The Raw Food Diet (for humans!)

cmedeiros17

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Does anyone on here follow this lifestyle??? I have been doing some research on the raw food diet and am very interested in attempting to transition myself over to it. I'd love to hear from anyone with real life experience with this!
 

butzie

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My gf went on that. She even went to the week-long seminar about how to live it and all the recipes. She was eating raw when she found out she had breast cancer (raw diet not a cause). She is doing fine now. However, the doctors told her to eat a regular diet with meat protein.
 

cococat

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I think it is interesting and I think healthy people could all benefit from aiming to eat more fresh raw fruits and veggies daily, they contain more fiber, water, and lots of great stuff.
I love whole raw foods and try to eat lots of fresh fruits and especially fresh vegetables as much as possible. I am not really a meat eater and would eat somewhat raw fish in sushi depending on the source and type of fish, but I would not consider eating any other type of raw meat or animal product raw. I think eating many foods in their natural state is good due to the overflowing of dense nutrients, however I am not against some cooking or a bit of processing (for example, cooking black beans and then put them in a food processor to make a smooth and delicious dip).
Some processing helps foods pack more nutritional punch, for instance, whole ripe tomatoes when cooked down into a sauce have high amounts of good stuff that is much higher in their whole raw form.
I think most foods today are way too processed though.
 

cococat

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Originally Posted by cmedeiros17

Does anyone on here follow this lifestyle??? I have been doing some research on the raw food diet and am very interested in attempting to transition myself over to it. I'd love to hear from anyone with real life experience with this!
You might like this blog
http://kristensraw.blogspot.com/
 
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cmedeiros17

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Cococat-thanks for the link and feedback! I do not really eat much meat currently and could live without having any I think. I eat mainly chicken and fish now. From what I understand from my research so far you can get enough protein from the diet but have to eat enough certain foods such as leafy greens and nuts. If I am able to fully transition over I do not plan on eating meats except on rare occasion.

Butzie- sorry to hear about your girlfriend!!! I am glad to hear that she is OK now though. I take it she gave up the raw diet? Or at least added meats to it?
 

strange_wings

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Originally Posted by cmedeiros17

If I am able to fully transition over I do not plan on eating meats except on rare occasion.
Where do you plan on getting your B12?
 
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cmedeiros17

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Originally Posted by strange_wings

Where do you plan on getting your B12?
Hmmm....good question!!! There is so much to learn!!! So apparently I would have to take B12 supplements.
 

catmom2wires

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www.crazysexylife.com is another good source for raw food info. It is geared toward those who are using raw foods to help TREAT cancer or at least help their body fight the cancer through the diet. Lots of good info there.

Good luck.
 

strange_wings

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Originally Posted by cmedeiros17

Hmmm....good question!!! There is so much to learn!!! So apparently I would have to take B12 supplements.
Supplements come in different forms and not everyone can metabolize the most common form as easily. So yes, lots of research.
Never jump into any fad diet unless you know all the possible consequences.


I myself just prefer a balanced varied diet. I'll eat a lot of veggies raw, though my DH likes few raw veggies.
I won't touch meat that isn't fully cooked - I've had food poisoning from undercooked beef before.
I also would not suggest raw eggs, especially nothing from a large farm.
 

ut0pia

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I've experimented with the raw food diet. I ate 100% raw foods for about a month and a half or so and then 80% for a three or four months or so last year, but I got bored with it really easily. Maybe I didn't research enough recipes, I dunno. But it just seemed like I was eating the same stuff over and over: green smoothies for breakfast,different kinds of salads for lunch and dinner, fruits and nuts for snacks. It's so easy to get bored with that!
And I thought I felt some benefits like my hair and nails getting stronger, and feeling more constant energy as opposed to a sugar rush and then crashing, but I'm not sure if that was all in my head or not, because when you read all these people's experiences with the raw food diet, it seems like it's so great and they all feel amazing, almost like they are better people, and it's so easy for it to get in your head that you feel the same just by reading their experiences and thinking that it's going to happen to you.
And yea, B12 supplements are definitely necessary as well as sometimes vitamin D supplements, if you don't live in a sunny climate.
 

swampwitch

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Raw is okay for me for a while if I'm in a hot climate; in a cool climate it's tough because I need hot foods to help warm up. I know you can warm some things in a dehydrator but that's not warm enough (for me).

Health-wise, it's fantastic! And you can get B-12 through seafood such as sashimi. For me, 100% raw is impossible, but I believe everyone benefits with a 70% raw diet.

If you like seeds and nuts, an easy way to add more raw to your diet is to buy them unroasted. I don't recommend raw cashews, though, ugh to me they taste like Play-Doh.


Good luck on your venture!
 

butzie

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Originally Posted by cmedeiros17

Cococat-thanks for the link and feedback! I do not really eat much meat currently and could live without having any I think. I eat mainly chicken and fish now. From what I understand from my research so far you can get enough protein from the diet but have to eat enough certain foods such as leafy greens and nuts. If I am able to fully transition over I do not plan on eating meats except on rare occasion.

Butzie- sorry to hear about your girlfriend!!! I am glad to hear that she is OK now though. I take it she gave up the raw diet? Or at least added meats to it?
Thank you, she is fine and off the raw diet. Just an IMO here. If you have to take supplements to be on a raw diet, how healthy can it be for you? All these years of evolution mean something. Cooked meat & eggs are good. Lots of fruit, veggies & grains are good for you. Fast food isn't even if it has meat & veggies. I just think that a raw diet is a fad not a way of life.

I will get off my high horse now because it is your decision. Like I said, it is just IMO. Good luck whatever you choose.
 

cococat

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I wish more people would question what they eat. Good for you! Obviously, the way most Americans are eating isn't working out so well for overall optimal health. There is a lot to overall health than just eating, but what you eat is an important thing.

Everything you put into your body matters. Even a small grapefruit can throw off some heart medications so fruits and veggies are very powerful. Most people understand a tiny pill can effect your whole body and sometimes even your mind, foods can do the same. They can be quite powerful, in a bad way, or good way.
If you use B-12 go to a health food store and find one that is edible. Do not take it daily.

I take vitamins for health reasons and also eat a healthy diet (not vegan or raw, but plenty of my meals could be considered so) but it is really wise if you are going to be taking vitamins to work with someone who has some education in that area, like a naturopathic doctor. Research wisely. Best of luck and happy eating!
 

capt_jordi

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I love raw veggies (I actually hate most of them cooked, kinda funny!) but I could not survive on raw food alone... I eat a pretty balanced diet, although this new job has made me start eating a lot more junk
but I think we have that worked out now!
I would rather eat a balanced diet that consisted of a mix of everything! Raw and cooked, and healthy and some not so healthy lol! (What can I say, we are southern and we like our bacon and our butter!
)
 

cococat

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Originally Posted by capt_jordi

(What can I say, we are southern and we like our bacon and our butter!
)
There is nothing wrong with organic real butter IMO. That is real food. I would much rather someone eat butter than fake plastic margarine or the like.

And bacon I would never ever eat myself as I haven't touched red meat since I was a kid (and my dad's heart doctor told him this wasn't even a food) but when some is purchased for my husband I find local without nitrates, way less processed.
 

strange_wings

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Originally Posted by cococat

I would much rather someone eat butter than fake plastic margarine or the like.
Interesting thing I've found. Since having my gallbladder out I can't tolerant more than slight amounts of margarine and similar fats. Natural fats, in modest amounts, are fine.

But I agree with the "if you have to take supplements, how can the diet be that great?" idea. IMO it's better to get what you need from the food you eat and only supplement if your body has issues with absorption/converting.
Living in the south, I do eat plenty of red meat. I like the beef I eat to be locally raised whenever possible and lean, though.
 

MoochNNoodles

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I had a client several years ago that was going to a raw diet. She was taking classes at the local health food store. She lost some weight in the time I knew her and she said she thought it was helping her fibromyalgia; but I have no proof to back that up.
 

ut0pia

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Originally Posted by strange_wings

But I agree with the "if you have to take supplements, how can the diet be that great?" idea. IMO it's better to get what you need from the food you eat and only supplement if your body has issues with absorption/converting.
Living in the south, I do eat plenty of red meat. I like the beef I eat to be locally raised whenever possible and lean, though.
IMO everyone should take a multi vitamin anyway...
As far as B12, from what I've researched it's not naturally found in meat, it's in bacteria that are found on the ground and contaminate fruits and vegetables that the animals eat unwashed, and so meat tends to have the most B12.
But really, some soils are more rich in certain minerals than others, and so people living in certain areas are more prone to things like scurvy or whatever, places that are away from any oceans have a lot of problems with iodine dificiency in the people who live there, but it can be corrected so easily with just a supplement. I think the raw diet can be healthy, there are blogs of people who feed it to their newborns and raise their children on it, and recently I saw a video of a 78 year old man who has been on this diet for 50 years and he looked very good and energetic.
 

strange_wings

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Originally Posted by ut0pia

As far as B12, from what I've researched it's not naturally found in meat, it's in bacteria that are found on the ground and contaminate fruits and vegetables that the animals eat unwashed, and so meat tends to have the most B12.
Research some more. Its found in meats, eggs, and milk. The bacteria that you refer that converts/produces B12 is found the colon, we do no absorb it at this point. When it's found on veggies it's because they have been contaminated with feces - in areas where human feces is used for fertilizer. Do you really think consuming human wastes is the solution to getting B12?

But more to point. Common B12 supplements are cyanocobalamin. Some people cannot convert this, and a rare few have issues with the cyanide.
 
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