Tropical Raw Food Diet

Raw food diets are based on eating organic, plant-based foods that are free of additives and preservatives. This diet is based on the theory that the more raw, plant-based foods consumed, the healthier the person and the less prone to disease. A healthy tropical raw food diet includes fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes.

Fruits

Tropical fruits offer much more than fiber for those on a raw food diet. Tropical fruits like pineapple, passion fruit, papaya and mango impart nutritional benefits as well. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), the natural juice of the pineapple contains bromelain which can help with digestion and inflammation. Ayushveda.com says passion fruit "is low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium and high in dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium." Papaya, according to Best-Home-Remedies.com, has several benefits including being a digestive aid, it can help with skin disorders and menstrual irregularities. An unripe mango is said to protect against heat stroke, gastrointestinal and bilious disorders, blood disorders and scurvy by Best-Home-Remedies.com. WeLikeItRaw.com does not place a limit on the amount of fruits or vegetables that can be eaten on a raw food diet.

Vegetables

Tropical vegetables like Chinese kale and bitter gourd provide fiber on a raw diet as well as nutrients and nutritional benefits. Chinese kale, according to WHFoods.org, is known to prevent cancer, optimize cell detoxification and lower the risk of developing cataracts. Bitter gourd has been said to prevent and treat diabetes, piles, blood and respiratory disorders and can help treat alcoholism and cholera, according to Best-Home-Remedies.com.

Nuts and Legumes

Raw nuts and legumes provide protein to this fiber-rich diet. The manketti nut, according to NaturalHub.com's article "Natural Food Guide--Nuts," found in West Africa, is high in essential fatty acids and vitamin E and is 25 percent protein. The African breadnut and brazil nut are also used for food. The brazil nut can be harvested for a natural oil "similar to olive oil." Azuki beans, a legume, are described by NaturalImport.com to "strengthen the heart, regulate blood circulation, help with fatigue, and improve the functions of the bladder and kidneys" as well as reducing water retention and detoxifying the body. Another legume, the winged bean, is asserted in the Health section of the February 23,1982 New York Times (Health.NYTimes.com) to be a "weapon against malnutrition" as nearly the entire plant is edible with the exception of the stalk. WeLikeItRaw.com suggests eating no more than 2 lbs. of nuts per week, and offers no limitations on legumes.