Raw Food Diets

We've had the Atkins Diet, the South Beach Diet and the Sonoma Diet.

And now people are singing the praises of the Raw Food Diet.

If that sounds a little half-baked, don't be alarmed. Humans have been eating raw food for ages. Think crispy green salads and veggie trays, fruit cocktails and orange juice. A raw food diet just takes this eating concept to its logical conclusion.

The terms "living food" and "raw food" are often used interchangeably when discussing a raw food diet. However, "living food" refers to food capable of sprouting life, such as an avocado pit. Raw food, on the other hand, refers to any kind of uncooked and unprocessed food, whether "sproutable" or not.

Cooking reduces the nutrient content in foods (tomatoes and carrots are notable exceptions). However, raw food diet proponents believe cooking also destroys enzymes found in food. Enzymes are naturally occurring proteins used to aid in digestion and absorption of food, but they are heat-sensitive. Once food temperatures reach the 106 to 120 degree Fahrenheit range, enzymes are, well, toast. If we do not get the enzymes through food, raw food activists say, the body works overtime to produce them. This can lead to overweight tendencies, fatigue, faster aging and disease.

Because a raw food diet includes fruits, vegetables, grains, seeds and nuts, it has great appeal for vegetarians and vegans. However, a raw food diet does not need to be restricted to plant foods only. It is possible to safely eat some meats raw, such as kangaroo and ostrich. And most people have either heard of or tried sashimi and sushi.

A raw food diet also does not have to confine itself to organic foods, although the two often go hand in hand. Studies have been inconclusive as to whether organic food is more nutritious. However, because organic food is grown with fewer synthetic fertilizers and chemical additives, it is likely fewer toxic ingredients have entered the body through this food. This dovetails with a fundamental goal of the raw food diet: to reduce the amount of toxicity in the body.

Not everyone applauds the raw food diet trend. Critics such as Dr. Gabe Mirkin, a sports medicine specialist, say it makes no difference if enzymes are destroyed through cooking because the body produces all it needs to digest food properly.

Others, such as Dr. Sarah Schenker of the British Nutrition Foundation, worry a raw food diet could lead to nutritional deficiencies. While some raw foods are easy to prepare and eat - think again of salads - others require more effort, time and equipment. Juicers, blenders, food processors and dehydrators become kitchen essentials. (Dehydrators blow hot air through food to warm it without cooking it.) Foods like rice and almonds require soaking to "release" the enzyme energy within them. It could be tempting to limit oneself to raw foods that are the most convenient to prepare and eat.

Yet some people find all the extra effort worthwhile. They say they feel more energetic on a raw food diet. Many also claim to have lost weight they could not lose or keep off with any other food plan.

So how does one get started on a raw food diet? The first step, of course, is to consult with your doctor. He or she may be able to help you develop safe and nourishing meal plans or recommend a nutritionist.

Also, try to find a restaurant offering raw food specialties you can sample, or join a raw food interest group that holds regular no-cooking dinner parties. Remember the old saying, "Try it, you'll like it ? Well, what if you don't like it? It's better to find that out before investing a lot of money in ingredients and new kitchen appliances.

If you decide to pursue a raw food diet, start out slowly. Dr. Gina Shaw, a British doctor who wrote "Nutrition and Emotions: How to Transform your Life through Optimum Nutrition," recommends on iVillage's UK website (www.ivillage.co.uk/dietandfitness) users should transition to a raw food diet gradually. Start by eating raw meals during the day and a cooked meal at night. Once you adapt to this regiment, drop down to one cooked meal a week, and then one a month. Your body will need time to adjust to the increased fiber and bulk being consumed in a raw food diet, and you might have plateaus where you feel tired, headachy or nauseated.

Do not forget to drink lots of water - purified water stored in glass jars is preferred - to flush wastes from your system and stay hydrated.

Use that water to wash your raw foods thoroughly before eating, too. Remember, the only place "raw" means "dirty" is in triple-X rated films.