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Raw foodism, also known as rawism, is a lifestyle that promotes consumption of unprocessed, uncooked, and organic foods as part of your diet. The advocates of raw foodism for a long time have presented it as an alternative and a superior dietary approach, relative to other diets.
Obviously, the supporters of raw foodism claim that this approach brings about multiple benefits that cooked or processed foods can’t. Raw foods are said to support our natural physiological processes without modifying them or intervening into their working style. In other words, raw foods are totally compatible with our body requirements.
Raw foods have been found to improve immunity to sickness and prevent many diseases. These foods contain essential nutrients which can be lost if they are cooked.
Raw food advantages
- Since raw food is primarily sourced from nature, your body is strengthened naturally and can stave off diseases for a longer duration.
- Raw foods are believed to contain enzymes, such asamylases, lipases and proteases that aid digestion. These enzymes are lost if food is cooked over 104 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Raw foods contain micro-organisms and bacteria that perform many useful functions, such as fermenting energy substrates that are unused, preventing harmful and pathogenic bacteria growth, and bolstering the immune system for your body.
- These foods are believed to have higher nutrient values than those of cooked foods.
- Raw foods do not contain excitotoxins, such as for example, flavor enhancers and do not cause excitotoxicity.
- They are high on antioxidants and help fight aging.
- They contain fewer trans fats and saturated fats than a typical Western diet. A typical raw food diet is also low on sodium and high on potassium, fiber, magnesium, and folate. Obviously, raw food is considered an excellent way to prevent heart disease and cancer.
- Raw foods, as its proponents claim, can increase the immunity levels in human beings. As such, you have increased protection from flu, cold, and measles. You can also prevent problems such as gas, indigestion, heartburn, and constipation.
- Studies over the years have shown that a raw diet has helped reduce and ward off obesity, hypertension, and rheumatoid arthritis.
- According to a study by German researchers in 2003, women can significantly lower the risks of breast cancer by including a large amount of raw vegetables in their diet.
- According to another research carried out in Germany, raw foods consumed on a long term basis has been found to cause favorable plasma beta-carotene and low plasma lycopene concentrations.
- A research found that the consumption of unpasteurized milk can significantly reduce allergies.
- Raw foods naturally have more flavors than cooked foods and therefore, don’t have to add salt, spices or any kind of condiments that can cause irritation to your organs and digestive system.
However, if you are thinking of becoming a raw foodie, step back and think a while. You need to exercise some care before you embrace raw foods and see how far your body is going to accept them. Fred Bisci, a renowned nutritionist and food scientist has been a raw foodie for the last 40 years and believes that a raw vegan diet can be the healthiest diet one can ever follow. However, Fred Bisci adds that one needs to follow a vegan diet correctly and monitor their nutrient levels regularly.
Indeed, the emphasis must be correctness and more importantly, on customization. No two human bodies are same and their requirements will vary widely too. Therefore, you should not be swayed by what the confirmed raw foodies say about raw foodism and must stick to what is beneficial for you. Consulting your doctor and taking a few medical tests to ascertain the suitability might be a good idea.
You need to watch out for certain deficiencies that may occur if you have been on a prolonged raw vegan diet. Vitamin B12 deficiency may eventually set in and those living in a cold climate may suffer from vitamin D deficiency. Taking a blood test and nutrient profile will be really helpful in determining the extent and nature of deficiencies. According to Fred Bisci, a raw vegan diet works wonders when one complements the diet with vitamin B12, vitamin D and other mineral supplements. In a nutshell, balance is the key to staying healthy and energetic with a raw food diet.
References
http://altmedicine.about.com/od/popularhealthdiets/a/Raw_Food.htm
http://www.rawfoodhowto.com/ten-advantages-to-eating-raw.cfm
http://fresh-network.typepad.com/fresh_network_blog/2010/01/the-rise-of-raw-but-not-vegan.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gut_flora
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raw_foodism
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Nice article. I have been mostly raw vegan for about 12 years now I can definitely proclaim its benefits. I got myself off chronic meds for arthritis within 6 months. I have no inflamation, more energy and sleep better and rarely get the common colds and flus. I find it difficult to be 95-100% raw and do best between 70-80%. I think this would proably be the case for most who give it a go.
It’s also not something I would recommend jumping into full force. Best to work up gradually especailly if you are coming from SAD (Standard American Diet). For me I had already been vegetarian for years so it was a little easier. I would also recommend getting support.
I agree with the article stating that you get alot of potassium, fiber, magnesium, and folate. I’ve monitored myself from time to time and found that I lack in sodium and calcium so looking into mineral sups may be beneficial.
I tend to think one reason a raw vegan diet may help with improving people’s health issues is that it likley gets their body moving more towards a acid/alkaline balance whereas most people eating SAD tend to be acidic. I think maintainly a proper body PH is just as important as mineralization.
I agree whole heartedly! Thanks for the insightful message.
My husband and I have been Raw Foodies off and on since 2003! He is much more strict than I am. I tend to incorporate some high quality egg, fish, cooked, salt-free beans from time to time, when my body asks for them. We went Raw because I had a very bad case of Fibromyalgia, which was cured by 2 Aruyvedic cleanses – third time it showed up, decided to try Raw. We both lost weight (needed) and became more energized than ever. We love creating our own yogurt with soaked nuts/seeds, sprouts, pates, desserts, etc. I’m now certified to teach, and enjoy that as well. We supplement with superfoods (maca, spiralina, etc) and grow lots of our own foods. Most people will benefit with initial Raw Food cleanse, and as Woody Harrelson says when he’s out of balance he goes back to RAW! “Let thy food be thy Medicine and Medicine by thy Food” Hippocrates
Raw veggies, I have heard that raw veggies are more difficult to digest, as we humans don’t have the right microbes for proper digestion of the cellulous of raw veggies? Now, Cows on the other hand, do have the right kind of microbes to digest cellulous/fiber. that’s how they turn all that grass into very tasty raw milk, of which I am a big fan of! Raw food diet? I would say much better, would be a raw milk diet!
I would add here that true “vegans” should be eating at least a few eggs and or raw milk, as veggies alone just don’t have enough of certain amino acids and proteins.
Just my 2 cents
You’re right that some people cannot digest plants very well – this is because of a poor diet that affects the body’s digestion and absorption (high gluten and dairy diets impact greatly on this ie. caeliacs disease). Many people juice grass (heard of wheatgrass shots?) to solve this problem as the cell walls get broken down so our digestive system has a better chance of absorption. Along with the digested grass in milk, you’d also be getting raw growth hormone too! Cow’s milk is only meant to be drunk by calves for a short period of time so they grow big and strong – not by humans
for all their lives! Cows milk is so far away from what we should be drinking – we don’t have four stomachs like they do so cannot digest the casein in the milk which acts like glue in our system. If you really like milk then it would be best to drink camel or goats milk which is much closer to human breast milk. Or almond milk like many raw foodies do!
Dear Friend, Just a suggestion, consider reading “The China Study”
re:milk specifically casein.
To say that vegans dont get enough protein/amino acids is absolute rubbish!! many vegans cannot digest diary at all so all the other milks that other replies have stated already are just as good and better than Dairy – with all the PUS in there!! yuk! would not touch dairy if you paid me!
Juice the wheat grass now you’re talking (great melissa)
If veggies are difficult to digest that is becuase your stomach/gallbladder are not producing enough acids in the first place.
Jeni
I read that raw fruit and veg may have parasites and/or parasite eggs. They have to be carefully cleaned before eating.
I agree with the article, and the gal that said most people would do best with a 70 to 80% raw diet. Finding the right balance of carbs , protein, and fat for each individual can be a challenge and is the reason most people fail I think. Testing annually or more often when first starting can be extremely helpful in sorting out issues before they become big. It’s been my experience that most people tend to over eat fruit..and unripe fruit at that.
Be Well and Wonderful, Hugh
I have to smile when I look at some of this stuff. This suggests a medical warning that you need to have your vitamin levels checked before you eat a vegetable or a piece of fruit, just in case you eat too much and get sick, or find yourself vitamin deficient. Hmmmm. REALLY?!
What about getting your levels checked before and after the buffet at Old Country or a triple or double burger w/jalapeno jack cheese, a large fry and super gulp size diet coke. Basic human society is so filled with the over abundance of dis-ease, syndromes and a myriad of “incurables” that when you get told that you have to be checked out before you eat a fruit or vegetable is ludicrous.
If someone goes from SAD to 100% RAW on Tuesday and in 45 days they have little to no symptoms of previous Arthritis, Gout, or have had 3 to 5 fibroid tumors shrinked to an almost invisible size. Yeah, I’ll take a vitamin D suppliment for my raw diet choices if it gets me vitamin deficient.
I recommend getting those tests done now so you can know what the current diet is lacking and jacking up so that you can balance or improve those with a vegan/raw food upgrade. That makes more sense. If you have made your diet choices for the past 15 to 20 years and you are dying and falling apart…then what you have chosen in the past and now is not working…Make a new choice, get a new result. Thats my advocacy.
I’m from Italy and I don’t write so well English… anyway I think we can ubnderstand.
Sorry but the only prob the raw diet have IS FREE OURSELVES FROM FEAR OF CONVENTIONAL SYSTEM USUAL THREAT:
1-Consulting your doctor and taking a few medical tests…
2-No two human bodies are same and their requirements will vary widely too
What REALLY give us RAW is make us REALLY FREEE FROM THESE THREATS !!!!
(BY THIS TIME OUT OF REAL AND OBSOLETE)
RAW IS NOT A THREAT OF SOMETHING WE DO HAVE FEAR BUT:
1-FREE US FROM SATANIC SYSTEM
2-GIVE US THE MARVELOUS POWER TO LINK TO UNIVERSAL POWER WHERE ALL ARE THE SAME.
THE FUTURE IS … R A W ! (don’t forget this)
ciao.
Obviously the raw diet is much better than the SAD diet, however people can become just as sick on a raw food diet over time, particularly if they had health issues or deficiencies to begin with. I am a proponent of the raw diet, but in the ten years I’ve been doing raw food coaching I have seen many people who think they can just eat fruits and veggies and everything will be ok. Been there done that. That’s why I suggest blood work to help people keep in balance. Some people do better on a higher fat diet, some people need more protein, some do not digest fructose, and for some it does not take much fruit glucose to raise fasting insulin levels at all.
Many raw fooders feel great at first, even for several years, but because they don’t pay attention to details end up crashing and returning to a cooked food diet….”because the raw diet just didn’t work for them”. How many times have you heard that one.
Eat raw foods and be healthy, but me smart as well and get some blood work done so you have the information that will allow you to be raw and healthy long term.
Be Well and Wonderful, Hugh
My Mother had diabetes.
With raw food She cured the diabetes.
I had heart pains especially in the evenings.
But since we reduced the cooked and baked food I got better.
Fundamentally,
any diet is still that, a diet. we started to do them because we had to figure out what food did nt kill us and then carry on eating that. Our food is killing us today and we react accordingly.
nevertheless, a diet is a restriction and a form of neurosis, which ultimately keeps you as a victim to your food thus denying yourself to use the potential power of subjectivity from your mind, successfuly stagnating your growth from emotional infancy.
all diets are, are a subjective reassurance that what you re doing, regardless to what the diet is, is right and healthy, thus you become that which you believe, healthy. This works opposingly as well and if you eat something you know is nt good for you, you become ill, often in the symptoms that you know will ocur. This reassurance is a major reason behind the dogma of diets and that peoples health is literally determined on them reinforcing their belief system (aka BS).
if we listen to our own programming requests then we will rely less on the need for programming from diets and lifestyles.
Good point: the ‘placebo effect’. I agree the idea of a “diet” infers a kind of right/wrong mentality or dogma. (This is OK, this is NOT OK!) Our own ‘program’ or body knows what’s best if we can listen to that voice rather than the mental chatter we are inundated with.
I just want to add: that such placebo, or create-your-own reality scenario’s may be greatly enhanced, or just easier, with the feeling of well being and clarity that comes from being nourished by nature, cleansed, and by being REALLY connected to nature.
People saying that raw food is just like any other diet and humans should be able to eat what they want… well, this is quite frankly wrong. What would we have done in the wild? Found a nice poisonous plant and munched it in fear of feeling tied down?
We have always had to be careful with what we choose to eat, our life depending on it then – and our life depends on it now. Poor food poisons you slowly as your digestive system can’t keep up.
As for not being able to digest plants… what do you think a vegetable is?
Right on Gary!
V Surae and Paolo, couldn’t agree with you more. God made our food raw, man came along and gave us hamburgers, french fries and cooked milk from another species. Ask a doctor, who has only had one to three hours of nutrition in medical school about what is a healthy diet? Pleeeease, spare me. Heart disease, cancer and diabetes is running rampant in this country and it’s from eating the SAD, and you want to warn people to be careful about eating raw??!! I was clinically anemic for years, but I ate steak and burgers, was severely Vit D deficient and made sure I slathered on lots of sunscreen to protect me from getting cancer from the sun. That’s the advice from doctors for you. Please, don’t discourage people from the raw diet, just make sure they have green smoothies from time to time and don’t eat too much fatty foods, and for goodness sake, get some sunshine–it’s real vit D!!! If you can only increase your raw foods to 60-70% it’s a lot better than the alternative of continuing to eat SAD. Good health to All.
When compared to the American that is obese, has a poor diet consisting of ridiculous amounts of fats, trans fats, sugars, and not enough nutrition combined with nearly zero excercise, sure the raw diet in comparison seems miraculous for all the reasons the article buzz mentions.
However, there is alot of misleading information out there regarding diet altering blood PH values. Cardiovascular, renal, and pulmonary health along with living in a clean air environment are the true factors that really have anything to do with your body’s blood ph levels.
Taking concentrated supplement pills to compensate for pernicious anemia definitely defeats the purpose of eating a raw food diet for the purpose maintaining ideal blood ph levels. Doing the best for your kidneys means avoiding concentrated powder or pill formed supplements as much as possible. It is your Kidney enzyme secretion and breathing that has everything to do with maintaining a healthy PH level.
In my opinion, don’t make your life so complicated by obsessing with whether your vegetables are cooked or not. Just make sure to eat lots of vegetables and maintain a balanced diet, exercise alot to build up you cardio muslcles, and don’t smoke. Simple and easy
Do Your research and think for yourself.
hello Be Well Buzz , i review your blog , this a nice blog and perfect. Best for me. best review for News
This is a good blog message, I will keep the post in my mind. If you can add more video and pictures can be much better. Because they help much clear understanding. 🙂 thanks Tamashima.
Looking at the disaster that the average American diet has made of most people’s health by middle age, I find it a bit ludicrous that the writer advises the reader to be careful if choosing to go raw.
Ease in, and do your homework. Read books on the subject and buy organic. If possible, buy local. High quality enzymes can work wonders for those with digestive systems that are devitalized and not able to handle raw in the beginning.
If more people were encouraged to “step back and think” and “exercise care” over what they’ve been eating in the world of cooked food, we probably wouldn’t be building hospitals at the rate we have been for the past couple of decades.
By the way, I am raw, but not vegan. I eat some raw fish, and small occasional amounts of cooked organic meat. All of my mentors and teachers have always encouraged me to listen to my body, and this is what I have found makes me feel best.
howdy Be Well Buzz , i read your blog , be a nice blog and greatly. Best for me.
Vitamin D behaves as inside the body who’s is classified as a new hormone. It is needed for an important task often known as the mineral homeostasis that refers to the regulation of the gene expression as well as that of cellular difference. The Vitamin D will be the only known substance which stimulates accomplishing this of absorption of calcium as well as phosphorus present in food in to the small intestine, especially inside jejunum region, and also improves the kidney’s capacity in the particular re-absorption of calcium in addition to phosphorus, which makes it vital to maintain the concentration of these minerals in the process of blood and bone fragments mineralization. Therefore, it is mandatory for everyone to have sufficient Vitamin D levels of their body.
I don’t always agree with you (thank God, that would be boring), but I have to tell you you are a great writer.