…Nowadays, health-conscious consumers don't have to travel to a Whole Foods or a specialty market to find a wide variety of fresh, wholesome choices for their families. Many grocery chains feature healthy, natural or organic food products in nearly every aisle. Health food means different things to different people. For some, it is a power bar or a protein drink consumed in conjunction with an exercise regimen. For others, it translates to low sodium and/or low fat options of more traditional goods.

One category of healthy food that's gaining popularity with mainstream nutritionists is organic food. Labeling foods "organic' is strictly regulated by the Department of Agriculture (USDA). But that label doesn't necessarily mean the product is any healthier than those produced by more conventional means. It just means that it was grown or raised without the use of pesticides and other chemicals. According the USDA, just because a food is organic, doesn't mean it's healthy. Barbara Schneeman, Ph.D., Director of the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Office of Nutrition, Labeling and Dietary Supplements, reminds consumers on the FDA's website that a food, such as a full-fat ice cream might be labeled "organic", but can "still be high in fat or saturated fat" which is decidedly unhealthy.

Because the cooking process breaks down or destroys some nutrients in food, the concept of a raw food diet appeals to those who want to retain as much of a food's nutrient value as possible. Raw food is exactly what it sounds like, eating only uncooked fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Raw or living foodists follow a modification of a vegetarian or vegan diet, eating at least 75% of their food in it's original, uncooked state. Like vegans who consume no animal products, raw foodists get the protein their bodies need from vegetable sources.