It is said that if you eat dead foods, you get a dead body. Eat live foods, get a live body!
The doctor told me to get my cholresterol down or I would have to use a medicine that has some bad side-effects. I didn't want to go on the medicine, so thought that I would try a diet called the raw foods diet. My daughter had sent me information about the diet and it was worth a try, it may possibly also help my wife fight breast cancer.

The raw foods diet is basically eating raw/living foods, that is, they haven't been cooked to death, best raw vegan (organic if possible). Mostly fruits and vegetables, with some seeds and nuts. In addition, no sugar, no meats, no milk products, no white flour, and no caffeine.

My wife and I are about 50% raw and about 50% cooked. It should include occasional fasting, juicing and sprouts.

Just Google on raw foods, living foods, fasting, juicing and natural hygiene, and you will find more than enough information. Some of the best authors dealing with this diet, include: Herbert M. Shelton, T. C. Fry, Gabriel Cousens, Alissa Cohen and David Wolfe to name a few. David Wolfe has a couple of books out: Eating for Beauty, and Sunfood Diet Success System. Or read the book: Raw Food Life Force Energy by Natalia Rose.

Anyway, back to my story, I reduced my cholesterol from 219 to 150; plus I lost about 25 pounds! So I am a happy camper right now and the doctor was amazed! My wife lost about 25 pounds also and seems to be doing wonderfully. If nothing else, I am certainly not going back to junk foods!

try google-ing 7-11 burritos, because a bigger ass is more comfortable to sit on.

While I believe in humorous levity and certainly believe that it has its place, I do not appreciate it as a reply to my post, Vashgun. Why? Because I feel that some other people may get the impression that I too am joking and that I was not serious about this diet/lifestyle.

I wrote about this diet because I wanted others to benefit from this diet also. I do, however, feel that Quantum Touch may be the missing ingredient when on this diet or any diet, as I believe that it would help physically and emotionally. Plus, I feel that today's vitamins and minerals would benefit one on a diet also.

I just got back from the doctor's office today and my B/P was excellent, along with my weight. Plus, I didn't have to have a medical test that is usually given every year for one my age, which sounded great to me! I contribute my well-being to the raw diet and QT.

Good for you Stan. Thanks for the information. I do appreciate it. [CODE]

Well done Stan - I agree with your comments wholeheartedly. A raw diet is the ultimate as far as i am concerned. My day is probably 75% raw and if I had any serious illness I would without doubt convert that to 100% raw. I am a vegan and start the day with a blend of raw fruit and carrot only and that powerful cocktail lasts until lunchtime. More salad and nuts and seeds last me until dinner and then I ahve more salad and grains and vegetables cooked. I once read an article about peoplle with ME - yuppie flu- being completely cured after adoipting a raw food, organically grown diet. (It's getting harder and harder to obtain top quality fruit and veg though these days.) Combined with regular running the energy with QT this makes for a very healthy lifestyle. Keep up the good diet Stan it is well worth it.

Love
Wendy

I was tabling at a VegFest a couple of years ago and was too busy to break away to get lunch. By 2:00, I was starving but the only booth that had any food left was the Indian raw food booth. They scooped me up a plate full of yummy looking stuff. I figured I'd be hungry in an hour or two (like Chinese.) I was only able to eat half of it, it was so filling. And I was satisfied until I went to bed that night. That sold me except for the idea that raw is so labor intensive. I've recently found an easy way to do this!!

I've just started reading "Raw Food Made Easy, for 1 or 2 people" by Jennifer Cornbleet. Recipes can be multiplied for more people of course. There's a list of kitchen equipment you need. You probably already have most, if not all, of it. There's a list of staples you should have on hand. There's a weekly grocery list. I've only gotten through the first chapter. The pictures are beautiful. The food has to be tasty.

So if you've thought that raw isn't for you because it's just too hard -- it's really not!! The author mentions that it's actually easier. You cut and process stuff all the time in your regular preparation. THEN you have to cook and even clean the pots in addition. She mentioned that it's a wonderful diet for those who travel. (I'm not sure how that works. It's apparently in a later chapter.)

The other thing holding me back was that I tend to want to do things all the way. Guess what?! I don't have to. If nothing else, this book is a great way to get more fresh fruits and vegetables into our daily diet. Who couldn't use more of that? And the pictures are so pretty, what child wouldn't want to eat such pretty food?

My expectation is that more raw foods will help to lower my blood pressure, lose weight, and generally restore optimum health and energy.

Quantum Touch has long been associated with David Wolfe. He was a speaker at the recent Quantum Touch Conference at Lake Tahoe, and his company, Sunfoods, had a large exhibit at the conference. His book is offered in the QT Store, and also another book is offered there, on Vegan diet.

Check the QT Store link on the Home page. I wanted some of the fine products I saw at Conference, but didn't want to haul them home by plane, so I ordered from Sunfoods Nutrition via internet after reaching home. I am more than happy with the products I have and will surely be ordering again, and trying new things.

I know for a fact that there are quite a few QT-ers who are doing the raw diet and are getting great results. Richard & Jennifer brought David Wolfe to the QT Conference....a very good decision!

Cris, I'm getting that book...thanks for the information.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ali,

I eat a lot of raw food and it gives me a lot of energy but at nights it gets pretty cold around here so I feel like I need to get some warm cooked foods too. For me I seem to need a balance of at least 25% cooked food, but may be I'll adapt over time.

Stan, I am so impressed with the drop in your cholesterol! I am having similar problems only MUCH higher numbers. I started the meds but didn't like how I felt and quit.I tried some natural supplements and - hmmmm - they didn't work. Needless to say, my cholesterol was off the chart. (great BP, though ) So back to the meds and the discomfort. If you get such great results on a 50-50 diet, I might be able to handle that. I just love to cook and love food... sigh...

Cris - thanks so much for the book recommendation. Time for boot camp for this foodie, I guess! My husband is skinny so I always feel like I would be depriving him if I went more vegetarian. (Good excuse, huh?)
Every day I learn something new....

I'm so glad to see this thread here adn I wanted ot ad my experience.

I've been eating 100% raw foods for the past 6.5 months. I feel fabulous! My energy is increased. My psychic sensitivity is through the roof. I've lost 32 pounds and counting. I don't eat for emotional reasons any more (well, mostly not, but even when I do its raw food!!!)

I can't say enough about the benefits of this diet. And you don't need to do 100% to get the benefits. Even adding a food or two to your diet can have tremendous benefits. I would definitely recommend going over to David Wolfe's site and getting soem raw cacao powder or sacerd heart chocolates or whatever else strikes your fancy!

Blissings,
Sheri

Okay, next book suggestion: Green For Life by Victoria Boutenko. The book was suggested to me by one of my students. I'd added it to my Amazon wish list while searching for raw food books earlier. My book arrived on Friday. I devoured it Friday evening. My boyfriend and I went to the produce market to get greens and all the other stuff I need to make Green Smoothies.

This book is about how healthy raw digestable greens are for us. Making greens into smoothies is the most digestible form. I'm amazed at the nutrition in greens. I'm amazed at the stories people are telling in this book. They're getting healthier, becoming more energetic, need less sleep, wrinkles are disappearing, hair is returning to it's natural color, they're even having better sex, etc..... Cravings for junk food disappear. They begin to crave smoothies, greens, and otherwise healthy food instead.

I made my first green smoothie tonight. It's good. And it's filling. And a little odd. Like drinking my salad. Great flavor and beautiful green. It was made up of kale, sun-dried tomato, dill, garlic, lime, and water. Tomorrow's will probably be watercress (or lambsquarters, I'm not sure), banana and mango. I'm sure I can get used to this.

Being a foodie, please get back to us in a month and let us know how it goes.... really.... Is it good for you? YES! Can you stick with it???? I am a wuss! Please convince me!! OH - are you using the blender, food processor or a juicer???

Is it good for you? You answered -- YES!

Can you stick with it???? We'll see. I hope so. I read some amazing stories in the book.

Please convince me Doing the smoothies helps to encourage a raw food diet. You begin to crave greens, raw food, and a generally healthier diet. Cravings for things not good for you disappear. So say the personal stories in the book.

[A]re you using the blender, food processor or a juicer?

The book (and the person who recommended the book) suggest a blender, specifically the Vita Mix blender. Since it costs $359 for a reconditioned one, I'll wait 'til after Christmas, after I pay flight and hotel costs for Core II workshop in February. By then, I'll know whether I want to continue. For now, I'm using an Oster blender. Juicer is not recommended because you want to get all the good stuff, not throw anything away. Food processor? I don't know. I've not that much experience with them and mine's not that great -- just a cheapy that I bought to start the raw food thing..

Several years ago I went on a diet, which had a good portion of raw vegetables. For lunch at work, I would get a gallon size freezer (heavy duty) zip lok baggie, and I filled it with raw vegetables. I went off sugar, started drinking only water, and ate at night things like Boca Burgers and VERY lightly boiled (2 minutes at the most) corn on the cob (no butter or sugar), and I started exercising. I went from 266 to 143 between Thanksgiving and the following middle of July (7.5 months). I felt better than I ever had, and had more energy than I ever had. I ate raw cabbage, carrots, squash, okra (LOVED the okra), green, red and yellow and orange bell peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, broccili, cauliflower, with a fruit for dessert. I tried to eat almost everything organic, if I could. (OH! I forgot! I had a sealed jar of sunflower seeds on my desk in case I felt a need for protein. Usually ate a handful at least once a day during work.)

I still went out to eat, but before I did I would decide exactly what I was going to get, and I actually stuck to it when I got in the restaurant. That way I didn't feel like I was in prison being deprived of EVERYTHING! We usually ate out once every couple weeks or so.

The raw vegetables were amazing. They were easy, and you ate so much you DEFINITELY got full! (No, I had no sauce or dip or anything on them. Straight vegetables.)

It was amazing how after few weeks with no sugar, I could taste the natural sugars in foods so well. I could taste the sweetness in cabbage, in carrots, in corn and in bell peppers. (I would definitely recommend garlic and onions with this if you can eat them raw. I can't!)

OH!!! I forgot! DAIKON!!! Ate a good bit of daikon; a hunk every day. Raw vegetables is a fanstasic way to go! VERY healthy, and easy and effective!

I've made (and drank) green smoothies for 7 days. Monday at work was phenomenal. I never am able to get any actual work done on Mondays. Everyone wants everything, I have a lot of stuff I should do, and there's a two-hour meeting smack in the middle of the day. Argh! This Monday was different. I got actual work done!! I think it's because my mind was clear and I could focus on the task at hand while juggling the rest. I was able to get up easier in the morning. Didn't feel that need to nap in the afternoon. I stayed up a bit later at night. I slept better and felt better all day. I feel more energetic, more alert, more physically flexible. I was constipated for the first couple of days, now my stools are looser and I'm going more but not uncomfortably so. I'm beginning to look at my food more critically, "Ooh, that looks dead" or "that looks good."

I started the week with green smoothies that were more veggie and ended the week with more fruity ones -- all green though. I'll alternate them better this week by stopping at the produce market mid-week. Most greens won't last a week in the fridge.

Yesterday, I made one of mild chinese cabbage and kiwi. It was green as could be but tasted more of kiwi. The day before was spinach and pears. It tasted more of pears. The ratio should be 40% green and 60% fruit.

Next book: 12 Steps to Raw Food.