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The raw food diet is as much a life-style as an eating plan; a naturalistic approach which excludes, in addition to cooked and animal foods, processed and refined ingredients.

A food is essentially ‘raw’ if it is kept below 115 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature above which enzymes are destroyed. Eating raw food ensures an opulent intake of nutrients, fiber, healthy oils and life-giving enzymes.

Whole foods, sprouts and raw juices are favored in a raw food diet, and dehydrator ovens effectively concentrate the flavor of certain raw foods to assist in the creation of a mind-boggling array of as-cooked dishes.

There are some variations that people decide to follow with a “go raw” diet, depending on their lifestyle choices and the overall results they are attempting to achieve. One of the reasons is raw power. Raw plant foods are healthy, regenerative, cleansing, energizing, predominantly alkaline, and packed with vitamins, minerals, healthy oils, enzymes and antioxidants that promote health, beauty and longevity. As well as enhancing digestion and protecting against aging and disease, a raw food diet has noted weight loss benefits and promotes clear, beautiful skin.

The living raw food diets include a wide variety of different raw edibles including vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and sprouts from seeds and from whole grain berries.
There is a common misconception that everyone who follows a raw food eating plan is either vegetarian or vegan. But a raw food diet in general is not that narrowly defined and can include dairy products that have not gone through the pasteurization process, as well as eggs, fish and some meats.

However, those who do want to eat raw vegan or raw vegetarian diets would simply follow their normal food selections, but would make sure not to cook their food. Because of this flexibility, just about any lifestyle can incorporate a diet of eating raw food.

Benefits of the Raw Food Diet
 One of obvious benefits of a raw food diet is weight loss. As most raw food dieters eat only plant foods, fewer calories are usually consumed. The diet is also usually low in fat, unless a large amount of seeds and nuts are eaten regularly.

Improved digestion is also a benefit of eating a raw food diet. This is due to the digestive enzymes present in raw foods, allowing the body’s own enzymes to maintain their focus on regulating it’s metabolism. People who complain of a low metabolism may benefit from eating more raw food. Others who complain of digestive issues such as acid reflux may also benefit.

Those on the raw food diet often report an increase in energy. The body doesn’t have to work as hard to produce enzymes, as they already exist in the raw food. They also tend not to combine proteins and carbohydrates in the same meal which slows digestion and zaps our energy.
 
 The raw food diet may sound like a life of deprivation to some, but it is not as limiting as one might think. Advocates believe there are a number of benefits backed up by scientific evidence. Try incorporating more raw food with each meal and experience the benefits yourself.