Raw Food Diet

Jazmen Smithson and Ignacio Torres

DHE: 132: Dental Hygiene Theory I

Professor Woodcock

April 1, 2024

Overview

In today's world, a lot of the food we consume is processed, low in nutrients and contains

many artificial ingredients. The raw food diet is described as a dietary regimen that is composed

of entirely raw or unprocessed foods that aid in boosting energy, weight loss, improvement of
overall health and have a good impact on the environment. The diet has a few variations which

include a raw vegan diet, a raw vegetarian diet and a raw omnivorous diet. The raw vegan diet is

the most common raw diet and limits the food to raw non animal based food, the vegetarian

variation allows for all raw foods excluding meats, fish and poultry and the raw omnivorous diet

includes all types of animal based foods along with meat, but it has to remain uncooked and

unprocessed. Although the diet has different variations, the risks and benefits remain similar. In

this paper, we will be discussing the benefits of the raw food diet, the risks of the diet and the

oral and systemic health in relation to the raw food diet.

Benefits

A raw food diet offers numerous benefits as it is primarily centered around the

preservation of essential nutrients and enzymes found in unprocessed foods. By consuming raw

vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds into one’s diet without heating above 118°F, individuals can

preserve essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals crucial for overall health. This dietary

approach is shown to promote better digestion due to the higher fiber and live enzyme content

retained within the foods, which aids in nutrient absorption and breaking down foods. “If not

heated above the mentioned temperature, food’s nutritional content does not alter and its

enzymes remain active, which in turn can lead to better digestion” (Pahlavani, 2023, paras. 2).

Therefore, cooking foods at high temperature can have a harmful effect which includes loss of

essential nutrients and destruction of enzymes crucial to produce pro-inflammatory compounds.

Another benefit to the diet is that it has a very low sodium intake due to the increase of fruits and

vegetables. A low sodium intake has shown to decrease blood pressure in hypertensive patients

and has a chance of lowering your risk of heart failure, stomach cancer and kidney disease

(Robinson, 2013). The raw vegan diet has also been shown to reduce the risk of developing type
II diabetes (Peters, 2023). Due to the diet mainly focusing on fruits and vegetables, it is very

fiber rich. A fiber rich diet has been proven to lower blood sugar levels and high insulin levels.

Risks

Although there are many benefits to the raw food diet, there are also risks that come

along with it. The raw vegan diet is the most popular variation, but it also has the most

concerning when it comes to deficiencies of many important vitamins and minerals. When a

study was done on people who participated in the raw food diet, 38% of the participants showed

deficiencies in vitamin B12, vitamin D, selenium, zinc, iron and two types of omega-3 fatty

acids, all of which are found in many animal based foods (Brown, 2023). This has cause for

concern because most of these vitamins and minerals play a huge role in brain development,

immune system and nerve function. The study also showed that the diet can also lead to an

increase in homocysteine (Brown, 2023). Homocysteine is an amino acid that is broken down by

vitamin B12. When increased levels are found in the body, it puts people at risk for stroke,

dementia and cardiovascular diseases. Another risk found with the diet is the likelihood of

getting food poisoning. Many scientific studies have shown the possible presence of pathogenic

microorganisms in raw food based diets (Bulochova, 2021). Some of the more common

pathogens found in raw food are Salmonella, Listeria, and Escherichia coli. Due to the lack of

temperature when cooking, it is harder for the bacteria to be killed which can result in foodborne

illness.

Oral and Systemic Health

A person's diet can have a significant role on oral health. There are certain beverages and

foods that can promote or undermine an individual’s oral health due to their nutritional content

and how they are consumed. A raw food diet can have both a positive and negative impact on
oral health. The high fibers and natural enzymes found in raw vegetables and fruits can promote

oral health by increasing saliva flow, which neutralizes acid and contributes to cleansing the

mouth. In addition, those with a raw vegan food diet require extra mechanical activity due to the

mastication of hard foods and its effect on salivary glands (Sijanivandi, 2020). The vitamins and

minerals abundant in raw foods, such as calcium and vitamins strengthen tooth enamel and

support gum health. Some fruits and vegetables are found to be very acidic and if consumed

excessively, it can eventually erode the tooth enamel. “This study shows that living on a raw

food diet bears an increased risk of dental erosion…plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables should be

informed of the risk of tooth damage” (Ganss 1999, para. 16). Individuals following a raw food

diet should be mindful of their nutritional intake to support their oral health.

Raw food diet can also have negative effects on systemic health, depending on various

factors such as nutritional needs, dietary balance and overall food choice. Due to low calorie

intake, many women who participate in this diet drop weight at an accelerated rate which can

have a high impact on their fertility rate. In a study done on the raw vegan diet, 70% of women

had experienced irregularities in their menstrual cycle which in some cases lead to infertility and

amenorrhea (Peters, 2023). It has also been shown to weaken the muscles and bones in your

body due to the low calcium and vitamin D intake. In a recent study done, it showed that those

who participated in the raw vegan diet had lower bone minerals than those who follow a standard

american diet (Peters, 2023). Ultimately, a lower bone mineral density can lead to osteoporosis

which can result in an increased risk of fractures.

Patient and Product Information

Patients committed to a raw food diet might experience deficiencies in vitamin B12, as it

is commonly anticipated. Those following a raw food diet have insufficient consumption of food
of animal origin (Abraham, 2022). Therefore, an appropriate recommendation would be to

integrate supplementary sources of vitamins such as B12, zinc, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids

which may be less abundant in raw plant foods. Patients following this diet are more than likely

going to experience some erosion of the hard tissues due to the high acidity intake. Erosion puts

the oral cavity at a high risk for caries so it is important to recommend a caries fighting

toothpaste like PreviDent 5000 to ensure the patients teeth are protected. Along with the caries

fighting toothpaste, it is crucial that the patients use a soft toothbrush to avoid any further

abrasiveness. Another recommendation for the patient would be consulting with a registered

dietitian before making any dietary changes which can provide support for nutritional guidance.

Conclusion

Raw food diets emphasize the consumption of uncooked foods and are primarily plant-

based. The diet includes meats, vegetables, fruits, and seeds which are consumed in their natural

raw state. Individuals with this dietary approach may experience some positive benefits but can

also have additional risk when eating raw foods. There is a distinct relation between the oral and

systemic health with individuals who are on this diet. Therefore, it is crucial to discuss

appropriate dietary recommendations with the patient and guidance to assist with their nutritional

needs and maintain their oral health. Overall, the raw food diet presents both advantages and

disadvantages and the importance of being mindful of one’s nutritional intake.

Sijanivandi, Soran, et al. “Effects of Raw Vegan Diet on Periodontal and Dental Parameters.” Tzu Chi

Medical Journal, vol. 0, no. 0, 2020, p. 0, https://doi.org/10.4103/tcmj.tcmj_161_19. Accessed

26 Apr. 2020.

Ganss, C., M. Schlechtriemen, and J. Klimek. "Dental Erosions in Subjects Living on a Raw Food Diet."

Caries Research, vol. 33, no. 1, 1999, pp. 74-80. ProQuest, https://login.ezp.mesacc.edu/login?

url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/dental-erosions-subjects-living-on-raw-food-

diet/docview/220220153/se-2.

Brown, Laura. “Raw Vegan Diet May Be a Risk to Your Health – Here’s Why.” The Conversation, 2

Nov. 2022, theconversation.com/raw-vegan-diet-may-be-a-risk-to-your-health-heres-why-

193495. Accessed 26 Apr. 2023.

Kara Mayer Robinson. “Raw Foods Diet.” WebMD, WebMD, 11 Dec. 2013, www.webmd.com/diet/a-

z/raw-foods-diet.

BULOCHOVA,VERONIKA, and Ellen W. Evans. "Exploring Food Safety Perceptions and Self-

Reported Practices of Raw Meat–Based Diets." Journal of Food Protection, vol. 84, no. 5, 2021,

pp. 912-919. ProQuest,

https://login.ezp.mesacc.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/exploring-

food-safety-perceptions-self-reported/docview/2654374310/se-2,

doi:https://doi.org/10.4315/JFP-20-338.

Peters, Alina . “The Raw Vegan Diet: Benefits, Risks and Meal Plan.” Healthline, 3 July 2023,

www.healthline.com/nutrition/raw-vegan-diet#:~:text=In%20some%20cases%2C%20a%20raw.

Accessed 16 Mar. 2024.

review of the available evidence. Clinical Nutrition Open Science.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266726852300013X
 Reflections
Jazmen

The most important thing I learned from this assignment was how the nutrients in your

food can decrease based on the temperature and the way you're cooking your food. In the past, I

have never really paid attention to how I cooked the food and I feel like this is important to know

because even though I am eating something that is relatively healthy, I might not be benefiting

from it because all the nutrients are gone. I also learned how the raw vegan diet can lead to an

increase in erosion of the hard tissues. I think this is super important to know because the vegan

diet is so popular in today's society so it's important to know what to look for in those patients to

ensure I recommend the correct products to protect their oral cavity. I also learned that the raw

vegan diet can lead to a decrease in bone strength which can ultimately result in osteoporosis.

This was something I have never heard of before doing this paper and I find it very interesting

considering that the raw vegan diet is the most popular of the three. I feel like a lot of people

don't know the risks that come along with some of these trends and it is very interesting to learn

about how they affect the overall body. One thing that I would change to add to my everyday

diet would be incorporating more raw vegetables into my meals. Raw vegetables have a lot of

natural enzymes that boost the digestive and immune system and I feel like I could really benefit

from this. One thing I was surprised about with this diet was the impact it had on women and

fertility. I think it is really important to let women who follow these trends know all the risks that

come along with them.

Reflection

Nacho
 While researching information through numerous articles about raw food diets I learned a

lot of unique benefits and risks when consuming raw foods. One of the most interesting aspects

of this diet is its emphasis on the amount of rich vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and antioxidants

when eating foods in their natural raw state. I was also unaware that cooking food at a high

temperature would cause the foods to lose essential nutrients that are crucial for overall health. I

found it interesting that eating raw foods can promote a better digestive system due to the fact of

higher intake of fiber and enzymes. Although the diet does provide some benefits, I also learned

that there are some risks when consuming raw foods. I now know that those on a raw food diet

primarily consume raw fruits and vegetables which may be very acidic therefore if one consumes

excessively, it can also lead to erosion and damage the tooth. I thought that was very interesting

but not surprising as too much of anything is harmful. As with anything else I believe it’s

important to find that balance where you are gaining the nutritional benefits but not the negative

effect of excessively intaking something. Knowing the information I know now it’s important to

eat a balance of raw foods to gain its nutritional benefit. I have now discovered a newfound

appreciation for what raw foods have to offer and would like to incorporate raw fruits and

vegetables into my own diet. I tend to heat up my foods but making a dietary change may be

optimal for my health.