 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Health101.org The "raw food diet", sometimes referred to as a "living foods diet", has many proponents around the world. This way of eating appeals to those who want to be as healthy as possible. Organic, natural plant foods make up this diet. Some advocate 100 percent raw foods, others say a high percentage of raw foods in your diet, while not the optimum, is still beneficial (any cooked food that is consumed is plant-based). Cooking food does the following: • Proteins coagulate and are denatured damaging essential amino acids • Carbohydrates caramelize • Overly heated fats generate numerous carcinogens including acrolein, nitrosamines, hydrocarbons, and benzopyrene (one of the most potent cancer-causing agents known) • Natural fibers break down, and they lose their ability to sweep the alimentary canal clean • Vitamins and minerals are destroyed, some 100% • 100% of enzymes are damaged causing the body to direct its enzyme production to digestion, diverting enzymes needed for tissue and organ system maintain and repair • Any pesticides on the food are restructured into even more toxic compounds • Free radicals are produced • Pathogens creates by cooking burden the immune system • Cooking causes inorganic mineral elements to enter the blood and circulate through the body which settle in the arteries and veins causing them to lose their pliability • Chemicals from cooked food causes tumor: Nitrosamines are created from fish, poultry or meat cooked in gas ovens and barbecues, as nitrogen oxides within gas flames interact with fat residues; Hetrocyclic amines form from heating proteins • Mucoid plaque in the intestines is caused by uneliminated, partially digested, putrefying cooked fatty and starch foods eaten in association with protein flesh foods •
Cooked animal foods contain hormones (both natural and synthetic),
antibiotics, toxins, and pesticide concentrations higher than that
of non-organically grown plant foods. Here is a breakdown of how the diet differs among its proponents • "Living food" proponents advocate the consumption of sprouted seeds, nuts, and beans, fermented foods and beverages and wheatgrass juice as the most healthful foods one can eat. They round out the diet with other raw fruits and vegetables, and advocate regular colon cleansings. Some say this diet is for healing only, others advocate it as a lifestyle. Comments: Some maintain, myself included, that fermented foods and wheatgrass juice should not be part of a regular diet. Some go further to say that wheatgrass juice is not a "healing food", and that only the body is capable of healing - there is no such thing as "healing foods". Wheatgrass juice can evoke feelings of nausea, and hives and adrenal gland damage can result if enough is ingested. • "Natural Hygiene" is the science of health, and its advocates are called, "Natural Hygienists". They follow a raw food diet but believe regular colon cleansing is unnecessary, and can be detrimental. There are two main schools of thought among natural hygienists. Advocates of true "unadulterated" Natural Hygiene maintain that all cooked food is harmful, and abstain from eating grains and animal products. They believe that green leafy vegetables should be consumed in addition to fruits. The International Natural Hygiene Society chooses not to define the best, most optimal diet, instead they mention several "theories" which include the Paleolithic low-carb diet animal food diet, and a milk and egg vegetarian diet, and they downplay the fruit and green leafy vegetable diet, which is the healthiest diet. Comments: A healthy weight and energy level can be maintained on a fruit and vegetable diet. Some people make the mistake of eating far more vegetables than fruit and therefor may not get enough calories to maintain weight. Although a small part of the diet, enough fatty fruits should also be consumed during the month. The INHS's stance gets them a wider membership base but is never-the-less irresponisible given what is known about human nutrition today (interesting to note that the INHS was originally named the ANHS, and originally promoted only the healthiest of diets, but with new leadership often comes new policies that may not be in the best interest of its members). For an accurate definition of Natural Hygiene and a little of its history, click here. •
Fruitarians believe in the consumption of only raw fruit
and seeds. It should be noted that a fruit is anything with a seed
or seeds. Many Fruitarians understand the importance of, and consume
green leafy vegetables. The
Fruitarian Foundation Comments: While a healthy diet can consist of a large percentage of fruits, some green leafy vegetables like romaine lettuce should be included. And eating a diet of only sweet fruits or only citrus fruits does not constitute a healthy diet. Non-sweet "vegetable fruits" like cucumbers, bell peppers and tomatoes should also be included. Variety is key. • There are some people who eat raw animal foods, and the fallacy of eating this type of diet is discussed here. Related
articles: | Home | Healthful Products | Articles | Classes | Booklist | Links | Contact Us |
|