Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Debbie Maddox on September 28, 2008 at 6:43pm

Please go to Rawschool.com A wonderful site that will answer all your questions. Also they have a yahoo group...

Permalink Reply by sherry on January 21, 2009 at 7:45pm

Hi,
This web site has a lot of information on raw foods that is really great http://www.hacres.com. Weed through whatever you don't need and enjoy the rest. Here is an article that may be of interest to you from this site.
http://www.hacres.com/healthtipArticles2007/478_proteinDebate.pdf
Have a great rest of the week,
Sherry

Permalink Reply by Mr. Peachy on January 24, 2009 at 6:13pm

I don't think it's so much being a wannabe. (I'm a Iamabe.) I'm a type two who found that the right diet, with plenty of raw fruits and vegetables, in combination with sufficient daily exercise, can allow us to minimize or eliminate the medication altogether. It's all about minimizing the insulin resistance T2s are noted for, while maximizing the nutrients in our system to facilitate the cell wall's permeability. It's no great secret, it's just not something your typical healthcare provider is inclined to tell you. Three reasons, they probably don't have a clue, there's no profit in it, and chances are, you wouldn't follow the diet.

First thing, there's protein practically everywhere. You have to know how much you require based on either maintenance or building. Generally, it will be between 1.2 and 1.8 grams per kilogram of body weight. There's all sorts of formulae for that out there. Here's a small list of protein rich vegetables: http://www.nutritiondata.com/foods-011078000000005000000-w.html

Second thing is, you should be more concerned with what types of sugars are in the foods you eat. Fruits get a bad reputation among diabetics for some pretty goofy reasons. Take a large banana, for example... if you just glance at a nutrition chart, you might be fooled into thinking it has too much sugar. Not so. In fact, it has far fewer sugar producing carb calories than a baked potato. Only 10 net carbs whereas a baked potato has more than 50. Meanwhile, the banana has loads of nutrients like potassium that helps lower your insulin resistance.

Third thing is, there's absolutely nothing wrong with getting your protein from chicken or fish.

I don't recommend going 100% raw... at least not in the beginning. It's too difficult for most of us. If you can do it, great. You'll find your insulin resistance will drop quite rapidly. I went low the first week, dipping down into the upper fifties and lower sixties. What a rush!

I do recommend making the bulk of your diet raw veggies and fruits with some nuts, whole grains, and lean chicken or fish thrown in there for fun. Watch your carb intake in the beginning, and you'll find that your body will become more and more receptive in subsequent weeks.

Try to get an hour, or so, of brisk walking or whatever mild to moderate daily physical activity you can muster. It enhances the whole process.

I've been off the Metformin for over 13 months thanks to a primarily raw diet and daily walks. I haven't felt this good in almost twenty years (I'm 57).

Craig

Permalink Reply by Mr. Peachy on January 24, 2009 at 7:02pm

Edit: that protein requirement should read .8 to 1.2 grams per Kg of body weight, for most of us, and 1.2 to 1.8 for body builders. Source: Medscape

Permalink Reply by Joe Dennis on February 17, 2009 at 10:25am

I have found that 3day wheat spouts do no spike my BG like cooked whole grains.

Permalink Reply by Bjay on February 21, 2009 at 12:39pm

I'm "mostly raw" myself. I do eat meat once in a while, but I try to eat fish or free-range or wild grain-fed, no-hormone-added chicken or beef. Or I try to get organ meat like liver, tripe, tripas - those have lots of B12 and your body stores it so you don't need it often.

I also get protein from nuts, seeds, and dark leafy greens - but it's a balancing act since I can't have nuts or seeds in large quantities.

Every day I usually have at least:
1 head of red leaf lettuce: 5 g
1 head of kale: 8 g
1/4 cup nut, usually sunflower: 7.25 g
1 cucumber: 2 g
1 head of celery: 2g
1 large banana: 1 g
1/2 cup beans: 6 g

So that's almost 30 g. That's just basic, I usually have more fruit and kale or other dark leafy greens. If you boil or stir-fry the greens, seems to increase the protein...but I think that's because you can pack more cooked collards into a cup than raw. If I choose to eat cooked food at night (I try to eat cooked foods later in the day if I do have it and separate from meals that contain a lot of raw just because it digests easier). So If I choose to eat animal-based protein, 3 oz of salmon has about 22 g, a boiled egg has 17g. I also tend to undercook veggies at this time.

I found this list on the About network...it has columns with non-meat-based proteins. Meat, eggs, and dairy make up complete proteins with all the amino acids. The foods below are not complete. According to the About Guide, she says to pick from two or more columns to make a complete protein:

Grains Legumes Seeds & Nuts Vegetables
Barley Beans Sesame Seeds Leafy Greens
Corn Meal Lentils Sunflower Seeds Broccoli
Oats Peas Walnuts
Rice Peanuts Cashews
Pasta Soy Products Other Nuts
Whole Grain Breads

According to this calculator I need 74 g per day. Some people argue that's too high. I do what feels right: http://www.healthcalculators.org/calculators/protein.asp

Permalink Reply by dlanakila on February 22, 2009 at 10:58am

While I can't speak from experience regarding having diabetes (I'm a father of a type 1), I can say I was 100% raw for 2 years and didn't eat any meat and got plenty of protein from veges and blue green algae. I'm about 90% raw now and going back to 100% because it works better for me. But definitely try it wisely and test often. It's not for everyone.

Permalink Reply by Jasmine on May 21, 2009 at 2:19pm

Thanks Craig and Bjay, your posts were both very helpful.

I have slowly danced around the idea of being raw and tried other whole foods diets, but finally jumped in with both feet 5 days ago after watching Simply Raw, the Gabriel Cousens movie - Mo you should watch that, it will answer questions for you.

So my story is in one day of raw my fasting went from 152 to 117. The 152 was after a bad day of eating, so my normal average is probably 130. It has slowly crept up to 127 (today). The only big difference is that I added in a piece or two or fruit the last 2 days, but I was surprised at the 127 as I had a lot of exercising both days. My question to you folks that have been doing this: How long did it take to normalize you sugars when you went raw? Did you find some fluctuation day to day but saw an over all downward trend? And how much you are eating in a day? I saw your list Bjay, that was helpful. My typical days look like this:

-Tall glass of juice made of lots of greens, 1/2 apple, 1 carrot, lemon, ginger, whatever else I have in the fridge
-Avocado or coconut for snack
- HUGE salad with lettuce, cukes, radish, raw dressing, handful or nuts or raw flax crackers
- Grapefruit for a snack, or a handful or nuts
- Either another juice or raw veggies for dinner
- Water throughout the day

How am I doing? Should I cut out fruit completely and then add it back in slowly? Or just go for it and know that it will continue to slowly go down. I have to say there is an emotional factor to eating fruit - I really enjoy it and don't want to cut it out and feel "deprived" as I am really enjoying this raw food thing and feel really good about it. Craig I was so relieved when I saw your other post about eating fruit - but Im wondering if I am just too sensitive right now?

And here is another question: My morning fastings are always the highest, throughout the day I am having great sugars. Am I doing something wrong at night? Eating too late? Not having a night snack? I cant seem to figure that one out.

I am so glad I found this group, I appreciate any feedback and support.

THANK YOU.

Permalink Reply by Wanda Pullen on November 2, 2009 at 10:45am

Loved reading your post Ii`m trying Raw diet to lower my sugar,Had a stroke at 52 diagnosed dietic been 3 yrs now trying but has been scaryTHANKYOU,Wanda