Raw Eating Diet

Raw fruits and vegetables supply a rich array of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients that support optimum health. In addition, a diet high in fruit and vegetable intake can boost your immunity, providing possible protection against chronic diseases such as cancer. As a lifelong plan, however, a raw eating diet has a few drawbacks. Consult a qualified health-care practitioner about the benefits of a raw foods diet for you.

Raw Foods Basics

In a raw eating plan, vegetables, fruits, sprouted beans and legumes, nuts and seeds figure prominently, along with beverages such as fresh juices, sun teas and unpasteurized milk. No caffeinated or alcoholic beverages are part of the diet. Occasionally, followers of a raw diet cook some of their foods, but never above 116 degrees Fahrenheit. They maintain that high temperatures, such as those used in both oven cooking and frying, destroy the enzymes that help break down food in the digestive system and also result in a loss of nutrients. Using a dehydrator cooks food at a safe temperature that preserves the enzymes and nutritional value, according to Arthur Baker, MA, MHE.

Benefits of Raw Eating

Raw food followers maintain that food in its uncooked state is easier on the digestive system. Cooked foods, they maintain, can clog both the digestive and cardiovascular systems with fats and proteins that are hard for your body to metabolize and eliminate. In addition, raw foods may retain more nutrients than cooked foods when eaten soon after they are grown and harvested, and the high-fiber content helps the body with elimination. Proponents of a raw food diet report benefits such as greater energy, weight loss and weight management and healthier blood test results.

Raw Food Drawbacks

Elson Hass, M.D., author of "Staying Healthy with Nutrition," reports that he followed a raw eating diet for months at a time and felt more energetic and "light." However, he recommends it only for the short term, such as for cleansing purposes, because over the long term it can lead to deficiencies in calcium, protein, vitamin B-12 and iron.

Raw Food Dangers

Some plant foods may be toxic when eaten raw, according to a report in "Medical News Today," including buckwheat greens, kidney beans, mushrooms and parsnips. Although raw foodists primarily consume plant foods, some on this diet also include raw animal foods, eggs and dairy, which may contain bacteria and parasites. When consuming raw produce, be sure to wash it thoroughly, as even organic produce may harbor harmful microbes. For example, authorities traced a deadly outbreak of E.coli in Europe in the spring of 2011 to an organic sprout farm.

References

• "Staying Healthy with Nutrition"; Elson Haas, M.D.; 2006
• Medical News Today; What Is The Raw Food Diet? What Are The Benefits Of The Raw Food Diet?; Christian Nordqvist; May 8, 2009
• Raw Food Life; Raw Fresh Produce vs. Cooked Food; Arthur Baker, MA, MHE; 2000
• "Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism"; Consequences of a Long-Term Raw Food Diet on Body Weight and Menstruation: Results of a Questionnaire Survey; C. Koebnick et al.; 1999
• Food Safety News; How Did German Sprouts Become Contaminated?; Gretchen Goetz; June 14, 2011