Eating In the Raw
Gotcha! For this post ‘in the raw’ is not eluding to a new trend of dieting that involves being naked in order to lose weight. Though the thought of being with out protective coverings may have a push factor, for those who disdain their unclothed bodies, to be more conscious of what crosses the lips.
First, I must apologize for being absent for so long. I am working on another major project that has been occupying much of my time. Second, I have just this passed weekend created a solid schedule for myself which provides for me keeping up with my personal blogs as well as the many others that I oversee.
On with the rawness.
Herein is simply my thoughts on incorporating more raw foods into my diet with hopes of gaining beneficial nutrients. It has been touted that raw foods are closer to a natural way of eating. No, this doesn’t mean you’ll find me munching on carrot and celery sticks all day long.
But I do intend on making 50% of my food intake raw, uncooked and unprocessed. Sure, you’re probably thinking, “Another fad diet!” Sorry to all my processed food junkies and unaware health-conscious friends, but eating raw has been around since…well, FOREVER!
All those diet dinners, health food bars and protein shakes are not what they’re cracked up to be. Anytime a food is processed, the valuable nutrient levels drop dramatically. Why do you think the vitamin and supplement industry is booming? Because most of the foods we consume are lacking what the body needs.
Think massive salads and gazpacho. Think cold-pressed oils and raw cheese. Yes, raw cheese is fabulous! Too bad I can’t get raw milk anywhere near my home. Yeah, and the government is trying to disallow for my wanting to drink milk as the god’s intended: straight from the cow. And am I worried about all the ills that have been so-called caused by unpasteurized dairy products? Not a bit!
Only organic, kosher animal products go into this body. See, contrary to vegan/raw-vegan eaters, I happen to love animal products and especially m-e-a-t! Just can’t get enough protein for my taste without a slab of steak now and again. Or some plump, juicy chicken.
However, I can not quite get used to the rawness of steak tartare or rare wings so I have simply quit eating so much of the meat products.
I will eat more rare tuna and try other sashimi delights, but as for my 50% raw eating I will stick to the wonderful fruit and vegi smoothies, salads and soups, nuts, seeds and their sprouted and germinated versions. It is amazing what wonderful recipes are available and things that can be un-cooked up with raw ingredients and a dehydrator.
The book suggestion to the right is one of the many I have that give more than enough recipes for eating raw. If you ever want to consider eating in the raw then I suggest you get a good recipe book so as not to get bored thinking matchsticks of carrots are one of the only food available.
Oh, but contrare! It was a pleasant surprise when I found I had so many ways to get it in the raw.
So how has that been working? Great! I don’t miss much, actually. But I do feel a lot better after only a week so I will keep gnawing on raw while keeping the animal proteins to organic and kosher.
There are many famous people eating in the raw including Demi Moore and Carol Alt. And each has their own way of implementing raw foods with their lifestyle. It is possible to gain better health by eating more raw fruits and vegi’s along with sparing amounts of nuts and seeds. Even grains can be eaten raw with a bit of effort.
I will never be a vegetarian, much less a vegan, as I had considered. But I will put my teeth on more food stuffs as nature intended.
L
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Hi Lisa,
Great picture! And, congratulations on your big project and new schedule.
I remember following StevePavlina.com a while back when he made the transition to a raw diet — from detoxing and having grumpy moods to mental clarity and increased energy. I admit, I get irritable if I can’t have a steak once in a while, but I’ve recently made a similar shift to include more raw and organic items to my diet. I feel lighter, but less satiated. It’s encouraging when others can empathize with the process. I applaud your transition
Thanks Kim! It is time to start taking some advice I learned a while back to follow what my heart tells me, and this is part of it, and start finding like-minded people to have in my life. Glad you are!
This is impresseive. I really feel like I would benfit greatly from doing this. I would imagine that a body detox would be in order first. The hardest part of eating healthy would be giving up refined sugar. I gave up sugar and soda for six weeks. I felt great and though I didn’t lose much weight I could see the difference in my body. I am trying to get inspired to get in shape…looking better is a plus, but mainly to just feel more energetic. I enjoyed this post.
Hi Suzicate – When asked, (I know you didn’t)
I always say the number one thing after not smoking that people can do for their health is this… If you drink soda, stop. Forever. Or at least only a few per year. Soda is just about the worse thing that ever happened to our health.
.-= Will´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday 3-31-2010 =-.
Thanks Suzicate! Thing about incorporating more raw is it IS detox-ing. Believe me, when I first started eating more fresh fruits and vegetables it does what any detox diet could do
I was somewhat surprised.
I came oover knowing exactly what the post was going to be about. Then I saw the photo and thought “what the????”. But the post turned out great after all. That guy on the right looks like he could benefit from reading your post and my blog!
I incorporate lots of raw foods into my diet but I am not anywhere near 100%. One thing I do, (in fact am cooking one right now), is make vegetable casseroles and cook them in the oven at 200 degrees. They warm up to get the taste of a cooked dish, but without losing all the texture and flavor cooking at 350 causes. When you but tuna, please get the chunk light type rather than the solid white. It comes from a more sustainable fishery.
I am the same way with the steak. I can go a couple of weeks without any red meat, then I will cook a nice steak on the BBQ and eat my heart out. I am a big believer that the best way to eat for all of us normal people without the 100% willpower that some have, is to make overall healthy changes and then not beat yourself up over the occasional steak or pizza. It is your overall diet that makes the health difference, not any one individual item.
Plus some cooked items are just not meant to be without! For example I make big batches of organic whole wheat and bran muffins. I eat one almost every day. They are cooked at 375, but they are good for the body and good for the soul!
Ciao
.-= Will´s last blog ..Your Diet Might Prevent Depression =-.
Hi Will! Thanks for that bit on the vegi casserole. Your right about the higher temps and have refrained more from that recently. As for tuna, are you talking about canned? What is your take on fresh. I’m learning to eat it seared and fairly raw inside. Not being a sushi type person this was a big step.
You are right about doing our best and not getting caught up in being perfect in this day.
Thanks for stopping by!
Lisa, thank you very much for visiting and commenting on my blog. Like Kim, I, too, congratulate you on your new project and revised schedule.
We grow all our own vegetables here in the mountains – it has been years since we have bought vegetables because what we don’t make friends give us. It is one of the great benefits of living in the Japanese countryside, where almost every household has a garden or very small-scale farm.
In eating raw I think it is important to remember the source of the food. One of the main reasons that modern food does not nourish or sustain us at the deep levels we require for optimum health is that food production produces food that is no longer connected to or filled with the natural life source. No longer alive, how can it possibly give us life?
And yes, as you say, one of the keys to understanding about what we need or want to eat is following what your own heart tells you. The body has an intelligent wisdom that informs us at so many levels, once we learn to listen to the ways it communicates.
Morning greetings to you from the mountains in Japan – Catrien Ross.
.-= Catrien Ross´s last blog ..Catrien Ross on Stretching Your Potential Through the Real Power of Intention to Direct Your Energy Flow =-.
Catrien, I envy you being able to grow all you need (or from neighbors), the way it should be, the way it is intended. But I am determined to start building my own sources, beginning this spring. Space is not an issue so begins the planting. I will be directing positive energy flows to the success of my gardening endeavors.
Thanks for your input.
I know how much we all need to change our diet in the US and eat better. This is the first generation that is morbidly obese. Thanks not only the fast food joints, processed foods, but also our governments guidelines for school lunches. if you were to read it, as a parent you would be shocked. I have been watching a new program with Jamie Oliver a chef out of England who is taking on the school system in WV and it’s eye opening how ignorant we are with the foods we eat. Although if every one did eat naked and look at each other I think we would start to eat better and quickly, lol.
.-= Man Over Board´s last blog ..Top Ten Insured Body Parts Of Famous People =-.
Hi Lisa
Still smiling about the photo…. you had me fooled I thought you were about to persuade us to eat in the raw. No thanks!
Thinking about what raw foods I eat….. hardly any.
Salads, nuts, that’s about it.
Never had the courage to try steak tartare, not sure I could face it.
Might try some of the things you mention, but then again… I might not.
.-= Keith Davis´s last blog ..A helping hand… =-.
Keith,
Yeah, as much as I WANT to go all raw, don’t think that will ever truly happen. I still love a good medium rare steak on the bar-bee. I’ll just keep eating my fruits and vegis mostly raw. Maybe a bit of seared tuna and occasional tartare, nothing too drastic.
I’ve been considering this raw food change myself. I know it would be so much healthier. I have seen a few shows on TV about raw foodies and they all seem so happy and energetic, something I want to be. I don’t know that I can give up meat but I know I can eat a lot more veggies raw and skip the processed foods with ease.
I have no plans to eat naked but I am sure if I did it would prevent me from eating all kinds of foods I shouldn’t eat.
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Tribal Blogs Update =-.
Jen, I am sure glad clothes are a must in our society! Don’t think I would have a problem with being in shape if they weren’t.
Thanks for stopping by!