What Makes People Eat Raw Food?

What Makes People Eat Raw Food?

Throughout kitchens and restaurants around the world, there is a revolution taking place. People are turning to Raw Food as opposed to the cooked food that society has traditionally eaten. Which begs the question: Why?

One of the primary ways we experience the world around us is through what we eat, drink and think. So why then would people be foolish enough to put food into their bodies that isn't cooked? After some extensive research, it turns out these people might not be as foolish as originally thought.

The assumption behind cooking food is that the original form of Nature, as it exists, must be altered in some way in order for it to exist in an artificial form inside us. Or simply put, when feeding something natural (our body), it is necessary to give it something unnatural.

The problem is that when food is cooked it becomes less than it was before, never more. According to International Best-Selling author and Raw Food expert, David Wolfe, cooking alters organic molecules. When those molecules are ingested, they become part of our tissues. Thus eating cooked food alters our tissue at a fundamental level.Cooked food is dense. It leaves a toxic ash residue in the body after it has been processed. Over many years, the debris from this toxic residue accumulates and is deposited throughout our tissue. Eventually the toxins reach a crisis level, clogging and poisoning our body's systems which can lead to heart attacks, strokes and cancer.

What is Raw Food?

Raw food is alive, it still contains the vital nutrients and enzymes that gave the food life in the first place. Cooking food (above 239?F) destroys all of the enzymes and the food becomes "dead".

Enzymes are vital in that the body requires them to digest and absorb food, effectively helping to turn it into fuel.

Enzymes also are essential for many of the body's processes such as breathing, digestion, circulation, cognition and the prevention of inflammation and aging.

Cooked Food = No Enzymes

Eating cooked and processed foods makes one groggy, affects moods, lower's one's level of attention and interferes with the body's optimal functioning. A poor diet of highly cooked foods can also have a detrimental effect on longevity.

A cooked seed will not grow. It has had the life burnt out of it. How then would eating cooked food be the best way to help us grow?

Cooked food was not here when we first appeared on Earth.

Raw food was.

Raw-Animal or Raw-Plant Food?

Some people opt for a raw-animal diet, however typically the health of these people weakens over time, for a number of reasons. Namely meat can be very high in fat, cholesterol, calories and disease and bacterial contamination.

The other option is a raw-plant based diet.

People who follow a raw-plant based diet benefit from vital enzymes which allow the body to fully digest food, enzymes which are typically lost when food is cooked.

Health benefits include:

Having more energy

Skin has a much healthier complexion

Improved digestion

Weight Loss

A significant drop in the risk of developing heart and cardiovascular diseases [1]

Warning: Detox Alert

Raw/Live foods are naturally detoxifying, the more toxicity your body has, the more of a reaction you could have to these cleansing foods. You may look and feel worse before you look and feel better!

This is completely natural and is the body's way of releasing all the rubbish that has been stored up over time - if this happens to you, feel good as its working and you're on your way to a healthy active life.

The Food Desert You Know Nothing About

The Food Desert You Know Nothing About

In 2011 the USDA had a brilliant plan to build awareness of the food desert problem in the country. The plan involved an interactive map, displaying all the Food Deserts in the nation. Certainly the idea was pioneering, finally there existed one geographic targeting source for any agency trying to address Food Access, or related problems, across the country. The only unusual thing is that now only small pockets of food deserts exist in New York City, mostly near parks or industrial zones.

The health and obesity problem is real in N.Y.C. Real enough for the Mayor, and at least one candidate trying to replace him, to both have initiatives trying to address it.

Race also inevitably compounds the issue. Obesity nationwide is significantly more common in communities of color, and a Department of Health study demonstrates that the trend holds true in our city. In NYC, communities of color also tend to be earn the lowest annual incomes.Where you have obesity, and many low income earners, you probably have poor access to food for one reason or another. The most common issue nationally is poor transportation options to get to healthy food sources such as supermarkets.

This is where the USDA's idea lost its relevance to New York City. In their identification, the USDA seems to have relied on the premise that food deserts only exist if you're low income, and live a certain distance from a supermarket.

But "food desert" isn't the accurate description for the problem millions of New Yorkers probably have. What we're in is more so a "food swamp" than it is a "food desert."A food swamp is somewhere with easy access to food, but that access is either overwhelmingly to unhealthy options, or to supermarkets with sub-par quality food.The phenomenon has been studied repeatedly, including by the city's Department of Health. In the DOH study three neighborhoods were examined, two of which were in Harlem: East Harlem, Central Harlem, and the third was the Upper East Side. Both East and Central Harlem are poorer communities, with residents mostly of color. They also have a total average obesity rate of 29%, significantly above the city's 22% average.

What the DOH found may be unsurprising to residents, but probably a shock to the USDA researchers. First, both East and Central Harlem had more bodegas and less supermarkets than the Upper East Side. Not only that, bodegas carrying healthy foods were less likely to exist in East and Central Harlem, despite bodegas being more common in those neighborhoods. Finally, although restaurants existed in all three neighborhoods, fast food was far more common in East and Central Harlem than in the Upper East Side.Poor people, many of whom are obese, living within close proximity to unhealthy, relatively cheap food options that outnumber healthier options: what the DOH had investigated, and essentially defined, was a "Food Swamp." And although slightly different from a "Food Desert," that difference is what defines whether N.Y.C. is just a hotbed of poor decision making, or an inconvenient trap.

The DOH didn't even get into the meat of supermarket food quality. Further investigation would have probably found significant differences in the healthy options available, and the quality of packaging and storage of food between supermarkets in low vs. high income neighborhoods.An apple from C-Town is not the same as an apple from Trader Joe's.A similar study confirmed the DOH's findings. Food swamps were significantly more common in Black and Latino neighborhoods across the city.

Some have argued that food deserts aren't a problem in the city. To their credit, they've based a large part of their opinion on the USDA's map, and anecdotal evidence without the appropriate context. When you understand what a "food swamp" is, you can no longer ask people if they have access to produce. You need to ask them, as a person working or often looking for work, which is more convenient for your lifestyle: fast food or raw produce? Which is easier for you to access and consume during a normal day?

As minorities, especially Latinos, become a growing future majority in the city, we need to ask these same questions of people's children. I wouldn't be surprised to see a negative correlation between age and fast food consumption, especially as more minorities are forced to populate food swamps due to socioeconomic barriers to residing in other neighborhoods.

The Drug We Call Food

The Drug We Call Food

I just read an article on 'retiring the phrase 'real women'' which reminded me of a thought I have had for the last several weeks with regards to food. Every time I watch television (which is not all that often) I see grocery store commercials referring to food and natural food. Driving through cities I often see similar references letting the public know they actually have natural foods in addition to the artificial products on the shelf. 

My goodness, when did food become a synthesized habit rather than a natural requirement for sustaining our existence? When I was a child, we blessed our food; acknowledging the love that brought it to our table and the purpose it fueled. And for all I know, many people still do offer grace before eating; however, I cannot help but wonder if that has become just as much of a synthesized habit as the food being consumed because we are actually hoping and praying for 'real food'.

McChemicals

Most of what we buy today is riddled with chemicals; additives, preservatives, artificial colors and flavorings, fillers, and the incremental secret ingredients NOT listed on the label because the FDA says it is okay. Oddly enough, there is a war on drugs; yet, we eat the most unnatural foods ever known to man.

 It used to be that food was simple; combining various ingredients to create different flavor experiences as well as compliment other dishes. Sadly due to difficult times, food needed to be 'stretched' so we developed ways to do just that in order to feed our hungry families. It did not take long for 'man' to discover the money making benefits to this thought process; hence, the birth of processed foods. While the intention was to be able to assure we did not go hungry, the result was the exact opposite. Today, we are a society of malnourished addicts fighting the wrong drug war.

Drugs

I believe it is time we start telling it like it is. We crave a lot of the junk foods because we are hooked on the chemicals used to fabricate them. I learned this first hand with diet drinks. Many people claim to be addicted to sugar and / or caffeine. In fact, some have gone so far as to say this is why I 'have to have a diet soda'; I need my caffeine fix.

 I beg to differ. My diet consists of some of the cleanest foods around with the exception of the occasional soft drink; so, why do I drink it? Because I am no different than any other human; I enjoy life and will intermittently partake in some things that taste good but are not exactly healthy.

 That being said, I am aware that when I go without my favorite drink for a certain amount of time, I begin to feel 'off'. I believe this has a lot to do with having such a healthy diet. So not soon after I enjoy a sip or two, I begin to sense a relief.

 I know for a fact when I drink a cup of coffee or caffeinated tea, I do NOT have the same result which is why I say I am hooked on the chemicals in the diet soft drinks and not the caffeine. 

And what is even stranger is the aspartame in these drinks depletes my body of the mineral magnesium which would make a person question why the body would desire more of something that is essentially causing it harm... hmmmm? My best educated guess is drugs!

Vegan Foods - Do Not Miss Out On These

Vegan Foods - Do Not Miss Out On These

When I first started trying out the vegan diet, I would only stick to the same foods I was familiar with, without knowing that I was limiting myself to the huge possibilities you can get from experimenting with so many different classes of vegan foods.

Remember that there is a huge spectrum of vegetables, nuts, oils, beans, wheats and fruits that you haven't tried so always keep an open mind when you are at the market to try new things. Also remember that each vegetable or fruit has its own unique amazing properties, so if you want to get all the nutrients each vegan food offers, you need to try them all.

Here are some of the new discoveries I have made that have change my vegan lifestyle when I put them into my diet.

Lucuma - This fruit is native to the cool highlands of Peru. It has great nutritional values and It was considered by the Incas as the "great fruit" or "Gold of the Incas". If you are interested in trying out this fruit, luckily for us it's becoming more popular and you can find them in Hispanic markets. Now I still haven't found the actual fruit but I have found the frozen pulp, which makes an awesome smoothie when use with soy milk.

Camu Camu - Another fruit from the amazon rainforest, this fruit is gaining more popularity for having the highest concentration of vitamin C in a fruit. This fruit is actually very famous in Japan for its powerful anti-depressant quality. This fruit is getting more exposure in the markets but right now I have only found this in juice or as a supplement.

Flax Seed Oil - This oil is a must for your diet. Flax seed oil has one of the greatest concentrations of omega 3 essential fatty acids which are essential for a good health. Try this on your salads to add a unique flavour.

Like these, there are still hundreds of new vegan foods you need to try. Just keep an eye open for new veggies, fruits and nuts next time you go to the market. You will be amazed at how your vegan recipes are going to expand, so you won't have to eat the same thing over and over.

List of Vegan Foods - Delicious Vegetarian Foods

List of Vegan Foods - Delicious Vegetarian Foods

If you decide to go on a vegan diet for health or for compassionate reasons, you need to know the list of vegan foods that you can eat. But you also need to be aware of the list of foods that you can no longer eat because they use animal products, even in a minute fashion. Please be sure to talk to your doctor before switching to eating only a list of vegan foods.

The No-Nos

In order to eat a vegan diet, you can no longer eat anything made with honey or dairy products. You also can't eat anything made with eggs or powdered bone or powdered animal organs. This means that you have to check the ingredients of everything you plan on putting into your mouth.

Even gelatin is no longer allowed. It's made from the bones, skins and tendons of animals (usually cows). There are some products marketed as "vegan gelatin", but they are made with other products, like seaweed, that mimic gelatin. Kosher gelatin does not count as vegan gelatin.

For example, milk chocolate is no longer allowed. But dark chocolate is allowed on the list of vegan foods as long as eggs or butter haven't been added. Cocoa butter isn't the same as butter from cow's milk. It's made entirely from oils of the cacao bean.

The Yeses

The list of vegan foods that you are allowed to eat is a lot longer than the list of foods that you can no longer eat. It might not seem that way at first because you have been in the habit of only eating certain kinds of foods. You can eat any kind of nut, bean, grain, fruit and vegetable. That's a whole lot!

You can use vegetable oils and spices to make new flavor combinations. Beans and grains come in a surprising array of textures. If you have a food processor, you can combine vegetables, grains, nuts and beans to make a meatloaf-like dish. By draining tofu well and marinating it before cooking, you can get a very tasty alternative to crumbled hamburger.

There are two products that are approved for vegans that you can find at any American supermarket. These are Bac-O's, which aren't made with any bacon or meat. They are actually made of soy. Another vegan American kitchen pantry staple is Manwich, a sauce traditionally for sloppy joes, that doesn't have any trace of animal products in it.

More Normal

There are more and more foods made with vegetable-based ingredients that mimic the textures and flavors of foods made with diary products. For example, it's very hard to tell the difference between vegan cheese and the usual cheese. You can also freeze bananas and mash them up to make a substitute for ice cream.

Because more and more people are switching to a vegetarian or vegan diet, large manufacturers are paying attention to this lucrative new market. You no longer need to hunt a specialty health food store in order to get quality vegan food. Vegan burgers and frozen entrees can be easily found in any supermarket chain.