Raw Foodism - Common Beliefs

Common Beliefs

Beliefs held by raw foodists include:

• Some raw foodists believe that digestive enzymes in raw foods (such as amylases, proteases, and lipases) aid digestion. Heating food above 104-120 °Fahrenheit (40-49 °Celsius) degrades or destroys these enzymes in food. A few raw foodists such as Dr. Douglas Graham dispute the importance of enzymes in foods.
• Raw foods include bacteria and other micro-organisms that affect the immune system and digestion by populating the digestive tract with beneficial gut flora. In addition, many raw-foodists, particularly primal-dieters, are believers in the hygiene hypothesis, a concept which focuses on the health benefits of exposure to parasites and bacteria.
• Raw foods have higher nutrient values than foods which have been cooked.
• In addition, most raw foodists believe processed food and convenience food often contain excitotoxins (such as flavor enhancers) which can cause excitotoxicity. Foods with added chemicals, preservatives, additives, colouring agents/dyes of any kind are frowned upon by most raw-foodists.
• Raw foodists believe that raw foods are the ideal food for human consumption, and the basis of a raw food lifestyle. Irritants or stimulants like coffee, alcohol, and tobacco are recommended against. Also heated fats and proteins like fried oils and roasted nuts are to be avoided on a raw-food diet, as they are deemed by raw foodists to be carcinogenic.
• Wild foods followed by organic whole foods are more nutritious than conventionally domesticated foods or industrially produced foods.
• Cooked foods contain harmful toxins, which can cause chronic disease and other problems, Heating oils and fats can produce trace amounts of trans fats. Cooking foods produces advanced glycation end products ("glycotoxins", see also Maillard reaction).
• Raw foods such as fruits and vegetables are high in antioxidants and raw-foodists believe they can help to stifle signs of aging. Dr. Joel Fuhrman, author of "Eat To Live", says that uncooked cruciferous vegetables have the most powerful anti-cancer effects of all foods. He also says that most of the phytonutrients function as antioxidants in the body, meaning they neutralize free radicals, rendering them harmless and reducing cancer risk. This property found in alkaline living foods or raw food, that neutralize free radicals, makes green smoothies a powerful antioxidant drink.
• Because raw seeds and nuts are vulnerable to moldiness and rancidity, some raw food advocates believe that raw products made from these ingredients should stay refrigerated to maintain optimum nutritional value and flavor, as well as to minimize oxidation caused by the nut and seed oils becoming rancid.
• Raw Foodists believe that air-pollution and smoking are extremely harmful to their health. They also believe that recycled tapwater is harmful, especially fluoridated or chlorinated tapwater.