Raw Energy: Diet and stress can affect your health

By Brenda Richter

As many of us know, the food you eat plays a significant role in your level of health. Many are not aware that what you eat affects you on many levels, whether it be your energy level, the condition of your skin, allergies, sleep and more. A friend of mine has frequently commented that she notices she feels so much better when eating raw food (raw fruits and vegetables), however she has had difficulty giving up coffee. Recently, she came to me and said, she has been coffee-free for one week and has already noticed how much better she is sleeping, ìlike a babyî she said.

Food also affects your ability to achieve fitness levels once thought too difficult to achieve or not within your capability. What you eat, however, is not the only factor that affects your level of wellness, fitness or ability to lose weight. Stress also plays an important role. Keep in mind, we have the power to change our diet. Dietary stress is something we must constantly deal with, and about 70 percent of negative stress is nutritional stress.

Stress can typically be categorized as positive or negative. Positive stress is something that is good for us. For instance, exercise and learning. Negative forms of stress are primarily considered harmful ordisadvantageous whether it may be physical, psychological or environmental stress. We can reduce our stress levels by eating the right foods. That is, adding nutritious food and removing unhealthy food. Add the correct foods, and we remove stress.

Some of the best stress-busting foods are raw, organic, plant-based whole foods; foods that are in their natural or raw state; and foods that have not been heated, cooked or altered. Processed, packaged and heated foods cause stress on the body, are difficult to break down and digest, and these types of foods typically include common allergens, which adds more stress.

Choose foods that complement stress reduction like the following: plant-based foods that promote ideal health; nutrient-dense food; eat food that gives energy, not depletes it; eat for nourishment; eat alkalizing foods; avoid the common allergens, such as wheat, gluten, dairy, soy and corn. Take the next step. Eat a large, leafy green salad each day. Try eating your favorite veggies raw. Make a fruit or veggie smoothie for something nutritious, quick, delicious and easy to digest.

Replace processed or convenience foods with raw fruits and vegetables, like a handful of almonds, a serving of vegetables, a piece of fruit or a raw, dehydrated snack bar instead of a granola bar. Reduce or eliminate caffeine. If you sweeten your tea or coffee, use less sweetener. Or, better yet, try an unrefined, lowglycemic sweetener like agave or stevia.

Nutrient-dense foods feed the body, help to reduce and eliminate food cravings, aid in disease prevention, and reduces stress. Here is a simple, quick and nutritious

smoothie idea: one mango, one banana and one to two handfuls of spinach. Cut fruit, place in blender, and blend until smooth.

Enjoy. Be aware, change, can cause stress for some people. Whether you are changing diet, exercise or something else, sometimes gradual changes may best suit you.

Explore the benefits and options in raw foods- join me for a ìWhy Raw?î talk at 6:30 p.m., Feb. 18. Registration is through Rock Valley College. Course No. HMC 803 RV. Call (815) 921-3900.

Brenda Richter is a graduate of Living Light Culinary Arts Institute, where she received her certification as a Raw Culinary Arts associate chef and instructor. Sheís passionate about sharing the living foods lifestyle with others, and teaches raw culinary arts classes in the Rockford area.

From the Feb. 10-16, 2010 issue