Constipation!

[TarFriend]

I have been raw for about two months now and I had never had any problems with constipation before. But I have been pretty consistently constipated since going raw. This doesn’t seem normal. I eat plenty of fiber and lots of fruits and veggies, one would think this would leas to the opposite. Has any one else had this problem when first going raw? Thanks!

[NFrawRUNNER]

I think it may be a combination of things going on.....Starting raw caused "a lot of gunk" so to speak to be stirred up in you internally (think of a seemingly clean fish tank and stirring up the water....the murk comes out and has nowhere to go!)....Add to that you increased your bulk and fiber so much it may bind you up even more. My suggestion, keep things simpler. More fresh easy to digest fruit, green smoothies, nix the cruciferous veggies for a bit....etc.... When I first went raw my "issues" (one of which was IBS) got worse before getting better....Maybe these tips will help? Melons are good for constipation as are overripe bananas, papaya, BLENDED salads should be ok...look gross taste great!
Good luck

[misslinda]

Diantha, you summed it up in a nut shell!!!!

:)

[Veganforlife]

Water too. Increase your water intake. Helps flush the gunk out.

[garden granny]

You might want to try getting things going by doing an enema with filtered water. This will most likely do the trick.

[Solace]

I had a lot of THAT at first too, I found what David Wolfe said to work well.-- Water/lemon/seasalt combo first thing in the morning on an empty tummy, seems soo simple but it worked:eek: :D ;) ;)

[RebeccaI]

Did you drink that in the morning? if so, how much of which things? Can you fill me in on the details? I hesitate to do enemas :eek: - or cleanses as I am pregnant right now. What you said sounded so simple - I could definitely do that!!

Blessings~

[trimom71]

I can't believe you are constipated!! I do nothing but go, all dang day!! :mad: The gas is pretty bad too. :eek: How but if I give you 1/2 of my problem and you give me 1/2 of yours!!

[xiola]

How many months pregnant are you? That could be part of the issue. I know when I was pregnant, my digestion got all wonky. And in later months, the weight of my baby pressing everything down on my intestines made it difficult to go. Just a thought :)

[Nectarine]

I can't believe you are constipated!! I do nothing but go, all dang day!!


This is the case with me too, or I should say was the case, until I actually cut down on my water intake. Things have since settled and slowed down, although Nature continues to make those house-calls far more often than was the case before I went all-raw. I would recommend eating more (good) oils if constipation is a problem. It is important to keep the bowels well lubricated. Also, a cup of lemon-water (lemon juice and water) first thing in the morning, say half an hour to an hour before breakfast, stimulates the digestive system, and induces the bowels to move and eliminate, to make space for a new intake of food.

[Solace]

Did you drink that in the morning? if so, how much of which things? Can you fill me in on the details? I hesitate to do enemas :eek: - or cleanses as I am pregnant right now. What you said sounded so simple - I could definitely do that!!

Blessings~:eek: :D 1/2 lemon, 1 cup-2 cup water and say 1/4 tsp seasalt just enouph so that you can taste the salt a little. On empty tummy morning and then again whenever you can during the day. :cool:

[surfergirl]

Hi

I always had the constipation issue before going raw- so bad that i need to take a natural laxative every single day. Now its better, i usually drink carrot juice first thing and have some green tea. i add flax seed to nearly everything i eat and that helps alot. apples are great for fiber.

hang in there, it will get better

drink at least 64 oz of water a day too!!!

peace and hugs

traci

[ivorylodge]

water and sea salt will work miracles and it's very gentle (i think). i doesn't hurt. it feels very organic. and things comes out very smoothly and without much effort.

[tinystrawberry]

does anyone know why salt and water makes you poop?

[misslinda]

The salt water flush has a laxative effect it doesn't neccessarily [correct] why one has bowel issues.

The salt draws all the water down to the colon and contracts and POOF! :p

[Snownoir]

Salt water flushes are fun. :P But true to what MissLinda said, it's not going to solve the problem. Something is trying to sort itself out... especially since you said that you're gettin plenty of fiber. In relation to prior raw, how much fiber are you intaking now? More or less?

[carolg]

So is the lemon optional to the salt and water drink? Not a problem here, but still love passing info on to others. We are a society with chronic "poopLESS" problems (constipation).
carolg

[merfie]

it may be more than just your diet. it may be emotional and mental "stuff" you are HOLDING onto. From the book "Feeling Buried Alive Never Die" some possible feelings around constipation are:

Constantly fretting
Unwilling to release old feelings & beliefs
Resisting the flow of life
Feelings of anxiety
Unresolvable problems/determined to carry on

these may not all apply to you, but it's worth examining...it may also help.

oldly enough, since reading this thread yesterday i have felt extremely bloated and constipated feeling, despite the fact that i pooped twice yesterday..."sympathy pains"??

i feel your pain...truly!

the best of life, meredith

[Solace]

Meredith, I know this is my problem, I think its much less physical as it is emotional for me. I am holding on to some stuff, thats why I am not detoxing properly, even though I am doing EVERYTHING right. I have been getting extra help from a Massage therapist and acupuncture. I am looking at trying something called Body Talk.:(