Female Health & Raw Foods Question

[tweety]

I think this is the right forum to post.... so hopefully this doesnt get moved ;)

I was diagnosed with Endometriosis 5 years ago and was on BCP for a while.
It helped with the pain and "regulation" although it is synthetic.

Now that I stopped taking this medication about 1 year ago and doing raw foods more religiously over the past 2 months, Im hoping to see improvements with this condition and release toxins that complicate my monthly cycle and balance hormones and mood swings.

If you had problems before, have you noticed a difference in your menstrual cycle after going raw?

im on that cycle right now and my energy was so shot over the weekend and had some bad cramps, but im forcing myself to keep with the green smoothies and had some raw apple pie to help with the cravings.

Im hoping to see more improvement for the next month.

Any testimonies on here?

Tweety

[tweety]

argh! im such a dodo bird! im using the banana right now :D

[laurabfig]

I've been meaning to post about this topic. I've always had terrible menstrual cramps, as long as I can remember. I would always crave chocolate around my period and indulge in it, which probably made my cramps even worse.

This past cycle was my first cycle having been 99% raw for the entire month. I did still crave sweets, which I satisfied with raw date brownies. :) I had NO cramps. A little low back pain that was relieved with some gentle yoga. It was very strange though, on the day when I would normally have had really bad cramps, I had a blinding headache instead. This could have been due to dehydration since I did realize that day I had not had enough water, but it was just really wierd to me. I'm looking forward to this next cycle to see what kind of changes occur.

I'm also interested to hear from women who have had endometriosis b/c i have several friends who have really bad endo.

[elian]

I didn't have endrometriosis, but I have been MAJORLY irregular all my life (I'm 32). I wouldn't have periods for 4-6 months at a time. Last year when I finally had a menses it would last a month. Anyway, fast forward to raw foods (I began last Feb). The months I stayed 75-100% raw, I started to have a almost regular cycle. I also would be more calm all the time. In December I became pregnant with my second (we had been trying for 5 years).

Good luck. RAW food will help you body normalize and heal itself.

Elian

[tweety]

Hi Laura,
From what I've seen in general and life and on here and other message boards, endometriosis is something that basically plagues most American women.

Other archives seem to state that the more raw you go, the more cramps you get from toxin release but should subside after the body is cleansed.

I think it would be an interesting to see an analysis of menstrual blood and what toxins are present in women diagnosed with endometriosis. I was thinking about this yesterday and well, your cycle is a sort of waste elimination process anyway...

I am finding the GS do help with cravings and keeping up iwth the Green Juicing.
I noticed that I overate this weekend and the only junk I ate was a Haagen Daas chocolate ice cream but that was it. Raw apple pie helped also, but for me i am finding the key is to stay as natural and raw as possible and my faith in this way of eating is growing.

I never thought I would find myself on the path of becoming a Raw Vegan even though I am not there yet. I have decided to stop eating typical toxic meats unless they are wild game or wild caught.

Tweety

[Lay-Lay]

My female issues were getting better on raw and they have returned since falling back into past eating habits. I am hoping to regain my female health again soon, now that I am back in the lifestyle.

[hippiechick704]

No more premenstrual migraine! This is the biggie for me.

No more cramps!!!!

Shorter menstruation time from start to finish!!!

[laurabfig]

I never thought I would find myself on the path of becoming a Raw Vegan even though I am not there yet.

Tweety

I was laughing as I read this b/c I JUST said this to my husband last night! I was the LEAST likely person to be eating this way...an omnivore to the core...or so I thought!

[chilove]

YES! I used to have horrible problems with my hormonal levels. I had too much estrogen and not enough progesterone. I frequently had periods that lasted for months. Not fun. After going raw my periods became regular and became less painful, shorter and lighter with much, much less PMS. YAY!!! I love raw!

All the best,

Audrey
www.rawhealing.com

[tweety]

Hey Laura,
Yeah I'm originally from Texas (live in Cali now) and I was raised on ribs and country fried steak, mashed taters and homemade ice cream.

now i eat like a bunny!

BIZARRE!!!

[GreenJB5]

Hi tweethy

I have suffered with endometriosis for the past 12 years so I know your pain very well. During that time i notice that the pain was light when I did a three day juice fast. So this has motivated me into researching about raw food. Right now I do not have good news to provide. Since going raw the symptoms have gotten worst. So i am thinking the toxic is releasing. Prescription med could not help the pain. So I have decided to give them up. I survived last month without them :). I have been taking everyone advice: green smoothies, magnesium, and raspberry tea. Let's keep each other posted.

PS. I was drinking the Dong Quai Tonic by Yogi Tea ( you can get at wholes food) That helped a lot with the pain. Plus I slept like a baby. I did a research on Dong Quai and found it can be toxic to the system. Have you about this

[tweety]

Hi tweethy

PS. I was drinking the Dong Quai Tonic by Yogi Tea ( you can get at wholes food) That helped a lot with the pain. Plus I slept like a baby. I did a research on Dong Quai and found it can be toxic to the system. Have you about this


Yogi is a good tea distributor IMO but if you can get loose leaf that is preferred.
I havent heard of it being toxic to the system and I have never had any ill effects from it. Where did you find this?
If someone said it is toxic, then i would question their definition of what toxic means. I've heard the same for Kava Kava but use sparingly on most homeopathic remedies...
In prescription drugs they isolate active chemicals in plants/herbs and create synthetics. This is how cocaine was made from cocoa leave and herion/opium from poppy plants, etc.. well we all know this pretty much but i just find it all fascinating.
The Germans were masterminds of science and drugs (ie. Bayer, used to contain opiates I believe in the early 20th century).
http://opioids.com/timeline/index.html

Dong Quai seems to work for me. There is another natural remedy called "Cramp Bark" it seems to work ok.

I hope you feel better!!! Keep up with the hot baths, heating pads. Another method, something that people dont really talk about, are too embarrased or just dont know which is totally effective... i find that bad menstrual cramps can be soothed by a bit of vibrational massage. yes. it works and does not require drugs!!