The raw food diet is an increasingly popular trend in fitness conscious people. The diet includes raw fruits and veggies and offers a number of health benefits. You can only eat unprocessed, unfrozen, plant-based foods while on a raw food diet. It certainly requires some motivation and effort to stick to this diet, but you get used to it when you start noticing raw food diet benefits.

Benefits of Raw Food Diet

Raw food is healthy and it offers a number of benefits when you include it in your diet. Here are some reasons why you may want to switch to a raw food diet.

1.    You Get to Eat More Fruits and Veggies

You will be able to increase your consumption of fruits and veggies while on a raw food diet. Fruits are usually not very high in calories but are rich in fiber. It means you will feel fuller for long and would not have to worry about experiencing hunger pangs. Similarly, you get a good amount of protein from leafy greens, such as spinach and kale. This helps repair your muscle and improves recovery.

2. You Get Important Nutrients

One of many raw food diet benefits is the availability of balanced nutrition. You will be able to get enough protein, carbs, and fats to stay healthy. Animal products, grains, and processed foods can cause a nutritional imbalance. The raw food diet offers simple carbs that your body can digest quickly, so you do not end up feeling sluggish after eating your meals. Since you do not have to cook your food above 40C, you do not need to worry about destroying natural enzymes and minerals in it.

3. You Keep Your Heart Healthy

Raw food diet is good for your cardiovascular system. It does not include any added salt or animal products, so you do not need to worry about raising your blood pressure or cholesterol levels. Your heart can continue to pump efficiently while you are on a raw food diet.

4. You Notice Improved Digestion

Switching to a raw food diet will help improve your digestive health. Your body can digest plant products easily, so there will be no load on your stomach. It also provides you with loads of fiber that improves digestion, prevents bloating, and keeps you healthy.

5. You Can Reach Your Weight Loss Goals

By sticking to a raw food diet, it becomes easier to achieve your weight loss goals. You will be eating plant-based food, which means you can eat more fiber. It will keep you fuller and prevent overeating. Moreover, it is hard to lose weight when your body's pH is on the higher side. Eating raw food will help maintain a right pH balance in your body to make it easier to lose weight.

Foods You Should Always Eat Raw

Considering the raw food diet benefits, it certainly makes sense to try it yourself. However, even if you are not currently interested in following this diet, you should still try to eat raw fruits and veggies to stay health. Here are a few foods that you should eat raw.

• Red Peppers: Include raw peppers in your diet to enjoy several health benefits. Keep in mind that peppers lose their nutritional value when you cook them above 300F. Therefore, you should eat them raw to get more vitamin-C.
• Onions: The presence of a compound called allicin makes onion a great food to prevent cancer and improve the immune system. You can also get a potent antioxidant called quercetin from both white and red onions. Be sure to eat them raw and use in your soups, salads, and sandwiches to enjoy some amazing health benefits.
• Coconut: You should consume coconut in its raw form because that is when it offers the highest amount of iron, protein, fiber, folate, potassium, and other important nutrients.
• Broccoli: You should eat broccoli in its raw state to get loads of sulforaphane, which lowers your risk of cancer. The same holds true for other cruciferous veggies, such as kale, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts.
• Nuts and Seeds: It is best to eat nuts and seeds in their raw form to get loads of protein, healthy fats, and other vitamins and minerals. Some great examples include macadamia, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, almonds, and Brazilian nuts.

Tips and Precautions

It is true that you get a number of raw food diet benefits when you switch to this option, but you should also keep a few important tips and precautions in mind. For instance:

• Avoid eating a raw food diet for an extended period because it can lead to a deficiency in vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, iron, and omega-3s.
• Consider cooking foods like carrots and tomatoes because they release more nutrients when cooked.
• Pay attention to how many calories you get because you may have to eat a lot to reach your calorie goals.
• You are eating a raw food diet if 75% of your daily calories come from raw, uncooked food.
• You are not eating a raw food diet if you cook your food above 116F.
• You should buy organic produce only to avoid eating food laden with pesticides, fertilizer, and herbicides.