Newbie questions

[rashelle]

So, my body has been in detox-mode since starting to eat raw. I'm having some minor skin rashes or something, so I'm wondering how long (approximately) I should expect that to continue. When should it be cleared up?

Also, I'm not able to get organic produce (I'm in Japan & it's not easily found here). Could the skin issues be caused by not eating organic? I'm concerned about all the pesticides, etc. on produce. Could consuming all that cause some health problems? Is it still healthy to eat all that (non-organic) produce on a raw diet? I can't wait to have organic produce available, but it's going to be a couple of years. :(

[MysticTree]

you'll be fine. Organic is probably better but non organic is good enough if the alternative is a highly processed diet.

[helen2207]

You'll be fine I started raw 3 years ago for 7 months most of my food were not organic and I fell fantastic and healthier than ever before. Don't worry just enjoy your raw diet until you can buy organic ones. I am back on raw now for a month I am not buying organic food and still feel great.

[rawconvenience]

i assume that the toxins in your body are fighting to get out as your new clean blood courses through your veins and they have 3 ways to do so. #1 and #2 are obvious and # 3 is though the skin. When I went raw I got splotches on my arms and the small of my back; but they were gone fairly quickly. all a part of the cleansing process.

[Living Food]

Is it still healthy to eat all that (non-organic) produce on a raw diet?

Everything that you eat comes from plant foods, so anything non-organic will have pesticide residue...if you eat meat, then you are eating concentrated pesticides from loads of produce, for example. Eating the produce straight means you actually consume far less pesticides (toxins are concentrated as you go up the food chain) - and you also get to avoid all of the toxic crap they throw into processed foods if you focus on fresh produce.

If you're really worried about pesticide residue (or even if you're not), grow some of yor own food and grow your own sprouts...not everyone has rhe space for a large garden, but just about nyone has the space to grow large quantities of sprouts indoors, and they're super-nutritious.

[rashelle]

Thanks for the replies everyone. It's really helpful. Unfortunately, now I'm feeling sick. I'm not sure if it's from my body detoxifying, from my 20 month old boy, or from stopping by the childcare center yesterday. But, hopefully once it passes, there will be improvement in how I feel. Still waiting for all my skin irritations to go away, too. I'm going to keep at it, though. Any other detox tips? Drink a lot of water is the obvious one, I guess. That one is fairly easy since I'm constantly thirsty. You're supposed to avoid medication, too, right (if possible)? I imagine that includes ibuprofen :( What about allergy medicine like zyrtec?

[k8sl8]

If you need meds when you are sick and you want to... use them. This isn't a hard fast, all or nothing deal. Just my opinion, of course, and others may disagree. In the end, it's up to you.

[Living Food]

I imagine that includes ibuprofen What about allergy medicine like zyrtec?

You should DEFINITELY stay away from all medication if possible, unless its needed for a life-threatening condition (in which case you should only stay on it until you have healed yourself).


Any other detox tips?

By far the best way to detox is by doing a colon cleanse, then a liver cleanse (there are others, too, but those are a good start). Doing a few high-quality cleanses gives you the detoxification benefit of YEARS of raw food...its that powerful. In my opinion, cleanses are necessary for anyone who has lived their whole life on the SAD diet.


Drink a lot of water is the obvious one, I guess. That one is fairly easy since I'm constantly thirsty.

Water is a very powerful detoxification tool, but it has to be pure, otherwise you're poisoning yourself (the tap water in virtually all industrialized areas is shockingly toxic).Unless you have well water or get water from a spring, you need to look into a good quality water filter...preferably one that works for your whole house, if you plan on showering.

[SunshineMN]

I take some medications, and refuse others. It really depends. Right now I'm taking penicillin for a kidney/bladder infection that got horribly out of control. I'm also continuing my lasix for now until I'm healthy enough to discontinue it. My doctor keeps trying to give me a couple other things but I just never fill the prescription. Some times you need the extra help especially if you are still detoxing.

[DebB]

I take some medications, and refuse others. It really depends. Right now I'm taking penicillin for a kidney/bladder infection that got horribly out of control. I'm also continuing my lasix for now until I'm healthy enough to discontinue it. My doctor keeps trying to give me a couple other things but I just never fill the prescription. Some times you need the extra help especially if you are still detoxing.

I'm curious SunshineMN - if you don't mind my asking? Did you have a bladder infection that went untreated (or under treated) and it then turned into a kidney infection? My MD said this could happen and I was wondering if that's what happened with your situation? If you don't wish to reply, I completely understand!

[SunshineMN]

Yes. I tend to have hypochondriac tendencies and knowing this I always wait too long to go to the doctor. Though I'm also having problems with my gallbladder being full of stones so I just thought it was my gallbladder at first. I was in the process of taking malic acid and getting ready to do my first gallbladder/liver cleanse when this hit me so I put off doing the cleanse. Usually I can tell right away when I'm having bladder problems and I drink 2 qts of cranberry juice and it goes away. Cranberry juice is still relieving the pain while the penicillin is building up and doing it's thing.

Since I'm just getting in to raw I'm not too upset about taking antibiotics. I have a bunch of some really good probiotics to take. I've actually had this happen once before which is why I finally figured out what it was. My SO had this prescription for penicillin that hadn't been filled so we got it filled. I just didn't have the money to go to the doctor at this time... and I don't trust them anyhow.

PS: I don't suggest people take other's prescriptions but I knew for certain I wasn't allergic to it and penicillin is old style and I know it works for me. And I really had no money to get to the doctor... I didn't want to lose my kidneys, not to mention it's very painful!

[DebB]

Yes. I tend to have hypochondriac tendencies and knowing this I always wait too long to go to the doctor. Though I'm also having problems with my gallbladder being full of stones so I just thought it was my gallbladder at first. I was in the process of taking malic acid and getting ready to do my first gallbladder/liver cleanse when this hit me so I put off doing the cleanse. Usually I can tell right away when I'm having bladder problems and I drink 2 qts of cranberry juice and it goes away. Cranberry juice is still relieving the pain while the penicillin is building up and doing it's thing.

Since I'm just getting in to raw I'm not too upset about taking antibiotics. I have a bunch of some really good probiotics to take. I've actually had this happen once before which is why I finally figured out what it was. My SO had this prescription for penicillin that hadn't been filled so we got it filled. I just didn't have the money to go to the doctor at this time... and I don't trust them anyhow.

PS: I don't suggest people take other's prescriptions but I knew for certain I wasn't allergic to it and penicillin is old style and I know it works for me. And I really had no money to get to the doctor... I didn't want to lose my kidneys, not to mention it's very painful!

[QUOTE=SunshineMN;688050]Yes. I tend to have hypochondriac tendencies and knowing this I always wait too long to go to the doctor. Though I'm also having problems with my gallbladder being full of stones so I just thought it was my gallbladder at first. I was in the process of taking malic acid and getting ready to do my first gallbladder/liver cleanse when this hit me so I put off doing the cleanse. Usually I can tell right away when I'm having bladder problems and I drink 2 qts of cranberry juice and it goes away. Cranberry juice is still relieving the pain while the penicillin is building up and doing it's thing.

Since I'm just getting in to raw I'm not too upset about taking antibiotics. I have a bunch of some really good probiotics to take. I've actually had this happen once before which is why I finally figured out what it was. My SO had this prescription for penicillin that hadn't been filled so we got it filled. I just didn't have the money to go to the doctor at this time... and I don't trust them anyhow.

I completely understand! I've been plagued with UTIs and I wanted to start treating them "naturally", but my MD rattled off all that I'd have to take (easily over $100 worth of stuff - cranberry, Uva Ursi, ETC! quite a list). And he's all for treating things naturally, mind you.

But then he told me - a UTI (at least how I get them - fast and hard) isn't anything to mess around with. For me to go ahead and take the antibiotic because I don't want it going into a kidney infection.

I've been raw over 4 years - but I still take antibiotics when/if I get a bladder infection. I've tried natural remedies, and have not found one to date that will cure a UTI for me - so antib's it is! Thanks for sharing.

I hope you get feeling better soon. And good luck with your gallbladder cleanse! My gb's been removed -- but I did a liver cleanse a few months ago (it's a liver & gb cleanse) and got 35 stones, which my naturopath said was 'moderate results'. I was pleased with the results. I'd never done one before.

Good for you cleansing the gb. I had mine removed and I wish now I'd never had that done. Wish I knew about gb cleanses. (wish wish)

[SunshineMN]

I wish I had known about cleansing a long time ago. LOL When I was in the hospital last spring, for pneumonia mind you, they misdiagnosed me and gave me coumadin which caused internal bleeding. While looking for that she discovered my gallbladder was full of stones. They actually thought I was dying from a pulmonary embolism... if they would have only listened to me. Anyhow, that's how I found out and since they thought I was on the road out they never discussed removing my gallbladder. Thank goodness! And I'm glad I know about cleanses now so I can avoid that.

I get UTI's fairly often (once or twice a year) but cranberry has always worked for me luckily. This is only the second time it gotten this bad. The first time they told me when it gets to your kidneys it can start damaging them unlike your bladder. In a few months I'll probably get a bunch of herbs and do a kidney cleanse too but money is really tight right now and I'm more concerned about the gallbladder attacks. I'd be happy with any amount of stones I get out! LOL I'm happy to hear it worked for you as well, I'm a little anxious about doing it myself.

Apologies to the original poster for derailing the thread so much!