Okay...this is slightly personal...

[Lara]

I've been 100% raw now for about 10 days. Weird things are happening in the bowel movement department.
I'm actually having a HARDER time (literally) having BM's and not as many as usual!! Like, if I have 2 a day right now, it's a big deal( usually 3-4 and very easy is my normal) and I'm having to work a little to have this happen.
I have been having a bit more nuts than I'd like, because I'm really hungry right now, and want "heavier" foods... though I am having at least one huge salad a day with leafy greens, sometimes 2.
I'm a vegan and have been for 10 years now and my BM's have been awesome for so long that this is trippin' me out!
Any suggestions about what might be happening... and if it's not a normal transition-to-raw thing, what to do?
Thanks in advance.

[T-Bird]

Your body is cleaning out more than it can handle right now. Affected me like that for a pretty long while.....

Nothing really helped, as anything more "cleansing" usually made it worse, so hang in there and make slight adjustment, see what happens.

[margoss]

mine was the same way. I think it was from the fiber in the smoothies. I've noticed that if I juice more, it's easier like b4.

[AaronE]

I've been having the same type of problem. I've been trying very hard to go as close to 100% raw as possible, but constipation is making it very difficult.

For me eating seemingly any nuts, oils, flax or other seeds makes making a bm very difficult the next day. Its very hard to go raw when without being able to eat filling foods. If this is part of the cleansing, how can I speed this part of the process up? What needs to change in my body for me to be able to easily digest nuts, seeds, and raw coconut oil? Thanks

[green jeanie]

the difficulty in the digestion with the high fat foods is with the liver/gall bladder function

that said, in my point of reference of seeing thousands of people in my practice, 1-2 bm / day is normal. 3-4 is high. (from 15 years practicing holistic medicine)

but anyway, no freaking out :cool:

[Raw Angel Mom]

You could have allergies to your nuts. Try to change the nuts for either pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds to see if you see any difference.

Hope you feel well soon!

[AaronE]

the difficulty in the digestion with the high fat foods is with the liver/gall bladder function


Does that mean that doing a cleanse for the liver/gall bladder may help?

[a1icia]

I was having this problem and added chlorella and spirulina to help. It did for a while and then got worse and worse. I finally gave up on the supplements and nuts, and started eating A LOT more sweet, juicy fruits and the problem cleared right up.

[rawstrength]

The fiber in nuts, seeds and vegetables can be very HARD (literally) on your digestion. Drink nut mylks and green juices instead of eating nuts and salads and your bowel movements will improve. Also, make sure to take lots of cultured foods, as that helps with all digestion problems. Saur kraut, kombucha, miso, unpasteurized tamari and lacto-fermented pickles (like Bubbies) all help.

[anniez]

I agree with A1icia......lots of fruit. Bananas are said to be constipating, but I don't think they are on the raw diet. Eat lots of fruit - it is very satisfying and you will get lots of calories from it, so you maybe won't need the nuts. Fruit is very cleansing to the system. Hang in there, it will get better!

Annie

[Veganforlife]

What REALLY helps is to start your day off with about a quart of water. This DOES get "things" moving...

[Blazin'Jane]

And some lemon juice in the quart of water doesn't hurt. Recently I heard the suggestion to drink have your weight in ounces of water. (So, I weigh 136. 1/2 of that is 68, so I shoot for 68 oz. of water/day. Good hydration helps enormously with detoxin as well. Also, I agree that lots of fresh juicy fruits help almost anything.

[Lara]

for the advice. I will start on more green juices and smoothies. I always start my day with 1 quart of warm water, but I may add a bit to help things along.
And I've started pre-soaking any nuts I have... we'll see!

Lara

[Green_Woman]

I drink GREEN SMOOTHIES and KOMBUCHA TEA daily, and it has helped significantly to ease the detox in my intestines.

[rawstrength]

I drink GREEN SMOOTHIES and KOMBUCHA TEA daily, and it has helped significantly to ease the detox in my intestines.

Hey that sounds really great. Do you brew your own kombucha tea? I started brewing my own and it is SO easy and SO CHEAP! I can brew 5 gallons every week for just $2.

[anniez]

Hey that sounds really great. Do you brew your own kombucha tea? I started brewing my own and it is SO easy and SO CHEAP! I can brew 5 gallons every week for just $2.

Share, share, share! I'd love to do this!

Annie

[Veganforlife]

Share, share, share! I'd love to do this!

Annie

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=how+to+make+kombucha+tea&aq=0p&oq=how+to+make+&aqi=g-p1g9

I did a quick google. I too make it. It IS easy and so much cheaper. Add flavors (green powder, fruit, etc.) AFTER fermenting, before pouring into separate jars...

[AaronE]

Thanks for the tips everyone! I'm making my first batch of kombucha right now. I'm excited to start drinking it.

[anniez]

Thanks for the links!

Annie