The Raw Natural Diet, also known as the Raw Food Diet or Raw Diet, is a method of eating that incorporates a minimum of 80 percent raw or unprocessed food, which proponents believe can stimulate weight loss and naturally support the immune system. There are many different sub-types of the Raw Natural Diet, each thought to provide a number of health benefits; however, health professionals warn that eating certain raw foods can often be dangerous. Before you begin any form of the Raw Natural Diet, discuss your plans with your doctor.
Features
The Raw Natural Diet consists of eating predominantly raw fruits and vegetables, as well as fresh juices made from either; beans and legumes; whole grains; seeds; nuts; dried fruit; milk obtained directly from fresh young coconuts; and purified water. Although raw food advocates strongly recommend that organically-grown items be the focus, you don't have to eat only organic while following the diet. Difficult to digest items, like grains, legumes and certain seeds and nuts, may be soaked in warm or hot water for several hours, but the purest raw food followers do not consider any food or beverage that was prepared with boiling water--including tea--to belong in the Raw Natural Diet.
Types
Medical News Today reports that there are several other branches of the typical produce-based Raw Natural Diet. These include raw carnivores, raw omnivores and raw vegans. Raw carnivores consume raw meat along with raw produce, while raw omnivores eat both raw produce and a selection of raw animal products, including milk and milk-based products as long as they have not been pasteurized or processed in any way. Raw vegans avoid all animal products and focus exclusively on eating more than 80 percent completely raw foods.
According to Every Diet, there are a wide variety of structured diets based around the Raw Natural Diet concept. Some of these include Drie's Cancer Diet, the Hallelujah Diet and the Sunfood Diet.
Benefits
Advocates of the Raw Natural Diet believe that focusing on raw, unprocessed food can cleanse the body of toxins, improve the function of the digestive system, promote healthy skin and significantly decrease the risk of heart disease, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and problems with high cholesterol. It is thought that these effects are due to the raw natural enzymes, vitamins and minerals that are normally destroyed in the cooking process, but that can help support immune and digestive function.
Drawbacks
According to Diet Spotlight, an online site that provides reviews of diet types, the Raw Natural Diet can not only be difficult for many people to transition to and maintain, but that there is also no conclusive evidence that eating predominantly raw foods is a better or healthier weight-loss method than other weight-loss plans. The diet can be harmful to people with certain medical problems. In addition, the raw fruit and vegetable juices recommended by the diet require the use of often expensive juicing equipment.
Warning
A number of foods can be extremely dangerous when consumed raw. These include unpasteurized milk, raw meat, raw eggs, kidney beans, buckwheat, peas and alfalfa sprouts. Life-threatening bacteria, viruses and parasites can infect people who regularly eat raw animal products, while many raw vegetables and legumes contain natural toxins that are normally destroyed in the cooking process, but can cause some severe symptoms when consumed uncooked, particularly in large amounts. Always check with your doctor before beginning any raw food regimen.
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