Raw Food Diet | REVIEW | Benefits – What you should watch

Raw food diet and strict raw food nutrition have been among the topics discussed broadly in recent years, with an increasing interest on the subject.

This is a new nutrition trend appearing to gain more ground, while rejecting every taboo and anachronistic view prevailed up to date.

While up to date many people had objections to raw blood food for not having a sufficient amount of proteins, to benefit training and muscle rebuilding, now we see sound examples in the field of bodybuilding that are not only vegan but also following raw food nutrition plans.

Raw food diet – What it is

In a sense, it could be said that raw food diet is very close to vegan, with an elementary difference between these two.

While in raw food nutrition we refer basically (but not necessarily!) to a vegetarian diet, the diet in this particular case should not have undergone any heat treatment. In other words it should not have been cooked by any cooking method.

It may sound quite boring regarding the tasted provided, but raw food is now a brand new and growing sort of art. Preparation of raw, imaginative, creative and highly enticing raw meat dishes has reached new levels to bring both visual and tasty satisfaction to user.

Don’t start rejecting everything. Show a positive attitude towards it.

Let’s see the options and the unexpected benefits obtained from a similar diet, as well as how you can benefit from it on your training program.

Raw food diet – Foods included

In general, when we refer to raw food nutrition, we mean a vegetarian diet.

• fruits
• vegetables
• nuts
• seeds
• sprouts
• cereals
• pulses
• greens
• herbs
• greens
• spices
• honey
• carob powder
• agave syrup
• maple syrup
• raw nuts butter
• seaweed
• unpasteurized soy sauce
• vinegar
• stevia
• salt
• olive oil (extracted in cold)
• olives
• cocoa

These make up the meals of a person following the raw food diet.

However this is not absolute! As in vegetarianism, so here, are also levels of accepting or rejecting certain foods.

In a number of cases, therefore, users who follow a raw-food diet select to add to their nutrition routine foods such as:

• raw eggs
• raw fish
• raw meat
• dairy products

Consuming raw eggs, meat or fish may lead to receiving dangerous bacteria possibly interfering with body’s proper functioning.

Is any food processing prohibited?

No. As a general rule, raw food diet prohibits any heat treatment (cooking) of food.

Though raw food diet is not a new idea (since existed from mid-19th century as a therapeutic nutrition plan for patients), seems to be a nutrition trend revived, gaining an increasing number of fans over the years.

Raw food diet and vegetarianism are the hottest eating trends of the day, as well as a suggested dietary choice of many specialists (nutritionists, dieticians and health experts).

The basic methods of processing food for preparation of raw meal instead of cooking are:

• the creation of juices (by crushing the products)
• the creation of purees (by processing the product blender)
• dehydration
• vegetation (sprout)

Raw Food Diet – Key Health Benefits

Raw food seems to be associated with many and important health benefits.

A brief look at the most basic benefits, justifies the reasons this diet was selected by many persons.

No.1: Cardiovascular Function

According to experts, eating raw vegetarian foods appears to improve heart function significantly, reducing the risk of heart disease or strokes dramatically.

Consuming nuts, pulses, sprouts and fruits and vegetables – according to official scientific studies – improves blood cholesterol levels significantly and promotes wellness and longevity.

No.2: Diabetes

Another great advantage of a vegetarian raw-food diet is the reduction of diabetes risk.

The high consumption of fruits and vegetables in the meals of the day seem to have a positive effect on the body, reducing significantly the risk of type 2 diabetes.

In addition, their abundant beneficial dietary fiber, promotes body’s proper functioning, as well as its gastrointestinal digestive system, promote a healthy body with no extra weight, and ensure lower blood sugar levels.

No.3: Slimming

As mentioned earlier, a vegetarian raw food diet is based on eating plenty of fiber, a key nutrient for anyone wishing to lose weight and eliminate stored body fat.

No.4: Digestive system

The importance of raw food diet in the proper functioning of the digestive system is already emphasized.

A healthy gastrointestinal system is everything for the safe and right functioning of body’s clock.

Good digestion without problems, but also development of beneficial bacteria in gut enhancing the proper absorption of nutrients and fighting of various inflammations, create and maintain a strong and energetic organism.

A healthy digestive system is of major importance and relies mainly on a person’s good daily diet.

No.5: Mood

Raw food has many benefits not only to physical but also to mental and emotional individual’s health.

It helps on clearing the body from harmful toxins causing contamination, enhances the levels of beneficial energy while at the same time promotes wellness, cheerfulness, emotional balance and good mental health.

No.6: Brain clarity & sharpness

Proper nutrition has been found to enhance better brain function, assisting the person in improved perception, better memory, more ingenuity, and – therefore – in better performance at work and in daily life.

Raw Food Diet – Foods to be avoided

Below a number of foods to be avoided in case a raw food nutritional plan is followed.

• white bread
• white cereals
• soft drinks (sugar)
• margarine
• commercial fruit juices
• industrialized oils
• all processed foods
• sweets
• fried food
• grilled foods
• roasts
• gluten-free processed foods
• low fat dairy products
• chocolates
• sausages
• processed cheese products
• high calorie coffee drinks
• fast food

As may be seen from the list, a diet as the raw food, excluding all above foods can only benefit the body and the general health.

Cooking makes any food healthier or no?

Many people falsely believe that cooking (meaning processing in high temperature) helps on fighting any dangerous toxic substances may be present in foods due to pesticides or other environmental pollution.

But let’s see what really happens to food when the cooking process is followed.

Foods initially lose their natural liquids, losing much of their vitamins, proteins, and minerals, as well.

They are essentially disintegrated into dangerous toxic compounds promoting the development of free radicals in body. This means premature aging but also an increased risk of carcinogenesis.

It should also be noted that the high temperature received by the foods via cooking, causes a loss of all valuable enzymes, so no normal functioning of the body can be achieved in a proper and adequate way, resulting in malfunctions and health problems.

Finally, the impact on our digestive system is not small. Eating cooked food (as much as everyone else thinks otherwise) instead of actually facilitating the digestion process makes it even harder.

Raw Food Diet – Age to adopt the raw food diet

Raw food nutrition has no age.

People of all genders and ages, of any fitness level (professional athletes or sedentary people), people of all backgrounds could adapt their diet to a raw food diet program.

Raw Food Diet – Which vegetables should be avoided to be consumed in raw state?

A number of vegetables – as presented below – should not be consumed in raw condition.

A number of these are:

• potatoes
• Brussels sprouts
• mushrooms
• asparagus
• broccoli
• cauliflower
• tomato

On the contrary raw potato can be very toxic and dangerous to human body.

Raw Food Diet- Risks

The truth is that consuming raw vegetarian food can also cause problems to body.

Here are the most important:

No.1: Nutrient deficiency

In particular, we should say that this is the biggest risk that anyone is going through when starting a raw food diet.

A diet not properly designed to meet all the basic needs of the body regarding nutrients, certainly along the way will prove to be a serious source of health problems.

Only a qualified nutritionist can provide you with a fully organized diet plan so no gaps or deficiencies are observed in the diet.

A typical example of people starting – usually without advice from a specialist – eating raw food is the inadequate intake of vitamin B12!

Typically, a lack of this vitamin can lead to health problems such as anemia, heart disease, nervous system dysfunction, infertility or even bone problems.

No.2: Bone and Muscle Problems

A strict vegetarian and raw food diet may produce a weakness to both bone and muscular system. This is due to low calcium intake (due to a lack of dairy products) and vitamin D deficiency.

No.3: Teeth problems

For the same reasons as mentioned above regarding the bones this diet might cause problems to teeth health as well.

In addition, a diet of many acidic fruits (especially citrus fruits) can promote tooth decay, erosion of the enamel and development of caries.

No.4: Infertility

In some cases (not always) a raw food diet can also affect a person’s fertility.

According to one study, 70% of women who were on a raw diet had problems with their menstrual cycle.

Bodybuilding & Raw Food Diet: Could be combined?

Born on March 2, 1980 in Oregon, Robert Cheeke is a world-renowned bodybuilding athlete who has become known worldwide for his activism and vegan eating habits.

He owns a well-known website called “Vegan Bodybuilding and Fitness” supplying readers interested in valuable information about his own eating culture, health and fitness habits.

So we would say that – though not a majority – vegetarian persons following raw food nutrition bodybuilders do exist.

Some of the names still known are Nimai Delgado, Torre Washington and Patrik Baboumian.

In fact, they made clear statements to their fans that their muscle strength and size are not affected by the lack of animal products in their diet.

References – Bibliography sources

•https://www.webmd.com/diet/a-z/raw-foods-diet

•https://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-food/post-workout-raw-meals/

•https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/power-raw

•https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/raw-vegan-diet

•https://www.amazon.com/Vegan-Bodybuilding-Fitness-Robert-Cheeke/dp/0984391606