Frederic Patenaude Raw Foods Diet

I’ve received a few more questions about raw foods and health, since I started answering your questions in the last two ezines. I’m continuing today, although I cannot answer all the questions I’ve received.

To read my new book, “The Raw Vegan Coach”, which contains over 144 Questions and Answers on the raw food diet, make sure you take a look at my Raw Health Starter Kit at: http://www.fredericpatenaude.com/starterkit.html

Question About Gaining Weight

I am raw for two years now. and at first I lost lots of weight which I have been working to put back on at-least some of it. In the mean time I noticed my muscles are now not as toned. I eat lots of fruit smoothies and lots of greens. I am not sure as I have tried different ways of being raw. but am uncertain if I am doing the right thing to keep muscle tone and to manage firm non-sagging skin. Any suggestions on keeping the skin toned would be helpful.

I am male 6′1 and weigh 145. I have gained 18 lbs. since I lost weight last year.I typically would not like to weigh more then 148lbs. I am just uncertain which foods to eat for muscle, therefore I consistently go in and out of more fruit or more greens or more oils or more nuts. I do notice that when I have more oils and nuts that my mid section seems to get bigger. This is not the direction I would like to take, as I enjoy having a strong ab section and a small waist which I am having problems maintaining.

thank you so much for the support,
Quinn

ANSWER: At your weight and height you’re at a very lean weight, but you’re still within the normal ranges of BMI. In fact, you’re probably at a very enviable body fat so your focus should really be to gain some lean muscle. I would not try to gain “weight” per say, but focus on better muscle tone. For all guys I suggest to do the pushup challenge, and also the “chinup challenge”, which are programs you can find on the Internet to work up to 100 pushups in a row and 20 chinups. That’s a good place to start but ultimately you want to also lift some heavy weight to build some mass, and at the same time you must consume enough calories to allow for growth, which I would guess for you would be at least 3000. You should be eating the predominant amount of calories from fruits and include 1-2 lbs or greens a day to aid in growing healthy muscle.

Garlic and Health

How does raw garlic and and onion affect your health negatively? I have only read rave reviews about the use of both but garlic especially.

ANSWER: Garlic is a natural antibiotic. Some people see that as a positive but I see it also as a negative. Do you want to ingest foods or drugs? Too much raw garlic can have a negative impact on your gut bacteria. Anti-bacterials don’t necessarily kill “bad” bacteria and leave the “good”. So you want to be careful with this. Don’t eat raw garlic just because you think you need to. Garlic also has strong oils that are eliminated through every pore of the body. Not to speak of the bad garlic breath… yuck! The next day most people smell of garlic which clearly the body is trying to get rid of. I’m not opposed to using a bit of garlic once in a while, but you will find if you eat raw long enough that after a while you will find it more offensive than attractive.

DHA and Hemp Oil

I am 66 yrs old, have been vegan 100% raw then high raw for 15 years. In a recent newsletter about vision I was told I should have two portions a week of oily fish to get DHA, to prevent age-related macular degeneration, or a portion of nuts a day. Influenced by what Fred says about low fat diet, I have cut out nuts, avocados etc. I have two dessertspoons of hemp oil a day in a dressing, although I know that Fred frowns on this. But this is supposed to give me all the omegas in the correct proportions, though not DHA but precursors that my body will convert into DHA. Can you shed any light on this, can plant sources and hemp oil replace fish, can you recommend what plant sources of omega threes and in what quantity will be adequate, e.g. how much hemp oil per day? What other sources and quantities. Thanks, Radha

ANSWER: There’s a bit of a debate on this issue. The two essential fatty acids we need are linoleic acid (LA), which is an omega 6 fatty acid, and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) which is an omega 3 fatty acid.

The ideal ratio is supposed to be 3:1, but most diets are too heavy in LA (omega 6) and low in ALA (omega 3).

We know that ALA is a precursor to longer-chain omega 3 fatty acids such as the famous DHA.

We also know that people can get this DHA directly from oily fish and fish oil supplements.

The debate is whether everybody actually converts ALA to these longer chain omega-3 that we need. It’s been claimed that in some people this conversion is not done very well, so that’s why the fish oils have been recommended.

For the vegan and raw foodist, the concern should be to avoid getting too many LA (omega 6) fats which are abundant in many oils that are too common in raw food dishes.

Overall it’s much more important to eliminate oils than to try to consume a lot of omega-3 sources of fat. Hemp seeds are a great source of essential fatty acids in the proper ratio, but I would highly recommend to eat them whole and ground up in salads or dressings, instead of refined in oil, so you get the full nutrition. Flax seeds are also good, as long as they are ground, although personally I don’t enjoy them very much. Hemp seeds have the best ratio though.

Don’t forget that the small amount of fat in green vegetables is also ALA, which is great! Eat your greens.

Some people who are worrying about DHA levels, especially elderly people or pregnant women, often supplement with a vegan, algae-derived form of DHA that is now sold by a few vegan doctors. I cannot say for sure that it works but it’s worth considering in those situations.

Teeccino!

Can the suggested use of Teechino be a permanent replacement for coffee
or is it just utilized short term to ween us off coffee?

ANSWER: I’m a big fan of Teeccino because it got me off coffee, but I don’t drink it all the time. I don’t see any problems with drinking it though, and now the company that makes it has many different options for caffeine drinks. My advice: just get off the caffeine!

Canker Sores and Fruit

I love the concept of a low fat high fruit diet. I was wondering if anybody else gets canker sores from too much fruit and how do you get rid of them? I don’t want to stop eating this way but I cannot take these cankers sores! Any help is appreciated.

ANSWER: I suggest peeling your fruits and cutting them in advance before eating them, instead of taking oranges or other acid fruits and eating them whole and touching the peel with your lips.

What Is Gourmet Raw Foods?

Hello, Frederic! Thank you for creating such a informative website. I am a beginner raw-foodist in Japan. Here in Japan, raw food is getting rapidly popular. Unfortunately there is not enough information translated into Japanese. So, people who want to eat raw foods are struggling to know what is right or not. Even new business of Raw Food is starting, which does not very consider people’s health. They rather consider about Money, of course. You mentioned that “Gourmet raw food” is not healthy. What do you exactly mean for “Gourmet raw food”? I myself write a blog about raw food aiming to introduce the healthy good raw food for Japanese people. I’d like to know what kind of raw food is good and what is not so healthy.

ANSWER: A young lady just translated my book Raw Secrets into Mandarin Chinese, and it will be published next month. You are welcome to translate our material and get in touch with us for promoting our resources in Japan.

My definition of gourmet raw food is really: high fat raw foods. Recipes made with the sole purpose of tasting good, containing often a great amount of fat in the form of nuts and oils, flavored with salt and spices. What is healthy is fruits and vegetables, whole, blended, juiced or in salads are best.

I received a lot of raw food questions after my last blog post! I’m answering some more below. If you’d like to read my new book, The Raw Vegan Coach, where I answer over 147 questions on the raw food diet in-depth, make sure to order my Raw Health Starter Kit, the most complete kit of information on the raw food diet available. Get it at:

http://www.fredericpatenaude.com/starterkit.html

How to Heal Tinnitus Naturally

I have very bad ear ringing….what can I do for this??? I have been on say 70 to 80% raw foods for about 8 years, and now have been doing about 5 glasses of green and carrot juice for 53 days, hoping to help the situation, but so far its still ringing….thanks, Irena

ANSWER: Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) is a common problem in Western societies. Interestingly enough, it’s also something that can often be helped by improving your diet and lifestyle. A few years ago I met Don Bennett, author of an interesting website and blog, and a few books on the subject of raw nutrition and natural hygiene. He told the story of how he personally overcame Tinnitus with a clean raw diet. I would suggest checking out his story at: http://www.raw-food-health.net/DonBennett.html

Like I have said many times, it’s not what you eat that matters, but what you don’t eat. Your diet is only as strong as its weakest link. So in the 20 to 30% cooked that you eat, there may be many culprits that could be affecting your health negatively. The best way to clean up your diet and experience results quickly is to go on a cleanse, such as the green cleanse (http://www.fredericpatenaude.com/greenforlife.html), where you only consume raw fruits and green smoothies for at least a week, and no added fats.

You’ll want to remove all other non raw foods and complicated recipes from your diet until the ringing stops. Give your body a chance to heal before reintroducing these foods again.

Green Smoothies and Digestion

I absolutely love your approach and reading over and over your comments and books. I love fruit and my consumption of it keeps me very regular. I have found that when I eat more leafy greens I experience difficulty with bowel function. To combat that and keep the greens, I have been consuming 5-10 cups of green smoothies a day, with more fruit than greens. Question, is there enough calories for sustainability of muscle tone mass, exercise output and more with this amount of green smoothie, usually ending my dinner meal with a large salad?

ANSWER: It really depends what you put in those smoothies and how many calories you need. Supposing you need 2000 calories a day, I would suspect that you’re not consuming enough fruits. My recommendation would be to get rid of the dinner salad (you’re consuming enough greens in the form of green smoothies), and replace that with a fruit meal and see how that goes for a while. Contrary to what some raw food gurus say, it is possible to eat too many green vegetables, which in your case is upsetting your bowls.

Complicated Raw Food Recipes

The question from me:
Do you eat “complicated” raw foods, with tens of ingredients? Dehydrated or fermented?
I recently visited a raw food festival here in Europe, and had the opportunity to meet Dr. Graham, and i saw that he was not much into eating the “complex” foods (see the photos I’ve posted) but he was not against trying. I have the same approach, i try the dehydrated thing, if it is sweet it means it has some fruit in it and im fine eating it, but if it is a raw cake (nuts with dates) it makes me wonder why people eat them? When eating SAD they eat cakes because of craving something sweet, but when eating a diet predominantly on fruits why make and eat raw fat-sweet cakes? I assume its because they try to imitate the SAD diet. There are definitely no cakes growing on trees, or are there? 
Thank you for helping me, I will do the same at my time 
all the best,
Vadim

ANSWER: I almost NEVER eat gourmet raw foods. I can count on one hand the times I have eaten high-fat, raw food recipes in the last 12 months. After over 14 years of experience, I can honestly claim that the high-fat raw food diet is one of the worst diets ever designed for health. When going to a raw-food restaurant, even the smell of dehydrating nuts and onions is nauseating to me. I have absolutely no desire to eat those foods and would rather eat steamed vegetables or potatoes over high-fat raw meals any day.

I sometimes eat dried fruit when we’re traveling and nothing else can be found, but not in large quantities. I don’t liketo eat fermented foods it’s very rare that I have those.

How to Clear Your Skin on Raw Foods

Do you have any suggestions to promote clear skin? I started taking a B-Complex supplement and I started breaking out. Also, I’m almost done reading your book Raw Secrets, its brilliant, do you have any suggestions on how much fruit a day is good to support a highly active lifestyle? Thank you for sharing.

ANSWER: To talk about clear skin would be a long conversation! A first step would be to dramatically lower the fat content of your diet, but keep eating a small portion of nuts a few times a week for essential fatty acids (1 ounce is enough). I do not recommend those B-Complex supplements. You will get all of the B vitamins you need in green vegetables (except for vitamin B12- you shuold supplement for that. For the quantities of fruit, I cannot really answer that question without knowing more! Most people need at least 1500 calories a day. An active woman might need 2000 or even 2500. Assuming you get 20-30% of your calories from vegetables, non-sweet fruits and small quantities of fat, then the rest can come from fruit! For example, on a 2000 calorie diet, as much as 1600 calories could come from fruit. That’s about 16 medium bananas — to give you an idea.

Fruit and Skin Rashes

Dear Fred.
I enjoy your blog and many of your recipes. During the last few months, I have developed an allergy to fruits. I break out in a rash within 10 minutes after eating fruit. It doesn’t always happen with the same fruits and I haven’t been able to pin it down. I thought it might be a pesticide on the fruits, but it happened one time with organic fruits. Any suggestions. Benedril helps, but I hate to take it. Thank you for your comments.
Noreen

ANSWER: It really depends what fruit. Since you did not give any details on which fruits are causing problems I can only give you this information. The most common fruit that causes rashes is mangoes, because the fruit is related to poison oak, but this is most often IN the mouth, not on the skin. The oil that causes the rash is located in the peel, and can affect the mouth, eyes and cheeks and even other body parts in some people. Be careful when eating mangoes to not touch the peel (if you’re sensitive). Carefully peel them and leave a generous amount of fruit close to the peel.

Other than that, I would suggest going on a fast because your body is obviously reacting negatively to what you’re eating and this is something that you developed which is a sign of body toxicity.

Fruit Sugar and Weight Gain

Your reply dealing with “fruit and sugar” interests me. Not so long ago another health source ‘Dr Mercola’ gave advice about fructose and weight gain. He suggested limiting fructose intake eg from fuit to (if I remember correctly) about 20 grams per day otherwise there would be continuous weight gain. I checked (from tables in his email) and my intake from fresh fruit is about 35 grams daily. But my weight is stable, and has been for some years. And I wondered whether fructose was the only culprit causing the weight gain.
But now – from reading your article – my thought is that as we also eat an almost fat free diet, that low fat might be the counter against the fructose.
Do you think that that thought is correct?

ANSWER: I do not agree with what most of Dr. Mercola has to say about health, and especially diet. All the research done on fructose was done with high-fructose corn syrup. No research has ever proven that eating fruit is bad for health. In fact, all the research published demonstrates otherwise.

Fruit is not just fructose but a combination of sugars. For example, bananas has a one-to-one fructose to glucose ratio.
Keep in mind however that fruit is a highly nutritious food. It is quite possible to gain weight eating fruit because it is rich in carbohydrates. If you consume more calories than you eat, you will gain weight. If someone wishes to drop a few pounds, watch out for fruit consumption and try to make smoothies containing somewhat more greens, and also eat more of the fruits with moderate sugar content, such as apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, cherries, berries — and reduce the high-sugar tropical fruits such as bananas and mangoes.

Coffee and Cooked Food Cravings

I have a question about coffee. When I first went raw (80-90 %), I lost all interest in coffee. I did drink white tea in the morning and this seemed to be just fine. Lately coffee has started tasting good to me again so I’ve been drinking some (most days I’m sorry to say). I am also noticing a desire for cooked food more then I did in the past (had no strong cooked food-urges for the first year of my predominately raw life). Would there be any connection between coffee drinking and cooked-food urges do you think? Or is it only a coincidence?
P.S. – I also think you are one of the best, most balanced, raw foodists out there and really enjoy your work.
Pamela

ANSWER: Thanks for the compliments! For your information, white tea has the least caffeine of all the caffeinated drinks, containing even less than green tea. It’s possible that you’re feeling  an emotional connection between coffee drinking and foods you liked in the past. I would recommend switching back to white tea and get some of the great Teeccino products to get rid of the coffee, but enjoy a tasty, caffeine-free alternative. Coffee is not a health food and should not be consumed often, let alone daily due to it’s stimulant and addictive nature.

Should We Avoid Fresh Herbs Like Basil?

Hi Fred,
Could you explain more in depth why herbs and spices should be avoided, such as basil and dill? I read your book but the information provided didn’t go into detail on the subject.
Thanks!
PS: I don’t like the taste of herbs+spices anyway

ANSWER: There’s no need to avoid herbs such as basil and dill unless you do not enjoy them. My point was more about strong spices such as raw garlic and onions, that can negatively affect your health. All strong herbs have some degree of toxicity to them, but it could not affect your health in the quantities consumed. Nobody makes a salad out of basil and dill! So enjoy them to flavor your dressings and salads, in small quantities and fresh if possible!

I’m in Montreal, preparing for my trip around the world that starts in just one week, that will take my wife and from Europe, through Asia and Pacific… with stops in several key cities where we will be meeting with raw-food enthusiasts and sharing the word about health.

In all the excitement, I haven’t been writing on my blog as much, but today I decided to make it up to you by answering your questions about health and raw foods.

If you have a question to ask, make sure you let me know. You can comment on this article at:

Grains and Honey

Frederic, what about grains and honey?

ANSWER: As I’ve explained in my book the Raw Secrets, fruit, vegetables and roots are superior to grains in many ways. Most fruits and vegetables (including roots like carrots or sweet potatoes) are alkaline-forming, while most grains are acid-forming. There is also a growing concern with gluten-containing grains, as a good portion of the population is either intolerant or sensitive (often without even knowing it). If grains are consumed, better to choose gluten-free grains such as amaranth, rice, buckwheat, and quinoa, if you choose to have any grains at all.

I’m especially against the sprouted-grain craze. Raw starch in those grains is particularly indigestible. This is one special case where it would be better to cook your food than eat it raw. In any case, fruit is superior to grains.

About honey: I’m not a big fan of honey, but occasionally (usually less than once a month) I might use some in a recipe, and rarely more than 1 tablespoon. Honey is quite acidic, and the sugars are too concentrated for regular consumption. I also do not subscribe to the concept of using honey as a medicine. Some people put honey on their teeth to heal them, which is complete insanity since the sugar will only feed the bacteria and cause even more decay, in spite of the mild anti-microbial properties of some honey. Honey is also often used to treat colds and sore throat, but it should be viewed as a remedy that masks symptoms rather than something that actually goes at the root of the problem.

Are You 100% Raw?

I enjoy your presentation and believe you are the most open and balanced of the raw food folks out there. You speak from
hard experience, which I appreciate. Are you 100% raw? If so, How long have you been 100%? Do you eat any “SAD” at all,
at social functions, etc.? If not, how do you respond when asked, while not wanting to “up the ante”? Sometimes people
still take offense at my politest, “it doesn’t work for me.” A lot of raw food folks I’ve met become zealots, are rigid,
and look joyless and unhappy. What do you attribute this to? Do you think some people substitute a raw food program for
an emotional void in their lives? I find that raw foods are no substitute for the emotional work I need to do, yet it
gives me the energy in which to pursue the work, if that makes any sense. thanks again. Dave Meeks

ANSWER: Thank you Dave! I’ve been following a raw-food program since 1996. I have been 100% raw at times — the longest period was 3-4 years. I eat mostly fruits and vegetables, but not always 100% raw. I avoid all animal products, and aim at following a strict low-fat diet, with no added oil. I might add foods such as steamed vegetables, potatoes and brown rice to my diet — more or less depending on the period of the year or whether I’m traveling or not. I always find something to eat at a restaurant or social function and never feel it’s necessary to eat SAD! Socially, the best approach is to be non confrontational. Interested people will come to you and ask questions. Stay cool and don’t be a food nazi! But also promote the right message or demystify some myths when it’s appropriate.

Some raw food people are indeed very uptight, but keep in mind the saying that “There’s nothing like the zeal of the newly converted”. When I first became a vegetarian at 18, I wanted to convert everybody!

Raw foods or any diet are not a magic potion. They will not change your personality fundamentally, or replace psychological growth and maturity.

The Perfect Stimulant

Just watched your videos on YouTube. As usual, your answers were simple and clear. I have dubbed you “Common Sense Fred” and share your info with anyone who will listen. Thanks for using your mind on behalf of all of us for better health. I do want to say that agreeing that “coffee is a stimulant” in your video will tend to support, for many people, their reason for drinking coffee in the morning – they think it is the only effective way to have a bowel movement.
I drink two tall glasses of room temperature water every morning and it works beautifully – no need for ’stimulants.’ I’ve been about 80% raw now for almost a year and look and feel great – finally reached a natural weight at age 60! Again, thank you for all you do.

ANSWER: Way to go! Water with lime is a great “stimulant”

Blood Pressure Changes

I appreciate your video responding to hate-mail, especially what you said about sugar and cancer, and that the real thing to avoid is high blood sugar. Once I caught on to the concept of low fat, high fruit diet, and adhered to it, my blood sugar went from averaging between 110-140 to an average of 85-90. I know this is because my cells are
getting most of it, and it shows in my musculature. Thank you for promoting the truth.

Fruit and Sugar

Do cancer cells thrive in a more high fruit environment? Hippocrates Institute does not advocate high fruit

ANSWER: There’s no such thing as a “high-fruit environment”. What matters is your blood sugar, and level of antioxidants. A constantly elevated blood sugar may be a risk factor for cancer. However, eating a lot of fruit does not necessarily cause high-blood sugar. What matters is insulin sensitivity, which is mainly affected by your fitness levels (get your exercise!), body fat (lose that tire!), and most importantly, the fat content in your diet. A low fat diet has positive effects on insulin sensitivity, and it’s very important to lower the fat content in the diet so that healthy foods like fruit don’t affect your blood sugar.

By Veronica Grace Patenaude

Depending where you live, you might be more or less able to continue your raw eating habits when dining out with friends and family.

Just because you are a raw-foodist, it does not mean that you have to eat all of your meals alone or at home (unless you want to of course).  Some people in your life might even be put off with the fact that you no longer socialize the way they do.  Although you are living a healthier (and hopefully happier) life than some of your friends with unhealthy eating habits, there’s no reason to make an outcast of yourself.

Many times your friends and family just don’t understand, they think it’s too hard to stop eating the foods they grew up with and have come to love.  They think what you are doing is hard work, unsatisfying, isolating etc.

Well, why not show them they are wrong?  You’re still the same person, you just have a more informed view on food and health.  So find a compromise and demystify these negative attitudes they have about raw food being “rabbit food” and “not people food.”

With vegan and vegetarian restaurants popping up all over the world, it’s no longer unheard of, and vegan diets are gaining ground.

Now you might not have access to a raw food restaurant full of imitation SAD comfort food dishes, but here are some tips on how you can still socialize and eat out once in a while.

11 Tips for Eating Raw at a Regular Restaurant

1. Call the restaurant ahead of time to see if they can accommodate any special raw meal request, many restaurants have a large supply of vegetables and in season fruits. A larger restaurant or chain might accommodate you better as small vegan restaurants often have less produce and offer primarily cooked meat replacement dishes.

2. Find a restaurant that has an all you can eat salad bar or buffet style restaurant with a salad bar.

3. Order a fresh fruit smoothie or juice to start (if available), or bring your own in a travel container.

4. Double-check everything! Let your waiter know of you dietary needs and ensure they understand what uncooked or vegan food means. Don’t trust the waiter! You have to literally double-check everything. Often many people don’t understand the term dairy means (strange I know) so you might have to be specific, milk, cream, butter, cheese etc.

For example, I was recently at a restaurant in Costa Rica with Frederic where they had a lot of vegan options. One thing we ordered was a “zucchini roll” that promised to be raw zucchini filled with guacamole and various vegetables. When the dish came out, to our surprise it was also filled with cream cheese, in addition to the guacamole! We returned it quickly and got what we wanted. But the lesson we learned is you really have to double check everything.

The cream cheese was not even mentioned on the menu!

Even if animal products are not listed in the description, they might be there anyways. So ask.

5. Ask your waiter for suggestions of salads or appetizers on the menu that can be modified. Also ask about any cold soups available that are made with raw ingredients.

6. Bring your own low fat salad dressing. Restaurant dressings are riddled with preservatives and excitotoxins.  The standard olive oil and balsamic vinegar might be OK once in a while, but know that any oil served in a clear glass container becomes rancid when exposed to light and is not very fresh.

7. Ask if the restaurant has fresh avocado or seeds for your salad, or bring your own.

8. Ask the waiter to talk to the kitchen to see what raw fruits and vegetables they have available and be creative to make a dish not on the menu. A lot of restaurants serve fruit cups for breakfast, so check if they have any left.

9. If your friends want to order an appetizer and you’d like to eat with them, bring your own raw hummus and ask the waiter to cut fresh carrot and cucumber slices for *chips* so everyone can try it.

If you’re feeling tempted by desserts at the end of your meal, bring some dates and have a few to satisfy your sweet tooth (if you haven’t eaten enough fruit before the a meal).

11. Don’t trust the waiter or restaurant host to tell you if they serve vegan food, check the actual menu. We were once traveling again in Costa Rica and decided to stop for the day at a popular hot spring resort. The day pass included a dinner buffet, so we asked the person working at the counter if they thought we could eat at the buffet and if they had vegetarian food like fruit and vegetables.

The guy told us that “No, everything has meat.” We were disappointed but decided to take a look at it anyway, and thought we could probably special-order something. To our surprise, the buffet was filled with salad, vegetables and fruit! Generally, people who are not vegans or raw-foodists have no idea what you really need. They imagine that because there is no vegan or raw “main course” that you can’t eat there. No one lives off of salad, fruit slices and potatoes right?

If you have access to a raw food restaurant, or perhaps have some friends that are interested or used to this type of fare, here are some tips for eating out at a raw food restaurant and not compromising your taste buds or digestion.

10 Tips for Eating Out at a Raw Restaurant:

1. Check out www.HappyCow.net or www.RawFoodRestaurantGuide.com for restaurants in your area

2. Look at the restaurant menu in advance (either in person or online) and analyze the menu for healthier options. Most raw restaurants base all entrees around oil and nuts and can be very hard to digest.

3. Order a fresh juice or smoothie to start (or several!).

4. Talk to the waiter to find out what dishes can be made without added oils or salt (if you’re concerned).

5. Order a salad or salad roll for an appetizer and don’t mix oils, nuts/seeds, or avocado in the same meal, choose one type of fat.

6. Try to fill up mostly on fruit and salad before ordering a tempting dinner entree.

7. Look for dishes that contain vegetables or fruits for the base of the meal instead of flax crackers or nut breads.  Or ask for a hummus or dip to come out with carrot and cucumber slices instead of the bread and crackers.

8. Plan ahead of time to use this meal as your higher fat meal to balance out your overall fat intake for the week. I.e. Try having a no fat day the day before or after this treat day.

9. Share an entree item with a friend if you just want a taste and not the whole heavy meal.

10. Ideally, say no to dessert, (or at least no to the pie crust  portion or “cheesecake”). Ask if they have raw sorbet or banana ice-cream instead for a healthier treat.

If you keep in mind your overall health goals and observe your energy and digestion after having a higher fat meal or treat you will be better in tune with your body’s needs.  Maybe you have no problem digesting raw gourmet meals, maybe only once in a while.  Try to give your body a break after these days and stick to fruit meals, juices and smoothies to get enough hydration and fiber back into your body after a dehydrated gourmet treat.

You can eat out with friends and family and have fun being social, but make sure you select food that you will be glad you ate (as a treat) and not regret afterwards.  Keep your experience positive and stick to your healthy lifestyle.

It will be worth it in the end.

Thanks for reading everyone! If you’d like to check out my new website you can view it here: www.rawveronica.com

Opening my Bag of Hatemail!

Today, I’m answering some questions received by my readers (that’s you!) in video format. If you’d like me to answer more questions, please send them over to: www.replytofred.com

To get your raw food questions answered, get your Raw Health Starter Kit…

- Frederic’s Update

-  Questions from the Readers!

- “The Fruitarian”: Most Amazing Raw Restaurant in the World!

Greetings from Costa Rica!

Today, I want to tell you about “The Fruitarian”, the most amazing restaurant in the world. But first:
Last week, I released a package called “The Raw Vegan Lifestyle Program”.
http://www.fredericpatenaude.com/enchilada.html

I also call it the “Whole Enchilada Deal” because it includes literally every paid program I have ever published on the subject of raw and living foods, spanning my 12+ years of experience in the field.

Normally enchiladas are eaten cooked, but this one is definitely raw!
If you’re tired of incomplete and conflicting information, check it out because there’s never been anything as complete ever released on the subject. Over 25 different CDs, DVDs and CD-ROMS.

But it’s not “too much information” because it all fits together in a complete system that takes you from A-to-Z in your raw food lifestyle.
http://www.fredericpatenaude.com/enchilada.html

At the moment, I’m in Costa Rica. Check out these videos I just recorded:

The Manuel Antonio Beach:

Xandari by the Pacific: Living in Costa Rica:

Esterillos Este Beach

Raw Grains, Bad Digestion

I am getting your emails that I must have subscribed to and forgot, and I am enjoying them. I just wanted to ask about sprouted grains and where you think that fits into a raw vegan diet. My husband and I have been trying to go raw. We tried to go from a pretty healthy vegan diet to raw cold turkey. We lasted two weeks and gave up. Now we are doing well with 75% raw. However, i’m concerned about gas. I started to have gas that felt like it was stuck in my esophagus while we were 100% raw. I couldn’t breathe well at times and felt like I had a pile of apples stuck in my throat, and I was cold. after going back to some cooked food it moved to my intestines. Sometimes it’s so painful I can’t move. I don’t feel very good after eating cooked food and I find myself actually craving fruit almost all the time and salad has been a turn off. I know I am eating too much fat, but it feels weird to eat just fruit or to shop that way for my family (husband and two small children). If I give into my cravings for just fruit all the time, do you think i’ll have less gas problems?

ANSWER

In my opinion, raw sprouted grains don’t have much of a place in a raw vegan diet. The large quantities of raw starch they contain are pretty much indigestible. This is one type of food that would be better to cook rather than eat raw, if it is consumed at all. But you should know that most people are gluten sensitive or even allergic to gluen. (The protein found in almost all grains except rice) Gluten is even a major trigger for asthma and other allergies. As for your fruit cravings, you would be better off following them! It’s okay not to eat much salad in the first few months. After, you’ll find yourself craving greens naturally, but try forgoing the fatty oil or avocado dressings and whip up some zesty no fat dressings with fruits, veggies and herbs. Eating mostly fruit leads to the best digestion. Whenever people have problem with fruit, it’s usually something else they are eating that miscombines, not the fruit itself. You only get gas when you have new food fermenting on top of old partially digested food in your intestines.  Chances are it’s something heavy like the cooked foods and fats that are giving you problems.  Try eating only fruit for a day or two and I’m sure you’ll feel much better.

Eating Raw in Japan

hi i am organic rawfood Japanese girl…. i am 23 years old..i want to rawfood diet more and more.. so i ate only fruits for a month.. next now i eat only greens. no fruits. so, i eat 2 or 3 avocados and many cucumber and tomato, greens and alfalfa spurouts a day.. but i feel my stomach heavy….and yesterday i watched your site…. you say dont tooo fat… my rawfood mane is not so good? and you dont think food combine… For example banana and acid fruits….. what rawfood menu do you eat eveyday??please answer!!!

ANSWER

It seems that you’re doing a program without any direction or guiding principles. One month fruit, one month vegetables. That is not sustainable at all. 2-3 avocados a day (for a girl), will definitely put you in the very high fat category. I suggest that you first read my book “The Raw Secrets”.

My typical menu is:

Breakfast: fruit meal or smothie
Lunch: Another large fruit meal
Snack: Fruit
Dinner: Raw vegetable soup (such as Veggie Stew) + salad meal + any other extras.

Don’t try to live on only vegetables and avocados.  It’s not sustainable and your body is needs carbohydrates to function not excessive fats.

Eating Local or Imported?

hi, i come from an ‘in season & local’ background. I live in Boston where there are not a lot of fresh fruit choices in the winter…unless they are trucked up from Florida. no pineapple trees grow in Boston, nor oranges, mangos, papaya, grapefruit,bananas etc. I have my doubts that eating these items in winter is a good idea. Can’t help but notice that Fred has relocated to Costa Rica. Hippocrates Health Institute used to located in Boston. Where did they move with their raw sprout diet? Florida. I would like to hear Fred’s explanation for my concerns. Maybe i am missing something but this diet sounds dangerous. I do eat a lot of raw foods but scale back the % in winter to 50-60%, thanks, Tom

ANSWER

The concept of eating “in season and local” is flawed to begin with. First of all, if you do it for an environmental reason, you should know that transportation costs amount to less than 10% of the energy used in the production of food. From that point of view, it’s much better to eat imported New Zealand apples in the middle of the summer, rather than consuming “local” apples from last crop that have been kept refrigerated for months at a time that they sell year round at the store.

I believe we should eat foods we’re biologically designed to eat. If those foods are not available in your area, then you will have to eat imported foods such as tropical fruits. Just because you live in Boston does not mean you are biologically designed to eat differently than if you live somewhere tropical. All herbivores eat the biologically similar foods, so do frugivores like bonobos.

I do live in Costa Rica at the moment, but I grew up in Canada, and ate a raw-food diet for many years in the North. The only way I could do it was to eat imported foods and buy in bulk when i can to save money.

There is no reason whatsoever to think that these foods would be bad for your health, just because they are imported. Transportation nowadays is so efficient, that often the foods we get up north are just as fresh as the ones sold in the tropics. Even here in Costa Rica, bananas are not left to ripen on the plant. Otherwise they’d be taken over by bugs, birds and monkeys. They are shipped unripe after they’ve been picked and then ripen at home on your countertop.

- Frederic’s Update

- Tips for the cold weather

-  Questions from the Readers!

- Can the iPhone Help You Succeed With Your Health Program?

Right now I’m here in Costa Rica, where I am relocating for the next 6 months with my fiancée, enjoying the tropical air.

After many years of spending most of my time in cold climates, with a few months a year, I found that I enjoy the “tropical lifestyle” so much that I could not enjoy living in Canada for most of the year.

For me, the tropical lifestyle means being able to walk around in comfortable clothes and short-sleeved shirts, leave the windows wide open day and night, enjoy warm tropical air, enjoy the sunshine and bright days (even when it’s gray, it’s still brighter than up north), and being able to go to the beach and travel around the country as a tourist, while living there as well.

It used to be that I could see myself living in Canada 6-8 months a year and in the tropics the rest of the time. But now, I don’t even enjoy the month of May in Canada. Too cold and rainy. Same for October!

If your dream is to live the tropical lifestyle, I really encourage you to make it happen, but one step at a time, like I did. That avoids a lot of disappointments. If you’re interested in this topic, I highly recommend my course “How to Move to a Tropical Paradise” available at:

www.fredericpatenaude.com/tropicalparadise.html

In December of this year, I’ll be welcoming participants of this course to a special “Day in Costa Rica with Frederic”. Wanna come? Check out:

www.fredericpatenaude.com/tropicalparadise.html

What if you’re left in the cold? Here are some tips and ideas from my Raw Vegan Mentor Club newsletter. There is WAY more in the actual newsletter, including what to do about low-body temperature. If you’re not a member, check it out here:

http://www.fredericpatenaude.com/mentorclub.html

Here are a few more tips to make the most of the winter and avoid some of the problems related to this season.

Tips for the Cold Season and the Raw Diet

•    If you can, get some sunshine, first thing in the morning, even if it’s just stepping outside and getting a bit of sunshine on your hands and eyelids. This will help tremendously to keep your mood up during the cold season.

•    Get some full-spectrum light bulbs. They make a big difference, especially when you’re working on the computer or reading. These types of light bulbs can be ordered online.

•    If possible, take a vacation south so you can get necessary sun and vitamin D!

•    Grow your own sprouts and indoor greens, to get some super-fresh vegetables to add to salads.

•    Make raw warm soups in the vita-mix. Warm them up in the dehydrator, if necessary. As a compromise, you can steam some vegetables and blend them in the vita-mix with some of the cooking water for a delicious, salt-free soup.

•    Exercise! Remember exercise is the best thing to keep your mood up and your health during the winter.

•    Help your body increase it’s resistance to cold by letting it regulate it’s temperature more naturally.  Don’t immerse yourself 24/7 in the same hot environment at work and at home while wearing multiple sweaters.  Your body will not learn to adapt and raise and lower your body temperature when necessary in the different seasons. Wear lighter clothing if in extremely warm buildings, but bundle up when going outside. Your body can adapt just like outdoor animals can in the different seasons if you help it.

“Who Else Wants to Watch Professional DVDs and Become Confident in the Kitchen With the Most Amazing, Simple and Delicious Low Fat Raw Recipes Ever?”

Four Pounds of Fruit a Day

You suggest to eat 4 pounds of fruits a day. How do I weigh the oranges and grapefruits ? with the skin or without a skin? Some big oranges and grapefruits are heavy course of very thick skin. How would I do it?

ANSWER: The suggestion of 4 pounds a day is a STRICT minimum to get started on the raw-food diet, but nowhere near the amounts necessary for optimal health for most people. The amount is with peels. It’s far better to measure food consumption by calories, because some fruits have much more calories per serving than others. The idea is to get most of your calories from fruit.

–

Traveling in the Raw! Family-Friendly Raw Destinations

Hello! You have clearly had a lot of experience travelling and raw-food-ing, could you possibly tell me where the best holiday destinations with the most fruit are that are also family friendly? (I am from New Zealand – so even seemingly ‘obvious’ destinations (ie California??) would be very helpful!). Thank you so much! P.S. Thank you for all your info/books etc! Without them I would still be eating a not-quite-so-SAD diet, but not 100% raw!

ANSWER:  Here are some of my favorite holiday destinations where you can find the most fruit and that are family-friendly, with average cost of living.

California: Great for the health food and raw scene. Car rental is usually a must to get around because of the large distances. Lots of raw restaurants and the best well-stocked health food stores. Hotel room prices start at $100-130 for a decent room. Food costs are average for first word countries. Must visit if you’re into raw-foods!

Hawaii: Great place to visit and easy to get around. Some raw restaurants and good fruits at the farmer’s markets and some good health food stores! Hotel room prices for a decent room are above $150. Food costs are higher than mainland USA.

Thailand: The ultimate place for fruit. Very safe and children-friendly. Cheap accommodations and good rooms for families can be found at around $50, with other more comfortable, higher-end options at prices far below North American (ultra-cheap but clean rooms are also available in the $10-20 range). Food costs are ultra cheap too.

Bali: My favorite island and still magical in spite of the tourism. Super children-friendly. Prices only slightly above Thailand, but very affordable.

Costa Rica: Where I choose to live most of the year. Great for families and nature lovers. Lots of Bed and Breakfast types of room (where a fruit breakfast can usually be served — just ask). Lots of fruit if you can drive to the farmer’s market. A good idea to rent a car or at least a driver to see more of the country and be able to get fruit. I love the Southern Area (San Isidro + Dominical, Uvita). Families can rent a room for around $75-100 or less in most areas, but less expensive options are also available.

If other readers have some more ideas, please feel free to comment!

–

Raw Food Videos

I was able to access the videos on the Raw Food Mentor Club website this morning. Thank you so much for including videos on this website. The information you are providing is helping me to deepen my commitment to the Low Fat Raw Food Program. I really appreicate all of your sincere efforts on behalf of all of us. Caron

NOTE: The raw food videos are a new feature of the Raw Vegan Mentor Club. Not a member? Find out more at www.fredericpatenaude.com/mentorclub.html

–

Sun Tea

Hello Frederic, I was wondering if Sun Tea (which is made by putting a tea bag in a jug of water, then letting it set in the sun for a few hours) would be an acceptable beverage for somebody who wants to adapt a raw food diet. At least in my part of the world, the temperature of the water would never exceed 115 degrees Fahrenheit, and the tea leaves are dried, so I don’t see any cooked element in it. Of course, there is some caffeine in some teas — but you could also make it from a herbal “tea” with no caffeine. I’d be extremely interested in hearing your opinion on this in an upcoming blog post. Best regards, Tom

ANSWER: I don’t see anything majorly wrong with that. I personally avoid all forms of caffeine and would recommend to do the same for optimal health.Your health is your own, so if you choose to include some sun tea in your diet for your enjoyment, then so be it.

I’m here in Calgary, home of the Calgary Stampede and nicknamed “Cow Town”. Funny thing though, no one is eating like a cow here…

I went to a local vegetarian restaurant for their weekly featured “raw dinner” and what I got was a gourmet meal high in fat, loaded with salt and you guessed it… low in fruit. Typical of most raw restaurants, unfortunately…

I went home starving after this meal, even though it had a lot of calories! I was still unsatisfied.

Has the same ever happened to you? Do you  wonder how this supposedly healthy raw diet can be so unsatisfying at times?

Tomorrow is my talk “High Fruit or High Fat?” – If you’re in the Calgary area, don’t miss it! You can RSVP at www.awesomerawsome.com or check out the flyer at http://www.fredericpatenaude.com/blog/?p=260 for more details.

If you can’t wait to get started, check out my Raw Health Starter Kit, the best way to succeed on the raw food diet without making the common mistakes that can potentially hurt your health. Get the details along with a special bonus we will no longer be offering soon:

http://www.fredericpatenaude.com/starterkit.html

Today I’m answering your questions! Please feel free to comment below.

Frederic

PS: The highlight of the weekend was a visit to the wonderful city of Banff. A true postcard from any angle… Check out pictures on my Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/frederic.patenaude, I will accept your friendship

———————————————————-

“How I Beat My Salt and Dinnertime Cravings”

Do you find it easy to eat raw during the daytime, but find that when dinner comes, you’re tired of just eating fruit and you’re craving something more substantial and savory?

If you do, you’re not alone!

For those of you who still crave savory things and cooked food at dinner time, you’ll love Roger Haeske’s new program on Veggie Stews.

It worked for me, and it will probably work for you! Check it out here. It might still be available at a discount price:

http://tinyurl.com/mjq7r4

——————————————————-

***************************************************
Questions from the Readers (That’s You!)
***************************************************

What Raw Foods Should We Avoid?

I love your website and your videos. I have not seen any reference to raw eggplant: Some websites say it is edible while others say it is not. What is your opinion? Are there other veggies or fruits that should not be eaten raw? Thank you for your time.

ANSWER:

Rather than making up rules about what can and cannot be eaten raw, I’d rather have you trust your taste buds. I don’t see anything wrong with raw eggplant, except for the fact that it’s not very tasty. In the past I have marinated it for some recipes, but I don’t think I’ve eaten raw eggplant in the past 5 or 6 years!

A few comments about some fruits and vegetables:

Raw legumes (even soaked or sprouted) should be avoided due to the toxic enzyme inhibitors found in them, as well as high quantities of raw starch. Beans should never be eaten raw.

Potatoes and other very starchy vegetables should also never be eaten raw.

Buckwheat greens should be avoided in large quantities due to a substance contained in them called fagopyrin, which can cause hypersensitivity to sunlight.

Rhubarb is a vegetable to avoid because of the high concentration of oxalic acid.

I recommend moderation with any strong or bitter-tasting green such as dandelion, watercress, culinary herbs, etc.

Here are other foods that are not lethal or toxic but can be considered “borderline” but might be used as a seasoning

•    Garlic: due to the Allyl methyl sulfide produced from the digestion of garlic and the way it is exuded from the skin pores, causing bad breath and smell, I personally prefer to avoid it!

•    Onion  family: quite strong and best used in moderation, or oxidized by chopping them in a food processor and leaving at room temperature for a few minutes for the strong oil to partly evaporate.

•    Hot Peppers: The substance that causes the heat sensation in hot peppers is called “capsaicin.” It binds with pain receptors that are responsible for sensing heat. So it “tricks” the brain into thinking that it’s sensing heat or pain. The physiological response is the same as when an actual burn has occurred, even though the tissues have not been harmed. Heart rate is raised and perspiration is increased, with the release of endorphins. Hot peppers are a stimulant. Knowing that, I still personally enjoy a little “heat” sometimes.

•    Mushrooms: Many types of mushrooms are toxic. The cultivated varieties are relatively safe but I wouldn’t class them in the same category as fruits and vegetables. I rarely enjoy them raw but sometimes I might eat them in a recipe.

There are no reasons to avoid any common fruits sold at the supermarket.

–

Mixing Fruits With Fat

Hi Frederic! In the Raw Secrets book it states that we should not mix fruit with fat foods (nuts, seeds, oils) because the fruits may ferment since they digest quicker. So, how long should we wait after eating fat foods to eat fruits? Is two hours enough time? Thanks.

ANSWER:

For the answer to that question, please refer to my last article on food combining! http://www.fredericpatenaude.com/blog/?p=256

Hot Water

I know you believe in limiting eating/drinking ice; what about drinking boiled, hot water? Also just a question about what 100% means: is eating nori seaweed, carob, agave, dried fruits 100% raw, or just acceptable? Thanks!

ANSWER:

I have nothing against drinking hot water, if it’s to “warm you up” during the winter. You could even add a little lemon juice. Just be careful not to burn yourself! The lining of your esophagus is very delicate.

As for the other foods you mention, most likely they are not truly raw, but can still be consumed on occasion. I’m not really a big fan of seaweed for reasons mentioned elsewhere, but a little on occasion to make sushi rolls for example, is okay for me. Agave nectar is a concentrated processed sweetener that I don’t recommend either. I prefer to use sweet fruits such as mangoes, if a recipe calls for agave nectar. I might use it occasionally in a recipe if mangoes are not available…

Dried fruits should be avoided most of the time, because they are difficult to digest, tend to ferment and also can stick to the teeth and cause dental decay. However, they can be very useful in exceptional circumstances when carrying fresh fruits would be difficult. For example: traveling in the desert, hiking across a national park, visiting remote islands in the South Pacific, etc. Just make sure you increase your water intake to compensate.

Fruit Ripeness

How can you tell when a fruit is at the “ripe” point to be considered the most nutritionally nutritious (i.e., mangoes, melons, bananas, etc.) Why are mangoes so hard to cut and what is the woody part of the fruit? I have yet to buy a mango that doesn’t get wasted because you cannot cut through the woody part. They are pretty expensive for so much waste.

ANSWER:

Every fruit is different, but most fruits are ripe when soft and sweet. That is also their nutritional peak. Bananas are ripe when they start to get some brown spots (although that can be different for some exotic varieties.) Mangoes should be soft and juicy, and certainly not hard like you described. Of course, don’t eat the center seed, cut around it. There are many videos on youtube showing how to cut a mango.  Check it out.

Eating Fruit and Running

I took the giant step towards a raw lifestyle about a month ago and while I’m not 100% yet, I feel great. Leaner, cleaner and just overall better. My big concern is can a raw food diet maintain the fuel/energy requirements of an athlete. I’m a runner. I run about 30 miles a week and compete in races monthly during the race season (mostly 1/2 marathons). Because I haven’t been able to figure out the best way to carb load on a raw diet I still have my bowl of pasta the night before. I’m afraid not to. Have you already addressed this in a previous article or series? If not, I think this would be a great topic for a future one! Thank you for making raw foods look so easy and delicious! The switch can be intimidating when you don’t know what you are doing and you make it look so simple.

ANSWER:

As an amateur runner myself, let me give you some tips. I don’t run as much as you do but I have done as much as 20 miles a week.

On a low-fat, high fruit diet you’re going to have much better results with your training. First of all, you don’t need to “carb load” because fruits, unlike cooked complex carbohydrates, are easily digested and provide quick energy.

The problem with most runners is they don’t eat enough simple carbohydrates, which is what the body really needs when you’re running.

The most important thing is to get enough calories and carbs overall. As a runner you’ll probably need to eat at least 3000 calories a day. That’s about 30 bananas, or less if you add in some vegetables and other varieties of fruit.

When I run longer than 90 minutes, I take some fruit with me, usually blended, seedless watermelon or a smoothie made with water, bananas and celery, and drink that every 15 minutes.

You don’t need to “carb load” when you’re eating enough carbs (and most runners aren’t, unfortunately).

For the best information, I recommend the book “Nutrition and Athletic Performance,” by Doug Graham, available on Amazon. It will answer all your questions and more.

South America & Candida

I wanted to recommend you go to South America! I am from Uruguay and if you can work your way around all the meat that the people eat there. You can find great organic raw foods. Also I have a question that you don’t have to respond to if you don’t want. But can you recommend me a diet to kill off my Candida issues..? Thanks and bless!

ANSWER:

There are too many countries to visit and not enough time! I have spent a month in Brazil in 2004 and really enjoyed it there. Maybe one day I’ll visit your country as well.

As for Candida, I hope that this report will help you sort it out:
www.fredericpatenaude.com/fruitreport.pdf

“How I Beat My Salt and Dinnertime Cravings” Do you find it easy to eat raw during the daytime, but find that when dinner comes, you’re tired of just eating fruit and you’re craving something more substantial and savory? If you do, you’re not alone! For those of you who still crave savory things and cooked food at dinner time, you’ll love Roger Haeske’s new program on Veggie Stews It worked for me, and it will probably work for you! Check it out here. It might still be available at a discount price: http://tinyurl.com/mjq7r4

- Frederic’s Update

-  What’s Wrong With Eggs, Glycemic Index, and more questions answered

Today I’m answering your questions on the raw food diet, and more!

If you’d like to send me a question, just go to www.replytofred.com

Better yet, come to California this summer and meet myself and my team in person. The only raw event to attend this summer is the Vibrant Living Expo, on August 21-23, in Ft. Bragg, Northern California, organized by Cherie Soria and her team. I’ve attended many raw food events for the past 10 years and this one beats them all, hands down.

I will be there giving two lectures, and with a booth where you can meet me and get to chat a bit in person. Other lecturers include:

•    Dr. Doug Graham
•    Kevin Gianni
•    Howard Lyman (the Mad Cowboy)
•    Victoras Kulvinskas
•    John Robbins (author of “Diet for a New America”)
•    Matt Monarch & Angela Stokes
•    Don Weaver
•    Brian Clement
•    And many others

Get more information and sign up at www.rawfoodchef.com.

Other News and Announcements:

- A quick reminder: my friend Roger Haeske recently released an amazing program called the Savory Veggie Stews. If you think Green Smoothies were great, wait till you try this. This recipe system enabled me to totally eliminate my dinnertime salt and cooked cravings! After the Green Smoothie Revolution, I’m sure we’ll have a Veggie Stew revolution, thanks to this great new product by Roger. It’s launch week so you’re getting a better price if you order now, plus a bunch of freebies. Check it out here:

http://tinyurl.com/mjq7r4

- Probably the best week-long raw food seminar I ever attended to was Health & Fitness Week with Dr. Doug Graham. Imagine a week of exercising several hours a day with your own world-class trainer who takes you from where you are to where you want to be, and eating gourmet, organic low-fat raw food meals, and attending great lectures and entertainment every day for a week, while making new friends.

A lot of people can’t go to these events because of the price. At $4000, it is completely worth it, but a little out of budget for most people.

In any case, Doug recently sent me this note and asked me to pass it along, which I’m happy to do. The offer may already be over but there’s no harm in asking. Just contact him at www.foodnsport.com

My events usually run full, and they are the most fun when they are full. Often, they fill up WAY in advance. Already the 2010 fasting event is almost completely filled, with interns as well as fasters. But there is one drawback to filling early. The number of people who have to cancel, for one reason or another, invariably rises when people register 6-9 months in advance.
My summer events this year are no exception. We have had cancellations, and they came late. So, I am offering one really special deal to fill those spots.
$1000 rebate, given to you at the event, to the next three people that register for H&F, based on paying full price for this event. This means that no other discounts will apply, even those offered by FoodnSport.
$1500 rebate, given to you at the event, to the next three people that register for H&F plus either of the other two Sedro Woolley seminars, based on paying full price for each of these events. This means that no other discounts will apply, even those offered by FoodnSport.
$2000 rebate, given to you at the event, to the next three people that register for H&F plus both of the other two events, based on paying full price for each of these events. This means that no other discounts will apply, even those offered by FoodnSport.
Please, tell everyone you know. Give them the chance of attending.

Dr. Doug Graham
www.foodnsport.com