Can you handle a raw food diet

It was not long ago, raw food bars were all the rage. If you don't eat your raw food, you weren't in with the IN crowd and you were out of the loop in healthy rage. There are still some raw food bars around, but rather insipid has died and I think with good reason.

A lot of my patients ask me about the health benefits of eating raw food and I agree, there are some foods that are a benefit consumed raw, some I into question, and some never will I recommend without cooking. In case you were wondering whether or not it is more advantageous to eat all your raw food, here are some pros and cons you can consider.

What is so great about raw food?

Raw food is to start with something that has not been heated beyond 40 118 degrees. It is reported by raw food enthusiasts, temperatures above that kills the natural enzymes are present in foodstuffs and make it harder for your body to digest them. it is true that your body needs specific enzymes to digest your food. As we get older these enzymes reduce and does not make the job aid digestion and which may leave us constipated and missing a lot of nutrients from our food.

Now, there are some great, high vitamin and mineral-fiber-filled foods recommended for raw food diet, is all the things you should include a healthy diet anyway. They include foods such as vegetables, fruits, pulses, cereals and juices, as well as monounsaturated fats from olive oil, Avocados, coconut and nuts. As you can see, it is predominantly vegetarian diet, but people who practice a raw diet exclusively say, there are many benefits such as:

Lower cholesterol.
Lower down blood sugar levels.
Lower blood pressure (from decreased sodium intake).
Can prevent stomach and oral cancers (excessively boiled, barbecued food suspects).
High in fiber, helps maintain good bowel health and blood sugar.
Boosts the immune system from higher glycoside levels in raw food.
Avoidance of wheat, dairy products, sugar, alcohol and table salt can help certain allergies and aid in detoxifying the body itself.
Clearer skin.
weight loss.

What is not so much about the raw foods diet

Raw food diet, lifestyle, in its purest form, is predominantly vegetarian diet. Am I concerned about vitamin deficiencies, in particular deficiencies in B12, which is common in vegetarian diets. This deficiency can result in anaemia and conditions of the nervous system, as well as neurological disorders of cognition problems and dementia. The best sources of B12 is from red meat, and secondly, chicken, fish, and wheat germ.

In addition, warming not food last 118 degrees allows food borne pathogens that remain intact and can result in serious illness. Take eggs for example. Many of my patients boast about how they put a raw egg in a blender with juice, etc and drink it all down. In cringe and then tell them, they are lucky they dodged bullets salmonella, but may not always, as the eggs can be carriers of bacteria.

Depending on how strict are you in a raw food diet, you can also include some fish (sushi, etc), red meat and milk (non-pasteurized, non-homogenized only). Add meat and fish work better from a nutritional point of view, but from a food borne pathogen viewpoint could pose some serious problems. Both fish and meat can carry bacteria such as salmonella and others. If you have ever suffered a Salmonella food poisoning event, you will not go there again. They can also carry out viruses and parasites. Non-pasteurized milk can also implement Mycobacterium bovis, that can cause non-type pulmonary tuberculosis. These raw foods can short, lead to some serious diseases, as you do not want to subject yourself.

And if vitamin deficiencies and food borne pathogens are not enough to scare you away from a raw food
some raw diet, foods are included in a natural and untreated State, many of which can be toxic.
Here is a short list of these foods:

Kidney beans and Brussels sprouts contain a chemical called phytohemaglutinin, which can be toxic.
Lucerne Brussels sprouts contain canavanine.
Apricot chlorotic cores-contain amygdalin, which is raw cyanide.
Buckwheat Greens are toxic When raw. They can trigger photosensivity.
Parsnips contain furanocoumarin-raw, which can be toxic.

Time may also be a factor in not selecting a raw diet. Since most all raw food, it takes a long time to buy and preparation, which would be the ultimate importance of freshness.

Convenience can be another negative because it would make it difficult to go out to eat. Also to get used to it can be difficult for people who have eaten meat, sugar, salt and alcohol throughout their lifetime to switch to a raw diet.

Is there a healthy way to eat raw food?

The answer to this question depends on who you ask, mainly. But even many raw food enthusiasts say that the ideal raw raw diet is 75% and 25% cooked, and if I would "go raw" this is the way, I would probably do it so well.

25 percent of your raw diet could be boiled meat, fish and eggs, but I want to add a good digestive system enzyme to digest these proteins, especially if you are over 40 years.
the other 75% could be made from raw vegetables steamed just enough to soften them and bring out their flavour. Raw fruits and nuts are always great in their natural form and I recommend heartily eats several servings of these vitamin and fiber rich foods every day.
as always, drink half your weight in clean, filtered water per day to flush the toxins out of your body.

It is what I tell my patients ask about the health benefits of a raw food diet. There are many positive elements, which eat all the vegetables, fruits and nuts, and staying away from sugar and alcohol and processed foods. These are sound changes, as anyone can incorporate in their diet, whether it is completely raw or not. In order to avoid serious illness, however, will be staying away from sushi and steak tartare, unless you really can testify to where they came from, and handled them.

Dangerous and deadly food

There are so many manufactured foods on the market today and a lot of them are considered dangerous or have additive or preservative which are cancer causing agents.

There should be more alerts and a greater concern about what we are eating and feeding our family.

The following is a list of foods or additives which are dangerous or deadly.

Hot Dogs and Processed Meats have chemical preservative which increase cancer risks.

Prepared Baby Food-traces of Pesticides have been found in jars of baby foods. Concern about the chemical, semicarbazide, a sealant used on the jars, this product is carcinogenic and it can reproduction into the food. Musts jar sizes are large so the amount ingested is apparently not harmful. Baby jars are smaller, the amount is greater per volume and therefore percentage level is higher.

Babies should only have natural grown, pesticide free food. Make your own baby food. Note when cooking and preparing the food, do not add salt, babies do not need sodium, it is too hard for there body two break down.

Rice-is used for baby food as it has a very low allergy risk.
The way it grows, can absorb contaminates from the ground so it really needs to be properly rinsed prior to cooking.

Pankake, chocolate Brownie & Cake Mix-(a) mould can grow in old mix, and then if consumed, can be extremely dangerous, even deadly.

Milk To increase production some farmers give their cows Growth Hormones. Taken in large doses these can have an adverse effect on your body and development.

Hydrogenate Oil It s a hard oil, used in margarine to stabilize it, so it does not melt down into a liquid as quickly as butter. The process used to make hydrogenated vegetable oil (or partially hydrogenated vegetable oil) creates Trans fats, which promote heart disease and diabetes. Its used in many foods, not just margarine.

Fat/Avacado Free Guacamole-avocados are high in fat and expensive, so manufacturers are now substituting their dips with hydrogenate oil, yellow and blue food colouring, flavouring for the Avacado.

Artificial Crab Meat exactly that-consists of beef plasma-when blood is spun down the red blood cells clump together and are removed, leaving a clear liquid. This is a plasma which is then mixed with fish and artificial colour.

Raw Eggs the bacteria in raw eggs can cause food poisoning. It can also be contaminated with salmonella, a food-borne illness that can give it a try fatal if untreated.
Cooking destroys the bacteria. Eating raw eggs is not recommended while pregnant nor to be given two babies. Before eating/ordering that the Cesar Salad, make sure the dressing is not made with raw eggs. Some tonics and protein drinks add raw eggs

Shellfish have bacteria, as bacteria exists naturally in the sea. While cooking destroys these bacteria, eating raw shellfish can lead to diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps and vomiting. People most susceptible are diabetics, cancer sufferers and people with liver disease or immune disorders. Some severe cases can lead to death.

Strawberries Many farmers use pesticides. Check the country of origin, as some are higher than others.

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)-MSG is used as a flavor enhancer in many packaged foods, including soups, salad dressings, sausages, hot dogs, canned tuna, potato chips, instant noodles and many more. MSG can lead to intolerance and allergic reactions such as severe headaches (migraines), nausea, drowsiness, heart palpitations, asthma, and anaphylactic shock.

This artificial sweetener-Aspartame is found in Equal and NutraSweet, diet sodas and other low-cal foods. This sweetener has been found to cause brain tumors in rats as far back as the 1970 s.
However a more recent study in 2005 found that even small doses increase the incidence of lymphomas and leukemia in rats, along with brain tumors.
Aspartame is made of 3 components, 50% phenylalanine, aspartic acid 40% and 10% methanol (wood alcohol). In the body of methanol breaks down into formaldehyde (embalming fluid) and formic acid.

Wild Mushrooms be extremely careful if you trend two go wild mushroom hunting in your local wooded area. A few common species of mushrooms are poisonous ... deadly. If unsure, eat mushrooms you ve purchased from a grocery store.

Rare Hamburger-Hamburger and other ground meat should be fully cooked to prevent e. coli, which can cause severe illness even death.

Mouldy Peanuts-Aflatoxins are a by-product, naturally occurring fungus Aspergillus (a)/mould growth on certain agricultural products such as peanuts, almonds, pistachio, walnut, coconut, wheat, cereals and corn, chile peppers, black pepper, coriander, turmeric and ginger.
Alfatoxins have been found to cause liver cancer in animals and humans. Check carefully for any sign of discoloration or mould.

There are concerns over chemicals, proven to be cancer causing agents, being used in our foods. Why do government departments allow large manufacturers to use these agents. What is considered low to no risk? How does anyone know what level is considered a safe amount for our bodies?
Who came up with and how did this safe value come to be?
When is any cancer causing agent inge place inhale or consumed in any way considered safe
If the package lists ingredients known to be harmful, then why don t they list any guidelines explaining how much to be consumed in a day, week, month in order for the level in our body not to be considered dangerous?

Another concern is food allergies. These can be very difficult to control and are becoming more common today. Reactions can be mild, severe two-even deadly.
Allergies-It s estimated that as many as 7 million Americans suffer from allergies to common foods, and as many as 200 people die every year from allergic reactions. While no one is quite sure what causes food allergies, the numbers are on the rise.

There does appear to be almost an epidemic, I would say, in the last five to 10 years, reports Dr. Hugh Sampson, an allergist to Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.

He doesn t know the cause, but says there may be a link with breastfeeding. Ninety percent of the children who develop a serious peanut allergy were breastfed as infants, he says.

It may be a coincidence, he says, but the general consensus is we d rather the mothers not eat peanut while they re breastfeeding if they re from allergic family.
Some children will grow out of their allergies, however many people will develop them as they get older.

There is greater concern today, since many food manufacturers use the same plant or factory to manufacture foods with nuts in them as well as foods without.
Some people s allergies are so severe that eating anything that was made in a factory that processes peanuts or seeds could kill them.

Is there no alternative than using known harmful chemicals when growing and processing our foods? Are safer measures too costly, therefore the all mighty $ becomes more important than the value of life

Hence, is now not the right time to take action and control your health, the health and wellbeing of your family

Read the label and make healthier choices. Get back to healthy eating and avoid the preservative chemicals and the Government and Manufacturers claims are acceptable levels.

It is time to be serious about healthy eating and living and getting back to eating naturally grown whole foods.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=MaryLeahy

Dangerous foods-reasons

Although the food supply in the United States is still one of the safest in the world estimates, CDC, Centers for Disease Control that every year more than 300,000 Americans are hospitalized and 5,000 die from FOODBORNE illness. Preventing FOODBORNE illness and death remains a major public health challenge.

A FOODBORNE disease is any disease caused by ingestion of food. Although the term is often used food poisoning, most FOODBORNE diseases is not actually the result of toxins, chemicals or toxic substances created by the food, but is caused by one of several forms of micro-organisms in food. The most frequent causes of food borne diseases is bacteria, including Salmonella, e. coli, Listeria and Shigella. Some bacteria secrete toxins as they grow; for example, secretes Clostridium bacteria botulin toxin, which can be fatal.

An estimated 55% of FOODBORNE diseases is caused by incorrect cooking and storage of foodstuffs and 24% of poor hygiene, in particular the lack of washing hands before handling food. Only 3% of cases are from a source that unsafe food.

In a FOODBORNE illness symptoms may begin in hours to eat food, or they may be delayed as much as three days. Symptoms vary with different micro-organisms, and may include one or more of these: nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, gastroenteritis, fever, headache and fatigue. Babies and small children, pregnant women and their unborn children, the elderly, chronically ill and the other whose immune systems are compromised are in greatest danger. In most cases, there will be a period of acute illness, then an upswing as the body Rids itself of toxic agent.

Escherichia coli or e. coli for short, is a common bacterium found commonly in the ground, and usually in human and animal Intestinal tracts. There are hundreds of different varieties of e. coli, most of which is harmless, but some varieties may cause serious illness. Certain strains of e. coli can cause severe diarrhea and also infect the genital organs and urinary tracts.

In September 2006, led a widespread outbreak of e. coli infection in raw spinach to over 205 confirmed illnesses and three deaths across the country. U.s. Food and Drug Administration warned consumers not to buy or eat raw spinach from any source. California's Department of Health Services and the US Food and Drug Administration worked together in the investigation. In their joint final report they correctly identified the environmental risk factors and the areas was probably involved in the outbreak, but they were not definitively determine how the contamination occurred.

E. coli involved in the contaminated spinach is e. coli http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2039 Beef sausage this variety was first discovered in 1982, when it was found to be the causal agent in the event of an outbreak of diarrhoea is caused by eating undercooked beef. E. coli Beef sausage producing toxins that damage the lining of the intestines. The result is severe, bloody diarrhea. Vomiting, stomach cramps, and swine fever may also be present. Centers for Disease Control estimates that this e. coli strain is responsible for an average of 73,000 cases of infection and 61 deaths each year in the United States.

In 2007 made several withdrawals of ground beef products, where the beef was contaminated with e. coli. A restaurant in Effingham, Illinois, was identified as the source of the e. coli outbreak, resulted in at least six confirmed cases of e. coli O157: H7 among customers in September 2007. Outbreaks also occurred among students at an Indiana elementary school.

More than half of us FOODBORNE diseases are viral. Most FOODBORNE viral infections have an incubation period of 1-3 days before the victim experiencing symptoms. The symptoms are similar to those specified for bacterial infections. In healthy individuals is a FOODBORNE viral disease is self-limiting; as the body Rids itself of the infected food and the viral particles, abate the symptoms.

Some FOODBORNE diseases have more far-reaching effects, cause long-term health problems or even death. FOODBORNE illness is a major cause of reactive arthritis, a painful inflammation of the joints and other tissues. Its disease is 1-3 weeks after the initial event, and it can persist for up to one year.

Other infectious agents in food include mycotoxins produced by fungal agents such as Aspergillum, found in tree nuts, peanuts, and corn and cottonseeds; Ergot, which infect cereals and Fusarium, which infects maize, are all fungal toxins. There is still much to learn about FOODBORNE illness. Around 60% of all outbreaks of FOODBORNE diseases, source of infection cannot be identified.

In addition to individual disease and disorders impose food contamination and the resultant diseases significant economic and social strains. In the United States costs medical costs and lost productivity caused by food borne diseases more than 35 billion dollars annually.

E. Coli and your health

Escherichia coli, commonly known as e. coli, is a naturally occurring bacteria that may be dangerous to humans. While most strains are harmless, some types of e. coli can cause serious food poisoning, when the bacteria is consumed because they release the toxins in your digestive system. Because e. coli bacteria cannot be seen with the naked eye, they can come into contact with food and bring Eater in danger without warning. While there is some food preparation precautions can reduce your risk of infection, there is a chance of contracting e. coli when you eat or not grow and prepare your own food.

Prevention

Fecal-oral transmission is the most common form of transport infection in humans. United States's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shows a number of recommendations in order to minimise the risk of infection, including:

Wash hands thoroughly before preparing food
Preparing and cooking food properly
Wear gloves while handling food
Pasteurisation of foodstuffs such as juices, milk and other dairy products
Prevent sick food workers from coming into contact with foodstuffs
Symptoms

E. coli infection can cause serious food poisoning and even life-threatening disease. Like most bacterial infections and other diseases are people most at risk of serious illness of children, the elderly and persons with compromised immune systems. Symptoms of e. coli infection include:

The stomach muscle cramps
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Stomach tenderness

Some people may be infected with the e. coli without getting sick, but can give it to others, which then become sick. The simplest and most effective prevention, which all can take is to wash their hands thoroughly before cooking, dining or other handling of food. SOAP and hand sanitizer is both effective deterrent.

Eating raw food

Eating raw foods has many health benefits. Imagine waking up every morning feeling refreshed and ready to face the day. When you switch to this diet not only will you feel amazing when you wake, you will immediately improve your overall health.

Heal Yourself

The cost of traditional medicine is outrageous. Many times it does not work and health professionals are only guessing that what your real health issues are or they treat the symptoms without attempting to discover the underlying problems. Science has proven that a diet of these foods has numerous health benefits. The result of eating raw does more than treat disease and illness. It can heal the underlying problems of whatever is making you sick. A whole list of health problems can be cured.

Diabetes Fibromyalgia Migraines Back pain Neck pain Joint pain Asthma High blood pressure Anxiety Mood swings Depression Cancer

This is only a partial list of the health problems that can be improved with these foods.

Eat More, Weigh Less

One immediate benefit of this diet is a natural weight loss. You will see the pounds shed away when you stop eating cooked and processed foods and begin a diet of these foods. The greatest thing about raw foods is you can eat as much as you want without worrying about gaining weight. Foods in their raw state do not have added sugar, oils, and preservatives that cause weight gain.

Regain that Sparkle

This food will give you clear, beautiful skin and return a youthful sparkle to your eyes. This diet improves skin tone, clears acne, shine to your hair, and give you a youthful appearance. Many raw foodists believe eating these foods turns back the hands of time. Not only do they regain their youthful appearance, their lifespan is increased. Some studies show that the average human lifespan of 65 years is increased two 100 years with the this diet.

Some raw food dieters have seen their hair return to its natural color. Gone is the gray that develops as you age. In its place is the hair color of your youth naturally and without dyes. Another youth giving effect of eating like this ice cream smooth skin. Wrinkles seem to disappear and deep creases are less visible. Age spots become less noticeable. Even dark circles, puffiness, and bags under your eyes will disappear. All of these benefits only add to a new, youthful appearance.

No Fears

If you have a fear of the dentist you will truly love eating these foods. These foods and tighten your gums heal gingivitis. The nutrients in these foods stop your gums from bleeding and also freshens your breath.

Why It Works

The science behind these foods focuses on digestion. When food is digested it must be broken down or absorbed into your system. Digestive enzymes work to complete the process. When you are born, your body has a supply of digestive enzymes that are depleted over time. Once they are gone your body does not reproduce more. The lack of these enzymes can lead to serious illness and disease as food is stored in your body and becomes toxic.

Eating raw foods replaces the digestive enzymes in your body. This is reason so many health benefits are attributed to the raw food diet. Once you have replaced the digestive enzymes in your body food is again broken down and absorbed in a healthy manner. Eat to your health by eating raw foods!