Top 10 Gift Ideas for Vegan Raw Foodists

You've met someone wonderful. You enjoy being in his company, and his jokes make you smile. He's not afraid to be an individual. That's one of the things you like best about him.

That fiercely individualistic streak is reflected in his eating habits. He's a vegan raw foodist. The vegan part means that he eats no animal products - no meat, no milk, no butter, no cheese. The raw food part means that he eats his food uncooked, for maximum enzymatic and nutritional benefits.

As the holidays roll around, you find yourself in a quandary. You want to get him something special that's tied to his unique diet. But you have no idea what to purchase, or where to look.

Here are 10 gift ideas guaranteed to make that vegan raw foodist in your life beam with pleasure:

1. Raw Organic Cacao Powder
Cacao is the plant from which chocolate is made. Raw cacao powder is made by cold-pressing the cacao into a cake that divides the oil from the protein and fiber. What's left is then milled and sifted at temperatures never allowed to exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit, to produce a powder with the maximum amount of bio-available raw cacao particles. (It's worth noting that conventional cocoa powders are processed at temperatures that climb as high as 300 degrees Fahrenheit.) Maintaining low temperatures helps ensure that fragile vitamins, minerals and antioxidants are preserved, allowing for maximum digestion and absorption.

Cacao offers many health benefits. It's rich in the amino acid tryptophan, which has been found to enhance relaxation and promote better sleep. It's also rich in phenylethylamine (PEA), which is believed to have a positive effect in enhancing feelings of love. So this is one gift that could serve to make your sweetie love you more! It's also an excellent source of magnesuium , which supports healthy heart functioning, and arginine, the aphrodisiac-like amino acid believed by body builders to build muscle and aid in recovery. Cacao powder may be added to desserts, or consumed as part of a smoothie.

2. Raw Shea Butter
Skincare can be an important issue for raw foodists. Many of the chemicals and preservatives found in your run-of-the-mill creams and lotions can be anathema to raw foodists eager to take a pure and natural approach to the upkeep of the body's largest organ. For example, most skincare products contain methylparaben and ethylparaben, preservatives that have been shown to affect the female hormone estrogen, and accelerate the growth of cancerous cells.

Perhaps the best alternative for those seeking a wholesome skincare alternative is raw shea butter, a product that has been used for hundreds of years with great success by natives of the hot, dry African plains. The best shea butter is unrefined, rich in natural fats and vitamins; in this state, it is so healthful it is edible, and indeed, it's used as an ingredient in dishes prepared in many West African households. Shea butter is a natural sunscreen (it has an SPF of about 8) and has been shown to help with conditions and ailments such as extreme dryness, eczema, dermatitis, skin allergies, fungal infections, blemishes, wrinkles, stretch marks, scars, scrapes and more.

3. Raw Organic Chocolate Love Bar
These tasty chocolate bars are made with ingredients guaranteed to deliver a low sugar, mineral-rich taste sensation. Ingredients include cacao beans, golden Hunza raisins, dried Turkish figs and whole vanilla bean. It's all raw, all organic, and all good!

4. Goji Manna
Who says candy is a no-no for raw foodists? This sweet treat is the next best thing! This raw chocolate, honey and goji berry food is loaded with nutritional value. Goji berries contain 18 different amino acids, over 20 trace minerals and are a rich source of antioxidant carotenoids (beta-carotene); they're also packed with vitamin C.

Best of all, it tastes so divine, your paramour will never put the jar down!

5. Raw by Charlie Trotter and Roxanne Klein
Co-written by Charlie Trotter, one of the world's most respected chefs, this recipe book is a joy to behold. Its recipes are geared toward special meals, and its pictures are nothing short of stunning, with work that takes food photography to the realm of modern art. More than just a guide book for wonderful new meals, Raw shines as a tome that would make an attractive addition to any coffee table.

6. Raw Organic Maca
Maca is an ancient food known for its aphrodisiac qualities. It's also reputed to increase energy, endurance and strength, and is a favorite of athletes. Maca belongs to the cruciferous family of plants, and is related to the common radish. The plant gives bloom to a small, off-white flower, but its key element is its tuberous root.

Maca has been used as a superfood since prehistory. The root is a powerful adaptogen, which means it's able stabilize the body's systems (cardiovascular system, nervous system, musculature, lymphatic system, etc.). As an adaptogen, maca can help the body generate more energy if necessary, but if not, it won't overstimulate. It's been shown to improve overall vitality, as well as the immune system.

This superfood has been shown to enhance fertility in rats, and has been proven to significantly increase ram semen volume and sperm count.

Maca may be added to desserts or consumed as part of a smoothie. With its libido-enhancing benefits, maca is one gift that keeps on giving!

7. Coming Home: Guided Visualizations for Clearing and Serenity by Kerrie Dancing Butterfly and Jahsah
Sometimes modern life can be noisy and overwhelming. This CD contains a series of guided meditations designed to reconnect you to you. The raw foodist in your life will appreciate this tool for greater peace and tranquility.

8. Wellness Shower Filter
It's a fact: The body can absorb 600% to 1,000% more contamination in a single ten-minute shower than drinking the same tap water for an entire day. Have you ever wondered why your skin and hair are so dry after a shower? It's a side effect of tap water's chlorine, a chemical designed to lay waste to living organic matter.

The Wellness Shower Filter is designed to remove chlorine and contaminants from the water for healthier and better-looking skin and hair. The proof is in the pudding, and you'll notice the difference. Your raw foodist will thank you for showing him a deeper level of clean!

9. "Healthy, Happy and Wholly Raw" T-Shirt
Why wear your heart on your sleeve when you can wear it proudly emblazoned on your chest? These silk-screened T-shirts are available in 10 colors. This is one gift that tells your raw foodist you support his convictions.

10. Organic Hemp Yoga Pants
Yoga is a source of relaxation for many raw foodists. What better way to unwind than to do so in a pair of hemp yoga pants? Hemp is a pure, breathable fabric, and no harmful chemicals are used in processing; these pants are made with high-quality European hemp that is processed using only warm water and mechanical combing. They're sure to be a favorite of your favorite raw foodist!