I started eating raw foods about the 2 months ago. I had been experiencing a revulsion to meat over the previous year after eating a high protein/low fat/low carb diet for about 7 years (think South Beach without so much fat). I have always loved and emphasized fresh vegies and so after reading an article on 105 degrees in OK City I decided to give it a try. At first I felt terrific. But in the last two weeks my stomach gets bloated every time I add food to it and I am miserable. I usually have a raw protein drink in the morning with fruit and almond milk that I make. Then a salad at noon and some fresh green juice in the evening. Then I eat whatever I want that is raw in between. So I have every organic nut imaginable, raw granolas, raw cacao, fruits, dates, etc to snack on if I want them. I do not eat cooked food or sugars and other things that it seems raw foodists don't recommend. But I feel like I am going to burst. I have scoured your forum and the internet for answers. I did not have any health problems really before this except that the doctor put me on a statin a few years ago which has my cholesterol down to the recommended range. I want to quit taking that. I take a number of supplements to reduce my risk for Alzheimer's as it is genetically in the family (curcumin, DHA, resveratrol, Huperzine A, and Ginkgo Biloba). In addition to the statin I was on 2 Aleve a day for a knee with no cartilage but recently have a shoulder strain of some sort and switched to 12 Advil a day. I want to drop all of this crap. My bone density is low (-2.5) and the doctors have been begging me to take Evista which I have refused. I now realize that the high protein diet has been robbing my bones of calcium to balance things so hopefully that will straighten itself out. I swim over a mile a day and do core work with a small amount of light weight work too (been doing this all of my life). I stretch daily and am 56 years old in great shape except for the sudden stomach problem since starting raw foods. Please help! I am interested in several perspectives on treating this, what I should and shouldn't eat etc. And I would love to hear if anyone else has had this problem in the early days of switching to raw. I did have severe constipation on the high protein diet which has gone away. Lately I am fatigued with the onset of this stomach problem but that could be grief as my mother died 10 days ago. Sorry for the length of this but I really want some help and so I am including anything that might be a factor.

could be the way you are combining foods.

ie try not to combine dozens of fruits/veggies in one meal. Certain foods dont digest well with other foods.

Put papain and/bromelain enzymes (buy by the pound from herbalcom.com) in a salt shaker and sprinkle on your meals before you eat them.
Use probiotics liberally even the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii to overcome candida.

[jana-sovereignstate.blogspot.com] —Article on GAS

DETOXIFYING METABOLIC SLUDGE

To become one with God or sovereign is to be rested, redeemed, resourced, refined, purified and pristine in Nature. Moving with Nature and not against her.

Systems view of body ecology:
Following is an overview of eliminating that which is not in accord with Nature’s best interests. Body systems are inter-nested and so an eco-logical integrative approach is needed to redeeming the bodymind from Borg decrepitude. Each individual must refine a unique path of awareness to healing and transformation by focusing on specific needs and concerns, which may include the use of a tailored dietary plan, nutraceuticals or special supplements to support your unique journey to optimal health and energy. In order to utilize oxygen correctly and protect against free radicals we must remove from the body the detritus of past metabolism. Thus we must normalize our detoxification chemistry by supporting the immune system, adrenals and detoxification systems.
Detoxification is vitally important to allow current metabolism to be brought up to contemporary speed. The body loaded with toxins cannot keep up with oxidative stress and this lowers the efficiency of detoxification still further, creating even more oxidative stress.

Proper hydration is key to your body’s ability to detoxify. To detoxify, your body needs energy and to produce energy, your body needs minerals. Minerals nourish your adrenals and thyroid, your chief organs of energy production. The adrenal glands need to be restored from tenacious chronic stress with Vitamin C, and adaptogens such as schizandra berry, jiaogulan (gynostemma), ashwagandha, siberian ginseng, maca root, suma root, licorice, reishi mushroom etc… which can be added to your smoothies. Macro and micro detoxification necessitate colon cleansing, lymphatic herbs, lymphatic drainage and plenty of exercise. Skin brushing and saunas, because the skin is our largest organ of detoxification. Heavy metals must be removed to allow mitochondria to raise cell voltage in order to detoxify still further. All the while protecting the DNA synthesis and repair with methyl donating folic acid and SAMe and other factors.

Methylation releases metabolic memory so that all systems function at optimum efficiency. Methylation helps molecules to hang onto their electrons, thereby preventing oxidative decay. I learned from Detoxification and Healing by Dr. Sidney MacDonald Baker the importance of the methylators B12, B6, Folic acid and Betaine and MSM; I take these along with cabbage/beet/celery juice. A "methyl" group is simply one carbon connected to three hydrogen atoms. Methylation involves conjugation in which a sticky molecule containing sulfur grabs a hold of toxins and escorts them from the body. In biological systems, methylation is catalyzed by enzymes; such methylation can be involved in modification of heavy metals, regulation of gene expression, regulation of protein function, and RNA metabolism. Methylation is simply the adding or removal of the methyl group to a compound or other element, "turning on" detox reactions that rid the body of toxic chemicals, including phenols. There are hundreds of "methylation" reactions in the body. Vitamins, hormones, neurotransmitters, enzymes, nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), and antibodies depend on the transfer of methyl groups to complete their synthesis. Methyl donors are also involved in the making of brain chemicals such as serotonin and melatonin, which accounts for their cognitive effects on sexual enjoyment, mood, energy, wellbeing, alertness, concentration, and visual clarity. Methyl donors are very interesting nutrients with a great deal of potential, particularly as antidepressants. DMAE is a methyl donor known for improving mental alertness and clarity of thinking. Our body’s ability to methylate declines with age, contributing to the aging process. Scientists suspect that proper methylation of DNA may prevent the mutation of genes and cancer.

To support immune function the thyroid, hormones, adrenals and the GI tract need to be functioning well and vice versa. Each individual is unique, for example with me the main thing apparently to keep the ecological, GI terrain intact is avoiding cereals all together. To reduce candida you can take a competitive yeast Saccharomyces boulardie 3 capsules/day for 3 weeks. Saccharomyces improves the immune system, detoxifies the intestine, neutralizes bacterial toxins and repairs of the intestinal mucosa cells. If you notice fermentation in the GI tract and gas you can kick back the anaerobic overgrowth by taking a dropper full of 35% food grade hydrogen peroxide in a glass of non-chlorinated water, on an empty stomach, to reduce the load of opportunistic pathogenic microbes. But the main approach to keeping your respiration and ecology aerobic is to not give the bugs sugar and carbs in the first place, and to even keep fruit to a minimum. Activated charcoal is a binding agent that is taken orally, will help to absorb those toxins in the digestive tract and prevent them from being absorbed, so can be taken during die-off phase to prevent autotoxication, and reticulation of toxins into the liver. Drink plenty of water and eat lots of fiber - to flush the Candida toxins from your system as quickly as possible. Lemon juice can be added to your drinking water to restore your body's proper pH levels to kill the candida bacteria from the inside. You can use Bovine colostrum and probiotics during the repopulation phase and you can also make Sauerkraut with kefir powder for repopulation.

Overgrowth of yeast or bad bacteria produces toxic hydrocarbons like ethylene, methane, acetaldehyde, pentane, and hexane which overwork the liver and cause everything from brain-fog, oxygen starvation to DNA damage. Intestinal flora produce .5oz ethanol alcohol daily! The liver most actively performs its functions at night, so you need to stop the overgrowth of anaerobic feeders in the GI tract overnight and thereby prevent the liver from being inundated with toxins and unable to do its work properly. Candida Away is a chitin inhibitor. By preventing the outer chitin layer of the yeast cell wall from being created the yeast becomes weak and exposed to your natural defenses that will attack and kill the Candida. Take one capsule of Candida Away and 1 tbsp of flaxseed oil before bed and let it absorb throughout the night it will be optimal.

PM Liver Cleanse: Juice of one large grapefruit and one lemon, 1 cup spring water, 1 Tbs Flaxseed oil, 1 teaspoon of acidophilus, 1 clove garlic, 1 inch ginger root and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Blend and drink before bed.
Along with the standard liver cleansers Milk Thistle seed and Dandelion, the Chinese liver tonic Bupleurum chinensis can be taken to speed metabolic transformation. Bupleurum clears the liver, reduces heat, and clears liver qi stagnation. It is an antioxidant, inhibits the formation of lipid peroxides, stimulates the immune system, improves circulation, reduces fever and liver inflammation, stimulates bile flow, protects the liver, and improves digestion, decrease blood coagulation, cholesterol and sugar levels in blood. Bupleurum should never be used without being combined either with White Peony root, Skullcap or other blood cleansers to prevent the backing up of toxins. The combination of Bupleurum and Rehmannia is a powerful detoxifying formula which is especially useful when there is blockage in the lymph glands.

The liver detoxifies substances in two steps: The task changing fat soluble toxins into water-soluble molecules is performed in your liver by a family of super enzymes known as the Cytochrome P450's. Once the toxin is water soluble it is then "detoxified" and is taken out of your body in your urine, sweat, breath or stool. Glutathione (GSH) is most concentrated in the liver, where the cytochrome P-450 enzymes convert metabolic waste and toxins to more water-soluble forms and makes molecules more sticky and activated so they can be escorted safely around the body. Cytochrome p450 reactions themselves generate free radicals and this can cause secondary damage to cells, so an adequate supply of key antioxidants is therefore essential to prevent tissue damage. Other nutrient co-factors required for phase 1 reactions include riboflavin, niacin, magnesium, iron and certain phytonutrients such as indoles from cruciferous vegetables and quercetin. The intermediate metabolites from this detoxification process then undergo Phase II where glutathione conjugates toxins through the donation of a small molecule, so they can be safely escorted out of the body in bile and urine. Phase two also removes heavy metals and neutralizes free radicals created in step one. The p450 system seems geared primarily to effect homeostatic control over circulating steroid hormones and other endogenous, fat-soluble substances. Alcohol has a partly damaging effect on cytochrome P450 thereby interfering with the transformation of fatty acids into hormones. The hormones being the directors of changes in cellular metabolic function.

These enzymes are most predominant in the liver but can also be found in the intestines, lungs and other organs. Cytochrome enzymes catalyze the oxidation of organic substances including metabolic intermediates such as lipids and steroidal hormones, as well as xenobiotic substances such as drugs and other toxic chemicals. Pantethine (vitamin B5), Biotin, Vitamin C, and Brassica vegetables enhances cytochrome p450 enzyme to efficiently break down many drugs and toxins. There are 57 known types of P450, one of the tasks of which is to oxidize anandamide to metabolites with less cannabimimetic activity. Blood insulin levels alter the cytochrome P450 composition in the liver. In his book “The GSH Phenomenon” Dr. Alan Pressman says that fasting can't help for liver detoxification, because when we fast the cytochrome P-450 enzyme activity drops sharply reducing Phase 1-oxidation of toxins. Plus antioxidant supplies are reduced when fasting, increasing potential oxidation damage from free roaming toxins and free radicals. Juicing and taking wheatgrass juice while fasting however maintains antioxidant supplies, reducing oxidation damage from toxins and free radicals. Oral supplementation with N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) may help to increase glutathione levels in the body. Glutathione is also found in Avocado, Watermelon, Asparagus, Grapefruit, squash, Orange, Strawberries, Tomato, Potato, Cantaloupe, broccoli. The Phosphatidylcholine found in lecithin increases glutathione's absorption potential.

The cottage cheese/flaxseed oil mix does wonders for macro/micro detoxification as the cell membranes need to be flexible and healthy for transport and communication. I use Norwegian shark oil and krill oil rather than ratfish oil for extra Omega 3 needed for cell membranes.

Jana,

Thank you for your thorough response. I have read and reread your article and looked on your website. Much of what you have to say is way over my head. How in the world did you figure all of this stuff out? Surely you have studied nutrition in some professional capacity. As an artist, these terms are not in my vocabulary for the most part so I will need to familiarize myself repeatedly with your thoughts in hopes that it will sink in at some point. I am ordering the bromain and papain now. I have some Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the form of Yeast fine flakes which I sprinkle on my salads. What is the difference in that and saccharomyces boulardi? Can that be obtained from Whole Foods perhaps or does it have to be ordered as well?

Does it sound to you like my system is struggling to adjust to this new way of eating, that in my learning curve, I am inadvertently irritating my bowel or that I have an acute situation brewing in my digestive system? Do you recommend that I try the bromain, papain and yeast and then if I am still suffering to try the PM liver cleanse or to start all now?

A couple of things jump out at me. For one, two months is a pretty short time (although if you are completely raw for this period, that is a significant change!). I feel that after awhile, when our bodies begin to cleanse, things start to "stir up." So perhaps it took a bit of time for this to happen and that's why you didn't see too much discomfort at first. Also, the ibuprofen is supposed to be really bad on your stomach lining and you are taking so much! I think you should really look into eliminating that med if possible. Now that you are raw, the inflamation is probably down quite a bit. Just a thought...

Arizona,

If you are experiencing grief, it may be very difficult to digest foods at this time. Also, the food choices you listed would be quite difficult for me to digest even without my energy going to grief.

For the time being, while you are experiencing grief, you might want to simplify the foods you are eating.

What I do is eat very simple well food combined meals. For breakfast I have fruit. And for lunch. For dinnner I have some fruit and a salad. I don't eat fat until my last meal, because trying to eat some fruit after eating fats gives me gas. Also, when I combine fruits and nuts (or seeds), I get very slow digestion.

Learn about food combining. The most simplest form of food combining is absolutely no combinations. Just eat a breakfast of cantalope. Or a lunch of just bananas. See how well these simple meals digest for you.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/16/2011 02:12PM by Prana.

Stomach bloating is commonly caused by low stomach acid, which can cause increased fermentation and symptoms such as gas and bloating.

Best idea would be to have 1-2 tablespoons of raw apple cider vinegar mid meal and bitter herbs on the back of the tongue pre meal. The bitter herbs are also the best tool to cleanse the liver.

[www.vegankingdom.co.uk]

Arizona,

Agree that your system may be overwhelmed and, as a result, digestive chemistry may be off, but also agree with Prana and everyone else that has observed that your food combining is quite complicated. I have found that I do best--that I digest food more thoroughly and quickly--when I eat fruits either alone or in a blended drink with just leafy green vegetables, and consume less fat and that well away from fruits in my daily eating schedule. Many people find that this taxes the digestive system less. I also consume plenty of filtered water, and get lots of sleep, especially if I am feeling psychologically strained: this is imperative!

I hope that you find a way to make this lifestyle work for you, because it sounds like you could really use the benefits it brings. I wish you fruitful[!] study and ever improving health--good luck!

Today's report: I did not take the advil or any other supplements this morning. I had a crenshaw melon (half) for breakfast-no bloating or gas! Later I had an organic pear and a cup of organic raspberries (again, success). I bought a Raw Foods Enzyme supplement for Women and took that before eating the rest of the melon and a banana a little while ago. So far, perfect, on the stomach. My shoulder does hurt though and I have a bit of a basal headache probably from just having fruit suddenly. I will likely go back to Alleve rather than Advil tonight and in gel cap form until my shoulder stops hurting. And I will have a small organic salad with a bit of hemp, avocado and nutritional yeast plus another enzyme capsule for dinner. I've been drinking tons of water as well. Thanks everyone for your input, today has been a much better day.

Arizona,

It looks to me as if you only ate 600-700 calories today. That is much too little food. Here's what I might eat this time of year

2pm: 8 large oranges, 1/2 pound of dates
6pm: a smoothie with 8 bananas and 8 strawberries. Followed by a salad with a romaine heart, 1 cup of red cabbage, 1 cucumber, a half pint of cherry tomatoes, and a dressing made from 1 mango and 1 bell pepper.

When I first started raw, I needed to eat much more food that I eat now. I would have 5 to 6 meals a day, partly because my stomach was so much smaller from eating cooked foods, and it took awhile before I could eat a lot of raw foods. You can use the nutritional calculator like fitday, nutritiondata, nutridiary, or Cron-o-Meter to see what your daily food intake is in terms of calories. An adult woman should be getting 1800-2000 calories a day.

Methylation is the key to rectifying the pathogen load, toxins, free radical, inflammatory downward spiral that wears out the immune system and adrenals.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae...I bought mine on amazon...it is fabulous, I just do one capsule morning and night...I was detoxing significantly today...so I didn't even do my garlic mustard weed and dandelion salad.
I try to be understandable to the beginner as I too am learning all this...just putting two and two together.

Prana,

I agree that I didn't get enough calories and therefore the headache which I have gotten before when fasting. But, I was afraid to overload my stomach after what I have been through with the bloating. I normally have a stomach that can take anything so this is very new to me. I really think that the excessive advil may be the original culprit in the downward spiral now.

Do you wait until 2PM everyday to eat? If so why? I need food when I get home from swimming at 6:30 AM.

I find avacados to give me quite a lot of digestive issues no matter what I combine them with so that is one thing you might go easy on...

Arizona,

I would advise you to eat when you are hungry, and eat slowly until you feel full, but not overfull, keeping in mind to eat juicy fruits separately and earlier in the day and denser stuff, like fats, later. If this seems to not be working, adjust. In any case, do not forgo eating until midafternoon if you are hungry--this is counterproductive!

First of all, GOOD FOR YOU! Raw foods will slowly heal you. I think you just need to view your body as a long term experiment. Keep track of your foods and drugs. Sooner or later, you'll notice patterns developing. I personally don't take drugs because of their acid. If I was in severe pain, or had a genetic disease, I might.

My video to keep me inspired on my health quest: [www.youtube.com]