The Benefits of Eating a Raw Foods Diet

Looking at the current state of health in the United States, you can really see that we are in need of a diet and nutrition overhaul. The increase of viruses, parasites, cancers, and chronic health problems are clear warning signs, and perhaps we would all find that fountain of youth if we turned back the clock on our food preparation methods. Highly processed foods lack the nutritional value and benefits of raw foods, which add a healthy host of beneficial micro-organisms to our diets. These micro-organisms make foods easier to digest, and increase healthy flora in our intestinal tracts and help to kill the bad bacteria that can leave us looking as sluggish and weak as we feel.

Both raw natural foods and certain fermented foods provide the body with soluble fiber, which prevents constipation by stimulating peristalsis, increases the balance of good bacteria (such as E. Coli) in our gastrointestinal tract, and helps the body eliminate toxins, acting like a broom to sweep our colons clean of waste residue and fecal matter.

So what is the main reason it’s so important to eat raw foods? Most vitamins and micro-nutrients are either damaged or destroyed when heated above 130 degrees. Many of these are newly discovered micro-nutrients, and quite possibly preventatives to cancer and other harmful diseases. Eating fresh, raw fruits and vegetables increase the vitamins and micro-nutrients in your diet. Enzymes are the most sensitive, and are damaged or destroyed when heated above 118 degrees. Enzymes are an important part of digestion and without them the body must work harder to process the foods you take into your system. Eating a diet made up of mostly raw foods will increase the enzyme levels in your body, and help eliminate toxic buildup in the gastrointestinal system, improving your overall health, as well as keeping your immune system healthy and strong, reducing the incidence of illness and the likelihood of developing chronic diseases.

Becoming More Alkaline, Avoiding an Acidic Body, and Maintaining Proper pH Levels

Acidic pH levels in the body cause strain and stress on the organs, affecting a person’s overall health. It forces the body to borrow calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, and other valuable minerals from vital organs in order to neutralize the acid and force it out of the body. If the condition is allowed to continue over a period of years, it can cause premature aging, immune deficiency, joint pain, aching muscles and lactic acid buildup. Yeast and fungal overgrowth is very common among people who are over-acidic, as well as low energy, chronic fatigue, weight gain, obesity and diabetes.

Health Problems that are Caused by an Acidic Body

Because the organs are being overworked and strained, it can easily lead to cardiovascular damage, including the constriction of blood vessels and the reduction of oxygen, bladder and kidney conditions, including kidney stones, acceleration of free radical damage, possibly contributing to cancerous mutations, and hormone concerns. The least of the problems one might experience would be slower digestion and elimination, which could cause constipation and buildup of toxins in the digestive system.

Most people who live in industrialized countries have become too acidic, and suffer the health problems that are associated with high acidity, such as depression, chronic fatigue, back pain, arthritis, cancer, ulcers, brittle bones, yeast infections, and premature aging. To balance the body, foods high alkaline foods must be eaten to counteract, or neutralize the acids. Most meats and sugars should be avoided, as well as milk products other than goat milk and cheese, which are low alkaline foods. If you do eat animal products, try to follow up or combine with high alkaline foods, or alkaline water, to balance out the pH level in your body. Test strips to determine the pH level in your urine or saliva are available in most health food stores, and can help you monitor your alkalinity, or to determine if your body is too acidic - and make healthy dietary changes that will help to become more alkaline. 

  

Foods that Cause your Body to be More Alkaline

Foods that are considered low alkaline foods, but not quite acidic: Raw honey, raw sugar, oranges, bananas, cherries, pineapple, peaches, avocados, carrots, tomatoes, fresh corn, mushrooms, cabbage, peas, potato skins, olives, soybeans, tofu, chestnuts, canola oil, amaranth, millet, wild rice, quinoa, soy cheese, soy milk, goat milk, goat cheese, whey, and ginger tea. Foods that are higher in alkaline include: Maple syrup, rice syrup, dates, figs, melons, grapes, papaya, kiwi, berries, apples, pears, raisins, okra, squash, green beans, beets, celery, lettuce, zucchini, sweet potato, carob, almonds, flax seed oil, breast milk, and green tea. Some of the most alkaline foods include: Stevia, lemons, watermelon, limes, grapefruit, mango, papaya, asparagus, onions, vegetable juices, parsley, raw spinach, broccoli, garlic, olive oil, herbal teas, and lemon water.

Aloe Vera to Cleanse the Colon and Detoxify the Digestive System

Using aloe vera for skin care and sunburns is well known, but did you know that you can also drink the juice of the aloe vera plant? Aloes are some of the most healing plants found in nature, made up of a large variety of amino acids, enzymes, vitamins and minerals. Aloe vera juice can be it is also beneficial when taken internally, drinking it either an hour or two before breakfast, or just before going to bed.

Aloe is considered a bitter herb, and a cathartic – which means it is an excellent laxative. Aloe vera helps to ease constipation and prevent ongoing diarrhea, and promotes healthy regularity in the bowels – without drugs or chemical additives. This makes it an excellent choice, over and above some of the synthetic laxatives on the market, which can often send you running for the bathroom!

Aloe has natural healing and detoxifying properties, working gently within the intestinal tract to help break down impacted food residues and morbid matter from stomach, liver, kidneys, spleen, bladder and colon, thoroughly cleansing the bowels. Since it has such a positive effect on the digestive system, aloe is an excellent remedy for irritable bowel syndrome, better known as IBS. Since this process helps to reduce intestinal bloating, as the symptoms begin to ease – so do the stress and discomfort. A toxic colon is the cause of a wide variety of illnesses, and aloe vera is one of the best single herbs to clean out the colon.