Number of Bowel Movements per day

[veganman]

I have been reading some cleansing books and they talk about how we should have a bowel movement for every meal we have. I generally have one per day, sometimes two. Yet I am eating multiple meals per day.

What are your experiences and thoughts on this colorful topic?

[lissomllama]

Well, look at how an infant/young child's system works. They eat and then 20 minutes to an hour later they have a bowel movement. This is a pure system that runs smoothly and children usually stop having as frequent bowel movements when they get introduced to SAD food/cooked foods. Personally, I have about 1-2 a day but as I become healthier I'll probably start to have one after each meal. I think that this is ideal and it means that one's system is clear and 'up to speed' so to speak. This is how I see it.

[vgloveforlife]

An infant drinks milk (no solids) as their only food so I wouldn't really base it on an infant. Solid food takes longer to digest.

Going after every meal seems a little excessive.

[goyethere4raw]

Going after each meal is absolutely not excessive, and in fact, it is ideal and where we all should be. Am I there, no, but it is my aspiration.

Angel

[madmel]

Since being raw (just started with the June Challenge) I have multiple bowel movements, up to 5 a day. But all normal looking, not too soft or too hard. The "biggest" (sorry :o ) still is early morning after I get up, the other ones are smaller but they are there.

mel

[Vegan Diva]

I usually have a bowel movement after every meal. My largest bowel movement is the first one I have in the morning.

[rawlee]

Before 100% raw I had a BM every 2-3 days. Now, I have at least 3 a day. And they're very easy & quick.. :D

[dreamrawalwz]

An infant drinks milk (no solids) as their only food so I wouldn't really base it on an infant. Solid food takes longer to digest.

Going after every meal seems a little excessive.

Why would it be "excessive"? I'm jut wondering what your thought are. To me it's not...what comes in must come out. You put 3 meals in, you should have 3 BM's at least a day.

[vgloveforlife]

Hi Dreamraw-
It seems excessive for the fact that our intestines are relatively long so should food digest that quickly?

It is also excessive because I don't want to be in the bathroom all day..lol

[Linda1970]

Since being raw (just started with the June Challenge) I have multiple bowel movements, up to 5 a day. But all normal looking, not too soft or too hard. The "biggest" (sorry :o ) still is early morning after I get up, the other ones are smaller but they are there.

mel

Wow, Mel, that's great! Did this happen as soon as you went raw?

[stiletto]

I'm like a juicer. About 20 minutes after I eat, I go. It's actually quite cool. It's also the first thing I do in the morning. I know my body is working correctly when my patterns are like this and it only happens when I'm 100% raw.

[Brianna]

It's perfectly normal and actually desireable to have 3 bowel movements a day, one after every meal. Brian and Anna Maria Clement raised their children on a raw vegan diet and their children had to go about 20 minutes after each meal. I tend to go two or three times a day.

[rawfigure]

I'm like a juicer.


lol...;) he he

[lavendarJ]

All the bowel movement stories are inspiring as weird as it sounds :D ... I cannot wait to go 3 or 4 times a day or better yet after every meal....that is one of my dreams as I have a sluggish digestive system and colon. Slowly but surely, things are turning around.

[ShelShel]

It's like clock work now...an hour after I eat...I go. ;)

[VibraTechJulie]

I eat more than 3 times a day. I eat whenever I am hungry. I have AT LEAST 3 BMs a day but usually more like 5, since I eat about 5 times a day.

Love to feel cleaned out! ;)
Raw Blessings,
Julie

[konmai]

ok. this is embarassing, but I have water fasted(14 days) & have eatten raw for maybe 5 days...no bowel movements yet! :(

my cousin who always stays looking young & fit always has a bowel movement after every meal. he's also on S.A.D. & smokes. I don't get it!! :confused:

[Sheryl]

Eating is meant to trigger peristalysis in the intestines (the squeezing that pushes food through) and move things out. It's not the meal that just went in coming out... in a healthy person it's the meal you had about 24 hours ago! People that are blocked up may need DAYS to move food through their system.

I think people base 'normal' on average, and in our society of processed food things just don't move that fast!!

Sheryl

[madmel]

Hi Linda,

I always had "good" bowels, meaning usually no constipation problems and had one or two BMs/day. That was before my IBS which had gotten totally out of hand for some time. I either was constipated/bloated or suffered from diarrhea. Terrible time!

Now with turning to raw food, I eat a lot more food in terms of volume (greens, fruit) and they need to get out somehow - so to answer your question: Yes, after a couple of days on raw I started having many, although a couple of small ones, BMs.

In my opinion, raw fooders who tend to eat large volumes and have a healthy digestion, will have more BMs per day - just because of all the indigestible parts in the greens.

mel

[swingbolder]

It seems excessive for the fact that our intestines are relatively long so should food digest that quickly?

As someone else mentioned, eating triggers peristalsis which gets the bowels moving, then you eliminate an earlier meal, not the one you just ate.


It is also excessive because I don't want to be in the bathroom all day..lol

The great thing about your BMs on raw is that you are not in the bathroom all day -- they slip out easily, cleanly and then you're done. No sitting on the toilet forever trying to get them out bc you're constipated, no sitting on the toilet forever as they comes out in messy spurts bc you have diarrhea. At least, this has been my experience.

But it takes time for the intestines to regulate themselves, it doesn't happen in a matter of days. But after awhile it's quite normal to have two or more a day.

[rawnpawgirl]

I have been raw 25 days and I have such a sluggish bowel. I want to be like you guys and go poop more! boo, hoo. or shall I say poo, hoo. Sometimes I will skip a day or two or just go one or two little plops and that's IT! Before I did all this research, turned raw I wouldv'e been so grossed out by all this poop talk, now I find it fascinating.

I also heard that a healthy bowel produces firm, easy to get out pieces that don't have cracks in it and that float, leave no skid marks and don't really smell. I am definitely NOT there yet.

I woke up the other night after not pooping for a couple days and felt so nauseated. I ran to the bathroom a puked about 4 times, then the next day I had a fever, chills, headache, achey body/joints, flulike symptoms and horrible. I left work, stopped and got a colonic and all this PUTRID yucky stuff came out(by the way, I apologize to all the faint of heart and stomach). After that, I went to bed and did not get up until the next day around 10. I was weak but feeling much better and by the end of the day felt fine. That was Tuesday. Now, today was the first time since then that I had a BM.

Will this change over time or am I destined to have a sluggish bowel forevermore. The only thing that used to make me more regular was my coffee which I am obviously not drinking anymore.

I remember when I was little my grandma embarrassed me so bad b/c she freaked out when I told her I only pooped every 3 or 4 days. I will NEVER forget that! A poor little 8 year old listening to her grandma go off about her lack of taking a dump! I was mortified.

Okay, so....what's the verdict? Do I just need to eat raw and the rest will "come out" okay "in the end" or should I look for a shrink? LOL

[madmel]

konmai:

After such a long waterfast your body needs to get used to food again. Don't overload your stomach, be careful with what you chose the first days and drink plenty of water and juices.

It's normal that after a fast you don't have BM right away. Usually the longer the fast, the longer it will take to have a BM again. After that it should work ok.

mel

[tglasco4]

generally 2-5 times per day. Closer to 5 (or more) when my body is in a detox/cleansing mode. Always one first thing in the morning......tmi. :p

Peace.

[juliebove]

I don't really count, but generally I have to go not long after I eat. I always thought this was the way with everyone and was a bit startled to learn it is not. Because my husband is in the military, we move frequent cross country moves. He always wants to eat in the car, on the road. He can't understand why this is not an option for me. And now that we have a daughter, not an option for her either. She and I are pretty much the same in terms of needing to use the bathroom. Luckily both of us now know of our food allergies and have eliminated those things from our diets. Those things were causing a real problem for us in terms of using the bathroom. Used to be we have to go and we'd have to go *now* and sometimes several times a day. Now that part is no longer.

My husband is a meat eater. He eats that and junk food and little else if he can help it. He doesn't go very often and tends towards constipation. He often has to take stuff for the problem. Then when he needs to lose weight, he will start eating salads and will always act shocked that the problem goes away. But he still won't eat them on a regular basis because he simply doesn't like them.

[Conscious Midwife]

Well, look at how an infant/young child's system works. They eat and then 20 minutes to an hour later they have a bowel movement. This is a pure system that runs smoothly and children usually stop having as frequent bowel movements when they get introduced to SAD food/cooked foods. Personally, I have about 1-2 a day but as I become healthier I'll probably start to have one after each meal. I think that this is ideal and it means that one's system is clear and 'up to speed' so to speak. This is how I see it.


Hmmm infants have shorter intestines, but consistent and frequent BM's is ideal.

I always feel lighter and cleaner with more frequent BM's. No bad breathe or BO,(after exercise, either.

Yeh!?!?!

[veganman]

Wow - great responses!

I am wondering how to increase mine. Here is a typical day right now -

wake up - glass of lemon water - bowel movement - not fully formed, but not diarrhea.

cup of herbal tea

melon on the weekends (sometimes watery bowel movement following), apples during the week

mangoes

bananas

green smoothie

salad with flax seeds or avocado

dinner salad with nuts, seeds, or avocado

I am having plenty of fiber. I am thinking of doing some colonics. I just read a great book on colon health and am wondering about doing cleansing things. I don't feel constipated, just know that I feel better and eat better when things are moving through me. I am about 75 days raw.

I would love any suggestions. :o

[lissomllama]

This infant thing was just an example of my point of how we should be ideally having a bowel movement a while after each meal. Fecal matter should not sit in the bowels for too long so frequent movement and elimination is very good for the body. This also goes along with things like "As above and so below" or "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction" etc. If you put something in, something needs to come out or you lose balance. It doesn't matter how long our digestive tracts are, if we are eating the proper diet for long enough, the bowels will cleanse themselves out soon after each meal. Everybody's system is different so it may be slower or faster for each person.

[Gosia]

And, something funny:
http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/b/bowel_movement.asp
http://offthemarkcartoons.com/search-results/key/bowel+movement/

Gosia

[rawnora]

I've had problems with constipation since I was a young child. I never thought going to the bathroom could be as effortless as it is now. But it's taken me years to get to this point and along the way I still had periodic problems, as one would expect. Colonics are not a good way to deal with constipation, btw, Veganman. You may want to read my essay about it here: http://www.rawschool.com/colonics.htm.

Our colons adapt to the foods we eat. If we've been eating one way for decades and then we make changes, it takes time for them to adapt and gain the natural strength and elasticity they're supposed to have. In the meantime, whatever they do will reflect the way colons behave when they're used to one way of eating and are slowly but surely adapting to the new way. In other words, what they do with be 'normal' for the circumstances.

I understand it's a point of curiosity and interest, but in the end it doesn't matter how many BMs we have. There's really no "normal". There might be an *ideal*, but that will only happen when conditions are ideal. There are ways to know we're eating the right foods besides looking at our feces, like the way all the other animals on earth know that they're eating the right foods. They don't think about it, and we don't have to either. They just eat what tastes, feels, smells and looks right. We only need to think to the extent that is required to exclude unnatural, processed or human-made foods. When we've done that, we can relax and let the process happen.

During my transition I've had times where I had 7-8 BMs per day, and others where I went a whole day or two without one. Now it's pretty predictable, as long as my routine doesn't change too much. Sometimes when my routine changes, my BMs do too. It's normal. It's also normal to not have a BM when fasting, jfyi.

Kind regards,
Nora
www.RawSchool.com

[vgloveforlife]

I just had a honest question. I know dogs are carnivores (omnivores maybe) so they eat different food than us, but for dogs if they are on a kibble cooked diet they go to the bathroom a lot during the day because their not retaining much of their food. If you put them on a raw diet they will go a lot less (usually just once a day) because their bodies are holding onto more of the food and not as much has to pass through.
I've actually experienced this first hand with my dog. He only goes once a day and it will turn white within the hour.
It sounds like more bm's are desirable for us, but less desirable for them. Why is that?

[Vegan Diva]

During my transition I've had times where I had 7-8 BMs per day, and others where I went a whole day or two without one. Now it's pretty predictable, as long as my routine doesn't change too much. Sometimes when my routine changes, my BMs do too. It's normal. It's also normal to not have a BM when fasting, jfyi.

Kind regards,
Nora
www.RawSchool.com

You made fabulous points! I have had these skipped days also. THose were mainly early on. When I did skip a few days I felt uncomfortable. When I had my bowels movement again I was fine. I have used colonics and they really worked for me.

[Lay-Lay]

Oh wow, I love this fun topic, (of course, I would, I studied to be a colon therapist before).

I go at least 5-7 times a day. Usually go 15-20 minutes after each meal unless I'm traveling.

Before going raw (the first time aprox 3 years ago) I had chronic constipation and became extremly toxic. 6 days after raw I had my first movement and for about a month I had one about every other day. Then I started having them everyday. With about 4 months I was having 2 -3 a day ---------and just before I went 100% raw this time (I was mid-high raw almost 3 yrs) I went 3 times a day, but now --------------------wow! Things are flowing freely and thats awesome! :D

[alcor]

It should take between 8 - 12 hrs for the food to travel the whole digestive system. Faster than this, it will affect the assimilation process. You can "test" it eating beets for example. Then you can easily see how long it takes do digest them. In my case, it was 3 hours. That's way too low. I was having BM about 5 - 7 times a day too and it was impeding on my lifestyle (exercising etc). I am back to about 2-3 and I hope to stay this way. I took some supplements to alleviate the irritation in the intestinal tract.

[Linda1970]

Oh wow, I love this fun topic, (of course, I would, I studied to be a colon therapist before).

I go at least 5-7 times a day. Usually go 15-20 minutes after each meal unless I'm traveling.

Before going raw (the first time aprox 3 years ago) I had chronic constipation and became extremly toxic. 6 days after raw I had my first movement and for about a month I had one about every other day. Then I started having them everyday. With about 4 months I was having 2 -3 a day ---------and just before I went 100% raw this time (I was mid-high raw almost 3 yrs) I went 3 times a day, but now --------------------wow! Things are flowing freely and thats awesome! :D

Wow, that's inspiring, Lay Lay. I have one very good bowel movement a day, but I hope it'll increase with 100% raw. Thanks!

[Lay-Lay]

thanks! I am sure you will get a boost in the near future, just hang in there.

[Stephen]

I have been worried about constipation since I started this raw food lifestyle two weeks ago. My BM previously were 1 or 2 a day on my vegan diet which included plenty of fruit and veg anyway. Now they have ground to a halt! Well, 1 BM every two or 3 days. Constipated on a diet of raw fruit and vegetables??? Also drinking plenty of water.

This is strange and annoying. Anyone else heard of similar? :mad:

[Judy]

i started going raw 2 months ago. since then (in my case the effects were immediate): in general 3 times a day, sometimes more, sometimes less. always one first thing in the morning too, and all very easy, it just falls out (achem). everything's just going so supple, like an oiled machine :)

i used to be 'jealous' of my bf who just eats cooked food and whatever he likes and has a quick metabolism, so he always goes about at least 3 times a day or whatever, and it just drops out. he couldn't imagine that people in general could have trouble going to the toilet, or be obstipated for days in a row in case of tension, or just go once a day, and that it takes time to do your thing, b/c he always feels the urge, goes, and is done in 1 second.

hahaha, now i'm one of them quick people!!!!!

[Judy]

Okay, so....what's the verdict? Do I just need to eat raw and the rest will "come out" okay "in the end" or should I look for a shrink? LOL

it will go fine in time, promise! but perhaps a shrink may help too :)

[berrymarymac]

Since going raw...I hadn't been constipated. For years it had been so bad that I would bleed when having a BM. On raw I have maybe 3-4 a day. Now I can't go because anesthesia really did a number on me, plus PMS. UGH!!!

[Draginvry]

One meal in, one meal out. No exceptions. If I put a meal in, and I don't get one out, I go on a fast until it comes out. It also needs to come out quickly and painlessly. BM usually takes a minute or two. If I am in the restroom longer than that, I eat really high fiber for my next meal.

[VeggieMel]

VibraTechJulie,

I like your signature! It's clever :D

[PATH301]

Normally I average 3 to 5 a day. When I was overwieght and outshape I was lucky to go every other day.

I so suprised that misslinda has not been here to this thread yet!

[Stephen]

Came off the raw diet for 48 hours (after 2 wks raw) and the BMs are back to normal. Isnt it meant to be the other way around? weird.

[Lay-Lay]

Came off the raw diet for 48 hours (after 2 wks raw) and the BMs are back to normal. Isnt it meant to be the other way around? weird.

2 weeks is not long enough to heal digestive issues or a whole bunch else for that matter. What is normal to you? What were they like on raw? What would you like them to be? Continue on raw and I am sure you things will be moving on smoothly in the future.

[Stephen]

2 weeks is not long enough to heal digestive issues or a whole bunch else for that matter. What is normal to you? What were they like on raw? What would you like them to be? Continue on raw and I am sure you things will be moving on smoothly in the future.

I had a decent diet (100% vegan with little processed foods, and all home made recipes etc) and BMs were a couple a day. When I went raw they just 'dried up' (aherm) so to speak. Maybe I wasnt just eating the same volume of food? I dont know, but It didnt feel right.

[Veganforlife]

Since being raw (just started with the June Challenge) I have multiple bowel movements, up to 5 a day. But all normal looking, not too soft or too hard. The "biggest" (sorry :o ) still is early morning after I get up, the other ones are smaller but they are there.

mel

same here, BUT I've noticed the past two days since going Raw - it is dark, dark, dark, like when I was pregnant and taking iron pills! I'm not complaining, it just has so totally changed. And I don't know about ya'll, but when I gotta go -
I gotta go!!!

:eek: :p

[Lay-Lay]

I had a decent diet (100% vegan with little processed foods, and all home made recipes etc) and BMs were a couple a day. When I went raw they just 'dried up' (aherm) so to speak. Maybe I wasnt just eating the same volume of food? I dont know, but It didnt feel right.

It is a healing process....you have to find what works and doesn't work for you. When I eat to many nuts I have this issue. The next day I eat alot of watermelon and/or cucumbers and I get myself back on target.
Before 100% RAW I was mid to high raw for nearly 3 years. Before that I had major BM trouble.

[Tirza]

I'm like a juicer. About 20 minutes after I eat, I go. It's actually quite cool. It's also the first thing I do in the morning. I know my body is working correctly when my patterns are like this and it only happens when I'm 100% raw.


I was wondering if cleaning out that often would take out all the "old" stuff they say is collected up in there.

I also go very often, and I wonder sometimes if it is too soft. Does everyone else have it very soft? What about diameter (sorry), is it thin or thick like a more solid movement. Mine is very thin. I am wondering if that is normal.

[Lay-Lay]

mine is slippery, yet whole until you flush

[Tirza]

I don't know about ya'll, but when I gotta go -
I gotta go!!!

:eek: :p

Me too! In fact, if I eat and leave home too soon in the morning, I could be in real trouble. I will most times not eat at all before I go out. Is it normal for there to be such an urgency to the movements? Actually I find myself pretty gassy and some of the urgency is because of the gas.


Quote:

alcor said..."You can "test" it eating beets for example"...

I find that eating beets no longer shows in my bm's. The colour is a consistent lighter colour. Maybe I process it all pretty well.

[veganman]

I was wondering if cleaning out that often would take out all the "old" stuff they say is collected up in there.

I also go very often, and I wonder sometimes if it is too soft. Does everyone else have it very soft? What about diameter (sorry), is it thin or thick like a more solid movement. Mine is very thin. I am wondering if that is normal.

Often, mine are thin and soft. The other day, I had 1/4 cup of soaked flax and the next day I had the best bowel movement I have had in a long time - thick and not too soft (great graphics, Veganman :eek: ). Then, the day after - right back to the loose and soft. I find this happens when I eat a lot of fruit.

[PATH301]

hey misslinda what's your input on your outpoop? :D

[Linda1970]

This website helped me a lot, and here is excellent info on stool analysis: http://www.askshelley.com/faq.php?p=default&cat=53#a77





Stool Analysis

The shape, color, frequency and behavior of our stools is a wonderful indicator of health. The ideal stool is at least two inches in diameter and twelve inches long, but of course it depends on how much fiber we eat. Some foods have a very fast transit time so the stool stays very thin, this is not a bad thing if you know that foods are causing this. If you are prone to thin stools no matter what you eat, then that indicates a colon with strictures preventing the formation of thicker stools.

Stools should be formed but loose, mostly uniform in color, and sink to the bottom of the bowl but slowly.

If you can tell what you ate by looking at a stool, it wasn’t digested completely and this causes many complications over time. Some foods never do digest completely, including whole flax seeds, sesame seeds, and corn as a protein-starch combo food is tough to digest, and salad greens. So don’t worry if you see these occasionally. Think about chewing your food more thoroughly, cooking the foods rather than eating them raw, or putting them through a blender.

A stool that totally floats on the surface is either mostly vegetable fiber that is full of trapped air, or full of undigested fats. Fat floats, as does wood. A sign that it’s fat making the stool float is a slick, shiny coated appearance. This proves that the fats you ate were not completely digested. This could be due to eating too much at one time for your digestive power; eating fats with something that prevented their emulsification such as fruit or starch; having a congested liver that doesn’t produce enough bile; having bile that is full of fat so it is ineffective as a dissolving agent. Digestive enzymes, lecithin, carrots, apples, beets and liver management are called for. If it was a one-time deal due to enjoying some treats, don’t worry about it.

A stool that is very compact, hard, indicates that not enough water is being drunk. If the stool is thick then the feces were very slow in transit so that all of the fluids had time to be absorbed. If the stool is grainy, or shaped into little balls, you have eaten very badly and should do an enema or fiber plus laxatives to get it all out of you properly, as the little balls can clog the appendix and cause appendicitis.

Stools should be rather brown, or red-brown, or dark brown. Gray colored stools indicates a severe lack of bile due to a stone or gunk clogging the bile ducts. This should be attended to immediately.

Other colors such as green or orange represent the foods or which microbes went to work to fully digest the foods and aren’t a worry. Green is sometimes bile full of cholesterol that moved so fast it didn’t have a chance to turn brown. Yellow indicates various toxins and a very fast transit time. Certain foods will color stools, beets and carrots especially. Carrot juice will cause orange stools. A lack of toxins such as after a liver flush will also cause orange stools temporarily.

Dark, tarry stools, black stools, indicates blood in the feces. Bleeding can be due to Crohn’s or parasites or lack of good microbes.

If bright red blood is seen, this is a recent bleeding in the rectal area and can be due to hemorrhoids or old fecal matter coming off the intestine like a scab that comes off before the skin is healed. Avoid fiber for 1-3 days, enjoy a liquid diet, and let your intestines heal. Aloe Vera juice is very healing in this case.

Stools are often accompanied by a bit of gas; this is normal and to be expected. If the flatulence happens more often, such as in between bowel movements, and you haven’t eaten any vegetables rich in organic sulphur such as broccoli or cabbage, then the gas indicates poor digestion and fermentation. Foods that are not completely broken down by chewing or the stomach’s gastric juices go into the intestines in large enough pieces that your microbes have to do a lot of work to break them down further. The food then ferments as it is eaten by yeast and propagates more yeast. This creates gas. Eating a fruit dessert after a high-fat/meat meal causes this problem.

It helps to get to know your average transit time. For instance, if you eat breakfast and dinner and don’t have a bowel movement until the next morning, your average transit time is 12-24 hours -the number of hours since your last breakfast and dinner. This should be your slowest transit time, your bowel movements should be at least once a day unless you’re fasting.

For larger people who consume 2,000 to 3,000 or more calories a day, you should be having two bowel movements a day. If you’re not, you need to take a look at your diet. You may not be eating enough good raw oils, grains, vegetables - fiber - or foods with fast transit times. The ideal diet has a mixture of fast and slow foods. You may not have a strong liver or colon.

You should not have to strain to void a stool. Straining is very hard on the rectum and can cause hemrrhoids. It is better to do an enema or, ahem, go digging, rather than strain. Use a glycerin tab as a suppository, available next to the Fleet enemas at the drugstore.

If you find yourself constantly having to wait for the bowel movement to the point that you read the entire magazine rather than just a paragraph, you’re either eating badly or have a prolapsed colon or both.

Sitting upright is not the best position for a bowel movement and doing so our whole lives long can cause weakness. Use a stool or a commercial stand that is designed to go around the toilet bowl so you can crouch over it rather than sit. Or use a training potty on the ground. There's a yoga asana where you pretend to be sitting in a chair - this exercises and strengthens the muscles that support the colon and is a good aid to constipation.

When you begin bowel management, you may see things come out of you that are pretty amazing. I never had mucoid placque myself, but plenty people do. If you had a long history of constipation or eating the standard American beef diet, chances are good that you have mucoid placque. Even if a colonoscopy didn’t turn up anything, you could have it in your small intestine.

The columnar epethelium tissues that make up the intestines are lined with villi so that the surface area, although scrunched up to fit into your abdomen, is huge. The mucous layer is where the microbes live and is the first line of defense against toxins getting into the bloodstream, while allowing the good nutrients and water to enter. The mucous layer, once compromised by undigested foods or poisons, gets thicker in order to protect the epethelium and blood supply. After awhile, this layer of mucous gets so thick that it is “shed” and left to form a kind of striated rope. Over time, it will harden until it looks like tire treads. So if you see mucous that still looks mucosy it’s a pretty recent shed. The darker and dryer it is, the older it is.

This is the same thing as with the sinuses. Mucoid placque is like having intestinal boogers. ;)

[veganman]

I started this thread 3 months ago and am still having problems. Been raw for almost 6 months now. 100%. How does one decrease their transit time when they are already eating only raw fruit and vegetables?

[Linda1970]

Are you exercising? It helps a lot.

Are you taking time to sit quietly & peacefully? For me, this is the biggest factor. I can literally control the # of times I have bowel movement by doing this. If I sit peacefully infront of my computer for 7 hours, I will have bowel movements up to 5X. However, if I run around or stand all day, without taking time to sit down, I won't have any bowel movement.

[veganman]

Hi Linda -

yes, I have tried exercising everyday or 3x per week. No real change. Sitting peacefully is something I am trying to do more of, but I don't really see a change there either.

[rawnora]

I started this thread 3 months ago and am still having problems. Been raw for almost 6 months now. 100%. How does one decrease their transit time when they are already eating only raw fruit and vegetables?

By being patient. Transit time is a function of the condition of your bowel. It took decades for it to get into the degenerated and atrophied condition it's in now. Ulcerated or inflamed tissues in the digestive tract heal quickly given the right conditions but restoring the colon's natural strength and elasticity can take years, depending on a person's age, current diet, the extent of the damage done by the previous diet and other factors.

As I mentioned before, I have a long (35-year) history of bowel problems. I've had bouts with constipation and even hemorrhoids while eating nothing but fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds for years. Even after 6 years of being totally raw I can still have a day with no BM if I'm traveling or my routine is disrupted and I can't go when I feel that initial urge. That's changing, however, and those occasions are very rare now. I find that having a routine helps, so that your bowel "knows" when it can move. I also used to sometimes do a little circular (counter clockwise) tummy massage upon waking in the morning. (This was more experimental than therapeutic.) Plus eating lots of fruit, of course, especially blueberries, papaya, apples and pears.

Best wishes,
Nora
www.RawSchool.com

[veganman]

Thanks Nora.

I added some flax to my smoothie yesterday and notice that my transit time is about 20 hours. It is improving.

I think I will keep adding flax for a while and see how that goes.

[Morn]

I am glad you mentioned this because now I am eating many small meals and day and am now going between 2 and 3 times a day. I have been only doing this 1 week and have seen a huge difference in this area. This is incredible because before I could go a whole week or more without one and I know that wasn't healthy.

[luckitri]

This is a great thread. My bms concern me also. They do all kinds of different things that are mentioned here, including being thin but the most concern to me is that my body holds onto them until I have a SAD slip. I will have some little movements but it has become something I can count on - if I want to clean my guts just eat some SAD food and it will come pouring out of me for about 12 hours. This is telling me that raw is causing putrefication in my guts because my body does not want to let go of it. Perhaps it is also telling me that my body is rejecting SAD food by having a thorough ejection of everything as a response to it. What to do what to do?

Forgot to mention that years ago I heard an attorney argue against vegetarian diet because he claimed that he knew of alot of vegetarians that died of colon cancer from too much roughage. His argument stuck with me and I guess it has caused be to be reticent from being 100% on any diet - sort of came to the conclusion that much variety is best and go with what your tastebuds want - intuitive eating as in your body tells you what it needs.

[eatyourbroccoli]

hey veganman..

i dunno how you feel about supplements, but MSM has helped a TON in regard to getting my digestive issues back in line.

also, supplementing with digestive enzymes for larger/more complex meals helps a lot for me too.

have you tried drinking a full glass of water upon waking? this usually helps get things moving immediately in the morning.

what about trying a mono-diet for a bit?

[veganman]

Hi EYB :) -

I drink a large glass of lemon water every morning. I have tried MSM in the past, but don't think it helped much. I have used enzymes before and think there was some help there, but it was inconsistant.

Thanks for the input.

[eatyourbroccoli]

oh darn

im not much help then :p

good luck though in your pursuit

[misslinda]

Normally I average 3 to 5 a day. When I was overwieght and outshape I was lucky to go every other day.

I so suprised that misslinda has not been here to this thread yet!


Ha ha ha Path, let my good ole sniffer do the walking here :D

I was going to go in the Triphala thread Veganman but I'll post here...triphala the 3 berries are used to correct the colon "timing." I forgot to add that in there.

It really depends in my opinion......I'm not so sure that texture is a concern as it is having more than one per day. Just b/c you have fruit and achieve a certain type of bowel texture, doesn't mean it is bad. Flax seeds stimulate the bowels have bulk fiber and that natural gel it creates that give you smooth bowels doesn't neccessarily mean your digestive health is better....... and is on the acidic side so be careful not to consume too much. Most folks get queasy in the stomach with dark flax. the golden is more mild.

Massaging of the spine is great as the nerves that run thru the "communication channels" for the colon are there.

Have you considered having your sacrum/coccyx examined? Base chakra work? Relationshop issues? Love? jUst posing some thoughts.
;)

[rawpriestess]

This may be too much information, so I am warning you before you read this.


When I was a child and all we ate was meat and dairy and milk, hardly any veggies or fruit, I would have a bowel movement, maybe once a week, very painful, very hard, I would hold it as long as I could because of the pain. UGH! Poor little girl me.

when I started eating vegetarian it got to be about twice a week, am not as much pain, but it wasn't every day, when I went raw, it took a while, but I started having them once a day.

Now, that I have been raw over 6 months, I have them several times a day, once upon rising, then after each meal, even if the meal is small, like just orange juice, I'll have a bowel movement about 20 to 30 minutes later, and it is fast and easy, and no pain at all, good texture, no diarhea, and never too hard any more.

It is unbelievable to me how I even survived my childhood.

But, Now it is easy, and often.

[RawNut]

I just had a honest question. I know dogs are carnivores (omnivores maybe) so they eat different food than us, but for dogs if they are on a kibble cooked diet they go to the bathroom a lot during the day because their not retaining much of their food. If you put them on a raw diet they will go a lot less (usually just once a day) because their bodies are holding onto more of the food and not as much has to pass through.
I've actually experienced this first hand with my dog. He only goes once a day and it will turn white within the hour.
It sounds like more bm's are desirable for us, but less desirable for them. Why is that?

Comercial kibble contains plant matter and fiber which probably caused him to go more frequently and is probably not natural for a carnivore. Being on a natural, low fibre, raw meat diet, and going less frequently is probably more natural for dogs. They have a short digestive tract so, he is probably asborbing more of the raw food than the kibble.

You can't really compare people to dogs though. Herbivores go much more frequently. Rabbits go almost constanly and if you watch a herd of cattle, you see them going all the time too.

No one answered so I thought I'd give my opinion.

Craig

[changing]

Can anyone help me? My belly is so sore most of the time. I move my bowels once a day or so but it does not feel great. Sorry about this but I need some help: My stool is green (i juice everyday) but reallysoft and thin. My system always feels like I need to go. I am thinking of doing a cleanse or something for my colon and stomach. I eat Alissa'a Butter Ball at least 3 times a week and I think the nuts are killing me. Any advice how to clean out or maybe a juice recipe for constipation?

Any advice is very much appreciated :)

[LightLover]

Hi EYB :) -

I drink a large glass of lemon water every morning. I have tried MSM in the past, but don't think it helped much. I have used enzymes before and think there was some help there, but it was inconsistant.

Thanks for the input.

-----

**Veganman, have you considered using "chia seed"? (also called "salba")

- See information below
- Anyone using this and wants to share experiences?

LL :)

Fiber

Salba® is an excellent source of dietary fiber. One hundred (100g) dry weight of Salba® contains 36g total fiber: 32g of which is water-insoluble and 4g of which is water-soluble. Insoluble fiber improves laxation and prevents constipation, mainly by increasing fecal bulk and reducing bowel transit time. Water-soluble fiber helps maintain healthy blood glucose levels and lower blood cholesterol levels.
2 tablespoons of Salba® contains about 15g of dietary fiber.

The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC), conducted by the Medical Research Council - Dunn Human Nutrition Unit - University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK is the largest study to ever investigate the correlation between diet and cancer risk. It shows that individuals who consume the highest amount of fiber (35g per day) have a 40% lower risk of developing colorectal cancer when compared to those who consumed only 15g of fiber per day.

In an accompanying commentary in the prestigious medical journal, Lancet, authors Lynnette R. Ferguson and Philip J. Harris of the University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand, wrote ".eating a diet rich in plant foods.remains the best option for reducing the risk of colon cancer, and for more general health protection."

This current research suggests that people would have to consume much more fiber than they obtain now to achieve these protective effects.


Salba®is the richest
whole food source
of fiber in Nature.



Serving Size 100 g
Calories 383 (1609 kJ)
Total Fat 31.4 g
> Saturated Fat 3.1 g
> Trans Fat 0.0 g
> Omega-6 Polyunsaturated 5.9 g
> Omega-3 Polyunsaturated 20.36 g
> Monounsaturated Fat 2.1 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 18 mg
Potassium 660 mg
Total Carbohydrate 37.5 g
Dietary Fiber 34.5 g
>Soluble fiber 3.5 g
>Insoluble fiber 31.0 g
Protein 21.2 g
Vitamin A 13 IU Vitamin C 5.4 mg
Calcium 770 mg Iron 7.9 mg
Riboflavin 0.20 mg Thiamine 0.74 mg
Vitamin B6 0.10 mg Niacin 7.15 mg
Vitamin B12 0.00 mg Folate 0.08 mg
Pantothenate 0.60 mg Biotin 1.44 mg
Magnesium 380 mg Phosphorous 780 mg
Copper 1.7 mg Zinc 4.4 mg
Molybdenum 0.20 mg Chromium < 0.5 mg
Selenium < 0.1 mg Nickel < 0.25 mg


Chia was to the Aztecs
what Ginseng is to the Orient:
the nutritional secret for restoring vigor and prolonging life.


Salba® is a cultivar of Salvia hispanica L. that has been used in the diets of humans for hundreds of years. The remarkably advanced Aztec nation cultivated Salvia hispanica L. which they called Chia, as one of their nutritional foundations. They referred to Chia as “Running Food” because it provided extraordinary energy and power. Chia was to the Aztecs what Ginseng is to the Orient: the nutritional secret for restoring vigor and prolonging life.

Today, Salba®, the super-grain that is derived from Chia, is recognized as a food with many clinically proven health benefits. Salba® provides essential nutrients, including essential fatty acids (omega-3) and an abundance of both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber. In addition, it is an exceptionally rich source of vitamins, minerals and high quality vegetable protein.

The major nutritional components of Salba® are:
- Essential Fatty Acids
- Omega-3
- Dietary Fiber
- Protein
- Vitamins and Minerals
- Antioxidants



© SalbaT Group 2004 Salba®, Nature's Most Powerful Super-Grain™ Contact us

[veganman]

Just got back from my Applied Kinesiologist chiropractor. She tested me and told me to stop eating bananas, lemons, tomatoes, bell pepper, cucumber, eggplant, and some types of apples. Man! Bananas are a staple for me and we have a few bunches here that my wife is now going to have to eat. I am going to try this for a while. Unfortunately, I don't have any other fruit on hand. I guess I will have to go shopping.

I am also going to try the triphala and ashwaghanda mix I picked up. Something new and different....we shall see.

VERY bummed about the bananas. I love them!

[Gosia]

veganman, did you have a thought that maybe, just maybe, your chiropractor might be wrong and your instinct right?

Gosia

[veganman]

Hi Gosia -

well, I would love that to be true, but I also know that our bodies are drawn to things when we are allergic to them.

To be honest, I am not sure what I am going to do right now. I am glad there aren't any really ripe bananas available.... :p

[abundancia2007]

Why would it be "excessive"? I'm jut wondering what your thought are. To me it's not...what comes in must come out. You put 3 meals in, you should have 3 BM's at least a day.

I agree. What comes in must go out. When I go completely raw, I do go after every meal and it is very satisfying and sweeps things clean. On partly processed and cooked diet, I get stopped up easily, and then the waves of fatigue and also the complexion problems start.

abundancia2007

[abundancia2007]

Why would it be "excessive"? I'm jut wondering what your thought are. To me it's not...what comes in must come out. You put 3 meals in, you should have 3 BM's at least a day.

I would add, too, that it happens within seconds of sitting down, not enough time to read or anything, which is the way it SHOULD be.
If it isn't, toxins are building up. It would be like not taking out the trash for several days when food scraps were in it.
If an animal were as constipated as we Americans typically are, we would consider them ill!!
I find apples, carrots, and celery, and salad greens to be helpful for promoting good BM's.

abundancia2007

[abundancia2007]

I started this thread 3 months ago and am still having problems. Been raw for almost 6 months now. 100%. How does one decrease their transit time when they are already eating only raw fruit and vegetables?

Dr. Schulze # 1 and # 2 Intestinal Cleansers or just plain psyllium blended in juice is what I used in the past, to get things cleaned out. Then the fruit and veggies are more easily able to maintain things. It would not hurt for me to do Dr. Schulze or psyllium again.....I am just focusing on right eating at the moment, seeing what it does.

abundancia2007

[LightLover]

Dr. Schulze # 1 and # 2 Intestinal Cleansers or just plain psyllium blended in juice is what I used in the past, to get things cleaned out. Then the fruit and veggies are more easily able to maintain things. It would not hurt for me to do Dr. Schulze or psyllium again.....I am just focusing on right eating at the moment, seeing what it does.

abundancia2007


ten bentonite in dr schulze is a product which you also find in plastic...


LL

[veganman]

I have been trying no apples, bananas, peppers, cucumbers, and tomatoes for about 10 days now and my digestion seems better. However, I have also been eating less, lost about 5 pounds (103 pounds as of yesterday - not good). I need to find a way to eat enough and digest well.

[misslinda]

so then what do you eat? I'm curious as to why your doc says no cucumbers?

[PATH301]

hAVE YOU TRIED ORGANIC GRAPE SEED OIL OR NON ORGANIC GRAPE SEED OIL? jUST MIX IT IN WITH ANY TYPE OF SMOOTHIE OR JUST POUR IT ON TOP OF ANY FRUIT MIXTURE, IT DOESN'T REALLY HAVE A TASTE TO IT BUT IT WILL HELP YOU BE REGULAR :D
AND ALSO USE OLIVE OIL IN YOUR SALADS. aTLEAST FOR ME BOTH OF THESE OILS ARE GREAT FOR KEEPING THE PIPES CLEANED OUT :D

[Linda1970]

I have been trying no apples, bananas, peppers, cucumbers, and tomatoes for about 10 days now and my digestion seems better. However, I have also been eating less, lost about 5 pounds (103 pounds as of yesterday - not good). I need to find a way to eat enough and digest well.

I always have better bowel movements when I eat less. I get really constipated if I over eat. I'm glad you find something that works for you.

[veganman]

so then what do you eat? I'm curious as to why your doc says no cucumbers?

I do not know for sure - I tested weak with them, so they are out for now. Are they nightshade-related?

Right now, I am eating oranges, kiwis, limes, lemons (just added back in today), lettuce, kale, dates, figs, dried apricots, apples (just added back in - Braeburn only), persimmons, strawberries, nectarines, peaches, plums, sunflower seeds, chives, almonds, walnuts, avocadoes, garlic (just added back in today), and raisins. At least that is what I am eating this week. :o

[misslinda]

I do not know for sure - I tested weak with them, so they are out for now. Are they nightshade-related?

Right now, I am eating oranges, kiwis, limes, lemons (just added back in today), lettuce, kale, dates, figs, dried apricots, apples (just added back in - Braeburn only), persimmons, strawberries, nectarines, peaches, plums, sunflower seeds, chives, almonds, walnuts, avocadoes, garlic (just added back in today), and raisins. At least that is what I am eating this week. :o

What do you mean by night-shaded?

Just curious,I'm suprised, persimmons are known to be "constipating" according to Eastern culture.....she's a Auyervdic Medecine doctor if I remember correctly? How does she test these foods with you?

By all means, not discouraging you from her suggestions but I'm intrigues by what the findings are and why she suggest these foods in particular.

;)

[veganman]

What do you mean by night-shaded?

Just curious,I'm suprised, persimmons are known to be "constipating" according to Eastern culture.....she's a Auyervdic Medecine doctor if I remember correctly? How does she test these foods with you?

By all means, not discouraging you from her suggestions but I'm intrigues by what the findings are and why she suggest these foods in particular.

;)

Hi Misslinda - always a pleasure discussing things with you!

By night-shade related, I mean some vegetables are in the nightshade family and may cause some problems for some people.

I consulted with an ayurvedic doctor......the doctor I have been seeing for a few sessions is a applied kinesiology chiropractor. She does muscle testing.

[misslinda]

Hi Misslinda - always a pleasure discussing things with you!

By night-shade related, I mean some vegetables are in the nightshade family and may cause some problems for some people.

I consulted with an ayurvedic doctor......the doctor I have been seeing for a few sessions is a applied kinesiology chiropractor. She does muscle testing.


good to talk to you as always too!

oic, I found a site that discusses this issue
http://www.deliciousorganics.com/Controversies/nightshade.htm

how do they do their muscle testing?

so you say you've been digesting better, any changes to your bowel? any other changes you've been noticing besdies the abrupt weightloss?

:)

[veganman]

Thanks for the neat site about nightshades!

The muscle testing is done by pushing down on your arm while testing different organs and foods.

I had a slight increase in energy with the weight loss (very strange), but my pants were not fitting any looser (also strange).

[Pierre]

Cucumbers are not nightshades. Those plants are in these families:
bananas: Musaceae
lemons: Rutaceae
tomatoes: Solanaceae
bell pepper: Solanaceae
cucumber: Cucurbitaceae
eggplant: Solanaceae
apples: Rosaceae
Nightshades also include tobacco, petunia, and the trumpet vine. Sweet potatoes (Convolvulaceae: Ipomoea) are in the next family over, but botanists have had disagreements about classifying families into orders.

I'm not sure of my transit time, but when I paid any attention to it, it was 16-18 hours.

A sloth goes to the bottom of the tree (which is their equivalent of the bathroom) only once a week. ;)

[dyemundluv]

...yesterday about the raw lifestyle. I have only been raw for approx. 1 week, but I love the fact that after I eat a raw meal -I boop 20-30 mins later. Just 2 weeks ago on SAD, I could eat and 2 DAYS later boop. What kind of mess what that!!? And a mess it was. :eek:

I am so happy that my body is eliminating like it is supposed to.

You know, I started this diet about 2.5 yrs ago, and lasted for a couple of weeks, I got so sick and I was told my a holistic practitioner that the raw diet would be too hard on my already weak kidney. So glad I'm trying it again. This time no probs with the kidney, however, body aches and cold all the time; which is going away slowing...but the best so far is my regular boops. Funny huh? :p
...don't you just love the word "boop"; makes BM sound cute in a way. hahaa

[Acai]

Guys nothing works better for me than mangosteen juice. I have never had problems staying regular...but mangosteen took me to a place beyond regular...haha. The brand Mango-xan is my favorite...only two ounces a day will do it. Plus it is really really high in anti-oxidants...much like acai berries.

[veganman]

Okay......today and yesterday......something is working. Lots of bowel movements, lots of hunger, energy, clearer thinking. Something is going right! Still about 10 lbs underweight, but feeling pretty darn good!

[misslinda]

YeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeHawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww :)