The Raw Food Diet: Yes or No?

The Raw Food Diet became particularly popular in the U.S. when celebrity, Pamela Anderson, proudly announced that this was the diet plan that she followed. Millions of curious women, logged on to their computer to see what this diet was all about. If you have never heard of the raw food diet or have only heard of it in passing, we will discuss exactly what it is. After you have read this post, you will have most of the information that you need to make an informed decision about whether or  not you want to try it

 

The raw food diet plan is not incredibly complicated in theory but actually following the plan can be tough. This is largely because it will require that you significantly alter the way that you eat and prepare your food. While this will work and be acceptable for some people, it won’t be for everyone and that is to be expected. Some people don’t mind making big sacrifices to eat in what they feel is a healthier manner. But is the Raw Food Diet really healthier and exactly what does it entail anyway?

 

The raw food diet requires that you only eat foods that have not been cooked or processed. This would include things such as vegetables, fruit, seeds, beans, grains and nuts. Roughly ¾ ‘s of a persons diet should consist of raw food. Proponents of the diet believe that this is a much better way to at then most people presently do in the United States because they believe that cooking food at an temperature higher then 116 degrees is unhealthy. They claim that this destroys important enzymes that enable us to properly absorb and digest food. Raw food supporters also feel like cooking foods decreases the life force naturally found in food.

 

The primary benefits of this type of diet are similar to those found in a vegetarian diet. Typically, less fat (bad fats) is consumed, most of the nutrients are intact, some people report having more energy, and it is easier to lose weight. There are other health benefits, namely that people who follow such diets have fewer incidences of chronic diseases. This is largely because a diet that consists of lots of fruit and vegetables is typically much healthier then one that is made up processed and other unhealthy foods that in large part makes up the Western diet.

 

People on a raw food diet should eat whole foods that have not been processed. In the best case scenario, these foods would be organic. This can be difficult for many people because of the high costs of organic food. It’s not necessary that the food be organic so if you can’t afford it, that’s fine. However, the food does need to be unprocessed. Good choices include grains, vegetables and fruit (fresh), beans, seeds and grains, freshly squeezed juice and water that has been purified.

 

Even with all of the benefits of the raw food diet, there are some issues that are commonly associated with the diet plan. One of those is that people who go in run the risk of missing out on important nutrients such as calcium and protein (amongst others). Therefore, it is important than an individual does what is necessary to make sure that the diet is healthy and complete. It is also important to note that this diet is not good for everyone. Pregnant women, young children and older adults should forgo the raw food diet in most cases.

 

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