Weight Loss With a Raw Vegan Diet

Diving into a raw vegan diet for the purpose of weight loss takes strong commitment and resolve. Because the typical American diet consists of a plethora of artificial colors, flavors and preservatives, we naturally gain or maintain a higher weight. The raw vegan program brings the body back to its natural state, feeding it nutrients that were intended to help it thrive and maintain a lean, healthy weight. In fact, some people have lost 100 pounds and more going raw vegan, and it is becoming a choice for many people faced with extreme weight loss.

Integrate raw foods gradually

Like any new diet, you'll want to morph over to raw veganism slowly so you don't shock your system, which could result in unpleasant gastrointestinal side effects, and so that you integrate it as more of a lifestyle change than a quick fix to weight loss.

Try eating one meal totally raw vegan for one week. Then slowly add another meal and then a third. Raw vegan snacking is easy because you can grab a piece of fruit or carrots to munch on during the day.

In terms of calorie tracking, you should still aim for no less than 1,300 calories per day, preferably 1,500 for women and 2,500 for men. Raw veganism helps accelerate weight loss because you are essentially consuming foods that nature intended and nutrient-rich foods work harder to nourish the body's organs instead of packing on fat.

You will also want to consume plenty of water and homemade juices to fuel weight loss. Although this diet requires very few tools, a juicer is a good way to infuse your nutrients and spice up your day.

Start at the grocery store

Grocery shopping has never been easier when you are eating raw vegan because you will want to shop only the outer aisles of the store. Items that fall into this category include any plant-based food such as fruits, vegetables, raw nuts, seeds or raw legumes. Looking for organic foods is also a good idea, as they won't include pesticides or toxic residues. You are also going to make multiple weekly trips to the store to ensure you always have the freshest produce on hand.

Meal and snack examples

A raw vegan's day may look something like this. For breakfast, you could have a blend of chopped peaches, grapefruit and tarragon garnished with lemon zest. Lunch could be a large bowl of gazpacho soup and dinner raw vegan tabbouleh. Snack liberally throughout the day with fruit shakes, nuts and crunchy vegetables.

Being a raw vegan means that you must be creative with your food and you should try new recipes. In fact, you should even make up new recipes. Throw together some of your favorite ingredients and see what happens!

The wonderful aspect of raw veganism is that because you aren't integrating starchy, processed or cooked foods into your diet, it is easier to lose weight. However, be sure to watch your calorie intake because you may not lose weight if you eat in excess.