Raw Infants/Children
Q: Hi Wayne,
I’m working with an infant whose mother wants to ensure the baby is getting all his nutrients (B12) through a raw food diet. I believe the baby is 6 months old. I know spirulina is good for baby’s/children (She has three other children on raw diet, at home anyway. She confesses she’s not sure what they are doing when they are away from home.)
Is goatein powder raw?
Is hemp protein powder okay? At what age can baby’s eat this?
Just to make sure, at what age can infants begin spirulina?
Many thanks,
Namaste, Doris
From: Doris B
Sent: Monday, October 17, 2005 12:32 PM
To: wayne@foreverhealthy.net
Subject: Raw Infants/Children
A: Hi Doris,
Yes totally! Both hemp and spirulina are safe for infants. However, I would not give a lake spirulina to an infant. From my personal belief high quality hydroponically grown Pure Planet or Earthrise Spirulina are safer and therefore better than a lake algae/spirulina for kids under 2. Both Spriulina and Hemp can be consumed from birth.
Goatein powder is dehydrated. Raw/living foods are fresh fruit and veggies, nuts and seeds.
Dehydrated is not totally living/raw, it’s just not cooked. So it’s in-between. Dehydrated foods in small amounts added to the diet can ensure micronutrients are a part of one’s diet. It has all the water content taken out so it is naturally preserved. So no powders, or bottle foods can be totally raw! They are in-between raw and cooked, so lots of living force energy is still available! Just remember to consume plenty of liquids when ingesting dehydrated foods. Raw dehydrated at below 118f will have more nutrition available than foods dehydrated at high temperature.
B-12
Symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency are anemia or nervous system damage, tingling, numbness, blurred vision, sore tongue, poor memory, confusion and even hallucinations and personality changes. The most common symptom is lack of energy. If the liver and colon are healthy, most humans can avoid supplementation if on a strict vegan diet.
To ensure the baby is ingesting plenty of B-12, I recommend breast feeding (up to 1-2 years would be ideal). In an adult it can take years for a B-12 deficiency to show up. In infants watch for lack of appetite as well. For vegan infants it’s important that they ingest a variety of sources of B12 if the child is going to avoid animal products. Adding some sea vegetables such as our organic raw nori (available in 10 and 50 sheet packs) is a great source of B12 as well as kombu (great in soups), kelp, dulse and arame.
Nama Shoyu – a fermented soy condiment.
Nutritional Yeast – literally the most researched natural food or supplement! Red Star T6635 brand is widely recognized as a solid and delicious source of B12. Please store the nutritional yeast in the refrigerator and out of the light as vitamin B12 is light sensitive!
Fermented tofu can also assist in getting B-12 into the body. Please note; soy that is not fermented is not recommended as part of a regular diet. Fermented soy as a condiment is fine.
Master Flora (100% vegan probiotic) or a good probiotic to ensure we are maximizing the nutrients we are ingesting.
Eating small amounts of fermented veggiekraut and seed sauces add vitamin B12 to food!
Of course if the deficiency is either severe, you can take MegaFood B complex with B12 naturally occurring and consume high doses until the deficiency is gone. I would recommend this supplement for breast feeding mothers to ensure her and the child are receiving plenty of B12. Consuming 1-3x a week will prevent the deficiency. If none of the above is working B12 injections might be necessary. Lets hope it never reaches that far. It is very highly unlikely this would happen unless someone is just not interested in examing their diet.
Growing your own plants and sprouts and testing your own soil for B12 if you are so inclined, can help avoid a B12 deficiency. If growing your own foods, I highly recommend the Ocean Grown www.ocean-grown.com to add to your soil. This product works amazing!
Please note: Raw Honey contains a bacteria that can kill a child under 2 who consumes it. They do not have a mature enough digestive tract to break down this bacteria.
Vegan – Is it Enough?
I believe humans can sustain a vegan diet. Genetics can play a role. It could take someone many years to find the balance in a vegan diet depending on their age and genetic history. I say this as a vegan diet only tells me what they do not eat. It does not tell me what they are eating.
Being an unhealthy junk food vegan is not a good option to me. I totally respect the vegan approach and myself have successfully gone many years on a vegan diet. Currently, I am 95% raw and vegan and only occasionally have a treat of organic raw cream and cheese about 4 times a year.
3 Secrets to Being Successfully Vegan
Eating an 80% raw food diet with plenty of ultra high quality vegetables and fruits.
Living in Canada, I believe we need to supplement either regularly or occasionally with spirulina, sea vegetables, raw cacao, goji berries, as well as some of the above mentioned B12 rich foods. This will ensure we get the wide range of minerals and vitamins that could be lacking in our second rate, not quite garden fresh produce we receive.
Properly detoxifying and attaining a good alkalinized body and making sure the liver and colon are functioning well, will ensure your vegan success!
Please Live Forever Healthy!