Eat Raw Food Diet

According to popular diet reviews, eating the raw food diet is a revolutionary way to eat. Many believe that it keeps them smart and healthy. The focus of this diet is on eating uncooked, highly nutritious foods e.g. fruits and vegetables to lose weight quickly and effectively. Of course, these foods are low in calories and might seem extremely good, but eating them raw or uncooked is favored as it is believed that they lose nutritional value when cooked.

What is a raw food diet?

The raw food diet, (also referred to as ‘living foods') consists of food that is uncooked and unprocessed. A food is essentially ‘raw' if it is kept below 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degree Celsius); the temperature above which enzymes are destroyed. It still contains important enzymes which assist in the digestion and absorption of food.

What are Enzymes and why are they important?

Enzymes assist in the digestion of foods. They are known to be the "Life-Force" and or "energy" of food. Enzymes are important because they assist in the digestion and absorption of food. If you eat food that is enzyme-less, your body will not get maximum utilization of the food. This causes toxicity in the body.

What can I eat in this diet?

Unprocessed, preferably organic, whole foods such as:

• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Beans
• Grains
• Legumes
• Dried fruit
• Seaweed
• Unprocessed organic or natural foods
• Freshly juiced fruit and vegetables
• Purified water
• Young coconut milk

At least 75% of food consumed should not be heated over 115 degrees F (46 degrees C).

What are the benefits of eating Raw Food?

The benefits claimed by those who adhere to the raw foods diets are many and varied, but the following are benefits consistently reported:

• Weight loss, easy weight management: There are two reasons put forth by those who follow the raw foods diet: that the enzymes present in raw foods help people lose weight, and that those on the raw foods diet eat foods that are naturally lower in calories. No matter what the cause, adherents of the raw foods diet lose weight and keep weight off.

• More energy: Many fruits and vegetables lose nutrients during the cooking processes, especially during boiling. Particular enzymes are killed when food is cooked to a temperature of over 115 degrees Fahrenheit. The combination of eating the raw foods and not eating highly processed foods appears to give people more energy, which is attributed to the high enzyme and nutrition content of the food consumed.

• Improved resistance to illness: Those who eat according to the raw food diet eat more whole fruits and vegetables, resulting in high intakes of vitamins A and C, as well as high levels of antioxidants. This boosts immunity from everyday illnesses; it also lowers risk for serious diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

• Better digestion: Eating raw translates into eating higher fiber, which improves digestion and elimination processes of the body. While you will probably experience bloating and flatulence while you are adjusting to the raw diet, in the end you will be more regular and have better digestion.

• Healthier skin: Adherents to the raw foods diet claim an improvement in skin clarity and overall health, which they attribute to the consumption of less processed foods, fewer preservatives and chemicals and the consumption of antioxidants.

What are the Advantages of this diet?

• Promotes the intake of fresh fruit and vegetables.
• Avoids the rigidity and nutrient deficiencies that are often associated with strict raw food vegan diets by allowing the inclusion of raw cheese, eggs, fish, and meat.
• Does not require calorie counting or portion control.
• Does not eliminate entire food groups.
• Promotes health over weight loss as a motivation to adhere to the diet.

What are the Disadvantages of this Diet?

• Very restrictive and will require major restructuring of the diet for most individuals.
• Dieters may experience quite severe detoxification symptoms if they are not careful to gradually transition into the diet.
• The safety of consuming raw animal products is questionable. If handling and storage is not impeccable there is a risk of exposure to dangerous bacteria.
• There will be an increased requirement of time spent on meal preparation.
• Many of the recipes include unusual or difficult to find ingredients and may require expensive kitchen equipment.
• Lacking guidance regarding meal planning.

Who shouldn't opt for this?

A raw food diet, as a whole, is usually not recommended for children, women who are pregnant, people suffering from osteoporosis, and those who are anemic. There may not be enough vitamin B12, enough vitamin D and enough calories for a growing child on a totally raw vegan diet.

While many people do report incredible health recoveries on a raw food diet it is important to be cautious with this approach. Almost everyone will benefit from an increased intake of fresh fruit and vegetables however not all dieters respond well to a strict raw food diet as a lifestyle eating plan.