One of the latest trends that are currently taking the world by storm is adopting a raw food diet for good health and longevity. If you have recently begun on a raw food diet you might have noticed that your body is suddenly functioning slower than usual and you might just be on the verge of giving it up. You might wonder, whether raw food is really worth the hype of being a super cleansing medium and easy-to-break-down food option, and if it is so then why are you undergoing various experiences that are definitely not pleasant.
Do not give up just yet. There are a few things to remember and understand when integrating raw foods in your new diet. But the key lies in choosing the right kinds of foods that can help in keeping your body happy and sensitizing your body towards raw plant-based ingredients. Although adopting a raw lifestyle is a better approach, it is important that you do not force your body to get head along into it without giving it time to get used to the new diet.
Here are some things to remember about raw food diet and your digestive system:
Raw foods are alkaline in nature and hence cooling to the body. This is why digestion is slowed down as cool foods are not known to encourage metabolism. For the body to function at its optimum, foods must be warm and moist. If the food is too dry or too cold, your body might be tricked into getting into a slowdown survival move.
Fibre is extremely tricky when choosing raw foods
For a regular and well working digestive system, it is important to have the right amount of fibre in your daily diet. Hence you might think that eating high quantities of vegetables, seed fibre and fruit can help in eliminating digestive troubles. However, understanding fibre is much more than that. Since there are two kinds of fibre, soluble and insoluble fibre, found in foods it is important to include the right mix of various kinds of fibrous foods so that body stays in balance. In order to have a good blend of insoluble and soluble fibre, opt for wild rice with tomato chili sauce, basil and steamed sweet potatoes.
Chew raw foods to a pulp before it goes down your GI tract
When foods are cooked, the heat initiates the process of breaking down macronutrients, and hence by the time the food reaches the stomach, it is broken down in a pulp that can help the job of the GI tract a little more easily. In the case of raw foods, food must be chewed until it is liquid which can cut down the job of the stomach by breaking down tough fibre in the mouth before sending it down to the stomach. In most cases it is seen that indigestion and backup takes place when the stomach is unable to completely break down food, which leads to partially-broken down food transferred into the small intestine thus increasing the backlog of work throughout the gastrointestinal system.
Do not forget fat from oil when choosing a raw food diet
In most cases people who have adopted a raw food diet do not integrate enough oil or fat to lubricate the body. The absence of essential fats in the diet can result in digestive troubles and bowel movement and hence sprinkle a little oil on the raw foods, such a cold salad, in order to prevent digestion from being held up. Adding virgin coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil or cold pressed sesame oil can be extremely helpful ways of adding beneficial fat into your raw food diet. If you are unable to absorb dietary oil effectively, opt for whole foods that contain healthy fat in a lighter format such as raw coconut meat and avocados.
Carol is an energetic and self-motivated blogger. She takes special interest in writing on matters related to health and fitness. Currently she is researching weight loss supplements, including green coffee bean and garcinia cambogia extract that are natural and without side-effects.
