Raw Foods vs. Cooked Foods

Thursday, 6th December 2007

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I’ve eaten cooked foods most of my life. So, comparing cooked foods to a renewed almost raw vegan diet is very easy to do, actually. One can easily compare one’s health and feelings back when one was eating cooked foods to the new raw dietary regimen.

Well, as I’ve mentioned in earlier posts, I’m not 100% raw vegan yet.

To recap, a vegan is one who eats fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds… while totally avoiding all animal products whatsoever, from dairy to eggs to fish, chicken, pork and beef.

The raw vegan goes one big step further and eats raw fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. whole grains are generally cooked, so isn’t part of the raw vegan lifestyle. For me, I’m allowing organic sprouted whole grains that generally have flax seeds in them, giving me the Omega-3 and Omege-6 fatty accids that is good for the heart. I’ve also allowed one condiment… veganaise, a basically soy-based version of mayonaise, for my raw vegan sandwiches.

So, I’m currently a “strict” vegetarian or vegan that eats 70% or more raw foods. The “strict” term that has been going around is misnomer, because when one thinks about it, a vegan diet isn’t all that restrictive.

For one, you have an abundance of foods from the plant kingdom, that I really should have to list down. There are tons of various types of fruits and vegetables out there, and lots of nuts and seeds.

I believe that raw vegans can also have pressed extra-virgin olive oil, and raw vegans can have lots of raw cacao chocolate. But I think there is some controversy as to whether a raw vegan should have honey or not.

Agave nectar is the syrup derived from the Agave cactus. It is twice as sweet is regular table sugar… and it’s healthier, and also raw!

Feelings While Being a Raw Vegan

I’m feeling an abundance of energy now. Like I can do so many things in a given day. The organic raw juices have helped considerably. But I think that since cooked meats and other animal foods taken more time and energy for the body to digest, I think that when you go on a raw vegan diet you suddenly get a lot more energy that used to be for digesting the cooked meats.

Also, raw foods seem to be easier for the body to digest. And thus is absorbed by the system quicker and more efficiently.

There is some controversy as to whether the enzymes in raw foods are an issue versus eating cooked foods that supposedly waste or lose those raw enzymes. So, the debate is still out on that.

But…

I’m definitely a believer when comparing raw fruits and veggies to cooked foods. Cooked foods definitely take longer to digest and more work for the body. Raw foods are utilized more quickly and with less energy, and 1. You feel more energy because, well, their raw foods, and 2. the body doesn’t have to spend more time and energy process the foods if they aren’t cooked.

I have definitely felt the difference.

With raw foods, it’s like I’m totally wired as if I’ve had tons of coffee, without the side effects of coffee. And if you’re like me who loves to have sugar with coffee, you definitely will feel the kick or jumpstart, but then your crash.

With raw foods (and especially raw juices) you feel the energy rush, but you don’t come down. You just keep going and as long as you remain very active throughout the day, you’ll be on this incredible “roll” if you ate the proper ratio of raw foods.

Throughout The Day

I’m finding out that a glass of carrot juice and apple juice in the mornings is a great jumpstarter. And then eating a veggie sandwich for brunch, and another for a late lunch is great! Then for dinner, one concentrates on a large salad with a variety of different veggies, raisins, seeds, etc…which primarily will be a carbohydrate meal. A veggie sandwich with lots of protein is good for lunch. And with the dinner salad (and this is a large one) I find I have more energy to do things later in the evening (especially beneficial for us musicians who work at nights).

Before, I would have this heavy protein dinner and I’d feel sluggish and tired afterwards, then I’d be just good enough to recline on my sofa and watch TV until I fall asleep.

A large salad for dinner, with some fruits for desert, is an excellent meal for the evening. Giving me still more energy to do things into the evening.

So far so good….

I’m hoping to transition to a 100% raw vegan diet once again. And I’m trying to do all the research to make sure I do it correctly.

There is a whole raw vegan movement out there and is documented on several websites.

Rawvolution.com is one good source, and of course there is David Wolfe’s site.