Raw Food Diet vs TCM principles

Frank Panetta

So what is the Raw Food Diet?

 

The raw food diet is based on unprocessed and uncooked plant foods, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, sprouts, seeds, nuts, grains, beans, nuts, dried fruit, and seaweed.

Heating food above 40 degrees Celsius is believed to destroy the enzymes in food that can assist in the digestion and absorption of food. Cooking is also thought to diminish the nutritional value and "life force" of food. Typically, at least 75% of the diet must be living or raw. It is claimed that the benefits of the Raw Food Diet are:

  • Increased energy
  • Improved skin appearance
  • Better digestion
  • Weight loss
  • Reduced risk of heart disease
  • Fewer saturated fats
  • Low in sodium and high in potassium, magnesium
  • Reduced risk of diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer


On a Raw Food Diet you can eat the following unprocessed, preferably organic whole foods such as

  • Fresh fruits and vegetables
  • Nuts, Seeds, Grains
  • Beans, Legumes
  • Dried fruit
  • Seaweed
  • Unprocessed organic or natural foods
  • Freshly juiced fruit and vegetables
  • Purified water
  • Young coconut milk
  • At least 75% of food consumed should not be heated over 40 degrees Celsius.


Specific cooking techniques make foods more digestible and add variety to the diet, including:

  • Sprouting seeds, grains, and beans
  • Juicing fruit and vegetables
  • Soaking nuts and dried fruit
  • Blending
  • Dehydrating food


Side Effects
Some people experience a detoxification reaction when they start the raw food diet, especially if their previous diet was rich in meat, sugar, and caffeine. Mild headaches, nausea, and cravings can occur but usually last for several days. The raw food diet may not be appropriate for certain people such as: Children; Pregnant women; People with anaemia; People at risk for osteoporosis. Considerable time, energy, and commitment are needed to be healthy on the raw food diet. Many of the foods are made from scratch and certain nutritional deficiencies can occur such as Calcium; Iron; B12; Protein; Calories.

Raw Foods in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Although raw fruits and vegetables are usually considered beneficial, in TCM eating too many raw fruits and vegetables can cause an imbalance in the body. That's because different foods are thought to have different energies, from cold to neutral to hot. Raw fruits and vegetables possess cool energy. An over consumption can result in symptoms such as chilliness, mucus, congestion, fatigue and depletion, feeling cold, abdominal pain, poor appetite and bloating after meals. These symptoms are believed to improve when people change their diets by reducing their intake of raw fruits and vegetables, cold water and cold dairy products.

In TCM the optimal ratio of raw to cooked foods is individual. Animal protein is very warming, so people who eat meat everyday are thought to be able to handle more raw foods. Vegetarians, on the other hand, are thought to be able to eat less raw foods because they don't consume animal protein. Climate also determines the optimal balance. In the winter, our bodies need a warming, enriching diet to balance the damp, windy, and cold weather. From a TCM perspective there are five main points to look out for

1. The Proportions of the Food We Eat
2. Temperature of Food
3. The Taste of the Food
4. The Quality of the Food
5. How and When We Eat the Food

A Chinese diet should contain plenty of grains, some fruits and vegetables, and a little of the meat, fat, and dairy groups. There are five main tastes of food: Sour, Sweet, Bitter, Pungent, and Salty. It is recommended that our diets contain all these flavours, not taking too much of any. It is best that we eat food that is fresh and pure, free from chemicals, preservatives, and additives. Processed food should also be avoided.

The Chinese believe that eating has to be at a leisurely pace to give time for digestion, and it is best to eat in a relaxing environment. The food is to be chewed thoroughly and properly. This breaks down the food and aids digestion. Drinking is not advisable when eating because the fluid may wash down the food rather than allow it to be digested fully. We should drink before the meal or between meals. It is good to eat up to three-quarters full, so that the stomach would not be over-stressed, causing us to feel tired due to the extra energy spent in digestion. Breakfast should be nourishing enough to provide us with enough energy for the day. Heavy meals late at night can make our digestive system work overtime, even after we sleep. This may cause insomnia and we will not be well rested. Hence it is best to eat our last meal early in the evening.

 

 

 

Written by Frank Panetta

Bodhi Health Centre - Melbourne - Coburg

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