Raw Foods as a Lifestyle: It Ain’t Just Eatin’

It’s been many years since I took the first few tentative steps on my raw food journey. Since then, I’ve experienced one exciting transformation after another, both physically and mentally. My health, looks and state of mind have continuously improved over the years. Just when I thought things couldn’t possibly get better, they did! I firmly believe this is because I took special care early on to transition slowly to raw foods, and to incorporate all of the lifestyle practices so essential for creating genuine, lasting health.

Food is Just the Beginning

Our western culture is all about diets, all about pills—things you consume. The truth: Food is only the beginning! I get many emails from people confused and disillusioned because they’ve been eating raw foods exclusively for a time but still feel constipated, still have skin issues, haven’t lost enough weight—the list goes on. A common thread runs through many of their pleas. It’s simple: The “food thing” is all they’re doing! I can’t figure out what’s wrong…I haven’t experienced the ‘butterfly-cocoon effect’ like you…and I’ve been raw for months! Sometimes, the trouble might be medical. And I do not, cannot give any medical advice. I can, however, offer some common sense from one who has walked the path for many years.

From Diet to Lifestyle

A sound raw food diet is the foundation you begin with. From there you must build up it to a true lifestyle, not just a diet. Our bodies are designed to cleanse, repair and heal from the inside out. But it takes more than just good food to do this. Several factors need to work in harmony to create lasting health. We cannot break natural laws and expect to get away with it for very long. We need sleep, sunlight, exercise, adequate elimination and occasional abstinence from food, to name just a few basic bodily requirements for optimal health. Take full responsibility. We can’t just eat raw, throw up our hands and say, “Okay, that’s it—I should be a walking picture of health!”

When you follow all the natural laws of body function, everything works together. Half measures get you well less than half way. This means: lifestyle, not diet. You’re not looking to lose five pounds for your high school reunion. You are seeking true transformation from the inside out. You’ll notice over time that even your mind will transform, and you will actually begin to think differently. Once you stop polluting your body with dead and processed foods, you’ll need to begin undoing years of toxic buildup while simultaneously preventing its recurrence by incorporating appropriate lifestyle practices. You will find all of these lifestyle practices in the 100 Days to 100% Raw program, available in ebook format, and you can also learn more about them in the following related links.

Colon cleansing

If for years you have been eating a Standard American Diet, you undoubtedly have much impacted debris in your colon that will need to be removed intelligently so you can fully enjoy the benefits of the clean, raw foods you are introducing to your body. If you experience bloating, constipation or skin issues, you might want to consider a series of colonics, performed by a licensed colon hydrotherapist, to clear the way for success with your raw food diet. If the cleansing juices and foods you are beginning to eat hit the old, toxic debris lodged within, it can create a traffic jam in your intestines—uncomfortable and health-impeding.

Skin brushing

One of the simplest, most effective things you can do daily is to dry-brush both body and face. It’s a practice I swear by! You will use one brush for your face, a different one for the rest of the skin on your body. Dry-brushing is a wonderful way to help exfoliate your skin, helping your body to release some of its toxic load, improve circulation and polish your skin to a rosy glow. I even give free facial brushes with qualifying orders of my facial cream.