IBS since going raw:<

[Secret Heart]

My physician is pretty sure that I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
That would explain why I've been getting these flare ups of bloating and horrible pain.
The worst part is that it's all happened since I've gone raw! :(

Now, I know physician's opinions are rather debated, but his assessment at least right now, makes sense. I'm so disapointed to have to give up all of my lovely apples and pears! I don't want to have to peel them all the time!

Anyway, I'm pretty depressed about this...and reading what the IBS ideal diet is is filled with cooked food :(

Anyone else encountered IBS while raw?

Thanks in advance,

Heather

[deb2005]

Hi Heather,
I'm still in my first month of raw. The first 2-3 days, I had terrible pain and bloating, but they went away. I think I was detoxing. I do have IBS and it is actually better now.

I don't have any answers for you. Have you tried keeping a food diary to see if any particular food or combinations bother you? I would do that before going back to cooked foods.

[earthmama]

Hi, just wanted to say that my IBS is better on raw foods. It might be a combining thing, cause usually high fiber is good for IBS. Not much help I know, but just wanted to let you know that the doc isn't always right about diet issues. A food diary would be a good idea if you don't already keep one. Would help to identify possible problems foods. Good luck and keep us posted on how you are doing, OK? Blessings Earthmama

[Secret Heart]

Hi Deb and Earthmamma,

I think with me I'm eating too much INSOLUBLE fibre and not enough SOLUBLE....it's just too high a fibrous amount I think...I'm hating the prospect of eating more cooked...it says that insoluble fibre foods (apples, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, celery et) are pretty hard in quantity on the GI tract during an IBS flare-up...darnit!

Thanks for your support though and i'll keep you posted.

Bloatedly yours,

Heather

[SedonaSun]

What about juicing more? Still raw :) Or maybe even try a 30-day juice fast (or mostly juice; maybe w/some whole foods still) and then see how you are. (Unless juice makes IBS worse--I know nothing about it)

[JMD]

Heather,

I am RIGHT with you. I have had IBS since I was little. I am 34 now. My flare-ups are not just caused by food but also stress and hormonal fluctuations. It is much worse 2 wks before me cycle starts. Since being high raw I am seeing an improvement in my energy level and sometimes in my IBS but I need more time to really see.

Try to do yoga and journal out your frustrations to deal with the grief of having to "do" more to bloat less. I hate it at times. BUT the MORE I WORRY about it the worse my IBS is. I do not mean to sound preachy....but allow your grief, and then try to find some accceptance in time. I had to grieve the food like a long lost boyfriend...and it passes in time. Today I know cooked food would make it worse int he long run...

I eat about 80-95% raw. My unraw items are steamed veggies when I KNOW i cannot handle much else but this is just me. I too cannot stand peeling my fruit and APPLES ARE MY FAVE!!! but I keep a peeler at work and try to be willing on most days. I am thin and toned but my lower belly is normally distended to male me look 3-4 months pregnant...do you have that???
I also juice my greens like spinach, lettuces, and kale to be sure they get a fighting chance to get absorbed in my body.

If you need to PM me and I would be more than happy to chat via email or phone. You are NOT alone:)

JMD

[Lauraw]

I also wonder about food sensitivities, which can cause bloating. Have you tested for these? Also...how long have you been raw? I had a lot of bloating my whole first month (nuts and bad combos). Also, apples do a number on me...something about the fiber or the skins. I go easy on apples.

I can't believe that cooked food would be better for you in the long run. Seems like easier-to-digest raw food would eventually heal your IBS, maybe allowing you to have more apples and broccoli and other "tougher" goodies later on?

Be gentle with yourself and trust your instincts. IMO: Doctors don't know as much as we've believed them to know. Best wishes.

[dhammala]

I have been a long time IBS sufferer and I found that when doing the 30 day challenge, my symptoms subsided around day 2.. !! Things got better and better and by week 2, I recognizd that I would only have light symptoms (bloating/gas) if I was combining foods improperly.. most often with the raw desserts and their fruit+nut bases.

I found somethings were just not good for me.. even raw. Apple skins of course, but broccoli, cauliflower, carrots are just too harsh. Stick to softer foods and watch your combining. Like mentioned before, keep a log of foods and symptoms and times -- it is the only way to really narrow down what is causing you grief.

BTW, after my 30 day challenge and having cooked food, my old IBS symptoms came right back. I have learned that cooked food is really not good for me!!

[Secret Heart]

Thank-you all for your suggestions...I really appreciate it!!!
I do think a LOT of these conditions are stress-related. I notice that when I do things and then think about my stomach that it is clenched...I think stress resides there and could have something to do with this too. Plus I think just eating so many insoluble foods (LOTS of apples, pears, broccoli, cauli and cabbage) I think didn't help.
Good to know that I"m not alone. So what do you all eat then with the flare-ups? Do you find tomatoes are ok for you? I had a carrot, tomato and cucumber salad for lunch and it seemed to go down ok..no more celery I guess!
Keep in mind I don't have a juicer yet...that will be wonderful when I get one.

JMD, I will PM you soon!

[Beanie]

I've been having a time too with foods. So are apples OK for you if you peel them? When I was eating over 3 apples a day, I was getting cramps. And I tried cooked veggie soup and for some reason that didn't digest at all (sat in my stomach!) and I am swollen today! :eek: People see it in my eyes even. My hands are even puffy. So I don't think cooking is the answer at all. I'm not sure what happened, too much sodium or some toxin it preceived. But cooked seems to exasberate MY problems and doesn't seem to help digestion. I tried it since a wholistic nutritionist suggested it. But she's not raw.......so IMO be careful about food advice from cooked foodists. Listen to your body. Mine seems to yell at me when it doesn't like what I'm doing.

[Secret Heart]

I am now peeling my apples and pears:< Sigh...at least until this clears up.
I'm really thinking about a juicer now...though my question about green smoothies is...do you juice orange juice to make up the juice part of them or not? I tried looking for threads that discuss exactly how people make them...i did find some recipes that detailed what was in them...but I'd like to know if folks use a blender or juicer...(I think I'm up for the smoothies more than the juice at this point).

[fiddler]

I am now peeling my apples and pears:< Sigh...at least until this clears up.
I'm really thinking about a juicer now...though my question about green smoothies is...do you juice orange juice to make up the juice part of them or not? I tried looking for threads that discuss exactly how people make them...i did find some recipes that detailed what was in them...but I'd like to know if folks use a blender or juicer...(I think I'm up for the smoothies more than the juice at this point).

Hi Secret Heart,

If I juice using my Green Star, I drink the juice on an empty stomach to gain the benefits of quick nutrition without loss of energy to separate the juice from the fiber.

If I green smoothie, I use the whole fruit and just add the greens with some water.

From what I've read, most folks do green smoothies with water and juicy (whole) fruit to make up the liquid part. Lots of recipes use apples and pears. I've been using apples lately with a little water and then just tossing in a handful or two of greens(Romaine or Spinach, commonly). I saw a post not too long ago where RP used limes and that has worked really well for me too!
[ In that case, I do juice the lime because they're hard for me to peel. ]

A Juicer is a wonderful gadget to allow you to get all the nutrients without having to expend all the energy digesting the fiber. FWIW, I love drinking fresh carrot juice with a small portion of either celery, spinach or other leafy green vegetables. So refreshing. I'm now reading Norman Walker's "Fresh vegetable and fruit Juices" (formerly titled "Raw Vegetable Juices") that was originally published in 1936 [ Checked out from the Library ] Wow, 1936! Most if not all of Walker's writing still rings TRUE and seems to be copied by many of today's RAW Food authors.

hth, fiddler