Author's Note I believe that we are all designed to be healthy, that our beautiful bodies are perfect, and that sickness is not normal. Yet how many people can you name who are absolutely healthy? I understand that our health and liveliness largely depend on nutrition. Most of us have at least some idea about which foods can make us healthy and energized. I associate being healthy with feeling an enjoyable lightness in my body, having a pleasant mood, and thinking clearly, but most importantly, having the energy to manifest my dreams. I remember how my former sickness eliminated much of the joy from my life; it drained my energy and kept me from doing the activities that would have made me most happy and fulfilled. In our society, it is common to entertain the hopeless belief that a lot of illnesses are incurable. I contend that for many people this belief is based in a dependence on unhealthy foods and a feeling of being unable to change our eating habits. Unfortunately, doctors are powerless to compensate for this lack of nutrition, even though they do all they know to help. Every day I observe people around me who are desperate to improve their nutrition but are still unable to change their habits. They find themselves--time and again--eating what they so resolutely had planned to avoid. Through much experimenting and research, I have come to the conclusion that becoming free from this dependency is possible, and that managing one's diet can drastically improve one's health. Over the past twelve years, I have taught thousands of classes and weekend workshops worldwide. I receive "Thank You" letters from the thousands of people who have used my coping techniques to successfully eat healthier. In this revised and expanded edition of 12 Steps to Raw Foods, I have updated my research with the latest scientific data; I have added more of my personal experiences; I have addressed historical issues such as how the human dependency on cooked food formed; and I have included my most successful coping techniques, along with my most delicious recipes. Enjoy this reading--I look forward to running into you at a juice bar! In Good Health, --Victoria Excerpted from 12 Steps to Raw Foods: How to End Your Dependency on Cooked Food by Victoria Boutenko All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.