Digestion problems or detox? How do I know?

[alaurena]

Hi,
I just joined this community and I really do believe in raw foods but I started to have major problems, physically. I did a detox/cleanse before going to raw foods. And for almost two months I was 100 percent raw. I experienced detox symptoms but for the last three weeks, my digestion problems seemed to be problematic and I was questioning if it was a detox symptom or my body's inability to digest all raw. I was hungry all of the time and by 2 o'clock, I was already beginning to feel tired and I was lethargic for the rest of the day. I consumed food ALL of the time but it wasn't digesting properly and as a result, was not being absorbed. I had bloating and digestive discomfort when i did my detox but the recent digestive problems from all raw foods were almost unbearable. I was unable to function and really really uncomfortable so I had to stop doing all raw foods. I would seriously eat all the time (consumed almost 2 pounds of greens daily) - I was carrying shopping bags with me all day and since I started working this week, I don't know how I'd beable to eat all of the time while working. I really am looking for any advice because I don't want to give up on the raw but I am not sure what would help.

Thanks so much!

[freshlight]

Welcome :)A water fast would help.Feeling ill= always a detox. Write what your diet looks like,-we might be able to help you then. Get well soon. Cheers from Eva

[spicyfull]

Drink Smoothies, eat Fresh Fruit, you can carry these and eat them any time. I wish you everything you need to Stay RAW..........Welcome to MY World.

[Dimond]

Welcome Alaurena. You can always try digestive enzymes to see if that will help you. Eventually you shouldn't need so much food. Liquid foods such as smoothies, soups and juices are great for many reasons-absorption of nutrients, digestion, fills you up, easy portable meal, etc.

[rawbabymama]

Did you try food combining? Some people need it, some don't.

I would definitely try enzymes and probiotics; many people who grew up eating lots of cooked food need them at first. My best friend can't eat a lot of raw veggies unless they have been marinated until tender. There might be something specific you are eating when raw which is making you sensitive. I can't eat many raw carrots, for example, I get bloated and lethargic and IBS-type symptoms.

For work, you can bring things like raw nut butters w/bananas or veggie sticks, flax crackers and dip, etc if you need heavy food, or you can keep your heavy meals for home and just have fruit at work. When I worked in the office, I preferred not to eat during my shift, as it made me feel really uncomfortable just to sit there with all that food in my stomach.

Good luck!

Michele

[rayofsunshine]

I find I digest greens best in smoothies, juices, or with a dressing made of nuts. Avocado helps too.

There may be some food combinations your sensitive to.

If you are new to raw and eating a lot of fruit, that can really put detoxing into overdrive.

Dense nut dishes can give me bloating digestive problems too.

Fats can really help with hunger. Pudding made of an avocado, honey, and carob can really hold me over. Nut butter and a banana also helps.

Good luck!

[alaurena]

Welcome :)A water fast would help.Feeling ill= always a detox. Write what your diet looks like,-we might be able to help you then. Get well soon. Cheers from Eva

Thanks! I'm so glad this community is here!
I haven't done a water fast and I'll have to look into that. Actually, I found out today that I have parasites (yuck!) so even the cooked food hasn't been helping my digestion this past week (i am just not as gassy).
An example of a typical days diet (keep in mind i may be missing some snacks or other items - all raw):
-Green smoothie made from kale, pears, mint (aka Victoria Boutenko's green drinks)
-Dried fruit for snack
-Large green salad with raw hummus (sprouted garbanzo beans, soaked cashews, garlic, lemon, olive oil, salt, celery) sprinkled with flax seed meal
-Dried fruit and handful of nuts/seeds
-Mixed greens with sunflower sprouts, basil, mint, cilantro, parsley, ground up raw walnuts and macadamia nuts, dried currants or cranberries, walnut oil, juice from lemons and lime, sea salt
-fresh fruit
-Water always
-occasional consumption of nut milks

[alaurena]

Drink Smoothies, eat Fresh Fruit, you can carry these and eat them any time. I wish you everything you need to Stay RAW..........Welcome to MY World.
I think that is a good idea. The smoothies take up less space and I can drink them at work all day long. Thank you!:)

[alaurena]

Welcome Alaurena. You can always try digestive enzymes to see if that will help you. Eventually you shouldn't need so much food. Liquid foods such as smoothies, soups and juices are great for many reasons-absorption of nutrients, digestion, fills you up, easy portable meal, etc. I forget that I am still at the beginning and my body is possibly just CRAVING and NEEDING a lot more food. I will look into making more soups and juices. Definitely much more practical than carrying around my huge clam shells of greens. Appreciate the suggestions.

[alaurena]

Did you try food combining? Some people need it, some don't.

I would definitely try enzymes and probiotics; many people who grew up eating lots of cooked food need them at first. My best friend can't eat a lot of raw veggies unless they have been marinated until tender. There might be something specific you are eating when raw which is making you sensitive. I can't eat many raw carrots, for example, I get bloated and lethargic and IBS-type symptoms.

For work, you can bring things like raw nut butters w/bananas or veggie sticks, flax crackers and dip, etc if you need heavy food, or you can keep your heavy meals for home and just have fruit at work. When I worked in the office, I preferred not to eat during my shift, as it made me feel really uncomfortable just to sit there with all that food in my stomach.

Good luck!

Michele
Thanks Michele. No, I haven't tried food combining with the raw diet. I just assumed greens could be combined with everything. I have just started adding probiotics so I hope that will help.

[alaurena]

I find I digest greens best in smoothies, juices, or with a dressing made of nuts. Avocado helps too.

There may be some food combinations your sensitive to.

If you are new to raw and eating a lot of fruit, that can really put detoxing into overdrive.

Dense nut dishes can give me bloating digestive problems too.

Fats can really help with hunger. Pudding made of an avocado, honey, and carob can really hold me over. Nut butter and a banana also helps.

Good luck!
Thanks for the advice. I do really well with the smoothies, too, so I think I will start adding more smoothies to my diet. You mentioned that the dense nut dishes gave you bloating issues - what are you doing for protein?

[*RayRay*]

you're right....greens CAN be combined with anything.....but some other combos are not good....like:


Large green salad with raw hummus (sprouted garbanzo beans, soaked cashews, garlic, lemon, olive oil, salt, celery) sprinkled with flax seed meal

beans don't mix well with seeds and nuts...



I was questioning if it was a detox symptom or my body's inability to digest all raw

could be that going raw suddenly (instead of a slow transition) has drawn up more toxins than your body is able to eliminate (hence the afternoon tiredness...) You body does NOT have an inability to digest all raw, it is just in an adjustment period because now that you are raw, you will be drawing up toxins from all the years you may have eaten less than healthy foods (meat, dairy, grains, processed stuff, etc...)

oh, and you don't create protein in the body by consuming foods that contain protein (meat, dairy, nuts, etc...) Your body builds protein by utilizing amino acids which can be found in carrots, hemp seeds, corn,asparagus, potatoes, raw spinach, raw parsley, cabbage, etc...

[alaurena]

you're right....greens CAN be combined with anything.....but some other combos are not good....like:


beans don't mix well with seeds and nuts...



could be that going raw suddenly (instead of a slow transition) has drawn up more toxins than your body is able to eliminate (hence the afternoon tiredness...) You body does NOT have an inability to digest all raw, it is just in an adjustment period because now that you are raw, you will be drawing up toxins from all the years you may have eaten less than healthy foods (meat, dairy, grains, processed stuff, etc...)

oh, and you don't create protein in the body by consuming foods that contain protein (meat, dairy, nuts, etc...) Your body builds protein by utilizing amino acids which can be found in carrots, hemp seeds, corn,asparagus, potatoes, raw spinach, raw parsley, cabbage, etc...

At first I was going to just abandon raw (as if it is a raw food problem) but I now understand that I made such a major transition. I am going to take a bit of everyone's advice and transition more gracefully into this new way of life. I am doing more smoothies, soups, and adding the digestive enzymes. I have to read more about the food combining because that probably had a major part to do with some of the indigestion.
Thanks again!

[rayofsunshine]

I usually don't eat the dense nut dishes anymore. If I feel like a "need to" I take digestive enzymes when I eat a small portion.

[Frugal Raw]

Welcome!! I wish you the best of rawesome health!!

[alaurena]

Welcome!! I wish you the best of rawesome health!!

Thank you!