My inner monkey & potassium

[ashabean]

For the first time in a long time I have had a case of cystitis coming for about 3 days, and so I am sipping my 4th raw cranberry, blueberry and aloe smoothie, and wondering if it could be linked to an over consumption of banana's.

I know Bananas contain lots of potassium, and I read somewhere that potassium (in large quantities) can be bad for your kidneys.

I don't chow down excessive Bananas, but I certainly have between 2-3 a day in my smoothies, and this is EVERYDAY for the last few months.

There has always been a nagging concern in the back of my head that I should be cautious about too many of those lovley 'Nanans as many years ago I was prone to numerous kidney infections.

Does anyone think there could be a link?

I am about 80-95% Raw, and have been for a few months now.

My other concern is that it was brought on my laspes in rawness yesterday when after a very BAD day at work I indulged in pizza (yes my throat is still raw!) and 2 bottles of woodchucks cider (yes I regret it all!!!!) :( But I could feel this coming on days before.

Sorry this is long and rambling, I don't post often, so I guess I am making up for it now ;)

It is probably most likely the bad food/alcohol but my gut says it is Nanana's, but my inner monkey doesn't want to believe that!!!!!!!

Thanks for everyone and anyones time!!!

Beanie girl

[sachis2112]

Potassium, I believe, needs to be balance with sodium. How's your salt intake? I started adding salt when I learned this.

[Revvell]

Pizza and cider and it MUST be the bananas? Hmmm. Having a hard time believing that one myself.

I do believe there's enough sodium in pizza to balance out any potassium imbalance. How about doing an experiment? Stop the bananas and see what happens?

Quite simple, isn't it?

If that doesn't work, try stopping the cider and pizza. Not quite so simple, eh?

((((( hugs )))) to you. You'll figure it out when you're ready to.

Injoy ~

Revvell

[Daisy]

Maybe add some celery juice to your smoothies. The natural sodium would balance the potassium, maybe?

[ashabean]

I never said it MUST be the bananas!!!!!! I said my gut feeling is that it is linked to increased potassium.

As I explained I was getting the symptoms DAYS before I was stupid and indulged, and my gut says it is just coincidence.

Of course I realize that it reads like I can't make the really obvious link, but I believe you should listen to what YOUR body tells you.

I just wanted to see if anyone had heard of a link between kidneys and postassium.

I don't *normally* have salt, except what mother nature provides in her gifts, and I never really have. I try to celary daily, that contains salt doesn't it?

ashabean

[misslinda]

Hi Ashabean!

O
m sorry to hear that you were experiencing cystitis---I did some reading and I take it you have inflammation to the kidneys? Acute form? How have you been since the bout with it?

have you considered doing a juicing in the morning and abstain from solid food a few days to give your kidneys a break and cleanse?

Some helpful foods are melons (watermelon rind juiced is powerful), dandelion tea is cleansing and strenthens the kidenys and liver.

I 'd imagine if you kidneys are weak or disturbed---liver may likely be too as that is the info I almost always come across.


Please keep us informed!

To you health,
Linda ;)

[sachis2112]

Yes, celery daily would be very good. I'm not big on celery yet so I add a dash of salt once in a while. Depending on how much banana I eat.

I must mention that too much potassium is linked with adema (sp?); severe swelling in the lower legs, ankles and feet. But honestly, I don't know much about what it does to you internally yet.

[Sharon in Colorado]

I really don't think you need to be concerned about the bananas. Many raw foodists eat several bananas a day, even 15-20 in a sitting as a meal. They say that bananas are the perfect food. However, it depends who you talk to. There are certain raw foodists who have some kind of idea that any kind of sweet fruit is a hybrid and bad for you. I've heard that most fruits today are hybrids and there's nothing wrong with that either.

Bananas are your friend!

[sachis2112]

Oh, definately, bananas are everyone's friend!!! Notice how I recommended adding salt versus lowering banana intake. ;) Although I probably shouldn't... LOL I just know that I'm not willing to give up my bananas and I did get a little puffy around the ankles a couple weeks back so I added a dash of salt to something here and there.... But I've also seen some pretty severe swelling cases that are enough to make me believe you need to counter balance many things you eat.

[ashabean]

misslinda,
I actually picked up some water melon last night after I remembered someone mentioned here that I was good for kidney issues :•) I have a black and decker juicer - would this be strong enough to juice the rind?

I also have TONS of cranberries and blueberries :•)

I think a smoothie and juice fast is a really good idea, especially as it is the weekend!!!!

Would cucumbers be useful too? My instincts tell me they would be. I eat almost 1 eurpoean one a day (the really long ones) and so I might use them in a smoothie.

Thanks for your help everyone.

I really didn't want to give up my 'Nananas!!!!! They have become my morning kickstart!!!!

Your guys are all FAB!!!!!!!!
:)

[chilove]

are you making sure to only eat bananas that are totally ripe? you shouldn't eat them until they have some brown spots on them and no green left on them, otherwise they are too starchy and difficult to digest.

[misslinda]

Hey Ashabean!

I chop my watermelon pieces with seeds and rind and throw them into my jack Lalanne juicer.......I'm not real savvy on the different juicers but I think it's always safer to do smaller pieces. I fyour juicer handles chopped crunchy apples, I would say yes as long as the watermelon is chopped.


Your innermonkey is so RIGHT! I thought I had mentioned cucumber juice too! That is one of my favorites for kidneys. I don't get enough of cucumbers as they are $3/lb here in the organic market. lemons are great too.....liver,kidneys tissure rebuilder but for "some" reason, my body doesn't not welcome it as much as the melons and cucumber these days.

How did your cystitis go dormant until this last episode? Cranberries are wonderful--i'm not too familiar with blueberries and cystitis or any relation to kidney benefit but they do have nutrients that would serve a PLUS for your health. I'd even get a good helping of GREENS they rejuvenate the organs. My live and kidneys have gotten weaker lately so I haven't been able to eat much---juicing greens and fruits have been helpful.

Dandelion is awesome (cleansing and strengthening)if you can handle the somewhat bitter taste. I just stated not eating until after 12 pm to give my liver and kidneys (gallbaldder too--the motors of the body) a break from all the physical, mental insults.


BTW, fresh juiced apples have a diurectic effect that is beneficial for kidneys as they also breakdown the crystal toxins in them.

I sometimes get so focused on one organ that I start forgetting to "tend" the whole body.......balance is good as you will benefit from it. As my accupunctirist keeps warning me "worry and anxiety" weaken the kidney meridians.

Keep us informed. I would love to do a kidney/gallbaldder flush in the future with you if your up to that. I'm thinking close to the end of Summer. :) ;) :cool:

[ashabean]

Misslinda,
I want to thank you for your help, I did a juice 24 hours fast at the weekend, drinking only cranberry, cucumber, dandelion greens, blueberries, and aloe........ it tasted nasty, so I held my nose and chucked it down!!!!

I feel a lot better now.

My previous issues with kidney problems were some years ago, and after many anti-biotics (that never worked) I started drinking cranberry juice like crazy, then I started taking cranberry capsules, and it went away. For years after that I drank Cranberry juice EVERY day and took a cranberry capsule too.

Any time (before raw) that I had the twinges I would drink litres and litres of cranberry juice.

Those tart berries are AMAZING!!!!!!!!!

I also tried out corriander seed tea - that worked well too. Just boil them in water, very sweet, quite nice :•)

Thanks so much again for your help and knowledge.

have a beautiful happy shiney day

Ashabean

[AutumnBreezColordLeavz]

Blend FrozenBananas, pecan, and sea salt <----this is my most favorite treat!! Helps the raw blues you get in the beginning.