Frederic Patenaude's Blog, page 46

The Top 12 Best Places in the World for Raw Foodists: Raw Friendly Spots!

What are the best places in the world to live the raw food lifestyle? Like many, I've often asked myself that question. Many people tend to imagine that the best places in the world to live this lifestyle are all in the tropics, such as paradisiacal tropical islands. Unfortunately, the lack of produce in most of these places as well as the isolation factor, with the lack of like minded folks, rule out most tropical locations.

Raw foodists may not care as much about the number of vegan restaurants in their cities, unless they have good salads and raw options. What's important for raw foodists tend to be the availability of excellent produce, good weather (as raw vegans tend to run a lower body temperature and prefer warmer climates), the number of juice bars and raw potlucks as well as the support groups available for raw foodists.

Although only a few places combine all of the above, sometimes one place will rate so overwhelmingly high in one category that I can't help it but rate it highly. It's also hard to rate individual cities, so to not make my list too long, I have decided to list states or countries as a whole in some cases.

#1 — California

Without a doubt, California is the Mecca of the raw food lifestyle. Californians may complain about traffic and pollution in their cities, but when it comes to raw foods, they have it all. Year round sunshine (at least in the Southern Part), mild weather throughout the state, an abundance of organic food and farmers markets, more raw food restaurants per capita than any other place in the world, and an endless number of events, potlucks and like-minded people to connect with. The cities of Santa Monica, San Diego, Santa Barbara and the entire Bay Area are some of the best locations for raw foodists in the state.

#2 — Australia

There is a thriving and booming raw culture in Australia, with every major city having its own raw food movement. Australia grows almost every kind of fruit locally, and combined with lots of sunshine in most parts of the country, it's no wonder that many raw foodists want to live there. Adelaide, Perth, Sydney and Brisbane are all great places for raw foodists in Australia, but I have to give the oscar to Cairns, for its tropical location and amazing farmer's market with some of the best fruit in the country. The downside to Australia: protectionist importing policies combined with natural disasters have recently brought the price of bananas over $15 a kilo! Hopefully with more replanting, next year will be better.

#3 — Miami and Southern Florida

Miami and its surrounding area may be in the hurricane belt, but dedicated raw foodists are willing to stand some risk in exchange for living in tropical North America. The raw food scene is not as extensive there as it is in some parts of California, but it's thriving nonetheless. There are many excellent farmer's markets, some catering to raw foodists, as well as good spots to find some of the best tropical fruit you'll find in North America. The downside? The summer is hot and rainy, and fruit prices can be quite high.

#4 — Hawaii

I admit it, I love Hawaii! You can't beat the climate and the "aloha" lifestyle. Hawaii is a tropical paradise with all of the infrastructures of North America. Do we need to say more about this? The only downside is the higher cost of living (which is still significantly lower than in Europe or Australia, by the way, and probably equal to Canada), and the fact that affordable fruit is hard to find. Tip: if you get a membership at Costco, you can buy local Maui gold pineapple and local papayas at about half the price of stores of farmer's markets! Many raw foodists thrive here by growing their own fruits and vegetables.

#5 — Oregon

Oregon is a great place for raw foodists combining nature and a West Coast vibe. They have some of the best organic farmer's markets in the country (and perhaps in the world), and the raw food scene is quite developed. Portland is constantly referred to as one of the best cities in the world in terms of livability, and other places in Oregon are quite perfect for raw foodists. Oregon is also much much more affordable to live in compared to nearby California and Hawaii. The downside: the winters can be gray and rainy.

#6 — Vancouver, Canada

Vancouver has been rated the #1 most livable city in the world by a few rating agencies for many years, and I have to agree that the lifestyle here is incredible. We have stunning snow-capped mountains, the beach, four Whole Foods markets and many organic food stores, a ton of farmer's markets, a couple raw restaurants, and a good number of raw food potlucks. Canadians like to say that Vancouver has a mild climate, but it still rains a lot and it's nowhere close to feeling tropical and balmy. Another downside: the rents and real estate prices are some of the highest in the world in the city, but this is somewhat compensated by the fact that you don't need a car, and that food prices are relatively low.

#7— New York City

If you like living in a city that has everything, New York City is for you. For raw foodists, New York has a ton of raw food restaurants, potlucks and an excellent selection of organic produce and ethnic markets (such as Chinatown) where you can find your favorite fruits. The downsides: high rental prices in the city, traffic, pollution, and the smell in the summer!

#8 — Chiang Mai, Thailand

I have found my fruit paradise, and it's Chiang Mai, Thailand. Don't let the word out though! Although most main cities in Thailand are great place to find tropical fruits and produce, Chiang Mai is a city full of expats and its climate is much milder, as long as you don't come in the hot season (between February and April). The fruit in Thailand is the best I have tasted anywhere, and the prices are rock bottom. You can get Thai massages for $4 an hour, and get all of the modern amenities you're used to. Chiang Mai is a very Thai city with very little tourism, but at the same time it's very friendly to expats, being an international city full of students. The downside: you don't speak Thai, and the city can be pretty crowded with motorcycles and pollution. However, the area around Chiang Mai is very rural and beautiful.

#9 — Spain

I can't decide whether Italy or Spain is a better place for raw foodists, and although I personally prefer Italy for its wonderful culture and great local fruits, my trips to Spain have confirmed that more European raw foodists prefer to relocate there to grow their own gardens. Southern Spain also grows a lot of sub-tropical fruits like cherimoyas (custard apples) that are shipped throughout Europe. Before the Euro, it used to be cheap. Now it's more expensive, but still cheaper than other European destinations.

#10— UK

Although most Brits might be surprised to see their country in my list, as they often complain that it's too cold and rainy there, often we don't know how good we have it until we have been somewhere else. The truth is that the UK has some of the biggest raw food movement in the world, with many restaurants, organizations, and potlucks. It's also very easy to get fresh organic produce and imported fruit in the UK, and I've always been blown away by the selection on my many visits there over the years. The downside: it's definitely not tropical and unless you buy in bulk, produce is often sold in small quantities for single people!

#11 — Montreal

Okay, this is not a scientifically researched article, so I have to end with a little partisan speech. I lived in Montreal for many years, and I didn't know how good I had it until I traveled somewhere else and saw their fruit selection. Because of less import laws, Canada can import all the tropical fruit it wants. Heck, they don't care about these tropical bugs because they wouldn't make it through a Canadian winter! That means that you can find pretty much any tropical fruit in Montreal, and it's also one of the easiest places to go and buy produce in bulk without needing a corporate account. Hint: to find the best fruit, you have to go to the Jean-Talon market and visit the stores around it, and then go to the wholesaler Gaetan Bono for bulk organic and standard produce. Chinatown and other Asian markets also have a great selection. Montreal is also a very affordable city, but the downside: the winter is long, brutal and unforgiving!

#12 — Costa Rica

I did live in Costa Rica for six months on two occasions, and I also spent a few winters there. In total, I've spent almost three years of my life in this country. Ultimately, I chose to come back to North America because I missed certain things, but I still think Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful countries on Earth, especially for someone who appreciates nature and animals. The beaches are practically wild, and you'll find excellent farmer's markets throughout the country. Although it's nowhere as cheap as it used to be, it's still affordable by North American standards. Many raw foodists have relocated there, and the local culture is friendly to foreigners. Hint: the best place to live is in higher elevation, where the climate is near perfect with year-round, spring-like temperature. (Areas by the beach are VERY hot and humid and are prone to large masses of ants and cockroaches) You're still only an hour or two away from the beaches, in most cases. The downside to Costa Rica: it's a different culture (which may be difficult for some people), and crime is on the rise.

Other runner ups and honorable mentions: Toronto : I hear the farmer's market is even better there. New Zealand (North Island): just because it's beautiful there, even though there are not many raw foodists. Austin, Texas: I hear it's a great place as well.

Of course, I could list many more cities and places… but what do you think? Let me know in the comments and share stories of your city with our readers!

Top 10 Vegetarian Cities in the World

I just came back from an eight-month trip around the world, visiting over 25 countries and countless cities and islands.

During this "tour around the world," I gave talks in many countries, including Denmark, the Czech Republic and Australia, and met many of my readers, as well as many very interesting raw foodists, vegan activists and other health minded people.

If you've been following my adventures for the past months, you probably know that Veronica and I were in for quite a ride with this trip! Coming back to "reality" has been a little challenging, especially considering the fact that we had no official place to stay when we arrived. Fortunately we were able to quickly find an apartment in beautiful Vancouver, but we're still in the process of moving in. No more traveling for a while!

There's still a LOT about the trip I haven't had a chance to share with you, simply because of lack of time while traveling and bad Internet service in some islands.

So to end this trip with a bang and celebrate our return to North America, as well as to show you some of the most beautiful places I've seen on this trip, I'm announcing a special event next week called:

Raw Island Week!

Starting on Sunday this week, and running every day for 7 days, you'll get to see in video seven amazing islands of the South Pacific, including my commentary on what it's like to live as a raw foodist and a vegetarian there.

I think you'll be quite surprised and even enthralled by these tropical islands, and it will not only give you something to dream about, but also give you some insights as to what it's *really* like to live on a tropical island.

Every day of the week, in addition to the videos and possibly some articles, there will be a special for one of our product. Each product will be on sale for 24 hours, and you'll be able to get the discount using a coupon code that has the name of the island of the day.

Make sure you check your email every day for these "Raw" island videos and the special of the day.

For now, I wanted to share with you some more insights I had after my trip and some of my "Top Best Lists" from around the world.

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Did you read the Raw Food Controversies? One of my readers writes:

I loved "The Raw Food Controversies" – it filled in so many blank pockets of missing knowledge I was unaware of, both regarding the history of the raw food movement and shedding light on the weaknesses and strengths of eating this way. My value system regarding what to eat has totally changed and I finally consider I have my feet on the ground with my food choices.

If you haven't read the book, go immediately to: http://www.rawcontroversies.com

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Top Places in the World for a Raw Foodist, Part 1

This article may surprise you, but it comes from the genuine opinion of someone who just travelled to over 25 countries in eight months, having visited many more prior to this last trip. Although I may be missing some places I haven't yet visited… this is just my opinion based on what I know. Feel free to comment.

Part 1: Top Vegetarian Cities in the World

Let's start with the big cities that are the most vegetarian friendly in the world, especially those that understand the concept of veganism, gluten free and raw foods. Based on my experience, my choices would be:

#1 London, England — Let's start with the city that has the longest tradition of vegetarianism in the world for any Western country. This is where vegetarianism was born! This is where Gandhi famously studied and lived as a vegetarian. London today may not seem as vegetarian-friendly as other cities I will mention below, but it has the longest tradition of vegetarianism, and the country in the world after India where the most people label themselves as "vegetarian."

#2 New York City — There's no lack of vegetarian, vegan or raw vegan option in New York City. This is the city that has it all! HappyCow.com, the website that inventories vegetarian restaurants around the world, lists over 111 vegetarian, vegan, or veg-friendly restaurants in the Big Apple.

#3 Vancouver, Canada — Okay, I may be a little biased, because this is where I live now, but I find Vancouver to be one of the most health-conscious, vegetarian friendly places in the world. The city is practically Asian, but almost every single restaurant has a vegetarian or vegan option, and we even have a couple raw restaurants. But more importantly, Vancouverites seem to care about their health, and it shows in the thriving health food culture here.

#4 Toronto, Canada — There is a sort of rivalry between Vancouver and Toronto as to which city is the most vegetarian-friendly. There's no doubt that Toronto boasts more vegetarian, vegan and raw vegan restaurants, but to be fair I will tie it in with Vancouver!

#5 San Francisco — HappyCow lists 45 vegetarian or veg-friendly restaurants in San Francisco, but everybody knows that San Fran is a health conscious city where it's very easy to eat healthy and live healthfully.

#6 Singapore — The number of vegetarian restaurants in Singapore in mind-boggling. HappyCow lists over 200, but I suspect there are many more. When I visited the city, I located approximately 20 vegetarian restaurants within a five-minute walk around my hotel. I am not kidding! Generally the food is vegan, and the only downside is that the menu only varies slightly from one restaurant to the next. Raw vegans will love the fruit and durian sold in Singapore year round. Singapore is also known for its "durian bars" on the street where you can buy several varieties of durian and eat on the spot.

#7 Portland, Oregon — I have to admit, I have never spent much time in Portland, but everybody tells me it's one of the best places in the world for vegetarians and raw foodists, beating many the cities I have mentioned previously. I can't argue with the consensus!

#8 Hong Kong — I found Hong Kong to be like a combination between New York City and Singapore. Hong Kong has a vibrant vegetarian culture based on the buddhist tradition, and most restaurants are not listed online. But you'll find them everywhere as you walk the streets of the city. I won't rate it as high as Singapore simply because not as much fruit is sold on the streets.

#9 Chiang Mai, Thailand — This is the most vegan-friendly place in Thailand, boasting many vegan restaurants. By definition: any vegetarian in Thailand will be vegan because the word for "vegetarian" in Thai literally means "vegan" (no animal products). In addition to its many vegan restaurants and observance of the Vegetarian Food Festival in November, Thailand has all the fruit and fresh produce you could hope for. Think massive quantities of the best fruit you've ever tasted, at rock-bottom prices!

#10 Melbourne, Australia — Melbourne may not have as many vegetarian restaurants as the other cities I mentioned, but it's a very health-conscious city where the word "gluten-free option" appears on more restaurant window than anywhere else I've seen. It has a vibrant raw vegan culture and its central market is one of the best I've seen in the world to buy fresh produce.

In my next article, I will share with you the top places in the world I've discovered for raw foodists!

Stay tuned for Raw Island Week starting next week!

Ex-Vegans Speak Out

The following is an excerpt of my Raw Vegan Mentor Club newsletter. Every month, I write an in-depth newsletter that is printed and mailed to all of my Mentor Club members all over the world. The newsletter covers important raw vegan topics that you need to know about. The Raw Vegan Mentor Club also includes monthly recipe planners, a ton of recipe books, videos, and more! Sign up now and get over $1200 worth of bonus gifts, yours to keep. You'll also get to download the full issue I did on the Vegan Debate, which is quoted below.

Find out more about the Raw Vegan Mentor Club at:

www.fredericpatenaude.com/mentorclub.html

Ex-Vegans Speak Out

One phenomenon we've been noticing lately, probably more notably due to social media technologies like blogs and Facebook, is how many ex-vegans are coming out to share their experience on why they stopped being vegan after many years, often due to health problems that occurred on a vegan diet that were quickly resolved with the re-introduction of animal foods.

There's even a website, www.letthemeatmeat.com, that interviews these ex-vegans.

In addition to the casual experience of these ex-vegans, we also have many raw food authors who used to be vegan for a number of years, but now include some animal products in their diet.

(…)

Common Problems

By reviewing the stories of ex-vegans, I have identified a few common problems that some people have run into.

Sometimes, they were able to solve these problems with proper supplementation or a chance for another raw vegan diet (such as a low-fat one), but the problems I will list below are strictly limited to the people who did not find any improvement in supplementation or (for some who have tried it) low fat veganism.

Of course, this is purely anecdotal and it's impossible to accurately decide what actually happened in every case (versus what they said happened). However, I believe it would be a little close-minded to totally dismiss these stories as arising from "anorexic" people who "didn't do the diet properly."

Dental Problems

This is mostly common in raw-foodists, who tend to have more dental problems than the general population. I discussed the reasons in my book Raw Food Controversies.

Essentially, the low-caloric density of the diet encourages frequent snacking on sugary foods (like fruit), which promotes decay. Eliminating snacking and eating actual meals is a key element in preventing dental problems on a raw food diet. Strict dental hygiene is required as well.

Some vegans report an increase in dental decay on a vegan diet, but I suspect that's simply because they're eating more refined carbohydrates like flour, cookies and vegan junk foods.

Low Sex Drive

This symptom is not common, but happens to some men who go raw. Most vegan men don't complain about low sex drive. In my opinion, that's mostly limited to men who follow a fat-free diet (with no overt fats), undereat calories, and exercise too much and too often. This is completely preventable.

Lack of Energy

I've met a lot of "tired vegans," and I used to be one of them, although I experienced this symptom on a high-fat, raw vegan diet. People complained about feeling exhausted and needing to have frequent naps to recover.

In vegans, I attribute this mostly to the overconsumption of grains (especially refined grains and flower-based products) and oils, under consumption of fruit and underconsumption of total calories.

In raw vegans, it's caused by a high-fat diet and the underconsumption of fruit or a calorie restrictive diet.

Lack of Stamina

Many ex-vegans report that when they were on a vegan diet, often after a few years, they lost stamina to exercise. For example, in the past they could work out for 60 minutes on the treadmill, and before they broke their vegan diet, they were finding it hard to do more than 20 minutes, and often needed all day to recover.

I would attribute this in most cases to the same causes for lack of energy, but also possibly to a vitamin B12 deficiency.

Constantly Hungry

This symptom is common in vegans but even worse in raw foodists. It's easily explained by the fact that plant foods are not as calorie-dense as animal foods, and also carbohydrates don't satiate as much as protein-based foods.

Vegans and raw foodists need to eat more, but also fill their sweet tooth with fruit, which tends to eliminate most of the cravings by providing the simple carbohydrates the body desperately needs.

Hair Falling Out

This is a symptom that tends to happen mostly to raw vegan women who go on a very low fat diet or tend to drop weight rapidly. To avoid this issue, I would encourage an increased consumption of omega-3 rich foods such as flax, walnuts and hemp seeds, even if this brings you above 15% fat. Lower the fat content in the diet progressively, not overnight.

Depression

This is probably the most common extreme symptom that vegans experience that lead them to change their diets. As we'll see below, it could simply be caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency.

Ice Cold Extremities

Some vegans and many raw foodists experience cold feet and end and often attribute it to poorer circulation on this diet. I don't know that it's the case, but I've found that as long as I exercise daily, my body stays very warm (ask my wife if you want proof!)

Vitamin B12 Deficiency

This deficiency is common in long-term vegans, but also common in the meat-eating population.

Besides severe nervous system degeneration problems, a B12 deficiency can cause fatigue, depression and "brain fog," which could explain many of the failures of the ex-vegans who tend to feel instantly better when they start eating meat again.

A good supplement is the best way to prevent a B12 deficiency, but perhaps some individuals cannot absorb the supplement optimally and therefore feel the best results when they get their B12 from animal foods.

Eggs and dairy products are generally a poor source of B12, which would explain why the ex-vegans feel so much better when they start eating meat or fish again (just a few ounces of fish provides enough B12 for about two days). (NOTE: I recommend the B12 supplement over animal-source B12).

Hypothyroidism

This is a more rare symptom that could be caused by a diet rich in raw cruciferous vegetables (like cabbage, broccoli, etc.) that contain thyroid inhibitors known as goitrogens. In some sensitive individuals, consuming a lot of these vegetables can cause thyroid problems.

The simple solution for those with a pre-existing hypothyroid condition is to avoid these raw cruciferous vegetables, or steaming them instead.

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This was just a short excerpt of the March issue of the Raw Vegan Mentor Club Newsletter! I'm looking forward to hearing from you on this!

To download the full issue, as well as the April one, go to:

www.fredericpatenaude.com/mentorclub.html

You'll also get over $1200 worth of bonuses, yours to keep.

How to Eat Raw While Traveling to Remote Places

This is another video I did last month in New Zealand (before I got my haircut!) on how to travel while traveling to remote places.

Is Steaming Vegetables Evil and Bad for Health?

One reader recently asked me what I think of an article published by Dr. Joel Fuhrman on raw foods versus cooked foods.

Dr. Fuhrman in his article writes that:

"Raw food advocates mistakenly conclude that since many cooked foods are not healthy for us, then all cooked foods are bad. This is not true."

In his article, Dr. Fuhrman points out that:

- It is true that high temperature cooking or boiling destroys many nutrients, but more conservative methods preserve many of those nutrients

- Steaming vegetables and making vegetable soups breaks down cellulose and alters the plants' cell structures so that fewer of your own enzymes are needed to digest the food, not more.

- In the end, Furhman thinks there are no benefits and only negatives from not including cooked greens in your diet, because cooked greens are the most nutrient dense foods. He thinks the ideal diet includes 50% raw vegetables and 50% cooked vegetables.

I tend to agree with Fuhrman's reasoning, but not necessarily with his conclusion.

It's true that some nutrients are more easily available after vegetables have been cooked, while others are destroyed or reduced by cooking.

It's also true that by eating only raw vegetables we're missing out on a lot of nutrients, since they could be "locked" in the fiber and not always assimilated properly.

The ideal way to get your nutrients would be to eat your vegetables raw and chew the heck out of them! However, due to poor dentition and lack of time, most people are not able to eat enough raw vegetables and chew them well enough, so that they can extract all the nutrients.

It's true that cooking breaks down the fiber of vegetables and makes them easier to chew and digest (in some cases). For example, steamed broccoli is a whole lot easier to eat than raw broccoli!

But if you cooked all your vegetables you'd be missing out on a lot of important nutrients that could be damaged by heat.

Like Fuhrman, I believe that green vegetables are so important that we should make an effort to eat them in large quantities on a daily basis. About one pound of greens per day is the minimum for most people, to get sufficient amounts of calcium and other nutrients in a raw diet. I recommend two pounds a day for optimum health.

You should also eat your vegetables in a way that your body can totally assimilate them.

For some people, that may mean steaming some vegetables so that they are easier to chew and digest. I personally like to eat some cooked vegetables like spinach and broccoli on a regular basis.

However, my number one, favorite way to eat greens is in green smoothies!

By blending greens with fruit in smoothies, you get the best of both worlds. Your vegetables stay raw and nutrient-dense, but the blending process makes them easier to digest and assimilate.

If you drink one or two liters (or quarts) of green smoothies every day, you WILL totally transform your health in a matter of weeks or months.

Can't wait to get started and need some motivation? In just a few weeks we're going to start a new Green Cleanse, a yearly program I run, where my participants spend a week drinking nothing but green smoothies and eating nothing but fruit. The results are dramatic!

For more information on the Green for Life program, go to:

http://www.fredericpatenaude.com/greenforlife.html

How to Eat Raw Vegan While Trekking or Going on Long Hikes

This is a quick video I did last month in New Zealand, hiking on top of Avalanche Peak near Arthur's Pass on the South Island. The scenery was amazing, and I realized that to get energy on a hike, you must eat these foods. Check it out:

Do Raw Foodists Have an Eating Disorder like Orthorexia?

A few years ago, I did an interview with Dr. Steven Bratman, M.D., who wrote the book "Health Food Junkies," which was his personal story of how he became so fixated with healthful eating that eventually his quality of life diminished.

The book also talked about some people that Steven met that became so obsessed with health foods that some of them got really sick or even died.

In my interview, Dr. Bratman confessed that the book did not become very popular, because the average person did not care about crazy health foodists, while the "health food junkies" that he talked about were not going to buy a book on the subject.

So the book is now out of print, but the term "orthorexia" that Bratman introduced in his book is now something you'll hear once in a while.

Orthorexia comes from the Greek word "ortho" which means "right or correct", and "orexia" which means "eating", so it's righteous eating; a fixation in eating. He defines orthorexia as an obsession with eating healthy food, and avoiding unhealthy food.

To Steven Bratman, "orthorexia" is a mental disorder similar but different to anorexia. "Orthorexia" is the specific obsession with food and bodily "purity," not weight and appearance.

So while an anorexic person might starve herself just to look skinny, the orthorexic could decide to gorge on avocados, or go on a 6-month coconut water fast, depending on what they feel will most "purify" their bodies.

Is there such thing as "orthorexia" or an actual obsession with healthful eating?

When I interviewed Steven Bratman, he seemed convinced that there was very little evidence that eating junk food such as potato chips or even steak was actually bad for you.

It seemed to me that because he was so obsessed with food quality in the past, he took it to the other extreme by not caring at all about what he eats now.

However, I do think that some people can get a little too obsessed with food and the ideal of "purity" that they end up hurting themselves.

As I talked about in my new book Raw Food Controversies, I even met people that died due to their unhealthful obsession with purity.

I think that while some people go totally loco with this obsession with diet, many others go the other way and don't care at all about what they eat much like the general public.

And we know what that brings: diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, not to mention that this poor diet is the main reason why most people feel so tired and terrible most of the time.

So it does make sense to care about what you eat and want to improve your health with raw foods, green smoothies and fasting, but it's important to keep things in the right perspective.

To me, the biggest problem that I see with raw foodists and other "health foodists" is that they don't have their priorities right.

Many people obsess about little details such as making sure everything they eat is absolutely 100% raw and organic and spend considerable time, money and energy in doing so, while at the same time undo all the benefits by making BIG mistakes such as eating too much fat or not exercising at all.

Some people are so obsessed with diet that they find it becomes their primary preoccupation: they can't stop thinking about what they're going to eat, and experience anxiety if they are in a situation where their dietary needs can't be met so they spend most of their time eating at home alone out of fear.

Others always feel like their diet is not "good enough," going from a fairly strict raw food diet to one that eliminates ALL fats, spices, and condiments and eventually many of these people do so much fasting, cleansing and detox that they end up depleting their bodies to the point of no return.

Do you see where I'm going with this? Healthful eating is healthful, as long as we keep things in perspective.

Steven Bratman wrote in his book: "When an orthorexic falls off the path, the only remedy is an act of penitence, which usually involves stricter diets or even fasting to cleanse away the traces of unhealthy foods."

He also says: "Whereas the bulimics and anorexics focus on the quantity of food, the orthorexic fixates on its quality. All three – the bulimic, anorexic, and orthorexic – give to food a vastly excessive place in the scheme of life".

How can you tell if you're an orthorexic person?

Try it now, for fun!

Give yourself a point for each question. The more points you accumulate, the more "orthorexic" you are :

1. Do you spend more than three hours a day thinking about healthy food? If you do, give yourself a point; if you spend more, give yourself two points.

2. Do you plan tomorrow's food, today? So, do you think in advance "what am I going to eat tomorrow?".

3. Do you care more about the virtue of what you eat, rather than the pleasure you get from eating it.

4. Have you found that as the quality of your diet increased, the quality of your life has diminished?

5. Do you keep getting stricter with yourself?

6. Do you sacrifice experiences you once enjoyed, to eat the foods you believe are right?

7. Do you feel a sense of self-esteem when you eat healthy food; do you look down on others who don't?

8. Do you feel guilt or self-loathing when you stray from your diet?

9. Does your diet socially isolate you?

10. When you are eating the way you are supposed, do you feel a peaceful sense of total control?

When I look at the questionnaire above, I can honestly say that there was a point in my life where I would have answered "yes" to almost every single question.

I used to think about food all the time, to the point where it would be my main topic of conversation with EVERYONE. I tried all kinds of strict "detox" diets, hoping to finally experience the benefits promised to me by the raw food gurus, but nothing worked!

In fact, with time, I became sicker and sicker. In fact, I was so obsessed with this ideal of raw foodism, but at the same time filled with cravings and felt unsatisfied, that I was having dreams of eating cooked junk foods.

In one dream, I remember eating a giant chocolate cake, and waking up the next morning feeling so guilty, as if I had just killed somebody!

That is just not healthy!

Now, even though I do still think it's important to have some measure of control over your diet and not fall for the "everything in moderation" including junk food trap, don't be so obsessed about your diet that your decisions are driven by an ideal rather than good common sense. For example:

1) Don't just eat anything and everything because it's "raw"

2) Don't refuse to eat something that's not organic, IF the alternative food is less healthy. A commercial banana is still better than "organic" soy ice-cream or organic raw cheesecake. Organic fat or junkfood is still junk.

3) Don't think that just because you value healthful living, that everyone else feels the same way and that you're somehow better and more "enlightened" than them. This just alienates your friends and family.

4) Compare yourself with yourself, rather than with others such as raw food "gurus".

5) Realize that it's okay to give yourself goals, but sometimes fall off the wagon and pick yourself up again. It's just part of the process.

6) Stay a bit flexible in your approach, and be open to new ideas. You will never learn anything new with a closed mind.

7) Treat others and yourself with dignity and respect. Food is only one aspect of your life!

What's your own experience with "orthorexia?"

Get the new book "Raw Food Controversies" and learn all about the biggest mistakes raw foodists make with their health, and what to think of the latest raw food theories! Go to: http://www.fredericpatenaude.com/rawfoodcontroversies/

Eating Raw on a Tropical Island

First, I want to show you a little video I made with Veronica when I was "lost and cast away" on a tiny island in Fiji, which inspired me to create a new episode for the popular Lost show… one featuring yours truly. You'll also see some unique and beautiful scenery from Fiji.

Once you're done with my little video… read the article below to discover what it's really like to live on a tropical island!

Do You Ever Dream of Moving to a Tropical Island?

There are only three weeks left to my trip around the world, which started back in July of last year. As I feel totally stranded on a tropical island in the middle of the South Pacific, I started thinking about islands and the myth surrounding them, and also the reality of living on a little island versus the fantasy.

Many raw foodists like to dream of paradise, particularly warm tropical islands, isolated from the modern world and ideally providing them with all the sunshine and the fruits they need. I've always had a particular fascination with the South Pacific, as to me it's the closest thing we can experience on Earth to interstellar travel.

Each island is like a little world onto itself, isolated by miles and miles of blue Ocean from other world, and for the longest time in human history these little gems of paradise were completely unknown and undiscovered.

The South Pacific is the last large area of the world to be colonized by human beings and the discovery of these island is probably one of the greatest pre-historic achievements of humankind.

I'm writing these lines on the little island of Aitutaki, a speck of Paradise part of the Cook Islands, reputed to have one of the most beautiful lagoons in the world. I won't disagree with that… seeing Aitutaki from the sky was a formidable spectacle.

The Cook Islands were some of the last islands to be discovered at colonized by humans. In 200 BC, a good 1300 years after Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and a few other groups of islands in the South Pacific were discovered, knowledgable adventurers left for a discovery mission, and ended up in modern day French Polynesia.

About 500 years later (AD 300-400), the same Polynesians left for Hawaii, Easter Island and the Cooks. Incredibly, New Zealand was the last main island of the South Pacific to be discovered in 900 AD.

What Islanders Actually Eat

Fast forward to present time, these islands are still incredibly fascinating, and some of them quite a challenge to get to, but the islander's way of life have dramatically changed since ancient times. While the Polynesians lived on a diet of fish, root crops, breadfruit, pork, and very few other things, today's islanders like to indulge in fried chicken and junk food (mainly white bread, chips and chocolate bars), supplementing their diet with some traditional fare. They also eat a lot of fish, as most of the meat is actually imported and frozen.

There is no McDonald's on the island of Rarotonga, or anywhere in the Cook Islands (we even saw a sign pointing the direction to the nearest McDonalds, over 2000 KM away!), but there's plenty of fast food to be had.

Cook Islanders often say that they "live to eat," and admit this freely and by that they don't mean green smoothies or even fruit. Many Cook Islanders have a freezer bigger than their fridge, and in fact the remote island of Pamerston in the Cooks boasts the highest freezer usage per capita in the world! That's because they have to get 3-5 months of groceries at a time, because on their atoll there's not much land to grow food besides coconuts. It's mostly sand with little topsoil.

It seems that almost everybody on these islands is at the very least overweight, if not obese. The healthiest-looking islanders we ever saw were probably in Fiji, while the unhealthiest and most obese are probably in Hawaii. There are always exceptions, though. I remember meeting a ripped-looking couple in French Polynesia, who swore they stayed healthy by drinking noni juice daily. I suspect their diet was a lot better than the other locals, too.

How Small These Islands Actually Are

Rarotonga is not a big island. It's about 67 square kilometers (SQ KM), or about 42 square miles, and most of it is impenetrable jungle from the mountainous interior. There's a road that circles the island that's 32 KM long (20 miles). To put that in perspective, the Big Island of Hawaii is over 10,000 SQ KM (or 6250 SQ Miles). Seeing Rarotonga from the sky is quite amazing, as you can literally see the entire island in one glance below you.

Aitutaki is even smaller, being an atoll in formation, most of the original island has sunk to the bottom of the ocean. What's left is a little island surrounded by a beautiful lagoon and a few islets. Going about 40 KM per hour (25 miles) on a scooter, I could go all around the island in less than 25 minutes!). After going around the island a few times, I knew my way around, a good thing since there are no street signs or addresses…

Foods You Can Eat On a Tropical Island

On Aitutaki there's fruit trees everywhere, but not much for sale at the market. Apparently, a cyclone recently devastated a lot of their crops. In any case, going around the island I saw a lot of breadfruit trees, papaya trees, coconuts, noni fruit trees (used for medicinal purposes), and mango trees. I went to a farmer's market one morning in Aitutaki, and all I could buy were a few green bananas, green papayas and coconuts, along with a few vegetables such as cucumber and potatoes.

Rarotonga was more well-endowed with fruit, but the variety was similar (we also got some delicious carambola, or starfruit).

Some islands have more fruit than others, like the Seychelles, where I could find jackfruit, mangoes, cherimoya, and many other exotic varieties, and some have less. You might think that it's a good idea to just go "foraging" for fruit in the wild, but because these islands are so small, every fruit tree you might find on the side of the road probably belongs to someone, so foraging is the equivalent of stealing. This is NOT how you should behave, as the locals make far less in a month than you would make in a week at home. It's best to ask when in doubt.

Typically, the fruit you will buy on these islands is very good, but there's just not a lot of it. Every papaya I ever had in the South Pacific has been absolutely delicious… with neon-orange flesh and amazing fragrance. When I visited French Polynesia in 2006 (which is our next destination before heading back home), I remember that the fruit was very good, but not necessarily cheap or abundant.

While You Dream of Islands, They Leave Them

When you first arrive in some of these beautiful tropical islands, the first thought that crosses your mind is: this is so beautiful, I never want to leave. At the same time, many of the islanders can't wait to get out of their little Paradise! Everybody loves the Cook Islands, but there's not many opportunities for local youth. Because the Cook Islands are in free association with New Zealand, Cook Islanders hold a New Zealand passport, and most of the young people eventually leave to go work in either Australia or New Zealand. They come back for vacations and to visit family, but many of them get more excited by the bright lights of Auckland or Sydney than the sleepy ports of the Cook Islands.

About 20,000 people live in the Cook Islands, but over 75,000 Cook Islanders live abroad. In some of the smaller and more remote islands, you'll hardly find anybody between the age of 18 and 50.

It's quite a contrast when you think of all these island daydreamers who think they would love to live on a tropical island if they could… including raw foodists!

My Ideal Tropical Island

A few years ago, I read the story of two young people who apparently had some extra money to spare, and decided to start a raw food community on a tropical island in the South Pacific. They scoured the area for months and finally found an island in Fiji to buy. However, their story abruptly ended and I never found it if they managed to make their dreams a reality.

If I could design my ideal island, I would like to find an island about the size of Rarotonga, which is small enough to feel cozy, but big enough to not feel too claustrophobic. I would plan the entire island with fruit trees of all kinds (not just papayas, coconuts and mangoes!), and the morning farmer's markets would be glorious.

I'd try to find a way to generate clean energy for all the island, but this wouldn't be an easy task. Almost all islands get their electricity from diesel-burning generators. There are not many alternatives at the moment, besides nuclear power, because wind and solar energy require too much land area and are too expensive, and generally most islands don't have ways to generate hydro-electricity or enough volcanic activity for geothermal power.

I'd like to turn the island into a giant fruit orchard, while at the same time having enough conveniences for modern life, including fast Internet. But now, I'm totally daydreaming as this will probably never happen!

My Favorite Islands

During my trip, I've briefly fallen in love with a few islands, my favorites being Bora Bora as the most beautiful one of all, the Seychelles for the most amazing beaches, the island of Crete in Greece for the best combination of culture and natural scenic beauty, and finally the islands of Hawaii as having the best combination of everything one could want on an island. And if we count New Zealand as an island (or two, actually), then it certainly makes it at the top of my list as an awesome island that has a bit of everything.

Sometimes we daydream of tropical islands… but we might forget the reality of living in Paradise. If we want to define Paradise as:

- Beautiful lagoons and beaches

- Sunshine and warm weather

- Tropical plants

… then yes, tropical islands are absolute paradise. But to me Paradise is an attitude of wonder you can bring with everywhere beautiful. Although I've dreamt about living on a remote tropical island, I'm not ready to make that move yet because I still love civilization and fresh produce, the beautiful and never-ending landscapes of North America, fast Internet and good infrastructures, and yes, a good variety of fruits and vegetables!

Although being on Aitutaki makes me realize that my home country is probably the best place for me to live, I'm sure when I'll get back to rainy Vancouver I'll be finding myself daydreaming about the warm, turquoise lagoon of Aitutaki… proving once more that the grass can always seem greener somewhere else.

Although I would probably not move to a tropical island permanently, I still think it's possible to make your dream of moving to a tropical paradise a few months a year a reality! I've been living this dream, spending all my winters in the sun for the past 5 years now, and discovered how you can move to a tropical paradise without abandoning the comforts of home… and in fact without even spending more than you do now! For more information, check out my course on How to Move to a Tropical Paradise at www.fredericpatenaude.com/tropicalparadise.html

What about you… have you ever dreamt of living in a tropical island, and what would be your ideal tropical island?