What physical ailments have you seen improving since going raw?

[alcor]

Hi

I am wondering about what other benefits people observed since going raw (other than weight loss and energy levels)? I cannot say yet that I noticed an increase in my energy levels.

My mom has diabetes, but I am reluctant to insist on upping the fruit intake because of the sugar. She also has high blood pressure. Not that she would follow my advice... This question is more to satisfy my curiosity. Thanks!

[codajess]

I was raw 32 days with no improvements anywhere. No weight loss, no glowing skin, no radiant eyes, no more energy, nothing.

I went on vacation. Not only did I slip. I fell, I bounced, and I rolled down the hill into the lake. and sank.
I fell back into cooked vegetarian for 5 days while in the hotel. Not only that, but had tons of dairy; which I haven't had since last year.

I'm now back to being raw now that I'm home. Back to the drawing board!

[Sharon in Colorado]

Yes there have been many diabetics who have controlled their illness through the raw food diet. It is quite amazing.

It is important to note that cooked grains and sugars are way higher on the glycemic index than fresh fruit.

Also note that combining fat or using too much fat in the diet will slow down the body's assimilation of sugars (carbs), causing blood sugars to rise too high for which insulin is needed.

So one thing to research and share with her is that fruit is not the enemy, and another is that fat should be taken in limited amounts and later in the day, not mixing with fruits.

You can look on any glycemic index and compare fruit to cooked grains and sweets, such as candy, and see that it is so much higher than fruit.

[vgloveforlife]

Lets see-Just a few minor improvements (I've been raw only 1.5 months): cellulite is mostly gone, my eyes are very clear and shiny, my hair is very silky and my skin is much smoother and softer.
I used to have candida/yeast (I'm not sure what it was exactly) and I have not noticed any symptoms for the last month.
My energy is more consistent and I can concentrate much better than ever before. I've suffered from Social Anxiety all my life and it has never been better on raw. I am much more social and confident. The increase in confidence is very noticeable to me.
All in all I feel great!

[MaddMelon]

My skin had been broken out very badly, as I had been on a psychotic binge prior to starting. My skin is healing, and my skin tone is evening out. I'm still dealing with acne, but it's healing...and it's only been 13 days. My skin is also moisturized. I have patches of scaly skin, even if there's oil sopping it- now I don't have any scaly patches anymore.
I have cellulite. *shakes fist at cellulite* Now that I'm on raw, I have seen improvement in it, some of the larger buldges have gone down.

I'm also down 13 pounds.

[JEN]

I have only been raw for 2 months but in addition to the energy; the dark circles below my eyes are almost totally gone, my joints are no longer aching, no more bloated tummy, I feel much lighter, lost 7 lbs, no more brain fog, very focused and the most important thing that has happened to me is I have become spiritually aware of my inner self. It is an amazing feeling.
Be 100% raw and you will see how amazing it is.

Love and Light
Jen

[swingbolder]

I've seen several benefits, but the main things for me have been an improvement in my asthma condition and insomnia. When I eat cooked food, I start wheezing within a few hours and have to use my asthma medication. When I stay raw, I breathe easily and don't have to use any meds.

I had insomnia for years and the only thing that has consistently helped is raw food, and I really don't know why. I understand why the asthma has improved (my lungs don't produce excess mucus on raw) but I'm stumped about the insomnia. All I know is that when I eat raw, I sleep like a normal person and wake up feeling like a million bucks. And if I slip up for like a day or two and eat cooked food, the insomnia comes right back. Go figure.

Also, the 3rd improvement I've seen is that I have healthy sinuses now. Previously, for years actually, I had to sleep with my mouth open bc my nose would always stuff up at night. I thought it was normal to have a clogged nose at night. But when I went raw, my sinuses improved pretty much immediately, and now I breathe easily through my nose all night long. Also, I used to get colds and sinus infections about 2-3x a year. The colds I always got from when I was a little kid, the sinus infections started about 10 years ago. Since I went raw in December '04, I haven't had one cold or one sinus infection. :)

Thanks for posting this thread, sometimes I forget about all the health problems I used to have and I start to take raw food for granted.

[Leiloshka]

Although it's not a health "problem", my period has decreased to two days and they aren't heavy at all. And just a touch of cramps or NO cramps. This to me is my raw miracle. I have had severe cramps each month since high school and had laser surgery for endometriosis after college. I had 5-7 days of flow with 3-5 of them being very heavy. But, NO MORE!!! This allowed me to stop the pill (and do away with those hormones) because I had been told I "had" to be on the pill to keep my periods from getting too heavy.

Yeah, whatever...just eat raw! {doing the happy dance} :D

[RowanC]

MUCH less bloating, less joint pain, less stiffness, more energy, brighter skin, clearer eyesight, fewer headaches (almost NONE), less brain-fog, and better circulation. :D

[rawandama]

no morning breath, no body odor, rosy red cheeks with defined cheekbones (NEVER BEFORE!!!), energy almost like a caffeine high (with no crash), sleeping well, brighter eyes, general feeling of well being. I am 34 weeks pregnant next Tuesday and I have gained 16 lbs, I feel wonderful!

[RawNut]

Hi,

Helen of Tennesse posted this about diabetes: http://www.rawfor30days.com/view.html

Personally, I've had my eyesight improve, which wasn't that bad to begin with but, I don't need reading glasses any more! I'm learning the difference between hunger and cravings.

RawNut

[codajess]

::tries to feign happiness instead of slight envy:: :p

[Shan]

Wow, I feel like my whole life has changed with being on Raw for only 37 days. I feel ALIVE!

*My mind is sharper... I can have a conversation without suddenly stopping and going "what was I saying?" which was normal for me before.

*My skin is clearing and complexion evening

*I've lost 15 lbs in 37 days

*My periods are lighter and shorter and no cramps...NONE.

*No headaches or dizziness

*After five years with my husband and I in separate bedrooms because he couldn't sleep because of my chainsaw-like snoring. He says he thinks I've almost totally stopped snoring. We may be able to share a bedroom again which would be a miracle to me!

*While my Candida symptoms flared in the first three weeks, they seem to have totally gone

*No joint pain

*No more 'vaginal discharge or smell- goodbye panty liner!

*No more bad breath

*My fingernails are stronger and actually growing without breaking for once.

*My energy has skyrocketed. I used to have to take a two hour nap with my toddler nearly everyday. I haven't had to take a nap since week two on raw!

*Intimacy with my husband has even improved and my pleasure heightened

Let's just say I'M CONVERTED! lol.

[blessed]

:p I have never had any body to my hair but now it has bounce and fullness.
I am overjoyed.
Also my legs don't pain me anymore and my knees don't ache when i bend down and i can walk up steps without pain.
Ann

[swingbolder]

Oh yeah, I forgot about the headaches. Used to get them 2-3 times a week, along with the occasional migraine before my cycle.

I no longer get headaches

[MendhiGrl]

I've been high raw for about a month, and 100% for the past 5 days. My acne is almost gone and my skin looks amazing, my heels and elbows are much softer and my heels are less cracked, I'm losing weight, and I feel much more in tune with nature and the natural world.

The other thing I noticed is that I walked right by the cake in the break room a day ago. I didn't want it at all. Didn't want it, didn't need it, wasn't tempted. (And I thought, "Who is this in my body????") :)

[Pailani]

Wow, I feel like my whole life has changed with being on Raw for only 37 days. I feel ALIVE!

Shan, I didn't realize you started the same day I did - this is day 37 for me, too!

I've lost a few pounds, I feel less draggy most of the time even without caffeine, and my skin isn't flaky anymore.

In the last year and a half, my joints have stopped being so stiff and my neck, which was so stiff and sore that it was getting hard to drive (because of turning to look at the traffic) is totally healed, not even a trace of that stiffness.

[Apasaraw]

I have MS and my symptoms of pain, muscle stiffness and "wobbles" as I call them had been getting worse. I eliminated gluten and improved! I found eggs stiffened my legs. They're out and it wasn't hard. Wheat and eggs go together in most of the foods I gave up anyway. We have always eaten fruit and veggies raw in my family and we had a nut farm growing up so I became raw by accident! Since I have been raw, my MS symptoms have lessened by 90%. If I continue raw I know it will be gone forever. My Mother thinks I never had MS just SAD and the Dr's are wrong. She still eats like she did in the old country (90%raw) and swears by it.

I sleep less and deeper. Satisfied upon waking.
Fatigue is gone.
My eyesight is better.
I tolerate the sun now.
My wobbles have vanished.
High BP gone after 4 years of meds
Mental focus is improved.
Skin and hair are awesome!
I lost 20 lbs in 3 weeks without noticing. (Dr. would like 20 more)

There is something to this...maybe it's just that I sleep now that has caused the improvements. But raw allows the sleep that heals...

Apasaraw

[Crystal Rose]

I'm 14 months raw and counting...

Here's my list which I'm sure is not all-inclusive. Almost more important to me are the changes in my mind, spirit and personality. But here are the physical improvements since being raw (most of which occurred pretty much right away -- two weeks to a month into being raw):

- No more heartburn
- No more constant bitter taste in my mouth
- Heart palpitations virtually gone
- No more burning in stomach
- Teeth improved (whiter and gums don't bleed anymore when brushing)
- Far more regular bowels
- No more bloating
- Monthly periods easier
- Skin has cleared up and looks significantly healthier
Little tiny "bumps" all over my body (skin) are GONE (I don't know what they were)
- Eyes are brighter
- Hair is thicker
- Nails healthier
- Not as sensitive to changes in temperature (weather) (hot/cold)
- Mind works better
- Allergies gone
- Sleep better at night, require less sleep, wake up feeling refreshed
- Energy more even and more of it
- Cravings for "bad" food gone
- Weight is stabilized for first time in life (from 140 to 115)
- Pain in left breast is gone

My commitment to the raw and living foods lifestyle grows more and more each and every day.

FYI: I just ran into a guy who I knew at the Optimum Health Institute when I was there 14 months ago. He had MS. He went through their 3-week program, then went back as a "Missionary" for 3 months. I ran into him recently and he has been TOTALLY CURED from his MS!!! Just thought I'd share that.

Thanks for letting me share and thanks for the great thread. :)

Blessings,
Ms. Vicki

[swingbolder]

Ms. Vicki,

Could you email me privately?

A lifelong friend has just been diagnosed with ms and has had no success with traditional doctors

swingbolder@yahoo.com

[Shan]

Shan, I didn't realize you started the same day I did - this is day 37 for me, too!


That's cool Pailani! We're Raw Sisters :) Isn't raw wonderful!