A lot of things are said about raw foods, many of which can be misleading or incorrect altogether.  For instance many people believe that they must eat 100% raw in order to reap the benefits they’ve heard all about- a truly “all or nothing mindset”.  Let’s break this down for a minute and get real about what’s true.

Trust me when I say that I’ve eaten it all- from 100% fast food to 100% raw vegan food, and nearly everything in between.  What I noticed when I began adding more fresh, raw foods into my diet was:

1)     My digestion and elimination improved dramatically- an understatement to say the very least!

2)    My skin cleared up.  More specifically, I had less acne, fewer breakouts and the little bumps on the backs of my arms that I’d had since childhood disappeared!!

3)     I had consistent energy and didn’t need something to “get me going” in the morning and “keep me going” in the afternoon.

4)    I felt lighter, somehow brighter, and had a more even, positive mindset and attitude all around.

5)    My mental clarity skyrocketed to a whole new level I didn’t even know existed.

I felt all of this (and more!) from simply INCREASING the amount of fresh and raw foods in my diet.  What I know to be true is that most people feel BETTER when they consume more raw foods, (depending on what they are actually eating), and that eating a diet of 100% raw foods isn’t necessary in order to feel dramatic improvements in many areas of your body and your life.

This really makes sense if we remember that what we eat creates our blood, our cells, our organs, our very bodies.  So if you’re eating fried chips and sugary cookies, fast food and microwave dinners, you can assume that the QUALITY of your blood, cells, organs and body will differ from someone who is consuming a large quantity of organic and fresh and raw foods.

Many of my students and clients have had severe arthritis, debilitating migraine headaches, severe inflammation throughout the body, allergies, asthma, chronic constipation, fatigue issues, skin disorders, weight issues and more- all of which have improved or even disappeared by simply improving the quality of their diet and eating a greater percentage of raw foods on a very regular basis.

I myself eat a diet of about 80-90% raw foods, the remainder of which includes high quality, cooked, plant based food.  This is what feels best for me to eat on a regular basis.  However, I can also say that the world feels like a very different place at when I eat 100% raw.

When I my diet is 100% raw vegan I notice that even the smallest addition of cooked food seems to reflect to me that “something is missing”.  Steamed, boiled, baked, sautéed, and fried foods are qualitatively different from fresh, raw and living foods.  The important take away here is that how much raw you choose to eat is a very personal decision that can and will likely vary as you grow, change, heal and evolve throughout your life.

What we choose to eat is a very personal decision, and there isn’t one “right” way to eat no matter the type of food.  The important thing is that you approach raw foods by doing what you want to do, and hopefully do so in a way that feels good to you.  When you’re ready and you feel like you want to, you can increase the amount of raw foods you’re consuming.

It’s easy to be influenced by what others are saying is the “right” way to eat.  But staying aware and connected to what feels appropriate for you is what’s key.  I encourage you to trust that you will know when you want to eat more raw foods and that you’ll find out what amount is simply perfect for you each step of the way.