Raw Food Trend

[Anchor Lead]

Many people become vegetarians for health reasons or their conviction for animal rights. But adhering to a raw food diet, which is gaining popularity of late, goes one step farther than only eating non-animal foods. Here’s more.

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Onion and mushrooms are sliced thinly, and soy sauce, syrup, and minced garlic are mixed together to make a sauce. Thin noodles made of kelp are used instead of mung bean noodles to make Korea's iconic japchae dish. Rice is substituted by chopped cauliflower in this mushroom and rice dish. This version of gimbap is made with only paprika and other julienned vegetables.

[Soundbite] Shim Seo-hyeon(Seoul Resident) : "It tastes more savory the longer you chew on it, and I can taste the natural flavors of the ingredients."

The raw food movement uses ingredients that have not been heated above 45 degrees, to prevent the enzymes from being destroyed by heat. The dietary movement was first developed in Europe for cancer patients, and it has become popular in Korea in the past five or six years with word of mouth buzz over the effectiveness of raw food in improving health and losing weight.

[Soundbite] Park Jeong-hye(Raw Food Cooking Instructor) : "They are less likely to be accumulated in the body as toxins since they are discharged quickly. So raw food makes you feel better than cooked food."

However, the dietary program is not recommended for people with jaw or dental problems since hard, uncooked ingredients require a lot of chewing. Also, potatoes or kidney beans, which are toxic if uncooked, should not be used in the raw food diet. It's important to be aware of the risks associated with raw foodism before trying it.