I'm very new to the raw food diet!

[Whirrs]

I'm actually not a raw vegan yet, but I'm very interested in it. If you have the time, could you be so kind to help me out?

I was wondering about some things I've heard about the wrong combination of food. Such as how sugar cannot be eaten with oils, are there any other combinations that I have to be aware of?
Also, I was wondering about the grains and stuff. I understand why it is better to eat raw vegetables and fruit, but I'm not quite sure why grains should also be eliminated from the diet? I thought grains provided good carbohydrates and fibres and other things like that.

And if you have any other information about the raw diet that you think is important, please tell me about them too!

Thankyou so much!

[Raspberry4]

Grains are very difficult to digest.

It sounds as though you need a lot of information which there is on this forum. You can find alot of help here just by reading posts.

Also, look to the left of this page and click on the top "The Ultimate Raw FOod Guide" and Alissa Cohen's information will answer all your questions. You have to read and be prepared in order to be successful. This is a lifestyle journey.

Good luck to you.

[Revvell]

I would suggest you purchase Alissa's book and dvd's. That will answer so MANY of your questions.

She's got a food combining chart in the book. Also, use the search feature here as many people just starting out have asked the same questions and they are very pertinent to beginning this food program.

Might I ask what your intent is on considering going raw?

Welcome!

Revvell

[DavidZaneMason]

In the beginning, I would simply concentrate on finding the fruits & vegetables that you LOVE.....keeping up a wide variety.......staying full....and eating enough calories to support the weight you wish. Only when you are reaching YOUR raw goals....should you then proceed to 'refinement' or 'cleansing' processes that you may deem necessary. Until then....you've got no real angle on it to even know if those things are necessary for YOU.

-David Z. Mason

[Whirrs]

Thankyou very much Raspberry, Revvell and David! I'll be sure to take a look at Alissa's books and the search option. :)

My intent? Well, actually, at the moment, I'm actually not quite sure if I actually want to become raw - I already get enough teasing at school and home for being vegan.
But even so, I wish to learn more about this lifestyle. For some strange reason I've never really liked food that is dressed up or cooked. I always thought food tasted so much better plain and simple and real. So I was really hoping I could only eat raw veggies and fruits but still be healthy.

[Revvell]

But even so, I wish to learn more about this lifestyle. For some strange reason I've never really liked food that is dressed up or cooked. I always thought food tasted so much better plain and simple and real. So I was really hoping I could only eat raw veggies and fruits but still be healthy.

You can. A good way to do that is to put them in a blender and add some greens. Please check out threads on Green Smoothies.

You can eat very simply and gain many benefits from whatever level of raw you choose.

There are also threads here from people who have found ways to discuss raw foods (if they so choose) with people who aren't raw. For some, it takes a bit of time to wrap their minds around what it is.

I'm holding a raw food class and introducing people who have no idea what it is and are afraid of it (can you imagine?) by giving them raw brownies/fudge, cookies and such. Something they can sort of recognize. They can't dispute it tastes GOOD!!!

[Whirrs]

Thankyou Revvell! :) I'll check out the green smoothies thread right after this. The raw food class sounds very interesting! What do you do in them? I would love to go to one, but I highly doubt there'd be raw food classes here in HK.

Wow. I was just browsing in this website and I'm.. well, rather pleasantly surprised at how it seems that eating raw is actually healthier than cooked! (Just goes to prove how much I know. :P Happens that most people are actually raw because they want the health benefits.)

[Revvell]

My class is in Southern California. For you, check out meetup.com and see if there are any local meetups and if not, start one! You'll be surprised at how many folk might be in your area.

As far as raw being better than cooked, consider this.

The soil is already depeleted; cooking food kills approximately 50% of the nutrients in food; microwaving not only kills virtually all the nutrients but also changes the molecular structure.

Is it any wonder we have so many dis-eases and illness? Who can live on dead food and for how long?