I would like to have a discussion about diet and health and the impact it has on ones mental well-being.

I'm talking general state of mind, a sense of calm, clarity, peace, following through on responsibilities, just being a decent human being in action, speech and lifestyle.

The thing..or general topic that is bothering me is this. I go out and try to read some responsible and trustworthy information to help me learn about raw foods, lifestyles and self-care...and it's really hard to find information that is balanced and done in a positive or realistic presentation.

I see all this fighting, arguing, and really some outrageous off the wall stuff.

Now I ask myself when I see this stuff..

"Why in the heck do I want to adopt or even try this if I'm going to end up thinking like that?"

So..it's a turn-off, and I just really want to quit reading and looking for support or new information.

Then it occurs to me, I'm probably using the wrong sources, taking in massive amounts of information Google has ranked and really just don't know how to research this stuff. It's a lack of skills on my part...

maybe...

I'm on the fence with it right now, but seriously, I'll need to either quit reading or learn where the positive stuff is, I can't get up every day and fill my head with all this fighting for one, and my time is my most precious gift.

I must spend that time on things that are valuable and there is so much garbage to sift through.

Can I get some help?

Has anyone experienced this sort of attitude minefield?

Is it just me?

Any thoughts?

I agree there are many with a far too aggressive, angry and spiteful approach that it does put people off sadly.

Reading as much as you can is the way forward, educate yourself as much as you can about nutrition, diet and health in general and then you wont even need these people.

The forums in alot of cases doesn't help at times for newbies due to how many differing opinions everyone has and it can seem heated. Although i like to think there many positive individuals on this forum and hopefully including myself who take the time to answer and help someone new to the lifestyle.

Ive never agreed with the radical approach many vegans take, slandering, swearing, jumping up and down stamping your feet screaming might get people looking at you but the majority are not taken in what your saying and you end up losing there interest. Tact is the key.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/13/2011 05:20PM by powerlifer.

If you are new to the raw food forums, there is a lot of info. and opinions to take, leave, and digest (pun intended).

Once you are being consistent with eating a high raw diet you may find you are more relaxed since it's your body and mind you are feeding and caring for and you won't worry about other people's opinions.

But I had to read tons, get thru some of the pros and cons, buy or check out some books on raw, and get going for myself. When I first went raw I lost 71 lbs. and lost a lot of health problems. I stayed on for about 3 years, then lapsed. But many of the SAD foods I still won't eat because I learned they were killing me.

Love,
Prism

I can understand.
There is alot of conflicting info out there on just about anything,and raw foods is no exception.
Plus,right here on this board,there are threads with some very depressing topics.See "other topics".I feel like those kinds of things do not in any way belong on a board where one of the major goals,at least I HOPE so,is some semblance of peace of mind,with the raw foods being one tool to achieve that.
I guess you just tune into what feels right to you and ignore the rest.
When all else fails,seek solitude.
Turn off the computer and tv,all the noise,and seek quiet,and do a juice fast.

Vinny

you have a choice you know .. you can be pro-active or re-active ..

you can shut out all the negative and embrace the rainbows and unicorns or you can take all the info , black clouds, lies, negativity included and sort it out and find out what resonates with you

...Jodi, the banana eating buddhist

<<Has anyone experienced this sort of attitude minefield?>>

nope

i have not

only thing i ever experienced was a

MIND

field

maybe i should get my eyes checked or something


cuz i don't see no minefield

and i hear that these little gizmos can blow you up to smithereens

Oh I know what you mean. I've seen it a lot recently especially with the whole, low fat, high fruit vs fattier diet stuff. I've ranted a lot about this too, it's like come on. It's all RAW! Do we really need to have ANY sort of fighting within the raw community?

Everyone wants to find the perfect diet and anyone who thinks they might have found the perfect diet wants to shout it to the world and argue with anyone who might disagree. That goes for any diet, anywhere, for any reason, not only raw.

If you're looking for positive testimonials, there are plenty of them out there. You just have to do the right searches. Things like "raw food+ skin improvements", "raw food + eye health" stuff like that. There are testimonial sections of most raw food forums as well.

I've definitely been daunted by the variety of conflicting information. Like many, I've had to spend years trying different approaches (and often failing), and I'm just now beginning to feel like I've found something that might work. So you just have to try stuff out for yourself I guess. Also, you might notice that there is some consistency among the various diets. For example, I've only heard good things about raw leafy greens and clean water. So if you start by getting plenty of that you can be confident that you are on the right track. Even fruits and vegetables in general, most will agree that you can't have too much, except maybe the paleo people (I'm not sure).

As far as the bickering goes, I don't really notice it and if I do I guess it doesn't bother me. As I've said before I've found the membership of this board to be quite supportive.

I don't know where I fall in the belief system of "the power of prayer/meditation" or whatever..but I have been you know...really focused internally on all this..and I have something amazing to share.

I have an appointment with a nutritionist/trainer/sports medicine specialist on Monday at noon.

I called only to see if I could get some help with the cable machines I use, some direction/teaching...and one thing led to another, to another..and I ended up finding this lady.

I was pretty jaded at first, and was only looking for physical instruction advice..but she mentioned nutrition to me...so I just threw it out there...

"Hey, any chance you know what a raw food diet is?"

BINGO - she's very familiar, has done it, and is a vegetarian currently. But she understands current literature, movements, outlooks, approaches..all of it.

I am so absolutely geeked to meet her in person.

I'm hoping this is part the answer to this problem of looking for sane, intelligent guidance.

Isn't that cool?

that is cool. it is nice to connect with others.

are you needing guidance regarding of diet or what?

if it's diet - if you were alone on an island and presented with equal amounts of vegetables, all kinds of animals, eggs, fruits, nuts, seaweeds, honey, etc.

what would you eat and why?

why give your power intuition and instincts over to others?

I work with weight machines. I have an issue with my tendons now from a drug I took. It can cause spontaneous rupture. I need professional guidance on how to work the machines so I don't hurt myself.

The other question assumes something I'm not even capable of doing although I understand your intent. Sorry but I can't think of a way to answer it.

Maybe you could ask me another way just for clarity sake?

if you were the only human on the planet and were able to access a wide variety of commonly eaten foods what would you eat

Do the best you can in sifting what seems plausible(usually reiterated by a variety of unrelated sources, and syncs up with what makes biological sense to your organism) from what doesn't. Don't overthink, but do use your intuition. Eat a wide variety of raw foods while discerning how they make you feel. Refrain from the ones that don't help your thrive, commit to the ones that do. Consider critically without following slavishly the advice of self-appointed gurus, and there are a lot of them because there is, necessarily, a dearth of good, hard data on this lifestyle's effects on human physiology. You seem to be feeling loads better than you used to: this is a sign; heed it.

You know, I think that part of my personality is that I resist following anything, so it's not an issue for me. I spent a few years studying comfortably Eastern based philosophy, really enjoyed that time in my life.

I think it's also part of my personality to abandon anything that causes me friction; and on this issue, I don't want to abandon but in fact grow tall - finding my path through literature has been difficult.

I think the growth I've seen comes from the DO and not the *know* also.

eaglefly Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I can understand.
> There is alot of conflicting info out there on
> just about anything,and raw foods is no
> exception.
> Plus,right here on this board,there are threads
> with some very depressing topics.See "other
> topics".I feel like those kinds of things do not
> in any way belong on a board where one of the
> major goals,at least I HOPE so,is some semblance
> of peace of mind,with the raw foods being one tool
> to achieve that.
> I guess you just tune into what feels right to you
> and ignore the rest.
> When all else fails,seek solitude.
> Turn off the computer and tv,all the noise,and
> seek quiet,and do a juice fast.
>
> Vinny

I like the quote: "If you don't like what you see, change the channel." To each his own. What is depressing to you may be stimulating (although enraging) or enlightening to another.

After a good amount of searching for a specifically raw foods forum, I landed at this one because it is generally kind, balanced and informative. I would have to admit that it can be a bit intimidating at times. Still, I've received some great support here.

februarygirl

The last couple of days have been depressing emotionally for me. And it's just because I've been feeling so lost.

I know it's just temporary and stuff, it's not like I need a psyche doc or whatever, but the overall impact of these changes and the change they've caused are just so huge. And they are keepers, my whole lifestyle has changed, and everyday I have to make a thousand unnatural to me choices, be alert, vigilant; and it's a bit stressful still.

I feel like I was dropped in a foreign country and recognize nothing at all. I feel homesick sometimes, that same physical feeling.

Like I said, I know this is natural, temporary and stuff, but it's a reality for me.

New words, new foods, new habits, I'm changing. Changing is stressful even when it's good for you.

So now more than ever, I have to up my game, keep peace and positivity all around me while I'm in a more vulnerable state. My skin isn't thick yet. I'm working on it, it's not an overnight blossoming thing.

I'm doing great and junk, but I just want to sit and have a good cry all at the same time. Weird. Real weird.

food is very emotional. try to do other things that make you feel god emotionally. embrace cooking (preparing) good food, get a massage, manicure, etc...it will lessen. Have you made raw balls? they are sweet and satisfying.

februarygirl

the best politician is the one who doesn't want to be a politician

david