Over the last few months I have battled more and more with my animal consuming tendencies. With hit movies like Food Inc.
Eating lower on the food chain and munching grass fed beef, wild smoked salmon, and scrambling some organic, free range eggs every once in a while seems like a nice balance. But I wondered, ethics and economics aside, are the vegans and raw foodies onto something? Can you lose weight, gain energy, improve longevity, and keep your ripped physique by eating only plants and selling your stove?
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the raw food movement and what it entails here is the quick run down. Differing from pure veganism, raw foodists eat a diet made up of mainly sprouted nuts, seeds, fruits, veggies, and legumes. In order to maintain all vital nutrients of these delicious whole foods nothing is cooked above 115 degrees farenheit. A dehydrator and blender become necessities! This doesn’t mean animal products are completely taken off the menu though. I have seen some raw experts like Carol Alt incorporating raw milk, cheese, eggs and meats into recipes. As long as it’s raw and “alive” food it’s fair game.
As I began to experiment with adding more and more raw meals into my lifestyle I found myself questioning the logic behind this more extreme way of eating. I was seeing massive change in my body composition. A diet high in healthy fats and plant proteins, and low in grains had me shedding muscle mass and fat faster than I’d ever witnessed. Completely baffled (and excited!) I turned to a raw food expert and blogger friend of mine, Natalie Lussier, The Raw Food Witch. She specializes in helping her clients transition to a mainly raw diet.
Is raw for everyone? Will I have more energy? How does it compare to a Paleo or Primal diet? What about exercise? I wanted to pick her brain! Below is a quick interview we shot via Skype. I apologize in advance for the poor audio quality on my end. I was in a coffee shop using their sketchy wi-fi connection. I’m proud to say I now have internet at home!
Natalie and I had a blast chatting. We share very similar philosophies on nutrition and the importance of each person finding what works best for their body. Whether you have never thought about going raw or are a devotee to this vibrant way of life, I hope Natalie and I were able to diffuse any confusion and answer some questions for you. To read more about making the switch to raw food and the plethora of health benefits associated with eating “alive” food, visit her website TheRawFoodSwitch.com
Have you experimented with raw food? If so, what changes did you experience and how has it effected your diet at the moment? Lets discuss!
