Curious

[dreamrawalwz]

I'm just curious what everyone's opinion on suppliments are with a raw food diet. Not just herbal pills, but regular medications, B-12 type supliments, diet pills, antibiotics, ect. To me they're like "poison" in the body, no matter how "natural" they claim to be. I look at them just as I look and view cooked foods.

P.S. I'm watching food network now and they're cooking vegetables! All that pops into my little head is "oh no, they're killing the plants!!" just like I would think "oh no, they're killing the chickens!" that's weird lol, am I going crazy here?

Also, all cooked vegetables look so, blah, icky, gross, ewwww. I compare my fresh broccoli to my mom's steamed and it looks so much more...lively!

[Ariannah]

I'd love to toss my thyroid medication out the door.... I have seen some testimonies of raw fooders who have gradually been able to decrease the dosage to zero, and I hope to be among them.

Count me among the people who takes a (natural) multivitamin supplement, but after the bottle is gone I want to try without.

One of the reasons I am on raw food (for life) is because I eventually want to have no dependency on these things.

[Revvell]

I've gotten some b-12 just to see if I feel a difference. I don't. Otherwise, no supplements for me.

Revvell

[sport]

I have not taken anything since going raw but I am planning to resume taking B12 shortly. I believe that unless I eat my veg straight from the ground without washing it I am not getting enough B12. I know that there will be people telling me that this is not the case but the implications of a deficiency is not something I am prepared to risk. I never go to the doc so never have my blood checked so do not have an opportunity to check my level. I will not resume the multi and will probably not resume the calcium

[Helen Of Tennessee]

I'm one that is weaning off of my thyroid meds. I can't wait until my doctor says . . . "You're Done"!!!!! Then I won't have to be going to the doctors every year. I got by 13 1/2 months this time :D

I also take aspirin and occasional pain pills. Again as I wean off my thyroid meds from eating better, I know my neck pain and headaches will also get better and the aspirin will be a thing in the pass too. (I often wonder if something in the thyroid meds may be causing some of my headaches).

I don't supplement at all.

<>< Helen of Tennessee

[rawpriestess]

I don't take any vitamins, suppliments, or even herbs per se' to suppliment my lifestyle.

I do drink herb tea, but only for the flavor, and I use herbs in my un-cooking dishes.

[NoGMO!]

hi dreamrawalwz -
I agree with you, so I take no pills of any kind. :D
B-12? not currently~


I've gotten some b-12 just to see if I feel a difference. I don't. Otherwise, no supplements for me.

Revvell

Revvell,

I'm thinking about doing the same. Any thoughts on how long before one would know if the B-12 was working or not? I'm thinking it could be three weeks to 6 months or more... a total guess ofcourse - but I would like to know when to give up on them, as I tried a bottle of B-12 last year for a month - no difference at all - so I tossed them! Taking any kind of pill is very alien to me and I am leary of them- so I don't want to take them unless dire - it seems so laboratory-ish (new word ;) ) - but I am pretty concerned about the whole B-12 contraversy. I've read everything I can find about it and I still don't know what to think. :confused: :mad: :o

[Sweet lips]

I do take medication and they work better since I have been raw. I will always have to take thyroid medication because I have no gland, so I do not feel poisioned - I just feel alive

[Revvell]

NoGMO,

Well, I was figuring since I've not done anything other than real food for quite some time now that just doing the B-12 would make me feel differently immediately. I took it, oh, maybe 1/2 dozen over a 2-week period. Nothing changed energetically. I'm up early in the a.m. (usually 5-6); up until 10-12 midnite ~ lots of life. No naps in the afternoon which I did frequently when I ate cooked... soooo, see no reason to add dead pills to a live body.

For others, it might be different although, when I first started learning about nutrition many moons ago, I remember reading that any "B" vitamin "should" be taken with other "B" vitamins for most effectiveness. Problem was for me at that time was that they would knock me out ~ so! What to do? lol


Revvell,

I'm thinking about doing the same. Any thoughts on how long before one would know if the B-12 was working or not? I'm thinking it could be three weeks to 6 months or more... a total guess ofcourse - but I would like to know when to give up on them, as I tried a bottle of B-12 last year for a month - no difference at all - so I tossed them! Taking any kind of pill is very alien to me and I am leary of them- so I don't want to take them unless dire - it seems so laboratory-ish (new word ;) ) - but I am pretty concerned about the whole B-12 contraversy. I've read everything I can find about it and I still don't know what to think. :confused: :mad: :o

[nemo]

i believe that 'herbs' are acctually just 'wild food' and that many of the domesticated fruits, and veggies we eat are out of balance with the Earth, and provide less nutrition than they could.

as far as herbal supplements go... they're not raw.

period.

can they be healthy for an individual? i believe they can depending on a person's situation, understanding, and experiences...

that's something a person has to figure out for themselves.

as far as big Pharma drugs, and vitamins... or other supplements coming from an inorganic source (read petrochemical by products) no thanx... poisons... if you believe that you need a certain drug to remain healthy, and it would be too much of an adjustment to live without it... then do what ever keeps you comfortable...

do we 'need' any of these things? mmmm, i'd have to tend to say 'no'... a variety of naturally grown foods should be fine to maintain health, for a person who isn't already experiencing some sort of crisis...

i'm falling out of the habit of 'needing' things. making more room for the things i enjoy.

btw, i just got a 1lbs. bag of goji berries from chinatown for $7... the 'raw organic paranoia fairy' didn't wave his 'superfood wand' over them, but they're just as good as any i've ever tasted (and better than some that have recently come to market.)

relax, educate yourself, and have an excellent day

nemo

[squidly]

I have a blood disorder which means my body needs about 10 times the amount of B12, folic and iron as the average person (because my red blood cells die ten times faster). I have had yearly blood tests most of my life and since going vegetarian / vegan never had a problem with folate or iron (yet was iron defficient when eating meat). B12 though I still have problems with and have 3 injections over a 3 week period about once every 1-2 years. Only been high raw for a few months and 100% for a few days so will have to see how I go.

My original doctor freaked at first when I said I was going vegan but my current doctor is OK with it (and my choice not to vaccinate my daughter). I even saw a heamotologist (sp?? - blood specialist) and he thought me being vegan was great!! even though other doctors freaked out.

I reckon I am living proof that you don't need meat for iron at the very least!!

Also re: feeling different with b12 and how long it takes - I can't say I have ever noticed 'feeling different' once having the injections even though my levels go from being under 'recommended levels' to obviously above so either I have not been in tune to date or th physical feeling is not dramatic. My understanding is it is the long term implications that are a concern. That is once you notice that you feel different the damage is already done. Very controversial issue the b12 one.

My thoughts anyway

[NoGMO!]

Hi everyone~

the mystery, for me and perhaps others too, is when you for example...

#1 have 9 mercury fillings
#2 keep wrestling w/ a big coffee addiction
#3 have been vegan for 7 yrs/ vegetarian for 17 (not a bad thing at all, however is has been said over and over by some that this can/or will cause B-12 def./& severe disorders in about five years... hmmm? some say yes! some say no!)
#4 have consumed drugs both pharms and recs/alcohol bevs, second hand smoke...
#5 not enough exercise!
#6 pesticides, building chems (on and on)...
#7 air, water, sight and sound pollution, emotional and spiritual pollution, fallout from the industrialized world in general- etc, etc. ---
#8 worries about vitamin deficiencies! ha-ha! ;)

It's hard to say if you are experiencing vitamin deficiences that can be corrected by adding supplements (in my case B-12) or if you are just experiencing detox symtoms from these awful and repeated blows to your constitution. :confused:
Do I need only to practice a better health regimen and wait it out? I'm inclined to think so , since I've been handsomely rewarded in many instances so far...
... or should I rush out, before "irreversable" damage has been done in other areas of my health, and begin B-12? <(rhetorical question here :p )
That is a mystery to me. I am working on discovering the answer slowly and surely by personal experience and learning from other's rich experiences.

:) As far as herbs go, I also view them as food. I choose to use them in that manner only, forgoing capsules, etc. I want to taste them fresh, not in a pill form anyway. But you know, to each their own - the individual must decide what works for them :)