Why raw food

A few, such as taro and rhubarb, are toxic if consumed raw. The raw food diet is a unique eating plan, but it shares some characteristics with other restrictive plant-based diets.

Here's how they compare:. Raw Food Diet. Okinawan Diet. Ayurvedic Diet. Fruitarian Diet. The typical American diet is low in fruits and vegetables and has large amounts of animal products and processed food.

But getting more fruits, vegetables, and other plant foods into your diet may protect you against certain diseases. It can also have some serious drawbacks and risks. If you are thinking of trying the diet, consult your health care provider to see if it is the right eating plan for you.

If you'd like to eat more raw plant foods but don't want to go on a full-fledged raw food diet, start slowly by integrating one or more servings of raw vegetables into your meals and find the balance that works best for you. While we do not endorse fad diet trends or unsustainable weight loss methods, we present the facts so you can make an informed decision that works best for your nutritional needs, genetic blueprint, and budget, and goals. Exercise, sleep, and other lifestyle factors also play a major role in your overall health.

The best diet is always the one that is balanced and fits your lifestyle. Looking to lose weight? Our nutrition guide can help you get on the right track. Sign up and get yours! Factors affecting adherence to a raw vegan diet. Complement Ther Clin Pract. Updated December Best Diets Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevent Food Poisoning. National Eating Disorders Association. Department of Health and Human Services and U. Department of Agriculture. Ninth Edition.

December Nutr Clin Pract. Consequences of a long-term raw food diet on body weight and menstruation: results of a questionnaire survey. Ann Nutr Metab. Vegan diet, subnormal vitamin B status and cardiovascular health. Published Aug Healthy aging diets other than the Mediterranean: a focus on the Okinawan diet.

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We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. What Can You Eat? Pros and Cons. What Experts Say "The raw food diet encourages people to eat only raw never heated , unprocessed foods. What to Eat on a Whole Foods Diet. What to Eat Whole, unprocessed foods Organic fruits, vegetables, and nuts Sprouted or germinated beans and grains Recipes prepared from raw ingredients.

Pros Emphasizes whole, unprocessed foods Low in saturated fats and sodium Effective for weight loss. Cons Too restrictive Risk of nutrient deficiencies Risk of food-borne illness Impractical. The Basics of a Healthy, Balanced Diet. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. What are your concerns? Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles.

Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. A raw food diet includes uncooked, unprocessed foods. You can use a few preparation methods, including:. The goal is to eat foods in their natural state, without any kind of processing or heating that can change their structure.

Some people follow a strict raw food diet, eating nothing but raw foods at every meal. Others focus on raw foods for the bulk of their diet but also include some cooked or processed foods. A raw vegan diet is generally rich in fruits and vegetables, which gives it some serious health points. The raw vegetarian and raw omnivorous diets, which include raw animal-based foods, can be dangerous. The milk you buy in grocery stores is pasteurized, which is a heating process that kills bacteria.

Stick with pasteurized milk, cheese and other dairy products so you can avoid the nasty illnesses that come with bacteria in raw dairy. Weight loss: 6 easy tips to make your workouts more effective.

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The four most common weight loss myths. Weight loss story: " I did cardio and weight training 5 days to lose 44 kilos". Stomach cancer. Whooping cough. Here is why you should avoid eating raw food, as per Ayurveda. Count: We have sent you a verification email. To verify, just follow the link in the message. Updated: Nov 18, , IST. Eating raw food is one of the most popular diet trends these days.

People either willing to lose weight or just trying to stay fit, all are opting for a raw food diet as it is believed to be packed with nutrients, low in calories and high in fiber. The idea behind this is that heating any food destroys their nutrients and natural enzymes, which can be bad for the digestive system and can even lead to chronic disease.

But Ayurveda has a different take on this issue. What Ayurveda says As per Ayurveda, not all food items are good to be consumed raw.