Sunkist, re raw diet

[hazelnut]

Hi, I have read some of your messages lately. I am wondering if you recommend going raw for a short time for cleansing and weightloss purposes. I am considering a diet on the site waisays.com (ever heard?) but I am not sure sure about the recommended fruit intake. How long did it take you to lose your weight while raw? How long until you started noticing negative health? Do you think an all fruit diet would be harmful short term (like six weeks or so)? Any other suggestions you have regarding raw, weightloss, health would be great! Thanks,
Hazel:)

[sunkist]

Hazel
Hi - first of all let me say that i DO believe in incorporating alot of raw veggies and some raw fruits into the diet. BUT - and it's a BIG BUT - I DO NOT believe in a raw diet that is MAINLY FRUIT. I myself tried this for about 1 month - eating nothing but raw fruits, raw nuts & coconut oil. FORGET IT!!!

I DID lose weight (too much actually) but the problem was the MINERAL LOSS, VITAMIN B DEFICIENCY, and TOO HIGH SUGAR INTAKE.

Raw IS healthy but it has to be done the right way!!! I believe that you can have 20% cooked proteins ( 2 chicken breasts etc)and also dark meat too - with the fat, then the rest can be raw - including 2-3 raw egg yolks (also providing protein) green veggies and about 2 pieces of low glycemic fruit per day. You SHOULD lose weight on this type of diet. But watch yourself closely to see how you respond to this

YES I do know who WAI is and I have perused her website for some months now. Currently her discussion forum is READ ONLY so I'm not sure what is going on and if the site is still actively maintained. I believe Wai is closer to understanding a good RAW balance than some of the RAW VEGAN gurus simply because she understands the importance of adding in raw egg yolks and she even recommends sashimi (raw tuna), but her diet is SO high in fruit sugar and she even suggests adding a teaspoon of table sugar into orange juice to drink. I PERSONALLY do NOT do well on that much sugar!!

Here's something else WOMEN have to be careful of - a diet too HIGH in sugars - whether they be from fruit or any other source - has the potential to unbalance your hormonal system so that you begin to produce TOO much testosterone. This condition can also lead to PCOS and the lovely symptoms are hair loss, adult acne, facial hair, weight gain.

That's why I DO NOT advocate a raw diet high in fruits.

Green vegetables are high in minerals, antioxidants and we really need them. Egg yolks - I have never eaten one single food that has impacted my health as greatly as raw egg yolks. For my skin, hair, nails - it's unreal!!!

Let me know if you have any more questions - okay? :wiggle:

[hazelnut]

hi Sunkist,
Wow, thanks for your honesty, I really appreciate it. Yea, the high sugar/fruit thing really does not sound optimal, especially since eating low carb for a while has really got my sugar addiction in check, so I wouldn't want to reverse that now- it is very easy to fall into the idea that fruit is not a 'real' sugar, but in many studies it is metabolized just very similar to normal cane/beet sugar, so I will steer clear for a while of higher glycemic options, which really if you think about it, wouldn't even be available in the environment I live in anyway. I think I will try to stick to lots of raw non-fruit things for a while and see what happens, including raw egg yolks which I have come to really enjoy. I am not so hot on meat and can't afford free range, so that will be a once-in-a-while treat:) I wish I lived some where that sold raw dairy, but I can only get a hold of raw cheese and the sodium content is outrageous. I would love to try raw butter- but I do avoid all other dairy. Thanks again for your input. If there is anything else I will ask, you can count on it;)
-Hazel

[sunkist]

Hi Hazel
I wished i did better on raw cow dairy. I can't get my hands on raw goats dairy - I might do better on that since it's something my grandmother ate alot of in Sweden. But for now I just go with what works for me.

I have known some raw vegan who can no longer digest meat even if they wanted to!! I think it's all about balance.

A little meat
good veggies
good fats
some fruit here and there

I think it's when we swing from one extreme to the other that we upset our bodies balance of nutrients and we send it into shock!! All the body is trying to do is maintain a pleasant environment for us, heal itself - work hard to keep up woth all of our daily activities. We have to be kind to our bodies and love ourselves more and in doing so - many healthier choices seem to come more naturally