Diet: Organic Raw Food

When you are looking for a nutritional diet and foods without chemicals then a raw diet might just be the thing. The natural raw diet consists of eating raw foods that are full of life. It is believed that eating foods that are alive can help you loose weight, restore health, and increase your energy.

Living Food

Raw foods are high in nutritional value and full of enzymes. They are raw, simply uncooked and unadulterated. Raw foods include fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, grains, sprouts, seaweed, and legumes. It is recommended to try and buy organic food whenever possible.

A raw food diet has many health benefits such as better digestion, weight loss, reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, a better immune system, lower cholesterol, and it aids in better complexion. Studies by the NCBI show that high consumption of fruits and vegetables are associated with reduced risks of cardiovascular disease. The NCBI studied 97 men and 107 women on a diet of seventy to ninety percent vegetables and fruits; fourteen percent had high serum LDL cholesterol, forty-six percent and had low HDL cholesterol, no one had high triglycerides, and thirty-eight percent were B 12 deficient.

Enzymes are made of protein and help in the absorption and digestion of food. Without enzymes the body would be congested and lethargic. Never cook foods over 116 degrees because it destroys enzymes. Cooking is also believed to reduce the nutritional value and "life force" of food. 

The organic raw food diet should be seventy-five percent raw uncooked foods. You might wonder if there are any meals other than salads that you can fix, but there are a whole gamut of foods you can enjoy. You can get as elaborate or simple as you please, from gourmet meals to simple dining. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Mushrooms Stuffed with Pine Nuts and Herbs
• Zucchini Stroganoff
• Zesty Gazpacho
• Curry and Carrot Consommé
• Spicy Curry Vegetables
• Zucchini and bits of Onion served with Pesto
• Peach Compote

Foods to Avoid

Processed foods, salt, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, preservatives, additives, unhealthy fats, and all chemicals.