Dizzy, Low Blood Pressure

[rawfoodromance]

Hello!!
I am new here! And I might be sticking around for a while! I tried 100% raw foods about 3 years ago for about 40 days straight and felt INCREDIBLE!!! I had to wean myself off raw to go to Italy because my husband's family has a really hard time understanding vegetarianism, let alone the fact that you don't cook your food!! It would be near impossible to be raw when down there, unless I was in control of the food buying.
Anyways, for the last 3 years, I have been around 60% raw, with the occasional drop, but starting in November I had enough of feeling %$#@y so I went 100% raw again!! I'm feeling AWESOME. My mood has improved dramatically and my energy is up.
I am however experiencing the same problem I had last time. I am dizzy, light headed and find it hard to stand up fast after sitting or laying for some time. I am assuming I have low blood pressure, maybe from a lack of salt in my diet? I have tried adding more salt to my creations, but I am finding the problem getting worse. Last night I laid down for about 15 minutes, and when I got up, I was light headed and sweaty, my heart pumping.
Has anyone ever experienced this?
Hearts and Blessings

[Teebag]

I also get a little dizzy and light-headed sometimes and I think my blood pressure is on the low side. But one thing that helps for me is to exercise regularly. I jump on a rebounder and/or take a walk just about every day. The other things that help me are drinking a green smoothie every day, getting a good night's rest and eating correctly. If your blood pressure is very low, then you might want to consider a doctor's check-up. Good luck! - Tee

[rawfoodromance]

:) Thanks for your reply!
Yeah I have a green smoothie every morning, and I am eating crazy amounts of Kale (I hear Kale is the best leaf to eat).
I do have a rebouder, I might start that up. I ride my bike twice a day for about 30 minutes, but I should start up a walk or some kind of workout :)
I'm also considering doing a salt brine drink in the mornings, maybe with lemon. I might just also be stabilizing.
Blessings!

[Aleesha Sattva]

i'm thinking perhaps it's detox. try getting up slower (in case it is your blood pressure) and being kind to yourself over the next while.

i can't imagine that you need salt... i would go for celery (organic sodium) instead! eat it, juice it, blend it in a smoothie...

[rawfoodromance]

Oh I never thought of Celery!! MMMMMmmmmm Celery!! I used to eat lots of it with a raw sundried tomato/olive tapenade dip!! I think I'll take that up again :) And juice it and add it to my green smoothie in the A.M
THANKS!!!! *big hugs*
M

[Aleesha Sattva]

you are so welcome!!! i do a bunch of celery (min) daily in my juices.

[Stina]

I read your post and wondered if an incline board would be helpful- or an inversion machine.

[TaupeRawMan]

Are you eating enough?

[rawfoodromance]

Hey there, my daily diet is kind of as follows:
Morning: two oranges
Breakfast: bowl of banana, berries, pear, misc fruit
Pre work: Green smoothie (green juice, 6 cups mixed greens, bee pollen and dulse with lemon juice and berries)
Snack: nuts and dates, also a sheet or nori to snack on, and I drink chlorella in my water. I also snack on some veggie, peas, cucumber or something.
Lunch: Kale salad with tomatoes, green onions, radish, saurkraut, sundried tomatoes, a whole avocado, olives and raw honey mustard dressing
Snack: more veggies, normally red pepper, celery with almonds
Dinner: Another huge salad. Similar ingredients to lunch, but perhaps some berries added.
After dinner: nuts and green chlorella water.

I think I am eating enough, I'm never hungry (sometimes I feel full!) I just don't get it! Today I am ok :)

Thanks all for your replies!!!
xoxox

[Aleesha Sattva]

Please take a moment to read our guidelines for posting. We are a raw vegan community... and we do not discuss eating raw meat. You can eat what you like... please just don't discuss it here.

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=18

[rawfoodromance]

Oopsies...
So sorry!! I didn't know, thank you for telling me :)

[Aleesha Sattva]

No problem at all... that's my job... ;)

[rawfoodromance]

It's all good, it was my bad, shoulda read the guides first! I continually forget how important instructions are LOL. *slaps hand*
I'm curious...I just though, maybe I am not drinking enough water? I have about 1600-2400ml a day, and all of that water has chlorella or blue green algae in it. I'm wondering if I need more water? I might try that too, but just plain water. I have heard some raw foodies saying you don't need water on raw foods since you get so much in juicing and veggies. I feel I like drinking water a lot.
Thanks so so much!
M

[Aleesha Sattva]

water won't harm you *unless you drink an enormous amount* so go for it.

:) hydration is a good thing!

[klomasius]

Yep, I get low blood pressure semi regularly (I've always been on the low side, even before being veg).

The things I've found that help are most of the things people have already mentioned.

Celery - good for natural sodium replenishment, does a far better job than adding salt to foods.

Hydration - low BP can often be caused by sluggish blood due to dehydration, keep your fluids, esp water, up.

Exercise - also seems to help.

Greens - not sure why, but things like green smoothies help.

:)

[Cottonball McFluffy]

I would check that blood pressure if I was you. If for nothing else than to see if your dizzyness is caused by that (since raw does seem to drop/normalise blood pressure) or something else.
It might also be be due to tight muscles, stationary work position, fatigue (are you getting enough sleep?) or low iron levels. There are probably a number of other deficiency and illness related things that could cause dizzyness too, but I'd say the ones mentioned before are the most common. Have you tried chewing on liquorice root? if you're taking up the cellery, you could try that too. :)

[DawnD]

I am thinking that it may be your water intake also. I know that when I forget to drink, like on Saturday morning in a flurry of activity, I start to feel woozy or tired. Thats my clue to drink a glass.