5 reasons to go raw, and 5 not to
i have worked at two juice bars here in LA and think i’ve gotten a pretty good taste of the raw food experience. i’ve sampled and prepared many raw creations, learned about the health benefits and most importantly, met a lot of people that have plenty of experience with raw food.
personally, a completely raw diet isn’t for me, but i do enjoy raw food as a good portion of what i eat. i prefer having the option to eat delicious raw treats as well as cooked ones. so i’ve compiled here a short list of my opinions as to why it’s a great idea to go raw, and why maybe it’s not.
reasons to go raw:
1. maximum nutritional content – most foods loose varying amounts of nutritional content when cooked. eating them in their raw state, and as fresh as possible ensures you get the maximum quantity and quality of vitamins, fiber, enzymes, antioxidants and protein.
2. it’s a greener diet – of course fresh fruits and vegetables take no energy before they are ready to have a bite taken out of them, but even prepared raw foods usually only require blending, sun drying, light dehydrating or refrigeration. it’s a fraction of the energy used to run a microwave, toaster, oven or any other electrical appliance.
3. it can cost less money – you can save a lot of money if you have a diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, buy in bulk, grow your own sprouts, wild harvest weeds, and basically keep it simple. you just have to resist indulging in prepared raw foods or expensive super foods, which can take a serious toll on your wallet.
4. makes you feel better – depending on if a raw diet is right for you and if your raw diet is a balanced and healthy one, cutting out junk like processed sugar, white flour and fried foods alone will make you feel much cleaner, lighter and energized. it can even help you live longer and prevent against diseases like cancer.
5. raw foodists look great – this may sound strange, but i have had the pleasure of meeting several long-time raw foodists that look up to 10 years younger than they actually are. eating a fresh, healthy, organic diet for many years has seemed to give them a natural glow that is absolutely brilliant. it makes sense if you think about it, they aren’t eating chemical preservatives or highly processed foods, and they are constantly getting high doses of fiber, active enzymes and antioxidants.
reasons not to:
1. it takes more energy to digest – the simple fact of the matter is that a completely raw food diet is not for everyone. cooking food helps to break it down before we let our bodies have a go at it. when you eat all raw food your body has to do all the work and some people simply do not have strong enough digestion to handle that. even though you get all of those yummy fresh vitamins in raw foods, it’s not guaranteed that your body can break through the cellulose cell wall of the food to access them.
many raw foodists strive for a substantial percentage of their diet to be raw, like 75 or 80%. if you want to go raw but don’t think you can take the full plunge, try to balance out with lightly steamed vegetables, cooked grains, whole grain breads and vegetable soups. this will help give your digestion a much needed rest.
2. more prep time – fresh fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds can be easy snacks but don’t leave everyone satisfied. often people get bored with just salads and tend to get creative with making raw dishes that resemble cooked food. while nutritious, these creations often take time, sometimes a lot of time. they can involve hours of soaking, dehydrating or chilling in the fridge.
3. it can cost a lot of money – yes, money is both a reason you should and should not go raw. if you crave a more diverse diet and you miss the taste of cooked food, there is a huge market for very good, but very expensive raw cuisine. from cheesecake, to kale nachos, to ice cream, one can easily get carried away.
4. inconvenience – to a variying degree, this is a reason often cited for not being vegan, so it’s not a deal breaker, but definitely something to keep in mind. depending on the restaurants you frequent, getting your hands on raw food can be a problem when dining out. unless, of course, you don’t mind coming prepared with snacks in your bag.
5. your diet will be limited – there are many foods that cannot be eatten any other way than cooked. many rices for example will never soften no mater how much soaking, and most squashes need a little time in a pot before they are edible. you can still enjoy the fresh, delicious, natural flavors of raw cuisine, but if you’re not 100% you also have the option of loving the healthy cooked foods we all know and love.
if you want to learn more there are books you can read and many restaurants here in LA you can check out. here are some of my favorite raw recipes to get you started:
very informative post. Thanks for sharing!
I find turning all raw hard myself, always on a cooked food rebound. But, I really enjoy raw foods most of the time. It’s good to read about your experiences being in between ^_^
That was a cool post. I’ve done a smattering of raw here and there, and I don’t think I could do it forever, but it definitely has its benefits!!
This is brilliant and one of the clearest and most concise takes on the raw/cooked balance I’ve seen in print–Thank you. I strive to share this equanimity when clients, friends, fanatics, and the curious stranger ask my opinion or for advice. I love all the references and look forward to sharing your words.
I also find season and location to be a huge factor. Summer (and temperate/tropical) climates favor raw much more than a cold blustery winter, for example.
thanks for the kind words sarah!
yes, environment can have a huge impact on digestion as well. that’s why we prefer warm, cooked foods in the winter time and when we are in cold, snowy climates, and why we crave fresh fruits and vegetables during the summer or when in tropical locales. it’s a shame i left that point out, it’s an important factor.
Thanks so much jacqueline for this post. I have been reading up on raw diets for a few weeks now and I always enjoy a balanced perspective.
It’s definitely tougher for me during the winter to eat raw foods because I live (and work) in an environment which is always hovering around the freezing point. It’s always nice in the summer to get back to the basics and eat a lot of raw fruits and veggies.
I am definitely subscribing to your blog now. I really enjoy your matter of fact writing style. Thanks!
~SweetKaroline
thanks karoline!
Your totally wrong about 1. it takes more energy to digest… Raw foods are easier to digest because all the enzymes are intact. That is one of the reasons eating raw foods gives you more energy, less time and easier to digest.
I do appreciate you admit that raw food takes MORE prep time and can cost more money. Everybody out there seems to be claiming the opposite and that is definitely not my experience. I spend WAY more money eating raw and spending lots more time in the kitchen. Prep time is a beating most of the time, except when things like raw breads are already prepared.
i should clarify that i am a student of chinese medicine which does not condone an all raw diet. the belief is that we have a system of burners in our body which are responsible for cooking our food as it moves through our body. raw food requires additional heat and is particularly hard on those with cold constitutions. personally, i have signs of cold and find an all raw diet extremely draining to my system, but i can understand how warmer body types do much better with it.
I’d say that raw food at its simplest can be quicker and easier to whip up than almost any other food. For example many raw “cookies” and “brownies” take five minutes to make and with very few dishes to wash afterwards. Many soups, sauces and spreads are the same. And it’s a real delight in the summer, when you don’t want to turn on the oven, but would still like to make, say, chocolate cake.
Raw food may not be suitable for people with IBS (many who have IBS have problems with a) many raw veggies b) anything fatty, including nuts and seeds). Luckily I don’t have that problem despite having IBS, though raw onions, cruciferous vegetables and some other raw veggies do give me some trouble.
Also, if you’re allergic to nuts, eating raw might be difficult – not impossible, but not nearly as nice.
good points maija!
raw food should still be part of most people’s normal diet, it’s a good source of fiber, vitamins, and enzymes. but everyone is different and they’re diets should reflect that. we all have to find our own balance.
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