I feel torn. I've been seeing a Traditional Chinese Medicine specialist and he keeps insisting that I need to be eating cooked food because I have a lot of deficiencies. I believe in TCM and in Ayurvedic Medicine (Indian Medicine) and they are both thousands and thousands of years old medical systems. They both say that eating raw food is very hard on digestion and should not be eaten exclusively.
I love the idea of eating raw with fruit at the basis and low fat. Something about cracking open a watermelon and sitting out in the sunshine! It just feels so right. I havent really been able to stick with this lifestyle for longer than a couple of weeks so I dont know how it makes me feel in the long run. The first few days I feel amazing and then I start getting diarrhea and feeling light headed and out of balance. The Chinese Medicine specialist told me that it is because the my body is unable to extract the nutrients from the raw food. So this morning I couldnt figure out what to eat! I really wanted watermelon but the words of this alternative medicine doctor kept ringing in my ear. He was very adamant that I eat cooked food and even suggests strongly that I eat meat. What gives? I dont know who to listen to.
What are your opinions on this? Is there anyone here that is also interested in alternative medical systems like TCM and Ayurveda that would like to comment? I just want to hear other opinions on these matters from people that have been doing the raw lifestyle for a while. One of the reasons why I feel I keep flip flopping between raw and cooked is because I really want to eat raw but then when I eat raw I wonder if I am harming myself by not listening to these thousand year old medical systems.
Permalink Reply by Rampreet Schultz on Listen to your body. Everyone has a different life path. Try saying yes to yourself as frequently as possible. Eat what your body tells you to eat (unless : of course : you're craving caffeines and sugary things and then maybe you could try asking yourself what is your body REALLY craving) , do the activities your body calls you to do and really... respect yourself. Respect your food. Respect this beautiful life that we're living and you will be perfectly fine.
The only thing I will say is that I don't believe people need to eat meat. I think that you can balance your energies and adhere to the ideologies of this medical systems (Ayurveda) without consuming animal products. Especially once you begin delving into the spiritual aspects of food- thinking about your karmic footprint is always enough to stop me from consuming animal products.
Namaste,
Rampreet
Permalink Reply by Jon Fergus on thinking about your karmic footprint is always enough to stop me from consuming animal products.
Thanks. Let's all realize that the choice to eat meat is never only about ourselves. It is the choice to murder another sentient being as a means to support our own life. It is the choice to put our own teeny tiny self above the health of the Earth, without which we could not live anyway. It is one of the most selfish choices a person can make in life, regardless of whether it is 'accepted' in our culture or not. Coming to see the consumption of animals in a broader light helps us to immediately filter through the nonsensical to the noble ideas. If someone tells you to eat meat, the first thing is to question (inwardly if not to voice it) the morality underlying their supposed 'knowledge'. Do they understand the holistic nature of ecosystems? Do they suffer from Speciesism? Do they truly understand the effects of eating meat, on ourselves, our society, our culture, the animals, Nature, Earth?
The promotion of meat consumption should be our first and strongest indicator that a person may not be as knowledgeable as they may believe themselves to be.
Permalink Reply by Viktoriya on This really almost brings tears to my eyes. Its quite amazing that so many people still believe that we need meat to be well. How could that possibly be so? It damages the environment, it damages our bodies, most importantly it supports the killing of innocent animals. I just dont understand why everyone in my life keeps telling me that I need to to eat meat!
Permalink Reply by sunwukung on What are your deficiencies ?
They are correct from 1 aspect - raw food is not as easily digested as cooked food. That is the main reason you can eat more of it and still lose weight. The enzymes in raw food are almost entirely designed to aid the plant... not digest it (papaya and pineapple can aid human digestion a bit - not sure if there are others).
You definately need to ensure you chew your food thoroughly (to a pulp - always a great idea - raw or cooked).
Many of us need to eat a LOT of vegetables to feel well. I am one of these people.... without 'em... I do not feel good at all.
Permalink Reply by sunwukung on +1000000 now with sun it seems I can go with less, never with none, for periods, but greens are very very important in this diet.
Permalink Reply by Viktoriya on RawDad, blood deficiency, dampness in the spleen, chi stagnation (ironic how he says that I shouldnt eat raw food when I have chi stagnation when really raw food has most chi!)
I always make sure to chew thoroughly. Maybe I do need to up my vegs a bit though
Permalink Reply by Love on For chi stagnation I would think meditating and imagining your energy moving through EVERY part of your body, other ENENGY AWARENESS exercises and EXERCISE especially water sports could help correct that.
Ayurvedic diets are high in oil,and when you drench your raw veggies in oil your body won't produce enough hydrochloric acid to digest raw veggies "not fruits".They believe oils are medicine. it's stupid!
lots of fat and raw diets too high in hard veggies(not enough fruit) are the worst!
Permalink Reply by Viktoriya on Oh man, I didnt even think about that but youre so right! They say that you need to drink milk mixed with clarified butter. Whaaat?!?!!?
Permalink Reply by Love on Eat what you want to eat (HCRV) and utilize sun, clays, fresh air, sleep, yogas etc. I was told several times by TCM doctors, nutrition centers etc to eat meat eggs and salt after much testing. Their ways may have brought health to some people for a long time, but there are better ways.
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