
Many proclaim the health benefits of eating raw foods. Some, such as raw vegans and raw food, take it to the extreme so that they eat absolutely no cooked food. They claim that by following this diet they feel not only healthier, but also much happier. It is a whole philosophy of life. On the contrary, the World Health Organization warns of the dangers of eating certain raw foods. Given the amount of contradictory information we handle, sometimes we do not know what position to take. We tell you the benefits and precautions you should have when including raw foods in your diet.
The Benefits of Eating Raw Food in Your Diet
In most cases, in the middle ground is virtue. At least as far as eating raw foods is concerned, it is. Regular consumption of raw foods has been proven to prevent certain diseases, delay aging and increase vitality.
Raw foods maintain all their nutrients so our body processes all the vitamins and minerals they contain. In a healthy and balanced diet, at least five daily servings of raw foods should not be missing. In addition to delaying aging, they prevent cardiovascular and degenerative diseases, improve circulation and facilitate digestion.
According to experts, raw foods that should not be missing from the table are fruits, vegetables and nuts. If you find it difficult to find five servings of raw food a day, you may want to get into the habit of spreading your diet over five meals a day. Fresh fruit should not be missing at your breakfast and mid-afternoon. And the rest of the raw food rations can be solved based on creative salads, do not limit yourself to the usual lettuce and put a little creativity to your recipes. Raw green pepper is an ideal complement to your salads, as well as arugula leaves or canons.
Precautions against raw foods in your diet
While including raw foods in our diet is beneficial for our overall well-being, we must take into account certain hygiene precautions when consuming these foods.
Infections with parasites contained in raw foods can pose a health risk and in certain areas it is becoming a real health problem. We all remember the alarm caused worldwide by anisakis, larvae that contained some raw fish and that disappeared once the fish was processed, either by freezing it, or by cooking it. Other risks derived from eating raw foods are hepatitis A, trichinosis or brucellosis. All of them produced by viruses or parasites that would be eliminated by subjecting the food to a heat source.
Therefore, extreme precautions should be taken when consuming any raw food. Be sure to buy it in a trusted establishment where they prioritize sanitary conservation and handling measures. And once at home, wash the product with plenty of water and, if possible, with a food disinfectant.