Ok, so I have been a vegetarian for five years. This winter I delved into my first year of nursing school and amidst studying and horrible stress, began to eat more and more processed foods. I went from 100 pounds to 110 just like that and felt terrible. About two months later, I realized what all that nasty food was doing to my body and how horrible I felt. Needless to say I went back to my old habits - oatmeal, cereal, fruit, salads, soups, soy, etc. However, this still wasn't doing it for me and so I began reading about the raw vegan diet and totally agree with the whole concept.
So, to the point - I've been transitioning into raw for several weeks and have begun incorporating nuts into my diet for protein. I feel protein is important because I'm a runner. Before this, I had never really eaten a lot of nuts - just beans for my amino acids. First of all, the nuts make me feel terrible (bloated, lower abdominal pain, gassy) and therefore, I'm not loving the concept of consuming these little devils. Secondly, If I don't eat nuts and seeds where do I get my protein from? Finally, nuts are sooo high in fat and calories and I'm still trying to lose the weight ...I don't even know where I'm going with this - just, input please.
Comments
I find that a diet high in fruits really helps me when I am working out heavily or being really active. Don't worry about the protein. If you eat enough of your dark greens and a variety of fruits and vegetables you should be fine. It's a different sort of feeling on the raw diet. I found that I had to adjust more to the light feeling I got after eating raw foods versus the full heavy feeling I got eating processed vegan foods more than the different foods themselves. Experiment and see what works for you. I also looooove coconut water and it gives me some boost before a workout as well.
brazil nuts are one of the few without enzyme enhibitors. so you might do well with rinsed bn for snacks. living harvest has good hemp protein powder as well. it is true if you get enough greens that you are probably getting enough protein though. maybe looking into a green superfood powder.
awesome guys!! Thanks for the input. It looks like I can basically eat what I'm used to eating, minus soy and cereals. I just got into sprouting - and LOVE it. Plus, my dorm room has become a garden until I take my veggies home to plant in May.... my roomie just loves the greens - haha, not. I think I'll just avoid nuts in general. I love my greens and beans (sprouted) anyways.
Has anyone tried making hummus out of sprouted garbanzos?
I O/D on nuts in the early days. A small handful (sprouted if containing brown shell) eaten with greens is my new rule. The greens balance out the acidity of the nuts.
I get my protien from hemp seed(which doesnt need sprouting), and spirulina when i feel i need it.
Others do well on green smoothies and the like. :) - Chris posted a good thread link
hi!
an awesome thread! i also have some questions though...
i have troubles w bloating too and now researching food combining and i have a food diary that i try to investigate what keeps my tummy bloated and gazzy.
but could need some advice cause i cant find answers to all my concers...
does anyone know about chia seeds and how fast or slow that digests?? i know that the gel that is created help digestion but maybe not if its eaten on a full stomach? i love it and on many places its served as a desert, but wondering if i will benefit more by starting eating that.... and im also confused about different charts of food combining. for instance i read several diff statement that one shouldnt mix fats and proteins...but nuts is almost just as high in fats as they are in proteins?? and i also wonder when one says dont mix 2 proteins, does that mean not mix for ex diff nuts together and diff seeds??
and for people that are worried about protein wout consumin nuts, i found raw hemp powder to mix in smoothies great, and someone told me abt raw glutamine and also increase spirulina intake.
garetful for your opinions