Anybody Practice a Raw Diet? (Edited)

I don't practice a raw diet (just vegan with occasional cheese thrown in), but if you're anywhere near Northville, there's a new organic, vegan, raw restaurant on Main Street called Red Pepper Deli. Their seed bread is amazing; it's not baked but dehydrated (although they also offer customers multigrain bread from Great Harvest, and they've brought in some organic cheddar for people who absolutely don't want nut cheeses). While you wait for your order, you can peruse the books about raw food they keep on the counter (they're not for sale, just information). If it's not too busy, I'm sure the people there would be glad to answer questions or maybe by looking at their books, you'd see one that you'd like to check out at the library or buy somewhere.

Wow, this is neat to see that there are others with the same interest! I am gradually heading that way. I have wheat grass and sunflower greens growing in my dining room and sprouts growing in my kitchen, and during the week I've been making a seed cream from flax, and sunflower or sesame seeds, and loving it! I have been going for more and more green vegentables, especially in a salad for at least one meal a day, and I've been losing weight and feeling better. My children are loving it, too, though when they want more, they are learning to cook it themselves when I won't :) My oldest is 9, and it's good for him to learn these things! Granted, I am always explaining to them what I am doing and all the whys, and they are rapidly coming on board. Just yesterday my husband told me I should just go all raw (i.e. that I should, but that doesn't mean him! :) ). So, he is supportive.

So, gradually, but increasingly rapidly, I am getting there. Cooking destroys the enzymes in the food we eat, so our bodies, though they get nutrition from it, must also filter out toxins created by cooking. When it is not cooked, it still has the enzymes our bodies need for general purposes, but also to digest, so our bodies do not have to generate them (the enzymes) themselves. And who needs to waste what little energy we have! :)

Thanks a lot, and good luck in your search -- it looks like there are many of us in the same boat!

Get matt monarch's book,Raw Spirit. Don't be pushed off by his "spiritual" outlook on things. He is not a christian, as far as I know. But..he is 100% raw vegan. This book and his website will tell you how he did it. He did it overnight, but he didnt' havea family to take care of. There is too much info to even type right now. But I personally would love to be raw but struggle with even doing it partially because I have 6 kids and a husband who thinks this is crazy! It's hard, to some degree but I think if you get good support and have the access to what you need you can do it. I did what he suggested and really tried to eliminate process sugars and starches first and foremost. And since I struggle with this periodically I havent' gone much further except to slowly eliminate meat from my diet. I say go for it and start with Raw Spirit. If you google him you will find him or go to Livingnutritionals.com, Angela Stokes is another person to go to (his partner) and Jordan Rubin. Oh, I'm excited that someone else has interest. My issue, if you've read requests, is that I need to afford to feed my family on a budget (while wanting to eat raw myself) I dont' tell too many people that though. They look at you funny. :)

L.,

Years ago my mother in law was on a raw diet. I believe the philosophy behind it is not only does cooking destroy valuable vitimans and nutrients, but also important enzymes that our bodies need to function well.

I have never tried this diet myself, and unfortunately my mother in law is no longer with us. Best of luck to you.

Angela was just on the news the other day doing a demo for raw food. Some super sexy older model has a raw uncook book out.
Anyway Angela teaches raw classes

http://detroitevolution.com/ckclasses.html

I don't practice a raw diet, but am very interested in good nutrition. While I try and eat well, it is hard to get everything we need in our diet since the quality of food has deteriorated. I supplement with whole food organic nutritionals. It is like getting high quality, compact food that gives my body the basic nutrients it needs and it is good for children as well.
If you want more information about what I use, contact me.
Julie H.