Is this a good way to transition over to raw foodism?
first off, I’m already a vegetarian. I’ve been a vegetarian for three years now, going back and forth to veganism. I’ve been studying about raw foodism for a while now, so I know about how I can get my nutrients…which doesn’t have to come from processed foods and animal products. raw foodism can be the healthiest diet if you eat the right fruits and vegetables. anyways, this is my plan:
week one: each of my meals and snack will consist of fruits and/or vegetables (cooked or raw)
week two: each of my meals and snacks will consist ONLY of fruits and vegetables (cooked or raw)
week three: at least two meals a day has to be all fresh fruits and/or vegetables (as well as snacks)
week four: at least two meals a day has to be all fresh fruits and/or vegetables (as well as snacks)
after week four everything will be raw fruits and vegetables.
Tagged with: animal products • fresh fruits • fruits and vegetables • healthiest diet • nutrients • processed foods • Raw Foodism • raw fruits • snack • snacks
Filed under: Raw Food Diet
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A lot of people suggest either going cold turkey or increasing by percentages, but I disagree. The differences between a traditional vegetarian diet and a raw food diet isn’t just the cooking. For one thing it’s gluten free. Gluten is one of those foods that can really have a big impact on your health even if you don’t feel it. There are some raw foodists who will eat sprouted wheat and oats, but otherwise it’s gluten free. About 1 in 10 people have some degree of gluten intolerance and even if you don’t have that, it has opioid like properties. A lot of people who have chemical imbalances will crave foods that contain gluten the same way that you would crave alcohol or drugs. A lot of people will go through sort of a detox when they go off gluten. And if you have a hard time giving it up, you have other cooked foods (gluten free mac and cheese is pretty darn good!) to get you through. Then after you’ve been off gluten for a week or two, cut out dairy. Dairy is also one of those foods that a lot of people react to specifically. It also has opioid like properties. If you think about the foods that people crave when they’re emotional, it’s usually foods that are gluten and dairy based (like cookies, cake, or ice cream). Then other animal products that you’re still eating. Then cut out foods with preservatives. I found out that I get headaches when I eat MSG. Then start alkalizing your diet. A cooked food diet is far more acidic than a raw food diet. If you do it in this order your detox will be far easier and you can identify what elements you’re reacting to. I see people saying that they were cured of all kinds of health problems and it sounds like they have celiac disease or another reaction to other foods. There are a lot of people who try the raw food diet and see health improvements and then aren’t able to resist cooked foods and are all depressed because their health problems came back, when they could just do a dairy free diet or a diet free of food X and be in good health.
There are many raw foodists who will do a percentage (I do about 80% right now, at times 100, sometimes less) or will add gluten containing grains and occasionally raw animal products like raw milk. If you cut foods out one at a time you will know how your body is reacting to each substance, your transition will be easier physically and mentally, and you can just have a better understanding of your body and be better equipped to make informed decisions about your health and will know what foods to avoid in the cooked portion of your diet.
This is my suggestion for transitioning to raw:
1. cut out gluten, for at least a week. This will allow your body to stop producing antibodies if it is (sometimes gluten intolerance is a silent process, sometimes you’ll notice symptoms), and it will allow your body chemicals to adjust to no longer having that opioid in your body. If you cut this out by itself you’ll be able to see how you react to gluten specifically.
2. Cut out dairy, for 3-7 days. Symptoms like acne take a little longer to clear up, but your digestion should improve pretty quick. Dairy can also have a lot of unexpected symptoms and your body will need a few days to adjust to having the opioid out of your system.
3. Eggs or whatever other animal products you’re eating for maybe a couple of days.
4. Preservatives
5. Still eat some cooked foods like gluten free pasta, beans, and brown rice, but start to alkalize your diet. I suggest doing this prior to going raw, because many people feel better dramatically better just from eating more alkaline foods. If you decide down the road you don’t want to do full raw or are having a hard time sticking to it, you can still have pretty good health from just eating more alkaline. Green smoothies are very nutritious, definitely add these, and I suggest making some lemonade using fresh lemons and raw agave or another raw sweetener. Lemons, even though they’re acidic by themselves, have a very powerful alkaline effect on your body. Lemonade made like this is a good way to add an alkaline boost to your body.
6. I don’t have a specific order for this one, but at some point in time, remove nightshades from your diet. A lot of people react to them and don’t know it. Take them out of your diet for a couple of weeks and then add them back. You can do this after you’ve been raw for awhile, but a lot of people have issues with nightshades and it’s worth mentioning.
If you do it in these stages you will be more likely to stick with the diet, the detox won’t be so rough, and you can see if the health benefits are related to being raw or being gluten free, dairy free, preservative free, meat free, alkaline, or any other variable in there. A lot of people think the only thing that makes the raw diet so wonderful is the fact that it’s raw and the enzymes are intact and that’s not true all. If you do it this way you can see where the health benefits are coming from. You can take however long or short you want, but I would give at least a week each to gluten and dairy.
edit: oh, and I agree with Melissa, you’re going to need some fat in your diet, not just fruits and veggies. Make sure to add nuts, avocados, cold pressed olive oil, etc.
Hi Kimmie,
I’ve been studying raw foodism for over a year now and have jumped on the 100% raw wagon almost 3 weeks ago. I just did cold turkey but that doesn’t work for everyone. I chose that route because I’m a fan of the boutenko family and the honesty and integrity they portray. Your way sounds just as good, though it may be missing something (as mine did when I first tried going 100 %raw 5+ months ago).
There’s more than one way to go 100% raw and, in my opinion and experience, the same methods of going raw and staying raw is unique to each individual. One thing is for absolutely sure is that Green leafy vegetables are a must when going raw (Kale, Chard, Chickweed, Lambs quarter, Spinach, etc)
One thing that helped me (and still is) is drinking lots of green smoothies (between 1-3 quarts a day).
I believe I’m telling you some things you already know, considering you’ve been studying this for a while. :) Though I hope it helped nonetheless.
One thing I learned is that studying raw foodism and doing it are not the same. It’s hard at the beginning but the benefits in the short and long term are tremendous to exponential.
For others reading this, 100% may be the best way to great health but it doesn’t have to discourage you if you have problems at first. The journey itself to this goal will reap rewards you can’t imagine from your viewpoint. Like Kimmie, start out by eating a 100% plant based diet … and do your own research … especially if you do it cold turkey like me.
Also, for Kimmie and others … Consult a trusted Naturopath or other competent health care professional as you transition to this lifestyle (or somewhere in between).
God Bless
-Frank-
Trinity 2B Healthy
That’s all well and good especially since you took the time to do your research.
But I wonder how you are going to buy all that stuff since you were here just two or three days ago whining about the lack of "good" food in your parents house where you still live. I believe you mentioned that you are a "poor" college age student with no job. I hope you factored in your parents in your "research" since they are going to have to buy that stuff because you can’t. How abut doing some research on how to get a job?
You can not live on just fruit and veg whether raw or cooked.
Even chimpanzees, our closest relatives don’t. They eat 50% fruit 40% leaves and 10% seeds, nuts, roots, shoots, insects, grubs, eggs and meat.
In the wild animals staple foods are usually either greens (leaves, grass, seaweed or algae) or meat. Vegetarian humans replace meat with the combination of grains+beans which together make complete protein. Raw vegans cut out these two staple food groups. They don’t eat cooked grains and beans, most dont eat raw sprouted grains, and sprouted beans/lentils are not the same nutritionally.
So raw vegans must replace the grains+beans with GREENS. You need to eat as much green stuff as possible. Green juice, green smoothies, wheatgrass, algae, spirulina, seaweed, green soups, sunflower greens (grow sunflower seeds until they have leaves. then preferably blend them into Anne Wigmores energy soup), weeds.
When transitioning I recommend you start by eating your normal diet plus as much green stuff as possible. Try to eat all of the above every single day – green juice, green smoothie, wheatgrass, spirulina, seaweed, energy soup, weeds. When you’ve managed that then switch to raw, because you will be used to getting your staples. If you don’t get enough greens you will develop deficiencies sooner or later.
Even with eating massive amounts of greens you still can’t live on just fruit and veg. You need nuts, seeds, coconuts, avocado, extra virgin olive oil, flax oil for essential fatty acids. You also need sprouted mung or aduki beans/lentils, and sprouted seeds.
Sounds good to me, but I know very little about raw foodism. Best of luck!
I eat raw food too sometimes. I just buy a package of ground chuck at the supermarket, and as soon as I get home I take the cellophane off and start eating.