raw reality

one way and many ways

2008-12-08T13:48:00.004Z

Those of you who know me (or at least have a nodding acquaintance) will know that I follow a largely raw diet.

At first, following a raw food diet seems an odd thing to do, because we are so used to eating cooked and processed food. I know that it seems odd, because a few years ago it was a new thing to me too, and I viewed as rather strange the thought of living on a diet of raw fruit and veg.

Having seen first hand the benefits, however, I am convinced that this is the right way to maintain optimum health.

There are several approaches to raw, and newcomers will no doubt encounter advocates of each of them. There are many 'big names' in the world of Raw Eating - Gabriel Cousens, David Wolfe, Brian Clement, Doug Graham - and many more. Many of the things they say are the same, but each has a slightly different take.

I cannot say that one is better or more right than the others, because they are each coming from different angles. Some raw gurus try to write about general raw living. Others write from the perspective of treating particular health issues. Some write about raw in the context of a certain lifestyle, such as athleticism or body-building, whilst yet more write about the wonderful raw gourmet dishes that can be created.

The problem for the newcomer is that they are likely to come across many for whom raw foodism has almost become a religion. That can be understandable, because if you have read a book that has had a significant impact on your health you are likely to be very enthusiastic and positively evangelical about it. The problem is that such enthusiasm can blind you to the fact that not all of your audience is in the same situation as you, and therefore what is right for you may not be right for them.

Consequently, there is an awful lot of contrasting information out there in the raw forums and websites. Some raw diets contain a lot of fruit. If you have cancer or diabetes these are not for you. Others consist mostly of greens and sprouted seeds. If you are seeking to train for a marathon, these are not for you.

My advice would be to research thoroughly. Ask questions; you will find most people are willing to offer sound advice or at least point you in the direction of where you can get it.

Switching to raw food is a lifestyle choice. Make sure you choose the way that's right for you.

the fluoride myth

2008-11-28T20:26:00.002Z

When I was a kid my Mum used to have to nag me to clean my teeth, mainly because like many kids I hated doing it. Now that I'm older I can look back and see that I may have been doing myself a favour without really knowing it.

The reason for writing this is that I recently heard that schools in Sheffield are going to add fluoride to the milk that they give children. Of course, this will help to protect their teeth, right?

Wrong.

What isn't widely known is that the whole fluoride thing is a fraud. Fluoride, as added to water supplies and toothpaste, is a hazardous bi-product of the phosphate fertilizer industry. It's not the same sort of fluoride that's found in your teeth.

As if poisoning the water supply wasn't bad enough, there are actually no long term studies to show that fluoridation of water helps prevent tooth decay in children. In fact, studies have shown that it can in fact make the situation worse.

There is plenty of information out there if you look, but there are a couple of interesting articles here and here, and a whole load of them here.

It may cause the teeth to erupt later, which of course is very convenient if you plan to carry out a study in the short term. This is a commonly used practise by the pharmaceutical industry.

More to follow.

what is "raw reality"?

2008-11-22T16:53:00.000Z

raw reality is my own particular take on certain aspects of modern living. At the time of writing I have no definite idea of what the subject matter will be, but there will no doubt be some commentary on matters relating to health and nutrition as these are areas in which I am interested and thus naturally will more often be a part of what I'm thinking about.