The raw foods diet is not a new concept. This was the first food eaten by humans before the stove was invented (and even before fire was discovered). There are historical and Biblical references to the raw foods diet. The Essene were a religious group that flourished from the second century B.C. to the first century A.D. Documents from that time report that they ate a diet rich in raw fruits, vegetables, and sprouts.

They developed their own form of bread, and a similar bread can be purchased today in most health food stores. Essene bread is made from sprouted grains and seeds, formed into a loaf, and then dehydrated. The Essenes baked their bread directly in the sunlight.

An interesting Biblical reference to the anti-aging effects of raw foods is found in the first chapter of Daniel. In this passage, the King gives his servants rich foods and wine, but Daniel refuses to eat them. He persuades the King to agree to a 10-day experiment in which the servants eat only vegetables and water.

A quote from Daniel 1:15–16 says “At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.”

The Modern Raw Foods Movement

The contemporary raw foods community can trace its roots back to the natural health movement that emerged across the globe in the late nineteenth century. In the United States this movement was led by Dr. Sylvester Graham (innovator of Graham crackers), Dr. Herbert Shelton, and many other health pioneers. These doctors practiced a system of health care known as Natural Hygiene.

The philosophy of this approach was to support the body's natural healing process through a raw foods and whole-grain diet, and periodic water fasting. The Natural Hygiene movement is alive today in the natural health communities in the United States and worldwide.

In the mid-twentieth century, natural health doctors began expanding their approach to diet, adding juices, blended foods, cleansing, and detoxification to their programs. These raw food pioneers have included Dr. Ann Wigmore, Dr. Brian Clement, Dr. Max Gerson, Dr. Bernard Jensen, and Dr. Gabriel Cousens.

Raw Gourmet Cuisine

The concept of raw gourmet food emerged about this time, introducing the world to a whole new lifestyle and way of eating. Today, raw gourmet foods are everywhere. Most major cities have restaurants with raw foods cuisine featured on their menus. Examples include the Café Gratitude restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area and Quintessence in New York. Most health food stores carry a variety of packaged raw foods including nuts, cookies, crackers, and energy bars, as well as fermented products like sauerkraut. It has never been easier to eat healthy!