hey all...i made the transition to raw foods a little over a week ago and i already believe its the best decision ive made. i do have a couple of questions though, and i appreciate any input.
first of all- fats. ive been eating very high-fat since i went raw. avocados, coconut, extra virgin coconut oil, olives, raw nuts and nut butters. should i refrain from too high of an intake of fat, even with raw foods? what is a good amount to consume on a daily basis....and will i gain weight from the intake of these healthier fats?
secondly, sugars. i am craving them in excess. have mostly been eating fruit and limiting my intake of sweetners (i only use agave and raw honey) but today for instance i ate almost an entire pineapple, boatloads of kiwi, and fresh mango to top it all off. should i limit my intake of sugars as well...and if so, how much?
lastly, i have talked to a few raw foodists who claim you can eat as much as you want when on a raw diet. since i went raw ive been eating a lot... perhaps cravings to compensate for what ive cut out... but i dont know if i believe its safe to over-eat on any kind of food at all. what is your input on this?
first of all- fats. ive been eating very high-fat since i went raw. avocados, coconut, extra virgin coconut oil, olives, raw nuts and nut butters. should i refrain from too high of an intake of fat, even with raw foods? what is a good amount to consume on a daily basis....and will i gain weight from the intake of these healthier fats?
secondly, sugars. i am craving them in excess. have mostly been eating fruit and limiting my intake of sweetners (i only use agave and raw honey) but today for instance i ate almost an entire pineapple, boatloads of kiwi, and fresh mango to top it all off. should i limit my intake of sugars as well...and if so, how much?
lastly, i have talked to a few raw foodists who claim you can eat as much as you want when on a raw diet. since i went raw ive been eating a lot... perhaps cravings to compensate for what ive cut out... but i dont know if i believe its safe to over-eat on any kind of food at all. what is your input on this?
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Sacramento
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Re: newly raw and a couple of questions
Sun, March 23, 2008 - 8:16 PMIn Ayurveda it's said that even heavenly nectar, if consumed in excess, becomes poison. or something like that. Best not to eat more than you can comfortably process! I think it's a great idea to limit your intake of both fats and sugars. . . try substituting more greens. get Victoria Boutenko's book Green For Life, I know of no more important book for a raw food enthusiast. She talks about the value of consuming lots of blended dark leafy greens. . .
keep it fresh and magickal,
Zeke
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Re: newly raw and a couple of questions
Mon, March 24, 2008 - 6:33 AMNo worries. I've been raw for years and I still have days when I suddenly crave either lots of fruits (tropical, mostly) or high fat foods...or both!!!
Ezekiel mentions Victoria B's book. Check out the book where she talks about first going raw (she and her entire family). It was something they experienced, too.
Are you raw vegan? -
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Re: newly raw and a couple of questions
Mon, March 24, 2008 - 8:46 AMyes raw vegan, with the exception of bee products - pollen, royal jelly, propolis, and very rarely honey.
what could these cravings signal? -
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Re: newly raw and a couple of questions
Mon, March 24, 2008 - 11:47 AMthese cravings could signal need for protein and minerals. both of which are abundant in dark leafy greens. -
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Re: newly raw and a couple of questions
Mon, March 24, 2008 - 6:29 PMi think that's all natural as your body adjusts. I ate a LOT more in the first month of raw than i do now, nearly a year later. I also ate a lot of cashew butter, and don't really crave it much now. If your body was used to depending on beans, tofu, or meats for protein, it may take a bit to adjust to the proteins available in raw veggies and nuts. I had the hardest time quitting sugar and eating lots of fruit helped. I think when you are easing into the lifestyle it's ok to eat as much of whatever raw food you want, but listen to your body and learn to distinguish between emotional cravings and actual nutritional needs. I eat so much less now, just a few pieces of pineapple, or one orange, or a few carrots, takes me very far. At times when i was freezing and felt too spacey, i would eat more coconut and cashew butter. Now that it's warming up, i am just eating greens, avocados, small quantities of nuts and fruit smoothies made with almond milk.
welcome to the family!
m7
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Re: newly raw and a couple of questions
Tue, March 25, 2008 - 6:04 AMVictoria mentions all manner of things, but mostly I think it's just what your body needs. Yeah, I know - that's obvious enough. But I'm less analytical about my food intake these day and tend to eat intuitively.
As you body acclimates to raw, you will find what you eat changes - sometimes dramatically. If you eat an increasing amount of local food, you'll find that your diet tends to change with the seasons. As your activity levels change, you'll find your body naturally adjusts.
My one recommendation is to do at least a brief fast to help your body "de-program" so that you can better trust what it tells you. Just my 2 cents (now worth about .05 cents due to inflation), of course.
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