Raw Living

I recently completed a 30 day raw diet. If you don't know what a raw diet is, let me explain. The "raw" diet means everything I ate was raw (uncooked or processed) for thirty days. The raw movement was popularized in the mid 90's when all the Hollywood celebrities were trying to get fit. At the time it was so new and trendy there were raw restaurants everywhere. Now the trend has died and only a few restaurants remain.

The diet was difficult for the first few days because I would miss simple things like bread and cheese. After two weeks the cravings went away and the real hunger kicked in. I don't know if it was because the body processed raw food faster, or if I wasn't eating frequently enough, but for whatever reason I was always hungry.  

Most people growing up in an urban environment in America don't learn about nutrition. The majority of the Caribbean, Latin, Indian, and soul foods are heavy in fat, starches, and oil. Individually these substances aren't a problem but in high enough quantities they cause heart disease, asthma, diabetes, liver and kidney failure, ending in death.

This may sound a bit extreme to be talking this way about food...but its true. If a person adds a few fresh fruits and vegetables to their daily caloric intake. It can reduce visits to a doctor, prevent sickness, provide energy, stamina, strength, and add years to your life. 

What's interesting about the raw lifestyle is that most cooked meals have a raw substitute. Such as raw pasta with Alfredo sauce, cheesecake, brownies, burgers and hundreds of other foods. At the end of my thirty days, I lost a lot of weight and learned some new things about health and nutrition.

If you want to learn more about raw living check out the video below, and for raw recipes and desserts check out The Rawtarian.