Where is the Freedom?

[Wendee]

Please allow me to vent, I have had a hard day!

Some say maple syrup is ok, some say it's not.
Some say cashews are raw, some say they are not.
Some say frozen corn is raw, some say not.
Some say Lara bars are 100 percent, some say the dried fruit isnt.
Some say fats are bad, some say if they are raw, don't worry.
Some say oat groats are raw, some say they are steamed.
Some say eat all organic, some say it's not important.
Some say miso is ok, some say it's not.
Some say carrots and banannas are bad and too sugary, some say they are very nutricious.
Some say eating some raw and some not is ok others say you should go cold turkey and eat 100 percent.
Some say coconut oil is good, some say it's very bad.
some say you don't need a fast blender, some say it's mandatory.
Some have all the money they need to buy all organic and all the expensive equipment, while others struggle to just by conventional.
Some say set your dehydrator at a higher temp for two hours, some say not to.
Some say grains are acid forming, some say the arent.
Some say you can loose weight on raw, some can't and don't.
Some say one avacado a day is too much, others eat 3 a day.
Some eat raw cheese, others don't.
SOme say cashews arent raw others use them anyway and call them raw.
Some do only part raw, and say they are 100 percent, but are using cooked.

And on we go.

Raw brings such freedom, doesn't it?!!??!:confused:

Wendy from the Windy City

[rawmike]

Wendy!

I understand your frustration. There does seem to be SO many rules! While I am 15 days into 100% raw, I am keeping it simple. I accept that I can't afford all organic. I accept that I don't have ALL the best equipment. Most importantly, I think it is vital to eat what your body tells you to eat. For example, I have a lot of 'raw' cashews. They may not be raw by extreme definition, but they make me feel better when my stomach feels queasy and empty. I am sticking to huge salads, fresh juices, and lots of home made banana nut bars.

Stay strong, do what feels right, and don't get too wrapped up in controversy. You are still doing better than 99% of the population. After getting through the first six months, then I will steadily re-evaluate the controversial raw items in my diet.

[kae]

I'm new to the raw food diet. It seems like with raw food, as with everything else, there are always the constant arguements over what is good and what isn't. Like eggs. Depending on the day of the week, magazines, doctors, etc. tell you that eggs are good for you or bad for you. I think the important thing is to find what works for you. Right now I'm not 100 % raw. Some would say that defeats the purpose of going raw. But I'm working on what's comfortable for me and what my body needs. In the end, do what feels right for you, and you'll be happy! Good Luck!

[rawstrawberry]

I relate to your vent. Everyone has an opinion but at the end of the day I really believe we need to do what works for OUR body and makes us happy. You can't live a lifestyle otherwise. Listen to your body. No one can tell you not to eat a carrot when you feel awesome eating carrots. Test things out and see how your body reacts, some lose weight on CO some gain. We have very different genetics and food sensitivities.

So what is you eat a cashew that is not 100% raw if it doesn't make you sick.

I feel miserable unless I have extra PROTEIN people on this board will say I am crazy and wrong and it is something else but I know it isn't so I have extra raw hemp protein.

Honesly the raw diet lifestyle is not one size fits all.

This is not all or nothing like some belive yes 100% may be better for some but do what works best for you!

Raw Strawberry

[lil fairy z girl]

i can see how you feel. i think the freedom comes from disregarding the rules above and just enjoy eating raw fruit and veg. i think when rules are applied it becomes hard and a drudge and really that is the opposite of what raw is, this is just my opinion. i think also looking at rules makes one give up.
just be happy and enjoy fresh food.

sal
~*~*~*

[jaurequi]

If you want to be sure, then eat nothing from a package; purchase only fresh foods - vegetables; fruits; whole fats, such as avocadoes, durian; including seeds and nuts which are without controversy as to their raw status, usually ones with their hulls, such as sunflower seeds, pine nuts, walnuts, pecans, flax, chia, whole sesame, etc.

Best,

[Shirleyh]

Yes, if you go 100% raw food, you will have to be more perfect. If you are 85% raw then you just do the best you can.

[Rawkinlocs]

i can see how you feel. i think the freedom comes from disregarding the rules above and just enjoy eating raw fruit and veg. i think when rules are applied it becomes hard and a drudge and really that is the opposite of what raw is, this is just my opinion. i think also looking at rules makes one give up.
just be happy and enjoy fresh food.

sal
~*~*~*

^^^ In a nutshell!

That is precisely why I stopped listening to what "some say" and listening to my OWN body...I know that if I crave something crappy it's the addiction because if I eat it, I FEEL crappy. But if I crave healthy food and I eat it, I feel wonderful!

Of course someone who is still used to eating cooked food and cooked JUNK food at that, can't listen to their body just yet...and that is why Alissa's book and approach (and this forum BASED on said approach) are such a blessing to me and so many others because it's not about all of those rules and "this is bad" - "that is bad". Sure, there are some "borderline" things such as the cashews heated in the shell for example, but using that same example, HOW many people who insist that those cashews aren't "truly raw" have actually done enzyme-testing on them? I have seen raw (from the store) cashews...WHOLE ones (not the pieces) that did sprout and a few others will say the same. But the pieces, those might be considered a little more "iffy".

But the bottom line is, the majority of people who go from cooked to raw and find themselves making recipe meals and using those questionably raw items that you named or eating those items that are truly raw, but that some say are dangerous (such as onions, carrots, nightshades like the peppers, etc.) eventually they find that they gravitate to lesser and lesser amounts of the recipes, the questionable items and perhaps even the foods that "some" say are not optimal.

So, there IS freedom in eating raw IF you

1.) don't take any one "guru's" word as bond and get trapped in a particular way of thinking and

2.) just eat raw - if it's questionable, decide for yourself whether or not you will include minute amounts in your recipes (if you make recipes) and see how it makes YOU feel...does it make you feel the same as though you ate outright cooked food or do you still feel good after eating the recipe with the questionable item? If you feel poorly as though you just ate a plate of cooked food, then eliminate it - if you do not, then continue and guess what, the longer you stay at it, you will naturally see yourself no longer wanting certain things. The more raw FRESH food you eat, your body will then begin to be your guide as to what you can and cannot have and you won't have to worry about what _____ said.

I know it can be confusing and that is why Alissa has such a more "down-to-earth" approach to going raw and encourages that this forum be limited (for the most part) to that approach so that people DON'T get all confuzzled.

But if you're going to go straight from the cooked to a more "pure" raw diet (NO recipes, spices, condiments, etc.) then be prepared for a lot of issues to come up as your body cleans on a MUCH deeper level! If people think eating raw WITH the recipes, etc. is hard...try going straight from cooked to eating more simply - a lot of emotional eating issues, social eating issues, etc are going to surface FAST and most people aren't ready to deal with all that comes with that.

[DavidZaneMason]

Right. The above posts are great! And Rawkinlocs is exactly right - of course.

Some thoughts:

-Knowledge cannot supplant SELF-Knowledge. Knowledge of the world is NOT knowledge of what works for YOU (as an individual). Can the body tell you what works for YOU? I think so....if you give it a chance and are honest with your reactions.

-Are too many options a bad thing? Is it bad that there are so many options and opinions regarding health? I don't think so. Its all about deciding what is right for us as an individual, and then being bold in working on those things. In having a direction and an intention that we are MOTIVATED to follow. One cannot lie to one's self regarding this motivation - as the medium and results are self-evident when one is NOT motivated in such a fashion. LOL. When TRUE motivation is discovered, mountains are moved through no effort - because NO change is then un-thinkable in service to that motivation.

-It requires a great deal of responsibility and courage to decide from a myriad of neutral-seeming options....or confusing options....and decide on those that show you the highest vision of who you are.....because having decided....there is then the onus to DO something. Confusion is certainly a handy catch-phrase if some some one is not motivated to DO. It allows them the comfortable 'excuse' to not actually DO anything....in the face of so many options! Ha! ha!

-The greatest powers we know of (like atomic blasts) are released by the greatest focus....on the smallest things.

-David Z. Mason

[Morn]

I know what you mean it can drive a person crazy! I just do the best I can do and I feel great! I am not worried about all the controversial items because I know I am feeding my body 100 times better than what I used to. I have not gotten really sick once in the 7 1/2 months I have been eating this way so I am happy! Good topic though!

[Veganforlife]

The freedom is that YOU have the right to decide what to eat and what not to eat. That is where the freedom is.

[3kidsmommy]

I hear ya sista! Don't forget what some say about food combining either!:) I just say whatever! My life is already too busy I really just read that stuff and do what feels right for my body. I eat whatever it's raw and not worry about it. Just enjoy the food and if it feels right then continue. If not, then don't. Most importantly have fun! Oh yeah, about the whole freedom thing. Don't let me get started about eating out!;)

[Lunar*Fey]

hmm I know what you mean Wendee, it can be so confusing and frustrating. I understand this and know where you are coming from! But I also see that information always gets so jumbled...what with the main concern of many being money. If one was to read all the health information thinking that they would be able to take from it exactly what one should do to be perfectly healthy...they would end up so confused as there is SO SO much conflicting information. So the only true indicator is our own bodies, which unfortunately means that we have to take the time and experiment with our own bodies (often for a long time) before attaining what seems to us to be perfect or near perfect health.

Wow DavidZaneMason,
I would love to meet you! You are so inspiring and insightful! Within the environment that I live, I very often find myself doing absolutely nothing at all because I have too many options. I have such a vast range of interests that I sort of dropped off and ceased during a "Medieval" or "dark age" of my life (and I am only 16), thus I am not as skilled as I wish to be and it frustrates me tremendously at times...most significantly it makes it hard for me to chose one thing to do as my mind so dearly wishes to make up for lost time and do all the things I love at once. I therefore find myself staring at the computer screen or standing in my room doing nothing. It's almost frightening. I suppose I am the only one who can change this...I often ask myself how how how....and yet deep down I must know how.
Anyway, thank you for your insights. They were quite inspiring and, again, insightful.

[zenpawn]

Other fun ones -

cacao: Food of the Gods or extremely toxic?

herbs/spices: phytochemical powerhouses or extremely toxic?

poor food combining: better glycemic load or putrefaction?

proof: peer-reviewed science or empiricism?

[shine72]

Wendee - we talked about this at the 5-day training with Alissa. I told her what I tell people who are worried about organic is "Do what you can. If you can afford organic, great, if not, raw fruits and veggies conventional are still better than going and getting something from say, McDonald's or even a really good restaurant if it's cooked."

rawmike's attitude is a good one to have for being raw. You do what you can as you can and tweak as you go along.

Rawkinlocs is also a girl to listen to. She knows her stuff. You can't stress about all the do's and don'ts. You go raw, you do what you know is best for YOUR body. You act on the information YOU know to be true. No one can ask for more than that. And that, my friend, IS freedom!

[StarFire]

and that's why I LOVE RFT! :D :D

There is so much wisom being spoken here - there's nothing to add except - ditto!! ;)

[Ariannah]

That's why I just form my own opinions and go with how MY body feels.
Everyone is different. That is where the freedom comes in.
It's all good :D
Cheers!

[Naiad]

I agree with pretty much everything those before me have shared.

One of the reasons I love Alissa's approach is that the concept to "get into it, go at your own pace and enjoy" is coming from someone who walks the walk. Her view and those of many forum members reminds me when I feel like I've had too much or the "wrong" GOOD stuff to relax a little. One of the reasons people like being "cooked" is that you can do anything - ie, no limits. I mostly ate salads and fruit before, but, the so-called freedom to NOT eat those things, that is what tempts me. So, I don't really want the stress of low fat or no nightshades as of right now :P

Speaking of which, three weeks into going back to raw, I already find myself cutting back on my fats and even skipping the token tomato. You will adapt and adjust, so, dive in for now :D

[littleangelbear]

I can relate to this thread, but for me, I just go with what my body says 'yes' to when it comes to raw. Being high raw now for 18 months, I have a clearer connection to my intuition and listening to my body. So, I don't let what others say about what is raw and what is not get to me.

Also, I tend to stay away from most raw message boards. This doesn't apply here, but there are so many self-professed 'experts' who really aren't LOL--I don't know how some people have time to do anything else since they are on certain raw message boards all day. I know myself I wouldn't have time to eat raw LOL :)

So, do what works for you and enjoy the raw journey :) Don't get caught up in the 'semantics' and politics and well, ego of the raw foods movement :)

Hugs and peace...

[blacktulip]

[QUOTE=littleangelbear;268351]
So, do what works for you and enjoy the raw journey :) Don't get caught up in the 'semantics' and politics and well, ego of the raw foods movement :)
QUOTE]

right on. i completely agree with this, and a lot of what has been said. it's funny, i was going to post something similar after being frustrated with a discussion on another raw food board elsewhere and read this and felt better. I DO trust my own body and instincts and almost forgot about that for a minute! Half of feeling awful about food is the guilt we impose on ourselves if we "slip" or eat something that's mired in controversy (raw or not?!) and life is TOO short to become completely caught up in all that. Eat alive and nourishing food, local organic and in season. . . and take time to be quiet and really listen to your body. it will tell you when it doesn't like something, and when it really craves certain foods. I really love how that happened to me once i went raw.

anyway, we're all amazing and on wonderful paths to even be here, sharing with each other. . . yay us!!!

[andypdx]

Please allow me to vent, I have had a hard day!

Some say maple syrup is ok, some say it's not.
Some say cashews are raw, some say they are not.
Some say frozen corn is raw, some say not.
Some say Lara bars are 100 percent, some say the dried fruit isnt.
Some say fats are bad, some say if they are raw, don't worry.
Some say oat groats are raw, some say they are steamed.
Some say eat all organic, some say it's not important.
Some say miso is ok, some say it's not.
Some say carrots and banannas are bad and too sugary, some say they are very nutricious.
Some say eating some raw and some not is ok others say you should go cold turkey and eat 100 percent.
Some say coconut oil is good, some say it's very bad.
some say you don't need a fast blender, some say it's mandatory.
Some have all the money they need to buy all organic and all the expensive equipment, while others struggle to just by conventional.
Some say set your dehydrator at a higher temp for two hours, some say not to.
Some say grains are acid forming, some say the arent.
Some say you can loose weight on raw, some can't and don't.
Some say one avacado a day is too much, others eat 3 a day.
Some eat raw cheese, others don't.
SOme say cashews arent raw others use them anyway and call them raw.
Some do only part raw, and say they are 100 percent, but are using cooked.

And on we go.

Raw brings such freedom, doesn't it?!!??!:confused:

Wendy from the Windy City

First of all, I feel that it's well within each individual's right to be as stringent or non-stringent as they want to be. If you want to go 100% raw, then great. If you want to be high raw, then that's OK too. It's all up to each person. No one is any "better" or "worse" than any other for the level of rawess that they reach for. As for myself, I am striving to be 100% raw, and most of my work at this point involves verifying the claims of of food producers that claim to be "raw". I realize that I might even be fooling myself when it comes to some of my food choices, but I see this as a journey, and I've only recently begun.

Of course, if I wanted to be 100% "safe", I could stick to eating nothing but unpackaged fruits and vegetables, but there are so many dishes that require ingredients like cashews, agave, etc... that I don't think I would be happy without them.

I think that a lot of the confusion regarding the "RAWNESS" of several of these foods arises from the fact that many of these can be both raw OR non raw, depending on the situation.

For example...let's look at cashews. Most "RAW" cashews are shelled by the use of steam. Obviously, the steam is quite hot. MUCH hotter than any temperature that would qualify for "raw" foods. However, the cashew shell acts as an insulator. The shell keeps the inside of the shell cooler than the temperature outside the shell during the steaming process. How hot does it get inside? I don't know. One thing I do know is that if you soak Trader Joe's "raw" cashews, they will sprout. One might ask, how can a cashew sprout if it is enzymatically dead? Isn't this the reason we are eating raw foods...to consume those foods that still retain their original enzymatic properties? What does this say about the effects of the steam on the cashew sitting inside the shell during processing? Due to the fact that these cashews will still sprout, many people see them as qualifying as "raw", apparently due to the fact that the temperature was not elevated to the point where the cashew was "killed". But...if this still isn't good enough for you, you can actually purchase TRULY (http://www.eatraw.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=WS801_11LBS) raw cashews that have not been treated with steam during the shelling process.

Maple Syrup? As far as I know, maple syrup is never raw. If you have ever seen a maple tree being bled for its sap, you will know that a great deal of reducing (via heat) would be necessary to increase the viscosity from the light, watery sap to the thick, rich substance we call maple "syrup". Maple syrup has a long tradition in the "natural foods" movement, so perhaps this is why it is used, even by those who associate themselves with "raw". I've heard about "wind evaporated" maple syrup (which WOULD be raw), but I've never seen the stuff.

Agave. This one can be confusing. Most agave is not raw. I will only eat agave if I know for sure that it has not been processed at high temperatures. Luckily, there are a couple of producers that explicitly state (right (http://www.wholesomesweeteners.com/brands/wholesome/Wholesome_Sweeteners_Organic_Raw_Blue_Agave_Nectar .html) on (http://www.organicnectars.com/products.html) the packaging (http://www.blueagavenectar.com/agavenectarrecipes.html)), that the agave has not been treated with temperatures over a certain level. So, if you're concerned about truly RAW agave, hunt it down, and you WILL find it.

Frozen corn. As far as I know, all frozen vegetables are blanched before packaging. If anyone has any evidence to the contrary, please let me know. On a side note, this practice is not as widely used on frozen ORGANIC fruits.

Lara Bars. Don't get me started on this one! :p SOME of their bars could be considered "loosely raw", but beware of any of the bars that contain cocoa. Despite the word "raw" on the wrapper, the cocoa is ROASTED, not raw. A good perusal of their website (http://www.larabar.com), will help you make up your mind on this issue.

Organics. I think this is really a matter of personal choice. The problem is that they are usually more expensive. Are they better for you? I think so. How much better are they? This is hard to qualify. Let me put it this way. I would eat a non-organic raw carrot before I would eat a cooked organic carrot. Organic raw would be best, but I think raw trumps organic.

Miso. This is a product that started off as cooked, but due to the fact that it has been fermented, it has acquired some of the properties of raw, living food, namely active enzymes. So technically, not "raw" in the purest sense, but remember, why are we raw? To gain the benefits of active enzymes. I haven't eaten miso since I have gone raw, but perhaps if I give it more study...I might (?)

Coconut oil. Coconut oil has gotten a bad rap in certain circles, but this springs from the confusion over the fact that there are different types of coconut oil. The bad stuff is HYDROGENATED coconut oil, which IS really bad for you, whereas pure, virgin coconut oil (http://www.thaifoodandtravel.com/features/cocgood.html) is completely different.

Blenders. I have a Vitamix. I love it. I wouldn't part with it for anything. I remember having a crappy blender in the past, and the difference is night and day. It certainly was expensive, and I had to do a bit of saving up before I got it. Can one be raw while using a $29 blender? Certainly, but my own personal experience is that having the Vitamix makes it a WHOLE lot easier!

Weight loss. Well, I suppose it depends on where you are starting. If one is overweight, I would say that it's practically impossible NOT to lose weight if one embraces the raw lifestyle seriously. This even goes for those who are not 100% raw. I wager to bet that if we took a poll here, the great majority of people would say, "YES, I have lost weight on RAW."

Raw cheese? If we're talking about real dairy, there are certain people who do eat raw animal products, up to and including raw meat. I may be biased, as I reject the consumption of all animal products on an ethical basis, but I think it's crazy. Perhaps my opinion has strengthened itself after seeing that one episode of "Wife Swap" where the family ate raw eggs, butter and meat. I do know one thing though. These food products may be "raw", but they certainly aren't "living"!

Another big problem is that there really aren't any established standards in the marketplace. Many times, the word "raw" is used very liberally. A food producer can use the word "raw" on their packaging, but this does not carry the same weight that the word "organic" or "vegan" might carry. The use of the word "raw" in such instances may simply refer to the food producer's conception about the "minimally processed" nature of their food.

Furthermore, there are many different temperature thresholds that come to mind when people use the word "raw". Some say 105, others 108, 110, or 115. 118 degrees seems to be the upper level at which anyone would classify a food as being raw. The truth is that the enzymes found in various foods start breaking down at different levels along this spectrum. Also, the loss of enzymatic activity decreases as a function of the duration that any given food is subjected to a given level of heat. As for myself, this is an area that I want to study further. I think it would be great to have an encyclopedic knowledge of which foods can be safely subjected to 118 degrees, and which ones shouldn't be heated over 105.

As you can see, any number of issues can cloud the issue when it come to the questions you have asked. My feeling is that that you should do the best that you can, while arming yourself with knowledge.

[luckitri]

Wendee, thanks, you made me laugh and you made me think. Your last statement about the ones who do cooked but call themselves 100%! Ha ha! (Maybe they mean 100% vegetarian)

But truly, raw for me is about health and freedom. I am not 100%. Possibly 100% would heal me. Possibly a juice fast would heal me. I have been too ill for too long to do either - seriously. I tried the juice fast recently but I was too ill to keep up with the cleansing of the produce or the cleansing of the juicers. I admit it and am honest about it and they have not kicked me off the board yet.

We have so many different body types. Rules are made to be broken. We have hundreds of kinds of shampoo and body soap on the market - because everybody is different and their skin and hair have different needs - same with how our body processes food and nutrients.

This board is a wonderful resource and I really like to read what everyone has written and the links to further information - I cannot keep up with it all! But in the end I just do all that I can do each day and that is not yet 100%.

I do not wish to be neurotic about my food - I want to enjoy it - and maybe play with it like Revell says. I just have to take everything with a few grains of seasalt.

I am waiting for andypdx to publish. Will it be Harper and Row?

[littleangelbear]

I am waiting for andypdx to publish. Will it be Harper and Row?


I'd buy his book :)

I love "common sense" wisdom and people with the eloquence to convey it in a way that doesn't offend me or prosletyze. It's also non-Fundamentalist which I really enjoyed and appreciated :) Thank you!

[Regen]

Wendee, I second Luckitri - you made me laugh and you made me think. It's what keeps me coming back to this board. I value the information (that something may not be as we think) and enjoy the discussion that follows. This way of life employs my brain. When it all gets too much to take I put it into context and compare the "dangers" of non-raw cashews compared to mercury filled fish, for example, and get back with the plan - my plan based on information and discussion:) .

[alicia leal]

For me it is simple, doubts come from healthy people, that means, people that haven't experienced any particular health problem. When you have been there, there's no question about it. Just trying to be raw is enough to feel better and wish no to go back to completely cooked. For me, not to feel sick is the real freedom.

[Wendee]

To answer my own question:

The freedom is:

1) In the idea that I can control my own health simply by eating raw foods.

2) The knowledge that raw food can change lives for the better.

3) In the fact that i can say no to cooked food, and know I am actually
doing the best thing for myself, even when others doubt.

4) In the idea that I control my destiny, and CAN if I use enough discipline.

5) In the idea that at anyttime, I can loose weight and eat dessert for dinner
and still get the best nutiritonal benifits from doing so.

6) Knowing that the SAD way of eating will cause one to be sad and the
the raw food way of eating is the path to joy, peace and hope.

7) In the ability to enjoy smoothies that taste like icecream, and know
it's very good for me and nutircious.

8) In knowing that to find life in raw food, is to find life and joy.


Feel free to add your own reasons Raw is Freedom.

[barose]

Without reading all of the responses, I must say RockinLocks is right on.

I simple ignore what people say is good/bad at this point. I love raw cocoa - its makes me feel great! Toxic? Who knows? I spent years feeling horrible after eating so now I whatever feels good to my body and soul (as long as its raw). Bananas? Hate them, so I don't eat them. Dehydrated foods, every now and then as long as I feel fine and so on.

I can so relate to your original post. When I first went raw, I think I read too much information. Too many "dos and donts". That can be just as harmful as too little information IMO.

[lavendarJ]

Wendee-
Happy Tuesday!

[Wendee]

Gee! :o Thanks! :D

[littleangelbear]

Wendee,

Loved your post! :)

[mongodelight]

If u transition to 100% u will always make some mistakes and you have to learn a lot, often from experience! But the main thing is that u left that cruel cooked food addiction behind. Every transitioning problem is a fly crap against the pain a life in the "cooked food fear trap" would bring. (if u think about continue = horrible fear, if u think about quitting for life = horrible fear) To get out of that trap is the Nr 1 benefit of becoming 100% raw. All other reasons together are not as iimportant. Yeah thats a fact!:) The fear makes people with cancer continue eating cooked although they know that 100% raw would cure it 100%. U dont believe this? There are people who did things like that and there are people at the moment that are doing this. Thats a fact too:(

Do what feels best!

[annavon]

The freedom is that YOU have the right to decide what to eat and what not to eat. That is where the freedom is.


AMEN. That said it all. (what a short post from Anna???)

[Riiiya]

i was really confused when finding info online.. it really helped me to read some books- my 1st was david wolfe's Sunfood... and i found it truly inspirational and understandable. then the China Study made pretty sure i don't want any animal products..err ever... Alissa's book was also rather useful with all the practical info

but don't stress! no diet will make you healthy if you poison your system with STRESS!

hey so you're from Chicago- you should visit one of the raw restaurants there, i'll come if you need a buddy hehehe :D