Guide to a Raw Food Diet

Cooking in any form, whether boiling, frying or using the microwave, destroys some amount of nutrients present in raw food ingredients. The cooking process is also said to alter the food composition of the ingredient. While cooking does make food safer to eat, some people see more risk to health in the cooking process, which does not preserve nutrients. Critics of the cooking process recommend a raw food diet where a major percentage of food is eaten fresh or raw, without cooking the ingredients or using a low level of heat. Raw food diet enthusiasts claim that eating natural food raw is healthier.

What is a Raw Food Diet?

As the name suggests, a raw food diet is a diet plan where more than seventy percent of the food is uncooked and natural. Cooking of food is mostly discouraged and whatever little cooking is done, is performed at low heat. Processed food available in markets is also considered to be unhealthy and therefore is avoided.

The raw food diet plan mainly includes fruits and vegetables. A raw food diet emphasises the eating of plant-based foods, as naturally as possible. The raw food diet also urges eating whole grains, nuts and sprouts as part of its diet plan.

Shunning commercially marketed fruit juices, alcohol, bottled mineral water and coffee, raw food enthusiasts prefer to drink plain water.

Raw food diet plan includes drinking unpasteurised milk. In a vegan raw food diet, even consumption of milk, cheese and yoghurt is avoided. Most raw food diet followers avoid meat. However, for some people on the raw food diet raw meat is an option. A canine raw food diet may include raw meat.

The raw food diet also excludes processed sugar and advocates eating fruits in place of sweets.

Raw food diet protein intake can come from vegetables such as raw broccoli, soy and beans.

While the raw food diet does not involve cooking over traditional devices such as gas stoves or microwave ovens, other appliances such as blenders, dehydrators and ionisers may be used to create meals.

Benefits of Raw Food Diet

The raw food diet was a reaction to the supposed ill effects on human health caused by cooking procedures. The raw food diet plan opposes cooking on the premise that the cooking process destroys precious nutrients and enzymes contained in natural food ingredients. People who advocate eating raw food warn against the change to the internal composition of food material when they are cooked, making some food carcinogenic.

Keeping the harmful effects of cooking in mind, let us examine some benefits of raw food diet.

Preservation of nutrients - Food containing Vitamin B and Vitamin C lose these nutrients once cooked. Naturally occurring enzymes, which aid in digestion, also are killed within 3 minutes of boiling. Thiamin (B1), which is required for digestion and brain health, can be destroyed by overcooking and during food processing. Some sources of Thiamin include whole grains, walnuts and garlic. It has been found that people who follow the raw food diet have good levels of Vitamin A, due to intake of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Better protection against diseases - Raw food diet supporters say that cooking at high heat alters food composition and create toxins which can cause cancer, promote diabetes and heart disease. Eating food raw can greatly reduce the risk of some diseases. It has been found that eating vegetables such as cabbage and broccoli in raw form reduces the risk of bladder cancer. By following a raw food diet diabetes can also be controlled as use of processed sugar and processed food is avoided.

Many a raw food diet review acknowledges the health benefits of this diet plan.

Raw Food Diet Calories

The question is often asked if people who follow a raw food diet, especially a vegan raw food diet, get optimal amount of calories. Following a raw food diet can trigger weight loss as the diet avoids processed foods, sugar and frying. While people who follow the raw food diet may have less weight, they are still healthy, according to a study in Archives of Internal Medicine.

It is recommended that amount of raw food diet calories can be optimally obtained from a well balanced diet plan which includes fruits and vegetables, portions of pulses, nuts and Soya for raw food diet protein intake, and portions of dairy products. It is crucial to eat the right amount of calories to maintain health.

Raw Food Diet Recipes

Plenty of raw food diet recipes can be found on the Internet. Some recipes for the raw food diet can be found at http://therawfoodsite.com/recipes.htm and at http://www.healthfree.com/raw_food_recipes.html

Recipes are also available at various raw food diet forums such as Raw Food Talk at http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/index.php Raw food diet you tube is a source of video demonstrations of raw food cooking.

A cookbook containing 100 raw food diet recipes written by Carol Alt is due to be published.

Raw Food Diet Before and After

Many people have reported healthy weight loss and better sleep patterns after going on the raw food diet.

The First Lady of the United States, Mrs.Michelle Obama, is known to undertake cleanse in which she eats only fruits and vegetables for a couple of days to "clean out her palate" after a period of eating rich food. A raw food diet detox program can work well, as cleanse, to give your body a break from all the processed and oily food consumed over a period of time.

Continue to: Celebrity Diets' Nutritional Values

Succulent Grapes Make A Great Diet!
Detox Diet - Cleansing Your Body Of Dangerous Toxins
Is Your Diet Giving Your Enough Protein?
Energy And Immune Boosters That Are Essential For Life
Apple Cider Vinegar Diet - Yummy or Painstaking Effort?
Preventing Childhood Obesity with Trim Kids Plan
Enjoying Multiple Benefits with Bodybuilding diet
Atkins Diet - Is It For Me?
Zone Diet - Are You In The Zone?

Bookmark this page Email this to your Friend Add this page to del.icio.us

Suggest an Article

Haven´t found the article you are looking for, please suggest your article. We value all your suggestions and comments.