Regarding Supplements

[askcassyfirst]

I was just reading over my journal entry for today, (check it out in the 30 day challenge thread) and thought I would post a question here:

What is everyone's opinion on using supplements while on the Raw Foods Diet? I am referring to your own use of them. Personally, I work in the Natural Foods and Supplements industry, so I tend to try everything out.. These days I take a liver support (detox) product everyday, along with EFAs, probiotics, and a fiber blend. Sometimes I also take a greens product as well.

And I take digestive enzymes EVERYDAY and with most meals and snacks. WHen I first went Raw I had a lot of issues with poor digestion. Bloating, constipation, low digestive juices etc. Since I felt so hungry all the time I would often wolf my food down without chewing properly...Now I know better. The enzymes are essential, especially the cellulase, since as humans we don't make that one. NOt in any form, so the cellulose in plant fibers can really wreck havoc. (this is particularly true if we have a lot of, or take a lot of supplemental probiotics...they ferment the fiber and make gases...not stinky kinds, but airy gas none the less...)--sorry if I sound preachy, I just teach this for a living, so I always like to make sure people are informed. :)

Anyway, I am wondering if others agree that supplements are ok on this diet. I know from research that this is always a conversation starter....

Cassy

[Melissa]

Hi Cassy,
Glad you're around, a great info resource! I've also been in the alt. health field for years (though no longer) and have battled fibromyalgia, so I have a cabinet FULL of supplements, from 5HTP to St J's Wort to Malic/Mag and on and on. However, when I went back to 100% raw two months ago, I decided to take a break from everything except my enzymes (Standard Process brand which include some probiotics) and a B12 supplement. I felt that my absorption/digestion needed healing and all those other pellets I kept tossing down felt irritating. So far, so good, though I do have a B12 issue I'll create a separate post for.

When I wasn't raw, I wasn't even vegetarian. I was eating a bizarre combo of organic produce and eggs, non-organic bread and pasta, frozen processed foods (Stouffers, etc) and restaurant food. With that diet, when I first added the product Fibro-Malic (malic/mag combo) as well as some other supplements two years ago I felt a very noticeable improvement in my neck/shoulder muscle pain. But Malic Acid is found in apples and I'm juicing and eating lots of those now, plus eating all raw organic, so I figure I'm getting the benefit.

The only thing I'm still curious about is my protein/calcium intake...Am "upping" my intake of sea veggies and sesame seeds for calcium and trace minerals and am considering one of those hemp protein powders, though a bit skeptical. Sorry for the lonnngggg answer...A good question about something on my mind these days!

[Pink_Berry]

hi there...
i thought id put in my two cents on this subject.. cuz i take supplements.

to me.. the raw diet would be nothing without supplements. i hoensly dont think id be doing to well without them. but thats just me!

i take maca.. to balance my hormones!
i take super blue green algea from cell tech....for several reasons. its a green food. it boosts my immune system. it gives me a little tiny bit of vitamin B 12... ect ect
in the mornings i take a multi usually.. and some extra vitamin C.. i tried leaving the vitamin C out for a while but i got horrible constipation after i stopped the use of it.. lol :confused: it also helps fight off the regular cold soar outbreaks i had.
i take MSM... have for a while.. its done wonders for my hair and nails! their sooo strong! my skin also looks alot better when i take it!
at night i occasionally take a calcium supplement.. just for peace of mind :) lol

AND... i also take enzymes every single day... without them id die!! haha!.... my entire system felt soo much better when i started taking them... so i always take one before my dinner at night! one does the trick... :p

hmm im trying to think if there is anything else.. haha.. i dont think so! i do occasionally also take a capsule of B vitamins... but i think i get enough of those from all the bananas i eat!

i think without my super blue green algea, ezymes, and maca... id be doing terrible!!!

i dunno... i believe in the raw diet... i believe it can do wonders... but i guess im not so sure after all..cuz lots of other factors also come into play... the toxins we breathe in everyday... depends if you ingest pestacides...which most raw fooders do at some point.. i know i do... not all my food is certificed organic..even tho i try to get as much as possible! ...i guess supplements give me peace of mind... letting me think they give me the extra little help at fighting off all the extra toxins from the air ...ect! i dont think id be doing so well without my supplements!!
but thats me ... :p

[Pink_Berry]

oh i guess i should add that i do take a whey protien isolate powder... is that considered a supplement?? i think it does!!! without it ... im the biggest mess! my entire chain of amino acids in my body get messed up and unbalanced....nothing else works... but this... its a good quality... not raw... not even vegan tho :o :o :o

[Curtis]

To me this is a personal decision. Storm over at the gardendiet.com is 54 and takes no supplements but looks muscluar and young. I really think it is wrong to suggest someone is wrong if they take then because we are all different, but on the same token you can live and be healthy without them to on a raw and living food diet. :)

[SimplyRawesome]

I have to agree with Curtis. The one thing I've learned over the years is that everyone is different and reacts differently.

For me personally, I take liquid vitamins/supplements and I have noticed a signficiant difference. Here is my personal testimony. Back in 1994, I was very sick. Had a home-based business and two toddlers. I ate a very SAD diet, still under the "medical industry's" care ... HMO to make matter really grave! (No pun intended!) My doctor diagnosed me with bronchitis, sinusitis, borderline pneumonia, the flu and my asthma was the worst it had ever been - I was breathing with 28% lung capacity. :eek: He prescribed the dreaded Prednizone, Theophyline, Robitussin with Codeine, Inhalant Steroids and Ceftin (which at the time was the strongest antibiotic on the market). My blood pressure shot up from the Theophyline, my entire body bloated from the Prednizone and I was an emotional wreck, basically, to make a long story not so long - I felt worse than before! I took my health back into my own hands, went to a health food store and started on my journey to altnerative healing. Between a friend who was a nutritionist and the owner of the health food store I got started on supplements to support my upper respiratory system and I started to feel better.

Skipping ahead to 1996, I had to have a hysterectomy due to hemoraghing. I put on 20 pounds and felt like I'd aged 10 years in the next 12 months. I looked horrible and felt horrible.

I had a tenant who introduced me to a food-based and water-based, liquid vitamin. That made a huge difference in my life. Within 3 days, my husband told me my hair (which was sun-bleached from the Florida sun, dried out and brittle) looked shiny and great ... and healthy! Within 2 weeks, people at work told me I looked great and asked me if I was losing weight. They said I had so much energy and glowed. The only thing I'd done differently was take the vitamins, which I still take to this day.

My allergies cleared up, I lost the weight that I gained, I had more energy that I'd ever had. I felt better then I did when I was in my 20's.

September 2004: I went to a ND to learn how to get off of my inhaler for my asthma. He approved my vitamins and added a couple of more "living" supplements (B-12 and some other stuff I can't pronounce, much less spell). His goal is to wean me off supplements but said taking a good daily multiple was a good idea. So, between my vitamins and eating raw, I feel phenomenal.

Cassy, for me, the supplements and the raw food lifestyle have been complementary to each other and a real blessing for me. ;)