Help - I'm getting so worried...

[Alba]

ok - so the three weeks I was all about raw - it made me feel good in so many ways....but now, well with my skin still acting all crazy (acne due to detox) I'm getting discouraged...
I started doing a lot of con-raw-reading (get it?) just to balance out my wiev and now I am sooooo confused - should I stop raw, will I experience defiencies...is it true that there are no raw-food-long-term-succes-stories...???
Will this diet make me sick - is basically what I am asking...
i am not looking for a pep-talk (although they are welcomed :) )
but a balanced and view and good reasoning...
Please help.
Alba

[Spectatrix]

Well, as for long-term success stories, Storm from http://www.thegardendiet.com/ has been a raw vegan for 31 years and is extremely healthy.

The only deficiency you definitely have to worry about is B12 (I recommend supplementation for that) -- everything else you can get in good quantities from raw vegan food.

[DavidZaneMason]

-You probably did not arrive at your current health condition in 3 weeks - and it will probably not take 3 weeks to turn over to a new state of glowing health. Be honest about what YOU have determined to be the right thing - and stick with it. Just my opinion: I would give yourself a 6-12 month time frame at a minimum to allow yourself to make permanent emotional lifelong changes.

-David Mason

[vgloveforlife]

The truth is that there are really not that many long-term 100% raw foodists. That is because it is a really hard diet to follow in this society. Everywhere we look there is cooked food. No one really knows the long term benefits either. We are all just experimenting as we go. It is hard to know what to believe and who to listen to. I just say listen to your body.
Detox is real but I wonder how much of the symptoms people have on this diet are detox or deficiencies. Right now my hair is falling out like crazy. I swear I am going to go bald. Is it detox or a deficiency? Anyway we know that on ANY diet deficiencies can happen...not just a raw food diet.
A raw food vegan diet does just make sense. My health issues have disapeared and I have amazing strenth and energy. I have lost a little too much weight but most people would tell me to stop complaining about that :)

[Graciebeliever]

Aren't some (most?) Acnes bacterially based?

I am trying to fight Candida (sigh) and wow never had any clue how firmly it was intrenched in my body..

No answer for you just throwing out ideas for you.

Raw is still better than SAD, hang in there

[dreamrawalwz]

Aren't some (most?) Acnes bacterially based?

I am trying to fight Candida (sigh) and wow never had any clue how firmly it was intrenched in my body..

No answer for you just throwing out ideas for you.

Raw is still better than SAD, hang in there

I'm just going of the course of this thread...make sure your fat intake is low while your fighting Candida, not your sugar intake!

[pinkglttr]

Well, (if you believe the scientific theory evolution) we were eating this kind of diet long before culture ever existed, and we are the ONLY species to cook it's food and the ONLY species to have the health problems we do. When was the last time you saw an obese tiger or giraffe???? :p

You didn't! No animals out there are having gastric bypass! They eat raw foods that were provided to them in their environment, run around like crazy, and live healthfully. I can't tell you how many times I have read that dogs shouldn't have "people food" because it makes them fat. What about us? "People food" is making US fat and you don't see articles everywhere saying it???? Think industry... who is making the money off of the standard diet?

You don't *have* to be 100% raw, but you have to listen to your body. In my opinion, there are no deficiencies out there that cannot be fixed by something in the raw diet. What would we have done millions of years ago?

[Alba]

Hi, and thanks for your incouraging answers :o
Actually, I was never really eating SAD - since I'm from DK and have been following the paleo-diet and high raw for a year or so (which btw. cleared up my acne almost completely...) - I've been 100% with no cravings for a month and a half and I feel really good actually - the only reason I started reading Con-raw articles is because I am so trained to see things from both sides (in scholl and in life in general) - so, it wasn't really "me" to just hang out on the pro-raw communities....
I get your points though - I'm just worried about going to the doctor in 6 moths and finding out that I'm deficient - hah, can you even say that in english?? :p
But hey, your right - I'll stick to raw and see where it takes me.... :)
Ps. I've never eaten dairy because I do not think it is right for any animal to drink another animal's milk, which was meant to be drunken by their little baby-cow...
PLUS I get the idea behing raw, I mean, why would cooking anything make it more nutricious? The ONLY thing that I doubt a little is the meat-issue, I mean, human beings have been eating meat for a looooong time - and maybe eating all raw + a little meat is the best way to go,..? Maybe I don't no...I'll give 100% raw at least a couple of moths more...
- So, does anyone have info on the meat issue? I'd be really happy - maybe not from raw-authors , but more general clinical studies... :) ??
LOve alba

[vgloveforlife]

I agree with you Alba. Dairy is just not healthy or natural but meat seems to be a little more natural to eat, at least bugs or other small animals. I could NEVER ever eat meat though since I have never tasted it (I've been a vegetarian since birth) and I have absolutely no desire to.

I hope raw works out for you!

[Guppy]

Read The China Study. There are millions of life-long vegetarians in the world, of which I am one. Studies show vegetarians live longer , healthier lives than meat eaters.

I don't think a vegan forum is the place to come with this, really.

Good luck,
emily

[Nix]

I think posting regarding raw issues and issues of omni vs veggie are very valid. Even chimps and apes are not strictly veggie, they are omni according to most biologist. I happen to think that the issue of live has to do with living enzymes in food, which makes it difficult to ingest meat in particular as raw meat is a very difficult thing both culturally and with regards to safety and sanitation. I happen to love raw fish although I do not prepare it myself as of yet and usually only partake as part of susi currently. I believe there is value in eating it, but that would be my preference. Again, for me eating raw is about live enzymes in food and making sure I am eating "live" food as opposed to dead.
Bright blessings
Nix

[Revvell]

....ditto.....


Read The China Study. There are millions of life-long vegetarians in the world, of which I am one. Studies show vegetarians live longer , healthier lives than meat eaters.

I don't think a vegan forum is the place to come with this, really.

Good luck,
emily

[pinkglttr]

I am not hardcore raw, so my opinion I would not say is swayed to one side heavily. I know this is a pro-raw forum, but I am skeptical to some of the "science" (same thing with going through school and wanting to see from both sides). What I DO know is that nature made foods are made for us to eat and in their most whole form are the most filling and nutritious. Even 100% juices is kind of cheating, although I drink them. Any diet that is close to nature is best and just between you and me, I eat sushi (ahhh! haha)!!! I don't eat other meat (especially mammals) because I see them as more of "our own kind" and I could probably not catch them in the wild. As for scientific evidence of being born vegetarians....

Were Humans Meant to Eat Meat?
By Sally Deneen
E.Magazine.com
2-13-2

Cardiologist William C. Roberts hails from the famed cattle state of Texas, but he says this without hesitation: Humans aren't physiologically designed to eat meat. "I think the evidence is pretty clear. If you look at various characteristics of carnivores versus herbivores, it doesn't take a genius to see where humans line up," says Roberts, editor in chief of The American Journal of Cardiology and medical director of the Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. © Stephen Kroninger

It's a little longer than I wanted to cut and paste. You can read the full article here:

http://www.rense.com/general20/meant.htm

[eatyourbroccoli]

Well, as for long-term success stories, Storm from http://www.thegardendiet.com/ has been a raw vegan for 31 years and is extremely healthy.

The only deficiency you definitely have to worry about is B12 (I recommend supplementation for that) -- everything else you can get in good quantities from raw vegan food.
ditto

raw has actually cured my pretty-serious anemia

to help with acne, try MSM capsules (or powder form in smoothies) and shea butter over night. also..raw honey masks for 20-30 minutes before bed every night are great for your skin..or spot treat overnight with raw honey.

:)

[vgloveforlife]

I wanted to add to my statement above that yes I have no desire to taste meat but I also have always been healthy on a plant diet so why include meat in my diet. In addition I can and will not support any killing of animals for my sake. I don't care if it's a fish or a cow. The fish and meat industries are dirty nasty places that I am not giving any of my money to. Period.

[Alba]

Thanks to you all - you guys have some good information :D and thank you Pinkglttr - I have not read it yet, but I will as soon as I've written my two papers for tomorrow ( :mad: )!

And to Guppy:
I know what you mean when you say:
"I don't think a vegan forum is the place to come with this, really."
- I respect that this is a vegan forum and I myself is not a fan of killing anyone for food that you can easily get elsewhere, BUT, I do think that in order for rawfood not to seem dogmatic - it is a good idea to open up to other views or possibilities - I mean, it't not like I'm waving a little flag that says "Kill animals and eat them" - I'm just broadening my perspective to be sure that I don't miss anything - I am NOT trying to offend anyone, but if I did or do - I am sincerely sorry :(

Love alba

[Guppy]

Hi Nix and Alba,
Here is the Mission Statement of this forum as set by Alissa Cohen. It's the very first post on the homepage.

mission statement + basics for this board

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a mission statement and just a basic guideline about what is and is
not accepted and expected on this board:
-----------------------------------------------------
You may ask whatever questions you like and discuss whatever you want about the vegan raw food diet. You do not have to be 100% raw or even 50% raw, but you do need to be supportive of this lifestyle and striving towards or interested in this raw vegan diet. If you are having doubts or thinking that this is not for you that is fine but then this may not be the place for you. Just like a meat eaters board or a macrobiotic board would not be the place for a raw fooder who is just interested in forcing their thoughts upon those people. These people on this board are here for support, motivation and connection.
I would appreciate it if everyone would abide by this post.
Thank you,
Alissa

Extended mission statement since some people seem to need to hear more:

This is a raw food board for asking and receiving questions and answers in regards to going and staying raw. This board is for the support of the raw food lifestyle, getting and giving advice and connecting with other people who are STRIVING TO GO AND BE RAW VEGAN. It is not for debating whether this diet is good or bad or for posting questions that try to debunk the raw food diet. This does not mean that people cannot ask questions and seek answers but just as a raw fooder or someone believing in the raw food diet would not go to a meat board, a macrobiotic or an Atkins board and start debating those fellow board members beliefs, questioning their approach to their personal diets and interrupting and disrupting there place of support, so is this not appropriate on this board. This board is for people wanting support and connection.

There is enough fear and mistruth and debating about diet going on in all of the places outside of this Internet circle. This is not the place for that. It is a place to come and share your same interest in the vegan raw food diet, get support and feel connected. If you need information that you feel you are not finding here or are looking for opposing views about this diet and want to discuss these view, this is not the place to do that. Search the net and you can find all you want. You are welcome to ask questions and have different opinions but please be mindful and respectful that this is a raw food board whose members are raw, striving to be raw and/or are searching for vegan raw food information.
__________________

alissacohen.com
Living on Live Food Book and DVDs, appliances, supplements, support and more!

Alba - I wish you nothing but happiness and health in your journey. You will find the way of eating that is the best way for you. The Raw Fooders who post here are vegans and do not believe in eating animals for a variety of reasons. Is that "dogmatic"? I would have to look that up to be sure, but I think yes, it is a specific "dogma" that we espouse. Most of us HAVE experimented with other ways of eating and other theories, and this is the way we have chosen to proceed.

Here are some more of my pro-vegetarian favorites:
A Reason for Hope by Jane Goodall
Mad Cowboy by Howard Lyman
The Food Revolution by John Robbins
The China Study as mentioned above
The PETA website

Happy researching and best wishes,
emily

[lissomllama]

I'm sorry you're worrying. You just need to have more patience and faith in it. There is no such thing as a deficiency on a properly done raw, vegan lifestyle.That is a lie, spread by cooked eaters and even raw vegans who don't trust it and aren't eating all of what they need. You were deisgned to live this way, so you'll get all that you need. Simple as that. And to make it even more complicated, all of our bodies need different amounts of different things. Maybe you need more greens than fruit or vice versa. Maybe you need more fats etc. You'll figure it all out soon enough. A good way to make sure you don't get deficiencies is to eat a good amount of everything: Dark leafy greens, fruits, seeds, nuts and veggies, all raw. Getting some remnants of organic soil in your foods is also a great idea.

BTW, acne is cured from the inside, not the outside. because it comes from the inside, not the outside. No amount of topical junk will help you. Use water, not soap. I completely cured all of my acne in 2 months by just being raw and using only water on my skin. You have acne because you are detoxing. Wait it out. The toxins are coming out through your skin. Stay raw and drink lots of water and detox in other ways as well. Like dry body brushing and oil pulling (feel free to look them up on google).

[Alba]

Hm...
So now I feel like the dumb one :o
sorry, I guess I hadn't read the Mission statement properly.
Although I would like to add that I do not distrust the diet, I just got confused and went looking for some good advice and/or valuable knowledge -Which I got in abundance btw :) So thanks to all of you who focused on my questions and not whether or not I was following the rules ;)
And may I add - I understand the policy completely and will try not to bring up **** again :D
Alba

[Lay-Lay]

Alba, kool beans. I think everyone means no harm, but rather we try our best to stay focused so as to be a supportive group. By no means does anyone object to you choosing your own path, it just that this board is involved in supporting a specific lifestyle of raw vegan/beegan lifestyle. There are numerous sites that support non-vegan.

I am so happy you are participating in this forum and I look forward to your future posts.

[Nix]

I really have no desire to debate the issue here at all. I merely stepped in it as they say. You shouldn't be hearing from me on the issue again. I am certain I was reacting to the way it was stated (I am not used to closed doors, I will adjust), in light of the fact that many are transitioning and trying to figure out what it all means, in terms of health, conservation, politics, and religio/spiritual experiences and where each individual wants to go. As I transition to all raw, whether or not I am vegan and for what reason I do not yet know. I am just learning as well as "listening" and I definitely will not pretend I know the audience here, I haven't been here long.
My apologies.

[Guppy]

No sweat, nice people. This issue comes up pretty regularly and those of us who have been here for a long time get weary. If I sounded snotty, it was not intentional.

best wishes,
emily