Many people are aware that a raw foods diet can not only improve their health, it can reverse or alleviate the effects of many conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, chronic migraines, psoriasis, gout, and even cancer.
But did you know that you don’t have to necessarily turn to a 100% raw diet to benefit? Also, “eating raw” doesn’t mean all you get to eat are salads and a plate of veggies. And, not everything is cold.
There are many misconceptions about a raw diet that scares people away from the amazing health benefits.
1. Everything has to be cold and I like warm food.
In a raw diet, the food cannot be heated beyond 118 degrees, which is point in which the food begins to lose important nutrients and enzymes. Many raw dishes are room temperature or heated to 118 degrees, which provides warmth.
2. It’s too difficult to make raw dishes.
Raw dishes are no more difficult to make than cooked dishes. It’s simply a shift in the approach. In fact, it often takes less time to prepare a raw dish and there’s often far less clean up. Once you learn a few simple techniques, raw food preparation will be just as easy, if not easier, than the prep done to make the cooked dishes you’re used to making.
3. It’s too expensive to eat raw.
This is all relative and depends on what you choose to eat and how you’re measuring expenses. Raw food eaters tend to be healthier, buy fewer (or no) pharmaceuticals or OTC drugs, see the doctor less frequently, and spend less to overcome illness. They tend to use less gas and electricity to prepare their meals, and nutritionally speaking, raw foods are far less expensive than a eating fast food or processed packaged items. So, financially speaking, eating raw is a better bang for the buck.
4. I can never eat out again.
There are many restaurants who are offering unique and tasty raw dishes on their menu. And even if there’s not, there are a variety of different ways to eat raw when going out to eat. You just have to get creative. Once you learn a few things about raw food prep, it will become much easier.
5. I don’t want to eat 100% raw.
That’s ok. There are few people who are 100% dedicated to any way of eating. Unless you are prepared to live on a mountain and grow your own food, you would be hard pressed to truly be 100%. Also, you can benefit by shifting to just one raw meal per day! And that raw meal could even be a smoothie. So, it doesn’t have to be that dramatic or that difficult to start benefiting immediately.
If you’d like to test the waters and experience raw dishes, desserts, or beverages then check out one of the raw food preparation classes that will help teach you how to incorporate a little or a lot of raw foods into your life.
Check out the current calendar in the EVENTS pages.
