While the raw food diet (sometimes called “raw foodism” or “rawism”) has been around for quite some time, it continues to grow in popularity. Followers of the diet believe strongly in the claims that eating in this manner will lead to the best possible health. All of these claims may have left you wondering: what is the raw food diet?
People who follow the raw food diet often refer to themselves as “raw foodists”. Raw foodists claim that the diet promotes many health benefits including: better general health, lower disease risks, greater energy, blemish free skin, and a lean physique. However, they believe the diet must be strictly followed to obtain those kind of results. Consuming food in its most natural form, unprocessed and uncooked, is the best way to follow the diet. Undertaking this diet takes a good deal of dedication and time. Raw foodists log many hours each day peeling, chopping, blending, and dehydrating food.
The main component of the diet, usually about seventy-five percent, is made up of vegetables and fruits. Nuts, grains, seaweed, beans, and sprouts make up the remainder of the diet. While some cheeses made from raw milk or raw eggs are allowed on the diet, most animal products are not. Foods such as refined sugar, all forms of refined products, caffeine, and alcohol are not allowed.
On the raw food diet, food is not cooked or prepared in a traditional way. A food dehydrator is the main cooking device, rather than a typical stove or oven. Food dehydrators heat gently and use low amounts of heat, no more than 115 to 118 degrees, to dry the food. Raw foodists are firm in their belief that any heat above 118 degrees will destroy important properties in the food needed for digestion such as vitamins and enzymes.
There are several studies being designed to back up the claims of the raw food diet, although one early study found that consuming cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, kale and Brussels sprouts may lower the risk of developing certain types of cancer. Cruciferous vegetables contain isothicyanates, which have been scientifically shown to alter the protein in cancer cells. It is thought that cooking these vegetables reduces the amount of isothicyanates, thus reducing the total benefits. Another study relating to the raw food diet suggests that consuming raw vegetables lower the risk for developing oral, gastric, pharyngeal, laryngeal, and esophageal cancers. Other studies conducted suggest that diets that contain large amounts of fruits and vegetables, as well as vegetarian and vegan diets may lower cholesterol and regulate blood glucose.
Be careful though, you should always contact your physician before starting this or any type of diet. You need to make sure all of your health needs are met, and the diet is safe. The raw food diet is not suitable for children or infants as it does not provide enough nutrition for development and growth.
If you don't fancy eating raw food all the time then check out this Weight Watchers review instead.
