Are you overdosed on lettuce opium (Lactucarium)?
I think this topic will be very useful for many here to solve a problem they might not know they have or they don’t know what’s causing it. It took me lots of self observation and some google search to solve my problem. Only today I can confirm this experience. I hope you will appreciate that.
Mistakenly, I attributed some of the nasty effects that I experienced after becoming raw to candida. I almost quit raw food because of them. These bad experiences include posture hypotension (fainting when standing up) dizziness sedation, blurred vision, lack of digestive system movement, breathing inhibition, and dry mouth.
I heard Victoria Boutenko mentioning something about toxic opiate in lettuce and I knew that opium has this inhibitory effect so I searched about the toxicity of opium and it was exactly what I felt.
The responsible substance that is closely related to opium is lactucarium which is the white sap you usually observe at the base of lettuce leaves and hearts. Wild lettuce which is a very bitter and found in most home gardens is the highest in this substance. Some web sites even describe how to extract and smoke it to get high, as a substitute for opium. After experiencing this by only eating lettuce hearts I wonder why anyone would want to do that or try opium.
The lettuce that caused more problems for me, which I think now is due to a higher concentration of lactucarium, is organic romaine lettuce hearts produced by President Choice.
Here are my own recommendations to avoid this problem: don’t eat too much lettuce, avoid hearts and the base, and eat mature green leaves of lettuce.
I don’t have Victoria Boutenko’s book so it’s nice to hear from those who read the book. Does she has more to say about this?
Mistakenly, I attributed some of the nasty effects that I experienced after becoming raw to candida. I almost quit raw food because of them. These bad experiences include posture hypotension (fainting when standing up) dizziness sedation, blurred vision, lack of digestive system movement, breathing inhibition, and dry mouth.
I heard Victoria Boutenko mentioning something about toxic opiate in lettuce and I knew that opium has this inhibitory effect so I searched about the toxicity of opium and it was exactly what I felt.
The responsible substance that is closely related to opium is lactucarium which is the white sap you usually observe at the base of lettuce leaves and hearts. Wild lettuce which is a very bitter and found in most home gardens is the highest in this substance. Some web sites even describe how to extract and smoke it to get high, as a substitute for opium. After experiencing this by only eating lettuce hearts I wonder why anyone would want to do that or try opium.
The lettuce that caused more problems for me, which I think now is due to a higher concentration of lactucarium, is organic romaine lettuce hearts produced by President Choice.
Here are my own recommendations to avoid this problem: don’t eat too much lettuce, avoid hearts and the base, and eat mature green leaves of lettuce.
I don’t have Victoria Boutenko’s book so it’s nice to hear from those who read the book. Does she has more to say about this?
Tags: boutenko, lactucarium, lettuce, opiate, opium, romaine, toxic
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Hani on -
Nothing feels high like a complete mental clarity. If you are eating lots or romaine hearts then you might want to cut down on them and see how you feel.
-
Permalink Reply by Susan Virginia on -
The darker the green, the more minerals it has. The paler will always be of lower nutrient value.
Interesting reading!
-
Permalink Reply by Susan Virginia on
-
Heroin lettuce & cocaine chocolates... just say NO Sarah!! :D
-
Permalink Reply by Hani on
-
Lettuce is actually an example of an aphrodisiac for all the wrong reasons (just like your nuts).
-
Permalink Reply by Susan Virginia on
-
Who you callin NUTS, chump? I mess you up...
-
Permalink Reply by Hani on
-
Sara thinks that nuts can be aphrodisiac because they sedate and hypnotize her
-
Permalink Reply by s on -
for real. throw some nuts in my face, and i'm like putty in your hands. but only because i lack the energy to resist. or something.
s
-
Permalink Reply by Hani on
-
We had a long debate on my last post about the facts of life. from dating to having sex with your date. Now I get it, the third meaning for nuts wasn't on my mind. I'm just a naive guy.
Latest Activity
love love love
i am crazy but thats a whole nother topic Danny lol ;)
My food processor burnt out and I'm considering getting the Magic Bullet as a replacement. Can it also make things like date/nut bars as well as smoothies? Do cheap blenders work well at making daily green smoothies?
I'd get a processor/blender c...
So adorable! Loved the outtake at the end :P I have a sheltie and a fennec fox, and my dog seems to have taught my fox to bark and they both run around tormenting my two cats :P
Yay, thanks Aric :) I've been looking for reishi mushrooms, I can't seem to get my hands on them!
Oh to be a banyan tree...
yum yum yum, I can smell it....
Oh my sweetness...birds are amazing. Actually all animals are ;) Anyone can communicate with them, you just have to learn their language! All animals talk to us we just don't realize it ;) Animals are VERY emotional. They laugh, cry and mourn just...
Check out the movie: 'Bride & Prejudice' with Aishwarya Rai
Good for you practicing self-restraint, ESPECIALLY at "that time"!!! It can definitely be tough! Been there!
He looks like he knows you saved his life!
We will be teaching an incredible Cosmetics Making class next Spring near Philadelphia. I have a special guest coming from England. Using all natural and organic products. I have not decided yet. I'm looking for a really cool location now. This is...
Community by WLIR:
© 2009 Created by Dhrumil
