Many people are curious about the raw food diet, which is a misnomer in that it is not a "diet" at all. There is no suggested meal plan or packaged foods or raw snack bars or quantities. The raw food diet is a lifestyle choice that has always been around. Although it may sound simple, it is not that easy to be a raw foodist. I myself was "raw" for a year and found the lifestyle to be extremely anti-social and difficult to maintain.

For this reason, people who adhere to this lifestyle categorize themselves as 100% raw, 70% raw, etc. It is like some red badge of courage if you can actually maintain this diet all the time. Some famous raw foodists include Carol Alt, Woody Harrelson, Demi Moore and Donna Karan. Lisa Bonet has been known to eat raw and Alicia Silverstone, like myself, has dipped in and out of various healthy lifestyles such as raw, vegan, and macrobiotic. What I will say about the diet, which you can see in these stars, is that it is the healthiest way a person can eat. Your skin changes to clear and glowing, your eyes to white and bright, your sleep to sound and your energy to high.

So what is the raw food diet? Raw (or live food) is completely vegan (no animal whatsoever). There are some other strange diets that involve raw meat and fish, but that's not what I'm talking about. The concept of raw food is that it is completely "live," meaning it contains all of its live enzymes. Overcooking food destroys its vitamins. If a vegetable is raw, all of its health properties, vitamins and enzymes are intact. This makes these foods much more digestible.

The raw food diet includes all fruits and vegetables (including dried), live juices (not pasteurized), raw nuts and nut butters, sprouts and sprouted grains such as soaked raw oats, soaked and pureed legumes such as young coconuts, sea vegetables, avocados, and raw cocoa powder. Basically, the raw diet is very creative and labor intensive. For example, desserts are made with pureed raw honey, dates, cocoa powder and coconut, then dehydrated to make mock muffins, macaroons, etc. Otherwise, similar ingredients are used to make raw ice creams. Nuts and vegetables are rolled into nori rolls to imitate sushi. Raw foods are also expensive because of the high quality ingredients and time involved. Raw foods cannot be cooked over 118 degrees. Many people who really dive into the lifestyle have dehydrators. This is the only way to simulate cooked foods such as somewhat warm soups, grain burgers, nut grain granolas and raw breads. Basically, the concept is similar to when people would leave breads to bake out in the sun all day.

Because of the digestibility of these foods, people can eat as much as they want (despite the fat) and lose weight and get healthy. Please note that detox symptoms will arise for the first few weeks. These include, but are not limited to, fatigue, breakouts, bad breath, body odor, etc. Your body will be trying to rid itself of all of its toxins. Afterwards, you will glow, have no bad breath whatsoever, have clear skin and smell great etc.

For most people, a raw food diet is very difficult, so here is how you can do your part to improve your health in small increments. When at a restaurant or at home, choose to eat the raw salad instead of the cooked or roasted vegetables. Buy raw honey and sweeteners, raw nuts and nut butters. Cut back on coffee and alcohol. Wine, however, is raw, so drink it in moderation. Eat a bit less animal protein, and if you must eat it, try to make it fresh water fish instead of shellfish and meat. Add some tofu and beans to your diet instead of chicken. Basically, meat is the most difficult to digest, then chicken, then shellfish, then fish. Always hydrate your body!!! Eat whole grains instead of white foods such as white rice, white bread etc. Basically, educate yourself on extremes such as this and then do the best you can by modifying small behaviors. Make it about the journey and not the destination.