Raw food diets may be deficient

[Dogdoctor]

Not really any surprise but in a study of vegan raw food faddists in the Netherlands 38% were found to be vitamin B12 deficient. http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/health/chi-0819_health2_r_d_naug19,1,1032691.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

With a fad such as raw food based on superstitions about food and misinterpretation of the value of plant enzymes it's not much of a surprise that they are nutritionally deficient. That more aren't deficient in B12 is probably due to the ubiquitous presence of insects in plant material or perhaps due to the consumption of minuscule particles of manure (used as fertilizer) attached to the vegetables.

[kellyb]

That more aren't deficient in B12 is probably due to the ubiquitous presence of insects in plant material or perhaps due to the consumption of minuscule particles of manure (used as fertilizer) attached to the vegetables.

Yum!

[joe87]

"Lifestyle diseases such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia, hypertension, coronary artery disease and cancer are common in industrialized countries. There is considerable epidemiological evidence suggesting that a vegetarian lifestyle is associated with a lower risk for these diseases." A Vitamin B-12 deficiency can easily be prevented by taking a supplement (or by eating chicken or fish once in a while). See this paper and its references:

http://qjmed.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/92/9/531

[Miss Anthrope]

"Lifestyle diseases such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia, hypertension, coronary artery disease and cancer are common in industrialized countries. There is considerable epidemiological evidence suggesting that a vegetarian lifestyle is associated with a lower risk for these diseases." A Vitamin B-12 deficiency can easily be prevented by taking a supplement (or by eating chicken or fish once in a while). See this paper and its references:

http://qjmed.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/92/9/531

But there is a difference between a raw food vegan diet noted in the OP and the one you describe. Did you miss this?

A raw food vegan eats little or no whole grain, and misses out on the benefits of cooked beans, the occasionally dairy product among other things.

Trust me, I'm loving how I feel on a pesco-vegetarian diet. But raw food vegan is a far cry from this.

[Dogdoctor]

Raw fish and raw chicken would present their own set of problems.

[joe87]

But there is a difference between a raw food vegan diet noted in the OP and the one you describe. Did you miss this?

A raw food vegan eats little or no whole grain, and misses out on the benefits of cooked beans, the occasionally dairy product among other things.

Trust me, I'm loving how I feel on a pesco-vegetarian diet. But raw food vegan is a far cry from this.

Sorry, I didn't realize that raw means uncooked, I thought it was the opposite of the overly processed food that is so prevalent on the supermarket shelves. It irritates me that you can't buy a simple can of soup or vegetables without it being overdosed with salt and/or high fructose corn syrup. Guess I don't know any raw food vegans.

[jon]

Raw fish and raw chicken would present their own set of problems.

hm, would eating sushi or pickled fish regularly cause any particular problems?

[Miss Anthrope]

hm, would eating sushi or pickled fish regularly cause any particular problems?

The rare risk of parasitic issues exist. But I eat raw tuna in sushi and as sashimi quite regularly, never had a problem. I just make sure I'm getting it from a good source, sashimi grade. I don't know how risky eating rare salmon is, but I do plenty of that.

[Miss Anthrope]

Raw fish and raw chicken would present their own set of problems.

:wackybiglaugh:

[Dogdoctor]

hm, would eating sushi or pickled fish regularly cause any particular problems?

Commercial sushi is usually frozen prior to cutting to kill parasitic worms. Lots of people have become sick eating sushi regardless although perhaps a small number compared to those who eat it and modern sanitation procedures. Species and location caught (and handling) are likely related to disease from raw fish . Diseases include several parasitic worms and a few bacterial infections.

eta: a link for information about raw fish related disease
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/sea-ill.html

[jon]

hm, I wonder if the worms in sushi also help re. b vitamin levels ;)

[Dogdoctor]

hm, I wonder if the worms in sushi also help re. b vitamin levels ;)

Perhaps if the worms are dead but if they are alive then they rob nutrients from the host , so unlikely to help. One other problem with raw fish is some of it contains thiaminase which can cause a thiamin (B1) deficiency if a large enough proportion of your diet is raw fish.

[jon]

mm. dead (previously frozen) worms...