Being Cold

[GreenT]

Does anyone have an issue with being cold? I used to always get hot easily, and now since eating raw I have noticed that I get a chill quickly...?????

[sport]

I was like that during my first winter raw but not since.

[joyce09]

Try throwing a small piece of ginger into your daily smoothie and blend it along with other foods. Do this for a month daily and you may see a marked difference. Ginger is a very warming food.

[GreenT]

Thanks Joyce, didnt know Ginger had another great use!
I will have to give that a try especially with the colder weather rolling in :)

[Dimond]

I've always gotten cold. :rolleyes: Vigorous exercise in the morning helps raise your body temp up for awhile, especially combined with heat/fire or a hot shower. Brief exercise sessions throughout the day also help. The more active I am, the less the cold bothers me. The rest of the time, I just wear warmer clothes. I'm in a warmer climate though, but since the A/C is always on everywhere you go, it's like constant cold weather indoors for me.

There's a few other warming foods you can use like cayenne. Grounding foods, like root vegetables, are suppose to help too.

[Shine]

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, foods all foods have temperature qualities. Some hot foods I can think of (from TCM) are carrots, pineapple, garlic, and ginger.

I have a book at home with a chart in it....I'll try and remeber that and post some more foods. The theory is these foods create digestive heat which warms internally. I am not a practitioner...this is simply my understanding from reading and my accupuncturist :)

[MelanieBear]

I second the exercise idea! It's much more effective than many of the spices that are commonly suggested, as though many of them have a "hot" taste, they can induce perspiration (look for the word "diaphoretic" attached to any descriptions of herbal properties---it just means "induces perspiration") which ultimately helps the body to cool off. (That's one of the reasons why people will eat very highly spiced foods in hot climates. Preservation is another reason.) If you love spices, go for it! But I've found that it's not the *only* strategy I need to keep warm.

Here's what I do----some of this may work for you, some of it may not. You'll find your own path if you just keep trusting your body!

I drink warm/hot herbal infusions (and yes, sometimes I drink green or black tea as well), exercise vigorously, dress in layers, and NEVER eat food that's cold straight from the fridge. I let my veggies and fruit come up to room temperature before eating them. I also incorporate steamed veggies, lentils, and quinoa when I feel the need for them. These help a lot too and I've not experienced any changes in my health, energy levels, or cravings after adding them in when my body asks for them.

Warmly,

(har har)

Melanie

[Dimond]

Yes, MelanieBear, I forgot to mention that. I also leave food out to warm up so it's not too cold, especially liquids. I personally haven't found warming foods do anything for me either. I only mentioned it because it seems to work for everyone else. I think this may end up being my warmest winter since I plan on being the most active.

[Eva]

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, foods all foods have temperature qualities. Some hot foods I can think of (from TCM) are carrots, pineapple, garlic, and ginger.


Hey thanks for sharing that!! So interesting bc we've been eating a lot of pineapple, which seemed strange bc it's a tropical fruit. I knew about the others, but that is just very very interesting!

[Eva]

ALSO ~ I will say this... I am NOT COLD at all when others are, even in New England. Here's why... when you stick to a healthy raw food diet, your body becomes really great at circulating blood, moving toxins out quickly and easily, and focusing on the tasks at hand. Without all the nonsense like processed food to get in the way of natural functions, the body just plain Works as it should...

So keeping warm? Piece of cake!

But it does take time...

[Raw Angel Mom]

I got this when it was July and very hot here, i was just plain cold all the time and couldn't stand any air conditioner. It is a side effect when you do raw food, your body will normalize and you will be able to tolerate cold and hot weather much easier then before. I certainly do now.

I don't mean to scare you but me it lasted a good two months. We all are different, it might not take that much for you. In the mid time, follow the recommendation you have been given on this tread, add more close and take hot shower or bath etc...

Hope you feel comfortable soon!

[joyce09]

Thanks Joyce, didnt know Ginger had another great use!
I will have to give that a try especially with the colder weather rolling in :)

Will you let us know in a few weeks or a couple of months if ginger works for you? It worked for me. I am interested in knowing if it works for others. It was before I went raw. I always had cold hands. After I took ginger for several months, I have never felt cold again. My hands are warm even in winter.

[Bookish Lass]

I didn't realize just how warming ginger is until it was 90 degrees out. I have ginger daily in kombucha, but didn't notice the warming until it was so hot, then I was unbearably warm :)

[felin]

I'd have your thyroid checked. If it's off you may want to research ways to regulate.

[Seductive Arts]

Does anyone have an issue with being cold? I used to always get hot easily, and now since eating raw I have noticed that I get a chill quickly...?????

This is me. As the weather gets under 50 degrees I really don't want cold refridgerated foods. This always a problem for me every winter, because my stomache just wants something warm.

[RawKnitster]

Here is a different type of tip I got from Herbalist, Margi Flint:

Keep your kidneys warm. Go to Goodwill and get an old wool sweater. Shrink it. The agitation action of washing (not too much soap) will felt the wool. Cut off at the armpits and slip on the trunk of the sweater as a kidney warmer, (or a mini skirt). ;)

Also, don't use ice or drink cold water. Especially when digesting fats.

[GreenT]

I'd have your thyroid checked. If it's off you may want to research ways to regulate.

My thyroid is good. Im not generally a cold person but once I changed over to 100% raw for 2 weeks I was cold and would get a chill easily. But I am also eating all cold food :D

[Raw,Raw,RawGal]

Your Iron might be a little low also. Pumpkin seeds are a great way to tackle Iron :)