Raw Vegan Life

[Hawkeye112200]

Hello again,

Little more about myself. I am living a life that not most are aware of, though it is becoming more mainstream these days.

I eat only raw (uncooked) food. No dairy, no soy, nothing unnatural. I make my own milks out of mostly almonds, coconuts, Brazilian nuts, and a few others.

I also blend a lot of juices, and dehydrate fruits and veggies. I realize this is taking advantage of modern accessories (unnatural), but so be it.

Of course, I also eat tons of veggies, a large variety of spices, seeds and nuts.

I am not on a mission or anything like that. I don't do it to save animals or the planet, though those are both good things, to be sure. I do it because of the health benefits, the camaraderie of others that do it, and how it makes me feel every day.
I also, have a deep distrust of corporate responsibilities and what is done to mass produced foods that we are offered.

Just thought I would share this aspect of my life, in case anyone had any questions about the life style, or was thinking about trying it.

 

[Breathe]

A common question, most likely: was it hard for you to switch to this -- and is it still hard?
Do you grow your own food? In your garden or communally? Would you encourage people to grow their own food, even if they did not have a garden, such as in pots on windowsills?

 

[Sweet Marie]

Why raw?

 

[Hawkeye112200]

A common question, most likely: was it hard for you to switch to this -- and is it still hard?

Thanks for the questions.
Switching was not hard at all. I was told I would feel more alive within weeks, and I chuckled a little bit to be honest. But weeks went by, and I do recall I felt better than I had ever felt before. So much so, that when I did go back to eating meat and other stuff just to feel the difference, it was so very noticeable. That kind of sealed the deal for me. Of course that is the physical reasoning behind the success of my change.
The driving force was the overwhelming amount of information about how poisoned our foods have become. I suppose that got my attention first.

Do you grow your own food? In your garden or communally? Would you encourage people to grow their own food, even if they did not have a garden, such as in pots on windowsills?

In the united states there are only a handful of major seed companies, and they are notorious for genetically altering their seeds so that you have to keep buying new seeds. Their fruit and veggies are born sterile. Very sad.

At any rate, if you find good seeds, then yes there is little else in the world that is more satisfying than growing food you really eat to survive on. The key word here is "really", as in your not going to freeze or give away half of the food. Nothing wrong with that, but I hope you get my point.

Growing of course depends largely on climates, so where I am we can grow certain things certain times of the year, and others we can't. So, when we shop at health food stores, we look for what we can't grow but might need, and even then sometimes can't find it.
Btw, that is one of the exciting parts of being a raw vegan, is for example parts of the year we can't have pears, so when they come around again, we savor them that much more.

Hope I answered your questions.

 

[Hawkeye112200]

Why raw?

Hi Sweet Marie,
Maybe you have had the lovely experience of taking a nap after a Thanks Giving Dinner?

I know I have . Well, despite popular belief that Turkey has a secret tryptophan sleepy pill in it, it really doesn't. So why do we get so sleepy? The fact is, our body is busy breaking down the food. Our body has to use so much energy to break down this type of food, that we literally get tired.
This is also the case with many of the foods we cook. We literally destroy the enzymes and many other nutrient rich areas of the food that are there to help us.

Raw food, however, say like zucchini, has enzymes built into the food, that actual do the breaking down of the food for us, so we do not have to allocate certain aspects of our body's resources to it. Eating Raw does not make you tired, but actually gives you energy.

Which btw, is why our milks, snacks and plethora of other foods are injected with unnatural vitamins and minerals to help sell to unsuspecting moms and dads. By the time the products make it to the grocery store, they are nutrient deficient. Can you imagine a gallon of milk, that said on the label "no vitamin D". Would you buy it?

Anyway, these are just some of the reasons I chose to investigate it. I simply couldn't go back to living that way.

 

[Breathe]

In the united states there are only a handful of major seed companies, and they are notorious for genetically altering their seeds so that you have to keep buying new seeds. Their fruit and veggies are born sterile. Very sad.

Wow, I'm genuinely shocked. That's awful.

Hope I answered your questions.

You did.


Also, were you a vegan before you became a raw vegan? Were you a vegetarian before? Did you switch from omnivorous to carnivorous? How did you feel after each change?

 

[Hawkeye112200]

Wow, I'm genuinely shocked. That's awful.

This will be more shocking, but if you are interested, see this link about Monsanto, the daddy of seed companies.
Monsanto's Dark History 1901-2011

You did.

Good

Also, were you a vegan before you became a raw vegan? Were you a vegetarian before? Did you switch from omnivorous to carnivorous? How did you feel after each change?

I was a regular meat eater, and shopped at any ol' store. So it was a dramatic change for me. One I was ready for, after doing enough research.

 

[Breathe]

Thanks for the link. Am reading now.
How did you feel after giving it up? Did you go cold turkey or cut it down slowly?

 

[Hawkeye112200]

Fun little tidbit, for when you go grocery shopping next time.

On the label of produce of fruit or whatever you are buying that is in that department, here is how to decode the PLU label:
If it starts with the number 4: This item has been convetionally grown and has been treated with pesticide and other chemicals.

If it starts with a number 8: This nice item has been genetically modified by humans, and probably has been chemically treated as well. So, are made so that they have a natural pesticide in them, to deter insects. Which raises profits, but what does it do to us???

If it starts with a number 9: This item is totally organic and has not been treated with any chemicals.

The only way you can beat the number 9, is if you grow it yourself, or make sure it was grown locally.

Hope that was helpful!

 

[Hawkeye112200]

Thanks for the link. Am reading now.
How did you feel after giving it up? Did you go cold turkey or cut it down slowly?

Cold Turkey. However, I did weeks of research before I took the plunge, and I lived mostly at the health food store which sells pre-made fresh raw food at the deli. I did this as I learned how to do it at home. So it was indeed awkward in that regard, but exciting as well.

I haven't really discussed the health benefits at all, but there is so much research about it, it is mind blowing to me.

One note to consider. The average physician spends only 6 hours of all education on nutrition. Therefor, when we go to them about feeling ill, they are not trained to know if it is a food that needs adjusting or what. They just pop the pills to us mostly these days. Sometimes (hopefully they might recommend a nutritionist)

Just an FYI

 

[Marble]

I'm not sure if the raw part of your diet is healthy.
Aren't vegetables treated with pesticides?
When you cook your vegetables they may be removed but not when you eat them raw.
Do raw vegetables taste at all?
Some vegetables like carotts or tomatos I always eat raw, but I cannot imagine to eat raw corn or broccoli.

 

[Penumbra]

Hello again,

Little more about myself. I am living a life that not most are aware of, though it is becoming more mainstream these days.

I eat only raw (uncooked) food. No dairy, no soy, nothing unnatural. I make my own milks out of mostly almonds, coconuts, Brazilian nuts, and a few others.

I also blend a lot of juices, and dehydrate fruits and veggies. I realize this is taking advantage of modern accessories (unnatural), but so be it.

Of course, I also eat tons of veggies, a large variety of spices, seeds and nuts.

I am not on a mission or anything like that. I don't do it to save animals or the planet, though those are both good things, to be sure. I do it because of the health benefits, the camaraderie of others that do it, and how it makes me feel every day.
I also, have a deep distrust of corporate responsibilities and what is done to mass produced foods that we are offered.

Just thought I would share this aspect of my life, in case anyone had any questions about the life style, or was thinking about trying it.

Is there any particular ratio of protein, carbohydrates, and fat that you target for consumption, roughly speaking?

What amount of weight in your food decisions do you give to transportation? That is, how important to you is local food or country of origin for your food?

I'm not sure if the raw part of your diet is healthy.
Aren't vegetables treated with pesticides?
When you cook your vegetables they may be removed but not when you eat them raw.
Do raw vegetables taste at all?
Some vegetables like carotts or tomatos I always eat raw, but I cannot imagine to eat raw corn or broccoli.

I'd propose that the most readily available solutions to these problems are:
-to eat vegetables that aren't treated with pesticides
-vegetables that don't taste good raw, need not be eaten at all, if one chooses not to. Or tastes can be trained to an extent.

 

[MysticSang'ha]

Not bad. I was a raw vegan for a couple months. Lots of juicing and dehydrating, too. And I found a love for avocado that I never thought I'd had before. Making my own salad dressings, and snacking on raw nuts and seeds when I needed a little something-something.

The switch back to cooked food came when I craved a bowl of rice. Since then, I haven't returned to being a raw vegan, but I'm glad I did it. It gave me a chance to try very different preparations of food.

Fruit tarts made with fresh fruit and a crust with ground nuts.

Apple and fennel salads

Chilled soups

Zucchini "pasta" noodles with fresh tomato sauce and basil

And....probably my most ubiquitous raw staple.....hummus. Oh, I had that with just about everything. I dipped vegetables, dried kale leaves, zucchini chips....in the hummus and ate happily. It's so cheap to make, and so delicious. I haven't actually stopped, but just slowed down a bit.

I know some people used to tell me that hummus wasn't TECHNICALLY raw, since I used chickpeas, but I didn't care.

This brings back memories. Have fun with your raw adventures!

 

[Marble]

I'd propose that the most readily available solutions to these problems are:
-to eat vegetables that aren't treated with pesticides
-vegetables that don't taste good raw, need not be eaten at all, if one chooses not to. Or tastes can be trained to an extent.

Can you ever be sure about that?
Doesn't that exclude too many vegetables?

 

[Me Myself]

From, where do you get your B12?

 

[HerDotness]

I was about 75% raw for over a year but have IBS and found that when I went 100% raw that my digestion went berserk. I had such frequent diarrhea that i felt like staying in the bathroom. Excessive fiber, especially raw fiber, can do that for thise diagnosed with IBS despite the assurances I got that the diarrhea was just my body releasing toxins. It was not. I was almost immediately better when I went back to eating some meat, fish and other cooked foods.

Raw veganism, even cooked food veganism, is ill-advised for anyone with digestive problems or blood sugar issues because of the high amount of carbohydrates a raw food diet entails. Also, those with digestive problems may not absorb nutrients efficiently and thus are at serious risk of malnutrition.

If you eat a vegan diet either cooked or raw, it is essential to supplement with B12 which is acquired almost entirely from dairy and meats. Also, you should have blood drawn regularly to check especially for B12 deficiency. This deficiency is particularly dangerous because its first symptom can be a massive heart attack or irreversible nerve damage.

Raw foodism is hyped in dangerous ways in both books and on "rawie" websites. Eating raw cannot do many of the things claimed for it, and the hype can sound so good that a person becomes obsessive. I know, because I did just that.

Look at the testimonies of former vegans, fruitarians and vegetarians on Beyond Vegetarianism--Raw Food, Vegan, Fruitarian, Paleo Diets before you start thinking raw foodism is marvelous. Longterm raw foodists have quite literally starved themselves to death, the stories the movement downplays with mantras like "Must not have been fully raw" or "Just keep eating raw if you feel bad; it's just your body working off toxins."

 

[mycorrhiza]

Where do you get the protein from in a raw diet? Nuts and seeds?

I would personally get bored with a raw diet, as I like cooked food and I couldn't afford to buy enough organic nuts and fruits. I'll stick to plain vegan.

 

[Valjean]

Protein's not a problem in a veggie diet, Myco. There are some pretty big animals that manage on a veggie diet. In fact there's more protein, kilo for kilo, in a stalk of broccoli than in a steak.

 

[HerDotness]

In fact there's more protein, kilo for kilo, in a stalk of broccoli than in a steak.

This is so not true.
As shown on the linked table, 100 grams or 3.5 oz. of meat, mostly steaks, contain around 20 grams of protein.

Meat - Caloric, Fat, & Protein Nutrition Info

One large stalk of broccoli (approx. 250 grams) as defined on this chart:

Nutrition Facts and Analysis for Broccoli, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt

contains only 6 grams of protein.

You're going to be eating a LOT of broccoli to get anywhere near the amount that's in a steak!

 

[Falvlun]

I do commend you on your self-control.

Although, I really don't see the point behind the raw part. "Natural" is really such an arbitrary thing. I mean, cavemen had fire and likely were cooking certain foods. Was that unnatural?

Also, while it may be true for some foods, it is incorrect to claim that cooked food is less healthy, or has less nutrients, than raw food.

From the Scientific American:

Cooked carrots, spinach, mushrooms, asparagus, cabbage, peppers and many other vegetables also supply more antioxidants, such as carotenoids and ferulic acid, to the body than they do when raw, Liu says. At least, that is, if they're boiled or steamed.

Cooking also increases the amount of the antioxidant lycopene from tomatoes. It is also important in breaking down the tough plant fiber cellulose, making it easier to digest.

Yes, some things like broccoli do retain more of the nutrition when raw. So, it appears to me that the most healthy diet would consist of both raw and cooked foods, rather than an absolute stance of only one or the other.