bruises appearing when I haven't bumped into anything

[konmai]

Hello!

Since going RAW & water fasting here & there, I get around 3-5 bruises on my legs. They're greenish. The thing is I don't remember bumping my legs into anything. So I'm wondering if this is detox or something I should be concerned about?

Please help me! I need some insights! :o

[karenbeel]

This is all part of the process the same thing happend to me, so I posted on the forum here and found out that this happend to others when they first went raw too. so don't worry, but I know it does make you wonder especially when you know you haven't bumped yourself. Take Care.
Blessings Karen

[vgloveforlife]

I think it's a defiency. It can be of many things such as iron, b12 etc. I would make sure to get a varied diet and take a b12 supplement.

[NuttyRawMom]

I had the same thing happen for a while, but when changing nothing diet-wise, they also went away as mysteriously as they appeared! I decided not to be concerned since they went away in about a week or so. If they don't go away, I would check into the deficiency issue.

[faith4u]

I had the same thing happen for a while, but when changing nothing diet-wise, they also went away as mysteriously as they appeared! I decided not to be concerned since they went away in about a week or so. If they don't go away, I would check into the deficiency issue.

I had exactly the same thing happen too.

Just wait it out a bit!

[Summerloco]

That's what used to happen to me all the time when I was anorexic (in recovery now), and I read it was due to an Iron Deficiency. I started taking an iron supplement, and it stopped happening. Now I just make sure to eat enough fods with iron like spinach, and I don't have to take a supplement.

[konmai]

So it could be detox or deficiency? Thank you all for the insights! :D

I'm still not sure what it is, but it has disappeared for now. I'll def. try to rotate my menu around just to see. :o

[vgloveforlife]

Spinach is NOT a good source of iron as it has oxalates which inhibit absorption. This applies to swiss chard and beet greens too. The best source of iron in a vegan diet is soybeans and tofu but obviously those are not used on raw. The next best sources are pinto and black beans and these are not used on raw either.
Now you can see why iron is not a concern on a vegan/vegetarian diet but it can be on a raw diet that eliminates most beans.

Good raw sources of iron are sprouted lentils, pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, tahini, sunflower seeds, cashews, figs, prunes, hemp seeds and pistachios. The list is very limited for really good sources.

Other medicore sources are kale, mushrooms, mung bean sprouts, almonds and apricots.

[kashendel]

I've got the same thing going right now....legs and arms! Very strange. I guess I'll do like everyone else and wait the course and see if they go away.

[vgloveforlife]

I'd just like to add that I took my daughter off of high raw because she was getting bruises everywhere on her body. I started adding cooked beans and tofu and now she is fine.
Everything can not be blamed on detox.

I think we as raw foodists should be really careful to get adequate iron.
Vitamin C is important as it helps your body absorb iron. I doubt vitamin C is hard to get on raw though.

[Lay-Lay]

no everything can't be blamed on detox, but when a large percentage of raw newbies are experiencing similiar sympotoms it is very possible it is. It is highly unlikely that they are ALL experiencing a defiency. I you are concerned it is one you could always go and get tested for one.

[rawlapalooza]

Yup my wife is experiencing the bruising too but I've been raw for longer than her and haven't had any bruising. I'm inclined to believe it's detox myself.

[vgloveforlife]

Iloverawfoods-
I don't think it's that unlikely that everyone(meaning a few people who have come foward with this problem) could be experiencing a defiency at all. Many people do. Iron is limited on raw foods and I think it's a legitimate concern. A high fiber diet and phytates can inhibit iron abosrption. A raw diet contains both of these (The effects of phytates are reduced by sprouting though).
I would not just blow it off as detox or ignore it and wait it out. Get more iron foods in now. Iron is so important.

[Lay-Lay]

I agree, and that is why I mentioned getting tested. I have iron in my drinking water and I am not concerned with it, but I know when I was a "real" newbie I had bruising so believe it was just detox. I had my iron tested not long ago and my levels were fine.

[rawnpawgirl]

What are the best souces of iron?

[vgloveforlife]

What are the best souces of iron?

I listed some up above. There are not many high sources on raw. Make sure to sprout your nuts, seeds and grains to lower the phytates which can hinder iron absorption.

[lissomllama]

Eat more iron-rich foods like fresh strawberries and pistachios. You don't need a suppliment, just eat more of what you need within a raw, vegan lifestyle. It takes YEARS to become deficient in B-12. I wouldn't worry about that if I were you. Getting some natural soil in your food is a good idea though.