From Raw To Cooked To Raw Again…
Share February 23, 2009 | Health & Lifestyle, Raw Foods
Last week I completed 100 days of being on a 100% raw vegan diet. So, what did I do these last few days? At a couple of gigs I was offered cooked food, and I was thinking about the Dalai Lama’s philosophy of accepting food that is offered to you and not offending the host or hostess. Then I was thinking about how expensive food was, especially organic foods. I was wondering that, if I am offered food that I should accept it graciously.
Now at gigs, often I am offered food, whether it’s at a corporate event or at a restaurant. Sometimes, there is raw foods that I can eat. Other times, I just have had to refuse.
The bottom line is that if I want to truly eat the healthiest raw organic foods, it has to be at home because that is where one has the greatest control of what one eats.
At venues, restaurants, special events, there is no guarantee about the quality of the food, no knowledge of whether that food is wholesome, organic, free of pesticides and chemicals, etc…
So, I just finished 4 gigs in a row and on 2 of those gigs I was offered food that was cooked. And I thought I would try it because of the above thoughts.
And I feel the difference now. After yesterday’s gig (Sunday brunch at a country club) I felt tired and not as energetic. I didn’t even want to go out with my wife afterwards to do errands but I dragged myself through it and I wasn’t in the best of moods. When we got back we ended up watching the Oscars on TV, and basically I was just resting and lying down for most of it.
So, in the spirit of being scientific and experimenting. I had to learn the hard way that “cooked foods” aren’t as good for my system as raw foods.
With raw foods I definitely feel that extra boost of energy. All I can say to the doubters is that you have to try it yourself and see how you feel, then compare back by eating cooked foods and feel the difference. The difference is like night and day to me.
Cooked foods definitely slow me down, and if after 100 days on 100% raw, then eating cooked foods… well, if cooked foods were all that great I’d be feeling better, no? Well, I most definitely didn’t feel better.
So today… I beginning another 100 day 100% raw food diet, this time I am going to go on a juice fast (or juice feast) during these 100 days, sometime during Lent.
Posted by Randomguru | Comments (View Comments)
View Comments to “From Raw To Cooked To Raw Again…”
Leave a Reply
Carlos (a.k.a Randomguru) is a working musician, web developer and web publisher living in San Diego, California.
You know, I was just reading a book by the Dalai Lama in which he referenced that philosophy of taking food offered to him. He didn’t elaborate in this book about the rationale of this philosophy (didn’t specifically say it was related to not offending the offeror). But, I did wonder about it… You know, traditionally, I wouldn’t think that many offerings Buddhists received would be very unhealthy in the Western sense. For example, no Buddhist monks for the past 1,000 years (up until this century) were ever offered, say, a Double Whopper meal, supersized. Maybe that’s changed today, though. But, back when these philosophies were being developed, food was pretty much the same everywhere. I imagine they made breads, soups, stews — relatively fresh, wholesome home-cooked things (no preservatives, chemicals, pesticides, etc.). (Whether or not a Buddhist back then or today will accept meat, I’m not sure. Do they? Somehow, I think many still do eat meat. I wonder if they have a mental justification for that, or just a cultural one or something.) But, the way I see it is: We know more now. We also have choices these days, much more than we used to. So, the food offerings out there vary widely — especially in modernized places. So, I’m sure if Buddhists are offered foods, they’re being offered some really awful stuff here in the states and in other major urban centers. So, personally, I think it’s time they modernize that philosophy based on our modern knowledge of health best practices. Maybe they could do what I did once… My brother in law offered me drugs once. Oddly, he seriously meant it as a nice gesture. So, I just said, “Look, I appreaiate your gesture here, but I’m going to pass.” Weird story, I know… But, it’s not much different than that, really. Why should people accept something that’s bad for them?
Anyway, congrats on the first and next round of raw! I haven’t had anything cooked since last September, and don’t feel inclined to try it again. I’ve had some cravings — soups, beans, etc. But, I like the positive changes I’ve seen in myself since going 100% raw, and want to see them continue. When you ate the cooked stuff, what was it, and how did it taste? Did it make you feel bad immediately, or take a while to do that?