Low protein

[Sitani]

Hey all......well was at the naturopath today.....my protein levels are at 15....not sure if that's a percentage......but she says that's really low.....(it has gone down a bit since on the raw diet....should be at 25.....I am feeling it too.....cut my finger bad today on the new vegi slicer thing......and it would not stop bleeding.....so the naturopath also thinks I am anemic.....as the low protein goes with anemia.
I am eating tons of greens, tons of seeds and nuts, she says I need beans.
I have lost 6 pds in 10 days....which is good.
Any suggestions.......I am one finger typing.....as my cut finger is bad....so, may have left some things out.
Thanks
Debra

[Revvell]

She "thinks" you are anemic? How did she find out you are "low" in protein? Blood test? Well, if she did a blood test, that would tell if you are anemic or not, no? And what is the protein "low" compared to whom? Most folk who overload on it?

Personally, I don't go by tests ~ by anyone.

Anyway, IF you are anemic, raw spinach is one of the best things for ya. Here's a lil recipe for iron ~ Dried fruits such as prunes and raisins. If you can find them w/out sulfites or other additives, soak some dried prunes (about 6), add a small handful of raisins ~ overnight. In the a.m., drink the juice, eat the fruit.

Dark leafy greens are one of the best ways to get and utilize amino acids which are the basis for protein. Thing is, what folk don't understand is what we "need" are amino acids, NOT protein. IF protein were the answer then, why do bodybuidlers and other athletes eat so much meat? Because they have to break it all down into amino acids, which then can be utilized as protein by the body. ALL natural fruits, veggies, seeds, nuts and grains contain protein. IF you are eating fresh of the above, there is no way you can possibly be low in protein.

Check out Alissa's thread on protein...and also, click on the 'nana above and click in protein and/or iron.

Revvell

[Sitani]

Thank you Revvell.....for all the advice. The naturopath has a scale that tells your weight, fat percentage and some other readings.....she calculates the protein levels from this. And I have been very tired. Very tired tonight as this cut bled for several hrs. It was deep. I do eat all fresh and organic vegis and fruit....as well as organic nuts and seeds.....So I was at a loss too as to how to get my protein up.....I told her I would try the sprouted hummus.....although I have yet to figure out how to sprout them......same as any sprout I imagine. Also I do eat a lot of Bragg liquid aminos, which I know is not raw now.......so do wonder how I am indeed low on the protein. I will buy more spinach tommorow when we go to town. I eat tons of raisins (sulphite free)....and some dates (had rawvioli last night).....my protein levels were low when I was eating organic red meat.....so don't know what's up with it at all....she tells me my injuries cannnot heal without adequate protein. My naturopath is a vegetaran by the way.....she is not however in favor of a raw diet year round. I am hoping to convince her othewise......she is very good....very teachable.

Thanks
Debra

[PixieGreen]

Debra, are you eating enough fats? I know what the party line is but we *need* fats to live. Make sure you soak your nuts to make sure you absorb all the goodies within. I'm sorry you aren't feeling well. I'm sending healing energy your way. :)

Christa

[Sitani]

Hey Christa.....ya I'm doing all that, love those nuts soaked.....usually pick a recipe the day before or whatever and soak all I need for it.....but I keep some almonds soaked for munching all the time.
Thank you kindly for your well wishes...much appreciated

Debra

[Rawkinlocs]

Hi Sitani,

Not knowing what you eat on a regular basis, I am going to go out on a limb and say that perhaps you need to eat more greens and quite possibly, do a lot of green smoothies (do a search using the icon at the top with the banana and type in "Green Smoothies" or "Ode to Green Smoothies") with LOTS of greens in it for a while. We often look for sources of high protein when in fact, we need to be looking for sources of amino acids that help the body create protein our bodies can assimilate.

If you read this article on protein (http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3708) (click on the words "article on protein" to view it) that Alissa posted you'll see what I mean. Here is a blurb from that article (which is an excerpt from her book):

==============
"Protein does not create protein in your body. Amino acids create protein in your body. And the best source of amino acids are leafy green vegetables.

When you eat meat, fish, or chicken, you’re not getting as much protein as you think you are. Take chicken, for example. Say there are 20 grams of protein in a chicken breast. Once you cook it, you destroy half the protein. Now your body has to digest and assimilate this heavy, dense source of 10 grams of protein, that will take up to 100 hours. How much do you think is getting stuck in your body as toxic waste by the time it reaches your colon? How much protein from a cooked chicken breast will you actually get? Maybe a few grams, if you’re lucky.

When I speak to bodybuilders and athletes about this, they often insist that animal protein is the best protein available. If it’s such a good source, why do they need so much of it? Some of my bodybuilding friends feel it necessary to eat large portions of meat with each of their six daily meals!

Many green vegetables are excellent sources of high quality protein. A bowl of uncooked greens or sprouts may only contain a few grams of protein, but you can digest and assimilate all of it because they still have all of their vitamins, minerals, and enzymes intact. This makes this protein far more useful to your body."
===============

Click here to read the rest! (http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3708)

[solarliving]

Here is some information I found in my books. I don't know if you eat most of these foods. If you do then something could be interfering with absorbtion.

Coffee, tea, milk, soy, tannins, zinc and manganese may reduce iron absorption while protein and particularly vitamin C enhances it. Vitamin A deficiency impairs iron mobilization and utilization in the body. Oxalic acid interferes with iron absorption.


Copper- Deficiency can cause anemia
Found in )Nuts/seeds - almonds, pecans, walnuts, filberts, brazil nuts, sesame, sunflower, pistachio, fruit, legumes (veggie sources

iron-deficiency can cause anemia
found in asparagus, brussel sprouts, cucumbers, garlic, onions, many other veggies, dried fruits and cerealsSpinach has a significant amount of iron, yet it contains oxalic acid also, which may make the iron difficult to absorb by the body.

Calcium- helps body metabolize iron. Calcium is a mineral that is no longer just for bones and teeth. It is also needed to maintain several bodily functions such as the clotting of blood, the transmission of nerve impulses, the regulating of our heart rhythm and the absorption of necessary vitamins such as B12.

All green, leafy vegetables contain calcium. Great sources are kale and collards, beets and turnip tops. Although spinach contains calcium it also contains an enzyme that makes it less easily absorbed by the body. Other good vegetable sources of calcium are dried peas and beans, such as lentils and chickpeas. Most fruits, also, contain calcium. Oranges are a good source as well as concentrated fruits such as prunes, dates and figs. Raw nuts and seeds also provide calcium. Raw sesame seeds are especially good sources and can be sprinkled on salads.

Vitamin K promote blood clotting.
The dietary sources for Vitamin K are easily obtained through a normal diet. alfalfa, green, leafy vegetables and in all of the root vegetables. You can also find dietary sources of Vitamin K in most fruits and seeds.


Megaloblastic anemia is the end product of deficiencies in the B vitamins folate, vitamin B12 (also called cobalamin), or both. Such deficiencies produce abnormally large red blood cells (megaloblastic) that have a shortened life span.

[Sitani]

Wow wonderful info....thanks.....I have been eating tons of greens, but will definitely look into the smoothies. This low protein did not start from being raw.....it is just getting worse. I drink no coffe, tea or the like described.....but interesting fact about spinach. I will definitely try the smoothies.....thanks so very much for all your work finding this info Solarliving, and thanks for the heads up on the smoothies Rawkinlocs. Will get tested again next week....will update. I'm on a mission.....lol

Sincerely,
Debra

[RawTruth]

Hi Debra,

I'm sorry you're not feeling well. I have a few thoughts on this subject, even though Revvell, Christa, Cheri, and solarliving have all provided you with such great suggestions.

First -- Have you considered that the tiredness may be your body detoxifying?

Secondly -- I can't help but be skeptical of the "low protein" label. Even though you like your naturopath, she may be wildly off on this. Like Revvell said -- low compared to what? to whom? And ... how is actual protein level tested? When? As for anemia, this is easily tested. Did she do an actual test for anemia? Your cut bleeding a lot seems a poor indicator of anemia. The reason I say this is that I was severely and chronically anemic for 20 years (shown by hemacrit testing), and I never had a problem with blood clotting.

If I am being too blunt or to confrontive, please forgive me. I don't intend to imply that you don't know what's going on. It's just that -- 1) you did ask for feedback, and 2) I have really strong feelings about health practitioners who are not fully informed about nutrition -- especially if they're not behind what you are doing in going raw -- and how they can influence someone so that they (you) end up feeling uncertain and in doubt about the wisdom that your body inherently has.

I wish you the best -- hopefully, the reading that the others have suggested will help you feel better about your diet. It sounds to me as though you are doing fabulously. I missed reading how long you've been eating raw, but, I'm really leaning toward attributing some of this to detoxing :o

[Sitani]

Hi all.....thanks for all the response. I was at the naturopath on Tuesday again and her testing showed my protein has actually gone up. I started doing the green smoothies daily (sometimes twice....yum)...she also told me that getting the protein up takes a while and I have been going in the right direction. So in other words.....your advice worked, and I thank you.
I have another issue at the moment, I've been 3 weeks raw and everything is tasting terrible......except the green smoothies that is. So many things that use to just make me sit and go mmmmmmm mmmmmmm this is so incredibly good.....just tastes yuk to me. I know it's me cus my husband is liking it all!
Is this normal, has anyone else experienced this. I keep thinking these recipes are a practical joke on me! I mean, the pesto stuffed mushrooms for example, I loved them, couldn't get enough. But the second time I made them, I didn't like them much at all.....is my taste changing.....I am having a hard time right now, craving roasted salted peanuts for example. Starting to think.....oh a little something won't hurt.....but haven't crossed that line yet.
Can't figure out what is going on......

Help
Debra

[Rawkinlocs]

Sitani!! Congrats on getting a good report from your Naturopath!

Yeah, the whole change-in-taste thing is common. I remember RawPriestess starting a thread in the recipe section dealing with this issue and a few others here have gone through it. Yeah...it was called "My tastebuds are fickle" or something like that.

It'll pass. Your body and your tastebuds make adjustments. This COULD very well be your body's way of saying, "Okay sister, let's just keep it nice and simple for a while here...no fancy-shmancy recipes...just good 'ole pure and simple fruits and veggies and stuff!"

Go with the flow, eat what you enjoy for now (the smoothies and any and all of your favorite fruits, veggies, nuts, etc.) and just keep it simple until your body and your tastebuds give you the go ahead to start back trying the more complex things! :D

[Sitani]

Thanks Rawkinlocs....it seems to always come back to keeping it simple.....strange for me.....who always tried out new recipes every week. I certainly have the energy to try all this new stuff......I get all excited bout it.....lol
Well I will keep it simple then, I am thinking if I could get a good raw dip (which I do have some recipes for) then I can just eat my vegis plain, make my smoothies (any limit on the amount of smoothies we drink? I could live on them!)....and of course my fruit and nuts. I have been adding different seeds to my smoothies, just enough to add a little extra.
It's actually a relief to go simple......remember that old rule.....KISS......LOLOL....
I'll have to find other avenues for my energy that don't require a lot of physical activity.....as my body is still in too much pain to do it.....if any of you pray out there....would appreciate it for the pain.

Thanks again

[deedub]

I never pass up an opportunity to pray. I would be honored to pray for you. Peace and Many blessings. :D

[Rawkinlocs]

Awww, I'm so sorry to hear you're in pain Sitani! I just sent a prayer up for you!

Yeah, my diet has been pretty simple as of late too and I DO love that...it's so much easier.

Do you draw or do any kind of artwork or crafts? Maybe you could expend your energy that way if you do. Or...still do your creative uncooking efforts in the kitchen, but for others! I don't know...just tryin' to brainstorm a little bit! :p

Oh...and drink as many of those delicious smoothies (green or otherwise) as you darn well please! They used to say milk does a body good...well WE know that green smoothies do a body good!

[swingbolder]

>>Is this normal, has anyone else experienced this.<<

The exact same thing happened to me! Everything suddenly tasted terrible, about a couple of weeks after I went raw. Except for my fruits, so I mostly ate those for awhile. Then the fickleness went away after a few weeks.

Must be a normal transition-type thing, since it seems to happen to so many of us.

[Sharon in Colorado]

Hi there - I haven't read all the responses but I just wanted to let you know, I've also cut myself on a v slicer and it bled for hours as well. I have high cholesterol and my blood is a lot thicker. When you cut a digit where your pulse is, I think it's gonna bleed like that no matter what.

Also, I don't know if anyone else mentioned this, but most of these charts are based on cooked/meat eaters. So you may want to search around the web and see if you can find protein levels for vegetarians.

Hope that helps.

[Smoothie]

HI guys,

I just wanted to let you know about these special gloves. I know those cuts can be terrible. My husband almost sliced the tip of his finger off. Anyway, they now have gloves too were when you use a sliceer. It's made out of special material and you can even run your finger over the blade and it won't cut. I got mine at Sur LaTab which is kitchen store, but I'm sure you can get them on line at any kitchen shop. The brand is C-Kure. I won't use my slice without it.

[Sitani]

Thank you all for the prayers and advice. My finger actually healed up remarkably well, considering my nurse friend said judging by the color of the blood that it was arterial! I credit this diet a lot for that. I just might look into those gloves Smoothie.....wow.....good idea...that's a bloody sharp blade! :eek:
Not sure if there is a misunderstanding bout my pain.....it wasn't my finger. It's due to a car accident 6 yrs ago, but I feel those prayers Rawkinlocs and deedub....honestly I do, this morning I woke up feeling pretty good, I usually am rushing for the pain killers and so far.....haven't had any :) .
And you know Rawkinlocs, I do actually paint.....haven't done it in so long, no inspiration....thanks for reminding me, I might just get back into it. Thanks for the boost.
So far this morning I have had some fresh squeezed grapefruit juice, going to have some cantelope, then my smoothie. Glad there's no limit.....LOL
Was thinking.....simple is a good way......can't really improve on nature can we. Last night after almost getting sick from the nacho cheese and flax crackers.....my husband peeled me an orange.......it was sooooo good!
So thanks again all.

[Revvell]

g'morning Sitani,

Just read all that's been written since my first reply.

In one post you said you'd like a good, simple dip. Here's one.

1 C. Cashews (can change for soaked sunflower if you'd rather)
1 C. Macadamias
Water as necessary to blend smoothly

To this, add any ingredients you care to including ~

Juice of 1/2 lemon
sodium of some type (Nama Shoyu, sea salt, Bragg's if you use it)
3 (or so) pepper corns
clove of garlic
parsley and/or cilantro

Blend.

IF you wish to make a fruit plate, eliminate the garlic and veggies, add some fruit for color ~ and more water to adjust thickness.

Also, my tastes have changed tremendously. Occasionally I'll create a "gourmet" type dish yet eat very little of it; OR go out with friends for a raw meal, yet, then I'll come home and have some raw fruit.

Someone brought up at a recent lunch at a raw restaurant that they found it intersting raw restaurants rarely just offer plain raw fruit.

Revvell

[Sitani]

Thank you so much for that dip recipe Revvell...I am so enjoying eating simple again...well probably for the first time in my life actually. I am loving it! One question, do you soak those nuts? I did read that the cashews have to be dunked in hot water or they are toxic?
As for a raw restaurant.....hahaha....nothing of the sort anywhere around here.....and it seems that I am the only raw person in the area.....that's in about 80,000 people! I need to do some recruiting.....hehehe.
So for support?........you guys are it! :-)
(have one very good friend who has now gone raw ....we support each other long distance and online)

[Revvell]

Hi Sitani,

Noooo. If you can purchase the "raw" cashews, they are not toxic. Thing is, they are "iffy" as to being raw since heat is used in the un-shelling process...which is why I gave the sunflower seeds as an alternative.

I've used the nuts soaked and unsoaked. Soaking for a few hours gives them a bit creamier texture. Do not over soak (say, beyond 6 hours, as they turn grey. (Don't ask me how I know).

Glad you're enjoying "simple". Makes life easier, eh? :)

Revvell