Raw Food Diet and Pancreatitis

[reggaedog]

I had trouble with pancreatitis and I was hospitalized 7 times from 2003 to 2005 - and I haven't had an attack since June 2006.

In researching and trying raw foods - a mostly (60-80%) raw foods diet that I tried from MArch to September - This did not work for me..

I wasn't really able to add a lot of raw vegetables due to the fact that they just aren't easy for the pancreas to digest , the same raw vegetables cause EVERYONE trouble - and it's pretty much common knowledge that eating stuff like raw Kale isn't going to be good - it causes the pancreas to excrete more enzymes. I'm trying to research and understand it all. . The Pancreatitis Association International is firmly opposed to a raw diet for people with pancreatits, I've participated often in the PAI group for over 5 years, and every food that they indicated would cause me trouble actually did and I think they are probably correct in their assessments. It's a very respected organization. If I find something out lets say from a raw foods perspective or something I try to run it by the folks at PAI to try to get their thoughts also. So it isn't something they can do lightly. The trouble I see with a raw food perspective is that there doesnt' seem to be a lot of medical research about it. I think it's a great idea but I need something more concrete that proves it helps this or that - and not just try it hoping it will work. Because they don't call the pancreas the angry organ for nothing. And you don't want to end up in the hospital on an IV..

Open to thoughts, research, web sites, opinons.
thanks so much

[RawKnitster]

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas....right? Are you saying the secretion of digestive enzymes causes the inflammation? What about all the enzymes in raw food? Wouldn't the pancreas have less work to do? It's been my experience that raw food is sooooo much easier for my body to digest. I have far less problems with digestiion and inflammation, but then I'm 100%.

I also believe, but have no proof, that as each cell in my body dies and is replaced by a new cell, the new cells are stronger and healthier because of all the whole, natural foods that are providing the nourishment these new cells are made with. In 2 years 98% of my body's cells will have been replaced with new ones, made from raw nourishment. In 7 years 100% of my cells will be new and healthy. That's my opinion, and what I believe. Raw enzymes are the catalysts of life.

It seems that a raw diet gets no support from any medical association. There will never be any medical studies to support it. I believe medical studies are all paid for by big industry. They are not paying for these studies for the good of humanity. It's about profit. They won't pay for any study on possible benefits of raw food as there is no monetary profit to be made from it.

I'm sorry you suffer from pancreatitis. My husband had pancreatitis and liver damage caused by a stone from his gall bladder that got lodged in the bile duct. It was awful. He could have died. He still has digestive problems, but he won't change his eating habits.

I hope you find the right path to meet your needs.

[HolyGuacamole]

I will be fascinated to hear what others have to say. I have always heard, again and again, that raw is healing to the pancreas. In fact, I just said that to someone here the other day, so I'm intrigued by all this.

Also, as far as I know, the liver is the "angry organ."

Seems like you're doing a lot of talking here about "what's wrong with raw..."
This post strikes me as particularly odd given your recent thread about how much you want to make raw work for you - you know, the post where you listed root beer and other highly processed and non-raw foods as part of your diet.
So are you saying that the reason raw "hasn't worked" for you (as your other thread bemoaned) is because of your pancreatitis? Is this thread your way of announcing that you've come to that conclusion?

I do find it interesting that in your post you question the legitimacy of the anecdotal evidence often offered to support the idea of the healthfulness of a raw diet and yet you offer your own experience as sufficient proof of the validity of these PAI guidelines you mention.

There are holes in what you're saying, and I'm not sure what your point is - but it's starting to look like you have an agenda. I don't think you're going to convince anyone around here that raw is bad or unhealthy or detrimental to the healing process. Is that what you're trying to do?

[reggaedog]

honestly I think the raw diet is a great diet - and I'm trying to figure out how to make it work for me. I've just had problems with it. I"m not against it and I'm not talking about it negatively. I'm talking about it in terms of here's something I tried, I had problems, and I'm trying to figure out what I did wrong. Does that make any sense?

honestly I'd rather eat that way - I want to find out what I did wrong - and try to understand how to make it work for me.

[reggaedog]

I'm saying that I was having so many problems cognitively that it was publicly embarrassing to me - and that it was obvious to other people that I wasn't functioning well. Everybody was telling me I was talking in circles.. that tells me something was wrong. I love raw food - I'd rather eat that way all the time.

I don't think people understand what I'm trying to say.

I'm saying that all my labs raw were great - which was better than it was before going raw - so I had better functioning in all my organs raw - that I didn't have before - but I wasn't doing well cognitively - and so what good is a raw diet if you end up not being able to care for yourself.

I'm not seeking to be critical.

with regards to the pancreas - there's evidence that the pancreas has to excrete more, not less enzymes with raw food - that's the reasoning. it's nothing more than that.

other than my special issues I think going raw is great.

I can't understand what I did communication wise to make people think I was being critical.

[shashibala]

Hi, In many ways, the healing powers of the raw diet are about what we don't eat, of course in combination with what we do eat. Make sure you are avoiding food additives, dyes, and processed, prepared foods. Even regular salt is harmful to our bodies. I would suggest eating lots of the raw foods that make you feel good and avoiding those that don't make you feel great. Eating a mostly raw diet with the addition of some lightly steamed kale or broccoli ,if you simply can't digest them raw, might be a place to start. Once your body adjusts to that diet, you might transition to more or all raw. I need to be all raw myself to avoid food addictions and cravings. This might not be a problem for you. As for meat, I personally would avoid it, as well as dairy. Could you substitute sprouted raw, or sprouted, steamed legumes? Even cooked beans are healthier than meat, in my opinion.I truly believe that raw foods are healing and can be miraculous. I am healing myself on all raw. I have lost 60 pounds and healed several health problems. One of the goals of this lifestyle is to eliminate toxic foods and to detox enough to be able to respond to the signals from your own body. It is such a relief when we reach the point when our bodies crave healthy, unprocessed food and let us know what and when to eat. Until then, we are left with only our thoughts to guide us. It can take some time to eat naturally and instinctively. I'm getting there after almost a year raw.
Another thought, many people crave meat and fat because they really aren't eating enough calories on raw food. If that is the case, you might need to add sprouted grains and beans, nut milks, richer smoothies, and more nuts and seeds until you get used to eating fewer calories. If you need ideas for richer foods, there is lots of info here.
I wish you excellent health on your raw journey!!!