First time posting....Newbie!

[femimystic]

Hi All,

Sorry this is long....

My name is Marcie, and I'm posting today to "dip my toe in the water" so to speak. I have been suffering with a health problem that's to this day undiagnosed, after 8 1/2 long years. The strange thing, is that all my problems are on the right side of my body! I have rotational vertigo, (my right ear is affected, though noone can figure out how) (though all tests are normal), acne, 2 staph infections, a cyst that was removed on my upper arm and a cyst on my earlobe...all on my right side. We're thinking that it may be lymph related! I'm also overweight in spite of not eating too badly...(5'2, 160lbs.-my best weight is 120-130 and I can't lose it! I've tried everything!!)

The thing is, that I've thought I ate very healthy-I was a vegetarian for 10 years, (starting eating fish a year ago...) and although I had the occasional "bad" thing, I ate better than average. I went to sleep one night and woke up spinning and my life has not been the same. I found out I was living in a house with black toxic mold...

We currently do some things right: I sprout organic lentils and etc, and LOVE them, I juice regularly and eat raw almonds and lots of salads, took out wheat and white potatoes, very low sugar...

I've been considering a raw diet for awhile on and off...but my husband has been having some pain as well, his is definately lymph related, and we're tired of being sick and sore!!!

So we've hesitantly committed March 1st to starting a 60 day raw diet. We are going to aim for 100%, but will most likely be around 90% realistically.

We have a few concerns, so I hope you don't mind me posting them...also a few questions from my end. :) Any help would be appreciated!

1) How do raw foodists eat things like: Sweet potatoes (which I love baked), acorn or butternut squash and spaghetti squash?

2) Do you find the cost involved to be a problem? We're really worried about our food bill going waaay up because of this choice.

3) Anyone ever had issues pre-raw with Lymph problems? Did this lifestyle change help?

4) How do you know you're eating a wide enough variety of foods that you will be getting all the necessary nutrients?

5) What are your top 3 favorite recipes? I've been pouring over the internet and books, and am really overwhelmed.

6) How do you eat grains? Do you eat grains? I can only eat rice-how would I do that raw?

7) What do you do when you're craving something "off limits"?


I think that's enough for now. Thanks everyone for listening-I'm really concerned, and stressed about getting my life back!

[DopeRawAbundance]

1) How do raw foodists eat things like: Sweet potatoes (which I love baked), acorn or butternut squash and spaghetti squash?

Sweet Potatoes: I like to use a potato peeler and peel the whole raw potato into "noodles". Then these noodles can be mixed with olive oil, nutritional yeast, whatever else you want to add, its kind of like macaroni and cheese but its its own animal.

Acorn and Butternut Squash: I like to blend the raw "meat" into smoothies with cinnamon, maybe cocoa or carob powder, a sweetener. You can even include the seeds but I would only advise that if you have a powerful blender and you give it a good amount of time to pulverize the seeds.

Spaghetti Squash: Well you could mix the "spaghetti" inside with raw sundried tomato sauce to make, well, spaghetti. Though the last time I tried this the seeds inside the squash were sprouted so it made the flesh all too bitter (a salt water soak helped remove the bitterness)

[karenasmm]

I'm also pretty new but really went gung ho into raw, so i've been learning along the way. To answer a couple of your questions first about your concern of cost. I think you don't have to spend too much money if you dont go for so many gormet recipes. I bought several cook books which called for some pretty exotic ingredients, which really dont have to be a part of your meal plan. I also have not lost any weight at all after 6 weeks because i think there is a lot of fat because of nuts and oils. I dont want to step on any toes here but honestly, for me, I feel great, look younger (good fats and high water content foods) but am not losing weight. If you want to lose weight then going for more fruits and vegies and less nuts and seeds will probably be of benefit as well as save you money. Thats going to be my next goal, because i need to lose some weight (and save money).
I have some favorite recipes. I generally start the day with either green lemon-aid or a green smoothie.
They are easy and quick and have really helped me get off coffee.
Salads are great. Make it as colorful as possible so you pack in the nutrients. I just made one with dinner and the kids gobbled it up. I buy a big pack of organic mixed greens and add whatever other veggies i have like tomatoes, peppers, green onions and some sunflower seeds (sprouted are fantastic!) kalamata olives and clover sprouts. Top it off with a little olive oil and vinegar( i like organic balsamic).
I am not 100% raw yet because some of the ingredients I use are not necessarily raw. I use packaged almond milk or coconut milk for example for convenience sake.
Using zuchini or summer squach in place of pasta is a great main course and there are many kinds of sauces you can make for it (pesto, cheese or tomato).
The food is really delicious.
If you jump in with an adventurous attitude you are going to have a lot of fun trying new foods and recipes and it may be you new favorite hobby for a while. It should be fun not hard and you will find more energy and better health for sure.
If you have a good food processer and a blender you will be well on your way to all the equipment you need for now. A dehydrator is nice to have too to make breads and crackers. I got one new for $70 but i also see them at thrift stores for cheap. I may upgrade to an exalibur soon :)
Have fun and stay in touch!

[rockingham]

FEMIMYSTIC--- I sent you a private message on mold and raw foods curing it

But for now--
http://www.toxic-black-mold-syndrome.com/Black-mold-allergy-control.html

One of the most effective ways to control black mold allergy symptoms as well as other mold allergies is through the use of supplemental enzymes.

The enzyme, amylase, decreases inflammation in the nose and sinus cavities helping to alleviate sinusitis that is resulting from an allergic reaction to mold.

The enzyme, cellulase, has the abilty to destroy fungus or yeast cells by digesting the outer wall of the fungus or yeast. Fungus and yeast belong in the plant world so their outer membrane is plant like, thus easily digested by the enzyme cellulase. So any candida or other fungal infection you may develop as a result of a depressed immune system from the mold toxins, can be elliminated with the use of cellulase. The presence of candida or other fungal overgrowth, can trigger a worsening of black mold allergy symptoms.

The protease enzymes as well as lipase and amylase are helpful in breaking up immune complexes that are present in autoimmune diseases. Black mold seems to be involved in triggering some of the autoimmune diseases, so treatment to break up the immune complexes is very helpful.

If you cannot afford enzyme therapy, you can do it naturally through a raw food diet. It is more difficult because dietary changes are always difficult. A raw food diet supplies the enzymes needed to digest food and to help in other bodily processes. Cooking and heating destoys enzymes.

PLUS--- http://www.curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=772415#i

PLUS --- http://www.toxic-black-mold-syndrome.com/limumoui.html