Is the Raw Food Detox Diet Good for Weight Loss?
With all these toxins we inhale day after day in our modern life, there’s no wonder that people are trying more and more the so-called detox diets, like the raw food diet or the Oshawa macrobiotic diet, which got its name after George Oshawa, the person who coined the term macrobiotic to define a new life and health philosophy.
The raw food diet supposes that the only permitted foods are fruits, vegetables and seeds, and they are to be consumed raw, making sure that you get enough calories to support your whole day activities. Fruit smoothies and juices are allowed, but sugar is prohibited.
How Many Pounds Can One Lose With the Raw Food Diet?
One first example of losing a few pounds during 31 days of raw foods diet is Steve Pavlina. He kept a diary of the diet on his blog, posting photos of each meal, carefully weighting the food, counting the calories as well as the quantity of fats, carbs and proteins those meals contained in those foods. He tried to avoid monotony so he combined fruits like papaya, avocado, bananas, mango, blackberries, clementines, cherries, Fuji apples or blueberries with vegetables such as celery, tomatoes, cabbage, cucumber, bell peppers or carrots. Tahini dressings helped him give a bit more taste to his meals.
He also described his sensations, like drowsiness or other side effects of switching from a normal diet to a raw food one, he measured his blood pressure and his urine PH level. Although the diet was tough, due to the detox symptoms, Steve Pavlina managed to keep it for the whole trial period of 31 days. After he returned to normal, cooked foods, he noticed a decrease of his energy levels.
While his first intention was not losing weight, he managed to lose 8 pounds in 31 days. For people interested in trying this diet, Steve offers the recording of one of his raw food coaching sessions, which would give you an insight into how to make green smoothies, or blended salads, or how to include fat into the diet without problems generated by combining foods. This raw food coaching recording would help you to take a peek into the mindset of a low-fat, raw diet long term follower. Listen to it, and if all you want is to lose 10 pounds in one month, maybe this raw food detox is not the best choice of a weight loss diet for you.
