What is a raw food diet? Recently, this concept is gaining more and more popularity among representatives of different age groups. What is it and what are the main features of this concept? How to become a raw foodist and what can such people eat? Consider the answers to such questions below, based on reviews and raw food results.
General concept
What is a raw food diet? This is, above all, a diet. It implies a special diet in which food prepared by heat treatment is completely absent. Currently, this concept has become widely popular: many people believe that this type of diet is very useful for the body, leaving it young for a long period.
What do raw foodists eat? First of all, representatives of this trend include various fruits and vegetables in their diet, as well as products presented in dried form are allowed. Nuts, legumes and seeds are also part of the regular diet. Despite the fact that there is an opinion that raw-eaters are forbidden to eat products that are of animal origin, it is false, according to experts in this field. On the contrary, they are allowed to eat certain groups of these foods. These include, first of all, raw chicken eggs, meat cooked by drying, as well as milk that did not undergo pasteurization. As for cereals, they can also be used as food, but only in sprouted form or in soaked.
Kinds
In practice, there are four types of raw food diet. All of them consist in the fact that a person adheres to a diet, using a specific list of products.
So, one of these species is omnivorous. In fact, this type of food provides for the possibility of eating the largest number of types of foods. The list of allowed includes all fruits and vegetables, as well as greens, meat, fish, eggs and milk, but exclusively in raw form.
The second type of raw food diet is vegetarian. This type of food categorically prohibits eating meat and fish, however, in accordance with the rules, people have the opportunity to eat eggs and drink milk, but again only in fresh, raw form. As statistics show, it is this type of diet that is most common among the world's population.
Vegan raw food diet is another type of diet. A huge number of people confuse this concept with the one discussed above, but this is a mistake. Veganism means eating exclusively plant-based foods. Vegans do not drink milk or eat eggs.
And finally, the last type of raw food diet is fructorianism. Nutritionists say that this type of diet is the most in-depth. This is due to the fact that the daily diet of a person who adheres to this type of nutrition can include exclusively the fruits of plants, as well as their seeds.
goal
Reviews of raw food diet very often say that this diet helps any person to feel their unity with nature. As for the most notorious fans of this type of food, they assure that it allows a person to remain immortal and not be exposed to any disease.
The reviews about the benefits of raw food, which are left by supporters, but not fanatics of this trend, state that such a lifestyle allows you to strengthen your health and get more vitality.
And what do the experts say about this? Reviews of doctors about raw food diet are different. Some of them urge people to quickly become supporters of the trend, while others, on the contrary, warn against this. According to them, in practice it is necessary to switch to this type of nutrition gradually, exclusively under the guidance of a real specialist in the field of raw food, since the restructuring of the body on a daily diet, in which there will be no warm food, is a very complex process, which can have a deplorable effect on general health.
Is there any sense?
In reviews of the benefits and dangers of a raw food diet, it is often said that this course has a lot of positive aspects. What are they?
First of all, it should be understood that fans of this type of diet, eating food exclusively in a fresh, unprocessed form, get with it the largest number of useful components, which, in the case of cooking, frying, baking and processing any other type, are simply lost. Vitamins and minerals that have not been subjected to heat treatment are well absorbed by the body.
In reviews of raw food diet, one can often find the opinion that people who adhere to this type of nutrition can easily cleanse their body of toxins and toxins that accumulate in it throughout their life's journey. In addition, when exclusively fresh food enters the body, salts of heavy metals evaporate from it, which is also a positive indicator.
Among the inveterate raw foodists, who for a long period adhere to this lifestyle, there are no fat people. This means only that the human body receives only positive energy with food, it has a healthy metabolism. That is why often in the field of nutrition, a raw food diet is offered as a means to lose extra pounds. In social networks and on thematic sites there are a considerable number of reviews about raw food diet with "before" and "after" photos, on which you can observe people with excess body weight, and on others - they themselves, but only in a slender, fit look. In the comments to such photographs there are rave reviews that thinner people look much younger and, of course, healthier. Of course, this is also one of the positive aspects of raw food diet.
Another benefit of this lifestyle is expressed in the fact that with prolonged adherence to this type of nutrition, the cardiovascular system begins to work stably. This is due to the fact that the body is completely cleansed of harmful fat deposits, and also trans fats cease to get into it, the presence of which is the cause of the emergence and development of a huge number of diseases. As for the work of the gastrointestinal tract, it also returns to normal, and the stomach produces a new quality - “food stamina”, automatically rejecting the harmful substances that are present in food.
Harm
However, along with positive reviews about raw food diet, negative ones also have a place to be. They say that a sharp transition to this type of food causes irreparable harm to the body as a whole. In addition, the same consequences entail these actions that are carried out without a properly designed diet and control by a specialist.
Reviews about the dangers and benefits of a raw food diet are full of contradictions. So, many nutritionists note that a normal, balanced diet will be such only when six vital components enter the body in the required amount: proteins, carbohydrates, fats, water, vitamins and minerals. In the absence of at least one of them, many systems fail. Most of the doctors in their reviews of the raw food diet note that people who adhere to it deprive their body of a sufficient amount of substances that can only be found in high-grade food of animal origin, and also do not get the B vitamins that are especially important for the nervous system, which found primarily in milk and beef liver.
In the negative reviews of raw foodists about their diet, it is often said that in the winter it is quite problematic to provide themselves with high-quality plant foods due to the fact that it grows only in the warm season. It should be understood that the various exotic vegetables and fruits that come to stores from hot countries during this period are not only very expensive, but also not always of normal quality. The necessary amount of vitamins in the composition of such fruits is all the more worth considering. Understanding that all vegetables that are grown in winter in greenhouses are often saturated with chemicals, it must be borne in mind that all the benefits of a food style such as a raw food diet are simply reduced to zero.
Categories of people who cannot become raw foodists
Specialists in the field of dietetics single out a number of people who cannot adhere to the ideology of raw food diet. As a rule, this is due to certain characteristics of the body or to the state of health.
Despite the fact that the network can find a huge number of positive reviews of raw foodists with experience on raw food and the results obtained as a result of adhering to such an ideology, many doctors recommend refraining from following them to people who have problems associated with the work of the gastrointestinal tract. This is due, first of all, to the fact that a considerable amount of a special acid is present in raw foods, which irritably affects the mucous membrane of the digestive organs. It is also not always recommended to adhere to this type of food for people who suffer from allergic reactions to any plant products. Often, these include bee honey, various nuts, as well as citrus fruits.
With regard to age restrictions, as a rule, the transition to a raw food diet takes place without any particular problems in people who are in the age category from 30 to 50 years. Doctors often place restrictions on people who have not reached the age of 30. This is due to the fact that in this period, the young organism is still in the formative stage. As for the elderly, they are strictly forbidden to switch to such a nutrition system in view of the aging state of the body.
It is strictly forbidden to take the path of raw food to people who have a shortage of body weight, especially if it is caused by certain medical parameters (disease with dystrophy, anemia or recent surgery).
As for the group of pregnant women, a raw food diet is also prohibited for them. This phenomenon, of course, has a worthy explanation: at such a time, the mother's body must necessarily receive a sufficient amount of protein, vitamins and minerals, most of which are exclusively in animal products. Otherwise, the fetus in the womb simply will not develop normally and the pregnancy will not end in a successful manner.
How to switch correctly
In the reviews of beginners about raw food diet, one can already find a lot of enthusiastic comments about a sharp improvement in health, body tone, and sleep. However, those people who carry out the transition phase in the wrong way often face a lot of health problems. In order to avoid troubles, it is necessary, first of all, to find a worthy specialist who is really versed in such an area, and secondly, to study certain rules that must be strictly followed.
Experienced raw foodists recommend that newcomers in this matter initially study the special literature that talks about this lifestyle and nutrition. There are a considerable number of good authors (mainly foreign ones) who perfectly reveal such a topic. Among them, the most popular are Carol Alt and Colin Campbell. If we talk about Russian, then it is worth paying attention to the works of Victoria Butenko and Sergei Zdravin.
It should be understood that the transition to a raw food diet is a very serious step, which must be approached responsibly. Also important is the awareness of why this is necessary. Switching to such a way of eating should be done gradually, with each week giving up a certain type of food, replacing it with an increasing number of products of plant origin.
So, in the first week you should completely exclude from your diet those products that are goods released from industrial conveyors. These include sausages, semi-finished products, confectionery, canned goods, etc. In the second week, red meat must be crossed out, and in the third, refuse white meat. This is followed by the fourth and fifth weeks, during which eggs and fish should be excluded. In the event that the diet provides for the possibility of using these products (only in raw form), then this step can be skipped. The same applies to the sixth week, during which milk and all products from it are completely excluded from food. The seventh week is final, during this period it is necessary to eliminate porridge from the diet.
Turning to a raw food diet, it is best to keep an individual diary in which notes will be made regarding nutrition.
As practice shows, switching to a food system such as a raw food diet is most convenient in the summer. This opinion is connected with the fact that it is at this time that the highest quality and freshest vegetable products that definitely do not harm the body get on the table. If it talks about winter, then during this period it is most convenient to eat vegetables and fruits stored in the summer, and spring is a great season to eat fresh herbs, radishes and very useful Jerusalem artichoke.
Beginner Mistakes
Many real reviews of raw food diet say that many newcomers to this case make a lot of mistakes related to the wrong selection of products. In particular, they often completely exclude water from their diet, relying on the fact that the body will independently receive it from fruits, vegetables and herbs. In fact, this is far from the case. In order to maintain your body in good shape and health, an adult must drink at least 6-8 glasses of purified water per day.
Another common mistake by raw foodists is their non-use of greenery. The composition of green products (lettuce, dill, parsley, onions, cilantro, etc.) contains a considerable amount of protein that does not enter the body due to the lack of food of animal origin in the raw food diet. You can also compensate for this loss not only with the help of greens, but also by using nuts of any kind.
Some raw foodists include in their diet a large amount of vegetable fats, including, first of all, oils. This is also a mistake, because the fat that is in them significantly worsens the process of digesting food. As for dried fruits, they should also not be abused: in their reviews of the dangers of raw food, many doctors specializing in gastroenterology note that these ingredients are not well digested in the stomach. They are recommended to be used only in the winter, when there is no way to find normal fresh fruits and vegetables.
In addition to all of the above, people who adhere to such a lifestyle and diet as a raw food diet are required to observe a sports regime, as well as properly dose their servings without overeating. Otherwise, there may be a sharp decline in energy, drowsiness and even apathy to everything that happens around.
Raw food diet for weight loss
It often happens that people become adherents of such a way of eating, pursuing the goal of losing a few extra pounds. In reviews of a raw food diet for weight loss, you can often find a lot of enthusiastic comments on how effective this process is. Practice shows that in just two or three months of eating exclusively plant-derived foods, people suffering from overweight reduced their weight by 10-15 kilograms, which, in fact, is an amazing result. You can observe such situations on thematic sites with reviews on raw food diet "before" and "after". Below is one of the many photos of an incomparable result.
So, why do raw foodists lose weight fast? There are scientific answers to this question.
First of all, raw foodists eat vegetables and fruits. As you know, these products contain a huge amount of fiber, which allows you to eliminate unnecessary waste and toxins from the intestines. In addition, freshly consumed food is processed very quickly, but this process requires a considerable expenditure of energy. Among other things, experts in the field of dietetics pay attention to the fact that in the diet of a human raw foodist there are no carbohydrates and fats. , , , .
, , , .
, . . , .
, ( 45-50 %), (30-40 %). , , (10-15 %). , , , , . - 5-10 % . , ( 1 %).
, , , - . , , , . , . , , - .
, , , , .
+
In the reviews of those who have lost weight about raw food diet, it is often said that this dish perfectly helps fight the excess body fat that is in the body. As for doctors, they note that its composition includes components with a rich vitamin composition.
To prepare such a dish, you need to take a tablespoon of oatmeal, pour them with cold purified water in a ratio of 1: 3 and leave it overnight. After they swell, you need to combine them with the juice of half a lemon, add a couple of grated apples, as well as a tablespoon of nuts and kefir. After stirring, the dish is ready.
Some reviews of raw food diet for weight loss say that this recipe can be slightly diversified by replacing kefir in it with the same amount of bee honey.
Smoothie
Fans of such a nutrition system can pamper their body with a real bouquet of vitamins, having prepared a smoothie for themselves. In practice, a beverage is prepared from any product using the same methodology. In the reviews of raw foodists about the results of their nutrition and their condition during the maintenance of the diet, it is said that such a drink can be taken with you on the road and at any time reinforced with new useful substances.
To make a smoothie, you need to take any fruits, vegetables or even greens, rinse, dry and immerse in a blender bowl. Beat the ingredients for minutes until mashed, and then add the liquid (water, kefir) and spices to them. After this, the ingredients must be whipped again. Optionally, you can add a couple of ice cubes to a glass with a drink.
Watermelon soup
Reviews about raw food (photos of the results were presented above) very often recommend the original soup, which is prepared without the use of heat, exclusively from plant ingredients. As noted in the comments, it is very low-calorie, with its help you can easily lose a few extra pounds in a short time. Also in the reviews of those who lost weight from a raw food diet, it is also noted that such a soup is better to cook in the summer, when you can find a fresh and ripe watermelon.
To prepare this dish, you need to take a kilogram of watermelon pulp, peeled and peeled. Berry should be cut into cubes and immersed in a blender bowl. There you must send 20 g of grated root of ginger, a few leaves of mint, a quarter cup of lime juice, 3-4 dates, a small amount of salt (you can use sea), as well as 3-4 ice cubes. All ingredients must be carefully ground until they turn into a smoothie. The soup is ready - it can be eaten.
Borscht
In reviews of raw food diet, one can often find comments on borscht, which can be used by fans of such a nutrition system. You can cook it without using heat treatment techniques, and at the end, according to raw foodists, you get a very tasty dish.
To prepare such a borsch, it is necessary to take 200 g of Beijing cabbage and finely chop it. After this, it should be sprinkled with a small amount of salt and thoroughly washed with your hands so that a little juice stands out from it. Later, you need to grate 150 g of beets and chop the same amount with a blender.
Next, there you need to add 300 g of carrots. Avocado cut into small cubes should also be added to such borsch. This ingredient will replace the potatoes that are present in traditional borsch. Separately, in a blender, it is necessary to chop 2-3 oranges, having previously cleaned them of skins, white films and small seeds. Puree-like citrus slurry, which is formed after grinding the fruit, must be combined with lemon juice (a quarter cup), and then sent to the borsch. For the sharpness of taste, crushed clove of garlic and spices can also be added here. Add 2.5 cups of purified cold water to the ingredients, stir all the ingredients - now you can enjoy the taste of borsch.
Winter salad
Practice shows that such a dish can be consumed not only by raw foodists, but also by those people who are adherents of the usual diet, but still have a desire to lose a few extra pounds. From reviews of raw food (photos of the results of the given food system are presented), you can see that this dish is very popular.
To prepare the salad, you need to chop 250 g of cabbage very finely (it is better to take white or Beijing cabbage), grate an apple and one carrot. These components must be seasoned with sauce, which can be prepared from a tablespoon of lemon juice and the same amount of olive oil. After all, a salad of fresh ingredients should be abundantly sprinkled with finely chopped dill and mix thoroughly.
All of the above recipes are just examples of how raw foodists can eat somewhat varied. It is a versatile approach in the process of creating a menu for the day that is the key to success. As stated in most reviews of raw food diet, a month of a proper diet is a period during which you can improve your health and lose a considerable amount of kilograms. With regard to proper nutrition, this only means that all dishes, the use of which is provided for in the program, must be rich in vitamins and useful components necessary to maintain the body's vital functions.