Raw, natural, organic, and uncooked food-this is the concept around which raw food diets revolve. These diets promote the consumption of food in their most basic form-from fresh fruits and vegetables to uncooked fish and meat, as well as unprocessed dairy products. Raw food advocates believe that cooking food strips it of its necessary nutrients and destroy important enzymes, causing deficiencies and health problems. To achieve good health and enjoy overall well-being, going for raw and natural food is advised.

The Components

The major components of raw food diets are organic food. Among these are the following:

• Fruits and vegetables (dried, juiced, or simply fresh)
• Seeds, beans, and nuts
• Seaweed
• Sprouts
• Whole grains
• Raw milk and other milk derivatives like yogurt and cheese
• Raw fish (like smoked fish or sashimi)
• Raw meat (like cured meat)

Being fresh and unprocessed, many of these foods are easy to prepare. However, there are others that require overnight preparation like soaking. There are food paraphernalia and kitchen equipment common to all raw foodists like juicer, food processor, dehydrator, and blender.

The Benefits

Aside from the fact that the raw food eating pattern is more practical, cheaper, and easier to prepare, it's also a great way to lose weight and it also offers a lot of health benefits. Among these are the following:

• It improves digestion due to its preservation of digestion-enhancing enzymes
• It reduces unhealthy fats and heart risks
• It reduces the occurrence of certain types of cancer
• It also reduces occurrence of cold and flu
• It gives more energy-even if you eat only a small amount of food
• It's proven to improve the health of the skin, as well as to make a person look younger

Well, raw food diet covers everything-from health to beauty. With all its benefits, no wonder it's attracting a lot of people. Among the known advocates of raw food diets are David Wolfe and Aajonus Vonderplanitz, and among the Hollywood celebrities known for following these diets are Mel Gibson and Demi Moore.

Risks Posed

With the growing popularity of this diet, is it really all that safe? How safe is it to eat raw? Are there considerations that every raw foodist must remember? Well, raw food diet is healthy, but there are some reminders and risks.

1. RawFoodDiet is rich in vitamins. However, it also lacks some nutrients. Among these are vitamin B12 and iron, lycopene, calcium, omega 3, and vitamin D. Therefore, for those who are going into this kind of diet, taking vitamin supplements may be needed.

2. One risk with raw food is food poisoning. For one, fruits and vegetables are exposed to pesticides. And, there are also plants that may not be good when eaten raw. Therefore, if you're eating raw food, choose the food carefully and do your research. Thoroughly wash and clean the food as well before preparing it.

With all these guidelines in mind, you can now go into raw food diets and enjoy all the benefits while avoiding the risks.