Sol,
Have been unable to participate in the List for some time (3+months) now,
but trying to get back in, if time permits.
Saw the addiction item in subject column, so clicked your message open.
Been at the all raw routine for 21 years now, and know from personal
experience a bit about the avocado addiction.
I was a gourmet glutton for years prior to becoming a health nut, so tended
to associate the full belly sensation with satisfactory eating....probably
because of this unnatural cultural programming I was set up for picking up
addictions to anything that gave me that "full" belly sensation after
eating. The avo, once I'd gotten into the vegetarian trend, surely gave
that satiated feeling...so gobbled down way too many of those delicious
fruits. Used to eat as many as three to four at a sitting...and if I
wasn't working hard physically, would tend to put on pounds fast.
After it registered that this over consumption of avos was a problem...it
slowed down my mental faculties very noticeably, and made my skin look like
I'd been bathing in olive oil...I decided I just might have another
addiction on my hands. So I cut back...felt much lighter, far more alert,
my sugar metabolism also improved.
Contrary to many arguments I've observed, I can't accept yet the idea that
it's a "bad" food, only one that is far too rich to be consumed in large
quantities...and the tolerance for completely metabolizing its constituents
will vary among individuals significantly, and probably will also vary in
the same person as a function of where their own metabolic state is at any
given time (as our metabolisms do quite a bit of shifting about for various
reasons).
One thing I've noticed is that some varieties of avos, those lower in fat,
are far more tolerable, in respect to the adverse effects observed:
Bacons, topas, mexicolis, and most Florida varieties, for example.
Same with the nut issue. About half or more of my diet has been fruit, and
I long ago picked up on the advantage of tempering the high sugar levels in
the fruit with some concentrated protein food...nuts and/seeds being the
more obvious buffers. Had been experiencing some profound hypoglycemic
responses to fruits many years ago (diabetes, or hyperglycemia, ran in my
family genes), so picked up on more or less buffering the intake with nuts,
usually almonds...mostly unsoaked (too lazy to soak 'em). Has always
worked well, but those darned nuts do pack probably a tad too much protein
into one's veins and arteries, so, like the avos, possibly good idea to
exercise moderation.
Incidently, the heated (roasted) nuts are definitely addictive, since
they're obviously "cooked" and much sweeter (the heating converts some of
the components into sugars...just like toasting bread does).
As I think I once mentioned, when I was active on this list, to Kirt, am
not yet convinced that our instincts are too valid, since we're usually so
messed up with our heavily unnatural cultural upbringing. After being
exclusively raw for a number of years, it's rare I'm ever tempted anymore
by the old cooked addictions, but, on rare occasions, say into a fast when
my hunger isn't yet abated, I can be noticed salivating a-la Pavlov, upon
noticing a juicey pizza nearby...but that's it, just a fleeting temptation.
The longer all raw, the less the frequency of such random "temptations,"
of course.
BTW...re those Lima Beans: If they're not thoroughly sprouted...or cooked,
or still undried and fresh...they are mighty toxic. Your bod knew just
what to do to save you from far worse experiences once you'd swalled those
critters....throw 'em back up from whence they came. Even cooking these
sorts of beans doesn't fully disengage their toxic components, thus all the
famous gas they're known to generate. Beeno (? the product) seems to have
enzymes that disable the anti-digestant enzymes of the cooked beans, as you
have also probably discovered.
Don't know if these personal anecdotal experiences are useful, but thought
I'd share them with a fellow member of AA (avocadoists anonymous).
:)
Hi!
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