Learn about the Raw Food Diet

I can talk all day long about the benefits of a raw food diet, how it can help you lose weight, have more energy, and feel great. But it still doesn’t help you understand how a raw food diet can actually help each of us live at the peak of health, with significantly improved energy and vitality, feel fully satisfied, and not deprived of the usual standard cooked food that most of us grew up with. I want to talk about how we can learn from Nature by studying other animals that closely resemble human physiology.

What Is The Natural Human Diet?

Dave Klein, in his book, “Your Natural Diet” talks about what humans are meant to eat naturally, and by doing that, we look to chimpanzees, gorillas, and other similar animals. We already know that human beings have much more intelligence than any other animal on Earth. Regardless of the evolution vs. creation theory, it goes without saying that we did not begin existence on Earth eating highly processed, packaged foods. There were no McDonald’s or Taco Bells back then, and it’s also interesting note that as far back as recorded history, there also were no reports of diabetes, heart disease, fybromyalgia, cancer, etc. Of course, there were health issues, but they were usually a result of poor hygiene, lack of good water supply, spoiled food, extreme living conditions, and so on. It’s only within the last 50 years, that health issues have been on the rise, primarily resulting from poor and sub-standard food choices.

The food corporations, and other related food industries coined the term “balanced diet” as way to endorse and market their foods. Of course, we do have certain vitamin and mineral requirements, but in looking at the history of the food pyramid, it’s easy to see that few people truly understand what we are supposed eat. The published and accepted food pyramid changes frequently! Most likely another marketing ploy…

Most people are confused about nutrition, since there are so many different research studies, each reporting something different. One study reports that all humans need a certain RDA amount of a some vitamin or mineral, yet the next study will come up with an entirely different result. Is it no wonder that nutrition seems complicated and complex?

Yet, the majority of the human population steadily continues to develop health problems related to poor diet. When you look at the animal kingdom, you’ll notice that there are few illnesses in wild animals. They almost never die of heart disease, or cancer, or some other debilitating disease. They usually die from attack by their enemies, or they live a long life and simply die of old age.

Whereas, humans continue to report health issues at an alarmingly early age, (teenagers are developing health issues that were before only reported in middle age people!) continue to pop prescription pills, suffer from fatigue, and stop to wonder why.

Let’s look at a what our diet would if we study closely what Nature intended humans to eat….

1. What is our natural diet, what kind of foods were humans designed to eat?
2. Look at what hinders our ability to absorb the most amount of nutrition. Are we getting enough sleep, regular exercise, and avoiding unhealthy habits? Do we even know what those unhealthy habits are? Some people argue there is nothing wrong with drinking coffee, or having an occasional soda? These are unhealthy habits, that are also very addicting.
3. It is important to eat foods as close to nature as possible. Raw, unprocessed, and fresh whole foods are what our bodies require.

How do humans fit in nature?

There is no chaos in nature. Each animal, including humans, is designed to eat a specific type or class of food. Humans are designed to be frugivores. Everything about humans, from our number of teeth to our sexual organs, suggests we are intended to eat a variety of fruit. Since few creatures, including us, eats only one thing, the inclusion of green leaves and other plant parts is not in violation with the nature of the human.

Let’s look at our teeth and you’ll see evidence of this. We do not have long canine teeth like our cats or dogs. Those long fang-like teeth were designed by nature to rip raw meat from their prey. Even the apes have teeth better designed for eating meat than do humans! Human teeth are designed to grind which is the motion used when eating fruit, leaves, and plant parts.

The acids present in the human stomach are not nearly as strong as those present in creatures intended to eat meat. And, look at our hands; they are clearly designed to hold food like bananas or oranges and be able to peel them - just like the primates do.

When comparing humans to the animal kingdom, it is important to learn that the bonobo, a chimpanzee-like creature is the closest to human beings. They are calmer then chimps and resolve conflicts much like humans. Bonobos eat mainly fruit and a certain plant that is a lot like sugar cane, plus some greens, shoots and buds. They are not known to eat nuts at all. They may, from time to time, partake of a bit of insect, fish or small animal, but they never are seen hunting like the chimpanzees. Less than ONE PERCENT of their diet comes from animal products.

Do you see that humans are designed to eat raw, unprocessed, whole foods? Much of what we eat in the “modern” diet is pushed on us by marketers and is not designed for human consumption! Humans were meant to be frugivores, eating fruits, some green leaves and other plant products. Everything about our bodies indicates this to be true! We can be healthier if we eat as nature intended. We can live longer, sleep better, have more energy and experience less pain, illness and early death resulting from obesity and other food-related health problems.

GET RAW EXERCISE!

Spend some time this week and examine your food choices. Look at each meal and take note of the composition of your plate:

How much animal protein do you consume at every meal?

_______________________________________________

How much fat?

_______________________________________________

What about vegetables & fruits? _______________________________________________

And don’t forget to track grains, nuts & bread _______________________________________________

A lasting change in your diet & eating habits begins with an awareness of what you currently consume. Keep a food log for a week or so, and note the changes that begin to happen as you learn more about the raw food diet. Take note of how you feel when you eliminate animal products from your daily menu for a week. Make a shopping list around some raw food recipes to help you create something new and fun for you and your family.

Some experts recommend that a 3 day juice fast (preferably made from organic fruit!) is a great way to start, because it helps aid your body into detox, and eliminating toxins from your system. It also helps you to adjust to new and different fruits and vegetables, and can help to get you started.

Subscribe to my free weekly recipe email list to get started and also look at the ones posted on this site.