Just told my mom about raw. Need advice!!

[barose]

I've been 100% raw almost two months and I still haven't told my mother, really. We are not especially close so it not like she would notice since I haven't seen her for about a month or two prior to going raw.

I was on the phone with her the other day and she was asking me how my diet have been lately. I told her "I'm eating closer to a raw vegan diet." Note, I didn't tell her I was 100% raw vegan:o . And she got on the "make sure you have enough protein" route and so on. She wants me to start eating beans and rice (together) and other "complete proteins". She knows I absolutely hate beans from early childhood on, but I did tell her I eat sprouted chickpeas - which is true; nuts, seeds avocados and other foods that has protein. She's skeptical and feel that I can ruin my kidneys eating this way.

The thing is, since going raw my urine has been unusually strong smelling no matter how much water I drink so her advice does have me a bit worried. I thought it was detox, but I'm not so sure after this long. Since day one 100% raw, my urine has been very strong. I did NOT tell her about that.

On the protein thing, I don't know how to respond. I just told her I "get enough" and I feel I do. I'm not sure how else to respond. :confused:

The kidney comment advice have me worried because of the stench of my urine lately. Help!

[FirstGarden]

Barose - One thing that would help is to start accumulating books on raw/vegan diet. Especially those written by M.D.s - there are quite a few out there. Most everyone who does not understand our beliefs and convictions do put faith in the word of doctors. ;)

Many books can be had new or used on on Amazon.com.

Blessings

[barose]

My mother is a pediatric RN (has been a nurse for 36 yes) and do NOT trust doctors for the most part, LOL - mostly because she knows the medical industry more than most people do. Not sure if the books would help--but its a start.

[garden granny]

are you taking any vitamin or supplement, that would be a cause of the smell. I started taking a multivitamin not long after going raw and that happened to me, when I stoped taking it, everything was normal again. Just a thought.

[barose]

are you taking any vitamin or supplement, that would be a cause of the smell. I started taking a multivitamin not long after going raw and that happened to me, when I stoped taking it, everything was normal again. Just a thought.

Not really. I do take vitamin B complex about once or twice a week and sometimes cinnamon, but thats it. I've been taking supplements less and less and only use them on a as needed basis. There have been weeks that I've taken nothing and my urine remained the same. My urine is still its normal color, it just smells. I don't eat asparagus or anything else that would cause it.

[Rawkinlocs]

Barose,

You know that although 3 months raw is GREAT and longer than many have done it, compared to how long you've NOT been raw, it's still not very long at all. If you are concerned about your kidneys, my advice to you is to go and have them checked out. You don't have to go into details about being raw vegan or close to it, etc. but just tell them you'd like to have it checked out because of the smell.

But in all truth and honesty...just like when I first went raw, it was a few months before I got energy, it was few months of me RETRACING yeast infections (used to get 'em chronically before raw, had a few of em after being raw) before I was finally FREE from them and never got one again! What's my point? There could have been something going on with your kidneys before you went raw that you had no idea about but you went raw just in the nick of time before it progressed into something worse and now, your VERY WISE body is getting the chance to finally be able to clean those kidneys out and heal them and perhaps THAT is why the strong smell. I know I'm speculating here, but it IS a possibility. We don't know what goes on inside our bodies until something happens. So, the smell could be a good sign or a bad one and you have one of two choices to make - either trust your body and this "diet" or trust what the medical industry tells you and again, go get it checked out - OR... simply go get it checked out and THEN solve the root cause by natural means as opposed to taking meds, etc.

Mom is concerned just as most people who have come to believe in the "protein myth".

Also, you said that you went a period without taking the B supplements and cinnamon and nothing changed...how long? Was it really long enough to get ALL of the supps out of your system?

[Rawkinlocs]

I wanted to add one other thing, I have heard of a lot of things people say eating raw will cause problems with - teeth, b-vitamin deficiency, etc. but I've NEVER heard of it causing problems with kidney. But I'll tell ya what I HAVE noticed - more and more people with renal failure who AREN'T eating a raw diet! I can name 3 people in my family who are currently on kidney dialysis and they are no where NEAR eating raw.

Oh...and more on that protein-thing...read the info here:

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=27947
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=3296

[belleadonna]

It's excess protein that causes kidney problems, not excess raw!! You may be dehydrated. That can cause a strong urine smell.

Urine odor Potential medical causes
Strong ammonia smell - Not enough fluids, dehydration
Foul smelling -Bacterial infection of the kidneys or bladder
Sweet smelling -Uncontrolled diabetes
Musty smelling -Liver disease; phenylketonuria, a rare, inherited metabolic condition
Maple syrup smell- Maple sugar urine disease, a rare, inherited metabolic disorder

[hypnocmt]

Barose,

Just my take on things, but I would probably go and get a work up. Years of having an ED, and in my case taking stimulant appetite suppressants, and laxatives did a number on my liver and I am sure my kidneys...adrenal burn out baby. I had all the signs!

If you get a good handle on what may be going on, (And I like to combine western and eatern diagnosis to get a clearer picture of the physiological and bioenergetic connect), you can figure out a means of healing which makes sense w/in your chosen health.wellness profile.

The kidneys are your storehouse of what the Chinese call Jing, or reproductive and essential, inherited life force energies. Does that seem interesting to you, given your PCOS symptoms and other issues in your reproductive health/history?

If I could find a doctor wh dealt in both western and chinese medicine, that's be my first stop. There's bound to be tons in your area with all the inegrative med. clinics around.

Be well!

[barose]

Thanks for the advice. Most days I drink a LOT of water (over 100 oz/day) but some days I could be drinking more. I will get a workup done...currently ISO of a new doctor, but also switching insurance companies (oh joy!). I will give this a few more weeks and go in if it persists. I don't have any pain in my kidneys or pain urinating so at least thats positive.

[hypnocmt]

If you're drinking alot of water in addition to the smoothies and juicy fruits, I wonder...

Do you still feel thirsty even with all that fruit? Cause when you factor that in, 100 extra ounces of water is quite a bit.

That makes me think of an electrolyte imbalance...which could really be influencing your kidneys, and in TCM, your reproductive energy flow.

What are your thoughts?

[barose]

If you're drinking alot of water in addition to the smoothies and juicy fruits, I wonder...

Do you still feel thirsty even with all that fruit? Cause when you factor that in, 100 extra ounces of water is quite a bit.

That makes me think of an electrolyte imbalance...which could really be influencing your kidneys, and in TCM, your reproductive energy flow.

What are your thoughts?

Yes, some days I am pretty thirsty (indoors, desk job and all), not just on the days I run. Lately, I've been into young coconuts and that has helped, especially after working out. Not sure what else to do.

[hypnocmt]

Maybe research supplements...

When I started supp'ing my magnesium, it was dramatic. Cleared up heart palpitations, inexplicable panic attecks (really surges of adrenaline and heart racing), migraines, high blood pressure, constipation, cramps in my neck... Just one little deficiency that no doctor thought to check! Cst me all of $30 to fix what I had been visiting docs for over 6 mos.

Calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium are like your electrical supply company. Very important for ALL metabolic health, yet surprisingly cheap to supplement!

Just one area to investigate...

[Shirleyh]

I agree with the other post about protein makes a strong urine. Also high b vitamins makes a strong urine. You are taking spirulina which has alot of protein.

It seems like your mother and you arent that connected, except for doctors which is a good thing. The differences is law of equal opposite. I wouldnt try to convince her too much, and accept it. Hopefully, the universe can make it peaceful or just accept the way it is. You need to like raw for yourself.