Raw Foods and “Funny” Stomachs
Dear Robin,
I have a few health related questions I wanted to ask you regarding starting a raw food diet. I consider myself a beginner raw fooder, I have taught myself how to drink green smoothies, learned how to eat cabbage and other greens.
Here is my question. I have a history of having a sensitive stomach. I’ve had 6 pregnancies where I’ve thrown up (sorry) for months on end. It’s been horrible. I’ve also had a lifetime of debilitating carsickness. I’m in my 40’s now, and I think I am just prone to having my head/stomach upset easily. As far as the raw food issue, there are times when I just feel down and out nauseous, at those times, how do I incorporate a raw diet ? For me, soothing stomach foods can be high fat/high sugar/high carb – easy processed from a box things. I cant think of a single raw recipe that I’ve had that would help me during these icky times. And my second question. What about the stomach flu? My diet this year has been better than ever (much better than the average American, though not raw) yet we just had a 10 day intestinal bug go through our family, and there was no way during that time that I could stomach ANYTHING that needed major digestive juices! I have searched the web for answers to these question, but have come up empty so far. I’m sorry to take up your time here, I know you are a busy mom. Please take your time in responding if you feel you can! Thank you, Robin
Posted in: Green Smoothies, Health Concerns, Whole Food
I think readers are going to be able to chime in and help you here. Have you tried peppermint tea? It’s beautiful for nausea. Even just a few drops of peppermint extract in hot water works wonders for me, at least. What have you tried that works–like, eating some nuts before a green smoothie or a lot of other raw food?
I have this stuff called Tummy Tonic (herbal) that I got through Azure Standard years ago that helps my kids when they get a stomach bug on a rare occasion (I never do).
There is also a motion sickness homeopathic (for your carsickness) at health food stores these days.
I think you’ll hear from others on this. It’s not something I have dealt with personally, as I am blessed with a stomach of steel.
Watched Myth Busters recently. They did a show on motion sickness. They tried ginger pill, over the counter remedy(something like Dramamine) and a placebo. The ginger pill actually worked the best for them. We don’t watch a lot of tv but really enjoy that show when we go to my parents (they get cable). Just thought that was interesting. Not sure if that would help with such a bad carsickness that you have.
Even when you’re not expecting, those Preggie Pop drops are little miracles. I tend to be the same way, most especially in the morning, and just want carbs to start the day “right”. I’ve discovered that the Master Cleanse lemonade recipe is an amazing way to feel well in the morning, followed by a banana. I tend to rise around 5:30 for quiet time with God and feel awful at that hour, but a pint of “lemonade” (hot for me, more soothing) with a banana holds me over until 9ish when I have a smoothie and a few dehydrated almonds.
Also, there’s no reason you shouldn’t have a piece of homemade bread. I understand that you’re trying to go raw, but homemade bread is infinitely better than something from a box!
Hmm, that is strange. When I eat raw veggies and nuts my stomach tends to feel better than when I eat the processed kind of foods.
I have stomach issues myself at times and I drink peppermint tea and it always helps me. Hope this helps!!
Thank you all for your suggestions. Heather, I would love to have a link to a lemonade cleanse, that sounds like it might at least stave off some nausea. I have not tried peppermint tea, not fond of peppermint, but I suppose it’s worth another try. Ginger has not helped much in my past pregnancies, to my dismay.
So how DO you deal with pregnancy on raw foods? Especially when it is all day every day sickness.
Flus? Do you just do 1/2 sips of water, no food until you’re better?
Robyn, thanks for your reply, I do look forward to any other suggestions that come along. Thanks for posting my question. :o)
I too have suffered from motion sickness since I was a child and I get migraines where one on my primary symptoms is nausea. While my motion sickness in cars has improved quite a bit since I started sitting in the front, it is still always a possibility. I agree with you, at those times the only thing that sounds remotely edible is bread or crackers. So I have a small serving, which typically helps, after which raw foods usually sound much better. The other thing that sometimes helps is some nuts and dried fruit. That provides a pretty high-fat, high-carb snack, if that’s what you’re craving, but from healthy whole-foods instead of junk.
At this point I also don’t usually find the thought of a green smoothie first thing in the morning very appetizing. So I have a small serving of oatmeal or yogurt and homemade granola and have my smoothie later in the morning.
I love ginger, you may want to give it another try if you enjoy it. You can take it as tea, as Ginger Beer (non-alcoholic; Nourishing Traditions has a couple recipes for making your own), or you could make extra gingery whole grain ginger snaps. They might meet your craving for carbs and give you a dose of ginger, which has been proven an anti-nausea.
Hey Julie,
Here’s the Master Cleanse recipe:
#1 (single serving):
* 2 Tablespoons of organic lemon Juice (about 1/2 a Lemon)
* 2 Tablespoons of Organic grade B maple syrup (not the commercial maple flavored syrup you use on pancakes)
* 1/10 Teaspoon Cayenne pepper powder
* Ten ounces of filtered water
#2 (60 oz. daily serving):
* 60 ounces of filtered water
* 12 Tablespoons of organic grade B maple syrup
* 12 Tablespoons of organic lemon juice
* 1/2 Teaspoon cayenne pepper powder
I don’t personally know anyone who has done all raw pregnancies, even the most strict of healthy raw vegans add some cooked food (kristen suzanne is one I like to read at kristensraw.blogspot.com). That said, I’m sure it COULD be done.
Honestly, we don’t ever get sick, so I don’t know what to tell you. I think the last time I was ill I ate bread and applesauce for 2 days, but that’s been a while. Oh, and organic ginger ale. Wonder if kombucha would help you since it’s fizzy?!
You may want to also try taking Betaine HCl, an enzyme, to address hydrochloric acid problems in your stomach (most people have this problem, and perhaps it’s worse than most for you). Victoria Bountenko writes of this in Green for Life.
I tried the Master Cleanse once, (couldn’t do it for more than a couple days) but I absolutely LOVE the lemonade drink. Sometimes I crave it. I just make it up, and drink it for the sake of drinking it. I love the spicy zing it leaves in your mouth. It’s great on a hot day.
I use raw ginger for morning-sickness and for nausea.
Colloidal Silver is great for the longterm. and
Diatomaceous Earth; a link to explain it–http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/no_flea.html
It detoxifies the whole body.
Check it out and share!
I have the same issues that you have. I am extremely sick when I am pregnant and I am dealing with severe motion sickness. I hate to say it on this blog, but the only thing that helped me was going to a neurologist that specializes in balance problems. I thought it was my inner ear, but it wasn’t. I have vestibular migraines. It causes dizziness, headaches, light headedness, double vision and motions sickness. You don’t have to have all of those symptoms, those are just some of the symptoms that someone may have when dealing with vestibular migraines. The only thing that helped me was to get medical help. I am so grateful that I got help because I was unable to function until I went to my neurologist. I am also trying the herbal side to helping my stomach also. Good luck. I have a ton of empathy for you.