- Frederic's Update

-  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.

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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!

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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

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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.

Raw Health Starter Kit The Best Value Bundle! Over $500 worth of products bundled into one, low-priced starter kit. You can get started on the raw-food diet and learn how to use it for boundless energy, detox, rejuvenation, or achieving your ideal weight. Instant Raw Sensations — sprial bound recipe book by Frederic   The Raw Secrets — fresh perspective on raw food diet by Frederic Health & Energy With Raw & Living Foods CD   How to Create Passive Income in Health CD   Starter Kit CD   Digital bonuses - and more! For More Information, Click Here!

It’s Not That Complicated

I’ve noticed lately from reading some comments left on my blog, that a lot of people are trying to make the raw food lifestyle a lot more complicated than it is.

There always has been a lot of confusion in the natural health field, as well as plenty of contradicting opinions. This is literally paralyzing many people from taking any action at all. They feel lost and don’t know what to believe anymore.

Others are turning simple recommendations and observations into dogmas, and the raw food community into a cult. They are unable to think outside of these rules and think for themselves.

Are you making it too complicated?

Are you confused by all of the different diet theories?

Let me offer you a quick guide to eating raw without the confusion and the dogma.

1)    Be Self-Motivated. The only reason why someone would take the time, energy and effort it takes to eat a raw food diet and learn how to do it right is because they should be able to gain something for themselves. If there are no benefits to be gained, then there should be no reason to do it.

That motivation is usually health-related. Either improving your health, overcoming an existing condition or avoiding illness in the future. You should be very clear what your motivations are in the first place, and avoid following someone else’s motivation.

Don’t just go raw because someone is telling you it’s the right or “cool” thing to do. Do it for your own reasons.

2) Eat fruit. Eat Vegetables. Eat little fat — The concept is very simple. The basic idea is to eat fruits and vegetables! Don’t make the raw food diet much more complicated than it is. It’s not about jars and pills and prepared meals, it’s about eating fresh produce!

Also realize that you’ll always be hungry if you try to live on raw vegetables and greens, that you’ll inevitably be drawn to junk foods. It’s just not sustainable.

The only way to make this diet work is if you get enough calories. I believe that fruit is the ideal food for human beings, and I think most of our calories should come from fruit, with minimal quantities of fat.

As far as the percentage goes, I say 10% or less. If another percentage works for you, then more power to you. But make sure you are honestly evaluating your results before coming to any conclusions.

3) Get Some Basic Nutritional Knowledge.

A lot of people are confused because they don’t really understand what fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and other nutrients really are.

They eat a large apple for breakfast and wonder why they’re hungry after 45 minutes.

Spare yourself a lot of trouble and spend a few hours to study the basics of calories and nutrition. Eventually you should be able to look at a piece of fruit or a meal and be able to evaluate on the spot how many calories it contains.

4) Do Your Tests

Every single “guru” or author in the field makes recommendations based on the diet that they’re eating or trying to eat, and what they believe is best (if they’re honest).

Each of these people took the best of the information that was available to them, tried to synthesize it in a way that made sense, and created their own program.

You should do the same. Test the theories out in your life, after you evaluate them with logic and eliminate the non-sense.

Don’t just take what I say word-for-word. Learn to think for yourself.

5) Respect your Body

I might be a big fan of mangoes, but maybe mangoes don’t agree with you. Respect your body and avoid them for the time being if they're not working for you.

It doesn’t mean that sometime in the future you might not give them another try. Maybe at that point they could agree with you.

You’re the only person who really knows your body, so don’t try to force someone else’s preferences as your own.

6) Know a Few Great Recipes

You can’t enjoy this raw food lifestyle if you don’t enjoy the food. That’s why you should know at least 5 to 7 great recipes that you really enjoy and could eat day after day.

If a recipe is NOT appealing to you, then don’t try to convince yourself that you like it. Maybe you don’t, at least for the time being!

If you’re not enjoying the foods, you’ll eventually quit. So discover some recipes that you truly enjoy, and don’t hesitate to modify existing recipes for your own tastes.

7) Don’t live with too many rules.

Eliminate the word “rule” and replace it with the word “suggestion”. For example, you might know some basic food combining “rules”. Instead of calling them rules, think of them as “suggestions for food combining”.

Simpler meals tend to digest better. But they can also be boring for some people. Certain combinations are appealing to the taste, but more difficult to digest. It’s all a compromise.

Choose what makes sense to you depending on the situation. If you find that a particular combination digests perfectly well, then go for it, even if there’s a “rule” against it.

The reverse is also true.

Keep things in perspective. Only 8% of the US population follows the basic health recommendations (No tobacco and alcohol, exercise 3 times a week, keeping a healthy weight and eating at least 5 fruits a day).

There are only actions and consequences. If a particular action always leads to negative consequences and very little to gain in exchange, then it makes sense not to repeat it.

If on the other hand, an occasional indulgence brings you certain benefits (social or personal), with minimal consequences that can be manageable, then it’s certainly something you could consider.

Only live by your own rules, not someone else’s.

7) Eat For Long-Term Pleasure

The average person only lives for short-term gratification.

For example, these Dorritos chips taste great when I put them in my mouth. I get immediate pleasure. If I’m a dumb robot, then that’s all I care about and that’s perfectly fine. Eat the Dorritos and be happy in the moment.

Smart people consider long-term consequences of their choices.

If I eat these Dorritos, they will taste great, but they will also ruin my sleep. I will wake up the next day feeling terrible. And if I keep on eating these Dorritos every night, one day I will wake up and I’ll be 40 pounds heavier, and sick.

Therefore, I’ll pass on the Dorritos, and instead eat something that might not give me that instant jolt of pleasure, but that’ll still taste great and leave me feeling much better after.

Eat foods that make you feel great. In the moment and in the long term. That’s not a rule. That’s a suggestion!

“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?”

Watch the preview YouTube Video to get a peak at what's inside this DVD series. For more information on the Low Fat Raw Vegan DVD Series, click here. On the video, click "HQ" after it has started for better quality.

To order the Low Fat Raw Vegan DVDs, click here.

 

  

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

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"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

——————————————————-

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

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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

“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?”

Watch the preview YouTube Video to get a peak at what's inside this DVD series. For more information on the Low Fat Raw Vegan DVD Series, click here. On the video, click "HQ" after it has started for better quality.

To order the Low Fat Raw Vegan DVDs, click here

Papaya Seeds

 Aren't you supposed to do things to get rid of parasites? I thought it was okay to eat things that occur in nature (such as papaya seeds) to cleanse your body of parasites, etc. So much to learn…now I'm REALLY confused….

ANSWER: The main problem and source of confusion that I see are when people are trying to use certain foods as *medicine* instead of what it should be used for: a source of nourishment.

If you make raw fruits and vegetables the main staples of your diet, you do not need to fear parasites under most circumstances. If you do this and find out you have parasites then maybe a natural or even allopathic remedy might be in order. Ask yourself though, why are you trying to medicate with food or drugs before you know there is a problem?

Would you take some aspirin every day, before you had a headache?

Would you take antibiotics every day, before you had an infection?

If not, then why do the same with foods that are clearly NOT foods but “remedies” (and often unproven ones).

Also, papaya seeds taste extremely bitter and spicy. If you enjoy eating them that way and can make an entire meal out of them, then go for it.

I know for sure that I couldn’t do that, and most other people couldn’t either.

If you want nourishment, eat the edible portion of the fruit. The rest is not meant for your consumption.

Eating 3000 Calories from Fruit

Hello. My language is not very good because I am from Poland but yes I’ll read all what did you send to me. I know that you are correct about fruits and vegetables. I was 6 years vegan now I am full raw and I see a lot positive things! I eat 2 meals per day because I know that my stomach need rest like others parts from my body. I found only one difficult thing: how to get 3000 or more calories from fruits only? I eat 7 to 10 bananas on my breakfast plus more fruits and greens then something similar 5h before I am going to sleep. I am very active I am running cycling and climbing and do a lot more exercises that why I want to know in which fruits is a lot calories!

ANSWER: To get 3000 calories a day I would personally recommend to work towards eating a 1500 calorie lunch as your main meal. Then breakfast only needs to be 500 calories and dinner could be around 1000 calories. That may seem like a lot of fruit at first, so you may want to start with 4 meals a day and then later reduce to two. The following are some high calorie fruits you could eat: mangoes, bananas, honeydew melon, figs, persimmons.

Chewing Dulse

I have some colitis and have had some bloody mucus when swallowing the juice from chewing dulse. How do I know I would be able to eat from a raw diet even if it is from juicing? Frank

ANSWER: The obvious solution is to avoid chewing dulse. Dulse contains too much salt to consume to eat as a regular food item.

Consuming Flax Seed Oil & Phyto-oestrogen

Hello I was hoping that you could forward this question to Fred. Well, I have been taking flax seed oil for some time, I am a male, and I was wondering since it is so high in phyto-estrogen, could this mess with a male’s fertility? Thanks again Best, Cedric                                

ANSWER: As you may know, I don’t recommend taking flax seed oil or ANY other type of oil for that matter as a supplement. Oil is a refined food, similar to white sugar or white flour. It’s also a highly concentrated fat. It is better to get your essential fatty acids from fruits and vegetables, and only eat limited quantities of overt fats like avocados. There could be other problems that could develop by consuming this oil regularly, such as the one you allude to. I do not think that it would be the only reason to avoid it, though.

Eating When Hungry?

U say to wait to eat till u feel hungry. It has been almost 24 hours since I last ate. I have not been hungry. Is this normal? Is it ok? Thx

ANSWER: In my book the Raw Secrets I described in detail the difference between true, genuine hunger and false, “appetite” or hunger. This was more to enable the reader to recognize these differences and be able to more accurately judge if the diet they are on is really working.

That being said, I don’t recommend waiting until you are absolutely, genuinely hungry every time before eating.

I recommend that you avoid all the foods and substances that trigger false hunger (such as salt, condiments, spices, sauces, etc.) and exercising daily to create a true demand for food. But once that’s done, eat at regular times, even if you are not ravenously hungry all the time. I find for myself that the most important thing to do to experience true hunger more often is to exercise regularly.

Fruit Addition Problem?

Hi! I have been eating mostly raw for the past several months. I fell off the wagon and started eating cooked foods. I was overeating terribly to the point of extreme discomfort. I am finally back to all raw. However, I feel I have a fruit addiction problem. I get tired if I do not consume some fruit after 3 to 4 hours. I often find myself eating when I am not hungry or after 7 pm (which I never used to do). Can you make any suggestions? I know I am eating far too much fruit and subsequently too much sugar. I am angry with myself and have great trouble controlling my desires to eat more fruit. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

ANSWER: I find it funny that you use the term “fruit addiction”. If your body demands something does that mean you are “addicted”? Are all humans “addicted” to food because they need to eat it?

I seriously doubt that you are eating too much fruit. In fact, all of those symptoms are actually most likely caused by not eating ENOUGH fruit.

Essentially, I recommend eating enough fruit at one meal so you are satisfied for several hours afterwards. Since I do not know the details of your diet it would be hard for me to make any other suggestions.

 

People Advocating No Fruit & The Glycemic Index

I think you need to address the low-glycemic movement in the raw food world. Hippocrates and Tree of Life advocate little to no fruit to improve health. Why go with more fruits when these reputable health centers say no?

ANSWER: I do not find the glycemic index to be a very useful chart overall. Essentially, to create this index they measured the “average” blood sugar response in “average” people, after eating different types of food.

The key word is “average”.

The average person does not exercise, is overweight and eats a high fat diet. So the results of the glycemic index tables will only reflect how the average person reacts to food, not necessarily how a healthy person reacts.

That being said, it’s clear that some foods produce a higher glycemic response than others. This is where the glycemic index can be useful. For example, watermelon raises blood sugar much faster than apples. So it could be your food of choice when you are exercising, or after coming back from the gym, when you need to raise your blood sugar, after depleting it through exercise.

As for the centers you mention, I could go on and on about this and explain to you in detail why. Start by reading my “Shocking Report on the Fruit Controversy” at www.fredericpatenaude.com/fruitreport.pdf

I believe that the concept of eating little to no fruit to improve your health is an aberration. Literally every single truly reputable health professional on the planet recommends fruits and vegetables for health.

The following doctors and researchers also recommend a high-carbohydrate, low fat diet, based upon thousands and thousands of scientific studies:

•    Dr. T. Colin Campbell (China Study)
•    Dr. Douglas Graham (80-10-10 Diet)
•    Dr. Joel Fuhrman (Eat To Live, also a high-fruit diet)
•    Dr. John McDougall (McDougall Program, only 7% fat)
•    Dr. Dean Ornish (Ornish Program for heart disease)
•    Dr. Neal Barnard (From Physician Committee of Responsible Medicine)
•    Dr. Alan Goldhamer (The Pleasure Trap)
•    And many others

I do not doubt that people who visit the “low-fruit” centers you recommend experience health benefits. However, it is not necessarily because they are avoiding fruit. It is because of the other healthy changes they make from their previous lifestyle.

As I have demonstrated elsewhere, a low-fruit, 100% raw diet is a very HIGH fat diet. There is no credible evidence or research that encourages such a high fat diet.

It is also not possible to design a no-fruit, low fat 100% raw food diet.

What’s Wrong With Eggs

Dear Fred. Many times I asked the same question namely about eggs consuming. This is why I still reluctant to order your books. I am looking for natural human diet. Let's ignore the controversial meat issue. But what wrong with eggs? Humans and apes always consume eggs. I am going 100% raw from the mid-August (my birthday). I desperately looking for answer. Yours faithfully. Tauy

ANSWER: It depends if you’re looking at it from an anthropological perspective or a health perspective. Some people try to guess what the ideal diet is simply by looking at what humans have eaten in the past, or what other apes eat. To me, that only tells part of the story.

The real question is:

-    Are eggs truly healthy?
-    Is there something in eggs you cannot get from fruits and vegetables?
-    Are there any concerns with eating eggs?

I can see a few things wrong with eggs. First of all, they are very high in protein, and a high-protein diet wears down the kidneys and contributes to cancer. High protein diets also are a major contributing factor in osteoporosis.

Eggs are also very rich in methionine, a sulphur-containing amino acid. That means they are very acidifying, because methionine is broken down into sulphuric acid by the body. That sulphuric acid delivers a big acid load to the body that must be neutralized by leaching precious calcium from your bones.

According the Relative Acid Load chart (also called Potential Renal Acid Load), eggs are some of the most acidifying food there is. Egg yolk is even more acidifying to the body than beef or salami. That goes for your raw eggs too.

There is also the potential of bacterial contamination with eggs. Many people have been seriously harmed by eating contaminated eggs, especially raw eggs.

Egg eaters live shorter lives. A recent study showed that men who eat more eggs live shorter lives:

Since you can get all the nutrients you need from fruits and vegetables (except for the vitamin B12 that is made in your guts. If you’re concerned, take a supplement), I see absolutely no reason to eat eggs, and many more reasons NOT to eat them.

Raw Health Starter Kit The Best Value Bundle! Over $500 worth of products bundled into one, low-priced starter kit. You can get started on the raw-food diet and learn how to use it for boundless energy, detox, rejuvenation, or achieving your ideal weight. Instant Raw Sensations — sprial bound recipe book by Frederic   The Raw Secrets — fresh perspective on raw food diet by Frederic Health & Energy With Raw & Living Foods CD   How to Create Passive Income in Health CD   Starter Kit CD   Digital bonuses - and more! For More Information, Click Here!

 

 

- Answering your questions

Raw Health Starter Kit The Best Value Bundle! Over $500 worth of products bundled into one, low-priced starter kit. You can get started on the raw-food diet and learn how to use it for boundless energy, detox, rejuvenation, or achieving your ideal weight. Instant Raw Sensations — sprial bound recipe book by Frederic   The Raw Secrets — fresh perspective on raw food diet by Frederic Health & Energy With Raw & Living Foods CD   How to Create Passive Income in Health CD   Starter Kit CD   Digital bonuses - and more! For More Information, Click Here!

- Word From The Editor
- Nature's First Law
- How Raw Science Has Evolved
- Questions and Comments from the Readers (That’s You!)

I can’t believe it when I look at what happened in the last 10 years.

I remember when I was younger, my grandmother would tell me: “life just goes by too fast”.

I never thought I would be someone who would eventually think to myself: “Wow, those last 10 years went by so fast!”

And I’m glad I don’t feel that way. Honestly, those last 10 years of my life don’t feel as if they just “went by”. They are so packed with events that it doesn’t quite seem that “yesterday, I was 22.”

When I first started on the raw food diet, it was the summer of 1996, and I was 20 years old.

I had just read a book that had completely changed my outlook on life. That book was “La Nourriture Idéale” by Albert Mosséri. This book has never been translated into English, but it roughly means “The Ideal Food” or the “Ideal Diet”.

This book contained, among other things, a word-for-word translation of the book “Raw Eating” by Hovanessian.

After reading it, I was shocked!

I instantly understood that everything I thought I knew about nutrition was possibly wrong!

The author said that eating raw foods would “cure all diseases” and that every single disease under the earth was caused by cooked food.

Albert Mosséri, however, did not believe that — as no rational person should — but he wanted to include parts of the book “Raw Eating” in his book because he thought that Raw Eating was one of the most enthusiastic, inspirational book ever written on the subject of health.

And he was right!

Mosséri himself recommended a diet composed of mostly fruits, raw vegetables, and some steamed vegetables and very small amounts of nuts and avocados.

So in a sense, it was a low-fat raw food diet, although not completely raw.

After reading that book, I immediately started following this Natural Hygienic diet, and reading everything I could on the subject (including the 20+ books that Mosséri had written).

I corresponded with Mosséri, and have maintained contact over the last 12 years. In 2005, Mosséri gave me permission to translate all of his books and reprint them. I have so far only translated some of his works, which I published in my book - The Raw Secrets.

Eating a mostly raw diet, alone in the heart of the Canadian winter, at 20 years old, living with my parents and going to school… was not an easy thing.

Even though Mosséri had given me great information to follow, I was still confused about a lot of elements of this diet/lifestyle.

Nature’s First Law

Eventually, in the summer of 1997, I discovered a strange website by three naked guys in avocado trees. They had published a book called “Nature’s First Law: the Raw Food Diet”, which I immediately ordered.

I wrote to Nature’s First Law, with a good, old fashioned hand-written letter that I dropped at the post office, and surprisingly got an answer back from David Wolfe himself.

I had offered to translate his book into French, and he invited me to come visit him in San Diego to talk about it. This led me to spend almost three years in Southern California. The year was 1997.

Although the project of translating Nature’s First Law into French never realized, I eventually started working with their company, and then went on to publish my own newsletter “Just Eat An Apple”, which is how I first got involved and known in the raw food movement.

My First Experience Versus My Second Experience

Going back to my story, when I first went raw, I did it the “traditional” way, which is: I ate a lot of fruit and vegetables.

I didn’t know about smoothies (unfortunately), or raw food recipes (fortunately!), so I just bought as many fruits and vegetables I could carry on my bike every day, and ate them simply and in few combinations.

I would ride miles and miles on my bike every day to get from one supermarket to the next, in order to find the best produce.

One store had papayas — a tropical fruit I had never tried before — so I was excited! Another had ripe avocados. And yet another store had dried figs.

It was my final year in music school, and I had decided to move to Southern California as soon as the summer was over and I could save enough money to leave.
When I left in November, 1997, I already had over one year of Natural Hygiene under my belt, and almost 5 months on a 100% raw food diet.

I was feeling pretty good!

At the time, Greyhound had a special on bus fares. You could go anywhere in North America for the same low price of $80.

So I paid $80 for a one-way ticket to San Diego, the farthest place I could go except Alaska!

It was a three-day trip, and the only thing I ate during the trip was apples and dates. I brought with me a giant bag of apples, along with some dates.

When I arrived to California, I felt pretty good, in spite of the long journey.

The first day I arrived, I spent the day at the beach with a few raw-foodists I had met: Don the “Raw Guy”, R.C. Dini (the Raw Courage Vegetable Guy) and Heidi.

When I arrived at Don’s house, RC showed up with a giant bowl of garlic-flavored guacamole, and invited me to dig in.

I was hesitating because my Natural Hygiene background led me to believe that raw garlic was not a good thing (and in fact, I was right…).

But I thought, “What the hell,” and enjoyed the meal, which was followed by more “combo-abombos” or “combinations-abominations” as RC affectionately called his raw-food recipes.

I remember how Don Meritski looked me in the eyes and said: “Dude, you’re going to eat SO much food while you’re in California, you’re not gonna believe it!”

And indeed, he was right…

In 1996, I started out with a pure, natural hygiene perspective.

Then in California, I was confronted with the greatest and coolest raw food movement on the planet, and discovered gourmet raw food recipes I never though I could eat before.

Over the course of the next two years… I lost pretty much all of the health benefits I had gained over my first year on the program.

I was eating several avocados a day, because they were free, often “harvested” from local trees in the neighborhood. I was eating a ton of nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and combo-abombos.

The general rule I got from the raw-foodists was: Eat anything you like. If it’s raw, it’s cool!

After a little over a year on that program, I was already sick.

After two years, I had less energy than I ever had in my life, and I was starting to develop more serious problems such as cavities and blood-sugar imbalances.

All of that from the “perfect diet in the world”.

How “Raw Science” Has Evolved

It’s a lot easier for someone today to succeed on the raw food diet than ever before. Although more “bad” information is available, the good advice is also more readily available from different sources.

When I first started, the diet I was following was not bad. I was eating fruits and vegetables, and avoiding excess fat and combinations.

I was on the right track… but I just needed some extra guidance, which I didn’t have at the time.

The second diet I tried is the “high-fat” raw diet that a lot of people still promote today. On it, I reached the lowest level of health I ever reached in my life.

Here are just some of the insights that I didn’t have at the time, which are now clearer to me than ever:

It’s important to eat enough calories from fruit to meet your needs, otherwise you’re going to look everywhere and crave anything to fill the need.

Smoothies can make it a lot easier at first to get those calories in a more concentrated and easily digestible form.

The raw diet should be a diet of raw fruits and vegetables, with very little of anything else concentrated.

Green smoothies are one of the best ways to consume enough greens.

Dried fruits and other dried items such as nuts should be minimized

Special attention must be paid to dental health

There are over 100 insights such as these, that I have described in detail, in the Raw Health Starter Kit.

As usual, this is getting to become a pretty long introduction to my ezine.

The reason I started this rambling is that pretty soon, I’ll celebrate my 33rd birthday.

As I was looking at the last 10 years, I realized it might be time to write another book. Not an eBook, but another real, published book, a sequel to “Raw Secrets”, so to speak.

But to write it, I need your help. What would you like to hear about? What do you think I should write about?

Post your comments at the bottom of this page!

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Click here to find out more.

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To leave a comment or question, go to www.replytofred.com

Books Selling Miracle Diets

I just wanted you to know how much your articles/newsletters have meant to me. I've bought every health book out there, my digestive problems are currently so bad that I can only tolerate liquids! I feel helpless/hopeless and all those books that did nothing but make me try to force someone else’s miracle diet on me.

I loved your article on the raw food movement; it's just not that complicated is it?! We are destroying ourselves looking for every and any way around doing what’s right and natural, I hope to have learned my lesson. Thank you for being there for me and for all of us.

Sincerely, Meredith Machin

Not Everybody Can Move to Costa Rica

Dear Fred,

I admire your generosity in the information you give, thanks.

However, everyone cannot move to Costa Rica, if even a million people take your suggestion and move they will destroy the country because not everyone is respectful as you.

I know what it is like to live in the tropics and I wish I could live there again but it is not practical. Enjoy your new lifestyle. Not every one can join you.

As it is Costa Rica is now gaining a lot of attention by those who want to go green and they loooove the planet and want to escape the rat race. They are bringing their selfishness and greed with them in their quest to escape America.
Heather

RESPONSE FROM FREDERIC: Thanks for writing, but you sound a bit negative. Do you seriously think that millions of people would move to Costa Rica after reading my articles? It’s estimated that the North American population in Costa Rica is less than 100,000, even after 20 years of PR and promoting Costa Rica as a retirement destination. In comparison: a popular book on retiring to Costa Rica sold over 250,000 copies over the last 20 years.

No, living here part time or full-time is not for everyone. But honestly, I wish more of my readers would make the move. This country (and other countries) needs more health-conscious, raw food enthusiasts. I recently registered the domain name www.rawcostarica.com, hoping to eventually create a website for raw enthusiasts living and visiting this country.

By the way, I haven’t found that people moving here bring their “selfishness” and “greed” with them. At least, not more than in any other place. Maybe you should reconsider your negative position by actually spending some time here?

Private Consultations With Frederic

Dear FP,

Thanks for explaining that you are a very private person. I am not a very private person. Perhaps because I am still struggling to achieve optimal health. I would very much like to correspond with you about my personal issues. I realize that sharing about health is your business and I am willing to pay for support. Is this an option?

Sincerly, Regina Eldred, San Diego CA

RESPONSE FROM FREDERIC: I don’t offer personal consultations at the moment but I do correspond publicly and privately to my Raw Vegan Mentor Club members on our discussion forum at www.fredericpatenaude.com/mentorclub.html

Come to Canada!

This is my 3rd comment in the last 3 years… same comment! I live in Toronto… just wondering WHY you do not offer workshops/retreats in CANADA! There is a need!!

Tori

RESPONSE FROM FREDERIC: Good question! I haven’t been involved in doing many lectures since 2004. But this year I should participate in many live events. I was scheduled to speak at a raw food festival in Canada this year, but the organizers have canceled it. However a workshop should be organized soon in the Ottawa area. More information will be sent soon…

The Importance of Green Smoothies

Hi Frederic,

Thank you for reiterating the importance of Green Smoothies. I signed up for your "green" information even though I have been drinking green smoothies and have been raw for more than a year. I just keep giving my Green for Life books away. As far as I am concerned, Green Smoothies are the mainstay of the raw diet.

The importance of the greens and this drink cannot be overemphasized. My husband and I have our Green Smoothie after our morning five mile run. It's the best breakfast I have ever had!

I first learned about them when I heard Victoria speak at Arnold's Way, the raw cafe in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Your good friend Roger Haeske has been there a couple of times. Arnold is doing wonderful work promoting raw food and Green Smoothies. He is tireless and generous of heart. There were probably close to 100 people at his potluck last night, a testimony to the good work he has been doing.

If you don't know of Arnold Kauffman, you should check out his website: http://www.ArnoldsWay.com. However, since you have both been active in the raw food world for some time, I imagine you may be familiar with Arnold's Way. By the way, you can catch my husband and I on Arnold's Way YouTube. Again, thank you spreading the message of the Green Smoothie.

Best regards, Leslie Arnold

RESPONSE FROM FREDERIC: I know Arnold’s Way, of course. And thanks for your comments about Green Smoothies. In just over a week we’ll be leading our next Green Cleanse. In just 7 days of eating green smoothies you can see amazing results. More information here.

Eating for an Exam

Hello Frederic,

First off, I have to say that your website and the information contained in it is amazing! I have a question: I intend on taking a graduate school exam (MCAT) soon. I was told to eat protein mixed with carbohydrates for energy (since the test is 5 1/2 hours). I was wondering if fruit would work to eat in the morning of the exam, as it may induce me to running to the bathroom and this could mess up concentration as the test is time sensitive. I was wondering if you had any tips on raw foods I could eat in the morning the day of my exam that would not induce me to running to the bathroom consistently.

Thanks, Maya

RESPONSE FROM FREDERIC: I would be tempted to recommend fasting, although for such a long test it would probably not be a good idea. I imagine that the average person doing this test must at least drink something during the duration of the test?  The best choice if you want to get mental energy during the test is eating fruit. However, you don’t have to eat large quantities which like you said, might necessitate a few trips to the bathroom. Just a few pieces of fruit, consumed at regular intervals during the test will give you the energy you need. Bananas and dried fruit at that time would be a good choice (even though I don’t usually recommend dried fruit).

Food Combining Question

Hi Frederic — Many thanks for all the great health tips! You have been so helpful!! How many hours should I wait after eating fatty foods (like oils, nuts seeds) before eating fruit? Is two hours enough time? Or vice versa, how long should I wait before eating nuts and seeds after eating fruit?

Thanks for your input.

RESPONSE FROM FREDERIC: If you eat fruits FIRST, which is what I recommend, you don’t have to wait very long to eat other types of foods, such as salads containing fat. Just waiting 15 minutes or so is enough in most cases.

Acid fruits combine also fairly well with fatty foods. So after eating something containing fat, you could have an orange or another acid fruit.

Don’t make food combining more complicated than it should be on a raw diet. The only combination to really avoid is concentrated sweets with fats together. For example: nuts and dates.

Acai

Have you ever tried acai berry? What are your thoughts on purchasing it as a juice/concentrate?

Thanks.

RESPONSE FROM FREDERIC: I have eaten Açai when I visited Brazil in 2004. For those who don’t know, Açaí (pronounced AH-SAW-EE), is a slightly fatty, anti-oxidant rich fruit that grows in Brazil.
The Brazilian buy it frozen in big blocks. They make a national dish by blending it with either honey or guarana syrup, and serve it with granola. It’s simply delicious.
However, its recent use as “miracle food” is deplorable.
People buy it at a 10 or 20 times markup.

Even though Açaí is a decent food, it’s not necessary to eat it to stay in great health. There are other great, anti-oxidant rich foods available such as blueberries or pomegranates. You don’t need to pay an outrageous price for this exotic juice.

If Açaí were available frozen at a reasonable price, then I would suggest making some sorbets with it, similar to what the Brazilians make.

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Frederic Answers Reader's Questions

Hi Fred

Denise C

MY ANSWER:

It would be a bit of an exaggeration to say that "most" of my recipes contain avocado. In any given recipe book, maybe 5 to 10% of the recipes will contain this ingredient.

My suggestion is to use nuts instead. All dressings containing avocado can be made with nuts. The taste won't be the same, of course. But the results will be similar.

You can also make a delicious guacamole using green peas. I included this recipe in my book "Gourmet Raw Food Cuisine" which is now available as a bonus for the Raw Vegan Mentor Club at: http://www.fredericpatenaude.com/mentorclub.html

Here's the recipe:

Peamoli

2 cups fresh or frozen green peas
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 lemon, juice of
1 medium garlic clove
1/4 sea salt (optional)
1 tsp. dulse powder (optional)
1/2 cup tomatoes, diced (cherry tomatoe halves are best)

Blend all ingredients, except the tomatoes, in your Vita-Mix or food processor.
You may also homogenize the peas in a Champion or Green Life juicer with the
blank plate on, and add the other ingredients separately in a bowl.
Add diced tomatoes, then mix well.
If you use frozen peas (organic only), you will have to let them thaw overnight.
Add the dulse powder if you prefer a "smoky" flavor.
Serve with sticks of celery, carrots, peppers, and green vegetables.

Frederic Answers Reader's Questions

Hi, I'm new to the raw food diet and have been doing some research about it and hope to transition soon. I have a question about nuts and tannic acid. When I buy raw nuts in their shells and shell them myself, is ingesting the brown skin on the surface of nuts like almonds and brazil nuts harmful due to its tannic acid content? I have heard this can compromise iron absorption. I have also read that removing the skins by soaking is possible but as this is inconvenient, I would like to know your thoughts on skipping this step especially if I'm only having 60gr of nuts a day.

Thank you for all the work you have done to help others gain control of their health. Your book 'The Raw Secrets' is by far the simplest, most straight-forward book on the Raw diet I have come across and it is definitely the one that makes the most sense!

MY ANSWER: It's not necessary to remove the peel from almonds and other nuts. The old books that recommended you do this, were written at a time when most of the almonds were imported from Spain and were of a much bitter variety.

"Modern" almonds do not contain that much tannic acid, so it is safe to eat them. You might want to soak and peel them if you want to achieve a certain consistency and taste for a recipe. There's nothing wrong with that. But it's not necessary to avoid them.

Frederic Answers Reader's Questions

Are Humans Supposed to Eat Meat?

Just a sincere legitimate question:

Spencer

MY ANSWER:You seem like a honest health seeker, and in fact I remember clearly being exactly where you are right now.

Let’s take a look at the issue and see if you can understand my own point of view on this.

So the question is: are humans supposed to eat meat? And is our ideal diet high in fat or high in carbohydrates?

First, let’s start with the Eskimos. Although prior to the arrival of western civilizations they were living in pretty robust health, the Eskimos are not reputed to have a very high life expectancy.

The lowest figure I have heard was 35 years. The highest was not much higher than our current life expectancy.

On the other hand, the three, longest-lived cultures in the world known in the last 100 years have been:

The Vilcambaba in Ecuador, the Abkhasia in Russian, and the Hunzas in Pakistan.

All of these cultures, without exception, have lived on a low-fat diet with limited supply of meat and animal products.

As for the growth of the human brain, to me it’s completely ludicrous that this came from eating meat. The researchers who came up with that are lost in their own wonderland of romantic thinking about the strong hunter-gatherers and cave-men who dragged their female partners by the hair to their caves, and from whom we supposedly evolved.

Come on!

Just look at the model in nature.

The most intelligent of all apes are the ones that eat the most fruit. Bonobos are the most intelligent of all the great apes and they’re the one eating the most fruit and the least animal products.

It seems to me more obvious that fruit eating is has a direct relationship with intelligence in animal species, rather than meat eating.

After all, the carnivores are not necessarily the smartest creatures around, compared to the smart frugivores.

Think about it: an orangutan most have knowledge of over 150 species of fruit and plants to survive. It not only knows which fruit are in season, but can precisely time its eating patterns to specific trees in a rather large area where it lives. As one fruit tree goes out of season in one area, it knows that another variety somewhere else far away is about to go into season. And that without calendars!

To me being a frugivore in nature requires a lot more intelligence than hunting for meat. And that’s why I think our brain evolved.

Humans will survive on ANYTHING!

And all of the primitive diets are healthier than the standard-American-diet for a very good reason. They avoid four of the main culprits that make our own diet so bad. These are:

• Bread and gluten containing products
• Refined dairy products
• Caffeine
• Processed foods

Just put anyone on any diet that eliminates these categories of foods and they’ll get better, no doubt about it.

In my book the Raw Secrets, I describe in details the reasons why we are meant to eat a low-fat, high-fruit diet and how to best thrive on this diet.

You can find out more about this here: http://www.fredericpatenaude.com/starterkit.html

Why not give it a try? Do you honestly believe that killing animals and eating their flesh is what humans are supposed to do to best thrive on?

What about the fact that our entire system is NOTHING like that of a carnivore or an omnivore. Our entire system matches that of the frugivore.

I will agree with you that the traditional, vegan diet which contains a lot of bread, wheat products, refined foods, soy and fat is not healthy.

This is not what I’m proposing here. I endorse a raw vegan diet composed mainly of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. For the details on how to make this diet work, check out the Raw Health Starter Kit:

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

If you need more scientific evidence on the animal products issue, read some well-researched books such as:

The China Study

Eat to Live

These are the two books I recommend. They’re not raw-food books but have some important information on the subject.

Dear Fred.I like your Raw secrets a lot.

Your system is more close to the Nature than some other raw food ideas. As for me the great apes are the great nutrition teachers;Bonobo is my 'guru'. Let's ignore the controversial issue of meat consumption. I wonder why u do not consume the raw eggs. Bonobo is a simple guy, he/she do not distinguish a fruit and an egg. Therefore I am a raw ovo-vegie, this way is more close to reality, to Nature than to be a raw vegan. Do u agree? Thank u in anticipation.

Yours faithfully Tal Kuis,
PhD in Biology

ANSWER: I do not eat raw eggs because they taste disgusting. I only want to eat foods that taste good. But if bonobos like them, I'm cool with that!

Hi Fred! I think your article on which raw diet to follow, high fat or high fruit, is misleading. It is entirely possible to thrive on a low fat plant based raw diet with minimal fruit, such as the Hippocrates regime or that recommended by Dr Gabriel Cousens.

I do not believe that there is "only one way and that's my way", but I think you should inform your readers that there are other ways to go with the raw diet than either high fat or high fruit. This amounts to scaremongering which ultimately serves no-one.

ANSWER: I respect your opinion, but I would like to point out a big mistake that you're making in your statement.

You say that it's possible to thrive on a "low fat" raw diet that contains "minimal fruit".

I would like to see how that works out in practice because from my nutrition training this is simply not possible.

If you want a raw food diet, you will need to get calories from two sources:

- Fruit
- Fatty foods (avocados, nuts, etc.)

Vegetables have a low-caloric density. If you do not believe me just check how many heads of lettuce or carrots you would need to eat to get the 4000 calories your athletes need.

The other possible sources are things that no one really wants to eat:

- Sprouted grains and beans
- Carrot juice

It's also known that raw sprouted grains and beans contain natural toxins and that do not go away simply through the sprouting process. You can get seriously ill from eating them, and in fact, many have.

As far as using carrot juice or similar carbohydrate foods, it beats the purpose in the first place. Aren’t you avoiding fruit because you think too much sugar is bad for you?

When people go to the Hippocrates institute, what they follow is a very low-calorie diet, one that's good for a short period to lose a lot of weight, which is what most people want when they go to these places.

So they'll be served watermelon juice, green juice and sprouts.

I do not know anyone that is able to maintain that regimen when they go back to their regular lives.

If you follow a low-fat raw food diet and you limit your fruit consumption to 4 to 6 servings per week, you are following a very low-calorie diet that is not sustainable.

Or you are possibly eating massive quantities of sprouted grains and beans, which most people:

a) Wouldn't possibly *want* to do
b) Would eventually get sick from because of the natural enzyme-inhibitors found in those foods.

So if you really want to prove me wrong, why don't you come up with a weekly menu and we'll analyze it?

We know that athletes require more calories, usually 4000 a day or more. And you said that your diet can work for athletes.

So, send me a 7-day menu that contains 4000 calories per day (enough for an athlete — because if an athlete cannot follow your diet… is it really healthy?) and:

1) Contains a maximum of 12% fat by calories (which is the average of the figures you gave me)
2) Contains a maximum of 4 to 6 servings of fruit per week
3) Is completely raw
4) Is something that a human being would actually want to follow. In other words, don’t include gallons of carrot juice or buckets of sprouted beans just to make up for the calories.

In fact, this is an open challenge to anyone.

If anyone can come up with this diet, I will pay you $500

Anyone game?