Starting out Raw!   by Dr. Timothy S. Trader N.D.(retired), PhD., D.D.  A 100% raw, living foods diet can be quite a high and an honorable goal. For those who have been eating a Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) or cooked vegan (meat and dairy-free), there may be transitional stages ahead. First of all there is a mental and emotional crevasse to fill. Questions arise such as: Why raw, or Can I really do this? This is the essence of another article. If considering going 'raw' then let us discuss approaches to this way of eating. There are two ways to embark on becoming all-raw. The first path is to dive in with both feet. This is the way I did it. I had stopped dairy and ate more fruit before going 100% on the sixth day of September nine and a half years ago. I then experienced most of the classic symptoms which arose due to the shift. Massive weight loss, low energy, emotional and mental difficulties just to name a few. Friends and family believed I was trying to kill myself. Through my extensive nutritional training, I knew I was on the right path regardless. That is why I advise anyone who chooses this approach to be forewarned, and study. If one experiences detoxification symptoms blindly it can be frightening. Have you ever entered an unfamiliar dark room? At best you would have felt a little disoriented. If we get disoriented with uninformed, abrupt lifestyle changes we may want to pull out quickly/fearfully. Approach this lifestyle or any endeavor with knowledge, even expert assistance. The second way to start a living food program is to slowly incorporate more raw food into your diet. As you gradually increase the good food, your body's natural awareness will grow. When transitioning to an all living food diet in this manner the process is subtler. Changes in the body will be noticed but not all at once, or overnight. It can be like refurbishing your living room. The old furniture must be removed before new can be added. This can be done all at once or one piece at a time until you have a whole new living room to enjoy. The body discards toxic matter and through the ingestion of premium nutrients derived from 'raw', rebuilds anew. When high quality organic food is consumed with regularity, the body will change more rapidly. Infrequent consumption of high quality organic food makes for gradual changes. It is all about allowing the body to do the best it can with what it is given. The body's innate intelligence will determine its own course of action. The body will never hurt itself, it wants to live too! Your own will power, stamina, emotion, mental status, lifestyle and environment will help determine which route to take. Both are fine. The way you adopt the raw, living foods lifestyle is completely up to you. If you wander off the path just remember, you can always get back on. No need to stress out if you do not follow through perfectly. Soon the food addictions will fall away quite naturally and forcing change will be an issue of the past. It will become second nature, that is how nature works!