Raw foods system

Anyone ever heard of this?  It's basically a vegetarian way of eating, eating no dairy or meat.  They also eat only raw foods, some choose it 80% others 100%.  I find it quite interesting.  I'm not sure about never cooking anything though, that seems like it would be hard getting use too.  I'm to use too a hot meal at least once a day.

While doing a little research on it I found a few recipes.  It just really opened up my eyes on how we know so little about all the foods possible out there.  These people eat roots from different countries, etc., that we know little about.  I talked to my husband about it last night and of course he's immediately saying he needs his meat.  Me on the other hand, am starting to wonder if I could go vegan after all.  I know my doctor is trying to convince me of it.  It just seems so natural.  I'm at least going to look into it further.  One of the recipes had a picture of it.  They were replacing it for their Easter cake.  Of course they don't cook anything so it was like a berry dessert in an oblong pan.  But it even had some kind of icing on it (not our kind of icing), it really looked like it might be good!

So I think I've found my next research (I'm always researching something).  It showed a little video also of five or so people going and eating this way for 30 days.  These people had diabetes, sleep apnea, you name it.  One guy couldn't do it, he gave up and left.  Was sort of funny though because of the guy picking him up was about 400 pounds.  Other other people lost a lot of weight and went back to the doctor when they got home.  They showed their doctors appt., and they improved their diabetes IMMENSELY by eating this way.  They also was emphasizing on that this was a "cancer free" way of eating.  I wonder if that really is true?  I have a hard time imagining everyone eating like this decreases their risk for cancer to almost null.  

Another thing that I'm wondering, is that although it seems healthy, I wonder how easy it is to not get all your vitamins and minerals you need daily.  Almost reminds me of the caveman days.lol  Without the meat! 

Was very interesting. 

Like I say, vast populations eat a grain/veggie/very little meat diet and have virtually no obesity, cancer, heart disease! India, China, Japan to name a few.  Dr. Dean Edell is another believer in macro diets. I have never done vegan - ever.  I ate more as a vegetarian (lacto ovo), just could not feel full.  But, it as back in the day when fat was being bashed, too, and if I were to do it now, I would eat plenty of walnut, olive, canola, coconut, olive oils! It's hard to eat veggie in this environment. Takes a lot of planning and preparation! Before it's all over, DH and I will likely eat far less meat - he has parkinsons and protein interferes with his meds. He should be eating way less meat now. But, he's a guy, too, and will not do it - even for a couple nights a week!  As an aside, all the talk that we did not get fat until grains were introduced - most people do not realize wild grains, acorns, berries, leaves, roots were all that kept indians alive for many centuries esp in areas where there was not much game or terrible weather; horses were not introduced to aid in hunting until closer to the mid 1800's, so they had small game if that and not many ways to preserve it, so they ate it all at once - literally feast or famine.  Indians did nto get fat til we stuck them on reservations! ....and back in the day of Cleopatra not many people were fat. They had been farming for centuries by that point.

Yes, I have read about it too, and it is very interesting.  Personally, I can see the appeal and logic.  Raw fruit and veg have lots of fibre and nutrients. 

My 'take' on the concept is that I adapt it to a more main stream diet.

I do eat raw as I eat lots of salad.  I eat lots of fruit. I particularly choose 'top 10' super foods like broccoli and tomato on a regular basis. When I cook I have veggies steamed or stirfried 'al dente'. (In fact, my niece told me she didn't like Aunty Em's broccoli because it wasn't cooked!- well it WAS but it still had a bit of crunch to it, besides my kids like them thay way)

I eat seeds and nuts, and wholegrain cereals and breads.  I also eat lean fresh meat as I know red meat is a rich source of iron. (Even with meat my iron levels are borderline low- so without meat it would be a disaster.)

I minimise refined foods to 'sometimes' foods.

So I think the raw idea has merits, but is more 'palatable' in a mainstream life if you adapt it by adopting it as part of wider wholesome diet.

Em

Em, have you read much on the Human Genome project of 2003? over 3000 phytochemicals were further identified. Those studies show that eating a wide variety of fruits & veggies actually may change our genetic code and improve genetic strands that we currently have.  It's extremely exciting!