RP238 The Raw Food Movement

 RP238 The Raw Food Movement

Hey! Get that fire away from my food! Don't you know that cooking food is bad for you?

That, at least, is the point of view of raw foodists, members of the raw food movement. As you can guess from its name, the raw food movement encourages people to eat all or almost all of their food whole, uncooked, and unprocessed. Food can be heated a bit, but the cutoff falls between 100 and 118 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, the food should not be processed or preserved in any way.

While raw foodists say their food is delicious, the point of the movement is good health. Eating raw foods is said to promote higher energy levels, clearer skin, better disease resistance, and weight loss. Proponents say this is because raw foods contain important elements that cooking destroys. They contain important enzymes for good digestion. They contain bacteria and sometimes parasites that can actually be good for our digestive system. They contain nutrients that cooking destroys. Raw foods are also free of the potentially cancer-causing black, burned areas of barbecue food.

Instead of cooking beans, raw foodists may soak them until they sprout. They may dehydrate food to change its texture. They may use raw foods to simulate other foods, such as using stringy spaghetti squash as "faster." Foods can be blended, like using chickpeas for hummus. They may be juiced, pickled, or fermented, but never cooked!

There is no strong criticism of the raw food movement. Most people simply think that it sounds difficult. Raw veganism—a raw diet containing no animal products—may not give children enough calories or vitamins to grow, according to some doctors. Food poisoning is a slightly elevated risk for raw food eaters. Overall, however, raw food is seen as very beneficial.

If you feel sluggish, low on energy, or just want to try something new, perhaps going raw for a month would help.