Transitioning: thoughts on the word detox (WAS: Saving a friend's life)

[Guest guest]

Rawschool [Rawschool ] On Behalf Of

Janet FitzGerald

Thursday, August 10, 2006 11:25 PM

[Rawschool] another book - Raw Food Detox Diet

 

RFers,

 

Has anyone read the " Raw Food Detox Diet " ? If anyone has, I'm looking for an

opinion, or two.

She advocates eating goat's milk, cheese (goat), pasta, and even cooked meat,

during the

transition. I believe she said (been reading all kinds of books, lately) that

sometimes going a

100% raw after a SAD diet can throw the body into an extreme detox mode and

cause some ugly

symptoms. I think I'm going through that to a certain degree, though I've been

off of SAD since

January. I just started the book, so I haven't formed an opinion, yet. She

wrote that it can

take sometimes three years of raw living before the body can properly assimilate

raw vegan

foods.

 

Janet - who is more hungry for knowledge than food!

_____

 

Greetings Janet and all,

 

I know of no animal that requires, or even that benefits from, drinking the milk

of another

species. And I know of no animal that requires or benefits from drinking milk

after the age of

weaning. All such information really is just false, no matter how well-intended

its author or

how well-presented it may seem.

 

And from an ethical perspective, I know of no animal that experiences comfort

being forced to

continue providing milk to anyone other than its own young. To force such a

thing upon any

creature represents, at least to me, an act of considerable cruelty. Of course,

this is only my

own personal, private opinion.

 

I would like also to take a moment to discuss this word " detox " , short for

detoxification. I

encourage people to let go of this word entirely, at least with respect to

health. I do so,

because I notice that many people associate " detox " with being " wrong " , having

" done it wrong " ,

feeling " incompetent " , and so forth. And I can see no constructive use in

treating or judging

oneself with such violence.

 

The body cleanses itself, in accordance with Nature's design, according to the

body's own

present priorities. And Nature does not bring forward challenges from within

that exceed the

present capacity of any organism, human or otherwise. For were Nature to do

otherwise, then much

of what lives, would perish. You will not harm yourself nor overwhelm your

system in any way by

proceeding forward as rapidly as you can with your transition.

 

That having been said, many people do face " practical " issues WRT working,

supporting

themselves, and similar " little things " . :) (I realize, of course, that these

are actually

very important things for us all.) While acknowledging all such concerns, I

often tell people

that their system WILL rest, and that their only choice in the matter is when,

where, and under

what circumstances that rest shall occur. One may consciously choose to set

aside time and space

in one's life, to cleanse and restore and replenish oneself. Or, one can wait

for one's system

to throw up sufficiently severe symptoms that one has no choice in the matter.

Personally, I

prefer choice in the matter.

 

So as you embark upon your raw journey, and as you encounter whatever else turns

up along the

way, you will face opportunities and choices. Often, these opportunities may be

disguised as

challenges ... as physical and/or emotional " symptoms " . I encourage you to take

time to notice,

appreciate, and embrace your symptoms, particularly the " little things " that are

easy to

overlook when one " is busy " . Let these be your markers, use them to identify the

choices before

you. For when you see your options clearly, then you can choose wisely.

 

Finally, as for the time period involved, this is obviously different for each

person. But this

can be said for us all ... that we continue to improve, to refine and polish our

practices, to

grow and learn at every step along the way. There is no " end " , only the journey.

 

Wishing the best to all,

Elchanan