An acupuncturist who I’d been seeing some 10 years ago, told me that I would be better off not drinking my morning smoothies with all those fresh fruits and vegetables. And, I promise you that suggestion went in one ear and right out the other. My smoothie was my morning ritual! Raw food was becoming more popular at the time and it still is today! So, you can imagine it sounded like a load of hogwash that something I enjoyed so much and that seemingly everyone was talking about the enormous benefits of, could possibly be harming my health.
Actually, it would be another 2 plus years before I’d give up my raw smoothie habit and some more years before I’d finally understand that she was right. Interestingly, the acupuncture that I received was helpful beyond any other (Western) treatment I sought at that time. A time which I lovingly refer to now as my “health crisis period” and is the reason I tried acupuncture in the first place. It was due to that positive experience that I continued on to finish my undergrad degree at a Buddhist university after finishing culinary school. And, it’s there that I was introduced to Yogic philosophies and Asana, Tibetan Buddhism, and Chinese medicine theories amongst many other things.
Fast forward more than a handful of years of education. Between the school of (health and personal life) hard knocks and two more advanced degrees in Eastern medicine later, I finally understood on a deeper level what my acupuncturist was talking about. Eastern medicine is about the actual physical body but also about the energetic and ethereal body. And she was referring to the Eastern way of thinking about digestive functions being slowed down or harmed by eating cold, raw foods. In this way, the body is harmed both physically and energetically.
When this happens it basically slows the digestion down so much it causes a condition referred to in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as Dampness. Unfortunately, there’s nothing worse for the digestive or “Stomach Fire” than to be “damp”. It’s a condition that often has a long turn-around time or is ongoing (think chronic digestive issues). To offer a visual, you can think of the Stomach fire preferring to burn or cook at a warm percolating simmer. A medium flame. Now, think of pouring a cold, wet smoothie on top of that fire. Exactly. I think you got it!
Because of my own health challenges and my formal education in both Eastern disease patterns and Western etiologies, I consider many body-mind health-related topics in both Eastern and Western (E/W) theories. It’s helpful to be able to think like this because we live in a modern world where many of us embrace elements of both E/W cultures, perhaps without realizing it. And we have daily practices that reflect this blending of medicine and lifestyles. For example; perhaps we go to yoga or pilates, get acupuncture or chiropractic or massage, take a probiotic, herbs, ibuprofen, or arnica all within the span of a month, a week, or even a day. I see it as my life’s work to help bridge that E/W gap for my patients and clients. When I explain to women why not only smoothies but most raw food (think frozen fruit, uncooked veggies, seeds and salads etc.) in general may be undermining the efforts they are making to have extra energy and to be “healthy”, I know from experience that it’s a difficult idea to embrace. Remember, digestion is a big topic in any school of thought. There’s more to it than we’ll discuss in this article. If you’re interested in this topic, check my website for my ongoing series about it. Also might I say, please be gentle with yourself as you take in what may be new concepts as you read.
As Oprah says “When we know better, we do better.” I’m amazed that I’m able to quote two of my favorite teachers in one paragraph. But, I also think Abraham Hicks’ saying “You can’t get it wrong and you never get it all done” is appropriate here too. Rather than letting the thought of never getting it all done overwhelm me, I let it relieve me. It’s a journey not a race.
Below I’ve broken down a couple of big concepts into smaller bites of both Eastern and Western digestive theories. First we’ll discuss a Western (allopathic) perspective on eating raw foods and then we’ll look at the Eastern.
Western-
Digestion begins in the mouth. Chewing releases enzymes and signals other juices further along in the system to get going. For foods that aren’t cooked, the stomach really relies on these processes to break down the cell walls of plants and/or animals and make it into something usable for the rest of the body. For a digestive system that is weak or which the gut bacteria ratio is out of balance, being hit with a cold, raw food bomb can cause a myriad of digestive woes, including gas, bloating, pain and diarrhea. What’s more, on a regular basis, the excess sugar from raw fruit may be feeding potentially harmful bacteria or candida fungus in the
body (brain, stomach, intestines, vagina, other organs and body tissues). The overgrowth of bacteria or fungus can cause a number of issues. And it can absolutely be the cause of headaches and be a reason why clear thinking can feel clouded or difficult (brain fog).
Some people find that at the height of summer they seem to do better with raw foods but not the rest of the year. Also, people who live in warm tropical climates may have more success consuming fresh and raw foods. This is because keeping the body at body temperature consumes a lot of the energy that food digestion produces (ATP). When living in a warm climate, the body doesn’t have to work so hard at maintaining itself and can divert more attention to digestive functions.
Number2 talk – The stool of a person with a physical constitution that handles raw food well, would be perfectly formed pretty much every time and contain no undigested food. This person generally feels very satisfied (substantial vagus nerve stimulation) after elimination.
Eastern-
From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, it’s thought only a small percentage of people are able to effectively digest raw foods. This is because the types of body constitutions (Liver (tcm), Vata (ayurvedic) respectively) that are able to make use of completely raw food, that person’s digestion has to be running super efficiently and processing food effectively (Stomach fire). Additionally, consuming raw foods that are also cold in temperature (ice, frozen fruit, cold mylk/milk) is basically the worst thing a person with a weak Stomach fire can do for their condition (weak/poor/slow digestion) Because it causes Dampness. For this reason, living in a tropical climate may be of benefit in making raw foods more digestible to a wider range of digestive constitutions.
For the majority of us, eating foods that have been partially “digested” before we eat them, by the processes of cooking or fermentation is very helpful. Allowing more of us to successfully digest a wider variety of foods. Our digestive process (Stomach fire) isn’t required to work so hard. And so, we can preserve that energy and do other stuff with it.
Think what you could do with a little “extra” energy. Imagine if you could put that little bit of extra energy back into your bucket. A little extra, or at least preserving the energy that’s already there and not further depleting it. If you’re low on energy, that little bit extra is what it takes to be able to heal other issues that may be going on simultaneously, such as adrenal fatigue.
Number2 talk- A person with a weak Stomach fire or who has “Dampness” has to take more care in what they eat to have healthy stools without undigested food in them. A person with poor digestion may occasionally have well formed stools, but likely tends more toward looser or softer stools or fluctuates between diarrhea and constipation. This person is often not satisfied or is dissatisfied after elimination. In summary, I am someone who has to take care in what I eat. I know by learning the hard way and by learning to pay close attention to my body’s feedback, what raw fruits and vegetables are appropriate for me to eat, and when. I’m happy to say that with time and a great deal of healing my gut, my body handles a wider variety of foods much better than it once had.
In the beginning, keeping a little food journal of what you eat and when can be very helpful. Also make notes of bowel movements, energy levels and sleep habits along side the food notes. Over time it becomes easier to identify patterns and troublesome foods this way. The good news is, its easy enough to try these ideas for yourself without making a huge overhaul. To do this, simply replace raw foods with cooked foods. And replace raw smoothies with something else. The body generally loves simple, lightly seasoned or sweetened things like porridge in the morning. Try amaranth or rice porridge (congee) or oatmeal with a little cultured
butter and raw, local honey or real maple syrup. If you prefer a more savory breakfast, try steamed rice with veggies and broth or even a piece of fish. Try doing this for a month and see for yourself if your stomach seems happier and symptoms withdraw. Like me, you may find that raw smoothies are not your bestie either.
