Although Raw Foods have proven to give significant healing and energizing benefits, we must still remember that major dietary changes are not accomplished overnight.
Of course, there are some whom are able to switch to raw foods cold turkey; but remember no 2 humans are the same. We are each unique and our body systems each work differently. Most of us are better off with a gradual transition rather than overnight major changes.
In fact, most of the experienced raw food experts (those whom have been on this lifestyle for more than 10-20 years) encourage us onto a gradual dietary transition rather than sudden overnight changes.
The Key to Successful Transition
Why is there a need for gradual transition? Let’s just explore 3 general logics today.
When we change our diet, especially when it comes to raw foods, there are a few things to look out for:
1) The Detox period.
While we are not saying that this will happen for everyone, it is useful to take note and make provision for these Detox symptoms to occur.
In fact, there are many people who eat a heavily processed and cooked food diet, and then switch to healthier ways of eating, and experienced Detox symptoms too! They don’t even need to become raw yet.
Detox symptoms like cold, flu, fever, fatigue diarrhea etc are simply ways in which the body eliminates old toxins. These toxins come from food, water, environmental as well as mental/emotional stress that were built up over years. Due to over toxicity, these toxins are kept hidden within the body, and when the diet cleans up, the body goes on a “spring-cleaning” mode and rid itself of the old junk.
This is in fact good news; we want the toxins to be OUT, rather than stay IN our body.
Therefore, for anyone turning raw, this is definitely a likely possibility. So with this in mind, we want to allow the body to gradually transition, so that the Detox symptoms can be milder, or even non-existent. Since we give the body time to adjust, old toxins can be slowly released through daily elimination.
2) Mind Matters
When the diet cleans up, the Mind starts to clear too. The body will continue to detox, become cleaner, more efficient and energetic. At this time, the Mind starts to become stronger, clearer and focused. This is also what most raw fooders describe as “Mental Clarity”.
It is a good thing to have Mental Clarity definitely. However, we must remember that we are all subjects of conditioning; programming which have been drummed into us both consciously and subconsciously throughout our life-time. Programming begins the moment we are born as infants.
Every response/reaction, word/action and even habits from our parents/guardians/family, school, friends, media etc, forms certain perceptions, beliefs and characters of us. Intentions aside (they are just loving us in the best way they can anyway!), these programming can act as stumbling blocks on our paths in Life.
Many of them unfortunately, may not be supportive of a healthy diet, let alone a raw foods diet!
This is also a time when most raw fooders run the likelihood of feeling or appearing “spacey or confused” because they feel like an isolation from their community.
Of course there are also a lucky few who did it smoothly with suave; these people are mentally strong enough to know whether they are doing the right things. They are mostly in a strong community of like minds; are usually logical people who are used to taking charge of their own lives, being responsible for their choices and know where they want to go in life. These people are comparatively more independent than others, and even when they have doubts, their faith speaks louder.
Being humans, some of us may feel that the Mental Clarity is too unbearable and eventually fall away or worse still, swing right back to the far extreme of junk food!
3) Emotional Anchors
There are so many hidden emotional anchors in food and dietary habits, which are unknown to us. Subconsciously they affect our every food choice, our emotions and ensuing mental states.
Smell buttery donut, and think of the times when we were in school and passing by that bakery on our way home. Smell Asian Stir-fry, and think of Mummy’s loving preparation of dinner. Smell roasted chicken/turkey, and think of Festive or Christmas gatherings where the whole family gathers together.
Sounds familiar?
These mentioned above, are just an introduction to the whole myriad of Emotional Anchors deeply rooted in each of us ☺
Ever heard the popular saying that:” Diet is one of the most difficult things to change in a person!”
Well, it is right in a large sense. Why? Because every human needs to eat; we eat an average of 3 meals a day, and that is more than 1,000 meal-times in a year. Multiply that with our age, and we can see how many times we had an opportunity to program our subconscious minds in the past!
One of the most profound things to happen in raw foods is the eventual liberation of the emotions, which follows after the mind clearing up. While it sounds all exciting and good to be free of emotional toxins and baggage, it has to be emphasized that raw foods DO NOT solve the emotional issues. Raw Foods merely removes the barrier, puts you face to face with your issues whatever they are. In other words, people who have deep emotional baggage will feel the impact 10 times stronger.
Nor do Raw Foods provide the skills on how to bridge the emotional releases. It is not a magic pill; rather, it allows you to face them and uncover the root causes. We can discuss a whole thesis full of content on this topic alone; but for now, the purpose of this article is to bring your awareness to this and take note that this is a valid reason for raw food transitioning.
As the body cleans up, the mind clears, we want to be gentle and allow the emotions to adjust too. Balance in Progression and Transformation is the Key.
Again of course, this does not apply to every single human on Earth. We are talking about most people, and especially in Asia where we are still moving onto a more open-minded, embracing and unconventional way of life.
© Copyright 2008-2012 Linda Loo, Light Love Laughter