What does "Raw Food" mean anyway?

It is my opinion that the concept of raw foods is largely misunderstood by the general population. My recent readings have started to open my eyes to this concept and it's not at all what I expected.

Wikipedia's defination is "raw foodism is a lifestyle promoting the consumption of uncooked, unprocessed, and often organic foods as a large percentage of the diet. Depending on the type of lifestyle and results desired, raw food diets may include a selectıon of raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds (including sprouted whole grains), eggs, fish, meat, and unpasteurized dairy products (such as raw milk, cheese and yogurt)."

Now, you are not going to catch me eating raw eggs, fish, meat, or dairy products anytime soon...just not my cup of tea. But the first few foods on the list: fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Those are foods I think we should be eating anyways and lots more of it. The thing I like about raw foods cookbooks is the way they make food taste good by using sweeteners found in nature (honey, dates, agave) and avoiding sugars, flours, etc. What's so bad about that?? And most of the cookbooks that I've read so far don't even include recipes for the raw eggs, meats, etc. They are mostly fruit and vegetable based recipes and they are simple, and I like simple!

A recipes that I've seen over and over again is for "Banana Ice Cream" and all it includes is bananas broken into chunks, frozen, and then blended. It makes a nice little smoothie type dessert and you can add flavors, like vanilla, berry, or peaches. Or what about salads, or guacamole, or dried fruits? All can easily be made "raw" and you've probably had it that way numerous times. So maybe "raw" is not so weird, in fact maybe I'll incorporate a little more "raw" in my diet.

Wikipedia says that it is believed that "raw foods contain enzymes which aid digestion, meaning that the body's own enzymes may work unimpeded in regulating the body's metabolic processes, and heating food above 110-120 degrees Fahrenheit degrades or destroys these enzymes in food." So basically when we eat foods like fruits and vegetables that are uncooked we are getting the best we can from many of those foods. I thinks it's good and simple to be able to eat things the way they come from nature.

I think what it all comes down to is that we should listen to our mothers..."eat your fruits and vegetables".