I am considering attempting a raw food diet.  Can anyone attest to its effectiveness in improving overall health?
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A raw food diet creates major improvements in health. The reasons are not known, but the experience is unmistakable. Weight normalizes, which generally means a reduction in fat. At the same time, a person feels extremely energized. It's as if energy would rather be burned up than converted to fat.\n\nThere seems to be a major shift in physiology which makes one feel highly energized from raw food. I can only theorize why this occurs. It is quite likely that a large part of cooked food can only go into fat production, because heat and acid alter it making it unmetabolizable in other complex processes. By contrast, raw food should break down into components which can be directly metabolized in a variety of cells.\n\nHealth gets so refined and perfected with a raw food diet that a person notices effects of all types. The result is an important source of information about nutrition and quality of food.\n\nFor example, it is noticeable that sucrose (table sugar) goes entirely into fat production rather than immediate energy. Sucrose splits into glucose and fructose. Muscles use glucose but not fructose. Furthermore, the splitting probably does not occur during digestion, and then only fat cells can use the disaccharide.\n\nOne very obvious improvement resulting from a raw food diet is in the digestive system. Raw food digests marvelously well, so a person does not notice the acid, bile and residual effects of digestion that go with a cooked food diet.\n\nAdding a little bit of cooked food to a raw food diet doesn't work well, because acid is then produced in the stomach, and it is bad for raw food. Acid and raw food tend to create indigestion.\n\nA problem with raw foods is that they are the highest in pesticides. Organic raw foods may be necessary, unless a person is very clever in working around the worst pesticides. The effects are quite noticeable, which allows adjustments to be made.\n\nThe usual assumption is that the only supplement which is needed in theory is vitamin B12, because it is primarily found in meat. It originates with microbes, and very little is needed. Outside link on B12\n\nHowever, I find that copper and zinc are also needed with a vegetarian diet, because plant material is very low in these minerals compared to meat. These minerals are toxic while being absorbed, so they should be taken in small quantities. Other vitamins or minerals can be taken if desired. Even vitamin pills should not be taken in large quantities, because they are powerful reactants and can destroy organs, particularly when they contain byproducts of synthesis.\n\nI think everyone should take B vitamins, but in small quantities. I find 20 milligrams per day to be the right amount for the main ones. Pills have to be cut up to get that size. B vitamins store best when separated into each type, because they tend to react with each other. Folic acid deteriorates into a toxic substance. It might need to be replaced every two to three months depending upon humidity.\n\nAlmost everyone needs vitamin D. It transports calcium into cells. It's easy to get too much Vitamin D, particularly in the form of capsules. Dry D pills are safer. There is more than enough calcium in food when taking vitamin D. There is not much more calcium in dairy than other sources, and the hormones in dairy are not desirable.\n\nNormally, salt is not used with raw food. I find that eating some salt seems to be physiologically beneficial with raw food.\n\nFruits and vegetables digest through different processes when raw. Eat fruit in the morning and vegetables later.\n\nLearning to eat a raw food diet is mostly trial and error. Whatever is available and one wants to eat is generally adequate. Protein is found in raw nuts and seeds, such as sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, filberts, etc., and sprouts are also a good source of protein. Plant proteins do not have the same balance of amino acids as animal protein, so a variety of sources are needed.\n\nSprouts are of
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Not tried it.  Look at studies:\n\nWhite Kidney Bean Extract Induces Weight Loss\nKEARNY, N.J.--Phase 2, a concentrated starch neutralizer extracted from the white kidney bean, proved effective for weight loss, according to final results of a clinical trial released by Pharmachem Laboratories Inc. on Dec. 10. The study, which the company noted is being considered for publication, involved 50 subjects who were randomly assigned to receive Phase 2 or placebo for eight weeks. Subjects taking Phase 2 lost an average of 3.8 pounds, which was approximately 200-percent more than the loss experienced in the placebo group, according to the company (www.pharmachemlabs.com). And, subjects taking Phase 2 also lost 1.5 inches from their waists, which was 43-percent more than the reduction seen in the placebo group. \n\n"One of the most surprising results of the study was the impact that the starch neutralizer had on triglycerides, a form of bad cholesterol," said Jay Udani, M.D., medical director of the Integrative Medicine Program at Northridge Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles. "There was a dramatic 26-point drop in triglyceride levels, on average, for patients taking the starch neutralizer, while those on placebo averaged only an 8-point drop in triglyceride levels."
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This goes into an interesting area.  There is a book out there called the Warrior Diet.  It talks of this very style of eating.  It can be healthy but you have to do it right.  This was basically the diet of natives and other hunter/gather societies.  Our bodies are probably more adapt at this diet then the crap we have forced into over the last 70 years.  I would change it up from apples to other nutritious fruits.  Read the Warrior Diet and get a better prospective.
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Here are some opinions on food and diet:\n\nhttp://uk.blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-iQ_TenI9dLT74fuxz0hwQxOHovpKsgI-?cq=1\n\nAll feedback appreciated.
261202
Disclaimer \nThe following section is cobbled together from various readings and research, dealing with my kid's allergies and nutritional difficulties, and my own experiences with refeeding, digestive problems, orthorexia and pregnancy. I did not keep track of all the sources. I do therefore encourage you to take any information you may find in here and look it up yourself so you can make your own decisions and reach your own conclusions. Please keep in mind that I'm not a medical or nutritional professional of any sort.\n\n\nRefeeding \n-or- \nHow To Gain Weight \n\n\n\nThis one seems like a no-brainer, eh? How do you gain weight? You eat. You cannot gain weight without eating... in the exact opposite of losing weight, actually, you cannot gain weight without consuming more calories than you burn off. \n\nThe bigger question, in our weight-loss worshipping world, is why would you want to gain weight? Fact is that sometimes we become too thin, dangerously so, to the point where we begin to suffer all these negative side effects and eventually death. Sometimes gaining weight is a pretty attractive option by comparison. Being at a healthy weight helps every system of our body function better, allows us to heal from damage, and gives us reserves as protection against stress or illness as well. \n\nThe tougher part of weight-gain is how to do it in a healthy manner. Just as rapid weight-loss can be dangerous, so can rapid weight gain. Many EDs who go through rapid recovery end up with too high a bodyfat percentage, too much fat stored around their internal organs, compromised health, and high cholesterol. This is in part because traditional anorexic "recovery" diets are aimed at bulking up the patient as quickly as possible by fat-loading everything they eat with no thought for the health quality of the food being given. \n\nIt's safer to aim for a gain of one or two pounds a week so as to not put undue stress on your recovering system and to know that you're rebuilding bone, muscle, and nutrient stores instead of just frantically storing fat. It's more important to restore your body's protein, elemental, vitamin, water, fat and sugar balances than to simply send the numbers on the scale up. Once you do this, given sufficient raw materials your body will rebuild itself more strongly. \n\n\n\nIn The Beginning\n\nIf you're deciding to gain weight, odds are it's because you're underweight. If you're underweight, barring a purely illness-related weight-loss problem which should really be addressed by a doctor instead, you have probably not been eating enough. If you haven't been eating enough for a while, your digestive system will need to be retrained. Same goes for extended or extensive purging... it screws with your entire system, and there will need to be plenty of time devoted to patience and healing. \n\nExtended periods of time with insufficient solid food intake causes your entire digestive system to slow down and lose efficiency. Amounts of digestive chemicals in production may drop, and the tiny fingerlike cilia that absorb foods in your small intestine may become paralyzed or die off. The peristaltic muscles that move food through your system may weaken or atrophy. Large meals or a lot of food at once may confuse your stomach and intestines to the point where they cramp up and have trouble remembering what to do at all. All this will need to be repaired slowly, given time to reaccustom itself to the concept of processing and utilizing food again. \n\nStart with liquids. Rehydration is extremely important, since without food our overall water content drops significantly, and the digestive process requires a great deal of water. In the first few days of refeeding you may notice a sudden gain of several pounds... this is most likely, if you're doing everything right, your water balance trying to straighten itself out. You may feel bloated for a while as this happens an
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This is not a completely wrong answer.\n\nIf you insist on taking in so few calories per day, perhaps you can eat only vegetables, absolutely no flour, refined sugar, or sugar substitutes.  No animal products either, except for plain yogurt with live cultures.\n\nYou can even juice the vegetables, and drink only the FRESH raw juice.  \n\nMy suggestions are meant to help you find the most healthy, ultra low calorie diet possible, in order to delay your impending death.  Perhaps, if I can help buy you some time, you will tire of anorexia, and start eating again.\n\nPlease also try to find a support group in your area for people who have eating disorders.  I am sure that you would find that you all have very similar problems, and self opinions.\n\nMay you come to know the Lord Jesus, and have peace.\n\nedited to add:  a 100% raw, 100% vegan diet (vegan means no animal products, not even eggs or milk), will never cause a person to become overweight.  You can pretty much stuff yourself daily on raw vegetables and their fresh raw juice, raw fruit and their fresh raw juice, nuts, greens, and any other edible plant parts in their natural raw unprocessed forms, and you will never get fat.  Plus, it is the healthiest way for humans to eat.\n\nI hope also that you are taking at least a vitamin/mineral supplement.  There is a powdered vitamin/mineral supplement that you mix in water.  It is called 'Alive Effervescent'.  Tastes good, lemon lime flavor, almost zero calories.  You can order it off the internet, or you can find similar products in your local healthfood store.
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YES! Consuming a raw-food diet will give you all the energy you need!  As well as curing any other maladies you may have. There are alot of good books to get you started; the best one I've found so far is, "Living on Live Food" by Alissa Cohen (www.alissacohen.com). Search, "eat raw food" on Google to find more resources.  And DON'T take the advice about the energy drinks - as you probably know, sugar is an energy-sapper.  Avoid caffeine, too.  \n\nTo start, try investing in a cheapo juicer ($30 or so) from Wal-Mart.  When I need a pick-me-up, I juice some organic spinach, a zuchinni or two, and a bunch of apples, then drink that concoction chilled.  It's green but tastes like the best apple juice you've ever had, and it will really get you going, plus it's really healthy!\n\nKudos to you for having 8 kids - I only have 2 so far, but I HOPE I have 8 someday!   :o)\n\n-  Lauren
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Have you had any new diet changes in the past three weeks. or within the last few months. This could be even from years of esposure to the elements in the world today. I recommend going to the site below and clicking on digestive health. You can send me an email if you have any questions.\n\nwilliams0757@sbcglobal.net
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No, even know it might make you skinyer you stil need different types of nutrients that even if you "juice" wont work. Solids are essencial for a healthy body. You should just try to find healthy things to eat, not all healthy foods are distasteful so that might work for you.\n\nGood Luck!
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Whole, natural foods are much better than a manufactured and processed suppliment. It usually is more soluable and in its natural form. While flaxseed oil is a good source of omega3 fatty acids an easier way to get it into your diet is to consume fish (prefably cold water fish).\n\nCheck with your doctor before taking any advice of people you don't know on a website.
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As a general rule, any kind of fruit or veggie is much better for you raw.
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My really skinny friend tries this.  She eats a lot of mayo.  i dont see a difference, but she does it and she says she heard that it works.
662032
Holistic healing does work, but you must change your lifestyle and be a believer.  not just say that you are a believer in God, but you must live and eat like you believe in God.  you must eat nutritious, wholesome, high fiber foods that come from their natural states.  try not to eat chemically treated foods.  get supplements, sweeteners and other natural foods from health food stores, farmer's markets and grocery stores that sell organic and pure foods.  eat a diet of high fiber, brightly colored fruits, vegetables, berries, whole grain, soy, foods and lean chicken and fish.  stay away from processed foods as much as possible.  pray and try to live by God's wishes.  drink a lot of green tea, red tea, and use healthful sweeteners such as Stevia and Royal Jelly.  Drink and eat a lot of green leafy type foods.  you can do it. but you must rest your problems in God's hands and let Him help you.
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Anything that anybody tell would be a guess based on assumptions. This plan may have work for somebody else.\n\nBut the question is, will it work for you?\n\nThe only way for you to know is to try it out and see the kind of results that you get. At that time, you will know for sure how effective it is for you.\n\nYou have to find something that works for you and then tweak it to get the results that you want.\n\nIt seems that your plan is an okay diet. The only thing that I would recommend is to include some kind of lean protein in all of your meals, not just your dinner.\n\nBut again take your measurements along with your scale weight and see what kind of results you get in a month time.\n\nFor more info Visit http://www.charlesblain.com
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I have tried it and it is very strict. They send you the food for the whole day including the snacks, BUT it is very little and you CANNOT eat anything else! if you ate whatever they sent you and still hungry - guess what? if you eat anything else you will actually gain weight because the food they send contains exact amount of calories you can consume throughout the day to lose about 1 lb a week (at best). The food isn't that great either. I am very picky, I like to cook and pretty good at it and had to make myself eat the food they provided. Although it smelled good the taste just wasn't there.\nOn the other hand a friend of mine (not so picky with the food... AT ALL!) was on that diet for 5 months and she managed to lose 6 pounds.\nEveryone is different. In any case, good luck to you!
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The best person to see would be a qualified and reputable Naturopath who deals with women's issues - not your GP. Modern medicine only goes so far with candida and isn't a permanent soloution.\n\nThe best natural things to do that have worked for me are to :\n\n* Cut down on your sugar intake - sugar encourages yeast to grow in your body\n\n* Avoid ANYTHING with yeast - especially bread! Check all processed foods ingredient lists to make sure they're ok.\nEg. Original flavour doritos are fine but Nacho Cheese doritos have yeast plus a whole heap of other things.\n\n* If you must eat bread try corn tortilla's or eat sourdough bread that creates it's own yeast and doesn't have any added. Always avoid white starchy processed bread.\n\n* Avoid any foods that may have mould in them, aged cheeses (stick to younger ones like mozzarella) mushrooms etc\n\n* Take acidpholous tablets (available at your chemist in the refrigerated section) They help to promote good bacteria in your body.\n\n* Drink heaps of water\n\n* Avoid alcohol - it does the same thing as sugar\n\n* Avoid any cured or pickled foods - eg ham, salami - essentially the more processed food is the worse it is for candida\n\n* Not sure where you live but I'm in Australia where we have a priduct called Vegemite which is essentially made out of a yeast extract - avoid anything like this (similar to marmite and promite)\n\nFinally, eat heaps of vegetables! \n\nHave a look at the sites listed in the sources section. Good Luck!
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http://www.rwbrooks.net/me/diet.html\n\ni have done it and it does work...\nif you go to yahoo and search "3 day chemical diet" you will find a bunch of pages that have basically the same info BUT with substitutions and lists of what seasonings and stuff you can use