Sauerkraut and Cabbage – A boon in Disguise

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Going Natural the Best Policy

Today being a vegetarian has become a matter of pride across the globe, but have you ever known the benefits of eating raw and fresh foods? Eating fresh and raw has multiple benefits. Let us see a few.

It may sound awful to eat a raw, uncooked meal each day. But do not be surprised if you learn that it is healthier and more packed with nutrition, than food cooked in the most authentic way. Of course we all know that fresh food is always good, since it eliminates any possibility of being stale or contaminated with bacteria. It is also high in nutrients that would otherwise get destroyed during cooking on account of high temperatures.

Let us do a small comparison between the raw and cooked form of any food. Take any fruit or vegetable and observe it closely in its raw form. Observe the colour and texture. Now cook the same fruit or vegetable and note the change. Raw food always is bright compared to its cooked counterpart. Cooked food also becomes mushier and dull than what it was when raw. Besides its nutrition value gets downgraded.

This is what actually happens. Very high temperatures destroy active enzymes, essential vitamins as well as proteins. It also transforms the attractive colours and natural texture of the food. Thus health experts often stress never to overcook food or even keep reheating it. Even excessive processing done at high temperatures to preserve food eliminates these essential nutrients.

Consuming raw food has been found to boost up human immunity system and acts as a shield against common ailments like coughs and colds. It also prevents any form of indigestion or pain due to gas, since it is very high in fiber. Thus consuming raw fruits and vegetables can actually be a very good form of exercise you could give to your entire digestive system. Since raw foods are neither cooked nor processed, they are very low in salt as well as sugar contents, consumption of both of which are not considered very healthy for human body. Raw foods are also completely free from harmful preservatives and chemicals which are generally added to any kind of processed food.

You can always introduce some kind of variations to your raw food item to make it more interesting. Drying food is one such technique which imparts a new texture, flavor as well as taste to your raw ingredient. E.g. biscuits and similar bakery products are never exposed to direct flames, but dehydrated using the convection oven.

Since animal meat is never consumed uncooked, consuming raw food gives you an opportunity to turn into a vegetarian too, thus an added advantage you have for consuming raw food.

Today awareness among people on the benefits of raw food is gradually on the rise. Many who stay on farms and even those who can spare some extra space in their own homes have started growing their own fruits and vegetables, which are completely organically produced, without any aid of harmful pesticides. These can be used farm fresh.

After all, it’s always a great feeling to grow your own food.