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08 January 2010

Raw-er

Cover of "Raw Food/Real World: 100 Recipe...Cover via Amazon

These days I've been experimenting with eating lots of raw foods. As ya'll know, I really want to lose some weight and so I've decided part of my weight loss strategy is to eat at least 70% raw. This might seem kind of extreme but I do have my reasons:
  1. Eating raw makes a lot of sense to my skeptical scientist side. When you read about raw food diets you will probably run up against a lot of bunk about how raw food has enzymes, how dairy causes mucus build up, etc. These are not the reasons that I am choosing to go raw. When it comes down to it, most of time humans have been on the earth they've been eating raw plants, seeds and nuts. Later on in our human history we added the occasional feast on meat. We've best adapted to raw foods as our fuel source, so our bodies are well equipped to digest these types of foods. Additionally, vitamins and other healthy phytochemicals are broken down by the process of cooking, so raw foods, generally speaking are more nutritious. So, logically, I feel like I should mostly be giving my body raw foods, especially if I enjoy eating them.
  2. I am obsessed with food. Eating raw allows me to still obsess over my food by making all sorts of crazy raw meals. Almost all of these meals are incredibly healthy.
  3. All you really need is a blender and a food dehydrator to make just about any raw recipe. I'm currently faking the dehydrator thing by using my oven on its lowest setting. I know its still quite a bit hotter than I am supposed to go, but I just can't afford a dehydrator right now.
  4. Raw food is yummy. Lots of foods taste more interesting raw. In fact, after just about 2 weeks going raw there are some things I used to like that I think are a little gross. For example, I can tell when a restaurant uses canned veggies and I just cannot make myself eat them. Also, some desserts are just too sweet.
  5. I feel better and I have better energy from eating less food than I was eating before I went 70% raw.
  6. I'm not as dehydrated because I mostly eat non-dehydrated fruits and veggies which have a lot of water. I also drink lots of water because I'm not really drinking much else. Also, for now, I've cut out alcohol and caffeine as well.
  7. I try to avoid the coconut oil enriched raw foods because I know I'm still getting some yummy fats from my 30% non-raw foods. Generally speaking raw desserts and creamy sauces rely heavily on coconut oil and fatty nuts.
  8. My skin is already starting to look nicer! Bye-bye zits!
So, that is what is going on with me right now. I actually do still eat a full complement of foods (dairy, meat, etc.), but the majority of what I put in my body everyday is raw fruits, veggies and nuts. I'm hoping that this diet change is pretty permanent because I feel like it really is what is best for my body...healthy fuel with a small amount of tasty food splurges (yummy filet or ice cream) everyday.

If you are interested in trying some raw recipes of your own I recommend checking out one of Sarma Melngailis's cookbooks: Raw Food/Real World: 100 Recipes to Get the Glow or Living Raw Food: Get the Glow with More Recipes from Pure Food and Wine.
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2 comments:

o said...

oh wow, good for u! thanks for sharing these facts about raw food:) wishing u all the best in 2010!

TheOwlsCloset.blogspot.com

annechovie said...

Fascinating and inspiring...thank you!