raw food

We’ve discussed the benefits of raw food before, but I’d like to devote a little more time to the raw food movement. The push to eat all-natural, unprocessed, organic foods has taken hold of many dejected dieters. Unlike other fad diets, in which the weight piles back on the second you stop dieting, the raw food diet is a movement and a lifestyle change.

Raw food may be a path to better overall health and fitness. For years, studies have shown that a diet with a high proportion of fresh raw fruits and vegetables will improve health and longevity. So how about a diet consisting entirely of raw foods?

At the root of the raw food diet is the theory that just like other animals in nature, humans are designed for raw foods and therefore can more effectively utilize raw uncooked food. Heating food above 110 degrees Fahrenheit results in the depletion of nutrients in our food, the destruction of enzymes, and the creation of toxins.

Fresh fruits and veggies are good for you, of course, but what exactly makes them so great? And more importantly, how can you maximize their impact on your health?

1. Eat the leaves of veggies—don’t go for the stems and stalks. The leaves are where the iron is at. And make sure those leafy vegetables are raw—cooking at a heat of 220 degrees destroys the rich iron source.