A living food is any plant-based food that has not been cooked over 116 degrees Fahrenheit, thus protecting its natural enzymes. A living food diet is not just a vegetarian or vegan diet, but it is a certain lifestyle. Raw foodists are people who consume a minimum of 75 percent raw food within their everyday diet. They maintain that they have increased health, clear minds and limitless energy. Some advocates of a raw food claim optimum health, spiritual enlightenment and even the ability to break away from tobacco, alcohol and drug addictions more easily.
Clear Skin
Most raw foods contain an abundance of antioxidants, may of which are beneficial for the skin. To obtain blemish-free skin, center your meals around fresh vegetables and fruits, particularly orange and yellow ones. Eat non-animal protein sources such as beans and lentils, which are full of skin-protecting properties. Switch to plant-based canola or flaxseed oil, nuts and seeds in place of animal fats to help prevent skin blemishes. Stay away from carbonated beverages and commercial fruit juices and instead opt for pure mineral water or homemade juices.
Improved Digestion
The body releases enzymes into the digestive tract in order to help digest your food. Raw foods contain an abundance of enzymes that can aid in digestion. Cooked food requires more energy to digest than raw food, which can deplete the body's own stores of enzymes. Raw foods digest more easily and pass through the body's digestive tract twice as fast as cooked food. Dieters say they experience less acid indigestion, bloating and gas after eating any raw food. Raw foods are also high in fiber, which will help eliminate constipation.
Improved Sleep
A person on a raw food diet often requires less sleep each night and generally will wake up with more energy. When you eat a lot of cooked food, your body uses a lot of energy to properly digest it. This is the reason why you may feel sleepy after eating a big cooked meal, which requires more sleep to recover from the extra energy output. Because you expend less energy when eating raw foods, you may feel a lot lighter and better rested even after less sleep.
Less Hunger
The enzymes present in raw foods are still alive, which means the nutrients are still active. The active nutrients that are obtained from the raw food will therefore be easily absorbed at a faster rate than if the food was cooked. This will lead to a feeling of fullness and you will be more satisfied after you have eaten. Supporters of raw foods claim that hunger is decreased throughout the day because their bodies are receiving complete nourishment from the food in its raw state.
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