would like to transition to 50-75% raw....
 

hello...i am new to this board...right now i am doing a very strict low carb eating, including meat. i have decided to do it this way to get some of my health issues under control and take weight off quickly...however...i have been semi-vegetarian for ethical reasons for many years...and have gone times being vegan....i love the living/raw food lifestyle....however the diet tends to be high in natural sugars...too high for me to correct my health problems....also the majority of raw foodist are pro low-fat which proved difficult for me to handle....when i reach maintenance i would love to incoperate about 50-75% raw/living foods....in a reduced carb way...i imagine low-carb veggies and nut dishes....does anyone have experience with this woe...i am very interested in positive responses only....i understand raw foods and veganism may be controversial...but pls only advice that would be helpful for me....thank you....

Jasmine, in the spirit of being 'helpful for [you]', while lots of vegetables and nuts and seeds are good when raw, their nutrients and vitamins/minerals are more bioavailable to your body (i.e., digestible) when they are cooked. Being a vegetarian or vegan is fine; I don't consider it controversial. But as you point out, eating raw diets tend to be too high in natural sugars to be beneficial to our bodies--some small amount is good; too much is detrimental. You have chosen to eat low carb to 'get some of [your] health issues under control and take weight off quickly.'

What makes you think that once the weight is off and your health issues are controlled, you'll be able to change your diet so dramatically (by 50-70%) and KEEP the weight off and KEEP your health issues controlled? ;)

Seriously--eating low carb, whether incorporating meat or staying vegetarian or some combination of the two--isn't a quick fix solution. If you've already experience weight gain and health issues while eating higher carb and/or eating raw, those things are going to come back with a vengeance if you return to the way you were eating before low carbing. So think carefully how you can return to that kind of eating, or whether it's truly the best thing for your body.

There are some people who like raw meat. You said you were incorporating meat into your lc plan and that might be an option since you want to do raw foods. Check out the Neanderthin/Paleo area on this forum.

You can eat many low carb veggies raw, just add mayonaise or butter to them to up the fat content.

Raw Foods
 

Hi Jasmineben!!!! I have been trying raw food diet for only l week now. Getting good results on my blood sugar levels as I am on insulin. I've tried Atkins, Weight Watchers and also went to Curves - I didn't get the results I needed and my sugars weren't good enough. For me this has been the best so far and I feel much better. I eat raw for breakfast and lunch and then because of hubby , we have meat for dinner. I make him potatoes or rice or pasta and I always make a couple of different fresh veggies. or a large salad with everything in it. I also make my own salad dressing. Where I live we have a class once a month - Hallelujah Diet - they told me I should be l00% raw because of health issues BUT for now that's out of the question. Too much for me to handle. I think I'm doing great. 2 out of 3 meals raw. Any questions - just holler. Suzy (Vivid Lily) :wave:

Can you handle raw fish? Sushi would be perfect.

You might try incorporating some raw live foods at each meal a more realistic goal, why wait, do it now, a nice salad made up of low carb veggies and greens with a few cooked lentals or legumes and a nice tahini dressing makes a perfectly satisfying meal. Meat is not necessary for weight loss or low carb diets. Sliced cucumbers a little onion a small chopped tomato with some feta cheese(or stedda feta marinatted tofu) and an olive oil, lemon vinegret makes a wonderful breakfast. Baked cubed tofu can be added to any mixed vegetable salad or you can use silken tofu to make a nice ranch style high protein dressing. I personally love my cooked low carb veggies, I used to shun eggs but I now buy fresh eggs from a local egg lady that lets her chickens free range and they get lots of love so I do eat a few eggs now I just love sauteed spinich with an egg broken into it and steamed until just set, that and a half dozen strawberries or a few bites of cantaloupe are my idea of the perfect meal. TerryWA

I wouldn't recommend this but I add a raw organic egg to my morning shake. I understand if anyone is afraid of food poisoning. So far so good though. I read a lowcarb book where the author stated that he has done it with no negative consequences. I just mentioned it because you said you wanted to go raw. I also make raw almond milk and raw sunflower seed milk. I'm probably going to get some feedback on the raw egg, I probably will do it until it makes me sick and I have to give it up.(LOL) It is entirely possible to increase your raw intake. And remember as long as you do not heat anything higher then 120 degrees technically it is raw because the enzymes are intact. Judy

I am also trying to move towards a raw foods diet. I am not in anyway opposed to eating raw egg yolks and sometimes beef tartare and sushi (kind of expensive though.) Right now I make eggnog with coconut milk and 3-4 egg yolks blended with vanilla bean and sometimes a tiny dab of raw honey. YUMMMMMMY :yum:

Also I am making macadamia nut whipped cream and fake nut meatballs which are really good!

A decent book for some low carb raw ideas is Gabriel Cousins' Rainbow Green Live Food Cuisine. He seems to think that when you transition to a raw food diet you should start out eating only low carb stuff like greens, low carb veggies, coconuts and nuts. He breaks his diet down into 3 stages and each stage allows slightly carbier food. The only thing is that he is vegan and I don't really think that is the healthiest so I will keep adding egg yolks and other tolerable raw animal foods.

I agree with you 100%; I have lost 59 pounds on a mostly raw food diet that includes some raw fish occasionally. Not only that, but like Vivid Lily (who set me on the path to raw - thanks Suzy!) My insulin use has been drastically reduced - I use it only when I want to eat berries or an apple.

Cooking food drastically reduces most of the vitamin and enzyme content although cooking certain foods, such as tomatoes, actually does make improve the biovailability of some nutrients - so I still steam some veggies from time to time.

Read Dr Cousens' book as recommended, but also check out the Complete Idiots Guide To Eating Raw - lots of great advice for the newbie and lots of easy recipes that are less complicated than those in Rainbow Green with ingredients found in the supermarket. For those of us in northern climates, this is better.

good luck and contact me if you have any questions.

I am so thrilled to have found this thread. My plan is to begin to add raw foods into my diet more and more. Currently I am reading Gabriel Cousins' Rainbow Green Live Food Cuisine, have completed other books by Carol Alt, Matthew Monarch, and Victoria Boutenko. It looks like my first major purchase will need to be a Vita-Mix blender or a juicer. Any advice?

In my opinion, the best way to do a raw diet is to eat lots of fermented foods. In addition to boosting enzyme and probiotic content, fermentation neutralizes some of the antinutrients that are found in raw foods. I've discovered, however, that it doesn't get rid of all of them - it actually increases oxalates (found in nuts, seeds, grains and green vegetables) and some goitrogens (found in crucifers and soy). The standard recommendation to remove these antinutrients is to boil the vegetables and then discard the water. However, I have learned that kimchi, which is always eaten raw, is often brined before fermentation, and the brine is also discarded. I don't have any confirmation that this reduces antinutrients, but it sounds like a wise practice regardless.

Fermentation also reduces carb content somewhat, although I would caution against overestimating this effect. When I count carbs, I assume that nothing has been removed by fermentation so I don't overdo it.

Fermentation is a lot of fun. Although I've moved away from plant foods lately, it was a long-time goal of mine to learn how to make pickled plums, one of the world's greatest fermented foods. I still make sauerkraut and kimchi, though, because it's so easy and so very tasty. I'm also thinking about fermenting meat. It sounds scary but some very familiar foods like salami and pepperoni are actually raw fermented meats.

If you're concerned about the ethical issues of meat, it's worthwhile to look into pastured meat. Sustainable methods of animal husbandry can actually be kinder to the environment and animal life than conventional grain and vegetable farming.

Thank you for all of the information. I haven't seen much at all about fermented foods in my reading. It looks like I have lots to study and think about. As far as meat goes, it is the antibiotics and hormones that is making me sick. Organic meat is nearly impossible to find.

I would love to find a raw foods support group locally. I have so many extremely basic questions I need to ask. I know nothing about juicing, smoothies and sprouting :help:

Again, Capmikee, your help is so appreciated!

Kathy

I have a blend-tec which was recommended to me by the store owner over the vitamix. Still, I regret not getting the vitamix - the blend-tec is powerful, but not nearly as advertised.

You will also most likely need: a deydrator, a food processor (my mini one is fine) a spiral slicer and a mandoline. But the blender is the most important thing for now. I started with my oesterizer, but my green smoothies had bits in them. Still it was fine to start with. You can get the other items slowly. You will also need a nut milk bag. I just buy knee high stocking from the dollar store and use them - they are cheap and work beautifully.

Save your large mayo and pickle jars if you buy these for the rest of the family or get a few larger mason jars. You will need these for sprouting which is a great and cheap source of highly nutritious live food. For a screen for the top of the jar youu could use cheesecloth, but I got a 6 inch roll of tulle from my local party supply store and a pack of rubber bands from the dollar store and just cut pieces of tulle for my jars.

If you have any question, email me anytime info~anstria.com and I will be happy to help.

Warmly,

April

By the way, it is best to keep it really simple at first. There is no need to eat raw meat - you can get all your protein needs from a vegan raw diet. I used to slice frozen liver and fish and eat it quickly but I no longer do this. I eat a little sushi from time to time, but I really don't need it. If you don't though, you will need a B12 supplement - sublingual is best absorbed.

I have some great and easy recipes. I found the ones in Rainbow green to be too complicated with exotic ingredients unavailable in Canda. Victoria Boutenko has some good basic ones. Check out the Sunny Spread. But the Idiots guide to Raw food will give you everything you need to get started.

As for fermented food, many raw teachers do not recommended it. You must soak most nuts and seeds before consuming to get rid of the substances that impede proper digestion, and the is indeed oxalic acid in raw spinach and other dark greens. I still think a little fermented food is ok - everything in moderation though. I think it's a wise motto especially for the Newbie. In time, by experimentation and with ideas from people like capmikee, vivid lily and other who will no doubt post her for you will discover what works for you and what does not. So, for now, a blender. The Vitamix is outrageously expensive, so if you are not sure you will remain on this, get a cheaper blender to start for about $50 or less from the Wal-Mart. Then later, you can add appliances one by one. I have found the dehydrator allows me occasional treats such as raw, grain free cookies and breads. It keeps things interesting. I have mine going most days of the week.

Again, message me anytime - I will be delighted to help.

April

Here's a list of pasture-based farms in Illinois:

http://eatwild.com/products/illinois.html

A great book on fermentation is "Wild Fermentation" by Sandor Katz. He writes with contagious enthusiasm and a friendly attitude for vegans and meat-eaters alike.

"Nourishing Traditions" by Sally Fallon will tell you how to soak and sprout your nuts and seeds, and has a little information on dehydrating. It also provides a good deal of information about fermentation, with an emphasis on raw dairy. Watch out though, this book is NOT vegetarian-friendly.

Hi Everyone I've been away for awhile. Still doing pretty good. Just started going to a Naturopath. Dr. Bryce Wylde (he's on City tv) I really like him. I've also gone to his nutritionist .I didn't learn too much. Following most of what I've already learned from Raw food sites like this one. And of course my raw food classes with Hallelujah Acres. But unfortunately they've moved down to Toronto. Not sure if I'll get there much. 1 1/2 hour drive. I've kept my weight off.But now sugars are elevated and won't come down with meds. I've just upped my exercise to see if that will help. Lots of water. This time of year it's hard not to have the extras while visiting everyone. That's all for now. Suzy

Are you eating a lot of fruit? Your main fruits should be avocados and olives - that will keep your carbs lower and your fats higher. Coconut can help too.

Remember that fructose is the same whether it comes from fruit or sugarcane - it wrecks your liver and stimulates hunger, and it can ferment in your small intestine. It's much worse than starch or glucose, even though its GI is lower.

You are appreciated!
 

I can't begin to tell everyone just how much your notes have helped and inspired me. For the past few weeks while researching I thought I was all alone.

April, I bought The Complete Idiot's Guide to Eating Raw . I have just started it, and it seems to be more on my beginner's level! Perfect.

We have a local health food store but they knew nothing about any raw food groups or classes in our area. Whole Foods and Trader Joe's are both two and a half hours away in Indianapolis. (I'm in Champaign, Illinois.)

Capmikee, thank you for the Illinois farm link. We have an Amish community about 45 minutes away. They might also be a wonderful resource.

I have a Kitchen Aid blender (still in the box) that I might try to begin with. A dehydrator sounds like it would helpful too. Do they have to be special ordered?

You all (can you tell my Virginia roots show!?) have been amazing and all of your help and advice is taking me to the next level!

Thank you so much!

Kathy

Hi Kathy,

I got my dehydrator - the square one with drawers and teflex sheets - from my local health food store. But I started with one from the Wal-Mart. I just cut out rounds of parchment paper for recipes calling for teflex sheets and it worked fine - plus stuff dries more quickly with parchment.

The problem with that one was, there was no temperature guage and I did not know if I was going over the recommended 115 degrees F. However, it was great to practise on and I used it for a good long time. Then my husband bought me a new one for my birthday last year.

You can also mail order them. Many people recommend the extremely expensive Excalibur, and that's great if you can afford it.

I use the dehydrator to make raw seed ookies and manna and other seed breads. I have a few nice recipes.

The idiot's guide has some easy recipes for nut milks, treats etc. I also like the Raw Epicurean: http://rawepicurean.net. - since their recipes always work out and taste really good.

Mostly, I eat raw produce, but sometimes you have to have a bit of a treat or a break and that's where the dehydrator comes in; and it's much easier to convince the rest of the family to support you and even join you if they know they are at least going to have the occasional foods they love.

I also have a great recipe for raw chocolate pudding made with avacados. You won't believe how silky smooth it is.

Email me anytime with any questions, It's best to transition slowly to avoid a toxic dump (made that mistake and regretted it). It is also much less hard on the family that way too.

Baby steps. Start with an all raw breakfast then add one or two dishes of raw at lunch and supper.

My husband now takes a green smoothie to work each day for breakfast, and manna bread with raw nut butter, lots of veggies, and raw cookies fruit for lunch and he loves it! He does not feel deprived in the least. He can have meat (chicken or fish) twice a week, and a thick bowl of soup every night with his salad. Sometimes for dessert I make chia pudding, chocolate avacado pudding, raw cookies or just fruit salads and nuts. I forgo the meat, but still eat one bowl of soup or some lightly steamed veggies a few times a week.

You won't believe the difference in me. The vision in my right eye had been terribly blurred for years and it has cleared up. I am 55 and don't even need the glasses I had been wearing since age 40. There are many other benefits.

So write me with any questions and i am certain the others would be delighted to help in any way as well.

April info~anstria.com

Merry Christmas!!!

Hi April!
 

I am just finishing up reading The Raw Food Detox Diet by Natalia Rose. I am thinking I will follow her advice (you said the same thing) about beginning slowly. Scouting shopping trips are in order for finding many of the foods and ingredients I usually do not use.

The past few days have been spent trying to decide what appliance to purchase first. It has been between a blender and a juicer. I have a regular blender and think I will just use it and see how long it will last, and will purchase a juicer. I seem to have come down to two--the Omega Model 8006 and the Omega VRT330. Both will juice greens and wheat grass and seem to have an easier clean-up than others. Do you have any recommendations/suggestions?

After a Christmas dinner with family and friends, I had awful stomach and back cramps--a definite message from my body to stop playing around and begin detoxing! Those pains lasted almost 24 hours. I did a lemon juice and water fast for the next 24 hours and felt well again.

Now, just to figure out a juicer! Thank you everyone for your patience (and April, I will email you when I figure out what questions to ask!).

Happy almost New Year!

Kathy

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas

I have made the decision to go with a blender. After finding the www.GreenSmoothiesGirl.com website, I decided to get a Blendtec. She also has a lot of videos on the site, everything from shopping at the local grocery store produce department to making green smoothies and desserts. VitaMix sent me a notice saying they were presenting on QVC this past weekend, and I watched their shows and picked up lots of wonderful ideas.

While waiting for my blender to arrive, I have been through two "chocolate meltdowns" and need nutritional help fast. Hurry blender, hurry!

My Blendtec blender arrived January 13 and I have used it every day since. My morning meal is a green smoothie and for the past ten days, that has also been my evening meal. I am eating (well, drinking) things that I never thought would pass my lips!

Right now I am sipping on a mango, pineapple, banana and greens smoothie.

I am trying to switch over to as much raw/fresh food as possible. I have not been hungry, but have been craving my old food (SAD) terribly. I'm not craving sweets, but things like pizza.

The Arnold's Way website has been really helpful to me too. They make banana whips using a Champion juicer. That might have to be my next purchase. My blender and I have become inseparable.

Kathy :rheart:

You can eat mostly raw without lots of carbs--I've been doing it for a few months now.

If you want to eat nuts, most raw foodists soak them first as this deactivates the enzyme inhibitors in them. After they're soaked you can dehydrate them if you wish. The amount of time varies; just google it and I'm sure you can find a chart.

As for dairy...there are lots of raw cheeses out there. I find that the biggest (and cheapest!) selection is at Trader Joe's. They have a raw cheddar there that's to die for! Much more delicious than pasteurized cheddar. I've only been fortunate enough to have raw milk once, as it's over $12 a gallon here in Arizona.

And for fruit...just try and choose the more low-sugar fruits, such as berries. I like to make smoothies for breakfast, and frozen blueberries/strawberries are a good choice. You can add some cold-pressed flax/coconut oil to up the fats and enhance flavor.

Veggies are pretty easy--just don't eat the ones high in starch. Too many raw cruciferous veggies can be hard on the digestion though, so try not to overdo it.

As for meat...I only eat seafood, though not raw. There are plenty of recipes out there for raw meat though, such as ceviches, tartare, etc. You can kill the bacteria in meat by putting it in the freezer for 14 days, and for seafood you can simply marinate it in an acid, such as whey or lemon juice.

And as some earlier poster suggested, the books Wild Fermentation and Nourishing Traditions (my bible!) are really good. I'd also recommend The Raw Foods Resource Guide, by Jeremy Safron, and any books by Ani Phyo. She is famous in the raw community, though I can't say that she's low-carb.

Oh, and this website is VERY helpful as well:
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/index.php

I feel obligated to note that freezing doesn't really do anything to bacteria, but it does kill parasites. Salt, acid and searing will kill the bacteria on the surface, and unless the meat is ground, there won't be any on the inside.

Ahh, my bad. Parasites are actually what I meant to say--I remember reading that in Nourishing Traditions. Thanks for the correction.

My transition to raw continues.

I eat simply and make lots of smoothies. They satisfy me. I have green smoothies mainly for breakfast and a banana/peanut butter/almond milk "ice cream" smoothie (my non-raw extravagance) for lunch. With watermelon in season right now, I am eating them daily. Once a week I take myself out for breakfast and splurge with a veggie and cheese omelet. Most suppers are green smoothies again, or veggies to munch on.

My next purchase will probably be a dehydrator so I can branch out a bit. But, for now I am happy with how I am eating. The biggest problem has been traveling. I have been able to freeze my green smoothies, put them in the cooler, and defrost them when I am ready. That has worked out fine.

Social events have been a real challenge. People don't like it when you don't eat like they do :rolleyes: . There are no natural food stores (like Whole Foods or Trader Joe's) anywhere near us, nor any raw restaurants. This is a whole new ballgame (it was to me too just a year ago!). But, I am learning as I go, and I have discovered that I need to be happy with my food plan, and everything else will fall into place...and, I have lost 21 pounds so far :thup: This is a lifestyle, not just a way to eat :rheart:

Kathy

Old but interesting thread. I was trying something like this a few years ago..doing a raw/whole food diet keto style but people on another forum were against it and saying it doesn't work.

I loved raw.. I weighed my lowest in my life on that of 120. It's when I went off it..couldn't afford all the fruit and vegetables, no longer had the resources to buying in bulk and co-ops and all that.. and turned into a sugar addict and some other health issues is when I gained a ton of weight and just stopped giving a crap. I tried going back to it but I was such a blood sugar mess and so hungry on it I couldn't stick with it. I mean, I went from 120 to 220 in 2 years.

Since being in keto though I find myself gravitating back to the raw foods.. 1 or 2 huge salads a day with little Olive oil/ACV dressing, raw eggs and raw cheese. I use my commercial/high speed blender for celery juice and I throw a few leaves of spinach in it. It's the only vegetables I can actually blend and drink on it's own. It's not worth it for me to dig out the juicer when I'm limited on what I can use.

I think it'll be easier to go back to raw once my weight is much lower. Obviously the more you weigh the more calories you need. I'm currently eating some meat and I don't like meat that much and don't want to eat it. Just trying to do the lowcarb/ketosis thing correctly and give it a chance to work. When I was raw, I wanted no part of meat. But I want this weight gone so bad I'm just trying to give it a chance. I can't eat soy.

Hi!
 

I just can't call you "Failed" because that is not who you are. You are a beautiful person who is working on improvement like all of us.

Like you, I have gained weight back and am in the process of getting back on track. My mental attitude seems to have everything to do with my progress. I have been on a sugar binge and am struggling to get back to my fruits and veggies. I too have a juicer and love how I feel after I have made a good healthy drink for myself. My favorite has been carrots and apples.

Gardening has never been my strong point, but I am trying strawberries, tomatoes and greens this year. Anything fresh off the vine is beyond wonderful! Do you garden or live somewhere that has a farmers' market? That might help with the eating.

Another inspiring thing for me has been reading and watching videos from Dr. Richard Schulze. He has a strong personality, but I have learned so much from everything he has available. Here is a link to his blog: https://herbdocblog.com/.

I wish you all the best and would love to hear how you are doing.

Kathy :rheart:

Looking for a raw food support friend
 

I would like to reactivate this thread and see if anyone is interested in being a raw food buddy? I am back to my green smoothies and feel SO GOOD when I have them.

Kathy :rheart:

I am new here, but thanks for the information. I am going to check out these books. I am still eating fish as well..can't seem to let go of it right now.

I am interested in shedding about 5-8 lbs. I seem to need low carb in general.. thanks again for the information.