Steamed broccoli and roasted cauliflower are two of my favorite vegetable dishes; I could eat them every night of the week. But serve them up raw, and I won't touch them. So goes the veggie lover's dilemma: It's a common belief that heat destroys powerful nutrients in vegetables, but cooking makes them tastier.

First, let's clear up that myth. According to Scientific American, cooking actually enhances the nutritional value of several different kinds of vegetables. Powerhouse antioxidants like lycopene and cartenoids increase when veggies like tomatoes, carrots, cabbage, spinach and peppers are boiled or steamed. On the other hand, my beloved broccoli might actually be healthier raw, since cooking destroys an important enzyme. And while cooking boosts the beta carotene in carrots, it lowers the overall level of polyphenols.

Confused yet? Me too. Scientific American cuts to the chase for us: Cooked and raw veggies both offer a boost in certain nutrients and antioxidants. If you're unlikely to eat vegetables at all unless they're cooked, then by all means, toss some extra broccoli into your stir fry. But if your idea of a great snack is a bowl of chopped, raw veggies, then go ahead and eat up. The more you enjoy your veggies -- cooked or raw -- the more that you'll eat.

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We steam our veggies here at my house. I've always heard it's better than throwing them in a pot of boiling water on the stove. But what about raw veggies? Does steaming win or is raw better?

Steaming is still tops, says RealAge. New research indicates that the process might improve the cholesterol-lowering capabilities of certain produce, like beets, okra, carrots, eggplant, green beans, asparagus and cauliflower.

Keep in mind that raw or steamed, veggies are key for a healthy diet. Try to get five servings per day if you can. Once you master this feat, then you can shop for that steamer, which I assure you is one easy-to-use kitchen tool.

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Anyone who's tried any sort of a cleanse or detox is probably well aware that detox symptoms feel a lot like actual sickness symptoms. You will very possibly experience diarrhea, gas, headache, lightheadedness, and irritability when entering a cleanse and unless you know what you're getting yourself into, it can be hard to tell whether or not something is actually wrong.

Raw foodist Nomi Shannon did an interview with Renegade Roundtable, touching specifically on this problem. She talked about the Hippocrates Health Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida, where people can go for a "raw retreat." Shannon mentioned that, on the fifth day of each cycle of visitors, everyone would be angry, hating their roommates and feeling irritable.

This is why she recommends following a program, either attending something like what the Hippocrates Health Institute offers or using a good book that describes the different phases of your cleanse and gives you a bit of guidance. If your body isn't accustomed to tons of raw fruits and veggies, you're going to feel different for a few days if that's all you're eating. But, of course, if you're really not feeling well, you should certainly contact your doctor. There's no point in taking chances!

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You might think this is a story about scary Halloween food concoctions, perfect for your upcoming spooky soirée. Nope. This is about actual scary foods -- the stuff you really don't want in your diet because, well, read on and you'll see. Let's just say the following foods seem far from healthy, which means we don't really recommend them all that much. Actually, we're back and forth on the soy one.

• Raw stuff, like raw fish, crab, prawn, lobster, water chestnuts, and eggs. Toxins, fungus, mold, yeast, and bacteria -- all found in raw foods like these, and they can't be ingested properly by our digestive system, says HealthMad.
• Anything from the back of your fridge. If it's been pushed to the rear, your feeling should be fear. It's likely past its expiration date and working on a pretty good pattern of mold.
• Nano foods, which are genetically engineered or cloned foods, may be coming soon to a dinner table near you. Be on the lookout for these three: a brand of canola cooking oil called Canola Active Oil, a tea called Nanotea, and a chocolate diet shake called Nanoceuticals Slim Shake Chocolate.
• Escamoles (the eggs of the giant black Liometopum ant and apparently pretty tasty in tacos) and anything else from this list. Caution: Strong language used on this site.
  
• Soy. This might be a controversial one, but Play Life says soy food has never been proven safe and the site counts a few studies showing it can permanently damage your health. Want five compelling reasons to avoid this scary food? Click here.
  
  

Want more? This spot shares 10 commonly-eaten American foods that can be pretty scary -- think hot dogs and chicken wings -- and our friends at Slashfood are scared by this Japanese spaghetti. You might want to strike these 13 gallery items from your shopping list too -- they're pretty frightening as well.

Bethany recently told us about a woman who lost an incredible amount of weight by adhering to a raw diet, and Jacki has gone over some of the pros and cons concerning this way of eating. I have to say that a raw diet (where foods are eaten in their natural state and not heated over 115 degrees) has never really appealed to me, but a recent article piqued my interest a bit.

Stefania at Tonic News writes a column called Normal Green, where she talks about ways everybody can live a little greener. And, as we know, green often applies to diets and overall health. This week's article was about how, every once in a while, she follows a raw diet for just a week and it really makes her feel great. And come on -- I can follow just about any diet for a week!

She recommends this cookbook for newbies, which I think would be a great way to ease into this way of eating. The diet, at least done in moderation, certainly provides good things for your body and can help you lose weight. Would you give it a try? I'm starting to think that I just might!

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At 300 pounds, Angela Stokes had no interest in dieting. Then a friend lent her a book about a raw food diet. The next day, Angela quit eating anything animal-based, cooked, or processed and eventually, she lost 160 pounds.

What is a raw food diet? People who choose this style of eating choose whole foods in their natural form. Losing weight on a raw food diet makes sense; once you rid your diet of processed foods and depend mainly on fruit, vegetables, nuts, and seeds for nutrition, it's hard to overeat.

Though a raw food diet is rich in vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants, nutritionists don't agree that it's necessary for good health. Though raw foodies believe cooking destroys nutrients in food -- and their correct in that belief -- so do the acids in your stomach. But we could all do better by ourselves by including more plant foods in our diet. Angela herself says that beginners can start with eating 50% raw foods, and even if you can't get past that point, she thinks you'll still be doing well by yourself.

I could never go completely raw myself, but I am working hard at eating more fruits and vegetables every day. But I also know that fish and eggs are an important part of my diet, and eating the occasional piece of fresh baked bread just makes me happy. What about you? Could you survive on a raw diet?

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Apparently, the term Pescatarian is now in the dictionary, according to our friends over at Fitsugar. 'Pescatarian' describes a vegetarian who eats fish, in case you didn't know. And then there's Flexitarians--people like me who are part-time vegetarians. But it got me thinking: What are the other types of vegetarians?

Here's a short list of some other types of veggies:

• Vegans don't eat any animal products, including dairy and honey
• Fruitarians eat only fruits and vegetables that are classified as fruits
• Lacto-ovo vegetarians stay away from meat but eat eggs and dairy
• Raw/Living foodists eat only raw foods
• Macrobiotics eat only unprocessed foods, but sometimes eat fish.

What 'atarian' are you?

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Here's a reminder: My Smoothie King post published on Tuesday, and I'm pleased to report we have 17 comments already -- that's 17 people who've put their name in the hat for a drawing that will take place today after 5 PM. You know what that means? You still have time to leave a confirmed comment here (if you have not already left one), which will enter you in the contest to win a $100 gift card. Just describe the tastiest and healthiest smoothie you'd create if you could. That simple. Oh, and by the way, we're not actually using a hat. The drawing will be done via a computer software program and in only the most random of ways.

Here's a clarification: One reader was confused by the whole "skinny" smoothie thing. Here's what the Smoothie King experts have to say about their skinny offerings:

For those Smoothie King smoothies sweetened with turbinado (raw cane sugar), guests can choose to make them "skinny" by leaving out the turbinado and adding an alternative sweetener or the option of no added sugar at all. So, if a smoothie says it contains turbinado, it will only be made skinny once the turbinado is removed ... and that is when the 20-ounce smoothie will decrease by 99 calories and 23 carbs.

There you have it: The skinny on the smoothies you could be enjoying with that gift card you just might win.

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Woody Harrelson is no stranger to fasting -- he completed a 38-day green juice a couple of years ago (he tried to make it to 40 days, but was tempted away from it when some friends offered him homemade Indian food). He really enjoyed the experience, and "definitely felt my electro-magnetic field expanding." And so, he's doing it again, but bigger.

The actor plans to go to a remote island and drink only water for 40 days. It's not for weight loss for a movie role or anything like that -- he just wants to experience it. Woody said, "I've always wanted to do it. I know it's going to be really hard. But can you imagine it? Eating nothing for 40 days? Swimming and surfing every day in a remote place? Where does the mind go?"

I'm kind of wondering where the mind went, but that's just me. I recognize that there may be some benefits to fasting, but 40 days on nothing but water just can't be healthy for one's body.

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Each week, we'll be offering original recipes and unique ways to use those Super Foods that pack nutritional power. After all, you are what you eat -- make it count!

Sunday's Parade magazine lists some Super Foods we ought to embrace. Each one is packed with nutrients. And flavor too. Can't beat that combo. Check out these six.

Coconut Milk
Coconuts are rich and saturated in fat. Sound scary? It shouldn't. The people in the South Pacific enjoy diets loaded with coconut oil, yet studies show that these people don't get heart disease. U.S. researchers are hot on the trail of this interesting fact, hoping to support the claim that the fatty coconut is a heart-healthy fruit. What they do know is this: Coconut flakes, coconut milk and cream, and coconut oil contain lots of an antiviral, antibacterial fatty acid called lauric acid. It's one of the immune-boosters babies get from breast milk.

Try this: Mix a can of coconut milk with a pint of chicken stock and some grated ginger for a healthy coconut chicken soup.

Grass-Fed Beef
All beef is a great source of iron, B vitamins, and zinc -- three nutrients most of us don't get enough of. But grass-fed beef (versus grain-fed beef) is best. It contains less fat, less saturated fat, more CLA (an anti-cancer fat), and more omega-3 fatty acids.

Try this: Use the very lean grass-fed beef for spaghetti sauce, chili, and meatloaf.

Nuts
Rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats and antioxidants, moderate amounts of almonds, cashews, macadamia nuts, and hazelnuts are a good addition to a healthy diet. Walnuts too. They are one of the best vegetarian sources of the omega-3 fatty acids that fight obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Try this: Put nuts in a blender with a little olive oil, milk or water for fresh nut butter.

Cinnamon
Cinnamon regulates blood sugar, inhibits cancer cells, and is anti-inflammatory. Can't beat that.

Try this: Sprinkle cinnamon on French toast, oatmeal, or a cup of hot chocolate.

Raw Honey & Molasses
Great for a sweet tooth, these whole and natural sweeteners make for a healthy sugar substitute. Unfiltered, raw honey contains lots of phytonutrients and enzymes to aid digestion. Blackstrap molasses is a surprisingly good source of iron and many other minerals.

Try this: Honey is best unheated but molasses already has been boiled, so there's no reason not to cook with it. Use with baked goods like muffins and pumpkin pie.

Olive Oil
Olive oil's monounsaturated fats reduce inflammation. Its phenols fight cancer. And its vitamin E lowers the risk of heart disease, protects skin from damaging agents, and prevents nerve damage.

Try this: Gently sauté vegetables in olive oil, drizzle it on salads, or use it in pesto.

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Each week, we'll be offering original recipes and unique ways to use those Super Foods that pack nutritional power. After all, you are what you eat -- make it count!

Many food and nutrition experts say a diet rich in both cooked and uncooked foods is essential for good health. Others live by this guiding principle: Live food, live body; dead food, dead body. Raw foods are the only way to go, say the folks at RawGuru.com, for example. Heat your food above 116 degrees and you'll destroy enzymes in food that aid in digestion and absorption of food. You'll also kill the nutritional value in your food, according to this source.

Yep, raw foods are truly Super Foods. Well, if raw foodies have a say anyway.

Raw foodists, people who consume primarily raw food, or all raw food, depending on how strict the diet is (typically, raw food must make up 75 percent of a diet to qualify), believe that the greater the percentage of raw food in the diet, the greater the health benefits. They also claim raw food diets encourage weight loss and prevent and heal many forms of sickness and chronic disease. Better digestion, reduced risk of heart disease, increased energy, and improved skin appearance are just a few of the perks of this diet that includes fresh fruit and vegetables, sprouts, seeds, nuts, grains, beans, nuts, dried fruit, and seaweed.

Raw diets fall short in several areas, namely the areas of protein, calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B-12, cites this article. In order to go raw, then, one must carefully study the tenets of the lifestyle, consult experts in the field, and commit to a lot of hard work. Check out this site for insight and links to a few good resources. Then hop over to these sites for the lowdown on raw recipes.

Gone Raw features raw and vegan food recipes from around the world. Health Freedom Resources has a bunch of recipes for raw food enthusiasts. And Raw Sacramento Recipes claims to have the largest listing of recipes. Print them out and you'll have 45 pages of ideas before you.

Diabetes and heart disease top the worry list when it comes to poor diet, lack of exercise, and obesity. Eat too much, move too little, and pack on the pounds and you risk developing both diseases. Make a commitment to health and you're likely to ward them off, even reverse their onset. Six diabetics featured in the documentary Raw for 30 Days did just that by embracing a vegan, organic diet of uncooked nuts, seeds, and veggies. By the end of their study period, all had gone off insulin and most lost 25 pounds. Amazing. But not easy.

A raw diet is hard core, says Andrea Giancoli of the American Dietetic Association. This way of eating -- marked by consumption of mostly plant-based foods that are not heated above 115 degrees -- has backers who say it helps ease conditions from migraines to arthritis. But it leaves out a lot of foods, says Giancoli who maintains that a balanced diet must include both raw and cooked foods.

Going raw is also hard to stick with. So until research confirms it's the way to go, your best bet is to eat a diverse and healthy diet with the power to sustain you through life.

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Each week, we'll be offering original recipes and unique ways to use those Super Foods that pack nutritional power. After all, you are what you eat -- make it count!

My latest addiction -- a good one! -- is lacto-fermented veggies. A member of my food coop got me to split some with her, and the rest is history.

I have actually been wanting to make my own for a while, but I was always daunted by the process, wondering if I would get it right or just end up with a pile of rotted vegetables . . . ewwww . . .

I have been devouring the Deep Roots Organic Carrots and also the beets daily. There is something about the delightfully sour taste that leaves we wanting more. And since they are so good for my digestive system, and they are raw veggies, how can I deny my addiction?

Why should you eat lacto-fermented veggies?

Ever had raw milk? It sounds like a simple enough product, but depending on where you live it may be illegal to buy it or sell it. Some 70+ years ago milk caused 25% of all food related illnesses, but with the advent of pasteurization that number dropped sharply to a mere 1%. Raw milk (meaning straight from the cow and unpasteurized) may taste richer, have more natural enzymes, and appeal to many because it's more "natural," but along with those perks comes a much greater risk of ingesting dangerous bacteria like E.coli, salmonella, and others. Currently 15 states in the U.S. outlaw the selling of raw milk, and many others have severe laws and restrictions.

Raw milk is becoming more and more popular every day -- people are showing that they want it bad enough that they're either ready to deal with all the red tape or they're finding ways around the laws altogether and basically buying it on the black market. What do you think? Should people have the choice to buy what they want or should it be against the law?

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