And what were your reasons (if you don't mind me asking)? 

I've been wanting to do this for a while, one - because it sounds interesting, two - spiritual reasons (I am a Buddhist and should be meat-free), three - health reasons of course, and also for my 5-yr-old-daughter who is supposed to be gluten, casein, toxin-free.  I have heard your energy increases much on this diet.  Is that also true?   

This Christmas I received some un-cook books I was very excited about!  But now, I'm afraid...  Will we get sick for not killing off bacteria?  Will we be sick just from the change?  Is it more complicated to plan, and prepare (I really do hate to cook)?! 

I'm reading my new gifts now to try to get more info.  The first I'm reading is Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or 2 People by Jennifer Cornbleet.  But your experience/advice and input are very much appreciated. 

Thanks! 

We are wanting to go more raw, but it is not in our budget to be as raw as we would like yet.  Our reasons are the same as yours...health and spirituality (Biblical Kosher...we do not eat meat or dairy though).

Steps we are taking this year...community garden plot and a container garden on our very small patio.  This will free up more of the grocery money for nuts and seeds which are very, very expensive.  We are also wanting to get a commercial blender and dehydrator down the road, but there again...it is one thing at a time and only when it fits into the budget.  :)

As far as bacteria, try "Eat Cleaner."  It is available online or at most Whole Foods.  They have great email updates and promotions from the website.  

I just posted about this and then saw this topic. Today is my 6th day eating just raw foods. This is all new to me too, but there are tons of videos on youtube about it which helped me so much! My main reason was I am sick of feeling sick and tired all the time. I am tired when I wake up and never feel like I've slept enough, I would try to go to bed at a good time but would end up staying up past midnight. I also suffer with acid reflux. I wanted to lose weight. Just alot of different reasons and plus it just makes sense to me that this is how we should be eating. Tonight I gave in and allowed myself to eat "cooked food" for the first time in 6 days. My family had mcdonalds and I was able to pass that up. But, allowed myself a ham sandwich with a few chips and then I had a lean pizza pocket. Was trying to last 7 days, but tonight was stressful and so I gave in. But, planning to go right back to it. I'm just beginning and so I don't think I did too bad.

Raw diets are not particularly healthy. There are many nutrients that are not usable by the body unless they're cooked. Look at it this way - science has shown there were 2 major leaps forward in brain development in ancient man allowing us to become what we are today from grunting cave people. There is some disagreement about what caused these leaps as there always is but the most accepted theories are the first one took place when man started eating meat and the second when he learned to cook it. Your body is designed and adapted to eat a varied diet, not raw and not vegan and not McDonalds and not frozen dinners and not Twinkies. Yes, people can survive on any of those foods but that doesn't mean it's the best for you. Vegetarians have to take supplements because some vitamins are only found in meat, does that sound like we're meant to eat that way? If you want to quit meat for moral reasons fine but please don't go around telling people it's what's best for them. Or worse "it's how we're meant to eat". You have canine teeth for a reason!

This reminds me of what my pulmonologist told me about using oxygen at home. I can't feel it when my blood oxygen is low (unless it goes way low) but I will often notice my lips are blue and he says I need the oxygen. I questioned why I needed it when I feel fine. He said I may feel fine and I won't drop over dead but it's like running your car on bad gas. In the long run it's gonna wear the parts down faster and they don't run as well as they should even if they still get you there. I personally don't care what anyone else eats but this raw diet stuff is so misguided it just annoys me. 

But, allowed myself a ham sandwich with a few chips and then I had a lean pizza pocket.

That's all crap. You don't feel better because you're eating raw food, you feel better because you quit eating crap. It's not the raw that does it, it's dropping the crap. You can do that and maintain a regular diet, just stop eating the bad stuff. Make a pizza at home with fresh ingredients. Get some ground beef and make real burgers. It makes all the difference. I'll bet the ham in your sandwich was processed lunch meat wasn't it? Crap! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH-hs2v-UjI

Should Humans Eat Meat?


I like meat just as much as anyone, but not sure it's what's best for my body. I'm sure part of me feels better not being on all the junk but I also know cooking food kills a lot of the nutrients and minerals and enzymes our bodies need to get the most from it. I don't agree at all that cooking food is better for us. Just doesn't make sense. When you cook a food above a certain temp., you pretty much kill the food and the goodness within.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wooBSUxyFu8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbSB9rGp3HU&feature=related

Raw Food/Cook food comparison

First of all youtube should not be where you go for nutritional advice, I didn't bother watching any of those because I do not accept their validity. Any idiot can make a video and put it on there. Stick to legitimate sites. 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071224125524.htm Cooking Can Preserve, Boost Nutrient Content Of Vegetables

Raw veggies pack a punch, but cooking can unlock key benefits   http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2010/08/raw_veggies_can_pack_a_punch_b.html

"Research also has shown that while some raw food may contain more nutrients, our bodies cannot absorb them."

http://www.everydayhealth.com/health-report/eating-for-better-health/raw-versus-cooked-fruits-vegetables.aspx

"It's actually better to cook certain fresh fruits and vegetables because it is easier for the body to digest and use some of their nutrients."  

You choose to believe what you wish, but I am doing what makes sense to me and my body.  Any idiot can make up a website just as well as someone can make a video. Doesn't make it any less or more valid just because someone makes a webpage. There are Doctors and such who make videos as well on youtube such as Joel Fuhrman M.D.  It's not always just the average person. There are those who study this and there will probably always be a different opinions/views/beliefs when it comes to this by people who study this. I've seen videos by professionals who have your opinion as well. I choose to go the way that makes the most sense to me.

You're the one who asked. Believe whatever you like. 

Oh, and I will. What I asked (in the other topic) was if anyone ever tried it ?(meaning raw food diet). I was looking for opinions from those who have actually been eating this way. I don't remember asking anyone to tell me why they think it's not good. I know it's good for me. I was looking to see how others were doing with it too.

Oh, you were asking for only the opinions that agreed with what you already thought. Got it now. Sorry. 

I was looking for for others to tell, me their own experiences. As to compare. Stop trying to pick a fight. Others really are right about you.  I'm done.

Oh crap, they're all on to me.