A 12 year study of middle-aged women concluded that increasing intake of fruits and vegetables lowered the risk of obesity and weight gain in middle-aged women by 24-28%. The more they ate, the lower the risk. Read more at:

Study

Over the last two years of being 100% raw, I've experimented with different varieties of the raw food diet.

You see, there are those that eat a high fat raw diet, a diet high in fruit, a junk food raw diet, lots of dehydrated raw foods as well as a mix.

I've noticed that many switching to a raw food diet first focus on the raw aspect, mainly making raw versions of the foods they now eat cooked. Raw pizzas, burritos, lasagna, spaghetti, crackers, breads, shakes, salads with lots of ingredients, milk... lots of nuts, seeds and more. This is a great first step, getting one used to raw foods. However, it's normally very high in fat and nutritionally unsound for the long term.

Over time, I see that simple foods become more appealing. Mono eating becomes more common... eating just one fruit or vegetable at a time.

My journey was very similar to what I've described here and since the new year, I've made another distinction which I believe is the best choice for me and my health. The 80-10-10 diet conceptualized by Dr. Doug Graham has answered many lingering questions and refined my eating habits. Basically, the concept is to eat raw fruits and vegetables in the following proportions: 80% carbohydrates, 10% protein and 10% fat. And it's the percentage of calories, not in volume or weight (for example, a pound of lettuce has volume, but very few calories). When I started, I analyzed how I'd eaten in the past, thinking it would be pretty close to 80-10-10. Was I surprised to find that I had been getting anywhere from 40-60% of my daily calories from fat! Ahhhh!

You get most of your calories from fruit and lots of greens, mainly at the dinner meal.

After revising my diet and following the suggestions made by Dr. Graham, I believe I've found the best raw food diet... the ultimate raw food diet. The diet that I believe we're made for and can thrive on.

There were many improvements to my health after switching, especially digestion. Many of the true benefits of a natural diet started appearing and I know will continue. Meals are easy and fast to make, delicious and fulfilling.

I'll continue to write on my experiences on 80-10-10 and would love to hear yours!

To your best health!

Mark

P.S. Have you read 'The Garden Diet'? - It's a collection of 12 digital books, including the brand new eBook titled "Forever Young, The Anti-Aging Guide" by Storm and Jinjee Talifero.

This is a colorful and delicious italian style recipe - Raw Ratatouille! It's fast and easy to make, great for a filling fall dinner.

Here's what you'll need:

1 Avocado
2 Tomatoes
1/4 cup of Cilantro (optional)
2 cloves of Garlic
1 Squash
1 Tblsp Raw Tahini
1 Tsp Raw Honey
Celtic Sea Salt to taste

Here's how you make it:

Chop up all vegetables and put in serving bowl. In a separate bowl, add tahini, honey and celtic sea salt. Mix well. Top the vegetables with this thick and tasty dressing! Serves 2.

The dressing can also be used for other dishes, including salads.

Inspired by Storm and Jinjee from their Garden Diet series.

Enjoy!

Mark
Vegan Raw Diet

Recently I noticed a lively conversation over at Kevin Gianni's Renegade Health Blog about thoughts on a complete 100% raw food diet.

Kevin mentioned since he wasn't 100% raw, he couldn't comment on some aspects of the diet and invited others to share their thoughts.

Being 100% raw for over 3.5 years, I thought I could share some insight. Basically, here's what I wrote.

Read more...

With spring warming up the Arizona environment, I decided to go for a hike today. Unlike 99% of Arizonan's, I enjoy hiking when it's warm... or better yet, hot, so today's higher temperatures and sun made it a perfect day to head to one of my favorite hiking spots, South Mountain.

Now, I haven't been hiking for about 4 months, partly because of the lack of heat as I mentioned, and expected to take a leisurely hike to 'break' myself in to a new season.

Well, it wasn't a leisurely hike, and not by choice.

You see, as soon as I started up the mountain, I had an urge to move quickly. I felt light on my feet and ran in parts up the mountain. Then it happened.

As I passed a group of hikers one gentleman who was trudging along mentioned that I resembled a 'billy goat climbing up the mountain without hesitation'. We all laughed and I continued on, like a 'billy goat'.

Then I got to thinking. 

Never in my 13 years of hiking had I ever felt this energentic. Especially after taking the winter off. I mean, there were times today when I felt I was gliding up with energy that didn't stop. I'll say this... it was near effortless. And this is 13 years after I starting hiking regularly.

I ran up many parts on the way up, and all the way down. I wasn't tired and felt I could continue after the hour long excursion up and down the mountain. Here are some pictures and video:

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So why am I telling you this?

Well certainly not to impress you, but instead to impress upon you what is normal for a person that eats a natural diet and stays active. A raw vegan diet mainly consisting of fresh fruits, vegetables and a small amount of nuts or seeds. A low fat raw diet. I say this because there has been controversy within the raw community lately on which is better. More about that in another post coming soon.

You see, the longer I've followed eating simple whole foods and stayed active regularly, the more benefits I experience. Not a 'hollywood' style raw diet, or the gourmet raw food diet, or a high fat raw diet, or the raw junk food diet. Mainly simple fruits and vegetables, leafy green salads, and smoothies. This goes along with the theory I uncovered in Arnold Ehret's Mucules Diet Healing System and in Paul Nison's talk 'The Formula for Health' that the less obstruction you have in your body, the greater the power and more importantly, the vitality you experience. You see, the fewer obstructions you 'put' in your body, ie, cooked and processed foods, stress and toxins in the form of mucus, the more vitality you experience. And after almost 5 years of being 100% raw, with many adjustments, tests, trials and errors, I've finally and clearly experienced that greater vitality. It's been sneaking up on me the last few months and none clearer than today.

Another factor was conditioning. Although I hadn't hiked during the winter, I stayed active working out at least 6 days a week. Normally 30-45 minutes a day including running and body weight exercises. I do and recommend the two exercises fellow raw vegan coach Roger has put together, and added my own twists to expand them and create a quick routine where I can exercise at home fast or at my local park. No equipment or health club expenses, just a quick daily workout routine.

You can learn more about what I've learned, what I recommend, get regular and exclusive meal recipe videos, meal plans, shopping tips, eating tips, your questions and answers and much more at our new site, Learn Healthy (Raw) Meals. This makes transitioning to a raw vegan diet straightforward with a plan and gives answers to your questions.  Check it out while the free trial is available. The feeling is incredible, share in this amazing experience with me!

To your best health!

Mark (aka the billy goat)

P.S. If you liked this post, Stumble it and share it below to help others learn more.

• Learn Healthy (Raw) Meals

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...

Watch this video for the reactions people have after being offered fresh meat.
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