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The Role Of Food In The Prevention Of Cancer
The raw food diet is one that has had many people in debate. It’s a diet that consists of uncooked and unprocessed organic raw foods and usually includes fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. When raw fruits and vegetables are cooked, they tend to lose the enzymes, minerals and vitamins, which is why raw foodists find this diet so important to their health.
Most people on the raw food diet do not eat fully raw, but try to dedicate a significant portion of their diet to raw food. Increasing intake of fresh vegetables and fruit is almost always healthy, and most individuals would benefit from a higher proportion of raw foods in their diet.
Portion Of Diet Should Contain Raw Foods
While the diet does have its critics, proponents of the raw food diet list a number of health benefits such as increased energy, weight loss, reduced risk of heart disease and improved skin appearance benefits that cannot be gained by cruising through the drive through and ordering a Number One with a side of fries. Those first starting the diet may experience detoxification as their body goes through withdraws due to the sudden absence fried foods and trans fats, among other things.
Learning to eat a raw food diet is mostly trial and error. Whatever is available and one wants to eat is generally adequate. Protein is found in raw nuts and seeds, such as sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, filberts, etc., and sprouts are also a good source of protein. Plant proteins do not have the same balance of amino acids as animal protein, so a variety of sources are needed.
Living Enzymes are proteins found in raw foods which help the body function. Enzymes are only beneficial to the body if they are living. Once food is cooked or processed, it no longer contains living enzymes. Foods without living enzymes put stress on the pancreas to produce the necessary proteins to function. Living Enzymes in a raw diet restore, repair, and maintain health. Animals replenish their enzymes systems by eating raw unprocessed foods. Your pet?s long term health depends upon these factors, to ensure a long and healthy lifespan.
The organic and raw food diet has become a central part of many eating strategies for those who recognize the benefits that can be derived from eating living foods, or rather foods in their natural form. Many say that this is the way God or nature intended for people to eat, and is a fundamental principal to this approach of eating food raw.
Benefits From Eating Living Foods
One thing is becoming clear (or has been clear for ages, some might say) - that eating uncooked oils has major health benefits, whilst heating oils is known to destroy the goodness, and in some cases turn the oil carcinogenic. Uncooked oils may include cold pressed olive oil, flax oil, soya, hemp or walnut oil, and if used in their raw state, undamaged by heat, light or age, can have major health benefits. This is because the oils can be metabolised easily and used efficiently. Once cooked, however, the molecular structure is changed, and the body struggles to metabolise the fats. This is one of the reasons that people on a high fat raw food vegan diet do not put on weight.
Raw foods are rich in water, fiber, easily absorbed vitamins and minerals, and generally make the body more alkali and less acidic, strengthening the immune system. Many people report more energy, strength, endurance, emotional balance and mental clarity on a raw food diet. Some even claim raw dieting has restored their health after debilitating or “terminal” illnesses.
Water, Fiber, Vitamins And Minerals
In general, the act of heating food over 116 degrees Fahrenheit wipes out enzymes in food. People who live by an all raw food diet will tell you that all cooked food is missing enzymes; additionally cooking food changes the molecular structure of the food and renders it toxic. Living and raw foods also have extremely superior nutrient values than the foods that have been cooked.
Heating Food Over 116 Degrees F.
People who eat a totally raw diet have certain staples in their kitchens. A mainstay of the raw food lifestyle is a blender to grind seeds, grains, and other ingredients. Fresh spices and herbs are liberally used to give food more flavor. Another staple in the raw food kitchen is a juicer. Many foods are juiced for nutritious drinks. The pulp that’s left from these fruits and vegetables is used in other recipes. Lastly, a dehydrator is necessary for fruits and vegetables. A dehydrator is necessary to preserve food in its raw state and use later in various recipes.
Consider the following benefits of eating raw foods. First of all, the chemical transformations occurring with cooked food are avoided in a raw diet. This is the basis for all the other advantages of eating unprocessed food. More precisely, the visible effects of deciding to eat raw foods are: positive attitude you will come to feel better about your own self and actually look happier; health improvement ? diseases are weakened; enhanced vitality you will feel more alive than ever.
Transformations Occurring With Cooked Foods Are Avoided In A Raw Diet
Many times people with chronic illnesses or allergies say their health problems disappear after a month or two of eating raw. Others say they experience improved vision. Health professionals say that this is due to getting the daily requirement of fruit and vegetables?not because they’re raw. Nevertheless, proponents of the raw food diet believe their health is derived from eating food in its natural state.
Additionally, if you are considering exploring raw food eating, please proceed slowly. Raw food diets do promote cleansing. Those who have eaten a “normal” cooked diet for most of their lives are advised to begin slowly increasing their intake of raw foods so as to prevent a detox reaction.
Raw Food Diets Promote Cleansing
As a rule, cooked, refined, and processed foods yield the lowest net gain. Unprocessed, whole food sources offer a superior return. When raw, it is even better. Taken one step further, whole, raw, sprouted foods provide the absolute greatest net energy gain possibly through nourishment, not stimulation.
As the raw food expels the toxins and introduces into your body ample vitamins and minerals, you may experience elimination effects such as tiredness, irritability or headaches. The long-term benefits will be well worth it!
All of the enzymes present in raw foods are destroyed at temperatures as low as 118 degrees Fahrenheit. These enzymes, named “food enzymes” are important for optimum digestion. They naturally aid in digestion and become active as soon as eating commences. Cooking destroys 100% of these enzymes.
This is the last post on this topic, “The Role Of Food And Cancer”.
Posted on June 10th, 2008 by Neil
Filed under: Bladder Cancer - Background, Cancer Prevention, My Cancer, Nutrition
I love living a High Raw, All Vegan (HRAV) lifestyle. It offers flexibility and makes me feel fantastic!
Cheers,
Kristen’s Raw
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