A raw meat diet sounds like just another faddish way to lose weight and stay healthy, but you still might be curious about the features, advantages and safety concerns of such a diet. Most Americans thoroughly cook meat like chicken and beef because that's what is recommended by government agencies and departments. Before you make the decision to switch to a raw meat diet, ensure that you're willing to take the risks associated with a more primitive lifestyle.
Features
When partaking in a raw meat diet, you forgo any cooked meat. Followers of "The Caveman Diet" also avoid any foods that are available through agricultural development, including breads, grains and rice. Instead, the diet is heavy on raw meat sources, vegetables, and occasional fruits, notes an article published in a January 2010 issue of "The New York Times."
Benefits
The benefits of a raw meat diet vary depending on whom you speak with. According to Holistic Junction, cooking meat kills off the digestive enzymes in the food, which your body allegedly needs to function better. Life Extension magazine seems to correlate the claims, noting that raw food diets can help aid in proper digestion, better absorption of nutrients, and subsequently better health. Unfortunately, the science, medical and nutrition communities have not performed formal studies to support or refute any claims made by raw meat diet proponents.
Disadvantages
While eating perfectly handled, stored and prepared meat doesn't seem to be a problem, most meat handling practices do not allow for healthy consumption. Sushi is a healthy raw meat option, but it is handled carefully by skilled sushi chefs trained to know how to properly handle raw meat. When you prepare raw meat in your own home, it could have been contaminated by the meat packers and handlers who touched it before you. When you cook meat, you do so to kill bacteria, germs and contaminants like salmonella and e.coli that can make you sick.
Warnings
Both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture warn against eating raw meat. According to the FDA, poultry should be cooked to at least 180 degrees F, and beef should be cooked to 145 to 160 degrees F. An internal thermometer should be used to ensure that you've cooked the meat thoroughly so any bacteria are killed. The USDA recommends separating raw meat until it's been cooked to avoid cross-contamination with other foods.
Alternatives
If you like the idea of a primitive diet but want to heed the warnings against raw meat, you can still choose an adapted raw food diet that doesn't include raw meat. Raw vegetables, fruits and unrefined grains can be used as part of a healthy diet to aid in digestion and promote a more natural way of eating. Textured vegetable protein and tofu can also be used in place of raw meat for protein without the dangers of uncooked meat.
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