Detoxing? Can't tell

[Secret Heart]

Hello Raw folks,

Ok so yesterday was my first 100% raw day...and I felt the detox immediately! I still feel really horrible...yet happy and light:> Can you tell me if feeling malaise, headache and tired are detox? I mean, quite nauseous, v. bad headache and sleepy sleepy. Plus, I woke up last night doused in sweat...maybe I just have flu...but it totally coincides with going raw...any thoughts? Thanks,

Heather

[Rawkinlocs]

Yes, this is common to occur the first day to first week of raw depending on your eating habits prior to going 100% raw. You can call it detox...you can call it withdrawals, but whatever you decide to call it or refer to it as, it's a common thing that happens to a lot of people when first going raw.

I remember recently someone stated here on the board that people don't detox the first day of being raw. I look at it like this, the first day a cigarette smoker goes cold turkey with no cigarette for a whole day, they will feel effects of that. The first day an alcoholic or drug abuser goes without a drink or the drugs, their body will feel the effects of it. The first day an avid coffee drinker goes without their cup of jo, they will feel the effects of that. The first day someone deciding to become vegetarian or vegan doesn't consume any meat, their body feels the effect of it.

So, the first day you go completely without eating any cooked foods in any form, your body will feel effects of it. Sometimes it's headache, sometimes it's the shakys, sometimes it's tiredness/fatigue, sometimes it's light-headedness, nausea, "hunger" pangs...but it will get better! That's a promise - not from me, but from your body! ;)

Alissa posted something on detox in the "Need to know more about raw food" forum - be sure to check that out if you haven't already done so!

[VeganVixen]

yep ,I agree ! But its important (imo) to watch it and make sure that it is ONLY detox , I would hate to hear someone REALLY sick and just thinking its detox - detox shouldnt put you in prolonged dehabilitating pain ,ya know?

[Rawkinlocs]

yep ,I agree ! But its important (imo) to watch it and make sure that it is ONLY detox , I would hate to hear someone REALLY sick and just thinking its detox - detox shouldnt put you in prolonged dehabilitating pain ,ya know?

It depends...it very well could especially if the past dietary habits were extremely horrid. But I get what you're saying!

[VeganVixen]

Yes ,they would have too be bad past habits ,but I see how it could be possible - If someone (not you secret ,but a person in general) was in THAT MUCH pain they might be a good canidate for transitioning with bland steamed stuff ,like mung beans and brown rice along with a high raw intake.....

[banananana]

i've been RAW for a few days/weeks with a few days of cheating last week. I've been going strong but this morning i woke up with a sore throat and a VERY runny nose.. coule this be detox?? I'm not one for getting colds so i dont know what else this could be caused by.

[Rawkinlocs]

i've been RAW for a few days/weeks with a few days of cheating last week. I've been going strong but this morning i woke up with a sore throat and a VERY runny nose.. coule this be detox?? I'm not one for getting colds so i dont know what else this could be caused by.

It's possible, or it could be a result of your "cheat foods" depending on what they were!

Some may say you "caught" it from someone, etc. but personally I don't believe in "catching" colds anymore - I believe colds are a result of the body cleaning out the respiratory system BUT they can also be brought on by the body being overburdened and overtaxed. But watch your symptoms because sometimes, I will have a sore throat or feel those body aches like I'm coming down with something but it won't escalate into anything else and will usually be greatly minimized the same day if not gone altogether by sometime later in the day! Enemas also aid me by getting "junk" out of my system, but not everyone believes in or is comfortable doing those.

The BEST thing you can do for your body at this time is to eat as minimally as possible. Drink plenty of water and eat fresh, juicy fruits - trying to stay away from nuts and other fats or anything processed as much as possible. This will allow the body to do what it needs to do OR just simply allow this to pass right on by without taking you down for several or more days.

Important thing is to try and not suppress the symptoms by way of medications, etc. Hope you feel better REAL soon!

[Secret Heart]

Thanks Rawkin and Vixen for your replies...I'm feeling a bit better today, but still rather off...but it's ok...I was eating pretty darn well before the transition...vegan for one..plus I was at least 60% raw for months as well. Nonetheless, despite the annoyance, it's great to know that it's my body getting rid of toxins.. :)

[solarliving]

I had read apple cider vinegar was good for sore throats. 2 tbs per 8 oz. glass of water. or maybe try just 1tbs. and gargle a little.

[banananana]

thanks for the reply rawkins, i'm feelin alot better now, maybe it was from my "cheat" last week. usually every morning i had some flem in my throat?? weird huh? Is that normal, this is the first week i've been offically 100% raw.

[Rawkinlocs]

You're welcome!

That phlegm is just another mechanism for the body to get stuff out of ya! Just think of colds, flu (a glorified cold) etc. as the body's way of clearing out the respiratory system - cleaning out the lungs and stuff. When stuff is coming out of you, that's a good thing. Glad you're feeling better! :)

[theresaann]

I am really detoxing also, a sore gland in the left side of my throat and general low energy, but I know it's detoxing because emotionally I feel PHENOMENAL. So, I am trying to rest as much as I can (with two kids, and a dog to walk, it's a little hard to rest when I should) but I feel glad stuff is coming out. we just gotta go through it.