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Raw Food Bodybuilding
Benefits of a Raw Food Diet
Cooking food at or above 120 degrees kills the natural enzymes in food. Enzymes provide energy to the human body and assist in the digestion of food. A raw food diet consists of raw fruits, nuts, seeds, sprouted grains and vegetables. Most of the food in a raw diet is organic, meaning the food is free of pesticides and artificial fertilizers. Organic food contains a higher nutritional value compared to non-organic food.
There are many benefits to this type of diet. Dieters that follow the Raw Food Diet believe they have better digestive systems than people that do not follow the diet, because partially digested fats from cooked foods get stuck in the arteries. Some other benefits to a Raw Food Diet are: better skin complexion, increased energy, weight loss, and better heart health.
Raw Food and Bodybuilding
Bodybuilders can also benefit from an all organic, raw diet if they are trying to build muscle. Researchers believe that bodybuilders who eat a diet filled with processed, cooked, or heated foods lose their muscle mass faster than bodybuilders that are on the Raw Food Diet. Raw foods build natural muscle allowing the muscle and solidness of the bodybuilder to last longer than if he/she was on a Standard American Diet. Another benefit of eating raw foods, for a bodybuilder, is the food provides substantial energy to the body. Bodybuilders can spend hours in the gym and need all the energy they can get to train effectively and safely.
Bodybuilding Recipes For Raw Food Diet
This article has listed numerous benefits to eating raw foods. Even if you do not want to completely convert to an all raw diet, you can get many of the benefits from the diet by eating some meals a week containing raw foods. Here is a recipe example you can make in your own kitchen:
Raw Pad Thai Salad
Ingredients:
* 2 zucchinis, sliced into strips with a vegetable peeler
* 2 large handfuls of bean sprouts, approx 2 cups
* 3/4 cup chopped nuts (use almonds, peanuts or cashews)
* 1 red or yellow bell pepper, sliced into strips
* 4 green onions, diced
* 1/2 cup fresh chopped cilantro
* juice from one lime
* 1 tablespoon raw olive oil
* 1/4 tsp sea salt
Preparation:
Toss all ingredients together in a bowl until well coated. Add a dash more salt if desired and enjoy!
For more bodybuilding recipes checkout the Bodybuilding Cookbook.