Hi everyone

[MrMike]

Mike speaking, I'm an art student from the San Francisco bay area and have been recently becoming a raw vegan. About 6 months ago I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), I've also had psoriasis/ eczema since I was a baby. I'd always thought of myself as "healthy" but the arthritis was keeping me from being able to do my school work. I went to the doctors and they perscribed me some nasty drugs, I said thanks, but no thanks.

After reading alternative healing books and on both RA and psoriasis, and found a common thread of diet that leaned heavily towards vegetables and away from meats dairy etc. So I kind of did a synthesis between the two very similar diets and had some success, the redness in my wrists was lessening. After that validation, but I kind of stayed at that reduced level unless I fasted which obviously is not a long term solution.

So I kept at my research and eventually I have evolved to a raw vegan diet, 100% after reading Gabrial Cousens Rainbow Diet book. If you've read the book it is amazing and I am currenlty doing Phase I. Which excludes fruits completely except for lemons limes and tomatos (of which I am a bit sceptical of because both arthritis and RA diets advise against nightshades) I don't know any other raw vegans personally, and it has been a challange to stick to this diet, I am about one week into it as of now. I usually just have a soup where I mash everything in my masticating Omega Juicer, then heat it to warm, adn keep it in a thermos throughout the day to eat. I always put in an avocado and eat a small amount of nuts every day. Thats pretty much it, I would love to hear from others, especially if you have had either RA or psoriasis or eczema. But first I should probably check out this forum a bit and see whats up.

[beppa66]

Hi and welcome. You're in the right place. May you be returned to abundant vibrant health!

[StarFire]

Well Aloha and Welcome MistaMike!! RAWKON! wow... interesting post! You have really done your homework. Very proactive and cool that you are taking responsibility for your health.

I find myself in a situation where I am unable to eat a lot of hi sugar fruits. I can eat a few tomatoes though -- I will check out the book that you mentioned, it sounds like something I should really be reading!

I look forward to following your journey...

RAWK ON and enjoy the ride!!

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/welcome.gif

[MrMike]

Alright! I've made contact!

Thanks beppa66,
I appreciate it, I feel like I'm embarking on a long strange trip here...

[StarFire]

Alright! I've made contact!

Thanks beppa66,
I appreciate it, I feel like I'm embarking on a long strange trip here...

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/cat.jpg ... why would you think it strange? btw - did anyone give you your helmet yet? :D

[EZ rider]

Not such a strange trip but more of a learning to listen to your body trip. Have a happy raw journey :)

[MrMike]

Aloha Starfire, I actually took two consequetive quarters off from college, and spent my time out in nature, at the library, amazon books, and the internet to try and sort things out. So yea, I definately feel pretty lucky to have had the opportunity to do my homework.

The book is called "Rainbow Green Life-Food Cuisine" by Gabriel Cousens to be precise.

[beppa66]

YAY MR MIKE! Contact is good. As you can probably tell Starfire is a hoot!
Did you get your helmet??? LOL

[MrMike]

I guess there's nothing too strange about raw veganism for me personally, but in context to society it's a bit on the fringes.

For example, I live with my dad and he gets this awful cough that pretty much lasts the whole winter. SO he stayed home last night form work, and I hear him asking my step-mom over the phone to bring him milk, cheese, and ham, because there "nothing to eat in the fridge". Yet the fridge which was literally overflowing with produce that needed to be eaten.
The next day I remind him that this stuff needs to be eaten and that I would eat it, but can't because I'm on Phase I. So for dinner they throw it all into a huge skillet and fry it up, eat some of it and save majority of it for leftovers, there's still some in the fridge today, and too me it's all such a shame, but I don't even say anything anymore because I know that he will get very defensive about it.

It's just frustrating, but I know that all I can do is lead by example here, and that my strongest argument will be to make this work for myself first.

[StarFire]

The next day I remind him that this stuff needs to be eaten and that I would eat it, but can't because I'm on Phase I. So for dinner they throw it all into a huge skillet and fry it up, eat some of it and save majority of it for leftovers, there's still some in the fridge today, and too me it's all such a shame, but I don't even say anything anymore because I know that he will get very defensive about it.

It's just frustrating, but I know that all I can do is lead by example here, and that my strongest argument will be to make this work for myself first.

that my dear MistaMike... is wisdom! ;)

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/high5.jpg

[Morn]

Welcome to RFT! You are in good company here!

[Weezo]

Welcome MrMike... I understand your pain when it comes down to wanting to help family and spread the amazing feeling of raw... my mom has lupus and arthritis, weight probs, plus a borderline diabetic. The conditions worry me and I want to help her so that she doesn't get sicker, but there is only but so much you can say before it is their decision to improve their health and find raw happiness. I have pretty much just explained the diet to her and mentioned all the awesome testimonials... she does LOVE nuts and fruits, but she has said time and time again she could not live without her meat, dairy, and bread... so I have not tried to suggest the diet for her conditions... oh well...

Best of luck on your raw journey... I hope you find the health you seek and the warmth of the board to be inviting!

[crystalmoon]

Hi there I have Psoriosis too & am hoping the raw vegan lifestyle will help to heal it ;)
I am intolerant to all nightshades (potato, tomato, aubergine, chillies, peppers) eating them raw seems to make my reaction even stronger in a negative way too :( They cause me to have terribly aching stiff joints & bad IBS symptoms. I hope the diet you are on wont make your RA flare up. I have the book you mention just havent got round to reading it yet. Im currnetly reading his 'Conscious eating'.

[MrMike]

I have to say I've made significant progress on my psoriasis, it has about 80%cleared up, from what it was, it's like a fire that is slowly burning itself out. What used to be red inflamed rashes is now barely pink and lately I've been getting little black dots/scabs there as well, I attribute this to the so called "detox". A Dr. Pagano has theory in his book "healing psoriasis" that psoriasis is not actually a disease but that it is just how our bodies deal with toxins, by expelling them through the skin. This is based on the fact that normal skin takes about 20 some days to regenerate, while psoriatic skin does it in about 5 days.

I get a helmet?

[spicyfull]

I wish you everything you need to Stay RAW........Welcome to MY World.

[MrMike]

thank you, what I could really use some advice to stop losing weight, I am at 127 lbs now which is not very much for a 5 '7, 21 year old man But with not eating fruits it seems hard to get enough calories because I also dont want to overeat fats/nuts or just in general.

but this is probably more appropriate on a new thread, I'm guessing I'm not the only one with this going on, so if anyone wants to point me in the right direction here that would be awesome.

[sport]

Welcome.
I do have one consolation for you. I have a friend doing research on Alzheimer’s and he says that people who get rheumatoid arthritis will not get Alzheimer’s.

[aliciamatheson]

MrMike,

I will be interested keeping up with your progress with your skin and RA - do you think you could start a blog to keep us posted?

I have a yoga student who has RA and is thinking about raw food. I'd love to use you as bait (int he nicest possible way, of course!)

[Weezo]

MrMike... Have you tried to up the amount of nuts in your meals, avocados, dried fruits, and extra virgin olive oil (cold-pressed)? They are all calorically dense foods.

[MrMike]

A blog would probably be a great idea, I'll get on that. I'm sure I could get some good input on my recipee's which are rather utilitarian at the moment.

And thats the plan today when I get home from the city is to goto wf's and pick up some coconuts, hemp seeds, and some good stone pressed oil.

I don't eat any fruit at the moment because of the sugar, except super low glycemic like lemons and limes. It's interesting, my sense of taste is changing and they are beggining to taste sweet to me, I ate a lemon the other day and had to double check that it wasn't an orange!)

[MrMike]

all systems go on the blog

[nfracer]

I've tried raw so many different ways I think the focus needs to be "just stay raw" if it works for you. I DO need to eat less sweet fruit and more greens though so time to pull the RGLC book out again...Good luck.

[MrMike]

I think thats a very good point ncracer is making here, I can always go back to doing the 3 month phase I once I'm more accustomed to staying raw. It's just that I'm just really motivated at the moment and so far I haven't eaten any fruit for almost 2 weeks now, so we'll see what happens...