Can you live off a raw food diet?

A raw food diet can be healthy, but it is not necessarily more healthful than a diet of whole plant foods. Although an all-raw food diet can be healthy, there is no reliable evidence to suggest that it’s more healthful than a diet of whole plant foods—cooked or not. In fact, we explicitly recommend against raw food diets for young children, as they just don’t have the stomach capacity to get adequate nutrition. Raw foodists had significantly lower bone mineral density throughout their entire skeleton, and specifically in their spine and hips. Being underweight, along with nutritional deficiencies, can cause women to lose their period, and could contribute to osteoporosis. However, if for some reason you want to eat 100 percent raw, first, you must take a B12 supplement so you don’t get other nutrient deficiencies. This led them to have about three times the beta carotene intake compared to the “average” eaters, yet the beta carotene in their blood was not three times as high. Those eating 100 percent raw can become too skinny. And as many as half may stop having their period. Raw diets can be better than junky vegan diets because they’re free of processed foods, though.

Some plans require your food to stay below 104 degrees Fahrenheit, while others allow up to 118 degrees. Children, pregnant people and those with health conditions should not follow the raw food diet without a health care provider’s approval. A strict raw food diet isn’t a good fit for most people, but a modified version can be a great option. Try going “mostly raw” by eating: Cooked legumes and whole grains: Black beans, lentils, whole wheat and other legumes and grains contain protein, vitamins and fiber, but they’re not safe to eat raw. Embracing some parts of the raw food diet can be a great choice, but eating all raw, all the time is risky. Before you start any new diet, talk to your health care provider.