Frequently Asked Questions

The following information is for education only and is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, or treat illness.

What is the raw food diet?

The raw food diet (synonymous with living foods) is a lifestyle which promotes the eating of unprocessed food, either not cooked at all, or just heated slowly at very low temperatures (115 degrees Fahrenheit is the accepted maximum), so as not to destroy valuable nutrients and/or enzymes.

Raw foodism often involves eating mostly, if not all, chemical-free plant-based foods. Some people consider the raw organic vegan diet to be the healthiest diet or lifestyle in existence.

What do raw foodists eat?

Depending on the level or type of diet chosen, raw food diets generally include raw fruits, vegetables, greens, fresh herbs and spices, seaweeds, soaked nuts and seeds, and sprouted beans, seeds, nuts or grains.

Nuts and seeds are suggested to be soaked to activate enzymes and to turn them from an acidic state to a more alkaline state.

A lot of times, raw foodists will also consume green smoothies or green juices daily and sometimes solely as part of a fast or overall lifestyle. Green smoothies are simply fruit smoothies blended with greens. Green juices or vegetable juices are single or multiple vegetables that have had the bulk of their pulp removed using a juicing appliance.

Some of the above mentioned foods can be slightly processed, and raw foodists often enjoy and prefer doing the processing themselves, to prepare foods such as nut butters or milks, fruit and vegetable leathers and bars, dried or cured fruits and vegetables, among others.

What potential benefits come from eating raw food?

Raw foodists have made one or more of the following health claims after adhering to a raw food or mostly raw food diet: weight loss, increased energy, clearer skin, improved digestion, detoxification, stronger immunity, and improved overall health.

Also, less time is spent preparing foods and cleanup is often much quicker, depending how simple or complicated you intend to make things. It has been said that less money is often needed to be spent on over the counter or prescribed medications. Plus, smaller appliances, or no appliances, are used so less power consumption is needed.

Where do raw fooders get their protein, calcium, vitamin B12, iron?

Short answer.. from the above mentioned foods :)

Sprouts, beans, seeds, legumes, greens, fruits and vegetables all have protein. Vegan bodybuilders often supplement with hemp, which to some is considered the best source of protein in the plant kingdom (others consider yellow pea to be the best, while others will still eat soy based products for protein).

Same as for protein, dark green leafy vegetables, seeds, beans etc. are sources of calcium, and even iron (ask Popeye if you don't believe me).

Vitamin B12 is up to much debate. Some say that there are algaes that contain B12, others say nutritional yeast is a good source, yet others suggest that B12 recycles itself in the gut for many years so there is some present in most cases. Some raw foodists will eat raw or cooked eggs as their source of Vitamin B12. Others will supplement. The way I look at it is if my lab tests do not show a deficiency (I check every 60 days) then I'm content.

Will I need special kitchen appliances or utensils for preparing raw foods?

A lot of people exploring, or engulfed in the raw food lifestyle will add to their kitchen.. a blender, a food processor, a food dehydrator, a vegetable juicer and perhaps a spiral slicer. Some are content getting rid of the stove and just keeping a couple sharp knives on hand, plus the standard set of bowls, plates, etc.

A food dehydrator is for preparing foods that require a little bit of heat, essentially removing the moisture from the foods very slowly, while keeping in valuable nutrients and enzymes. It is used for making such things as raw breads, crackers, fruit leathers, kale chips, etc. The most popular dehydrator amongst raw foodists is the Excalibur.

A spiral slicer will help in slicing up a zuchini for example to prepare a raw pasta.

What is the best way to get started on a raw food diet?

It's best of course to start slowly into anything. Understand your nutritional needs and be sure that you are going to be covering all bases. Victoria Boutenko, in her green smoothie book suggests the possibility of satisfying all of your nutritional, health and digestive needs from consuming just green smoothies (at least that's what I gleaned from it.. I eat 75%+ green smoothies throughout my day).

To assist in a raw food cleansing diet (and to instill good habits if continuing whole foods and high raw), complete with shopping lists and recipes, I recommend Joy Houston's Rocking Body Raw Food which offers a two week step-by-step detailed plan with video instruction. For a more affordable raw diet plan (no video instruction) Laura-Jane's Raw Food Diet Plan is a fantastic choice.