Friday, August 6, 2010

Raw Diet Program: Will You Lose 10 Pounds?

As all of know that eating a lot of vegetables is a very good way to go for a healthy food. Its gives benefits to our bodies, our skin and our overall health. But the proponents of the raw food diet take one step further. That is the reason why most of the people are choosing the proponents of the raw diet program.

They argue that eating foods that are unprocessed and in their natural state is the best and clearest way to health and vitality. Actually most of them are not know that it is give more side effects in future.

Most of them who really follow a raw food diet program always aim to get at least 90% of their food the raw way, that is, uncooked and unprocessed. A little percentage of food can be thirsty or dried, as long as it was never heated above about 116 degrees Fahrenheit. Put in mind that you must always aware when you are under this type of diet program.

Even though it might seem that a raw food diet would be limited to fruit and vegetable salads to be eat every day, the reality is menu for raw food advocates have changed a lot in recent years and you must take that in a consideration. Because the association has taken off in recent years, more and more books are promoting about the raw food diet that features a variety of foods and recipes.

For an example, raw foods might create spaghetti using julienned zucchini method. Even the sauce might be made from fresh tomatoes and peppers, with some imagination and time, interesting recipes can be produced. So be alert with this type of recopies and also collect information from other outsources.

In this generation there are very rare people choosing a raw food diet when they simply want to lose weight. Because now they are more alert with their health often, there are other health benefits they seek. Proponents may say that the uncooked food diet has many benefits, including:

1. There is healing of diseases like eye problems, skin diseases, and diabetes.

2. There is a sense of increased energy and vitality.

3. There is weight loss, or easy weight management once an ideal weight is reached.

4. There is shiny hair and youthful, supple skin.

5. There is better digestion and a reduction in digestive problems.

6. Lastly there is reduced risk of heart disease.

Even though people have their own, personal reasons for joining the raw food crusade, many are already at a perfect weight and don not seek to lose more. In my point of view they are instead after the advantage of a younger body and younger-looking skin.

The raw food diet promotes eating an abundance of fruits and vegetables, raw nuts and seeds and other unprocessed food, so people are report that their skin looks more vital, that they notice a decrease in any skin problem they might previously have had.

Perhaps the best one by far, would be applicable to those who follow a raw food diet get - in spades - all the mentioned and usual benefits of consuming a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. From antioxidants, which help your skin combat the signs of aging, to vitamins and minerals that nourish, keeps the skin healthy and protects the skin, there is enough healthy eating methods here to give the dieter a wide range of vitamins and minerals in order for the average person to live a healthy lifestyle.

Eating a raw food diet ensures that the all of these benefits are discovered and enjoyed by the dieter.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

The Raw Food Plan - The Best Way To Lose Weight, Feel Energised And Look Younger

So you've tried just about every diet? Found they're just not practical or so very boring? Lost a bit of weight - but then put back on even more?
Convinced "Diets" don't work and - guess what? - You're right!. They don't.
They give you the idea that it's only "till you lose weight" so when you return to your old way of eating you regain all you lost.
It could be time to consider a new approach - a whole new way of eating and living? A Raw Food Plan

* Not a restricted way with less to eat.

* Not a boring repetitive menu each day.

* Not expensive and time consuming.

But actually easier to prepare, more delicious, no more expensive and just the way food was meant to be!

Did you know that the usual Western diet is "dead"?

* That cooked food is devoid of nutrients, enzymes and life energy?

* That many people are actually allergic to cooked food?

* When you cook food above 180f you destroy enzymes that are there to help us digest our food. This means your body has to work harder to extract nutrients. This makes us tired and our immune system compromised. Heat causes unfavourable changes in food and your body was not designed to metabolise these. By cooking food above this temperature a pathogenic response in the body called Leucytosis takes place whereby the white blood cells ( immune cells ) are actually used to digest foods much as they would attack foreign substances.

* Only Humans cook food - have you noticed!

By eating more raw food you leave these enzymes intact so you can digest food easily and well and extract, absorb and benefit from all the nutrients and vitamins that your body needs.

A traditional diet contains much meat, dairy and wheat and is very acid forming. This is a dangerous state for your body. Some members of the medical profession are convinced that cancer thrives in an acid environment. A Raw Diet, rich in whole fruit and vegetables does exactly the opposite and creates an alkaline environment where nasties cannot survive.

Other benefits of following a Raw Food Plan rich in organic wholefoods, fresh fruit and veg, nuts, seeds and sprouted seeds and grains is that it means you will

* Quickly reach your optimum weight and shed fat faster.

* Gain lots of energy and need less sleep.

* Have more glowing and healthy skin tone.

* Have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

* No longer suffer constipation - with the high levels of fibre some eminent medics believe this can help prevent some forms of cancer.

* You won't be hungry as you can actually eat more! It just means you are eating foods that satisfy you more and pound for pound contain less calories.

It also happens to be a very ethical eating plan. Buying lots of local fruit and veg helps the local farmers and producers.

It will take a little time to get used to. No more ready meals straight from the freezer popped into the microwave! No more "fast food" of the burger & fries variety but plenty of the even faster food you don't even have to cook! What a variety too - foods you may never have considered trying before.

A Raw Food Plan that has been well thought out and researched can prevent you from making mistakes and guide you through potential pitfalls like eating out and dealing with well meaning friends who don't understand etc. It's good to be guided until the new way of eating ( Not diet! ) becomes a habit - your new "normal" way! This takes, usually, about twelve weeks. A good plan also needs lots of recipes for meals as well as delicious juices and smoothies else you can get in a bit of a salad rut and get bored!
Following such a plan could well leave you feeling more energised and lively than you have felt for years and rather slimmer too. Why delay any longer!

Raw Food Diet Recipes For A Healthy Meal Plan

There are many proven benefits to using raw food diet recipes. When you consume fruits and veggies in a raw state, you are getting all of the nutrients that the food has to offer. There are many food ideas that can have you carefully planning out your meals and snacks. Discover what kind of food choices sound appealing to your taste buds.

Using smoothies as a snack choice or along with a healthy meal is a great way to consume lots of nutrients. These shakes are fairly simple to make. All you need is a few different fruit choices and a blender. When you learn what combos of fruit you like, it will help you make a variety of smoothie options.

The best way to make a healthy smoothie is to start with the main fruit and then add some additional ones. If you crave a banana smoothie, try adding a few melon wedges or grapes to a handful of bananas. The smoothie will have a strong banana flavor with a hint of the secondary fruits. Another great choice for smoothies is a papaya based drink. For this recipe, you can try adding some tangerines and green chard. The flavors have a great way of blending together for the perfect mixture.

With the variety of salads available for lunches and dinners, there is enough to fill a few weeks with delicious choices. The trick to making a salad taste good, is to try a mixture of fruit and vegetable choices. Mandarins and tangerines can compliment a salad quite well, as the fruits seem to add a little dressing to the lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers.

Topping a salad with fruit can create a flavor explosion for your taste buds. The combo of soft fruit and crunchy veggies can make a great meal for anyone trying to eat healthier. Not only can you add tossed fruit to a salad, but you may also try shredding up your favorite veggies and adding them to the top. This works well for carrots, as they can be shaved and put over the salad. Diced cucumber and peppers can also create an exciting salad topper.

To make a salad different, playing around with the fruits and veggies is just the beginning. There are many different varieties of lettuce to pick from that will give your salad a new flavor. Popular ones to try are; rapini and romaine. The varying texture that lettuce can bring will help you change the menu of your salads during the week.

When you plan your meals for the week, try to make each day a little different so that your taste buds have a variety of flavors. Salads can be combined with a smoothie for the ultimate lunch or dinner. Smoothies can also be so filling that they make a breakfast for someone on the move. A side dish of raw veggies or sliced fruit can make a nice snack between meals.

As you discover the many fruit and vegetable varieties that you can create, you will be on your way to eating healthier and feeling better. There are lots of raw food diet recipes to select from. When you do some research into popular recipes and experiment with what you like to eat the possibilities are endless.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Spice Up Your Health With Raw Food Recipes



If you are interested in eating tasty food and still watching your weight then you probably realize that eating fast food everyday is not such a good idea. Stop and think about it for a second. Imagine eating burgers, pizza, pasta, cookies, cakes and pies everyday. They taste great but come on, is it such a good idea? I say that as a joke, but more people than you think actually do it.

Often when people plan out a diet they have to weigh out their food and eat only a prescribed amount of each food, but this is not the case when you are following a raw food diet plan. Not only can you eat as much raw food as you want but you can have foods that are tasty to eat and that will provide your body with plenty of nutrition. You can reduce your weight, improve your health and feel younger within days of starting to eat a raw food diet.

Many people have not considered using a raw food diet plan to improve their health or lose weight. The media has not given much attention to the raw food way of life but the information on the internet, numerous books and personal testimonies have created a new awareness of the raw food lifestyle. Many people think its difficult to change the way they eat, but with a well planned out raw food diet plan, eating well can not only be convenient but affordable. This is especially true when you analyze how much time it takes to cook a traditional cooked meal.

Breakfast with a Raw Food Diet Plan

A quick breakfast can be composed of two cups of green vegetables spinach, broccoli, and lettuce. This is basically a quick salad that has your preferred flavor added by either a salad dressing or yogurt to add flavor. Place them in the blender; possibly you may want to add a squeeze of lemon or lime and a sliced fruit. Mix for twenty seconds, pour and enjoy. This is a delicious smoothie that will give you plenty of energy every day, as well as provide you with plenty important nutrients. This takes about 5 minutes to prepare and drink, if you want more substance to this quick breakfast consider adding soy protein powder or oats.

Lunch with a Raw Food Diet Plan

A raw food lunch could be made of lettuce wraps stuffed with carrot slices, banana and avocado combined with a small bag of mixed unsalted nuts. For your drink, try a carrot or tomato vegetable juice. You could even make the juice yourself in about 10 minutes and this includes clean up. Another great idea is a bag of 3-4 different types of vegetable slices. Choose the ones you like and do not be afraid to venture out a little. The variety will keep things interesting. Personally, I have tried things I have only seen in whole-foods-type grocery stores that I could barely keep down. They had me running for the sink to spit it out, but that is all part of the experience when you try out a raw food diet plan.

Dinner with a Raw Food Diet Plan

Dinner could consist of zucchini pasta together with pesto sauce accompanied by a side dish made of almond flour garlic bread and then for dessert, banana ice cream. For the zucchini pasta, simply peel the zucchini and mix it in with your noodles. This pesto sauce is usually a quick mix of garlic, pine nuts and extra virgin olive oil. An easy way to make banana ice cream is to freeze a couple of bananas then peel them and puree through the blender. This surprisingly gives you very much the same consistency as ice cream; just make sure to eat it while it is still cold.

I love to eat. No doubt about it. So when I made the commitment to switch to a raw food diet plan, I took into consideration all of the things I used to like to eat like, burgers and fries, sandwiches and any kind of chips and dip and some kind of thick pasta sauce with fettuccine noodles. In place of these, through trial and error, I created my own veggie burger recipe and oven baked a potato cut into the shape of fries and sprinkled with a little sea salt. My favorite sandwich now is several kinds of leafy green vegetables, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, green peppers and whatever other veggie I can fit on two slices of whole wheat bread accompanied with thinly sliced, oven baked and slightly sea salted potato slices that are surprisingly crisp when baked just long enough and I now use vegetable based pasta with a little olive oil and tomatoes in place of the heavier traditional thick sauces.

So be creative and use your imagination. You will be surprised at what raw foods can do for you not only for the health benefits but you will also enjoy the true tastes that Mother Nature intended them to have.

Monday, July 12, 2010

A Simple Raw Food Diet Menu





With all the new dieting trends going around, many people are wondering what is the right diet that will assist them with weight loss, encourage better health, and yet at the same time, still taste good. There is a diet out there that fits all that criteria and is very simple to prepare because it involves no cooking whatsoever. Let's take a look at the raw food diet menu.

The raw food diet consists of food that is essentially raw. People following this diet will eat fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans and in general anything that is organic and unprocessed. While this may sound like a boring diet, there are many simple recipes one can prepare that is tasty and nutritious. Following this diet will help you lose weight, digest your food better, increase your energy and help you to improve the appearance of your skin.

The first rule of the raw food diet is no cooking! None of the food can be heated up because it is believed that cooking will take away from the nutritional value of the food. But there are still many creative ways to prepare food that include dehydrating fruit, or putting your favorite fruits and veggies in a blender to mix them up. The key here is not heating the ingredients because heat destroys some of the enzymes in food.

So far this diet seems like just eating raw salads, snacking on seeds or nuts, and eating grain doesn't it? That is not necessarily the case. Below is a recipe for a treat that will make your mouth water in anticipation, and it involves no cooking at all.

The ingredients needed are: 2 ripe avocados
, 3 tomatoes, half a jalapeno, 3 cloves of garlic, kernels from 1 ear of organic corn, 2 teaspoons of lime juice, a quarter cup fresh cilantro, a quarter of a yellow onion, and 8 large romaine lettuce leaves.

Set the lettuce leaves on the side at first and get a knife and cutting board. Dice the tomatoes, the jalapeno, and the onion. Next, chop the cilantro and mince the garlic cloves. Now get a bowl and mash the avocado. Add all the other ingredients and stir until everything is mixed together.

With a spoon, scoop some of the mixture out and place on a piece of romaine lettuce and wrap. Once you are done, you have just created a great snack to enjoy, without having to cook anything at all.

If you are shopping around for a lifestyle change to lose weight, get more energized or just to try something new, the raw food diet may be just for you. It is easy to follow and one of the easiest diet systems to prepare because you do not even need to have a stove to stay on this diet. Have you ever been too tired to cook, or just wanted to save some money on electricity by not needing a stove or microwave? Well then the raw food diet is just for you! You can eat well, feel great and get back to a much simpler lifestyle where nature provides all you need.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Healthy Foods that Will Keep you Fit

Healthy eating and physical fitness go together, but there are no magic foods that cause you to be one hundred percent healthy by just eating the one food. No, you need a variety of foods from each of these food groups each day. It's also important to watch the portion size so as not to overeat. Make your mealtimes pleasant and relaxed occasions and your healthy foods will work effectively with your healthy emotions to give you a healthy body.

Berries

You may like all types of berries or just one or two favorites, but you can never go wrong by adding a few fresh berries as a quick energy snack or frozen berries made into a luscious smoothie in place of calorie laden desserts. Berries are high in vitamin C across the board, but some are high in other nutrients as well. Choose ripe blueberries for vitamin C and heaps of anti-oxidants for the health of your circulatory system. Gogi berries are less well-known but are wonderfully rich in many of the nutrients your body needs to be nutritionally and physically fit.

Citrus

The foods of the citrus family are widely recognized as a valuable source of vitamin C. Choose fully ripe citrus fruits for the best nutritional value and choose citrus as near to the tree as possible. Tree ripened fruits picked at the peak of perfection and consumed with hours of picking give you the top nutritional rating. Try grapefruit for breakfast. Add a dash of fresh squeezed lime to your salad as a dressing and enjoy slices of orange with coconut in a light honey dressing for dessert.

Vegetables

The variety of vegetables is amazing. For people who are vegetarian or vegan, choosing vegetables to be part of a nutritionally sound diet is a way of life. Your vegetable group provides many of the minerals required in a good diet. For example, you may realize that potassium is necessary for healthy nutrition. Many people claim the benefits of potassium found in a single banana. But did you know, you can also get adequate potassium in your diet by eating a stalk of broccoli? Try a salad of fresh young spinach topped with pine nuts and stirred with lightly cooked penne'. Feta cheese and a light vinaigrette dressing to create the perfect light luncheon meal.

Whole Grains

Like many other of the best foods, choosing only one type of whole grain for your meals doesn't provide all the variety you need to be nutritionally sound. Often, mixing two or more whole grains together will give you complete proteins. For example, brown rice and wheat kernels with a spicy seasoning are a popular dish in many countries.

Salmon

Salmon is lean fish and nutritionally one of the best fish choices. It is rich in Omega-3 oils that are noted as helping improve the functioning of the brain. Salmon baked whole with just lemon or lime as a seasoning makes a fantastic main dish or a hearty luncheon featured menu item. Salmon is also commonly found in chilled seafood dishes.

Legumes

A legume is the name for a variety of fruits with a single dry seed. Legumes are sometimes called pods. Examples of edible legumes are soybeans, peas, dried beans and peanuts, among others. Legumes are rich in iron and high in fiber, making them excellent nutritional choices. Peanuts are a type of legume that have been used to make hundreds of different products some edible and others with various types of helpful uses.

Nuts and seeds

Nature has packed a lot of goodness into small packages. Most everyone has heard of walnuts and pecans which are very good nutritional products, but did you realize that flax seeds are brain food--containing critical non-meat sources of the Omega-3 oil.

Lean proteins

The keyword here is lean. Americans eat far too much protein compared to the rest of the world. Cut down of portion sizes--three ounces will provide all the needed protein needed for your day.  Also, trim all visible fat from your protein source. Alternatively, use non meat substitutes such as the complete proteins found in vegetable dishes like beans and brown rice.

Tea

Depending on the type of tea you prefer, you can get an energy boost from a cup of green tea, or the calming effect of chamomile tea. Get going with mint teas or start your day with Earl Grey Breakfast Tea. Herbal teas are soothing, tasty and good for you. Non herbal teas will help you to stay alert when you need help to function.

Olive oil

Olive oil is probably the healthiest substance you can use to keep fat in your diet. You can use it on your salad, mix it with a little vinegar to create your own, or fry other foods in the hot oil.  Just make sure that the temperature is not too hot so that the oil is broken down.

Healthy Food Choices during Pregnancy

When a woman becomes pregnant, it is always imperative that she will take care of her health in a more careful manner than ever. Because pregnancy involves the phase wherein a baby is prepared for its entry into the world in her mother’s womb, it is important for the baby to obtain the proper amount and kind of nutrients that will ensure a healthy and safe delivery.

Eating Right during Pregnancy

There are various factors that a woman can do to ensure that her health and that of the baby is in good state. For some women, a little exercise will help while others have their own routine that are also beneficial for the baby and for the mother, along with providing a hope for a safe delivery. However, one thing that a pregnant woman should not ignore is to make the healthy choices of foods during pregnancy.

During pregnancy, the baby is totally dependent on its mother for nutrients. This is why a pregnant woman must bear in mind that what she eats is not only for her own health but for the baby as well. Here, a lot of misinterpretations exist. Some pregnant women insist that just because there are now two of them to feed, it means she has to double her regular food intake. This is entirely wrong. She does not necessarily have to double her food intake. She just need to make sure that the proper dose of the needed nutrients is more than enough. She also needs to make the healthy food choices.

Healthy Foods to Eat during Pregnancy
What are the healthy food choices for pregnant women? There may not be a single list of foods that will be good for all pregnant women. This is because each pregnant woman has her own unique needs. Nonetheless, it is possible to list down foods that will be right for all pregnant women regardless of their state:

Lean meat, fish, eggs, and peanut butter. These are rich in protein and they help regulate the protein concentration in a pregnant woman’s body. Inability to regulate protein content in the body, especially in the urine, may cause preeclampsia, which can have fatal consequences. Protein is also vital for cell growth and blood production. These foods are likewise good sources for iron, which is critical in blood cell production.

Bread, cereals, rice, potatoes, fruits, and vegetables. These are rich sources of carbohydrates, which are needed for the body’s energy. Moreover, carbohydrates also help in keeping the body warm.

Milk, cheese, yogurt, and sardines. These are rich in calcium, which is very vital in making sure that bones are strong as well as in maintaining nerve function.

Carrots, sweet potatoes, and leafy green vegetables. These are important for having a healthy skin, for bone growth, and for good eyesight.

Citrus fruit, tomatoes, and fortified fruit juices. These are great sources of vitamin C, which is needed to aid in iron absorption and for healthy gums, bones, and teeth.