The Detoxifying Benefits of A Raw Foods Diet

One of the most popular diets for cleansing and detoxifying your body is the raw foods diet. There are actually many variations of the raw foods diet - from eating mostly raw foods, with some lightly cooked thrown in, to eating entirely raw fruits and vegetables only. This extreme diet may not be all that healthy, as you may not be able to get all of the protein you need, but for sure, throwing some raw foods into your diet can definitely be a healthy way to eat. Often raw food diets are used for a defined period of time, such as a week or two, as a cleansing and detoxification program. The Total Wellness Cleanse, for example, incorporates lots of raw foods into the 30-day program, while also including some healthy cooked foods.

Raw foods. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The benefits attributed to a raw foods diet seem nearly endless: lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels, eliminating cravings, preventing overeating, purging the body of accumulated toxins, balancing hormones, maintaining blood glucose levels and reversing degenerative diseases are just a few of the purported benefits.

Followers of a raw diet cite numerous health improvements, including increased energy levels, improved appearance of skin, improved digestion, weight loss and reduced risk of heart disease, just to name a few. Proponents believe that enzymes are the life force of a food and that every food contains its own perfect mix. These enzymes help us digest foods completely, without relying on our body to produce its own cocktail of digestive enzymes.

There can be some side effects when you are first starting a raw foods diet. Some detoxification effects may be experienced as your body attempts to shed some toxicity. This may include occasional headaches, nausea sensations and mild depression. If these symptoms persist, you should seek the help of somebody who is experienced with detoxification symptoms.

Following a raw food diet means that you have to carefully plan your meals to make sure you don't fall short of essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals. In some instances it might be appropriate to consider taking dietary supplements, especially when just starting out.  You'll need to invest in some appliances so that you are able to prepare the food, if you don’t already have them available.  A durable juicer, a blender, and a large food processor make raw food preparation a breeze. You may also want to look into purchasing large containers to soak sprouts, grains and beans, as well as for storage.

The smoothest way to begin a raw foods lifestyle is to slowly transition into it. Try starting off by eating approximately 70 to 80 percent raw foods in your diet. Have fruit and salads throughout the day and a cooked vegetable meal with a salad in the evening. This should help make the transition easier on your body and hopefully lessen side effects associated with detoxification. This is an emotional time as well, so you should allow yourself plenty of time to make the switch.  Journaling during the process can help. Before you know it, you’ll be feeling the positive effects of a healthy, detoxifying raw foods diet. 

Want more guidance or help with the transition? Try the Total Wellness Cleanse for a step-by-step program that will ease you into eating more raw foods, and also naturally and gently cleanse and detoxify all of your bodily systems.

Deciding To Go Raw

So, now that you know what a raw food diet is all about, you need to decide, is it right for you? One thing to keep in mind is that you do not need to incorporate raw food 100% of the time. You can just eat more fruits and vegetables and no processed foods, and still reap many health benefits.

Orange, pear, apple (Photo credit: Joe Lencioni)

Try drinking fruit juices until lunch time and then eating a healthy veggie sandwich. For dinner, eat some blanched vegetables with a cooked meal with no meats - or a small amount of meat but no dairy or processed grains. 

When you gradually detoxify your body, you will see dramatic results. First, you will go through the initial detoxification process, where you may feel tired, have headaches, skin eruptions, etc. But once you are over this tough time, you will feel light, energetic, full of vitality, and very conscious and aware, among other things. You will have more mental clarity and therefore be more productive. Your body will feel cleansed, you will be less likely to get sick, and quicker to heal if you do. 

You may also see dramatic weight loss, for instance five pounds a week. You will also notice that you do not seem weighed down with colds or sicknesses because your immune system is much stronger. 

You will also save time and money because you will not be in the kitchen cooking all the time. You will not be eating animals, because conventionally farmed animals have been pumped full of hormones which only add to your toxic load. This in turn, puts an end to the torture in conventional animal farming. You will find you're not as likely to be plagued with depression, PMS, or acne. In fact, your skin may be glowing, and you will feel rejuvenated. 

Community supported agriculture (Photo credit: yksin)

AND you will be saving money because you can either grow your own vegetables or buy them at a local CSA or farmers market. Buying organic food is good for the earth and provides agricultural support to small farmers, which is much needed. 

This type of eating also slows the aging process. Your senses will be enhanced; you may be more flexible and fertile. You may find you're more creative, motivated, and also relaxed. You will focus more on relationships and be more environmentally attuned and inwardly attuned, and you may feel more spiritually connected to the world.

Of course, you may not experience all of these benefits, but these are just some reasons why some people choose to embrace a raw-food lifestyle. But remember, you don't have to go cold-turkey, and you may never choose to eliminate all cooked foods, but even just increasing the percentage of raw foods that you eat, and cutting out processed foods and excess meat and dairy will make a huge difference in your health and well-being.