Raw food diets have gone from the radical fringe of diet systems to gaining mainstream acceptance in recent years. As more people have discovered the value in eating unprocessed foods, attitudes have evolved as well.

So what is the raw food diet? Raw food is just that: raw. It hasn’t been cooked, processed, microwaved, irradiated, genetically engineered, or exposed to pesticides or herbicides. Raw food diets consist almost entirely of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds.

What are the benefits of going raw?

You will (probably) lose weight

The foods you eat in a raw food diet are very low in fat and calories. You’ll be eating the same amount of foods by weight but with a fraction of the calories. This isn’t a guarantee you will actually lose weight, but don’t be surprised if it happens when you start a raw food diet.

You might like: Organic unpasteurized almonds, Austrian pumpkin seeds, hemp hearts, chia seeds, monukka raisins, Turkish mulberries

Also, If you’re suffering from hypertension or diabetes and are on a low-salt diet, then do you we have a deal for you, as the raw food diet has almost no sodium whatsoever.

You will be getting a huge nutritional benefit

Food in a raw, unadulterated form have the highest amount of vitamins, minerals, fiber, enzymes, and phytochemicals you can find. Once you expose foods to heat above 118 degrees, many of these valuable enzymes and nutrients, especially vitamins B and C, start to break down. Pound for pound, nothing has more nutritional value than raw foods.

You could try: Lydia's Organics Kale Krunchies, GoRaw Live Granola, Rawmio Raw Chocolate Truffle Cake, Dastony Sunflower Seed Butter, Jem Raw Cinnamon & Red Maca Almond Butter

It can be gentler on your innards

If you have a sensitive gut, a diet that is free of preservatives, additives, and other chemicals could be just what the nutritionist ordered.

It’s a whole new frontier of taste

Many things you’ll eat on a raw food diet will be things you not have tasted in a long time, if ever. Raw kale, for example, used to only be found lining salad bars, now it is the salad bar. It’s not for everyone, but many people love the taste. You might be one of them.

It helps the environment

The amount of water and land it takes to grow a kale crop as opposed to raising a beef cow is vast, and fruits and vegetables are much more environmentally friendly.

The raw food diet isn’t for everyone. It takes a fair amount of commitment, and many foods can be expensive and hard to find except at specialty stores, although that is continuing to change as raw food diets become more popular. The benefits are many, though, so we say, try it for a week and see what you think. You just might find it’s the right way for you.

Dave Meddish, Live Superfoods