Raw Food Diet (283)

You may only know it as a fad diet made popular by Demi Moore and Woody Harrelson, but the raw food movement has gained traction over the years as more people turn to clean eating as a way of life.

What Is Raw Eating?

Eating a raw food diet consists primarily of completely raw, unprocessed foods. A food is considered raw if it has never been heated over 104–118°F. Raw foods are also generally not pasteurized, genetically modified, or treated with pesticides. Instead of cooking, the diet turns to juicing, dehydrating, blending, soaking, or sprouting when it comes to food preparation.

Benefits of a Raw Diet

While you can lose weight and increase your intake of fiber and some key nutrients on a raw diet, it’s important to note that there are benefits to eating both cooked and raw foods. That said, going raw is a relatively clean way to eat since you are avoiding processed foods which can often contain unwanted additives, added sugars, and preservatives. Also, when focusing less on dairy, meat, tofu, and fish, you are more likely to up your intake of fruit and veggies for the day, which can be healthy for both your weight, skin, and the environment.

But is eating a diet that primarily consists of fresh fruits and veggies or foods that don’t exceed a certain temperature healthy? While there are valid arguments on both sides of the raw food spectrum, most can agree that increasing your intake of nutrient-rich foods will most likely benefit your overall wellness. This doesn’t mean you need to commit to a diet of just carrot sticks and celery, however. There’s a lot more to eating raw than you might realize. Here’s a closer look at what a raw diet looks like.

Tips for Eating Raw

When following a raw food diet, work to ensure that at least 75% of your food is in fact unprocessed. That means consuming fresh fruit and veggies, raw nuts and seeds, dried fruits and meats, raw nut butters, fermented foods, nut milks, raw grains and legumes that are sprouted or soaked, and raw fish.

Top Raw Food Brands

Stock your pantry with these nutrient-packed raw food staples.

Artisana Organics

Certified vegan and organic, Artisana Organics creates nut and seed butters from locally sourced ingredients and are crafted using a temperature controlled process that preserves the life-essential fatty acids, proteins, vitamins, and enzymes.

Raw Almond Butter

This rich and creamy nut butter has only one ingredient: organic raw almonds. Made in small batches without preservatives or high fructose corn syrup, this raw staple delivers 7g of protein per serving to keep you feeling full and fueled.

Go Raw

Go Raw offers a variety of delicious raw vegan snacks made with premium quality, locally sourced ingredients and then cooked at a low temperature to preserve the nutrients and enzymes inside. The family-owned business is also certified organic.

Organic Pumpkin Seeds

Add them to trail mixes, over salads, or enjoy them on their own, these sprouted pumpkin seed add tons of flavor and are also certified organic, gluten-free, vegan, and Paleo-friendly.

Garden of Life

Garden of Life’s products are made with high-grade, real foods (none of the artificial stuff) to deliver vitamins and key nutrients in their raw form. That means they’re uncooked and untreated so they can help nourish the body as nature intended.

Raw Probiotics for Women

This full spectrum probiotic formula is specifically designed for women to support vaginal health and overall digestive function. Along with probiotic-created vitamins, minerals and prebiotics, the formula also provides dairy-digesting enzymes to help break down lactose and casein.

Raw Food Recipes

Leave your oven out of the equation with these raw recipes.

Raw Honey Granola Cups

Oh honey, are these cups a must! The no-bake recipe comes together with granola that’s been sweetened with maple syrup, then stirred up with peanut butter, honey, and coconut for a perfectly chewy texture.

Chocolate Almond Butter Raw Crunch Bars

These crave-worthy snacks only take about 15 minutes to make and are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth thanks to maple syrup, coconut oil, and brown rice cereal swirled together with chocolate almond butter and cacao powder.

Raw Tahini 3 Ways

Did you know there’s more ways to enjoy raw tahini besides just hummus? Try it with apples and honey, drizzle it over salads with garlic and lemon, or swirl it into a chocolaty sweet treat.