questions for on again, off again raw foodies

[pinkrosebud]

Hi everyone,
I have some questions regarding some recent illnesses. This question really extends to people who have been on and off again raw foodists over a long period of time. I am going on about 3 years of on again, off again raw foodism.
My story: I turned to raw a few years ago as a way to heal a severe digestion problem. I endured an incredibly stressful 2 year graduate program maintaining a fairly high raw diet. After graduation, I slowly began experimenting with non raw, non vegan foods ( but still a very healthy diet) and found to my amazement that my digestion was great. I had none of my previous symptoms. I have to admit it felt great to not have to bring my own food everywhere and basically feel normal by eating healthy but not extreme. I also was experimenting with some body ecology diet stuff…like no sugar, which for me is very hard on raw because I eat a lot of fruit on the raw diet.
Also, changing my diet correlated with some extreme life changes as well, travelling, relocating, starting a new job, etc. Now for the first time in my life, I am getting chronic sinus infections, chest congestion and fatigue. While, my digestion seems fine, now I am getting head colds and sinus problems on a fairly regular basis.
My question for people who have done similar cycles of on again, off again raw is: did you experience bizarre ailments when you went off raw? Did they go away once you returned to raw? Could my body simply be detoxing all the stress and pain of the last two years?
I have gone back to a primarily raw diet to see if my symptoms improve, but I was wondering about other peoples’ experiences.
Thanks,
Pinkrosebud.

[Shanna77]

I am experiencing the the same thing! I went raw 4 years ago after being diagnosed with breast cancer and lupus. I felt amazing and went through surgery and chemo with flying colors. I have been on and off raw food now for the past 3 years and right now I feel the worst I have felt in a long time. Cronic kidney infections and fatigue. Why is it that when we feel great we don't stick to the thing that is making us feel good? why do we sabotage our own bodies? I am so tired of feeling tired and not doing what my body is telling me to do. Raw Raw Raw....Enough said.:)

[krisiw]

My understanding about this is that when you've gone raw for a time, you've strengthened your body's defenses so that when you go off of raw, you're going to experience more severe illnesses because your body is able to fight that much harder. An example I read is that a lot of times babies will have very high fevers or very severe illnesses that most people never experience again because their vitality is not strong enough to have such a severe reaction.

[DeniseM]

Now for the first time in my life, I am getting chronic sinus infections, chest congestion and fatigue. While, my digestion seems fine, now I am getting head colds and sinus problems on a fairly regular basis.


You mentioned experimenting with non-vegan foods. If any of these happen to be dairy, I would consider that a likely culprit for the sinus issues. Many people are mildly allergic to dairy and experience congestion from it (including me).

[Green_Woman]

At any point in your experimentation have you tried ALL-Raw and Living Foods, instead of just 'High Raw' between spurts of 'Off-Raw'....?

I would indeed credit the return of illness/infection to your switch in diet. Going back and forth can be really rough on your body! I did it myself for roughly 3 yrs, too. I would have months of 100% Raw/Living and then a few months of interspersed SAD + RAW, and then back to all-Raw, and off again.

My body was NOT happy with me.

I do ALL-raw, ALL the time now, and it works amazingly well.

Give 100% Raw & Living Foods a shot... do it for at least 30 Days... then see what happens next. Oh, and if you haven't already, definitely read Alissa's book!!!