A raw diet, also known as raw foodism, requires you to eat foods that are not cooked or processed. Most raw diets are vegan. This means they include no animal products whatsoever. Some raw foodists are fruitarians, which means they eat only fruits, but most allow themselves a larger variety of food. It’s also possible to eat a raw diet that includes animal products, but this requires more work and carefully planning to avoid problems.
What To Eat
Raw veganism allows followers to eat all types of fruits and vegetables, seeds, nuts, sprouts and sea vegetables. Some raw diets allow dairy products, as long as they’re unpasteurized and unprocessed. This can be tricky, as some states ban the sale of unpasteurized milk. Some raw diets allow raw eggs, raw fish and raw meats.
What You Can’t Eat
Any foods heated to temperatures to over 104 degrees Fahrenheit are banned. Some versions of the diet allow temperatures of up to 116 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Raw Food Nation. Raw beans and grains are not part of a raw diet. You can, however, sprout grains if you want to eat them. Raw diets also don’t include processed foods. Canned foods, for example, are cooked before they’re canned.
Health Benefits
Fruits are a very rich source of vitamins A and C, which are important antioxidants that keep your body strong. A 2005 study published in “The Journal of Nutrition” showed that people on a raw diet have low levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. Raw diets are also good for fighting obesity and high blood pressure, according to a 1985 study published in the “Southern Medical Journal.”
Dangers
People who eat raw meat are at risk of contracting dangerous bacteria, including E. coli. Even if you only eat vegetables, you might end up with some problems. Vegetable fiber is hard to digest uncooked, so your body might not be able to absorb all the nutrients from the food you’re eating. If you opt for skipping the raw meat and unpasteurized milk, your diet might be dangerously low in protein. Over time, this could lead to loss of lean tissue, low energy levels and other problems. A 2005 study published in the “Archives of Internal Medicine” showed that people on a long-term raw diet might suffer from low bone density.
References
- Raw Food Nation: What Are Raw Foods?
- The Independent; The Raw Meat Diet; June 2005
- Vue Weekly; Well Met, Raw Meat; Vivian Zenari; September 2007
- “Southern Medical Journal”; Effects of a Raw Food Diet on Hypertension and Obesity; John M. Douglass, M.D. et al; July 1985
- “The Journal of Nutrition”; Long-Term Consumption of a Raw Food Diet; Corinna Koebnick et al; October 2005
- “Archives of Internal Medicine”; Low Bone Mass in Subjects on a Long-Term Raw Vegetarian Diet; Fontana L. et al; March 2005
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