Eating a Raw Food Diet while Pregnant

For those who are unfamiliar, eating mainly raw foods is not a fad diet, it’s a way of life for some people who believe that the most wholesome way to consume your food is in the raw form (no!! Not raw meat!!!) Dieting for weight loss is discouraged during pregnancy, but a healthful diet is strongly encouraged!

According to altmedicine.about.com:

The raw food diet is a diet based on unprocessed and uncooked plant foods, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, sprouts, seeds, nuts, grains, beans, nuts, dried fruit, and seaweed.

Heating food above 116 degrees F is believed to destroy enzymes in food that can assist in the digestion and absorption of food. Cooking is also thought to diminish the nutritional value and “life force” of food.

(Side note: I have a friend who is very enthusiastic about eating raw. I don’t have plans to convert to her way of thinking just yet, but it’s definitely an option to check out if you are interested in a food-centered change!)

If you are wondering how this diet would affect your pregnancy, Happy Foody might have some answers.

I have been VERY nauseous during the first trimester, and unfortunately, most raw foods made me want to run in the opposite direction! Including green smoothies. It was very frustrating because I knew my body needed it, but it would reject it every time. Now that I’m in my 13th week…the fog has lifted a bit, and I am able to start adding back my favorite raw foods. It’s amazing to me that just a few weeks ago, a big salad turned my stomach, and today I devoured an entire head of kale. I will slowly be adding back smoothies, as my stomach allows.

According to the research she did on the subject,eating a completely raw diet during pregnancy produces wonderful results. She advises anyone who’s interested to check out a website/e-book called Ecstatic Birth, which she says is well worth the read. She also takes Rainbow Light “Complete Prenatal System” vitamins, along with fish oils, and some grapefruit seed extract for yeast prevention, etc.

The raw food diet may not be appropriate for certain people. As with any diet or diet changes, consult a competent health-care professional before you begin (or once you become pregnant)!