What is meant by raw foods
The raw diet trend, which means eating organic and unprocessed foods, is one of the new nutritional trends that have emerged in the world recently. Raw nutrition is based on the principle of consuming foods in their natural, fresh form or dried. With this method, where foods do not lose their vitamins and enzymes, food groups such as fruits, vegetables, raw granolas, and nuts can be consumed raw.
Since raw nutrition has been the most suitable diet for human physiology since human history, anyone can use this nutrition method. A raw diet is healthier for those who are new to raw nutrition when introduced with a slow transition process.
Primary health benefits of raw foods
Raw nutrition primarily provides the best use of the vitamins of the food. In addition, raw foods facilitate digestion and increase energy levels. Raw nutrition, which relaxes the digestive system, prevents skin problems, cleanses the skin, and removes toxins. Organs are generally healthier, and the risk for diseases is reduced following a raw diet. Raw diets also strengthen the immune system.
Since the foods do not undergo any processing, they do not lose their nutritional value. Enzyme and vitamin activities are used to the maximum. A raw food diet can also be considered a periodical detox. Since there are no additives, raw food diets reduce the risk of cancer in the long run. As a high fiber diet, raw food diet also helps digestion to work regularly.
Raw food facts about safety of consumption
The raw food consumption movement argues that it is much healthier to eat foods without processing and cooking. Consumption of raw vegetables is believed to be much more beneficial to digestion and overall health. However, some foods are in no way suitable for raw consumption. Here are 5 foods you should not consume raw.
Broccoli: Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and other members of the cabbage family are vegetables that can be consumed raw as flavor. However, when consumed raw, they give a much more bloated feeling. That’s why it’s good to cook them.
Eggplant: Eggplants contain solanine, which reduces calcium absorption and can irritate the gastrointestinal tract. As a result, you may experience stomach pain, nausea, dizziness, and even vomiting. If you cook the eggplant, you’ll neutralize the solanine.
Rhubarb: Rhubarb leaves are toxic. On the other hand, rhubarb is a superfood and is incredibly yummy! So, make sure to cook it first and make it a part of your diet.
Potatoes: It is best not to eat the potato raw. Unripe raw potatoes can contain dangerous amounts of solanine when exposed to sunlight. This can cause the same symptoms as eating raw eggplant.
Kidney Beans: Raw kidney beans are very tasteless. Not only does it taste bad, but it can cause stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Nutrition value and bioavailability of food associated with cooking
Bioavailability is the amount and rate of nutrients at which nutrients can be absorbed by the body after eating foods or taking a nutritional supplement. Any food or supplement taken by the body goes through a process that breaks down food into vitamins, minerals, and amino acids (depending on the type of food consumed). Foods with high bioavailability will allow the body to use all or most of the nutrients found in that food.
When foods are raw, they contain high polyphenols, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes necessary for digestion. Raw foods can be fully digested in our bodies. In this way of feeding, drying and sprouting can be done in daylight. Foods below 46 degrees are considered raw. In raw nutrition, foods can be exposed to heat treatment up to 45-46 degrees. Above 46 degrees, losses in vitamins, minerals, and enzymes are seen in raw foods. When cooked foods are consumed, our body begins to produce enzymes to digest these foods. This may cause premature aging of the body.
5 raw food myths
Myth 1: You must eat only raw foods. Some say you should only eat 100 percent raw food and nothing else to reap the benefits of a raw food diet. Give yourself time to follow the raw food diet. With sudden dietary changes, you can get worse from where you started. Take your time for this. Start slow but keep going. Dedicating one meal a week or every day to raw food will change a lot.
Myth 2: Everything you eat on a raw food diet should be cold. In the raw food diet, you will not be fed only cold foods. This is a myth that many long-term raw food experts still don’t know is false. Food can be heated to a temperature of about 47 degrees Celsius without affecting its nutritional value.
Myth 3: It only includes raw fruits and vegetables. There is much more to a raw diet than fruits and vegetables. It is included in some foods such as seeds, nuts, dried fruits, sprouted grains, dates, raw honey, coconut milk, raw soy sauce (nama shoyu), kimchi, miso, and raw nut butter. You can use pressed crude oils. Cold-pressed oils are obtained at lower temperatures and retain all their nutritional value. Olive, coconut, and sunflower oil are widely used. Some even eat raw fish and meat.
Myth 4: The raw food diet is expensive. Any diet can be more or less costly. Many vegetables and fruits are reasonably inexpensive compared to meat.
Myth 5: I am free to eat whatever I want because I eat fewer calories. If you think so, I have bad news for you. Your body needs the same amount of calories to function smoothly on a raw food diet as it does when following a regular diet. The only difference is that it is more geared towards healthy natural resources and balancing nutrients. Raw desserts contain sugary ingredients like honey and dates, which in part make these desserts so delicious. Sugar isn’t the only culprit; oilseeds such as nuts are often used in raw desserts. For example, suppose you eat a raw dessert made from almond milk and flavored with dates with lots of hazelnuts. In that case, you may be consuming too many calories that might lead to weight gain.
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