Raw Food Revolution Part 1

If you, like many of us, were caught up in the festive swirl of food-filled parties and soirees, chances are you would be battling the post-festive hangover of sluggishness, bloatedness and possibly, weight gain. But while most would think to simply reduce calorific treats in a bid to shed the pounds, some have chosen to take it a step further by eating only fresh, uncooked food.

Popularized in the West, raw foodism (practitioners are known as raw foodists) is an increasingly common diet that has taken health-concious individuals the world over by storm. And it seems that weight loss is just one of the many perks that the raw food lifestyle brings.

Raw Food Philosophy

A raw food diet consists of eating unprocessed foods that are not heated above 47 degree Celsius, so as not to destroy the vitamin and enzymes present. Raw foodists believe that these enzymes assist in the digestion and absorption of nutrients, thereby allowing our bodies to maximize the energy derived from the food.

A raw food lifestyle is about getting the most nutrition out of every food we eat. America based celebrity raw food chef and cookbook author Ani Phyo elaborates; ‘Raw food is nutrient-dense so you are not eating empty calories. Each bite is packed with vitamin, minerals and all the things out bodies need to function as well-oiled machines’.

The diet is said to be the ultimate healing diet and its proponents even suggest that it can reverse and cure chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes. In Loo’s case, going on the raw food diet healed her eczema (a condition where skin is susceptible to turning dry and inflamed) and turned her hair black from the roots, despite the fact that she’s had white hair since primary school. Many raw foodists also report health benefits including weight loss, mental clarity, more radiant skin and higher energy and fitness levels.

Raw Food Redefined

There are several subcategories of raw foodists ranging from fruitarians (people who consume mostly fruit) to those who eat raw meat. However, the majority follow a raw vegan diet that emphasises uncooked and unprocessed fruit, vegetable, nuts, seeds, and sprouted grains and beans.

While it hardly sounds exciting or appetising, don’t be misled into thinking that all they eat is rabbit food. You may just be surprised by the similarity in flavours and textures to cooked food that raw dishes boast. As Phyo rightly observes, many of us actually already enjoy dishes such as guacamole and gazpacho without realizing that they are raw.

Over the past 8 years, raw food chefs have also developed a plethora of recipes to turn fresh produce into imaginative, delicious creations that can rival cooked dishes – think zucchini pastas. Veggie burgers and chocolate cakes made using only nuts, dates and cocoa powder.

hyo, who created over 250 raw recipes including noodles, wraps and ice cream for her cookbook Ani’s Raw Food Essentials, shares: ‘Raw fruit and vegetables are beautiful and vibrant, and the addition of fresh herbs and spices really brings out their flavours.

To be continue in Part 2 ….