Going raw consists of just that: not eating cooked, fried, steamed or boiled foods. It’s basically not eating food heated beyond 115 degrees.
While going raw can also include eating raw meat, the majority of raw foodies tend to be either vegetarians or vegans, and their diet mostly consists of fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, legumes and cereals.
Going raw is not easy, however. It is difficult to find restaurants that can accomodate this diet, and at home, this type of diet can require a lot of prep work, let alone having to give up many of your favorite hot meals. In fact, going raw requires so much dedication that raw foodies measure their success in percentages. They will tell you they are 80 or 90 percent raw, for example.
So why go raw? Why give up the stove, the grill and the microwave?
Mostly, it’s for health reasons. Those in the raw community believe that this lifestyle leads to better health and preventing chronic diseases. Some doctors use raw foods as a form of alternative medicines to treat diseases such as cancers and autoimmune diseases. Some raw foodists point out that it helps their skin, their weight, mental clarity, hydration, immune system and energy levels and provides a host of other benefits.
Their belief is that cooking destroys enzymes in foods, and that is vital because enzymes help bodies break down nutrients so that the body can absorb them.
Because of the nature of their diet, preliminary research indicates raw foodists consume an average of 18 fruits and vegetables per day, while the typical American consumes only an average of three servings of fruits and vegetables in one day.
They also tend to have a lower body mass index and decreased levels of bad cholesterol. The diet has also helped decrease symptoms of fibromyalgia and is high in fiber and low in saturated fat.