Losing Weight on a Raw Food Diet

I mentioned a couple days ago that I have set up an account with FitDay.com and I’ve started tracking my food intake closely. To be honest, up until this point I thought I had a pretty good idea of how many calories I was eating every day, but when you keep track of everything it is always surprising to see how quickly calories add up. If you think you have your diet figured out, but are still struggling to lose weight, I strongly recommend that you track the calories of everything you eat for a week. You may be surprised about what your calorie consumption really is.

Following the Raw Food Diet will improve overall health and can help form better eating habits necessary for weight loss and weight management.

Calories aside, another great benefit of FitDay.com’s diet tracker is that it calculates other important nutritional information, such as the amount of carbohydrates, fats, saturated fats, sodium and protein you consume each day. It also gives a full breakdown of how much some vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins A, D, C, B and calcium you eat. Really interesting stuff for those of us fascinated by what’s in our food. Every day so far I have been dreadfully deficient in most vitamins and minerals, which was a huge eye opener for me. This is a result of not enough fruits and vegetables and too much processed foods.

Although I have only been tracking this information for a few days, it is brutally clear that my intake of processed foods is way too high. I can see negative effects of this in the amounts of sugars, saturated fats and sodium I am eating every day and I would like to work towards a more natural diet. Not only do processed foods not fill you or help to curb hunger, but they are nutritionally deficient and full of empty calories. If you are trying to lose weight and you eat a lot of processed foods, this may just be the thing that is sabotaging your diet.

Today I have decided to stop eating so many processed foods and just stick with fruits and vegetables for the most part. This will require changing my weekly meal plan, but my meals will be more nutritionally balanced. Although I still don’t intend to strictly follow any type of diet, I am hoping to work towards eating habits that are similar to the Raw Food Diet. I have done quite a bit of reading about this diet in the past and think that it may be just what my body needs, both for continuing weight loss and for becoming healthier.

When you hear about the Raw Food Diet, you may rightly assume the dieter eats raw foods. However, it is not quite as simple as that. There is a theory behind this diet that does make some sense in a scientific manner, and it is a diet that can help a person eat a healthier menu each day. The best part about the Raw Food Diet is that it is relatively simple and just about anyone could do it if they wish. If you like fresh fruits and vegetables, this is definitely a good diet plan for you.

Those that follow this diet are told to eat at least three quarters of their calories each day from raw foods. That means some cooked items are allowed and encouraged to keep the diet from becoming too boring. The foods recommended for the raw part of the diet include vegetables, fruits, sprouts, nuts, beans, all types of seeds, fresh juices, purified water, and even seaweed, just to name a few. These foods should be organic if possible, as that means less chemicals going into the body (see my post “Eating Organic Foods” for more information).

Those that swear by the Raw Food Diet believe that this style of eating can help with many aspects of human health. This includes, but is not limited to, having better skin, a better working digestive system, more energy throughout the day, lower risk of stroke and heart attack, and weight loss for those that have weight to lose. Also, by following this diet, the levels of bad fats (trans and saturated fats) are lowered to healthy levels, thus adding to the health benefits.

The belief is that cooking any foods over 116 degrees will kill or greatly diminish the essential enzymes that are naturally found in the recommended foods. There is some truth to this, as it is known that overcooking vegetables can also deplete the vitamins and minerals that are naturally included. Eating these raw, or cooked under that temperature of 116 degrees, preserves the natural health benefits that come with eating these foods.

The Raw Food Diet is easy to follow and is essentially healthy, but some people may not want to go on this diet without consulting with a doctor. Those that are pregnant or nursing should not follow this diet, and it is not appropriate for children. Those with anemia should ask a doctor first, as should those who have problems with calcium intake and absorption. Anyone on a diet can become deficient in some vitamins and minerals, so a daily vitamin supplement is encouraged.

Losing weight on a raw food diet is very likely as long as you control portion size and continue to watch calorie consumption. Although raw foods have nutritional benefits over processed foods, this does not mean that they are low in calories. Also, when losing weight on a raw food diet, make sure to incorporate proteins, such as poultry, dairy, and legumes, and whole grains. By following this type of diet you will consume more fiber and protein that both help to satiate appetite and curb hunger between meals and snacks.