Raw Food Diet Pros & Cons

Hi guys!

I have seen it in every magazine and I personally know people who have already tried the raw food diet. My question was, ' Is this kind of diet really good, or are you causing damages to your body?'

Let's have a look!

For those who haven't heard of the raw food diet:

Raw Food Diet, also known as rawism or raw foodism , is the practice of consuming uncooked, unprocessed and often organic food. This diet was developed as a dietary healthy treatment by medical doctor M. Bircher-Benner in the 19th century in Switzerland. 

Nowadays this kind of diet has become very popular and some kind of fashion, thanks to Hollywood stars. But this Rawism isn't a weight loss diet, it's rather a lifestyle. 

'Raw Foodists' believe that unprocessed plant food leads to get a leaner body, as well as a cleaner skin and more energy. But nutritionist aren't that sure about it and have some serious arguments against this rawism. 

Normally raw food diets include a selection of raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, eggs, fish (like sashimi) , meat (like carpaccio) and non-pasteurized/homogenized dairy products (raw milk, raw milk cheese and raw milk yogurt).

Alcohol, refined sugars and caffeine are prohibited in this diet.

Here a short list of the pro & cons of rawism:

1. Raw foodists think that high-heat cooking filters enzymes and vitamin critical for proper digestion while experts believe that the body itself produces the necessary enzymes for digestion. Plus, cooking food below 46° may not kill harmful bacteria, especially with meat and eggs. 
2. Cooking vegetables tends to kill important nutrients while cooking also kills harmful bacteria, which may occur in food. 
3. Eating raw vegetables helps reduce the risk of oral, pharyngeal, laryngeal, esophageal and gastric cancers. But there are also substances in foods, which content is the highest when the food is cooked,which is the case with lycopene , which is found in vegetables like tomatoes. Research has also shown that lycopene has a good influence on cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and cancer. (Carrots are also more nutritious when cooked)

But research has also found out that the raw food diet has a very big advantage: you have a nutrition full of vegetables and fruits which means that the diet is rich in nutrients, fiber and low in fat an sugar. Unless you get enough of vitamin b12, calcium, iron and omega-3 fatty acids, this diet can be quite healthy for you. So, while a raw food diet is low in calcium, vitamin D , iron, zinc and protein, you may have to find alternatives to cover your daily intake. 

Conclusion:

The Raw Food Diet has its advantages and its disadvantages. Just like every other diet too! There are maybe more disadvantages than advantages, but no one prohibits us to only use the advantages and combine them with our usual healthy nutrition. Which would be the smartest choice, wouldn't it?