Pear Magazine Online - Conquering Addiction, article by Jinjee Talifero

One of the premises of the raw vegan diet is that cooked food is toxic. Raw Vegans say that "cooked food is poison" and "cooked food is the mother of all addictions". If you think about it many of the things that so many people are addicted to are very toxic. Chocolate, coffee, cigarettes, sugar, alcohol, and drugs all have high levels of toxins. Toxins are what we become addicted to. When we do a lot of a toxin our body acclimates to it. If we remove that toxin we have a certain level of discomfort as our body is always reaching for "homeostasis" or "staying the same". Just like we as humans resist change and prefer the familiar.

In high school physics we learn that heat changes the molecular structure of things. So it stands to reason that applying heat to food changes its molecular structure. Could it be that heat damages the molecular structure of food? Science has shown us that heated carbohydrates contain carcinogens, for instance heated sugar becomes carmelized, hard and sticky. Heated fats become trans-fatty-acids that clog the cell membranes. And heated proteins result in free radicals that damage cells and can cause cancer. As all foods are composed of these three major nutrients (carbohydrates, fats, and proteins) we can therefore say that cooked food is toxic.

Basically you are creating chemicals in your food when you heat it. So even if you go to all the expense of buying chemical-free organic produce when you heat it you again have a food high in toxic chemicals.

There is a theory that we are all born addicted to cooked food. Cooked food is a drug. We feel worse and worse so we self-medicate by going to harder and harder toxins. We move towards the most toxic cooked foods like sugar, milk, meat, and chocolate graduating to coffee, processed food, junk food, fried foods and fast foods and on to harder toxins such as cigarettes and alcohol. They say that once you remove the mother of all addictions, cooked food, you then have an easier time removing the other addictions. There is a center opening up in Washington state for kicking heavy drug addiction such as heroin with the raw vegan diet.

Although going raw might sound like an easy solution it can be very challenging. So here are some things we've found have helped people kick the cooked food habit.

~ Go 100% raw. This seems to be easier than just adding more raw food to the diet. It is a clearly defined goal. It allows your taste buds to shift over to fully appreciate raw foods so you don't miss cooked foods. And since you feel distinctly fantastic it is easier to stick with it.

~ Journal. Many people keep their food journals online at The Garden Diet forum. Writing about what you eat and how you feel can help you become more aware of both of these things which are often closely related.

~ Buddy up. If you can get a friend to go raw with you or make friends with a raw vegan this can be a great support

~ Exercise. Working out is helpful in any circumstance and very beneficial when going raw as an aid to process toxins which are being cleansed from the body on a raw vegan diet.

~ Indulge in Books, videos, DVDs. What's nice about the raw vegan diet is that there isn't just one book on it. There are hundreds! Simply query "raw foods" on amazon.com

~ Retreat. You can find raw food retreats from as short as one day long to permanent residence! google "raw food retreats"!

~ Transition slowly. Wean off of one toxin at a time week by week or month by month.

~ Go cold turkey. Some people do better making a dramatic change.

~ Hire a Raw Food Coach. With over 200 raw vegan consultants certified by Ekaya Institute of Living Food Education in the United States you may be able to find one in your area. Visit TheRawVeganNetwork.com to find out.

~ Work in the Field. If you are drawn to the raw vegan diet and find you have an affinity with the concepts then you might consider working in the raw vegan field giving or organizing talks and events, writing books, opening a raw cafe or starting a raw menu at a local restaurant or health food store, helping people transition to raw foods, or opening a raw food retreat. Once you are personally invested in something you tend to stick with it.

~ Nurture yourself. Treat yourself to things you love doing other than eating cooked food. Do things you have always wanted to do. Explore your own interests whatever they might be.

~ Take time for your spirit. Only you know what this means to you. When kicking addictions in the 12-step movement the most important step is handing over your problem to a higher power. Victoria Boutenko's book "12 steps to raw food" has spurred actual raw food 12-step support groups online. Here's one with over a hundred members: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/RawVeganOA/

~ Get enough sleep. Commit yourself to being rested. Everything is so much easier then.

~ Keep your home environment pleasant. When your house is clean and efficiently run you feel better.

Jinjee Talifero
Co-Author of "The Garden Diet"


Outside Links and Resources: Dr. Dean Edells' article against Circumcision Van Howe's article on Circumcision from the BRITISH JOURNAL OF UROLOGY Mothers Against Circumcision Website All the mentions of circumcision in the bible via the searchable bible online American Academy of Pediatrics - Cicumcision Information for Parents Green Christmas Shopping Gaiam.com - eco products to make your house more spa-like! MagicCabin.com - beautiful and inspiring gifts for children Patagonia.com - great clothing for the outdoors RawGanique.com - hemp clothing from some raw vegan friends in Canada! LivingTreeCommunity.com - nutbutters, nuts and more! The Garden Diet - raw vegan ebooks and DVDs Storm's Gallery - Exquisitely beautiful artwork with nature themes that benefit the Take A Fruit Break Campaign		"Conquering Addiction" by Jinjee Talifero 11/20/05 One of the premises of the raw vegan diet is that cooked food is toxic. Raw Vegans say that "cooked food is poison" and "cooked food is the mother of all addictions". If you think about it many of the things that so many people are addicted to are very toxic. Chocolate, coffee, cigarettes, sugar, alcohol, and drugs all have high levels of toxins. Toxins are what we become addicted to. When we do a lot of a toxin our body acclimates to it. If we remove that toxin we have a certain level of discomfort as our body is always reaching for "homeostasis" or "staying the same". Just like we as humans resist change and prefer the familiar. In high school physics we learn that heat changes the molecular structure of things. So it stands to reason that applying heat to food changes its molecular structure. Could it be that heat damages the molecular structure of food? Science has shown us that heated carbohydrates contain carcinogens, for instance heated sugar becomes carmelized, hard and sticky. Heated fats become trans-fatty-acids that clog the cell membranes. And heated proteins result in free radicals that damage cells and can cause cancer. As all foods are composed of these three major nutrients (carbohydrates, fats, and proteins) we can therefore say that cooked food is toxic. Basically you are creating chemicals in your food when you heat it. So even if you go to all the expense of buying chemical-free organic produce when you heat it you again have a food high in toxic chemicals. There is a theory that we are all born addicted to cooked food. Cooked food is a drug. We feel worse and worse so we self-medicate by going to harder and harder toxins. We move towards the most toxic cooked foods like sugar, milk, meat, and chocolate graduating to coffee, processed food, junk food, fried foods and fast foods and on to harder toxins such as cigarettes and alcohol. They say that once you remove the mother of all addictions, cooked food, you then have an easier time removing the other addictions. There is a center opening up in Washington state for kicking heavy drug addiction such as heroin with the raw vegan diet. Although going raw might sound like an easy solution it can be very challenging. So here are some things we've found have helped people kick the cooked food habit. ~ Go 100% raw. This seems to be easier than just adding more raw food to the diet. It is a clearly defined goal. It allows your taste buds to shift over to fully appreciate raw foods so you don't miss cooked foods. And since you feel distinctly fantastic it is easier to stick with it. ~ Journal. Many people keep their food journals online at The Garden Diet forum. Writing about what you eat and how you feel can help you become more aware of both of these things which are often closely related. ~ Buddy up. If you can get a friend to go raw with you or make friends with a raw vegan this can be a great support ~ Exercise. Working out is helpful in any circumstance and very beneficial when going raw as an aid to process toxins which are being cleansed from the body on a raw vegan diet. ~ Indulge in Books, videos, DVDs. What's nice about the raw vegan diet is that there isn't just one book on it. There are hundreds! Simply query "raw foods" on amazon.com ~ Retreat. You can find raw food retreats from as short as one day long to permanent residence! google "raw food retreats"! ~ Transition slowly. Wean off of one toxin at a time week by week or month by month. ~ Go cold turkey. Some people do better making a dramatic change. ~ Hire a Raw Food Coach. With over 200 raw vegan consultants certified by Ekaya Institute of Living Food Education in the United States you may be able to find one in your area. Visit TheRawVeganNetwork.com to find out. ~ Work in the Field. If you are drawn to the raw vegan diet and find you have an affinity with the concepts then you might consider working in the raw vegan field giving or organizing talks and events, writing books, opening a raw cafe or starting a raw menu at a local restaurant or health food store, helping people transition to raw foods, or opening a raw food retreat. Once you are personally invested in something you tend to stick with it. ~ Nurture yourself. Treat yourself to things you love doing other than eating cooked food. Do things you have always wanted to do. Explore your own interests whatever they might be. ~ Take time for your spirit. Only you know what this means to you. When kicking addictions in the 12-step movement the most important step is handing over your problem to a higher power. Victoria Boutenko's book "12 steps to raw food" has spurred actual raw food 12-step support groups online. Here's one with over a hundred members: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/RawVeganOA/ ~ Get enough sleep. Commit yourself to being rested. Everything is so much easier then. ~ Keep your home environment pleasant. When your house is clean and efficiently run you feel better. Jinjee Talifero Co-Author of "The Garden Diet"
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