A common approach seems to be 'go back to basics' which is ideal, but can you really resist the temptations surrounding us. I have been exploring the benefits of eating a raw diet. If you have read up on this, you will know that the principles of a raw diet are to eat a vegan diet, where the food is never heated above 40 *c. This is to ensure you do not kill the nutrients contained in the food, an
d therefore eating is about optimum health, rather than about satisfying a hunger strike. However, when you have eaten a hot meal almost every day your whole life, it's a very hard habit to break. But likewise when you have eaten a cold meal almost everyday for lunch your whole life, it's easy to see how some raw recipies can be introduced to your diet, to increase your exposure to natural vitamins and minerals. If you are on this page, I can only assume that improving your health through diet is something that interests you. There are so many different approaches to this, eating raw is only one of them, but the holistic approach as a whole is very interesting, and so far what I have read up on, makes perfect sense. The problem with seeking out information on healthy eating, is the amount of conflicting information. This makes it very hard to form an opinion, and therefore choose a path to self discovery. You will always come across extremists in the food community, in fact you probably work with someone who believes that being healthy is eating very minimally. These people are probably painfully thin and frail, with bad nails and unhealthy skin. And despite you being aware of their poor health, their choices probably influence you. Have you ever found yourself thinking 'if i just had an ounce of their determination I could look and feel much better'. We have all been there and then you have the other end of the spectrum, the hardcore health nuts, that think living 100% raw, for example, is the ONLY way to reclaim your health, and it's how it SHOULD be, but I find that equally as naive. The truth about modern living is that we do live in a modern world. We have desires, influences, cravings, etc, that make sticking to any regime impossible. And I say impossible with emphasis. No one, upon no one, actually lives by their preachings 100% because that would make them super human. You can't ignore your instincts and feelings, and to find a way of introducing healthy living into your life without hurting your well being is what I aim to achieve. I'm trying to learn and adapt and incorporate as much as I can, but like most out there I wish there was a hard fast rule, or structure or print out step by step guide to get there, but it just doesn't exist. You have to find your own healthy parameters and look after your mental health as much as your physical health. That means making exceptions and accepting imperfection. A good example of this is a raw food chef who gained weight whilst eating raw. Basically it was down to eating too much fruit, something her body just couldn't tolerate. When you learn how to listen to your body, that's when you have found balance, and hopefully a successful modern living diet!
