stuck in detox?

[sunyata]

hey all,

for the last 2-3 months i have been doing alot of fasting on and off, which started a detox process.

so for about the last month i have been eating strictly raw foods, and also for a few weeks just eating a few peices of fruit per day, to detox and cleanse.

well i was never overweight, so i started to get really thin, so now i am eating some small bowls of rice and also oats during the day and also alot of fruit.

i have noticed i am still getting detox symptoms, and wonder what i should do?

i am trying to find a balance in my diet, and enjoy eating a majority of raw foods, so i would really like my body to finish the detox (properly) so i can begin maintaining a balanced raw foods diet, and start getting my strength back and keeping a steady healthy weight.

it is being a process of trial and error, but really thanks alot for any help offered!

[BlackKat]

Maybe you could try switching the rice and oats (if they are both cooked) with some healthy fats like: avocado, seeds, nuts. I noticed I wasn't losing much weight when I ate higher amounts of these. I was eating raw food bars which mainly contained dates, nuts and seeds.

[Aleesha Sattva]

all i can tell you is "detox is..." it just is.

if your body has detoxing to do... then it has detoxing to do.

why not allow it to continue? the more 'clean' you make your diet by removing cooked foods - then your body doesn't have to detox that on top of what is already being detoxed.

it's like saying "wow this garbage can is never empty?" when you keep shovelling more stuff into it LOL

[Raw Angel Mom]

If you did 100% raw and then you are eating the rice, this isn't detox as much but the effect of eating cook food (tire, runny nose etc...).

Instead of doing the rice, why don't you look into starchy food that are raw. Buckweat, carot, sweet potato etc.... You can supplement also with raw protein powder.

I hear you about the weight, i also did start at some point to eat rice to gain weight which worked but then i got hook on cook food again. Thankfully i am back on raw food which is far better and i have better energy.

[GreenT]

Ha ha Aleesha, I like that. Great way to look at it!

[Stina]

Unfortunately, I definitely get an inflammatory response from both rice and oats. Hard to say if its detox or a mild allergic reaction.

[sunyata]

ok thanks for the replies!

well i guess i just got to ride out this detox then, and let it do what it needs to. its just that it has been going on and off for almost a few months now, i am wondering what is going on?

it is definately still a detox, my body is working through my bones and muscles, i get headaches and sometimes a little dizziness, and some days i can feel the toxins in my legs, i think the rice/oats give me a nice and sustained energy boost, but if this is adding to the detox i need to find a replacement

but i was thinking, maybe the oats and rice might be adding to the detox but i really think i need to be putting my weight and muscle back on at the moment because i really pushed it to the limit previously.

i cannot eat nuts or seeds they make me really sick, much worse than oats or rice. i do eat avocados and have been adding raisins and prunes to my oats for breakfast.

i will check out these raw foods - Buckweat, carot, sweet potato - as possible replacements to the cooked ones, any other suggestions welcome

i have just been detoxing for quite a while now, and i really want to just get my energy and strength back and get on a stable diet plan. i guess my safest bet is to replace the rice/oats with some other raw foods that can help with my weight/muscle, and just keep eating raw until this detox is through?

i am eating around 70-80% fruit at the moment too, really enjoying this and will probably continue with it.

thanks again for the replies, been helpful

[mcster]

You know, there are so many posts here about people struggling with the transition to raw. IMO, all the complaints boil down to detox. Whether it's cravings, trying to find foods that "work for them" or more common symptoms like sunyata's, some people seem to deal with this for months and apparently in some cases for years.

I'm not quite sure why people don't consider cleansing. It's just such a logical idea. I mean, you come to the conclusion you've been eating like crap your entire life and you decide to make a change. Doesn't it make sense to take the garbage out before you start feeding it clean food? I did a cleanse for three weeks before I transitioned to raw and have NEVER experienced detox symptoms eating raw aside from those I experienced during the cleanse. All the cravings I had for dairy are completely gone. I don't miss any cooked foods. I have no food sensitivities...and I feel fantastic.

So, people, please, do yourselves a favor and at least consider doing a cleanse to get rid of whatever issues you're dealing with. This diet shouldn't be a struggle; it can and should be the best thing you've ever done for your health and it should be a pleasant experience.

[sunyata]

well it all started when i just started getting these strong feelings and impulses that the cooked and processed food i was eating on a regular basis was just total junk and causing my body alot of stress / damage

i started getting cravings and impulses to just eat fruit and veges and thus began this "process" and of course the cycles

this is when i started to read more about ways to eat healthy and started trying out different things

so i did attempt to do a cleanse, for about one whole month i ate only fruit and vege, and was eating stuff like, one meal in a day - the size of my fist, and also doing 10+ hours a day of dry fasting, i thought this would be a good way to cleanse

but i think it was left unfinished.. and now eating these cooked foods i am definately noticing an increase in the detox effects, so doing another proper cleanse, like a reccomended juice fast does sound to me like a good idea

unfortunately i am not at all in the ideal environment to be doing this, especially with carnivorous relatives around who obsessively think you must eat meat/dairy etc or else, but when the body "says no" thats just the way it is, i have to listen to what my body is telling me

i have found a local raw vegan "expert" or coach who i will go and see so i can do things properly and be properly informed, and also at least this not have the relatives telling me i've gone mad :p

[modernmonkey]

I am not an expert but I think there are two healthy options.

Fasting- a cleanse, water or a juice fast- Your body will be so entirely alleviated of digestion that you can detox fully and feel good.

Follow a raw food diet- consume your required daily calories on raw food.

If you are eating raw food but restricting your calories (which is how your OP comes over), you are doing neither. Your body is still taxed with digestion but not receiving enough calories to do the job. This is bound to leave you feeling below par and make you lose weight.

I believe you can detox the best with a cleanse or 1,500+ calories healthy diet.

If it's less than 1,500 calories but not a fast, I don't think it's good for you and likened to starvation or an eating disorder.

[rawmom2006]

I am sorry you feel bad. I would give up rice if you can. Add more green smoothies or if you feel comfortable try a fast. Is there a reason you do not do avacodos? Have you tried adding coconuts or coconut oil.

It really depends on what your lifestyle was before raw and any medications you use to take. Everyone's detox is different.
Try to give up the rice add more greens and coconut to your diet.
I heard people who were thin before raw sometimes get really skinny then gain some back one detox is over.

Good luck I hope you feel better soon.

[sunyata]

@rawmom ^ i am fine with avocados, i really enjoy them, just the nuts and seeds i cant eat, including coconuts

thanks monkey from what i have experienced that sounds about spot on

when i started eating again it took a little while for my appetite to come back which was interesting, and i have been trying hard to make sure i discern the difference between true hunger, rather than some sort of addictive craving.. but lately its really felt like my body has been telling me to just eat so much, so i did my best to listen properly and just eat what it wanted

so i have been the cooked foods occasionally, but also been eating loads and loads of fruit, i was really surprised and how much i was consuming! and just today my energy levels really came back, seemingly out of nowhere, and it was a little bit of a shock because they really just came back to how they should be and i havent felt that sort of energy in a long time!

i feel like i have learnt something valuable, and these experiences have really been a learning process..

it feels like thats what was happening - i wasnt getting enough calories - and my body was telling me to eat and eat to get back up to the right levels. i feel great to have learnt this now lol feeling my energy back and feeling the way that i should, its very motivating

my plan now is too get rid of the cooked foods and get myself onto a raw foods diet, making sure i consume the right amount for my body it seems like things should be sweet :)

so a total raw foods diet should do all the detoxing that needs to be done? i might of confused some of the symptoms with low calory intake, and its even possible the headaches could of been related to the recent earthquake.. not sure, but i would really only do a juice fast to just get the detox over and done with, if the detox is majorly done and i am not experiencing uncomfortable symptoms everyday moving to atotal raw foods diet should do the job

thanks again to those who offered their help! i feel alot better about now about which direction / approach to take

[modernmonkey]

It sounds like you have indeed found out the right path for you.

From what I have learnt there is no such thing as both true hunger and fake hunger (cravings). They are BOTH true hunger. Cravings are a sign of depletion in nutrition and nature uses cravings as a a powerful urgency to eat. Nature doesn't know that human beings have invented SAD food that is totally lacking in nutrition yet has all the correct texture and taste to fool the body into thinking it can get nutrition from it. That is why the less we eat the more powerful our cravings become. That is why bingeing occurs. The body doesn't check for volume, it checks for nutritional levels. That is why we can so easily consume a packet of biscuits, crisps and cakes in one sitting yet a large salad is hard work to finish.

Now you know when you get a craving for something SAD, it is not a matter of willpower, resistance and time to sit things out. It is time for fruit. And I am so glad fruit seems to be where you are heading. Good luck!

[mcster]

It sounds like you have indeed found out the right path for you.

From what I have learnt there is no such thing as both true hunger and fake hunger (cravings). They are BOTH true hunger. Cravings are a sign of depletion in nutrition and nature uses cravings as a a powerful urgency to eat. Nature doesn't know that human beings have invented SAD food that is totally lacking in nutrition yet has all the correct texture and taste to fool the body into thinking it can get nutrition from it. That is why the less we eat the more powerful our cravings become. That is why bingeing occurs. The body doesn't check for volume, it checks for nutritional levels. That is why we can so easily consume a packet of biscuits, crisps and cakes in one sitting yet a large salad is hard work to finish.

Now you know when you get a craving for something SAD, it is not a matter of willpower, resistance and time to sit things out. It is time for fruit. And I am so glad fruit seems to be where you are heading. Good luck!

100% agree. I will add that there is a bit more to cravings though. Some substances can be addictive. The cells produced by our body during SAD are made up from elements of those SAD foods. Therefore, there is a memory of SAD foods that gets imprinted in our bodies at a cellular level. This is why what you wrote sounds so easy yet it seems to be so hard for some people to put into practice. It's also why cleansing is key. In addition to allowing the body to rest and restore itself, it also feeds itself on those unhealthy cells that trigger SAD cravings enabling the body to free itself from them.

I used to crave dairy products before I went raw. My cravings were eliminated through cleansing before I went raw but they came back when I consciously fed my body dairy. The moment I did a cleanse and followed it with the raw diet, it's as though I'd never eaten dairy or SAD. I've never have any cravings for dairy or anything cooked/processed since that time. Actually, my body naturally rejects those foods. It makes me nauseous just thinking about them pizza, ice cream, quesadillas and all the other foods I used to absolutely love. It's almost a strange feeling for me. Sorry for waving the cleansing flag so hard but I wouldn't be doing it had I not experienced the phenomenal results that I did...doing it properly.

[sport]

Sorry for waving the cleansing flag so hard but I wouldn't be doing it had I not experienced the phenomenal results that I did...doing it properly.

What process did you follow.

[mcster]

What process did you follow.

Master cleanse. I've done others but the master cleanse has given me the best results without severely affecting daily routine. I do it every six months now.

[sunyata]

for sure, thankyou again, great info!

i agree that there are some foods that really do have an addictive nature to them, like processed sugar for example? i remember someone on TV saying it has the same effect on the body as crack / heroin

i noticed it whenever i used maple syrup that stuff seriously has a physically addictive nature to it! but for me it is only when i eat it, for about 30 mins afterwards

but again, alot of the 'cravings' that i thought i was having are gone now that i am well fed. now i can tell i really do have my levels back up, when i ate dinner, i was seriously just so satisfied, alot of foods that i would normally find so 'appealing' have just completely lost their appeal - another sign im eating right

[modernmonkey]

I don't believe refined sugar is addictive at all, otherwise we would all be scooping out of our sugar bags constantly. A tablespoon of sugar is totally unappealing but mix it with milk and cocoa, or butter and egg and whoop! it's hard to say no or stop. It is the texture of SAD foods that contain refined sugar that 'seem' addictive because they simulate fruit. They dissolve and mush up just like fruit in the mouth and taste sweet yet they have no nutrition so it's a fools paradise.

[sunyata]

interesting.. i am really not sure why it happens

its just from my experience that as soon as any sugary stuff was ingested, mainly the maple syrup, it felt like awakening a 10000 pound gorilla!

it felt like a definate and sudden change as soon as the sugar is ingested

it also dries up my throat and i have to keep sipping on water afterwards otherwise i feel like im almost gagging

nasty stuff i think from my own experience it been comparable to an opiate addiction.

maybe one day we could try eating a whole bunch of fruit drizzled in maple syrup lol

[modernmonkey]

I think after a period of time eating only sweet fruit, the taste of refined sugar becomes very unappealing. The sickly sweet taste will ring alarm bells on its first impact with the mouth. Just like giving up sugar in your tea. At first it's difficult but soon even one granule will sweeten the tea too much.

[sunyata]

yes i have been thinking about this now and it rings true

when i have eaten the right amount the sugary junk foods do largely lose their appeal

and why i have eaten myself into sickness at times in the past, because the SAD foods is just so devoid of any real content

this is a great understanding and already it is helping with my food choices

[sunyata]

so i decided to make a "green smoothie" today

it tasted great

but the energy it gave me was just amazing, it really was a rush, just magical, no crash either just kept going for 6+ hours

perfect replacement of the cooked foods, and so nutritional in every way

i will be making these a part of my diet for sure

[dime]

Master cleanse. I've done others but the master cleanse has given me the best results without severely affecting daily routine. I do it every six months now.

Why do you do it every six months? I did it once and then switched to raw food. Why bother with it again if what you eat now is not nearly as toxic as cooked food? When eating raw your body detoxifies properly every day. There's no need to continue doing such drastic cleanses (which are quite hard on the body), in my opinion.

[modernmonkey]

The inventor of the master cleanse endorses cleansing to also tackle illness, back problems, injuries, depression etc.. I think the idea is that a cleanse frees the body of digestion to focus on other healing chores without compromising health.

[sunyata]

i thought i would just give a little update

now i am eating at least 90% raw foods and learning alot. im keeping a food diary, and aiming for around 3000 calorie at present

i have still been using some things like table salt / pepper, salad dressing, sweeteners, dried fruits on occasion, but they are definately starting to "filter out" if you will

the buzz and energy and harmony and cleanliness i get from eating raw foods is just amazing, i am slowly learning which foods are right, and which foods drag me down, and the more i learn and experience, the more i just want to eat 100% raw, because i can really feel that the other stuff is just having a detrimental effect, it is a process but i am definately making good progression.

another thing that is tricky is finding which raw foods to eat to replace those cooked foods which i sometimes crave. its like my body is programmed into thinking i need this cooked food, when there is a raw food that will satsify that craving, so i am almost reprogramming those impulses and learning which raw foods i need to eat in replacement to keep up the right nutrition

i just have to say again the buzz i get from eating the right raw foods is just amazing, it is actually euphoric, so feeling the buzz dissipate is making me really sensitive to all food, but so intune with my body's processes, its quite an amazing process. i am doing alot of exercise now too and really enjoying it

thanks for the help offered here some valuable things have been learnt, i cant wait to make the full transition to 100% raw

[modernmonkey]

Sunyata, I don't think things could go any better. It sounds to me you are making the most natural, ideal transition to 100% raw. You give all the signals of someone who can succeed long term, not someone who is into a fad.

All I will say is this. I don't think it is always a simple case of 'I want rice for dinner, what raw can I substitute it with?' If you crave cooked foods for dinner it is more likely that you have to eat more raw for breakfast. It could mean that 3 extra bananas in the morning will prevent you craving rice in the evening. My philosophy is that by dinnertime I should have virtually no hunger. Not the traditional SAD philosophy of saving all you hunger up to the evening which then we go to sleep on a full stomach. Most of our calories should be consumed before dinner. Breakfast and lunch are the most important. By dinnertime there should be just enough calories remaining for a small amount of protein and loads of raw veg and leafy greens (they are so low in calories).

If you find yourself still hungry before dinner you could start with a fruit meal 30 minutes before. If your 10% cooked food is happening around dinnertime and you really want to convert too 100% raw, then I suggest eating more fruit, eating more raw at breakfast and lunch and eating fruit before dinner. You should find that all your nutritional needs are taken care of and that all you want is some veg and leafy greens and some protein.

[sunyata]

awesome, this sounds great

yeah it has been a little tricky figuring out how to actually eat properly and balanced like this, and i like the idea of eliminating digestion while sleeping

thanks i will give this a go

[sunyata]

wow this is really effective!

big breakfast and lunch of purely fruit, with vegetables in the evening! my body is so happy!

thanks this is working out really well

[modernmonkey]

That's great. Glad to hear it.

Now remember to vary your foods and preparation styles and you won't get bored.
:dance: