Is raw diet (raw vegetables) good for health and for reducing body weight?

We have experts recommending raw food for everyone based on the fact that it is high in nutrients and enzymes. However, Ayurvedic practitioners, recommend mostly cooked foods. Ayurvedic nutrition is not about eating food based on their vitamin – mineral – enzyme count; rather, it’s about eating the right food for the right person. The difference starts from the diverge viewpoint of health itself. As per Ayurveda every human is being a unique individual with full of idiosyncrasies and peculiarities. Ayurveda uses the term - Svastha (Established in the Self) to define health. The term ‘Self’ is the Ego (not the Freudian ego); the power of individual identity, which separates every being from another being. This power which forever reminds one that “I am I” is called Ahamkara in Ayurveda. Today’s physicians tend to ignore this individuality. They often look at people as set of liver, lungs, heart, and brain and neglect the uniqueness of the organism that hosts that liver or lung.

Is a raw diet (raw vegetables) good for health and for reducing body weight?

According to Ayurveda, not only what you eat makes a difference but how it is prepared also makes a difference. This is because cooking increases the element of fire (agni), which is essential in the assimilation of nutrients and their transformation into the bodily tissues. While suggesting a healthy food, we have to take into account the individual’s constitution (Prakruti), the imbalance and symptoms (Vikruti), the climatic influences, stage of life etc. Ayurvedic nutrition gives more importance on the digestion, assimilation and absorption than the nutritious values. Modern science recently started using the terms like ‘bioavailability’ of nutrients to express this. I’d like to view the digestion at a spiritual way - while eating food; that food is leaving its individual identity and becoming a part of us. For this; the food has to undergo a process of digestion by our Agni. If Agni digest the food, that food will become a part of us and nourishes our tissues; otherwise it’s eliminated out or lodged in the body, similar to a Xenobiotic. If the Agni is working well; it will absorb the nutrients from the food at the best efficiency; still if there is a deficiency; body can induce cravings for specific foods time to time.

• Eating cooked foods, strengthen the Agni, decrease digestive stress, and optimize nutrient absorption.
• The raw food may help to reduce fat; but it break down other tissues too. People who had been eating a raw food diets were shown to have increased risk of dental erosions and other health problems.
• Raw vegetables cause Vidaha (sour, hot sharp qualities) as per Ayurveda; uncooked food is considered as cause of skin diseases and rheumatic pains as per Ayurveda.
• Some argue that cooking food destroys nutrients and vital enzymes. However, our own digestive enzymes can break down the plant enzymes found in raw foods.
• The minerals and vitamins in some fruits and vegetables are actually less bio-available when we eat them raw.
• Boiled with water; strained and sautéd with ghee is the right way of eating leafy vegetables as per Ayurveda.
• Fresh fruits are healthy; avoid eating them after sunset.

Meet an Ayurvedic doctor in Dubai to understand your Prakruthy (Body type – Vata, Pitta or Kapha) and Vikruthy (Imbalance) and choose a diet accordingly. Consult with the physician at one of Dr. Shyam’s Ayurveda centre branches (Karama, Al Nahda, Jumeirah, Dubai Health Care City, Ajman). To schedule a consultation with Dr. Shyam, refer the clinic timings on www.vaidyashyam.com. Note that Kapha body type people are generally at a higher BMI which is their innate uniqueness.