What’s all the fuss about the raw food diet?
What is raw food?
A healthy raw food diet is made up of whole foods in their natural state, such as:
- fruit (sweet, greasy or starchy)
- vegetables
- Nuts and seeds
- vegetables (usually sprouted)
- grains (usually sprouted)
- sea vegetables
- raw seasonings
- edible algae (spirulina and nori)
As with most things in life (especially diet), there are various points of view about the best approach to go on a raw food diet. It’s purely individualistic and the only way to determine the best approach for you is to do some research and try different eating styles. Many people get caught up in the online confusion and politics surrounding the best approach to eating and thriving on a raw food diet and then never start. Don’t let politics or a lack of direction get in the way of experiencing extraordinary health through simple eating.
Popular Types of Raw Food Diets
Low GI Raw Food Diet: Or also known as the low sugar fruit diet. A person following this diet would avoid sweet fruits as much as possible, while eating tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, bell peppers, lemons, and limes. Their main nutritional focus is on vegetables, sprouted grains, sea vegetables, nuts, seeds, and avocados. This is often seen as a ‘gourmet’ approach to raw food.
Diet rich in sweet fruits: People who eat a diet rich in fruits try to get most of their daily calorie intake from sweet fruits, such as pineapples, bananas, mangoes, dates, oranges, melons, apples, and stone fruits. Their diet often includes green leafy vegetables, starchy vegetables, and sometimes small amounts of nuts and seeds.
80/20: that is to say 80% raw and 20% cooked. This is often referred to as a high-raw food diet in which people eat raw foods (mainly fruits and vegetables) during the day and then consume low-fat cooked vegetables and legumes at night.
Smoothies, and green smoothies in particular, have been the new buzz term in mainstream health circles of late. Blending and juicing is the easiest way to ensure maximum nutrition for ourselves and our families. Just adding a fresh green juice or raw vegan smoothie to your diet every day can have a huge impact on your health.
It’s now much easier to find a fresh juice and smoothie bar in your local area than ever before, so next time you’re out and about, instead of grabbing coffee, grab a fresh juice or green smoothie and feel your cells come to life.