Newbie

[specialflav]

I'm new to this whole raw food diet. I am primarily a meat eater, pretty close to Atkins diet all the time. My wife is a vegetarian, and has wanted me to do a raw diet with her. I must admit i am skeptical, it's my nature. But I’m being as strict as possible so I can honestly tell myself I did it (also giving up beer for the month, even harder). I have been 100% raw with the exception of some kidney beans I didn't realize were cooked. I started on 1/3/2012 and in the 4 days so far I have lost 12lbs! That’s crazy!! It can't possibly be fat; I assume it’s mostly water weight from the drastic reduction on salt. So, here I am...

Some things I’ve noticed so far is that I’m not nearly as thirsty as i usually am, again assuming its the change in salt. I go back and forth between periods of mental clarity and spacey feelings (not light headed, just spacey/ unfocused), and I am waking up with dull headaches. I assume they will subside with time.

I have some questions though:
Can i have loose green tea? (Can’t seem to find if it's cooked or just dehydrated)
Can i have olive oil?
Can i have all neutral butter (peanut, almond)?
What are people doing for milk? I usually drink almond milk, but can't tell if all the ingredients in it are raw?

Also, I must admit I’m skeptical about 'detoxing'? I don't necessarily believe my body is full of toxins. I think foods i eat can support my kidneys and liver in performing their duties, but not removing toxins that they wouldn't already be removing otherwise. When I Google it, I can't find anything solid. Does anyone have a link or article with some solid proof of detoxification? Not trying to be combative or challenging, but want to satisfy my skepticism.

Any other thoughts or help would be appriciated!

Thank you all!

Jesse

[Traceyraw]

I drink tea but its not raw. Olive oil (first cold pressed). I use raw almond butter. I make almond milk and seasame milk. If you buy almond milk in the store its not raw unless labeled so.

Try google or bing there are so many sites about detoxing sorry Im not sure how to link. Trust me there is definitely detox.

Wow congrats on the 12 lbs. Some may be from colon build up. keep up the good work.

[specialflav]

Thanks!

I've been reading about making almond milk, seems kind of pricey. But i'll give it a try. Do you need a high quality blender, we just have a regular home one we got from Target? Do you do anything with the left overs? Can you just eat them?

[ZombieDawn]

I posted a question in the last few days and got some really great answers ranging from cookies to crackers to taco like filling with your leftover almond pulp. I made the crackers and I'm going to try the taco filling next and wrap it up in lettuce with some nut cheese. I'm drooling now, lol!

[breathless]

One reason why you are not so thirsty is because fruits and veggies have a high water content. I am new to raw and also get the spaced-out feeling and dull headaches you describe. I believe it's part of the detox process.

[Saria]

it must be quite a change for you switching from mostly meat to raw! That's awesome you are trying it. And giving up beer? That's a lot to do at once that's great you're doing it! My main thing I had to give up was refined sugar/baked goods/sweets, and switching to raw really helped with that. I've slipped up a few times and gone back to eating non-raw but never been as crazy about sugary junkfoods as I had been before.
hopefully you decide to stay raw! and whether you believe in detox or not, you will start to notice many benefits of it

[specialflav]

Oddly enough, being pretty strict on Atkins already I wasn't eating any refined sugars or carbs. Many in my family have had and died from diabetis, so i've always tried to be careful with that. I'm am really going from almost 100% meat to raw. I'm am really curious how my body handles it. I am seeing some good things so far. I'm being pretty dedicated to the raw ( even more then my vegetarian wife who's already started cooking veggies again :0).