Nutrition

What to Eat on a Raw Food Diet

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A raw food diet, or rawism, consists of eating only uncooked, unprocessed plant foods. Eating raw food is a lifestyle choice, not a weight-loss plan. People who consume raw food diets believe that eating whole foods closest to their natural state is the healthiest way to nourish the body.

Some studies have shown that cooking fruits and vegetables robs them of vital nutrients, so raw foodists do not cook their food. They eat their food in its natural state, or they dehydrate it for a crunchier texture.

A raw food diet is typically made up of 75% fruits and vegetables. Most raw foodists spend a lot of time shopping for their food and then cutting, peeling, dicing and preparing it. In addition to fruits and vegetables, other staples of the raw food diet include seaweed, sprouts, whole grains, beans, dried fruits and nuts. Anything containing alcohol, refined sugars, and caffeine are not allowed. Many raw food dieters are also vegans, meaning they don't consume milk, cheese or eggs.

Numerous benefits have been associated with a raw food diet. It can help reduce the risk of bladder, oral, pharyngeal, laryngeal, esophageal and gastric cancers. It can lower cholesterol and aid in digestion. It can also promote weight loss and aid in maintaining a healthy weight.
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The Cabbage Soup Diet: Take Off Weight Fast

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Are you trying to lose weight fast? If you're stuck in a weight loss rut and can't seem to shake up the equation of eat less, move more, you may be curious to learn about the cabbage soup diet.

Keep in mind nothing says weight loss like long-term behavior changes. The cabbage soup diet, however, can be a quick fix when you want to drop those stubborn pounds. The diet lasts for seven days and may jump-start weight loss endeavors. It's a low-fat, high fiber diet for those who want to see immediate results.

The key to the cabbage soup diet is simple, too. You can eat as much cabbage soup or drink as much water as you'd like, while following the guidelines for other food. Some people find the soup bland and indicated feeling light-headed or weak because of the severe calorie decrease.


For starters, you can eat all of the fruit you want, except bananas. You can drink unsweetened tea, black coffee, cranberry juice and water. You may also eat as much soup as you want. For day two, you can eat as many vegetables (fresh, raw or cooked) as you want except for dry beans, peas and sweet corn. Although you can't eat fruit on day two, you can eat as much soup as you'd like and also have a baked potato...

What to Eat on a Raw Food Diet

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A raw food diet, or rawism, consists of eating only uncooked, unprocessed plant foods. Eating raw food is a lifestyle choice, not a weight-loss plan. People who consume raw food diets believe that eating whole foods closest to their natural state is the healthiest way to nourish the body.

Some studies have shown that cooking fruits and vegetables robs them of vital nutrients, so raw foodists do not cook their food. They eat their food in its natural state, or they dehydrate it for a crunchier texture.

A raw food diet is typically made up of 75% fruits and vegetables. Most raw foodists spend a lot of time shopping for their food and then cutting, peeling, dicing and preparing it. In addition to fruits and vegetables, other staples of the raw food diet include seaweed, sprouts, whole grains, beans, dried fruits and nuts. Anything containing alcohol, refined sugars, and caffeine are not allowed. Many raw food dieters are also vegans, meaning they don't consume milk, cheese or eggs.

Numerous benefits have been associated with a raw food diet. It can help reduce the risk of bladder, oral, pharyngeal, laryngeal, esophageal and gastric cancers. It can lower cholesterol and aid in digestion. It can also

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Nutrition 101: Back to Basics

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If you're feeling sluggish and tired even after eating, you're not alone. Instead, you may not be getting sufficient amounts of nutrients you need daily.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans provide science-based advice to promote health and reduce risks of major chronic diseases through diet and physical activity. Although the department is currently working on their health report for 2010, the 2005 guidelines are still in effect.

Among the highlights from those reports:

  • People need at least 2,000 calories each day to be in accordance with the Nutrition Facts Panel. Recommended calorie, nutrient, vitamin and mineral intakes will differ depending on each person's age, gender and activity level. Although this might seem like a lot of calories, it is not. Additionally, people who eat nutrient-dense foods may fulfill their daily nutrition requirement without maxing out their calorie allotment.

  • One of the best ways to get the nutrients you need is to consume a large number of fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. Two cups of fruit and two and a half cups of
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Low-Carb Diet: An Overview

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A low-carb diet is a method of losing weight that restricts carbohydrate consumption. Foods that contain high amounts of protein and fat, like meat, replace foods that have a high percentage of digestible carbohydrates like bread and pasta. Green, leafy vegetables and other foods that are low in carbohydrates are also part of this dietary plan. The premise behind this diet has to do with the insulin that is manufactured by blood sugar levels rising after consumption of carbohydrates. Insulin drives blood sugar into cells and prevents fat breakdown in the body, which means you cannot burn excess fat to lose weight.

Proponents of the low-carb diet, such as Dr. Robert Atkins, the developer of the most popular low-carb diet, The Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution and Dr. David Jenkins, the inventor of the glycemic index , a concept that evaluates foods by their effect on blood sugar levels, say that if carbohydrates raise blood sugar and insulin levels, which causes weight gain, a decrease in eating carbs will lower blood sugar and insulin levels, causing weight loss. Because you aren't eating carbs, your body will break down fat, providing needed energy.

A sample low-carb diet generally calls for consumption of no more than 20 to 45 grams of carbohydrates each day. Staying away from sugar and white flour is the biggest key to this sort of diet. Any bread and...