The Raw Diet: Helpful or Harmful?

What is a raw diet you might ask? The raw diet may mean different things to different people, but the most common interpretation is one in which foods are uncooked and vegan, so no meat, dairy, fish, poultry or eggs. Instead a diet full of fresh raw vegetables and fruits along with nuts and seeds is the focus. The raw diet has an important understanding of the ph of foods and how that impacts the body. A balanced ph means inflammation and its subsequent negative effects are kept under control, thus preventing disease. Enzymes are also very important to our digestion and if food is left uncooked the natural enzymes will be available to actually assist in digesting food and making it usable. Fermentation of foods is promoted, as well as sprouting various grains for their use.

The more raw food we eat the more alkaline our body tends to be as well. Inflammation and degenerative illnesses thrive in an acidic environment so balancing our ph will help to improve our health and give our bodies the tools they need to fight disease. The raw vegan diet can be very beneficial for treating or preventing cancer and diabetes. 

The only downside I see to a raw vegan diet is that it becomes difficult for many people to get enough Vitamin B12 and potentially also minerals like selenium, and zinc. A supplement is in order to make sure this vital nutrient is part of the diet. Probably it is best for growing children and pregnant women to avoid the vegan diet and at least expand to a vegetarian one during those period of life when they are growing. Also cooking foods does not always make them less nutritious although certainly eating raw foods is good for us. Tomatoes when cooked make the lycopene more available for our bodies. Beta-carotene for the body to use when carrots are cooked. 

Raw Essence by David Cote and Mathieu Gallant was a review copy of a cookbook I received this spring. I have to say this is a lovely cookbook. I love cookbooks with beautiful pictures because after I look at the pictures I want to make the food I see. Usually such a cookbook inspires some good eating.

The subtitle for Raw Essence is “180 delicious recipes for Raw Living.” Before you dismiss this to say that you don’t follow a raw food diet let me add that I do not either. I eat a wide variety of foods and a wide variety of diets. At my house my oldest daughter eats a GAPS diet but the rest of us eat mostly gluten free, some vegetarian, some paleo, 90% real and whole foods, and some raw foods. I think it makes for a healthier and more interesting diet. So I love to see cookbooks like Raw Essence  because there are going to be some very worthwhile raw recipes in there.

The book starts out with some teaching surrounding the raw food diet and principles and tools needed. I like books that teach me and give me tools and this one does that.

On of my favorite sections is the one on fermentation, because I think it is so critical to good health. Recipes are included for cashew nut cheese, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, kimchi, and nut yogurt. There is also a very creative section on dehydration, including a very interesting recipe for tortillas that does use some corn but also zucchini, pepper, and carrots. This is one I would like to try.

The authors do rely heavily on various nuts so these are not economical recipes. Even the kale chips have a cashew nut base. But if you are eating vegan then nuts would be a necessity for some protein.

This is a worthwhile cookbook whether you eat vegan and raw or not. It will expand your available recipes to enjoy your food and improve health at the same time.

(This is my affiliate link for the cookbook. I did receive a review copy but was not compensated in any way for this review.)

For further information on the raw diet misconceptions:  http://www.livescience.com/26278-risks-raw-vegan-diet.html

Shared at Wildcrafting Wednesday,  Wellness Wednesday, Natural Family Friday.