Why Do I Need A Raw Food Diet?

Those who do not really know what a raw food diet is might think it's a diet that only rabbits might like. These same people might think that a raw food diet is equal to a vegetarian diet in that a person on a raw diet eats nothing but fruits and vegetables, hence the thinking a raw food diet is for rabbits. It is true that rabbits eat fruits and vegetables, but a raw food diet has much more to it than eating just eating carrots, lettuce, or apples.

What is meant by a raw food diet? This popular eating habit is a diet consisting of not only the eating of fresh fruits and vegetables. But it also includes eating nuts, seeds and sprouts. It includes drinking purified water, and dairy products that are not pasteurized. In addition, a raw food diet can include the consumption of any unprocessed food that is free of chemicals. In a nut shell, this is what a raw food diet is, no pun intended.

Raw food dieting is in no way a new, quirky idea. Mankind as a whole has been a raw food eater since the dawn of time. In fact, raw food is all our early ancestors ate, primarily because at that time in our existence we were rather nomadic, moving from place to place from day to day. We hadn't invented fire yet. It was easier just to pick and eat berries, nuts, fruits, and vegetables as we moved about the earth's surface.

Today the raw food diet has a well established following and has even attracted many celebrities to its followers like Woody Harrelson and Demi Moore to mention just two. There have also been many books written and published on the subject to guide anyone interested in raw food dieting. There are even specialized classes in colleges and universities for the nutritionist to study in the raw food diet.

To be a true raw food dieter the diet consists of between seventy-five to ninety percent raw foods. That is, foods that are not cooked by any means. The balance of the diet might consist of foods that are sun-dried or dehydrated, but with this done at temperatures below 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The key element of a raw food diet is not to eat any foods that are cooked, baked or microwaved.

It is believed by advocates and followers of raw food dieting that preparing foods by any form of cooking damages the food and cooks out many valuable nutrients. And there is considerable scientific evidence to support this belief. There are many foods that when cooked, have some nutritional elements that become neutralized and therefore of no real value for the body and when consumed the body must then waste energy to eliminate them.

There is also medical evidence that suggests the body benefits from a raw food diet. Studies indicate that those people who are on a raw food diet have greater energy and are at a lower risk for blood pressure and heart issues. In addition, there are fewer complaints about digestive issues, not to mention reports of significant weight loss from raw food dieters.

The raw food diet, although good for most, may not be good for everyone. In considering any diet plan, which does include a raw diet, it is always best to consult your physician before getting too far along in the diet.


 

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What to Do After a Body Detox

Are you interested in detoxifying your body with the Master Cleanse, water fasting, or juice fasting? If so, you will likely spend a great deal of time researching the detox and how to achieve the best results. Yes, this is important, but so is knowing what to do following a detox.

During water fasting, juice fasting, and the Master Cleanse, you will abstain from eating solid foods. The day your cleanse concludes, you might want to jump right into a bag of chips or just enjoy a fine meal. These are natural feelings, but not steps that you should take. Most water fast for at least 5 days, some fast on juice for 2 weeks, and some do the Master Cleanse for a month. During this time, your body has adjusted to not having solid foods; therefore, you need to reintroduce them to your body.

The first day or two after the Master Cleanse, water fasting, or juice fasting, it is advised that you stay away from solid foods. If on the juice fast, your body was provided with some nutrients; therefore, you can work your way up to liquid soups or applesauce. If on the Master Cleanse or a water fast, start with juices first and then start the transition. Although you want the fasting to be over with when the detox is, your body will thank for your making the transition smooth.

When on a detox diet, you should lose weight. Your weight loss will depend on the diet you selected, as well as your current weight. The less food and calories you consume and the higher you weigh, the more weight you will lose. Even if weight loss was not your main goal, it will be a result you will treasure and appreciate. For that reason, do not waste it. If you don't already, start to exercise. Even if it is only a mile walk 3 days a week, you can help to keep your gained weight off.

In addition to exercise, you will want to continue eating healthy following a body detox or cleanse. You spent days, if not more, cleansing your body and ridding it of unnatural toxins. So, why just put more in? Now is the perfect time to switch to all-natural, organic foods. If you do not want to make the full-time switch to organic, look for foods that are low in sugar, calories, and fats.

At the conclusion of a detox diet, do not return to your normal ways. This is important if you drink large amounts of alcohol, smoke cigarettes, or drink a lot of caffeine. These items are not good for your body. That is why they should be eliminated permanently from your diet. The good news is that following a 10-day or more cleanse, you may no longer feel the need to have a cigarette, your nightly glass of wine, or your daily soda.

It is also important to increase your fiber and drink water. As previously stated, your body just spent days eliminating toxin buildup. Even if you eat healthy, toxins will find a way into your body. A cleanse helped you get a jump on this cleaning, but water and fiber can continue the process on a daily basis. They will make it easier for your body to stay flushed out and clean.

Most important, reintroduce solid foods back into your diet at a slow and steady pace. Once this has been accomplished, keep an eye on the foods and drinks you consume. The more healthier they are, the less buildup of toxins you should experience.


 

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What Is The Detox Diet?

At one time, many believed that detoxification was only used to help those dependent on drugs and alcohol overcome their addiction. Detoxification is still used for these purposes; however, many are now using detoxification to improve their health. One of the ways this is done is with the detox diet.

Those interested in cleaning the body from potentially harmful chemicals and toxins want a step-by-step plan for the detox diet. Yes, these plans are available, but you will find some variances. Why? Because the detox diet comes in a number of different formats. In fact, perform a standard internet search with the phrase "detox diet," and you will find many different plans. So, which is best for you? In all honesty, it depends on your own personal preferences.

When choosing a detox diet plan, it is important to remember the goal of detoxification. That goal is to expel and rid the body of potentially harmful toxins. Even if you do not consume alcohol or use drugs, it is possible for these toxins and chemicals to make their way into our bodies. In fact, recent studies have shown that there is a lot more than fluoride in some of our drinking waters.

Since the main goal of detoxification is to cleanse your body and make it pure again, it is important to chose your foods wisely. First, examine the potentially harmful foods and drinks you are putting into your body. Are you a coffee or soda drinker? If so, caffeine is okay, but only in moderation. At the same time, caffeine is not something our body needs. For that reason, those looking to take a detox diet are encouraged to eliminate coffee or soda from their diet, even if just for the length of the diet.

In addition to being dependent on caffeine, many coffee and soda drinks need the taste. This is common when flavored soda or coffee is consumed. To ease the transition, consume all-natural juice. In fact, if you have a juice maker, you could easily make your own 100% all-natural juice. Yes, water is best, but if you find yourself craving something with flavor, juice may be the perfect substitute.

To eliminate toxins from the body, they must be expelled. That is why foods that are high in fiber are recommended. A diet that contains fiber foods can help to regulate your digestive system. Essentially, this means that you will make regular, although not excessive, trips to the bathroom. In addition to fiber, water can help you flush your body.

As previously stated, many of the foods we consumed are ridden with additives and chemicals. Although small in size and generally safe, these are things are bodies are not use to and do not need to survive. That is why a detox diet calls for the elimination of them. One of the best ways to detox your body with a detox diet is to eliminate foods that contain these added chemicals and additives. Online, you will see that many detox plans call for organic foods.

Organic foods are a great way to detoxify your body, but what if you are on a budget? It is no secret that organic foods cost more. Examine your local grocery stores or all-natural food stores for sales. In addition to boxed organic foods, such as cereals or peanut butter, remember fruits and vegetables. You may find these organic prices to be cheaper. Plus, fruits and vegetables have their own health benefits.

As for the length of a detox diet, you will find some variances. Some diets last as few as three days, while others can go for two weeks or more. In most cases, seven to ten days is recommended, but you will want to listen to your body. If a detox diet is too much for your body to handle, listen the warning signs and start incorporating your "traditional," food back into your diet. However, there many benefits to keeping components of a detox diet with you, such as the elimination of caffeine or the consumption of organic foods.


 

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Why Use Raw Foods?

The raw food diet is becoming very popular these days. It is obvious what the raw food diet is. Most of the food that you eat on a raw food diet needs to be raw or as close to its natural state as possible.

Now don't go getting all squeamish on me. We're not talking about eating raw meat here. The raw food diet is a largely vegan diet. There is also some room for maneuver in the raw food diet too as the people who support it say that to get the maximum health benefits from the raw food diet you only have to make sure that approximately eight per cent of what you eat needs to be raw.

People who support the raw food diet as a healthy lifestyle argue that foods on their natural state contain the optimum balance of enzymes, vitamins and minerals that we need. They argue that the enzymes contained in raw food and which are killed off by cooking, will help people to digest their food more fully and so derive more nutritional value from it. That places less stress on the body to produce its own digestive enzymes.

Raw food supporters also believe that the cooking we normally do to our food destroys their natural vitamins and minerals and that food takes longer to digest in this cooked, unnatural state. The cooked food therefore hangs around longer in the gut while the body attempts to digest it. The proteins, carbohydrates and fats which have not been fully digested therefore become waste products. These waste products slow down the food's transit through the gut, causing constipation, bloating, stomach cancer etc, while the fats tend to clog up the arteries. A raw food diet, which is higher in fiber too, pushes the food more quickly through the gut and there are fewer waste by-products which are left around to cause problems to the body.

Basically, a raw food diet makes your whole digestion process a lot more efficient. It delivers more of the essential vitamins and nutrients which our bodies need and leaves behind fewer waste products which can become harmful to our bodies.

The health benefits of the raw food diet include an increase in energy as your body is maximizing the amount of nutrients it actually gets where it needs it; plus the body has to work less hard in order to process the raw food.

You should find that your skin looks more clear on the raw food diet. That is because your body is taking in fewer toxins which would cause skin eruptions. The raw food diet is a good detox!

Your digestive system will work more efficiently on the raw food diet. Food will pass through the gut more quickly and waste will be expelled regularly. That is great for avoiding health problems like IBS and stomach cancer.

You may also find that you lose weight and manage your weight more effectively on the raw food diet. It is lower in fat that most people's eating habits. There is less fat hung around in the body to clog up arteries and pile on the pounds. That in turn reduces your risk of contracting heart disease.

All in all, then, you can see that eating a diet that is comprised of at least eighty per cent raw fruit and vegetable sis great for your health. You will lessen your risk of serious diseases and generally look and feel better while you follow the raw food diet.


 

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Using Herbs as Your Home Remedy for Body Detox

The accumulated toxins inside your body must be cleared in order for it to function well. Your body needs to be healed to regain energy. There is one effective way of clearing your body from these unwanted toxins and it is called body detox or body detoxification using natural herbs. However, it is not taken as a single step but a continued process so that the natural ability of your body is supported for the effective dispelling of toxins everyday.

Another process being incorporated in body detox together with using herbs is limiting the toxins which enter your body. Eliminating or restricting the use of the usual culprits such as refined sugar, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, household chemicals, and petroleum or synthetic-based body paraphernalia is a very good way of starting.

You should start eating organic natural diet foods, getting regular exercise, and drinking adequate amounts of water to facilitate your detoxification. Your body can adjust easily in a gradual change that is much better compared to other practices.

The following herbs that have known to be effective for many years can be used as a home remedy. These are the natural way of body detoxification.

* Psyllium seeds and husks contain high fiber which can gently act as a natural laxative. You can utilize it by soaking the seeds in water. Psyllium is generally considered as adaptogenic which supports the healthy function of your bowel. It is also useful in treating diarrhea and other irritable bowel diseases. It is a very good choice for body detoxification since its gelatinous substance after soaking absorbs toxins.

* Hydrangea root and the Joe pye weed (gravel root) helps in preventing, dissolving, and expelling stones and crystals in the bladder and kidneys. It is good to keep your kidneys free from any obstructions to stay in good working condition essential in effective elimination of toxins.

* Cascara Sagrada is used also as natural laxatives. It could be safe even for longer duration of usage where it strengthens your colon's muscles.

* Alder buckthorn's barks are also used but it must first be dried and be stored for at least one year since its fresh barks are so strong which can be considered toxic.

* Juniper berries also promote the urinary system's overall health. It detoxifies and strengthens your urinary tract, bladder, and kidneys. It is excellent for cleaning purposes but prolonged usage is not recommended because it can cause some overtaxing in your kidneys.

* Nettles also have detoxifying properties which can be extended not just in your urinary system. Nevertheless overusing it can display similar effects as the juniper berries.

* Burdock seeds and roots are similar to nettles. It has mild and cleansing diuretic action but has stronger effects. Heavy metals inside your body can be removed by using burdock.

* Basil, cypress, celery, grapefruit, lemon, fennel, rosemary, thyme, and patchouli contains essential oils effective for flushing out toxins underneath your skin and stimulating circulation of your lymph.

* Dandelion root and milk thistle help in cleansing and strengthening your liver. Milk thistle has silymarin which does not only protect your liver but helps in regenerating itself. Dandelion root helps in removing waste products from your gallbladder and kidneys.

You would never have any problems if your body needs detoxification at home. You can try using these wonderful herbs to obtain their natural remedies. Rejuvenate yourself and feel good about it.


 

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