New and avocado question

[dkempathy]

Well after lurking on the boards for the past few weeks I've finally gotten the courage to join :D. I have been intrigued by the raw lifestyle for a while now and hoping to move (slowly) from SAD to around 80% raw (hoping when I get there I'll want to go all the way).

A little bit about my history. I used to be vegan (about 7 years ago, before that I was a vegetarian), but did it in a way that left me nutritionally deprived and eventually made me quite sick physically. Over the past 7 years or so I've added back in meat (at the request of doctors), but now find myself still feeling drained physically. And, I still have many of the nutritional deficiencies that I did years ago! I think I've finally come to the conclusion that I could eat all the red meat in the world and still be anemic (ferritin = 4.2). I've basically spent years listening to doctors instead of following my heart and nothing has improved and frankly I don't even enjoy food. I want eating to be peaceful, appreciative instead of the chore it is now. So my goal is to start incorporating more and more raw foods into my diet and heal my body (anemia, osteoporosis, tachycardia, fatigue, dry skin) through food.

I am nervous, though, because last time I was not a healthy vegan. I'm reading a lot, going through these boards, building up my library. I have noticed that a lot of the recipes mentioned here contain avocado as a source of healthy fats. I worry because I detest avocado (and cannot tolerate anything of a similar texture), and am not a big fan of coconut. Will I be able to get enough fat through small quantities of nuts?

Thanks for reading and I look forward to this journey.

[shashibala]

Nuts do have plenty of fats, but there are also pumpkin seeds, flax seeds and oil, hemp seeds and oil, sunflower seeds,sesame seeds,sesame butter(tahini), sesame oil, and extra virgin olive oil. I would suggest you eat LOTS of leafy greens. Once you get going and get comfortable with the food, you can let your body and how you feel be your guide! Best wishes!

[spicyfull]

Avocados are so Good for you, too bad you don't like the texture. Do you like pudding? There is a Recipe that uses Avocado in it. Smoothies can hide them also.........Anyway your Choice..........

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

[Eva]

dkempathy! Welcome!

As for the anemia you mentioned -- since it could be from an iron deficiency, do you know about green smoothies yet?? Those will help. I remember when I was in college, I would always try to give blood, but they would tell me that my iron levels were too low. Just two times in my college life, I was barely ok -- and I almost passed out giving the blood both times!

Anyways... my iron levels are perfectly fine now that I am eating raw food. I think a big part of that is that I have a green smoothie every single day with either kale or collards. Both are really high in iron.

As for the avocados -- I tried pushing them on my mom even though she hates them by sneaking them into food. In less than a week, she loved them. Every time I'm around her and she eats an avocado, she says "Remember when I hated these?" Like I would just randomly forget. Anyways, she says it with a laugh.

Let yourself be surprised with how your taste buds change the less "fake" food you eat.

And enjoy the journey! :)

[Frugal Raw]

Welcome!! I wish you the best of rawesome health! Olives provide healthy fats:D

[dkempathy]

Thanks for the replies everyone :D I will be interested to see if my taste buds change and I'm making my first green smoothie as we speak!

eva--
Glad to hear that your iron levels have improved eating raw. I have actually never been able to give blood (although I've tried multiple times), as my iron levels always come back way too low. Actually came close to needing a blood transfusion myself due to the anemia, but I refused (and never went back to that doctor).

spicyfull--
I don't really like pudding. I think it's more of a texture thing then an avocado thing; I have a hard time with anything that has a pudding-like texture as it makes me gag.

[jacsam]

Just wanted to say WELCOME!!!!

[islesgirl]

Hello dkempathy and a big welcome to this wonderful community of rawbies. I manage to put just about all the seeds and oils shashibala mentioned in her post to you, into my green smoothies. If you have a good blender or a vitamix, you should be able to do this. You will definitely find peace in this way of eating. I look forward to reading about your progress!

[islesgirl]

Hi again. I just remembered a time when I had to freeze a bunch of avocados so as not to waste them. First I took off the skin of course and removed the stone. Then I simply cut them in 4ths and used them in my green smoothies. The taste was undetectable. You'd be amazed what I use in my smoothies and often I add a huge variety of things (fruits, veggies, seeds, water) I LOVE them and my skin does too!

[StarFire]

Aloha and Welcome to RFT!!! You have really been on some journey! I think its AWESOME that you are making these changes and choices for your health.

You have recieved so many wonderful responses.... and lots of great advice -- so all I can add is...

Yeah -- what they said!! RAWkon!! good luck to you!

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

[dkempathy]

awww thanks for the warm welcome everyone! i'm thoroughly enjoying my latest green smoothie (pear, banana, and spinach):D. having some major GI problems though, but i guess i'll post them in another thread.

[RawSinger]

Yes, as others have said, there are many other raw sources of fat. Also, you never know, but you may grow to like avocados as you continue on your raw journey. This happens to a lot of rawbies; pre-raw, they hate a certain food or foods, and after they go raw, they begin to love those foods. Your taste buds change after you go raw. Keep an open mind. And even if you never grow to like avocados, you will not have difficulty finding sources of fat.

Good luck on your journey!