A raw food diet, as the name suggests, is one that consists of uncooked, unprocessed and mostly organically grown foods. The list of foods that may be eaten without heating or other preparation is longer than you might think. Here’s a look at them.

Fruits and vegetables are obvious. Practically all fruits and vegetables can be eaten with minimal processing. Exceptions include buckwheat greens and kidney beans. They are toxic when consumed without cooking. If you aren’t sure about something, don’t eat it. You have probably heard about people sickened by poisoned mushrooms. Those are not just stories. It happens.

There is a certain risk of food poisoning, which is usually accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea, no matter what we eat. One school of thought is that we have become more sensitive to naturally occurring bacteria, because most of what we eat is cooked or processed in some way, killing beneficial bacteria, as well as those that cause illness.

Most people that exist on a raw food diet are vegans. They do not eat meats, dairy or seafood. But there are some people who consume eggs, sushi and non-pasteurized dairy foods.

It is important to be aware of the increased risk of poisoning from meats, fish and non-pasteurized dairy. A person with a weakened immune system could become ill and die. Certain foods do require some processing in order to make them digestible. For example, rice and other grains must be soaked overnight or sprouted in order to be consumed.

Cookbooks exist for making unique, possibly more appetizing dishes. Juices and cold soups are an option. Crackers, breads and even cookies can be made using a dehydrator. The advantages according to proponents include increased intake of nutrients and enzymes, as well as better digestion. There is no doubt that increasing one’s intake of fiber will improve digestion. But you can do that without going on a totally raw food diet.

The exclusion of prepared foods is sometimes recommended for specific health problems, including cancer. Assuming that nutrient and caloric intake is sufficient (and toxins are avoided), there is nothing unhealthy about the diets.

There is much debate about what kinds of foods the bodies of human beings were created to eat. From a purely scientific standpoint, we are mammals. Our bodies have the ability to digest vegetable and animal matter.

There are a growing number of proponents for a raw food diet for dogs. It is believed that many of their chronic health problems are due to eating prepared foods, particularly those high in cooked grains. All dogs are descended from wolves. A wolf’s diet primarily consists of raw meat, but they are known to munch on grasses and other plants.

Artificial preservatives, flavorings and colors are added to both human and pet foods. Those chemical additives are often derived from petroleum byproducts. Some believe that artificial ingredients may be responsible for some types of cancer.

A raw food diet could help keep the causes of aging to a minimum, according to proponents. So there are plenty of good reasons to give it a try.