A little over a year ago I was exploring the muddled world of nutrition and was irresistibly drawn to a few articles which touted the benefits of the Raw Vegan lifestyle. These articles seemed to indicate, with authority, advantages which seemed (hold the side of skepticism for a time please) almost biblical in nature. How could I possibly believe I could look 10 to 20 years younger just by following a few simple instructions? Did I dare dream of boosting my energy and leveling my mood through food alone? Is it even conceivable that I could live for a full century with all my faculties intact and flexible? I had to know more!
I delved as deep as I was able; I sorted and sifted data from the multitudes of varied sources. What I found has shocked me to the core. There are indeed many examples of individuals and groups of people living very well into their, “Twilight years” all the while feeling and looking more like the rising sun. Not only that but they do this without the benefit of modern science! The more I read, the more it all made sense; the more sense it made, the more I read. Now this was the kind of vicious circle I could wrap my mind around.
I guess I should start by giving you the highlights of my nutritional experiences thus far. For the past 2 decades I’ve been more than concerned about the quality of our food sources and how to combine them so as to reap the benefits that we as a collective so rightfully deserve. The guidelines we are taught in the beginning stages stopped making sense to me; additionally, the Industrial Revolution had infested me with no small modicum of fear as to what I was actually consuming. At this point I began to explore the proper ratios of food and where to find natural, pure examples. I was under the misguided impression this would be a relatively simple thing to accomplish. I have never been more wrong in my 42 years of existence! That was the inception of what is turning out to be a life-long pursuit.
As my understanding grew, so too did my belief grow in that Western Society has somehow been led astray in a drastic show of callousness. We are misinformed in the areas of quality and quantity. We are given data which is cloaked in science and statistics. So how was I to wade through all of the technical tedium to find the path of nutritional truth? I had no idea but I had to try; this was the start of my vegetarian lifestyle.
After much perusal of growth hormones, genetic mutations, corporate livestock farming and the like, I came to the sad conclusion that there was no longer any such thing as economical meat that was safe to eat; consequently, in order to remove the majority of chemical compounds and genetic experiments from my body I would have to abstain from flesh. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but alas, I was nowhere near to prepared for not only the physiological changes but the social stigmas attached to the act itself! It took me years to ditch the cravings; I hate to admit it but I slipped on more than one occasion. It also seemed that the more dedicated I would become, the thicker my skin must necessarily become as well. In retrospect, it has helped me grow into the person I am proud to be today. So thank you to all the nay-sayers, you have inadvertently done more good than harm for a change!
My next epiphany took me down the nightmare path of the titans of industry; namely, corporations such as Monsanto, Bayer and Dupont. If you have no knowledge of these and other companies which follow their practices, I suggest you do a little exploring on your own. I prefer to refrain from delivering too many horrendous facts that constantly ruin my solid 8 hours of sleep by forcing me to change sweat sodden bedsheets! Suffice it to say, the field of Biotechnology seems to be an oxymoron to my way of thinking. Why would we even consider tampering with nature’s grand design? Not only does organic food contain every nutrient we need to get us through our hectic day, it also puts said food in a convenient package as well as in precisely the right quantities. My only complaint in regards to organic produce is that fueling my body should not consume more in the way of finances than the roof over my head. I cannot blame the farmers though; they have to do something to survive the competition.
So back to the point of this article.
I have now engaged in what I hope to be the final stages of my nutritional evolution. According to what I have researched, the benefits of a Raw Vegan lifestyle are multifaceted. Here are a few of the more prevalent enhancements:
- IMPROVED DIGESTION: One major cause of digestion issues is an excess of fat buildup on the intestinal tract wall. If you’ve ever had the oppourtunity to actually feel this substance you will know how it can stick to just about anything. Now just picture that gluey substance attaching itself to the wall of your intestines. Can you imagine it? Once you recognize this, take the next logical step and marry it to the fact that the reason we have intestines is to absorb the water soluble nutrients once they are broken down. When you couple this with the fact that animal fat is an oil based substance (not water soluble) you should have a clear picture of what’s happening.
- IMPROVED ENERGY LEVELS: As is the case, #1 almost invariably leads to #2. Since the levels of fat inside the intestinal tract have now been brought to manageable proportions your body can now deliver what is needed to the appropriate systems. Among other things, this means when you need the energy for whatever purpose, it will be there!
- IMPROVED MENTAL FACULTIES: #1 +#2 = #3. Most certainly, the vast majority have heard the saying, “You are what you eat”. It turns out, just like many of the old wives tales, this just so happens to be true! Now that you have a set of intestines that can actually absorb the nutrients you are ingesting, when you need energy to facilitate dendrite activity in your brain it is readily available.
If these three points are not enough (Heaven forbid!) there are also the added bonuses of better skin elasticity, a more level disposition, and improved sensory faculties as well.
This is my view of the research I have done. These are also the results of my own personal experiment with me as the test subject. This is now part of my “Kung Fu” and IT IS STRONG!
I urge you with every fiber of my heart, with the very ether of my soul, try this! If you want more of my opinion all you have to do is ask; I will share every bit of my knowledge with you. If you need advice my hard-earned experience is yours for the taking. All I ask is for us to be human. Be what we should be!
Your humble servant,
The Health Well.
