Guest guest Posted August 28, 2002 Report Share Posted August 28, 2002 I've been trying to eat a more raw diet. I've been a vegetarian for three years, but that doesn't mean I eat as healthy as I should... after all, french fries and ice cream are vegetarian. :)I just bought a juicer and have been enjoying that and I hope to go on a juice fast soon. The reason why I haven't yet is coffee. That's my weakness. I've given up smoking, drinking, and meat, so I've always allowed myself to have my coffee. But I have mood swings, low energy, and insomnia and I suspect a big part of it is caffeine. Can anyone suggest a good, not too expensive, alternative? I heard of one substitute that provides natural energy (Oasis AM) but it's pretty costly ($14.95 for 20-30 servings). I've tried herbal teas in the past and they weren't for me (not 'robust' enough, I guess). I'm looking for something that will give me a natural energy burst similar to what I get from coffee, without the caffeine and chemicals. Also, I saw the earlier suggestions for the book, The Raw Gourmet. Is that a good book for beginners? I'd like something that gives info on the benefits of a raw diet as well as recipes. I have a 12 year old son and a busy busy schedule so the recipes will need to be something he'll eat and that are easy to prepare with easy to find ingredients. Thanks, Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 29, 2002 Report Share Posted August 29, 2002 Lady Jane, David Wolfe has some science in his Sun Food Success Diet to suggest that craving and addiction fall sharply with the eating of the green leaf. It seems you need 1-lbs. per day at least to make headway. I consumed 40-60 cigarettes with a good 15 or more cups of coffee a day; the coffee was not of the insipid Anglo-Saxon variety but rather the sharp continental kicking blend. On the drinking side, after to moving over to raw food, I reduced to half a bottle of wine a day for a few months believing in the sentiment that good French wine draws minerals from deep in the ground and is somehow " good for the health " as evidenced the good health of the French. Now that consumption has dropped to half a bottle a month at a dinner and the giving up gets easier. Replacing grain, and in particular wheat, with fruit could be a target for you; then you will find the need for the jab from coffee will evaporate along with French fries, ice-cream and a whole lot else. I notice that people who eat large meals of cooked food all complain of sluggishness afterwards. My father used to make the quip that he felt perfectly alright until he ate some junk food and from then onwards he felt awful. Now I am on the raw food diet giving up any addiction seems straightforward. I had been trying and failing to stop smoking for decades for instance. In fact I have joined in the consensus that cooked food is the largest addiction on the planet. Peter ladyjane_in_colorado [ladyjane_in_colorado] 28 August 2002 22:04 rawfood [Raw Food] Coffee Alternative / Book Suggestions I've been trying to eat a more raw diet. I've been a vegetarian for three years, but that doesn't mean I eat as healthy as I should... after all, french fries and ice cream are vegetarian. :)I just bought a juicer and have been enjoying that and I hope to go on a juice fast soon. The reason why I haven't yet is coffee. That's my weakness. I've given up smoking, drinking, and meat, so I've always allowed myself to have my coffee. But I have mood swings, low energy, and insomnia and I suspect a big part of it is caffeine. Can anyone suggest a good, not too expensive, alternative? I heard of one substitute that provides natural energy (Oasis AM) but it's pretty costly ($14.95 for 20-30 servings). I've tried herbal teas in the past and they weren't for me (not 'robust' enough, I guess). I'm looking for something that will give me a natural energy burst similar to what I get from coffee, without the caffeine and chemicals. Also, I saw the earlier suggestions for the book, The Raw Gourmet. Is that a good book for beginners? I'd like something that gives info on the benefits of a raw diet as well as recipes. I have a 12 year old son and a busy busy schedule so the recipes will need to be something he'll eat and that are easy to prepare with easy to find ingredients. Thanks, Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 29, 2002 Report Share Posted August 29, 2002 Good input Peter. I always enjoy reading your posts. Your accomplishments amaze me! Lady Jane, this is great advice. The longer I've been eating raw, the less I have cravings for junk. I do eat a bit of cooked foods and I swear they increase cravings. They definitely zap my energy. Peter Gardiner wrote: In fact I have joined in the consensus that cooked food is the largest addiction on the planet. Peter Finance - Get real-time stock quotes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2002 Report Share Posted August 30, 2002 Dear Jane, Hi, there. I'm new to the list, but I do know about giving up coffee. Coffee was my ONE vice. <grin> I've been working with a nutritionist, and due to my on-going health issues (especially adrenial related), I decided the give up coffee for a while. (My advice will not be raw, but it may be a nice first step. I look forward to hearing what others say.) So, here's my advice. Just set coffee aside one day at a time. It may help to not make it all or nothing, forever and ever or you've failed. Also, what you need to replace is the ritual of coffee. Nothing is coffee except coffee. But you can replace the ritual with other warm drinks. Try Teeccino's Java flavor. I think you'll like it, and it does give you natural boosts, due to great ingredients. (This is, of course, not a raw product.) It's $6.95 a small can or $13.08 for a pound. It has a warm, roasted flavor that may help you with the coffee cravings. Do you drink milk in your coffee? Try soy milk (which I know you can make raw). But my main drink is green tea. It's warm, it has a bit of caffeine, and it's incredibly good for my liver and health. Again, it's not raw. Although I guess you could find the fresh plant (where???) and make sun tea with it. Best of luck to you, Diane Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2002 Report Share Posted August 30, 2002 Hi Jane, This is the first time I've posted on this board but the topic under discussion is dear to my heart! Coffee has always been my downfall too. I've found a coffee substitue I like a lot. It's called Teeccino. It's also a bit pricey but not remotely as expensive as Oasis AM and I find it gives me a refreshing kick (more of an uplifting feeling ... not that caffeine jolt). http://www.teeccino.com is their web site, if you're interested. They include a 2-week plan to quite caffeine painlessly. It comes in 7 flavours. They vary quite widely. I find my favorites change from time to time. I find drinking a lot of water and eating and drinking lots of green foods helps me detox from coffee and tea more comfortably. Yours, Rhoda-Mary rawfood, " Peter Gardiner " <petergardiner@e...> wrote: > Lady Jane, > > David Wolfe has some science in his Sun Food Success Diet to > suggest that craving and addiction fall sharply with the eating of the > green leaf. It seems you need 1-lbs. per day at least to make headway. > > I consumed 40-60 cigarettes with a good 15 or more cups of coffee a day; > the coffee > was not of the insipid Anglo-Saxon variety but rather the sharp > continental > kicking blend. > > On the drinking side, after to moving over to raw food, I reduced to > half > a bottle of wine a day for a few months believing in the sentiment that > good French wine draws minerals from deep in the ground and is somehow > " good for > the health " as evidenced the good health of the French. Now that > consumption has > dropped to half a bottle a month at a dinner and the giving up gets > easier. > > Replacing grain, and in particular wheat, with fruit could be a target > for > you; then you will find the need for the jab from coffee will evaporate > along with French fries, ice-cream and a whole lot else. > > I notice that people who eat large meals of cooked food all complain of > sluggishness afterwards. My father used to make the quip that he felt > perfectly > alright until he ate some junk food and from then onwards he felt awful. > > Now I am on the raw food diet giving up any addiction seems > straightforward. I had been > trying and failing to stop smoking for decades for instance. > > In fact I have joined in the consensus that cooked food is the largest > addiction on the planet. > > Peter > > > ladyjane_in_colorado [ladyjane_in_colorado] > 28 August 2002 22:04 > rawfood > [Raw Food] Coffee Alternative / Book Suggestions > > > I've been trying to eat a more raw diet. I've been a vegetarian for > three years, but that doesn't mean I eat as healthy as I should... > after all, french fries and ice cream are vegetarian. :)I just bought > a juicer and have been enjoying that and I hope to go on a juice fast > soon. The reason why I haven't yet is coffee. That's my weakness. > I've given up smoking, drinking, and meat, so I've always allowed > myself to have my coffee. But I have mood swings, low energy, and > insomnia and I suspect a big part of it is caffeine. Can anyone > suggest a good, not too expensive, alternative? I heard of one > substitute that provides natural energy (Oasis AM) but it's pretty > costly ($14.95 for 20-30 servings). I've tried herbal teas in the > past and they weren't for me (not 'robust' enough, I guess). I'm > looking for something that will give me a natural energy burst > similar to what I get from coffee, without the caffeine and chemicals. > > Also, I saw the earlier suggestions for the book, The Raw Gourmet. > Is that a good book for beginners? I'd like something that gives > info on the benefits of a raw diet as well as recipes. I have a 12 > year old son and a busy busy schedule so the recipes will need to be > something he'll eat and that are easy to prepare with easy to find > ingredients. > > Thanks, > Jane > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2002 Report Share Posted August 30, 2002 Thanks for the high praise. I might add that if you can crack the cooked food addiction, the others will follow in short order. Peter Ps 1-1lb should have read 1-2lb. Regina DeLuca [regdeluca] 29 August 2002 22:37 rawfood RE: [Raw Food] Coffee Alternative / Book Suggestions Good input Peter. I always enjoy reading your posts. Your accomplishments amaze me! Lady Jane, this is great advice. The longer I've been eating raw, the less I have cravings for junk. I do eat a bit of cooked foods and I swear they increase cravings. They definitely zap my energy. Peter Gardiner wrote: In fact I have joined in the consensus that cooked food is the largest addiction on the planet. Peter Finance - Get real-time stock quotes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2002 Report Share Posted August 30, 2002 Yes, to your last question, Jane. The book really gives you a basic plan and information that is every bit as good as any raw food information I've ever read. Gives practical and delicious suggestions to simplify and delicious-fy.....on the fly. She gives you plenty of encouragement on how to " wing it' and not stick rigidly to a recipe or recipes. Really informative and simple. Nice " shopping list " suggestions for an easy creative kitchen. - ladyjane_in_colorado rawfood Wednesday, August 28, 2002 2:04 PM [Raw Food] Coffee Alternative / Book Suggestions I've been trying to eat a more raw diet. I've been a vegetarian for three years, but that doesn't mean I eat as healthy as I should... after all, french fries and ice cream are vegetarian. :)I just bought a juicer and have been enjoying that and I hope to go on a juice fast soon. The reason why I haven't yet is coffee. That's my weakness. I've given up smoking, drinking, and meat, so I've always allowed myself to have my coffee. But I have mood swings, low energy, and insomnia and I suspect a big part of it is caffeine. Can anyone suggest a good, not too expensive, alternative? I heard of one substitute that provides natural energy (Oasis AM) but it's pretty costly ($14.95 for 20-30 servings). I've tried herbal teas in the past and they weren't for me (not 'robust' enough, I guess). I'm looking for something that will give me a natural energy burst similar to what I get from coffee, without the caffeine and chemicals. Also, I saw the earlier suggestions for the book, The Raw Gourmet. Is that a good book for beginners? I'd like something that gives info on the benefits of a raw diet as well as recipes. I have a 12 year old son and a busy busy schedule so the recipes will need to be something he'll eat and that are easy to prepare with easy to find ingredients. Thanks, Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2002 Report Share Posted August 30, 2002 Good article about coffee by Frédéric Patenaude: http://www.sunfood.net/jeaa/coffee.html For me, an important thing to be able to stay away from coffee and other stimulants is to be informed well about the true dangers and addictive properties of those substances. Reading this article a couple of times (or reading the book the article is about, " Caffeine Blues " by Stephen Cherniske) should help to see that there is nothing good about drinking coffee: it drains your vital energy, and it is addictive. All other stimulants that give you an energy 'boost' also do not really give you energy. I feel a need to 'boost' myself up after eating too much, especially fatty foods. So, my suggestion for more energy would be: 1) eat light 2) have enough rest and 3) like Peter wrote: eat enough greens for the alkaline minerals. that in combination with enough exercise works well for me... Wim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2002 Report Share Posted August 30, 2002 Hi Jane, Just another thought about coffee. If I stop drinking it (usually due to having gone through a horrible caffeine-detox-related migraine, which I get now and then) I find it helps to increase my intake of raw food (especially juicy fruits) immediately, as fruit gives me a lift similar to (but nicer than) coffee. If I give up coffee without increasing my intake of raw fruit, I tend to crave it very badly (or I crave Coke or chocolate, neither of which I drink or eat normally). If I eat fruit for breakfast after having gone through a caffeine detox I feel refreshed and uplifted and I don't crave coffee remotely as much. I have found sweet juicy pears particularly good in this respect. I'm not sure if you've given up coffee before but I've found if I go cold turkey I get very sick - migraine, nausea, in bed for several days, etc. Drinking *lots* of water while lessening coffee/tea intake *slowly* is a better way to go for me. http://www.watercure2.com/ is an interesting site (related to the work of Dr Fereydoon Batmanghelidj). Interesting article slamming caffeine on that site too. Have you read Stephen Cherniske's book 'Caffeine Blues'? Also a very good reference book for people wanting to give up coffee. Hope this helps a bit.... Rhoda-Mary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 3, 2002 Report Share Posted September 3, 2002 I also like my coffee, esp. Lattes. I've been making lattes lately with instant barley coffee. It's almost as good as coffee but healthier. I put goat's milk and sukanat in it and is so good. I will be trying Cafix now and see what I think of that. Marlenerawfood, " ladyjane_in_colorado " <ladyjane_in_colorado> wrote: > I've been trying to eat a more raw diet. I've been a vegetarian for > three years, but that doesn't mean I eat as healthy as I should... > after all, french fries and ice cream are vegetarian. :)I just bought > a juicer and have been enjoying that and I hope to go on a juice fast > soon. The reason why I haven't yet is coffee. That's my weakness. > I've given up smoking, drinking, and meat, so I've always allowed > myself to have my coffee. But I have mood swings, low energy, and > insomnia and I suspect a big part of it is caffeine. Can anyone > suggest a good, not too expensive, alternative? I heard of one > substitute that provides natural energy (Oasis AM) but it's pretty > costly ($14.95 for 20-30 servings). I've tried herbal teas in the > past and they weren't for me (not 'robust' enough, I guess). I'm > looking for something that will give me a natural energy burst > similar to what I get from coffee, without the caffeine and chemicals. > > Also, I saw the earlier suggestions for the book, The Raw Gourmet. > Is that a good book for beginners? I'd like something that gives > info on the benefits of a raw diet as well as recipes. I have a 12 > year old son and a busy busy schedule so the recipes will need to be > something he'll eat and that are easy to prepare with easy to find > ingredients. > > Thanks, > Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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