Is Anyone Else Here A Fruitarian Or Raw Vegan?

[C.S. Blogsmith]

I've been eating Raw Vegan since April and Fruitarian since sometime this past fall. It was not by choice so much as by necessity. Raw fruits, nuts, olive oil and a limited number of veggies are the only thing my body will tolerate much less digest. If there is anyone else who eats similarly or who has similar food intolerances I would like to exchange notes...

C.S.

[AliB]

Hi. I find that I am much better the more raw I eat. I have come to the conclusion that it is down to a lack of digestive enzymes and that the raw food works because it contains enzymes.

All the nutrients in the world won't be of any use at all unless we have the workers, the enzymes, to work with them and put those nutrients to work.

I am currently doing some research and investigation into the different brands of digestive enzymes. I have Edward Howells' book 'Food Enzymes for health and longevity' and Ellen Cutler's book 'Enzymes for health and healing' and they are very useful tools.

I have realised that not all brands are equal. I took some Solgar Enzymes and they have set me back (I have been following the Specific Carb Diet with relatively good results over the last year), and have since read that not everyone can tolerate animal-based enzymes which these were, so am now looking at plant-based (vegetarian) ones, which apparently work better anyway.

As you are in the States you may be able to contact Ellen Cutler for assistance but I am in the UK which makes it difficult as there are none of her practitioners over here.

Elderly people have a lot less enzymes than young people but I think that at any age our enzyme 'bank' can be decimated through different things such as stress, trauma, illness or injury - I was only thinking about it this morning and wondering what happened when I was 15 to trigger off my fatigue, weight gain and digestive issues that have plagued me all my life, then I realised - my beautiful Nan died. It obviously must have had a far greater effect on me than I realised at the time.

Certainly I am sure that we would all benefit from eating a lot more raw food as I am sure a lack of enzymes is contributing to a lot of our disease. Most traditional diets incorporated a lot of raw or fermented food and we have lost that through our highly processed 'deadened' Western diet. Without enough enzymes the body can't repair itself properly.

We always talk about and address vitamin or mineral deficiencies when we may well be getting enough already but what we really need and is more important is the enzymes to utilise them with!

[C.S. Blogsmith]

Hi. I find that I am much better the more raw I eat. I have come to the conclusion that it is down to a lack of digestive enzymes and that the raw food works because it contains enzymes.

All the nutrients in the world won't be of any use at all unless we have the workers, the enzymes, to work with them and put those nutrients to work.

I am currently doing some research and investigation into the different brands of digestive enzymes. I have Edward Howells' book 'Food Enzymes for health and longevity' and Ellen Cutler's book 'Enzymes for health and healing' and they are very useful tools.

I have realised that not all brands are equal. I took some Solgar Enzymes and they have set me back (I have been following the Specific Carb Diet with relatively good results over the last year), and have since read that not everyone can tolerate animal-based enzymes which these were, so am now looking at plant-based (vegetarian) ones, which apparently work better anyway.

As you are in the States you may be able to contact Ellen Cutler for assistance but I am in the UK which makes it difficult as there are none of her practitioners over here.

Elderly people have a lot less enzymes than young people but I think that at any age our enzyme 'bank' can be decimated through different things such as stress, trauma, illness or injury - I was only thinking about it this morning and wondering what happened when I was 15 to trigger off my fatigue, weight gain and digestive issues that have plagued me all my life, then I realised - my beautiful Nan died. It obviously must have had a far greater effect on me than I realised at the time.

Certainly I am sure that we would all benefit from eating a lot more raw food as I am sure a lack of enzymes is contributing to a lot of our disease. Most traditional diets incorporated a lot of raw or fermented food and we have lost that through our highly processed 'deadened' Western diet. Without enough enzymes the body can't repair itself properly.

We always talk about and address vitamin or mineral deficiencies when we may well be getting enough already but what we really need and is more important is the enzymes to utilise them with!

Thanks,

I had forgotten about enzyme supplements. That's a great point. A while back I found a really good website for quick information on enzymes. They make some claims regarding Celiac that I don't agree with, but in general the information is useful. Open Original Shared Link.

I have a unique situation. My body will not tolerate vitamins or enzymes that I do not get directly from my food (I can't take them in packaged, pill, over-the-counter or prescription form), but luckily I find my diet to be very appetizing and satisfying. When I have cravings, it's pizza I crave anyhow . Unfortunately, I am unable to eat even the gluten-free grains. I'm looking into a raw pizza crust made with almond flour (I am very lucky not to have a nut allergy!)

While on the topic of enzymes, I read something interesting... Fresh squeezed lemon juice has the natural "components" within them to be converted by our bodies into over 1,000 different enzymes... I thought that was interesting. Myself, I drink fresh lemon and lime juice every single day. I love it!

[AliB]

Thanks for the reminder about lemon juice - yes it is good but I haven't had any for a few weeks.

I can't cope with any gluten-free grains either which is why I am following the SCD.

You should be able to find an almond flour pizza crust on one or other of the SCD recipe sites - I know there is one in the Grain-Free Gourmet book although I don't have it myself (I think someone on the SCD thread does though), but I did pick this one up that may be worth trying.

1/2 cup almond flour

1 egg

1 tsp oil

1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 325c.

In a bowl mix the above ingredients together add more flour as needed to form a ball.

Oil a pan (we use a small pizza pan) add the dough ball press with hands forming to the shape of a small pizza crust, don't worry if its not as big as the pan.

Bake for 10 minutes.

Remove from oven and top with whatever toppings you like. Bake again just long enough to cook the toppings through.

Enjoy.

Naomi Devlin has some good recipes on her blog - I have tried the Vanilla Pumpkin Pie and it is fantastic - topped with dripped SCD yogurt and coconut cream mixed together - yum. Apparently she is going to post a pizza recipe shortly, too.

Open Original Shared Link

[Jestgar]

I've been eating Raw Vegan since April and Fruitarian since sometime this past fall. It was not by choice so much as by necessity. Raw fruits, nuts, olive oil and a limited number of veggies are the only thing my body will tolerate much less digest. If there is anyone else who eats similarly or who has similar food intolerances I would like to exchange notes...

C.S.

If you aren't consuming animal products, you are depleting your body of B12:

The current nutritional consensus is that no plant foods can be relied on as a safe source of vitamin B12.

of course...

Human faeces can contain significant B12. A study has shown that a group of Iranian vegans obtained adequate B12 from unwashed vegetables which had been fertilised with human manure. Faecal contamination of vegetables and other plant foods can make a significant contribution to dietary needs, particularly in areas where hygiene standards may be low. This may be responsible for the lack of aneamia due to B12 deficiency in vegan communities in developing countries

source: Open Original Shared Link

[C.S. Blogsmith]

If you aren't consuming animal products, you are depleting your body of B12:

of course...

source: Open Original Shared Link

Thanks for your concern,

It's a big concern for me especially because B12 is so vital to brain function and I have numerous neurological problems. Interestingly, there are actually a few plants that do contain B12, the problem is that they are B12 analogs that fool the body and make it difficult for it to absorb active B12--so yeah that's kinda worse... I avoid those... Unfortunately I have been unable to take supplements without getting very ill from them, but rather than worry about what I cannot fix, I focus on things I can work on. Optimal health is not quite an option for me yet. Right now I am just getting by day to day. I'm a step up from when I could only eat bananas and I'm holding out for the day when my body gets back in balance. That will be a day worth celebrating!

Anyway, it's really great to get advise and support. Sometimes it's the strangest suggestions that give me an edge over my illness.

Thanks everybody

[C.S. Blogsmith]

Thanks for the reminder about lemon juice - yes it is good but I haven't had any for a few weeks.

I can't cope with any gluten-free grains either which is why I am following the SCD.

You should be able to find an almond flour pizza crust on one or other of the SCD recipe sites - I know there is one in the Grain-Free Gourmet book although I don't have it myself (I think someone on the SCD thread does though), but I did pick this one up that may be worth trying.

1/2 cup almond flour

1 egg

1 tsp oil

1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 325c.

In a bowl mix the above ingredients together add more flour as needed to form a ball.

Oil a pan (we use a small pizza pan) add the dough ball press with hands forming to the shape of a small pizza crust, don't worry if its not as big as the pan.

Bake for 10 minutes.

Remove from oven and top with whatever toppings you like. Bake again just long enough to cook the toppings through.

Enjoy.

Naomi Devlin has some good recipes on her blog - I have tried the Vanilla Pumpkin Pie and it is fantastic - topped with dripped SCD yogurt and coconut cream mixed together - yum. Apparently she is going to post a pizza recipe shortly, too.

Open Original Shared Link

Thanks for the recipe. The thought of Vanilla Pumpkin Pie especially got me drooling... Is pumpkin a legal SCD food? I know that sweet potatoes aren't and I just LOVE sweet potatoes.

[Juliebove]

I tried the raw vegan diet after learning of my food allergies. I was vegetarian, but found out I was allergic to eggs and dairy. Although I liked the raw vegan diet, I have gastroparesis and after eating a large salad at my parent's house one day, became far too familar with a bucket as the salad kept coming back up, over and over again. I also discovered that if I don't eat meat occasionally, I get anemia. Bleh. So although the bulk of my diet is still raw and vegetables, I do eat some meat. I don't much like fruit and being diabetic, it's not that good for me.

[C.S. Blogsmith]

I tried the raw vegan diet after learning of my food allergies. I was vegetarian, but found out I was allergic to eggs and dairy. Although I liked the raw vegan diet, I have gastroparesis and after eating a large salad at my parent's house one day, became far too familar with a bucket as the salad kept coming back up, over and over again. I also discovered that if I don't eat meat occasionally, I get anemia. Bleh. So although the bulk of my diet is still raw and vegetables, I do eat some meat. I don't much like fruit and being diabetic, it's not that good for me.

I am sorry to hear that you have diabetes. Just now when I read that, I remembered something else I read recently (while looking on the internet for some hard to find raw foods). I don't know if it is of any importance. I am ignorant when it comes to the topic of diabetes, but I found it to be interesting... Perhaps you already know about it. (keep in mind they are talking about virgin coconut oil and not hydrogenated coconut oil which is dangerous)

There is one fat that diabetics can eat without fear. That fat is coconut oil. Not only does it not contribute to diabetes, but it helps regulate blood sugar, thus lessening the effects of the disease. The Nauru people consumed large amounts of coconut oil for generations without ever encountering diabetes, but when they abandoned it for other foods and oils the results were disastrous.

As mentioned earlier in this chapter, coconut oil puts less of a demand on the enzyme production of the pancreas. This lessens the stress on the pancreas during mealtime when insulin is produced most heavily, thus allowing the organ to function more efficiently. Coconut Oil also helps supply energy to cells because it is easily absorbed without the need of enzymes or insulin. It has been shown to improve insulin secretion and utilisation of blood glucose.15,16 Coconut oil in the diet enhances insulin action and improves binding affinity compared to other oils.17,18 The Journal of the Indian Medical Association has reported that Type II diabetes in India has increased as the people have abandoned traditional oils, like coconut oil, in favour of polyunsaturated vegetable oils which have been promoted as "heart-friendly." The authors comment on the link between polyunsaturated oils and diabetes and recommend increasing coconut oil consumption as a means to prevent diabetes.19

One of the consequences of diabetes is a lack of energy. This is due to the inability of cells to get needed glucose. Without the glucose to power cellular activity, metabolism slows down and the entire body becomes tired.

Exercise has been recommended as a means to help diabetics control blood sugar. One of the reasons exercise is beneficial is that it increases metabolism. A faster metabolic rate stimulates increased production of needed insulin and increases absorption of glucose into cells, thus helping both Type I and Type II diabetics.

Another advantage of increasing metabolism is that more calories are burned. Coconut oil raises metabolic rate causing the body to burn up more calories and thus promote weight loss. Yes, you can actually lose excess weight by adding coconut oil to your diet. The MCFA in coconut oil are sent directly to the liver for conversion into energy and not into body tissues as fat. (See Chapter 10 of "The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil" for more details on the weight-loss effects of coconut oil).

If you are a diabetic or borderline diabetic, consumption of most fats should be avoided. Coconut oil, on the other hand, is different. Because it helps stabilise blood glucose levels and aids in shedding excess body weight, it is probably the only oil a diabetic should eat.

Adapted from Bruce Fife's book The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil.

[kenlove]

HI,

Open Original Shared Link is a great source of information, books and so on for raw diets. They have a online magazine called Vibrance which is good too. I usually write about fruit for them.

Like Julie, when I got diagnosed with celiac I can't handle the salads I used to have and started eating some meat for the first time in 30 years. After 4 years being celiac I'm finally getting to the place where I can eat more greens without digestive pain.

Good luck

Ken

[AliB]

Thanks for the recipe. The thought of Vanilla Pumpkin Pie especially got me drooling... Is pumpkin a legal SCD food? I know that sweet potatoes aren't and I just LOVE sweet potatoes.

Pumpkin is legal and you can also use butternut squash, which is what I did and it was just as nice. Although pumpkin tends to be seasonal we can get squash more easily over here.