How A Raw Vegan Diet Fits Into a Healthy and Active Lifestyle

Eating raw means exactly that! It means that that you will not be eating food that is fried, baked, broiled, stewed or otherwise heated. Eating raw is conducive to the Health and Active Lifestyle because you do not eat meat, eggs dairy products and animal products or animal derived products. It also means refusing to eat foods that are processed using animal by-products or ones that use refined white sugar. Purists on a vegan diet also do not consume whey or honey.

Permissible foods include grains, beans, legumes, vegetables and fruits and whatever meals you can fathom by combining these ingredients as long as you are eating them raw. However if you are going through the Happy and Active lifestyle program, you should stay away from those foods that you have been told are not beneficial to you.

Why Eat Raw?

Eating raw generally means getting more nutrition for eating less. Most of us eat food that is heated over 188 degrees, which destroys most of its nutrients.  Cooking food also destroys many of the natural enzymes that are used by the body to break down food for digestion and facilitate the absorption of nutrients and the expelling of waste.  Old dead food that is processed, salty and stoked with chemical preservatives simply passes through the body with no real benefits.

There are a lot of benefits to eating raw and that includes more energy during the day and less sleep at night.  When you eat raw you can practically feel your skin healing itself at night.  You have more than enough fibre to keep your bowel movements regular, which in turn improves cell respiration and fights cell oxidization and aging.

Yet another benefit of eating raw is that you can eat as much as you want without becoming toxic or clogging up your system. You never have to go hungry because raw foods are complex carbohydrates that have a low glycemic index. 

Eat Organically

To optimize your benefits from eating raw it is important to eat food that is live and not “deadened” by processing and preservation techniques. Stick to foods that are grown organically and locally.  It also means eating foods that are fresh and staying away from consumables that have been sitting around spoiling too long or that must be refrigerated or cooked to be palatable.  It means giving up gluten, alcohol and nicotine. These are all non-nutrients that create an acidic state in the body.  Once we are too acidic, our body becomes a welcome host for all kinds of disease.

Keep in mind that when you eat vegan you will be eating mostly produce and you will also be eating mostly raw.  Buy whole fresh, locally grown produce without blemishes. Balsamic vinegar, agave nectar, tahini sauce, peanut butter, and vegetable sauces are acceptable to have on hand. Read labels before you buy because many vegetable based stocks tend to be very high in sodium.

It is a really good idea to keep as many spices and herbs on hand as you can.  Fresh herbs can be grown or stored in the fridge.  The most versatile fresh herbs to have on hand are rosemary, dill, thyme, basil and parsley.]

For many people, the choice to eat raw is worth making—not just to live longer, but also to live better.

For more information about the Healthy & Active Program please visit our website at www.healthy-active.com. You may also call us in Toronto at (41) 440-2217 and ask for Adrienne Wright Bulow or Dr. Michael Rahman or email us at adrienne@healthy-active.com.