Vidya Balan Follows A ‘No Raw’ Food Lifestyle – Is It Beneficial For You?

Actress Vidya Balan has a discerning palate, favouring predominantly home-cooked meals. In a rapid-fire interview with Curly Tales, the Do Aur Do Pyaar star revealed her dietary choices, emphasising a preference for home-cooked, gluten-free meals with no raw components.

Is a ‘no-raw-food’ regimen suitable for you?

Adopting a diet devoid of raw foods can prove advantageous for specific groups, including individuals with compromised immune systems, expectant mothers, young children, and seniors.

Benefits of shunning raw foods

Raw foods, particularly meats, eggs, and unpasteurized dairy, harbor potentially harmful bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria. Thorough cooking effectively eliminates these pathogens, mitigating the risk of foodborne illnesses.

Cooking aids digestion by breaking down complex proteins and fibres, benefiting those with gastrointestinal issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Certain nutrients become more bioavailable through cooking. Lycopene in tomatoes and beta-carotene in carrots, for example, are better absorbed post-cooking. Moreover, cooking deactivates anti-nutrients like phytates and oxalates, enhancing mineral absorption.

Enhanced flavor and texture post-cooking make foods more appetizing, facilitating a more diverse and balanced diet.

Additionally, pregnant women are advised to steer clear of select raw foods to avert infections posing risks to both mother and fetus, according to Healthline. Avoiding items like sushi, unpasteurized dairy, and undercooked meats significantly reduces complications.