The Raw Food Detox Diet Plan

Get out the juicer and throw away your grill pan if you're going to try The Raw Food Detox Diet Plan. High in raw plant foods and low in animal proteins (including dairy), the diet emphasizes whole, unprocessed foods, including large amounts of uncooked fruits and vegetables. Weight loss is achieved by getting rid of your body's wastes. The Raw Food Detox Diet is driven by the idea that at temperatures above 118º F, live enzymes are destroyed, which hinders our metabolism. Plant foods not cooked above this temperature are considered raw and are thought to help increase live enzymes so your body gets "maximum production."

Some other golden rules on the Raw Food Detox Diet include:

• Not combining Starches (brown rice, whole-grain bread), Fleshes (fish, meat), Nuts/Seeds/Dried Fruits, and Fresh Fruits during the same meal.
• Neutral Foods, such as raw vegetables and condiments can be combined with the above categories except for Fresh Fruit.
• Having the colon cleaned out by a colon therapist or by performing enemas at home is recommended.

What makes The Raw Food Detox Diet a different weight loss plan?

Although this not strictly a vegan diet, most of the foods are plant-based with minimal animal meats and dairy products included. And although most meals are made of raw plant foods, a small proportion of meals can be cooked, which is different from other raw food plans.

What is The Raw Food Detox Diet?

You begin The Raw Food Detox Diet by eliminating "junk" foods such as white breads, cereal, rice, pasta, and processed soy products, and by adding whole foods such as whole grains, raw honey, dried fruits, fresh fruits, and vegetables. From there, you start to add more and more raw foods to your diet (carefully observing the rules that prohibit certain food combinations), which should lead to a serious colon cleansing, if you know what we mean (this is a major tenet of the diet). Only at this point are you ready to take a self-test to determine which of the five Detox Transition Levels you should follow.

Once you have mastered the level you are on, you transition to the next level, where you increase the percentage of raw foods in your diet and add more rules. Yes, there are quite a few rules on this diet.

Unlike the usual idea that breakfast is healthy, the Raw Food Diet stresses eating the biggest meal at dinner and consuming a lot of green vegetable juice and fresh fruit during the rest of the day (fruit is best eaten by itself at least three hours after a meal or 30 minutes before a meal). Besides fruits, the other food groups (starches, meats, and nuts, seeds, and dried fruits) should not be eaten within 3 or 4 hours of each other.

Get ready to make green vegetable juices such as Green Lemonade (a juice mix you make at home with lots of leafy greens, an apple, and a lemon) a staple of your everyday diet. And be prepared to eat much less meat and dairy on this diet, especially if you intend to make it to the advanced Levels 1 and 2. You may want to start saving some money before you head to the nearest health food store to buy approved raw diet foods such as particular brands of granola, breads, and chips.

If you buy the book, many recipes are included. Some recipes, such as the Green Lemonade, are essential to the Raw Food Detox Diet. Some recipes are allowed on all levels, while others are designated only for specific Detox Transition Levels. Specialized kitchen appliances such as a blender or a juicer, along with the recommended foods, can be purchased online.

Besides rules on which foods will be going in your body, the Raw Food Detox Diet plan stresses colon cleansing to ensure that you detoxify by allowing poisons "out" of your body. Seeking a colon therapist for a monthly cleaning or performing an enema at home is highly suggested, especially at the advanced levels.

What are the weight loss expectations?

The Raw Food Detox Diet says you will lose weight, but there are no specific numbers.

Is exercise promoted?

Exercise is not emphasized on this diet. It claims to work without your having to do any formal exercise. However, the diet does promote exercise for general health.

Are supplements recommended?

No specific supplements are recommended for the Raw Food Detox Diet.