How important is a hot meal?

py2006

Is a hot meal really an important part of a healthy diet??

I have been trying to pinpoint the route cause of recent digestive discomfort! It's prob more to do with big portions and late night snacking but have been thinking lately that I don't always have a hot meal!

Any thoughts?

Tail Wagger

py2006 wrote: »

Is a hot meal really an important part of a healthy diet??

I have been trying to pinpoint the route cause of recent digestive discomfort! It's prob more to do with big portions and late night snacking but have been thinking lately that I don't always have a hot meal!

Any thoughts?

Would you eat a salad this time of year?

helimachoptor

Tail Wagger wrote: »

Would you eat a salad this time of year?

I eat salads all year round

py2006

Tail Wagger wrote: »

Would you eat a salad this time of year?

Eh, why not?

Sapsorrow

Contrary to the common belief of the average raw foodist, raw food is very indigestible compared to cooked (and the enzymes in plant foods DON'T help you digest your food in anyway) cooking is essentially a digestive process. If you have any digestive disorders it's likely you'll find raw food a bit challenging but it could be any other number of things causing the underlying symptoms like lactose or gluten intolerances, allergies, bad eating habits etc.. I myself use to get very ill from eating raw food but since giving up grains (apart from porridge every few days) I can now tolerate at least one raw meal a day without being doubled over with cramps for hours. So it really depends on the person, if you have a very robust digestive system eating a certain amount of raw foods is important but eating cooked foods can be equally so. I'm also a big believer of eating with the seasons, slow cooked warming stews full of root veg in the winter and light cooling leafy salads in the summer. Cooking foods makes certain nutrients more bioavailable while killing off other nutrients that are heat stable etc. so a balance between the two is ideal, if eating a bit of raw food isn't possible then minimise the damage done by steaming and making stews and soups so you're eating the cooking juices too and not throwing all the water soluble vitamins out with it.

EileenG

Did anyone see the Horizon programme "Did cooking make us human?" It showed a group of humans who were locked up in a zoo and fed unlimited amounts of raw fruit and veg. They ate all the time, lost a ton of weight and were constantly starving. Humans are not meant to live on raw veggies.

They also fed some mice raw yams, and recorded exercise. Then they fed them the same amount of cooked yams, and discovered the mice could exercise faster and for longer without losing weight.

There was a lot more, but what it amounted to was that cooking was essential for humans who wanted enough energy to operate our large expensive brains.

BaileyB

A hot meal is not necessarily important. You mention that you eat large portions at meal times- that is a very good reason why you will feel discomfort! Where do you feel discomfort- in your stomach or lower abdomen (ie in the bowel region)? Another thing to consider is the type of foods you are eating- for example, foods with a very high fat or protein content are difficult to digest and can remain in the stomach for long periods of time. they can cause feelings of lethargy and lower abdominal discomfort. Some raw foods are difficult to digest and can cause cramping, bloating and gassyness. You need to give a bit more detail as to your dietary intake..:)

Tail Wagger

helimachoptor wrote: »

I eat salads all year round

py2006 wrote: »

Eh, why not?

Yes I agree I love them also, but not in March at -2 to -4 degrees brrrrr

py2006

BaileyB wrote: »

A hot meal is not necessarily important. You mention that you eat large portions at meal times- that is a very good reason why you will feel discomfort! Where do you feel discomfort- in your stomach or lower abdomen (ie in the bowel region)? Another thing to consider is the type of foods you are eating- for example, foods with a very high fat or protein content are difficult to digest and can remain in the stomach for long periods of time. they can cause feelings of lethargy and lower abdominal discomfort. Some raw foods are difficult to digest and can cause cramping, bloating and gassyness. You need to give a bit more detail as to your dietary intake..:)

I tend to eat irratically, pick at food throughout the day! When I do make the effort to make a meal the portions are not huge but probably too big for one person! This used to be no problem earlier in my life but in recent times I think my eyes want the same portions but my belly doesn't!

I often feel awful discomfort to the point that I don't go outdoors! Bloated and heavy stomach which seems to effect me all over. I would often feel weak, tired, run down! Bags under my eyes etc!

In the mornings I usually feel the worst, and I have to wait a few hours before I can feel ok until I have passed what I ate the day before!

py2006

Tail Wagger wrote: »

Yes I agree I love them also, but not in March at -2 to -4 degrees brrrrr

It hasn't been that cold in weeks and its not like your going to eat them outdoors!! Besides they are not cold, they just aint hot!!

cruizer101

Just to say there is a difference between raw and cold food.

Just because food is cold doesn't mean it is raw, for example both rice and pasta salad are cold but are cooked and hence not raw.

I think as with all foods the key is balance a certain ammount of raw food does us good but too much we can't handle.