Raw food benefits for antiaging come from the lack of processing, increased fiber content and lower glycemic index of these foods. Raw food facts back up my contention that raw foods for weight loss and health are based in both good science and common sense.
What Are Raw Foods?
Common sense tells us that certain foods can and should be eaten raw. These include fruits, vegetables, some grains, and even some animal proteins (such as sushi). Some foods such as meet, some fish and fowl, need to be cooked for safety sake.
Categorically any food that’s not cooked is raw, but when we use the term raw foods, we are referring to foods that can be eaten in a raw state without risk of food poisoning, and that are palatable when not having been cooked.
Below is a short list of such foods:
- Juiced fruits and vegetables
- Uncooked vegetables
- Beans and Legumes
- Nuts and Seeds
- Oils
- Wheat and barley grasses
- Herbs
- Raw milk, yogurt and kefir
- Sushi and Sashimi
Extreme caution should be taken when eating fish raw. Fish contain parasites that can cause illness and actually live in your intestines as well as salmonella that can give you a bad case of food poisoning. Make sure all fish you eat has been thoroughly frozen before being thawed and eaten. If you are not sure if the fish have been frozen prior to eating, either cook it thoroughly or don’t eat it at all!
Juicing
One of the best ways to get raw food benefits is by juicing. Juicing fruits and vegetables allows you to extract the nutrients in them that normally get destroyed by cooking. An added benefit is that juicing allows you to experiment with all sorts of tasty combinations.
Vegetables and grasses that wouldn’t normally taste very good raw can be combined with fruits for sweetness and result in a delicious drink that is loaded with vital nutrients. When you talk raw foods for weight loss, juicing for health is where it’s at!
Why Eat Raw?
Keep in mind that when I say eat raw, I mean eating certain foods uncooked when it is safe to do so. Eating all of your food this way may never be an option for you. It depends on your individual needs and circumstances.
However, its safe to say that the more processed foods you can eliminate from your diet, the better it will be for your health, and for slowing the aging process.
Let’s take a look at some raw food facts and see why:
- Raw foods contain more fiber and are lower on the glycemic index
- You do not have to totally give up cooking your foods
- Juicing is a must when adopting a raw food diet
- Raw foods for weight loss makes sense because of the lower glycemic effect of eating your food raw
- Humans evolved eating a diet of raw foods
- Raw food benefits can include better digestion
- Raw foods help optimize the acid alkaline balance of your body
- Raw food diets can also include animal proteins
- A raw food diet must be adapted to everyone’s individual needs
The Antiaging Connection
How are raw food benefits connected with antiaging? Three more raw food facts about why eating foods in their raw state is beneficial:
- Higher nutrient content
- Higher fiber content
- Lower glycemic index
Low glycemic eating (which keeps insulin low) is one of the keys to long-term health. Fiber is essential for blood sugar control and keeping the digestive system working properly. Increased nutrient content of raw foods is beneficial for the entire body!
Raw food benefits absolutely DO NOT require you to eat all of your foods in their raw state, but adding raw foods to your diet in the form of juices, salads, nuts, seeds, and oils, can as they say add years to your life, and life to your years!
