I often get questions about whether I recommend the Hallelujah Diet (also known as the Adam and Eve Diet) since it appears to be related closely to the raw vegan diet.

First, let's define the Hallelujah Diet. Here's what the official Hallelujah Acres website at HAcres.com says about the diet:

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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

One of the things many talk about when transitioning to a raw food diet is 'how do I travel when eating raw?'.

Some look at it as a challenge, some as an obstacle, some as the natural thing to do.

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More evidence that vegetable protein is the healthier choice and actually protects against developing heart disease. Good long term study (15 years) that suggests by avoiding red meat and dairy in your diet, your reduce your chances of developing heart disease by 30 percent.

Yahoo! News - Too Much Red Meat Bad for Long-Term Health:
"After following nearly 30,000 women for 15 years, investigators found that women were more likely to die from heart disease if they often substituted red meat for carbohydrates. In contrast, swapping vegetable sources of protein for carbs appeared to protect women from heart disease.

'Our main finding was that animal compared to vegetable sources of protein seem to have a different effect on dying from heart disease,' study author Dr. Linda E. Kelemen from the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota told Reuters Health.

For this reason, she recommended that people who want to follow high protein diets should stick with vegetable proteins such as tofu, nuts and peanut butter, or healthier meats like chicken or fish."

Recently, the only co-op in the Phoenix area, Gentle Strength, and a leader in locally grown, organic produce, went out of business.

Why?

Bottom line... not enough shoppers.

Sure there were probably a few other reasons, but the main one was lack of business.

It's funny, though, everyone I talk to in the area is disappointed and saddened by the closing (as I was). However, I believe there was too much talk and not enough action.

If we want to have better, fresher, organic and locally grown choices, we have to support those organizations. Support them with our shopping dollars and with our help in letting others know about the organizations.

Personally, I'll miss the co-op and the friends I've made there. They were the -only- central place to get fresh, locally grown greens and other produce. All the produce sold was organic and as much as possible was sourced locally. The only choices now are the national chains including Whole Foods and Wild Oats (now owned by Whole Foods), a few smaller chains and some traditional grocery chains that now carry some organic produce. I'm happy that they're all carrying more organic foods, although little, if any, is locally grown. Whole Foods advertises 'local' although a quick walk through shows just a few locally grown out of over 200 produce items.

Alternative sources include farmers markets and visiting farms directly. I've found a few farms and frequent farmers markets on weekends and can find some of the same items. Although not as convenient, it's a solution for now.

Find the local co-ops in your area and support them. It's a fact, traditional companies will continue to market non-organic products and source all over the world unless we 'vote' with our dollars. Using as much locally grown organic produce not only supports your community and the environment, the food is also more nutritious and benefits your health.

We can make a difference.. just do it!

To your best health!

Mark

Bernando LaPallo just turned 109 years young and credits the raw diet for his long life. He is living proof that eating a mostly fresh, whole raw food diet as the way nature intended slows the aging process and allows you to live a long life without illness. This is uncommon in our world today, but Bernando lives unlike most, he has eaten a mainly raw vegan diet for over 100 years, 2/3's of his diet consists of fresh greens, he walks daily, drinks pure water and doesn't believe in stress. He has outlived some of his children, has never been sick and is more alive at 109 years than most others in the 60's, 70's or 80's.

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"Cooked starches are also very fattening. Farmers have even learned that is is necessary to feed their animals cooked food to fatten them up for maximum profit. Hogs do not get fat on raw potatoes, but cooked potatoes make them gain weight.

In addition to reaching your body's ideal weight, many other beauty factors blossom on a raw diet. Cellulite, which is thought to result from eating heated fats, gradually disappears with the consumption of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and raw fruits and vegetables. On a raw diet, improved elimination of cellular waste and increased lymphatic drainage help remove cellulite."

Excerpted from the Live Food Factor
"... arguably the most comprehensive book ever written on the raw diet and lifestyle"
(Get Fresh Magazine, UK).

Learn more about the book and get 80 valuable bonus gifts.