Whenever I go for just raw foods/fruitarian my blood sugar drops after 3 days to a week, I develop hunger pangs and feel weak/dizzy afterwards. Please assist.

Thanks.

Vijay

A lot of people initially feel really hungry when they try to eat all raw because they are used to the weighed down feeling that cooked food gives them. This is part of detoxification. Eventually you will feel better.

In the mean time, try eating more grounding foods like avocados and some raw nuts and seeds. Also, don't restrict the amount of food you eat. Most people eat tons of food when they start on all raw because their bodies desire more. Just eat when you're hungry. Eventually you'll be able to be satisfied with very little. David Wolfe says that when he went raw, he was eating a huge salad, a quart of vegetable juice and up to twenty pieces of fruit a day!

Also, get some good raw food books to help you out. Rawfood.com has a good selection -- hundreds. Paul Nison's books are great.

Have you actually been disagnosed with blood sugar issues or are you just assuming that based on your symptoms?

In the book "Living on Live Food" by Alissa Cohen she has a section about hypoglycemia. She recommends that at first, when hypoglycemics have fruit that they eat some nuts or green veggies with it to slow down the sugar absorption. Making green smoothies is a great way to do this (fruit smoothie with some greens added to it). She also says that after awhile of doing this you should start to tolerate fruit alone.

Are you eating enough greens? What exactly do you mean by raw/fruitarian? Most raw foodists are not "fruitarians" (who only eat foods that are obtained without killing the plant - I don't think greens would qualify as "fruitarian" since they are generally harvested by the head. IMO greens are an important part of a healthy diet).

I am assuming blood sugar issues from my symptoms. I was mostly eating fruits only, almost no greens.

Well, I admit I know next to nothing about fruitarianism, but that doesn't sound healthy to me. Veggies (especially greens) are important. Most raw foodists eat fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds; many also eat sprouted legumes and grains.

I agree that eating only fruit is not balanced. We need a balance of greens, fruits, and fats. Greens are especially important to mineralize your body. If you don't care for them at first, try blending them with fruits, like mangos, apples, pears, or peaches. It tastes like fruit, but you get your greens in that way. Blended salads (raw soups) are good too. Put several handfuls of greens in the blender with celery, a tomato, a cucumber, an avocado, lemon juice, any other veggies you desire, and a pinch of Celtic salt. It's yummy!

Here is a site with info. on Fruitarian:
www.fruitarian.com

Here is what I am thinking. Instead of making a go at Raw Foods all at once, I am thinking of a combinatorial approach, increase the percentage of raw foods slowly, for eg., 25% the first month, then 50% the next month and so on. That way, the toxins are slowly released from the body and also giving it time to adjust.

This will be more easy for those on a diet of toxic/ready made foods for a long time, who overate etc., etc.,

At the very least I also feel it is essential for one to have atleast 10%-25% carbs-cooked foods. Should the need arise again to return to these foods then it will also make the move back easier.

Comments welcome.

Vijay