Raw Whole Foods: The Importance of Eating More Raw Fruits and Vegetables

By Becki Andrus

Raw whole foods are a great way to improve your health and wellness. Many people don't understand how much raw foods can improve their health, so this article is going to explore the topic of healthy eating and disease prevention.

One of the main reasons that raw whole foods are so nutritious is because they are still living, so that means that they contain higher amounts of enzymes and nutrition. Enzymes help the body to be healthy by assisting the digestive system to function properly, and the nutrition strengthens the immune system and helps the body to grow and repair.

Numerous studies have linked high levels of health with high consumption of fresh foods. Researchers are finding that you can actually prevent serious disease by consuming more whole foods and less junk foods.

When these same foods are cooked down, it kills many of the enzymes and decreases the overall nutrition of the food. So, the best way to consume fruits and vegetables is in the raw form. You will be able to get the most nutrition by eating them as-is instead of cooking them.

The best time to eat fruits and vegetables is soon after they are picked from the plant. When an item is first picked, it still contains higher amounts of nutrients and enzymes. But, as that item sits on the shelf (or in the fridge) it slowly starts to die, and over time the nutrition may decrease.

As you increase your whole foods intake, it is also important to decrease your intake of junk food. Stop eating foods that are highly processed, because these foods do not contain many nutrients-they are basically empty calories that fill your stomach without adding benefit to your overall health.

If you are trying to transition to a diet that is focused more around whole foods, try making a few substitutions here and there. Add in fruits and vegetables with every meal and decrease the amount of junk food that you are eating. Over time you can slowly increase the health foods and decrease the unhealthy foods, and eventually you will be able to create habits of eating healthy every day!