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To be or not to be a raw food eater?
Raw food diet is gaining more and more supporters every year, who are sure that it is the optimal nutrition system for the body. Is it true? What are the benefits and harms of a raw food diet? And what are the principles behind it?
What is a raw food diet?
Raw food-food without heat treatment, primarily vegetables, fruits and berries. The diet also includes dried fruits, a variety of legumes, nuts and seeds. However, some raw food eaters eat animal products: unpasteurized milk, raw eggs, dried meat and fish. Although true adepts replace meat with the same beans, dried eggplants and mushrooms. And they make their own milk from soy, grain and almonds.
Various cereals and cereals are allowed to be consumed in sprouted and soaked form. Raw food products include honey and any cold-pressed oils. They drink only raw filtered or mineral water, as well as fresh juices.
The energy of nature
Ardent supporters of this system believe that raw food is the path to immortality. According to them, the treatment of raw food allows you to get rid of all existing diseases forever, and “live food” helps to live in harmony with nature. What is the real benefit of such a diet?
Most of the vitamins, minerals and amino acids that are found in fresh foods are not destroyed by heat treatment and enter the body in full. The fiber consumed in large quantities improves the digestive processes. Raw food is a healthy diet also because it allows you to clear the body of toxins and other harmful substances in a short period of time. It is believed that raw foodists are less likely to develop heart disease and cancer. It is impossible not to mention that raw food for weight loss is one of the most effective methods due to the low calorie content of products and the almost complete absence of fat and harmful carbohydrates.
Side effects
At the same time, do not forget about the harm that raw food causes to the body. Problems can start at the first stages, because the transition to a fundamentally new food system is always associated with stress. Headaches, diarrhea, irritability, general weakness and poor health will definitely make themselves felt with a sharp change in food habits. That’s why a raw food diet for beginners carries a certain risk.
Nutritional insufficiency is the main disadvantage of a raw food diet. A deficiency of vitamin B12, which is found only in animal foods, has a negative effect on the condition of nerve fibers and the production of red blood cells. Iron deficiency leads to the development of anemia and is especially dangerous for women. With this system, vitamin A, zinc, iodine and magnesium are poorly absorbed.
As a result of raw food, or rather, the lack of heat treatment of food, parasites can enter the body. In addition, some products themselves can cause poisoning. For example, unprocessed beans or soybeans release toxins in the stomach. And many types of vegetable protein are the strongest allergens that provoke negative reactions of the body.
No wonder doctors strongly recommend this food system only to relatively healthy people. That is why the transition to a raw food diet should be carefully thought out and carried out under the supervision of a specialist.
How to start a raw food diet? The rejection of the usual products should be smooth. Meat, semi-finished products, canned food and smoked products should disappear from the diet gradually. They are followed by other animal products, flour products, sweets, tea, coffee and alcohol. Food processing in the first stages can be carried out at 45°C. A higher temperature, according to raw foodists, makes the food “dead”. It is better to soak the nuts in clean water for 4-8 hours. So they will leave the excess bitterness, and they will be absorbed faster by the body.
With a raw food diet, the menu may well include oatmeal. To do this, fill the flakes with water at night, and in the morning add pieces of fruit or berries. Tomato gazpacho and similar cold vegetable soups can also be added to the diet. Vegetable cutlets are also allowed. However, for their preparation, you will have to get a dehydrator. In addition, there is an abundance of vegetable and fruit salads at your disposal.
Among the raw food recipes, there are quite interesting snacks. Using a powerful blender, whisk 300 g of walnuts, 250 g of honey, 1 tbsp of lemon juice and 1 tsp of cinnamon into a homogeneous mass. We form balls and roll them in sesame seeds.
And you can also make almond cheese. Soak 2 cups of almonds in water overnight. In the morning, wash it and grind it in a blender, gradually pouring in 1-2 cups of water. The resulting mass is transferred to a gauze bag and hung for 8-12 hours at room temperature. In this “cheese” you can add garlic, lemon juice and seasonings.
Remember, only a specialist knows how to switch to a raw food diet without risk to your health! Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to enlist his recommendations and pass the necessary examinations.