Newbie Blood Sugar/Insulin spikes and constant hunger!

[curlygirl82]

Hey all,

I'm brand new to Raw and SO excited to find this forum! I just started going raw less than a week ago, and am absolutely amazed at the difference I feel already - I feel lighter, have more energy, and my mood is SO much better. However, I'm having some concerns that I hope you can help me with...

Right before going raw, I was doing the Zone diet - so this is quite a huge switch for me! I mean, I was eating animal protein with EVERY meal, about 4 times/day! It made a lot of sense to me at the time to eat hormonally instead of calorically, and I did notice that once I cut out refined sugars, bread, pasta, potatoes, etc. that I didn't crash after eating. I did this for a couple months. One day, though, I just said, uch, I'm so sick of eating all this meat! This can't be healthy! I downloaded Yuri Elkaim's _Eating for Energy_ and was inspired to give Raw a go.

My first concern with Raw, coming from the Zone, is this: when eating this much fruit, how do I avoid just bouncing from one sugar high to the next? This is the major point of the Zone diet - keeping your blood sugar in check so it doesn't spike, causing an insulin crash and, eventually, insulin resistance. I definitely incorporate leafy greens, nuts, and seeds in my diet, but at this point, I have to eat constantly. And while I'm not really crashing after I eat, I am concerned with my insulin getting out of whack. Any thoughts?

My second concern making the switch is that I AM ALWAYS SO HUNGRY!! Is this something you experienced? Does it go away? Or am I missing something in my diet? Any tips on how to fill up would be GREATLY appreciated! I was so hungry yesterday that I actually broke down and ate some cooked lentils and *gasp!* chicken at the Whole Paycheck salad bar. It tasted SO good, but then I felt awful the rest of the day. So I know that's not the answer, but I'm kinda desperate to fill up.

I do drink LOTS of water throughout the day (I'm a big believer in _Your Body's Many Cries for Water_), so I don't think I'm hungry from dehydration. I eat avocado once or twice a day, and, like I said, plenty of seeds and nuts. I think that, to a certain extent, what I used to think was "full" was actually "way too full," and it'll go away... I'm happy to be patient while I transition, but I'm just concerned that I'm not getting enough of something in my diet.

Any thoughts/experiences would be so greatly appreciated. I don't know anybody (offline!) who eats raw. I'm really excited about living this way, and want to stick to it. Thanks for all you do - you guys have really inspired me.

[Revvell]

A couple of things you need to see if you've not and it's Gabriel Cousens video "Simply Raw ~ Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days (http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?af=724824)" and also, get his new book on the same subject.

As far as being hungry, eat more often ~ 5-6 times a day... more greens. sprouted seeds and nuts, than fruit. When one goes raw, they think a side salad is a meal when it's actually the large salad bowl that will serve 4-6 which is now a meal. That will taper off after your stomach gets use to fiber and your body gets use to nutrients.

Revvell

[gs4life]

when i first went raw i was hungry all the time as well. it's hard to get used to the amount of food that you might have to consume to "fill up". but since fruits and veggies have so few calories it's easy to not realize you might not actually be eating enough.

one thing that REALLY helped me was green smoothies. if you're not familiar, a green smoothie has your choice of fruit (banana, pineapple, apple, whatever) and a green (spinach, romaine, kale, etc.) and water. you can also add other things like hempseeds, flax or "superfoods". i usually drink 1 liter of green smoothie in the morning and that gets me through quite a bit of the day. you can absorb so many nutrients from the smoothie and they taste FANTASTIC!

after a little while your constant hunger will go away...just be patient :)

i'm not an expert, but i don't think there is any problem with the high sugar content in fruit/insulin spikes. the fiber that fruit contains will stop it from giving you a sugar high.

i hope that helps! you found a great forum and everyone on here is so supportive and ready to answer questions. good luck!

[rayofsunshine]

You'd really enjoy Alissa's book. She talks about ways to consume fruit for her clients with blood sugar issues, such as sprinkling crushed nuts over the fruit.

[samariah]

as some one else said: green smoothies! they really work.

[curlygirl82]

hey guys, thanks so much for responding! And so fast, too! :)
I'll definitely try more green smoothies - I had just been adding spirulina to my smoothies, which turned it green, but I guess that's not enough LOL.

[girlsmiley]

I put nuts in my green smoothies to help offset the high sugar in bananas, which I use in my green smoothies ... and add fiber (like ground flax) because that makes you feel fuller longer :rolleyes:

Also, when I first went raw I ate huge salads and, even now, coming back to raw after being away for a while, I find myself grazing all day ... I make a huge green smoothie and bring it to work. I'll be sipping on it all morning and when everyone else is going to lunch I'm still full. I make a lot of pate's which I put in romaine leaves (well, walnut taco meat too) and in celery.

Since I've re-started on raw, my blood glucose has gone from 405 (on medication) to 152 (off medication). I must note, too, that I am doing this (messing with my medication) on my own without talking to my Dr. I did purchase the book, "There is a Cure for Diabetes" by Dr. Gabriel Cousens and that helped motivate me to come back to raw ... :D

[curlygirl82]

GirlSmiley -

Wow!!! That's really amazing. You're living proof, huh? :) Congrats and keep up the great work!
Thanks for the tips - I'm having my second big green salad of the day, this time with TONS of greens, and cashews. I just got Alissa's book and am really excited to read it. Thanks!

[Eva]

Hey hey another curly girl born in '82 here! Or maybe that's just your favorite number?

I just wanted to add a food that you could use to help with regulating blood sugar -- cinnamon! I used to have the ups and downs with my blood sugar. I don't really need it anymore, but I like to add cinnamon to anything really sweet.

You can even munch on a cinnamon stick -- like nature's insulin, amongst other benefits. But it's hard, so it's good to have a couple sticks soaking in water in the fridge to soften them.

:)

[Eva]

GirlSmiley -

Wow!!! That's really amazing. You're living proof, huh? :) Congrats and keep up the great work!


And yes, I second that! Thanks so much for sharing GS!!

[curlygirl82]

Eva, thanks so much for the tip! I will definitely give cinnamon a try. Do you know if all cinnamon is raw? Or do I have to watch out for that? 'Cos I've got some high quality Vietnamese cinnamon in the pantry that I'm now itchin to put in my smoothie in the morning.

Can I please just say, to anyone who's listening, that I had my first victory tonight? Less than a week raw, and my family goes out to the Spaghetti Factory tonight! The toasted raviolis, the cheesy garlic bread, the...spaghetti! Plus they didn't know that I'm trying out raw. I looked at the menu, and even the salad had about 15 things I had to alter to get it. I actually thought about giving in for one night, but then I remembered how bad I felt the last time I did that, and how great I feel when I stick to it... So after a very lengthy discussion with the server, my whole family staring, I got my order in. I never thought I'd leave the Spaghetti Factory feeling so good!! So glad I stuck to it. Anyway, thanks for indulging me.

[curlygirl82]

Oh, and yes, Eva, I was born in 82 too! :)

[Eva]

Eva, thanks so much for the tip! I will definitely give cinnamon a try. Do you know if all cinnamon is raw? Or do I have to watch out for that? 'Cos I've got some high quality Vietnamese cinnamon in the pantry that I'm now itchin to put in my smoothie in the morning.

From what I've heard through the grapevine -- a lot of spices are irradiated, so it is good to look out for either organic and/or cinnamon that says "not irradiated" on the package. Many raw foodists consider spices to be the one thing they just "can't" control. I agree on some level but do go out of my way to find organic and/or non irradiated. I currently have a really good organic food store down the street so can get anything at least organic at the moment, but spices are something I do my best on and that's all I can do. This is one of those things where you just have to make the decision about how strict you are about the smallest details, for now.

Cinnamon sticks will be raw. LOL, I have tried unsuccessfully to grind them down to powder myself! If you have a REALLY good coffee grinder, you might be able to make the powder yourself.

Anyways, all that blabber.... and I'd say just go for the cinnamon you have in your cabinet. :)

[Eva]

Hey curly girl! I just found this post by accident on a botanical board: http://www.rxreview.info/columns/1.html

[curlygirl82]

wow, that's awesome!! thanks so much!

[Emma-Liza]

I also experienced constant hunger when I first went raw. I was so used to eating filler foods, I had to get used to another way to feel. I'm definitely still in learning mode about that! :o

But, I have experienced for myself that when I am eating exclusively high-nutrient food, I do want less in amount. I would say, don't put a time-table on it, though! Have plenty of food at hand at all times; pay attention when you're eating to when the taste changes or when you get that upper part of your stomach full. Stop and let that digest for a bit. You will get used to not feeling as full, and to the sensation of the food digesting properly because there is room in there for the stomach to do its work. It will start to feel normal if you can just allow it for a few days.

So--don't restrict, eat all you want, but take it in stages and let the digesting of each meal/snack get started. You'll begin to stay out of the way, not feed yourself again too soon, and gradually the meals will become farther apart/sizes will adjust till you find your individual balance.

[Imani]

this forum gives so much support and love... from space. love is given not earned

[girlsmiley]

I just wanted to add a food that you could use to help with regulating blood sugar -- cinnamon! I used to have the ups and downs with my blood sugar. I don't really need it anymore, but I like to add cinnamon to anything really sweet.

You can even munch on a cinnamon stick -- like nature's insulin, amongst other benefits. But it's hard, so it's good to have a couple sticks soaking in water in the fridge to soften them.

:)

Earlier this year I started taking cinnamon capsules ... and I add cinnamon to my green smoothies ... I got a large container at Costco ... one time I did put too much in and it was a red hot green smoothie! :eek:

[curlygirl82]

I did what you said - I added LOTS more green leafy veg, like kale and romaine lettuce, in my salads and smoothies. I didn't restrict, and I'm amazed at what just a couple days can do! I already feel, well, not the old kind of full, but satisfied, less "I'm gonna eat that cement block right now" ravenous. Oh, and my lentils have sprouted, so that's helping too.
Thank you thank you thank you!