Raw

Foods are raw when they are not cooked. Some foods, like bananas or lettuce are good to eat raw, and others, such as potatoes are better cooked. Some foods are good either raw or cooked.

Some people think it is healthy to eat raw food rather than cooked food, because it better keeps the nutrients and vitamins.

Food safety

However, it can also be problematic. People eating only raw foods need time to adjust their diet, because cooked food are better digested. Also, raw food tend to contain more pesticides (for example in carrot).

Finally, raw food can make people sick because of microbial infections. In some countries, it is better to cook food, or at least to clean it very well with clean water. It is also a good idea to wash vegetables with vinegar or lemon juice added in the water.

It is better not to eat raw food when pregnant, because some food can make the mother sick. Foodborne illness may result in premature delivery, miscarriage, fetal death, and severe illness or death of a newborn from the infection. One disease is the one due to an harmful bacteria, the Listeria, that causes an illness called listeriosis.

To avoid the disease, it is best to keep food refrigerated, to avoid raw-milk cheeses or other products, as well as smoked fishes. Mothers should only drink cooked milk.