How to Make a Transition to Raw Food

By Dominique Allmon

I often meet people who are curious about raw food. They would ask questions and even find the concept interesting, but would end the conversation with a statement that they would love to try raw food but could never give up this or that. For me, this is a wrong approach. People trying to change or improve their nutrition should be asking what they would gain by going raw and not what they would have to give up.


I grew up eating various raw foods so choosing a fully raw food lifestyle as a grown up wasn't difficult, or easy, or anything. It was a natural progression to ever healthier and more nutritious diet. 

However, I understand that habits are hard to break and that food means more than a meal on a plate. It is a cultural identity, tradition, set of behaviors, and a system of nutritional beliefs that, in a sense, make us who we are. And for as long as our food does not make us sick, all is fine. That this isn't always the case you can see when you check the chronic disease statistics, or simply look around. 


If you are new to raw food, you are probably wondering now how to painlessly make the transition to raw food lifestyle. My answer is: "Embrace positivity and do it gradually." You do not have to give up anything. You simply have to start eating more fruits and vegetables in their natural, raw food state. With time you may notice that your energy level rises, your health improves, and the desire for certain foods simply disappears. If you a long time carnivore, you will notice that it is much easier to go vegan than go raw. Things take time, so do not rush anything. Listen to your body. Listen to your cravings. Going from one extreme to another never really works.
 
What to Expect During the Transition to Raw Food
 
People who made the transition to raw food often report increased energy, weight loss, improved digestion, better health, clear skin, improved sleep, decreased inflammation, lower blood pressure, and more. However, before such changes even take place, one may experience symptoms that are not always pleasant. 
 
If your meals normally consisted of cooked food and contained relatively little fiber, you may, and probably will, experience bloating, flatulence, and more frequent trips to the bathroom. Your gut bacteria is adjusting to the new food and the increased amount of fiber you are ingesting. Bloating is uncomfortable, but natural. So is gas, so is increased elimination. Once your microbiome adjusted to raw food, all discomfort will disappear. Keep a journal and write down your experience with raw food. Keep an open mind and observe the changes in your body and your reactions to food. Add digestive enzymes, especially cellulase, to help ease the transition. Cellulase is essential for digesting fruits and vegetable. It helps to break the plant fiber.

During the transition you may experience detoxification symptoms as your liver, kidneys and the intestines begin to clean up and repair the damage done by certain foods, sugar, saturated fat, food additives, etc. To ease the symptoms try to drink more water, pumper yourself, and take things slowly. Going "cold turkey" on your favorite food does not always work without setbacks. You may be tempted to return to your comfort zone and give up raw food altogether. Resist this temptation, if you can. 
 
Normally the digestive problems subside when the body gets used to the amount of fiber, enzymes and nutrients it is receiving. However, if the discomfort persists, you may want to reconsider your food choices. You may be allergic to a particular food or food group. To clarify your problems consult certified nutritionist or a raw food coach. Have an IgG (food intolerance) test performed, if necessary. If you suffer from chronic disease, talk to your health care provider and hire a professional nutritionist before you start making any changes in your diet.

  Nine Steps for a Smooth Transition to Raw Food
    • You can make the transition at any time of the year, but it is easier to go on raw food in late spring and summer when locally grown, organic produce is abundant.
    • Buy a good raw food recipe book that will introduce you to the intricacies of raw food preparation. Depending on your cooking skills you may want to start at the introductory level. 
    • Gradually increase the amount of raw foods that you are willing to consume daily. You may want to add fresh fruit or raw nuts to your breakfast, or a raw salad to go with your lunch sandwich. This is easily done and even members of your family who do not normally eat fruits and vegetable might appreciate the change. They would not be giving up anything, they would only be adding a few new things to their menu.
    • While making the transition, work with ingredients you already know and like. Introducing "outlandish" ingredients and unfamiliar flavors too soon may only discourage you from staying raw.
    • Start with simple food combinations and recipes that are easy to execute. Food preparation should not be too complicated and time consuming or you will get discouraged.
    • Find a source of raw food recipes on social media. Look for raw food blogs, Instagram posts, Facebook pages, Pinterest walls, un-cooking classes, and raw food groups. Join the discussion and ask questions. There are many levels of being raw and you should pick what suits you best: high-raw, fully raw, raw-vegan, or simply partly raw when you feel like it.
    • Invest in a few kitchen tools that are useful in raw food preparation. A sharp knife and a good cutting board are essential, but if your budget permits, buy a slow juicer and a powerful blender. They are very useful in any household, but especially if you are going raw. 
    • Gradually expand your menu and try to replace entire meals with your raw food creations. If this works for you, introduce a whole raw food day or two per week. And by all means, avoid monotony.
    • To enjoy vibrant health, become passionate about raw food. Learn as much as you can about the ingredients you are using and understand their nutritional value in order to provide complete nutrition. Remember that your meals should contain amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids. Fruits and vegetable are also rich in secondary plant nutrients that can help you prevent premature aging and disease. Use them wisely, use them generously.

      Raw food lifestyle can be fascinating! The more you understand and learn about it, the more will you be willing to make changes in your current diet. Soon you will be creating your own raw food recipes and maybe even become a blogger, or a book author to share your experience with others.

      I truly hope that your enthusiasm for raw food will never cease, but like with everything, there may be some serious issues associated with raw nutrition, especially with the raw vegan form of it. Some people notice that after years of their vegan raw food experience they became seriously ill. I do not suggest that you should become fully raw or fully vegan. Choose what suits you best and always follow your gut feeling. Be passionate not fanatical about your food choices and always consult an expert in case of doubt. Nutritional deficiencies can be easily prevented with high end nutritional supplements, but you have to be able to make wise choice. Knowledge can save you a lot of pain. 
       
      When you transit to raw nutrition be prepared for a big changes in your life. Things will change for you on more than the physical plane. Sooner or later you will notice changes on the mental, the emotional, as well as the spiritual plane. The transition to live, high energy foods might bring a healing crisis in all these dimensions so take things slowly at first and seek advice, as needed. Keep an open mind, be gentle to yourself and persevere.  
       
      And one last thing. When you start exploring raw food on Instagram or YouTube, you will find many beautiful people living in Hawaii, Costa Rica or Bali, engorging on incredible tropical fruit all year round. If you live in a different climate zone, you might not be able to access all the goodies tropical climates have to offer. Do not despair. You can become raw foodist in any climate. Learn to use locally grown, seasonal, organic produce. Visit a farmers market or a farm. Learn how to grow your own food. A bowl of locally grown organic cherries or a freshly harvested homegrown heirloom tomato might prove much more satisfying than eating a half ripe pineapple from a supermarket.

      In radiant health, passionately raw - Dominique

      You may also want to read  Rejuvenate with Raw Food  and  Is Raw Food Good for Everyone

      Dominique Allmon©2010-2023 

      *Information in this article is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure a disease. People suffering from allergies, life threatening ailments, or chronic diseases should consult their healthcare providers before considering any nutritional changes. 


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      How to Make a Transition to Raw Food by Dominique Allmon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.