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| Tuesday, July 27, 2010 |
| Gwyneth Paltrow & The Raw Food Diet |
You’ve probably heard of the Raw Food Diet. Gwyneth Paltrow made it very popular a few years ago when she attributed her svelte figure to following it. She and many others have tried this diet, but what is it and is it really healthy?
The Raw Food Diet is a diet based on unprocessed and uncooked plant foods. The diet consists of uncooked vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, grains and beans. The food is eaten “raw” because followers of the diet believe that heating food above 116°F destroys enzymes that can assist in digestion and absorption. Cooking the food is believed to decrease the nutritional value and the “life force” of the food. Enzymes are believed to be the life force. Most followers of the diet eat 75% of their food raw or uncooked and believe that each food contains its own perfect mix of nutrients and enzymes. Proponents of the diet claim that there are many associated health benefits. Some of the health benefits include: increased energy levels, improved appearance of skin, improved digestion, weight loss or maintenance and reduced risk of heart disease.
Many dietitians and health professionals agree that the diet is high in certain nutrients such as potassium, magnesium and folic acid. It is also high in fiber and healthy phytochemicals. The diet is also lower in saturated fat and trans fat than the average American diet. Clearly, the Raw Food Diet offers some health benefits. A study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that consumption of a raw food diet lowered plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations.
That being said, as a Registered Dietitian, I am not a big fan of this diet. First of all, the diet is not appropriate for everyone. Children and women who are pregnant or breast feeding should not follow this diet. For anyone else who may be considering following this diet, be aware that there are some nutritional deficiencies associated with it. The diet is low in calcium, iron, vitamin B-12 and protein and can be low in calories. In addition, the same study mentioned earlier also found that a raw food diet lowered HDL (the good cholesterol) and increased levels of homocysteine due to vitamin B-12 deficiency. Research has shown that high levels of homocysteine in the blood can contribute to heart disease and stroke.
Gwyneth Paltrow was recently diagnosed with Osteopenia which is a condition where bone mineral density is lower than normal. It is considered to be a precursor to Osteoporosis. The condition may or may not be related to her history of following a Raw Food Diet but just for the record, she no longer follows it.
If you follow a Raw Food Diet or are thinking about following it, please discuss it with your doctor and speak to a Registered Dietitian. It is important to understand that it’s not a weight loss diet or a cleanse and it can be very difficult to follow. Of course I recommend including a lot of fruits and vegetables in your daily diet however I feel that the Raw Food Diet is just too restrictive for most people and can actually contribute to health problems.
- Jennifer
If you like this article, you might also enjoy…
Sensei Talks: What foods other than meat contain vitamin B12?
Sensei Talks: Dieting Isn’t Deprivation
Labels: Celebrity Diets, Health, Jennifer
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posted by My Sensei @ Tuesday, July 27, 2010   |
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