All sorts of diets have come and gone. Some of them proved to be mere fads, while others have lasted for much longer periods of time. One diet that has been gaining popularity in the recent years is the raw food diet. Based on the name of the diet, it is pretty much obvious what it is all about: you stay away from cooked food.
What is the basis behind this diet, though? Contrary to popular opinion, the raw food diet is not primarily for weight loss. Instead, the main principle is to live a healthier lifestyle. Dropping the pounds – weight loss – is merely a by product of eating healthy food items. In order to make the most of the raw food diet, you have to understand some simple rules. And, even if the raw food diet isn’t strictly under the weight loss programs category, these rules will certainly help you achieve your goals.
Here are the 4 rules of the raw food diet.
Rule 1: Eat RAW
You think? Seriously, though, this fact cannot be emphasized enough. While it may be a no brainer, it is important to always bear in mind the basic principle of the diet: what passes through your mouth should be uncooked food. For the uninitiated, the mere mention of raw food makes them squirm. Images such as fruits, green crunchy vegetables, and the like come to mind. Bear in mind, though, that there are plenty of choices when it comes to this “weight loss program.”
You can eat raw fish such as sushi and sashimi. You can even eat smoked fish – salmon and mackerel are pretty good – as part of the raw food diet. There is also raw cheese, which is even better than processed cheese anyway. Other choices include nuts, seeds, dried fruits and vegetables, and even raw meat (tartare).
Rule 2: Eat ORGANIC
The organic food movement has been in existence for some time now, and while not everyone has bought into it, it certainly has a strong following. Eating organic food has many advantages – aside from tasting better, it also has more nutrients. More nutrients mean better health, which can also lead to weight loss. More so, organic food is safe from harmful elements such as pesticides, which is what people following the raw food diet should be most concerned about. Since the food is not cooked or exposed to heat, it is best to make sure that your source of vegetables, fruits, and other food items is perfectly safe.
Rule 3: Eat ALKALINE
Alka-what? Al-ka-line. This is the opposite of acidic. Eating alkaline food items while on a raw food diet is the perfect way to step up your weight loss program. This is due to the fact that alkaline food increases the level of oxygen in your blood stream. This results in better distribution and absorption of nutrients.
What are examples of alkaline food? Green leafy vegetables are your best bet, so load up on those salad greens! Fresh herbs such as basil, cilantro, parsley, and ginger are also alkaline. On the other hand, some raw food items are acidic, so don’t load up on them too much: peanuts, dairy products, some fruits.
Rule 4: Eat DELICIOUS
Here’s the best rule of all: eat what gives your taste buds pleasure! Perhaps one of the biggest reasons diets fail all the time is the fact that people feel deprived. However, going the raw food route does not mean you have to deprive yourself! There are a LOT of delicious raw food items, and even more scrumptious raw food recipes. Why deprive yourself? Make sure that whatever you prepare, you will like. Before you know it, you will be living on raw food, feeling healthy, and losing weight.
Source: The Best of Raw Food
Photo via Wild Tofu