Am I the only one who slams back a glass or two of fresh juice and promptly gets a stomach-ache? I don't think so! I get this awful pain in my gut that lasts about 30 minutes, and I'm normally such a healthy person. What's going on here?
I had to delve further to find out why, and what I could do about it. Because I sure didn't want to give up my juice. For my fellow sufferers, the good news is there are several things you can do to avoid this... yay!
Pain can be caused by:
Drinking too fast
A certain amount of air is swallowed whenever you eat or drink. If you drink too fast, you will swallow excess air. This creates extra gas in your system causing pain and possibly bloating, and even flatulence (yikes!).
Drinking too much at once
Simple system overload here: your body cannot digest all that juice quickly enough. It's the same as over-eating. You feel full and bloated, and you get a gut-ache!
Too much of a good thing
Juicing concentrates the natural sugars that are found in fruits and vegetables. Sugars (and other carbs) ferment in your gut and naturally create some gas as part of the digestive process. Concentrated sugars may cause gastro distress. Your body may not be able to cope with a pure juice, and it's letting you know.
Certain fruits & veggies
Fruits and veggies are undoubtedly good for you. But high-fiber fruits & veggies (apples and pears, cabbage, beets, carrot and kale) are often the culprits for causing gas. They are harder to digest, especially in large amounts.
Help is on the horizon!
What to do about it:
- Sip slowly... relax!
- Drink smaller amounts (I now avoid swigging TWO glasses of juice at once!).
- Dilute (try 50% water for starters and go from there).
- Avoid fruit/veg that cause you excess pain.
Drinking smaller amounts of juice more often through the day should help. Same with drinking slowly. Plus, I find that diluting my juice helps immensely. Not only do I tolerate it better, but it makes my juice go farther, as well!
If pain is an issue after you drink fresh juice, and you've tried the first 3 tips, you could try an elimination diet to find out what's causing you grief. It could be that you cannot tolerate one particular thing, especially in concentrated amounts. Through elimination, I discovered that beets are the source of my stomach pain.
You know your body best. Listen to what it's saying. Take steps to eliminate issues - sip, reduce volume & dilute. See your doc if necessary.
After all, you want to be able to have your juice... and drink it, too!
Comments
Top voted
The Rawtarian
Feb 01, 2017
Your mom was very wise, I think, Ellie!
The Rawtarian
Nov 03, 2016
I'm so glad it was helpful, Joana!
Joana
Sep 22, 2016
Thank you, this helped a lot!
All
cristianne miranda
Apr 21, 2021
Ugh! I just started a one day juice fast and lo and behold.... 30 minutes after the beet juice i have stomach spasms. The juice guys at the store warned me but i insisted on beet juice lol! None of the others affected me. I’m bummed because it’s great at detoxifying the liver.
Rolly
Apr 02, 2020
I believe it’s the beets too! I am not 100% sure but it seems when I include beets in my smoothie, my stomach really hurts!
Theory—beets need saliva to be digested properly. If you chew them up, they may not hurt the stomach so much.
Kathryn M
Jan 27, 2020
i have been juicing for about 3 days and as of last night my stomache hurts sooooo bad and hasnt eased up at all help!!!! any ideas to help with it .
HesterP
Nov 02, 2017
Hallo Rawtarian,
A year or two ago I started a new job in Sydney and had to catch a train at 5am and return after 7pm. Making food for such a long day was not really an option so I thought having a fresh juice at the station will sustain me for the day and help with increasing my low blood iron levels. I had a problem with memory and concentration at work.
Every day I bought a fresh juice blend of kale, carrot, apple, beetroot, ginger. However, one morning (not 30 mins after I downed the juice - it was yummy!), I was in the ladies and crawling on the floor. I was in so much pain I was delirious. Then started the vomiting like there is no tomorrow. An ambulance was called and after at least five morphine shots I fell asleep. At the hospital, scans etc was done but no explanation as to the cause.
Now after reading a few comments on your website I realise I basically overdosed on the juice!
I feel like such a novice and very silly for sculling such a potent large juice!
The Rawtarian
Nov 15, 2017
Hi Hester - That sounds terrible. I swear, it's the raw beets in the juice!!
Anemarie
Aug 06, 2017
Iv been doing the green juice only no food for ten days now. I find it hard. I get up set stomach. I'm a big person and need to lose weight but the stomach aches are getting me down
The Rawtarian
Aug 07, 2017
Hi Anemarie - have you been diluting your juices with water? Also, what's in your juice?
Stacey E.
Jun 25, 2017
I noticed that if you extend the time it takes to drink your juice, that it doesn't really hit you as hard. I brought a large Gatorade bottle filled with green juice to work with me, and I would only have a few swallows of it every time I felt hungry. I basically drank it from 7 am to about 2:30. I always found juicing to be unpleasant because of the extreme stomach cramps, and so I accidentally found out today that the secret is to extend the time it takes to consume it. I don't really know if the scare about the nutrients needing to be taken in immediately has any basis in reality. I have to wonder if anyone ever actually studied it, or is it a lot of assumption, based on nothing. I figure even if my "old" juice doesn't have the full nutrients it did when it was fresh, at least I'm still consuming something that's healthy for me.
The Rawtarian
Jun 26, 2017
Excellent tips Stacey!!!!
It's comments like yours that make this site great :)
Ellie
Jan 31, 2017
My mum always said to swill each sip around your mouth to get it to mix with your saliva and the important enzymes in the saliva. At the end of the day we're not evolved to drink our food as juice- we should be chewing it to aid digestion. Juicing and chugging it back skips that important step and leaves your stomach to do extra work. Hope this helps!
Dyann
Feb 27, 2018
Been juicing since Dec 2017, would of thought by now my body would expect it and not make me feel like crap.But didn't get the flu or a cold this winter.
(though I almost never do) I only juice once a day and only about 4 times a week. 4 carrots, 1 beet, 1 green pepper, thumb size piece of garlic or 3 raw garlic cloves. This makes about a cup and 1/2. I will try your suggestion to drink it slower. Or leave out the beet or the green pepper, wondering if one of these my body just doesn't like?
The Rawtarian
Mar 01, 2018
Definitely do this:
1. Omit everything to do with the beets;
2. When drinking, mix the juice with water (about half juice/half water)
I think you'll find it much better :)
xox
The Rawtarian
Feb 01, 2017
Your mom was very wise, I think, Ellie!
Joana
Sep 22, 2016
Thank you, this helped a lot!
The Rawtarian
Nov 03, 2016
I'm so glad it was helpful, Joana!
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