Why You Should Go 100% Raw
Raw food gurus are big, wimpy, scaredy-cat babies when it comes to this one simple question:
What percentage of the human diet should consist of raw foods?
Instead of getting a clear-cut answer, you get:
Well, it depends on the individual.
OR
Whatever you are comfortable with.
OR
Find what works for you.
Hear is what’s really lying behind these answers:
I don’t want to offend someone and risk losing followers by giving a direct answer. Instead, I’ll play it safe by offering a wishy-washy answer that doesn’t really mean anything to anybody.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for individuality and “finding what works for you.” You should always implement change because you want to, not because some expert tells you it’s the way to go.
But aren’t these answers really just an easy way out? I mean, you can use any one of these as a response to almost any question without really answering the question!
How much fat is ideal?
Well, it depends on the individual.
Should I buy organic produce?
Find what works for you.
Is it okay to drink tap water?
Whatever you are comfortable with.
See what I mean?
Because I’m certainly *not* a wimp and am not afraid of a little controversy, here’s my short but sweet answer:
An optimal diet consists of 100% raw foods.
But you don’t want the short answer, do you? 
You Don’t Need Cooked Food
There is no place for any cooked foods in a healthy diet. All of the vitamins and minerals you need can be found in raw fruits and vegetables.
Cooking these foods only destroys the vital nutrients they contain and creates toxic substances that place excess stress on your poor liver, kidneys, and all other vital organs.
For whatever reason, you may find it easier to include some cooked foods in your diet. That’s completely up to you…you know, the whole “depends on the individual” thing.
The message that I want to convey is that cooked foods are not necessary and that an optimal diet contains *no* cooked foods whatsoever.
Stop Reinforcing Cooked Food Habits
When you eat a 100% raw food diet, you are no longer eating tempting cooked foods. You have stopped reinforcing those habits. You are slowly but surely breaking down the connection between good times and cooked foods.
Before you know it, the physical and emotional ties to cooked food that have plagued you for so long are gone. You can finally sit down to a simple bowl of strawberries (a very large bowl, of course), or a banana-pear smoothie, or a few papayas, or…
Sorry, what was I saying?
*Oh right*
My point is that there comes a time when you can finish a simple fruit meal without wondering, “Okay, now where’s the real food”.
But what happens when you eat a 70% raw diet, or an 80% raw diet, or even a 95% raw diet? You are still eating cooked foods. You are continually reinforcing those habits and connections between good times and cooked foods.
Trust me on this one. I tried the 85% raw food diet. I tried the cooked dinner raw diet. I even tried the 99.999999999% raw diet!
While these tactics were great for transitioning and getting my body used to massive amounts of fruit, they did not work as a long-term strategy.
As long as I was still eating cooked foods, I was still dreaming about cooked foods and not truly savoring my delicious raw foods. I constantly felt that something was missing from my diet.
But Not Just ANY Raw Food Diet
I talked a lot today about eating a raw diet. As I’m sure you know, there are many different types. So which one am I talking about?
I’m talking about a healthy, low fat raw food diet. I don’t mean one full of grass and fats, or supplements, or superfoods, or hydro-colonics, or stimulants, or irritants.
I mean a diet centered on raw, whole, sweet fruit, accompanied by non-sweet fruits, tender greens, and minimal overt fats.
Remember, the question should not be “Is it raw?”
The question should always be “Is it healthy?”
Your Thoughts?
Enough about what I think!
How do you feel about a 100% raw food diet? Are you thriving on one? Does it seem a bit too radical for you?
Leave your two cents below!
Go raw and be fit,
Swayze
P.S. If you want to know more about a low fat raw vegan diet, please subscribe to my newsletter Peachy Keen Ezine. By subscribing, you will receive my 24-page report The 4 Principles of a Healthy Raw Diet, as well as the 5-week mini-course The Fool-Proof Transition to Raw.
15 comments
I want to believe that small amounts of cooked food can enhance my diet, but every time I do any amount of research it always leads me back to 100% raw. For myself, if I eat something cooked, it takes at least a week (sometimes up to a month!) of trying to go raw and failing and trying again before I can get back onto raw. When I am not 100% raw the cravings for other foods (anything) overwhelm me and fruit seems so dull and boring. Last time I gave it up for cold macaroni and soy cheese (after everyone had left the table). This lets me know there are some underlying addictive behaviours, because it was after the fun and comraderie of the meal, and the food itself was cold and congealed. And I couldn’t stop. For those of us with compulsive food habits – 100% is the only way to beat it. Read Victoria Boutenko 12 steps to raw to fully understand the mechanics behind the reasoning. It is a book I have to go back to over and over.
rebeca Reply:
September 9th, 2009 at 10:20 am
I have just recently joined swayze’s newsletter & site a few weeks ago. I spent about a week doing some rsearch to see if one can sustain on a 100% raw diet. In the meantime I ate 95% raw with a 1/4 cup of pure lentil soup no salt . Then I came across a site that featured Tim Van Orden. He is 100% raw athlete runner. I was amazed at how he too lives on an all fruits, vegetables, low fat-some nuts & seeds diet like Swayze. The reason I was 100% convinced that it can work for me, I am 41 years old and had my 1st baby 3 years ago. Because I was considered a high risk pregnancy due to a previous 5 mth miscarriage, I was told not to workout. This lead to an excess weight of 42 flabby pounds. I have taken off 12 lbs but have struggled with the final 30. Believe me I have tried everything and within three or four days of my diet I would go on a processed high sugar carbohydrate binge. I started believing that this was the way things were going to be and I was stuck. I googled Tim’s name and found a 2 part series podcast on Revvell. I was stunned that he began the 100% raw food journey in 2005 and is still thriving and running strong. The best part he began his 100% raw food journey at 38 and is now 41. If he can do it, then so can I. There are several misconceptions misunderstood about the raw food world and one of them is age. Many adults believe it is too late to start this new way of eating especially since I have been eating a SAD diet, why stop now, the damage is done. Well there is a way of reversing all the damage and I am convinced that Swayze’s way is the best way. I began my 100% raw food diet this past Labor Day. Three days ago. I am stunned with how satisfied I am at every meal. I failed before because I wasn’t eatingt enough fruits. Every Fool Proof Transition To Raw Food tip that Sawyze shares is absolutely your tool for sucess. I have lost 5 pounds in three days, I’m 25 pounds away from my pre-baby weight. My daily calorie consumption of fruits and vegetables with 1 ounce of flaxseed daily is 1,600. Q:Can raw food prevent weight loss sagging skin?
Nicole Reply:
September 9th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Hi Rebeca. Good on you. Stick with it. There is actually reports to suggest that starting this way of life in our later years is actually more benefical as there is so much more damage to be undone. They also reckon that after a year on 100% raw an average 40 yr old can knock 10 years off your face. So I’m all for that. Keep the faith, I admire your persistence
Swayze Reply:
September 10th, 2009 at 7:28 am
That’s wonderful, Rebeca! Keep it up!
Losing weight at a gradual and healthy pace, by eating right and exercising, will help to minimize sagging skin. It also really depends on how much weight you have to lose.
Swayze Reply:
September 10th, 2009 at 7:18 am
Thanks for your thoughts, Tiffany. And I agree…for the compulsive/emotional/binge eater, 100% raw is the way to go. And it’s often the easiest as well! Once you’re over the 2-4 week hump, everything just gets easier and easier by the day.
Marisa Reply:
September 12th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Tiffany, when I read your comment, I felt as if I wrote it myself! It’s so true about the cooked food addition. I’ve been following the low fat raw food vegan diet for a little over three weeks now and have been doing fine (feeling great!) except on those days I decide to have a little cooked food. Often, it never stops at a little!! I really need to not give in to my cravings for awhile. Swayze, do you really think the cravings will go away in a few weeks?
Swayze Reply:
September 12th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
The first 2 weeks are generally the hardest, but it gets substantially better from there. You might have cravings every once and while, but if you have a few solid techniques for dealing with them than it’s no sweat.
Marisa Reply:
September 12th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Cool! Thanks Swayze. I took your advice and went out and bought some grapes to keep in my fridge just in case I get hungry during the night.
Swayze,
I so appreciate your no-nonsense approach in responding to other raw ‘gurus’ in the field. I HATE the wishy-washy. A few months ago I was at a raw food retreat center working in the kitchen. I was mortified by some of the information given to guests…I realize that we don’t want to scare people away, but at the same time, telling them that sea salt is better than table salt and fine in moderation is STILL garbage.
Yes, there is such a thing as healthier wrong information, but it’s still wrong information, and ultimately unhealthy!
Thanks for the article, as always
Swayze Reply:
September 10th, 2009 at 7:25 am
I find that salt is often the hardest one for people to let go of. They just can’t believe that it isn’t healthy, because if it isn’t, that means bye-bye flavor.
I mean, who would honestly eat (and enjoy) an 8oz steak without seasoning?
Thanks
While I love your site and all your tips… going to throw out the other view… I guess I’m considered a “Wishy Washy New To Raw Food” person… And I don’t think its so bad. While I’ve had lots of fruits and veggies in my day… I never knew there were so many more to choose from…
This new way of looking at food has been great and fun and healthy… But I knew I had to do something that was sustainable or I and family wouldn’t stick to it.
I also work full time out of the home, have an active young one and a Hubby that eats my supply of foods… I exercise now upwards of 7 days a week, in addition to my normal Mommy things that make up my non-stop days.
So when it comes to food… grabbing and making and prepping foods for the three of us can be a challenge. Three lunch boxes every day, plus breakfast before getting out the door and then sometimes fixing Dinner with only an hour to go before bed time…. Or eating on the run and finding non-fast food….needless to say…. If I can fill my family with even 50% raw foods, I’m a happy camper. But on days that I get closer to 80-90% I’m a really happy camper.
For me, I’ve lost 10 pounds since making the change and for me it is not a Diet. I haven’t read any “Diet” books, or “detox” things or anything of that nature because I’m not starting a Diet. I am changing the way I feel, Look, and improving the overall health of my family by changing the way we eat long term.
Even on days that I think I’m 100% Raw, I find out I’m not really because some nuts aren’t considered raw unless soaked or something like that. I’m just trying to keep it simple and doing what works for us. Obviously that won’t work for everyone.
With all the positive changes I’ve seen in our house, then I know I’m doing something right. Even if not 100% Raw. And I encourage my friends and family to do the same.
I know that my “Heart Attack Waiting to happen” step Dad is NOT going to give up his entire way of eating for a 100% raw diet. But I may convince him to give up some pretty bad things for some healthier alternatives.
Or my friend with 3 kids and a Hubby that there is no way she can have enough fresh raw meals prepared for ALL of them before day is done and her not having to run to the grocery every 2 minutes for more, or getting any time to do anything else…. BUT – she’s added more raw fruits and veggies to her and kids diet along with smoothies and banana whip ice cream, and they are all that much healthier then they were.
Going at everyone that I know with “100% raw is the only way to go” message for my friends and family would tune me out faster then it takes to hit the send button.
If they can eliminate one food and replace it with another a little at a time, they are better off then how they were.. And that still makes me happy and them a little healthier.
So yes, I’m a wishy washy… but I’m OK with that… I know its not for everyone though. And for them 100% is the way to go, and I’m totally OK with that too…
Good for you for sticking to your 100% Raw guns and for all the people you’ve helped along the way. Keep up the great work and spreading a wonderful message.
Swayze Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 6:55 am
Not wishy-washy at all. You know where you stand and you have found what works for you. That’s awesome.
“Going at everyone that I know with “100% raw is the only way to go” message for my friends and family would tune me out faster then it takes to hit the send button.”
I hear ya. That’s certainly not the approach I advocate. I prefer the “lead my example” method.
I am surprised I am even reading this article today because this morning I was in complete rebellion and had decided to forget raw food and forget looking online at all the crazy information. But here I am online again looking for ways to make raw food work. I have had a terrible experience. I feel like raw food destroyed the possibility of ever enjoying eating ever again. If I eat cooked I feel heavy and dissatisfied, like I must go eat a piece of clean refreshing fruit right away, but when I eat raw I am never satisfied and I can’t ever stop thinking about food and eating. I have terrible stomach problems no matter which way I eat (I didn’t have them before I tried raw), and I can’t eat much fruit in one sitting because it feels like they pile up inside my stomach and I can’t fit anymore, but somehow i’m still hungry. They make me burp too. I have been driving my husband and two children crazy with all my crazy experimenting. Is it possible to make raw work and be happy? You said your body needed to adjust to eating so much fruit. Will it just take time?
Swayze Reply:
November 12th, 2009 at 8:24 am
Yes, it will take some time. You sound very overwhelmed and I know the feeling. I suggest slowing things down for now. Be easy on yourself and start by having a fruit smoothie for breakfast. Once you are comfortable with that, you can move on to lunch and so on.
Burping during or after a fruit meal is often just a sign of eating too quickly!