Mouth / Tongue pain

[reina80]

Ok, the last time I went raw this is the reason I stopped. About my fifth week in (not 100% raw), I started getting horrible tongue pain. My whole tongue was sore, not really any major sores like a canker - just pain and my taste senses deadened. I quit eating so much raw food because I seriously thought it was a b12 deficiency. After going to about 50% raw, my mouth healed.

Now raw, (very high raw - 3 weeks in) and my tongue is doing the same thing! Its extremely annoying. I never get canker sores or any mouth problems when not raw - is it a food I'm eating or is it detox? (I am taking a multi this time around just because - I seriously doubt its a deficiency as it seems too soon. By the way, my blood tests last time were borderline - I had seriously high folic acid levels but my B12 was only moderately decreased and my iron levels were borderline anemic - I am eating better this time around to combat both of those - more seaweed and chia...)

I'm not stopping this time but I want to be able to taste my food! Any cures, advice? Anybody else experience this? Thanks...

[Arky]

Zinc deficiency, perhaps..?

Also, consider that you might be sensitive to enzymes from certain raw fruits or phytic acids from, for example, certain nuts.

I used to get sore lips if I ate more than 2 or 3 fresh figs but this no longer happens.

What foods do you tend to eat the most often?

[RawMark]

Sounds like a deficiency or even dehydration. Both vitamin B and iron deficiencies can cause a sore tongue. If you have the two together then I'm not at all surprised that you're going through this. Maybe take some kinda multivitamin or other supplement and drink lots of water and see if that helps.

[Raw Angel Mom]

I hope you find what wrong but you may have some food allergies.

What kind of food did you eat?

Try to do mono. Eat just one food type to single out.

Someone i know, has the same problem with nama shoyu.

Pinneapple cans give you soreness etc...

I am sure you will figure out which raw food works for you.

[green goddess]

It could be the fruit you are eating. If I eat fresh pineapple, and don't cut off the 'eyes' near the skin well enough, my mouth gets tingly and my tongue feels like it's burning. Took me a while to figure that out! Also, if I eat more than one kiwi in a sitting, it causes a bit of a worse reaction - my whole mouth will get all tingly and feel like it's burning. It goes away within a couple of hours

So, maybe you have food sensitivities - you could try figuring this out, taking note of everything you eat and how you feel after. Of course, if this is on-going mouth pain that doesn't at all seem connected immediately to what you're eating, there could be something more nefarious at play... but not sure what!

Hope this helps!

[Arky]

Interesting to note that tropical fruits such as pineapples (and papayas) are both particularly high in enzymes (bromelain and papain, respectively), and that both of these are protein-digesting enzymes.

Figs (my ex-problem fruit) also contain an enzyme which is even capable of digesting tapeworms! (see Standard Process's 'Zymex II').

Furthermore, these enzymes (particularly bromelain) are well-known for their mucous-thinning properties. Mucous protects various tissues of the body, and the mouth is lined with mucous membranous tissues...

..so, potentially, in sensitive individuals, these various fruit enzymes may perhaps be capable of a) breaking-down the defensive mucous secretions of the mouth, and b) attacking the delicate mucous membranous tissues of the mouth lining (which are, of course, made of protein).

[kaleboy]

you wont get a B12 deficiancy for at least up to 3 years as your liver has plenty of reserves. My guess is that it is detox. I know people say this for every ailment but you pain is coincidental with going raw. It is like running 5 miles after not having run for 5 years. You are putting your body to work so you can expect a bit of pain as your organs are working probably in ways they haven't before. So my advice would be give it at least 6 months and if the pain is still there see a doc.

Another thing you can try is to just rinse your mouth out with water after all juices, smoothies and meals...you should do this anyway to stop the fruit acids messing up your teeth.