How to Start Raw Food Diets
Weight loss, increased immunity and stamina, overall health and well-being---these are a just a few of the motivating factors that spur people to begin a raw food diet. Also referred to as living foods, raw foods have been veiled in awkward theories and backward ideas that leave most people thinking that eating raw is difficult, time-consuming and stressful. But it doesn't have to be.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Organic raw vegetables
- Organic raw fruits
- Organic raw nuts
- Juicer
- Blender
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How to Begin a Raw Food Diet
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1
Buy organic. Eliminating pesticides from your foods is critical to optimal health. Did you know that you could be eating over 30 pesticides when you consume the average apple---and that's after washing it? Organic food has been shown to contain at least 50% produce more vitamins and minerals than produce that has been intensively farmed. Remember, you are what you eat.
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2
Become a juicer. Juicing fruits and vegetables is an ideal way to jump start a raw food diet. Packed with natural enzymes, vitamins, minerals, co-factors and life force, juicing will boost your immune system, kick up your energy levels and make you feel healthy fast.
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3
Blend some amazing smoothies, another way to kick-start your raw food diet. Smoothies are a huge staple in the raw food diet. Blending fruits with raw almond milk or hemp milk can help add protein to any meal. Often, they're filling enough to be a meal by themselves.
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4
Take it up a notch with superfoods. Superfoods are power-packed foods that are nutrient dense. A few raw superfoods are wheat grass juice, goji berries, maca, cacao nibs/powder, bee pollen and hemp seeds. Some can be added right into a smoothie for a running start in the morning.
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5
Eat green whenever possible---green vegetables that is. Green leafy vegetables and broccoli have higher levels of zinc, calcium and protein than fruit and are a critical part of a raw diet. About 500 grams per day of green vegetables---lettuce mixtures, broccoli, kale, spinach---are sufficient to bring mineral and protein intakes into line with general recommendations. Choosing a salad as the main part of a meal is an ideal way to accomplish this.
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6
Think whole foods and add to your diet gradually. Try something new each day, week or month. Whatever works for you; don't push it. Before you know it, a large portion of your diet will be raw foods, and you feel the difference.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Identifying your motivating factor is key: weight loss, health, detox. Knowing why you want to make changes to your diet will give you a positive place of reference. Don't think about all of the foods you're eliminating from your diet, focus on the healthy, raw foods that you can add to your diet. Use raw food cookbooks to learn how to prepare a wider variety of raw foods. Some of the top organic foods are: meat, poultry, diary, strawberries, spinach, cherries, peaches, celery, apples and green beans.
If you have health problems or are on medication, consult your physician before drastically changing your diet. Following a complete raw food diet will cause weight loss.
