8 - Raw Only?

A diet is considered a raw food diet if it consists of at least 75% raw, uncooked fruits, vegetables, sprouts, etc. Raw and living foods are believed to contain essential food enzymes (living foods contain a higher enzyme content than cooked foods). The cooking process (i.e., heating foods above 116°F) is thought to destroy food enzymes.
People who follow the raw diet use particular techniques to prepare foods. These include sprouting seeds, grains and beans; soaking nuts and dried fruits; and juicing fruits and vegetables. The only cooking that is allowed is via a dehydrator. This piece of equipment blows hot air through the food but never reaches a temperature higher than 116°F.
Do you have to follow the regimen that strictly? Of course not. But it’s certainly worth it to incorporate some of these techniques and ideas into your diet. If you tend to snack at work, try taking in carrots or apple slices. Many of the bigger grocery stores now offer packaged vegetables or fruits that make it easier to pack them and take them to work. We’re a nation of convenience, and much of the resistance to healthier eating is that it does generally take a little more effort and time to buy and slice fruits and vegetables. Food retailers have been catching on, slowly, and it’s much easier now to get bags of sliced carrots, celery, apples, nuts and raisins.
Of course these aren’t necessarily organic foods, and organic is the better way to go, but we think anything raw is infinitely better than cooked, processed food. If you have the time, do buy organic and slice them yourself. But if you’re in a hurry, and nowhere near a natural food store, then don’t beat yourself up or sabotage your efforts because you can’t do this 100% all the time. That’s not realistic. Anything from the fruit and vegetable aisle is going to be better for you than a potato chip, or worse yet, a french fry!

Other Articles:

1. What Is The Raw Food Diet?
10 - Sproutarian
11 - Juicearian
12 - Raw Nourishment
13 - Junk Food
14 - Cooked Foods On A Raw Diet
15 - Eat Raw Up Until Dinnertime
16 - Vegan And Raw Food Restaurants
17 - Organic Products And Raw Food Diet
18 - Why Organic
19 - Transform Your Fridge
#2 Why The Raw Food Diet
20 - Tools For Preparation
21 - Juice Vs. Blend
22 - Benefits Of Juice
23 - Types Of Juicers
24 - Dehydrate Fruits
25 - Food Dehydrators
3 - Raw Food And Skin Health
33. Why Go “raw”?
4 - Skin Tone Drinking Water, Coconut Milk, Etc.
5 - Raw Food, Less Water
6 - Why Not Processed Foods?
7 - Vegetarian Compared To Raw
8 - Raw Only?
9 - Fruitarian
49 Christmas Food
50. Eating Organic And Going Raw Can Get Expensive. Here Are Some Tips.
34. Final Note: Why This Is Not A Fad Diet? Humans Have Been Eating Fresh Fruit, Vegetables, And Nuts 10-50,000 Yrs Or More B4 We Discovered Fire, Tools And Implement To Kill Animals.
32. How Can You Be Sure Your Children Are Getting The Nutrition They Need?
New Raw Food Recipes
Raw Food Diet Isn’t Really A Diet
Eating “raw” Triggers Detoxification
Detoxification
Detoxification Hurdle To Pleasurable State
31. Can You Feed Your Children Raw Food?
35. Great Foods That Pass Through Body Quickly And Easily
36. Eating Foods That Are Hard To Digest
37. You Can Get Plenty Of Calcium From Green Leafy Vegetables; Cow’s Milk Isn’t The Best For Your Body..
38. Why Would You Consider Getting A Colonic As A Part Of Your Detoxify Program?
39. An Enema Will Also Keep The System Clean And Fresh, Detoxified.
40. Drinking A Daily Vitamin Packed Drink Of Your Choice That Includes Romaine Lettuce, Celery, Stalks Kale, Apples, Lemon, And Fresh Ginger (or Make Your Own Drink)
40. Why You Should Only Take Sips Of Water During Mealtime? Large Glasses Of Water Impedes The Digestive Process By Diluting The Gatric Juices.
42. Although It Is Difficult For Some Of You To Transform Your Diet Completely, You Do Not Have To Go 100% Raw. You Can Incorporate Natural Alternatives To The Foods You Were Eating (such As Organic Raw Peanut Butter And Not Regular Peter Pan). You Can Also Purchase All Organic, Stay Away From Cow Milk, Incorporate Plenty Of Fresh Fruits And Veggies And Only Drink Water And You Have Dramatically Changed Your Life Already!
43. Why You Should Not Drink Cow’s Milk?
44. Why You Should Reconsider Consuming Soy Milk Often? Soy Is The Most Mucous Forming Food On The Planet.
45. The Next Best Alternative To Ice Cream? Easy To Make Homemade Sorbet. (fresh Fruits)
46. Find Natural Alternatives For Flavor!
47. No More Cans! Fresh Is The Way To Go!
48. Ethnic Restaurants - What To Eat And What To Avoid Like The Plague