Here are some pictures of delicious raw dishes I’ve prepared over the last few months. Recipes and more pictures to come. Enjoy!

Create your mini album at ShowMyPics.com

To your best health!

Mark
Vegan Raw Diet

A new study released last month notes the benefits of a plant-based (vegan) diet for overweight individuals.

Here’s the conclusion of the study:

“Adoption of a low-fat, vegan diet was associated with significant weight loss in overweight postmenopausal women, despite the absence of prescribed limits on portion size or energy intake.”

What’s interesting to note here is that the significant weight loss existed even though the study participants weren’t instructed on how little or much to eat, or how much to exercise.

I believe this establishes that a natural, whole food and vegan diet is not only the healthiest option, but also resets your body to its “optimal” weight regardless of how much you eat or exercise. You see, you can pretty much eat all the fresh fruits and vegetables you like without gaining weight. Your body craves nutrients, it uses what it needs and discards the rest.

This contrasts eating an abundance of processed foods that your body sees as “foreign” (since they are not in a natural state) and either stores as fat or accumulates in your digestive system – both unhealthy options and one of the sources of the obesity epidemic in our society today.

Read more about the study at the American Journal of Medicine.

Keep it healthy, keep it moving!

Mark

I’m often asked… where do you buy healthy, organic, vegan food?

That’s a good question, because many people aren’t familiar with the growing number of stores, both online and off that offer a large selection.

Here are a few of my favorites (and some recommendations from friends):

Wild Oats – www.WildOats.com
Stores in most cities throughout US. Not everything is organic or vegan, but they carry an excellent selection. Has better vegan baked goods selection than most others.

Whole Foods – www.WholeFoods.com
Stores in most cities throughout the US. Not everything is organic or vegan, but they carry an excellent selection.

Trader Joes – www.TraderJoes.com
Stores in many cities, expanding quickly. Need to look closely at labels, not all products are healthy, but they carry many healthy brand lines and low prices.

Natures First Law – RawFood.com
Large selection of raw/living foods, beauty, supplements, books, videos, events and appliances. Run by well known raw food advocate, author and speaker David Wolfe. Has low price guarantee. Staff is mostly raw.

NaturalZing – NaturalZing.com
Offers large selection of raw, vegan and organic foods, cooking supplies, personal care, and supplements. Staff is mostly raw.

Oraganic – Oraganic.com
Large selection of organic foods and sweets, vegan, raw foods, health and beauty, food bars and home and garden. Well priced, excellent customer service.

VeganEssentials – VeganEssentials.com
Large selection of vegan foods, snacks, clothes, personal care, accessories, supplements and more.

Vegan Store – VeganStore.com
Top rated veggie store with large selection of foods, clothes, personal care, gifts, accessories, pet and related products.

Many towns now have local co-ops, buying groups, farms or clubs that purchase organic foods in bulk for their members. Check your local natural or health magazines, newspapers or local organizations to find one near you or visit: Find A CSA Near You

Let me know if you have others to add, along with your experiences.

To your best health!

Mark
vegandiet.blogspot.com

Check out this video of Philip McCluskey on CBS’s The Doctors with his testimony of losing 200 pounds over 2 years on the raw food diet. He gives a clear, strong and confident testimonial of how raw foods helped him lose weight.
Read more…

Here are some pictures of living a raw lifestyle… enjoy!

OK, you’ve decided to “go raw”. Congratulations!

But now you have temptations and cravings for cooked and processed foods. Is it ok? Is it acceptable to eat mostly raw?

Sure, eating some cooked/steamed foods is ok, it just depends on your goals and how you feel. Of course, you’ll get the most benefits by sticking to as close to a 100% raw diet as possible. Again, it depends on your goals.

Here’s the rub. I’ve been researching the reasons for the cravings and observing my experiences. What I’ve found is that by eating cooked foods occassionally, you’re actually building a desire for more cooked foods. This also applies to spices, salt, garlic, chocolate, sugar and other foods.

If you crave a pizza and eat it, you’ll have a desire for more. If you have salt, you’ll build a desire for it again. It’s a vicious circle that won’t end unless you give it up. There are other reasons you crave certain foods. Sometimes your body may be low on a particular mineral that could trigger a craving.

In my experience, just a few weeks after going 100% I lost all desire and taste for cooked foods. It was a natural result of eating raw. I also found that when I tasted something cooked, I then had a desire for it again. After a short time, that desire went away. I also quickly gained a strong and healthy desire for fresh greens, fruits and other vegetables… a desire that’s lasted and only grows with time.

My personal goal has never been to label myself 100% raw vegan … I’ve chosen to be 100% raw for the way I feel as well and the health benefits. For me, they’ve been dramatic and I feel grateful for the many benefits I’ve experienced.

Here’s an interesting quote from the great German thinker Goethe:

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy,
the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.
….
That the moment one definitely commits oneself,
then providence moves, too.All sorts of things occur to help one
that would never otherwise have occurred.
A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising one’s favor all manner of
unforseen incidents and meetings and
material assistance which no man
could have dreamed would come his way.

Whatever you can do or
dream you can, begin it!
Boldness has genius, power
and magic in it.”

In essence, until you commit yourself 100% to whatever you desire (in this case, better health through eating a vegan, raw diet) there will always be hesitancy, and you’ll never reach your goals, whatever they may be.

Something to think about.

All the best for your health!

Mark
“The Raw Guy”

Well, after almost 14 years of being vegan I realized that in the past few years, I’ve eaten mostly raw, and have continued to feel better as time passed.

Reflecting on this, well, I just had to stir things up a bit and decided to go 100% vegan/raw :). The transition has been exciting even though I’ve been almost there for some time, other than the few cooked/heated foods occassionally.

I’ve noticed some disctinct changes… although I’ve been vegan for so many years, I’m still going through some detox. One of the many wonderful experiences has been the increase in taste awareness and the literal “explosion” of flavors I experience. It’s quite amazing. The variety of whole, raw food meals is amazing and I look forward to trying something new every day.

Continued increase in energy, needing less sleep, mental awareness, vitality, weight loss, feeling light and vibrant are just a few of the many benefits I’ve been experiencing.

I’ve found food preparation not only easier, but faster (hey, it was already fast as a vegan!) especially since no cooking is needed. Clean up is brief… I’ve also dropped the use of my dishwasher to less than once a week.

There have been a few adjustments and I’m sure I’ll continue making them along the way.

Here are some resources I’ve found helpful through the transition to 100% vegan/raw:

• RawFood.com – the store for supplies, as well as the forum and resources
• theGardenDiet and The Anti-Aging Diet – Storm, Jinjee and their family are a real inspiration
• VegSource.com – especially Dr. Graham’s forum on Raw Food and Sports Nutrition
• AlissaCohen.com – Alissa has some great resources on the raw lifestyle, health benefits and recipes.
• Raw Secrets – Frederic Patenaude’s take on going raw, and how to avoid the mistakes most make in transitioning. His views are slightly different than the mainstream raw movement and make sense. They are a great contribution to anyone looking for advice on going raw.

More as my journey continues. Please share your questions, thoughts and comments!

Peace, joy and health,

Mark
http://vegandiet.blogspot.com