foodha for thought – menuism blog

The last several years, a new type of cuisine has started to gain momentum and you may ask what kind of food is the focus of this new cuisine? Simply, it’s all about raw food. So what’s the deal with raw food? Well, a raw food diet consists fully of foods which have not been heated above a certain temperature.

The maximum temperature varies among the different forms of the diet, from 92 degrees F to 118 degrees F. In fact, it’s felt that heating food even above 116 degrees F is believed to destroy enzymes in food that can assist in the digestion and absorption of food. Cooking is seen as something that truly decreases, if not nullifies the true potential of what food can offer, nutrient-wise. To follow the raw lifestyle, at least 75% of your diet must be living or raw.

Specific cooking techniques for the raw food diet include everything from dehydrating food, soaking nuts and fried fruit, sprouting seeds, grains and beans as well as juicing and blending. The equipment that’s used can consist of any or all of the following: a dehydrator, juice extractor, blender, food processor and chopper.

Raw foodists believe that the benefits of following the raw food diet include increased energy, better digestion, weight loss and even a reduced risk of heart disease. Those who follow a raw food diet typically believe that the greater the percentage of raw food in the diet, the greater the health benefits. These benefits come about because unlike the typical Western diet, a raw food diet contains fewer trans fats and saturated fats and is low in sodium and high in potassium, fiber, magnesium and and health-promoting plant chemicals called phytochemicals.

While there may be benefits, one should also be aware that there are also nutritional deficiencies that result in following the raw food diet including a decrease in calcium, iron, B12 and protein intake. There are also those who criticize the raw food diet stating that it’s the cooking of the foods that actually makes certain phytochemicals easier to absorb, such as beta-carotene in carrots.

Deciding to follow a raw food diet will also mean considerable time, energy, and a strong commitment since many of the foods are made from scratch. Depending on what part of the country you’re in, you may also find it difficult to find certain ingredients needed to prepare your meals.

Suffice to say, following the raw diet is not for everyone and I’ve only give you just some general information about what the raw diet is, what it entails and its pros and cons. If you’re thinking of making a lifestyle change, be sure to do your research so that you can make the best decision for you.

However, there is one thing I can do to help, at least some of you. Currently, more raw restaurants are starting to establish themselves in the dining scene all over the US, so to get an idea if the raw food diet is for you, check out some of the restaurants listed below.

Leaf Cuisine
11938 W Washington Blvd
Los Angeles, California 90066
(310) 390-6005

Alive! Restaurant
1972 Lombard St
San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 923-1052

Thrive
1026 NE 65th Street, #A-102
Seattle, WA 98115
(206) 525-0300

Borrowed Earth Cafe
970 Warren Ave
Downers Grove, IL 60515
(630) 795-1729

Go Raw Cafe
2910 Lake East Drive
Las Vegas, Nevada 89117
702-254-5382