Eating a raw diet has been around forever. In fact, it was the original diet, before people cooked any foods. Cooking only became popular when it was discovered that we needed the heat from cooking meat in order to kill harmful lingering bacteria. Since then, it seems we’ve cooked nearly everything. A raw diet means exactly what it sounds like – all foods are eaten in their natural raw state. Most people on a raw diet eat little or no meat. Some may eat sashimi (raw fish). Eating this way has the following advantages:

1. Raw foods are nutritionally better. Cooking depletes foods of their natural vitamins, damages proteins and fats, and destroys enzymes needed for digestion.

2. You’ll eat less when you eat raw. Because raw foods contain more of what our bodies need, we feel satisfied on less food. The balance of water, nutrition and fiber in raw foods is nearly perfect, so your caloric intake will decrease.

3. Raw foods have more flavor than cooked foods so it’s easy to reduce the salt in your diet.

4. Raw foods require very little preparation, allowing you to spend less time in the kitchen.

5. Eating a diet of raw foods is thought to prevent cancer, and may even aid in stopping the spread of cancer. Cooking foods creates free radicals which, when not combated, are linked to many serious illnesses such as heart disease and cancer. Eating raw foods not only prevents this free radical creation, but the anti-oxidants that are plentiful in fruits and vegetables actually combat free radicals in your system.

6. A raw food diet improves your immune system. The vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants in a raw diet increase your immune system function to allow you to fight off common colds, flu and other communicable diseases.

7. A raw diet is environmentally friendly. On a raw diet, you create less waste, such as paper and plastic packaging used in processed foods. You use less energy because a stove is not required. And, the waste you do create can go right into a compost pile and go back into the soil.

As you can see, with a raw diet, you’re likely to lose weight, save money and improve your health. Of course, many people are reluctant to make such a radical change to their diets, after eating cooked foods for so long. But, even if you can make a significant increase in the amount of raw food you eat along with a significant decrease in the amount of cooked food, you’ll see health benefits. Even starting slow can bring measurable differences in your weight, your health and your energy level.

Phyllis Zerkle is a freelance blogger and covers topics such as nurse’s assistant and registered nurse career issues.
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Tip #1 – Stop Talking About Weight Loss!

All that talk about how much you want to lose weight isn’t going to make the weight come off. You’ve got to take action, starting right now. So take this simple advice: Stop moving your mouth and start moving your body! It won’t take long to begin seeing the results.

Tip #2 – Slow and Steady is Best

Slow and steady weight loss is better (and safer) than riding the dieting roller coaster. If you’re looking for long-lasting weight loss results, aim to lose an average of about two pounds each week. In order to lose weight you’ve got to consume fewer calories than you burn. As a bonus, when you combine dieting with exercise, you’ll be reducing your caloric intake and increasing your caloric burn rate at the same time.

Tip #3 – Save Your Money

Don’t spend your hard-earned money on the latest weight loss gimmicks. Pills, fad diets, hypnosis, and extreme surgical procedures are not the answer! These gimmicks won’t slim you down, but they will fatten the bank accounts of those who promote them! Eating a nutritionally-balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, good fats and lean proteins will encourage weight loss faster than any miracle cure you can buy.

Tip #4 – Weight Loss is a Way of Life

Unfortunately, the issue of weight is something that most people will struggle with throughout life. Excess processed foods and a sedentary lifestyle are the two biggest contributors to this constant struggle. If you want to lose weight and keep it off, you’ve got to change the way you think about food. It should be thought of as a source of fuel, not a passion. Successful weight loss really is about making lifestyle changes, including making the right food choices, and then sticking with those choices throughout life.

Tip #5 – Weight Loss is More Than a Number

When you’re dieting, don’t become a victim of the dreaded scale. When the numbers go down, happiness goes up. But when the numbers stay the same or go up, it is easy to give up and give in. Remember that even if your weight isn’t changing as you would like, your body is. You’ll be taking better care of your heart. You’ll be lowering your cholesterol levels. You’ll be sporting a leaner body and your clothes will begin fitting more comfortably. When you learn to find joy in these other benefits, you’ll want to keep on being a loser!