The idea behind the raw food diet is that cooking destroys nutrients and natural enzymes in food, which are important for digestion and fighting chronic diseases. Raw food enthusiasts believe that eating uncooked, unprocessed, mostly organic foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and sprouted grains can improve health conditions like headaches, allergies, and diabetes. However, cooking does not make food toxic. In fact, it makes some foods more digestible and boosts certain nutrients like beta-carotene and lycopene. Cooking also kills bacteria, reducing the risk of food poisoning. While a raw food diet can help with weight loss and is high in fiber and vitamins, it is nutritionally inadequate in protein, iron, calcium, and vitamin B12, and can be difficult to maintain long-term. Therefore, cooking generally makes food safer and more digestible, and there is no scientific evidence that raw foods prevent illness.