The raw food diet is a healthy diet that consists of uncooked and unprocessed plant foods. It can be used to improve digestion, increase energy, reduce the risk of heart disease, and improve the skin’s appearance or to lose weight fast. When food is heated above 116 degrees F important enzymes are believed to be destroyed. These enzymes help in the digestion and the absorption of foods. Cooked foods also lose their nutritional value and their life force of energy.

Raw food diets contain lower amounts of saturated fat, trans fats and sodium compared to regular diets. They also contain high amounts of magnesium, fiber, potassium and phytochemicals that help promote health. Choosing to switch to the raw food diet can lower the chances of developing not only heart disease, but also cancer and diabetes.

Foods that are acceptable to eat on the raw food diet are:
Beans
Legumes
Nuts
Fresh fruits and vegetables
Seeds
Seaweed
Young coconut milk
Purified water
Unprocessed natural or organic foods
Fresh fruit and vegetable juices
Grains

These foods should be unprocessed with 75% of the foods consumed not heated over 115 degrees F. Certain cooking methods can be used to make foods digest easier and add some diversity to the diet. Dehydrating food is one cooking technique that can be used as well as blending foods, soaking dried fruits and nuts, juicing vegetables and fruits and choosing sprouting grains, beans and seeds. Having a blender, chopper and food processor can help save time when preparing foods. Another useful piece of equipment that is handy to have when on the raw food diet is a dehydrator. This machine blows air through the food while maintaining a temperature below 116 degrees F. Having a juice extractor also is useful for juicing vegetables and fruits.

When first beginning this diet, some individuals go through a detoxification period. This is especially true for individuals who are accustomed to eating diets rich in sugar, meat and caffeine. Although symptoms usually only last for a few days these symptoms include nausea, food cravings and headaches. Individuals should check with their physicians before starting this diet. Those who have anemia, osteoporosis, are pregnant or nursing as well as children may be advised that this diet is not appropriate for them. Those who are successful at maintaining this diet experience increases in energy levels and often lose weight fast as well as benefit from over-all better health.