The Reluctant Raw Foodist

I would get your vitamins and mineral levels checked out? I get these done regularly. 

Before my diet change I was tired and ill all the time. When tested as well as discovering my main illness it was found that  I just didn’t absorb iron for some reason.

Since my diet change and eating a nutrient rich diet with loads of fruit and veg my vitamin and mineral  absorption including iron has gone up and I am no longer deficient. I eat masses of fruit and veg tho’ and I drink green juice every day too.

Most fruits and veg contain some iron and things like  lentils, sesame seeds, green veggies, green juices may well contain good amounts. Google vegan sources of iron and you will see various lists.

For me it is eating a lot of fruit. I had a craving for something sweet today and I slowly ate some  pre frozen melon pieces. By the time I had finished the craving had gone.  I often eat frozen fruit to take way my now very occasional craving for chocolate :))

I didn’t think my diet was particularly acidic either, but now I know it was. I used to have bad reflux as well as all my other symptoms.

As you know I am not a doctor nor a nutritionist so none of this constitutes medical/ nutritional advice. Do see a doctor and or nutritionist  if you have any doubts.

Do have a look at my going raw my way page about cutting foods out of your diet whether you are thinking of going raw or not. Just adapt it as necessary. 

I do follow as alkaline a diet as I possibly can. 

I start my day with fruit. Usually in a smoothie. I occasionally eat whole grain porridge if want something cooked.

I add in a lot of greens and vegetables. I steam greens and eat salads and or drink green juice. Almonds are the most alkaline of nuts and I do eat a few others but I am talking about a few. I eat lots of fruit and I also eat lentils and some beans ( both cooked) in stews. I now make my own hummus ( shop bought ones here tend to contain sunflower oil and concentrated lemon juice and although lemon juice may have the effect of provoking an alkaline response in the body I didn’t like the idea of “concentrated”!) . 

I tend to eat sweet potatoes ( cooked) as a rule rather than white potatoes. 

Some grains such as wheat especially white processed grains are reckoned to be acid forming. If affected then think about steering clear. I eat whole grain rice and if I eat wheat then again its whole grain.

I understand that sugar, meat, eggs, dairy and commercially processed foods etc are all reckoned to have an acidic effect on the body. I do not eat processed vegan foods either. I limit oil intake to a little flaxseed (linseed) or olive oil but I do not otherwise use any oils as these can also be acid forming apparently. I no longer cook with oil. I actually prefer to eat flaxseed or chia seed for omega 3 oils and I add sprouted ground flax seed to things.

There are some PH strips you can buy to test your urine for acid/ alkaline. 

Hope this helps :)

Hmm a little detective work required here:

First question: is this a recent thing for you or is this normal? If it is of recent date or you are otherwise concerned in any way then it’s worth getting checked out by a doctor as metallic tastes can indicate a potential underlying health condition. Apparently early pregnancy can also make one taste metals in everything.

If this is a normal thing for you then well the 2 veg you have selected are both quite interesting.

Egg plant is of the nightshade family and its seeds apparently contain nicotinic alkaloids so nicotine. These seeds can be very bitter in taste. I react quite violently to egg plant so I never eat it.

Asparagus can be quite strongly and weirdly flavoured and I only like young thin stems.

My be worth just checking where your veggies are coming from too especially if you always buy them in the same shop. I like some asparagus stems better than others. Depending what they are grown in may well affect their mineral content. Worth checking whether organic veg also have this taste for you?

Eat veg with something acidy like lemon juice can help get rid of chemical tastes I believe.

May be worth considering the rest of your diet. I found when I ate fats such as butter and cheese that vegetables tasted very different to how they do now. My taste buds have altered a lot over the last couple of years.

In the end  I would say eat what veggies you enjoy and try some things occasionally to see whether you taste buds have changed.

:))