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Study


In April 2009, we fielded a survey of 100 self-described raw vegans.

Demographics: 73% from Canada, 20% from the U.S., and 7% from the UK. 77% female, 23% male. Average age: 35. Min age: 17. Max age: 55.

How long have you been raw for?

Average: 1.9 years
Max: 25 years

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Why did you decide to “go raw?” (selected responses)

  • I wanted to lose weight and get off my medications.
  • I heard it could cure supposedly irreversible treatments
  • I found it really helped me with chronic fatigue/ depression symptoms
  • To gain more energy, mental clarity, and focus.
  • I had Candida and hypoglycaemia and that has gone away.
  • Physical results (i.e. more lean look, 6 pack)
  • I told myself I’d give it a week. One week turned into 7 months and I am not going back. I love it!
  • I looked at the pictures & story on Angela Stokes’ Raw Reform website. www.rawreform.com
  • Anti-aging
  • I was tired of feeling “sleepy” after meals. Now, I’ve lost 20 lbs, I look great and feel AWESOME!
  • Research suggested it would help reduce fibromyalgia symptoms.. it did! I still have symptoms but it’s much better!
  • As a form of prevention, having seen many friends die of cancer.
  • I have been to the Hippocrates Health Institute twice, and witnessed the amazing healing powers of an all-raw lifestyle
  • The testimonials showed that life was simply better on raw foods.

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chart4Reasons for selecting “No”:

  • Weight gain if you go back to food is a big issue
  • Going raw is not an easy path, I would never try to coerce someone into anything

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Final thoughts on the raw food diet (selected responses):

  • Raw is a wonderful diet IF done correctly. A lot of people are developing deficiencies and other health issues from lack of certain nutrition. Education is a must. This is not about taking away all cooked food and simply eating raw.
  • Raw changed my life and I will never go back.
  • Following a transitional diet first is usually the best.
  • I love it!! It’s amazing.
  • I just love the way I am living now. It is not just about food, it’s about life!
  • I don’t like the purist aspects of the raw food movement. I find there is as much guilt and shame in the purists as there is on the opposite side of the fence.
  • In the beginning, I found it very confusing to read all the varying viewpoints of what makes a healthy raw food diet. Some say eat whatever you want whenever you want so long as it’s raw – some say no condiments – some say more fruit – some say more greens. This is difficult when you are trying to figure out what to do and since most people don’t know how to listen to their bodies, they can get pretty sick following one “guru” over another.
  • Every raw foodist should read Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s article titled “The Cold truth about Raw Foods”: http://www.diseaseproof.com/archives/healthy-food-the-cold-truth-about-raw-food-diets.html
  • It is about reducing your footprint
  • Need more raw cafés or restaurants
  • I think we should set up a Research Foundation that would be financed by donations from raw foodists. Let’s face it; most research gets done by those who will benefit from it: the dairy board lobby, the beef lobby, and the pharmaceutical companies. We’ll have to come up with some way to finance validating research on the raw food diet.

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