Why Is It Important To Eat Raw Food Every Day?

Most nutritionists emphasize, as the first point in any balanced diet, eating fruits and vegetables every day.

However, it is also essential to emphasize that an important part should be raw for multiple reasons that benefit our body.

In this article, we explain what the healthy properties of raw foods are and how we can help each other to incorporate them into our daily menus.

Are they more nutritious?

The time when we most want to eat raw fruits and vegetables is when it is hot, since they are very refreshing. However, we must eat them throughout the year since, in their natural form, they provide us with a large amount of nutrients.

In general, these are largely lost during cooking, due to the high temperatures to which we subject them.

If we get organic fruits and vegetables or the most natural possible and, in addition, we wash them well, we can consume them in many cases even with their peeling. Thus we will increase the amount of vitamins and minerals that they provide us.

For example, in this detailed study by the Spanish Nutrition Foundation , it can be seen how they highlight consuming them raw, but they also emphasize their quality, hygiene before eating and frequency.

Increase vitality

One of the main characteristics of raw foods is their high antioxidant content. These nutrients are essential to prevent cellular aging, both to combat acute, chronic and degenerative diseases and to have a youthful appearance.

In addition, these substances can give us a lot of vitality and are a good remedy to fight stress, fatigue, physical and mental exhaustion, etc.

They are very satiating

In this study it is appreciated that raw fruits and vegetables are very rich in water and fiber, which are the two fundamental elements to increase satiety and eliminate hunger without sacrifices.

For this reason, if we get used to including a salad or an apple at each meal, we will notice how we can reduce the amounts of other dishes and improve overall digestion.

They do not contain anything added

Today almost all foods that have already been cooked or processed contain difficult-to-control amounts of all kinds of harmful additives: sugar, sweeteners, salt, hydrogenated fats, colorings, flavorings, as well as all kinds of additives.

These substances produce a gradual and progressive toxicity in our body that worsens our quality of life and, in the long run, causes diseases. If we eat a certified and well washed organic fruit, we know that this fruit is the only thing we are eating.

Discover the sprouts

Sprouted seeds are one of the healthiest examples of how raw foods can provide us with a large amount of nutrients without making us gain weight. In addition, they help us to regulate the nutritional deficiencies that we suffer (lack of calcium, iron, etc.).

The sprouted seeds of alfalfa, sunflower, lentils, broccoli, etc. they can be bought ready-made, but they are expensive and short-lived.

It is best to prepare them at home, since we only have to keep the seeds moist (without too much water and preventing them from drying out) for a few days, depending on the temperature.

We can use a germinator, or a pot and a cotton or cloth that allows us to maintain humidity.

Raw vegan sauces?

Many foods that we usually cook can also be used raw to make delicious sauces and creams to accompany our dishes. In this way we will be eating raw vegan food almost without realizing it.

We propose some ideas:

• Pesto sauce with greens (arugula, basil, parsley, oregano, watercress), nuts and olive oil.
• Grated tomato sauce with minced garlic, olive oil and sea salt.
• Orange juice and natural mustard sauce.
• Avocado cream with a touch of cayenne.
• Cream of raw mushrooms and coconut oil.

Delicious juices and smoothies

The easiest way to consume a good serving of raw foods each day is to start the morning with a good shake or smoothie prepared at home with fruits and vegetables in season.

Some, such as apple, pear, lemon, celery, ginger or carrot, we can find them almost all year round and, in addition, they combine perfectly.

We can also opt for a refreshing and light gazpacho-style vegetable juice, with tomato, cucumber, pepper, garlic, onion, oil and salt.

Elena Martinez Blasco

Degree in Journalism from the Ramon Llull University of Barcelona (2005). He has collaborated with different agencies and media such  as Europa Press and Com Ràdio. She has worked in the publishing sector as a writer, editor, translator and proofreader of books (Edicions 62, Editorial Comanegra, Ara Llibres, Océano Gran Travesía). Graduated in Naturopathy (Natural Medicine) from the Heilpraktiker Institut de Barcelona (2011), specialized in nutrition, flower essences and natural remedies and therapies. He has practiced as a naturopath for centers in Catalonia and also on his own. He has worked in the organic and vegetarian food sector for the Vegetalia company. He has taken a course Nutrition and obesity: overweight control , offered by the National Autonomous University of Mexico.