Let’s Get Cookin! Raw foods, fun or frustrating? 5/8/18

Raw foods.  A trend in healthy eating that’s becoming more and more popular.

The simplest example I can give you is a salad.  Grab your favorite greens and raw veggies add some fresh dressing and you’re ready!

Let’s break down what a raw foods diet is and it’s health benefits.

A raw foods diet is comprised of mostly uncooked fruits and vegetables that have not experienced an internal temperature of 107 degrees or more.  All whole, unprocessed foods contain the nutrients for that food unaltered and are of the maximum use to our bodies.  What’s the perfect raw foods diet?  Lotsa fresh fruits and veggies daily.  Add in some nuts, seeds and sprouted grains for additional benefits!

So why raw foods?  Good question!  Some of the benefits may be to lose weight, help with a health related issue, improve your skin appearance, aid digestion and the possible reduction of diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease and more.  Most raw foods do not contain unhealthy fats as do many of the processed and cooked fast, junk foods. You may want to eat raw foods ethically for the animals or to save our planet!

Here’s an interesting thought from https://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/benefits-of-raw-food-diet/ “Universally it seems that most cells in nature start to malfunction and die at a temperature above 106 degrees, even our own body cells suffer greatly at a body temperature above 106 and by the time it reaches about 108 degrees its goodbye. There is not much wiggle room between life and death here”.

When foods are cooked some of the nutrients within the food are destroyed.  Raw foods are  nutrient dense and contain plant phytochemicals which may help with disease prevention.

Be aware that toxins can occur in non-organic raw foods from pesticides.  Organic and locally grown foods are great options to try.  Check out your local farmer’s markets!

As always do your research and contact your healthcare provider before making any dietary changes.

As a Certified Personal Fitness Chef and in Raw Foods Recipes and cooking, I combine both to teach you how incorporated healthier food choices into your lifestyle.  Contact me for more info!

Here’s my simple raw food salad:

2-3 leaves of your favorite greens, washed and torn into bite sized pieces

1/2 tomato cut into small dice

3 slices of cucumber-1/4 inch, peels on, or cut into a dice

a shredded half carrot washed but not peeled

one or two slices of your favorite peppers

a splash of olive oil, balsamic vinegar or lemon juice (about 2 teaspoons)

Himalayan pink salt and pepper to taste!

Enjoy!   Serves 1

https://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/benefits-of-raw-food-diet/

*Disclaimer-This information is solely for informational purposes.  IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE.  Kim Gerhardt, Certified Health Coach, does not take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of  medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information.  The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.