If you’ve been wondering what all the fuss is about raw food diets, you’re not alone. Although raw food was a diet proposed as one of the healthiest as long ago as the early 20^th century, only recently has it been catching on. Now, you hear about it all the time because people are beginning to realize how healthy it really is.

Those people who indulge in a raw diet insist that it is by far the very best and the most logical for our bodies. This is because raw foods haven’t had the important nutrients like enzymes and other micro-organisms cooked out of them. To say the least, raw foods provide more nutrition than other foods.

Raw food diets come in a variety of shapes and forms.

Raw Foodism
This diet doesn’t restrict any foods as long as they are raw (uncooked).

Raw Vegan diet
This diet consists of fruits, nuts, legumes, sprouts, vegetables and seeds only

Primal Diet
This diet includes only meats with fat, dairy products and vegetable juices.

Despite their differences, all these diets maintain that at least ¾ of all foods are raw or heated to no more than 116 F degrees.

Advantages of a Raw Food Diet

The most obvious benefit of eating a raw food diet is a natural loss of weight. Those who are into such a diet eat foods that are naturally plants so of course there are fewer calories. Also, unless the person eats a lot of seeds and nuts, the diet is naturally lower in fat. Another reason is that raw foods create more energy which in turn burns more calories during the digestion process.

Not surprising, people who eat a diet made up of raw foods have more energy. Although no one has been able to determine exactly why this happens, most think it’s because the foods they eat are metabolized easier than foods which are cook, thereby creating more energy. Also, raw foods have no refined sugars which ultimately deplete our energy following a quick energy rush.

Another factor noticed by people who live on a raw food diet is that they experience better digestion. This is probably due to the fact that raw foods have an abundance of enzymes which are vital to the digestion process. The result is that there is not as much stomach acid produced so the problems that can be associated with food digestion are alleviated.

Raw food diet advocates also maintain the experience fewer skin problems and find they are at a lower risk than most for heart problems and other chronic diseases. The fact that raw food diets include few fats but excel in good nutrition is what enables this benefit.

At first thought, a raw food diet probably appears to be very limiting, but really there are so many different foods to choose from that there is no lack for variety. Also, advocates point out that even though a raw food diet is limiting in some ways, the health benefits make the diet very attractive.