Are You Too Raw Food Focused?
This may seem like a strange question, seeing as this is a blog dedicated to raw foods. Keep reading and you’ll see why it’s perfectly reasonable.
You see, many raw foodists think that raw food is the end all be all. They believe that if they shun cooked food and only eat raw food, they will be perfectly healthy.
Perhaps you’re feeling the same way. Maybe you’ve read all the great testimonials from people who have released over 100 pounds, reversed cancer, and have finally begun to thrive and you are convinced that raw foods are the answer to everything.
I completely understand the enthusiasm – perhaps even fanaticism – surrounding raw foods. It’s amazing to see the results that can be achieved just by going raw, especially if you go the low fat, high fruit route.
However, there are a couple of problems with this way of thinking.
Perfection
As I said, many raw foodists see a raw vegan diet as the “end all be all.” They think they can give up cooked foods, go 100% raw and all their problems will *magically* be solved.
Let’s get one thing straight. No one is perfect and no one ever will be…and that includes YOU!
I don’t care how little cooked food you eat or much raw foods you stuff down your gullet, you will *never* be perfect.
PERIOD.
Just look at all the raw food “gurus” out there. Sure, they may market the raw food diet as the only way to achieve the “perfect” body, or to have “perfect digestion,” or to get “perfect” teeth…but that certainly does not make it so.
I mean, if this were really the case, wouldn’t these gurus be the pinnacle of perfection? Some of them have been raw for 20+ years and yet I know they are nowhere near perfect…because no one is!
If these long-term raw food radicals still aren’t perfect, is there any reason to expect perfection from your own raw food results?
There’s More To Health Than Just Diet
One of the side effects of the mainstream raw food movement’s focus on food is the almost complete avoidance of exercise. There are far too many raw foodists, gurus included, who rarely (if ever) participate in some form of bodily movement.
It’s as if they believe that eating raw will somehow “cancel out” the fact that they spend all day sitting on their butts!
In The 80/10/10 Diet, Dr. Graham actually lists a total of *32* “Fundamental Elements of Health” that you should be concerned with.
Here’s the first ten on the list:
- Clean, fresh air
- Pure water
- Foods for which we are biologically designed
- Sufficient sleep
- Rest and relaxation
- Vigorous activity
- Emotional poise and stability
- Sunshine and natural light
- Comfortable temperature
- Peace, harmony, serenity, and tranquility
See that?
“Foods for which we are biologically designed” (i.e. a low fat raw vegan diet) makes up just ONE single factor!
And it isn’t even first on the list!
Make What You Eat a Priority, Not an Obsession
I’m not arguing that improving your diet is not important.
It is *hugely* important, especially considering the harmful food and drugs that the majority of people consume day in and day out. Eliminating cooked food and making healthy raw food a priority in your life will have wonderful consequences for you.
However, there’s no need to get obsessed. Your diet is only ONE factor of many that play a role in your overall health and well-being. If you truly want to thrive, you must consider every aspect and act accordingly.
As Doug Graham often says…
“You are only as strong as your weakest link.”
Go raw and be fit,
Swayze
