Need some help getting started please...

[mali61505]

I have no clue how to start. I am planning on getting alissa's book but i want to start now! lol So the main question I have is..do I have to buy organic foods or can i just buy regular fruit and greens? and i want to do this the right way not half a@@ed. Anyways so if anyone could help me get on the right path Id be grateful:) Thank you much!

[the_lab_rat]

I think Alissa recommends organic foods in her book. You don't have to buy organic in order to go raw. In terms of your own health and the health of the planet, organic is far better. Pesticides are nasty things! Why poison your body, or the Earth? I can actually taste the difference now, and would never go back to non-organic food. I've also read (possibly in Alissa's book too?) that studies have shown organic produce has more nutrients. I know some people can't afford it, or don't live in areas where organic stuff is easily attainable. If that's the case, you could always just get as much organic food as possible. There's a list here http://www.foodnews.org/walletguide.php of the "dirty dozen," the 12 fruits & veggies most contaminated by pesticides, and the least contaminated ones.
Hope that helps, and good luck on your raw journey! :)

[Nurse in the Raw]

Organic is best. My thought is why go to all the trouble of eating raw to rid your body of toxins and then just put them right back in?

If you can't afford organic produce, use farmers markets instead of grocery stores because their pesticide load is lower. Commercial growers can use up to 50 different kinds of pesticides. A good rule of thumb is....if you are going to eat the flesh, its best to buy organic.

Example: strawberries, grapes, blueberries, blackberries. If you can't peel it, buy organic.

[Rawkinlocs]

If you CAN buy organic, then get what you can organic but if you cannot (cost, availability, etc.) then you do the very best that you can. One thing about eating raw, it will give your body even more of a fighting chance. We are exposed to toxins all around us, in the air, in water (unless you're going to try and weed through all the conflicting info about what type of water is best and invest in expensive pumps, etc. too), environments on our jobs, in clothing stores, and more!

We don't live in a perfect world and none of us lives in a bubble. So, yes, you may get exposed to toxins in pesticides from eating conventionally-grown produce however, again, if you are eating raw fruits and veggies and eliminating cooked food from your diet, your body will be in a better place to more readily get rid of any toxins you DO become exposed to whether it's from conventional produce or whether it's from other things as I mentioned previously.

I know some very STRICT raw fooders (Natural Hygienists and Fruitarians) who have both told me that organic is sometimes very overrated. I've had someone mention an article to me but I can't recall right off who that was or where the article came from, but it was very interesting to say the least. The Frutarian told me that he NEVER buys organic...but he is one of the healthiest, most vibrant people I know!

But yeah, please just do the best that YOU can do...if you can, do...if you can't, then don't let that stop you from eating raw and making you feel like it's all a mute point to even go raw if you can't do organic because that is not true at all.

[mali61505]

Thank you soo much guys this really helps me out!

[Riiiya]

do the very best that you can. One thing about eating raw, it will give your body even more of a fighting chance.

Ah i love that sentence :D
you can't eliminate ALL waste around you in life... but being raw while not eating organic (it's expeeeensive around here uh) is better than eating SAD ;) IMHO

[GoingtoRAW]

I agree that eating raw even if you can't eat all organic is still better than eating SAD. I personally can't afford to eat all organic. I buy organic whenever I can but I honestly can't afford to be all organic right now for financial reasons!! I make sure that I wash all of my fruits and veggies very well and just move on. I would still rather eat this way than SAD. I feel so much better and each day when I wake up I can't wait to see what has changed from the day before - in how I look and feel. I say GO FOR IT! No special prep requird. Just Do It!!:)