Cooked or raw foods? What is better to consume?
Currently, there is an open controversy among proponents of eating raw or cooked foods. Both food choices have advantages and disadvantages and garner a large number of followers from both "factions". The arguments presented by each position are broad and in this article, we will try to make a small summary.
Cooked or raw foods? Benefits
Raw foods
- Among the arguments in favour of raw food, there is certainly the greater amount of nutrients that this type of diet offers, some of which are lost with cooking. According to an article published in the International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science, this would depend on the type of cooking the food is subjected to.
- Choosing not to cook food saves time and energy resources.
- Finally, raw foods are believed to be more digestible and do not make you drowsy after eating.
Cooked foods
- Those in favour of cooking food argue that this process kills bacteria in the food, thereby preventing various potential diseases.
- The fibres of some foods tend to soften during cooking, which would improve digestion.
- The cold is also fought by cooking food, which helps our metabolism to be more efficient.
- On the other hand, cooking helps eliminate the antinutrients of some plant foods, which are substances that hinder or prevent the absorption of nutrients. However, we have not found any data to prove this position.
Disadvantages of both positions
The downside is that raw foods can cause bacterial disease if not washed well Additionally, some people complain of bloating and stomach upset when consuming large portions of raw food. Although raw foods can be refreshing in the summer, they can feel cold in the winter.
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| Careful handling of food is important to avoid cases of cross-contamination Attention should be paid to hygiene and food storage. |
Proponents of raw food argue that cooking is expensive and time-consuming In addition, in general, the consumption of oils and fats to accompany cooked foods also increases which could negatively affect health and fitness.
Cooking food would worsen the absorption of nutrients since the consumption of cooked food would alter the intestinal mucosa (responsible for the correct absorption of nutrients). But on this point, it should be made clear that we have not found a scientific basis.
What do Ayurvedic medicine and traditional Chinese medicine think?
Both disciplines agree that food must adapt to the characteristics of each person and the season of the year in which we find ourselves. Our diet does not have to be the same in the summer as it is in the winter.
The most important thing, from this point of view, is to be able to make an observation and an objective analysis of ourselves, of our characteristics. This means that if we are hot and active people it might be better to increase raw food intake. Conversely, if we suffer from the cold a lot, we are likely to benefit most from the inclusion of cooked foods in our diet.
