Answers to Everyday Questions : How Can I Lose Weight Through the Raw Food Diet?

One of the weight loss regimens that some people take involves consuming purely raw foods. Advocates of this diet maintain that cooking, or heat, will damage the essential enzymes that are naturally present in food. It has gained popularity a decade ago, but it has been in existence since the 1960s.

The diet is mainly composed of foods that are often present in vegan diets. Some still complement their meals with raw cheese or milk and some meats that can be eaten raw, but these are rare. Extreme raw food diets shun animal produce completely, believing that consuming these are unhealthy or unethical. Fruitarianism, another form of vegetarianism, involves eating only raw fresh fruits.

The meals in raw food diets are never subjected heated above 115 degrees Fahrenheit, or 46 degrees Celsius. They believe that higher temperatures will damage the molecular structures that are naturally present in the food. Some use a device called the dehydrator, which has a convection fan to gently heat the food. Crackers, breads, and nuts may be dehydrated this way so as to act as a supplement to the rest of the meal.

It takes research to implement the raw food diet correctly, as some raw foods may result in malnutrition and illnesses. As with vegan diets, careful care must be exercised in making sure that the necessary food groups are well represented in the meal. It should have adequate amounts of carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and minerals to meet the daily dietary requirement of an individual.

Various resources are available for those who are interested in taking on this diet. Before making any drastic changes, make sure that you have consulted your doctor so that he or she can advise you about possible risks that you may have, especially if you have a pre-existing medical condition. While you don’t have to completely adhere to eating only raw food, you can choose to change your eating habits in favor of increasing the amount of raw fruits and vegetables that you consume.