Beginners in a fruitarian/raw vegan lifestyle

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Comment by MaRaw DoberVegan on July 18, 2012 at 9:36am

Hey Jamie,

 

That's amazing!  Congrats on quitting smoking and the sugar rushes.  I have found that I no longer crave chocolate- which is pretty wonderful to me.  How long have you been 811?

Comment by GeorgeTheFruitarian on July 17, 2012 at 3:45am

Hey Jamie,

absolutely same situation as mine. How long are you smokefree right now? I've stopped in 16. March 2012 and NEVER touched a cigarette anymore. Exactly 4 months today. :-)

best regards from germany

George

Comment by Artist81 on July 4, 2012 at 10:43am

Thank you Lori!! :)

Chris -

Thank you so much for all of the great advice! Sounds like just what I need to do! :)

Comment by Chris on July 3, 2012 at 6:14pm

"I really need some advice on how to rehab my lungs and cardiovascular system now that I have quit smoking."

The lungs and gut are "paired organs". High fiber, high Vitamin C, leafy greens, sprouts, and raw, succulent fruits of high simple sugar content (and low in protein and complex carbohydrates) are mucous-cleansing. So, reduced breathing obstruction through intake of these foods will contribute to lung function.

Regular exercise will also increase respiratory capacity.

Even more effective are the diaphragmatic, gradual, nasal breathing rates of 4.5-7 breaths per minute, while relaxed. While exercising, don't restrict breathing pace but try to maintain consistent, rhythmical breathing cycles in which the architecture of each breathing cycle correlates with the breath before and after.

To reduce respiration rate in the context of relaxation, strive for exhales twice as long as inhales. Higher amplitude breathing waves will come effortlessly with reduced breathing cycles but slow/effortless breathing is more restorative than deep breathing. After several months of practicing 30 minutes a day (2- 15 minute epochs of nasal, diaphragmatic, slow paced breathing while relaxed and challenged) will reinstate your natural breathing reflex of the medulla oblongata (based on 5-6% CO2 in the blood and exhaled air). Monitor your blood pressure as it reduces to check your progress. While breathing at an optimal rate the heart, lungs, brain and entire body function more efficiently. Relax auxiliary muscles, especially as you exhale.  Notice you will sigh, hiccup, gasp and yawn less frequently with these breathing techniques. Stand in water up to your shoulders and practice stretching bronchi with diaphragmatic breathing. Only the stomach moves. Imagine you're fogging up a mirror with the exhales and as you run our of air, smoothly begin your next inhale that is sharper than the exhale but also gradual.

My lungs are just not recovering like I thought they would...

If one does nothing to improve respiratory function, one will lose about 2% of lung function from the previous year, every year, beyond the mid-20s.

Maybe it is because I am older (early 30's)?

That's part of it, even in the upper 20s lung function gradually declines as recovery slows down and lung cells as any other cells die off faster than recover.

I really want to start exercising again, but I get winded

Then your "exercise" begins as stretches and regulated breathing and progresses from there. Check blood pressure and pulse rates as you consider modifying the exercise along with breathing exercises.

and my heart starts pounding after I go up like two flights of stairs and sometimes when I try to laugh I feel like I can't breath and start coughing... Not cool. LOL

After years of working directly against your heart and lungs (decoupling the natural cardio and respiratory cycles based on breathing chemistry that would naturally originate in the brain stem) you can begin to recover. And of course, as always, avoid meat intake to reduce your risk of lung cancer and any cancer. (Lam, et al., 2009)

Lam TK, Cross AJ, Consonni D, Randi G, Bagnardi V, Bertazzi PA, Caporaso NE, Sinha R, Subar AF, Landi MT. (2009).  Intakes of red meat, processed meat, and meat mutagens increase lung cancer risk. Cancer Res p. 932.

Comment by Artist81 on July 3, 2012 at 10:28am

Haha! Thanks Itsy! I am transitioning back onto just fruits and vegetables. Fell off of the wagon for a while, but I am definitely hopping back on! :)

Comment by Artist81 on July 3, 2012 at 10:25am

Tracy - Good point! I live in FL, which is mold central! ;/

Sheri - That is amazing and so encouraging! Thank you! :)

Comment by Itsy Sweeney on July 3, 2012 at 1:55am

Well, you are on the right track by eating lots of fruits & veggies. I'm assuming this since you are here! You can learn some breathing/relaxation techniques to relax & expand your lungs. 

Hypnosis works really well for accelerated healing & wellbeing, as well as guided imagery. 

Also say to yourself out loud, "It is amazing how my lungs are so healthy and clear. It's so effortless to breath deeper & deeper with each & every breath! I can climb stairs & mountains with ease..like a wild young cheetah!!

Write this down & say it MANY times a day...1st thing in the morning & as you lay to sleep.. & all day & even while looking in the mirror!!

WORDS ARE VERY POWERFUL!

Do this everyday for 7 days & let me know how it's going..that is your homework!!  

I'll send you blessings on my walk today.....Keep up the good, Itsy

Comment by T on July 3, 2012 at 1:23am

Artist81: Be sure to exclude the possibility of allergies.... esp. mold.  

Comment by Artist81 on July 2, 2012 at 11:37pm

Thanks Itsy!

I actually did pass the year mark without feeling much different, but I was a heavy smoker for a long time (started in my teens), so I will just try to be patient. :)

Comment by Itsy Sweeney on July 2, 2012 at 7:32pm

Hi Artist81. Congrats on quitting smoking!!  Be patient with yourself. Your lungs & body are healing as best they can...give it some time..you've probably smoked for many years. Know that healing is happening! Here's some good info; 

When Smokers Quit 

Just 20 minutes after you’ve smoked that last cigarette, your body begins an on-going series of beneficial changes. 

20 minutes             Blood pressure becomes normal

                              Pulse rate becomes normal

                              Temperature of hands and feet become normal

8 Hours                  Carbon-monoxide level in blood becomes normal

                              Oxygen level in blood increases to normal

                              

24 Hours                Chance of heart attack decreases

48 Hours                Nerve endings start re-growing

                              Ability to smell and taste is enhanced

                              Walking becomes easier

2 Weeks to            Circulation improves

 3 Months              Lung function increases up to 30 percent

1-9 Months            Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, shortness of breath decrease

                              Cilia re-grow in lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus and clean 

                             the lungs, thereby, reducing infection.   

1 Year                    Risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker

This information is provided by The American Cancer Society,

And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Keep up the good!  Itsy

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