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Transitioning- Want to be safe


LoganKost
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Hey everyone,

 

On the 28th I started a trial to see how I could do with a purely raw diet. I have been vegan for some time now, and I want to transition to an all-raw diet.

 

I am 18, 6'2, only 150 pounds. I'm very skinny, but that's how I have been my whole life.

 

As far as my raw diet so far...I have been making 3-4 green smoothies per day, ingredients include (there are variations): At least 4 bananas, pinapple, strawberries, blueberries, mango, black berries, rasberries, baby spinach, broccoli, and other various mixed greens. These smoothies fill my blender about 3/4s of the way full and I finish the whole thing. I have been eating about two large bulls full of salad with each meal. In the morning I have an additional two bannanas, some apples, maybe some strawberries. I have been adding chopped carrots and advocados to my salads, as well.

 

Each time I eat I get very full, so I assume I'm getting enough calories. It's always felt like I can't eat much at all.

 

I just want to make sure this diet seems fine, if there are any concerns let me know. I'm hoping to buy some raw protein powder to add to the smoothies. I haven't done much research on that however, and I'm not sure if the local Whole Foods carries any.

 

Thanks a lot! This website has been a big help in my search for a better, healthier, lifestyle.

 

-Logan

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Welcome Logan If you feel healthy and like you have energy I don't see anything wrong with your diet. And if you don't want to gain weight then don't. I don't think you need to extra protein powder either...unless you feel you're lacking. Save your money unless you feel like you need more. If anything maybe try adding some pumpkin seeds to your smoothies for a different fat source. There are pro athletes your height are even lighter than you are so I wouldn't worry about that all that much.

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Thanks a lot for the reply veganpotter. It's nice to hear some reassurance that my diet is fine. I realize that only I can determine if it's right for me, but some extra advice is always nice. I'm not too worried about gaining weight right now, but once I get more accustomed to eating RAW I think I will start to focus on that more.

 

I haven't really experienced any detox symptoms...yet, at least. It's been three days so far.

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I actually never had any symptoms either. I felt cleaner somehow in that glowy sort of way but I felt good from the very second I picked it up so maybe you won't either.

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Hey everyone,

 

On the 28th I started a trial to see how I could do with a purely raw diet. I have been vegan for some time now, and I want to transition to an all-raw diet.

 

I am 18, 6'2, only 150 pounds. I'm very skinny, but that's how I have been my whole life.

 

As far as my raw diet so far...I have been making 3-4 green smoothies per day, ingredients include (there are variations): At least 4 bananas, pinapple, strawberries, blueberries, mango, black berries, rasberries, baby spinach, broccoli, and other various mixed greens. These smoothies fill my blender about 3/4s of the way full and I finish the whole thing. I have been eating about two large bulls full of salad with each meal. In the morning I have an additional two bannanas, some apples, maybe some strawberries. I have been adding chopped carrots and advocados to my salads, as well.

 

Each time I eat I get very full, so I assume I'm getting enough calories. It's always felt like I can't eat much at all.

 

I just want to make sure this diet seems fine, if there are any concerns let me know. I'm hoping to buy some raw protein powder to add to the smoothies. I haven't done much research on that however, and I'm not sure if the local Whole Foods carries any.

 

Thanks a lot! This website has been a big help in my search for a better, healthier, lifestyle.

 

-Logan

 

In my opinion the one thing you need to add is hemp powder becasue i see your your not getting a good omega 3 fat source plus it's good to know your getting a good complete protein. Get the mantoba harvest. You can buy them from vitamin warhouse for less than 10 bucks a pound. good luck

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Hey everyone,

 

On the 28th I started a trial to see how I could do with a purely raw diet. I have been vegan for some time now, and I want to transition to an all-raw diet.

 

I am 18, 6'2, only 150 pounds. I'm very skinny, but that's how I have been my whole life.

 

As far as my raw diet so far...I have been making 3-4 green smoothies per day, ingredients include (there are variations): At least 4 bananas, pinapple, strawberries, blueberries, mango, black berries, rasberries, baby spinach, broccoli, and other various mixed greens. These smoothies fill my blender about 3/4s of the way full and I finish the whole thing. I have been eating about two large bulls full of salad with each meal. In the morning I have an additional two bannanas, some apples, maybe some strawberries. I have been adding chopped carrots and advocados to my salads, as well.

 

Each time I eat I get very full, so I assume I'm getting enough calories. It's always felt like I can't eat much at all.

 

I just want to make sure this diet seems fine, if there are any concerns let me know. I'm hoping to buy some raw protein powder to add to the smoothies. I haven't done much research on that however, and I'm not sure if the local Whole Foods carries any.

 

Thanks a lot! This website has been a big help in my search for a better, healthier, lifestyle.

 

-Logan

 

In my opinion the one thing you need to add is hemp powder becasue i see your your not getting a good omega 3 fat source plus it's good to know your getting a good complete protein. Get the mantoba harvest. You can buy them from vitamin warhouse for less than 10 bucks a pound. good luck

Just from reading his diet.

It looks like he's getting plenty of EFA.

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Thanks for the replies everyone. I still haven't noticed any significant detox symptoms. I have been eating less with each meal, however. It's been down to abour 3 bannas, a cup of strawberries and pineapples, brocolli and baby spinach in my smoothie.

 

In the morning I drink a smoothie and either eat another banana or have an apple. My meals lately have been lettuce wraps. I use a whole avacado, peppers, and tomatoes, which I put on lettuce wraps and eat. I was feeling TOO full after two bowls of salad plus the smoothie, so now I only eat one bowl.

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LoganKost, Hi

 

I think that's quite good, just make sure you are getting plenty of variety by rotating your fats -- vary your nuts and seeds.

 

Also, please do not neglect to take a B12 supplement. You cannot get it from food, and even if you believe you can, you will not know it without regular visits to the doctor to have it checked. You must ask for an MMA test, NOT a regular B12 test to accurately assess if you have adequate amounts. B12 is extremely important, even though so little is needed. You may not "feel" poorly or know you are deficient and may suffer grave consequences. I'm not trying to scare, but it is that important not to neglect it. If left too long without it and damage is done, it can be irreversible. Don't go by believing you have adequate stores to last years; it's just not reliable to assume that. Everyone, including flesh, dairy and egg eaters can be low in it.

Just warnin' ya

 

Also, if you do not get at least 15 minutes of sunshine every day, take a Vit.D supplement.

 

If you are not opposed, a DHA supplement would be good for assurance of getting proper DHA and EPA, however, you can get this if you consume enough variety of nuts and seeds and be sure to get those high in Omega 3's every day, such as Chia seeds, 1 TB flax seeds, ground; walnuts, and hempseeds.

 

Otherwise, you are good! I love that you're doing the green smoothies, they are the most nutritious meal you can eat. Get some variety there too.

 

One more thing: Continue with your chewed meals. You don't want to consume everything blended. You need to keep your digestive system working. If you blend everything, you shut off some of the mechanisms used for proper digestion. So keep those salads you mentioned in!

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Thanks Raven. As far as b12, I have that covered, and I'm in the sun for at least 15 minutes, so I should be getting adequate vitamin D. As far as the DHA and EPA, I have hardly any knowledge of what that is, or how to obtain it, to be honest. I don't want to consume any supplements that come from animals, of course.

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Both B12 and DHA/EPA Omega 3 can be handled by adding a tablespoon of blue green algae to one of your smoothies each day if you want to stay raw and supplement free.

 

Like other people said, a B12 supplement and something like hemp seeds are other good options, although blue green algae is the only vegan source of mediam chain essential fatty acids, your body can make them and can be aided in doing so by added just a little coconut oil.

 

I decided after about a year eating very high raw and whole foods to incorporate live blue green algae, and I like it so much I am a distributer for them now.

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Thanks Raven. As far as b12, I have that covered, and I'm in the sun for at least 15 minutes, so I should be getting adequate vitamin D. As far as the DHA and EPA, I have hardly any knowledge of what that is, or how to obtain it, to be honest. I don't want to consume any supplements that come from animals, of course.

LoganKost,

DHA/EPA is an essential fatty acid you need. You can get it from the suggestions I made (the nuts and seeds every day) in that paragraph about it.

If you want to be assured to get it and absorb it (which is key) then you may want to consider a supplement for peace of mind/security. You do not "have to" do anything; but I believe it's being shown that this issue (along with B12 and Vit.D) is a problem with EVERYone, it's not a vegan/raw issue any longer. The standard diets of today have caused so much nutrient depletion in our diets that the majority of people are deficient.

You can get a DHA from Pangea. The first three listed HERE are DHA supplements.

There are many differing opinions on these issues. If unsure which advice to take do thorough research, look at (*credible*) sources, and make up your mind. For example, many say B12 can be gotten from nutritional yeast. That is NOT substantiated. Yet some will insist...but it's a free country, right? Just be smart...and safe!

 

When you take in a food rich in DHA (Omega 3's) your body converts it to EPA unless you are a rare person who doesn't convert well.

The reason omnis eat -- are told to eat lots of -- fish is because the fish have the DHA and the EPA already converted so the person eating the fish gets the DHA/EPA straight. But, as vegans we can get it through the nuts and seeds I mentioned and let our own bodies convert it. OR, as I mentioned take a supplement. The vegan supplements are made from *specific* seaweed, which is where the fish get it! It's similar to cows and calcium -- where do cows get their calcium? From plants. The human drinks the milk and gets some of it (along with a lot of other crap, which excretes some of it along the way). So the fish eat the seaweed, absorbing the DHA into its cells, and passes it along to the being that eats it.

Humans have found a way to extract the DHA directly (so there's no guessing game) and its available now for us so we don't have to take fish oil. But, again, if your diet is super clean and you are getting in *enough* of the EFA's through the nuts and seeds, you may not need it.

 

Just putting it out there for you to decide .

 

Best of luck.

 

Feel free to pm me if you have any other questions. I've been a 100% raw foodist for a long time as well as high-raw rawfoodist. [/u]

 

 

ETA: Personally, I like DHA Purity; but the others are less expensive and, I'm sure good quality as well.

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Well I feel a little better at least knowing something about it. Which would benefit me most? The supplement, or the algae?

 

I would be careful about talking a pill. It is terrible on the digestion system and full of toxins. More isn't always better.

Finding the right amount of nutrition to have in your body is better. If you're putting enough calories in your body then you're getting enough protein. But if you feel you have to take a pill or powder, then you should do it. What ever your body feels best.

If you need to gain weight then add more bananas and avocados in your diet.

It'll come together. I've been raw for 1.5 yrs and I'm still learning.

I suggest read and do more research about your diet, go to potlucks, talk to a raw specialist etc....

This may be overwhelming at first. But, you're on the right track! Good for you

Edited by Tasha
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Well I feel a little better at least knowing something about it. Which would benefit me most? The supplement, or the algae?

 

I would be careful about talking a pill. It is terrible on the digestion system and full of toxins. More isn't always better.

Finding the right amount of nutrition to have in your body is better. If you're putting enough calories in your body then you're getting enough protein. But if you feel you have to take a pill or powder, then you should do it. What ever your body feels best.

If you need to gain weight then add more bananas and avocados in your diet.

It'll come together. I've been raw for 1.5 yrs and I'm still learning.

I suggest read and do more research about your diet, go to potlucks, talk to a raw specialist etc....

This may be overwhelming at first. But, you're on the right track! Good for you

 

what kind of toxins is a b12 supplement pill filled with?

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First, I have no financial ties to any food company or supplement company. Second, I eat cooked foods.

 

The following is a link I found on algae and there doesn't look to be a whole lot of omega 3's in the form of EPA or DHA. Flax or chia would be much cheaper considering their overall omega 3 profile. http://www.a-vital-life.com/page.php?p=essential_fatty_acids

 

I have written a lot about the importance of dietary omega 6 to omega 3 ratios on this forum so I won't get into it here. Let's just say that if the ratios aren't close (and they usually aren't for vegans or raw foodists) then the omega 6's win and your body cannot convert ALA (the shorter omega 3 fatty acid) into the very important longer-chain EPA and DHA. Why? Because omega 6 and omega 3 both need the very same enzyme to convert their shorter chains into the longer chains. If you have more omega 6 (even in a food "rich" in omega 3s the RATIO might favor the omega 6s) then that fatty acid wins.

 

This is not a simple concept, unfortunately, so there is a lot of confusion and misdirection out there. While I'm not happy about taking supplements, in this very artificial world we live in, eating a diet that needs to take advantage of the plants available to us (mostly cultivated) - supplements may be necessary, regardless of how that seems so "unnatural" to all us us typing on man-made plastic computers. Therefore, I make sure I take a vegan DHA/EPA supplement (I call it vegan fish) as well as a form of the short chain omega 3s (chia or flax) each day.

 

As for vitamin B12 and deficiencies, I would approach this one very carefully. The neurological damage from B12 deficiency is not always reversible. If you are wearing shoes made from chemicals, wearing a vegan but petro-derived shirt and purchasing any products packaged in plastic - what's wrong with a supplement that could save you from a lot of damage?

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First, I have no financial ties to any food company or supplement company. Second, I eat cooked foods.

 

The following is a link I found on algae and there doesn't look to be a whole lot of omega 3's in the form of EPA or DHA. Flax or chia would be much cheaper considering their overall omega 3 profile. http://www.a-vital-life.com/page.php?p=essential_fatty_acids

 

I have written a lot about the importance of dietary omega 6 to omega 3 ratios on this forum so I won't get into it here. Let's just say that if the ratios aren't close (and they usually aren't for vegans or raw foodists) then the omega 6's win and your body cannot convert ALA (the shorter omega 3 fatty acid) into the very important longer-chain EPA and DHA. Why? Because omega 6 and omega 3 both need the very same enzyme to convert their shorter chains into the longer chains. If you have more omega 6 (even in a food "rich" in omega 3s the RATIO might favor the omega 6s) then that fatty acid wins.

 

This is not a simple concept, unfortunately, so there is a lot of confusion and misdirection out there. While I'm not happy about taking supplements, in this very artificial world we live in, eating a diet that needs to take advantage of the plants available to us (mostly cultivated) - supplements may be necessary, regardless of how that seems so "unnatural" to all us us typing on man-made plastic computers. Therefore, I make sure I take a vegan DHA/EPA supplement (I call it vegan fish) as well as a form of the short chain omega 3s (chia or flax) each day.

 

As for vitamin B12 and deficiencies, I would approach this one very carefully. The neurological damage from B12 deficiency is not always reversible. If you are wearing shoes made from chemicals, wearing a vegan but petro-derived shirt and purchasing any products packaged in plastic - what's wrong with a supplement that could save you from a lot of damage?

 

++. Great post.

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