Raw food diets are becoming more widespread, not only amongst people who are one of the types of vegetarians, but also amongst people who eat conventional food.
These people believe that if food is heated to over 115 degrees F the enzymes in the food are destroyed. It's said that these enzymes assist in the digestion and absorption of food in the body.
For a person to be considered a raw food person then 75% of the diet must consist of raw and uncooked food. This means raw vegetables, fruits, seeds, grains, nuts and dried fruits.
This type of food is low in all sorts of fats and oils compared to regular cooked food; it has fewer calories and sodium products, but has a higher fiber content together with more trace elements and vitamins. These last two are lost when food is heated.
The benefits of eating a raw food diet are an improvement in digestion; an increase in physical energy; reduced risks of heart problems, diabetes and some types of cancer. As it also leads to weight loss, many overweight people are changing over to a diet consisting mainly of uncooked food.
Raw food exponents usually eat organic food including dried fruits such as dates, figs, sultanas, raisins; a selection of unprocessed, raw nuts; dried pulses and legumes. The liquid component of their diet comes from mineral water, coconut milk and self-prepared fruit and vegetable juices.
Some raw food people would eat raw animal products such as meat and fish. These can be made more palatable by marinating in a suitable liquid. Not only would this improve the flavor, it would also tenderize the meat. This is particularly so with fish.
Although eating uncooked food is considered to be healthy, for people changing over from a conventional diet there may be some initial, but short lived, difficulties. Nausea, headaches and other slight discomforts may be experienced if a person's previous diet included plenty of sugar and caffeine. The discomfort should last for a few days only.
A raw food diet is not suitable for pregnant or nursing women, or young children. People with certain medical conditions should not eat a raw food diet. Medical advice should be sought at all times.
Because of the absence of some trace minerals, vitamins and other essential components of a healthy diet, it will be necessary to enhance the diet with suitable supplements. Again advice from a nutritionist or doctor should be taken.
Although the raw food supporters claim that cooking destroys the enzymes in food thus making it more difficult for the digestive system to deal with food, many nutritionists and health experts dismiss this as nonsense. They point to the fact that the human body and its digestive system is more than capable of dealing with all the food eaten, and that the enzymes from the raw food are not needed.
In spite of this opinion, however, the number of people world wide changing over to a diet based on raw and uncooked food is increasing.
