For Female Raw Vegans Only:

[Lenie]

What do you suggest for the day after your period ends as far as -- I can't believe I'm going to say it -- getting your protein?

I'm pretty much an (x)Raw foodist. (A variable percentage raw foodist). So what do you do about that whole craving a burger or steak to replenish your iron stores?

Thank you in advance

[Lenie]

hm.

[Dan.Linehan]

Spinach and Broccoli both have a lot of iron, don't they?

I couldn't help but respond to this thread when I saw the title.

[Rose of Cairo]

I have no cravings for burgers and steak to replenish my iron stores. I always crave sugar before I get my period (PMS), but have no particular cravings or problems after my period. I've never noticed any problem with iron or protein on a raw diet. I think plenty of both is available in raw foods.

I never paid attention to iron on a raw diet, but I thought green leafy vegetables (like spinach) and sprouted legumes such as lentils had a lot of iron? I also just found this with google. According to this site, meat and burger have much less iron than lentils, broccoli, collard greens and spinach.

As for protein, here's a top ten raw protein foods.

If you have cravings for burgers and steaks, my bet is that it has nothing to do with iron or protein. Meat is just addictive.

Or you might be craving the salt (no meat without salt), the condiments, the fat (do you eat low-fat?)...

Edit: A few years ago when I ate lots of cooked foods and meat, I had anemia due to a lack of iron and had to supplement iron. This is gone now. How funny

[funchy]

I'd never crave a steak. Eww! Especially raw. You do NOT need a steak when your period ends.

Amercians on average eat far more protein than we need each day. Odds are you are not likely to be protein deficient, even if it's as your period ends.

I've been vegetarian for awhile. I never have a problem with protein or iron. I do not miss meat at all. Once you stop eating it, you lose a taste for it.... then it dawned on me where meat comes from, how it's raised, and the implications. Ive been away from it so long, I get kind of grossed out by the smell of it cooking.

I am bad about craving fat, salt, and sugar. Even when I tried the raw/vegan diet, I was having days where I really wanted bad foods. (Mmm frenchfries!) It does fluctuate with the hormonal cycle, and it seems like each woman is a little different on how this works.

[Buttercat Apocalypse]

Originally Posted by Rose of Cairo

I have no cravings for burgers and steak to replenish my iron stores. I always crave sugar before I get my period (PMS), but have no particular cravings or problems after my period. I've never noticed any problem with iron or protein on a raw diet. I think plenty of both is available in raw foods.

I never paid attention to iron on a raw diet, but I thought green leafy vegetables (like spinach) and sprouted legumes such as lentils had a lot of iron? I also just found this with google. According to this site, meat and burger have much less iron than lentils, broccoli, collard greens and spinach.

As for protein, here's a top ten raw protein foods.

What's "pure synergy"?? Also, forgive my ignorance but won't hemp seeds, well, make you see dragons and stuff?

[Rose of Cairo]

Originally Posted by Buttercat Apocalypse

What's "pure synergy"?? Also, forgive my ignorance but won't hemp seeds, well, make you see dragons and stuff?

I have no idea what pure synergy is! There are items on this list that I don't eat, this pure synergy, whatever it may be, being one of them.

Hemp seeds won't make you high, don't worry And you can buy them legally in wholefood shops.

[Lenie]

Originally Posted by funchy

I'd never crave a steak. Eww! Especially raw. You do NOT need a steak when your period ends.

I know, I know... that's why I said I was a variable percentage rawist.
Guess you don't need a steak when your period ends. But I swear, before I was into raw at all, there was feeling of being attracted to rib-eyes and whatnot, right around the last day or so. I wouldn't be trying to think of meat. It would just naturally occur. Maybe no one here has heavy periods.
So, ya.

You're probably right. No one needs a steak. Thank you for your help, everyone.

[Rose of Cairo]

Originally Posted by Lenie

Maybe no one here has heavy periods.

Oh yes I have VERY heavy periods. The dr said that's the reason why I got iron deficiency and anemia when I was on my lots-of-meat-diet. Now the heavy periods don't cause any deficiency though, my blood tests are fine and I don't take any supplements. Trust me, you don't need meat.

Hormones make us want strange things that's for sure. I always crave sugar like crazy for 4-5 days before my period. Then on day one of my cycle it suddenly stops. I certainly don't need sugar!

[Plato]

Originally Posted by Dan.Linehan

I couldn't help but respond to this thread when I saw the title.

Hahaha, me too! I saw it and knew it was destiny that I'd post something.

[Lauxa]

Originally Posted by Rose of Cairo

Hemp seeds won't make you high, don't worry And you can buy them legally in wholefood shops.

But I thought they were all pasteurized these days so you can't grow... hemp.

Or maybe that's only in America?

[Lenie]

Originally Posted by Plato

Hahaha, me too! I saw it and knew it was destiny that I'd post something.

[Kate Saltfleet]

Apart from the leafy green mentioned above, if you want to up your iron, then black olives, prunes and molasses (not sure how raw molasses is) are really good for a boost, say after your period.

Although I wouldn't recommend eating all three together.

Remember a little goes a long way, because all these are high in fibre and will send you to the bathroom if you eat too much!

[Dimond]

Raw chocolate is a good source of iron. I think most cravings have nothing to do with our dietary needs, but more of what's been instilled in us since we're born. I crave hamburgers occasionally despite not having meat in years, but don't crave any other meat at all even though I barely ate red meat prior to raw. I could have a heavy raw protein meal and the cravings will still exist. Luckily I rarely have cravings for non-raw. Now I crave salad.

Pure Synergy is a green foods powder. Raw foodists often use either Vitamineral Green or Pure Synergy as maintenance.

Pure Synergy:
The Synergy Company - Pure Synergy

Cheaper (towards bottom):
Dimond Health: Superfoods

[Lenie]

@ Kate: Thank you, I will try those, maybe substituting raw maple for molasses though

@ Dimond: if that's cacao you're referring to, I haven't tried it, but I will, and the Pure Synergy sounds like something great to use, too.

[JoeGoldfarb]

Originally Posted by Rose of Cairo

I never paid attention to iron on a raw diet, but I thought green leafy vegetables (like spinach) and sprouted legumes such as lentils had a lot of iron? I also just found this with google. According to this site, meat and burger have much less iron than lentils, broccoli, collard greens and spinach.

thats true, pound for pound, but vegetable iron is much less bio-available than animal iron.

i have met a few girls who crave meet after their periods. one, humorously told me she is a vegetarian for 29 days a month lol

i saw vegan iron supplements at Wild Oats (now Whole Foods)

[pterodactyl]

When I went on a raw diet for a while, I discovered by accident that wheatgrass kept that particular beast at bay. I found that when I added a couple of shots of frozen wheat grass cubes from Whole Foods to a banana spinach smoothie each day I no longer craved rare red meat or raw tuna steak.

Wheatgrass is comparable to spinach in iron content. Give it a try--it won't hurt.

[appifanie]

I've been a vegan for over 3 1/2 years, and I've never had any problems w/ anemia, even after surgery (a c-section and a myomectomy) and certainly not after my period. I've tried RAW some too, and spent a lot of time looking at RAW, and I can't imagine ever feeling the need (vomit) to eat a cow. Have you looked @ any of the RAW specific forums? (not sure i'm allowed to mention other forums here) There's lots of protein specific threads.

Originally Posted by JoeGoldfarb

i have met a few girls who crave meet after their periods. one, humorously told me she is a vegetarian for 29 days a month lol

that's gross.

[Lenie]

Originally Posted by pterodactyl

When I went on a raw diet for a while, I discovered by accident that wheatgrass kept that particular beast at bay. I found that when I added a couple of shots of frozen wheat grass cubes from Whole Foods to a banana spinach smoothie each day I no longer craved rare red meat or raw tuna steak.

Wheatgrass is comparable to spinach in iron content. Give it a try--it won't hurt.

Well yay, because I always keep those (except they're from HealthHabit) on hand in the freezer. Never thought of adding it to banana though.

Thanks.