Category: Journal

It’s said you are what you eat and it makes great sense to find and eat food that keeps you in good health. Raw food does just that. While eating raw, you are choosing to give your body the goodness and vitality of earth. Raw food establishes a strong, nourishing link between you and nature.

Raw food is anything that has never been heated over 40-48°C (104–118°F) and not refined or processed in other ways. A raw food diet is usually vegetarian, with fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds being the staples. Sprouted or soaked grains and legumes too are excellent raw food.

Why eat raw food?

A raw food diet lets you consume food in the most natural way. Compared to cooked food, raw food can be much more nutritious as they are not subjected to heat or any kind of processing. The heating process involved in cooking can destroy natural enzymes which are beneficial for the smooth working of bodily functions. Our bodies have their own supply of enzymes but the body will be greatly helped by the enzymes from the food we eat. High-temperature cooking will destroy heat-sensitive nutrients and can alter the bioavailability of other nutrients. Avoiding the cooking process also prevents chemical changes like browning of food.

Food elements that have undergone changes in their chemical composition are considered as ‘foreign/unnatural’ (xenobiotic elements) by our bodies. This triggers Xenobiotic metabolism where the liver gets busy in breaking down and processing these elements. Raw food frees our bodies from this process and reduces stress on the liver. Because of their natural makeup, raw food demands minimal energy from the body for digestion, preventing the body from overworking.

Also, eating a raw food diet clears you off from consuming processed food and the multitude of health risks associated with it.

Eating raw food has multiple health benefits

Raw food is rich in fibre, vitamins, minerals and disease-fighting phytochemicals, which can be easily absorbed by the body. Since most raw food preparations are low in calories, fat, sodium and high in fibre, a raw food diet almost always leads to weight reduction. Losing weight and managing it can help with type 2 diabetes. Studies have found that being on a raw food diet can greatly lower body fat. A raw food diet also helps by preventing the chance of over-eating.

Being low in sodium, a raw food diet may help lower chances of stroke, heart failure, osteoporosis, stomach cancer and kidney disease. It also helps keep blood pressure in check.

Since the natural composition is retained, raw food communicates well with body’s internal haemostatic systems, like with the hormones Leptin and Ghrelin. Often called the ‘hunger hormone’, Ghrelin promotes appetite and readies the body for food intake. Leptin offers a counter-weight and inhibits hunger. Synergy between the two is hugely important for good health. Impaired sensitivities towards these hormones can lead to eating disorders and poor metabolism. Raw food lets these hormones work their natural effects efficiently.

It’s reported that raw food contains more brain-healthy micronutrients than found in cooked food. Raw fruit and vegetable intake was found to correlate with improved mental health, with lowered feelings of depression and stress.

Another major health benefit of raw food is the effect it has on body’s acid-alkaline balance. A body that is acidic cannot absorb enough oxygen into blood. This raises the chances of diseases like heart disease, arthritis, cancer and diabetes. The alkaline nature of raw food helps restore this balance thus preventing various diseases.

Raw food has excellent prebiotic and probiotic qualities. Prebiotics are food elements that promote growth of ‘good bacteria’ in the gut. Probiotics are these ‘good bacteria’ which have significant effect on GI tract health and which can also boost immunity and overall health. Raw, fermented foods are excellent probiotics and ingredients like garlic, onions, bananas are good prebiotics in their raw form. Prebiotics and probiotics together keep the gut microbiome in its perfect balance.

Some other positive effects of a raw food diet include more energy, clearer mind, sharper focus and an improved sense of well-being. Bodily functions running smooth lead to improved sleep, better skin health and improved bowel movements among other clearly-identifiable benefits.

Raw food preparation methods

In place of heat-based cooking and other food processing methods, raw food preparations include soaking, sprouting, dehydrating, blending, juicing and fermenting. These methods offer plenty of scope to create very healthy food that are delectable too. For example, dehydrated vegetables can have excellent flavours. Kimchi is a great example of a raw, fermented food. Sprouting and grinding grains and seeds can create a “flour” that can then be used to make substitutes of regular baked food items.

Raw food is an integral part of the Prakriti Shakti experience. Our culinary team has been consistently creating delightful raw food delicacies. A fully-raw spread of Kerala Sadya, Avocado Lemon Tart and Brownies are a few of our innovative raw food preparations.

Raw food lets you take in the spirit of life inherent in nature and to be in tune with it. It helps keep your digestive, metabolic and other systems running in good state, giving you better health and a strong sense of well-being.

When we hear the word ‘sugar’, the image that comes to our minds is the white granular substance that tastes sweet, but believe it or not, it is more than that.

Sugar – the basic unit of carbohydrate – is the primary source of our energy, but it does more harm than good if consumed in excess. Now, the scientific community has established its role in almost all diseases that humankind suffers from.

So, are all carbohydrates bad? 

No, but there are some which are really dangerous, and unfortunately, it’s present in most of the food types we like. There are certain foods that are sources of sugar, known as simple carbohydrates. This group mainly includes table sugar, soft drinks, fruit drinks, jams, jellies and candies, brown sugar, honey, etc. If we consume these simple sugars in large amounts it leads to ‘sugar spikes’ in our blood. This sugar spike causes insulin resistance which is now accepted as the basic reason for diseases ranging from obesity, diabetes, PCOD, and even Alzheimer’s.

The worst part about these simple sugars…

The more you consume the more you become addicted to them, and the toxic effects become more enhanced. High amounts of simple sugars in the blood are directly linked with the stimulation of chronic inflammation in our body. Chronic inflammation is a very dangerous thing to happen; it is the root cause of almost all non-communicable diseases from which we suffer. High amounts of simple sugars generate free radicals in large numbers. Free radicals, as the name indicates are radical elements in our body that roam free in our system, damaging the cell walls and initiating a chain reaction that encourages the production of more free radicals and greater chronic inflammation.

What damage does sugar do to the body?

Sugar, not only causes chronic inflammation but also suppresses immunity. Studies have proven that sugar from a 1-litre sweetened soda is enough to suppress the activities of our white blood cells by up to 40% for a minimum of 4 hours.

Damages caused by excess intake of sugar don’t end there. It leads to a depletion of the mineral content in our body. Excess sugar in the blood forces our body to use up more magnesium, potassium, and calcium than required, kickstarting a vicious cycle ranging from decreased insulin sensitivity to impaired satiety values, which in turn creates an urge for more consumption of simple sugars. It also leads to an imbalance in the intestinal microbacterium and thereby disturbs the entire digestive process. The Imbalance in intestinal microflora is termed ‘dysbiosis’ and is linked to a spectrum of problems ranging from indigestion to Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

It’s also a well-known and accepted fact that excess intake of sugar is connected to tooth decay, obesity, heart diseases, and even fatty liver.

One final attempt…

If you are still not convinced excess sugar is bad for you, here’s one more fact; it is not good even for your looks. Excess sugar in the blood damages the elastin and collagen, which gives your skin the smoothness and firmness you want to have. It may be hard to digest, but it’s a fact that every processed food you eat is literarily ageing you faster than you like.

So, do we have to give up sugar completely? No. You don’t have to avoid everything sweet. You can have sugar in the form of complex carbohydrates. The sugar we get from wholesome fruit and vegetables, nuts and millets are accompanied by a lot of fibre and other nutrients which are good for your body.

Just remember, to choose wisely when it comes to sugar.

Find out more about a rainbow diet as a part of Diet Therapy at Prakriti Shakti.

Click here to talk to the doctor: https://www.prakritishakti.com/talk-to-doctor/

A simple and amazing recipe to satiate your sugar craving with a raw food delicacy. The recipe is developed by our chef by combining a variety of nutritious ingredients that will entice your taste buds and at the same time, keep you healthy.

Portion for: 1 kg

Ingredients

Misc-en-place

Grind the flax seeds in a coffee grinder (or food processor) until they turn into powder. Grind the almond in a coffee grinder (or food processor) until they turn into powder.

Method

Blend the chopped soft dates, chopped walnut, flax seed powder, cocoa powder and almond powder in a food processor with salt and vanilla powder. Knead mix well, set the base on an aluminium tray. Combine the rest of the ingredient from the glazing. Pour it on top of the base. Cut and serve.