Raw Food Winter Challenge

I haven't blogged much about raw food here... but that is about to change!! The benefits of eating Raw Food are amazing! I have gone through periods (weeks, months, days) of eating only raw foods, like fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and sprouted grains. During those times have more energy, my endurance (daily and exercise) increases, workout recovery time decreases, I handle stress better, need less sleep, my blood sugar is more stable, and I "feel" so much healthier.

Raw Food, Cooked Food facts

- Nutrients and enzymes that can be destroyed when cooking

- Raw food is in its natural state, just the way God designed it

- Heated food is more difficult for the body to use than raw food

- Your body fill us faster on raw food, this is because you actually get full on nutrients not calories.

- Natural fibers in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, keep the digestive tract clean

- Transit time through our system: 24-36 hours for raw food, 40-100 hours for cooked foods. This can lead to constipation and fermentation in the digestive system. - Raw vegetable proteins offer the best source of amino acids (especially green leafy) , more than animal protein

- It takes 30 percent of our energy to digest a raw meal, 60 percent to digest a cooked meal. Eating a raw meal will not leave you with the after dinner tired feeling.

I love Rawmazing's post on Why Eat Raw. Please take time to read this short informational post.

I have learned that my body functions best on simple uncooked foods however I find it "hard" (a limiting belief) to eat raw during the Midwest winter. As a culture most of our food is cook and it can be a difficult transition because cooked food is truly an addiction.

Recently my husband came across this video and has triggered this challenge in the midst of winter. We are going to eat a 80% Raw Food Diet for the next 14 days.

So join us! Choose you level. And commit to a week at a time!

Level 1: 51% Raw

Level 2: 80% Raw

Level 3: 100% Raw

Emily and Alex: level 2: We are going to eat 80% raw and hope that some days or meals are 100% raw.

Where To Start

So hopefully after you read my short list of benefits and Rawmazing post and watched the video of 109 year old man you are interested in this diet. So how do you start?

Think about each meal you eat and make sure your plate matches the challenge level you have jumped in at! All this week I will have meal idea, planning, trouble shooting, etc for you to help get you excited and see how EASY it is to prepare raw food.

*So I am hoping that some you get excited and start look more into raw recipes. Word of caution: Raw Recipes can be intimidation with a lot of crazy step and ingredients but relax.. stick with us here and we will show you that you don't have get fancy (we are not fancy) but simply raw is a time saving, money saving, high energy, amazingly healthy way to live and eat. It truly is FREEING!

Hope you join us! Email or post any questions you have and what you are experiencing.