The typical modern diet contains high levels of saturated fat, calories, additives and preservatives. Proponents of a living, or raw, foods diet claim that eliminating all cooked and processed foods is a nutritious alternative to this typical, unhealthy diet. Consult your doctor or a nutritionist before beginning a living foods diet to ensure that it is a healthy and safe choice for you.
Guidelines
The guiding principle of a living foods diet is to avoid any food that has been heated over 118 degrees Fahrenheit. Dieters also eat unprocessed foods and choose organic produce that has never been irradiated or treated with pesticides. The purpose of the diet is to consume foods containing living cells with enzymes undestroyed by cooking. These enzymes purportedly improve digestion and food absorption.
Diet Features
The bulk of a living foods diet consists of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables. Focus on eating leafy greens, broccoli, carrots, tomatoes, eggplant, squash, bananas, citrus fruits, apples and pears. Ungerminated seeds, sprouts and nuts are living foods that provide important proteins. Bagels and breads made from ungerminated seeds are acceptable on a living foods diet.
Nutrition
Living foods dieters receive many important vitamins and nutrients because of their high consumption of fruits and vegetables. Overall, it is difficult to consume enough calories to meet your daily needs while on a living foods diet. Many dieters rapidly lose weight after beginning the diet. Balance your intake of carbohydrates, healthy fats and protein by carefully planning meals. A living foods diet cannot provide adequate levels of vitamin B-12, which is only found in animal sources. Take a dietary supplement to ensure that your body receives this nutrient.
Benefits
Proponents of a living foods diet claim it promotes overall health. Dieters report feeling more energetic and less fatigued after several weeks on the diet. Eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables also might boost immune functioning and improve your mood. Dieters frequently lose weight when they begin a living foods diet because of decreased caloric intake.
Warning
Little scientific evidence supports the claims of living foods diet proponents. The diet might improve health because adherents cut back on intake of unhealthy, processed foods. This switch to more nutritious foods, rather than the preservation of living enzymes by eating raw foods, likely underlies health benefits. A living foods diet can be dangerous for your health, because raw vegetables are potential sources of food-borne illness. Talk to your doctor before embarking on a living foods diet.
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