Anyone who follows the latest trends in dieting and health will be familiar with the raw food diet. Once thought of as an extreme eating plan only undertaken by health ‘freaks’, this way of eating is appealing to more and more people, whether they decide to go completely ‘raw’ or simply start to introduce it into their regular meal plans.
 To many, the idea of eating a totally raw diet sounds impossible and indeed, to anyone whose diet consists largely of cooked meats and fish, this way of eating would likely not be possible without considerable effort on their part. The type of person more likely to embrace a raw food diet is one who is already a vegetarian and sees food as a way to promote health in addition to being a pleasurable activity. Certainly the raw food diet will be easier for a vegetarian to incorporate into their life, but even then, the idea of never actually cooking the food may seem unnatural.
One motivating force in making the switch to ‘going raw’ is to consider the numerous benefits associated with the diet. The major argument for not cooking the food we eat is due to the fact that heat kills off a large number of nutrients and enzymes thereby reducing the goodness of the food before it even hits our plate. Many vitamins and certain nutrients are destroyed at temperatures of 130 degrees or more, while for enzymes the temperature is even lower, at 118 degrees. While it is obvious that killing off the vitamins in our food is not a good idea, enzymes are just as important, being responsible for breaking down the food and aiding digestion which in turn can promote energy, proper elimination and even weight loss.
One way to make the change to a raw diet is to introduce it slowly into the meals that you are already eating. This may even be as simple as making a raw smoothie for breakfast, and increasing the amount of fruits and raw veggies eaten throughout the day. Because of the popularity of the raw diet there is plenty of information to be found on the internet, including tips and recipes which many people will find to be surprisingly easy to prepare. Yes, the raw food diet may include some time consuming processes, particularly with the dehydration required for some recipes, but on the whole, it makes sense that eliminating cooking will only speed preparation.
Whilst introducing any amount of raw food into the diet is a smart idea, it is equally important to be aware of some of the side effects that this way of eating can cause, especially in the initial stages. Because the body has spent years being bombarded with toxins, it is likely that a certain amount of detoxification and cleansing will occur at first, a process that may alarm those who are not prepared. This could involve increased gassiness and stomach discomfort and, because the food is being digested so much faster, frequent elimination (in fact some raw food experts believe we should have a bowel movement after every meal). While this may be unsettling it is vital that the dieter stick to the plan, knowing that the temporary discomfort is simply the body’s way of cleansing itself.
The benefits of eating an all-raw or mainly raw food diet are so many, it makes total sense to make the transition. Not only will the individual feel healthier, their immune system will strengthen, they will have more energy and by not using fuel to cook their food they will be contributing to a cleaner, greener environment.
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