What is a raw food diet? A raw food diet is a diet consisting mostly of eating uncooked food. This can be quite a problem for some who experience gastrointestinal complaints. A raw food diet can be healthful for some, but I have many patients who wrongly believe they might try a raw food diet and/or become a vegetarian in order to help their gastrointestinal system heal from conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Crohn's Disease, any type of colitis or some other chronic health condition. There are a number of huge problems with this approach. Patients with any form of gastrointestinal conditions can have trouble with the following foods: those that are hard to digest such as beans and legumes, dairy products, gluten containing foods, those that contain fructose or those to which they are allergic. Some patients can have trouble with a couple of these food groups or perhaps all of them. Everyone is different. Considering a raw food or vegetarian diet will necessarily contain most if not all of the above choices - making a raw food diet a problem. Hard to Digest Foods in a Raw Food Diet A raw food diet that is fully vegetarian can be very difficult for a person with gastrointestinal problems because raw food (vegetables) is harder to break down than cooked food. Slightly steamed or sauteed vegetables should not pose this problem at all. A raw food diet can be abrasive inside the bowels as without heat to soften the fiber in the food, a raw food diet may cause pain as it comes into contact with areas of the bowels that are irritated or inflamed. Food that is hard to digest, or in other words cannot be broken down in a specific amount of time may lead to gas and bloating, pain, nausea and indigestion. If a person is to eat a raw food diet that is vegetarian, it means they will rely...necessarily...on the legume family for a good portion of their protein intake. Legumes cause gas in most people. Legumes are all beans including navy, kidney, black, red, white, garbanzo, lentil, and soy beans. Peas prepared as a side dish are okay, but when dried and condensed into a thick soup, such as split pea soup, they are too much to digest. Green beans prepared as a side dish should also be okay to eat. Avoid all soy products, including tofu, soy milk, and other products made from the protein portion of the soybean. Soybean oil, a fat found everywhere, seems to be of no concern for most people with IBS or other gastrointestinal complaints. Soy lecithin, an emulsifier of fats and also found in many products, should also not be worried about. Peanuts, often mistakenly considered a nut, are a legume and hard to digest. Tree nuts, such as macadamias, almonds, cashews, and walnuts are fine to consume. Dairy Products in a Raw Food Diet Raw food proponents might consume dairy products and even raw milk depending on their adherence to the "raw food" principles. Dairy products...whether in raw form or not...are easily the most common of all dietary villains know to contribute to gastrointestinal symptoms. For these patients, dairy products...whether raw or not...should be avoided temporarily. Gluten Containing Foods in a Raw Food Diet Gluten containing products from wheat, oats, barley or rye can also contribute to symptoms in some patients with gastrointestinal complaints. In a smaller subset of patients, even non-gluten containing grains can be problematic. Obviously, grains can make up a large portion of the raw food or vegetarian diet. Fructose Containing Foods in a Raw Food Diet A raw food diet would usually consist of many foods that are fructose containing. Fructose is contained in all fruits; natural sweeteners such as sugar, honey, molasses, and maple syrup; corn and corn products such as corn syrup and high-fructose corn syrup; and sweet vegetables such as beets, carrots, eggplant, peas, onions, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips, and winter squash (acorn, buttercup, calabaza, delicate, Hubbard, spaghetti, sweet dumpling and turban). Typical symptoms from fructose containing foods are, loose bowels, gas/bloating and inconsistent form to the bowel movement (sometimes formed, sometimes looser). Food Allergies in a Raw Food Diet Food allergies can complicate food choices when trying to follow a raw food diet. A person with gastrointestinal complaints such as IBS, Crohn's Disease, any type of colitis or other chronic health conditions may have developed food allergies. It doesn't matter if the food is raw, cooked or generally considered healthy. If your body has developed an allergy to it and you have never had a food allergy test, you may be contributing to your symptoms by consistently eating that food. Dr. Dahlman's belief that a raw food diet is a bad idea until you reestablish balance, health and efficiency to your gastrointestinal system by following an all natural treatment plan for your specific health condition. Please fill out the form below to receive a copy of Dr. Dahlman's free report on how you can conquer Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Crohn's Disease or any type of colitis with his all natural treatment utilizing his step-by-step process, temporary dietary eliminations and an all natural supplement program. This protocol is also effective for almost any health condition as it addresses so many different dietary villains and variables that contribute to health problems. To find the costs of his program, please click here: "Do It Yourself Program" to read about how to solve your health concern on your own or "Phone Consultation Program" to learn about how Dr. Dahlman can guide you through the step-by-step process to help you conquer your condition. Please click on "Download Report" below only once (or else we get in trouble!).
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