Raw Food Diet - What Foods to Avoid

Some benefits of a raw-food diet include increased energy levels, weight loss and improved skin, hair and digestion; however, there are foods that should be limited or completely avoided to ward off potential risks from this limited diet. From food poisoning to vitamin deficiencies, there are possible hazards to consuming only unprocessed, uncooked foods. As with most restricted diets, there are both pros and cons. Choose foods wisely and promote awareness to avoid encountering raw-food diet dangers.

Animal Products

Use caution with fish, pt, raw cow's cheese and nut milks. Caused by toxins in the body--mainly bacteria, parasites or mold--food poisoning can be a threat to many raw-food dieters. When nut milk is made by blending nuts with milk, this, as well as raw cow's cheese, should not be left unrefrigerated for more than a few hours.

Raw meats, such as steak tartar, and certain fish, including tuna and salmon, can carry parasites, bacteria and, in extreme cases, even small worms.

Put hygiene first to avoid the potential dangers of food poisoning when consuming raw animal products. Wash hands thoroughly and keep edibles refrigerated until you are ready to prepare your meal. You can also use a food-grade hydrogen peroxide to thoroughly cleanse your meats and cheeses.

Grains and Sprouting

Oats, wheat, millet, rice and other grains are off limits in processed form. Avoid cereals, cooked rice, pastas, grits and cooked oatmeal. Grains are a good source of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals; therefore, on a raw-food diet, many opt to sprout grains and seeds.

Limit intake of sprouted grains. After washing, soaking and sprouting the seeds in jars or cloths, the potential for bacteria collection increases. Alfalfa sprouts often harbor L-canavanine sulfate, a harmful amino acid, while other sprouted seeds and grains can carry E.coli and salmonella. Increase watering frequency of sprouted seeds to decrease the growth of bacteria.

Refined Foods

Also known as a living foods diet, the raw-food diet encourages the intake of unprocessed edibles. Many additives in diets are refined, processed or fermented.

Avoid sugar, table salt, alcohol and processed oils when on a raw-food diets. Diabetes and irregular glucose levels are related to refined sugar usage, alcohol can be damaging to the liver and kidneys, table salt is associated with high blood pressure, and hydrogenated oils are packed with fatty acids.

Use instead cold-pressed, unprocessed oils when making soups, smoothies and salad dressings. Get your daily sugar from fresh fruits, such as oranges, watermelons and grapefruit, or choose raw, sugar cane-pressed sugar. Substitute Braggs Amino Liquids or Nu-Salt for regular table salt, and choose wines over fermented beers when having a drink.

Warning

With the avoidance of large food groups, many raw-food dieters experience adverse side effects. Pay close attention to your daily intake of calcium, protein, calories, iron and vitamin B12. These particular areas are often inadvertently neglected on a raw-food diet.

Furthermore, the effects of eating only raw foods on children, pregnant women and individuals with anemia can be harsh, resulting in improper development, weight loss and chemical imbalances.

Consider including a daily multivitamin or vitamin combination to supplement the nutrients you may be missing by eating all raw foods.

Misconceptions

The most common misconception surrounding a raw-food diet is that subscribers simply munch on fruits, vegetables and nuts, never having full meals or prepared dishes. In truth, there are several pieces of equipment and methods of preparation that make having a diverse raw-food menu possible.

Use a juicer to make fresh fruit juices and vegetable juices. Freeze them for sorbets and cold fruit treats. A blender is a raw food dieter's best friend. From soups and green smoothies to sauces, innovative ice creams and even nut butters and spreads, blenders are ideal for transforming your raw food from pure form. Dehydrators are great for making cookies, granola bars and crackers, while clay jars, bowls and various cloths are used for sprouting, germinating and rehydrating grains, seeds, nuts and grasses.