From a nutritional standpoint, living by the principles of a raw food diet over the past months has been one great benefit. Both my life as an ultra athlete and areas in my private life have drastically improved.
Not that raw foods never existed before!
The difference is that I became increasingly more aware of what I would put into my body and what effects I could noticeably feel when I first started integrating vegan foods into my diet last summer. Also, as a natural side effect of an increased training volume I wanted to simply try something different, too.
The interesting thing is that I used to be preoccupied towards raw foodism imagining that one only chews on salads leaves and carrot sticks. Luckily, there are so many people out there thriving on raw foods and they would never want to go back to a standard diet. These people have shaped this ‘new’ lifestyle reaching out to others to share the same enthusiasm to live on natural foods only.
By definition, raw foods are nutriments that are consumed in their natural, unprocessed state. Some can still be considered raw if they have not been heated above 45 degrees Celsius or 115 Fahrenheit.
Yet, some foods are mistaken for being raw. These include:
Agave nectar: has to be altered and heated to get the typical sweetness resembling the taste of honey
Dried Fruit: dried at high temperatures and blanched
Olives: usually canned, jarred and soaked in bad oils
Almonds, ground almonds: originating in California most nuts have been pasteurized and ground almonds are blanched before putting them through the grinder
Frozen vegetables: often boiled and blanched before being packaged even if the label reads “fresh frozen”
Cashews: are considered fruits and are heated to shell and lose their toxins
Tahini: sesame seeds are roasted at high temperatures; even if labeled unpasteurized double-check with manufacturer or make your own by grinding sesame seeds and adding olive oil
Oats: are steamed in order to keep out worms before storage
Wild rice: not considered raw or wild; being blanched after harvesting to prevent from bugs
Miso: made from cooked ingredients even if you purchase the un-pasteurized version
Explore now what the first steps into a new direction were.
- From one day to the next, I eliminated all dairy produce.
It was a conscious decision that would either turn out to be worth it - or not. But the overall outcome would be the same either way of looking at it: By experimenting and making changes to my diet I would find out more about myself and what foods my body can best deal with. Especially race nutrition is an area where I am constantly trying to improve, readjusting and become smarter!
So, up until my first ultra marathon in the Sahara I lived a (standard) diet, only that I have never been a traditional meat eater.
The look of a piece of steak still does not do anything for me, yet a piece of fish or a salad topped with chicken strips were some of the dishes I would occasionally eat. Naturally, I have always liked raw foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables. Just not the amounts I am eating these days. As for hard and soft cheeses I used to eat a handful maybe every day. Breads and wholegrain batches are foods I still like and consume occasionally to this day.
Nevertheless, weighing foods or counting calories is not something I would recommend for any type of diet.
I tried it before because I was curious about the exact amounts of carbohydrates, proteins and fats I was consuming every day. I think I gave up after a day. It was no fun and more strenuous than I had expected.
In principle, enjoying the (raw) foods you are eating is more important! And worrying about your weight too, diet tip, much is not a rule that applies to the ultra runner anyway. When the body is conditioned enough and used to regular running and other types of training (cycling, climbing, hiking, swimming for example) you will already have your personal ideal weight which might vary throughout, diet tip, the year.
So, speaking from my experience and intense research I have done on the benefits of thriving on a raw food diet explore the facts here:
In order to function properly and stay healthy all year around eliminating dairy products is the most obvious step to take
Significant changes in energy levels result in better health, training and racing performances
Mood swings may disappear, the skin will start to glow even more
Hay fever symptoms reduce or even completely clear away
An increased intake of raw foods allows for better nutrient absorption in the body
By going vegan you can still get a lot of junk food so keep packaged vegan foods and ready-meals at a minimum
But.
..I am happy with my diet so why should I switch to raw foods?
I hear you ask that question. Rightly so.
The answer is simple, though. Why not take it as a challenge to see whether you can feel even better, feel stronger and happier. Become smarter for your own good and develop in this important area of life as an ultra runner. Share your experiences with others.
By fueling your body with more natural, raw foods the impact that will have on your training (volume), abilities and confidence will be amazing! Just like your constantly work on getting better or faster in your next ultra marathon by making changes to your training routine, the same goes for your diet.
It takes 28 days for something new to form into a habit. This may seem a long time but the long-term results are what matters. Change takes time so be patient!
How can I be sure that my body gets all the vitamins?
Just recently I was asked that question again and what do I say to people that show scepticism? - I still feel great and would not want to go back to my ‘old’ diet. And our body is incapable to split animal proteins. Except for the nice taste of meat that some people claim it is no use to you in reality.
Honestly said, it is more or less a poor reflection of that person’s own incapability to face a challenge and stand up to it. Especially when discussing individual diets many, many people are eating their choice of foods out of habit and never question a deeper effect.
Remember that raw foods provide you all the essential carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and enzymes you need.
So here is another great tip:
Listen to your needs and go with your feeling. Some food combinations must be mentioned.
I would have never thought that depending on how you combine foods it can make you feel good or bad. I threw and tossed everything into a (fruit) salad or into a vegetable pan and only came to notice a better feeling after I integrated the tips on ideal food combining.
Feel free to take the shortcut…
Avoid fat and sweet sugar together such as nuts and dates
Bananas and acidic fruits like oranges and pineapples cause cramping and indigestion often leaving you feeling bloated
Acidic fruits and fats should be consumed seperately
Avoid different sources of fat in the same meal like mixing coconut, nuts, seeds and avocado
Eat watery foods first; melon before berries before bananas
Tomatoes are considered acidic fruits and are best eaten with tahini, nuts or other sources of protein except for starches
Leafy, dark greens go with everything
Allow your body to absorb acidic fruits before sweet and starchy ones
When consuming cooked vegetables and other foods allow 20-30 minutes for digestion
As usual, it is easier to keep meals simple rather than cooking twice a day!
A tip to save time at dinner, with or without kids: I tend to cut up all the fruits and veggies needed for the day around lunch time, including washing a head of lettuce.
Tightly stored in plastic containers and put in the fridge, salads and veggies only need to be put on a big plate later on and freshly cut bread, for example. Dips and salad sauces only take two minutes to prepare in a blender.
Whether I strictly live by the principles of a raw food diet all the time?
Yes and no. I have found that raw foods definitely add to my overall health and have helped me to up my training after only two weeks into it. I felt so great that I added more and more raw foods and cook some vegetables three times a week.
Also, sticking to the tips mentioned above contributes to a better overall well-being.
As a family and within the social network I am living in I have adapted my current diet to what is the least stress for me and the family. The rest of the family loves the refinements we have made to our evening meals.
I probably eat about 70-80 % raw foods in their natural state and the rest of my daily intake included foods like sprouted buckwheat bread, sometimes a barley roll, vegan biscuits, home-made cakes and fudges, dark chocolate, honey.
I skipped things like tofu and other subsitutes months ago. I still do not crave pizzas and have had four pasta dishes in one year.
Subsituting cow’s milk for soy milk to use in cappuccinos (still cannot do without it!) took getting used to but the various choices and flavors in soy milk are worth a try. Personally, though, I stay away from chocolate, vanilla and berry-flavoured soy milks and stick to plain one and only sometimes I mix calcium-enriched soy milk into coffees and mueslis.