To begin with getting it clear: for me, the raw vegan lifestyle is the optimum of all diet options. The one and only mankind-appropriate way of eating. A raw vegan diet, designed with mindfulness and listening to your very own physical and mental needs in each moment.
Time and again, people are stating that they failed on the raw diet, though. Or, that the raw diet failed on them, triggering health issues. Can a raw diet, a diet that healing, energizing, and beneficial, harm you?
Not the raw diet itself, to be sure – there is nothing harmful in fruit, vegetables and greens. What can lead to issues is unthinkingly following any advices and recommendations from books or websites or social media – quite often incomplete and taken out of context.
Practising a raw diet by simple following the philosophy “If it’s labeled raw, it’s good.” – let alone the question of how “raw” is defined -, or blindly following the diet rules based on another persons individual experiences, without listening to your own body’s needs, will likely cause issues sooner or later.
The beneficial power of eating raw is NOT to be found in details like taking in so-called “superfoods”, eating sprouts, or strictly avoiding any non-organic produce. Even if you might wish for it: there is no such thing like one unique miracle cure or magic pill for perfect health.
Individual responsibility – this is the key to your very own and successful way to health. Including a satisfying, healing raw diet.
Take back your power – you, and no-one else, is responsible for your health. And you – and no-one else – can actually feel, what your body needs.
I am convinced that our bodies are made for a raw and vegan diet. And how and what you eat has a major impact on your health. The base for perfect health thereby is a raw vegan diet, consisting of ripe, all natural (i. e., free from pesticides and other chemical treatment, gmo-free) fruit, vegetables, and, most important: greens! All kinds of lettuce, kale, seaweed, and, last but not least, wild edible herbs. Naturally fatty food, like avocado, olives, durian, and fresh nuts and seeds, should be included according to your body’s needs. I recommend to avoid mixtures of fat and sweet fruit in your every day meals, though – try to limit these to special occasions. Same for dried fruit – it’s a great substite for standard sweet treats during transition, but can be too much concentrated sugar when keeping it as a staple on the long run. There is nothing bad about fruit sugar, included in the whole fruit, but eating too much of it, mainly in the dried (waterless) state of a fruit, can overload your body, causing a lack of minerals, and keeping you from eating enough greens.
Avoid or limit the use of processed/extracted food like raw fast food (bars, storebought raw chocolate, crackers etc), sweeteners like agave nectar, all these “superfood”-powders etc.. Use these last in moderation when you feel that they are good for you (i love spirulina, e. g., and feel that my body is benefiting from it, especially in times when i cannot get enough wild herbs). Don’t eat anything processed (this includes your own homemade smoothies and other recipes), you would not like to eat on it’s own. Your body’s direct response to a taste or smell of natural food is an important message, telling you, if your system wants/needs (or doesn’t want) this special food. Listen to it!
One more basic pattern i’d like to mention: constantly overeating, or eating nonstop, or eating with being hungry. Avoid this! Same as eating very late in the evening (i. e., shortly before going to sleep).
Everything else, though, the exact design of “your” raw diet, how many fruit/veggies/greens you eat, which combinations will work (or not work) for you … all these are based on your individual needs, and may vary with your age, your lifestyle, the climate, the level of stress you need to master, life phases, and so on. You’ll have to find the answers for yourself. Connect with others, ask, read, get inspired, try recipes, as much as you want to. But never stop listening to your body and it’s reactions. Think for yourself! Choose for yourself, for YOUR body, based on your experiences.
And obviously: there is more than food in life, and for your health. Move your body, get lots of fresh air, feed your sould with what is making you happy …
Take back your power, your responsibility, for yourself, your body, your health! Listen to your body and its needs, and find your perfect diet.
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