Myths about a raw food diet debunked

Monday, April 21, 2014 by: Raw Michelle
Tags: raw food, diet myths, fruitarian health benefits

(NaturalNews) Many people enjoy a raw food diet, however, it's not uncommon for them to face questions and myths about their choice. Several people often make assumptions about a raw food lifestyle. Like any dietary choice, it can be a hot topic. There will always be those who are advocates and others who vehemently say that healthier options exist.

Success with a raw food diet experienced by many

The success stories certainly seem to outweigh the raw food naysayers. For example, endurance athlete Michael Arnstein is fueled by his diet of raw fruits and vegetables, often jogging 15 miles to work. He also notes vast improvements in his vision and skin and also says he doesn't get sick.

Then there's Annette Larkins, a woman in her seventies who looks half her age and attributes her youthful appearance and energy to a raw food diet that she's been enjoying for almost 30 years.

Others have stories of healing their asthma, finding better joint health, reversing diabetes and so on.

Still, myths persist. Here are some top ones that will hopefully help clarify commonly-held beliefs about eating raw foods.

Putting raw food myths to rest

Perhaps one of the most common raw food myths is that it is extraordinarily expensive. However, like any dietary choice, how much is spent is up to the individual. Any diet has the potential to be pricy, yet it also has the ability to fit varying financial situations. The bottom line is that it's up to the individual to control their buying habits.

Besides, people should also consider aspects outside of their bank account when it comes to the "cost" of a certain diet. Eating certain meats, refined products and processed foods can cost people their health, leading to issues such as higher blood pressure levels and weight gain.

A second myth about a raw food diet is that all raw foodists eat are fruits and vegetables. Not so! While some choose to enjoy a mono-fruit lifestyle (eating only one kind of fruit for a designated period of time), many enjoy a huge variety of foods. Larkins, for example, says "My diet consists of fruits, nuts, vegetables and seeds."

One last myth of the many that exists is that people who eat raw foods always have to have foods cold. While a great deal of raw foods are consumed fresh from the market or our kitchen, they can be warmed. Some people eat foods at room temperature or heat them on a stove so long as the foods are never heated above 118 degrees. That temperature is thought to be the point in which raw foods' nutrients are depleted or altered in such a way that they become toxic for the body. Raw foodists may also enjoy using warming spices on foods; ginger, curry and cumin are some that play a role in elevating body temperature.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.naturalnews.com

http://www.huffingtonpost.com

http://rawandnaturalhealth.com/top-5-raw-food-myths-debunked/

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About the author:
Raw Michelle is a natural health blogger and researcher, sharing her passions with others, using the Internet as her medium. She discusses topics in a straight forward way in hopes to help people from all walks of life achieve optimal health and well-being. She has authored and published hundreds of articles on topics such as the raw food diet and green living in general. >>> Click here to see more by Michelle