Raw Food For Beauty
Consuelo Davis
Health & Beauty Coach
316-648-0046
RawFood4Beauty.com
Individuals may “go raw” for a variety of reasons: to lose weight, to address specific health issues, to avoid the typical problems of middle age and on, and on, but we would like to propose an additional reason, namely to enhance and maintain beauty. Raw food is gaining popularity as the focus on health becomes oriented to fresh, whole, vitamin- and enzyme-rich unprocessed plant foods. The basic tenet of most raw food diets is that foods should be live. Foods that have been cooked above a certain temperature (debatably something between 92 and 118 degrees Fahrenheit) are considered dead because the enzymes—one of the vital ingredients that enables cells to function, and that also aid in our digestion and absorption of food—change shape when heated and becomes useless. In other words, cooking diminishes the nutritional value of food. See Carol Alt’s book, listed below, with an excellent foreword by Nicholas J. Gonzalez, M.D.
Other benefits of raw foods are that they are rich in water, fiber, easily absorbed vitamins and minerals, and generally make the body more alkaline and less acidic, thus strengthening the immune system. Many raw foodists report more energy, strength, endurance, emotional balance and mental clarity.
The percent of raw versus cooked food is up to the individual with some opting for eating 100% raw while many others seek to supercharge their already vegan lifestyle with some percentage of raw that seems right to them. Even some high profile raw food advocates often admit that they are flexible on occasions. Of course it makes sense to start gradually, not only because it will be quite a change with regards to buying and preparing, but also your body may need a bit of time to adjust to this new and improved source of nutrition.
When grains and seeds sprout, they become easier to chew, gain more bulk and perhaps most importantly they gain more nutrition as they leave their dormant state and become baby plants.
Juicing, blending, food processing: There are a variety of machines and for sure each raw foodist will have their favorites. Fresh raw fruits and vegetables straight from the garden enter the machine and moments later the product is a juice or a smoothie. You can choose to retain only the juice and toss the pulp on the compost pile or you may finely chop the entire fruit or veggie and drink it all down or eat it as is.
But how can one make raw food as appealing as “normal” food? Since the texture, color, taste and firmness of many dishes is accomplished by cooking and by introducing ingredients that are not part of the “raw” vocabulary, how can you make raw food as appealing as “normal” food?
One way is to use a food dehydrator, which can not only extend the life of fruits and vegetables, but it also can be used to simulate the look and feel of “normal” food like a wrap as used for enchiladas. A dish may be decorated with edible flowers, various toppings or sauces as well. The possibilities are endless. Please visit your favorite book store or surf the web to find many additional ways to make raw food resemble gourmet main courses and desserts. (See Page 29 for some examples of raw dishes that I have prepared).
I am often asked whether I worry that raw vegan foods will leave me nutritionally deficient. The answer is “No.” I do recommend, however, that you take vitamin B-12 supplements. Don’t worry too much about protein as there are vegetarian weight lifters. Also, in endurance sports such as long distance running, you will find many vegetarians. Eating a balanced variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains with some seeds and nuts is the key.
To find out if a raw food lifestyle is the best thing for you personally, I recommend that you educate yourself, learning as much as possible about the subject, and then gradually introducing it into your lifestyle. As with any lifestyle change, you should check with your doctor and consult other recognized authoritative sources.
For more information see:
American Dietetic Association at: www.eatright.org
“Carol Alt Eating in the Raw” ISBN 1-4000-5284-X
“Everyday Raw” by Matthew Kenney ISBN 1-4236-0207-2