Raw food what is

The milk you buy in grocery stores is pasteurized, which is a heating process that kills bacteria. Stick with pasteurized milk, cheese and other dairy products so you can avoid the nasty illnesses that come with bacteria in raw dairy. Even eggs that appear normal can contain Salmonella and make you sick. But maybe you make your own Caesar salad dressing with raw eggs.

Or you love your yolks on the runny side. Luckily, you have a safe option: Buy pasteurized eggs. Eating raw meats, poultry and fish can be dangerous to your health. Cooking can decrease certain nutrients in food, especially water-soluble vitamins like the B vitamins and vitamin C.

But you can tweak your cooking methods to preserve most of these nutrients. In some cases, cooking can increase the availability of nutrients. For example, cooked tomatoes, asparagus and squash give you more antioxidants than raw ones. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables has proven health benefits, whether the foods are raw or not. Okinawan Diet. Ayurvedic Diet. Fruitarian Diet. The typical American diet is low in fruits and vegetables and has large amounts of animal products and processed food.

But getting more fruits, vegetables, and other plant foods into your diet may protect you against certain diseases. It can also have some serious drawbacks and risks. If you are thinking of trying the diet, consult your health care provider to see if it is the right eating plan for you.

If you'd like to eat more raw plant foods but don't want to go on a full-fledged raw food diet, start slowly by integrating one or more servings of raw vegetables into your meals and find the balance that works best for you. While we do not endorse fad diet trends or unsustainable weight loss methods, we present the facts so you can make an informed decision that works best for your nutritional needs, genetic blueprint, and budget, and goals.

Exercise, sleep, and other lifestyle factors also play a major role in your overall health. The best diet is always the one that is balanced and fits your lifestyle. Looking to lose weight? Our nutrition guide can help you get on the right track. Sign up and get yours! Factors affecting adherence to a raw vegan diet. Complement Ther Clin Pract. Updated December Best Diets Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevent Food Poisoning. National Eating Disorders Association.

Department of Health and Human Services and U. Department of Agriculture. Ninth Edition. December Nutr Clin Pract. Consequences of a long-term raw food diet on body weight and menstruation: results of a questionnaire survey. Ann Nutr Metab. Vegan diet, subnormal vitamin B status and cardiovascular health. Published Aug Healthy aging diets other than the Mediterranean: a focus on the Okinawan diet. Mech Ageing Dev. Your Privacy Rights.

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We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. What Can You Eat? Pros and Cons. What Experts Say "The raw food diet encourages people to eat only raw never heated , unprocessed foods.

What to Eat on a Whole Foods Diet. What to Eat Whole, unprocessed foods Organic fruits, vegetables, and nuts Sprouted or germinated beans and grains Recipes prepared from raw ingredients. Pros Emphasizes whole, unprocessed foods Low in saturated fats and sodium Effective for weight loss.

Cons Too restrictive Risk of nutrient deficiencies Risk of food-borne illness Impractical. The Basics of a Healthy, Balanced Diet. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. What are your concerns?

Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Related Articles. What Is the Ayurvedic Diet? Does the Ornish Diet Really Work? What Is the Sonoma Diet? People can also get food poisoning from raw fruits and vegetables. This is less likely with cooked fruits and vegetables because the cooking process kills bacteria.

The CDC recommend always washing produce before eating it. Nutritionists and dietitians suggest that people following a raw food diet should consume the following foods with caution:.

Buckwheat : Buckwheat greens may be toxic when raw, though there is little research about its effect on humans. Juicing or eating buckwheat in large amounts may cause toxic effects, such as a sensitivity to the sun, or photosensitization. Kidney beans : Kidney beans contain a chemical called phytohaemagglutinin. Raw kidney beans and kidney bean sprouts may be toxic. Cooking reduces the level of phytic acid. Sprouts : Sprouted seeds, such as alfalfa sprouts and bean sprouts, can harbor Salmonella , E.

Cassava : Cassava , also known as yucca or gaplek, can be toxic when raw. People should peel, slice, and cook this vegetable thoroughly to ensure it is safe. Raw eggs : Salmonella bacteria are present in some eggs, which can cause severe illness and even death. Cooking eggs kills the bacteria. The CDC recommend using pasteurized eggs when using recipes that call for raw or undercooked eggs. Seafood and shellfish : Raw, seafood and shellfish can pass on harmful bacteria.

The CDC recommend that people avoid raw seafood. Milk : Raw milk may contain Listeria , bacteria that can cause serious infections and has links to pregnancy complications.

According to the CDC , pasteurized milk contains the same health benefits without the risks. Anecdotal evidence suggests that people on the raw food diet may experience clearer skin, more energy, sustained weight loss, and a reduction in cholesterol and lipid levels in blood tests. People following any plant-based diet must take care to get all the nutrients they need, as some nutrients are much more common in animal products. Essential nutrients that people should consider include protein, vitamin B , iron , calcium , some omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin D.

Followers of the raw food diet often discourage the use of supplements. One small-scale study from found that people on a raw food vegetarian diet had lower bone mass, although their bones appeared to be otherwise healthy. High levels of tHcy can increase the risk of cardiovascular problems. Females who followed the raw food diet for over 3 years experienced irregularities in their menstrual cycle. Dietitians agree, however, that an increased intake of fruits and vegetables and a reduction in processed food would benefit most people.

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