My stomach hurts tonight...

[maraw]

What is going on here? I feel awful. My stomach is burning and feels horrible. I had a wonderful raw meal for dinner, and then a raw macaroon after and BAM! This happens. This is only my 3rd day of 100% raw. I want to stay on, but my body is really craving bread - and drinking water seems to make it worse. If I go to bed, I will just lay there in discomfort.

Anybody out there that have an idea of what is going on? My husband thinks it is the honey in the macaroon that is bothering me. :(

[VeganVixen]

I had HORRIBLE stomach pains when I began, I was doing the uber gourmet nut based stuff (I have no gallbladder and thought well since its RAW fat i'll digest it, right? WRONG!) so I do stay away from high fat stuff. It also could be all the fiber, or maybe youre eating more than usual.....it could also be gas.I would stick with the raw, but if you really want bread than try an organic whole sprouted wheat.

hope this helps

[RawTruth]

I personally can't eat much raw gourmet concoctions that are made with nuts. Were the macaroons made only with coconut and honey ... or did they contain nuts also? I get a similar feeling with honey, also. That's why I switched to agave nectar (well, also because I wanted to be raw vegan).

Another thing to consider, MaRaw, is that you may be detoxing already.

Certainly, your bread cravings are your body going through withdrawals. It may help to look at those urges that way; cooked food is addicting and, when we go off of them, our bodies cry out for them no differently than if we were going off tobacco or alcohol or caffeine. None of those are healthful, but people trying to kick those habits yearn for them and have actual physical withdrawals. Same for cooked food.

So, you're doing great. The things you're experiencing aren't bad - in fact, they're positive. They show that your body is clearing out the toxins. It's just uncomfortable when that happens.

Have you considered keeping your food more simple and avoiding "raw gourmet" items for a while?

[Revvell]

Well, let's start with what this wonderful raw meal was. Not enough information to comment.

Revvell

[maraw]

I guess I should have said what I had for dinner, or really the whole day. And now that it is morning, I am reflecting on what all I did and ate. I started the day with the juice of 10 carrots and one apple. Then for lunch I had alfalfa sprouts and avocado with a lime and cilantro salsa that I made. Later in the day I had a banana and then, and this is the kicker, I had two almond butter balls (lot of honey in those). Went to the grocery store with my older two daughters and I noticed my stomach didn't feel so great then. It went away though. Then for dinner I had the same yummy salad I had for lunch except I added lettuce to it. Oh, yeah, and I had some asparagus that I marinated in Bragg's and cider vinegar. Then, about an hour later I had the macaroon which is raw coconut, honey, vanilla and dates. Just after that was when my stomach started to really hurt/burn. It wasn't heart burn or anything like that. This was lower in my stomach and it was really uncomfortable. I think now it may have been the honey. I gave the last macaroon to my son (who loves them BTW) and I won't be preparing food with honey again for a while. I will see how it goes from here. Honey has never really bothered me in the past, but it may be that now I can't eat is easily anymore. That's OK. I prefer to "cook" with slower metabolizing sweetners anyway. I just ordered some agave nectar online and am looking forward to trying it.

Thanks for your help everyone. BTW, I didn't eat bread. I just went to bed. Day 4 and going strong! Can anyone recommend gentle digesting foods that I should be focusing on? I know bananas are good, and probably avocados, but what else is there?

Again, many thanks.

[tracyinfo]

Can anyone recommend gentle digesting foods that I should be focusing on? I know bananas are good, and probably avocados, but what else is there?

Again, many thanks.

Easily digested fruits are all kinds of melons and bananas. In my opinion, all fruit is easy to digest, but those are the easiest.

Green lettuce leaves are also easy to digest.

Blessings.

[VeganVixen]

yes, malon is GREAT ,bananas are hard for me, I think its the fat content.........oranges are very good

[RawTruth]

It seems as though, right now, your body isn't liking recipes that are combinations of nuts, nut butters, dates, or honey. Mine has reacted similarly from time to time, especially when I first went raw. You may be able to eat them alone -- not mixed together (which is the way you'll likely end up eating after several months, anyway ... ). Or, you might want to just avoid desserts for a few days and see what happens.

Green leafy veggies, in fact all veggies, and fruits are all easy to digest. Also, have you considered adding some greens to your morning juice or smoothie (Victoria Boutenko suggests 60% fruit, 40% greens) to get a head start on your daily greens.

Hoping tomorrow has no upsets for you!

[maraw]

What greens should I add to my smoothie? Ideas? suggestions?

And thank you. Yesterday was a MUCH better day. No sweets, and I made much simpler food. I felt great too. I am really beginning to think it may have been primarily the honey. Although having said that, my stomach does feel a little more sensitive than usual. I woul really like to learn more about green smoothies when you have a chance.

Thanks for all the wonderful help!

[Tanja_swe]

Here's a great thread about green smoothies, I think I might have to try one myself too :)
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2390

[maraw]

Thanks! Can't believe anyone else is online at this time of morning. My one-year-old couldn't sleep (at 4 a.m.) Now she's back to sleep and I am wide awake!

I will check out the thread now. Again, many thanks!

[Tanja_swe]

:) Well it's 2pm here in Vienna at the moment so I'm not such an early bird after all.

Let me know if you try any of the green smoothies and what you think of them, I'm thinking of trying them myself but... to be honest... hmmm... I'm a bit sceptic :P

[Revvell]

Our favorite smoothie ~ Orange juice, a 'nana, some strawberries and a few kale leaves. We've also made green smoothies using apples, pears and kiwi. Just cut (peel the kiwi), throw them in the blender and add the greens. Maybe not as many as we use until you get use to it. Chard is good also.

Revvell

[VeganVixen]

::::::LOVES dino kale!::::::: :p

[RawTruth]

Let me know if you try any of the green smoothies and what you think of them, I'm thinking of trying them myself but... to be honest... hmmm... I'm a bit sceptic :PWhen Victoria Boutenko handed out her essay on green smoothies and served some to us at a talk in February, I was definitely skeptical. Not of the nutritional advantages of them; she'd eloquently proven that. Just the thought of green. And I was used to smoothies being sweet tasting. But, I went ahead and tried it ... trusting Victoria. And, I'm won over. I started out slowly with just a little spinach, then increased it daily. Sometimes, I try a leafy green that just doesn't work (the other day, I dumped half of the morning's smoothie), but I just chalk it up to experience and don't use that one again. I definitely recommend them. It's a good way to get in all the greens that we need -- especially kale.

As I've posted elsewhere, Victoria says the best proportion is 60% fruit with 40% green. The simplest, yummy, green smoothie is a pear, a mango, and spinach leaves with some pure water. I often add a leaf or two of kale along with or instead of the spinach. Also, I sometimes toss in some powdered wheat grass, but only because I bought a $22 bottle from a really good saleswoman!!

Good luck -- give it a try.

And ... use Search on this forum; there's been lots posted on this subject.