avatar! wrote:I'm totally convinced organic is the way to go...
Organic is definitely the way to go - just make sure it's certified by another company other than the USDA (although a lot of products use the USDA stamp on products labeled organic, even if they're third-party certified). If you're interested about the USDA's dark history, check out Skinny Bitch (or Skinny Bastard) and read the chapter called "Have No Faith: Governmental Agencies Don't Give a Shit About Your Health". This also ties in with all of the chemicals that are allowed in food, including a story about how aspertame made its way into beverages and now other types of "low-cal" or "low-fat" food.
I also think that eating "low-cal" and "low-fat" foods as a way to thin out or be more "healthy" is a sham. Miker hit it on the head with his pics of the dressing - the first ingredient is an artificially produced sweetener that can have bad long-term health effects! Sure, you may be taking in less calories (which are what your body NEEDS for energy), but you're taking in way more junk and lab-built products that will do more harm than hurt in the long run. To really be healthy, I believe that you need to have a healthy lifestyle - no smoking, exercise, stay hydrated, eat well in fair portions (don't stuff yourself), stay off the soda/sweets, don't drink often* - not just eat "low-cal" or "low-fat" foods and hope you'll lose weight.
As most of you know, I am vegan and have been for a little while now (maybe a year or so?) and the health and spiritual benefits have been blinding. Not only do I feel more in touch with my inner self, but I also feel closer to nature and more compassionate for all walks of life than I was before. It's like, I feel like this is this life I was meant to lead - it just took me 26 some-odd years to find my "proper path".
I've been trying to do more raw food as well, which makes total sense since that's the original way that the fruit and veggies were borne from the soil. Also, cooking foods above a certain temperature (maybe 105 degrees or something?) breaks down some of the enzymes in the food, which lessens their health benefits. Raw = awesome. And for those of you who think you could never eat raw, you could always just have a salad with freshly chopped veggies!
I also start my day off with a raw, green smoothie every morning. I blend two bananas and various other organic fruit (strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, mango) with a handful of raw greens (spinach, kale, collards). The drink is satisfying and delicious, and the sweetness of the fruit negates the bitterness of the raw veggies. The stuff looks like Slimer poop but tastes unbelievable. My body also gets the nutrients it needs right off the bat and the smoothie keeps me satisfied until lunch time.
the_miker wrote:Ever since I started all of this, I feel like I have a lot more energy and my mood is way better, like I can deal with stress easier than before.
QFT, buddy. I've also been able to handle life much more smoothly since I went vegan and, more recently, have been off of caffeine, artificial sweetners/preservative and have been eating a mostly organic diet with at least half of my food being raw. You can probably trace my diet changes by reading my previous posts and finding the point where (most of) my angsty and general douchey comments and reviews stop. 
*Yes, me, saying don't drink too much. I've been off the booze for a month and my mind and body feel amazing. I plan on keeping it up for a long time!
