There are many diet methods in the world, and one of them is a plant-based or vegan diet, which is what I follow and what I talk about on my blog. But even in a vegan diet, there are some different types of vegan diet including the High Raw Vegan and Alkaline Vegan Diet that I talked about on my blog. I’ve recently come across this diet method and it got me interested to learn more about it.
I had never heard about a high raw vegan diet until recently. After researching and gathering information, I will share some facts, tips, and my thoughts about the high raw vegan diet here.
High Raw Vegan | Diet Tips and My Thoughts
What Is High Raw Vegan?
You might have heard about the raw vegan diet. A raw vegan diet emphasizes consuming raw, unprocessed, and uncooked foods. These include fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and sprouted grains. Proponents believe this diet preserves natural enzymes and nutrients that cooking and processing can destroy.
High Raw Vegan is a dietary practice that embraces this raw foodism. It means eating mostly unprocessed, plant-based foods that are either completely raw or heated at very low temperatures (usually below 118°F or 48°C). The percentage of raw foods in the diet may vary, but it is generally above 50% or 75% on average. Some people may choose to follow this diet for ethical, environmental, or health reasons.
Where Is High Raw Vegan Practiced?
High Raw Vegan is not a specific regional or cultural cuisine. It is a personal choice that anyone with access to fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, sprouted grains, and legumes can adopt. However, some places have more availability and variety of raw vegan foods than others.
Tropical and subtropical regions, for example, tend to offer more raw-friendly produce. Colder climates often require more preservation and preparation. Some cities also have more raw vegan restaurants, cafes, and markets. I have personal experience with high raw vegan diets in different regions, which I will discuss more later in this post.
Health Benefits of High Raw Vegan
It is generally recommended to have a high consumption of plant-based food for optimal health. When it comes to a high raw vegan diet, there are some other unique health benefits you can expect, such as:
1. Improving Heart Health
A high intake of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains may lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and inflammation, and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
2. Aiding Weight Loss
A high intake of fiber, water, and antioxidants may help with appetite control, digestion, and detoxification, and prevent overeating and weight gain. Also, the intake of fiber in plants keep you full which makes you lose weight as a result.
3. Enhancing Skin Health
A high intake of vitamin C, beta-carotene, and other phytochemicals may protect the skin from sun damage, aging, and acne, and promote collagen synthesis and wound healing.
4. Boosting Energy and Mood
A high intake of carbohydrates, B vitamins, and magnesium may provide sustained energy and prevent fatigue, depression, and anxiety. Also as you are eating lots of plant-based foods, it can help your gut health which can boost your energy and mood.
This is Gazpacho, a Spanish soup that is made with raw vegetables and served cold.
Potential Challenges of High Raw Vegan
It is always advised to talk to a medical professional before you make radical changes to your diet suddenly. Although a high raw vegan diet has lots of benefits, there are some potential challenges that you might face. Here are a few things that you should consider before changing your diet to fully high raw vegan.
1. Food Poisoning
A high intake of raw or undercooked foods may increase the risk of bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections, especially if they are not washed, peeled, or stored properly. Some foods, such as mushrooms, cassava, kidney beans, and buckwheat, may also contain toxins that cooking can reduce or eliminate.
2. Nutritional Deficiencies
A low intake of protein may not keep you full. There are nutrients that may be harder to obtain from raw plant sources, especially if they are not properly soaked or sprouted. Additionally, your body absorbs certain vitamins more easily when you cook them, such as Beta-carotene.
Furthermore, cooked food is easier to consume, making it simpler to get all the nutrients you need. Moreover, this applies to all vegans: you need B12 supplements to keep your body’s blood and nerve cells healthy and help make DNA, the genetic material in all of your cells.
3. Social Challenges
A high intake of raw vegan foods may limit the options and enjoyment of eating out, traveling, or socializing with others who do not share the same dietary preferences. It may also require more time, money, and planning to obtain and prepare food. However, this is true for so many other people who have allergies or have any other type of diet.
My Experience with High Raw Vegan
Following High Raw Vegan in Hong Kong
When I see high raw vegan or raw vegan gurus on YouTube, blogs, or other social media, most of them seem to live in warmer parts of the world. When local fruits and vegetables grow abundantly, eating more raw foods must feel natural.
For instance, I traveled to Hong Kong a few years ago. They had a lot of amazing tropical fruits at the market! I had no idea there were so many kinds of bananas: red, square-shaped, short, thick, and more. They also had durians and pineapples that I love so much in season! So every morning, my aunt, my mom, and I only ate fruits in the morning while we were in Hong Kong. I never got tired of eating it. I just ate different kinds of fruits every morning and I felt so energized and healthy.
Trying High Raw Vegan in Cold Climates?
On the contrary, I am based in Oslo, Norway now. There are many amazing fruits and vegetables growing, but the fresh produce season is short.
Moreover, there are lots of delicious root vegetables growing in Norway which are slightly more difficult to eat raw. I wouldn’t want to eat potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips, or celery roots raw all the time. They become so warm, creamy, and more flavorful when cooked so why would I want to eat them hard and raw? Lastly, it is cold where I live. I want to cook something hot so I can warm my body and soul.
My Experience with Raw Vegan
In fact, I tried a raw vegan diet for two months during COVID-19 in Norway. There were very few foods I could eat in Norway. Even what I could find didn’t taste good, and there were certainly no raw vegan options when eating out. But there were no social gatherings and the restaurants had closed. I also didn’t care how the food tasted. I think I had a hard time during COVID and just lost some appetite in general. That explains why I was able to follow a raw vegan diet at that time.
My Final Thoughts on High Raw Vegan
I think some people are naturally in an environment where a high raw vegan diet is easier to follow. If you live in a tropical area or have a food garden, you might already follow a high raw vegan diet without realizing it. For instance, you could start your day with lots of fruit and toast for breakfast. Then you could eat pasta salads for lunch, and finish your dinner with lightly cooked grains and other main raw dishes. There are so many amazing raw vegan desserts you can have, so you won’t have difficulty finding them.
In fact, there are a lot of frozen raw vegan desserts that I could honestly eat all day. Also, you have less appetite in warmer weather. I sometimes eat just frozen berries for breakfast and lunch during the hot and humid summer in Korea. So eating just smoothies or fruits for breakfast and dinner might be a very ideal meal for some people in the world.
High Raw Vegan: Is It Right for You?
But if you live in an environment where fresh fruits and vegetables are not easily accessible, high raw vegan diet might not be an easy journey. I tried a raw vegan diet in Norway for two months during summer, but even then, I felt like the selections of foods I could have were very limited. In the colder seasons like fall and winter here, there is no way I will have only raw foods. I need to cook something hot and I love warm cooked meals and drinks when it is cold and dark outside.
So what are your thoughts – Do you think you could try? Do you think it would be a very easy adjustment from your current diet to a high raw vegan diet? If you have decided to try high raw vegan diet, here are some recipe ideas for you.
My Recipes for High Raw Vegan
High Raw Vegan does not have to be boring or bland. There are many creative and delicious ways to enjoy raw vegan foods, and here are some of the recipes that I also shared in my blog post.
Korean Cucumber Salad
A simple and refreshing salad with a spicy kick made with cucumbers, aromatics, and chili flakes and seasoned with date syrup and vinegar. It is sweet, sour, and lightly spicy. It could be a wonderful side dish or a salad to have on your toast or with salad.
Vegan Kimchi
You can check out my vegan kimchi recipe which is nutritious, delicious, and has no pungent smell! Interestingly enough, I put some ingredients that are lightly cooked in my kimchi. So this vegan kimchi recipe is a perfect high raw vegan recipe.
Very Merry Berry Smoothie
A creamy and tangy smoothie made with cashew creams on top and all kinds of berries for an antioxidant boost is here! This was the first recipe and a post I shared on my blog. There was one point in my life when I was making this smoothie for every lunch. It’s a perfect high-raw vegan drink or a smoothie to try.
Other High Raw Vegan Recipe Ideas
These are some of the other high raw vegan recipe ideas for you.
Zucchini Noodles
If you want to enjoy noodles or pasta but are on a high raw vegan diet, this is a fantastic way! Make spiralized zucchini as a low-carb and gluten-free alternative to pasta. Eat it with any kind of sauce you like such as tomato sauce or pesto.
Raw vegan brownies
A decadent and indulgent dessert made with dates, walnuts, cocoa powder, and salt. You can also add vanilla, cinnamon, or chocolate chips for more sweetness and flavor. Don’t bake it, but you can use oats instead of flour to make it raw.
Conclusion of High Raw Vegan
I hope this blog post about High Raw Vegan helped you to understand what it is, how to try it, and whether it is for you or not. In my opinion as a vegan, you can be slightly flexible with how much raw vegan diet you want to have.
Including some fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet is always a good idea. However, we don’t want to reach a point where obsessing over the exact percentage of raw food hinders your life. If you are trying it or have tried it, let me know how your experience went in the comment below! 😊 Happy Veganing!
If you liked this post, maybe you would also like to read this blog post.
Alkaline Vegan Diet | What It Is, 5 Evidence Why You Should Try
Leave a Reply