Neet,

I have just read a fair bit of your thread, and I am sorry you have been so unwell. I haven't posted on here for a long time, but I just wanted to offer a bit of advice. Have you ever had a Fructose Malabsorption test? I just wanted to let you know about this because I know what your suffering is like- every day with my IBS (and previous colitis) I am in so much pain and if I can find out new ways to try to heal the pain I want to share with other people in similar predicaments. Recently, I saw a dietician who said I may suffer an allergy or sensitivity to Fructose, Fractans and Raffinose.

There is a test when it comes to Fructose, you go to the hospital and they give you this thing to drink and monitor your fructose levels through a breath test they take every 15 mins or so (or something along those lines, I'm booked in to have it). Basically if a food has more fructose than glucose it can be a problem. Fructose Malabsorption is common in IBS sufferers.

I used to live on fruit, but I have stopped having any and have found that the rash on my cheeks I could not get rid of is starting to disappear, and I am going to the toilet more than being constipated. Of course, you don't have to cut out all fruits, but I've found that easier for now. I've also been advised to cut out fractans- onion, garlic, wheat etc...which has been helpful. My biggest problem is raffinose- legumes, broccoli, bok choy...still make me sick.

It's really hard to have to change to a diet that you believe in (vegan or raw etc or even just eating less fruit and veg), but sometimes it has to be done. I  cannot fathom giving up some of the stuff I may have to, but if I have a sensitivity to this stuff...there is nothing I can do- the pain, depression is not worth it. SO I am working things out, moving my food around, trying to find out what I can bear and what the healthiest option is.

Some fructose malabsorption information is here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fructose_malabsorption (Although wiki is not necessarily reliable, from what I've seen on fructose mal., what they have written seems pretty accurate)

I wish you the best of luck with everything and esp. your health.

thinking about trying to go raw again. this came to me in the middle of being incredibly stressed, for some reason when im stressed- i'll research how much i need of certain foods in order to eat raw and get the right RDI.

think i struggle with raw, but always want to come back to it, because i'm so unhappy. dealing with depression, generalised anxiety disorder and ibs makes you not want to look after yourself. sounds odd, but that's the effect. lack of absolute motivation. this year is a mess and right now i feel like im almost imploding and im not coping at all. need to try raw again, hope i can do it properly this time, hope i can look after myself before they end up putting me on medication and i give in. natural is best.

i've been doing so badly, nutritionally and everything else this year... that im craving veggies. lots and lots of veggies and fruit. its soothing.

hmm.

Another reason to move/visit QLD. I want to try sugar cane juice too. yumyum.

Haha it certainly doesnt!

Yes, all those things are not good for you, particularly SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate). Hope that helps.

xox

I have to learn how to make all those chocolate things first and foremost! My healthfood shop now sells macca and chocolate nibs, plus a few other things..how awesome is that!? Oh and the lasagna, that thing is amazing. I am so looking forward to have some fun experimenting in the upcoming break.

If a 'diet' inspires you to 'cook', you are on to a good thing.

oh my god, that food looks amazing. I wish I knew how to make that stuff.

I was sitting here going...is that pizza? raw pizza? then I saw the close up. awesome.

Wish you the best of luck! It's always hard the first time we do things because we lose confidence when things are foreign to us, keep thinking positively, take care of yourself and surround yourself with those who boost you.

Thanks May!

Oh I see, I'm glad that organics is working for you! It can also be good to look for paraben and SLS free shampoo, that might be the cause of the aggravation. xox

haha, aw thanks- I'll imagine what raw could do for my skin/hair then!

DAY 2-
So Day 2 is alright at the moment. Last night was a little painful, I started to get worried as to whether I was doing the wrong thing going back on raw. This was followed by stress regarding my life situation/where it is heading as well as uni work that is almost due and I haven't started. So my anxiety flared and by 4am I was in bed and upset and emotional about everything. Woke up and felt a little funny, detox is kicking in. Running out of food already which doesn't help the cause but at least I am feeling good, as I am focusing in on my last assignment more than yesterday. I think I may be more worried about my hair- oh my god...why did I water wash it prematurely?!...I'm already wanting to give it a good scrub. I woke up this morning and since it is short now I looked as though I had been electrocuted. The front was light, but the back was dark and still wet(!!)...as though it had dried but not dried properly...dense and damp. Hair is starting to feel heavy and waxy and strange.

Ahhhh I'm detoxing everything and it's all messy haha...*channels inner peace*. It's all good, I think I'd be coping alot better if this bloody assignment was done, so that's what I'm off to do. xo

UPDATE: Mmm, food has arrived. All this green leafy stuff and I think most of it is organic, I'm gonna have a party with it tomorrow. Ate LOTS of nuts...trying to lift my fatty acids because I'm not getting enough...plus I needed some protein/zinc/mag etc. Organic apples and mandarins..i hate conventional mandarins...taste like crap, and you really know it when you get the organic ones. Mm, feel more lifted right now.

Oh really?! Was the shampoo really chemical-ly? That's really interesting, because it makes sense but wouldn't be something you would think about! I'm gonna keep that in mind. Glad you were able to figure out that it was the shampoo!

Thanks so much for the kind words

Raw sensation- that’s so great, well done! I know that smoking is so hard for people to give up, especially when they have been doing it for so long- can't speak from personal experience about how hard it is of course. The human body is v. adaptable with the right willpower, and willpower you have. Good on you!

Thanks Jen and Kelly! Good to be back.

Kelly- I’m studying Arts (Media & Comm) right now Love that picture of you btw..I should change mine since everyone has a pic up.

That home birthing story is amazing, I love reading about home births- so full of love.

No the 's' word was what was in the veg/fruit I guess...the part possibly giving me allergies. My rash sort of looks like broken blood vessels and some tiny red kinda goosebumps...it is rather faint but I find it very noticable. I also get really itchy on my chest/sides...In 2005 I developed red splotches on my chest which was really itchy but I was told by the GP it was a viral infection or something that would go away. So I don't know whether that's related or not, but I personally felt it might be due to stress/anxiety as I get itchy when stressed haha.

This is what's in the moisturiser:witch hazel, sesame oil, shea nut butter, sweet almond oil, vitamin e, olive oil, sweet orange, jojoba oil, grape seed extract, grape seed oil, lavender oil, aloe vera, vitamin c, vitamin a, wild chamomile.

Thanks for information!

Ok thanks everyone!

Haha, yes welcome to the queen of on -again for a month, off again for eight months raw/cooked diet. Alas, beginning is all that matters haha.