Raw food diet is a shift in the food regimen where the individual consumes uncooked or unprocessed foods like fresh vegetables, fruits and leaves, legumes, nuts, seeds, grains and sprouts, young coconut milk dried foots, pure water, organic uncooked foods, beans or sea weed. The cooking techniques are very simple and less time-consuming and includes, soaking and sprouting, blending, juicing and dehydrating.

According to raw foodists, any food heated about 116 degrees F is not considered raw as the essential enzymes are destroyed. These enzymes are vital for digestion of food and absorption of the nutrients. Hence, by consuming raw food diet, these enzymes do not diminish and add to the nutritional value.

Many individuals shifting to raw foods find it difficult to exercise the regimen change 100%, as the cravings are high and also social commitments prevent them from sticking to the diet. However, raw food enthusiasts enjoy a lot of benefits by compromising on the delicacies. Some of the benefits include better digestion, weight loss, active daily life, improved fitness and skin health and reduced risk to various diseases related of the heart and other internal organs.

By shifting to raw food diet, you consume fewer saturated fat and trans-fat as a part of the diet. Vital nutrients like folate, fibre content and phytochemicals which promote general health are included. Diets have high potassium content and lesser sodium content which is ideal for developing a strong body. Hence, people are at reduced risks to developing high blood sugar, cholesterol, hypertension and cancerous disorders.

People who have just started on the raw food consumption experience various symptoms of detoxification like nausea, headaches, weakness; exhaustion and irritability as the harmful toxic waste are flushed out of the body. The symptoms are higher if the previous meal consisted of caffeine, sugar or red meat.

Children, anaemic people, nursing or pregnant women, people who are at risk of getting osteoporosis should not opt for complete raw food diet.

Shifting to raw food regimen requires a lot of determination and commitment. Resistance to temptation is highly difficult especially if your cravings for certain delicacies are high.

People consuming only raw foods on a daily basis may develop some nutritional deficiencies in the long run if the diet chart is not balanced enough for adequate intake of nutrients. For example, iron, calcium and vitamin deficiencies, inadequate carbohydrates and protein intake may be highly possible.

Raw foodism faces it share of criticism as people feel that, though some enzymes are deactivated while processing or cooking, the body is capable of digesting with its own enzymes and hence it does not really add much value. Many other diet theories like Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, and macrobiotics state that following 100% raw food diet may not be good for health in the long run.

With the amount of pesticides and contamination in the food items, the safety of consuming raw foods is at question as the pesticide content may highly increase in the body. However, organic foods are safer to eat for people who are enthusiastic to try this regimen at some point in their lifetime.

Jason Ladock

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