Raw foods for 10 days - not well - Raw Food Chat

Mexgal · 08-08-2006

I moved to Mexico a year ago and gained 20 lbs eating all the goodies down here. I had a big building project going on at our casa, along with moving my mother and father-in-law here as well. one of my goals once i got everyone settled was to really take time now for me and learning all i could about diet and health. i was introduced to a woman down here two weeks ago who is promoting raw foods and has a little resturant. so, i took this as a sign to get my act together. i have been eating only the meals she makes for me which is all raw. the meals have been very good and my cravings for sugar, etc are gone. three days ago i started feeling really bad...like the worst flu i have ever had..sore throat, headache, slight fever. i feel like a truck has run over me. my husband took me to a local doctor here and i told him all about my new health and diet and asked him if this could be detox. he told me that he really didn't believe with what i was eating that i could be so sick just from detox. by the way, he is a vegitarian and supportive of my diet and new search for good health. he then examined me and thought that i had thyfoid fever which he says is more common down here than one would believe. so i went off for blood work and am waiting results. but he recommended that i go on Cipro right away which i have done. i have also gone on line to search about "healing crisis" and such to try and figure out what is wrong with me. i usually have so much energy and exercise even when during my "chunky" days. this is the 3rd day that i feel so sick and can bearly get off the couch. has anyone else out there gone through a severe detox? would appreciate all and any insights.

greenbunny · 08-09-2006

My question is: When you were eating all the "goodies" were they include raw fruit and vegetables regularly or were you eating all cooked, processed food and did you go out to eat at restaurants regularly? Are you having any diarrhea? I ask this for perhaps too obvious a reason - Mexican food is notorious for bacteria that can make a foreigner deathly ill. When eating processed food and eating at home it is much easier to avoid the bacteria but the biggest culprits are raw fruit and vegetables because they can be washed in unfiltered water and then it is ingested or something like a smoothie could be made with unfiltered ice. Raw vegetables can have things on them that if not washed off thoroughly in unfiltered water can make you sick. Also, if you are unaccumstomed to eating out, eventhough the owner of the restaurant may have incredibly high standards that might not be the case of all their workers no matter how they are instructed.

I'm sure that your doctor would have thought of this, but just in case, I thought I'd throw it out there.

If I were you and it were a detox, I would go slower. If I were sick from an intense disease at the beginning of a new change in diet, I would not force it and would eat what I crave that is fairly healthy and not make myself eat a certain way because of ideal that I can always go back to. It is no fun at all being sick in a new country.

I hope that you feel better soon.
greenbunny

Mexgal · 08-11-2006

Got my blood tests back and I have typhoid fever. Not as bad as it sounds. Must be on cipro for 14 days. The good news is that I found a great doctor here in the village that believes in eating no meat, dairy, etc. We have lived here for 18 months and we have a fancy water purification system on our casa. Water goes through, filters, ultra violet light and a process to filter it so there is no bacteria. With that said though, we still only drink bottled water just as a safe precaution. I also soak all our fruits and vegetables and am very careful. We haven't had any problems in the past and eat out a lot. The only thing I did different was committing to getting in total good health and was having a woman here prepare all my raw food meals. I suspect that she might not have had a water purification system and I got the typhoid from her food. So once I am well, I am going to only prepare my own food so that I can be sure to disinfect everything. We love living here and it's worth the effort.

Thanks so much for your welcoming reply. I am feeling better and believe I am on the road to recovery.