Guest guest Posted August 9, 2006 Report Share Posted August 9, 2006 I've read a lot about this and it really interests me. It seems that humans are almost 'part-evolved'. It seems likely to me (just my opinion!) that when humans lived in the tropics, they had plenty of access to fruit and veg all year, but when some humans left those areas and went North into Europe, and also when the ice age changed the climates of most areas inhabited by humans, they had to adapt to the only foods available to them, mainly meat. But that was so recent, in evolutionary terms, that there wasn't time for proper adaptation, hence not having an adequate digestive tract for the foods they were consuming. Idealistically, I'd love think I could survive on a completely raw unsupplemented vegan diet. But I'm not sure yet that I would have optimal health, unless I supplemented (vegan source) B12 and DHA. I'm hoping to start a family in a few years and I would hate to think that I'd cause harm to my babies because I was B12 deficient, so even though I'm not sure I need it, I like to make sure I don't become deficient. It's so confusing trying to work out what's needed and what isn't, with so many raw foodists selling supplements and therefore saying you need them, and yet, many recorded instances of people suffering severe problems from lack of B12. I figure while I'm happy to experiment on myself, it's not fair to experiment on a baby that has no choice in the matter (and for the same reason I won't fill them up with baby painkillers just to get a good night's sleep!). I'd love to hear people's experiences, especially those who've lived vegan and supplement-free for some time. --- Elchanan <VLinfo wrote: > rawfood > [rawfood ] On Behalf Of Elaine > Bruce > Tuesday, August 08, 2006 2:19 AM > rawfood > Re: [Raw Food] How much fruit is too > much??? > > I agree with that it's dangerous to accept > anyone's recommendations blindly, and much > better to do what feels best for you. And if fruit > and greens only suits Shari best, that's > wonderful! And it doesn't necessarily follow that > solely eating fruit and greens will be good > for everyone else. > _____ > > Hi Elaine, > I appreciate what you are saying here. Certainly > from a perspective of respecting each other's > choices and right to choose, I agree with you > completely. > > At the same time, I wonder whether you would be open > to a little scientific perspective? > Throughout biology, the science of life, there are a > handful of principles that have stood the > test of time from even the harshest critics. One > such principle is that, for any given species, > there is a natural " range " (habitat area) and > certain natural foods that come with that range. > In other words, every species is specifically > matched to certain foods, based upon the design of > the species and the foods in the question. So it > stands to reason that there is, indeed, a > general approach to eating/diet that is optimal for > our species, as for any other. > > IF you (and others) are willing to consider this > possibility, then ... terrestrial animals > (those that live on the land) that are designed to > eat vegetation ALL share certain common > characteristics. Among these, their digestive > systems are all quite long in comparison with > their torso length. In the case of humans, the > digestive tract is typically about 12 times the > torso length, compared with 2-3 times for most > carnivores. In such a long digestive system, any > food that cannot travel quickly the entire length of > the tract will rot (high in protein) and/or > ferment (high in sugar and/or starch). This is just > basic chemistry. > > And the only whole foods of which I am aware that > CAN make the journey in a reasonable period of > time ( " reasonable " meaning they do NOT rot/ferment) > are fruits, greens, and a handful of very > wet vegetables. > > Further conclusions are yours to draw .... > > Best to all, > Elchanan > > PS Hope to " see " people at the free teleconference > tomorrow night! > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > _________ Try the all-new Mail. " The New Version is radically easier to use " – The Wall Street Journal http://uk.docs./nowyoucan.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 9, 2006 Report Share Posted August 9, 2006 > Idealistically, I'd love think I could survive on a > completely raw unsupplemented vegan diet. But I'm not > sure yet that I would have optimal health, unless I > supplemented (vegan source) B12 and DHA. I'm hoping > to start a family in a few years and I would hate to > think that I'd cause harm to my babies because I was > B12 deficient, so even though I'm not sure I need it, > I like to make sure I don't become deficient. > I've heard that our bodies actually store B12 for 25 - 30 years. That is, if you have a normally functioning system. I would suggest that you think about why it is you have come to feel and/or believe that you are not sure you'd have optimal health on a raw vegan diet. Is it because your family, friends, and other acquaintences under the " spell " of other mis- information givers such as the ADA, the FDA, the RDAs, the AMA, etc. is telling you this? It is well-known and well-documented that fruits & veggies provide the vitamins and minerals we need. It's just not well-accepted by the meat & dairy industries. For obvious reasons -- MONEY. If you and a billion others opt out of their " system " , then they have no income. It's just like the medical system -- if you and a billion others opt to start caring for yourselves and decide for yourselves what YOU want, the industry would shrivel. That's why there are actual laws on the books (in the US that are starting to be over-turned) that cancer cannot be treated by anything other than surgery, chemo, and radiation. Ack! Look at all the studies out there of those who have healed themselves completely from eating a raw diet! If you make the transition consciously and feed your body lovingly with healthy foods and with a positive attitude that what you are doing is the right thing to do for you, then you should have no problems. We only recently became aware of supplementation. I feel that the reason people need supplements (the mass SAD eaters) is because there are NO vitamins and minerals left in the food after cooking it. It is well documented that not only are the enzymes killed when cooking food, but most if not all of its nutritional value is gone, too. On the honey question posted by someone else earlier, it is being touted by the Tupelo honey producers and some doctors that Tupelo has a different sugar metabolism rate in your body and does not affect your blood sugar the way other honey does. On another note about honey (I don't use it now, it's too sweet, but I used to) the Buckwheat honey, the darker kind, is supposed to have the highest levels of anti-oxidants of all honey. Melanie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 9, 2006 Report Share Posted August 9, 2006 Ahhh, Melanie. Thank you for echoing my sentiments on b12, chemo/radiation/cancer, and raw food. You are much more gentle with the approach than I. Keep up the good writing and know that I am behind you going " yes, yes, yes, that's exactly what I want to say! " . You are doing a wonderful job spreading the message. Blackberries are in season and I think my insides are stained purple I've eaten so many!! Yesterday was almost exclusively wild blackberries. Blackberries straight off the vine, blackberries when I got home for lunch, blackberries for dinner with baby spinach. Yummm, I have to go back for more today!! Shari Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 10, 2006 Report Share Posted August 10, 2006 Hi, Elaine! The supplements out there are making lots of money for the people who are selling them. I'm sure that there are those who truly believe that they are doing good by making them available but I don't take any except for a B-12 when I remember to. It takes a tiny amount to meet the minimum daily requirement--and who determines that, anyway?? I have been eating 100% raw for a little over a year which, in the overall scheme of things is a very short time. I've been well except for once when I had sinusitis which went away with a day of fasting, one stomach upset from unripe watermelon, and four days of YUCK after I caved and ate some cooked lentils and potato. Tommie http://www.rawburchard.blogspot.com rawfood , Elaine Bruce <lilelil wrote: > > I've read a lot about this and it really interests me. > It seems that humans are almost 'part-evolved'. > > It seems likely to me (just my opinion!) that when > humans lived in the tropics, they had plenty of access > to fruit and veg all year, but when some humans left > those areas and went North into Europe, and also when > the ice age changed the climates of most areas > inhabited by humans, they had to adapt to the only > foods available to them, mainly meat. But that was so > recent, in evolutionary terms, that there wasn't time > for proper adaptation, hence not having an adequate > digestive tract for the foods they were consuming. > > Idealistically, I'd love think I could survive on a > completely raw unsupplemented vegan diet. But I'm not > sure yet that I would have optimal health, unless I > supplemented (vegan source) B12 and DHA. I'm hoping > to start a family in a few years and I would hate to > think that I'd cause harm to my babies because I was > B12 deficient, so even though I'm not sure I need it, > I like to make sure I don't become deficient. > > It's so confusing trying to work out what's needed and > what isn't, with so many raw foodists selling > supplements and therefore saying you need them, and > yet, many recorded instances of people suffering > severe problems from lack of B12. I figure while I'm > happy to experiment on myself, it's not fair to > experiment on a baby that has no choice in the matter > (and for the same reason I won't fill them up with > baby painkillers just to get a good night's sleep!). > > I'd love to hear people's experiences, especially > those who've lived vegan and supplement-free for some > time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 10, 2006 Report Share Posted August 10, 2006 rawfood , " SV " <shavig wrote: > > Ahhh, Melanie. Thank you for echoing my sentiments on b12, chemo/radiation/cancer, and raw food. You are much more gentle with the approach than I. > > Keep up the good writing and know that I am behind you going " yes, yes, yes, that's exactly what I want to say! " . You are doing a wonderful job spreading the message. > > Blackberries are in season and I think my insides are stained purple I've eaten so many!! Yesterday was almost exclusively wild blackberries. Blackberries straight off the vine, blackberries when I got home for lunch, blackberries for dinner with baby spinach. Yummm, I have to go back for more today!! > > Shari Shari, thanks and LOL!! Last Thursday I bought 6 pints of --- blackberries at the farmer's market!! They were SOOO good :>) Today the farmer's market is in town again and I do hope they still have some. Gee, the Rainier cherries here lasted 3 days, the regular cherries only 2 weeks, the nectarines are gone, etc. I'm already mourning the loss of fruit that comes with fall/winter. My absolute favorite is a green salad with nectarines and black or raspberries! We do seem to be able to get organic raspberries in our grocery store 9 months out of the year. Last night for dinner we had a green salad with canteloupe, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, grapes, and a few raisins. It was really good. The canteloupe is good now, but I don't know where it's from. Thanks again, I'm glad I'm not the only one thinking this way :>) Melanie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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