If you've ever wanted a crash course on raw foods, this is the post for you. Raw foods can be defined as live, uncooked, fresh, and unrefined foods. They regenerate the body and prevent the depletion of enzymes, which are rightfully nicknamed the “Foundation of life”. Every chemical reaction that takes place in the body is dependent on enzymes, and as we age our natural supply of enzymes gets lower and lower. Once they are gone, that’s it! It’s up to us to replenish them. The problem is that most people don't. This is part of the reason our country is in the middle of a disease epidemic! Our body’s ability to function, heal and repair itself, fight diseases, and grow is dependent on enzymes. Someone once told me to think of enzymes like a key to a car. Without that key, the car won’t start!
Besides the ubber-important concept of enzymes, the benefits of raw foods are endless. That’s right folks. They’re not just for hippies anymore! As we awaken to the fact that all disease and sickness is directly linked to diet, more people are shunning conventional medicine in favor of a more holistic approach. I can tell you without hesitation that prevention of disease starts with raw foods. Even scientists now agree that cooking not only destroys nutrition and enzymes but chemically changes foods from the substances needed for health into acid-forming toxins, free-radicals and poisons that destroy our health!
So what’s the big deal with acidic foods? Your body is smart and fights to remain in a constant state of balance. Whether your body is in an acid or alkaline state will determine the quality of life you will experience. If you’re living off acidic foods like meat, dairy and processed pre-packaged meals , you are creating a breading ground for disease. Your PH levels will be off. PH is a measure of how much acid is in the blood. The PH is measured on a scale from 0 to 14 (0 = pure acid and 14 = pure alkaline). Our body strives to be more alkaline, about 7.3 - 7.4. There is no wonder drug that can change your PH balance. It all comes from the food you eat. To really make my point hit home, did you know that scientists have found cancer thrives in an acidic solution, while it is unable to survive in alkalinity? This is why people are actually curing cancer with diet! Kris Carr is one of thousands who has taken this approach. This is why I love to do a juice cleanse when I indulge a little too much, begin to feel sluggish or crave coffee. It’s a great way to give my body some much needed healing time! I instantly feel better when I bring my PH levels back into balance.
To summarize, all food is energy. Like gas for a car, we can only expect to get out of our bodies what we put in. All foods that are “raw” have life and therefor are life-giving. Because they break down naturally in your stomach, you won't be expending extra energy to digest them. This is why raw foodists are so full of life! Raw Foods increase energy, vitality, and an overall sense of well being. They cleanse the body of accumulated toxins and waste. They contain the highest concentration of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. They help prevent disease through proper cellular regeneration and help to alkalize the body. And, if you’re looking to lose or maintain your weight, they decrease fat production! Now, that’s staying healthy and slim the natural way!
I could write a book on raw foods and their benefits. Raw foods fascinate me and I encourage you to do more research on your own. The purpose of this article was simply to touch on the importance and hopefully inspire some of you to incorporate more into your diet! If you only took away one piece of advice from this blog post it would be to try and eat 51% of your daily intake from fresh raw foods that have not been processed. Below is a list of alkalizing foods to chose from. I’m working on getting more raw food recipes up too!
VEGETABLES
Garlic , Alfalfa , Artichoke, Asparagus, Avocado , Fermented Veggies , Watercress, Beets, Broccoli, Brussel sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery , Chard, Chlorella , Collard Greens, Corn, Cucumber , Dandelion Greens , Eggplant , Kale , Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Mustard Greens , Dulce, Dandelions, Edible Flowers , Onions , Parsnips , Peas, Peppers, Pumpkin, Rutabaga , Sea Veggies , Spinach, Spirulina , Sprouts , Squashes , String Beans, Swiss Chard , Alfalfa, Barley Grass, Wheat Grass , Wild Greens , Nightshade Veggies
FRUITS
Apple, Apricot , Avocado, Banana , Cantaloupe , Cherries , Currants, Dates/Figs Grapes , Grapefruit , Guava, Lime , Melons , Nectarine, Orange , Lemon, Mango , Peach , Pear, Persimmon , Pineapple , Plum, Pomegranate , Prune , Raisins , All Berries , Tangerine , Tomato , Tropical Fruits, Watermelon,
PROTEIN
Sprouted beans , Almonds, Chestnuts, Tofu (fermented) , Flax Seeds Flax Oil (cold-pressed) , Pumpkin Seeds , Tempeh (fermented, ) Squash, Seeds, Sunflower, Seeds , Millet Sprouted Seeds , Raw Nuts-(Soak 1st ), Young Coconut meat
OTHER
Apple Cider Vinegar , Agar , Bee Pollen, Lecithin Granules, Probiotic Cultures Green, Fresh Veggie Juices , Fresh Fruit Juice , Organic Milk (Raw/un-pasteurized) , Mineral Water Alkaline, Water, Green Tea, Herbal Tea, Dandelion Tea, Ginseng Tea, Banchi Tea , Kombucha Tea, Young Coconut Water , Alkaline Water
SWEETENERS
Stevia , Honey, Raw & pure
SPICES/ SEASONINGS
Cinnamon , Curry, Ginger , Horseradish , Mustard , Chili Pepper, Sea Salt, Miso Tamari, All Herbs
ORIENTAL VEGETABLES
Maitake, Daikon, Dandelion Root , Kelp, Shitake , Kombu , Reishi , Nori , Umeboshi , Wakame
IF you’re serious about alkalizing your body and restoring your PH balance, contact me to schedule a juice cleanse in February!
