Raw diets are a range of diets that have the one feature in common that they prohibit cooking your food. As animal products are good sources of protein, raw diets that include meat, poultry, fish and eggs can be high-protein diets. Raw vegetarian diets and raw vegan diets do not allow consumption of meat, fish and poultry, so protein must be obtained from other sources, such as legumes, seeds and nuts.
Raw Diet
The main thrust of raw diets is that cooking your food destroys enzymes and essential nutrients in the food, so eating the food raw is better for you than eating it cooked. The temperature at which enzymes and nutrients start to disintegrate is approximately 115 degrees Fahrenheit, so if you follow a raw diet and heat your food, heat it at temperatures lower than 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Some raw dieters also stay away from foods that are processed long before they are consumed, as stored processed foods lose their essential nutrients more quickly than foods stored whole.
Food Preparation
Though raw dieters do not cook their food, they do prepare it. Minced vegetables, herbs and spices can be blended or combined to yield cold soups, dips and spreads. If you own a dehydrator that blow-dries food, you can make crackers and other bread substitutes. Raw meat, poultry and fish can be marinated, salted or smoked at low temperatures. Well-known raw meats and fish styles include tartare, carpaccio and sashimi. For a delicious dessert, combine raw egg yolks with natural honey, carefully mix it with whipped raw cream and serve it with sliced raw fruit. Raw meat, poultry, fish, eggs and dairy products are all excellent sources of protein.
Raw Veganism and Protein
Some raw dieters are raw-fish-eating vegetarians, raw vegetarians or raw vegans. The main reasons for staying away from animal products are usually ethical. Others do it because raw meat potentially can contain parasites or bacteria that can be harmful if ingested. Others do it to keep the fat content of their diet down for health or weight-loss reasons. When you cut animal products from your diet, you cut important sources of protein. There are 20 different amino acids, and the human body can only produce 10 out of the 20 amino acids. The rest must come from food, so raw dieters who cut animal products must eat other foods high in protein.
Non-Animal Sources of Protein
Legumes and seeds are good sources of protein, particularly for raw dieters who avoid animal products. Well-known legumes include beans, peas and lentils. Most legumes contain compounds that block enzymes in the intestines that help break down food. This makes legumes indigestible when unprepared. The best way to prepare legumes is to sprout them. Put them in a jar filled with water. Use a cover that allows for ventilation. Let them sit for one to five days. Like cooking, sprouting neutralizes enzyme inhibitors, so once the legumes have sprouted, they are digestible. Sprouted legumes can be used in salads or blended to make hummus, bean salsa, lentil soup and other delicious dishes.
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