Bowel Movements

[Zella Juice]

We have been raw for a few weeks and have not had a solid bowel movement since we started. Is it going to be this way forever?

We just started my son on raw... he is 7. He had his first runny poop this morning and was crying cause there was so much.

If any of you have had this experience or have some info for me that would be great.

Thanks.

[Veganforlife]

That will "harden" up after a while. You've only been two weeks raw. It's detox. Maybe add more nuts. Dunno...really not sure what to "add" to your diet as I don't know what you are eating. Maybe cut back on fruits? Dunno (again)...
Consider it a blessing - it is cleaning your system out...and that is a good thing!

[Raw Mom]

Oh yeah....I was "running" to the bathroom for about a month after going raw. I'm 45. My sixteen year old, eating about half raw, only started having loose poop after I started giving her green smoothies. It's not a bad thing. You want toothpaste consistency poo. A Lot? What's a lot? Whatever is in there that needs to come out, will come out. I sometimes ponder how so much can come out with such little effort on my part. :) I consider it a "pat on the back" when a lot comes out... :cool:

[christiahall]

Well I have been raw for almost 30 days now, and I struggled with constipation. I didn't know that I was medically constipated, but learned that going twice a week, with rock hard, tar-like waste is pretty unhealthy. It took literally several tries to make anything happen. So, when my stools softened up right away on this diet, I was rejoicing! Sometimes we don't realize what a healthy bowel movement is supposed to be like. I read that it should be a toothpaste consistency and it should be a golden color. I also noticed that there is a lot more of it. If thats what you have, its good. If you have the runs, your body will figure itself out once you stop detoxing and you get the right bacteria to build up in your intestines.

[beanmonkee]

I'm having the same issue. I'm 12 days raw as of today, and one reason I started was because I wanted to get rid of my frequent, loose stools. I want a more regular bm pattern, dang it.

Anyway, I just started drinking Kombucha tea (I'm getting a starter to brew my own), and I'm going to try making some other fermented foods like nut yogurt to help repopulate my intestines with happy bacteria. I'll let you know how it goes.

[christiahall]

Honestly, I think the right bacteria will happen over time. If there is more of the foods that the right bacteria like to eat, they will flourish. You will get rid of the ones that like meat and cheese, and will get more of the ones that help you break down plant matter. Weird huh?

[misslinda]

When you are consuming that much more fiber and cleansing, there is a normal tendency to halt when going raw. You can ease the situation by food combining,eating more simple and drinking plenty of water. Exercise is really really important.

Up and down squating movement while holding onto a counter top, exercise the colon.

:)

[tonytate42]

LOL,

I think it's quite entertaining to hear women talk about poop, and on a public forum. I know men talk about it all the time (at least my friends do). Anyway, I have at least 2 bowel movements a day, not runny, but soft, and there is a lot. I have noticed that if I get off of raw foods, it floats atop the water. When I am eating raw everything sinks to the bottom. I don't know what this means, but, I am guessing there is less air in the system when eating healthier.

[KatK]

LOL,

I think it's quite entertaining to hear women talk about poop, and on a public forum. I know men talk about it all the time (at least my friends do). Anyway, I have at least 2 bowel movements a day, not runny, but soft, and there is a lot. I have noticed that if I get off of raw foods, it floats atop the water. When I am eating raw everything sinks to the bottom. I don't know what this means, but, I am guessing there is less air in the system when eating healthier.

I guess they know it's sink or swim...sorry, I shouldn't joke about such a urgent subject.

[goodbeets]

If your'e worried that your poos are too loose, bananas are binding. I am always amazed when I think that in banana producing countries, they eat 5-8 of the things a day!! I know my kids poos get loose with salads and apples but, hey, that is a healthy poo! Poor little guy, crying though. I hope he wasn't too scared. It really isn't abnormal.

[christiahall]

Hey, now that you mention it, I used to have bouyant poop as well. Not anymore.

[Zella Juice]

My little boy is a slave to routine. And when his poop was not normal he freaked out. It was quite a scene this morning...him on the potty and me sitting on the floor trying talk him through it.

He has been sticking to the basics because thats what he likes best. Tons of bananas, celery with almond butter, carrots, date & nut bars and his daily wheatgrass shot. We tried giving him the more fancy dehydrated dishes...but he doesn't seem to like them...oh well...more for us ;)

Thanks for all your replies. I knew not to be worried...I just wanted to know if it was going to be like this forever. Mine are not the explosive runs anymore...just more like toothpaste...so I guess I am doing good.

Thanks guys ! :o

[puffysmom]

I am only 6 days into raw and I eat a lot of nuts and it floats. I have a friend that was a barber. He was told by a doctor who always came in that poo should float. If it sinks than u r not eating right. I was amazed to read that many here have sinkers instead of floaters after eating raw for quite some time. I would have thought that raw being a light food with no fat in it would always float.
U should also poo at least 2-3 times daily. This from a doctor also. Of course I dont believe everything doctors tell me as I have listened one to many times to only have problems with my health that will never go away. I used to think they knew best. Not all of them do. :(

[christiahall]

Well you brought up an interseting point: however, I would think its the opposite: fat floats. A high fat diet would make it float maybe. Fiber is the heaviest thing.

[Veganforlife]

Hey I got one for you all! Has anyone ever tried to write their name with their poo!
HAHAHAHA!!!!
Oh I crack myself up sometimes!!!!
Thank goodness my name is only 4 letters long!!!! It came out in cursive!!!
::rolling around on the floor laughing::
:D :D :D :D :D

[simone_24]

Alot of dark leafy greens usually does the trick. As well as plums, apples and apricots. Water is also the key. Lots of it!

[beanmonkee]

That's funny that you all have had sinkers since starting raw, because I have had floaters since starting raw. I got a little worried, so I looked it up, and this is what I found (from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003128.htm):

Definition

Stools that float are generally associated with some degree of malabsorption of nutrients or excessive flatus (gas).

Considerations

Floating stools are seen in a variety of different situations. Most are diet-related, or caused by episodes of diarrhea that accompany an acute gastrointestinal infection. A change in dietary habits can lead to an increase in the amount of gas produced by bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract.

Similarly, acute gastrointestinal (GI) infections can result in increased gas content in the intestines, due to rapid movement of food through the GI tract. One wrong idea is that floating stools are caused by an increase in the fat content of the stool. In fact, it is increased gas levels in the stool that make it less dense and allow it to float.

Another cause of floating stools is malabsorption. More than two weeks of diarrhea with floating stools is often seen in people suffering from malabsorption, a dysfunction in the GI tract that affects the body's ability to digest and absorb fat and other types of foods.

Increased levels of nutrients in the stool (which have not been absorbed by the GI tract) are supplied to the normal bacteria that live in the gut, which in turn produce more gas. This results in more gas-rich stools that float.

Common Causes

Dietary changes, diarrhea, and malabsorption can cause floating stools. Most causes are benign and will resolve when the infection ends or the bacteria in the GI tract adjust to the changes in your diet.




So, I'm not going to worry too much about it. I just need to wait for my GI tract to figure out that I'm not going to eat SAD any time soon, and be patient. And I eat a lot of bananas, so I don't know what the deal is.

[aenea]

lol this topic can be so funny:)

[harpstruck]

Hi, Tory.

Today is 30 days 100% raw for me. The couple of weeks, my stools were still loose-ish. For at least the past week, they are probably the healthiest stools I've ever had my whole life: no straining, no waiting, no loose rush, no explosive gas or flatulence. It comes out all at once, easily, with no effort, and there is more of it than there used to be on a SAD! I think keep persisting. In the first week, I was a bit worried so I took probiotics, too, as I had been on the SAD, but then I forgot about it, as I forgot about all of my supplements, and everything has worked itself out. I am so amazed.

Funny how kids can get. I've been transitioning my 4y.o. son onto raw, and he came out of the toilet so excited yesterday. "Guess what, Mum? Something VERY exciting! It was a REALLY GOOD POO!" (As you may have guessed, he has had some runny poo problems over the past few weeks.).

I'd just explain to your child what is going on. His body is just getting rid of all the bad things. (And probably getting used to the new diet).

Good luck!

[rawnpawgirl]

Wow, I love all this poop talk. I never thought I would be so into talking about poop, but I AM! ha, ha, ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Poop is FUN! (a message from my son)

[lauralee]

i love poop talk too. it's a favorite topic with friends and brother. as a little girl my mom said i used to strain until my eyes teared up. it was from all of the pharmaceutical drugs i was taking for allergies.

[Zella Juice]

Ok...I finally get time to read this thread I started. Well...this morning went well...he pooped and didn't cry at all. I was bracing myself for another bad morning bacause I noticed he had a sore butt from all the poopin' yesterday.

Our poo is definatly healthier. It's just weird not to have it solid anymore.

I'm not sure about the whole floating thing. I think the only way to solve that problem is to poop outside on the ground. :p

It's funny that we analize our poop so much.

Thanks for your words or wisdom and jokes too :P

[Frog]

Thank goodness for a poop thread!

My poop is softer and looser themore juices and smoothies I eat.