Re: I cannot conceive on this diet

I read this thread with interest as a female raw foodist for five years now and age 31. I wish I could say I know all the answers, but I only know what worked and didn't work for me. I really believe in raw foods and even significantly reversed a degenerative eye disease I have.

However, I had so many problems with having a normal period on the vegan raw diet for the first four years. Previously, I was like clockwork. I concluded I must be missing something. I supplemented everything vegans would be low on. After trial and error, the only thing I had left was the protein. I added protein powder, egg whites, low-fat cottage cheese, and fish back into my diet. Sure enough, my regular 28 day cycle came back. If I try to cut the protein out, my cycle gets messed up again. I log into fitday.com, and consuming about 0.5 grams of protein per body weight pound is where I feel best. So right now, I am eating raw foods plus protein. To be honest, I actually feel better than when I was vegan. This is really hard for me because I was so emotionally attached to the idea that I could eat without harming animals.

Another thing I want to caution you about, and I don't want to scare you...I had my son while I was a vegan, raw foodist. It was the easiest pregnancy- didn't so much get a stretch mark, heartburn, or any of the typical symptoms. It was a first time baby, and I dilated in two hours with no pain meds. Delivery wasn't even painful. However, my son is now two and appears to have very mild cerebral palsy. I had an even milder version than him when I was a kid, so it is somewhat genetic. However, there's not a day that goes by that I don't wonder what might have happened if I just ate a little more protein. Next time I have a baby, I'm eating protein. I just wish I wouldn't have ignored the signs from my body.

Good luck to you, and if anyone finds the answer, let me know. I still think eating mostly raw foods is the way to go.