Day1-Back on the Raw Vegan Wagon

[orioncho]

Day 1 - Back on the Raw Vegan Wagon (Terrified!)

Hey everyone,

Today is officially Day 1 of my raw vegan journey, *again*. I've been down this road before, but this time feels different...and honestly, scarier.

A little backstory: I started as a vegetarian years ago, then went vegan, and for a while, I was thriving on a raw vegan diet. But life happened, stress happened, and I fell off the wagon, hard. I ended up eating meat again, something I never thought I'd do.

Now, I'm back. My health has taken a hit, and I know deep down that raw vegan is what my body needs. But I'm terrified. I'm scared I won't see the results I'm hoping for, that I'll give up again, that I won't be able to stick with it.

This community was so supportive before, and I'm hoping you can be again. Any tips, words of encouragement, or just knowing I'm not alone would mean the world to me.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I appreciate you all.

Wish me luck!

 

[Emma JC]

raw is challenging in many ways - I wish you all the best and also suggest you add in some great starches.... for comfort if nothing else

Emma JC
Find your vegan soulmate or just a friend. www.spiritualmatchmaking.com

 

[Lou]

I am not a fan of Raw. I did try it but I found it too restrictive.
Also I found the number of calories you need to get adequate nutrition is way above the number I naturally burn a day. So I just gain weight which is not good for my health. Although one could say I just need to exercise more - which would be good for my health, too.

Besides if your motivation is the animals - I don't see how the Raw vegan diet helps animal any more than a regular vegan diet.

If you concern is health. Well... I think there isn't that much evidence that a Raw diet is more healthy than a WFPB diet.

Raw Till Four might be a good compromise.

 

[g0rph]

I hope it works out, but I don't get it personally.

I mean there are many foods that need sufficient heating to deactivate toxins and release nutrients.

Seems to me it would lead to a calorie deficit, and be lacking in many vitamins and other nutrients.

Whenever I see some news item of a vegan dying of malnutrition it seems to be raw vegan or frutarian.

I think I'll stick to my "fry everything" diet

(Although I made a delicious stew with a couple of chunks of Juicy Marbles last night).

 

[shyvas]

I would kindly suggest that you join other raw vegan groups such as those on FB. There are at least 8 or 9 active ones plus meetups.
You will receive far better and more helpful advice compared to this forum as you will be part of their community.

I must say that some of the answers weren't too helpful. Even though none of the members are raw vegans, they should not try and persuade you of doing otherwise.

This doesn't mean that you can't continue posting on this forum if you wish to join in the banter.

FB=Raw vegan heroes, Health raw vegans, Raw vegan meetups etc

 

[Second Summer]

I really admire the radical zeal and dedication that raw vegans have for their diet. It's such a total rejection of the mainstream diet. And it reminds me of my own early attempts at veganism a long time ago, which at the time (and place) felt very radical.

I think you absolutely can make great raw vegan meals, it's just that it seems to take a lot of effort.

 

[g0rph]

I really admire the radical zeal and dedication that raw vegans have for their diet. It's such a total rejection of the mainstream diet. And it reminds me of my own early attempts at veganism a long time ago, which at the time (and place) felt very radical.

I think you absolutely can make great raw vegan meals, it's just that it seems to take a lot of effort.

Totally agree with this, but to do it for all meals seems extreme, and potentially extremely unhealthy...

 

[Tom L.]

Good luck, @orioncho ! I definitely don't know enough about any version of a raw diet to suggest anything specific.

 

[PTree15]

Good luck, @orioncho ! I definitely don't know enough about any version of a raw diet to suggest anything specific.

Same here, and best of luck!

 

[shyvas]

Good luck, @orioncho ! I definitely don't know enough about any version of a raw diet to suggest anything specific.

I also have no knowledge concerning a raw vegan diet. Perhaps the following article (study)
can give us some insight? It would also be interesting to have the perspective of a raw vegan follower's overall experience.

Afterall, if
this lifestyle may be popular with so many people, there must be a valid reason to follow the latter.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266726852300013X

 

[Lou]

Afterall, if this lifestyle may be popular with so many people, there must be a valid reason to follow the latter.

numbers don't make reasoning "valid"

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266726852300013X

The conclusion from the above article

. Based on our findings from the literature, a raw vegan diet with more than 90% raw food cannot be recommended for a long time due to micronutrient deficiencies as well as related complications. In order to investigate possible advantages and disadvantages, it seems well-designed clinical trials are necessary to clarify these effects.​

 

[orioncho]

raw is challenging in many ways - I wish you all the best and also suggest you add in some great starches.... for comfort if nothing else

Emma JC
Find your vegan soulmate or just a friend. www.spiritualmatchmaking.com

"Thank you so much for the kind words and the suggestion! You're right, raw can be a real challenge. I appreciate the support, and I'll definitely consider adding some starches for comfort. Any favorites you recommend? "

 

[orioncho]

I am not a fan of Raw. I did try it but I found it too restrictive.
Also I found the number of calories you need to get adequate nutrition is way above the number I naturally burn a day. So I just gain weight which is not good for my health. Although one could say I just need to exercise more - which would be good for my health, too.

Besides if your motivation is the animals - I don't see how the Raw vegan diet helps animal any more than a regular vegan diet.

If you concern is health. Well... I think there isn't that much evidence that a Raw diet is more healthy than a WFPB diet.

Raw Till Four might be a good compromise.

"I understand your concerns about the raw vegan diet, and I appreciate you sharing your experience. While it can be challenging, I've personally found significant benefits that keep me motivated.

For me, the increased energy levels, improved digestion, and clearer skin have been remarkable. Many people report a reduction in inflammation and enhanced mental clarity as well. The abundance of nutrients in raw foods, when properly balanced, can be incredibly revitalizing.

Regarding calories, it's true that volume can be high, but focusing on nutrient-dense foods like leafy greens, sprouts, and fruits can help manage this. It's also about finding the right balance of fats from sources like avocados and nuts.

While animal welfare is a strong motivation for many vegans, the raw diet can further minimize environmental impact by reducing reliance on processed foods and cooking.

Ultimately, everyone's body is different, and finding what works best is key. If raw doesn't align with your needs, that's perfectly valid. However, for those who find it beneficial, the positive effects can be profound. Perhaps exploring a modified approach, like Raw Till Four, could offer a good compromise."

 

[orioncho]

I hope it works out, but I don't get it personally.

I mean there are many foods that need sufficient heating to deactivate toxins and release nutrients.

Seems to me it would lead to a calorie deficit, and be lacking in many vitamins and other nutrients.

Whenever I see some news item of a vegan dying of malnutrition it seems to be raw vegan or frutarian.

I think I'll stick to my "fry everything" diet

(Although I made a delicious stew with a couple of chunks of Juicy Marbles last night).

"Hey, I appreciate your honesty! I totally get that raw vegan isn't for everyone, and your concerns about toxins and nutrient deficiencies are valid. It's definitely something you have to be very careful with and do a lot of research on to do safely.

You're right, some foods need cooking to be digestible and safe. I'm trying to be really mindful of that and focus on foods that are safe and beneficial in their raw state.

And you're not wrong about the calorie deficit risk! That's a common issue, and it's easy to see how extreme versions of raw vegan or frutarian diets could lead to serious problems. I'm trying to be balanced and make sure I'm getting enough calories and a wide range of nutrients.

I'm glad you enjoyed your stew! That sounds delicious, and it's a reminder that there are many ways to eat well. I'm hoping to find a raw vegan approach that works for *me*, but I totally respect your 'fry everything' philosophy! "

 

[orioncho]

I would kindly suggest that you join other raw vegan groups such as those on FB. There are at least 8 or 9 active ones plus meetups.
You will receive far better and more helpful advice compared to this forum as you will be part of their community.

I must say that some of the answers weren't too helpful. Even though none of the members are raw vegans, they should not try and persuade you of doing otherwise.

This doesn't mean that you can't continue posting on this forum if you wish to join in the banter.

FB=Raw vegan heroes, Health raw vegans, Raw vegan meetups etc

"Thank you so much for the helpful suggestion and the specific group names! I really appreciate you pointing me towards those raw vegan communities on Facebook. I'll definitely check them out; it sounds like exactly what I need for more focused support and advice.

And you're right, I've noticed a bit of a mixed bag here. While I appreciate everyone's input, it's clear that a dedicated raw vegan group would be more beneficial for my specific journey.

I also appreciate you saying I'm still welcome here for general discussions. I'll definitely stick around for the banter! "

 

[orioncho]

I really admire the radical zeal and dedication that raw vegans have for their diet. It's such a total rejection of the mainstream diet. And it reminds me of my own early attempts at veganism a long time ago, which at the time (and place) felt very radical.

I think you absolutely can make great raw vegan meals, it's just that it seems to take a lot of effort.

"Thank you! I really appreciate you saying that. It's true, raw vegan can feel pretty radical, and it definitely takes dedication. I can relate to your early vegan days – it's always inspiring to hear about those journeys.

And you hit the nail on the head – the effort is real! But for me, the benefits I feel make it worth it. Plus, there's a certain satisfaction in creating these vibrant, alive meals. It's like a whole new world of food! "

 

[orioncho]

Good luck, @orioncho ! I definitely don't know enough about any version of a raw diet to suggest anything specific.

Thank you!

 

[orioncho]

I also have no knowledge concerning a raw vegan diet. Perhaps the following article (study)
can give us some insight? It would also be interesting to have the perspective of a raw vegan follower's overall experience.

Afterall, if
this lifestyle may be popular with so many people, there must be a valid reason to follow the latter.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266726852300013X

"Thank you for sharing that study! I'm definitely going to check it out. It's always helpful to have more information, especially from a scientific perspective.

You're right, there's a reason why raw veganism resonates with so many people, and I'm still exploring that myself. I agree, hearing personal experiences alongside the research would be incredibly valuable.

I'm hoping to share some of my own experiences as I go, and I'd love to hear from others who have tried it too. It's a fascinating topic, and I appreciate you contributing to the conversation!"

 

[orioncho]

numbers don't make reasoning "valid"

The conclusion from the above article

. Based on our findings from the literature, a raw vegan diet with more than 90% raw food cannot be recommended for a long time due to micronutrient deficiencies as well as related complications. In order to investigate possible advantages and disadvantages, it seems well-designed clinical trials are necessary to clarify these effects.​

"While I respect the study's conclusions, it's important to acknowledge that there are individuals who have thrived on long-term raw vegan diets, maintaining excellent health for years. These anecdotal examples, though not clinical trials, suggest that with careful planning and attention to nutrient intake, a raw vegan lifestyle can be sustainable.

It's true that micronutrient deficiencies are a potential concern, but many raw vegans address this through:

* **Careful food combining:** Ensuring a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.
* **Supplementation:** Using B12, D, and other necessary supplements.
* **Regular health monitoring:** Tracking nutrient levels and addressing any deficiencies promptly.

The call for well-designed clinical trials is valid, and more research is always needed. However, dismissing the potential of a raw vegan diet based solely on existing literature overlooks the lived experiences of those who have found success with it. It's a complex topic, and individual results can vary significantly."

 

[orioncho]

Same here, and best of luck!

Thank you!