Raw Vegetable Diet

When vegetables are processed and cooked the essential nutrients and some essential enzymes are destroyed. Cooking dark green leafy vegetables can destroy about half of the antioxidants and carotenoids. Raw vegetables are highly rich in minerals, beneficial enzymes, natural sugars, and trace elements. All these essential nutrients are required for normal and stable body functioning. When the body is functioning at peak levels, weight will lost and the body will not need to store excessive fat for future use as energy.

Health is improved and weight stabilized due to the following benefits of a raw vegetable diet:

· Increased energy

· Better digestion

· Improved skin appearance

· Weight loss

· Decreased risk of disease.

· Health-promoting phytochemicals

· Function of digestive system is improved.

One of the benefits of following a raw vegetable diet is that it is an easy diet to follow because there is little preparation of the food. Thorough washing of vegetables is needed. Raw vegetables are easy to bring with. For some raw foods to become more digestible without cooking and destroying nutrients, the following techniques can be used with raw foods:

· Soaking nuts and dried fruits

· Sprouting the grains, seeds and beans

· Blending

· Dehydrating

· Juicing

Supplements will be needed due to the depletion of farm soils. For people who crave protein it may take awhile for the body to adjust. Foods will need to be combined to provide complete proteins in the diet. For example beans and corn combine to make a complete protein. More frequent trips to the store are needed due to the short shelf life of raw vegetables.

Vegetables and fruits bought in season and eaten at the time of purchase or later dehydrated will cost less than meats and other processed foods.