Posts Tagged ‘Oranges’

Raw Superfoods

June 18th, 2010

You might think that all foods are alike. Everything you eat, after all, is just a form of fuel to keep your body moving, and besides differences in taste, it’s all just energy.

Well, all right, you probably don’t think that. You know that there is a world of difference between eating a fresh raw salad and, say, a double cheeseburger from the local fast food joint. You know that eating a diet high in raw and uncooked foods is an important way to keep your body healthy and strong.

But if you think the first comment is a foolish one, stop to consider how many people think about raw foods. As a group, they are lumped together in the “good for you” grouping, and for some, that’s as far as it goes. It’s all raw, it’s all good, and really, one raw food item is as good for you as the next.

But that sort of thinking is nearly as misguided as those who can’t see the difference between cooked and uncooked foods. Comparing all raw foods and calling them good is missing out on some of the greatest superfoods that the raw diet can offer.

These superfoods are so chock-full of vitamins, minerals and other goodies that comparing them to “ordinary” raw foods is like comparing apples to…

ALMONDS. You might think these are just another nut, but beneath their shells lay one of the greatest raw superfoods you could possibly find. While it certainly doesn’t hurt that they taste great, offer a satisfying crunch that can be added to any meal and are among the most easily portable of all raw foods, it is what is inside that really counts. Consumption of raw almonds has been shown to help reduce the bad cholesterol in the body; they offer a great source of natural fiber to help regulate your body’s digestive cycle; they contain huge amounts of Vitamin E, calcium and iron; and their bulk can help to fill your stomach in between meals without gorging on excessive calories. What more could you ask for from a simple nut?

ORANGES. Again, this is one of those superfoods that seem to have a secret identity. You see it everywhere, but no one acknowledges what an important role this delicious citrus fruit can play in your healthy raw lifestyle. Oranges contain a cavalcade of important vitamins, have been shown in studies to reduce the risk of such terrible conditions as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, can help to rehydrate you after an intense workout, and can lower your risk of developing heart and circulatory problems.

MACA. This one is the wild card, the raw food item you might not have heard of before, but should certainly take some time to look at. This Peruvian wonder fruit contains tons of vitamins, healthy acids and assorted minerals that are essential to good health. As an added bonus, this fruit is said to be somewhat of an aphrodisiac, and is nicknamed “Natural Viagra”. It is also known for its amazing ability to restore your blood pressure to a more natural level, no matter where you currently stand. Maca can reduce blood pressure for those who suffer from high blood pressure, and raise it for those who suffer from low blood pressure. Now that is a superfood!

Eat to Boost Immunity

May 3rd, 2010

Why do we eat?

Many people never stop to question that. They simply eat because they are hungry, and subsequently, they don’t stop to think about what they eat.

Those are the people who simply line up at the nearest fast food restaurant every day, and quickly push down whatever tastes good. These people are often more sluggish, less active, and less happy overall. It is not all about diet, but there are certainly some correlations between an unhealthy diet and an unhealthy lifestyle.

But one area that many people do not think about is how eating poorly might affect your overall health and your ability to fight off illnesses. The average fast-food diet does nothing to protect you, and in fact drains away your body’s natural ability to fight disease.

If you want to eat to boost your immunity, you should consider these 4 raw foods. Not only do they taste great, they are wonders at keeping you at the peak of health. There are plenty of raw food diet testimonials that will tell you this.

Strawberries

strawberryStrawberries are one of those raw foods that are incredibly easy to eat. They taste great, contain tons of vitamins and nutrients, and are actually calorie-neutral, meaning that they take as many calories to digest and burn as they provide.

But it is those vitamins that really pump up the average strawberry into a health-helping food. If you want to eat more strawberries, simply mix them into your salads, blend them as a smoothie, or keep a bag on hand for snacking any time to help make you one of the raw food success stories.

Spinach

baby_spinachSpinach is a little bit of a harder sell than strawberries, but that is because many of us are familiar with the horror that is cooked spinach – limp, saggy and unimpressive in taste.

And in that cooking process, it actually loses much of the benefits that you are trying to take in. Instead, spinach should be eaten raw; in salads, in smoothies, or in wraps. The vitamins and minerals will not be cooked away and wasted, and you will be surprised how much better spinach tastes when it is raw.

Oranges

oranges-vitamin-c-lgOranges, of course, are great sources of vitamin C, which your body loves when it comes time to fight the flu or conquer a cold. If you don’t like the pulp, you can simply squeeze your oranges and drink the juice.

But if you enjoy the segments, they can be eaten as a snack, added to your breakfast plate, blended down for an after-workout smoothie, or added to raw sauces for that citrus kick.

Sprouts

alfalfa-sproutsSprouts are perhaps the least well-known item on the list, but they should certainly have a place in your kitchen based on eating for energy reviews.

Raw sprouts contain all the energy that the young plant will need to grow up big and strong, and by eating them at this young stage, you get to use all of those benefits for your body instead.

Sprouts can be added to almost any salad, or can be broken down in the food processor and used to make a raw dough for all sorts of wonderful recipes.

Raw Food Grocery List

December 2nd, 2009

groceriesA few weeks ago I told you that we started getting organic produce delivered to our door. It is really such an easier way to get more raw foods into your diet then having to make your out to the stores several times a week.

Sure I’m a bit lazy, but who doesn’t like getting stuff delivered right to their door?

We receive our raw fruits and veggies every Monday from Mama Earth Organics. They’re really great but sometimes I question whether it’s worth the extra money, considering that many times the produce is not even ripe to be eaten for several days.

Anyways, here’s our grocery list from this week:

- 8 bananas
- 4 apples
- 9 kiwi
- 7 satsuma oranges
- 8 pears
- 4 tomatoes
- 2 avocados
- 1 cucumber
- 1 head of broccoli
- 2 heads of lettuce
- 4 onions

All of this comes out to $55. Considering that Amy and I can get through pretty much half of these raw foods in just 1 day, I’m beginning to wonder if the cost is worth it. After all, it seems like we can get much more local and organic produce from some of the stores around us.

Obviously the convenience is nice but is it worth the price?

In the meantime, I’m going to enjoy feeding my body with delicious organic fruits and vegetables. I haven’t been as creative recently with some of my raw food recipes. In fact, most of my meals have consisted of several servings of the same fruit (ie. mono meals).

Also, at this time of year, I find that my body needs more warming foods. I’m not going to fight it. If my diet transitions to less raw foods in the winter, then that’s fine by me. As long as getting in my 10 servings of fruits and veggies each day, that’s what’s most important in my eyes.