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LeahWhitehorse · 12-31-2007, 11:44 AM

Hi Steve
I'd be very interested to hear how you get on with this trial! I have to say that it definately wouldn't be for me but I am fascinated with how different kinds of diets suit different people.

I was a strict vegetarian (who also spend a couple of years being vegan) for 24 years until this year when I started to get massive cravings for fish and chicken. Even when I ate meat as child I never liked fish, it was very odd! I had always been pretty militant about being vegetaruan but after all those years my body was screaming out for something that I couldn't figure. After a huge emotional battle with myself I decided to just have some and see what happened. At first I found that the incessant HUNGER I had been feeling had finally be satiated. I felt like I had lots of energy and felt clearer. I was fine for about 4 months then I started having trouble with my skin - a massive allergic reaction all over my face that looked hideous and felt awful. A friend suggested candida but I had no other problems and although chocolate inflamed my skin more I could quite easily drink sweet coffee without a reaction.
I absolutely knew it was food and finally found an article on high histermine food causing allergy type reactions. I was getting palpitations as well and an very odd feeling of being mentally very clear which felt good but somehow not quite right either (difficult to explain that!). Anyway - I discovered fish particularly and meat in general are very high histermine foods as are cheese (which I don't eat much of), chocolate (which has always brought me out in a rash), spinach and tomatoes (both of which I love but had started to feel like I shouldn't eat.
After suffering for 2 months I finally had the answer. it didn't occur to be that it was the fish/meat because I had spent several months being fine with it. Now it amazes me that people are able to eat lots of meat and fish and not have a reaction. I think my body must be extremely sensitive.
It's been a very odd journey. I'm back to being vegetarian now although I feel like I broken through that very militant barrier that I had. I feel like should I want to eat fish at some point I probably will (but with an antihistimine first!) because I don't want to experience the state of denial which I realise I had been in for some time. However, that said neither do I anticipate I will want it very often, if at all. For me food is not only about health but also taste and texture, indulgence and company with friends. The thing that frustrated me most with being vegan was feeling I was excluding myself or denying myself something I actually wanted.
The whole experience taught me a lot and my project for this year is to cook more as I obviously need to make sure I am getting the right vitamins and minerals. Somewhere along the line I had got lazy with my cooking. Whilst I'm always happy to eat a huge plate of salad I rarely can be bothered to really cook properly.
I think it was important to challenge my beliefs and opinions and now I have a better idea of what my body needs (and doesn't need!).
I'm now off to make some leek and potato soup - yes, from scratch :-)

I look forward to hearing your results Steve.

12-31-2007, 11:44 AM	#86 (permalink)
LeahWhitehorse Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 43	Re: Raw Food trial Hi Steve I'd be very interested to hear how you get on with this trial! I have to say that it definately wouldn't be for me but I am fascinated with how different kinds of diets suit different people. I was a strict vegetarian (who also spend a couple of years being vegan) for 24 years until this year when I started to get massive cravings for fish and chicken. Even when I ate meat as child I never liked fish, it was very odd! I had always been pretty militant about being vegetaruan but after all those years my body was screaming out for something that I couldn't figure. After a huge emotional battle with myself I decided to just have some and see what happened. At first I found that the incessant HUNGER I had been feeling had finally be satiated. I felt like I had lots of energy and felt clearer. I was fine for about 4 months then I started having trouble with my skin - a massive allergic reaction all over my face that looked hideous and felt awful. A friend suggested candida but I had no other problems and although chocolate inflamed my skin more I could quite easily drink sweet coffee without a reaction. I absolutely knew it was food and finally found an article on high histermine food causing allergy type reactions. I was getting palpitations as well and an very odd feeling of being mentally very clear which felt good but somehow not quite right either (difficult to explain that!). Anyway - I discovered fish particularly and meat in general are very high histermine foods as are cheese (which I don't eat much of), chocolate (which has always brought me out in a rash), spinach and tomatoes (both of which I love but had started to feel like I shouldn't eat. After suffering for 2 months I finally had the answer. it didn't occur to be that it was the fish/meat because I had spent several months being fine with it. Now it amazes me that people are able to eat lots of meat and fish and not have a reaction. I think my body must be extremely sensitive. It's been a very odd journey. I'm back to being vegetarian now although I feel like I broken through that very militant barrier that I had. I feel like should I want to eat fish at some point I probably will (but with an antihistimine first!) because I don't want to experience the state of denial which I realise I had been in for some time. However, that said neither do I anticipate I will want it very often, if at all. For me food is not only about health but also taste and texture, indulgence and company with friends. The thing that frustrated me most with being vegan was feeling I was excluding myself or denying myself something I actually wanted. The whole experience taught me a lot and my project for this year is to cook more as I obviously need to make sure I am getting the right vitamins and minerals. Somewhere along the line I had got lazy with my cooking. Whilst I'm always happy to eat a huge plate of salad I rarely can be bothered to really cook properly. I think it was important to challenge my beliefs and opinions and now I have a better idea of what my body needs (and doesn't need!). I'm now off to make some leek and potato soup - yes, from scratch :-) I look forward to hearing your results Steve.