In this article we take a look at the raw food diet – another diet that has gained popularity
The raw food diet which is often called raw foodism or raw veganism, is composed of mostly or completely raw and unprocessed foods. The idea is that heating food destroys many of its nutrients and enzymes, which is not good because enzymes aid digestion and can help fight disease.
So what are you telling me, I cant cook food ?
Not exactly, a food is considered raw if it has never been heated over 118 degrees fahrenheit. It should also not be refined, pasteurized, treated with any pesticides and it should not be processed either.
To follow the raw food diet, you have to make sure at least 75% of the food you eat is raw.
You can still use blenders, food processors, and dehydrators to prepare your food. In fact dehydrators are one of the most popular methods but this does mean you will probably have to purchase one of these.
You will probably lose weight on the raw food diet mainly because you are reducing the food calorie intake dramatically, there is also a potential cost here as a lot of the food that is recommended is organic, this quite often is an excuse to print money by stores so the diet can be expensive to follow.
What foods can I eat on the Raw Food diet?
Most raw food diets are made primarily of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds therefore they are popular with vegetarians.
Grains and legumes are often permitted as well, but they usually need to be soaked or sprouted.
All fresh fruits
All raw vegetables
freshly made fruit and vegetable juices
Raw nuts and seeds
Raw grains and legumes, they have to be sprouted or soaked remember
Dried fruits and meats
Nut milks – almond for example
Raw nut butters
Cold-pressed olive and coconut oils
fermented foods, such as kimchi and sauerkraut
Seaweed
Sprouts
Raw eggs or dairy
Raw meat or fish
What cant I eat on the raw food diet?
If you look at the list above you will have figured out that a lot of foods are out here
Cooked fruits, vegetables, meats and grains
Baked items
Roasted nuts and seeds
Refined oils
Table salt
Refined sugars and flour
Pasteurized juices and dairy
Coffee and tea
Alcohol
Pasta
Processed foods and snacks
Some Raw food ideas
Green smoothie
vegetables (carrots) and raw hummus
Strawberries and almonds
Raw sweet potato chips and fruit
Apple and berries
Banana and raw nut butter
Freshly squeezed juice and nuts
Raw food diet Pros and Cons
Pros
The raw food diet is very high in fruit and vegetables.
The diet eliminates many things that can lead to poor health, excess weight such as sugar and processed foods.
The water-soluble vitamins B and C, are reduced or destroyed by cooking, so eating food raw ensures a greater supply of these.
Supporters claim that a raw food diet can help people with headaches and allergies, it can boost your immunity system and increase memory, and improve arthritis and diabetes. – there is no evidence for this yet
Cons
Some foods actually increase their nutrients once cooked – two examples of these are beta-carotene and lycopene
The diet is highly restrictive and very hard to follow – you may actually struggle to take in the calories.
Lacking good protein sources.
Lacking minerals like iron and calcium
Some foods are dangerous eaten raw such as kidney beans, raw eggs, unpasteurised milk, meat and a few others
Not recommended for young kids, pregnant women and the elderly – due to the reasons given above
Summary
I do not recommend this diet and neither do doctors, its far too restrictive and the health claims have not been proven.
Also in theory its dangerous considering some of the chemicals and bacteria that occur naturally in certain foods and that cooking kills off or destroys these.
Simply removing some of the rubbish in the section of what you cant eat like sugar, processed foods and alcohol would be far better.
