Raw Food - Why Don't People Get It? - A Rant

[trenchchic]

Today, I went to see the doctor for my Over-40 physical. She looked at my lab work and said, "Your cholesterol is excellent." (Normal range is 140-200, I'm sittin' pretty at 158). Then she said, "That's because you exercise." (The only exercise I get is walking the dog at a very leisurely pace 5 times a week. I don't break much of a sweat.)

Then I said, "Well, actually, I think it's because of the way I eat." She didn't respond except for an almost silent, "Oh."

About a week ago, when I told a co-worker that I eat raw food he said this - "Do you REALLY think that the food you eat makes a difference in your health?" Of course I responded with a "YES!" He didn't believe me...

When I was at the hospital having my blood drawn for the aforementioned cholesterol test, I saw so many overweight people with so many different problems, and I just wanted to stand on my waiting room chair and yell, "RAW FOOD!! LIVING FOOD!!!" But it doesn't matter, they wouldn't listen even if I had.

Why don't people get it? The answer is so simple, so elegant. They are spending hours at the gym, buying into diet fads and processed food that says, "100 calories per serving" on the package.

The answer to the majority of their problems is in the produce aisle!!! But I can't tell anyone that. No one wants to hear it, and when they do hear it, they remain incredulous.

I ordered the documentary "Average Joe On the Raw". I loved it, but I couldn't help but think - we are preaching to the choir. The majority of the people who are going to watch this are already raw.

I have to except that the only life I can change is mine and my dog's (he's raw too...and when I took him to the vet recently, the doctor and the tech commented seperately on how good his teeth looked.)

Ok, rant over. Thanks for letting me vent.

[rashelle]

I have to agree with you. It is frustrating that people don't seem to get it. On the other hand, maybe they do get it; they just don't feel capable of eating raw. I've just started eating raw, and a month or two ago, I would have told you that I'd love to do it, I just didn't think I could do it because I don't really like vegetables. LOL. I think the key is for people to understand that they could do it, working with the things they like. I never liked ANY raw veggies; I think it's the texture. But, now I'm blending greens into green smoothies & I'm actually able to do it. I'm blending veggies smooth in my new Vitamix, and I'm actually able to eat it & I think it tastes fine....much of it even delicious. I'm still hoping that eventually I'll like whole, raw veggies ( still won't touch a salad), but in the meantime, I'm still eating them raw in a healthy, raw diet. I try to tell people about my new way, but they just don't want to hear it. I think that people have to be in the right mind for it, unfortunately. For me, this is something that happened as a natural progression, I think, from first being vegan and now raw. It just seems like the ultimate in healthy lifestyles, & I feel so great starting on this journey (even though I'm still experiencing symptoms of detox--blah). I do, however, wish that everyone would embrace this way of life. It's worth sticking with!

[DebB]

I was interested that you posted your cholesterol and that you're sittin' pretty. Cuz just last week, I was to my MD and mine was 146 and he told me I was "DANGEROUSLY LOW" he was so concerned. Told me to get it up around 200 and to do that I was to eat 1/2 stick of butter a day. Or 4 eggs a day, 5 days a week.

sigh sigh sigh

He also told me that people that eat raw or vegan - it was just a fad and that wasn't the way to eat. Blah blah blah (I told him I eat this way a year ago, I don't know if he remembered or not). I don't say anything - wouldn't matter and only prolong my office visit and raise the payment.

There's my little rant... And this from an MD that I actually do love, he's the best MD I've ever been to. Gotta take the 'bad' with the good I reckon. (Yes, I do need him for my thyroid workups).

As for telling others - I rarely do that any longer. Really no one wants to hear it. It was hard for me to keep it to myself, but that's what I do and I'm happier for it -- haha and so are those around me.

[rawconvenience]

Sooner or later they will "get it". If not, it's too bad. The "living food" revolution is gaining momentum. Keep ranting. We need more of that. It is funny that people don't want to listen. Why? It is easy to order that pizza. Rant on. I do.

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

I was interested that you posted your cholesterol and that you're sittin' pretty. Cuz just last week, I was to my MD and mine was 146 and he told me I was "DANGEROUSLY LOW" he was so concerned. Told me to get it up around 200 and to do that I was to eat 1/2 stick of butter a day. Or 4 eggs a day, 5 days a week.

sigh sigh sigh

He also told me that people that eat raw or vegan - it was just a fad and that wasn't the way to eat. Blah blah blah (I told him I eat this way a year ago, I don't know if he remembered or not). I don't say anything - wouldn't matter and only prolong my office visit and raise the payment.

There's my little rant... And this from an MD that I actually do love, he's the best MD I've ever been to. Gotta take the 'bad' with the good I reckon. (Yes, I do need him for my thyroid workups).

As for telling others - I rarely do that any longer. Really no one wants to hear it. It was hard for me to keep it to myself, but that's what I do and I'm happier for it -- haha and so are those around me.

Your doctor sounds like a real loser Deb, way behind the times. No wonder people are leaving those people in droves and going to more natural health minded doctors. The days of chemical medications are numbered, it will die a natural death. The best doctors are now using electrical treatments (both machines and living foods).

Who cares what these people think, it's none of their business what we do.

l never bring the raw subject up with anyone unless they specifically approach me and show me that they are serious about giving this a go. The way l see it; people need to be at a stage of development where they are ready...you can't talk people into it, they need to be ready to do this.

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

My doctor is a vegan raw fooder who is highly respected (written a bunch of books and studied with David Wolfe), but he still has silly ideas about doing B12 injections, juicing shop vegetables and all that silliness. l trying to help him overcome the brain rot, but it is still a challenge.

He does the whole thing. Meditation, raw foods, juicing, exercising and all. But he still has silly ideas that don't make any sense. He is behind the times.

This is him:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGECvcV43_4

[Denise Nicole]

When I went on the "an extreme diet (vegan)" and lowered my cholestrol and blood pressure, the 300lb, out of breath, flush faced nurse strolled in after the doctor asked what I had been doing (I had already tried the super healthy standard diet with exercise which didn't work). I told them and when he left she sneered and said "it wasn't your diet" (which was the only thing I changed). Now that I have gone raw ... oh my goodness, I can't imagine the fall out! In this eat what you want, pop a pill to take care of the fall out, society. Most simply don't want to do it. And WE are the freaks. I'm ok with that .... I'll be a beautiful, healthy, raw freak. haha

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

People have forgotten the knowledge of the ancient cultures. Food is your medicine. lt would be hard for well meaning doctors who spent 6 years at medical school to acknowledge that they don't know much about health, especially to someone they consider a lay person, their ego won't allow it.

Ego's keep people dumbed down and ignorant, so best to avoid speaking to these types of people.

[robh]

Amen. I feel exactly the same way.

The documentary "Food Matters" hit the nail on the head. Our doctors are trained to be pill pushers that serve the drug industry. The drug industry knows there is no money in promoting nutrition. This is why they have spent loads of money to do silly things like make it illegal to treat cancer with vitamins. I am not sure how, but they also keep doctors from being trained in nutrition. Furthermore, they control the medical journals. Any studies that indicate vitamins or nutrition can improve your health are filtered out of the mainstream medical journals. Any traditional doctor is going to laugh you out of his office and that's how the drug companies want it. It is total BS.

As far as spreading the word, people do not want to be preached at. Unsolicited advice generally falls on deaf ears, regardless of the topic. I will sit back, eat my raw food and wait for other people to seek the knowledge before I divulge it.

[DebB]

Mr Raw - Yes, I was very disappointed with his responses to me this last visit. I'm currently seeking out NDs and will see what I find. I watched 5 mins of your MDs video - lucky you having him for your MD! Even though he has "silly ideas", the good probably far outweighs the silly? I would be in Heaven to find such a forward thinker here...

You mentioned juicing shop vegetables - what are shop veggies? I'm unfamiliar with that term.

Interesting thread all!

robh - I liked your last paragraph. It took me a long time to learn that and I'm so much better off now than before because of it. :)

Denise Nicole ~ I was just shaking my head reading your post, especially about the nurse. Oh my, oh my...

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

Mr Raw - Yes, I was very disappointed with his responses to me this last visit. I'm currently seeking out NDs and will see what I find. I watched 5 mins of your MDs video - lucky you having him for your MD! Even though he has "silly ideas", the good probably far outweighs the silly? I would be in Heaven to find such a forward thinker here...

Eventhough l stir him up abit, l do feel very very lucky to have him. All the vegans love Dr Green, and Dr Green loves all the vegans, they are his favourite patients.

You mentioned juicing shop vegetables - what are shop veggies? I'm unfamiliar with that term. .

Vegetables that aren't grown yourself. ln other words, vegetables bought from shops. ln other words, vegetables that aren't as fresh as they should be.

[DebB]

Sounds like you give him food for thought? ;) Ah - I see what shop vegetables are now. I look forward to the farmers' markets opening in a few months. That's about as fresh as it gets unless it's out of your own garden.

[PansyLo]

@Mr Raw: He still seems like a pretty cool guy. You're lucky to have a doctor like that available. At least every visit to the Doctor wont be a struggle between completely opposing opinions.

I have only been raw for 24 days so I haven't experience any problems with doctors yet. I'm going into treatment soon for BPD and I think they'll want to try and put me on some sort of medication. I'm not sure how helpful it's going to be for me, I already told them I didn't want to go on meds. I'm happy to get as much help as I can and try different therapies and techniques that offer me but I can't see how adding more artificial rubbish and chemicals to my brain is going to help me.

I'm really just trying the free health service to see if it can help before opting to pay for private treatment. If I was paying for treatment I could find a natural doctor who'll be able to offer me options in conjunction with my raw diet perhaps.

[breathless]

PansyLo, I have read that a raw food diet can cure depression. Perhaps it can cure BPD as well?

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

@Mr Raw: He still seems like a pretty cool guy. You're lucky to have a doctor like that available. At least every visit to the Doctor wont be a struggle between completely opposing opinions.

Yes, he's quite alright. Dr Green has lots of great contacts too. Really good exercise guru's and lots of vegan people all over Australia and lots of little secrets like where the wild goji berries grow

l previously had a doctor that didn't even know what vitamin B5 was and had really stupid ideas about what a healthy lifestyle was. l told them that vitamin B5 did exist, so they looked it up in their handbook and said "no Mr Raw, you are wrong, vitamin B5 doesn't exist" and then went on about how we can eat what we like as long as we exercise. They also refused to give me a complete blood test that tested all the vitamins and minerals because she said we are rarely deficient in vitamins and minerals because we would be sick if we were (really?). Needless to say, l sacked her from offering me any future health services. l didn't make an argument or fuss about it (l just thought to myself...`not another dumb doctor'), but l did say that l was going to seek another doctor who did appreciate a more complete balance to healthcare through foods and exercise. She was o.k with that because l was nice about it (you have to be nice to dumb people, especially `dumb doctors'). Now l could have knocked the stuffing out of the `dumb doctor' on many points, but l knew not to bother because it would be well over her head.