Everything You Need To Know About The Mono Meal

Wellness Expert8 years ago

The proposed benefits of a raw-food diet are much exalted in the beauty industry – a flawless complexion, shiny hair and a glow that comes from within. But putting down the chips in favour of carrot sticks is easier said than done. Introducing: The Mono Meal. This latest trend sees one food, usually raw fruit or vegetables making up each of your meals, respectively. While at first it might sound supremely tedious to eat this way, we have rounded up everything you need to know about this fad-diet that might just alter your thinking…

What is a Mono Meal?

"A meal comprised solely of one food, usually raw fruits or vegetables."

On the menu: beetroot, celery, mango and water based smoothies… A phenomenon that aims to simplify our meal times, The Mono Meal is a trend that encourages our bodies to focus on one task at a time. Different enzymes are needed to break down different food types including proteins, carbohydrates, fats and sugars. If too much activity is happening in the digestive tract, acids can counteract the enzymes, causing food to ferment and decompose opposed to being digested.

And with so many different ingredients consumed in one sitting, it can be a tiring process for our bodies to complete. Some side effects include heartburn, lethargy and gastrointestinal disturbances. Have you ever sat on the beach and ate a watermelon until you were full? If so, you've eaten a mono meal. Your body will receive this food in oneness and in wholeness, causing it to trigger one enzymatic reaction to successfully digest.

What Are The Benefits?

It's The Easiest Meal To Digest: With most meals containing at least one source of protein, carbohydrate and vegetable; it can often be hard for our bodies to digest. Even some of the most basic foods contain a plethora of ingredients that can hinder our digestive tract and consequently, cause problems for our stomachs.
It Forces You To Eat Better Quality Foods: It's easy to settle for fruit and vegetables that are low in quality when they are consumed with ingredients that mask their flavour. If we limit our meals to one type of fruit or vegetable, it's near impossible to disguise, encouraging you to purchase better quality ingredients.
Greater Appreciation For Foods That You Eat: Limiting our meals to one ingredient ensures greater appreciation for the foods we consume. The ability to savour both the flavour and texture of one simple flavour allows you to enjoy what you're eating wholeheartedly.
Pin-Point Allergies: If you have found yourself suffering from an allergic reaction after consuming certain meals, it may be worth adopting a mono diet in order to pin-point exactly what it is that making you suffer. The only sure way to know what ingredient you are allergic to is to consume them in isolation.
Know When It's Time To Stop Eating: Eating one type of food at a time allows you to pay your devoted attention to the taste and texture of that particular ingredient. Allowing your body to focus on one food stuff will ensure your satiation glands are working correctly, making it near impossible to over-eat.
It's The Simplest Way To Eat: Sometimes, simple is best.

5 Nutritious Mono Meals To Try At Home

Mango

The most widely consumed fruit worldwide, Mango's come with a plethora of health benefits including decreased risk of cancer, improvement in digestion and overall benefits for both the skin and hair.

Beetroot

Whether you blend it into a classic soup, or drink as a nutritious smoothie, this unique superfood is low in fat, packed full of vitamins and minerals and contains powerful antioxidants - the perfect mono meal!

Kiwi

A good source of fibre, Kiwi's are bursting with nutrients such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Folate and Potassium. Aiding the process of digestion, this nutritionally dense super-food can help to promote weight loss in addition to aiding digestion and helping to manage asthma.

Blueberries

Among the world's most powerful source of anti-oxidants, Blueberries work to protect our bodies from damage caused by free radicals and unstable molecules.

Avocado

Containing healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, one serving of Avocado per day can significantly help to keep your skin healthy, transport fat soluble vitamins such as D, K, A and E and release hormones in your intestine, making you feel satiated.