Tag: raw food

Organic foods. Just how Good are They? Nutritious Lolly Gives you the Hard Facts

Posted on by Lolly
Organic foods are a hot topic and there’s a lot of debate around whether they’re healthier for you so let’s delve in and examine some hard facts!

Firstly,
what is organic food?

This is a biggie because so many people assume that ‘organic’ is just a byword for ‘fruit and vegetables’ but that is completely wrong. Organic foods have a strict definition (even if there are some nuances from country to country). Essentially organic foods must be grown or raised without the use of synthetic pesticides, bioengineered genes (GMOs) or petroleum-based fertilisers.

Are organic – foods really any better for you?

This one is a real hot potato (see what I did there?), and much of that is down to a few studies which have suggested that there are only limited health benefits to eating organic foods over intensively grown and raised produce. BUT…
There’s also a torrent of data which suggests that organic foods do have significant health benefits so it really comes down to how you feel about it.
Personally, for me, it’s an easy choice to make. I’d rather that my family and I eat foods that don’t have lots of chemicals used in their production and that are kinder to the environment. Those two reasons alone are massive!
Here are some other reasons to eat organic foods:

Organic meats and milk are richer in nutrients

A 2016 European study found that organically raised meats and organically produced milk had up to 50 per cent more nutrients including Omega 3 fatty acids!

Organic foods have fewer pesticides

Pesticides are used in conventional farming processes. The reality of this is that residual chemicals can make their way into what we are eating. Do you want a side of fungicides, herbicides and insecticides with your salad? Nah, me neither.

Organically-raised animals are probably happier and healthier

This is an extremely contentious one… but the fact is that organically-raised animals are given far more space to move around and do what comes naturally to them (think cows out to pasture and chickens foraging). The use of antibiotics in intensively-farmed animals can create antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.

Organic food is fresher 

Organic food doesn’t usually contain preservatives that are designed to make them last longer. So, that cauliflower that you thought was harvested from a farm a few days ago might actually be far, far older than that. Yuk. Organic produce is often produced on smaller farms near to where it is sold, so as well as being better for you and your family, you could actually be helping the local economy too!
For Nutritious Lolly, organic food is ALWAYS better.

Lets give a Roar for Raw

Posted on by Lolly

Cacao energy bites

It’s not difficult to make sure you nibble a bit of raw food every day.

There’s no cooking or really much washing or chopping – just good old fashioned chomping.

That’s why I know that after you’ve read this post – you WILL increase the amount of raw food you eat – especially when I tell you that sinking your gnashers into a stick of carrot or nibbling on some nuts actually helps you lose weight.

Before I get to the science bit I thought I would list all the reasons why raw is good – just to really get you in the mood.

The List

Eating raw foods leads to: 
Increased energy 
Happiness
Reduces cellulite 
Eliminates water retention 
Reduce ‘bad food’ cravings 
Healthy glow and sparkle 
Optimum Health 
Oh! and weight loss 

What is Raw?

Okay so this might sound a bit basic – but let’s look at what is considered ‘raw’ food.

Well anything frozen is on the list – but anything canned or pasteurized is not. Simple really.

Here is the science bit….


Raw food is fresh whole food that has not been refined, chemically processed, denatured or heated above 48 degrees C, so its nutritional content is preserved. 

The major raw food groups include: 

 fruits
vegetables
sprouted seeds
nuts
grains
sea vegetables
natural fats 

When we eat foods in their natural, uncooked state we receive  all the vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and enzymes that good old Mother Nature intended us to eat.

In contrast, when we cook our foods we lose around 70 per cent of these essential nutrients.

Why Raw helps with weight loss

If you increase your raw food intake, then it will naturally reduce your craving for sugary food. Hence the weight loss bit.

Also many people notice their energy levels increasing when they eat raw – this is because your body doesn’t have to use so much energy digesting it.

Raw foods are hydrating 

Eating lots of raw stuff can help with sluggishness, dry skin and false hunger that hits us when we don’t drink enough water.

Raw foods contain loads of fibre

Fibre is essential for sweeping the digestive tract of waste – which basically means ‘it keeps you regular.’

Many health problems such as gas and bloating can stem from poor digestion, but it can also cause other nasties such as irritable bowel syndrome, yeast infections, skin conditions such as acne and even colon cancer.

Raw foods contain phytonutrients


So what the hell are phytonutrients?

These are plant chemical compounds that act as anti-oxidants, immune boosters and hormone stabilizers and have huge health benefits, such as detoxifying the liver, preventing heart disease and cancer, and protecting our eyes from macular degeneration – so pretty important really.

A phytonutrient called Lycopene is found in red fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, watermelons, red bell peppers and papayas and has very powerful antioxidant properties.

Research suggests it is also effective in preventing cancers, especially prostate, lung and stomach cancer.

How Raw should you go?

Well you don’t need to be a vegan to enjoy the benefits of raw food.

The starting point is that any amount of raw food is beneficial.

But if you want to give your body that healthy kick start, aim for five portions of veg and three fruit a day.

A don’t forget to include essential fats in your diet – maybe a handful of nuts or some oily fish such as salmon.

Raw food tips and ideas

If you add a smoothie and a bowl of muesli with fruit and yoghurt to your breakfast menu and a salad with lunch and dinner – you’re already there.

There is also Raw Chocolate to nibble on – who knew – healthy chocolate!

For more healthy recipes have a look at my previous post – where I tell you how to make Ginger Energy Bites and Chia Pudding

If you want any advice or a tailor-made diet plan you can email me, Nutritious Lolly at cunningham_lorraine@yahoo.com