Nowadays more and more people are turning to raw foods because of the numerous advantages and benefits of raw food diet. Raw foods are plant based foods which are not cooked like fruits, nuts, vegetables, sprouts etc. Such food contains more vitamins, minerals, amino acids etc than cooked foods. By Cooking almost 85% of the nutritional value of the food which is essential to the proper maintenance of human bodily functions is lost. Most Health Specialists advice lifestyle changes for conditions like obesity, blood pressure etc which includes intake of fruits, juices, vegetables, sprouts etc in our daily food and avoiding junk food, too much oil, salt or sugar in food etc.

Recently I too started incorporating sprouts and vegetables to my Diet. It was difficult at first, but slowly it has turned to be a way of life. Here is some reasons to have raw foods.

• Raw food contains balance quantities of nutrients, fiber and water to suit your body’s requirements and helps one to stay healthy.
• Raw food is filling. It satisfies your hunger pangs fast.
• Raw foods are easy to digest.
• Raw foods do not require too much oil, spice or salt which is harmful to us and cause several diseases.
• Raw foods are easy to prepare and does not take such efforts.
• There is no danger of burning your tongue or mouth eating raw foods.
• Cleaning up is easy as there would not be any oily and greasy pans while preparing raw foods.
• You need only minimal utensils to prepare a raw meal.
• The remains of a raw meal can go to the compost pile or fed to livestock.
• Several chronic diseases like heart diseases, cancer etc have shown improvements after switching on to raw food diet.
• It is also noted that allergies and illnesses like colds, flu, measles etc does not happen fast to a raw food enthusiasts.
• Raw foods also have a healing effect on several health conditions like digestive disorders, high cholesterol, obesity etc.
• Consuming Raw foods are good for the beauty of skin and hair.

We can add raw foods to our diet by eating fruits, nuts, raw salads and sprouts which taste good and are not unpleasant to start with. There are several tasty raw food recipes available to choose from. This habit may be a little difficult to start in the beginning but once you start you would not mind it. If eating 100% raw is difficult one can try a 70% raw variation as well. Try eating raw foods daily during lunch and find an increased vitality and energy in you. Raw food is also referred to as 'Life force Food'. There are several choices in raw foods like Fresh fruits, Vegetables, Nuts, Seeds, Grains, Dried Fruits etc.

However, if one wish to switch on to 100% Raw foods it has to be done only under Doctors advice as sudden change may result in nausea, cravings and mild head ache in the beginning in some. Moreover, Raw Food Diet may not be suitable for all especially children, pregnant and nursing women etc. Some nutritional deficiencies may also occur as a result of raw food diet like Vitamin B12, Protien, Iron, Calcium etc.