Last month, I started a raw vegan diet that has radically changed my life. Despite the fact that I have become more healthy and adopted an increasingly positive and peaceful outlook, there are a variety of mistakes I made while converting to the diet that precluded me from experiencing the deep levels of success that I desired. If you are converting to the raw vegan diet, you should realize that there are several factors that can preclude you from getting the most out of your new lifestyle. Here are three:
1. You’re Obnoxious About Your Diet.
Oftentimes people choose the raw vegan diet because they realize doing so is a more nutritionally and ethically sound decision to make than eating food that has been processed or treated with violence. Unfortunately, this understanding often results in the raw vegan adopting an attitude of superiority towards others. For example, one might hear a raw vegan criticize a meat eater by patronizingly asking if they understand how long the food will remain in the digestive tract before finally being eliminated. This type of statement isn’t designed to provide people with empowering information, but is rather stated so the other individual feels as if she or he is stupid. Don’t do this type of thing. It promotes the type of bad karma which can adversely effect your health, thus limiting the power of your raw vegan diet.
2. You Don’t Understand Basic Nutritional Facts.
Understanding basic facts about nutrition is very advantageous for raw vegans. This is the case for several reasons, including the fact that people who eat the mainstream Standard American Diet (SAD) often discourage others from converting to the raw vegan diet because of popular assent to the notion that it is unhealthy. One of the inaccurate claims made about the raw vegan diet is that it is not capable of providing people with enough protein. Although it is true that some raw vegans may not be consuming enough protein, this is not because one cannot attain sufficient quantities of it through the diet. Indeed, fruits, vegetables, and nuts can provide us with more than enough protein if they are consumed in the right amount. Another contention that people have about the raw vegan diet is that it will not provide us with enough iron. Yet this mineral can be attained through adequate consumption of the dark, leafy greens that one oftentimes cannot find in restaurants that cater to people consuming the SAD diet. Iron can also be found in various nuts and fruits. With these thoughts in mind, make a point to get a basic understanding of mainstream ideas about nutrition as well as the nutritional data being disseminated by raw vegan experts so that you do not feel clueless when discussing your diet with others.
3. You’re Not Exercising.
Irrespective of the diet you adopt, proper exercise can enhance the positive effects you achieve from it. This principle is as true for individuals who choose the raw vegan diet as for those who select any other dieting regimen. As many health experts know, exercise can help facilitate digestion and elimination, thus helping your body process the food you’ve eaten more efficiently. Additionally, exercise plays a role in mood elevation because it precipitates the production of serotonin, the “happy hormone” known for inducing feelings of calm and joy. This joy boost can be particularly helpful for people transitioning to the raw diet as they are likely to experience food withdrawal symptoms that have a negative impact on mood.
Conclusion
Converting to a raw vegan lifestyle is definitely one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Although I never liked cooking, I am now in a place where I look forward to going to grocery stores to purchase food and prepare it for myself. Additionally, I am reaping a ton of health benefits from eating a high volume of raw fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Nevertheless, there were initially several factors that precluding me from attaining complete satisfaction on my diet. If you are in the process of converting to raw veganism, consider whether or not any of the factors listed above are at play in your life. If so, be sure to make the necessary behavior modifications so you can have the success you want. Good luck! :)
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