If it's better, why not everyone doing it?

[Hunter]

By better, I mean cheaper, healthier, and more resourceful.

I heard sprouting is excellent for health and it cost only a few cents. Just buy seeds and sprout. There are also the dandelions in many people's yards (where most people don't use pesticide), and dandelions are edible and healthy. And free. As a poor person, I am really excited. It seems so easy. Yet no one seems to know about these. People kill their dandelions instead of eating them. Why am I only exposed to such knowledge (such as the good of sprouting and dandelions) now? Why weren't my parents doing it? Why do I not know anyone who does it? Why aren't everyone doing it if it is so good?

I am so puzzled. It seems so straight forward. Also, this is the first winter where I have not suffered 'temperature shocks'. My skin is still bad, but it's still much better than before. I am amazed. But I am just confused, it seems so straightforward.
People are getting worried because I told them I became ill after eating meat. They claim that I am lying and that I will starve to death and pass out if I don't consume meat or cooked foods (because almost everything is cooked in their world). I just eat plant products just as they are. The only 'processing' I do is wash them.

[snoops]

Have you tasted them? I for one do not like the bitterness.

[Revvell]

Yet no one seems to know about these.

Of course many people know about it. Just like anything, only those who want to know ~ those who have reason to know will find out.


Why am I only exposed to such knowledge (such as the good of sprouting and dandelions) now? You didn't know to look.



Why weren't my parents doing it?

*shrugs*



Why do I not know anyone who does it?

You may. I'll bet now that you know people will be say "Oh yeah, I've been doing it for years" or, "I used to do it but, it was such a hassle...." Blah, blah, blah.



Why isn't everyone doing it if it is so good?

Lazy.


They claim that I am lying and that I will starve to death and pass out if I don't consume meat or cooked foods (because almost everything is cooked in their world).

When I went vegetarian, I was told I'd be dead in a year. 25 years later, I'm still here! Hmmm. I wonder where they are?

[MysticTree]

Sprouting:-
My parents were doing it and my father wrote a small guide about it.

Foraging:-
My parents did it and so do I and what's more I teach others about it.
But I too don't like dandelions! Too bitter.

Don't mourn the fact that you haven't been able to do it til now. Celebrate the number of years in front of you that you can practice these ways of eating.

Tell you friends that if and when you pass out from lack of eating meat that you give them permission to take you to hospital - but also tell them that more people are taken to hospital from eating meat than from not eating meat so they too must give you permission to cart them off to hospital when their meat eating causes collapse from heart disease etc.

Live your life the way you want to; it's your life. Let them live theirs the way they want to; it's theirs.

[Hunter]

Yes, I don't feel sad at all as the happiness is overtaking. But I was just so utterly confused. The people I know are well educated people, yet none of them have actual experience. I asked if they tried vegetarianism, none of them did. I guess they are conventional. I found out about raw foodism after some exploration for my skin and tiredness. My grandparents said that during their times, acne was virtually nonexistant. And in developing countries that I have been to, acne was rare. Yet people claim that acne has nothing to do with diet. Eventually, I found theories on raw foodism and gave it a shot even though I was scared. My acne is beginning to clear up, even though it breaks out in very minimal amounts as I try adding new raw foods into my diet, but I know people who still fight acne despite their heavy use of topical treatments and accutane.

I think dandelions are fine. I tried them as a child (children eat anything). Some were too bitter, but most were tolerable, now that I think about it. But I am tolerant of bitterness anyway. They would go great with other leaves and definitely a sweetener. I like bittersweet.

[Revvell]

My understanding is, the leaves have to be picked while young and sweet(er).... I've gotten them from the store, some very bitter, others, quite tolerable in a smoozie.

[MysticTree]

if you cover the dandelion with an upturned clay pot then the leaves are less bitter too. I tend to not want dandelions in my veg garden - I prefer to use the space to grow romaine lettuces for example.

[MysticTree]

oh and it is only "better" if it works for someone. Sprouting is a cheap source of food but it isn't better if the person doing it hates sprouted seeds. I love most things sprouted but wouldn't want them to be the mainstay of my diet.

Forgaing is great if you have access to areas that are clean and safe and you don't cause damage and you don't have to drive half a day to get to your foraging area etc.

There really is nothing wrong with cultivated food plants especially if they are organic. I don't think thistles and nettles are perforce better than romaine lettuces and kale from the garden or organic store. If they are then you might have to live to 150 years old just to gain an extra day of good health - that statement is not scientifically based it is intended as an example of what might be the case.

Often times I think we completely lose track of what it is that these "better" & "healthier" tags are for and what our goals are. If we are eating a diet free from un-processed foods, raw where possible, vegan/vegetarian to the best of our ability and we feel healthy, have lots of energy, sleep soundly, play with a passion and generally lead a fulfilled life then I don't think it matters if we eat dandelions, sprouted foods, algaes, seaweeds or not.

We are what we eat as the saying goes but that doesn't mean that we are only what we eat. We are much more than what we eat. What we eat is quite a small part of the whole - albeit an important one - and it is easy to become obsessive about food at the best of times let alone when we start to explore healthy eating.

We are all unique. We do things differently from each other. Some things work better for one person whilst other people prefer a different way of doing things. There is no absolute right way of raw - Alissa's way is wonderful because it is very freeing and is about choice rather than restrictions. Try it all. Enjoy it all and enjoy life around you too.

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

l love the dandelion juice very much...far better tasting than grass juice. A bunch of us get togeather now and have weed parties. l would be more than happy to live on weed juice.

lf you live off sprouts, weeds and grasses long enough you get to a stage where food isn't important anymore. All you'll do is do a fuel stop and keep on going. You far value the feeling of energy and well being over getting satisfaction from the food. Many raw food vegan diets are similar to SAD in some ways...it is all an addiction. When you learn to move beyond that and see food as solely a feul instead of enjoyment, then life takes on a new meaning and things start getting really good. Having complete freedom is the ultimate state.

Remember: the future of the food supply is not guaranteed. Growing your own vegies and purchasing organic is under threat, and the future of raw is not guaranteed at all. The only way to get around it is to get to the stage l always talk about...get free and live off grass and weeds. People may say it is extreme and would be an aweful existance, but it's quite the opposite...you feel satisfied and filled like never before, but it is a process. Now l am not recommending anyone to do this, l am just talking for the sake of having an interesting conversation and to get people to think about the other side of the coin for the sake of stimulating interesting thoughts.

This summer l will do an experiment. No more sprouted lentils, sprouted beans or sprouted grains. This summer l will live solely on sprouted seeds high in fatty acids (sprouted sesame, flax, chia, sunflower, various nuts), juice lots of seed greens, flowers and weeds, have algae and seaweeds and pick fruit off trees twice a week so my fruit is 3 days old at most (the fruit will be ripe and picked with love and much will be eaten on the day). l am going to vamp it up to a high level, and after summer l will live on sprouted nuts/seeds/weeds/flowers and see how l go with no algaes, seaweeds and fruits. Exciting times ahead.

[Non]

Mr. Raw, why not continue with the green sprouts like sunflower, alfalfa, clover, radish, fenugreek, broccoli, etc.?

I feel those should be included but that's just IMO because I highly recommend greens. Baby greens are good too, and less than both are the regular mature greens but still viable as a nutrient packed food source.

Eventually I want to start sprouting my own microgreens and go heavy on those instead of having to buy so many greens at the supermarket, which are expensive and not even the best kind ie nonorganic and mature greens with lots of goitrogens, antinutrients and heavy metals like Jubb says. That's why I prefer baby greens, and sprout greens.

Ahh well, nvm, you just said you'll juice the greens. Ok. I guess that's ok though I don't really like juicing all that much because I believe in fiber.

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

Mr. Raw, why not continue with the green sprouts like sunflower, alfalfa, clover, radish, fenugreek, broccoli, etc.?


yeah, it would probably be better, but l want to do more experiments so l become more knowledgable about raw foods so l can write a book and help other people.