raw foods: I've been hearing about this when I searched under healthy diets, etc., what's it all about?|||A raw food diet creates major improvements in health. The reasons are not known, but the experience is unmistakable. Weight normalizes, which generally means a reduction in fat. At the same time, a person feels extremely energized. It's as if energy would rather be burned up than converted to fat. There seems to be a major shift in physiology which makes one feel highly energized from raw food. I can only theorize why this occurs. It is quite likely that a large part of cooked food can only go into fat production, because heat and acid alter it making it unmetabolizable in other complex processes. By contrast, raw food should break down into components which can be directly metabolized in a variety of cells. Health gets so refined and perfected with a raw food diet that a person notices effects of all types. The result is an important source of information about nutrition and quality of food. For example, it is noticeable that sucrose (table sugar) goes into fat production rather than immediate energy. Sucrose splits into glucose and fructose. Muscles use glucose but not fructose. So the fructose probably goes into fat. The usual claim is that sucrose is split by acid in the stomach. However, sugars are absorbed very rapidly, and there is often not much acid in the stomach, particularly with a raw food diet, which means sucrose is probably entering the blood as a disaccharide quite often. Dextrose (d-glucose, which is natural glucose) is a much better sugar, since it can be used by every cell in the body. One very obvious improvement resulting from a raw food diet is in the digestive system. Raw food digests marvelously well, so a person does not notice the acid, bile and residual effects of digestion that go with a cooked food diet. Adding a little bit of cooked food to a raw food diet doesn't work well, because acid is then produced in the stomach, and it is bad for raw food. Acid and raw food tend to create indigestion. However, they can be separated by eating raw food in the mornings and then cooked food later. Start with raw fruit first, then later raw vegetables, and then later cooked food. A problem with raw foods is that they are the highest in pesticides. Organic raw foods may be necessary, unless a person is very clever in working around the worst pesticides. The effects are quite noticeable, which allows adjustments to be made. The usual assumption is that the only supplement which is needed in theory is vitamin B12, because it is primarily found in meat. It originates with microbes, and very little is needed. Outside link on B12 However, I find that copper and zinc are also needed with a vegetarian diet, because plant material is very low in these minerals compared to meat. These minerals are toxic while being absorbed, so they should be taken in small quantities. There is evidence that chromium picolinate is hazardous. B vitamins should not be taken in large quantities, because they are powerful reactants and can destroy organs. I find 20 milligrams per day to be the right amount for the main ones. Pills have to be cut up to get that size. Folic acid deteriorates into a toxic substance. It might need to be replaced every two to three months depending upon humidity. Almost everyone needs vitamin D. It transports calcium into cells. It's easy to get too much Vitamin D, particularly in the form of capsules. Dry D pills are safer. There is generally enough calcium in food when taking vitamin D. There is not much more calcium in dairy than other sources, and the hormones in dairy are not desirable. A raw food diet should produce enough iron being skewed away from starchy food. But there is not as much iron in a vegetarian diet as in meat. Taking supplemental iron (in unnatural, mineral form) has been found to be harmful to the heart. But in small quantities, it should be safe. If adverse effects are not noticed, taking a low dose iron pill once in awhile should be safe, and it will provide a lot more iron than vegetarian food does. Normally, salt is not used with raw food. I find that eating some salt seems to be physiologically beneficial with raw food. Fruits and vegetables digest through different processes when raw. Eat fruit in the morning and vegetables later. Learning to eat a raw food diet is mostly trial and error. Whatever is available and one wants to eat is generally adequate. Protein is found in raw nuts and seeds, such as sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, filberts, etc., and sprouts are also a good source of protein. Plant proteins do not have the same balance of amino acids as animal protein, so a variety of sources are needed. Sprouts are often part of a raw food diet. They do require a slight amount of work, but not necessarily a lot. The easiest sprouts to make are lentils. The easiest way to make them is simply to soak them in a large plastic cup for 8 hrs, then drain and keep moist by spraying and occasionally rinsing. They can be eaten a|||Raw foods diet only consists of anything organic and raw. Mainly vegetables and fruits, and NOTHING ELSE. No use of oil, butter, sugar, mayonaise, breads, rice, meat, dairy products, etc. etc. Well I once did a raw food diet and it did work for me. I lost like 3-4 lbs in a week. But then I switched to juice fasting :)|||honestly its about conning you into a stupid diet that doesnt work. All you need is a healthy lifestyle and a good exercise routine. To find out more have a look at http://cmfitness.blogspot.com/|||Nothing cooked. I guess this means no baked goods. Hard rice. Just fruit and veggies.