Your Raw Wellness

What if I came to you and said,

“I have the absolute best diet in the world. You will lose weight, you will have more energy, and you will prevent and even reverse any and all diseases. AND you get to eat 60% OR MORE of your calories from fat!”

You would probably a) laugh in my face, b) turn and run, or c) ask if I was a raw foodist.

That’s right, folks. The average raw foodist eats 60% of his or her calories from fat! That’s over HALF of one’s daily calories, all from fat!

Are you surprised? I know I sure was when I went raw. I could not believe that there were people actually promoting a high fat diet when all the evidence for a healthy diet pointed to the exact opposite!

So why are so many raw foodists eating so much fatty foods? What it boils down to is the “If It’s Raw, It’s Healthy” fallacy.

If It’s Raw, It’s Healthy

Many raw foodists will argue that raw fats are much healthier than cooked fats and do not result in such problems as heart disease and atherosclerosis. As long as it’s raw, you can eat as much avocado, nuts, and seeds as you want.

Yes, it’s true that raw fats are much better than cooked fats. Cooked fatty foods have had the majority of the water removed and many necessary micronutrients along with that water (not to mention all the nutrients that are destroyed by the heat alone).

Once fats are cooked, they quickly go rancid and produce harmful carcinogens. The more oxygen that these foods come into contact with, the more rancid they become and the more dangerous carcinogens they produce.

The Problem With Too Much Fat

However, eating an excess of either cooked or raw fats produces a host of problems for the consumer:

#1: Fat takes a long time to digest and it remains in the bloodstream for a long time. When too much fat is consumed, the excess fat in the bloodstream interferes with insulin production from the pancreas. Under normal circumstances, the insulin would attach itself to sugar molecules within the blood in order to carry them to the cells. With the fat in the way, the insulin does not reach the sugar. The pancreas becomes fatigued from producing extra insulin. The blood-sugar level becomes elevated because the sugar cannot be transported out of the blood by the insulin. As you can see, sugar metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes and Candida are not caused by a lack of insulin or too much sugar. They can be directly linked to an excess of fat.

#2: An excess of fat in the body slows down digestion of other foods that are eaten. Fruit, which normally takes minutes to digest, now has time to ferment inside the body. This results in uncomfortable bloating and gas.

#3: Too much fat in the bloodstream also interferes with the red blood cells’ ability to transport oxygen. A low oxygenated body is a perfect environment for cancer cells to thrive.

#4: Excess fat consumption is linked to numerous physical and mental ailments, such as:

Heart disease Atherosclerosis Breast cancer Prostate cancer Diabetes Candida Hyperglycemia Hypoglycemia Anemia Arthritis Depression Bipolar Disorder

How Much Fat?

Dr. Graham, author of The 80/10/10 Diet and a leader within the raw food movement, advocates a diet of 10% fat or less. Personally, this is the guideline that I follow and recommend as well. Anymore fat than this and it is likely that you are not consuming enough simple carbohydrates in the form of fruit.

10% of calories from fat is surprising to many people. However, many reputable sources (including the world-renowned Pritikin Center) recommend that only 10-15% of calories come from fat.

Many people around the world eat diets low in fat. In The China Study, the longest nutritional study ever conducted, Dr. Campbell studies people living in rural China who eat as low as 6% of calories from fat!

It is not surprising that in these areas you find much lower rates of heart disease, atherosclerosis, breast cancer, etc. compared to more industrialized places like the US and Britain.

On most days, I do not eat any overt fats and on those days I average about 5% of my calories from fat. I’ve never experienced any adverse reactions from limiting my fat intake.

In fact, I have only experienced great benefits since limiting fat, such as weight loss, increased energy, deeper sleep, mental focus, and improved digestion.

Take Action!

You can take action right now by simply limiting your consumption of fatty foods to 15% or less. A good way to do this is to replace these foods with high-calorie, low-fat sweet fruits.

For instance, if you usually eat avocados with your greens, try peaches sliced up on top instead. You can even make completely fat-free dressings from fruits and veggies. Here is a personal favorite of mine:

*Tangy Tomato Dressing*

2 cups of pineapple 1 cup of tomatoes 1 cup of cucumber

Blend all of the ingredients together.

The best way to track your fat consumption is to use www.nutridiary.com. There are many more sites that allow you to track your calories, but this is the site I recommend. It is easy to use and easy on the eyes.

Here is a comment that was recently left on a former post about mono-fruit meals.

I am lazy and started doing fruit meals from the beginning! I have never been into cooking recipes. So I got into raw foods and eating mostly fruit instinctively. ~ Annalise

I can certainly relate to this.  When I ate a cooked vegan diet, I always HATED spending hours in the kitchen preparing meals.  Or making a second trip to the supermarket because I forgot some essential ingredient for a dish the first time around.  Or having to plan my “healthy” meals days in advance.  Or…the list goes on and on.

That’s why I was so excited about the raw food diet. “Eating foods in their raw states,” I thought. “What could be more simple than that?”

Little did I know that the world of “gourmet raw” wasn’t any better than cooked vegan!  I still spent hours in the kitchen, only now I was just chopping vegetables.  I still had to make numerous trips to various health food stores in the hopes of finding “necessary” special ingredients.  And I still had to plan everything well in advance, so as not to waste anything or end up without enough food.

And at least my cooked meals actually tasted good!  Raw meatloaf and “sun” burgers…no thanks.

A Diet for the Lazy Man

Luckily, I quickly came across a raw food diet that truly satisfies the couch potato inside of me.  And as crazy as it sounds, this is the absolute *healthiest* and most *nutritious* diet you can find!

And which diet is this?  Why, the low fat raw vegan diet, of course!  That means all the sweet fruit you can eat, moderate greens and non-sweet fruits, and limited fats.  That’s it!

When I found out that I could literally grab a bunch of bananas and chow down, I couldn’t believe it.  And what if I wanted something a little more fancy?  No problem!  A simple yet satisfying fruit salad, green smoothie, savory salsa or raw pasta could be prepared in just minutes!

This meant no more extra time in the kitchen and no more desperate searches at the supermarket!  While I still plan my meals, and recommend that you do the same, it’s extremely simple.  Since I know how much food I need in a given day and the ripening times of the various foods that I eat, all that is required is to make sure that I buy enough when I go shopping.  That’s all there is to it!

And best of all?  I have more energy on this super simple lazy man’s raw diet than on any other program I’ve ever tried!  And because I’m not slaving away in front of a hot stove (or tepid dehydrator, for that matter), I can use that new-found energy for things that I truly enjoy.

What’s That, You Say?

A raw diet of mostly fruit is just *too* simple, right?  There is just *no way* a person can survive long term on such a diet, huh?

WRONG!  Not only are people surviving on a high fruit, low fat raw vegan diet, they are thriving (myself included)!  If you don’t believe me, take a gander at 30 Bananas a Day.  It’s a forum specifically for low fat raw vegans and boasts over 1000 members!

If you are *still* skeptical, try it out for yourself!  You have nothing to lose from giving a healthy raw vegan diet a go.  Cooked foods will still be there if you wish to return to them.

So what’s stopping you?  Grab some bananas and give the low fat fruity raw way a try!

Today Angela and I discuss whether or not if allergies can be overcome on a raw food diet. Angela and I quoted Dr Norman Walker and Dr. Ann Wigmore about how toxicity in the body is the result of allergies. Although in this video I stated that toxicity will always be present in our bodies in this day and age, I do feel that if you know what you are doing, you can overcome y…

Why would anyone want to change to Raw Foods when they can take pleasure in eating sweet cake, cookies, ice cream, salty chips, soda or other fatty foods loaded with flavor? There is a very good reason: to live a happier, healthier lifestyle with plenty of energy, that’s why.

Just what does someone eat on a raw foods diet? Eating uncooked and unprocessed foods as a large percentage of the diet is what most people do and they often prefer organic raw foods. The prevailing mind set is why eat fresh, raw foods if they have been contaminated with inorganic chemicals.

There is more than one type of raw foods diet. In some only fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds are acceptable. Others may allow meat, fish and some dairy foods as a protein source. It’s best if foods are eaten uncooked but foods that are cooked should be lightly heated. If food is heated above a certain high temperature valuable nutrients are destroyed and that would totally defeat the purpose.

People who choose to change to Raw Foods do so because of the benefits. Some may feel it’s a sacrifice in the beginning but eventually when they are healthy and full of energy it no longer feels that way.

These are raw foods benefits:

Your body will be less prone to sickness due to a healthier immune system. Contains live enzymes to aid in your digestion and improve metabolism. You will be able to maintain a healthy body weight due to fewer calories consumed. Healthy intestinal flora will improve your digestion. You will be more energetic. The fibres in raw food are called cellulose. They are necessary when it comes to losing weight. Raw vegetables are an excellent and natural resource for a clear skin. Eating raw vegetables is the best anti-aging treatment as it maintains the hormone levels in the body.

A change in any diet requires active awareness but there are several things you should be aware of if you decide to start eating raw foods as a primary part of your diet.

It requires considerably more time because you have to prepare meals from scratch. If you like to eat out it will take discipline since most restaurants don’t offer this dietary option. At the start you may experience an increased appetite as your body adjust to the changes. You may experience signs of detoxification such as headaches, nausea and other symptoms.

Changing to raw foods can be a challenge but in the end the rewards should be very satisfying.

So, please try to include at least few raw food items maintained above in your daily diet to stay healthy and live longer.

Important Note: If you have any type of medical condition or you are pregnant you should consult your doctor first.

Caution: Wash the raw foods thoroughly before eating.

Today we have Tonya Kay on our TV Show. Tonya used to be on heavy medication for manic depression aka bipolar. Through a raw food lifestyle Tonya managed to get off her medication and heal her bipolar condition. Enjoy…

I’ll just get right to the point.  Most raw food gurus are lying to you.

What the Experts Say

#1: Is It Raw?

These “experts” encourage you to eat anything as long as it’s raw.  That means toxic foods like garlic, raw cacao, and cayenne pepper can be eaten on a daily basis and in mass quantities.  They are even described affectionately as “warming” foods!

#2: Fruit-Phobia

These “experts” claim that a fruit-based diet is dangerous to your health, all the while promoting severe calorie restriction by eating a diet based on low-calorie vegetables.

I won’t name names, but one “expert” in particular claims that the healthiest raw diet consists of no more than 5 ounces of food!  5 OUNCES!  That’s the amount I give my 15 pound maine coon!

Are you a 15 pound feline?  No?  Moving on then.

#3: Fat Fanatics

These “experts” go against all quality independent nutritional research and recommend eating extremely high levels of fat in the form of fatty fruits, nuts and seeds, and even processed oils!  These are RAW fats, so you can eat as much as you want!

Again, no naming names, but certain “experts” have no problem eating and recommending 2-4 avocados EVERYDAY!  And that’s not including all the nuts, seeds, and oils that are consumed in salads and dehydrated dishes.

#4: Powered, Processed, & Packaged

These “experts” advocate that you spend extraordinary amounts of YOUR money on  “necessary” superfoods and supplements, many of which the supposed “expert” undoubtedly sells on his or her own website.

The RIGHT Way to Go Raw

#1: Is It Healthy?

Raw does not equal healthy!  You do not need harmful raw foods such as salt, pepper, and raw cacao.  In fact, your body is better off without them.

#2: Fruit, Fruit, and More Fruit

Don’t be afraid of fruit!  Fruits offer the best nutrition for humans and satisfy your caloric needs.  You should be eating as much sweet fruit as you want, until you are satisfied.  Low calorie greens and non-sweets fruits are additions to fruit and can never form the basis of a healthy diet.

#3: Fat is Fat is Fat…

Raw fat is still fat and these foods should make up the smallest part of your diet.  Think half of an avocado or 1-2 tablespoons of nuts per day.  And oils are not raw, not healthy, and nothing but 100% fat!

#4: Fresh, Raw, & Fruity

Superfoods and supplements can never measure up to the nutritional complex of fresh fruits and vegetables.

You do not need Noni juice.  You do not need dehydrated goji berries.  You do not need yucky green powders and I will *never* sell any of these to you nor recommend that you buy them from anyone!  Spend your money elsewhere, like on good quality fresh, raw produce.

Final Words

Ignore these so-called experts and go raw the RIGHT way!

Today we review some really good tasting raw food products. Included are some raw food products from the company go raw and more. Enjoy……

Grow more food in less space and in less time. Finally, gardening made simple and easy, the way gardening should be!
Cinder Block Gardens ebook

Today Kate shows us a chia seed recipe, which provides a lot of energy. It is similar to the chia fresco from Mexico. Enjoy…