Lately we have been bombarded by an unequivocal message – ‘Eat Raw Food!’. It’s rich in nutrients and enzymes, of low calorific value, energizing for our body, and it clears the head, blood and cells. Apparently, the more we have, the better it is for us.

Is this really so?

Let me play devil’s advocate.  As a natural nutritionist, I doubt the merit of everyone eating raw food as a priority. We are part of this universe and as such, should try to live according to its laws, as it is  the violation of these laws that causes disease and un-well being. Raw foods are incredibly nutritious, but eating them religiously without taking other aspects into consideration might actually even do us a disservice.

Consider this scenario. It’s winter time and you’re taking the dog out for an early morning walk. You wrap up warm, put on your boots, hat, scarf and gloves. Bracing yourself against the gale force winds blowing outside, you hasten to complete the stint around the block. When you come back home, relieved for having done your duty, you rush into the kitchen to make breakfast, and your hand goes straight to the fridge for a bowl of freshly cut tropical fruit, because raw fruit is so good for you. Stop.

Does this make sense? Not really. My first doubt about eating a raw food diet without discrimination is the potential incompatibility with the seasonal cycle. Anyone living in the temperate climatic zones of the Western World is fully acquainted with a chilly autumn, a cold winter, a mild spring and a warm summer. This is one of nature’s most basic cycles; respecting it makes sense. Simply put, eating cold, raw food in London in mid-Winter puts a lot of undue stress on your body. It’s the classical argument between scientific thinking (raw food is nutritious full stop) and holistic thinking (raw food is good for you under the right circumstances).

My second doubt about raw food as a panacea is that it may not be suitable for everyone. Raw food has a very strong vibration in the body, which can stress or even create havoc with certain constitutions. People with weak, sensitive or inflamed digestive systems or thin individuals who tend to feel cold all the time are two examples where a raw food diet would not be a wise choice.

My third doubt about raw food as the be-all-and-end-all diet solution is that there are whole populations on our  planet who eat virtually no raw food, yet do not suffer the same degenerative diseases as people in the West. The Chinese, for example. When was the last time you ordered a salad in a Chinese restaurant? Almost all Chinese food is cooked – albeit lightly, but cooked nonetheless – yet the 1.2 billion Chinese don’t seem to be doing that badly on it. In fact, wandering around the globe, you’ll find very few populations who rely on raw food as the main part of their diet.

Additionally, if you only eat raw food, you may be missing out on whole food categories, even from the plant kingdom itself, that can only be eaten cooked. Take the tubers for example – sweet potatoes, swede, parsnips and celeriac, to name but a few – which are especially suitable for the colder times of year. Even the humble carrot is more available to the body when lightly cooked. Then there are whole grains and pulses. When sprouted, they can be eaten raw, and are extremely nutritious; but there’s a whole different feel to eating a bowl of sprouted beans or one of steaming dahl. Each is valid and nutritious in its own right, at different times and for quite a different purpose.

A real practical consideration rarely mentioned in relation with a raw food diet is the cost. Feeding a family of four, especially if you have growing children, mainly on a raw food diet, is a costly business, particularly if you want this diet to be wholly organic. A punnet of raspberries out of season? Organic lettuce in winter? These are not cheap; and you may need substantial quantities of fruit and vegetables for all your juices, salads and shakes, as raw food is arguably less filling.

Another practical consideration is that preparing raw food so that it isn’t too dull could take a lot of time and dedication, something most people nowadays can ill afford. All cooking takes time, but with  the endless washing, peeling and chopping, you may find yourself wondering when the real eating starts. In addition, if you are a devout raw foodie, it’s highly unlikely you’d be popular socially. If you have ever witnessed people’s panic reaction when they invite you for dinner or, worse still, a BBQ, and you tell them you’re a vegetarian, you’d know what I mean. Imagine the reaction if you said – “only raw salad and rhubarb shake for me, please. Thanks”. Bang. That was your last dinner invite for a while.

Having played devil’s advocate so far, let me say that I am, of course, not opposed to raw food generally. Quite to the contrary; I am well aware of its excellent qualities, and it has a pride of place in our family menu. But I am also aware that the raw food fad originated in California, a land with warm, moderate climate and bountiful produce, where eating raw most of the year makes sense. The raw food movement originated as a reaction to the heavy and heavily cooked meat-and-potato-based Western diet where it made sense to include plenty of raw food as counterweight. In this context I agree - most people would benefit from a daily measure of raw food. Yet if and when people move to a holistically cleverer nutrition, which is closer to the Asian model (more grains and vegetables, less meat and sweets, no dairy) than the Western diet, then you find that the call for raw food at all times is not actually that necessary.

Finally, my maxim is that nutrition is a very personal thing. In the same way that you wouldn’t expect everyone to live in the same house and wear the same clothes, you can’t expect everyone to eat the same food. Different people have different needs, and individuals are best served by eating in a way that works for them rather than for any scientific charter. Being well informed about choices always works in your favour. Don’t leave it to the experts (including myself) to tell you what to do. Read, learn, experiment and explore until you find what is right for you, because in all likelihood, the exact same thing may not be right for your next door neighbour.

To summarise, then, is ‘Raw Food Diet Right or Wrong?’ The answer to this question is that moderation is always a good thing. If you decide to eat raw food, - great. Just don’t overdo it. Have more, even much more raw food in Spring and Summer, in tune with your body and the seasons. Then give your body more warm fuel in Autumn and Winter. Be in touch and in tune with your body and listen to what it says. At the end of the day, you are, and should be, the Captain of your own ship.

© Vardit Kohn, Natural Nutritionist, January 2005   No part of this article may be copied or reproduced without prior written consent.