Raw Cheese addiction...what to read?

[smasty]

Hi Everyone! I've been 100% raw for almost 6 months (for the 2nd time in 5 years). I've lost almost 50 pounds. One thing trips me up though...raw milk cheese. Why is it addictive? What should I read to dissuade me from eating it? It looks like The China Study should be at the top of the list...what else? Thanks everyone!

[MrsJ]

Congrats on the release of 50lbs! (=

[HolyGuacamole]

Totally, huge congrats to you!
The China Study would definitely be good, and I would suggest the movie Earthlings as well.
Keep on keepin' on - you're doing great!

[green jeanie]

read your body
you must be becoming increasingly sensitive to your own physical being now that you have had such great rewards!

[spicyfull]

What about just not buying it anymore as not having it in the house. Cheese can be given up believe me I did it. Being RAW you are trying to rid your Body of mucus and cheese is Very mucas forming. Have you tried making Nut and Seed Cheeze? No it doesn't taste like real cheese but it can help.

[PammieTaj]

Personally, I think dairy products are horribly addictive. And toxic. Which might be what makes them addictive?

If it's not in the house, you can't eat it. Besides, what's the enzyme used in raw cheese? If it's not vegetarian raw cheese, and even if it is, there was probably a lot of violence involved in the making of it.

blessings and peace, Pammie

[Jessican]

Personally, I think dairy products are horribly addictive. And toxic. Which might be what makes them addictive?

If it's not in the house, you can't eat it. Besides, what's the enzyme used in raw cheese? If it's not vegetarian raw cheese, and even if it is, there was probably a lot of violence involved in the making of it.

blessings and peace, Pammie



I buy my milk raw from a certified organic farm, I get both cow and goat's milk. It's a tiny farm, they have 9 goats and one cow that they milk. I don't think I could personally ever give up cheese, but when you know where it comes from you can feel a little better about it. These animals are all loved family pets. And when you have to make it yourself, and it takes 2 days to make a soft cheese, and 30+ days to make a cheddar, you don't eat as much of it. LOL Oh, and yes, I use a vegetable rennet.

[RawFoodGuy]

Fat cravings in my experience usually are just an addiction to fats. This can happen for several reasons. First, a high fat diet is just addictive period. Lots and lots of "raw foodists" eat way to many fats from nuts, seeds, avocado, etc. Just being raw doesn't mean you are eating properly nutritionally.

Fats really should be pretty low on a raw diet and that is very hard to do sometimes. I have heard numbers as low as 15% of the diet should be fats and as high as 30% - but I think the truth, though it varies from person to person, is somewhere in the middle, around 20-25%. Also, nutritionally your body needs some good healthy fats and if you are too fat restrictive you might find yourself drawn to less healthy fats, like those in cheese. Finally, if you are very strict with yourself, especially when first starting out, you may find fats sort of a comfort food and need them emotionally once in awhile. It can often be a bit healthier to be compassionate for yourself and give yourself an occasional treat. The alternative in some cases is to feel deprived and start resenting raw food subconsciously, eventually giving up entirely.

If you do have a little cheese now and then it isn't the end of the world - a healthy immune and digestive system can handle it. Just make sure it is raw and goats milk, which in my opinion is much healthier than cow's milk. In the past I was able to get some raw goats milk cheese from a small organic Ammonite farm where it was made with a lot of consciousness and love - amazing! I have struggled a bit in the past with high fat foods myself, even after almost 15 years as a raw foodist (averaging 80% raw, but 100% for months or years at a time). As a raw foodist I have had bouts with too many nuts, eating nuts without soaking them first, too much avocado and on occasion raw cheese.

The problem with fats is that when you eat a lot of them it prevents your liver from (a) ever getting any rest and (b) from properly helping your body eliminate other toxins from our past, our diet and our environment. The liver considers breaking down fats it's #1 priority, so it stops doing these other important functions whenever you eat fats - so too many fats can make it much more difficult to transition/detox to a raw food lifestyle. Keeping that in mind when I come across a nice raw goat cheese helps me just pass it by. I can spend a few seconds resisting the impulse to buy it, which is a lot easier for me than resisting the impulse to eat it if it is in the fridge. As others have said, if it isn't in the house it is easier not to eat it.

Good luck,
RFL

Robert@rawfoodlife.com

[PammieTaj]

Jessica you are probably in the minority. I have a lot of friends who eat organic dairy products and think they are doing the cows a favor. Most people have no idea what the supply chain is for anything. I'd be included in that group.

blessings and peace, Pammie

[smasty]

I just wanted to thank all of you for your thoughts. I know this is a common subject on this board...so you could have told me to just "search" it out. But you all gave me your honest thoughts. I wouldn't worry about it that much if I could limit my intake to 1 oz now and then. But the flavor and texture draws me in and I can't limit it. So...I will read The China Study for inspiration, and just pass by the cheese counter at Whole Foods (yes, it is an impulse buy!).
Sue

[RaeVynn]

Any cheese, even raw cheese, is a concentration of the fat, proteins, hormones, and addictive substances which are in cow milk.

For lots of information, and motivation, check out notmilk.com, and specifically check out this one: http://notmilk.com/forum/942.html

[nellie]

Definitely recommend reading the China Study. Dairy is one of the worst things for your body. If you care about your body, give up the cheese :)

Avocados are a good substitute.

I used to love cheese more than anything and thought I could never give up cheese. Then I did and I don't miss it.