The Raw Food “Diet” is really a misnomer. It is not so much a diet as it is a lifestyle commitment to eating unprocessed, preferably organic, plant based foods, 70% of which should be uncooked. Heating is allowed up to 116-118 degrees, the level at which it is believed that beneficial food enzymes begin to be destroyed through the cooking process.

(Please be careful with this type of eating – your body may not be able to digest “raw’ foods and this can lead to an anemic blood system, which is unable to carry nutrients or maintain elasticity in your arteries and veins.)

If you become tired and listless and have a constant feeling of being ‘under the weather’ have someone who know about blood analysis check your blood health.

Proponents of the raw diet maintain that enzymes are the ‘life force’ of foods and that raw plant based foods contain their own perfect mixture of enzymes that aid us in the digestion of food without the the need for the body to make its own. They also believe that cooking destroys the natural vitamins and minerals found in raw plant based foods and that cooked foods take longer for the body to digest. An added concern is that cooking promotes clogging of the arteries and intestinal track. It is believed that following the raw diet can result in health benefits, including: Increased energy levels; improved digestion; weight loss; reduced risk of heart disease; as well as reduction of incidence involving digestive related cancers. Raw diets usually consist of the following:

• Fresh fruits and vegetables (preferably organically grown)
• Seeds and nuts
• Beans and peas
• Grains
• Sun dried fruits and vegetables
• Freshly made juices (fruit and vegetable)
• Dehydrated fruits and vegetables
• Purified water
• Other non-processed or organic foods

Raw diets are nutritionally dense, fiber-rich, contain very little to no saturated fats, and are naturally low in sodium and high in potassium.

Conversely, arguments against a predominately raw food diet show that while cooking can destroy some nutrient values in foods, it also helps to destroy toxic elements and can increase the bio- availability of other nutrients. Moderate boiling or steaming of plant foods does not greatly decrease their nutritional value and can actually increase the carotenoid content of vegetables such as carrots and squash. Lycopene, found in tomatoes, is better absorbed by the body in cooked form than in its natural raw state. Cooking also releases the energy of starchy foods such as potatoes and grains.

Eating a predominately raw food diet can result in both vitamin and mineral deficiencies and led to anemia. The diet  is self-limiting because it restricts the variety of foods that can be consumed. Adopting a raw food diet takes careful planning and the initial financial investment of some appliances (including a juice extractor and food dehydrator). Avoiding dietary deficiencies is key to making this kind of diet work for you. If you really want to try a raw food diet, check with your physician first to make sure that you are not working contrarily with any prescribed medications and health plans your doctor has instituted, and secondly, obtain the services of a nutritionist who can help you design nutritionally complete meal plans.

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