Food choices are limited to fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, grains, legumes, seaweeds, unprocessed organic and natural foods, freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juice, purified water and coconut milk. Followers have the option to prepare foods in a dehydrator, in a blender or in a juicer. Even a little bit of cooked food causes the stomach to produce acid, which leads to indigestion.

Raw food followers also believe that uncooked foods have a bacteria that stimulates the immune system and enhances digestion by populating the digestive tract with beneficial flora. Supposedly, wild foods, wild plants and edible weeds specifically, are among the best raw foods.

Benefits of a raw diet include more energy, healthier skin, better digestion, weight loss, stable body mass index and lowered risk of heart disease. Some medical experts express concerns that people following a raw food diet may not be getting enough nutrients. Also, raw foods are often high in pesticides.  It is not recommended for children.