You Should Not Eat Raw Food

Milk

       Fresh milk is believed to be the best kind of milk for the body, but fresh does not mean straight from the cow, goat, sheep, buffalo, or camel. Raw milk, or unpasteurized milk, can carry harmful bacteria and other germs that can make you very sick or kill you. It can also cause serious infections, like salmonella, listeria, and E. coli. Studies by the CDC show that outbreaks from raw milk continue to threaten people’s health.

Kale

     It is common knowledge that kale is one of the world’s healthiest foods. However, eating a very large amount of raw kale could lead to hormonal irregularities that lead to fluctuations in blood sugar, weight, and overall metabolic health. You could experience a swelling of the thyroid or a goiter as a result.

Eggs

     Though eating raw eggs is more common in countries like Japan and Korea, it was popularized by a scene in Rocky where the boxer drank raw eggs. A myth that raw eggs are a healthier option than cooked eggs is debunked by a small study which found that the absorption of protein is higher in cooked eggs (90%) than in raw eggs (50%). There have been outbreaks of salmonella infections due to contaminated egg shells. Even so, you can still eat Hollandaise sauce as long as you use pasteurized eggs, says The US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Elderberries

     Elderberries contain antioxidants, and are believed to relieve colds, fight the flu, and boost the immune system. But eating or drinking raw elderberries or another toxic part of the plant can lead to nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and stupor, according to a report. Luckily, the toxic substances found in the berries can be safely removed by cooking them.

Flour

    Eating a spoonful of raw dough or batter, especially if it is cookie dough, is hard to resist, but not only would you be at risk of getting a salmonella infection because of the raw egg, you might also be at risk due to the E. coli in flour. In 2016, an outbreak of E. coli infections linked to raw flour made 63 people sick. Since the bacteria are killed when food made with flour is cooked, you need to control your urges until the oven kills the bacteria for you.

Brussels sprouts

       Moms like to say, “Eat your Brussels sprouts!” for good reasons — they are high in nutrients and rich in antioxidants. While Brussels sprouts can be eaten raw and should not be overcooked, they should not be eaten raw if you suffer from hypothyroidism since they are one of the possible toxicants in thyroid dysfunction.

Olive

    Unlike most foods in this article, olives should not be eaten raw because they are inedible, not because they can make you sick or kill you. Raw olives are extremely bitter and if you made the mistake of picking one and popping it straight into your mouth when walking amongst the olive trees in Tuscany, chances are you would just gag and spit it out.

Honey

     Raw honey may contain spores of the bacteria Clostridium botulinum which is especially harmful to babies, children under the age of one, and pregnant women. It may cause botulism poisoning with side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Consequently this may cause life-threatening paralysis

Sprouts

     Sprouts are one of the easiest plants to grow and they are rich in nutrients. Consuming raw sprouts, however, could cause food poisoning with symptoms like stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting appearing 1-8 days after eating the sprouts. Raw or lightly cooked sprouts have led to outbreaks of foodborne illness.

Mushrooms

      Raw mushrooms contain agaritine which has a cancerous effect in the bladder of mice. While it appears that the risk to humans is much lower, at about 2 cases per 100,000 lives, to get the nutrients from mushrooms that could reduce the risk of cancer, it is best to first cook the mushrooms. Cooking mushrooms can also decrease the mercury contamination of a mushroom meal.

Potatoes

     It might not be common to eat raw potatoes, but kids might bite into them like apples. Potatoes contain antinutrients which can interfere with your body’s digestion and absorption of nutrients. Cooking potatoes can reduce lectin, one of the antinutrients by 50%-60%. Glycoalkaloids in potatoes can causedrowsiness, itchiness, increased sensitivity, and digestive issues in high amounts and can be reduced by peeling and cooking the potatoes.

Tomatoes

     Although tomatoes can be eaten raw, a study by Cornell University scientists showed that the antioxidant activity of cooked tomatoes is higher than in uncooked tomatoes. This suggests that to get more benefits out of tomatoes, they should be cooked before eating. Tomatoes ranked number 10 as one of the vegetables with pesticide residue, so they should be washed first. The stems, leaves, and unripe tomatoes are poisonous and should not be eaten.

Chicken

     There’s a reason why Gordon Ramsay flipped every time he was served raw chicken — it’s poisonous. Unlike beef, eating raw chicken can result in serious illnesses because it contains salmonella, campylobacter, or both, which can cause diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. A study noted that poultry was the most common food in outbreaks during 1998-2012. The CDC says that chicken should be cooked to a safe internal temperature of 165°F.