Why Should You Switch to a Raw Food Diet?

by Kelly Cannon on April 26, 2010 · diet

in diet

The raw food diet seems to be the latest weight loss craze – actors, actresses and even the guy next door all seem to have jumped on board. And the name of the diet makes it pretty clear what the idea behind the diet is – you’re expected to eat raw, living foods for the majority of your meals.

Now it’s not necessary to eat 100% raw food on this diet, and we certainly don’t expect you to eat raw meat! What we do aim for is to have at least 75% of our diet consisting of raw, living, organic fruits and vegetables, nuts and grains. So that’s what the diet is – but why is this manner of eating winning over so many converts? What has convinced so many people to change their habits and start eating this way?

The raw food diet is a great way to lose weight. Most people who switch will drop pounds or at least find that it’s much easier to maintain their weight, while eating a much more filling diet. However, that’s not even the biggest plus of eating raw foods. The foods we eat are full of vitamins and mineral when they’re raw, and cooking them at high temperature can destroy all that healthy goodness. Additionally, raw foods contain enzymes which help our bodies in the digestive process. Cooked fruits and vegetables lose these enzymes, and become more difficult for out bodies to digest. This makes your body less efficient, and means you get less nutrients from the food you eat.

Those in favor of the raw food diet say that this difficulty in digestion means our foods hang around in our digestive tracts longer. Food doesn’t get fully digested, and becomes waste, and further slows down the passage through the intestines, causing bloating, gas and constipation. Some studies say this can possibly lead to some kinds of cancer. Eating more raw veggies and fruits increases our fiber and water intake. The natural fiber and water helps food move more rapidly through your intestines, leaving less waste product to interfere and cause problems. Increased fiber and fluid help your body to digest food more efficiently and your body absorbs more of the nutrients that are so essential to its well being.

But your digestive tract isn’t the only part of your body that benefits from the raw food diet. Because you’re maximizing the absorption of all those nutrients more efficiently, you’ll find that you have more energy for other things. You’ll feel more active, and will find that your hair and skin will start to look healthier because your raw, organic diet contains more nutrients and less toxins. Your skin especially is a great indicator of how healthy you are inside, while showing how healthy you are on the outside.

As mentioned before, you will quite likely lose weight, and will find it much easier to manage your weight, as this healthier way of eating is naturally lower in fat and calories than most people’s regular diet. Most of the fats that you will eat are healthy, from nuts and other plant sources. Because of this, there’s less fat in your body to clog up arteries or to hang around on your hips – that means you’ll be at less risk of developing deadly heart disease.

Learn more regarding raw food diet foods. Visit Kelly Cannon’s site where you can find out all regarding eating raw foods and how you can make a change in your health now.

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