Some raw business

So some of you may be asking, what's the point of going raw? To put it very simply, and with my little scientific knowledge, here is why many swear by a raw diet:

When food is cooked above a certain temperature (about 110 degrees), the enzymes in the food break down. This means that our bodies have to start using our own limited store of enzymes to aid in digestion. Using up our own store of enzymes causes aging, fatigue, and even decreased brain function. This is why so many people on a raw diet look so young, have lots of energy, and are free from a lot of ailments and diseases.

Also, cooking food depletes the nutrient count, so by consuming foods in their raw state you have more nutrient-dense food, and your body absorbs those nutrients more easily.

Some good FAQ can be found here.
http://www.alissacohen.com/raw_faqs.html
http://www.choosingraw.com/faqs/

there are also a lot of great books out there that go into more detail.

Another thing to note about going raw, is your body will DETOX! Basically, its your body taking out the trash that has been piling up. If you have a lot of trash piled up, your detox will be more severe. If you are already pretty healthy, or even better vegan, it will be more mild. Detox symptoms may include headache and tiredness, but everyone is different. When the body starts to detox is when most people throw in the towel. Don't do this, you will just have a miserable time and your body will still have a pile of trash in its system.

And some tips

• Don't calorie count! don't go hungry. eat if you feel hungry, don't eat if you aren't.
• Always make sure you have food on hand. know what you can eat and be prepared. Too often, you will feel hungry, have no idea what to eat, and give in to cooked food.
• Find a restaurant or two that carries a raw dish, or a hearty salad. That way if you are busy and can't prepare a proper meal, you have a backup plan.
  
• To save money, buy produce that is in season or on sale.
  
• Go Organic! If you can, why go through the trouble of detoxing only to put chemicals and pesticides back into your system? With that said non-organic vegetables is better than no vegetables at all, so if you can't do organic, conventional are fine.