DHAKA: This diet that is essentially about consuming raw food or food that has not been cooked, processed or microwaved.

What it is about: This is essentially raw food or food that has not been cooked, processed or microwaved. It follows the principle of how humans first ate — when they hunted and foraged for fruit, berries and more.

It includes: Fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds berries, beans, coconut milk and herbs in their natural state. Some also eat raw meat and certain fish.

Health benefits: The diet has received both popularity and criticism with advocates of this theory believing that the process of heating food and cooking it leads to losing the disease- fighting enzymes it has.

These enzymes are also said to aid digestion. Another view is that eating raw foods also means consuming lesser calories, so you might lose weight. But others believe it might not be ideal as cooking can actually boost nutrients in food and kill the bacteria in it. In any event, it is not recommended you take up the diet unless you check with a qualified nutritionist first, reports The Times of India.


What to make:

There are quite a few interesting things you can dish up...

- Make a blend of smoothies (try banana, spinach and honey or kiwi and honey) or make savoury sauces.

- Make fruit desserts like puddings with peach and pear.

- Try a fresh vegetable salad with lettuce, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, bell peppers, cucumbers, carrots and raisins.

- A zucchini and celery soup is apt for a cold, rainy night.

- Make pureed avocado and use it as a substitute for mayonnaise.


Do's and dont's before starting out:

- Get a blood test first to see where your nutritional deficiencies lie.

- Do not give up on other foods as just greens or juices can never be enough. Make sure you get enough carbs too.

- Start gradually, by incorporating raw foods into your mid-morning snack, at tea, then increase the input of raw veggies in lunch and dinner.

- If you eat nuts, soak them first to avoid getting constipated

- Do not starve or overindulge.

BDST: 2136 HRS, SEP 13, 2014