Based on the information I’ve read about the raw food diet, its followers view it as much more than simply a quick and easy way to shed some extra pounds. Testimonials often take on somewhat of a spiritual tone.

To them, living (raw) foods make you feel alive, while dead (cooked) foods leave you feeling sluggish and drained. Some even refer to a certain life force that can be found only in uncooked and unprocessed foods. Personally, the raw food diet would be a little extreme for me, but followers of this diet do have a valid point. Cooking food does remove many important nutrients. For example, cooking navy beans removes at least half of the magnesium, phosphorous, and potassium they contained originally, and boiling carrots removes almost 80% of their folate. It is clear that eating raw foods would, in many cases, be more nutritious. Proponents and followers (often referred to as raw foodists) cite major benefits to following this type of plan. They claim those who adopt a raw food diet will experience a marked increase in energy, will lose weight, that many diseases and ailments will vanish, and that the raw foodist will experience happiness, often to the point of bliss. Hmm… If you’ve gotten this far, you are probably wondering exactly what types of foods raw foodists can eat. This diet is quite restrictive, at least compared to what the average North American eats in a typical day. If you are following this type of diet, you can enjoy fruits, veggies, sprouts, spices, nuts, seeds, grains, and…algae. Hungry yet? Actually, it was surprising to see just how creative people were in devising recipes from these simple ingredients. Many sounded quite appetizing, such as a recipe for mushrooms stuffed with garlic, basal, and tomato. Some were a little odd, like pizza with sea vegetable crust and avocado and dulse flake topping. There was also a recipe for tacos, which called for avocado, spices, and other raw veggies to be blended into a paste. The ‘filling’ is then put into a ‘taco shell’ (a leaf of lettuce). The contributor promised that it ‘tastes like a taco.’ Yes…of course it does. Check out some of the recipes at Living Foods to see some more creative raw food concoctions for yourself. It’s important to note that, while many people eat only raw foods when they are following this type of plan, there are others that also incorporate other choices into their daily diets. Some individuals may eat raw foods 75% of the time, for example, but enjoy some meat, dairy products, or pasta on occasion. A holistic diet allows you to eat well but not limit yourself to only raw foods - you'll look and feel better without depriving yourself. If you are thinking about adopting a raw food lifestyle, it’s definitely not something you can jump into overnight, especially if you enjoy eating Philly cheese steak subs every other day. Experts recommend easing into the diet gradually. So, for example, if you usually eat bacon and eggs for breakfast, try to substitute this meal with apples and alfalfa sprouts. When you adjust to this replacement, go on to lunch, then dinner, and so on, until you have replaced all or most of your typical foods with raw foods. As with many restrictive diets, there are considerations and potential problems that you should be aware of if you decide to adopt this one. Obviously, because you are essentially eliminated two food groups, getting enough of certain nutrients is a concern. It is difficult to get adequate calcium, iron, and protein from the few foods you are allowed to consume. It’s probably a good idea to talk to your doctor about nutritional supplements that can meet these needs. The raw food diet can also be expensive. It is recommended that followers of the plan try to eat organic produce, and this can quickly become a major expense. Even buying fresh fruits and veggies when they are out of season can add up. Make sure you will be able to afford the required foods. Personally, I admire anyone who could follow such a plan, and I do believe it would deliver immense improvements to your health. I just think it’s too restrictive for most people. While I enjoy my salads and raw veggies, I also enjoy cheese, fish, and hey, even a hamburger once in a while. And a sea vegetable pizza, in my humble opinion, will never equal my double cheese, thick crust indulgence…topped with sausage and cooked peppers.