Raw food diet is one of the most popular diets among people who are aiming to live a healthy life without becoming overweight. Raw food is considered healthier than cooked food as it retains all the nutrients in the food which often get destroyed during cooking process. It is a good source of essential nutrients, enzymes, vitamins and minerals which boosts the immunity of the body to fight against diseases. It also refreshes the body, giving it an energy boost, driving away fatigue and lethargy.
Why Should We Eat Raw Food?
Our ancestors knew the benefits of the raw diet without scientific evidence; hence every culture has its own traditional raw dishes like sushi, salads chutneys and many more. Unfortunately, the newer generation is relying more on fast food which does not have any raw food in it, as a result of which we see high increase in problems like obesity, dehydration, malnutrition, exposure to harmful chemicals and digestive problems.
Effects of Cooking Food: Research has found shocking facts that cooking not only destroys the nutrition and enzymes in the food, it also changes the chemical formation of healthy food into acidic toxins, free radicals and mild poisons that slowly affects the wellness of our body.
Including at least 50% of raw food in daily diet will result in weight loss, clear and blemish free skin, energetic body and freedom from illnesses and diseases. Cooking cruciferous vegetables like Brussels, cabbage or broccoli deprives it of the isothiocynates, which increases the risk of cancer. Eating raw crucifers are helpful in reducing the risk of cancer to a great extent.
What Food Is Suitable for Raw Diet?
Fresh fruits are the one raw food which everyone enjoys, whether they are raw foodist or not. Most of the people love raw vegetable salads. Anything beyond these appears to be ridiculous to people who have grown, used to cooked food. Raw food diet is usually prepared from:
- Fresh and dried fruits
- Beans
- Legumes
- Tender coconut water
- Dried seeds
- Milk
- Eggs
- Seaweed
- Sprouted grains
Including 60% to 75% of uncooked food in daily diet would qualify it as a raw food diet.
Is Raw Food Safe?
It should be safe, since only human beings depend on cooked food. Not long ago, before the discovery of fire, even our species had survived on raw food. Though we are used to eating raw vegetables and fruits, not many of us stand the thought of eating uncooked non-vegetarian food. Some raw foodists are known to eat meats, fish and eggs raw, though it is not very popular with general public.
Though considered perfectly healthy, raw food diet lacks vital nutrients like iron, zinc, calcium and vitamins B. When the food is consumed raw, infections, chemicals or germs on the food are not totally cleansed, which increases the risk of exposure to them.
