Anna in AZ

[annavon]

Greetings from Arizona:

I'm not totally new to raw food, I have actually been dabbling in it for a couple of years. I used to go to a local raw food restaurant and then go home to try to prepare the food. I got more serious about raw eating when I had a roommate who was a raw foodist. I tried being raw for awhile with her help, but I quite on doctors advice (I think bad advice).

I am now going to give it a really serious try. I have all the equipment I need now (I just purchased a Green Star Juicer!!!). I have a dehydrator and a Vita Mix too.

I would say that I am about 50-75% raw now (some total raw days). My goal is to go 100% raw on August 1st.

[jacsam]

WELCOME!!! I enjoyed reading your introductory post....it sounds like your set. So, just out of curiosity, why did your doctor advice you to quit? Anyway, it's great to have you here.

[Frugal Raw]

Welcome!! I wish you the best of rawesome health!

[annavon]

I was diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis (not ulcerative) and I was having digestive difficulties. My Naturopathic doctor advised me that I would be able to digest food better if it was cooked (NOT TRUE!). Except for rice, I had more problems on a cooked food diet. I know I really need to do this. I have too many health problems (in addition to the colitis) and neither conventional medicine nor alternative medicine has been any help. I have read so many stories in Alissa's book of people getting well on a raw food diet as well in other raw food publications.

[Green_Woman]

Anna - where in AZ??? I'm in Tucson-area. :D

[annavon]

Gold Canyon. If you don't know where that is. It is a little town east of Mesa near the Superstiion Mountains.

[spicyfull]

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

[michiganrawfood]

Welcome! I lived in AZ for a short while and loved all the sunshine :)

Anyways, I read this on a site about your condition:

"Lifestyle changes. As a first step, you'll need to make adjustments to your diet. By decreasing the amount of fat you consume, your signs and symptoms may ease. Also, remove caffeine from your diet (found in coffee, tea and soft drinks), as well as foods containing lactose (milk sugar found in dairy products). Avoid spicy foods and alcohol. Staying away from foods that may lead to gas and diarrhea — including carbonated beverages, caffeine, raw fruits, and vegetables such as beans, cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage — may help.

If you take over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs — such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen (Aleve) — talk to your doctor about switching to other types of pain relievers. These NSAIDs can worsen the diarrhea associated with collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis."



I'm wondering if maybe the doctor meant raw foods such as cauliflower, broccoli,and cabbage-and just sort of lumped them into "all raw foods"

Anyways, cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage can be tough to digest, so if you are sensitive to them, it's probably best to add them in slowly or to eat them in small doses. I read (I think worlds healthiest foods website) that you only need a small amount a week of those to get benefits anyways.

Best of luck! :)

[annavon]

On the doctors behalf, on another visit he did say I could have blended vegetable drinks (raw). I've heard them called blended salads or green smoothies. They just don't sound appetizing to me. Any recipe suggestions?

[Green_Woman]

Anna - try going to the Raw and Living Food Discussion board here... there are lots of threads on GS (green smoothies) you would find helpful!