{This article is the continuation of a series I started (but never completed) as a two-parter some time ago. Here's the first article. Just to help you get up to speed. Now you're ready for the sequel...}
Vegan or vegetarian. Which is which?
Is there a difference between vegetarian and raw food diets?
They both share one common trait---an affinity for vegetables.
However, a raw foodist IS a type of vegetarian who generally does NOT cook their fruits or vegetables.
A vegetarian is someone who simply doesn’t 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 it’s hard to find something to eat in a restaurant if you’re vegetarian – even harder if you’re a raw foodist.)
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
There are different categories of vegetarians, like vegans, or fruitarians, and raw foodists
is a category of vegetarianism. Raw foodism generally means eating raw, uncooked fruits,
vegetables, dried fruits, seaweed, 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. Some experts claim that steaming can take out nutrients from foods, making them less nutritious.
You may agree with this assertion, I on the other hand, don't think it has that much of an impact. However, you can judge for yourself.
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.
Either way your body will benefit from the inclusion of vegetables in your diet.