The foods list that is a part of the popular raw food diet is immense. It contains an almost unending variety of unprocessed and uncooked plant food items that will improve your health and your lifestyle.
The List
The list of these foods contains fruits, vegetables, sprouts, and a few processed food items. You can enjoy fresh foods like:
- Ripe tomatoes
- Greens
- Squash
- Tangelos
- Kumquats
- Washington cherries
This is just a short list of the interesting foods that can be included on this diet. There are so many more!
You can enjoy processed foods made with items from the list. Fermented food items like kimchee and miso, nut butters made with raw nuts, milks from raw nuts, pure maple syrup, and other raw prepared food items.
Improve Your Health
Items from the list will immediately improve your health once you begin the this diet. Science has shown that heating food above 116°F, when it is warm to the touch, destroys healthy nutrients.
The most important nutrients destroyed in the cooking process are the digestive enzymes. These enzymes work to break down and help the body absorb the food you eat.
You are born with a supply of digestive enzymes which are depleted over time. These foods replace these enzymes. If your body does not have enough working digestive enzymes the food you eat will not break down properly and when stored in your body it can become toxic. This eventually leads to disease and other physical and mental illnesses.
Exciting Food Choices
There is a common misconception that foods on this list are boring. Not so, say raw foodists. You can combine raw foods and use various preparation methods to create exciting and delicious meals.
One perennial favorite with everyone is pizza. If you like traditional pizza you will love a pizza made from raw foods. The Living Pizza contains a crust made from sprouts, seeds, veggies, and grains. The sauce is made from fresh tomatoes that have been dried in the sun, garlic, and other herbs. For the topping you can create a luscious cheesy mixture from nuts, vegetables like mushrooms and avocados, herbs, and spices.
Even tempting desserts can be made from the this foods list. A to-die-for cannoli is easy to prepare. The outside shell is made of wheat berries, (sprouted), and dates. A sweet and tasty center is created using a mixture of nuts, lemon juice, and fresh honey.
A new vegan raw food diet suggests very specific diet choices. Dr. Douglas Graham urges followers to eat 80 percent carbohydrates, 10 percent fats, and 10 percent proteins. This diet mimics the natural makeup of your body which makes it one of the best and healthiest raw food diets.
Prepping Raw Foods
There are several preparation methods that raw foodists employ when preparing meals. You will need a dehydrator, a juicer, and a food processor to begin creating delicious and complete breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.
A dehydrator absorbs all of the moisture from foods on this foods list. This important piece of equipment is used to give a different texture to raw foods. In the above recipes a dehydrator was used to create both the Living Pizza crust and the cannoli wrapper.
A juicer can be used with any of the fruits and vegetables on this foods list. You can make standard juices or juice food items to use as a binder or a sauce when creating meals.
Many of the items on the list of raw foods require chopping. A food processor makes this a simple process. It will shorten your food preparation time and give you nice textures and an even consistency.
As you can see, this foods list can be used to create exciting menus. It is so extensive and inclusive you will even find raw foods such as salads and raw vegetable platters on restaurant menus. Switch to this diet and enjoy a colorful and fresh variety of living foods.