It’s not so much a diet as it is way of life. And it’s not as restricting as it sounds. Followers of the raw food diet don’t consume food that has been heated to over 115 degrees. That’s really the only rule of the beautifully simple diet.
When foods are cooked, heat removes many of the natural enzymes in the food. Proponents of the raw diet claim eating raw makes them feel more energized, younger, clears acne and helps them maintain their desired weight. They claim there are more phytochemicals (the good stuff in superfoods), vitamins, minerals and antioxidants available in raw foods.
Rather than cooking food the conventional way, raw foodies often use dehydrators and other ways to creatively cook food without using heat. Pureeing, blending, fermenting, sprouting and marinating are all ways raw food proponents prepare their food. Although limited to living foods, it’s by no means a Spartan diet.
Nutritionists point out that there has been no scientific proof that raw foods are healthier for you than cooked foods are. What has been proven is that frying things does change a food’s nutritional value. Doing so adds to carcinogens which can lead to cancer.
Most raw foodies are not 100 percent raw. Most range from eating 50 percent to 80 percent raw diet. Look online or on youtube for examples of the many ways you can get creative with a raw food diet. If you’re going for it, be sure to plan ahead. If you don’t, you might end up denying yourself of needed calories, vitamins and minerals.
It doesn’t have to be a route that’s totally raw, because, let’s be honest, sometimes we just can’t help that late night pizza. But simply eating more raw foods like fruits and veggies will have an impact on your health and how you feel. It’s a simple decrease of the amount of processed junk we mindlessly eat and an increase health. Your body (and clearer mind) will thank you!
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at CU Boulder chapter.