Thierry Casasnovas, the guru of raw food, has been placed in police custody. He is a follower of this controversial diet. Explanations.
Par Johanna Amselem
© CAIA IMAGE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / NEW / Science Photo Library via AFP
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IHe is known as the champion of fasting and raw food. Thursday March 9, 2023, Thierry Casasnovas was placed in police custody and is the subject of an investigation for “illegal practice of medicine”. On YouTube, the one who presents himself as a naturopath has made himself known with videos in which he extols the benefits of raw food and abstinence from food. The interministerial mission for vigilance and the fight once morest sectarian aberrations (Miviludes) has received more than 600 reports once morest him since 2011.
What is raw foodism?
Raw food is a dietary practice that aims to consume exclusively raw foods (vegetables, seeds, etc.). Specifically, the raw food diet consists of raw or cooked foods, but only at less than 42 degrees, because, beyond this temperature, certain components are destroyed. Thus, by eating (almost) raw, raw food lovers want to preserve as many vitamins, minerals, trace elements, etc. as possible. Indeed, the longer the cooking, the greater the destruction of the minerals. There are also, all over the world, restaurants that promote this diet.
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What are the recommended foods?
If all foods are allowed, in fact, raw food eaters most often respect a vegan diet. In detail, they favor fruits, vegetables, legumes, cereals and sprouted seeds, raw seeds, first cold-pressed oils, seaweed, etc. Some followers also eat meat or fish but only in the form of carpaccio or tartare.
What are the advantages ?
In the case of raw food, cooking does not alter the nutritional richness of foods and eating them raw allows you to derive all the benefits. For example, fiber consumption is higher, which promotes good intestinal transit. By eating raw, followers also often notice weight loss, even if this is not the primary desire. In addition, the long chewing required to swallow raw food provides a faster feeling of satiety and therefore reduced food intake. Raw foodies claim a boost of energy.
What are the dangers ?
If the high fiber content is good for your health, it can present certain undesirable effects in people with fragile intestines, such as diarrhea or abdominal pain. In addition, by favoring foods to be eaten raw (or very undercooked), certain products can be excluded from the diet, which can cause certain deficiencies (iron in particular). Another downside, some micronutrients are revealed exclusively during cooking, as is the case of lycopene contained in tomatoes. Exactly there amount of this antioxidant doubles following thirty minutes of cooking the tomatoes. Moreover, the carotenoids protectors are also more present in cooked vegetables.
In 2005, a study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that those who adhered to a raw diet had a greater risk of presenting a disturbed blood test (lower good cholesterol, higher blood homocysteine levels). As reminded the league once morest cancer, the best way to limit the risk of developing cancer is to combine different food groups in order to combine the advantages: “raw vegetables (vitamin C, polyphenols), cooked vegetables (minerals, fibres), starches (complex carbohydrates ), meat or fish (protein, iron), oil (vitamin E)”. As with all diets, it is best to be accompanied by a professional in order to avoid deficiencies, to take food supplements if necessary, etc. To maintain a varied and balanced diet, it is recommended to vary the foods and cooking methods.READ ALSO Are 2.0 gurus escaping justice?
What precautions should be taken ?
Eating raw can increase the risk of bacterial contamination. Indeed, cooking destroys the possible presence of bacteria or germs in certain foods. Thus, if you opt for raw, it is essential to pay particular attention to the freshness of food and respect for the cold chain.
