Learn what a raw food diet is, its health benefits and risks, foods to eat for raw nutrition, and how to support your gut health on a raw food diet.
People have been constructing raw food diets since the 1800s. However, it’s only recently become a popular diet option for the masses.
In fact, advocates and supporters of raw food nutrition believe that this diet offers huge benefits to consumers, especially when it comes to weight loss.
However, some experts disagree with the idea of consuming mostly raw foods and argue that it can lead to both minor and major health risks in the long run.
So today we are taking a deep dive into the raw food diet, its health benefits, and its risks, so you can decide if it’s right for you.
What Is a Raw Food Diet?
The raw food diet, also called raw veganism or raw foodism, is a kind of diet composed of mostly unprocessed and raw foods.
This diet started in the 1800's when doctor Maximilian Bircher-Benner used raw apples to overcome his jaundice.
After successfully moving past his symptoms, he began a series of experiments to discover the health benefits of eating only raw foods. Thus, the raw food diet was born.
This diet involves eating foods that have never been heated over 40–48 °C and are not processed, cooked, irradiated, or microwaved.
When cooked, food is often stripped of the natural enzymes that are helpful in the digestion of vital nutrients for good health.[1]
To combat this, raw foodists prepare their foods using blending, soaking, sprouting, juicing, dehydrating, and fermenting techniques.;
Raw Food vs. Cooked Food
Raw foodists believe that the raw food diet is the most ideal for human health compared to eating cooked meals. However, limited studies and research exist to back up these claims.
They believe that high heat can cause the enzymes to change in shape or nature.
Similarly, they also agree that cooking decreases or destroys specific nutrients in food including vitamin C, vitamin B, and other water-soluble nutrients.[2]
While this is true, cooking also offers huge health benefits.
First,