The best excuse for not going raw I've ever heard....I think

[RawSinger]

When I first became raw, I told everyone about it, one person being my dad. I told him about all the health benefits of the raw and living food diet, sparing no detail that came to mind. I asked him, "Dad, would you ever go raw?" He replied, "Well, I don't think it would be a good idea for me." His story is, he's a liver transplant recipient and has to take anti-rejection drugs so his body won't reject the foreign liver (he received a new liver about 6 years ago). He explained to me that a raw food diet would most likely increase his immunity to the point where it would cause his body to reject his new liver. Now, that makes sense to me, but I still wonder...

I'm curious to know what you all think about this, as I highly value the opinions of the people on this site. Thanks in advance.

[Veganforlife]

My thought? How would such a healing diet, one that has cured and healed many ailments increase immunity? I don't know. I think if anything, it would help and speed up healing. That is a pretty good excuse though...

[lafsalot]

If anything, I think it would only bolster his immunity.
http://www.transplantliving.org/afterthetransplant/stayinghealthy/dietandexercise.aspx

Cathy

[Eva]

If I were him? I wouldn't go 100% raw. He takes prescription drugs regularly. I decided not to take any aspirin, ritalin, etc. because my body does reject things that are not natural now.

I WOULD, however, regularly drink green smoothies in conjunction with the same ole diet.

Has he talked to a doctor about these things?

[lavendarJ]

I can relate somewhat... I have an aunt and uncle who body had heart transplants... my uncle has to be very cautious about the environments he's around, germs, the whole nine yards just like with your dad (no longer having the former immune system and the anti-rejection drugs). He's very wary about eating...thinking that the detox process would be very harsh and might cause the body to react or "attack" it but I'm no expert. I seem to only be able to see it as something that would help assist the body's functioning.... he eats those heavy cooked meals and sometimes over does it and feels bad for a few days and has to eat lighter so it seems like if he ate foods that didn't have all the preservatives and other unhealthy componnents that he would only be benefiting his new heart.

I know a person who ignored the docs, eventually stopped his meds, isn't 100% raw but is taking specific supplements and has been doing well at least appears to be and you know how often tranplant patients have to check in for the phy exams and evals ...

I just pray for them all- cause I'm not in their shoes and I don't know what I'd do...it's such a huge process on the emotions, body and spirit and I can see how they would come to rely on the doc's advice as the truth and nothing but-it's really something

[jacsam]

It would really be interesting to hear what his doctors thoughts were about this.....having his immune system become so healthy that it would start to fight against the new liver.

[RawSinger]

If anything, I think it would only bolster his immunity.
http://www.transplantliving.org/afterthetransplant/stayinghealthy/dietandexercise.aspx

Cathy

That is the point...his belief is that if he went raw, his immunity would become too good and cause his body to reject his liver as a foreign object.

[RawSinger]

Has he talked to a doctor about these things?

He has not, as far as I know. I believe he's just running on assumptions. I should ask him to talk to his doctor about it. I'm very intrigued.

[RawHeaven]

When I first became raw, I told everyone about it, one person being my dad. I told him about all the health benefits of the raw and living food diet, sparing no detail that came to mind. I asked him, "Dad, would you ever go raw?" He replied, "Well, I don't think it would be a good idea for me." His story is, he's a liver transplant recipient and has to take anti-rejection drugs so his body won't reject the foreign liver (he received a new liver about 6 years ago). He explained to me that a raw food diet would most likely increase his immunity to the point where it would cause his body to reject his new liver. Now, that makes sense to me, but I still wonder...

I'm curious to know what you all think about this, as I highly value the opinions of the people on this site. Thanks in advance.


Hi Francesca. Some thoughts. My Mom has HIV and has been living with it for 25 years. My Dad passed it onto her...he died of lymphoma/brain cancer caused by AIDS in the mid 80's before blood screening. I won't get into the details of how he contracted it and I'm also sharing now to burst the bubble that this disease doesn't afflict, nice middle class families. My Mom is a great source of strength for me and has come out recently to others about what she has achieved, so I feel comfortable in sharing all of this with her permission and blessing. She's also had quadruple bypass surgery and she's diabetic. But her source of strength is her spirit, her faith etc --she's an amazing, active, inspiring, loving person and woman. I'm not just saying that cause she's my Mom. ;)

I wanted to include a little history before I shared my thoughts. My Mom eats SAD, but very healthy. She understands the Raw lifestyle from me and is excited about my healing process from injuring my leg. She is very unconventional in her thoughts, but because her immune system is compromised and she believes what she believes it probably wouldn't be a good idea for her to do this 100%. And I respect her beliefs, thoughts. Her physician is a pioneer on the west coast with HIV treatment/research and he feels the same. He's into alternative health, but that can only take you so far when you're healing from something like this. I can only observe, listen and learn from other's experience. It's just because I'm close to my Mom and we share openly that I have a pretty good understanding of what she has to do and manage. And it's not for me to really say anything one way or the other about her journey or treatment. I'm not experiencing it.

With regard to your Dad, I think he's paying attention to his intuition and I think it should be respected above and beyond everything else. I don't think he's just saying it, he knows. As someone who personally experienced major bodily trauma a couple of years ago, I know first hand you take steps up with your mind-body-soul communication when you're healing. It takes you to a different place of awareness with your health and body if you're listening and have woken up. Your Dad has had a liver transplant and I would imagine he's very in touch with his liver and other areas of his body now. It's just par for the course.

I've learned it's not just about diet, but being healthy includes having positive thoughts, eating well, breathing fresh air and living in a supportive, loving environment. I think the raw lifestyle is wonderful, obviously and it's worked for me, but I also understand there is much I do not know about the miracle of the healing capabilities of the human body and there are many ways to heal. Just my opinion. Let go and let your Dad do it his way with perhaps encouraging him to juice more and offer alternatives to preparing certain foods. But check in with him and his physician(s) as you mention you might. A liver transplant is not something you want to mess around with.

[linda7276]

Hi Francesca. Some thoughts. My Mom has HIV and has been living with it for 25 years. My Dad passed it onto her...he died of lymphoma/brain cancer caused by AIDS in the mid 80's before blood screening. I won't get into the details of how he contracted it and I'm also sharing now to burst the bubble that this disease doesn't afflict, nice middle class families. My Mom is a great source of strength for me and has come out recently to others about what she has achieved, so I feel comfortable in sharing all of this with her permission and blessing. She's also had quadruple bypass surgery and she's diabetic. But her source of strength is her spirit, her faith etc --she's an amazing, active, inspiring, loving person and woman. I'm not just saying that cause she's my Mom. ;)

I wanted to include a little history before I shared my thoughts. My Mom eats SAD, but very healthy. She understands the Raw lifestyle from me and is excited about my healing process from injuring my leg. She is very unconventional in her thoughts, but because her immune system is compromised and she believes what she believes it probably wouldn't be a good idea for her to do this 100%. And I respect her beliefs, thoughts. Her physician is a pioneer on the west coast with HIV treatment/research and he feels the same. He's into alternative health, but that can only take you so far when you're healing from something like this. I can only observe, listen and learn from other's experience. It's just because I'm close to my Mom and we share openly that I have a pretty good understanding of what she has to do and manage. And it's not for me to really say anything one way or the other about her journey or treatment. I'm not experiencing it.

With regard to your Dad, I think he's paying attention to his intuition and I think it should be respected above and beyond everything else. I don't think he's just saying it, he knows. As someone who personally experienced major bodily trauma a couple of years ago, I know first hand you take steps up with your mind-body-soul communication when you're healing. It takes you to a different place of awareness with your health and body if you're listening and have woken up. Your Dad has had a liver transplant and I would imagine he's very in touch with his liver and other areas of his body now. It's just par for the course.

I've learned it's not just about diet, but being healthy includes having positive thoughts, eating well, breathing fresh air and living in a supportive, loving environment. I think the raw lifestyle is wonderful, obviously and it's worked for me, but I also understand there is much I do not know about the miracle of the healing capabilities of the human body and there are many ways to heal. Just my opinion. Let go and let your Dad do it his way with perhaps encouraging him to juice more and offer alternatives to preparing certain foods. But check in with him and his physician(s) as you mention you might. A liver transplant is not something you want to mess around with.

Rawheaven: What a beautiful post and tribute to the lovely person your mother is, and the uniquely blessed relationship the two of you have. I agree with everything you said, we are WHOLE beings with many needs, and we must meet all of them to be fully realized. Loved your post, best wishes to you and your dear mother.

Eva: I just want to say how excited I get whenever I see your posts, they're always interesting and I know I'm gonna learn something, thanks. Adding the green smoothie to his regular diet sounds like a good plan.

[RawSinger]

RawHeaven: thank you for your openness. It is always valued.

I'm not saying that this was your belief about me but I just want to clarify: I in no way pressure my father to eat raw. I mentioned raw food to him once when I first started my journey (in January of this year). He told me how he felt about it and I haven't mentioned it to him since (I only bring this up now because I've always wondered what people on the forum would say and I finally got up the nerve to ask for you opinions). I know his is a delicate situation. He's doing very well considering what he has been through and his age. I thank God everyday. He's an extraordinary man and I love him dearly.

[RawHeaven]

That is the point...his belief is that if he went raw, his immunity would become too good and cause his body to reject his liver as a foreign object.

I didn't catch this before and perhaps he's right. But there is so much to learn, maybe it wouldn't be the case and there would be some miraculous healing taking place with even his (transplanted) liver. I think in years to come we will better understand and be able to embrace the possibilities collectively irregardless of diet and our personal belief systems regarding food and healing.


RawHeaven: thank you for your openness. It is always valued.

I'm not saying that this was your belief about me but I just want to clarify: I in no way pressure my father to eat raw.


You're welcome my dear. It's the only way I know how to be...open. :) Thank you for asking the question and in no way was I implying that you were badgering your Dad. Just to clarify, I was picking up your deep love and appreciation for him and perhaps some worry attached based on his current health as a consequence. When I said "let go", I meant let go of worrying and to trust in the process and see him well. I should have been more specific.

Wishing you both well. He's blessed to have you for a daughter. You're equally extraordinary. :)

[RawHeaven]

[B]Loved your post, best wishes to you and your dear mother.


Thank you so much Linda. Life is good and all is well.

I agree, I always learn something from Eva's posts as well. You've got a gift of sharing Eva.

[lafsalot]

That is the point...his belief is that if he went raw, his immunity would become too good and cause his body to reject his liver as a foreign object.

Show him the article at that site I sent you. Not suggesting that he go all raw (and neigher is the article) - they're just advocating an increase in fruits and vegetables and less processed foods. ~ Cathy

[RawSinger]

Wishing you both well. He's blessed to have you for a daughter. You're equally extraordinary. :)

Thank you. That means so much to me. I do what I can to be a good daughter, as I rarely see him (he recently moved to Key West, Florida so now I see him even less than I did when he was living in New York). Your mom must be an extraordinary person for her to bring a person like you into this world, Crystal. You seem like such a genuine, loving, and wise person. Blessings to you and your mom.

[Pitaya]

what an informative post! my father is in similar position, and i find it heartbreaking that he cant heal as I have, especially when i want to help him so bad, and he is a willing participant (for the most part...)

I have read in books about cleansing (the master cleanser by Tom Woloshyn for example) that people who have had organ transplants cannot do cleanses. I don't know why or whether the rationale is debatable but just wanted to add my two cents!

best,
pitaya