A Month in the Raw

The overall guideline for our raw foods diet experiment is to eat only unprocessed and uncooked foods – nothing heated above 116 degrees F.  We decided to each come up with our own “rules” for this trial, as long as we adhere to the “all raw” principle. My plan is to eat 100% raw plant foods.

Here are my rules:

• No caffeine (coffee, tea, etc.).
• No supplements. (If I decide to continue the raw food diet beyond this 30-day experiment, I may reconsider this.)
• No dried spices.
• No dehydrated foods.
• Limited amounts of dried fruits (i.e. raisins, apricots, dates). (Most dried and dehydrated foods are actually dried at a heat above 116 degrees, so I’ll try to favor sun-dried foods, i.e. tomatoes, if any.)
• No alcohol (raw organic wines are allowable on a limited basis).
• Favoring organic foods as much as possible.

I have eaten a vegetarian diet since June 2008 (and vegan for about a three month period), which I think may make it a bit easier to adapt to this diet. I also gave up drinking all caffeine about a month and a half ago, so I won’t have to adjust to the caffeine withdrawal along with all of the other changes.

One of the reasons I’m so interested in this raw food trial is the science experiment aspect of it – to see if within one month’s time I start to feel any of the numerous health benefits that so many raw foodists rave about. And what’s better than a science experiment you can do along with four awesome co-workers! Some benefits of eating raw that I’ve read about include increased energy, improved skin appearance, better digestion, weight loss, and even reduced risk of heart disease in the long term.  I’ve also read that eating raw could lead to a slightly lower body temperature, lower blood pressure, and need for less sleep. So I’ll be tracking my blood sugar levels, blood pressure, body temperature, body fat ratio, weight, and amount of sleep throughout the month to help account for any such changes.

Plus, I’m looking forward to learning more about the science of food and nutrition as I read more about eating raw and compare what I’m reading to how this diet is making my body feel this month. And it’s a great conversation piece. I will probably write a post later about all of the questions and discussions that arise from telling someone you’re going to eat only raw foods for a month.

I am really excited about experimenting with preparing green smoothies, germinating and sprouting beans and seeds, and making my own juices. It’s also one of my goals to try some types of fresh produce I’ve never eaten before. Throughout the month I’ll blog about some of my menus and recipes, interesting nutritional facts I learn, and if there’s a circumstance that I end up breaking one of my rules.

I am going to start on January 2nd. My family already has plans to cook a traditional New Year’s dinner, with black-eyed peas (for good luck) and collard greens (for money), and I don’t want all of the focus to be on what I’m eating instead of just celebrating the new year!

Happy Raw Month and Happy New Year!