Is it possible that including more raw foods into your life is actually easier than going vegan? Let’s look at some comparisons to find out.
Raw vs. Vegan Imitation Foods
Although both raw foods and vegan foods provide so-called imitation foods, raw foods tend to be very different from their cooked counterparts. When you’re eating vegan chips, it’s very different from eating celery sticks.
That’s not to say that Raw Food doesn’t have any foods that mimic your favorite cooked foods. The difference is that vegan foods tend to resemble your old time pre-vegan favorites.
The reason it’s so much easier to go raw on some level, is that you’re not trying to trick yourself. You know you’re eating raw food and exactly what it is, and you’re not lying to yourself.
Less Tofu and Soy Products
For a number of years soy based products have been touted as a health food, and many vegetarian and vegan “fake meat” products are made of tofu. Soy can cause all kinds of issues if eaten in large quantities.
Soy causes hormonal imbalances, that can surface as less masculine males, and mood disorders for females. Soy is also an allergen for many people, and can cause all kinds of issues such as thyroid problems and lowered immunity if eaten in large quantities.
Asian countries generally did not eat a lot of soy, they fermented it for 3 years and used it as a light condiment. I am often surprised by how little we know about other cultures that supposedly eat a lot of soy in their diet.
One thing to consider is that although soy is very common in Asian countries today, consumption has changed a lot in recent years as advertising and manufacturing changed.
Raw Food Energy
In terms of energy, Raw Food cannot be beat. Since you are eating fresh raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds your body knows how to digest these basic food groups. So you get the fuel from it immediately.
Raw food also places an emphasis on food combination, which helps people to digest quickly without taxing their system and experiencing a dip in energy.
Raw Food Going Mainstream?
The more people who include raw foods in their diet, the more normal it will become. The same thing happened with vegetarianism. When “regular people” started ordering vegetarian meals, it became acceptable to be vegetarian.
A vegan diet high in Raw Food is also a good alternative, if raw isn’t right for you.
It is easier to include more raw food in your diet than it is to eliminate meat and dairy. That’s because you’re starting with a blank slate, whereas veganism and vegetarianism focus on removing certain foods.
When going raw, you are straightforward with yourself about what you’re really eating, you avoid soy and all of the common problems associated with it, and you increase your energy levels.
{ 9 comments }
Excellent article. I never thought of it that way…vegan diets focus on removing foods while raw focuses on adding foods. That's very true!
Also, you can eat a whole lot more on raw than you can on any cooked diet, vegan or not. Since most cravings are caused by simply under-eating, this is truly an advantage.
Hi Swayze! That's so true about eating more when it's raw food. I didn't consider that when writing this, so thanks for adding it. With raw you can eat if you're hungry, isn't that kind of cool? ;)
Yep, very cool. :)
I agree. It is easier to become a RAW vegan than just plain vegan. Since I cannot eat “traditional” vegan foods (soy, legumes, copious amounts of carbs, grains and sugar), going raw, at least when I did it for 9 months in 2007 wasn't so difficult. Maintaining it was a different story; both physically and socially.
Absolutely. I think a lot of those “traditional” vegan foods use ingredients that many people also have allergic reactions to or can't tolerate well. At least when you're making something raw, you know what's in it. :)
Maintaining it is the tricky part, indeed. I offer magickal raw coaching if anyone needs help staying raw. Just sayin'. ;)
I think a raw food coach is a great idea! I think for me, I was eating too many sweets in the form of certain type of fruits and sweeteners (agave, etc) and developed Candida.
Plus, I was missing *something* in my diet. I had a lot of health issues that was starting to spring up that went away when I went back to my (non-factory farmed) omni diet. I still try to keep my diet as raw as possible though.
Ooh the too much sweet stuff is interesting, and yeah not everyone can “get away” with lots of sugary things or fruits.
I'm glad you've found something that works for you though! I don't think 100% raw is the way to go for everyone, so I'm really happy you got to a healthy medium of raw and non-raw. :)
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