Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What exactly is the Raw Food Diet?

A: When we talk about the raw food Diet we mean food that has not been heated above 108 degrees Fahrenheit.  The diet excludes animal products, ingredients should be as fresh as possible, minimally processed, and organic or home grown when possible. Basically it is comprised of fresh raw fruits and vegetables, with some nuts and seeds, and possibly sea vegetables.

Q: Does following the raw diet mean I can’t eat any cooked food?

A: No, not at all, any additional raw foods you can add to your diet will help, and if you build up to at least 50% raw foods you should see some very good results.  If you’re able to eat somewhere between a 75% to 100% raw diet you can expect to experience great results.  If you’re having difficulty on the raw food diet then adding some lightly steamed vegetables, squash, quinoa, or rice can provide some calorically dense foods without adding additional fat to your diet.

Q: If you’re not eating meat or dairy, where do you get your protein?

A: The same place a 400 pound gorilla gets his protein, from plant greens. First it’s important to understand that we may not need as much protein as we’re told. The dairy and meat industries and their powerful lobby are responsible for the strong prevalence of those foods in the so called food pyramid. Dr T. Colin Campbell writes in his landmark book, the China Study, “The story of protein is part science, part culture and a good dose of mythology”. Depending on individual lifestyle needs a person may need only 25 -45 grams of protein a day or even less. Every day our bodies break down old cells and recycle many of the amino acids to build new cells and carry out bodily functions. Drs. Rick and Karin Dina, D.C. and nutrition educators, have shown that it is quite easy to fulfill daily protein requirements on a raw food diet. All raw foods, even fruits contain protein although greens, sprouts, nuts, and seeds will have the highest levels of protein.

Q: Where do you get your calcium?

A: Leafy greens are loaded with calcium in an easy to assimilate form without the heavy acid burden that comes with dairy products.  It’s interesting to note that the countries with the highest rates of Osteoporosis are also the highest consumers of dairy products; where as the countries with the lowest incidence of Osteoporosis have the lowest consumption of dairy products.  Fruits like figs, oranges and raw olives also contain high levels of calcium. It’s also interesting to note that when we find these foods in nature they contain all the cofactors needed for uptake of the nutrient profile.  Science shows that it is quite easy to fulfill all your nutritional needs on a raw food diet, with the possible exception of vitamin B-12 and vitamin D, which is also true of the general non raw food population.

Q: So what about B-12, do I need to supplement?

A: There are a number of raw fooders who do supplement and those that don’t believe it is necessary. The best way to tell is to go to a natural health practitioner and get tested, and then you will know for certain.  And just because your levels are good now does not mean that they will be good down the road.  It’s accepted that the body can store vitamin B-12 for a number of years so even if you test good now you may just be running on reserves and not taking in adequate amounts in your diet to sustain you down the road.

Q: I thought I got my vitamin D from the sun?

A: Your skin naturally produces your body's supply of vitamin D from direct exposure to bright midday sun with a mere ten or fifteen minutes' exposure per day, however depending on where you live, the time of year, and the amount of exposure you’re getting that might not be enough.  According to Dr Mercola, research suggests that up to 85% of people could be deficient in vitamin D without knowing it. His research also indicates that washing with soap within 24-48 hours after sun exposure might destroy the effects of the sun exposure.  Once again, no guessing here, get to a natural health practitioner and get tested, then you will know for certain. 

Q: Cooked food tastes so good to me compared to raw food, why is that?

A: For years you have been eating cooked food and much of it is probably what is known as ‘comfort food’. Quite frankly today just about all foods could be classified as comfort foods. These foods typically contain fat, sugar, and salt, and if professionally prepared, MSG and many other hidden additives that actually are designed to hook the eater into coming back for more.  When you switch to a raw food diet and eliminate many of these harmful substances your taste buds will begin to come alive and so will you.  A raw tomato, fig or persimmon will burst with natural flavor and you’ll be able to savor it as you might have a fine wine in the past. Even your lettuce greens and vegetables will come alive with a vibrant taste you never imagined possible.

Q: I’ve read a little bit about the raw diet and some say eat mostly fruit, while others say eat mostly greens and vegetables. I’m confused.

A: Everyone has a different genetic makeup, dietary and environmental history, and daily requirements for health. One system may work well for some individuals and not for others, so the key is to experiment and see what works best for you.  You’ll know because your body will tell you what it likes best, and as we mentioned above, testing is a great way to check and see what your diet is or is not doing for you. Many times people starting out on a raw diet will consume great quantities of food and more fat than usual because they are trying to make up for the loss of calorie dense foods they used to eat.  As time goes along and your system cleans out, your body adjusts and your diet will too. The main thing is to start including more fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet, and cut out the processed foods.

We’ll be covering many topics and issues of the raw food diet and natural health in our FREE Newsletter, “Vibrant Living.” 

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
The contents of this website and my newsletter are gleaned from my experiences and observations, meant only for educational purposes and not intended to replace medical advice, consultations, or treatment of any kind. I recommend you see your professional health care provider if you suspect you have an illness or disease of any kind. I’m not medically trained, and I would never suggest or imply that I know what is best for someone else’s body or overall health, ultimately each of us is the only one who knows what’s best for us.