February 17, 2009
(Phone Credit: megyn.ohara)
My whole experience with experimenting started about 10 years ago when I, like most teenagers my age, started to get the dreaded pimples. I’ve had mild acne off and on since then and did everything under the sun to try and get rid of it. I tried Proactiv, read books, rubbed ice cubes on my face, used every available cleanser on the market…stuff would work….then stop working.
My big realization came when I read a little book called, Acne Free In 3 Days. The book recommends a basic detox diet of eating raw apples for 3 days. I tried that one out and it was amazing the types of changes that started occur inside me. Not only did I have more energy, but I my skin cleared up and I felt a calmness come over my body I’ve never felt before. Even though the results didn’t last like everything else. I had a realization.
Skin problems are internal…not external.
Putting chemicals on your face only treats the symptoms and not the causes of your skin problems. The chemicals, toxins, and hormones in cooked meat cause an imbalance in our bodies and our skins reacts by trying to eliminate them. That’s when I decided to become a vegetarian (or technically pescetarian, but most people don’t understand the difference). Immediately after I eliminated meat, I noticed my skin looked better, I lost weight, slept less and had more energy.
It was the answer I was looking for. But fast forward 3 years later. I still not where I want to be with my skin and I know this is primarily from eating and cooked foods. I’ve tried mini 1-3 day trials in the past, but this time I’m going all out…For the next 30 days, I’ll try and eat nothing but a raw diet.
Procedure:
Beginning With A Detox
I’m going to start off with a 3-day apple fast. By only eating apples and water for 3 days, I’ll be able to flush out a lot of toxins in my body and clean up my system for a healthier diet.
Changing Your Diet
To me, diet is an easy habit to change. Most people usually eat what they know how to cook or what someone feeds them. I live by myself and buy all own food, so I usually prepare what I’ve learned how to make. To make my life easier, I usually make 2-3 entrees to eat on throughout the week and eat the same breakfast everyday. What I’ve learned from cooking is to learn one or two dishes you really like and make them over and over again tell their very easy to make.
The Perfect Breakfast - Mixed Fruit Smoothie
One area that all gone raw is my morning breakfast that I’ve eaten almost everyday for the last 2 years. Here are the ingredients:
- Two bananas - frozen or fresh (frozen will make the drink thicker and eliminate the need for ice)
- 4-5 strawberries - frozen or fresh (again, frozen makes it thicker and the fruits stays fresher longer)
- Assorted fruits - I usually like cantaloupe, but I’ve tried blueberries, pineapple, oranges. I usually avoid apples in this drink because its a fibrous.
- Nut Milk - You can substitue regular milk instead, but I prefer to avoid as much diary as possible. Put in just enough to make the shake not too thick and smooth enough to drink.
All you do is mix the ingredients into a blender and until smooth. And you can take this drink on the go and spit it on your way to work or while you’re working on the computer. I found this one from Raw Food Made Easy For 1 or 2 People by Jennifer Cornbleet. I highly recommend this book for simple recipes of anyone trying to get started in raw foods.
Lunch & Dinner Meals
My lunch and dinner are going to consist of mainly raw souls and sandwiches and a nice dessert to finish them off. To find some great recipes I recommend checking out:
Eating Out With Friends
Eating out with other people is going to be one of my biggest challenges. Unless you go specifically to a raw foods restaurant, most places are going to have limited menus. And while everyone else is munching away at the cooked foods, I’ll be left to fend for myself with a salad.
Drinking Alcohol
This one’s a tough one to give up. Here’s a great article on the topic of drinking alcohol on a raw food diet. I’m by no means an alcoholic, but I regret that I’ve drank a little more than I should have when I’ve gone out. What I’m hoping the raw food diet will make me realize is how what you put into your body directly affects how you feel. One thing I noticed about going vegetarian was how sensitive I was to foods that weren’t ideal for me. I’m hoping the raw diet will make more more aware of the effects of alcohol and reduce the need to drink it.
When was the last time you tried something new with your diet?
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