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I notice that I get stopped up when I don't get enough fats. Coconut oil in smoothies really help as well as avocados and such.
Also, make sure you're drinking enough water!
Yeah, I totally agree with troub- keep up the fat content up andstay hydrated!!!
I actually go better without any fats except the natural fats in fruits and vegetables, no avocado, no coconut, no oils, etc. I do eat fats sometimes one day per week, but those days have less smooth digestion.
I know everyone is different, but I've noticed that I get stopped up if I eat lots of nuts for my fats. That doesn't happen if I get my fats from avocados and coconut oil. Also, if you are eating a lot of dehydrated foods, you have to make sure you drink lots of water, way more than if you eat mostly fresh fruits and vegetables, which are naturally high in water content. Hope this is helpful!
I'm the same as you, superfood. The less fats, the better my digestion. I hate having that bloated, full feeling in my stomach and I usually don't get that from fruits and veggies.
My advice is to do a smoothie fast for just a day or 2. It gives your body a rest from breaking down all the food and the greens in my smoothies definitely help me go.
Wow! Thanks you guys! This really is helpful. And I have felt slightly dehydrated, so that must be at least a part of it.
Belinda- I HAVE been eating a lot of nuts, I think.
Joannabanana- I've been considering doing the smoothie fast. I think I shall start that!!
Yeah, i don't get stopped up if I eat fats, and my digestion is, well, very smooth normally, so when I say "less smooth" or "not as smooth," it just means that maybe I actually had to wipe something off or there was a slight odor. I still eat tons of fruit and greens on "fat" days, though. Just wanted to be clear.....
Hey Kelly,
I saw this post and it so reminded me of myself when I first started Raw 2 months ago. I was so stopped up! I talked to a Raw nutritionist and she highly suggested colonics 1-2 x a week for the first 3 weeks then one a month or so until you're regular. She suggested one a month forever but that would get too costly for me.
Imagine your body as a huge drain. If something is clogged up at the bottom(colon), all of the crud your detoxing gets stuck in the bottom of the drain and then the toxins you are trying to get rid of sit in your body longer. I have a colonic tomorrow so I'll let you know if it helps. I am still dealing with this and it's been 7 weeks, yikes!
Nicole
ooo that so does not sound like fun!!! But if it works it works!! Yes, let me know if it works for you.
Green smoothies, green smoothies, green smoothies.
http://www.greensmoothiechallenge.com/
Since going RAW I've discovered many unconventional ways of doing things (e.g. no poo) including squating for elimination. "Although it may seem strange to someone who has spent his entire life deprived of the experience, this is the way the human body was designed to function." (from naturesplatform.com). Although I don't suffer from constipation, when I feel like there's nothing left to come out (while sitting), going into that position actually produces results. Try it!
I concur nefertiti! I have never had a problem either but green smoothies will def. help. One in the morning when you wake up and you should go to the bathroom after. Also there is always a salt water "bath" in the am if you want. Basically you drink one quart of water with, I belive, one tbsp of salt on an empty stomach. You will go to the bathroom! Salt water baths are also much safer then colinics.
The greens are IMPERATIVE to pooing!! Take it from someone who has had struggles with this sort of thing. And green smoothies are just the most delicious way to get 'em down. However, I have had temporary problems with bloating after drinking green smoothies, but I also take enzymes with them now, and that helps.
Victoria Boutenko's book Green for Life is a must-read! She has a new one coming out soon with lots of new green smoothie recipes (not that you can't make beautiful ones on your own).
Greens are not imperative for pooping. Maybe for one person or some people they are; but this is not a general truth.
Hey Kelly,
Well.......... the colonics helped!! I feel so much better. I have to avoid dehydrated foods because they usually involve nuts and such which stop me up big time. I highly recommend colonics and green juices/foods. 180 degrees from where I was a month ago. Go get a few colonics and see if it helps you too:)
Nicole
nefertiti, i just joined that challenge. thanks for posting the link. how many smoothie do you drink during the day?
Hello :)
I would second everyone who said that green juicing is the most important - i find that whenever i dont juice actually my bowl movements become more irregular. Hope you can get unstopped up soon! And congratulations on being raw for three weeks thats great
joanna, it is usually easier for me to have a green smoothie after i come home from work. it is so low-maintenance and I can just chill and drink it. I go through phases with them, drinking them every day for weeks, and then making more vegetable-based entrees for dinner.