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Raw Foodism: the Raw Food Diet
By Guiomar Campbell | Sotaque Brasileiro, Number 5, Summer 2004
Sting, Demi Moore, Robin Williams and Woody Harrelson are among the celebrities who have joined the Raw Foodism revolution. Popular with celebrities, this eating habit, complete with a complicated name meaning nothing more than a simple "raw food diet", is becoming increasingly attractive for those who want to find beauty, youth and live a dramatically healthier life.
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The secret lies in eating food in its natural form, without it being cooked, baked or fried in any manner. The theory is based on the fact that certain food components such as enzymes, vitamins and minerals are destroyed when exposed to high temperatures (over 118 degrees), and are therefore not present to aid in digestion. Thus, the body works harder, weakening its energy sources that could be used for other purposes. The American author of "Living Food", Brian Clement, explains: "The secret of beauty and youth is the consumption of raw foods rich in enzymes, chlorophyll and protein."
Enzymes are considered human fuel, responsible for cleaning, healing, regenerating and rejuvenating cells. Chlorophyll is composed of a protein found in all green plants, created by the conversion of solar energy into food for the plant. By eating foods rich in chlorophyll, the blood strengthens and the body's cells are restored, making the person younger, with more vitality. According David Wolfe, author of "The Sun Food Diet", to obtain a balanced diet you need a combination of 33% green vegetables, including sprouts, sunflower and buckwheat, cabbage, watercress and mustard, 33% fruit and 33% vegetable fat, present in nuts, seeds, avocado and coconut.
There are many beneficial powers of Raw Foodism. A salad full of leafy green vegetables, for example, is excellent for detoxifying the liver, helps fight addiction to caffeine, relieves muscle pain and cures anemia. The American doctor Gabriel Cousins concluded that the raw food diet reduces the risk of cancers that infect the breast and colon and reduces the chances of heart attacks. The sunflower sprouts is the favourite food of raw foodists because it is rich in protein, vitamin E, vitamin B complex and Vitamin D. Besides being rich in chlorophyll, it also contains phosphorus, calcium, iron, potassium and magnesium.
And protein? The World Health Organization suggests that 4.5% of calories consumed should be protein, or 32 grams per day. A complete vegetable protein with eight amino acid essentials can be found in the seeds of almonds, sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, sea vegetables, green vegetables and most fruits.
In Toronto there is already several raw food restaurants and a huge community of fans. The holistic nutrition educator, Erica Wolfe, raw foodist for the past nine years, also offers cooking courses in the city. "The benefits are enormous. My vision has improved, I can sleep soundly, my joints are more flexible and my mind and body are lighter," says Erica.
In Brazil, actresses Gisele Tigre of "Malhação" and Tania Alves are adept at creating raw food meals. According to Gisele, the diet improved her sleep and digestion. The same occurred with her skin, nails and hair. Tip for the reader
The preparation of a raw meal is simple and fast. On the menu there is a variety of delicious recipes such as almond, apricot and coconut cookies, hazelnut spreads, sunflower seed and pumpkin seed cheese, parsley and garlic, and the popular chocolate pudding made with cashews, raisins, carob and apricots.
Recipe to replace cow's milk:
Almond milk (rich in calcium and minerals) 1 cup almonds (soaked 12 hours, remove shell by boiling in water for 15 seconds). 3 glasses of mineral water 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 apricot or 1 teaspoon of honey
Blend and pass through a sieve. Drink plain or with fruit.
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