a concern...malnutrition?

[Lunar*Fey]

Since going raw I noticed that my hair is just like it was when I wasn't providing my body with enough calories/adequate nutrition. My body wasn't getting enough amino acids to make new proteins to make new cells so it took proteins from my muscles and such...which increased my weight loss. So all those years of constant motion as an extremely active child went down the drain, I lost alll my muscle and I had a pretty toned body. Ok, I'll get back on topic..sorry about that.
Any way, my hair got a certain way when I had malnutrition and now it's like that again. I know I am getting at least 2800 calories, normally over 3000. My hair is brittle like and easily falls out...its exactly how it was when I wasn't feeding my body and getting nutrients. I currently eat about 20% fats, 70% carbs, and 8-10% protein. (although is varies a little). Does anyone know what might be causing my hair to get like this? Maybe my body needs more protein or there is some vitamin or mineral I should make sure I get or something? Does anyone have any ideas?
Thank you!

[PhoeniX]

Are you using juices and green smoothies as part of your daily food intake? Sometimes people have difficulty absorbing nutrients and juicing and smoothies are a form that the body can easily absorb.

[Lunar*Fey]

PheoniX,
I don't have a juicer. I eat most of my greens in nice big salads. But are you saying that sometimes the body has trouble absorbing the nutrients when consumed this way?

[onesmartcookie]

are you 100% raw vegan? frankly speaking, I firmly believe that EVERYBODY is different and we all require different things at different points in our lives. unless you think it's "detox" (which seems to be the blanket answer for any and all problems people experience on raw), it sounds like something could be awry. I have definitely been in your position--I had eating disorders in my teens and really wreaked havoc on my body, and one of the many places it showed was my hair. I clearly was NOT getting enough of what my body needed--probably quality fat and protein.
Though it sounds like you're certainly eating enough, so perhaps it is an issue of absorption. Ack, I'm not really being much a help here! Just wanted to let you know I've been there, so I'm providing empathy =)

[heabrook]

PheoniX,
I don't have a juicer. I eat most of my greens in nice big salads. But are you saying that sometimes the body has trouble absorbing the nutrients when consumed this way?

You don't have to have a juicer, you can use a blender to make what I call a "green drink."

Sometimes it is easier for the body to absorb the nutrients when you drink greens in liquid form because the digestive system doesn't have to work as hard to digest it.

The green drink can consist of (leave any out if you don't have the ingredients):

Lettuce
Spinach
Parsley
Dandelion
Water

You can also add fruit if you want.....but I try to follow the food combining principles, where you don't mix fruit with other foods. You can also use other greens such as swiss chard, beet greens, etc........

This drink, for me, gives me a lot of energy and curbs my appetite when I don't have time to prepare anything.

[Lunar*Fey]

thanks Onesmartcookie :). hmm I'm just a bit confused, I mean I know I need the calories to gain weight and I have that covered...although its hard since I have a small figure to begin with and feel like I'm bursting out of it lol. So I'm really full all the time, but being 100% (or as close as possible, since I can never be sure that certain things are raw or whatever) raw vegan I feel much better gaining weight than when I was gaining in a hospital (on some of the most disgusting foods I have ever tasted not to mention...for example cheese that was shiney and plastic like and disgusting, but that's besides the point). gaining on those foods I was constantly in such pain, my stomach felt immensly heavy, and I felt sick. Now, gaining on raw...my stomach still sometimes feels heavy like of course but not nearly as bad, and I feel full of energy. I also have an extremely good attitude and outlook and happiness level whereas before I was depressed. very depressed. Maybe I should get even more fat and protein while gaining to restore nutrition and all that? I don't know! I can't listen to my body yet. Any way, thank you!

[PhoeniX]

PheoniX,
I don't have a juicer. I eat most of my greens in nice big salads. But are you saying that sometimes the body has trouble absorbing the nutrients when consumed this way?

That is exactly what I am saying. My friend is a raw chef who teaches about raw food (where i initially heard of it) and he had an experience with someowe who was raw for 6 months eating lots of salad. they had a colon cleanse and found that there were full undigested leaves.

The basic idea is this:

First, the body protects the lining of the intestines from acid with mucus. Over years of eating cooked foods the mucus lining can become quite thick and rubbery causing nutrient absorbtion to decrease.

Second, when food enters the stomach acid is produced to break it down (this makes the nurtrients available for absorption. When it moves into the intestines bile is produced to neutralize the acid. The body neutralises the acid with minerals. If the body has a shortage of minerals (or certain minerals) it stops producing acid in the stomach, because it doesn't have the resources to neutralise it later on. If it stops the acid production then the food is even less available for nutrient absorption, which means that the body has even less minerals. It becomes a vicious cycle.

When you separate the nutrients from the food manually (through juicing and/or blending) the food is in a state that allows for much better absorption, which means that the body can start absorbing minerals. As it does this the body will restart the process putting acid into the stomach, restarting a healthier digestive process.

It is really important to be having green drinks every day, especially at the beginning of eating RAW. Actually, even if you are not RAW I think it is really important. So I suggest that you go and buy a cheap juicer and start juicing every day. A good juice to start with is 1/3 cucumber, 1/3 celery, 1/3 apple. Use this as a quite pleasantly sweet tasting base and add whatever other veggies you like. Some cheap juicers I have had will even juice a small amout of leafy greens, which are really good for you as well.

Take care,
J

[Elouet]

I, personally, believe it's an issue of fats and fatty acids. I've had to really up my fat intake; natural, healthy fats of course, which all raw fats are. Also, make sure you're getting omega 3s and 6s which are in flax seeds mainly or in supplements. I use the supplement Barlene's Greens which has omega oils. Also, try washing your hair with honey, that helps mine. ^__^

[rawandama]

How do you get the honey out?

[robertandenith]

what about seeds? do you eat seeds like flax, pumpkin, what about sprouts? sprouts are like multivitamin! I eat them in romaine wraps! use your blender and make some green sauces! our favorite one (including my daughter) is our spinach sauce, made with cilantro, basil, pine and walnuts or cashews nuts, lemon, sea salt and olive oil. We need the clorophill of the greens, so maybe you can also chew on wheatgrass? or maybe spread a few blades into salads? Flax seeds are the best food out there imo. My daughter eats this like drinking water, good stuff and filled with fatty acids! Also sea veggies! what about nori wraps? also don't forget to add bee pollen on smoothies :)

[Beanie]

yeah, lack of the essential fatty acids will lead to brittle hair.

[Lunar*Fey]

Wow thanks everyone! This is all really helpful!

Heabrook- Thanks! :) So do you just put like, say, spinach and water in the blender and drink that?

PheoniX- thank you! :) That is really interesting. I can't get a juicer right now, but maybe I can just blend? I'll try it. thank you so much for showing me the importance of green drinks, I had no idea.

Elouet- thank you! :) Do you know if all flax seeds bought in the store are raw? If not, do you know where I can get raw ones inexpensively? Thank you so much. I do eat avocados and nuts/seeds daily. It's just hard because I have a very limited supply. I mean for a while I'll only have pumpkin seeds and only when I run out of those can I buy more nuts/seeds. It's hard being only 15 in a family of people completely against me going RAW.

Robertandenith- I currently have some pumpkin seeds and eat them basicly daily. I also eat avocado basicly daily. I recently sprouted lentils so I finally have some sprouts! your spinach sauce sounds great. It's just really hard because I don't have a lot of ingredients. the variety of raw foods in my house is very limited. *sighs* I wish I was the one who bought all our groceries! lol thank you for your suggestions! :)

Beanie- thanks :) . Could this be, even though I eat seeds and/or nuts and avos daily? Maybe my body just needs extra right now? But I was getting WAY less before going raw and my hair was ok

[Autumn]

I had a problem with hair loss when I first went raw last year, then again this year when I went "serious raw". :) I have read many theories, including that just like when your body is detoxing you may feel sick, have a runny nose, skin outbreaks, etc., you may shed your old hair to make room for the new. My hair now grows like a weed and looks 10x thicker then it ever has in my life. A friend of mine thought I was wearing a wig! Losing hair can be alarming and annoying, so if you want to slow the process down a little, I have read (and it has been my experience, like others here who are posting) to up, up, up the greens. I drink quite a bit of green smoothies. My current favorite: one frozen banana, 2 pears and 6 cups of kale, collards or other greens, and water to desired thickness. Yum!

I would highly recommend reading Victoria Boutenko's book "Green for Life" and/or her "Ode to Green Smoothie", posted here: http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/sho...ght=Green+Life

It is truly eye-opening about the importance of greens!

[Beanie]

Personally, I would try to get in some flax and/or hemp oil too. Its not necessary the amount of fat you are taking in but you need a certain amount of the essential fats. Or take a pill form of a supplement from a wholefood store. It can build up over time! Also, stress can be the cause. And it may be from even 6 months ago or more!! So its not always what you are doing now that is the problem, it could have been a result from a while ago.

[Lunar*Fey]

Autumn- Thanks :) . Thats amazing that your hair grew in so much thicker :) , do you like it? I read that hair falling out could be detox...its just it scares me because theres like this feeling on my scalp...almost like the roots of the hair are soar and it feels fragile like, like if I touch it it will fall out or something. Plus its wirey and eh I don't know, I can't explain it. It's actually kind of shiney though....if that means anything. thanks for the suggestions, I'll have to try that green smoothie :)

Beanie- thank you, :) I would love to get some hemp or flax. I hate being part of a family who does the opposite of support my decision to be RAW...its quite hard to make sure I get the nutrition I need. I got a bit of money for my birthday...is there a place I can order raw hemp or flax seeds in bulk or something that isn't too pricey? By the way, do you know what I can use for some more calcium?