Frank,

>Hi Wes, thanks for sharing. In your 3 years of
>experience eating this way,

I got into raw food nutrition in September 1997, so it's been more than 4
years now.

> what foods do you feel
>were the most signifigant in keeping your body from
>being too cold in cold weather times?

Actually, I think that whole idea is based in myths. I think it just comes
down to being properly nourished and having good circulation (to distribute
those nutrients throughout the body). Maybe one reason that some raw eaters
feel cold in the winter is because they don't take in enough calories and/or
other important nutrients (e.g. EFAs). I don't think there are any
particular foods that one must eat to keep warm.

Many people have the idea that eating a lot of fruit in the diet has a
"cooling" effect on the body. I feel warmer than ever out in the cold, and I
base my diet on fruit, so that sort of blows away that whole
"warming/cooling" foods idea, for me.

>Were you ever sensitive to cold weather? If you were
>to stop eating those particular foods that you feel
>keep you warm, how long would it take for you start
>feeling irritated from cold weather again?

I feel warmer now than ever before. I think it's because I'm healthier and
more vital, and have much greater circulation as well. It also seems that I
feel more comfortable during hot weather than in the past. I think it just
comes down to being healthier and in a greater state of balance.

>As you can guess, I'm sensitive to cold, and always
>looking for clues to how to beat this annoying
>problem.

I suppose the best bet is to experiment and figure out what works best for
you. Maybe if you could get access to some seals, whales, and polar bears,
you might do better. ;^)

And of course, there's also the whole matter of the human body not being
well-suited to cold weather, in the first place. If it weren't for clothing,
most people wouldn't last long outdoors in a cold climate -- not even the
primitive Eskimos. Perhaps your problem is not really a problem at all.
Perhaps the weather is the problem. ;^)

Wes