Raw Food Restaurants Popping Up All Over New York City

Mainstream consumers, at least in New York City, are increasingly attracted to restaurants that offer food that is not – or only barely – cooked, is unprocessed and mostly vegan. The food is by definition raw: never cooked beyond temperatures of 110-118 degrees (F). Raw food restaurants and cafes are opening all over the city, offering “green” juices, breads made with dehydrators, and juice cleansing programs. Advocates say raw foods preserve nutrients and enzymes and are therefore healthier and more energizing. But some nutritionists argue that a raw food diet can leave people deficient in vital nutrients such as iron, calcium, Vitamin D and B12, and note that there is no scientific evidence that raw juices cleanse the colon.