The Raw Food Movement has been slowly and quietly taking the world by storm. In a way, you could say it's a revolution. Learn more about what raw foodists believe here.
INTRODUCTION:
Raw food is living food. The majority of raw foodists eat nothing cooked above 118ºF (48°C). The raw food diet is one that is comprised of fresh, uncooked, unprocessed and often organic foodstuffs. Many adherents to the plan are vegan, meaning that they consume no animal products. These individuals usually believe in three basic tenets, which we will explore in this article.
EATING RAW IS NATURAL:
Raw food has been around as long as human beings have walked this Earth – and longer. Many raw foodists believe that dis-ease was a discovery that went hand in hand with fire. As soon as individuals began cooking food, they began to get ill. Some experts in the movement go so far as to say that humans were programmed to eat raw. According to David Wolfe, the author of the Sun Food Diet, “The structure and function of humanity's teeth, digestive canal, sense organs, nourishment for the young, children's development, sexual desire, mental set, emotional feelings, as well as the cause and cure of disease and unhappiness all demonstrate that humans are biologically frugivorous (an eater of fruits and vegetables) and are neither carnivorous, herbivorous, nor omnivorous.”
Humans shouldn’t eat cooked food or animal products because they are not ‘wired’ to do so. It’s not the most beneficial food for the human body.
RAW FOOD IS LIVING FOOD:
Raw food is alive. The enzymes get destroyed in the cooking process. Alissa Cohen, the innovator behind The Raw Food Diet says this, “When food is cooked at over 112 degrees (this temperature can be felt as warm to the touch) we destroy all of its enzymes. This is a problem because we need enzymes for every function in our body.” By cooking food, people make it more difficult for their bodies to digest the food they ingest. This uses up more energy and depletes our life force, which aids in the formation of dis-ease and speeds up the aging process.
By eating living food, a person will add to, not detract from, his/her life force.
RAW FOOD IS HEALTHY FOOD:
Ultimately, any belief that a raw foodist has leads to this point. Raw foodists believe that eating food in its uncooked, natural state is healthy. It can aid an individual who is overcoming a dis-ease. There are stories about people who’ve overcome cancer and other chronic illnesses such as fibromyalgia, diabetes and so forth by eating in the raw. Raw foodists often look (and feel) much younger than their chronological ages. They are thinner than the average person and can sustain their weight naturally. The reason for this? Well, as Michael Klein suggests, “A living food diet leads to a longer, more energetic life…The burden of digesting a cooked food meal drains our energy. This does not happen with living foods and the extra energy allows the body to focus its resources on cleansing and rebuilding.”
CONCLUSION:
Raw foodists eat a diet that is comprised of fresh, often organic, and uncooked foods. These folks are generally vegan and believe that their diet is natural, life-affirming and healthy. Whether a person agrees or disagrees with them is an individual decision. Raw foodists certainly get more than their daily suggested allotment of fruits and vegetables. A raw food plan can be healthy, balanced and enjoyable. However, one should not transition to a raw food diet without first checking with doctor or trusted (and reputable) health care professional.
