We all know that there are several weight loss programs that exist on
the market to today but very few are as simple as eating a raw food
diet. Many foods become much more calorific when cooked, especially if
they are seasoned prior to cooking or cooked in a way which is high in
fat, such as frying. A meal which is fried or baked using butter or oil
can have as much as 25 per cent more calories than the uncooked
ingredients alone.
Eating raw foods, in particular raw vegetables,
can help you limit your weight loss efforts, as you can eat relatively
high amounts of raw vegetables throughout the day taking in a lot of
calories. This not only makes you feel fuller all day but it does not
have the negative impact of you piling on those pesky pounds.
Forbes
magazine documented a study conducted by a group of scientists who
analysed lab rats over a forty day period. One group of rats were give
raw foods to eat while the other group were given cooked foods. The
results suggested that raw food consumption does result in greater
weight loss then cooked foods.
What kinds of Raw Foods Should I be Eating?
a.)
Ensure that you are drinking a lot of water: Start your day off with
water (lemon water is also a good alternative) and try to drink as much
water as you can throughout the day. Sip slowly to increase your
absorption rate. Pure fruit juices and smoothies are also a good option.
b.)
Go Green: Dark and leafy greens are perfect for lunch times. Try eating
lots of raw vegetables such as broccoli, sprouts, carrots, salad
(rocket leaves are a good example) and sprouted chickpeas. Vegetables,
especially dark green veggies are packed with vitamins and nutrients
which have a large variety of nutritional and weight loss benefits.
c.)
Watch what you are eating before bed time: Many nutritionists do not
advise eating after 8PM, with some even saying that it is not advisable
after 6PM. This is because it is difficult for your body to digest large
quantities of food while you sleep and as a consequence, the food is
more likely to turn into fat and weight gain.
The benefits of
eating uncooked foods may not stop there however. Studies have suggested
that people who eat raw foods are less likely to suffer from skin
conditions such as acne and also tend to have healthier, vibrant, longer
hair. There is also some evidence which suggests that a raw food diet
increases your libido.
There are many benefits of eating uncooked
foods but always remember to ensure that you wash your vegetables and
fruits thoroughly before eating them. Cooking food kills any bacteria
which may cause illness so in order to ensure that you are not consuming
any unwanted bacteria or pesticides always remember to wash your raw
food thoroughly.
