Feeling and Looking sick on a raw food diet

[blueberrypurple]

I started an 80% raw food diet 2 months ago and feel worse and look very sick. I thought a raw food diet would improve and heal all the health issues. What is this about? Am I lacking nutrients?

~BP

[EscapeArtist]

Not enough info really ;/
What characteristics are making you look sick? What does your diet look like (the raw part and the non raw part)? What diet did you come from before?

[MysticTree]

What are you eating? What is your background? As Escape Artist says . . . not enough info.

[blueberrypurple]

I was raised with a horrible diet since I was a kid consisting of candy, ice cream, carbs mainly from french fries and chips LOTS of chips and cheese for over 20 years, lunch meats, white rice, sodas etc. Was a vegetarian on and off for the past 10 years although a very unhealthy one. Over 2-3 years ago I ate nothing but fast food for about a year and bags of potato chips per day, and barely much water... I became sick due to diet, insomnia, toxic chemicals, and tons of stress taking place in my life at that time. The past 2 years I've been struggling with adrenal fatigue, brain fog, painful small intestine bacteria overgrowth that landed me on a few courses of antibiotics earlier this year and horrible acne breakout that landed me on accutane right after the antibiotics this year.

I have made drastic improvements in my diet the past 2 years and have been eating 80% raw foods the past 2 months consisting of veggies, fruits, salads, green smoothies, juicing, herbal teas, water, coconut water, raw food bars. I had already gone down from 104 lbs to 90 lbs from the health issues and have lost more weight from the raw foods. My skin looks awful, eyes were hollow to begin with and are even more now with a greenish/blueish tint underneath. Skin is super pale, hollow and I look very tired and nutrient deficient, mind you, I already did but even more so now. I feel tired, weaker, and my stomach hurts (not sure due to diet or stress). I love raw foods, yet I feel I'm starving myself and am concerned about becoming even more nutrient deficient if I already am not.

[Revvell]

Sounds as though your body isn't digesting and assimilating what you're putting into it. Might want to get some good quality enzymes.

[blueberrypurple]

.... Oh and the non raw part - I eat veggie soups, veggie/black bean tacos with corn tortilla, eggs and salmon once and a while (haven't had it in a month) and other cooked vegan dishes once in awhile which I also haven't had in a month.

[blueberrypurple]

Thanks for your suggestion everyone!

Revvell, I started watching Dr. Robert Morse's videos on Youtube whom I intuitively trust - I'll also be seeing him in March. He's completely against digestive enzymes and believes in raw foods and herbal treatment/detoxing and regenerating... So, I think I'd like to hold off on the enzymes until I speak to him. And yes, I believe I may be having digestion issues as I noticed more solid food in the toilet. How does one heal digestion and aren raw foods harder to digest?

[Revvell]

Well, yeah... cooked food is easier to digest because it's basically already been mushed up. Raw food contains fiber and, since digestion begins in the mouth, my last suggestion ~ chew each mouthful 50 times. When eating cooked mush, it's not necessary. When eating something with fiber... 'tis.

You might "trust" Dr. Morse yet, if you're already feeling that poorly after only two months, what's going to happen in the next 4?

[blueberrypurple]

Hi Revvell, I have not seen Dr. Robert Morse yet, just have been watching his videos on Youtube. If he's able to help people cure themselves from cancer, restore blindness and all kinds of diseases, then he must very well know what he's talking about with more minor issues. The raw food is my main concern as I have been feeling worse since starting it and the months progressing... Just wasn't sure what it's about or if I'm detoxing? I will chew a lot more. Thank you!

[therawmichelle]

I am sorry to hear about the problems you're having. :(

A raw food diet can work wonders on your health, but it is also very easy to mess yourself up when going raw, especially if you don't know what your nutritional needs are. I suggest you get your blood work done as soon as possible, to discover what you might be deficient in. It sound like you may not be getting enough complete protein. Do you include any nuts, seeds and sprouts in your diet? Have you considered supplementing your menu with Spirulina and Chlorella? It is also possible that you're not including enough iron and/or calcium. For example, eating a lot of spinach is not an ideal way of getting iron, because substances in spinach interfere with calcium absorption. Don't eat too much of one thing and try to have as varied a diet as possible.

Best of luck to you!

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

I started an 80% raw food diet 2 months ago and feel worse and look very sick. I thought a raw food diet would improve and heal all the health issues. What is this about? Am I lacking nutrients?

~BP
Time to go the heavy and bump up the raw food diet to it's highest level so you really know what it is capable of doing. So, make at least 50% of you diet sprouted foods that you grow yourself. Grow wheatgrass, grow alfalfa, mung bean sprouts, sesame seeds sprouts, buckwheat sprouts, sunflower seed sprouts, and learn to have kelp. You need live foods with maximum `chi'. Maybe it would be good to take a bacterial source of B12 also. Try these things to start with. lt will take some effort but it will show you the true powers of a raw diet. Remember, make 50% of your diet these living organic sprouts that you grow yourself.

And yes, as therawmichelle says, try some spiurulina and chlorella to give yourself a good boost. You'll be o.k, but you need to boost yourself with these foods. l could go on and on why you need these things, but make a start by doing these things and we'll talk more later.

[Revvell]

Hi Revvell, I have not seen Dr. Robert Morse yet,

Yes, I know. That's why I gave the response I did.


If he's able to help people cure themselves from cancer, restore blindness and all kinds of diseases, then he must very well know what he's talking about with more minor issues.

I got that.



The raw food is my main concern as I have been feeling worse since starting it and the months progressing...

Right, therefore, my response to what you posted.


Thank you!

You're welcome.

[blueberrypurple]

Hi! I will being doing a lot of tests in March when I see my doctor for the first time, but will also go ahead and get a blood test taken soon... Is there anything specific I should test for? I have adrenal gland and kidney issues which I'm working on detoxing and was repeatedly told (via youtube channel) that protein is not a good idea if adrenal glands/kidneys are weak. I would like to add more sprouts as I don't include as much. I eat a lot of kale, celery, carrots, chard, romain lettuce, other green herbs, barely any spinach, lots of apples, lots of bananas, kiwi, lots of avacado, bell peppers, basil, grapes, pomegrante, onions, was eating a lot of tomatos not anymore though, was eating a lot of watermelons not as much now, ginger, lemons, was eating lots of cucumber in season not much now, onions, raw honey, hummus, herbal teas - rooibus, water, coconut water and the meat, and started green smoothies a week ago. I am not sure what else to include?

Also wanted to mention I've read many many places that spirulina makes people with problematic skin break out... I'm afraid to try it now as I started breaking out again this past week and in places I hadn't before.

[blueberrypurple]

Time to go the heavy and bump up the raw food diet to it's highest level so you really know what it is capable of doing. So, make at least 50% of you diet sprouted foods that you grow yourself. Grow wheatgrass, grow alfalfa, mung bean sprouts, sesame seeds sprouts, buckwheat sprouts, sunflower seed sprouts, and learn to have kelp. You need live foods with maximum `chi'. Maybe it would be good to take a bacterial source of B12 also. Try these things to start with. lt will take some effort but it will show you the true powers of a raw diet. Remember, make 50% of your diet these living organic sprouts that you grow yourself.

And yes, as therawmichelle says, try some spiurulina and chlorella to give yourself a good boost. You'll be o.k, but you need to boost yourself with these foods. l could go on and on why you need these things, but make a start by doing these things and we'll talk more later.

Hi, thank you! As mentioned to therawmichelle, spirulina has made a lot of people with problematic skin break out badly - I started breaking out again this week... My hurts. I would love to grow food myself, although live in the city and don't have any places to do so at my home. A bacterial source of B12? Would you give me more info of this and wouldn't in a bad idea to do so when I already have bacteria overgrowth (not candida) in my small intestine?

[Revvell]

All the food you mention isn't going to be doing you any good if you're not digesting and assimilating it. Check out Fred Bischi. (sp?)

[Cocoon]

Do you have problems with your nerves and feel anxious? Do you have mood swings and hard time remembering stuff? Please do check the level of B12 in your blood, it is crucial for our bodies to produce (or supplement) enough of this vitamin, and it is the ONLY nutrient that we CAN NOT get from plants. It is commonly found in animal and dairy products. I've had the same problem and wasn't aware of it for years, untill I turned to raw food (was a vegetarian before, but did not hardly get any milk or eggs...) and everything got so worse, that I couldn't get out of bed from lacking energy and feeling depressed. It is so important for vegans/raw foodist to know this, cos 80% of them are B12 deficient, without even knowing. I would not recommend taking Spirulina and Chlorella cos they have a significant amount of analog B-12 that competes with the human active B-12, which can only make the situation worse. Dr. Gabriel Cousens explained it well in his studies. There are so many informations and studies going on about it right now, and if you do find yourself lacking this vitamin, research to find what is the best for you. Wishing you all well.

[kaybee]

march is a long way away...if its not possible to see dr. morse almost immediately, then it would probably be best to make some other changes, even if youre not sure they are ones he would agree with. you can always change back later, but if adding enzymes now ends up helping, its better than having your health continue to go downhill (personally i have used super high quality prescribed enzymes and they made no difference for me, but it appears some people have luck with them. It does sound like you should see someone sooner than march though; at least start by getting the bloodwork done and try to find an integrated doctor who is familiar with vegan diets etc.

[blueberrypurple]

Hello everyone - thank you all for your advise! I've had moderate to severe adrenal fatigue going on 2 years along with small intestine bacteria overgrowth. I had seen many western and holistic doctors which really weren't much help and all that happened was it left me with a bunch of money spent, bunch of money I owe, feeling more confused, and worse. As of now, I do not want to see any other doctor as I'm sure it'll contradict Dr. Morse (and confuse me even more) - a Doctor who has cured many case of cancer and other severe health issues... I will however take other tests until seeing him, but his approach is no supplements, only herbs, detoxing, juicing, raw diet filled with a high level of fruit for a period of time. He does not suggest digestive enzymes stating that the body eventually depends on it and stops making it's own naturally. His approach is to allow the body to heal itself with the foods and herbs, and is the way severe situations have been cured. In response to the question about B12, I do still eat eggs and salmon on and off - barely as often as I did though, and I thought I had B12 issues (maybe still do?) because of the small intestine bacteria overgrowth. I was getting B12 injections at one point a few months ago. This took place once a week and lasted 2 months as suggested by the doc. I didn't really notice a difference. As far as having mood swings or feeling anxious, I have a lot of stress in my life and only feel anxious because of this which taxes my adrenal glands. I get moody around my period... I don't have a hard time remembering things - I guess you could say I remember things very well but the thick brain fog prevents me from fully being present... It's like a thick glass wrapped around me most times and it's gotten worse with the raw foods.

Kaybee - how long have you been on enzymes and do you plan on taking it forever? I haven't started Dr. Morse' herbal formulas yet and even with that (which I won't have to take for very long) - my goal is to not be on anything.

[Beginraw]

I have the same situation. I started raw for 2-3 months ago, and my whole body have rash all over now. My skin is very dry. I thought this is detox, so didn't look into to it. I have type 2 diabetes. Also eat a lots of fast food, alcohol, and smoke before going raw, but stop everything now. The good thing is I feel more energy after going raw, not tired at daytime anymore. Is this normal?

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

Hi, thank you! As mentioned to therawmichelle, spirulina has made a lot of people with problematic skin break out badly - I started breaking out again this week... My hurts. I would love to grow food myself, although live in the city and don't have any places to do so at my home. A bacterial source of B12? Would you give me more info of this and wouldn't in a bad idea to do so when I already have bacteria overgrowth (not candida) in my small intestine?

l'll try getting back to you in the next couple of days. There is no need to worry, things can be done for you. You don't have to be sick on a vegan diet, you can thrive if you do certain things. l can't wait to talk to you again when l am less busy, l am excited about it.

Regards: Mr Raw.

[mollywalker60]

You have need a good friend who help you begin this journey on raw food diet. Take monthly advise own your expert on which foods and recipes help you achieve optimal health.

[Queen Bean]

The first thing I thought when I read your post was that you need a series of colonics. Because your diet was so poor for so long, I imagine there is a lot of sludge that needs to be removed before you can absorb nutrients properly. A raw diet means that a lot of toxins are being released, and with such a poor dietary history, there will be a lot more toxins than someone who has had a relatively healthy diet before they became raw.

Also, do you drink water on arising? I upped my morning amount from 500ml to 1 litre, and my digestion has improved a lot.

[Dent de Lion]

Honestly it sounds like you're not getting enough calories. How's your digestion?

Can you post some sample menus? Also, how much sleep are you getting? It's great you're going to get that bloodwork done, then you'll know what you're working with.

I suggest you start logging your food (using fitday.com or nutridiary or something like that) every day. Then you can see if you're getting enough calories and nutrients.