Raw Food: Dangerous Or Healthy

A raw food diet is often referred to as a more rigid form of vegetarianism, but the main factor of such a diet is the preservation of the nutritional value of the foods consumed. The fact is that a raw food diet is a food system in which food is eaten that did not lend itself to heat treatment - cooking, frying, smoking, baking, that is, in other words, you will have to eat only raw foods.

It is believed that during heat treatment important compounds, enzymes, vitamins are destroyed and destroyed, and all the energy of life disappears. The question, of course, is controversial, but, nevertheless, many unquestioningly believe in the new trend of fashion and easily refuse the usual diet. However, there are a lot of foods allowed with such a peculiar diet, and you definitely will not stay hungry. So, for example, it is allowed to fearlessly and in any quantity eat any raw vegetables and fruits, seeds, nuts, cereal grains, cold-pressed vegetable oils, dried food without adding any seasonings.

Story

It turns out that the history of this unusual way of eating goes back a long way. Even in ancient Egypt, it was believed that eating cooked foods contributed to the decline of vitality and morale. True, then for many centuries morale and enlightenment were forgotten (or sought to them in other ways, avoiding raw food), the passion for "natural" food returned again in the second half of the twentieth century, along with the hippie youth movement.

Then unity with nature was only encouraged, and the consumption of vegetables and fruits became fashionable again. Began a massive fascination with fruit and vegetable diets, which led, incidentally, to the active development of the "industry to get rid of excess weight." More recently, a provocative book by the not-too-famous American author, The First Law of Nature, was published, which provoked a real scandal in society. In his work, the author categorically argued that "any cooked food is poison." Against the background of this work, a lot of controversy and disagreement arose, but under her influence, the movement of raw foodists expanded significantly.

Types of raw food

An omnivorous raw food diet. This type of consumption of "live" food allows the addition of any product to the diet, including meat, fish, seafood, milk, eggs, but only raw.
Vegetarian raw food diet. This raw food diet, in contrast, completely excludes meat and fish, but allows raw eggs and dairy products.
Carnivorous raw food diet. It is based on the consumption of raw fish, seafood, raw meat, game, eggs and animal fat. As for fruits, vegetables and cereals. Then they are strictly prohibited.
Fruitarianism. This diet involves eating only fruits and berries, and differs from the classic raw food diet in that there are no vegetables in the diet that are not fruits. So, for example, fans of this type of raw food diet will have to give up carrots, cabbage, potatoes and beets, not to mention fruits.

Benefit

Strengthening the immune system. According to the raw foodists themselves, this diet helps not only to avoid various diseases, but also to cure existing problems. A raw food diet helps to strengthen bones and get rid of pain in the spine (there is a belief that using raw food can get rid of a spinal hernia). However, this plus can be attributed to the category of abstract - its healing effects are known only from the words of the raw foodists themselves and have not been confirmed from a medical point of view.
Slimming. It's hard to argue with this plus. Indeed, 1.5-2 months after switching to raw food and giving up bread, buns and other grain products, that is, by reducing the number of calories, a person loses weight (see also: "What do we spend calories on during the day"). Therefore, recently, the raw food diet has begun to be used as a diet. However, you can just as well practice healthy eating.
Energy. This positive aspect is also controversial. Of course, limiting yourself to junk food, there is every chance to regain lost energy, and temporary fasting in the early stages is generally able to turn a losing weight into an energizer. But in this case, again, it makes little sense to resort to drastic measures when it is possible to arrange fasting days for yourself a couple of times a week.

Harm

Vitamin deficiency. When switching to raw food, if the diet is not balanced (this happens very often due to ignorance), the body often becomes deficient in vitamins (see also: "Why is pomegranate worse than oatmeal, or What to eat from vitamin deficiency") and minerals. Specifically calcium and magnesium. Due to their shortage after the transition to a strict regime, sometimes the case can end in anemia.
Digestive upset. Again, due to inexperience, beginner raw foodists eat everything, while some combinations are absolutely unacceptable: for example, you cannot mix proteins with carbohydrates, and vegetables with fruits. The combination of nuts with honey is also unacceptable.
Aggression. When switching to a raw food diet, you often give up cereals - cereals, bread, baked goods, and this, in turn, leads to a lack of B vitamins in the body, which are responsible for mental balance.

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