The Raw Foods Diet - Pros And Cons

There are Many Points to Consider When Choosing a Diet

May 6, 2009

For years, the raw foods diet has been making headlines as being the "end all" health craze. But there are pros and cons that need to be considered on such a diet.

Nutritionists and health nuts alike are singing the praises of the raw food diet. This diet is based mainly on uncooked and unprocessed plant foods. But according to Susan Schenck, LAc, author of The Live Food Factor, The Comprehensive Guide To The Ultimate Diet For Body, Mind, Spirit and Planet, raw food is food that has not been heated above 118 degrees Farenheit. "Thats when the enzymes die", she says. The raw food diet has been promoted as healthy, but experts advise that the diet should be 75% raw and 25% cooked foods.

What The Raw Food Diet Consists OF

The raw food diet includes such foods as nuts, seeds, beans, fresh fruit and vegetables, grains, legumes and juice. Schenck recommends foods such as kale, coconut butter, moca, goji berries and salad with olives or avocado for healthy fat and olive oil and raw apple cider vinegar for dressing. She says snacks should consist of apples, trail mix or raw food replacement bars. When food is cooked, we have to work hard to digest it. The advantage of the raw food diet is that the enzymes are in the food so your pancreas doesn't have to work so hard. "The food digests itself so you've got all this extra energy," says Schenck.

Foods to Avoid on the Raw Food Diet

Foods to avoid on the raw food diet include wheat, dairy, sugar, table salt and alcohol. Schenck recommends kale, sesame seeds, almonds and the mineral Silica to build bones. The American Dietetic Association (ADA) recommends increasing calcium and Vitamin D intake by eating foods such as bok choy, cabbage, tempeh, figs, soy and rice milk.

Caveats of the Raw Food Diet

If your diet has consisted of meat, sugar, salt and fat, it is best to start slow in changing to the raw food diet as the body has to go through a "detoxification" process. You may feel worse before you feel better.

The raw food diet is not for everyone. Children, pregnant and nursing mothers, anemics and people at risk for osteoporosis should not eat a raw diet. Nutritional deficiencies such as calcium, iron, protein, omega-3 fatty acids and calories may occur.

Pros of the Raw Food Diet

The diet is basically vegetarian which may lower cholesterol and glucose levels in the body. This is helpful in preventing heart disease. Cooking vegetables may kill important nutrients and raw vegetables are thought to help reduce the risk of cancers such as oral, esophageal and stomach among others. The raw food diet is also high in fiber, necessary for cleansing. Glycosides (complex sugars) are highest in raw foods. These are important for immune health.

Cons of the Raw Food Diet

According to the ADA it is the body that produces enzymes needed to digest food. They also advise against cooking food below 118 degrees Farenheit as this may not kill food-borne pathogens. Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to anemia and neurological problems. Vit B12 can be found in animal products. There is a risk for Lycopene deficiency which is most abundant in cooked tomatoes. Many foods such as eggs and tomatoes are better utilized by the body if they are cooked.

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