Raw Food Diet Review

You may have heard a little bit about it, but an in-depth raw food diet review is needed if you've ever considered making it a part of your lifestyle. After all, any health change should be taken seriously – particularly one that impacts your daily eating habits!

Fruits, veggies and nuts are staples.

The raw food diet is based on "rawism," also known as raw foodism. The diet follows the principle that unrefined, alkaline foods in their natural states are the healthiest and most wholesome choices for the human body. The foods are fresh, living and plant-rich. Raw foods are foods that are not heated above 116 degrees Fahrenheit.

As one might expect, the diet consists largely of fruits and vegetables – in fact, it is estimated that 75 percent of the raw food lifestyle is primarily produce-based. It does include many other staple items, though, such as sprouted seeds, nuts, beans, whole grains, seaweed, dried fruit, fresh fruit and vegetable juices, purified water and various oils. Foods are often dehydrated, juiced, blended and soaked in lieu of traditional preparation methods (such as baking or frying).

The prospect of following a raw food diet may seem daunting to those unfamiliar with its basic tenets. The main driving force behind the raw food movement is that consuming such foods maintains the "life force" in the body and thus creates and increases energy. By eating natural foods, the body is able to absorb the beneficial nutrients and reap their rich rewards.

On the other hand, eating cooked foods, or those heated above 116 degrees Fahrenheit, may damage their vital contents such as enzymes. Raw food followers assert that enzymes are destroyed and may make the food difficult to digest. Critics, though, argue that the body utilizes its own enzymes for digestion. Cooked foods are acidic, creating a pH imbalance in the body and resulting in unhealthy environments that may encourage disease. Note that conventional doctors don't necessarily follow this theory, but there is evidence that cooking foods can kill their important nutrients.

No raw food diet review would be complete without a list of health benefits associated with the lifestyle. These include:

• Increased energy levels
• Improved digestion
• Weight loss
• Improved skin conditions
• Reduced risk of certain diseases

The raw food diet is naturally low in salt and contains little to no saturated fat. Because of this and its high fiber and potassium levels, it may be linked to lowered cholesterol. It may also reduce the risk of diabetes and certain types of cancer. Note that these claims are not medically proven; experiences will vary from person to person, and the diet is in no way meant to "cure" diseases that require medical attention.

Whenever a major dietary change is adopted, the potential for side effects exists. Some symptoms associated with switching to the raw food diet include nausea, headaches, mild depression and cravings for certain foods may occur during the first few days of the diet. This is especially true if the original diet was copious in caffeine, meat and sugar products. Additionally, the diet may result in calcium, omega-3 fatty acid, iron and vitamin B12 deficiencies, as well as a lack of protein and a marked decrease in calorie intake. The best way to counter this is to eat foods that are naturally rich in these nutrients. Visit the American Dietetic Association Web site for more information on recommended foods.

It's especially important to note that cooking can help the body absorb certain phytochemicals (or plant chemicals) found in specific foods, such as beta-carotene in carrots and lycopene in tomatoes. These particular nutrients are touted for their various health benefits, so eating the foods raw may not be as beneficial.

The raw food diet may not be suitable for pregnant women, anemic individuals, and children.

If you're interested in starting this or any other major dietary change, consult with your doctor first, and be sure to do ample research on the subject. Many individuals find it helpful to slowly ease into the raw food regimen. For example, gradually adding a salad or raw fruit snacks to your day and decreasing cooked foods gradually is a smart way to get started. This not only makes the transition easier, it also helps people determine whether or not the raw lifestyle is one they could reasonably lead.

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