All those nuts?!

[WinterSun]

I've been looking at and experimenting with different raw recipies that I find online. Alot of nuts are used, is it possible to keep your weight under control with all the nut consumption? Thanks for sharing your knowledge. :o

[Mike]

Yes, it is possible. Nuts and seeds won't make you fat and they won't prevent weight loss.

Nuts are high in fat, and you shouldn't eat more than 30% of your diet as fat. 30% fat is too high for most people.

[Pink_Berry]

if i dont watch my nut intake, i gain weight really rapidly.

[vegggeeemom]

I've wondered about this, because I have about 4 recipes and all call for high volumes of nuts.
I don't know. I'm experiementing now with the whole nuts in my diet thing.
I'll find out at the end of this week if the nut consumption is slowing my weight loss down.
Glad you asked this, and I hope you get alot of responses because I'm curious as well.
I'll be watching this thread.

Pam

[RawTruth]

If you're eating 100% raw and you're just beginning to do so, you need not limit anything that you're eating. When eating this way, you can (and should) throw the old paradigm out the window. You need not count calories, fats, carbs, sugars, etc. You simply eat fresh, whole foods - vegetables, fruits, seeds, and nuts - as much as you want whenever your body tells you it wants them -- or even before. Eventually (and I'm talking 6 to 12 months, at least) you will start to refine what you're eating, but during the first months, your body is very busy using these living foods to clean out and heal all the internal damage that has been done by eating cooked, processed, and fractionated foods.

Despite one or two people who may claim otherwise, if you are eating 100% raw and living foods, you will lose weight. In fact, most people report weight falling off of them ... unless you're thin to begin with, in which case, most people still report losing weight. I began at an average weight for my height and was considered thin, yet I lost 25 pounds within the first 2 months or so of eating all raw.

To directly address your question, though -- yes, it is possible to lose weight eating raw gourmet recipes that use nuts. And, at the beginning, many people find it familiar to use these types of recipes in preparing meals. If you don't have Alissa's book, I strongly suggest you get it (yes, there are others also, but this IS her site, and I used her book to go raw, so I can attest to how great it is for that) as she answers all the questions you might have including this one. After a while, if you're like the vast majority of all raw folk, you will naturally begin to eat fewer nuts. Even at the beginning, you might choose to have a nut-rich recipe for only one meal a day -- perhaps lunch. Then, just have fruit (lots of it) in the morning and a green smoothie perhaps, and for dinner have a huge salad with lots of veggies, sprouts, avocado, etc. with a delicious homemade raw dressing. That's not too many nuts.

So ... I realize I've run on here, but you asked an important question that, while common among beginners, sometimes becomes a stumbling block for some.

Best of luck on the journey ahead. It's a joyful one filled with light. I wish you well ... and have fun!

[PixieGreen]

Traditional cultures typically ate a diet composed of 40% fats. We're talking about humankind for thousands of years. The problem isn't necessarily fats per se but the *kinds* of fats most people currently consume on the SAD diet that has led to weight and health problems. Meaning artificially processed, chemically altered and exposed to high heat. That said, if you eat a bunch of nut-heavy raw recipes and you start to gain weight, just adjust your diet. It is quite possible to eat a raw foods diet low in fat.

Christa

[pizda]

WinterSun,
As you can see, different people have different opinions. Most of us think if it is good for me must be good for everybody (i.e. RT). We all individuals with different methabolic types and have different bodies. We only can share own experiences. I cannot eat many nuts. Not because of weight issues. I am slim. My friend cannot eat nuts, because she immediately gains weight. If you feel that weight is an issue limit nuts and definitely sweet fruits. Forums can be very helpful or very confusing.
No matter how many books you will read they will not give you answers to your questions. Only you can be your own nutritionist and doctor.
Walnuts probably the best choice, since they are reach in Omega-3. I practically do not eat nuts and I am doing fine.
Good luck.

[Werevegan]

If you feel that weight is an issue limit nuts and definitely sweet fruits.

If you don't eat fruit or nuts, what do you eat? Vegetables and greens only? Sprouts?

I haven't been at this very long, so I can't speak from any real experience. Perhaps I'm stuck in those old paradigms that others have mentioned, but can you get enough calories to be healthy eating only vegetables, greens, and sprouts?

I think I'd starve without fruit and nuts! :eek:

[sweetgoddess]

pizda, you said "Most of us think if it is good for me must be good for everybody (i.e. RT)" and I need to point out, that is an inaccurate statement.
That is not at all what RawTruth was saying.

She was sharing the philosophy of Alissa, who owns this forum, and is not only a long-time raw fooder, but also an informed, observant, experienced teacher and health consultant.

WinterSun, RawTruth gave you some valuable information in her post in regards to your question.
In the beginning of adapting to raw, a new way of eating and preparing and thinking about food, it is important to eat whenever and whatever you want that is raw including nut recipes. Nuts are very nutritious! It is important to experiement to find a few recipes you like, so that you know how to satisfy yourself when cravings ( physical and emotional) come up , and so you do not feel deprived or limited. This will help tremendously in getting you through the newness, the main detox period and the corresponding emotional and mental patterns that will rise to the surface.

Also, as your body adapts to cleaner, quicker, enzyme rich fuel, which it has been starving for, it will use a lot of it at the beginning . It has major work to do in there!

As your body begins to clean house, the cleaner it gets, the more you will be able to tune in to what it needs. This is a natural progression though. Not something you have to force on yourself. And as it becomes clearer and clearer to you what your body is saying, your diet will naturally change.

You do not need to fear any raw, living plant food!
And sweet fruits are an incredible gift from nature, no need to cut out those!!! ( they have no fat anyways, so I am not sure how that relates?)
Best wishes~

[vegggeeemom]

I would as well. My fruit consumption is pretty high and I get a good sized salad or two in daily.
I wonder if anyone has a comment on this. I was told before that if I am eating living foods and am not losing weight or a very little (like 1 pounds a week) it is because the body is healing itself.
Anyone ever heard of that before? Just a curious question.

Pam

[livenraw]

When I first went 100% raw about a month ago, I did not limit anything. I could not tell you how many raw, unsalted nuts I was eating per day, but it was a ton!! I came off of a Atkins-based diet, so my body was used to eating a ton and ton of fat...yet even eating as many nuts as I was per day (probably close to 3 or 4 cups, if I'm guessing correctly), I still managed to drop 13 lbs in 4 weeks. As long as you are 100%, you shouldn't cut out or limit anything (like Alissa says). I was afraid to not limit anything at first, but I decided not to trust my own judgment and instead go by what someone who had experience in this said and ate as much as I wanted of everything - fruits, veggies, and raw, unsalted nuts and seeds. And that was my results. I wasn't really looking to lose weight all that much, per se, either. I was looking more for a way to get healthier and become healthier after living on a diet of meat for almost 3 years...and this was the results I got...now I have found that I can eat a little less fat and still be satisfied. But it took about a month for that to happen.

[WinterSun]

Thanks for the responses. While my diet before was not 100% raw, I did consume animal products although they were only free range, grass fed,no hormones, antibiotics etc.. I mainly followed Weston Price's philosophy, and ate no processed food, or factory farmed products. So I thought I'd give raw a try for a while see how I feel. I thought I'd have to experiment with the nuts and see what happens.

[pizda]

She was sharing the philosophy of Alissa, who owns this forum, and is not only a long-time raw fooder, but also an informed, observant, experienced teacher and health consultant.

Your point is well taking. May be I was not clear.
WinterSun pointed that he has weight issues. And too much nuts definetly can be weight adding factor.
What I was pointing that the best health consultant for yourself is you.
I am raw for two years and still cannot eat more than handfull of nuts once a week. Probably I can be a rawfooder for another 20 years and still not be adapted to nuts. There are many other foods beside nuts and fruits (I eat 3/day).

[ReneeSC]

I've always been a nut freak, so to speak; I've always loved them, and by the fist-full. However, the nuts I was eating were not all raw, except my one stint on a vegan-type diet I tried almost by myself ( yeah, that was fun as the chief cook and bottle washer - not ! )

I've been limiting the nut intake of both myself and my eldest daughter over the first few days of our quasi-clean out week ( taking out all processed foods - caffeine - cane sugars, etc ).... but...

I'm rethinking it now. Thanks!

Alissa did say that if you're not losing quickly ( and she said AFTER you've established some good diet habits on her DVD ), then knock back on the nuts and seeds a bit. But, you're right, in the beginning of this whole adventure, eat what you want, as much as you want.

*shakes peas outta her head *

[Sweet lips]

Not here to argue with anyone or to challenge anyone's thinking :confused: , however, while recipes may have a large volume of nuts in them, are you eating the entire dish at one setting, or is it over a couple of days - what else are you eating with it? Are you moving your body or just laying in the bed? Are you ill, perhaps with diabetes or hypothyroid issues or recovering from surgery.

I have the aforemention diseases and I do not limit my nuts, I go with what my body is craving for that moment - have I gained weight on raw - no, but there are some weeks that I do not lose anything, and I am okay with that. I would rather lose s-l-o-w-l-y, than quickly as I honestly believe the body' memory will attach it to the slow and not look for it back if done too quickly. I feel very successful and I feel very well, inspite of some of my maladies. :)

[sweetgoddess]

WinterSun, you said "I thought I'd have to experiment with the nuts and see what happens."

Excellent!! :)

[WinterSun]

Yes Sweetgoddess, I have to experiment for myself, see what my body says. I was just wondering how everyone else adjusts to the nut issue. I don't really NEED to lose weight, but like most women would like to lose 5-10, I excercise daily and do workouts with weights. I must get a book!

[Rawar]

My experience with nuts is that they are super good comfort foods for the begining stages of Raw (first many months). They may be the thing that allows you to psychologically stick with the raw diet, being a handy and filling snack food as well as so much more. Even if you don't lose weight right away or if you lose only a pound or gain a pound while eating as many nuts as you need to substute for the high fat, "hard" and "dry" cooked foods you are used to, keep it up anyway. yes you will lose weight faster without many nuts but you also may end up craving fatty cooked foods as a result of the body and mind "missing" what is is used to. I use nuts as a weapon against those dangerous cravings for the most addictive cooked foods, dairy, breads, sugar... ok, i am filling up on nuts, not the most optimal raw food, but a far cry better (a million times better) than the cooked foods that i would be tempted to eat if i was limiting my intake of nuts. Now that i am more committed to raw and more stable, i do limit my intake but within reason and only when i am safe and confident that i won't rebel and eat something i regret for three days (as opposed to an overdose of nuts which i may regret for up to one day). as for losing weight. I find with safe raw transitioning (the anything goes as long as it's raw nurturing advice- which is a life saver for many), the weight still comes off, the body still changes, slims down, though on a high nut diet it will be slower to do so. If i fast or eat low fat i will drop 5 pound in a week. if i eat anything goes raw diet high in nuts i will still drop 5 pound but it will take 6 weeks!!! such a slow weight loss it is easy to miss it!!! intersperse the anything goes raw diet with one or two days veggie juice fast and you will clean your colon for swifter evacuations when you are eating again. it is a miracle! in time you may develop natural disciplines, preferences for lighter foods or for longer periods between meals (sometimes i eat one raw meal per day).
additionally, i used to fear nuts when trying to go raw. they made me feel aweful and i limited my intake of them even though i enjoyed them. this is the number one reason i could not stay raw. once i allowed the free liscence on the NUTS, raw food diet became much more appealing, fun and i could function normally, they seem to regularize the raw diet, they are heavy like cooked foood and when raw we are more sensative and may feel really bloated from them and cranky from indigestion, BUT they are still raw and so will still nourish the body and will evacuate quicker than cooked food and are in no way considered a slip up. You can indulge in nuts and still be raw! the key here is patience, faith and perserverance. naturally one day the desire for nuts will diminish, maybe, but at any rate, for me, all in all, one pound of RawNuts is a billion times better than one single DoughNut! :)

[ReneeSC]

**i used to fear nuts when trying to go raw. they made me feel aweful and i limited my intake of them even though i enjoyed them. this is the number one reason i could not stay raw. once i allowed the free liscence on the NUTS, raw food diet became much more appealing, fun and i could function normally, they seem to regularize the raw diet, they are heavy like cooked foood and when raw we are more sensative and may feel really bloated from them and cranky from indigestion, BUT they are still raw and so will still nourish the body and will evacuate quicker than cooked food and are in no way considered a slip up. You can indulge in nuts and still be raw**


I'm with you.. right here.... If I couldn't have nuts as a stabilizer.. there's probably no way I'd stay raw or largely raw.