The Raw Food Diet

I am not sure if it is mainly the winter, or my diet, or lack of regular intense exercise, but lately I have had less energy than usual. All year round most days there are times where I feel so tired, I could just go and lay down on my bed in the middle of the day for a little cat nap!

When I feel like this I often lack motivation to exercise and so avoid it.

My skin could be better. It is OK, and I do get some spots. Not good enough! I am not happy with this and want healthy looking, vibrant skin! I want the best in health and unless I eat the best foods and have a high quality, active lifestyle my health will never be more than just OK.

But I don't want just OK I want REAL HEALTH! I don't want to eat enough nutrients just so that I don't become deficient; I want to eat for OPTIMUM HEALTH!

So, in the last few days I have been thinking of ways to improve my diet for optimum health. I would concider my current diet to be pretty healthy, apart from the odd diet coke, coffee (OK, I have a cup or 2 of decafe everyday....) and packet of crisps!

Here is a list of what I have eaten today, which is fairly typical:

• Breakfast: 3 ryvitas with 2 large, free range, boiled eggs
• Mid-morning snack: I clementine with a large handful of sultanas
• Lunch: Bulger wheat with vegetables and a green salad
• Dinner: Quorn spaghetti bolognaise (with wholemeal speghetti).
• Drinks: 4 glasses of water, 2 glasses of ribena light (tut tut - the additives!) and 1 decafe coffee.

Most days I eat about 1-2 servings of fruits and 5-6 servings of vegetables, which is more than the UK's recomended 5 portions of fruits and vegetables each day. However, I feel I should be eating at least 10 servings of fruit and vegetables per day and drinking more water. I need to eat more nuts as well as they are very good sources of protein and other nutrients - must not eat too many though as they are high in fat!

I have been wondering, if my diet was so great wouldn't my energy levels be better? Wouldn't I have better skin? Maybe if I eat more fruits and vegetables and drink more water I will achieve better health? With this in mind I remembered the raw food diet that I read about a few years ago.

Earlier this year a close family friend was talking about her experience with the raw food diet. Since she has been on it she had more energy, lost weight, and felt more vibrant. At the time I thought it seemed like a very healthy diet, so long as you make sure you get all the protein and energy you need, but it seemed really restrictive. I thought to myself: I could never go on a total raw food diet - I could never eat bread, or cheese, or pizza, or curry, or pasta again :( :( :(

So, although I did admire my friend's will power, and knew it was a very healthy diet, I decided it was not for me, I liked my cooked foods too much and could not live without them!

I have changed my mind!

Yesterday I typed in raw food into google video. I sat back and watched lectures on the raw food diet by David Wolfe and Paul Nilson - experts on the raw food diet. I was truly inspired by their stories! They looked so healthy and vibrant and full of energy. I want to feel like that(constantly) too! According to Paul Nilson, you should only eat foods that have these 4 elements:

• Raw,
• Ripe,
• Fresh,
• Organic.

The basis of the raw food diet is simple: raw, ripe, fresh organic foods have the highest nutrient and enzyme levels with the least toxins and so consuming these foods instead of non-organic cooked foods, will result in better health. This really makes a lot of sense!

I also checked out some raw food websites, I felt even more inspired, especially when I saw the raw food chocolate - it looks so delicious! I bet those Cacao beans taste yummy! I really can't wait to try some of those tasty looking raw food dishes!

Raw chocolate (yummmmmmmmm!). Source: http://www.detoxyourworld.com

So, that's it. I have decided I am going to gradualy increase my consumptions of raw foods until I have a 100% low GI, raw food vegan diet. Now that is what I call a strict diet!!!

I know it will take some time to get used as I will miss some of my fave cooked foods, but it will be worth it in the long run.

Have you ever tried the raw food diet?

Links:

The Raw food diet in wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raw_food_diet

David wolfe:
http://www.davidwolfe.com/

The Best Day Ever:
http://www.thebestdayever.com/

Living and Raw Foods:
http://www.living-foods.com/recipes/

Raw Food UK:
http://www.shazzie.com/

The Raw Lifestyle Coach:
http://www.raw-food.co.uk/

Videos:

The Raw Food Seminar Part One - with David Wolfe:
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=7487619717104560329&q=raw+food

David Wolfe - Raw Foods and Smoothies:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ge0kYHjXHL0&mode=related&search=

Raw for 30 Days - Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynXGA6fCEgU

Paul Nilson, Raw Life:
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=221362955412797330&q=raw+food