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The Raw Food Diet
Nutrition | August 06, 2014
The raw food diet became quite popular after celebrities such as Demi Moore actively preached the benefits of it. It’s a deceptively simply diet that focuses on eating foods that have not been cooked in any way, shape, or form. Strict raw foodists insist that cooking our foods renders them toxic or strips them of their nutritional value. That means that any type of heat – be it a grill, an oven, a microwave – are out. However, foods can be prepared using appliances such as dehydrators or blenders as long as no actual cooking takes place.
Much of the raw food diet consists of primarily eating fruits, vegetables, nuts and sprouted grains. Some raw food diets even go so far as eating raw meat and eggs – a practice that should honestly be avoided given the potential of consuming harmful bacteria such as salmonella or, worse, E. coli.
The high amounts of fruits and vegetables in the raw food diet make it incredibly high in essential nutrients and vitamins. Natural raw foods are also low in calories, sodium and sugar. This makes the diet, potentially, an ideal one for losing weight. The lack of saturated fats and processed sugar of any kind is a definite high point of the raw food diet.
Unfortunately, aside from nuts, protein is hard to come by. Vegans and vegetarians can easily find an abundance of protein in beans and legumes, but these require cooking. For building lean muscle at the Zgym, the raw food diet can be quite limiting. As many of you already know, protein is essential for building muscle. Also, the lack of carbs in the form of healthy grains and legumes doesn’t allow our bodies to effectively fuel up and recover before and after workouts.
The argument raw foodists make that cooking destroys nutrients and makes food toxic is not a very convincing one either. According to Dr. David Katz at Yale University, the enzymes found in fruits and vegetables raw foodists claim cooking destroys are naturally eliminated by our digestive process anyway. Also, while it’s true that eating some foods in raw form is more beneficial from a nutritional standpoint, some foods are actually more nutritional when cooked as well. Dr. Katz points out that foods such as tomatoes and eggs are more nutritious when cooked. And, of course, as I said earlier, Dr. Katz insists that cooking is the best method to insure that we’ve rid our food of potentially harmful bacteria.
Have any of you tried the raw food diet? What did you like or dislike about it? Share your thoughts with me.
Private Member |
Hi Zuzka, I am passionate about nutrition and fitness and health overall and I even tried to eat mostly fruits one time. It didn’t work out for me and I think it really depends on a person circumstances what their diet can look like. I mean, it always can be healthy, but if someone can only eat 3 times a day for instance, they can’t live off only veggies. Salads from raw fruits and vegetables are beneficial for you because the heat destroys the nutritions and also there are studies that show that when you eat cooked food, the number of white blood cells in our bodies increase and they say that it only happens when our body experience some sort of trauma or just trying to fight something. There might be some other things behind it, but that’s one of the reasons why raw food may be better for you, and it’s easier to digest too. But other than veggies and fruits I think we should not restrict our diets. Certain grains and other foods contain more minerals than other and it’s better to eat whole foods than take supplements. That’s my opinion 🙂 Also, different people have different eating sensations, so some people like it more crunchy and other more watery etc. So I think it would be challenging to eat only raw foods when you like also warm foods, or soups or this or that. Particularly if you live in cold places, warm meals are crucial:)
Btw, you should try figs in your salads, I just tried it and it is really good. They just add a little sweetness to it and they even go well with salt 🙂
And I love your recipe for healthy zuchini pasta 🙂
Best,
Private Member |
Hi Zuzka! I love getting your posts every day, you are such an inspiration for me! I found this link is an excellent read on protein, carbs and fats for normal and athletic people. It’s not raw foodist but it’s a very balanced diet. What do you think?
http://kimberlysnyder.net/blog/2014/08/05/get-lean-muscular-beauty-detox-diet/
Thanks 😀
Private Member |
I had an unexpected issue with my health this year and tried to “fix” it myself by adopting a raw food diet. I love it but it’s hard to maintain, especially when I still have to cook for my husband (which I love to do). However, on the plus side my energy levels were great, my digestion was never better and I was sleeping better than I ever had. It was awkward however in social settings. What I have decided to do is juice every day for breakfast, have a green smoothie for lunch, a huge salad with dinner along with protein, either fish or tofu/ sriram. I also make my own crackers, snacks etc. based on raw food principals. So I couldn’t do raw 100% but I have adopted it for 75% of my intake and I feel fabulous.
Private Member |
I am a RAW FOODIST and builds TONS of muscles zuzka! :))
You should see my butt and thighs!
LOTS of fruits + big salads at nights + your workouts + some tennis… TADAM! Muscles!
Please research way more into it, you’ll discover that its all about eating ENOUGH.
So many carbs in fruits, thats what we want!
Most important is to avoid animal products at all cost, THEY SUCK FOR HEALTH AND STRENGHT! (breakable bones > simple science, easy! )
I feel like you may not be simple eating ENOUGH calories. I get it with a regular cooked diet, but on a raw food diet… the food is so easily processed by the body.. u need to eat more, u actually learn to eat ENOUGH. And then you re like WOWZZA oké that’s actually the right energy i was looking for all these years!
Best!
~Anne sophie
Private Member |
I totally agree Anne Sophie 🙂 I am also a raw foodie and I haven’t felt more vibrant, more energised and more healthy ever! I can’t remember the last time I was sick and on top of it all my skin is glowing. I am 43 years of age and have been told by many that I don’t look my age…double bonus :)If you eat the right amount of fruit and vegetables(for you) it will sustain your appetite and definately build muscle.I recon that everyone to eat at least one raw meal a day.
Private Member |
I agree with you both. I have been into raw foods for about 5 years and can say I feel the most clear and the most happy. I did low carb about 10 yrs ago and I looked very lean but my face did appear older. I now know its from all the high acidic foods.
Private Member |
Thank you for your inspiration, ladies. I’m going to eat more raw food. If you have any further suggestions on how to incorporate more raw food daily I would love to hear them.
Private Member |
I agree! I am not a raw foodie but I am vegan and gluten free and I consume about 85% of my calories from raw foods. It is absolutely the best way to eat and I have tons of energy and muscle as well. I have always advocated this diet and I want to be an example of it really working. I am always on my family to eat more raw vegan foods.
Zuzka, you really need to research more into what foods contain protein. There is a protein OBSESSION going on in “Western” societies. The average person in these areas including parts of Australia and New Zealand are consuming WAY TOO MUCH animal products which are very protein rich. However, they are ignorant to the fact that ALL vegetables contain protein. Yes I know about “combining proteins so they are complete” but honestly when you put too many animal products in your body and don’t work out enough it turns to FAT! If you eat ENOUGH veggies you will never have that problem. The key here is to eat ENOUGH like Anne-Sophie said. If you want to change your life then STUFF YOUR FACE WITH VEGGIES AND FRUIT AND YOU WILL BE A SUPER HUMAN!!!
Seriously Zuzka, I have said it before, you NEED to read “The China Study” by Dr. Colin Campbell. It will change your life I promise!
Private Member |
awesome!! 🙂
Private Member |
Spinach is a high protein vegetable and not all beans require cooking.
Private Member |
I’m interested…what kind of beans doesn’t need cooking?
Private Member |
Hemp seeds are high enough in protein. I use either hemp flour / hemp protein powder on a regular basis in my shakes. And of course hemp oil. No, they don’t get you high. Look up Hemp#Nutrition on wikipedia
Also Spirulina powder is great (57.47 % protein according to wiki) once you get used to the algae smell.
Private Member |
Since my college years I have been doing a 30+ days juice fast every year. I feel fantastic and if sometimes I gain a bit of weight, the fast helps me getting back on track. Occasionally, I have also tried raw food for periods of one or two weeks. I do think it helps the body to get rid of toxins and extra fat quite rapidly. For me raw food periods and fasts are sporadic energy/detox booster. My everyday diet (five or six days a week) consists of veggies, legumes, whole wheat granes, nuts, cheeses, brown rice, quinoa, fruits, salads, olive oil, avocados (fish and eggs only occasionally). White flour, sugar, processed drinks, sodas, chicken and red meat, NEVER. Once or twice a week I declare a cheat day. Bring on the chocolate mousses, gourmet pizzas, good sushi and pasta.
Private Member |
I have been eating a plant based diet for over 20 years. five years completely raw and the other years 80% raw, I have very good mucle tone and I don’t really lift that much weight. when I was into weight lifting I was very muscular, I have always had a lot of strength and energy to do my workouts no matter what I was eating. its all about what I believe. the mind tells the body what to do.A raw plant based diet works great for me because I personally think it the tasty food ever. I believe there is no right or wrong way to eat. feeling good first is what I do and then from there I have loads of energy. zuzka your workouts are buy far the best workouts I have ever done, cheers