Ever wondered what a ‘raw’ food is? Raw foods are essentially food which have not been heated to above approx. 47 degrees Celsius. Increasing intake of raw foods has shown to be beneficial in several key areas of health. Some of these benefits come from the fact that many raw foods maintain vital nutrients when they are not heat treated and unprocessed whole foods like fruit and vegetables are naturally lower in calories. Some of the benefits associated with eating a diet high in raw foods includes:
Controls blood pressure:
Raw foods are normally low in sodium which can help to lower the risk of stroke, heart failure, and stomach cancer.
Weight loss:
As discussed, most raw foods are low in calories, fat, and added sugar. Keeping a healthy weight is important for the prevention of type 2 diabetes among other diseases.
Readily absorbed nutrients:
Most raw foods are high in vitamins, minerals, fibre and disease-fighting chemicals. With minimal processing, these nutrients are more readily available in the body and can be absorbed much more easily.
Stronger immune system:
Raw foods such as fruit and vegetables are packed with vitamin C and antioxidants. These help to boost our immune systems and fight off infections.
Improved skin health:
Allowing the body to access more vitamins and minerals in food can help to boost skin health and allow for a clearer complexion.
May help prevent cancer:
Broccoli, especially sprouted broccoli, when eaten raw, contains an anti-cancer and blood pressure lowering a compound called sulfurophane.
Prevents and cures constipation:
Raw foods are usually high in fibre, which helps the stool become bulky allowing it to pass through the digestive system easily. Team high-fibre foods with plenty of fluids for a super healthy digestive sytem!
