Raw food vegetarians have good health

People on strict raw food vegetarian diet are thin but healthy. A diet without dairy products can lead to thinning of bones or osteoporosis, but vegetarians show signs of strong bones. Raw food vegetarians believe in eating only plant-derived foods that have not been cooked, processed, or otherwise altered from their natural state. Due to the low calorie and low protein intake, raw food vegetarians have a low body mass index (BMI) and a low total body fat content. It is well documented that a low BMI and weight loss are strongly associated with low bone mass and increased fracture risk, while obesity protects against osteoporosis.

Researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, USA, studied 18 strict raw food vegetarians aged between 33 to 85 years. All ate a diet that included unprepared foods such vegetables, fruits, nuts, and sprouted grains. They had been on this diet for an average of 3.6 years. The team compared them to 18 more average subjects. The raw food group had an average body mass index of 20.5, while the average group was slightly overweight with a BMI of 25. The researchers expected the vegetarians to have low vitamin D levels because they avoid dairy products, which are fortified with the vitamin. But it was found that their vitamin D levels were markedly higher than average. The skin makes Vitamin D when the body is exposed to sunlight and is key to keeping strong bones. These people were clever enough to expose themselves to sunlight to increase their concentrations of vitamin D.

The vegetarians had low levels of C-reactive protein, an inflammatory molecule that is linked with the risk of heart disease, diabetes and other chronic disease. Furthermore, they had lower levels of IGF-1, a growth factor linked to risk of breast and prostate cancer.
The findings suggest that in order to lower the risk of cancer and heart disease people should eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

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