Day1-Back on the Raw Vegan Wagon

[PTree15]

So. I did a bit of googling about raw diets, and this is one of the first websites that came up:

What to know before you adopt a raw food diet – Fit Planet

Discover what constitutes raw food, how to get the most nutritional benefit from a raw food diet, and the necessary supplements.

www.lesmills.com

My diet includes different kinds of vegetables and fruits- most* of which can be safely and enjoyably eaten raw- as well as various grains and legumes. I'm not saying I couldn't do it, but it would be much more difficult:

1*: potatoes should not be eaten raw. Of course I've taken one bite of raw (washed) spud every now and then with no ill effects- but as I understand it, potatoes would be off my menu. I don't live on them- far from it- but after kissing meat, fish, dairy, and eggs goodbye, I would miss them a lot.

2: As it stands, grains and legumes are the main categories of things I eat as regards calories and protein. Apparently, grains and legumes are usually sprouted before being eaten raw- and even then, some things (for example, kidney beans) are STILL flat-out toxic if not cooked. I'm picturing a kitchen full of pans or bowls, covered and full of sprouting things. (I suppose dishwashing would be a relatively simple matter: eat the sprouts, rinse, refill with whatever I'm sprouting next, repeat. Hmmmmm.... maybe I could try raw for a week... or two... )

A raw food diet would do me no good if I found it too frustrating or difficult to maintain.

I would have trouble as well, as I love potatoes and also consume a fair amount of grains and legumes. I do love salads and fruit, so I get at least something raw most days -- just not all meals. Also, I find cooked food comforting, not to mention tasty.

 

[orioncho]

I think the issue is (at least for me), is that these extreme diets are very difficult to stay healthy on. To be honest, I don't believe for one second that someone practicing a 100% raw vegan diet can be healthy. They are either cheating or at least supplementing heavily. Whilst I hope it works out for orioncho, I dislike seeing them suggested. There is no health benefit whatsoever from omitting foods that simply need to be cooked before eating in order to remove toxins or release nutrients. Mushrooms should always be cooked first as many contain carcinogenic compounds that are destroyed when heated. Beans should always be cooked to remove lectins. Kidney beans will kill you uncooked. Cooking corn releases beneficial nutrients and cooking tomatoes increases lycopene levels. Going vegan can be hard enough as it is, without then placing unnecessary and potentially dangerous rules on top of that.

I think the issue is (at least for me), is that these extreme diets are very difficult to stay healthy on.
To be honest, I don't believe for one second that someone practicing a 100% raw vegan diet can be healthy.
They are either cheating or at least supplementing heavily.

Whilst I hope it works out for orioncho, I dislike seeing them suggested. There is no health benefit whatsoever from omitting foods that simply need to be cooked before eating in order to remove toxins or release nutrients.
Mushrooms should always be cooked first as many contain carcinogenic compounds that are destroyed when heated.
Beans should always be cooked to remove lectins. Kidney beans will kill you uncooked.
Cooking corn releases beneficial nutrients and cooking tomatoes increases lycopene levels.
Going vegan can be hard enough as it is, without then placing unnecessary and potentially dangerous rules on top of that.

Have you actually met a raw vegan. If not, then you don't really know what you're talking about about. You can dehydrate mushrooms and sprout lentils and some beans. It's only extreme to you. To the raw vegan it's not extreme. Just because you don't understand it doesn't mean you should be judgmental about it. Going vegan is easy. It's super easy. You can go to the grocery store and get vegan cake. There are very few things you can miss out on being a vegan.

 

[Lou]

I think the issue is (at least for me), is that these extreme diets are very difficult to stay healthy on.
To be honest, I don't believe for one second that someone practicing a 100% raw vegan diet can be healthy.
They are either cheating or at least supplementing heavily.

I agree with what you said EXCEPT for the above statements.
There are lots of Raw Foodies that are healthy.
You can argue that those are exceptions but I'd argue the they prove that is is A Practical Diet.

 

[g0rph]

Have you actually met a raw vegan. If not, then you don't really know what you're talking about about. You can dehydrate mushrooms and sprout lentils and some beans. It's only extreme to you. To the raw vegan it's not extreme. Just because you don't understand it doesn't mean you should be judgmental about it. Going vegan is easy. It's super easy. You can go to the grocery store and get vegan cake. There are very few things you can miss out on being a vegan.

I have only ever met one other vegan. And not in this country.

Either way, I have my doubts.
As far as I know, dehydrating mushrooms is NOT enough. They should be cooked.
And it isn't that I want to be judgemental, it's the whole futile nature of it, and the subsequent celebs with "Going vegan almost killed me" BS (then you find out they were on the raw diet).

Each to their own, but I always reject extremes. Raw veganism is an extreme.

 

[Raven]

I have met lots of vegans, but only a couple vegans who tried raw, but it was about 50-75% raw. They used to eat mainly raw, but would have "cheat" days if they ate out at a restaurant or they had a special meal planned and would eat cooked food. I think it would be hard to do it 100%. I did eat 50% raw for a while back in 2010, I think, and I did feel much healthier. I just added green smoothies and salad and reduced cooked food. It was during the summer which made it easier too. I think once the cold weather arrived I stopped as I found it more hard to do.

 

[g0rph]

I have met lots of vegans, but only a couple vegans who tried raw, but it was about 50-75% raw. They used to eat mainly raw, but would have "cheat" days if they ate out at a restaurant or they had a special meal planned and would eat cooked food. I think it would be hard to do it 100%. I did eat 50% raw for a while back in 2010, I think, and I did feel much healthier. I just added green smoothies and salad and reduced cooked food. It was during the summer which made it easier too. I think once the cold weather arrived I stopped as I found it more hard to do.

This sounds way more doable. And far healthier.

 

[Lou]

There is "fully raw Kristina" on YouTube.
She has been fully raw for close to 20 years.
And boy does she look healthy.

She averages 2500 calories and 60 - 90 grams of protein each day.
And if you are wondering why she isn't fat -she runs 6 miles a day and does yoga too.