Raw Food Ireland aims to provide and facilitate sharing of information, on the raw and living food lifestyle in Ireland.
-At the core of the raw and living food movement is the belief in only consuming foods which have not been 'denatured' through heat above 118 fahreheit or 47 Degrees Celsius. Much of the living enzymes of food is destroyed above such temperatures, furthermore, the nutritional value of the food is altered (in many cases deminished) above this temperature range and in addition its molecular structure altered.
-Raw Foodists point out that much of the food cooked above this temperature range is more acidic and thus causes a greater disturbance to the bodys PH balance.
-Raw Foodists crucially believe that the foods enzymes, the 'life-force' of plant and animal life etc, is beneficial when consumed because they help replace the human bodies need to produce enzymes for digesting food thus leaving the body with additional energy for mental function, healing etc. This belief has been disreputed by mainstream science which argues that the enzymes in food digested is rendered inactive before digestion occurs. In addition, some raw foodists believe that by eating 'living foods', they can consume and thus increase their own 'LifeForce' or vitality.
-Whatever the disputed claims and the spiritual dimension to such a diet, it can be found that maintaining a largely vegan and Raw food Diet can have enormous benefits to ones physical health and state of mind. This can be attributed to some of the possible reasons:
1. There is the argument that drastically cutting down on refined carbohydrates lowers blood suger levels, reduces risk of diabetes, increases utilising rather than storing of fats. Arthur devany and Dr Robert Atkins are two leading figures with regard to dismissing refined carbohydrate foods on the basis of their negative impact on the body. The raw food diet, being a largely simple carbohydrate free diet, in many ways corrolates with this low carb principle.
2. The removal of commercially prepared produce from the diet results in removing a large percentage of perservatives, pesticides, carcinogins as well as reducing the number of ingredients one ingests in any given day. (thus reducing the workload on the liver in breaking down chemical compositions and reducing the number of possible food intolerences and allergins)
3. Among the mainstream scientific community, it has now been found in numerous studies that foods cooked at high tempertures such as deep frying, grilling, toasting creates carcinogentic byproducts which the body ingests. Maintaining a largely raw food diet eliminates the incidence of ingesting such carcinogins.
4. The Raw food diet advocates a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, pulses, grains and seeds. If the individual effectively maintains an optimal raw food diet, they are maintaining a diet rich in nutrients, vitamins, minerals and essensial fats while removing much of the sources of bad health such as saturated and transfats, carcinogins, pesticides, preservatives as well as reducing spikes in blood suger levels and taxing loads of rich calorific meals that accompany the typical western diet.
5. The reduction of calories from undertaking the diet induces a semi-famine state causing the body to revert to genetic preservation and thus prolonging the life of the individual. This is recognised and noted among the mainstream scientific community and numerous studies have shown that calorific restriction can deter aging.
The Real Benefits of Raw
Thus, without subscribing to many of the raw foodists arguments regarding enzymes (which remain unverified) as well as propositions that most animal life on earth relies on raw food, by aiming for a largely raw food diet; you are ensuring optimal nutrition, ensuring appropriate fibre for your body and removing much of the panaceas of ill-health such as high fat/suger/salt content associated with the average cooked food diet. It also provides a mode of discipline that if mastered can shield the individual against the temptation and the want for unhealthy meals (fast foods and ready meals), sweets and desserts.
The visible benefits are clear. You will have great skin, nails and hair. Your energy levels will even out and be strengthened. You will sleep better and your mood will balance out and improve. At first you will be sacrificing instant gratifications of cooked food for day long good health and vitality. In the long run, your sense of taste will sensitise and you will require less suger, salt etc for that same level of gratification. Overall, in the long run, your overall health should show a markable improvement with less ill health such as colds/flu's etc as well as removing or reversing illnesses such as diabetes, arthritis, hypoglycemia, heart attacks, strokes and the risk of cancers.
The benefits dont just end in terms of your health and well being. You will be advocating a lifestyle that is better for the environment. A diet that reduces or removes much of the meat and fish from your diet, replaces it with protein and nutrition that is produced less land intensively and improves biodiversity on land at sea. On an ethical basis this also reduces the manufacturing and slaughtering of animal and fish lifestock at levels unnessary and unsustainable for human consumption.
Editors Note:
'I believe the secret to good health and vitality includes a diet whereby the individual can recieve his necessary energy and nutrients as efficently as possible in a way which the body has evolved and developed to recieve and process them. I believe the raw food diet delivers this in all respects except perhaps in terms of carbohydrates where the body can effectively recieve the necessary calorific intake. I dont believe that a 'cooked food' diet has to be a bad diet and it has been shown for example that the mediteranian diet can yield a long and healthy life. The raw food lifestyle is perhaps the easiest way to remove all that is bad about the typical western diet while enhancing everything that is good." Shane McL
