Simple Reasons Why Raw, Plant-Based Foods Are So Good for You

Including plenty of raw foods at each meal (or as often as possible) is an excellent way to ensure that you aren’t missing out on nutrients that your body needs. Raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and even legumes are filled with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and tons of phytochemicals that are too numerous to list – but they all play an important role in maintaining good health.

While cooking some foods like tomatoes can make some of their nutrients, such as lycopene, more easily absorbed by the body, cooking tends to destroy some of the natural enzymes (albeit not all of them!) within raw fruits and vegetables that we need for proper digestion. In addition to the fact that they’re packed with nutrients and beneficial enzymes, there are a host of other great reasons to fill up on raw foods.

Here are just a few more reasons raw foods are so darn good for you:

Beneficial Basics of Raw Foods

Eating raw fruits and veggies regularly at meal times makes for easy prep, and the opportunity to get back to basics in the kitchen. Veggies sticks and hummus, smoothies, blended soups, and raw vegan banana ice cream are all tasty indulgences that also happen to be created from whole foods. Eating simply is easy, fun, and great for your health. Working with raw fruits and veggies is a fun way to experiment and learn how to handle food without worrying about burning anything too!

Save Yourself Some Time

Sure, some raw food recipes out there (think dehydrated options) come with hefty recipe lists and time-consuming instructions. But if you stick with the basics, eating raw can save you a lot of time in the kitchen. Whipping up a collard wrap or a sprouted bean salad is quick and delicious – and you can take most raw foods with you on the go. Nothing is faster than throwing a few bananas in a bag so they’re ready to eat while you’re on the road, or processing some nuts and seeds to make quick energy bites. 

Enjoy More Sustainable Energy

Sprouted grains, legumes, and seeds are a great source of energy because their nutritional content is at its highest, and their digestive enzymes have been released. They also happen to be an excellent source of protein, which is helpful for constant energy throughout the day. Raw fruits provide a sustainable source of calories that will keep you going, and veggies in their natural form will give you the vitamin C that your body craves to assist with energy production.

Easier Weight Management

Because raw fruits and vegetables are naturally low in calories, you can eat them to your heart’s desire without much risk of over-consuming calories.Of course, eating too many spoonfuls of nut butter or overloading on grains together might cause weight gain, raw fruits and veggies  will not. They’ll help you maintain a healthy weight on a low fat whole foods diet, which is one of the best ways to fight diabetes and disease.

Something as easy as adding a salad to your lunch and dinner meals that includes lots of dark leafy greens and colorful veggies, is enough to make a difference in your overall health. Start every day off with a fruity green smoothie, and you are well on your way to feel plant strong!

Lead Source: Raw Zucchini Wraps