Raw Food Diet: How Many Percent Raw Do We Have to Eat to be Considered a Raw Foodist?

Author: Linda Loo

The word "percent", has been mentioned continuously in the raw food world. We hear it all the time - 100% raw, 90% raw, or 75% raw...

Sometimes its as if 100% is some kind of a destination, and once we get there, its Hooray, but its almost a shame if we ever leave.

In actual fact, raw foodism is NOT a destination. Rather, it is a process of discovery.

Discovery about ourselves, how our body works and ultimately how we affect others around us.

You may already know that eating live foods instead of processed, "dead" foods, frees the body of unnecessary burdens and feeds essential nutrients to your cells.

And so for instance, if we used to eat a breakfast of microwaved pancakes with butter, but we now switch to fresh bananas with nut butter, a number of things are going to happen:

First of all, our digestive organs do not have to deal with the complex carbohydrates, processed sugar and saturated fats from the pancakes.

Hence, the body will not feel the slight comatose (its still slight because the day just began!) which usually comes after eating a starchy/fats/processed sugar combination.

Second, we are not eating microwaved ie. chemically altered foods, anymore. The impact of chemically altered foods are at worst damaging to our cells, and at best unknown!

Yes, Science has not yet uncovered the full spectrum of detriment which DNA altered foods can do to our bodies.

Third, we are flooding our bodies with first-hand natural sugars, nutrients and live enzymes from the bananas/nut butter combo.

These require less effort to assimilate (compared to the pancakes) and nourishment is delivered straight to our cells.

As a result, we feel full, energetic, alive and happy! We are now reaping the benefits of a raw food diet.

The benefits of a raw food diet can be enjoyed by taking in as many raw foods as possible.

It doesn't mean you have to be 100%, or 90%, it doesn't even have to be a percentage. Being 100% raw may not even be an appropriate goal for you in the first place. Just go at your own pace.

A person can be a 100% raw foodist, but totally unhealthy because he is overeating only a specific type of food and thus missing out on other valuable nutrients.

Or she could be overeating nuts and oils, have digestive disorders and thus suffer more from weight issues than ever!

These examples would definitely not see those incredible health benefits often raved about in the raw food world.

And does it mean that if we ever fall off from the 100% mark, we berate ourselves and take off in the opposite direction altogether?

Absolutely not! Raw foods, remember, is an on-going journey. It is an amazing process where you discover about yourself.

And it all begins with discovering how the foods you eat can affect you physiologically, emotionally and spiritually.

As long as we are mindful to eat as much unaltered, raw and fresh organic foods as we can get our hands on, we are on the right track.

So, Raw Foodism re-defined:

A Raw Foodist can be someone who acknowledges that foods he/she eat have an impact on him/her, and strives to give him/herself the best possible nutrients out of every meal.

Relax, enjoy your food and start living your life :)

(C)Copyright 2008, Linda Loo

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/raw-food-diet-how-many-percent-raw-do-we-have-to-eat-to-be-considered-a-raw-foodist-592573.html

About the Author
Linda has always been passionate about the Science of Nutrition for beauty, weight-loss, energy & longevity. She is also a successful Raw Foodist & Certified Raw Food Chef and is ever so delighted to share this gift of knowledge with fellow health enthusiasts! Visit http://rawfoodlifestyles.com/ for more free juicy information on how you can eat your way to a flawless complexion, a sexy body, AND abundant energy now!

Hemp Seeds, One of the Ways to Rebalance and Detox Your Body

Author: Willie Jones

Unless you live in a pesticide and chemical free environment and eat only 100% organic, there is an excellent chance that your body is overburdened, nutrient deficient and headed toward obesity and long term problems. North America in particular has been lulled by the food industry to eat supposedly safe, processed, packaged and canned foods. Well you've been fooled long enough!

Almost every time you open a package to cook something, not only are you eating inferior food, you are also for the most part eating MSG. (Even some organic foods). I cover this in an earlier article and I recommend you educate your self on this subject as well.

In the last 50+ years man has changed the way we eat so much that the health our great grandparents enjoyed are difficult to obtain today. Not impossible but very difficult. Our big problem today is toxicity! Our bodies are toxic and over acidic and we need to take steps to ward off future problems. Hemp seeds can help in a big way!

No other seed or nut that I know of can match the quality and balance of nutrients that the hemp seeds contain. Flax seeds come close but the hemp seed contains the correct balance of Omega 3 and omega 6 essential oils as well as linoleic acid, vitamin E and trace minerals and is an impressive 33% protein.

Hemp seeds are an excellent solution for vegetarians.

Our diets today are often without the correct balance of nutrients, for example, if you take a calcium supplement, you may not be absorbing it into the body because calcium needs magnesium and something acidic with it like a bit of vinegar or lemon juice in water to be absorbed into the body. So it is with omega 3 and omega 6. You need both to provide the cells in the body what it needs otherwise imbalances occur.

You can take fish oils for omega 3 and 6 but if you don't like the after taste or have concerns about our polluted lakes, rivers and oceans, then eating hemp seeds or using cold pressed hemp oil in salad dressings can be a great alternative. They have a mild nutty taste and can be added to just about any meal. It is best to start your morning with hemp seeds in your breakfast, (add it to cereals, yogurt or smoothies or grind them to make a nut butter.) If you want to replace dairy you can make hemp milk a home. Here is a recipe;

2 cups of hulled hemp seeds

Very hot water

Blender

Colander

Hemp cloth or cheese cloth

Put the hemp seeds in the blender. Add hot water to about ¾ of the way. Place the lid on the blender and hold tight with your hands. Start the blender on the lowest setting so that the content doesn't explode out of the blender. (Hot liquids can do that). Once your blender is working smoothly you can increase slowly up to high and blend for a couple of minutes. Place the colander into a large bowl, then place the cheesecloth into the colander. Slowly pour the milk into the colander. When all of the liquid is in the bowl, grab all four corners and squeeze out the remaining liquid. Pour the milk into glass container with a lid and refrigerate. Use it any where you would regular milk.

The body needs healthy fats and hemp seeds have all the essential fatty acids your body wants. When your body starts getting the nutrition and the healthy fats it needs, it will start to detox and rebalance the body to the proper acid/alkaline state and this is what you want because disease only thrives in an overly acid body. Eating hemp seeds daily may restore luster to your hair, improve skin conditions and more importantly may improve cardio vascular health and who wouldn't want that!

You may want to consider the benefits of eating organic fruits and vegetables in addition to hemp seeds to improve overall health


Enjoy!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/hemp-seeds-one-of-the-ways-to-rebalance-and-detox-your-body-463284.html

About the Author:
Willie is a researcher and freelance writer whose own health problems prompted her to gain information on health and wellness and share that knowledge with others. She is co-owner of http://www.cleanbodydetox.com a site that focuses on detox through foot baths and foot massager