Tips to Help Transition to Raw Diet Foods for the Raw Foods Diet

Tips to Help Transition to Raw Diet Foods for the Raw Foods Diet
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What and Why of Raw Foods

The term “raw food” can be misleading to anyone unfamiliar with the diet. The raw food diet is based on uncooked, unprocessed fruits and vegetables accompanied by nuts, seeds and legumes and is usually a vegan diet as well. Raw foodists believe that cooking destroys a food’s enzymes and nutrients, so nothing is ever heated above 116°.

Benefits

There are a number of benefits raw food proponents associate with their diet. Raw food can

  • improve skin’s appearance
  • increase energy
  • help with weight loss
  • improve digestion
  • reduce risk of disease
  • improve overall health

Detoxing during Transition

While transitioning to a raw food diet, the body can experience detox symptoms as the body rids itself of toxins. These can include:

  • headaches
  • fatigue
  • irritability
  • nausea
  • cravings
  • physical pains

One way to lessen detox effects is to drink plenty of water which helps your body remove toxins. Also, get plenty of rest to help your body repair and heal itself. A slow conversion to a raw diet can also help to alleviate or even help prevent bothersome detox symptoms.

Transitioning the Easy Way

One of the simplest ways to begin a raw food diet is to add raw foods to your daily meals. Analyze your diet to see what raw options can be easily added into your day. Begin with a fruit smoothie for breakfast or add fresh bananas or berries or apple slices to your morning cereal. Add a small salad to either lunch or dinner. Introduce some “superfoods” to your diet like spirulina, hemp protein, and maca as well as healthy fats like avocados, seeds and nuts.

Once you become comfortable with these changes, you can replace a meal per day with a raw meal. Or create a raw side dish to go with your cooked meal. Instead of traditional breakfast foods, have fresh fruit, fruit juice or a green smoothie instead. Have raw nuts, seeds or an orange instead of candy or chips from the snack machine for an afternoon snack. If you dine out for lunch, choose a place that has a large salad bar with plenty of fresh options available.

Choose raw versions of items you’d normally buy canned or processed. If you make homemade salsa, use real tomatoes instead of the canned version. Instead of regular nut butter, choose a raw one. Instead of cooking your vegetables, eat them raw accompanies by a delicious raw sauce. Instead of jarred applesauce, make your own by blending fresh apples in your food processor. Use your imagination to challenge yourself to replace anything in your diet with an unprocessed option.

Raw Food Resources

There are numerous resources available for those interested in transitioning to a raw food diet. A visit to your local bookstore will let you explore all the wonderful raw cookbooks available today. Flip through a few to find one with recipes that fit your tastes and lifestyle. Use the internet to find helpful tips or products unavailable in your area. With all these resources, the transition to raw diet foods from cooked and processed foods will be a smooth change for you.

References

Raw Food Diet. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/raw-food-diet

Raw Food Life. https://www.rawfoodlife.com/

Raw Guru. https://www.rawguru.com/