Nutritional Value

[BlueBell]

I recently saw Alissa on the Tyra show and decided to buy her book and check out this "living raw" lifestyle. I'm really impressed by the idea so far and would love to try out the diet. My main concern is this: I've been taught that in order to have a balanced, healthy diet, you should follow the food pyramid and eat a variety of foods including whole grains, dairy and some protein (meat).

I really don't mind a meatless life, but here's my question: Where do you get the nutrients that you would usually get from foods like whole grain breads, pastas, low fat dairy (cottage cheese, yogurt, cheese, skim milk, etc)?

Is there some kind of substitute in this raw diet? I'm halfway through the book and it hasn't been explained yet, but I imagine this kind of question pops up frequently enough.

Thanks!

[lil fairy z girl]

hi, i am pretty sure Alissa mentions this in her book. There are also a few posts in the forum section called "need to know about raw". eg Proteins and B vitamins...

hope this helps.
Anyway welcome to the board :)

sal
~*~*~*

[goodbeets]

Alissa definately mentions this in her book. You get your everything from fruit, veg, nuts, dried fruit, sprouted grains and greens. If you want to read an extremely informative book about the food pyramid and what we thought we know check out, "The China Study", it is amazing and written by a top-notch scientist. Alissa reccomends it as well. You will also find tons of great info on this board.

[Frecs]

The food pyramid actually allows for vegetarian choices. It does tend to stress that vegetarians need to be ovo-lacto vegetarians (eat dairy), though. If you are interested, there is a new food pyramid and a website: http://www.mypyramid.gov/

But, despite that, if you eat sprouted grains, seeds, nuts, dark leafy greens, broccoli, etc., you will get all the essential nutrients and then some. You will, in fact, get better quantities of most nutrients than in a SAD diet without the bad cholesterol and other health damaging stuff. About the only thing you won't get in a vegetarian diet --cooked or raw-- is B12. Oh, and, generally speaking, people don't need as much protein as "they" say we need--they like to hedge their bets. AND, a little known fact in the SAD world -- veggies and fruits contain protein.

And, if you concerned that you won't get vitamin D if you don't drink milk...get out in the sun for 15 minutes each day with at least some skin exposed...your body will make it's own vitamin D.

[chilove]

Hi there,

Congratulations on going raw!! You will love it!

We get all the nutrients we need from the foods we are biologically designed to eat: fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds.

I also recommend reading "The China Study" It is an excellent book.

All the best,

Audrey
www.rawhealing.com