Benefits vs Drawbacks
Most raw foodists subscribe to a vegan or vegetarian diet based on plant foods (although some include raw meats, unpasteurized dairy and raw eggs). A diet based on plant foods (i.e. fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes) certainly is the way to go as it has been shown to decrease risk of chronic disease and obesity.
A couple caveats - if one doesn’t eat any animal foods a reliable source of Vitamin B-12, either from a supplement or foods fortified with Vitamin B-12, is in order. Depending on how restrictive one is with food choices s/he can potentially miss out on other essential nutrients as well. Lastly, if one isn't consuming any fatty fish s/he is missing out on the omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA, which have been found to lower heart disease risk, support immunity and possibly inhibit some cancers. These Omega 3 fatty acids have also been linked to decreased depression and improved mental health.
An ironic drawback - Keep in mind that preparing raw food isn’t necessarily easy and devoid of processing. Many raw foodists go to great lengths to dehydrate, blend, soak, juice etc. their food in order to make it edible. That can be a lot of work and may also deplete nutrients depending on the preparation techniques.
Sign up for the OV Daily Newsletter
OV Social
It's still best if a vitamin B12 supplement will be added to any vegan diet. This will ensure that your body still gets what it needs. Got this useful site: http://products.mercola.com/vitamin-b12-spray/ You may wanna check out.
I love to explore I recently came across your blog and have been reading along.I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog 70-573 | 70-576 | 70-595 | 70-620 very often.Wish I had found this blog before. The advices in this post are very helpful and I surely will read the other posts of this series too. Thank you for posting this.I was very happy that I found this site. I want to to thank you for this great information!! I undoubtedly enjoyed every bit of it and I have bookmarked your website to see the new stuff you post in the future.
___________________________ Clark 70-630 | 70-632 | 70-640 | 70-642 USA
Just because someone eats meat does not mean they have adequate B12. B12 is not something that is "found in meat". It is a bacteria that is on the PLANTS that cattle eat, but if the cattle is raised on a feedlot as most are, B12 will not naturally be part of the cattle or your steak. Everyone should take a B12 supplement these days. It is necessary because of our over-emphasis on sterilization, which kills harmful bacteria, but also kills good bacteria like B12 from the plant foods we eat.
"Depending on how restrictive one is with food choices s/he can potentially
miss out on other essential nutrients as well."
This holds true with any diet, as we have been told all our lives - eat a balanced diet. Cooked foods are not better source of essential nutrients.
"Lastly, if one isn't consuming any fatty fish s/he is missing out on the omega-3 fatty acids,
DHA and EPA, which have been found to lower heart disease risk, support immunity and
possibly inhibit some cancers."
Fatty fish is not the only source, if that were true for us to have survived this long, every human would have been living by the water. Obviously, people can survive on other sources when they are not consuming fish. - Flaxseeds, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, Leafy green vegetables, walnuts...
B12: Fortified foods or supplements are fine. Some people use nutritional yeast.
For more info, read this: http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/vitaminb12
Omega 3s: There are plant sources like flax seeds.
For more info, read this: http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/omega3
"A couple caveats - if one doesn’t eat any animal foods a reliable source of Vitamin B-12, either from a supplement or foods fortified with Vitamin B-12, is in order."
This is predicated on the assumption the body doesn't process its own B12 in microflora.
" Lastly, if one isn't consuming any fatty fish s/he is missing out on the omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA, which have been found to lower heart disease risk, support immunity and possibly inhibit some cancers."
This is an outright lie, unless one is living in an environment devoid of walnuts and hemp seeds, but then they would probably be living in a desert environment, devoid of fish.
Last I checked, raw food was the stuff that came out of my refridgerator. Probably not as good as eating it off the tree, as a caveat.
poemgranite:
In addition to the raw food , you also need to get that letter "d" to come out of your refrigerator.