The Raw Food Diet and Weight Loss

The Raw Food Diet For Humans

        A raw food diet involves eating primarily whole, unprocessed, plant-based foods and preferably organic foods. Some opinions say that when following this diet, raw foods should make up three quarters of the diet. People who follow a raw food diet believe that eating raw foods can improve their health, well-being, and possibly reduce their risk of medical conditions.

Weight loss is not usually the main goal of a raw food diet, but switching to raw foods can lead to weight loss.

What is The Raw Food Diet?

A raw food diet, also known as a raw food diet, is a way of eating that includes only raw or raw foods. Usually focused on fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts, the raw food diet requires careful planning and lifestyle adjustments to follow.

Adherents of the diet, called raw food experts, believe that cooking these foods, which are usually whole, can damage or kill the nutrients and health benefits they may have. Other raw food advocates believe that cooking food in certain oils or at certain temperatures can make the food dangerous or even toxic. In order to get the most nutrition and subsequent health benefits, followers believe consuming food in its rawest form is best.

Within the overarching category of raw food diets, there are a variety of sub-diets to follow including raw vegan, vegetarian and omnivore. You guessed right, that means some followers of the raw diet consume things like raw eggs and even raw meat! The raw vegan diet is not the only way to build a raw food diet. No matter which raw food diet category you choose, it's important to know what you can eat!

How does Raw Food Diet work?

There are many variations of the raw food diet, and you have the power to shape one for yourself. Some tips for getting started include:

1. Fill your pantry with lots of sprouts and seeds; fresh fruits and vegetables; nuts, including cashews, sunflower seeds, and raw almond butter.

2. Fill it with whole grains (raw), as well as dried organic beans (think lentils, chickpeas, adzuki beans, and green beans) that are eaten raw.

3. Add flavor through seasonings like chilled extra-virgin olive oil; raw virgin coconut oil; and uncooked coconut butter.

4. Taste fresh vegetable juices and herbal teas.

5. Invest in a dehydrator to make crispy sweet potato chips out of peeled and sliced sweet potato.

6. Buy a food processor and blender to get creative with juices and even raw chocolate chip “cakes.”

Types of Raw Food Diet

A person who is on a raw food diet can drink freshly made fruit and vegetable juices. Most people who follow a raw food diet only eat plant-based foods, making it a vegan type of diet. However, some people eat raw animal products or even dry raw or dry meat as well.

There are 3 different types of raw food diets:

1. Raw vegetarian diet includes plant-based foods plus raw eggs and unprocessed dairy products

2. The raw vegan diet excludes all animal products, focusing only on plant-based foods

3. Raw omnivore foods include plant foods, raw animal products, and raw or dried meat

Do Raw Food Diets Work?

You will likely lose weight on this diet, as most of the food is low in calories, fat, and sodium, and high in fiber. People following a raw food diet lose a lot of weight.

You will also receive nutritional facilities. Much of what you eat is rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber and disease-fighting phytochemicals.

But there are many shortcomings. The diet is difficult to follow and does not provide for many essential nutrients, such as protein, iron, calcium, vitamin B12, and more.

In addition, contrary to the claims of many raw food enthusiasts, cooking does not make food toxic but instead makes some foods easy to digest.

Cooking can also increase some nutrients, such as beta-carotene and lycopene, and can kill bacteria, thereby helping you avoid food poisoning. There is no scientific evidence that raw food prevents illness.

Raw food diet for beginners

When looking at a raw food diet, it is important to consider your lifestyle, eating preferences and goals. If you don't like eating raw vegetables or aren't a big fan of fruit, this diet may not be for you.

Those new to the raw food diet may struggle to start and maintain such a strict diet without proper planning and homework.

Rather than embarking on a strict raw food diet, simply incorporating more raw fruits and vegetables into a normally cooked diet with lean protein and fish can give you the benefits of these foods, without the risk of a completely raw diet. Another option for those interested in a raw food style may be following a vegan or plant-based diet. A style of eating like the vegan diet will give you the benefits of fruits and vegetables, but allows you to cook and process them and not just eat the raw versions which are easier to maintain than strict raw veganism.

The Raw Food Diet Health Benefits

Many people who go on a raw food diet believe that it makes the body better able to prevent and fight disease, particularly chronic conditions.

A 2019 review reports that following a plant-based (but not necessarily raw) diet has significant benefits for physical health and illness.

Following a raw food diet can have many benefits, including improved health and weight loss. The following sections discuss some of the possible benefits.

Weight loss

If one wants to lose weight, eating mainly raw food can help. This is because raw foods are usually low in calories, and plant foods are high in fiber, making a person feel fuller for longer. (healthline)

Fewer processed foods

Processed foods tend to be higher in salt, added sugar and unhealthy saturated fats. They can lead to inflammation of the blood vessels and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, cutting back or eliminating processed foods can have significant health benefits.

High in nutrition

Raw food diets tend to be high in fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts, all of which are staples of a healthy diet. Eating a variety of these foods will provide you with plenty of vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats, and proteins.

Cooking destroys some nutrients, such as B vitamins and water-soluble vitamin C, so eating raw foods ensures a better supply.

Maintaining enzymes in food

According to some sources, the process of cooking can damage or alter the natural enzymes in food, as well as some essential vitamins.

The idea is that nature has provided each food with a unique perfect mix, and this vital enzyme allows a person to fully digest their food. Proponents claim that only raw food is, therefore, "living" food.

However, enzymes present in food are mostly denatured by the acid in the stomach. Our body contains the enzymes needed to digest food.

Summary

A raw food diet is low in calories, high in fiber, and based on healthy plant-based foods, so eating this way will lead to weight loss.

But the diet is an inadequate and very strict nutritional plan that will be difficult to maintain in the long term. The risks of food poisoning from eating raw or undercooked food outweigh the benefits of this plan.

Generally speaking, cooking makes your food easier to digest and safer.

There are some nutrient-rich superfoods that you can't eat raw, such as nuts, seeds, and lean protein.