Is it normal?

[elinka999]

I have been 100% raw for almost 2 weeks. Have excruciating headaches, sometimes 4 days in a row, less painful or more, sometimes with nausea. Still feel lethargic most of the time, and feverish at evening time. Is it just :confused: normal detox phase?

[DavidZaneMason]

Probably. Make sure the water content of your food is high - and you are drinking plenty of water. Much discomfort is often just a symptom of dehydration. Get some light exercise during this time - and make changes at a pace that is right for you.

-David Z. Mason

[jaurequi]

I don't know. But you may want to look if you are consuming a food which is acting as a trigger. Start an elimination diet. Common ones are dairy, nuts, and gluten. It can be a certain fruit, or even dried fruit.

If your headaches are excruciating and do not let up soon, then get some professional help.

Best,

[goodbeets]

Dear Elinka999,
I am sorry to hear about your poor head!! Headaches can be so completely debilitating.
I agree with Dave and Jaurequi. Give it some more time, most detox symptoms clear up within a few weeks but if you feel you must do something, watch what you eat too see the reaction your body has.
Maybe for a few days do mono-eating, eat one food at a meal (just apples or just bananas or just cucumbers, etc.) then wait for at least 1-2 hours and see how you feel.

Also, sometimes I get a headache and remember I had walked through the cleaning section at the supermarket and had been particularly affected by the chemical smells there. Within 20 minutes I often get a headache. Maybe I won't go down that aisle any more!! LOL

Remember how many years it took your body to get like that. Give it some time to get back to it's version of normal.

[Care4raw]

How intense is your detox 'diet', are you using e3 or any super foods for instance that may be speeding it up and making it too intense?Are you just having green smoothies maybe? How are you eating?

Were you coming off any precription drugs, sodas, caffiene,etc?You can slow down the detox with more fats.

I think generally though that the detox symptoms are more fleeting, come and go.So it is a concern. Where are you at with it today?

[EZ rider]

You might want to keep a food diary for awhile and see if you can pinpoint any specific food that causes you problems.

[cayenne]

Yes, you are going through a detox!
You are likely experiencing withdrawal symptoms from foods you have been eating before. At the same time your body is not able to eliminate all the toxins and whatever, which are now being released by your new diet, so they cause severe side effects. Usually if your bowels are eliminating properly, there will be very mild detox symptoms. So top priority is to get your bowels moving and clean. Second priority is working on your liver. Your liver is the detox organ, it cetainly needs assistance as well to handle it all. Detox without properly functioning elimination channels can be dangerous, so you have two options: one, take care of colon and liver (and may be kidneys as well), or, slow down your detox to a level that your body/liver/bowels can handle. You can do some searches as to which foods are supporting the liver. I suppose herbal teas are not allowed on a raw board, but their are other ways. In general, bitter foods are very good for the liver, like dandelion for example. Carrot and beetroot are very beneficial for the liver as well, and no doubt there will be many other options.

[elinka999]

How intense is your detox 'diet', are you using e3 or any super foods for instance that may be speeding it up and making it too intense?Are you just having green smoothies maybe? How are you eating?

Were you coming off any precription drugs, sodas, caffiene,etc?You can slow down the detox with more fats.

I think generally though that the detox symptoms are more fleeting, come and go.So it is a concern. Where are you at with it today?

Answering from the end. Yes, my symptoms also come and go. I may have a headache, and then it will suddenly lessen significantly. I may wake up and feel great, or the other day, just sleepy and tired. Usually I wake up with a headache, and then it may take a couple of days for it to go away.

No sodas; some prescription drugs when I was sick; coming off from coffee, yes.
No super foods to speed up a process. Usually have a green smoothie in the morning. Have chocolate cake cravings, so I am usually making raw chocolate raspberry mousse cake (3rd or 4th time in 2 weeks). Have enough fats in my diet.;)

[elinka999]

Yes, you are going through a detox!
You are likely experiencing withdrawal symptoms from foods you have been eating before. At the same time your body is not able to eliminate all the toxins and whatever, which are now being released by your new diet, so they cause severe side effects. Usually if your bowels are eliminating properly, there will be very mild detox symptoms. So top priority is to get your bowels moving and clean. Second priority is working on your liver. Your liver is the detox organ, it cetainly needs assistance as well to handle it all. Detox without properly functioning elimination channels can be dangerous, so you have two options: one, take care of colon and liver (and may be kidneys as well), or, slow down your detox to a level that your body/liver/bowels can handle. You can do some searches as to which foods are supporting the liver. I suppose herbal teas are not allowed on a raw board, but their are other ways. In general, bitter foods are very good for the liver, like dandelion for example. Carrot and beetroot are very beneficial for the liver as well, and no doubt there will be many other options.


Actually, I thought that herbal tees are allowed, like mint tea, chamomille, linden tea. So, are they allowed or they don't? I am confused

[subbacultcha]

Actually, I thought that herbal tees are allowed, like mint tea, chamomille, linden tea. So, are they allowed or they don't? I am confused

Many raw foodists drink herbal teas as they have health benefits and although they are not raw it is a very small amount of the actual substance being consumed. Its a personal decision, this isn't a rigid 'diet' in that there are foods you can or can't eat, its up to you. Some other non-raw/questionable things that people use are maple syrup and some nuts.

[Nurse in the Raw]

I have been 100% raw for almost 2 weeks. Have excruciating headaches, sometimes 4 days in a row, less painful or more, sometimes with nausea. Still feel lethargic most of the time, and feverish at evening time. Is it just :confused: normal detox phase?

Sounds like what I experienced when I first started raw. I promise, it will pass. Drink lots of water to speed the process and don't deviate or else the detox process will start all over again.