Hi everyone,
I’ve been researching raw for months and months now and seriously want to go for it but I’m scared of the detox! Not all aspects of it, but I’m worried about blisters and coldsores. I used to get coldsores in my early teens (I’m 26 now) and I’m worried about been covered in them for the next year if I go raw.
I know I’m probably being irrational but my confidence isn’t all that great already.
I understand that detox, however it presents itself, is a necessary part of getting well and becoming healthy but this is really concerning me. Can anyone offer me any advice on this?
eshne
Comments
I personally find that whole raw foods cause a slow and steady detox, whereas juice fasting causes a much quicker and more noticeable detox. On whole raw foods, you have nothing to worry about. Allow your body to heal and detoxify through clean living. It is the toxins in our bodies which keep us in a perpetual state of illness.
Transitioning slowly (meaning not going 100% raw overnight) and adding in more raw foods and cutting out cooked foods over time helped me tremendously. You will still detox, but it won’t be as uncomfortable! Also, heavier foods such as avocados and nuts will slow the detox moreso than lighter foods like fresh fruits.
A couple of my ‘transition foods’ were steamed veggies, baked root vegetables and winter squash, and sprouted grain bread. A bowl of steamed carrots or a baked yam won’t kill you. ;) ...Although I think there are probably some strict raw foodists who would disagree with me about that.
Hello!! I find that the use of high levels of chlorophyll (dark greens, blue green algaes including e3live and liquid chlorophyll tinctures) they help to minimize the toxins before they are excreted. Also helping with inflammation and stablization of blood sugars.
My skin was a big issue when I first went raw I noticed it was getting a bit inflamed so I added more chlorophyll to my diet and noticed drastic results.
Hope it is helpful in your detox.
Thank you to everyone for your replies. All very helpful and encouraging :)
I think I’ll have to go into this slowly at first… I’m curious though, when some of you say you aren’t 100% raw, do you eat raw and cooked separately or do you mix and match?
I’ve just experimented with a green smoothie! I have to say, first thought… bleurgh! Plus I’m not sure my blender has puree’d it all that well. However I will persevere :D
Hi LovesPeter… no need to apologise for the long post, lots of great info in there! :D
I used spinach, watercress, a small orange and a small apple in my smoothie with some water. Just thought I’d give it a shot! It was bearable but I need to experiment of course. Interesting about the baby spinach… I’ll consider that definitely.
Funny you should mention Ryvita too as that’s probably one of the things I’ll keep eating for now. Bought some more today in fact! My diet isn’t at its best these days which makes me think my transition would be a struggle if I jumped straight into raw, as much as I’d like to. I tend to get impatient and think it’s all or nothing, but I know if I’m going to do this properly then it’s worth my time to research and experiment and take it slowly if needs be.
Aaargh! Scared but excited! :)
I am still transitioning into the RAW life. So far my only detox symptoms have been a few headaches during the first week. One day I went out to eat with my parents and the only raw thing I could find on the menu was an iceberg lettuce salad.Instead I had a SAD meal, thinking one wouldn’t hurt. I immediately lost all of my energy. I had to go home and take a nap. The only thing that kept me awake during the drive home was how angry I was at myself for putting all that mess back in my system.SO now I’m back to RAW with gusto.
Green smoothies are my favorites and I am getting pretty good at them. Spinach is the absolute best green taste-wise, but I have been able to make even strong greens like arugula taste good. The trick is not to add too many greens – you only need enough to turn the concoction green – a 40% greens, 60% fruit is recommended. I make them different each time – different greens and different fruits. I add a fruit juice (apple is best), water, ice and FROZEN fruit – either berries or apples or pears (the absolute best). If using a strong tasting green, I may have to add a bit more fruit or frozen bananas. Sometimes I have cheated and add a little agave. After reading about agave in the last day or two, I think I’m going to switch over to date syrup, which looks very easy to make. When I think I’m done with the smoothie, I always have a little taste before I pour everything into a glass. Oh – spices are good to add, too – things like grated ginger, a tad of parsley (strong tasting – don’t use the stems) and mints.
Note about the bananas – slice them and put on a cookie sheet (in one layer) in the freezer. After an hour or so take them out and transfer them to a freezer container. Store in the freezer to use with your smoothies. Frozen ones give you a better smoothie experience.
I still need to learn more about adding spices. I am hoping to get Victoria Boutenko’s book, GREEN FOR LIFE, which I understand has a lot about smoothies. Dr. Oz interviewed the lady who wrote CRAZY SEXY CANCER (her name is Kris Carr) on Oprah recently. She does a lot with smoothies and serves them in a wine glass. Dr Oz and Dr. Roizen make them as well. Google any of them and you will find a ton of green smoothie recipes.
Thank you for all the input and advice people have given :)
I’ve found the correct way to make green smoothies now and I love them. (Favourite at the moment is spinach, banana, white grapes and mint. Lovely!)
I’m taking raw slowly and trying to get the green smoothies in every day. I noticed when I stopped having them for a week that I felt a bit run down and my skin broke out! So I’m back to them and trying to influence other people to try them… to which the general reaction is: “EURGH”! I’ll make them greenies yet! ;)