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Living and Raw Foods Diet

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 03:30:00 -0700

I've been hearing a lot about people on a Raw Foods Diet. It's also called a Living Foods Diet, and many celebrities such as Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson, Bryan Adams, Alicia Silverstone and Robin Williams have reportedly been seen at raw food restaurants and have tried it. Designer Donna Karan and actor Jeremy Piven shed pounds eating raw foods. It was even featured on Oprah.

People following this diet (or you could also say "lifestyle", since there are a lot of folks that eat RAW not to lose weight but for the philosophy) eat only uncooked, unheated, unprocessed, and organic plant based foods. Well...food that has not been heated above a certain temperature. It varies within the different raw food philosophies, but the end range temperature is in between 92ºF to 118ºF (33°C to 48°C). Meals consist mainly of organic and raw fruits, vegetables, sprouted seeds and grains, sea vegetables, nuts, and seeds since they believe cooking destroys precious vitamins and minerals. For instance to eat grains, instead of cooking them, they are soaked. Raw foodies believe their uncooked foods contain essential enzymes, which the body needs to digest foods completely.

They drink only purified water (never tap water), freshly made juices (made with a juicer), and coconut milk. They avoid meat, dairy, sugar, alcohol, coffee (because you make it with boiling water), and all junk food. They only eat foods that are good for you, you know, the ones that are full of vitamins and nutrients.

Why eat just raw and living foods? It is said that you'll have more energy, think more clearly, have improved overall health, and lose excess body weight. Many people have also found relief from migraines, acne, asthma, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, depression, heartburn, anxiety, and Type 2 diabetes.

Fit's Tips: If you want to learn more about it, check out Alissa Cohen's website all about The Raw Food Diet. She even includes recipes for burgers, pizza, cannolis, and chocolate cake - all made with raw foods and no animal products.

Want to see a video showing how to make a pasta dish with raw foods? Then read more

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What's the Deal With the Raw Food Diet

FitSugar — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 10:00:00 -0700

If I were ever to dabble in eating a raw food diet, I would choose to do so in Summer. There is an abundance of produce in season that is especially uncooked – peaches versus butternut squash. But eating "raw" is about more than just eating salads; it is a complex diet.

The raw food movement stands exactly opposite of processed foods. We know that minimally prepared food is more nutritious, but with the raw diet nothing should be heated over 116 degrees F – the temperature at which important food enzymes are destroyed. Raw foodies argue that these enzymes are not killed by the acidic environment of the stomach, merely deactivated then re-activated once they enter the more alkaline environment of the intestines. Once in the intestines, raw foodists believe these enzymes allow you to fully reap the nutritional benefit from your foods – getting more nutrients from less (processed) food. There are certain movements within the raw food movement that believe you only need to eat raw at least 80 percent of the time to benefit from the diet.

To read about the possible nutritional deficiencies of eating raw and the rules of raw, just read more.

This modification of the rules is important since there are some nutrients your body processes better when cooked. The antioxidant lycopene increases when tomatoes are cooked. The raw food diet is low in B12, found in meat and eggs, as well as zinc. Many people adhering to a strict raw food diet don't get enough calcium or vitamin D and put themselves at risk for osteoporosis.

For me the downside of eating raw would be the amount of time it takes to prepare a meal. There is a lot of soaking involved to create foods soft enough to eat without cooking them. To make whole grains, like oatmeal, you need to soak the grain in boiled water for two to three hours, so you definitely need to think ahead.

Here's a thumbnail sketch of what to avoid and what to eat when going raw:

No animal products – no meat, no eggs, no dairy products. Instead switch to nut and seed milks.
No refined sugar or flour. Avoid white rice. Instead you can make your own snack foods with a dehydrator.
Only cook, the 20 percent of the time that you might be cooking, with cold-pressed unheated oils.
Do eat tons of greens and juice them too. Spirulina and wheat grass are great diet additions too. As well as sprouted greens.
Eat fresh plant foods and avoid processed foods like: frozen, boxed, canned and bottled.
Eat 80 percent or more raw foods.

If you eat raw tell us all about it in the comment sections below.
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Carol Alt Eats It Raw

FitSugar — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 03:30:47 -0800

Carol Alt used to hit the runways, but now she's hitting the produce aisle, since she's way into the raw food diet. She's been following it for the past 12 years, so what got her hooked? Early in her modeling career, she was told to lose weight and did so by dieting (and depriving herself) silly. She became really unhealthy, was always tired and sick with colds and the flu, and had respiratory issues. When she tried the raw food diet, her health dramatically improved, yet she was able to maintain the lean size she needed for modeling. Now at age 48, she still has that amazing figure and is even showing it off in the December issue of Playboy. Carol's goal was to "promote raw eating and to show women that they, too, can look their best at any age."

To hear more about this diet and see a video of Carol explaining how it can help you maintain a healthy weight, read more.

If you're not familiar with the raw food diet, it's just like it sounds. All the foods are organic and raw, including uncooked veggies, fresh fruits, soaked grains, and sprouted seeds and breads. Most raw followers avoid meat and dairy, but Carol eats sashimi (raw seafood), carpaccio (thinly sliced raw beef, veal, or tuna), and raw milk cheeses. It's believed that eating a Raw Food Diet can increase your energy level, help you lose excess weight, relieve migraines and depression, lower cholesterol and high blood pressure, and can also eliminate acne and asthma.

If you want more information, Carol wrote two books, Eating in the Raw ($11) and The Raw 50 ($12). She not only raves about this lifestyle, but she also includes recipe ideas so you can start reaping the same health benefits.

Check out her peppy video interview below.

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Healthy Eating Tip: Text Your Food to DIET1

FitSugar — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 08:00:44 -0700

Deciding what you want to eat at a restaurant can be hard, especially when nutritional information is not easily accessible. In situations like this, just send a text message to DIET1 (34381). Include the restaurant and the menu item in your message, and the service will respond with a text containing the information you requested. I tried it out (several times) and it's really speedy, not to mention a little addictive. The database covers over 36,000 foods from 1,700 restaurants in North America, so try it out the next time you are dining out.

Until then, see how much you know without the help of your phone with this little calorie quiz on some of our favorite foods.

Foods That Could Bust Your Diet

FitSugar — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 17:15:00 -0700

We all try so hard to keep to a healthy diet, but sometimes we may be trying so hard that we don't realize we are doing more harm than good. To keep us on top of things, WebMD has created a list of the top diet busting foods (and I have elaborated):

Soups: Stay away from cream based soups and stick to low calorie soups that are broth based.
Sugar-Free Cookies: No Sugar does not mean no calories or that it's good for you.
Pork: Stick to tenderloin and sirloin if you need the other white meat.
Coffee: Orange Frappuccino - Need I say more?
Salad Dressings: Get dressing on the side or water it down and check out my nutritional breakdown on popular dressings.
Breakfast Bars: Watch out for high fructose corn syrups.
Dried Fruits and Granola: A handful of both is OK, with more than that you'll be adding more calories and fat.
Juice and Soda: They aren't just drinks and the calories do (and will) add up.
Low-Fat/Low-Cal Foods: The problem here is that most people see low calorie on the label and eat three times as much because, well, it's low-cal.
Nuts: Like dried fruit, nuts are great for you just in small handfuls worth, not in small jars worth.

To check out the full article, visit WebMD.com.

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Best Summer Foods from The F-Factor Diet: Blueberries

FitSugar — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 03:00:00 -0700

I am loving this new book, The F-Factor Diet ($16.47). The basis of the book is to make sure that the foods you eat the most of have enough fiber. I love the idea of adding more fiber into your diet, not only for weight loss, but for the amazing benefits it brings (reduced risk of heart disease). Plus who doesn't love a diet that tells you to eat more?

Tanya Zuckerbrot, the author of the book is a well established nutritionist who has been practicing this program with clients for more than ten years. In other words, she knows her stuff. Of course there is way more to it than that and you'd have to read the book to get all the details, however Tanya gave me the scoop on the five best foods for summer. Here is one of them:

BLUEBERRIES
Summer dish: sprinkled on top of your morning cereal, tossed in a mixed green salad, or baked into pie
The benefits of blueberries are endless! If you ask health experts, blueberries are one of the healthiest foods you can eat. They are one of the richest sources of antioxidants of the fruits and vegetables that have been studied. Antioxidants are responsible in part for keeping us healthily and young. They help fight cell damaging "free radicals". Free radicals are unstable substances that our bodies produce as we get older. They damage human cells and our DNA. US scientists have shown that the antioxidants contained in Blueberries help to slow the aging process and reduce the risk of cancer.

Blueberries have also shown to not only halt the aging process but actually reverse it! Experiments have also indicated that eating Blueberries improves short term memory loss and improves balance and co-ordination. Chemical studies have very recently revealed that Blueberries (as well as strawberries and raspberries) contain chemicals that decreased the growth of cervical and breast cancer cells by a considerable percentage.

Missed the others? Well, so far Tanya also told us about tomatoes and salmon.

Best Summer Foods from The F-Factor Diet: Salmon

FitSugar — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 14:30:00 -0700

I am loving this new book, The F-Factor Diet ($16.47). The basis of the book is to make sure that the foods you eat the most of have enough fiber. I love the idea of adding more fiber into your diet, not only for weight loss, but also for the amazing benefits it brings (reduced risk of heart disease). Plus who doesn't love a diet that tells you to eat more?

SALMON
Summer dish: Simply grilled on the barbecue
Summer marks the beginning of salmon fishing season and the time of year when fresh salmon is again available in your local markets. Salmon is low in calories and saturated fats and high in protein. Wild salmon is one of the best sources of health-promoting fats known as the omega-3 fatty acids. Omega 3s promote cardiovascular health, brain health and provide anti-inflammatory protection.

Cardiovascular health: Omega-3s prevent platelets in the blood from clumping together and sticking to arterial walls in the form of plaque. They also drive down triglycerides and LDL (bad) cholesterol.

Brain health: Omega-Ss interact with the fatty layers that surround brain cells and help protect brain cells from the diseases of aging, like Alzheimer’s.

Did you miss the other foods? Well, so far Tanya has told us about tomatoes too.

Best Summer Foods from The F-Factor Diet: Tomatoes

FitSugar — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 10:15:00 -0700

TOMATOES
Summer dish: sliced tomato with balsamic vinegar
Nothing says summer like vine ripe tomatoes. Tomatoes naturally lend themselves to health-conscious summer cooking, being sweet yet low in calories. In fact, tomatoes are one of the most frequently consumed "vegetables" in the United States, whether raw, steamed, fried, stewed, crushed, pureed, or reduced to a sauce. (Though thought of as a vegetable, tomatoes are botanically classified as fruits.) They are also one of our best sources of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant.

They also contain beta-carotene and several other carotenoids that may have their own disease-preventing properties, particularly against heart disease and cancer. One carotenoid, lycopene, may help reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Tomatoes also offer a good dose of potassium, which helps to reduce the risk of stroke.

Keep a lookout for the other four best foods for summer!

Best Summer Foods from The F-Factor Diet: Summer Squash

FitSugar — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 14:30:00 -0700

Tanya Zuckerbrot, the author of the book is a well established nutritionist who has been practicing this program with clients for more than ten years. In other words, she knows her stuff. Of course there is way more to it than that and you'd have to read to book to get all the details, however Tanya gave me the scoop on the five best foods for summer. Here is one of them:

SUMMER SQUASH
Summer Dish: sautéed or grilled squash
Summer squash contains vitamin C as well as beta-carotene, folate, and fiber. These nutrients make summer squash a tool in preventing cancers, heart disease, and diseases of inflammation such as arthritis and asthma.

Whether you're trying to lose weight or just adopt a healthier eating program, summer squash's rich fiber content can help you get full faster -- and give you many of the nutrients you need.

Missed the others? Well, Tanya also told us about tomatoes, salmon, blueberries and corn. Yum!

Best Summer Foods from The F-Factor Diet: Corn

FitSugar — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 13:30:00 -0700

Tanya Zuckerbrot, the author of the book is a well established nutritionist who has been practicing this program with clients for more than ten years. In other words, she knows her stuff. Of course there is way more to it than that and you'd have to read to book to get all the details, however Tanya gave me the scoop on the five best foods for summer. Here is one of them:

CORN
Summer Dish: corn on the cob
Is there anything more satisfying at a summer bbq than an ear of hot corn on the cob? In addition to being sweet and satisfying, there are many health benefits of corn.

One cup of corn provides 18.4% of the daily recommendation of fiber. Its high fiber content is one of the biggest benefits of corn. Fiber has been shown to help lower cholesterol levels and help reduce the risk of colon cancer. Fiber is also useful in helping to lower blood sugar levels in diabetics.

Corn is a surprising source of several vitamins, including folic acid, niacin, and vitamin C . The folic acid in corn is now known to be an important factor in preventing neural-tube birth defects. It's just as important in preventing heart disease, according to studies that show folic acid can prevent a buildup of homocysteine, an amino acid, in the body.

Missed the others? Well, Tanya has told us about tomatoes, salmon and blueberries.