A lot I could say on this issue but here it is in brief

1. I have 5 brother / sister in laws - 4 unvaccinated and one vaccinated. Only one to be seriously ill was the vaccinated one who got an extreme case of measles - yet he was vaccinated.

2. I was diagnosed with haemalitc anemia (blood disorder) at age 4 and doctors could not work out how I got it as it is supposedly a hereditary disease yet no one else in my family tested positive. I have only recently found out that one possible side effect of the Vitamin K injection routinely given at birth is haemalitic anemia. Long story short I had years of severe pain and eventually had my gall baldder and spleen removed - not I live with the consequences of that as well.

3. I had flu shots every year till I was about 27 - docotors told me I needed it because I had no spleen (compromising my immune system). I then realised I was having many of the side effects AND getting the flu every year. Have not had shots since ................nor have I had the flu since

Add this first hand experience to all other research I have done and not vaccinating our children has been an easy choice.

Hope this helps someone.

Bronnie

Hi there

I have an almost 4 year old who I would say is 70% raw - mostly fruit. She does not like her greens at all and only greens I can get her to have is steamed broccoli. She loves all fruit, cucumber, capsicum and tomoatoes - if out of our garden. She is in care 2 days a week and every day one of the carers will say to me what a beautiful, caring and polite child she is, how easy she is to look after and how well she eats. Kids thrive on raw...... that is what ALL our bodies are designed for.

I agree with Piers with regard to reading the book The China Study - the body can not process more than 10% protein without adverse effects most notably being cancer. You will see that as protein intake rises so does cancer. With the increase in high protein diets this would explain why we are also seeing increased rates of cancer.

Also check out the 80-10-10 Diet by Dr Douglas Graham as this is easy to read, informative and a great book for the raw foodist.

Your Naturopath may be a great guy but is he knowledgable and experieinced with the raw food lifestyle, the impacts of excess protein etc or does he follow blood type diet, high protein etc. I suggest you do your own research and go with what you think is right - after some reading you will find you actually know more than many 'health practitioners' when it comes to what is the 'natural diet' for humans....we are fruigvores..check out the essay regarding this at  www.alecburton.com/diet.htm. This website has information regarding the principles of Natural Hygiene so you may like to check out some information regarding that...... all rings very true for me.

Good luck and remember what is 'normal' to many is not what is 'natural' to humans!!

Trust yourself!

Have an awesome day

Bronnie

The best advice given to me regarding breastfeeding is - 'don't give up. It may be natural but it is not always easy - Don't ever give up".

 This stuck in my mind as my baby was taken to the humidity crib dehydrated because we were having touble, when my nipples were aching and bleeding yet the nurses told me to feed because it would help, as tears poured my face in pain as she tried to latch, as the engogrement was so bad I could not even express myself and clots formed which had to be forced out BUT I stuck with it and proud to say my daugter fed happily after the 'tough' first few weeks until she weaned herself at 2 years - way beyond what any of my other friends stuck with and more importantly in her time.

Once I settled into it we had it down pat within 10-20 minutes no fuss every time, no mastitis, little lakage,  and no painful boobs at the end because she weaned herself.

I also recommend you read anything by William Sears who promotes attachment parenting - breastfeeding, carrying your baby in a sling, co-sleeping (or at least in your room), responding to your baby (not cryng it out). I now have a gorgeous 3 year old who is caring, loving, happy, smart and healthy - it is worth all the 'high need' times as my friends called her - she is now the easy child while they have problems with theirs - all because I persisted, trusted my gut and treated her like a small human not a whinging baby.

Am rambling ........so good luck!!

I have a friend who is a naturopath and was basing her advice on the Blood type diet until she read "The China Study" - glad to see now her thoughts are coming round to low protein and more fresh fruit / veg.

I have never seen a chart showing fruits as acidic - all the ones I have show alkaline. Some fruits appear acidic such as lemons but actually leave an alkaline ash in the body as they are dominated by alkaline minerals.

Get a copy of 80-10-10 by Dr Doug Graham for your friend - she may be intersted in another point of view.

1. 80-10-10 by Dr DOuglas Graham for the best raw food book I have read.

2. "The Health Seekers Yearbook" by Victoria Bidwell (and available at Dr Graham's website). The ultimate if you are intersted in Natural Hygiene as this is THE book. Beats the books by Diamond anyday I say.

On a spiritual side I would say anythign by Neale Donald Walsh, Wayne Dyer and Dan Millman

for the mind

1. "Turning Passions into Progits" By Christopher Howard (brilliant book andit is not just about making money but about getting your head into the game of life so as you get the most out of it).

2.anything by Anthony Robbins

Lots more I could think of but these are the ones that stand out for me.

I have a heap of plums and we have been mono eating them but thought tomorrow I may blend them and make as source over banana ice cream - also why not try them in a smoothie - how about a plum pie - nut and date base with banana and plum puree topping - just some thoughts

Have been thinking about how you going.......CONGRATULATIONS!!! Sorry to hear you had such a hard time of bringing her into the world but glad she is safe and sound. Enjoy  motherhood - it is the best ever..............only 2 weks more to go now for me and my second bundle of joy should arrive.

Take care and nurture yourself as well as bub and Simon!!!

I have been coaching (Results (Life) Coaching) a chef this past week who I have got very intersted in raw foods and she is looking at incorporating some raw foods into their menu - woohoo!! I am in Albury. She even told me that maybe this is where her destiny lies once she has sorted her own stuff out as she loves being chef and health is her focus now so fingers crossed she will help spread the word

HI Mallory

80-10-10 is for everyone both the athlete and the sedentary. How many calories you consume is up to you. Most people actually undereat on 80-10-10 not overeat on calories as the average piece of fruit is only between 60-100 calories. You need to eat alot of fruit to get all your calories and then add some greens with minimal fat which is actually where alot of calories come from - there is over the double the calories pers serve in fat than in carbs or protein. Give it a and I think you will be impressed with the results but make sure you eat enough to get your calories....my thoughts anyway

Being so hot here in Albury our current family favourite (including 3 year old) is:

Fruit salad and ice cream
*  fruit - cut up any fresh fruit you like (banana, peach and strawberries are good)
*  ice cream - take a couple of frozen bananas (peeled, sliced and then fozen) and process them until smooth (may need to add a little water
for flavoured ice cream:
- add teaspoon cacoa and honey for chocolate
- add a berries of your liking

Alternatives
- Also just make ice cream and drizzle with passionfruit
- ice cream with blended berries poured over the top (strawberries or raspberries are divine)

We often have any of the above as lunch or dinner - not dessert as fruit is best eaten on its own for improved digestions.

Have an awesome day

I have the book - bought it from foodnsport.com and I have to day it is brilliant! I am not at 80-10-10 yet but working my way there and already feel better for it. At 37 weeks pregnant I am not as active as I used to be but I still walk 3-4km each day, do Body Balance 3-4 times a week and one session of weights now - give it a go and definitely get the book.

While on it the other book I bought while at the same website is "The  Health Seekers Yearbook" which is a Natural Hygiene book and I highly recommend this too. These two books are the best I have read in the raw movement so far!!

Have anawesome day

I strongly recommend you get your friend a a copy of the book called "The China Study" by Dr Colin T Campbell which shows the link between protein intakes above 10% and cancer. By getting protein levels below 10% (and all from plant foods)  along with a low fat diet they have proven cancer can be reversed.

Good luck

Bronnie

I carried my girl in a sling for the first year of her life an dwe both loved it! Get a good sling like from 'baba slings' and no pain what so ever - just brilliant they are. Have to run as my daughter is calling but great to hear you boy is home - hugs to you.

Hi - I have two dogs that are raw but they eat raw meat and veggies. In the wild they would eat meat and so I am happy to feed them their natural diet. As for cats they need meat as they have nutrient requirements that can only be obtained fom meat so i recommend you do some research about raw foods with them. Check our BARF under googl for information regarding raw foods for animals.

I think we need to remember to that although we are biologically / anatomically etc frugivores our furry friends are not so as much as we want to live a life of no harm or raw food etc we need to keep in mind what our friends need. Raw is good but many other animals are naturally meat eaters and actually need to be to survive.

Have a great day.

Congratulations - wonderful that you could home birth and have a great experience.

 I have just under 5 weeks to go and counting in this heat (high 30's - 40 degrees most days in Albury at present).

Take care of you and your precious bundle!!