Too Many Cashews and Dates?

[Tamangoes]

Today is day 22 for me :)

In my experience, the first few days were the most difficult...At least that was what I thought until yesterday! Today was just as difficult...

My problem is I just cannot seem to eat enough cashews and dates! Not exactly the ideal diet, since my goal is to continue losing weight. I have read that you are supposed to eat whatever raw food you feel like, and eat until you are full. Obviously this doesnt apply to dates and nuts though, right? What would be considered too much?

I try not to be too hard on myself. I mean, I AM still eating raw. But I can't help feeling guilty at the end of the day.

Any information or advice would be greatly appreciated :)

[ReneeSC]

Tam,

Congrats on 22 Days!

There are some questions about the "rawness" of cashews - and where we can find those who haven't been steamed out of their shells. I've yet to get into that myself.. I'm still trying to get through olive oil, almond butter, Kim Chee..and Frontier spices. ( lol )

As for the dates - just try to make sure they're as clean as you can get them. Most of us here love the Californial Medjools.

As for how much is too much: When your body says so.
This is probably too soon for you to force a change - but you could see if your body will respond to other things such as smoothies and green smoothies to make sure you're feeding your body at the cellular level more quickly. That way you can eat your cashews and drink your greens and all is well with the world!

Just recently, because brazil nuts just dipped lower in price than the almonds, I bought several pounds ( great time of day... the jump was 4.00 lb in less than 6 weeks )... I've been munching them by the handfull. They're awesome!
I went through a period when I would dip medjools in almond butter and just be in HEAVEN. I have no desire to do that lately. ( shrug ).. Food Moods...ya know.

Don't worry.. Just EAT!

I was a heavy nut transition person.. heavy olive oil...heavy avocadoes... I went "bananas" on the fats. That was okay. I didn't gain any weight, but I wasn't losing scale pounds. Because I was exercising, I was losing lots of inches and gaining beautiful muscle mass. My body was looking so different and I was eating like a total glutton.

Now, I only eat like a glutton sometimes - and I no longer consume such copious amounts of fats - my body just doesn't feel the need to anymore. Oh.. I'll still eat nuts.. but the oils and the avoes... naaaa.....

But.. really, if your body is truly ready to work on the weight change, try to get some greens and fruits into you. Just drink 'em. It saves alot of chewing. lol

[Rawkinlocs]

Too much is whenever your body tells you it's too much! If you feel uncomfortable eating it or get stomach aches or digestion issues, then you know to cut back. Your weight loss will come...if you want it to come quicker, then you may want to maybe pace yourself with the cashews and dates...but I LOVE cashews and eat them until I get tired of them...no problem! But then again, I don't have any weight to lose, but haven't gained any either!

I say eat them because you're not going to gorge on cashews and dates for the duration of your raw life...trust me on that one! After a while, you will find you no longer want them or your tastes may change, etc. Just make sure and try to get some fruit and greens in there somewhere! :D

[Beanie]

Cashews have mold on them and are somewhat toxic like peanuts, so I wouldn't "gorge" on them. As for dates, I would say moderation too....unless you want to feed fungai!! Dates are very high in glycemic index. So I don't think its a free for all. Otherwise I wouldn't have gotten a yeast infection for the first time in my life and since I've been raw. But as far as veggies go, eat until your eyes pop out!!

[Rawkinlocs]

Beanie, that yeast infection was your experience and not everyone's. I eat lots of dates AND cashews and haven't gotten any yeast infection. In fact, the only time I got them (and I used to get them often) was when eating cooked junk food. Everyone is different.

So, again Tamangoes, if it's working for YOU...then listen to your own body!

[DavidZaneMason]

Keep in mind that just because something is 'raw' does not mean it is the most vital and healthiest for you. Many nuts are questionably raw......and Dates are often very rich and sugary. You might want to prioritize some other things that you love - that have a better vitality and agree with you more! Don't you think?

-David Mason

[JMD]

T,

I agree with most of what was said. For me I DO NOT let go of something until i have been dragged to the end of my rope with it...be it food, a person, a feeling etc.....

I tend to eat things to an extreme and then I cannot stand the sight of them. IMO, is your body is telling you it is time to ease off or is it your head that feels guilty for eating amd wants you to lose weight.????? My head can send me some messages about perfection. When I feel guilt it is because I am not doing what I THINK I SHOULD BE doing/eating etc....

Maybe try A little less nuts today (or next week..when YOU are ready )and add some greens or a juicier fruit. I find an apple satisfies me more than 10 figs but that is just me~ I love watery foods.

Best wishes and continue successes to you!!
JMD

[Beanie]

My response is based upon my experience and experience of others. I find people either go in one of two directions, high greens/higher fats, or high sugars/high fruit. ANd from there they thrive! I have talked to many people, and there are many, that have gotten candida from following Grahams approach. And others who cured themselves from his approach. And many that have cured themselves from MANY ills following Cousins.

With that said, I believe everyone should follow what works for them. But what I also believe is that the most natural foods are the best so too much dried fruit, or too much processed oils are not the best sources. I also believe in moderation in everything. If you have cashews today, why not almonds tomorrow, then pistachios, then sunflower seeds, then pumpkin seeds. Then it does not MATTER what is the best food. Whom of us REALLY KNOWS? And unless you have a deep physical craving for a certain food, is that even healthy? By rotating, you will do everything in moderation to get a good balance. I have not found that excess of anything has done anybody anygood. Of course I have never heard anyone having a problem from too many veggies except IBS maybe. But I am all for fruit if it does you good. I don't think excess sugar, in anyform, is the best pathway. IF nothing else, your teeth won't be happy.

[Sharon in Colorado]

Hey Tamangoes,

Since you are still in the early stages here, please don't be too hard on yourself. Rome wasn't built in a day. As long as you are moving toward your goal, you're doing good.

The thing I worry about (for myself) is switching to my goal before I'm ready. Then it all goes downhill from there.

Just take it slow for the first couple of months. Some extra dates and cashews is a lot better than losing control and going back on your previous diet.

And keep your eye on your goal. Don't lose focus!

[Rawkinlocs]

I understand your point Beanie, but please remember this... when in transition to raw, people don't need to be policed about how much of this or that they eat at first especially if it's keeping them from eating some cooked garbage AND if they're not experiencing ill effects from it...which she never once said she was!

Also, most people aren't going to continue on that way...their body simply will NOT allow it! Eventually the body will speak up, so to speak, and let them know that, "Heyyy man...it's time to nix that!"

So, again, the concept of Alissa's book and therefore this site, is to allow people the freedom to "Just eat raw" as their body WILL give off signals when it's time to begin tweaking their diet and eat more fresh, optimal foods and cut down on the nuts or other fats or the sweet, dried fruits, etc. As far as teeth are concerned, nothing rinsing or brushing after eating (something we all learned as little kiddies) won't solve! :)

I don't eat nearly as many nuts as I used to when I first began...it all balances itself out. You pointed out very well in your post that everyone is different...some do well with Graham while others need Cousen's method...she never said there was a problem with what she's eating other than the fact that she can't fathom that she can eat all she desires of those two items and still have weight loss be a possibility! Never once said it made her feel sick or tired or gave her digestion issues or anything remotely like that.

She just wants to know how much is enough or too much and again my position is, her body will be her guide and let her know when she's had enough or too much.

[Rawmommie]

Here's the question I ask myself....

Is this going to keep me eating raw? Sometimes that answer has been yes. Sometimes I had a bad craving and cashew butter slathered on dates was the answer for me. Sometimes I overate them, but I stayed raw and wasn't eating SAD junk.

This week before going to the healthfood store to pick up more dates and cashew butter I asked myself that question and the answer was no. I don't need it this week, I'm going to stay raw and I really don't have to have it. So I didn't get any. I might change my mind in a day or so or I might not. The longer you are raw, the easier it is to really listen to your body and needs. You sound like you are doing just fine!

[Beanie]

Yes Rawkinlocs, I do agree with you! In the beginning, its MUCH better to eat too many dates than say some french fries or other sad food. And eventually, your body will give signals that say, hey, go this way or go that way. Especially in the beginning, no harm is done in 30 days and drastic life changes take a little more leniency. I just personally don't feel that too much even of a good food is a good idea. I tend to NOW live in the gray in all areas and find that is the healthiest. For instance, I understand/support mono eating, but living solely on bananas day after day IMHO will lead to problems of defiencies which could easily be solved by eating other fruits. And I see many posts like, bananas don't taste good to me, etc. etc. So thats the way the body eventually says STOP! Get variety.

I just like to mention this because I think Alissa's viewpoint is great. And she does say LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. But I just want to mention that I know many people with this problem and have found that for me, to eat a cup of lightly steamed brussel sprouts is better for ME than eating a cup of raw dates. But that is me, that is now, that is how my body works. I also understand/am supportive for people with overeating addictions that can't eat even 1% of lightly steamed anything.

I also work at the coop, and if its a woman with a question, most of the time it is related to candida. I was so surprised at how much of an epidemic this is. And 80% of americans have it. So this is a BIG problem and I advice people on diets that minimize fungal, yeast, parasitic, etc. problems.

I'm also reading into averveda principles and find that me being Vata dominant, that my body type is different than most people who are raw and most likely mostly Kapta dominant. Thus, my diet may differ and hence I do better on higher fat, more spices and warming, grounding foods. But eventually it seems people need to tweek it for optimal health for them. In the beginning, its better to go with the flow......