help! My hands and feet are SO COLD!!

[musicbebe]

Hi everyone!

Okay, I know it's winter and I know I am real new to raw foods and should just give it some time for my body to adjust, but lately I've had a really bad case of cold hands and feet. I've heard that acid foods are "warming" and I have drastically reduced my consumption of them. Do I need to eat more of something? I can be bundled up in my house (which is at 68 degrees) with socks and sweaters on and still I am so COLD--10 times as much in my feet! This has only gotten bad since I started on raw foods. Any advice?

[StarFire]

I've been adding cayenne to my water, to my lemonade, to any thing I'm taking in!!! it is very warming - and it is also alkaline to your body - so that's a good thing!!!

this phase will pass (thankfully!!)....

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/freezinsmile1.gif ... hang in there!

[musicbebe]

Would Jalepenos work in place of cayenne? I have a zillion jalepenos from my garden this past year, but I'd have to go to the store for cayenne. Would it be fresh or dried cayenne and how much?

[Raspberry4]

You can use ginger, cinnamon, cayenne, jalapenos - add to food to help 'warm' you. Start with a small amount and increase only to what you can tolerate of taste. I am with you on the cold - I have on 2 sweaters and sweat pants and my house is at 68 - 70 degrees! Oh geez - but I much prefer to stay raw then eat the cooked sad in order to 'warm up'. Good luck to you - hopefully you won't be needing the hat, scarf, and gloves in the house !;)

[KindnessToAllCreatures]

I've also read that sprinkling cayenne powder in one's socks or shoes is helpful. I haven't actually tried it, though. If it helps warm the feet, I wonder if it wouldn't also warm the hands as the capsicum in hot peppers is known to improve circulation.

Please keep us posted of your results, whatever you choose to try!

[angelulu]

Good ideas...I am super cold too!
I am not used to my house temp being so low (68-70 F).
I was lucky when I lived in Singapore last year because my hands and feet NEVER got cold. Now in San Fran, I am cold allll the time. (Except when I am in the HOT yoga room.) Thanks for the tips! :)

[rawstrength]

I've had cold hands and feet since I was twelve, and it got worse when I went raw and then better.
I was diagnosed with having Raynaud's syndrome, which is basically just poor circulation to the hands and feet. Hormonal imbalances can worsen Raynaud's, so maybe your change in diet has changed your hormones and is causing your Raynaud's to flare up. For example, I have had Raynaud's my whole life, but didn't notice symptoms until I hit puberty. If you have Raynaud's then maybe eating some maca and coconut oil would help you out.

[trinity082482]

Foods high in iron are helpful for poor circulation. I get it too. Spinach and flax seeds and banana's are helpful. Also taking a really hot bath and then bundle your self up and it will keep you warm for hours. My hands use to get so bad I would wash dishes just to keep my hands under hot water.:o

[RowanC]

Layer, layer, layer... lots of layers.

It's the only way I can stay warm!

[raw_danceruk]

As much clothes as possible!!

I am sitting here in 6 items of clothes, boots and socks!!

Painfully cold at the moment with the mornings getting cooler and cooler.. but stick with it :o

[Teebag]

Exercise helps me to stay warm. Gets the blood flowing and cranks up the metabolism. My favorite exercise is to jump on a rebounder first thing in the morning. Then I reward myself with a green smoothie.

Tee

[mel_s12]

It's pretty interesting that before raw food, I had that problem. I don't feel cold at all. Maybe your body just needs time to adjust?

[ShelShel]

Ok, first...go take a really hot bath. :o I went through this the first year I went raw and lost 64 pounds before winter started up. Once winter was here...I was dieing. Now...after a whole year at this weight...I'm pretty good. I still have to wear a couple layers and socks at all time, but I'm comfortable...I'm not freezing.

Maybe like me it will just take your body a little while to adjust to the climate. Raw (((HUGS)))

[eatyourbroccoli]

what helps me with this .. and just being cold in general during cold weather .. is the addition of warming spices to my diet. mainly cayenne, curry, and ginger. definitely ginger. these help circulation

[Frugal Raw]

I have found that cooked foods really DON'T warm me up at all, so I don't think this is a food issue, personally. Layer up and move about as much as you can:D I also use LOTS of peppers in my raw food and sometimes ginger as well.

[dalimeindacoconut]

You may want to get your blood checked as cold hands and cold feet are a sign of anemia which means all you have to do is add more raw food into your diet to combat this ie: greens, spinach and the like.

[tvillemom]

Ok, maybe I'm strange, but I like to take a hot shower, and then rinse with cold water. When I get out, instead of feeling the cold air, everything feels warmer, and when I get dressed, I actually feel quite warm. I've also heard that alternating between cold and really warm water for a few minutes gets your blood really circulating. I stay dressed in a couple of layers during the day, and keep moving. I find when I sit around, I get cold more often!

Good luck....I know, when I go to my MIL's house, I have to remember to wear warmer clothes all the time because they keep it colder in their house than I do. It's amazing how much difference a couple of degrees can make! (sometimes I sneak and turn up the thermostat 1-2 degrees just for an hour, to warm up the house alittle, then turn it down.:o )

I've noticed that this winter (after being on and off raw for over a year) I'm not as cold this year, even after our temperature has dropped below freezing in the morning!


Good luck, waiting for summer:p

[unbent]

My understanding is that cayene improves the circulation of blood moving away from the heart and ginger improves the circulation of blood moving towards the heart. There are several videos on youtube.com that show how to make tinctures that include the two ingredients which can be taken throughout the day to help improve circulation. There are a lot of other health benefits of both cayene and ginger whether used together or separately.

Andy

[River Mom]

I've been adding cayenne to my water, to my lemonade, to any thing I'm taking in!!! it is very warming - and it is also alkaline to your body - so that's a good thing!!!

this phase will pass (thankfully!!)....

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/freezinsmile1.gif ... hang in there!

Ya, now you live where???? Hawaii,,,
How cold could you be? Now this made me Laugh. Thanks StarFire.

Rm
Ps
It gets 60 below with wind chill in Nebraska.

[angelulu]

This is when I go to a nice, hot, and toasty, Bikram Yoga class and get my internal temperature rising and my blood pumping.
After the class when I am walking home (even with wet hair) I am warmer than I had been for the rest of the day.
Maybe that is why I became a Bikram Yoga teacher...so I could work in a 110 F room! :p
I loooove the heat!