This midsummer heat in New York has me contemplating a raw foods diet. How can anyone cook in this heat? And why do so many people find the raw way so exhilarating?
Contrary to its name, the raw food diet does not consist entirely of raw foods. Actually, foods can be cooked, but only up to 116 degrees F, and that cooked food cannot comprise more than 75% of your overall diet. Ideally, a raw food diet is free of all processed foods.
So what can you do with your food if you're following a raw food diet? Juice it, dehydrate it, sprout it, and blend it. Given the heat restriction, many people who follow a raw food diet are also vegetarian. (Some raw foodies do eat sushi and steak tartare.)
Raw food practitioners believe that high-heat cooking and other processing destroys the nutrients and enzymes in food and can even cause harmful effects. Enzymes are considered the "life force" of foods, thus the use of the term "living foods" in raw food diet literature. Advocates of the movement claim that a raw food diet can raise your energy level, improve your skin quality, help you lose weight, aid your digestion, and fend off illness.
I think it is wise to limit your intake of processed foods and I can see how changing from a generally unhealthy diet to a low-fat diet consisting largely of nuts and fresh produce would dramatically improve your health. That said, the raw food diet seems a little extreme to me and I do not entirely trust the health claims. I know from reading nutrition books like Marion Nestle's What To Eat that your body will actually absorb nutrients more completely from certain foods only if they're cooked.
A raw food diet could be harmful to young children, the elderly, and people with other health issues (and most raw food practitioners would agree with me there). Regardless of your age or health, it's best to talk with your doctor before starting a raw food diet.
Perhaps you are ready for a challenge? Maybe you want to experiment with a new way of eating? With your doctor's blessing and careful attention to nutritional balance the raw food diet could be an exciting adventure... or just an awful lot of work.
If you are curious about joining the raw food movement, you can read up on it in Raw Food Life and Raw Guru.
For support there's Living and Raw Foods, an online community.
According to a study on the raw foods diet by the Journal of Nutrition, the diet has some health benefits but also some adverse effects.
Steve Pavlina's experiment with raw food was mostly positive and this Nature Mom loves raw food.
GREAT POST and I am sosososo curious about this.
in a reading way.
Im woman enough to realize I wouldnt stick with it.
*outs herself as a huge carnivore*
but I still wanna learn more.
Miz.
Posted by: MizFit | July 31, 2008 at 06:26 AM