And then Alyse, another friend, posted this link along with a matter-of-fact comment about how much her health has improved since she started her raw diet: "I love that I have not only healed my body from some pretty debilitating stuff, but that it goes beyond great health to great happiness - and it was the happiness that came first."
My attitude toward nutrition information is extremely skeptical. Nutritionists and the often-corporate-funded FDA have given exactly the wrong advice too many times over the years. But this was first-hand experiential information from a couple of women who are, well, no flakier than the rest of us unschoolers. (In case you can't tell, this is a compliment, K&A! lol)
But the idea of going completely raw... Well, it intimidated me. So I asked them for some advice on ways to ease into it. Kim suggested trying some ready-to-eat salads with raw nuts and picking up some Odwalla juices. Alyse suggested, among other things, the raw foodists' staple, green smoothies. I got started on Monday.
Day one: Had a Wendy's salad for dinner instead of a burger. It had chicken and cheese on it.
Day two: I took advantage of the loaded salad bar at work and had a BIG salad for lunch. Completely raw, which was actually tricky because so many of the things in the salad bar are cooked. They even blanch the broccoli! Snacked on roasted but unflavored almonds.
Day three: Our anniversary. I ate whatever I wanted. Interestingly, what I wanted most during our fancy steak-and-lobster dinner was the side vegetables. I ate so many of them that I couldn't finish my steak.
Day four: Another big salad at work, mostly romaine and spinach.
Day five (today): I had a bowl of cereal at about 11, munched on some of the aforementioned almonds at about 3, and am just finishing up a HOMEMADE salad of romaine, mustard greens, and gloriously un-blanched broccoli.
So, here's the thing. It is too soon for me to notice substantial effects from such a limited increase in raw foods. On the other hand, it has been a substantial increase in green vegetables. And what I'm noticing is:
- Carbs are less attractive (until they're attractive, and then I want them NOW).
- My appetite is reduced.
- I am craving even more greens.
10 comments:
It only gets better and better! I started raw 10 yrs ago after I was told I had 3 months to live. Clearly, I'm not dead. Not only did I not die, I brought a whole other life into the picture since then.
Raw Food = good.
Let me know if you need any ideas to keep it interesting. It's what I do :)
Shan
www.shannonroselive.com
Bravo!!
Even though we have allowed ourselves to have some cooked foods like tofu, bean soups and plantains after our 30 day challenge...I still prefer to eat raw because I feel so much better!
~Kimberly
As part of grieving my Ma's passing I've indulged in a Totally Carb-All-Sugar-All-Fat-All-The-Time diet. Now I'm ready to go back to healthier eating. And you have inspired me to look into raw. Thanks!
We have been incorporating more raw food lately because Brian's sister who is borderline diabetic and had the gestational variety during pregnancy checks her glucose at least daily (don't know how many times a day). She pricked Brian's finger and my finger. I'm borderline and Brian's got Type II.
Starting from a fear that he couldn't possibly control diabetes through diet and that he could never reduce the quantity, he is now feeling great. For those who don't know, diabetes means "constant hunger and extreme thirst," the words on the sheet we read. Going largely green has actually been easy for him.
Easier than it has been for me! He's making great strides.
I am 150lbs overweight, I suffer from Hypoglycemia, hypertension, and Fibromyalgia. I can't afford the meds the docs want me to take and I know things have to change in a big way! I started researching raw diets and slowly changing my diet. I started with green smoothies on the very first day too. At first I just added more raw foods into my diet instead of taking things away. Now I eat mostly raw all during the day, with about a quart of green smoothie a day. Then I eat a regular dinner with the family. I am trying to get them eating healthier too but that is an even bigger challenge. My husband HAS to have MEAT with every meal! It drives me crazy! I have cut out almost all meat but it's really hard. I turn 40 next month and changing 40 years worth of behavior is really difficult! I just take it one day at a time and I know I'll get there one day! I do feel soooooo much better! I have more energy and I too have begun to crave veggies and my smoothies. If for some reason I can't have one that's all I can think about till I get it! I do hope I can lose some weight too. I really don't want to die yet! There is too much to do and see - and of course my family! I have to be around for them! It's slow going but I know it will be worth it. I do have to find some new things to eat or recipes to try. Getting sick of salads : (
~Sabrina : )
I've considered "going raw" but I know I would miss the warm/hot food. No corn-on-the-cob, soups, or stews? And some veggies you can't eat unless they're cooked: NM chiles (wah!), potatoes, and all the winter squashes.
But have I recently upped my (our) consumption of raw veggies? You bet!
I did a raw trial, and the only time I felt as good is when I was eating a macrobiotic diet, years and years ago. I felt AMAZING eating raw! And I didn't have any of the fancy tools - dehydrator, spiralizer, Vitamix, etc. I have my trusty Target blender for smoothies, and just ate raw fruits & veg, without much preparation. I loved it!
It didn't last because I USE food (to numb my feelings, etc.), but lately, I've been feeling the pull to raw again.
Ideally, I'd like to be eating about 85% raw, no wheat or gluten, mostly vegan.
Hmmm... I need to go to the grocery store! ;)
I've researched a lot of diets, including raw. I tend to look toward our biology more than anything, how have we been eating for millenia. I don't think we would have survived this long if meat was "bad for us" ya know? But I lament that so many peopleb who eat meat don't understand that we are omnivores, not carnivores and that we do need lots of fruit and veggie variety.
The paleo "diet" makes the most sense to me - high raw with real meat (real meaning natural, not farmed and corn-fed). No dairy or grains of any kind. Still some cooked veggies like broccoli and squashes, which do not release nutrients UNTIL they're cooked.
I think it's sad that so many people see fat as a bad thing, instead of recognizing the difference in real fats and bad fats. I also think it's unfortunate that so many raw foodists are so dogmatic about it. Truthfully I think it comes down to instinctual eating, eating what feels good to you. (Yeah, even if that means comfort eating.)
Tara, have you read "Real Food" by Nina Planck? That's making sense to me, so Frank and I are adding some selected fats back into our diet, throwing out the vegetable oil, and looking into grass-fed beef and dairy.
I think I'm not going to become religious about any of it. I'll eat what makes me feel good, which is much more than I've ever done before. It's enough!
I looooved Real Food. Explained everything so well for me!
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