Recently there has been a great debate on eating raw foods. Specialized raw food diets have caught people’s attention. Some still consider raw food diets just another passing fad while others vouch for their benefits. Still, there are many areas which need clarifications before people adopt raw food diets.

Raw Food Diets – What Meets the Criteria:  

Raw food diets comprise of foods that are of plant origin, and are unprocessed and uncooked. The most immediate examples that come to mind are fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, grains, sprouts, dried fruits, fresh fruit and vegetables. Several concoctions like juices and smoothies - more popularly called green smoothies are also widely used. Also, used are some plants of marine origin like sea weeds.
The main reason why raw food diets have gained importance is the fact that upon cooking foods the enzymes, which help in digestion, get destroyed with the heat. In addition, it is a known fact that cooking reduces the nutritional content of various foods.
Several studies have found that raw foods should make at least 75% of our diets for us to be healthy and fight diseases efficiently.  In order to make raw food palatable and presentable it is good to blend them in a blender. Seeds can be sprouted and seasoned. Salads can be used with different kinds of flavourings. Dried nuts and fruits can be soaked and blended or matched with salads. Some foods can be dehydrated and used. The best part of eating a raw food diet is that you can unleash your creativity and use it to your advantage.    

Benefits of Raw Food Diets:

Raw food diets are widely believed to have great health benefits. There are several books and studies available on the benefits of raw food diets. The main benefits of raw foods that are generally propounded are enhanced digestive ability of the body, increase in the energy levels of the body, weight loss experienced while on a raw food diet, reduced risk of heart attacks, general betterment of all systems, improved glow seen on the skin and so on.
The raw food diets are very low in fats and do not have any saturated fats in them. The trans fatty acids are also negligible. If at all they are present being of natural origin their harmful effects are much lesser. 

 
Precautions needed to be taken while using Raw Food Diets:

• Raw food diets may be difficult to digest for children or older people.
• Raw food diets may not be for those who have weaker digestions and suffer from some disorders like osteoporosis, as people on raw food diets tend to have lesser bone mass.
• Raw foods demand excessive precautions of cleanliness as food remains uncooked so the germs have easier accessibility to the human system.
• Raw food diet demands great planning and cannot be served in a jiffy. It is also difficult to do the preparation well in advance as chances of spoilage are also high. Hence excessively busy people need to take extra precautions of planning if they wish to be on raw food diets.  
• Some ingredients of raw food diets may not be available easily.
• Raw food diets need to be planned by qualified nutritionists for them to remain well-balanced. It is good to consult a nutritionist and a doctor to ascertain your own physical requirements before taking the leap.

Raw food diets should not be considered another new fad or should not be dismissed because with the increase of free radical attacks in the human system, it is necessary to raise the nutritional value of the foods we consume. It is best to eat a well-balanced meal. The body requires all kinds of nutrients. Eating organic and natural is the best course of action.