The term raw foodist refers to people who eat a diet based on raw and plant-based products. The practice has been very popular since the advent of organic food and followers each have their method for adapting to it. However, when you are a novice in the field, you sometimes miss certain important points… How to become a raw foodist without risking your health while maintaining the same lifestyle? Here are the 5 most common mistakes that you should avoid for a better adaptation!
Poor balance of diet
The way you eat changes radically when you become a raw foodist. For many, this sometimes means neglecting certain foods more than others. The first mistake to avoid is therefore to have an unbalanced diet, which could lead to deficiencies or even certain diseases. The imbalance can present itself in different ways and detecting it as early as possible allows you to adjust the meals you eat to have the healthiest diet possible.
A reduction in caloric intake
The caloric intake that the body needs differs from one person to another. Indeed, it can be influenced by several criteria such as age, gender, or the various activities that we practice during the day. As a general rule, we need an intake adapted to the energy that we expend to stay healthy. Given that men require nearly 2100 calories and women 1800 calories, it is necessary to adapt the raw food menu to be more focused. To minimize the risk of deficiencies, it is best to eat in larger quantities and obtain the necessary intake for the body. After having carried out the necessary calculations, we can determine the foods to favor and ingest them as smoothies for example. In addition to gaining vitamins, this allows us to obtain the energy intake necessary for the body.
Greenery: eating too much or not enough
By thinking too much about salad, it often happens that the raw foodist neglects meals based on greens. Whether it’s kale, watercress, or even parsley, anything is good for getting your energy back. Having too much greenery can be bad for your health, however, but by finding the right balance, it can be very beneficial. Indeed, whether they are consumed in the form of smoothies or salads, these foods are a great source of mineral salts that the body needs. It is easy to obtain their juice by purchasing an extractor, in this way, you can eat green vegetables without any hassle, for example by mixing them with fruit.
Forgetting to vary your meals
For some, being a raw foodist means eating only salads. Contrary to popular belief, it is important to know that such a diet requires a certain balance. Therefore, there is no reason to limit yourself to ready-made vegetable salads to enjoy them. Moreover, it is important to know that eating only salad can hurt the health of people whose digestion is difficult. To remedy this problem, it is important to know that the body needs sugar and other nutrients to function properly and healthily. Thus, fruits can be a good alternative to avoid hypoglycemia while enjoying a satisfying meal. Other foods such as nuts can also be considered to diversify your nutrition as much as possible.
Cooking is also important for a raw foodist
Many raw foodists start eating ready-made products for their meals. While this highlights a certain practical aspect, the benefits that can be gained from it are less. Indeed, this does not allow much choice as to the dish to be enjoyed. To become a full-fledged raw foodist, it is therefore advisable to start making your meals. Especially since raw food is accessible to everyone, even those who are less gifted in the kitchen, and will not make you waste much time in preparation! All sorts of recipes are available on sites specializing in this type of food like this one so that everyone can keep up their little habits, so take the time to have a look!
Being a raw foodist, a specific lifestyle
Being a raw foodist is a way of eating and not a way of life. That is why there is no reason to rush into its practice because adaptation is slow. In order not to fall into the trap, raw foodists must trust their instinct and determine what best suits their body and habits. If those around them may be disoriented by such a change, it should not affect the chosen lifestyle. In this case, the best thing to do is to determine your goals and explain them to those around you to avoid awkward moments. Thus, even when you find yourself in a community, being a raw foodist will not be a problem. By making an effort to talk about your diet to inform people, you encourage them not to consider you as being apart…
Neglecting other aspects of your lifestyle
The beginner raw foodist is often so attentive to his diet that he can forget other aspects of his life to stay healthy! However, this can be a very serious mistake if we are not careful since a balanced lifestyle is always important. To be a full-fledged raw foodist, it is therefore advisable to practice regular sports activities, which will tone our body. Having quality sleep and avoiding consuming alcoholic beverages too frequently can also help to complete the raw food diet.
Being too much of a perfectionist
Choosing a living diet instead of what you usually eat is a big step. Therefore, the beginner should not be too focused on this change at the risk of becoming discouraged over time or burning the stages. Here again, the best way to do it is to give yourself time to let the body adapt and get into habits at the right pace. By following your instinct, the beginner raw foodist will learn to listen to your body and its needs to follow this diet in the long term and above all… with pleasure!