Hello..

[Moonstone]

I came across your place while researching the raw diet for my dog :). I have come back here now for two weeks, reading and reading and I love what I read for it makes perfect sense to me.

For the last week I have begun eating fruit only in the morning, but still with one cup of coffee, then veggies with a dip or a salad with dressing for lunch. Dinner I eat another salad but with cooked chicken on it. With these changes alone, I have noticed a difference in how I feel.

I have now decided to try and cut out all cooked foods, beginning on Monday. I am wondering though if this is possible without fasting or cleaning my system, does this diet work better with a fast before?

I am wondering too how much affect keeping my one cup of coffee in the morning will have. Is coffee considered cooked?

I love eating the veggies with a dip as well so I will research a raw dip here, and salad dressing as well.

Thank you so much for this site...

[Misty*Mountain]

hey! Is this Carolyn in Thailand?? I have a friend that goes by the name Moonstone sometimes.. and she has a dog! So, I figured you might be the same person :p

[levamssg]

Welcome Moonstone. Love the name!!

I switched from regular food to all raw without doing any cleansing of any kind. It worked for me. With regard to coffee -- yes, the coffee beans are roasted, so it is definitely not a raw drink. Plus it has caffeine -not a good thing for your body.

I used to have 2-3 cups every morning - so I know it is hard to give up. But, if you are striving to feel the very best you can, I'd give it a go on quitting coffee as well. You'll have to decide. You may have to do it in stages, cooked food first, coffee next ... however it works best for you.

You will feel simply wonderful at full raw. Best of luck!

[Moonstone]

Misty, I am more of a Patricia from Canada :) but I love gemstones and their mystical meanings, especially the moonstone and opal. Did you know that all birthstones have their own mystical meanings? This name for a signature just entered my mind when registering.

levamssg, thank you for your answers, I realized after that the questions were most likely in the wrong section, :) so I am glad you saw them there. I sit here now looking at my coffee cup and think hmmm I am not quite sure I am ready to give you up as yet, but we will see. I will though only limit it to one a day for now, and give up cooked food first as this seems easier to do!

[Misty*Mountain]

haha, oh well. . . i figured it was a long shot :D

and yes, i am aware of of the mystical properties of birthstones.. i actually teach a class on lapidary arts to elementary school kids.. we talk a lot about birthstones, and the students always laugh when i discuss the folklore associated with each of them. for instance, from ancient times, moonstone was thought to awaken tender passions. it was also thought to endow its wearer with faith in happiness and good fortune. The gem was believed to cure epilepsy. in the orient, it is said that moonstone holds the radiance of the moonlight within it and thus can banish fears and nightmares. it is also a symbol of friendship..

moonstone is definately on of my favorite gemstones, along with labradorite and amber. they are simply stunning! :D

anyway, welcome patricia~ :)

[Moonstone]

Misty, that seems like such a wonderful thing to teach. I can picture them laughing :) but as well absorbing the stories. I do truely wish more elementary schools would have these types of classes.

[karenisraw]

Moonstone,

Yes, coffee is not raw, also my raw vegan doctor said "the only thing you should be using your coffee ginder for is to grind nuts".

I went 100% raw with no cleansing program and I felt great. Further down the line though (couple of months), I felt the urge to do some cleansing.

Good luck, you will like it here.

k :)

[Misty*Mountain]

Misty, that seems like such a wonderful thing to teach. I can picture them laughing :) but as well absorbing the stories. I do truely wish more elementary schools would have these types of classes.

yeah, well i don't exactly work in an elementary school. i work in an environmental education center, and each week we get visiting students from different elementary/middle schools. they stay here for about 3 days. we teach them about ecology, humanities and social sciences, and outdoor pursuits/ teambuilding. the classes are very hands on/ experiential. so yeah, basically i get to work outdoors with kids all day. hey, i'm certainly not complaining!
best. job. ever.
:D :D :D