Cooking food makes calories easily available to the body, but it also destroys many nutrients.
Depending on your situation, health needs and goals, will determine cooked V. raw.
Whether to go raw or cooked is not a rule set in stone. There are natural overlapping areas. Think about it, most fruit we eat is raw, such as bananas, peaches, oranges, etc. We cook grains, roast nuts but vegetables tend to depend on the situation. What's needed is a deeper look at your body and what will help it be healthy. So, what we're asking her is, "what to do with my veggies."
When you go shopping
No matter your body's needs, it goes without saying, your best choice is the least processed and most natural sources of food.Fruits and veggies are your friends--especially those veggies if you want to be healthy. Incorporate these foods as much as possible into your diet. You can start by shopping "around the edges" of the store. This avoids much of the processed foods that are not whole foods but are laden with GMOs, fats, sugars, preservative--you get the picture.
Determine what your needs are
Do you want to loose weight?
If you've been eating a SAD (Standard American Diet), chances are good your body is actually depleted or starved of nutrients but is flooded with calories from easily absorbed cooked (processed) food sources. If you want to loose weight, eat more whole foods (mostly fresh veggies) that are raw. Remember, if you drown your food in fatty dressing, mayo, sugary topping or dips bursting with chemicals you are defeating the purpose.
Do you want to maintain your current health?
If you are not too over weight and not hiking the Continental Divide Trail, then a mix of cooked and raw healthy veggies are perfect. Listen to your body and anticipate its future needs. If you are feeling sluggish or have a big day tomorrow, eat cooked. A large veggie stir fry or baked sweet potato with thyme and cumin is perfect for dinner. But for a normal lunch at work, a piece of fruit with a salad and a nice dressing or a veggie wrap and some popcorn is perfect. It will help you to avoid the afternoon "blahs." Kind of like Goldilocks's porridge, just right, not to heavy but with enough to keep your body going strong. If you're hooked on cooked foods, ease into it and add your raw veggies as topping, such as mushrooms, green pepper. etc.
Do you suffer from a Chronic Disease or other health issue?
If your health is a concern, raw is the way to go for you. In fact, you should consider doing green juices, detoxing and getting serious about your health. Work with your health care provider and get knowledgeable outside help such as a coach. Don't just rely on this TV show or that book for answers. You are out of balance, that's why you are ill. Providing your body with healthy nutrient dense foods is the most powerful place to start.
If you want to get serious about your health, you've got to get serious about the food you eat.
Bottom line
Depending on your situation, health needs and goals, will determine cooked V. raw.
Whether to go raw or cooked is not a rule set in stone. There are natural overlapping areas. Think about it, most fruit we eat is raw, such as bananas, peaches, oranges, etc. We cook grains, roast nuts but vegetables tend to depend on the situation. What's needed is a deeper look at your body and what will help it be healthy. So, what we're asking her is, "what to do with my veggies."
When you go shopping
No matter your body's needs, it goes without saying, your best choice is the least processed and most natural sources of food.Fruits and veggies are your friends--especially those veggies if you want to be healthy. Incorporate these foods as much as possible into your diet. You can start by shopping "around the edges" of the store. This avoids much of the processed foods that are not whole foods but are laden with GMOs, fats, sugars, preservative--you get the picture.
Determine what your needs are
Do you want to loose weight?
If you've been eating a SAD (Standard American Diet), chances are good your body is actually depleted or starved of nutrients but is flooded with calories from easily absorbed cooked (processed) food sources. If you want to loose weight, eat more whole foods (mostly fresh veggies) that are raw. Remember, if you drown your food in fatty dressing, mayo, sugary topping or dips bursting with chemicals you are defeating the purpose.
Do you want to maintain your current health?
If you are not too over weight and not hiking the Continental Divide Trail, then a mix of cooked and raw healthy veggies are perfect. Listen to your body and anticipate its future needs. If you are feeling sluggish or have a big day tomorrow, eat cooked. A large veggie stir fry or baked sweet potato with thyme and cumin is perfect for dinner. But for a normal lunch at work, a piece of fruit with a salad and a nice dressing or a veggie wrap and some popcorn is perfect. It will help you to avoid the afternoon "blahs." Kind of like Goldilocks's porridge, just right, not to heavy but with enough to keep your body going strong. If you're hooked on cooked foods, ease into it and add your raw veggies as topping, such as mushrooms, green pepper. etc.
Do you suffer from a Chronic Disease or other health issue?
If your health is a concern, raw is the way to go for you. In fact, you should consider doing green juices, detoxing and getting serious about your health. Work with your health care provider and get knowledgeable outside help such as a coach. Don't just rely on this TV show or that book for answers. You are out of balance, that's why you are ill. Providing your body with healthy nutrient dense foods is the most powerful place to start.
If you want to get serious about your health, you've got to get serious about the food you eat.
Bottom line
- Cooked foods = Calories
- Raw foods = Nutrients
- Avoid cooking nutrient dense foods such as fruits and veggies. Next best is to cook them at a lower temperature. The worst is to over cook these foods--think of canned spinach. Or don't. Who wants to eat that slime?
- Cook calorie dense foods such as grains. It's best to soak these overnight when possible before cooking. Nuts are often roasted. Try to find slow roasted ones if you are eating them for calories more than nutrient.
- Some veggies, such as certain leafy veggies, need their cell walls broken down for our bodies to optimally extract their nutritional goodness. This can be accomplished by cooking or juicing/blending.
- Remember, instant rice isn't food. Whole grains means minimally processed. Check out quinoa, amaranth, spelt, and buckwheat. Add them to chilli, soup, or with a few fruits and veggies. Be creative and play with your food.