The Difference Between a Vegetarian and a Raw Foodist
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Is there a difference between vegetarian and raw food diets A raw foodist is a vegetarian but one who generally is not going to cook his vegetables or fruits. A vegetarian is someone who simply doesnt eat meat fish or poultry but only consumes vegetables pasta and rice. A vegetarian might eat meatless spaghetti sauce or order onion rings in a restaurant. (Not the healthiest choice but sometimes its hard to find something to eat in a restaurant if youre vegetarian even harder if youre a raw foodist.)
There are different categories of vegetarians like vegans or fruitarians and raw foodist is a category of vegetarianism. We havent seen anything about sushi being considered a raw food but it is. Raw food though generally means eating raw uncooked fruits vegetables dried fruits seaweeds etc.
But to be a raw food purist means raw broccoli not steamed. To a vegetarian someone committed to not eat meat or fish or animal products steamed vegetables are just as good although everyone would agree that steaming can take out nutrients from foods rendering them less nutritious. A vegetarian might consume dairy or egg products; however a vegan will not consume any animal products at all. And a raw foodist is a vegan who consumes only uncooked unprocessed raw foods.
Proponents of the raw diet believe that enzymes are the life force of a food and that every food contains its own perfect mix. These enzymes help us digest foods completely without relying on our body to produce its own cocktail of digestive enzymes.
It is also thought that the cooking process destroys vitamins and minerals and that cooked foods not only take longer to digest but they also allow partially digested fats proteins and carbohydrates to clog up our gut and arteries.
Followers of a raw diet cite numerous health benefits including:
increased energy levels improved appearance of skin improved digestion weight loss reduced risk of heart disease
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_977191_23.html