New to the raw diet & clearing up the confusion

[jennyfedei]

Hello from Erie Pennsylvania!

I am brand new to this forum. I joined today in search of information about the raw lifestyle/diet. This is something that is entirely new to me, but I must admit I am intrigued. I think for most of my life I have struggled with the concept of what good nutrition is. Like so many others I have tried to sort through a sea of information out there and have found so much of it to be conflicting that each time I try to sort through what the experts have to say I become more confused and frustrated. For every study or expert who says one thing, another study or expert will say the opposite.

I have dabbled in the vegetarian diet in the past on a number of occasions but each time I attempt it I am left discouraged. I bought all the books, did my homework to make sure I was doing it in a healthy way, only to have my hair fall out and develop a case of brain fog. Additionally, I am a borderline diabetic. My doctor wants to put me on medications, so this is pretty much my last effort to thwart that possibility. Last year when I made another attempt at going vegetarian, while my cholesterol did improve significantly, my HgA1C (blood sugars) rose to an all time high. I had to go back to eating animal products and stick to a low carb plan to bring down my sugars. They still are not where they are suppose to be yet. I also have hypothyroidism and take a synthetic pill that seems to be helping with my thyroid. I worry excessively about hair loss because it has been an issue for quite a few years. I notice when I go back to eating animal products that it seems to thicken up a bit more. I am also 54 years old and have reached menopause, so I worry about developing a diet conducive to someone my age.

Just this week I started incorporating a 32 ounce daily green smoothie into my diet. Actually this is my second day. Again, I am concerned because I read somewhere that vegetables from the cabbage family (such as spinach, kale, brussel sprouts, etc.. etc.. can hinder the thyroid). Most of the decent smoothie recipes use these greens, so I'm wondering if this is the right thing for me, yet, the raw diet is not something I have tried before, so I thought maybe I should give it a try. I did come across an interesting website yesterday that put out a documentary which followed several diabetics who went on a raw diet and had tremendous results, so I was encouraged.

It is possible that my vegetarian diet in the past was a bit too processed. I was using allot of meat substitutes which contain soy and I was eating allot of cooked vegetables and foods. It's made me wonder if I had gravitated toward a more raw diet if I might have fared better, which is why I am here today. I've been looking throughout this forum and see that the diet seems to be working for many of you and I am hoping to find a little guidance and as well as some encouragement. I have no clue how to do this type of eating plan correctly in order to get enough nutrients that my body needs. What combination of foods do I need to eat daily to meet all the protein, fats, carbs vitamins & minerals? I do love fruits and vegetables so I think this may be something that I can do. It's important that I do this correctly. One other caveat is that I am a very busy person and hate to spend long hours in the kitchen! I would like to find a way to do this so that it is quick and simple, with maybe fixing a few more time consuming dishes once a week maybe, just for a little variety. Is there an easy way to transition into this? How do I get started and how do I transition into doing this in a healthy way. I would so much appreciate any feedback from you more experienced raw food foodies. If I join this community, will I really find good support here? That's important to me as well. It's getting tiring becoming a causality of yet another diet. This go around I would love to be a success story, otherwise, I might as well throw in the towel, go on the medications and forget about it.

That's my story and I'm here to learn and absorb!

Best,
Jenny

P.S. What is the 30 day challenge all about?

[jennyfedei]

Wow! I made my first post yesterday as a new person to this forum. I just now checked and see that my post had 68 views with not even one response from anyone.

I guess this isn't such a friendly group.

[MysticTree]

the forums have been swamped with spam posts which makes genuine post disappear from sight all too easily I'm afraid.

It's good to have you here.

Your opening post is a bit overwhelming in terms of answering all of it but the 30 day challenge is where you commit to 30 days 100% raw and everyone supports each other through.

As to learning about raw then a good place to start is by either reading Alissa's first book which is available on amazon or in libraries or by watching her DVDs. There is a link about these at the top left under the lettuce.

[jennyfedei]

Great, thanks... I'll meander over to the 30 day challenge... I need a good challenge right about now!!

[MysticTree]

I've found the 30 day challenge has been a real help. I've been a member here for a good few years and been on-again-off-again-raw. This time I have joined the 30 day challenge and am really doing great and feel very grounded in the raw vegan way.

[jennyfedei]

I just now posted on the 30 Day challenge thread. I'm DEFINITELY interested in giving this a try, but I need some guidelines and help with knowing what to eat and in what quantities to obtain full nutritional value. I haven't a clue as to how to do this diet. Can someone please point me to a website or some guidelines so that I can get started? I will go to the grocery story today and pick up what I need and start tomorrow if I knew what to buy and what to fix for my meals. I'm concerned about getting enough calcium, protein, iron etc.. Most of those nutrients I have gotten from eating animal products in the past, so I don't quite understand where and how I will get those from plant sources.

So sorry... but you are dealing with someone here who is completely clueless about what to do next. I am very open to this, but I just don't know how yet. I'm actually kind of desperate to get started because I have just received some very bad reports from my doctor about my health.

Thanks for your patience.

Jenny

[MysticTree]

The only really significant issue with vitamins seems to be vitamin B-12 ... and there is so much conflicting advice that it is a case of reading all you can find and making up your own mind.

There is enough protein and calcium and iron in raw veggies/leaves/fruits/nuts and sprouted seeds and grains.

http://cronometer.com/

the above link is a useful tool for checking what you are getting nutrition-wise.

Just a point ... did you ever worry as much about nutrition when you were eating the way you ate to get to the point of your doctor bugging you to lose weight? I'm thinking probably not. What you were eating was not nutritionally sound so don't worry so much about this now. Pretty much everything you need is available in the raw, vegan world.

[Revvell]

That's why it was suggested you order Alissa's book and dvd's. Basically ALL raw foods, eaten in a variety, will give you everything you need. Most of us don't concern ourselves with those things you mention yet, if you're THAT concerned, you might want to get some Vitamin Code vitamins. Actually, you weren't getting as much as you thought you were from eating animal products. That's a by-product of truly great marketing.

What you may have gotten from your original post are all the health issues you've mentioned.

[karenisraw]

Hi Revell,

I remember you from a few years ago on this raw food talk. It is nice to see you are still here.


K

[rawintexas]

Starting out, I would say stick with the simple approach - fruits, vegetables, raw nuts....some raw seeds if you can find them. I don't venture into recipes much, I'm more a three-bananas lunch person. I do a green smoothie for breakfast, then mid morning fruit of choice, maybe some carrots etc. over lunch and then another fruit and then a huge mixed salad at dinner....very easy! When traveling, I gravitate to fruit mainly because I can find it everywhere (airports, etc.).

[Revvell]

Hi Revell,

I remember you from a few years ago on this raw food talk. It is nice to see you are still here.


K

Hey Karen.... whatchu been up to? Yeah, guess I've been here awhile, eh?

[MyRedPanda]

You can get B12 shots too - even if you are not on a raw foods diet, B12 is said to speed up metabolism and help with energy and etc. I know they are offered at pretty much every health spa and dermatology office where I live.

[A Maggiani]

I've been vegan for a year and a half, and raw vegan for the past six months. I just had some blood tests a couple days ago and the B-12 was fine.

[Rottie69]

Hi,

I like your thread. I was in the same boat as you were back in March. I had not one clue as to what I needed to do to begin a raw food diet. So, I bought a book, read it cover to cover and then went in search of websites which I found a lot of. I read everything I could and then went shopping.

Heres just a sample of what I like in the run of a day.

LOOOVE me a huge smoothie every morning, and if I dont get one I really miss it.
Smoothie consists of, 1 banana, 2 small oranges, frozen strawberries and blueberries, some sort of melon, usualy watermelon and some goji berries I get at the health food store. Its tall and its thick, COLD and its sooooo sweet and good, I love em. After all that I take a B12 vitamin, Omega 3, Vit D and some Maca capsules. ENERGY!

I eat a snack a while later usualy an apple a handful of raw cashews and walnuts and some sundried raisins, hits the spot.

Lunch is a salad, cucmber, onion, cherry tomatoes peppers, raisins and chopped nuts, oh and some baby spinach.

Another snack a few hours later,,,1 or 2 bananas, or some sort of fruit.

Dinner, Sugar snap pea pods,love em!, mixed with cucumber, apples, raisins, onions, corn on the cob (raw,lol)

I lost around 22 pounds the first 2 months I went raw, then I fell off the wagon, and slipped back in to bad habits,,,,but im happy to say im back on track and the allergies I hadnt had for months are finally going away again thanks to raw food, I already feel better and the headache I get the first few days are gone, as well as the tired I want a nap feeling. I ate veges and fruit and nuts,,I let myself eat what I craved, if it was nuts and pea pods thats what I had and it worked. Eventualy all the cravings left and I was satisfied on such small amounts of food one of my coworkers said I eat like a bird,,lol. Imagine that! Now when I crave something to eat I want raisins or oranges or an apple or pea pods, I seem to have a wicked sweet tooth for sugar snap pea pods. I looked in the grocery stores and found so many things I likes and boughht them, then weeded out what worked and what didnt, there wasnt much that didnt fit into the daily meals. Just make sure you dont let your self go hungry, its hard ot over eat on raw food, I cant get that much into me, lol. I will cut back some on the nuts after the next week or 2 but until then, happy crunching.

Theres os much info out there, its hard to know what trail to go down, some like grains and sprouting, others say veges and nuts, and still others say fruit fruit fruit, I like em all and try to get a little bit of everytihng into my day, fruit veges and nuts and seeds. I tried sprouting and it worked but I could not get past the taste and didnt go any further. The way im doing it works for me and im feeling so much better. Let me now how you do!

Becca

PS, im a terrible typer,,so please excuse the typos,lol.

[Raw Angel Mom]

Hello from Erie Pennsylvania!

A)....I am brand new to this forum. I joined today in search of information about the raw lifestyle/diet. This is something that is entirely new to me, but I must admit I am intrigued. I think for most of my life I have struggled with the concept of what good nutrition is. Like so many others I have tried to sort through a sea of information out there and have found so much of it to be conflicting that each time I try to sort through what the experts have to say I become more confused and frustrated. For every study or expert who says one thing, another study or expert will say the opposite.

B)....I have dabbled in the vegetarian diet in the past on a number of occasions but each time I attempt it I am left discouraged. I bought all the books, did my homework to make sure I was doing it in a healthy way, only to have my hair fall out and develop a case of brain fog. Additionally, I am a borderline diabetic. My doctor wants to put me on medications, so this is pretty much my last effort to thwart that possibility. Last year when I made another attempt at going vegetarian, while my cholesterol did improve significantly, my HgA1C (blood sugars) rose to an all time high. I had to go back to eating animal products and stick to a low carb plan to bring down my sugars. They still are not where they are suppose to be yet. I also have hypothyroidism and take a synthetic pill that seems to be helping with my thyroid. I worry excessively about hair loss because it has been an issue for quite a few years. I notice when I go back to eating animal products that it seems to thicken up a bit more. I am also 54 years old and have reached menopause, so I worry about developing a diet conducive to someone my age.

Just this week I started incorporating a 32 ounce daily green smoothie into my diet. Actually this is my second day. Again, I am concerned because I read somewhere that vegetables from the cabbage family (such as spinach, kale, brussel sprouts, etc.. etc.. can hinder the thyroid). Most of the decent smoothie recipes use these greens, so I'm wondering if this is the right thing for me, yet, the raw diet is not something I have tried before, so I thought maybe I should give it a try. I did come across an interesting website yesterday that put out a documentary which followed several diabetics who went on a raw diet and had tremendous results, so I was encouraged.

C).....It is possible that my vegetarian diet in the past was a bit too processed. I was using allot of meat substitutes which contain soy and I was eating allot of cooked vegetables and foods. It's made me wonder if I had gravitated toward a more raw diet if I might have fared better, which is why I am here today. I've been looking throughout this forum and see that the diet seems to be working for many of you and I am hoping to find a little guidance and as well as some encouragement. I have no clue how to do this type of eating plan correctly in order to get enough nutrients that my body needs. What combination of foods do I need to eat daily to meet all the protein, fats, carbs vitamins & minerals? I do love fruits and vegetables so I think this may be something that I can do. It's important that I do this correctly. One other caveat is that I am a very busy person and hate to spend long hours in the kitchen! I would like to find a way to do this so that it is quick and simple, with maybe fixing a few more time consuming dishes once a week maybe, just for a little variety. Is there an easy way to transition into this? How do I get started and how do I transition into doing this in a healthy way. I would so much appreciate any feedback from you more experienced raw food foodies. If I join this community, will I really find good support here? That's important to me as well. It's getting tiring becoming a causality of yet another diet. This go around I would love to be a success story, otherwise, I might as well throw in the towel, go on the medications and forget about it.

That's my story and I'm here to learn and absorb!

Best,
Jenny

P.S. What is the 30 day challenge all about?

A).... Welcome on the board. I hear you about the struggle. Here is the thing, you will need to learn to listen to your body, let go all the programming about food and follow the wisdom of your body. Don't make it complicated otherwise you will generate fear and discouragement about this life style when this is easy in truth.

First step is to train your mind and you do this with Alissa's Philosophie which is freedom. If you have done it yet, invest in her dvd and first book. Once your mind feels comfortable with this life style, you will naturally make adjustment and eat what your body want.


B)..... Don't be hard on yourself. You seem to have so much anxiety regarding food and making the wrong mistake. Maybe what you need to do, is to watch dvd's, youtube etc... and see for yourself. There are so much example of success and great health. Since your are borderline diabetese, i would probably go with dr. Gabriel Cousens, he specialize with this condition. He wrote a book about this. Or just go gently. Your body clearly need a reset. I have done a detox program with simply raw.ca and it made such huge difference for me. What you could do, is to start juicing and do your green smoothie. Many try to consume two bunches of green. If you are concern with the kale, you can use different green (herbs like cilantro, basal, dill, parsley or any greens you can find). Chlorophile is like a blood transfusion. Use raw gourmet food to help you to transition and do as much fruits/vegetables and leafy greens as possible. You can also google Dan Mcdonald, he lives on fruits, vegetables and leafy greens or herbs. He is currently crossing America on a bike. "I am not a doctor, you need to research"

C)... Soy is process and GMO. Stay away from this. It affect your thyroid gland in a very negative way.
Rule of thumb to make sure to cover everything you need. Eat as much variety of fruit/vegetables and including variety of color.

If you don't consume raw mushroom, bee pollen, chlorella or nutritional yeast, or you don't have a garden where you can eat your leafy green without washing them, consider to supplement with B12. Please get monitor with this. Many meat eater are low in B12 due to absorption problem and vegetarian that don't eat food that contain a B12 which our body will absorb, will decline very fast in B12 reserve, especially if you are pregnant and nurse on top of it. Google B12 Japan research.

Maybe you want to supplement with Chlorella (B12 and neutralize heavy metal), spirulina (rich in protein) and maca (help with hormone)

Learn how to sprout such microgreens etc.. and start drinking wheat grass juice. Best combination for me is orange and apple. The orange neutralize the strong taste.

Learn to relax, you will do fine. If you are worry so much, start slow.

As for the 30 days challenge, this is 30 days committed to stay 100% raw. Sometime we need this 30 days to heal the addiction to cook food.

Wishing you all the best