Two Approaches in Raw Eating

Although the raw food movement seems quite confusing nowadays, with lots of different authors, each with a different take on it, and each with a conflicting philosophy, we can easily sort through this mess if we understand this.

There are basically only TWO approaches to the raw food diet.

The first one is what I call the “medical” approach to raw food — which also happens to be the “high-fat” approach.

Its proponents may appear to be different on the surface, but upon close examination they all have the same beliefs. Here are the main characteristics of this approach:

how-olive-oil-works-31222748225.jpg.jpeg• The fear of fruit. They follow the typical medical-approach to weight loss which is the high-fat diet (disguised as the “low-carb” diet). They try to teach you that fruit is dangerous and in some cases even claim that fruit eating causes health problems.

• The symptomatic approach. Just like a clueless doctor who only treats symptoms, these people will teach you to “cure” your lack of energy with a stimulant, like cacao; or improve your digestion with artificial supplemental enzymes; or overcome your nutritional deficiencies with a supplement, not understanding that most deficiencies are not caused by a lack of nutrition, but a problem in assimilation.

• The “fragmented nutrition” approach. Instead of viewing nutrition as a whole, they understand it in a fragmented way. For example, they believe that if a food is a really high source of a particular nutrient, then it must be a good thing. They don’t understand that “more” is not always better, and the whole processes of nutrition must be understood before blindly recommending anything as “superior”. This fragmented view of nutrition leads these people to recommend various supplements, dried superfoods sold in a bottle and other artificial products, touted as miraculous.

• The “Woo-Woo” Effect. Even though many of these authors appear scientific on the surface, it’s easy to recognize them because they will often mix in their philosophies with strange and “woo-woo” unscientific elements such as: UFO sightings, breatharianism, End-of-the-world prophesies, “Tachyon” Energy, and, of course, Bigfoot.

• The Snake-Oil Effect. These people are not just happy sharing good information to the public. They always have an expensive magic pill to sell. Whether it’s a superfood, a dried enzyme powder, a little magnet you can carry around to diffuse “bad energy”, or a magic mushroom, there’s always something in the bag of tricks.

As for the other side of the raw food movement, you’ve guessed it, it’s the exact opposite.

8.jpg• High-fruit and low-fat, with an emphasis on calibrating the diet to fit your needs. Getting enough calories is important, as is getting a good variety of fruits and greens.

• Full lifestyle approach. In this context, achieving a proper level of fitness is an important of your nutrition, in addition to eating the right foods in the right amounts. So is getting enough sleep and sunshine.

• Foods as Foods, not as Medicines. It’s important to understand that foods should NOT be used as medicines. If a food has strong medicinal properties (such as garlic or medicinal herbs), that’s a good reason we shouldn’t be eating it.