How To Stay Warm On A Raw Food Diet Without Dependance On Bananas

by David
(Santa Fe, NM, USA)

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for answering my oxalic acid question.

Both in New Jersey and New Mexico I've been running into some problems with bruised and damaged bananas (Andrew's ED: I answered David's question about these bananas here).

Bananas seem to be the most carbohydrate rich fruit, and this being the case, I'm concerned about being able to maintain body heat as Fall approaches, as I don't live in the tropics.

What causes you to be cold on a raw food diet?

Are not enough calories responsible?

Does eating more make us warmer?

Any suggestions for staying warm in the winter on a raw food diet?

Thanks,
David

Andrew's Answer:

Hi David.

I frequently hear that not getting enough calories in will cause you to be cold on a raw food diet, however, my own experiments have shown this to be something of a half truth.

Fasting:

Certainly, if you fast (take in no foods and drink only water) for more than a few days, your body temperature will drop. Fasters often note that while the people around them who are still eating are comfortable in tee shirts and shorts, they're a bit chilly unless they put on more layers or grab a blanket.

The Heat Of Cooked Food

It's also true that people on healthy low fat raw food diets have body temperatures that are generally a few degrees cooler than people on cooked diets.

I noted that my own body temperature dropped after going raw, and an unscientific survey of 32 long-term low fat raw foodists I conducted found they averaged 95.8 degrees on a thermometer, while most doctors consider the average human body temperature range to be 97.2 to 99.5.

It's my opinion that most cooked food eaters are constantly running a low-grade fever due to their food choices, which would certainly result in them feeling warmer in the winter.

Caloric Deficits And Low Body Temperature?

My own experience is that running a caloric deficit (failing to take in at least as many calories as you burn off) does not necessary cause you to be cold.

Tested via oral thermometer, my body temperature does not drop when I'm running a caloric deficit. Although temperature changes throughout the day, there is no significant difference between days when I run a deficit and days when I do not.

However, I think the important point is that when you're properly fueled, you can move more. I know that when I haven't eaten enough I'm sluggish and don't have much motivation to exercise.

Exercise is the best generator of body heat you're going to get, so if you're just laying around and not moving because you haven't got the energy to get up and go, you will certainly be colder than if you're out running, lifting weights, doing yoga, or whatever.

Tips For Staying Warm:

There's no magic in staying warm in the winter.

Sure, you're going to be colder than a cooked food eater, but I was raw in chilly Connecticut for years and I was able to keep up my diet with no problems. Here are some simple tips to help:

1) Don't eat food that's cold. If you've got your salad fixings in the fridge, take them out and let them warm up a few hours before you're going to make your salad.

2) Humans carry the tropics with them wherever they go. How? Even in winter, underneath wool hats, thick sweaters, and insulated coats you'll find that the trapped body heat raises skin temperature to 50 to 70 degrees in many situations, even if the outside air temperature is hovering around freezing.

If you're cold, put on another layer or two to bring some more tropical heat into your life.

3) Get moving. Exercise is part of a healthy raw food lifestyle, but it's also a great way to get warmed up quickly. Been sitting down too long? Pump out a few jumping jacks or pushups. Go for a run in the mornings to raise your body temperature from it's morning low. Any sort of intense exercise will work.

Does this mean eating enough? Sure. You won't have the energy to move if you haven't eaten enough, so you'll want to get those calories in.

Following Up:

Learn how to eat a healthy raw food diet.

Make tasty raw dressings and sauces.