The good news about trying to lose weight is that there is a plethora of diets promising to help you reach your goal weight. You can choose from diets that require you to eat a certain color of foods, eliminating certain food groups or eating others in abundance and even eating baby food.

{You don’t have to give up meat to embrace a raw food diet!}

The question is do these diets really help and if so, how? Today we’ll explore the raw food diet for weight loss, not to be confused with the Paleo diet. Keep reading for more information on the raw food diet.

Why A Raw Food Diet?

Before asking ‘what is a raw food diet’ you should ask “why raw food”. The thought process behind a raw food diet is that to keep your body in optimal food you should eat foods in their natural state. Keep in mind though, that a raw food diet is not a weight loss program in the traditional sense; it is just a healthier way of life that can help you lose excess weight.

Those who prescribe to a raw food diet contend that cooking food removes essential enzymes that our bodies need to not only digest food but also to absorb vital nutrients. In fact a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association in 2006 found that eating salads and other raw vegetables had a positive correlation to higher than average micronutrient levels. So there’s no doubt that raw foods like fruits and vegetables give you more nutrients when consumed uncooked.

So how does this lead to weight loss? Well raw foodists say that prolonged nutrient deficiency caused by cooking and overcooking food can lead to a variety of health problems including a compromised immune system and weight gain.

What’s In The Raw Food Diet?

This is what most people who take up a raw food diet for weight loss want to know; what foods can you eat on the raw food diet?

The easiest foods in the raw food diet to get used to are the raw fruits and vegetables as they are the easiest to safely consume raw. In fact most fruits and many vegetables taste delicious raw and since most of us don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables in our diet the raw food diet can help you get more nutrients from fruits and vegetables.

Although many vegans live on a raw food diet, you can still be a carnivore and a raw foodist. The key to enjoying meat on the raw food diet is to make sure the meat is fresh and of excellent quality. If you choose the raw food diet for weight loss you may want to start with prepared versions before you make these dishes yourself.

Want to eat meat and enjoy a raw food diet for weight loss? Try these foods:

• Sushi
• Sashimi
• Carpaccio
• Ceviche
• Tartare

The most difficult food to find on a raw food diet for weight loss is dairy foods because finding them raw can require a bit of hunting. Most dairy foods are processed, not raw, and finding raw cheese and milk made from non-processed milk can be difficult. Mega marts may carry these but you will likely have to go to specialty or gourmet shops to find raw dairy products.

Before you get disgusted or grossed out and stop reading, it’s important to know that a raw food diet for weight loss doesn’t have to be completely raw. Some raw foodists eat cooked food for variety, but the foods are not cooked in the traditional sense of the word.

Raw Food Diet – Health Benefits

When it comes to health benefits of a raw food diet, none is more dominant than the amount of nutrients absorbed. According to a 2005 article in The Journal of Nutrition, a long term raw food diet is associated with lowering bad cholesterol, a necessary task for anyone in need of weight loss. This study also highlighted the major drawback for a vegetarian raw food diet; a deficiency in the vitamin B12.

{Gazpacho is a raw food diet meal that’s easy to make and full of vegetables!}

How To Eat On Raw Food Diet

Choosing a raw food diet for weight loss doesn’t mean chomping on raw carrots and celery all day long. There are some creative ways that you can get your vitamins and nutrients without cooking or fully cooking your food. Juicing is one of the easiest and most popular ways to enjoy fruits and vegetables on a raw food diet. Simply toss fruit and/or vegetables in a blender or food processor, strain and enjoy!

Raw foods like nuts and beans may need to be soaked overnight to soften them. This will make the beans easier to eat and digest.

Things You’ll Need

To make life easier for you if you decide to go on a raw food diet for weight loss there are a few kitchen items you will need. The good news is that these ingredients are kitchen staples so most of you won’t have to go out and buy news items.

You’ll need a blender or food processor to make raw foods like smoothies, and dips like hummus and pesto. A food thermometer is also quite handy for raw foodists because you can cook some foods but the internal temperature should be no higher than 118° F. When you want something slightly warmer than ice cold, break out the kitchen thermometer!

Raw Food Diet & Weight Loss

So can the raw food diet work for weight loss? The easy answer is yes because most of the foods that are diet destructors are highly processed foods like cookies, chips, cupcakes, pizza and fast food. These foods are simply not allowed on a raw food diet, making it easy to stay away from them. The only pitfall is that you will very likely go back to these foods once in awhile because you feel deprived.

However speaking strictly on what the raw food diet is, weight loss is quite likely because you’re eating more of the foods that are part of a healthy eating plan anyway. However if the idea of eating raw meat doesn’t appeal to you, you must find a way to get those nutrients found in animal food products such as iron and omega-3 fatty acids to avoid nutrient deficiencies.

Make going on a raw food diet for weight loss easier by giving your belly a break from overcooked food. Read our review of Eat Stop Eat to find out how!