3 Raw Vegan Diet Myths

There are a few commonly held misconceptions about a raw diet that have kept many from experiencing the benefits of such a diet. In this article I hope to address and shed some light on these myths.

Myth #1 -If you are eating raw food you are eating cold food

Many people think that if you are on a raw diet you are eating cold food. Guess what? Food is considered "Raw" until it reaches a temperature of approximately 115F. This is the temperature in which the enzymes found in raw food are killed.

There are a couple of ways to "heat" raw food. Arguably, the best method is using a dehydrator. A raw food dehydrator is a device that not only pulls out water from food, giving it a wonderful "cooked" texture but they also can heat food while preventing it from crossing the enzyme destroying threshold.

Myth #2 – A raw diet means that I can never eat out or at a friend’s place

Some people believe that a raw vegan diet relegates you to the equivalent of being a social hermit. This is simply not true.  To get the health benefits of a raw food diet you only need to eat raw at least 75% of the time.  You can enjoy a cooked meal with friends then invite them to your place to enjoy delicious and healthy raw food.

The other reason that eating raw does not mean you are stuck eating at home is that raw food cuisine is growing in popularity and new raw restaurants are opening in many cities every day. Most new Whole Foods Markets have a raw section with lots of tasty meals.

Myth #3 – Eating raw is too expensive

People think of raw food as boutique food. However, eating raw doesn’t have to break the bank. Raw vegan food is made of vegetables and veggies are generally much cheaper than meat.

Another reason that eating raw is less expensive than you might think that is that uncooked food has more fiber and is more filling than cooked food. So you don’t have to eat or buy as much.

So go raw and enjoy hot food, eating with friends and not breaking the bank.