We have discussed some of the how’s and why’s of choosing a raw food lifestyle. I choose lifestyle here instead of diet, because the word “diet” has so many negative connotations. First it implies that this is not something you will do forever and the other thing is that it has the word “die” right in it. We want to live, so lifestyle fits much better.

Now let’s get to that “die” part for a minute. If you have tried the

raw food

lifestyle before or have just been studying, you will have no doubt heard the detoxing horror stories. Everyone telling you basically you are going to feel like you are dying and this is a good thing. If you have not heard the stories, well with any more research I am sure that you will. If you don’t know what detoxing is, in basic terms it is when you start to release toxins, chemicals, and junk in your system. It is important, but doing your detoxing right is very important.

We have talked about the horror stories, the need to sleep and be a near a bathroom for days and so on. Or then there are the stories of people that started detoxing and quit raw foods, because they felt it was not worth it, they did not want to feel sick.

That does not have to be the case. So many times, people just decide they are they are going to get healthy. They go all gun-ho and off they go and change everything in they eat. Unless it is a life or death reasons like you have an illness that requires instant eating changes, this would not be the recommended approach.

You did not come to start eating every food you eat all at once. No. As a baby we are introduced to new foods slowly. One so that we can find what the baby likes, but most importantly so we can identify if the baby has a bad reaction to a certain food, we then know which food it is that caused this reaction. It is with this same principal that we should approach raw foods.

It is better to add raw foods into what you already eat. This will let your body adjust to the changes slower and be much less taxing on our system. The more you eat raw foods the less of the other foods will be in your system and you will start to want them less and less. This approach is not only helpful in slowing the detox process. It is easier on the body and helps with the cravings that come with changing your eating habits.

The long and the short of it is, that your body is going to detox. How is your choice? Just keep in mind that it is much easier to make a change if it is gradual and you stick with it. The slower strategy has lasting effects that make for better health in my opinion, it lets you decide how and why and when and what?

Okay so the threat levels are high from the radioactivity. There is much talk of budget cuts and economic back sliding. A lot of people that I talk to are in fear. However, this is not the best attitude to have when dealing with these things. I can feel the scarcity that is being talked about around us trying so desperately to close in.

That being said, I am not unaware of the times and the facts that many problems face us all today. So I decided to add a couple of tips and ideas here for you to follow if you are feeling these issues looming over you as well.

First and foremost breathe, when we are stressed it has been proven that most of us forget to breathe as well and forget to breathe deeply. I would suggest that if you are feeling really stressed that you take the time to stop, breathe deeply, close your eyes, and if possible your mind for just two minutes. This will help to calm you and make it easier to make rationale choices, better choices.

The next thing I will tell you is if you are feeling the crunch, do some preparing for what you think could happen. Do not do this in a rush and do not spend over your limit, but get things that you think you may need if something were to happen, be it a natural disaster or just a man made accident like the contractor down the street broke your water main.

So what are some supplies you might want to get as a raw foodist or someone that has changed their diet to a healthier one? I have a few suggestions. First get as many fruits and veggies that you really like and dehydrate them. If you do not have a dehydrator you can do this in your oven on low heat. Store these away in your pantry for a day when you might need them. Make this a habit and rotate your stock of dehydrated things often.

Another bit of advice is to get the powdered green drinks and keep them in stock. That way if you do have to have that green smoothie first thing in the morning you will not have to go without. These drinks are a great source of greens in a pinch and can be picked up just about anywhere. Remember to try and find the ones with seaweeds in them to help with your iodine and hormone balances.

Another suggestion I have is to buy your herbs in bulk. I have a great herb store in the side. They carry just about everything that you could want to help keep you healthy. They have herbs, blends and teas. The site also has a great amount of lore about each herb as well as what it has been used for to help with.

Another really great tip is to make sure that you have nuts and seeds stored away. It is best to to this in glass jars and to keep them in the fridge or freezer if at all possible. The fats in these types of foods tends to make them spoil much faster, but they are a great source of many nutirients and trace minerals that our bodies need on a daily basis.

Another thing that I keep is Larabars. I have then in case I actually have to go somewhere and do not have a chance to make something to go with me. But they are handy and if you are making a bug out bag or 72 hour kit then these are easy, light weight and a great source of what you need.

I would also make sure that water is on your list of things to have with you. My family lost there water today. It was a little man made disaster, but I was prepared and had water on hand. Also I drink spring water. We will discuss water in another post, but needless to say, if you don’t have water stored up, you should try and find a way. If you do get your water from a spring or such, try next time taking a extra five gallon or even one gallon bottle to have just a little bit more put back.

The next thing that I would say is to keep doing what you are doing. It is very important to be healthy and to have a healthy body. Imagine if things were to get bad, you would have the knowledge of knowing that you had been getting your body the proper nutrition and if something does happens you will be able to fight off longer what others may not.

This post is not meant to scare you. This is just a tad bit of advice in the case that the need to prepare becomes something you feel you should do. So buy in bulk, stock up on your favorite essentials and make sure that you have your pantry ready for the things that you made need especially for you.

Okay so it has been a while since I posted. However, with all the misinformation that is going around the web right now with the meltdown in Japan, I thought I had better post. I want to bring you the best information I can and I want you to make informed decisions about what you are doing for your health and your families.
First and foremost, I am not a medical doctor. I am not making diagnoses or telling anyone what to take. There is no medical advice on this website and never will be. It is always your job to discuss and cure any condition that you may have with your doctor or naturopath.
That being said I want to talk about all the rumors the rush for potassium iodine. For those of you that do not know, one of the things that happens during a meltdown such as what is and has been happening in Japan is that iodine 129 and 131 escape into the air. For more info about these iodine check here.
These iodine are part of what cause major problems for people that live in the areas that have been affected by this radiation. The reason that these are such a problem is that the body needs iodine to perform many things. The thyroid depends on iodine to keep it healthy and functioning properly so it can do its job of making hormones for the body. It is not the only thing that is attacked, but it is one of the biggest problems with these iodine that are in the air after such a disaster. The body does not care what kind of iodine it is taking in, so when it comes in contact with these iodine, it just puts them into the cell receptors.
Now the cells have this damaging iodine and it has to put it somewhere, the iodine goes to the thyroid and that is one of the reasons that radiation can cause so many problems. The thyroid is in charge of all most all the hormonal releases in the body. If your hormones become unbalanced all sorts of chaos can start to happen in your body.
So how can you protect yourself and your family? First be smart and realize that you have to act before exposure if possible, but you should also not start till the time is right. I will not begin to tell you who to follow to know when to take it. I would say for those in Japan and in the area, they should have already started precautions since it has been found in everything from the air, food, and water. One way to protect yourself is potassium iodine. But most of this has been sold out in the US and worldwide from what I can gather. Another good iodine is nascent iodine (which can be bought at the Raw Food World under supplements). Again this is also sold out, but it will be shipping out at the end of the month.
While most raw foodist are not protect, I would gather to say that their iodine levels will be healthier than most. As those that eat raw seaweeds will tell you, they are loaded with iodine. So what can you do if you are not a raw foodist, have not been eating seaweed, and cannot get your hands on any potassium iodine. I would tell you that all the lastest talks I have heard from such great as David Wolfe, Daniel Vitalis, and Mike Adams, is to get as much kelp and seaweeds in you as you can. Now this is not as much protection as the potassium iodine, but it still helps. The more receptors that have the good iodine, the better for your body and that is good for you.
The reasons that I can find for the need of potassium is that it helps the boy to assimilate the iodine and make sure it gets to the proper spots in the body. There are many ways to get the potassium you need. Food based intake is best due to the fact that helps to limit the amount you get. Potassium can cause some health risks and concerns including death, so always be careful when using supplements or adding extra into your diet. Please check here for more information on where to get potassium rich foods and what is best recommended.
If you are one of the lucky few that does get a bottle of potassium iodine, please use it safely. There are recommendations on the CDC website. It is a good source to tell you how much you should be giving yourself and your family if you intend to use it.
Stay safe, stay well, and eat well your body and you deserve that much.

Hi there. Now that we have had a few days to look at our whys and really flush them out, let’s discuss them.

There can be quite a few reasons that for why you could want to start a raw food diet. However we will cover the most popular ones that I know in this post. If you need more information because I do not cover your why, please feel free to leave me a message or email me. I would be glad to help give your more info.

One of the first reasons that I know and one that is very popular for those gravitating to this diet is for health issues. I know this is the reason that I started researching this information. So if you have a health issue then this could be a reason that you have started looking. I will tell you this, many people are looking for cures and overnight treatments to their problems and this is not one of those kinds of solutions.

Yes raw foods can have a tremendous effect on your health and maybe even help to alleviate some of the symptoms that you are having. It is not a cure. That is not to say that it cannot work some very major life changing affects. I just want you to know that this is not going to take anything away. It can improve your life and symptoms greatly though and is a great reason to keep looking into this diet.

It is very dependent on your health issues though as to how you should proceed in this diet. Each issue is different and your personal health and comfort should play a deciding factor in how you proceed with changing your diet. It does not matter if you are changing to raw foods or any other diet, any lifestyle change should be discussed with your treating physician or alternative health care professional. I know for my own issue, I had to be very careful how much fruit and sugar I added when I was starting. I have PCOS and insulin resistance so I could not just eat all the fruit I wanted, it was too much sugar for me to handle and I had to start with veggies and nuts and seeds. My personal experiences however are not at all going to be the same as for others. This being said do the research on your condition and how you should proceed on in this transition. There are experts in that have been this field far longer that have the actually research to back up their findings on how raw foods affect certain people, diseases and their needs. (If you have a specific condition and need help finding more information, I will be glad to help, just email me and we will find you the information you are seeking.)

Another of the reasons that I hear people switch to raw foods in the fact that they do not want to eat GMO foods, they are tired of big corporations running how their food is grown, they want to eat organic, and they want better nutrients. It is interesting to find out just how much stuff is put into our foods now days. The more processed it is the worse it is for your body, and you would think they would not allow foods like that to be sold, but these foods are and worse yet we are eating them. I am not just talking about flour and sugar here. I mean really just about anything made in any fast food joint, well they might as well call it death in a wrapper. Then there are the pesticides and genetic modifications that are being sold as healthy. It reminds me of a line in the movie The 5th Element “Eat recycled food. It is good for the environment and okay for you.” Sometimes, I feel that our health is not taken seriously by the companies running their agriculture businesses, the farmers that agree to that junk, and well by us as the consumers. WE do have choice when it comes to whether or not we are going to allow those things in our body.

The better nutrients that we get from organic, unprocessed, uncooked food come mostly in the form of enzymes. And is one of the above mentioned reasons, what most of the fuse of what raw foods is all about. The many focus is that by not getting your food above a certain temperature (this varies from site to site and expert to expert) about 115 degrees manage to keep the enzymes and nutrient levels at their highest thus adding great benefit to your health. This does not mean though that you will be eating salad and nuts and cold food for the rest of your life if you choose to become a raw foodist, there are many different ways to “uncook” your food and still get the same sort of pleasure that you get from eating now. There are many recipes that you can use to simulate the things that you are not willing to give up if you do switch. But I digress.

The last option that I will explore today on what one of your whys maybe is the option that you just feel that this is better of the planet. It could be the least amount of impact on the environment, no pesticides, wild crafting, calling for sustainable food practices, and better treatment of animals. Maybe you feel you are getting back to nature, or you just come across a David Wolfe video on you tube and said that is what I have felt my whole life. Most of the time these are the people that I see try to take this 100% over night. I will strongly caution against this drastic of a change. And I would advise seeking the guidance of an alternative health care professional first.

No matter your why however, you are exploring I encourage you to find all the options and benefits that raw foods have for you. Whether it is to help alleviate some health issue symptoms or change the world, raw foods do have something for you. Whether you wish to eat just some raw foods or go for it 100%, raw foods will give great benefits to your health and life.

Our next post will be on Transitioning and Detoxification.

Until next time, have a blessed and healthful day!!

Raw Foods has become one of the new buzz terms as of late. I have heard all kinds of people talking about it, heck even my son runs around say he loves raw food. However, some of these people may not have a full concept of what raw food really means. I know my son does not, he still thinks that spaghetti dinner is raw food because we put veggies in it.

The raw foods diet can consist of many things and can even include raw dairy and raw meat. Not all raw foodist eat that way though. And to be quite frank you do not have to be a 100% raw foodist to enjoy the benefits of eating raw foods in your diet. So what most people are talking about when mentioning raw foods at this time is raw vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds. This can include a huge varitety of things from algea to sprouts and everything in between. Also there are several stages of raw fooders, some eat the normal Standard American Diet (SAD for short) and just enjoy adding extra veggies and such into their diet. Others are what one person I follow (Kevin Gianni) call themselves high raw. That is where these raw foodist eat 75% or higher raw foods. He has a book called High Raw at the link above you should check it out it is free and really does a great job explaining the matter. (By the way this is not an affliate link, and I get no money for you following it.) Then there are those that are the hard core enthusist. They are 100% raw and they all have great stories as to why. There are so many good ones to follow that it is best that you find those that ring true for you. (Some of my favorites are David Wolfe, Victoria Boutenko, Matt Monarch and Angela Stokes just to name a few.)

However before you rush out and start trying to become a raw foodist you should really do your research. Questions that you should seriously sit down and ask yourself is why would I want to be a raw foodist? What are the benefits of changing to this type of a diet for me? Do I just want to add more raw food to my diet at present or do I want to become a 100% raw foodist? These questions are very important and will help guide you in researching what is best for you body. There are also the questions of are you doing this for a health reason? Do you have a condition that could affect how you do on this diet? (Things like Diabetes, PCOS or any number of other conditions.)

Really take the time to explore your reasonings for wanting to know more about raw foods and the diet. If you have any questions feel free to ask just email me at gen@rawfoodbeginnings.com I will be sure to get back to you as soon as I can. Or leave a comment below.

Tomorrow we will go further in depth into your answers and get some ideas as to where best to start searching for what will work best for you. Remember we are all different and what has worked for one person may not work for you. That is why it is very important to know the exact reasons you would want to know more about raw foods.

Have a great day and count the blessings you are given hourly.

Hello and Welcome!

If you have been to this website before welcome back.  As you can see, we have revamped the site and are starting fresh.  Do not worry, I still have of my material from before.  I will be adding those post back  soon.  Some will be updated and some will remain the same.  As always they will be full of great information to help you learn more about raw foods and what they can offer you.

If you are new then welcome.  I am so looking forward to getting to know each and every one of you.  So if you have questions please feel free to jump right in and ask.  I promise to get back to you as quick as I can.

It is our goal at Raw Food Beginnings to give you the best information we can about the Raw Food Diet.  So if you have questions about what raw foods are?  What this kind of diet can do for you?  Or why would you think about adding raw foods to your diet?  Then I hope that you will feel this is the right place for you.

It is the goal of this site to give you information on certain types of foods and what they have available for your body to use.  Also we do not believe that just raw foods alone can cure any disease or illness and we do not make any claims to that matter.  We may from time to time have links to sites where the author will tell you they believe this, but we do not agree with these statements.  We do however believe that all the links on our site will be to very reputable and well researched individuals that have a great amount of knowledge in this field. 

We hope that you enjoy this site and I ask that if you have any questions or comments feel free to let me know. 

Have a loving and blessed day and thank you for visiting Raw Food Beginnings!!