Raw foodism, in particular, has made some movements in today's world lately for its positive effects in both mental and physical wellbeing for many individuals and communities. The raw foods diet is comprised of the consumption of at least 75% raw vegetables and fruits, meaning not heated above 115 degrees for the purpose of gleaning the vital nutrients and enzymes of foods in their original state for optimal bodily health. When cooked above this temperature, foods – vegetables and fruits in particular – lose approximately 50% of their nutritional value and all of their enzymes. This, in turn, impedes our digestion and contributes to food allergy, intolerance, condition, and disease.

This is the path of many conscious people today, choosing foods that do not hurt but help their bodies. For example, the standard American diet is typically a result of economy and environment, and comes out in the form of highly processed foods, refined sugars, cooked malnutritious foods, and the like. Due to our dependence on these sorts of foods, for most if not all of our diets, our country has become plagued by more and more reports of obesity, disease, and chronic condition-such as Herpes.

Herpes is a highly contagious virus infected through skin to skin contact. It introduces itself typically in the form of external lesions and/or blisters that are found grouped together. These cold sores and blisters can often be painful and uncomfortable when inflamed, though it is significant to note that sometimes a person can be infected and show no symptoms at all, still being able to spread the virus as much as someone showing noticeable Herpes symptoms.

There are many different strains of the Herpes virus found in human beings. At present, there are five major types of Herpes commonly contracted: Herpes Simplex, Varicella-zoster, Epstein-barr, Human cytomegalovirus, and Human herpes virus. Herpes Simplex, colds sores and genital herpes is, by far, the most prevalent occurring of the Herpes viruses.

At present, approximately 60 million Americans have some strain of the Herpes Simplex genital virus, with about 80% of Americans having been infected sometime with Herpes Simplex 1 due to non-sexual activity with cold sores or blisters appearing on their mouths and lips.

The most common cause of Herpes in humans is through sexual contact, though the Herpes virus can be spread through non-sexual contact as well. Unfortunately, there is no substantial cure for the virus, so preventative measures must be taken in order to be safe from contracting the virus. This means testing and being tested regularly for the Herpes virus, and avoiding skin to skin contact with anyone you think might have the virus. As far as treatment goes, the virus as noted has no known cure but many people susceptible to outbreaks choose suppressive antiviral therapy, such as creams and prescriptions. More often than not, these means of treatment prove effective in short term outbreaks of the Herpes virus.

It should be noted, however, that Herpes outbreaks feed upon temporary or sustained weakened periods of the immune system, and ensuring that you have a strong and healthy immune system is key to warding off such outbreaks of blisters and cold sores. The immune system is best supported by an overall healthy lifestyle of less toxins, more exercise, and a diet more rich in vital vitamins and minerals. Other factors should be the limitation of anti-health habits such as smoking, sun damage, and exposure to toxic chemicals. Some conditions associated with a weakened immune system can be prevented, and it is our duty to better our chances of health when we can. One of the best controllable means of boosting and maintaining a strong immune system is through diet.

As noted previously, most Americans subscribe to the standard American diet, which is comprised of mostly anti-health foods, such as: cooked and modified produce, fatty meats, indigestible dairy products, refined sugars, and processed foods. All of these foods have one common denominator, that your digestion must work extra hard to try to effectively digest them, and most times, still cannot efficiently digest all of the food consumed since it is foreign to your body. These particles, once stored in remote areas of your body's system, become toxic if left unused, and lead to bodily condition, allergy, and disease.

The best way to avoid a weakened immune system and therefore viral infections such as Herpes, is to maintain a solid diet of digestible foods high in vitamins and minerals and the enzymes necessary to proper digestion.

Some of these foods are to name a few:

• Blueberries and cranberries
• Tomatoes or tomato juice
• Broccoli
• Kiwi
• Oranges and Grapefruit
• Strawberries
• Cantaloupe
• Spinach
• Astragalus root best consumed in form of teas
• Garlic
• Carrots

These foods are exclusively vegetables and fruits, and in raw form, they offer maximum nutrient and enzyme benefits necessary to a healthy digestion. What a wonderful way to consume the above foods is by blending them and having them as your smoothies for breakfast or even as your dinner for a light healthy finish of your day. They are healthy, and digestive tract can absorb, eliminate waste, store and use nutrients, and convert foods to energy if fed properly. If not fed nutritious foods, it must work overtime, and as noted before, leave behind what it cannot digest in your system to your own short and long term detriment.

So, though no known cure is available, many life factors can be gleaned from research and study. One of the most potent one and cannot be ignored is that of diet. Diet is what we exist upon. It fuels every function and process in our bodies. This is why what we feed on and how we treat it, should never be underestimated in its connection to our overall bodily health.

By TTS Cofounder Botanical Chef Omid Jaffari