Raw Food Diet: Popular in Hollywood and as a Cancer Treatment

The raw food diet, or eating food without cooking it, has been popular with Hollywood celebrities for a couple of years now. It has also been suggested as a cancer treatment diet. The difference between the two uses is in the food preparation.

Hollywood Raw Food Diet

The raw food diet is popular enough in Hollywood that raw food restaurants have opened up in West Los Angeles. One popular raw food establishment is called Raw and is owned and operated by Chef Juliano (no surname). The restaurant is so popular that photographers wait outside to get photos of the celebrities who dine there. Chef Juliano is very creative with his raw food entrees. He can turn a variety of raw fruits and vegetables into raw burgers, French fries and even pizza crusts.

Why Raw Food?

Followers of the raw food diet assert that temperatures higher than 118 degrees destroy the enzymes that aid in digestion as well as essential nutrients needed by the body. Hollywood raw foodies eat only uncooked and unprocessed fruits, vegetables and seeds. Devoted followers also avoid meat, fish, eggs and dairy products. They also stay away from coffee, tea, beer and distilled liquor; but they will drink organic wine.

Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson and Angela Bassett are among the most avid fans of the raw food diet. Although followers of the diet experience the side benefit of looking great, they do not follow the diet to lose weight. They claim that the diet is not about weight loss but more about following a lifestyle.

Raw Food As A Cancer Treatment

Because cooking destroys the enzymes and nutrients, eating foods without cooking them is a way of building up the immune system as an aid in the treatment of cancer. As a cancer treatment only those fruits and vegetables known to kill cancer cells are used. Some of the cancer killing vegetables include carrots, broccoli, cabbage, red beets, green asparagus, cauliflower and beet tops. Pepper is even thought to have some cancer fighting benefits.

The preparation of the food is much different from the Hollywood diet when used for cancer treatment. A juicer is used in order to extract the enzymes and nutrients and make them more digestible. Using a juicer or food processor also makes it possible to consume more vegetables or fruits in a shorter amount of time. Since the skin and seeds of some fruits and vegetables contain the essential nutrients, it is better to use a food processor rather than a juicer for these. (e.g. purple grapes)

It is also recommended to eliminate all animal, fish and dairy products while following the diet for cancer treatment. Doing this will allow the enzymes and nutrients to work to their full capacity without interference. There may be some toxins in those foods that could attack and weaken the immune system.

Fruits and Vegetables for Everyone

Eating fruits and vegetables is stressed over and over again by the medical community as the best diet for everyone. If these foods can fight cancer cells then perhaps they can prevent cancer cells from forming in the first place. Whether to eat them raw or cooked is your preference.

Source: "Hollywood Gone Raw" by Mike Yorky in the magazine "Extraordinary Health."

Source: http://www.cancertutor.com/Cancer/RawFood.html

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Benefits-of-Raw-Food-Diet-For-Cancer-Patients&id=2188234