years younger, glowing skin, improved sex life, immunity to common diseases and even the reversal of serious conditions such as diabetes and cancer---sounds like a miracle tonic. But advocates of the raw food diet say you can enjoy all these benefits simply by swapping cooked food for raw, organic meals. To be considered raw, foods must be uncooked, never heated above 118 degrees Fahrenheit, unprocessed and free of all pesticides, preservatives and herbicides, according to the Best of Raw Food website. If going raw sounds intimidating, begin with a gradual change to your diet until it consists of 75 percent raw foods.
Transitioning to Raw
Step 1
Begin buying as many organic versions of your usual groceries as possible. The Best of Raw Foods lists meat, poultry, dairy products, fruits and vegetables as the best foods to buy organic because nonorganic products contain more pesticides and chemicals than other foods.
Step 2
Eat only fresh, organic fruit or a dairy-free smoothie for breakfast, instead of your usual meal, suggests Karen Knowler, The Raw Food Coach.
Step 3
Fill half your lunch and dinner plates with fresh, living vegetables, Knowler adds. Aim for salads, dark green vegetables, sprouted seeds or beans, and a variety of fruits. Use beans and nuts to add protein to your meal.
Step 4
Add natural snacks between meals to stave off hunger. Eat a handful of natural almonds and fresh fruit or drink a glass of raw vegetable juice. CoastViews Magazine suggests lettuce wraps filled with carrots, zucchini, cucumbers and sprouts with an herbal vinaigrette.
Step 5
Drink large amounts of purified water frequently to flush toxins from your body and to help your digestive system process the raw fibers.
Step 6
Use fresh herbs and raw stimulants to spice your meals while keeping your food clean, or free of additives, suggests Knowler. Add finely diced chili peppers, ginger root or onions to entrees. Use agave nectar and stevia as natural sweeteners.
Step 7
Try a new raw food or raw recipe on a regular basis, suggests the Best of Raw Food. Purchase a raw food cookbook to move beyond salads and smoothies. Use firm vegetables to create pastas, replace flour with nuts for crusts and crackers, and make pates from vegetables and nuts for gourmet snacking.
Juicing
Step 1
Buy a juicer designed to juice the types of fruits and vegetables you will use. Use a twin-gear juicer for grasses and leafy greens, suggests the Best of Raw Foods.
Step 2
Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly. Pre-cut larger, firmer produce into smaller chunks.
Step 3
Juice soft produce, such as berries and cucumbers, first, suggests the Best of Raw Food. Use firmer fruits and vegetables to push softer produce through the juicer.
Step 4
Juice cocktails with dark, leafy greens, wheatgrass and other greens. You can ingest higher volumes of nutrient-packed greens by juicing than trying to eat them whole.
Step 5
Add green grapes and apples to vegetable juices you find too strong to drink. Use fruits and light vegetables, such as cucumbers, to cut the bitter taste of heavier vegetables and dark greens.
Tips and Warnings
- Use fresh juices to replenish your energy fast. Juicing breaks down plants' cell walls, so your body absorbs all the nutrients within 20 minutes.
- Undercooked meats and some vegetables can contain bacteria and parasites. Work raw foods into your diet gradually to avoid digestive upsets as your body gets used to processing whole fibers. Always check with your primary care physician before any drastic changes in your diet.
Things You'll Need
- Organic fruits and vegetables
- Organic nuts, seeds and beans
- Knife
- Cutting Board
- Juicer--twin-gear or centrifuge design
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