Something to consider

Raw food purists do not eat meat or fish, even raw preparations such as tartare, carpaccio and sashimi. Though these are indeed raw foods, some feel the parasites carried by raw fish and meat are damaging to the body and counter the health aims of a raw food diet. They also worry that, with regard to fish, ocean contamination known to collect in the fatty deposits of fish is passed on to sushi diners, again working against the purification aims of eating raw.

However new-school raw foodists do make room for a broader range of raw foods including raw or unpasteurized dairy products, raw eggs, raw fish and raw meat, arguing that humans have evolved to eat this array of raw foods going back to the Stone Age and that evolution hasn’t had enough time for us to adapt to a world of processed foods. These eaters claim to get more calcium, protein and vitamin D than plant-only raw foodists, though debate rages over the subject.

• Do you eat meat and fish as part of your raw foods diet? Why? Why not? Weigh in!