Upset stomach from too many greens

[Bessie the Cow]

Help! I'm new to raw, but my belly can't handle all the salad and it's undermining my efforts. I don't know why this is and I'm looking for some insight...

I've been having problems with being very hungry on the raw diet, but someone said to just "keep eating", so that's what I've been trying to do. However, I find with many raw foods, particularly those which are dense with greens - I get a really upset stomach and find it hard to digest. I don't know why - aren't plant foods supposed to have heaps of digestive enzymes in them?

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

Yeah, the fiber of vegetable greens are known for irritating the linings of the intestine and stomach, that's one of the many reasons why l am not a fan of them. The best thing to do is to juice the vegetables (if you insist on them) and start eating a salad of sprouts like alfalfa, mung, adzuki, sunflower seed, lentil, radish, brocolli, fenugreek, and sesame seed with added dulse, buckwheat greens etc. The key is to sprout the lentil, mung, and adzuki in the dark until the last day so they are nice and juicey and melt in your mouth. The sprouts are immature greens and plants so you won't have the problem of the fiber irritating the linings, + you will get better absoption rates due the higher quality fiber.

[Non]

I too have gotten the upset stomach but only if the greens are eaten cold right out of the fridge, and if they are particularly cooling and/or eaten with more cooling foods. Maybe some ginger would help, onions, bell peppers, or just some carbohydrate rich foods. Carbohydrate rich foods have a thermal effect. along with some nuts/seeds.

Also, maybe some iodine might help, I've found it being somewhat warming in nature, but like less of a warming nature and more of a thermogenic nature. Like water can be cooling but at the same time have thermogenic properties.

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

Help! I'm new to raw, but my belly can't handle all the salad and it's undermining my efforts. I don't know why this is and I'm looking for some insight...

I've been having problems with being very hungry on the raw diet, but someone said to just "keep eating", so that's what I've been trying to do. However, I find with many raw foods, particularly those which are dense with greens - I get a really upset stomach and find it hard to digest. I don't know why - aren't plant foods supposed to have heaps of digestive enzymes in them?

Sorry, l actually didn't answer the question properly before, l went off on another tangent.

Because many of us have been eating cooked foods for so long our digestion is quite weak. Knowledgable experts argue (l agree) that raw food folks need disgestive enzymes despite raw foods having them. lt sounds like you could have weak digestion and are not getting the goodies out of the foods, so feed yourself properly by using digestive enzymes so you can get more out of the food. Also: make green juices from FRESH plants and try the other things l mentioned above.

The enzymes have also been shown to put a magnetic sheild around the cells (seen in a microscope) so they aren't damaged by toxins commonly known as free radicals. So not only do you get good digestive help and get fed better, you also get a very valuable anti-aging benefit.

According to the Ann Wigmore lnstitute, sprouts have up 100 times more enzymes in them than fresh vegetables. And considering that most vegetables are picked days or weeks before, it wouldn't surprise me if sprouts had thousands of times more enzymes. But it is very important to remember this....old vegetables and fruit (at least) that are 2 - 3 weeks old (alot of raw foods in shops) have very few enzymes, so this certainly will not be helping your case with digestion. Vibration is everything, so get fresh!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY8ZRogtGXA

But...another potential problem could be an acid deficiency in the stomach. But hey, my knowledge is extremely limited because l don't have clinical research experience to be able to comment with authority on these tricky issues. But trying the things l recommended above could go quite a long way in solving the problem. See what happens.

[Bessie the Cow]

Hey everyone,

Thanks for your advice. I have a juicer and I have started juicing some of the greens. Watercress seemed to really upset my stomach in leafy green form, but is quite good in a juice with carrot and beetroot. Another thing that seemed to help was blending them up in a green smoothie.

I have found that adding alfalfa sprouts and mung beans sprouts to the salad actually made it easier to digest the greens. I live in New Zealand and supplements are really expensive to buy over here. It costs around $40+ to buy digestive enzymes from the local health store and I am a student, so it's just not affordable for me to constantly purchase "extras" and supplements.

Well I am about 70% raw now - but I am still having trouble giving up bread. The problem is that I keep getting super hungry - though the one "non raw" thing I keep eating is gluten free bread & cereal. I guess I could do worse than that, but I would still rather not eat it. I am reading Dr Graham Douglas's book "grain damage" and I think I'm addicted to grains!

Do you think it's possible for your system to adjust to the higher content of greens in the diet? I think I remember Victoria Boutenko saying something like this in one of her books...

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

l wroyte a page answer for you, but l lost it. So only a quick post this time.



I have found that adding alfalfa sprouts and mung beans sprouts to the salad actually made it easier to digest the greens. Yes, mung bean sprouts are one of the easiest foods to digest, even babies can digest them. Start blending them and getting used to them.


Well I am about 70% raw now - but I am still having trouble giving up bread. The problem is that I keep getting super hungry - though the one "non raw" thing I keep eating is gluten free bread & cereal. I guess I could do worse than that, but I would still rather not eat it.
Try making your diet 50% fruit/veg and 50% grasses/sea weeds and sprouts. This will definitely help stop the hunger. Try sprouted sesame seeds and sprouted sunflower seeds for a fill up. Also eat raw sea weeds and wheatgrass. Also have many sprouted greens and sprouted beans. Also blend sprouted grains if you can handle it. Blend lots of sprouts to start off with and you will soon need alot less food (it's a cheap and superior way to eat)....very satisfying and no hunger. lt's a boring diet, but get over it...eat some fruit and vegies if it gets too strict and hard. Even soak some nuts occasionally to break it up.

But before anything, start making those taste buds hardcore by eating or drinking mung bean sprout smoothies and alfalfa smoothies. Then take it further and adjust. When you can do this you have the world in your finger-tips.


Do you think it's possible for your system to adjust to the higher content of greens in the diet?
Of course.

You also might want to cheat by taking *gulp* colozone for a week to give you a head start/cleanse.

Sorry l can't write a better answer, l am extremely busy for the next few days.

[Bessie the Cow]

No apologies needed, Mr Raw, I am really appreciating your advice, it is fantastic. Thank you so much for making the effort to write all of this out.

I recently got an auto sprouter (in another city, I am visiting family at the moment) so I will be sure to start sprouting all of the suggested foods. I am finding that the bitter taste takes a bit of getting used to.

Colozone, huh? Sounds a bit like epsom salts. I found a website in NZ which stocks this: http://livingfoodslifestyle.co.nz/store/weekly-specials/colozone-100gm-bottle-34-95-special/

I always thought that you had to juice wheatgrass. Are you saying that I should eat it whole? What other things are considered to be "grasses"? Sorry I am asking what may seem like silly questions, but I am a super duper newbie, so please bear with me :)

I have been putting sprouted sunflower seeds in salads, but haven't yet tried sprouted sesame seeds. I will have to investigate.

Sounds like it's going to be sprouts, sprouts, sprouts for a while :)

[Raw Angel Mom]

Oh dear, you have many normal symptoms. Parasite can gives us craving and make us hungry, or you have absorption problem or an emotional void. Try not to mix more then 4 and perhaps 5 food type at the time, to give a chance to your body to recuperate. One thing you need to know without any doubt, you are on the right path to do raw food. Cook food and especially from any animal source is so harmful to your beautiful body. It ages you speedo and make you sick. You need to have patience with yourself and you will get there.

If i was you, i would limit any nuts if stay away from them just to give a better chance to your kidney to get on top so they can filter better all of those toxin and acid. Doing greens and wheat grass is wonderful. Now, give time to digest fully before going to the next food. I would do a heavier meal at night such your sprouted sunflower seed with a lovely salad.

You should consider a detox program to reset your body. I did the simplyraw.ca and it was gently and efficient. Don't be afraid to eat fruits. Every single cell of your body need sugar ESPECIALLY YOUR BRAIN. Fruits rejuvenate your nerve system and unclog your lymph system as well. They must be pick ripe. In the mid time, study water fast. I do one day once a week and I swear that i feel totally amazing. My appetite drop enormously and i know my absorption must have increased because i am full with two fruits.

Most of all, you will learn to listen to your body, keep in mind that you could have those parasites that gives you unhealthy craving, you need to get that out. I love colon hydro therapy, i give myself an enema when i water fast.

I big hug to you, hoping you feel well soon!

[Bessie the Cow]

Parasites can gives us cravings and make us hungry

Yes, I'm beginning to think I may have a problem with this. As I have the most insatiable appetite, yet still very little energy. I have recently purchased this product: http://www.letslive.co.nz/product/view/185 (though it is at my house in my home city), so I will certainly be using it when I get back. I am planning to do a parasite cleanse, kidney cleanse and then liver cleanse (in that order).


Cooked food and especially from any animal source is so harmful to your beautiful body...If i was you, i would limit any nuts if stay away from them just to give a better chance to your kidney to get on top so they can filter better all of those toxin and acid
Thankfully I am not transferring over from the "SAD" diet (or what we in New Zealand might call the "SNZD", pretty similar though!). I have been a vegetarian since I was 16 (now nearly 24 years old) and vegan since I was 21. No, not a "processed foods" vegan - I ate mostly wholefoods, with the occasional processed "faux meat" product here and there.