Raw Food Diet Tips

Raw Food Diet Tips
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Helena_Reimer]Helena Reimer 

The raw food diet requires that you consume at least 75% of your foods in their raw state. Thus the diet promotes a lot of fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs as well as nuts and seeds. Transitioning to this diet is hard on the body, but once the body gets used to the healthy foods, it is able to avoid most diseases and common ailments.

Make Gradual Changes

Going raw and leaving behind the modern conventional diet is a difficult thing to do. For one, most people receive little or no support from their family and friends. And two, the body is addicted to processed foods that are toxic to the body. Thus the body has to go through a detoxifying stage where many experience severe hunger, headaches, increased body odor and fatigue.

Therefore the best way to begin the raw food diet is by slowly easing into it. Adding more fruits and vegetables to each meal is a great way to start, and then when the body is ready, one can pursue a raw breakfast, then a raw lunch and so on. This ensures that the body will not be overwhelmed by detoxing too fast.

Eat Plenty of Filling Foods

Hunger is very common to those who begin the raw food diet, thus it is very important to consume plenty of filling foods such as avocados, coconuts and nuts and seeds. These foods are high in nutrient rich calories and healthy fats that will help to satisfy the hunger.

These foods can be eaten by themselves as part of a mono diet, or they can be blended together into a smoothie, or added to leafy green salads.

Eat Plenty of Leafy Greens

Leafy greens are an absolute must-have on the raw food diet, as they contain many vital nutrients. They are not very filling, and thus they are great when combined in smoothies and salads with avocados, coconuts or nuts and seeds.

Drink Plenty of Fluids

Fluids are also important, as they not only help with hydration, but they can also help to diminish hunger. The standard recommendation of fluid intake is 8 glasses of water, but when on the raw food diet, it may be necessary to drink more. This is because the diet is high in fiber, which absorbs water in the digestive tract, and the more water that is eliminated, the more is needed to replace that water.

Herbal tea, water, and freshly pressed juices are the best fluids to add to the diet, as they do not contain any harmful ingredients.

Avoid Food Temptations

Avoiding food temptations is one of the biggest challenges for those on the raw diet, as they seem to be everywhere. Thus a small container with nuts, seeds or dried fruits is helpful in situations when hunger strikes.

Not keeping junk foods or processed foods in the house is another great way to avoid food temptations.

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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Raw-Food-Diet-Tips&id=5435925] Raw Food Diet Tips