| A diet comprised of 100% uncooked food when | | | | substances like acrylamides. It is for all these |
| used for the purpose of detoxification of the | | | | reasons that a raw food diet has emerged as the |
| body is referred to as a raw food detox diet. | | | | favorite detox diet. |
| Detoxification or detox refers to the process of | | | | What constitutes a raw food diet detox? |
| elimination of toxins, produced either internally | | | | The following foods should be eaten while on a |
| from metabolic wastes or coming from external | | | | raw food detox diet: |
| sources such food and environment, that get | | | | - Whole fresh fruits and vegetables (preferred |
| accumulated in the body over a period of time, | | | | over juices), if possible unsprayed and organic |
| giving rise to a host of diseases. | | | | - Herbs and wild greens |
| A raw food detox diet primarily includes | | | | - Sprouted grains, pulses and seeds |
| vegetarian or vegan foods, though sometimes | | | | - Nuts soaked in pure water for 12 hours |
| meat and fish may be allowed too if one can | | | | - Sea plants like Nori, Dulse, Kelp, Algaes |
| manage to eat them raw. Such a diet promotes | | | | - Foods dehydrated at room temperature so as |
| the elimination of harmful substances from the | | | | to preserve life force, enzymes and nutrients |
| body through the body's excretory organs like | | | | - Herbal teas, preferably organic |
| kidneys, bowel and skin. | | | | What to expect while on a raw food detox diet? |
| How a raw food diet detox works? | | | | There could be many health reasons for which |
| The principle behind a raw food detox diet is the | | | | people go on a raw food detox diet: e.g., weight |
| belief that food in its natural uncooked form has | | | | loss, general health improvement, and chronic |
| all the vital nutrients and enzymes intact, whereas | | | | health problems arising from accumulation of |
| cooking by conventional methods devitalizes the | | | | toxins in the body (such as joint pains, headaches, |
| food due to breakdown of these substances. In a | | | | chronic fatigue, constipation, etc.). |
| sense, raw food is a kind of living food, with a | | | | During the first two weeks of the raw food diet |
| latent life force that under appropriate conditions | | | | detox when the process of detoxification starts, |
| facilitates germination and growth of a new plant | | | | initially one is likely to experience some negative |
| from a seed. | | | | detox reactions, such as nausea, headache, |
| Advocates of the raw food diet detox believe | | | | tiredness, coated tongue, foul breath, skin |
| that when the body is fed with foods that are | | | | eruptions, depression, etc. This is because of the |
| rich in life force, digestive enzymes, vitamins, | | | | released toxins; it is very important to drink lots |
| minerals and phytochemicals, while at the same | | | | of water, take plenty of rest, and resist cooked |
| time being deprived of devitalized and toxin-laden | | | | food otherwise detox will discontinue. |
| foods, it gets into the self-detoxification and | | | | In the next phase, one starts experiencing the |
| cleansing mode. | | | | benefits of detoxification. |
| What goes wrong during cooking? | | | | Benefits of a raw food detox diet |
| When food is heated to temperatures above 117 | | | | The following benefits are experienced after going |
| ºF (47 ºC) for more than a few | | | | on a raw food detox diet: |
| minutes: (i) a substantial amount of vital digestive | | | | - Feel rejuvenated and energetic, with increased |
| enzymes and nutrients get destroyed; (ii) proteins | | | | stamina |
| get denatured and coagulated, causing deficiency | | | | - Improved digestion, with stable blood sugar |
| of many amino acids; (iii) fats when overheated | | | | levels |
| result in the formation of carcinogenic substances. | | | | - Reduction in joint and muscle problems |
| When the food is cooked in water, the | | | | - Improvement in concentration |
| water-soluble minerals get lost due to leaching | | | | Conclusion |
| (even more intensely if one adds salt while | | | | Sticking to a raw food diet detox plan is not |
| cooking), unless one uses the leftover water for | | | | difficult with the increased interest in the raw |
| gravies or soups. In fact, scientific studies have | | | | food movement. A whole range of raw detox |
| shown that many of the vegetables lose their | | | | foods are available in health stores and farmers' |
| antioxidant benefits when boiled or microwaved. | | | | markets. And there is a wealth of information |
| It only gets worse when it comes to | | | | available on the Internet, books/magazines to |
| ready-to-eat commercially manufactured foods, | | | | motivate and help you. |
| which may even contain highly detrimental | | | | |