What exactly is a raw food diet?  Most raw foodists will define it as a vegan diet of organically grown fruits, vegetables, seeds and sprouted nuts, where nothing is heated above 118 degrees F. However, there are some who also incorporate small amounts of raw or very carefully cooked organic meats and dairy. Since the science, medicine, biology, physics, metaphysics, spirituality, and techniques of raw cuisine are beyond the scope of this article, we strongly recommend reading Rainbow Green Live-Food Cuisine by Gabriel Cousens MD. According to Cousens, "On a healthy live-food regimen one automatically gets the anti-aging  calorie-restriction effect without having to diet."

Cooking food can destroy much of the protein, vitamins and minerals, enzymes and phytonutrients, and has to be processed by your organs and immune system, which accelerates aging and disease. However when food is consumed raw, or at cooked temperatures below 118 degrees Fahrenheit it is enzymically active and alive, and digests itself, promoting physical, mental, and spiritual vitality. Because of the tremendous health benefits to raw cuisine as well as the opening of so many raw restaurants and publishing of raw cookbooks, we're seeing an incredible growth in the cuisine's popularity. Organic Nectars opened its doors in late 2004 to offer premium-quality raw, organic ingredients such as raw agave syrup, extra virgin olive oil, cacao powder, gojiberries, etc. and artisanal raw food snacks and desserts, and is just one of many new companies providing innovations in raw.   
      
While the popularity of raw cuisine is growing throughout the US and abroad, with lots of celebrities embracing it, most people are unfamiliar with how satisfying and diverse a raw food diet can be, believing that raw foodists eat nothing but "boring" salads or chomp on dry nuts.   In addition, and perhaps even more importantly, with so much of our culture and social experiences revolving around food, it is extremely difficult for so many to think of giving up their bread, pasta, rich desserts, burgers, etc. and have to make special diet requests at restaurants and social gatherings.  In most cases, the decision to eat raw is much more emotionally challenging than physically challenging. Yet once exposed to the myriad of ingredients and recipes, many find that a raw food diet can be deliciously fulfilling and anything but boring. 

And while many recipes require a working knowledge of unfamiliar techniques and lots of preparation which can be overwhelming and time consuming, more and more chefs and organic food manufacturers are embracing raw cuisine, offering prepared raw foods available at select health food stores or by ordering online.  Raw food restaurants are also popping up all over the country. Plus there are a number of great raw food cook books and raw food classes to take, offering great knowledge on how the cuisine can make a positive impact on our physical, mental and spiritual well-being.  Get a high-speed blender, food processor and dehydrator for your kitchen and you're good to go. (Organic Nectars offers all the necessary raw food prep equipment.) 

Some beautiful and inspiring gourmet coffee table "Un-Cookbooks" we recommend include Raw Food Real World (Matthew Kenney and Sarma Melngailis), Raw (Roxanne Gold and Charlie Trotter) and RawVolution (Matt Amsden).  With sexy food stylings, beautiful layouts and graphics and mouthwatering, easy-as-pie recipes (Amsden's strawberry tart recipe has just 3 ingredients -- almonds, strawberries, and organic agave nectar -- and about the same number of steps), I say we all have time to make that!   Especially check out the low-glycemic raw desserts and beverages.  Who knows, even celebrity chef, author and TV star Anthony Bourdain (author of Kitchen Confidential and the recently released The Nasty Bits) might eventually get into it!

More raw cookbooks: Vital Creations (Chad Sarno); Raw Food (Lori Baird, Julie Rodwell); Living Cuisine (Renee Loux Underkloffer); The Raw Food Gourmet (Gabrielle Chavez); The Raw Gourmet  (Nomi Shannon) and many more.