Raw Calories – Getting The Nutrition You Need Without Heating Or Processing
A fully or partially raw diet has many health benefits – you have only to do a search on the Internet or check your local library to hear about some of them. However, unless you eat correctly, you won’t be able to experience all the good things that raw food has to offer. Remember – just because it’s raw doesn’t mean it’s nutritionally balanced. We’ve got to pay attention to what we’re eating if we’re going to get the right caloric intake. No one should be hungry all the time.
While there are a few omnivorous raw eaters, the majority of people consuming raw food are vegan, and the majority of foods that offer significant benefits are light on calories. Some foods are not easily digestible by humans in their natural state, either, or they contain toxins we have trouble dealing with. Raw potatoes are not a good idea for most of us – we just can’t get the benefits they offer. That means that, unless you want to spend every moment of every day grazing, you’ll need to know which foods are the most nutritionally dense.
You’ll hear some people tell you that calories are not the whole story when it comes to nutrition, and they’re correct. It’s clear that human beings live poorly on refined foods, and that vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients are extremely important to health and to life. However, don’t ignore calories completely.
After all, our muscles, bones and organs require a certain amount of energy to function on a daily basis. Without that energy, we find ourselves feeling tired and listless. Every person has slightly different calorie requirements, based on where they live, who they are, how tall or short they are, and their ancestry. Figure out what you generally need by what makes you feel good. Listen to your body, and it will tell you when it’s had enough, or when it still needs more to work well.
So, what foods can we eat that are nutritionally dense, but still raw? There are plenty out there – nuts, avocados, legumes (like peanuts, sprouted lentils and fresh beans) and dense fruits like bananas and dates. Olives are excellent, too. Just remember that many nutritionally dense foods are also high in sugar, which can cause an insulin spike in a portion of the population.
If you’re sensitive to sugar, consuming more of your diet in fats, proteins and starches might be the appropriate thing for you. Some people also eat primarily raw, but include a small amount of cooked starch in their diets to help them get their basic calorie requirements. Once again, your body will tell you what it needs – listen to it and you’ll feel much better.
There are a lot of things that a partially or entirely raw diet can do for us, as long as we pay attention to what our bodies are telling us. If we’re feeling weak or tired, headachey, or have mood swings, something needs to change. That thing might be the balance of foods we’re eating. Many people don’t think about their caloric requirements when they go raw, but if you remember to do so, your chances of success are much higher. There’s a whole world of wonderful fresh vegetables, fruits, grains and more out there to enjoy – we should try them all.
