Daily Basics

Raw Basics 101

On your journey to the fullest potential for your body I suggest trying new things and keeping your eating fun and experimental such as juicing, sprouting and wheatgrass growing.  I encourage you to investing sprouting jars or sprouting bags to incorporate spouting into your diet.  The natural high and energy boost from sprouting and juicing are more than worth it!  Also if you are into raising up your own wheatgrass I highly encourage it as the benefits are amazing.

Taking on raw is a change of pace for most Americans so remember to have fun with it and explore all the delicious recipes this site provides.  You don’t have to get it all right the first time, transitioning allows you to see and taste the things you like most and what your body responds to.

Being raw does not mean you have to be vegan.  You can enjoy unpasteurized dairy/goat products if you have a local trustworthy organic farm.  You can even eat raw fish and meats if you have an acquired taste but keep in mind how the animal was raised to lessen your chances of toxic intake.

As far as stimulants such as nicotine, alcohol and caffeine you should try and avoid them as much as possible.  If you choose to have alcohol I suggest organic wines.

My personal experience was a bit unstable in the beginning to commit myself to just juicing.  I wanted to rapidly cure my skin issues.  At home I was fine because I had a shiny new juicer with a bulk of fresh produce.  When I was out running errands all day with few places to grab a fresh juice that were across town I ended up eating something that I didn’t originally want.  At social gatherings I also realized that the foods I used to eat were readily available everywhere so I was lucky to run into a fruit or vegetable bowl.  I soon realized the need for a dehydrator to make my own raw snacks to take with me as I go about my day or eat raw before an event.  This change is not easy but with support and/or divine will power, the feeling you get on the first few days of a 100% raw diet is unmatchable. You will understand all the interest people have in this lifestyle.

During your transition recognize your feelings for true hunger and not just the want to eat due to anger, sadness,anxiety etc.  There are no rules to how many times you eat a day.  I find that eating raw food when you feel is best because you will end up eating 4-5 small meals or snacks and it gets your metabolism the exercise it needs to start moving correctly without being overfed or underfed. In the beginning I was hungrier than I am now and I ate raw till I was overly full.  Now I know that about two full glasses of green juice gets me satisfied.  You will start to get a grip of what feels right for you in time. Remember you don’t have to eat everything you put on your plate at once; you can put it back and eat the rest at a later time.

I usually let my digestive system wake up with me by waking up and stretching.  I give myself at least twenty minutes before eating and during this time I like to drink fresh lemon or apple cider vinegar to stimulate the liver and flush out the bowels.  To make them less intense I suggest mixing them in room temperature pure water.  Avoid eating two to three hours before you sleep so that you don’t shut down digestion on a full stomach.

Be gentle to yourself during the transition, Rome wasn’t built overnight! No one is forcing you to go raw one hundred percent right away or in the future. First things first, introduce your body with a few new raw foods a day and take it as it goes. For beginners, I suggest to eat a couple of your favorite fruits, preferably citrus or acidic fruits before lunchtime.  Then maybe a banana or apple because of its slower sugar release. Once you start feeling the benefits you are more likely to eat more raw foods this way.

Every day, not just some days you should drink 2 or more liters of clean alkaline water which is roughly 6-8 glasses. Make sure it is distilled or filtered, as normal tap water can contain many toxins. Fresh young coconut water or freshly squeezed juices are also great raw choices.

I cannot stress enough how wonderful a good juicer in your home is!   It should be used more than any other kitchen appliance other than the fridge of course!

Men consume roughly 3 liters (about 13 cups) of total beverages a day and women consume 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) of total beverages a day. Your urine should look like a little lemon juice with water in color a very light yellow. On days you exercise or sweat you should drink 1-2 more glasses of alkaline water.

Women who are expecting or breast-feeding need large amounts of additional fluids when nursing.  Women who breast-feed consume about thirteen cups and women who are pregnant need about ten cups of water a day.

What you eat also provides a significant portion of your fluid needs. Many fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon and tomatoes, are 90 percent to 100 percent water by weight. Fresh juice is also composed mostly of water. Water is calorie-free, inexpensive and readily available.

Water is so important in digestion.  It is like the oil in your engine that keeps things going.  Without the lubrication to digest your body will just have foods sitting there and whatever may be toxic your body will absorb due to lack of water to metabolize and get the body functioning properly.  Water aids greatly in the flow of toxic waste removal.  Water is further explored in this book and the hidden dangers that lurk within the different waters such as tap and bottled big name brands.

Grocery Shopping:

When purchasing your produce buy from local growers when possible or even better grow your own edible garden to control the handling and freshness.  Also always buy organic when you can, although it is a bit more expensive it is without a doubt worth it in nutrition that packs a punch!  If you do decide you are going to grow a garden, be sure to check if the seed provider is connected with Monsanto.  If you do not know who Monsanto is, please do yourself a favor and research the atrocities this corporation has created for our food source.  Here is a clue: they created Agent Orange and now own over 90% of the seed source world wide patenting all sorts of life!  Buyers beware!