The raw diet mania is here. The craze has already seen 30 raw-food restaurants pop up across the US. One was even featured on Channel 4's Sex and the City. So, is this diet just another fashion fad with hyper-celebrities lining up to crunch on carrots? Or, is this back-to-nature menu really everything it's cracked up to be?

Let's take a look at the pros and cons of a raw-food diet and find out what you will need if you want to start it.

What is a raw diet?
The raw diet, as its name implies, is based on consuming unprocessed, preferably organic, whole plant-based foods, at least 75 per cent of which should be uncooked. It consists of:
- fresh fruits and vegetables
- nuts
- seeds
- beans
- grains
- legumes
- dried fruits
- seaweeds
- sun-dried fruits
- other organic or natural foods which have not been processed
- freshly made fruit and vegetable juices
- purified water (not tap)
- milk from a young coconut

Raw and living foods are believed to contain essential food enzymes (living foods contain a higher enzyme content than cooked foods). The cooking process (heating foods above 116F) is thought to destroy food enzymes.

People who follow the raw diet use particular techniques to prepare foods. These include sprouting seeds, grains and beans; soaking nuts and dried fruits; and juicing fruits and vegetables. The only cooking that is allowed is via a dehydrator. This piece of equipment blows hot air through the food but never reaches a temperature higher than 116F.

Other techniques needed to prepare raw food are blending, juicing and chopping.

Why go raw?
Proponents of the raw diet believe that enzymes are the life force of a food and that every food contains its own perfect mix. These enzymes help us digest foods completely, without relying on our body to produce its own cocktail of digestive enzymes.

It is also thought that the cooking process destroys vitamins and minerals and that cooked foods not only take longer to digest, but they also allow partially digested fats, proteins and carbohydrates to clog up our gut and arteries.

Followers of a raw diet cite numerous health benefits, including:
- increased energy levels
- improved appearance of skin
- improved digestion
- weight loss
- reduced risk of heart disease

Are there any side effects?
Dr Gina Shaw, raw foodist and author of Nutrition and Emotions: How to Transform your Life through Optimum Nutrition says that some detoxification effects may be experienced as your body attempts to shed some toxicity.

This may include occasional headaches, nausea sensations and mild depression. Dr Shaw says that these symptoms are short-lived. If these symptoms persist, you should seek the help of somebody who is experienced with detoxification symptoms.

What do the nutritionists think of this diet?
The raw diet is nutrient dense, there is little or no saturated fat, it is low in sodium, high in potassium and fibre-rich. These factors are important in helping to reduce the risk of certain diseases such as heart disease and some cancers.

Dr Sarah Schenker, Nutrition Scientist at the British Nutrition Foundation has some doubts. She says, 'eating only raw foods can considerably limit the variety of foods that can be included in the diet, such as meat, potatoes and other cereal products, which in turn can limit our nutrient intake. This could lead to nutritional deficiencies - for example, iron and calcium - if followed for any length of time.'

'Also, people often think that fruit and vegetables are better for you if they are raw. However, research has shown that some of the phytochemicals present are more easily absorbed by the body when the vegetable has been cooked or processed, for example, lycopene in tomatoes and carotenoids in carrots'.

Tips on what you will need to go raw
1. Meal plans. Following a raw food diet means that you have to carefully plan your meals to make sure you don't fall short of essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals.
In some instances it might be appropriate to consider taking dietary supplements.
2. Equipment. You'll need to invest in some appliances so that you are able to prepare the food.
- A durable juice extractor for your fruits and vegetables
- A blender or a wooden spoon and sieve to crush and blend ingredients
- A food processor or chopper to save time and effort
- Large containers to soak and sprout grains, seeds and beans
- Glass jars or Tupperware for storing sprout