A Raw Food Diet and Its Benefits

A Raw Food Diet and Its Benefits
by Jeff Enfield

One of the most commonly asked questions in regards to the raw food diet is why is
cooking the food unacceptable? Basically, when you heat food over 118'F, you kill
enzymes in the food. These enzymes are what help your body to break down and
digest food. The body can produce these enzymes; however, it takes a large
amount of energy to do so and will leave you feeling lethargic and with less energy
than before you ate. It also kills a large percentage of vitamins and can make
minerals more difficult to extract from the food source during digestion.

There are many benefits from engaging in a raw food diet and include:
• Weight loss and detoxification
• Increased levels of energy
• Improved immune system
• Reduced risk of sinusitis, allergies
• Control diabetes without the use of insulin
• Better digestion
• Healthy skin and hair
• Decreased cholesterol

Eating a raw food diet requires a bit of time at the beginning to become accustomed
to proper portion sizes, good choices, and how to plan ahead. Many people find it
difficult to get used to not cooking or heating their food all the time by popping it into
a microwave. It will require you to effectively plan out your meals everyday as well
as overhaul your kitchen to create a raw food environment.

Issues regarding food safety often come up due to the recommendation not to cook
your food. When choosing to eat foods that come from animal sources, such as
meat, fish or poultry, be sure to cook it before consuming. Bacteria such as E. coli
and salmonella grow on raw animal sources and can cause severe food poisoning. Be
sure to refrigerate any unconsumed food immediately and be sure not to leave
edibles out of the fridge for more than two hours. If you need to disinfect your food,
use food grade hydrogen peroxide which kills more bacteria than cooking alone.

About The Author

Jeff likes to write on diverse subjects and has been doing so for several years. His
most recent web page is which provides people
with information on .

A raw food diet is exactly what it
sounds - a diet consisting of
unprocessed and uncooked food
sources. Ideally, food should be as
untouched as possible, meaning that
cooking above a temperature of
118'F should be as limited as much
as possible. Primary sources of
nutrition on this type of diet include
fresh fruits and vegetables, sprouts,
seeds, nuts, grains, and beans. It is
considered raw food because they
aren't processed. Generally, roughly
75% of the diet should consist of
uncooked food when transitioning to
this type of diet.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The content on
this website is for educational purposes only. Please consult with your physician before using natural
remedies and before making any drastic changes to your diet or exercise program.