Raw Food Diets - Understanding the “Why” and the Benefits of Living Foods

Oct 9
09:18

2014

Robin B. Pimentyl

Robin B. Pimentyl

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Raw foodists suppose that over-cooking food harms the pure nutrients that originate in food, as a result lowering its goodness for our bodies. Using a Rapid Read Digital Meat Thermometer essentially enables you to frequently monitor the temperature of your food - enriching your health and wellbeing.

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The "fashion" of raw cooking (also identified as "raw veganism" or "living foods"),Raw Food Diets - Understanding the “Why” and the Benefits of Living Foods Articles is sure becoming front of mind as people grow to be increasingly conscious of their health and lease on life. A "raw foods" diet consists mainly of unheated food, i.e. food cooked to temperatures lower than 104°F to 115°F (40°C to 46°C). The best thermometer to accurately determine the temperature of your food is a digital cooking thermometer such as efectivCHEF's Quick Read Digital Cooking Thermometer.

“Raw foodists" are of the attitude that foods cooked at temperatures exceeding these levels are bad for our bodies (and could possibly be dangerous), given that they have foregone a reasonable degree of their nutritional worth. Research undertaken by the National Cancer Institute established that people who had eaten beef rare or medium-rare had less than one-third the risk of stomach cancer when compared to people who ate beef medium-well or well-done.

Raw foodists beliefs are based on 4 significant elements:

1. Natural enzymes – which are found in raw or living foods and are vital for developing proteins and repairing the body. These natural enzymes are damaged through the cooking process, thereby diminishing the nutritional worth of the food and developing toxins. In effect, enzymes help the conversion and storage of energy, dissolve fiber, develop active hormones and avert clotting. They help in balancing and restoring the immune system, and have anti-inflammatory effects which heal numerous diseases. When food is heated excessively, many of the enzymes that facilitate digestion are damaged. However, critics are quick to point out that the digestive process damages enzymes, together with other proteins, resulting in them having insufficient health benefit in any event.

2. Vitamins – support the conversion of carbohydrates and fat into energy, regulate metabolism and assist in the formation of bone and tissue. Approximately 80% of the vitamin nutrients (which varies according to each vitamin) are damaged when the food is cooked.

3. Minerals - have a symbiotic affiliation with vitamins and a lack in minerals could cause diseases. As mentioned, when foods are heated above a specific temperature, a lot of the minerals are altered if not totally damaged, causing them to be worthless and ineffective in helping the affect of vitamins.

4. Phytonutrients – reduce the chance of cancer by neutralizing free radicals. Once again, the phytonutrients produced by fresh plant foods could be damaged by heating.

According to raw food believers, a few of the many advantages to consuming raw foods consist of better energy levels, enhanced digestion, clear skin, weight loss and in general superior health. Lots of raw foodists will tell you they include a specific percentage of raw foods in their diet, e.g."75% raw diet" or a "90% raw diet". A few will add unprocessed dairy products in their diet, however a large amount are raw vegans. Leslie Kenton's book "Raw Energy - Eat Your Way to Radiant Health", recommends a diet of 75% raw food to decelerate the aging process, avert degenerative diseases, improve emotional balance and impart enhanced energy.

Raw food followers consume fresh fruit and vegetable juices and most will include a minimal quantity of processed foods, as long as it is not heated above 115°F. Depending on whether one is a raw vegan or a raw vegetarian, a raw food diet possibly will contain:

- seeds and nuts

- all raw vegetables (including root vegetables) and fruits

- sprouts

- fresh herbs and raw spices

- eggs

- squashes and roots

- fish (such as sashimi) and meat (such as carpaccio)

- non-pasteurized dairy (such as raw milk)

- vinegars and foods cured in vinegar

- cold pressed oils

If you are considering subscribing to the raw food regime, an essential kitchen gadget you will definitely want is an accurate, premium quick read digital cooking thermometer such as the meat thermometer from efectivCHEF.com. Making sure your food is heated to under the maximum temperature is crucial for maximizing the value of raw foods. Other kitchen equipment you may want to deliberate include a food processor and a blender. Should you want to extend your new found interest more, you may perhaps invest in a juicer to make fresh fruit and vegetable juice and a food dehydrator. You will come across many recipes to make breads, raw crackers and cookies which require a dehydrator.

So in conclusion, if we want our bodies to more than just survive, but thrive, it makes total sense that we should follow a raw food diet. It seems rational that our body's will sustain their ultimate wellness from the natural nutrients of raw foods, if cooking results in the opposite outcome. Make certain you always have a digital cooking thermometer in your kitchen to enrich your family's health.