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Raw Food Diet: What Are the Health Benefits?
Raw foodists make vegetarians look like slackers. Devoted followers of this diet are vegans — meaning they eschew animal and dairy products. Equally important, they believe that heating food above the 110-115 degree range destroys nutrients in food and diminishes nutritional value. Healthy food is “living food,” they say — organic, unprocessed and uncooked.
Eating raw food is nothing new — it’s basically our oldest cuisine. But interest in raw food diets has been sprouting recently beyond the usual fad cradles like LA and Manhattan. Proponents of the raw food diet claim that it is the most sensible diet for humans. They believe that raw food contains enzymes and microorganisms that are not found in cooked foods, and that these things are highly beneficial to us. They also cite the higher nutrient content present in many raw foods.
There are several different types of raw food diets. Raw foodism refers to a diet in which no foods are off limits. Raw vegans eat only fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, sprouts and legumes. Those on a primal diet, on the other hand, consume only fatty meats, dairy and vegetable juice. All of these diets have one thing in common, however. They require that at least 75 percent of foods in the diet are eaten raw, or are warmed to a temperature of no more than 105 degrees prior to eating.
Benefits of the Raw Food Diet
One of the least surprising effects of the raw food diet is weight loss. As most raw food dieters eat only plant foods, fewer calories are usually consumed. The diet is also usually low in fat, unless a large amount of seeds and nuts are eaten regularly. Many raw foods also cause us to burn more energy when digesting them, allowing us to burn off the calories eaten more quickly.
Those on the raw food diet often report an increase in energy. The exact reasons for this are not known, but it has been theorized that raw foods are more easily metabolized into energy than cooked foods. Refined sugars are also absent from raw foods, so we do not experience short-lived sugar highs that leave our energy sapped in the end.
Better digestion is also reported by many of those on the raw food diet. This is often attributed to the enzymes present in raw foods. They are believed to aid in digestion and cause the stomach to produce less acid. This reduces the ill effects that often go along with digestion.
Other reported benefits of the raw food diet include improved condition of the skin and reduced risk of many diseases, including heart disease. These benefits are attributed to the low amount of harmful fats and the high nutrient content of the foods eaten.
The raw food diet sounds intimidating to some, but it is not as limiting as one might think. Proponents believe that it has numerous benefits, many of which are backed up by scientific evidence. And with its increasing popularity, eating raw is becoming accessible to anyone who cares to try it.
Please post your thoughts below…
- 15 Comments
- Tags: raw food, raw food diet, raw foodism, vegan, vegetarian
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I don’t want to sound too excited. But I think that raw food especially vegetables are quite healthy and does have very low calories which is really good for he body. Thanks for the post. Much appreciated. Mon.
ReplyWow… I didn’t think there were people actually like this. But hey, I’m a kefir loving guy myself, so I know there is some truth to “living foods.”
ReplyJust be sure the living part in the food you eat are friendly bacteria and not salmonella.
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Michael
Living the probiotic lifestyle
Five years ago, I do not care much about the foods that I eat as long as it tastes delicious.
But one afternoon, I just realized that there are red spots in my chest, and in minutes the red spots are all over my body. I just put some alcohol in it, ignoring the advice of my friends to consult a physician or a derma, but the red spots got worse, I am swelling.
After two days, I can not handle the itch anymore, so I consulted a dermatologist, and she told me that I have hives.
It was a terrible experience, the pain, the burning sensation, the itchiness robs me precious hours of sleep. Glad that a friend of a friend gave me a natural hives remedy, and I got cured in just two days, and I do not spend much.
Now, I am a dedicated vegetarian, and I am choosy about foods, but choosy in the way that I am only eating foods that are healthy to my body.
ReplyNat @ hives treatment´s last blog ..11 of the Best Natural Hives Remedies
“Those on the raw food diet often report an increase in energy..” I theorize that because the food is natural and unprocessed, it is easier for the body to break down. Thus our body uses less “resources” so we actually have and feel more energy as a result.
Replyava@kefir maker´s last blog ..Grow Wheatgrass – Taking Care Of Your Wheat Grass
eating raw food is good habit and has various advantages as its contains very low calorie and high energy.
ReplyI’m not sure, but how many raw meats can you eat? I don’t think eating raw chicken or raw pork is a good idea. Veggies on the other hand is obviously great to eat, like salads and veggie sticks.
ReplyBut as for dairy? hmmm… raw milk is pretty good too.
Kelly@Big Thighs´s last undefined ..If you register your site for free at
I’ve started eating fruits and vegetables in a salad with herbs and it has helped me lose 6 lbs in two weeks. Never thought it would be this easy, my food tastes much better than something like a beef jerky stick with cheese.
ReplyWhat a great article. The benefits of raw food are incredible. The important thing though is to not overdo the sugary fruits. I’ve been raw for many years now. Thanks for posting!
ReplyTodd@vince delmonte workout´s last undefined ..If you register your site for free at
Great article. What you said here is great “Better digestion is also reported by many of those on the raw food diet.” That is so true. Digestion and excretion are the names of the game in health. I’ve been raw since 2003 and love it. My advice is to take it slow, very very slow and ease into it. Thanks for the article!
ReplyTodd@how to lose tummy fat´s last undefined ..If you register your site for free at
Twitter: healthgoji
said-
Great information and article – the biggest thing that cooking the food does is destroy natural enzymes in the food. These enzymes not only help with digestion in many cases but also a variety of other important functions. However, there always seems to be an exception to every rule. Studies have shown that cooking carrots brings out more of the antioxidant power of beta carotene in the carrots.
ReplyWow, it’s pretty rare to see someone put things into perspective the way you just did. I wish that other bloggers and people that post content to the web would take a page from your book! Do you have any other sites that I could visit or could you possibly make a recommendation as to where I might be able to find some more information? Either way, thanks for an excellent resource and I look forward to being a repeat reader!
ReplyAlthough eating raw food can be somewhat dangerous I have always thought that it can benefit you in many ways. It is very low in calories which is always a plus. Thanks for the post. I really like your site layout.
ReplyGeorge@Safflower´s last blog ..Safflower Oil
Great information.I too have found that there is a lot of mis information on the internet about raw food and health.I find that by regular activity, such as sport, its discipline and related nutrition, food choice, and effective methods
ReplyHI,
ReplyI think Raw food is good for health and i think only because it is total natural but taking a heavy quantity can be dangerous because it can affect the digestion system. So we can not take all kind of raw foods .
Anyways keep it up and thanks for sharing.
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