A raw-food diet is not just for tree huggers and people living on the fringes of society. Many choose to eat raw foods to help the planet, but many others "go raw" because of the health and weight-loss benefits. Most foods in a raw-food diet come from plants.
Features
Eating raw foods is a way of life for many people. Many of them are also vegan, shunning all animal products, but it is not necessary. As long as the food is unheated and in its natural state, it is considered a raw food. You can make raw versions of popular foods, such cookies, cakes and puddings, so the dessert menu does not have to be skipped.
Weight Loss
A raw-food diet is naturally lower in saturated fat, refined sugar and flour, sodium and overall calories. Eating raw foods, with their higher water and fiber content, may accelerate your weight-loss efforts. Some byproducts of losing weight include increased energy levels, a better sex life and a better self-image. A raw-food diet does not include any of the typical foods associated with weight gain, such as fast foods, processed foods and junky snack foods.
Raw Foods
Foods that can form part of a raw-food diet include fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, nut butters and pastes, fresh juices, sprouts, grains and seaweeds, such as chlorella or spirulina. Raw milk and cheeses may be included, but they are illegal in many states because they have not been pasteurized or homogenized. Sashimi, raw fish sold in sushi restaurants, is also a raw food. Soups such as gazpacho and a myriad of salads are on the menu for most followers of raw-food diets.
Other Benefits
Eating raw foods can enhance your life in other ways beside weight loss. The lower fat content, combined with live enzymes and high vitamin and mineral counts found in many raw foods, helps to prevent conditions such as stroke, high blood pressure and heart disease. Higher fiber content helps to keep you regular, and the overall alkalinity of plant foods helps to keep your pH level balanced.
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