By Steve Boomfield
London - Cavemen may have thought nothing of sinking their teeth into the raw flesh of a freshly slaughtered animal, but things have progressed somewhat since then.
Boiled, baked, griddled and grilled, almost everything we eat has been cooked in some way before it reaches our lips.
But all that is set to change. The raw food revolution has swept the United States - and now it is spreading around the world.
'When you eat only cooked food you do not feel as alive' Forget the low blood sugar GI diet and the fry-up friendly Atkins. The only rule for the raw food diet is that nothing is cooked - whether it be beef or beetroot, lamb or leeks.
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A-list Hollywood actresses such as Uma Thurman, Demi Moore and Natalie Portman are devotees.
A plethora of "cookbooks" is also being launched to promote the advantages of a raw food lifestyle, and several nutritionists and food experts have launched courses in how to make the switch to raw.
The fad became mainstream in the diet-conscious US after the appearance of a raw food restaurant in Sex And The City. There are now more than 30 eateries without ovens across the US - a trend set to take off internationally.
Just because the food is not cooked does not mean meat is off the menu. While chicken and other poultry cannot be eaten raw, some red meats can. Veal, beef and venison can all be eaten safely providing they are prepared correctly.
'This is not carrot sticks' "A lot of people are a little bit intimidated about eating raw meat and fish, which is a great shame, because I think they are really missing out - it is a very healthy and natural way of doing things," said Ramsay.
The health benefits of going raw are, claim its proponents, numerous. Raw food has live enzymes that help provide more energy. If food is cooked at above 47,8°C, the enzymes die. Raw food will increase your energy levels and, according to those who eat only raw, will cut down the amount of sleep you need each night.
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